Questions surround offensive line
SEAHAWKS PRE-SEASON: Three players continue to battle for two spots as NFL training camp winds down
RENTON, Wash. — Going into the final week of the pre-season, the Seattle Seahawks are solid on the interior of the offensive line.
Out on the edge, at the tackle spots, the situation remains unsettled.
Bradley Sowell, J’Marcus Webb and Garry Gilliam have rotated between left and right tackle throughout training camp with nothing solidified through the first three pre-season games. How the positions finally shake out is one of the few points of interest for the Seahawks going into Thursday’s pre-season finale against Oakland.
For now, it appears Sowell is ahead in the competition to start at left tackle, but offensive line coach Tom Cable said nothing has been settled at either tackle position.
“There is competition really cranking at right tackle. It doesn’t mean it’s done at left; it’s not. But that is ahead of where we are at right tackle,” Cable said on Sunday.
“The competition is all three guys, but right now it’s pretty heavy at right tackle.”
Thursday’s pre-season win over Dallas was the third straight week the Seahawks went with Gilliam at right tackle and Sowell at left tackle.
Webb’s calf injury earlier in training camp precipitated changes to the original plan of having Gilliam at left tackle and Webb on the right side. So did Sowell standing out in the early days of training camp.
When Seattle made its moves in the off-season to address the offensive line, Sowell was deemed a secondary option after Seattle made the decision to flop Gilliam from right tackle to the left side. Now, it appears Sowell could end up being the starter when the season begins on Sept. 11 against Miami.
“I think they know they’re going to get someone who will show up every day, fight really hard,” Sowell said.
“For the most part I’ve been consistent with knowing the plays and doing what they ask me to do.”
The Seahawks had to alter some offensive line plans when Webb was slowed by a calf injury just before the pre-season opener against Kansas City.
At that point, the Seahawks moved Gilliam back to the right side, where he played last season, and they have stayed that way for three straight games.
Webb played well against Dallas, getting time on both sides.