Fix the lines that is the path forward

[Scout]

That is a common theme with the last few Super Bowl winners. Even if you do not have an heir apparent at QB like the Bucs, Rams and Eagles they fixed the lines first and eventually found a QB to put them over the top for SB wins. Even the Chiefs who were battered by the Bucs defense in the 2020 SB were forced to remake their OL and they have Mahomes at QB. That led them to more SB victories but they ran out of steam because their OL exposed them again in the 2024 SB like the 2020 SB.

For the Hawks to compete with the teams like the Rams, Eagles, Bucs, Vikings, 49ers etc they need to shore up the lines. Addressing guard is priority #1 for the Seahawks this off season. No excuses and if JS really punts on addressing guard we have to start to seriously question his vision.

Not saying that JS should go out and overpay for a guard in free agency but at the very least bringing in more talent at guard and pick the best to start after a competition while building that depth up. Panthers looked crazy for giving all that money to guards but Canales had the Panthers rolling toward the end of the season.

 

[toffee]

Our OL has received lots of attention and investment from our front office, the line was assembled ably by none other than our general manager. This line is affectionately known as the Schneider Line.

Charles Cross, our #9 overall pick.
Chris Haynes, our third round pick and first IOL drafted in 2024.
Olu Olu, our 5th round pick
Anthony Bradford, our 4th round, what a physical specimen, 6'4" 332lbs 5sec 40
Lucas, our third round pic.

Cross's the only one here that's somewhat undersized but he makes it up with athleticism.

 

[Wizofwest]

Our OL has received lots of attention and investment from our front office, the line was assembled ably by none other than our general manager. This line is affectionately known as the Schneider Line.

Charles Cross, our #9 overall pick.
Chris Haynes, our third round pick and first IOL drafted in 2024.
Olu Olu, our 5th round pick
Anthony Bradford, our 4th round, what a physical specimen, 6'4" 332lbs 5sec 40
Lucas, our third round pic.

Cross's the only one here that's somewhat undersized but he makes it up with athleticism.

This 100%. This is one of the few posts I’ve seen that acknowledges we have tried to fix the OL. Did we miss, maybe. Do we have the right coach, maybe not. Does it take time, sometimes. Do we stop trying, no.
Same in the defensive side of the ball. We need dawgs on both sides. Let’s get it done.

 

[Scout]

Our OL has received lots of attention and investment from our front office, the line was assembled ably by none other than our general manager. This line is affectionately known as the Schneider Line.

Charles Cross, our #9 overall pick.
Chris Haynes, our third round pick and first IOL drafted in 2024.
Olu Olu, our 5th round pick
Anthony Bradford, our 4th round, what a physical specimen, 6'4" 332lbs 5sec 40
Lucas, our third round pic.

Cross's the only one here that's somewhat undersized but he makes it up with athleticism.

True but I think they need to keep at it because most NFL teams need 6-7 OL they can rely on.

Seahawks are almost there but they need to keep pouring resources there.

 

[Subzero717]

It's definitely not a lack of investment. It is IMO committing to the investment. There seems to be misguided judgement when retaining said draft picks and the talent we choose to bring in during FA.

 

[Double Tribble]

After watching the SB, it was crazy how badly the Chief's oline played. They looked like the Hawks. In fact, with his two picks, Mahomes looked a lot like Geno, panicking, unable to avoid pressure, etc.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Might be the worst game he's ever played. Or it sure looked like it. Then again, people coming out after the game acting like he's overrated because he had a bad game. Hilarious. Dude has already been in 5 SB's, he's 3-2. Exactly where Brady was after 5.

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

That is a common theme with the last few Super Bowl winners. Even if you do not have an heir apparent at QB like the Bucs, Rams and Eagles they fixed the lines first and eventually found a QB to put them over the top for SB wins. Even the Chiefs who were battered by the Bucs defense in the 2020 SB were forced to remake their OL and they have Mahomes at QB. That led them to more SB victories but they ran out of steam because their OL exposed them again in the 2024 SB like the 2020 SB.

For the Hawks to compete with the teams like the Rams, Eagles, Bucs, Vikings, 49ers etc they need to shore up the lines. Addressing guard is priority #1 for the Seahawks this off season. No excuses and if JS really punts on addressing guard we have to start to seriously question his vision.

Not saying that JS should go out and overpay for a guard in free agency but at the very least bringing in more talent at guard and pick the best to start after a competition while building that depth up. Panthers looked crazy for giving all that money to guards but Canales had the Panthers rolling toward the end of the season.

I’ve been for years questioning JS’s “vision.”

This may be for me the last year I put up with JS decisions and if we don’t see drastic improvements on the offensive line, JS, needs to go after this upcoming season, honestly.

JS gets one, maybe two more years (if he shows immediate improvement)…if not, Schneider has got to go!

 

[Shane Falco]

After watching the SB, it was crazy how badly the Chief's oline played. They looked like the Hawks. In fact, with his two picks, Mahomes looked a lot like Geno, panicking, unable to avoid pressure, etc.

They had problems at LT all year. They went from Donovan Smith the previous season to a 3rd round rookie this year who didn't perform. They finally had to move their LG Thuney to LT which made them bring in a scrub at LG. That right tackle hasn't really lived up to the big contract they gave him either. I can see them going OL early in this year's draft.

 

[toffee]

Our heavily invested "Schneider Line" was built to be the second coming of "Hindenburg Line", although it performed more like "Maginot Line".

Our scouting department needs to be fired.

 

[James in PA]

And even if you are loaded along both lines, you keep drafting and developing, drafting and developing!

That is exactly what Howie R in Philly does.

 

[Shane Falco]

Our heavily invested "Schneider Line" was built to be the second coming of "Hindenburg Line", although it performed more like "Maginot Line".

Our scouting department needs to be fired.

How is it "heavily invested"? They have 1 high draft pick and no money spent on it.

 

[Shane Falco]

And even if you are loaded along both lines, you keep drafting and developing, drafting and developing!

That is exactly what Howie R in Philly does.

Exactly. Then you don't end up needing 3/4 of an oline all at once. And you allow those later round picks time to develop instead of forcing them in to early.

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

Our heavily invested "Schneider Line" was built to be the second coming of "Hindenburg Line", although it performed more like "Maginot Line".

Our scouting department needs to be fired.

Agreed

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

How is it "heavily invested"? They have 1 high draft pick and no money spent on it.

Seattles main issue is that they are not great at offensive lineman scouting and development.

That’s enough of a reason to let them go.

We understand you cannot pick pro bowler lineman all the time and cannot pay a fortune for free agents every year, but what you do get are picks and coaching. You’ve got to hit on those at least half the time
if you want to be a good solid contender every year and Seattle has shown they just are not up to par….

These are the realities, Seattle’s offensive line talent evaluation for the past decade is not great….

 

[toffee]

How is it "heavily invested"? They have 1 high draft pick and no money spent on it.

A first, three thirds?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

And it certainly didn't help that Lucas has so many games missed. Can't exactly predict injuries. He's one hell of a RT.
Also, they went and got Fant as insurance (good player) and he gets hurt. It's not always so cut and dry.

 

[Shane Falco]

To me 3rd round OL are 'draft and develop' guys. Not necessarily day 1 starters outside of the occasional surprise. So when you're line is bad to start with and you are relying on 3rd round picks or later, well that's not a good strategy. When the good teams have a weakness on the line, they take care of it in a bigger way. Either money or higher picks or even both.

 

[irfuben32]

To me 3rd round OL are 'draft and develop' guys. Not necessarily day 1 starters outside of the occasional surprise. So when you're line is bad to start with and you are relying on 3rd round picks or later, well that's not a good strategy. When the good teams have a weakness on the line, they take care of it in a bigger way. Either money or higher picks or even both.

I disagree, I think you can find quality starters in the third and fourth that can go right away. Ideally though you SHOULD be in a position to be able to develop them because you haven't been neglecting the line for a decade.

 

[Shane Falco]

I disagree, I think you can find quality starters in the third and fourth that can go right away. Ideally though you SHOULD be in a position to be able to develop them because you haven't been neglecting the line for a decade.

I didn't say you cant. I said it's more likely that you won't find guys that are good right away than guys that are. Look it up. It's a much smaller percentage of guys succeeding right away than not.