Ever since Max Unger was traded, the Seattle Seahawks’ heart place has been a little bit of an uphill battle. We had some good years with Justin Britt, however his damage ended any hope of a long-term resolution.
After that, we moved on to Ethan Pocic which was at all times contested (unfairly at occasions) after which we went to a 12 months through which Pocic and Kyle Fuller (sure, a legend who had not only one, however TWO video games with a ZERO go blocking grade through PFF) alternating within the position. Then we went on to an overpriced contract for Austin Blythe, who additionally didn’t remedy the issue, and he retired the next 12 months.
Going to 2023 we have now improved on earlier years. The staff introduced in Evan Brown, who had two stable seasons with the Detroit Lions, and drafted Olusegun Oluwatimi from Michigan within the fifth spherical, who was thought-about a steal by many analysts.
It appeared like we had been going to have an important battle between the 2. However sadly, Olu Olu suffered a minor damage in camp that slowed him down sufficient to depart Evan Brown as a considerably common starter.
In 2024, Seattle let Brown depart in free company for the Arizona Cardinals. In return, the staff introduced in Nick Harris as the one actual candidate to compete with the second-year participant.
Olu began the coaching camp because the starter, however will he be the middle in Week 1?
The case for Olu Oluwatimi
Oluwatimi was ranked thirtieth out of 32 facilities by PFF. He was forward of solely Luke Wattenberg of the Denver Broncos and Brock Hoffman of the Dallas Cowboys. He was behind names with little expertise within the position equivalent to Ryan Bates of the Chicago Bears and HJalte Froholdt of the Arizona Cardinals, in addition to rookies Graham Barton of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Zach Frazier of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NOTE: Ethan Pocic is seventh on this listing.
It’s frequent to see gamers who had been already within the group having a bonus over newcomers. Nonetheless, it’s price remembering that Olu didn’t obtain this present. Practically the complete teaching employees left (the one one remaining was Karl Scott, DB and Defensive Go Recreation Coordinator coach), bringing in new names who had “no info” about him. Oluwatimi’s pattern dimension is small, having been a backup for his complete rookie 12 months. The previous Michigan heart’s 128 snaps had been distributed as follows:
Lions (6);
Giants (38);
Cardinals (59), in his solely begin;
Steelers (25);
Of these snaps, 70 had been on passing performs and he solely drew one stress and dedicated just one foul (which was not accepted towards the Steelers). Thus, he obtained a mean of 75.5 from PFF in go safety. However, he completed the 12 months with a grade of fifty.5 in run blocking.
The place can Olu win the job?
Even in a small pattern, as beforehand talked about, it’s in go safety that Olu Olu shines. His processing means and approach on this part of the sport might be the issue that ensures him a beginning spot.
Normally the middle doesn’t have a participant lined up in entrance of him, making 1v1s much less frequent. On this play, he traces up towards nostril deal with Leki Fotu and reveals off his complete arsenal in go safety. Word that Olu’s hand positioning isn’t ultimate at first. However he rapidly makes the adjustment and controls the defender in the course of the snap. He does this as he easily repositions his base together with his toes.
Right here we have now a snap that’s extra frequent for facilities. With nobody in entrance of him, he wants to assist his teammates. He begins by checking if his Left Guard wants assist, however he identifies that Anthony Bradford on his proper aspect would lose the 1v1 and he prevents the defender from having a transparent path to the QB.
The place can Olu lose the job?
Simply because the numbers, even when in small portions, confirmed Olu’s energy, in addition they present his weak spot, the operating recreation.
He’s not a man who’s going to maneuver individuals. That lack of “physicality” on the road was an issue for our OL final 12 months, particularly within the crimson zone.
Right here, the Seahawks have known as a run often known as Duo. The concept right here is for the OL to dominate bodily with the 2 double groups and, after that, it’s time to advance to the second stage. However, discover that he can’t even dominate at first and has a nasty angle to get to the linebacker on the second stage.
It is a snap that issues me once we have a look at what’s projected within the scheme of Ryan Grubb, the brand new OC. We are going to discuss extra about this later, however this athletic means is critical for what’s required within the operating recreation. He can’t get to the second stage and the unmarked LB is ready to get to the RB and finish the play.
The case for Nick Harris
Harris, additionally a fifth-round decide, spent his early years with the Cleveland Browns. Though he’s getting into his fifth 12 months within the league, he’s solely 25 years previous (he’ll flip 26 in the course of the season). He has made simply 4 begins in 4 seasons with the Browns (522 complete snaps, 2 sacks, 5 hurries, 7 pressures), serving as a backup for many of that point to JC Tretter. Harris missed the 2022 season on account of a knee damage, which hampered his likelihood to begin after the veteran left and, mockingly, misplaced the spot to Ethan Pocic, who has flourished with the Ohio staff.
Os Browns usaram Nick Harris no último ano em várias situações para colocá-lo em movimento. Isso foi desde alinhar como FB ou estar em movement de diferentes alinhamentos. pic.twitter.com/MMMfKwowr8
— Rapinas do Mar (Cortes) (@cortesrapinas) March 13, 2024
With no likelihood at heart, the Browns used him as a fullback/sixth OL in the course of the season.
The place can Harris win the job?
Growing below Scott Huff, Harris has grow to be one of many high facilities within the nation for Washington, incomes First-Crew All-Pac 12 honors in 2018 and 2019. He has the profile of the middle Seattle would anticipate below this new administration. Shorter and extra athletic, like Parker Brailsford, who performed at UW and transferred to Alabama and will likely be one of many high facilities subsequent season.
He runs a play similar to those Grubb known as in Washington. He pulls from his place and has the athletic means to dam exterior.
He traces up 1-on-1 with Kenny Clark, he resets the bottom with the intention of absorbing all the DT’s energy.
The place can Harris lose the job?
He’s a smaller heart than you’d anticipate. Within the NFL, you’re going to face much more bodily competitors than you do in school. That requires you to play at the next technical stage. Right here, he’s going to place his head down and lose his momentum.
Ryan Grubb/Scott Huff Scheme
Parker Brailsford, who’s 6’2 and 275lbs (do not forget that these numbers are offered by Universities and are often larger than actuality), was the beginning heart for Washington within the final 12 months. This undersized dimension and weight are offset by the athleticism that Grubb required in his operating performs. Most of his runs required some sort of pull, and the middle was utilized in that position ceaselessly.
Closing Ideas
Though we’re ranked thirtieth amongst facilities in accordance with PFF, I’m a bit extra relaxed than in recent times. This time, we have now two facilities at a really comparable stage of play. That is completely different from years when the extent between the starter and the backup was an abyss (cough cough Kyle Fuller cough cough). Due to this fact, we will likely be in good palms with both Oluwatimi or Harris.
