Seattle Seahawks Roundtable: Biggest Questions before Training Camp

Lee Vowell: Like 2016, the biggest weakness for the Seahawks this season is the offensive line. Seattle signed veteran, and so far disappointing in his career, Luke Joeckel to play either left guard or left tackle. George Fant was starting by the end of last year at left tackle and seems to be the guy this year as well. He has to be better than last year if solely because he gained experience. If Fant starts off poorly, Joeckel may move out wide if he can show he has overcome last year’s MCL injury. Justin Britt is solid at center. But Mark Glowinski is a bit unknown at right guard after moving from left guard and Germain Ifedi will be playing right tackle for the first time as a pro. I think backup Ethan Pocic was a nice pick in the second round of this year’s draft but he’s still a rookie. 

Stuart Court: …Camp will be a big thing to watch for Seahawks fans. With hope of the team settling on a starting five earlier than the past few years. George Fant and Germain Ifedi will need a ‘second year bounce’ to aid the unit. Fant appears likely to be the man at left tackle, if he settles in at the spot in 2017, that will be a long-term answer and will be a massive bonus in the 2017 season for Seattle.In at center, Justin Britt was the bright spot of the 2016 unit as he finally found a spot to thrive in on the line. He enters 2017 as a contract year and if he continues his consistent play, the deal will be forthcoming by seasons end.

While the weakest point of the Seahawks, the line has the biggest room for improvement.

Question: What are Seattle’s biggest strengths?

Stuart Court: The Seahawks, in a league where the QB is king have their’s settled. That, in the wider picture is the Seahawks biggest strength. Relying on him- after a year of injuries- is a comfort the Seahawks can lean on. Getting his running ability back will be a big key for the running game behind him and also the productivity of the Seahawks offense.While the defense will be as they have been for so many years now, the offensive strength has a chance to be special in 2017. With health not lingering over Wilson at this point, Jimmy Graham a year futher removed from his knee injury really adds to excitement of the unit.

Matched with Doug Baldwin being a top-10 WR over the past few years, that continuing and the three-pronged attack with Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy & C.J Prosise at running back really could be a fun group to watch for Seattle.

But it’s the reliability and safety in the knowledge of having the ‘franchise QB’ in place which is the Seahawks biggest strength.

Lars Russell: After years of being famous for their secondary, the vaunted Legion of Boom, the biggest strength now is probably the defensive line rotation. Starting pass rushers Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett both went to the Pro Bowl, and their third-down specialist Frank Clark totalled 10 sacks in his second year. Clark is only 23, and has a chance to become the most fearsome force on this defense in 2017. 

Question: What are your biggest questions headed into the Seahawks’ 2017 season?

Question: What are you most excited for in Seattle’s upcoming season?

Lee Vowell: That the Seahawks seem to always be in contention. They have been to two Super Bowls recently. Do I expect them to win a championship in 2017? No, but I expect them to have a chance. 

Stuart Court: …On the field, seeing the Wilson/Graham/Baldwin trifecta is really something I’m pumped to see.Outside of that the impact of the rookies from the 2017 class. Namely Malik McDowell, Shaq Griffin and Amara Darboh. Getting work and production from those three will say a lot for not only the make-up of the 2017 roster but also decisions the team could make in 2018.

Before the opening of NFL training camps around the league, we asked some writers around the internet to answer questions about their teams. Stay posted for the entire NFL Roundtable series which covers teams from the NFC West and AFC West.