What does the OL look like when Fant returns next year?

[jammerhawk]

Well first off, our OT went from perilously thin, to extremely deep.

By adding to the depth from the top down, it pushes everyone back a slot. The benefits should be that Fant will be able to develop and recuperate from his injury fully. No need to rush him back. Tobin can learn the offense and develop and be a very useful 4th OT option. He should be pretty easy to retain.

Pocic can afford to focus on getting playing time in the interior this year. While still being groomed to backup at OT as a 5th emergency starter. His progression now takes a more focused shape and should accelerate at a faster pace. The signing of Britt this offseason probably means we're focusing in the offseason to get a backup center. Preferably a guy currently on the roster.

Odhiambo is an interior OL. He was embarrassingly miscast as a LT and really had to do it due to circumstance. His development at OG can now continue to take shape. With the addition of Brown going forward, instead of being LT #2, he's OT #6. I really do feel for the guy as he has always been ill equipped to play LT. That was really never the plan with him even last year (remember, we started Fant with no experience in football instead of played Rees there). He basically had to because we had nobody else. Going into 2018, we're absolutely flush at OT.

It's also worth noting, that Rees now has experience at both OG and OT. Athletic. By all accounts a quick study of the game. Odhiambo is the kind of player who has taken a similar road as Britt. I'd see Rees as an obvious candidate to be the backup Center/OG that frees up Pocic to start. And gives us literally three deep at OC without adding a player to the roster.

Brown extends the development period for Fant. And also gives us a punt on OT in terms of dire draft need. Seattle can afford to take a 2 year approach to finding another OT. Not that I necessarily think that would be wise. This upcoming draft has some very good tier 2 OT prospects that should be available in a trade back scenario to the 2nd round. But the point is, Seattle can strike when opportunity presents as it should in 2018.

Also depending on how Pocic/Odhiambo develop as interior players -- it presents a possible flexibility in resigning Joeckel. That's a big contract. But he's also shown to be largely worth the money. Seattle will need cap flexibility to keep players. I wouldn't want to run Luke out of town, but if it comes down to playing Pocic/Odhiambo at OG and keeping Sheldon Richardson -- I think I live with that.

There is a laundry list of benefits that this OL is receiving by adding Brown to the mix. Really his addition puts 4-5 guys on a more ideal development and starting schedule for this year and next.

Great Post!!!

Very much agree.

 

[GLio14]

Who said Fant will be back next year? His injury was very serious....too early to tell

He tore his ACL, he didn't lose his leg. He'll be good to go.

I'd put him on the right side if anything. Put Ifedi at RG, Fant at RT.

 

[AgentDib]

Long-term planning is about giving the team options in future years rather than deciding who will be starting where. Managing a team under a salary cap is about finding players who provide value above their contract figures, and the highest bang for the buck in this CBA are players on their first contract. The important trick is to work youth in a little at a time, exactly as we are doing with Pocic this season.

The good news for the OL is we have a lot of young players under inexpensive contracts. We now have until 2019 to figure out whether Fant and Glow fit in long-term, while Rees, Roos, and Ifedi are all under contract until 2020.

 

[Seafan]

If Ifedi keeps up his stupidity, Fant to RT.

I think Fant beats Ifedi out in camp, easily. Ifedi can move into RG.

Brown Pocic Britt Ifedi Fant

That could be an amazing line and affordable. With Rees, Roos, Glowinski as backups.

 

[toffee]

If Ifedi keeps up his stupidity, Fant to RT.

I think Fant beats Ifedi out in camp, easily. Ifedi can move into RG.

Brown Pocic Britt Ifedi Fant

That could be an amazing line and affordable. With Rees, Roos, Glowinski as backups.

Assuming Fant and adapt to playing on the right side, I like your line up of : Brown Pocic Britt Ifedi Fant

When Brown retires in couple of years, Fant can move back to LT, and Ifedi or Pocic to RT. That way, we will have continuity and not bad for a home grown OL.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

Two Deep.

Brown, Fant
Pocic, Odhiambo
Britt, Hunt
Roos, Glowinski
Ifedi, Tobin

I think Roos is going to be real good. Average athleticism compared to a JR Sweezy. But Roos is more stout, much stronger in terms of entering the league. He's built to handle a NT. I'm excited. Brown and Pocic (potentially) are smooth operaters, master technicians. Roos and Ifedi would be brute force, super smash bros. Britt is becoming a pretty solid OC.

 

[Hawks46]

If Ifedi keeps up his stupidity, Fant to RT.

I think Fant beats Ifedi out in camp, easily. Ifedi can move into RG.

Brown Pocic Britt Ifedi Fant

That could be an amazing line and affordable. With Rees, Roos, Glowinski as backups.

Ifedi can easily move to RG, but he wasn't very good there.