Seattle is strong in every unit — except one.
The Seattle Seahawks are a darn fine football team — one of the best. But, they are by no means without flaws.
Seattle’s most glaring weakness is a weakness that Miami Dolphins fans have known all too well in previous years: an offensive line that’s put together with Duct Tape and made out of Swiss cheese.
This article was by no means was written while wearing aqua colored glasses — “just the facts, Ma’am”.
And with an injury on Wednesday at the Seattle’s practice, the possibility of an upset just became a little bit better.
Okay, let’s lay it out machine-gun style:
In 2015, the Dolphins Offensive Line was terrible — who can forget…even if you try to.
But, do you realize that Seattle’s was one of THE worst as well!! PFF ranked them 30 out of 32. And the cherry on top is that their best linemen, Russell Okung, left in free agency.
You remember all the talk of Miami having Talented Tackles play guard and how that was going to be an issue?! Well Seattle’s Right Tackle Jusin Britt was moved to Right Guard last year and is playing center this year…and, hold your hats, he finished as the second-worst LG behind only Miami’s Dallas Thomas!!!
Left Guard Mark Glowinski, a 7th round pick, has had all of one NFL start.
Left Tackle Bradley Sowell has started 12 games, all in 2013, where he finished ranked 76th out of 76 tackles by PFF!!
Seattle is an excellent team built on a sand foundation of a weak O-Line.
Undrafted Right Tackle Gary Gilliam, the most experienced starting O-linemen with 17 starts, had a horrendous 37. 7 grade in 2015 and allowed the 3rd most pressures by a tackle last year.
2016 first round pick, Right Guard Germain Ifedi allowed the release of former Pro Bowl G Jahri Evans; well Ifedi has suffered a high-ankle sprain and is a scratch. In his place is 3rd rd pick rookie Rees Odhiambo, who played Tackle in college, but he won’t likely be the starter…
…Back-up Tackle J’Marcus Webb who started for the Raiders in 2015 as a guard is — and he was ranked dead last and was a disaster for the Bears when he played tackle in 2014.
That’s right, Seattle has only 6 linemen going into this week…
…Ohh, 7 if you include 6’0” tall 6th rd pick rookie Center Hunt — at least Russel Wilson will be able see over him to a clear passing lane.
So, after seeing this “Offensive Line”, you’re saying to me that Miami has no chance? Really!!! No chance?
Okay, let’s look at this further by comparing Miami’s D-Line v.s Seattle’s O-Line.
Webb and Britt will likely have to double Suh 99.9 of the time.
That will mean Phillips, Mitchell or Warmsley will be perpetually one-on-one with Glowinski, who can’t for all practical purposes take a breather.
This will also mean that Seattle will have “3rd most pressures” Gilliam and “Mr. 76 out-of 76” Sowell one-on-one with Williams, Wake, Jones, Branch and Fede — again without relief.
I’ll bet on them with the best pay per head sportsbook websites 100% of the time.
We aren’t also adding in the factor of the Wide-Nine which will stress the kicks, speed and athletic talents of “3rd most pressures” and “Mr. 76 out-of 76” to the Nth degree.
In response, they will have to keep backs and TE’s in to block and that will restrict options in scheme and play calls.
Now, I get it. Wilson will use mobility and miss-direction, and Seattle with have 290lb FB Tupou bearing down on Alonso in the run game.
So, I’m not saying this is a cake walk — not even close.
But, we have heard to no end how games won in the trenches and have had a bird’s eye view of the effects of having a terrible Offensive Line.
The Dolphins have huge edge in experience, depth and talent.
So, no chance? No way that’s correct!
Miami’ strength will be faced against Seattle’s weakness and that must offer hope to even the most skeptical. At least it should. Go Fins!!!