From the trenches draft

[Stream Hawk]

Hell yes! It’s about gd time we did something responsible like this:) look at this line: https://twitter.com/jett_gh/status/1520 ... NrN_DMb66w

[jshawaii22]

Yes!! Love the BigO's we're drafting. Not sure about the pick of Boye Mafe being a "need pick" the way the two tackles are and I will assume that picking the RB means Carson is done medically, (of course, Pete just has to have a RB we don't need as a high draft pick) but we sure could of used a top flight center.
I know many don't share my opinion, but if we're going forward with Lock for at least a year then lets tank all the way to the bottom 2 or 3 so we get one of those top QB's next year. There are 3 rated higher then any of this years QBs.

We have a lot of draft picks next year. Watch for fake news that the Seahawks and Browns are 'talking' about Baker. NO!

[obiken]

Yeah a day late and a dollar short. I think its Pete's way of a slap in the face to RW and the fans. You guys aint running nothing.

[NorthHawk]

Yah, Center is still an issue long term, but the OL will take a while to work together with 2 rookies.
Maybe tomorrow will bring more good picks.

It’s amazing how well they can draft when picking the best player on their board and not trying to
outsmart everyone else.
Maybe there’s hope for them yet.

[jshawaii22]

Our hands were tied without trading Wilson. This year, we only had the #9 - 2nd round pick. Probably would of been the RB, knowing Pete. And that's where we'd be right now. Looking at another 7 win (or less) season with a whole lot of unhappy fans and Russell.

[NorthHawk]

In previous drafts we traded down past excellent talent far too often.
Next year we have 2 first round picks which should give us enough draft capital to move up to get one of
the better QBs and it’s supposed to have a better level of talent, too.

[mykc14]

Hell yes! It’s about gd time we did something responsible like this:) look at this line: https://twitter.com/jett_gh/status/1520 ... NrN_DMb66w

I don't know that this line is going to be anything special, but we took a step in the right direction. LT- Cross: a rookie who played in an Air Raid system and is not an explosive tester. RG- Jackson: was bad last year and needs to be replaced. C- Blythe: a low price veteran backup. LG- Lewis: a third year player who took a step backwards last year. RT- Abraham/Curahan:?? Really we are getting excited about an OL that might have Curahan starting at RT??

With all of that being said I do like what we have done with the draft and have high hopes for where we will be in a year but I imagine that Jackson, Blythe, and Curahan won't be starting for us in a SB. We took steps in the right direction, but still need another draft or round of FA to fill out or line if we want to be dominant.

[Hawktawk]

Yeah a day late and a dollar short. I think its Pete's way of a slap in the face to RW and the fans. You guys aint running nothing.

Pete got RW Duane Brown. Last year he got him Gabe Jackson. They have tried. Obi I didn't like how some of the linemen they drafted have turned out but what is trying to block for Wilson really like? Some of our Linemen are still effective elsewhere.

Russ has something like 70 more sacks than any man in the league over then last 10 seasons, about 2 bad seasons worth of sacks extra. Was that all because we had the leagues worst line every year? Carroll cant design protection? Or has there been something else? Russ slapped me in the face, not Pete. 35 million man whining about getting hit then desert us, his team. his teammates for his own narcissistic goals. I will laugh my ass off when I see the man who looks sillier than anyone in the Donkey uniform which is stupid looking to begin with spins out and take a 20 yard sack . See the look on Mr. "oh dear Russ you won't get hit here" Idiot lineman's face after that when he gets dinged for a sack or 2 a game. Russ will have 10 more sacks than the 32 he took here last year. Book it.

Pete is planning to win next year and all this nonsense will be in the rear view mirror. I like this draft. Very solid with no off the wall reaches, the kind of draft you all been whining you want to see

[NorthHawk]

Obi is right in the sense that this regime has never been able to put together a good OL, so there is room for concern.
However, Lucas graded out as one of the best run blockers in the draft so he should be a day 1 starter there and although
his early years at Washington State were under Mike Leach and his Air Raid Offense, his last 2 years when he started they
didn't use that Offense but went to a more traditional Offense where they ran the ball about 45% of the time. So Lucas is
used to playing with his hand in the dirt and has experience with run blocking assignments. That's a big step ahead of
Cross and any other Air Raid type Offensive Tackle.
If we get a good Center today - and there are a couple left - along with a DB, we can improve the talent level quite a bit
and maybe set the stage for next year.

[Old but Slow]

The reports on Lucas are mixed in that some say that he is mostly a pass blocker, and others saying he is a better run blocker and rather mean on the field. I will not be surprised if Lucas starts this season and Cross sits for a year to gain strength and technique.

I was disappointed that we didn't get a center, as a lot of you have said, but I also don't like the idea of 3 rookie offensive linemen. Not only is that a lot of inexperience, but all then their contracts all come due at the same time. Thankfully, Cross will have a 5th year option. Blyth may not be a long term solution, but he has experience which can be a value in itself.

[NorthHawk]

If we do start 2 rookie OTs, we’ve got to be prepared to have the QBs take a beating.
Look at the teams we are going up against in the AFC West then we have our own division.
It’s hard enough preparing 1 rookie OT and giving him help, but 2 will be almost impossible
unless the Offense runs most of the time, goes to quick passes, or lines up with 2 TEs who
stay in to block. Or of course they turn out to be Pro Bowl caliber the moment they walk
on to the field…

[Aseahawkfan]

If we do start 2 rookie OTs, we’ve got to be prepared to have the QBs take a beating.
Look at the teams we are going up against in the AFC West then we have our own division.
It’s hard enough preparing 1 rookie OT and giving him help, but 2 will be almost impossible
unless the Offense runs most of the time, goes to quick passes, or lines up with 2 TEs who
stay in to block. Or of course they turn out to be Pro Bowl caliber the moment they walk
on to the field…

We're playing a bunch of back up QBs right now, so good time for the tackles to learn.

[RiverDog]

If we do start 2 rookie OTs, we’ve got to be prepared to have the QBs take a beating. Look at the teams we are going up against in the AFC West then we have our own division. It’s hard enough preparing 1 rookie OT and giving him help, but 2 will be almost impossible
unless the Offense runs most of the time, goes to quick passes, or lines up with 2 TEs who stay in to block. Or of course they turn out to be Pro Bowl caliber the moment they walk on to the field…

We also don't have a running back that can help out in the blocking department, assuming that Carson isn't coming back. That's one of the reasons why I didn't want us to take a QB in this draft, at least not early in the draft, because with our offensive line in such turmoil, we'd be setting him up for failure. Protecting the QB is going to be a challenge for this OL.

The biggest hole on this OL is without a doubt the center position. Blythe is smallish, a ZBS-style offensive lineman and hasn't played a lot of center over the past few years. The absence of a strong starting center shows the weakness of past Seahawks drafts when we passed over a solid starting center in Creed Humphrey to take a wide receiver when we already had two Pro Bowl receivers and wouldn't have been a starter even in the most optimistic of scenarios. We also have very little depth at center, likely would have to move Lewis into the C position if Blythe gets injured.

[tarlhawk]

I think the team has high hopes for Dakota Shepley to beat out Kyle Fuller for C depth. Their faith in Austin Blythe allowed them to not pursue Ethan Pocic. Back-up guard might be an expensive Gabe Jackson even though Gabe only gave up 3 sacks. Austin with great hands placement (due to his collegiate wrestling background) is a good bridge center for heavy zone blocking...even 9 draft picks can't fill every need when we doubled down on everything but the stellar running back.

[Hawktawk]

If we do start 2 rookie OTs, we’ve got to be prepared to have the QBs take a beating.
Look at the teams we are going up against in the AFC West then we have our own division.
It’s hard enough preparing 1 rookie OT and giving him help, but 2 will be almost impossible
unless the Offense runs most of the time, goes to quick passes, or lines up with 2 TEs who
stay in to block. Or of course they turn out to be Pro Bowl caliber the moment they walk
on to the field…

We're playing a bunch of back up QBs right now, so good time for the tackles to learn.

We were playing a 35 million dollar malcontent who got outplayed by 3 backups and a few b grade starters . He played like a backup . He got shut out on a night our defense held Arod to 17 at lambeau. He was sacked 32 times . burrow was sacked 70 times and wound up a play from a title.
We gave up 45 sacks last year . We will give up at least 10 less next year with our backup.Book it .

[NorthHawk]

The biggest hole on this OL is without a doubt the center position. Blythe is smallish, a ZBS-style offensive lineman and hasn't played a lot of center over the past few years. The absence of a strong starting center shows the weakness of past Seahawks drafts when we passed over a solid starting center in Creed Humphrey to take a wide receiver when we already had two Pro Bowl receivers and wouldn't have been a starter even in the most optimistic of scenarios. We also have very little depth at center, likely would have to move Lewis into the C position if Blythe gets injured.

If Waldron follows the OL script of McVay, they use smaller IOL and larger OT's, so Blythe wouldn't be considered small in that scheme. He also played for the Rams for a year so he's
at least familiar with the blocking concepts and strategies. The others have to learn them, so I can understand why he was signed. The long term situation at Center is still an issue
but maybe we can find one next year to develop.

[tarlhawk]

Unless Duane Brown is brought back on a one year deal...I think Cross will be allowed his "growing pains" while Abe and Stone battle it out for RT with Jake Curhan...RT will be the best Run Blocking tackle in the competition. Phil Haynes should beat out Gabe Jackson and either stay at RG or LG returning Damien Lewis to his rookie position of RG. I agree with Northhawks assessment of Austin Blythe. Creed didn't beat Blythe from the get go...Blythe suffered an injury allowing Creed an "early look" with Creed holding the position of opportunity and never looking back.