In the NFL, players are always one injury away from getting thrown into the starting lineup, or as we can see with a couple current Seattle Seahawks, being dropped from the starting lineup.
The Seahawks brass brought in one somewhat noteworthy offensive lineman, after losing two stalwarts along the line in Russell Okung and JR Sweezy. Enter J'Marcus Webb most recently from the Oakland Raiders, who was projected to start at right tackle. However as is known to happen in the NFL, injuries have kept him off the field, and he is still listed as questionable for Week 2 of preseason.
In his place, Gary Gilliam has slid over to right tackle after many around the Puget Sound thought that he would be pegged fill Okung's shoes at left tackle, protecting Russell Wilson's blindside. Bradley Sowell who came over from the Cardinals is now projected to take on that tall task, and based on the line's performance Week 1 against the Chiefs, Pete Carroll seems to be sticking with the same five along the line. The same unit has been together with the 1's all week so far, and it looks like that is the unit the Hawks will trot out there against the Minnesota Vikings.
Another Seahawk losing ground to his backups due to injury is Thomas Rawls. Rawls has been taken off the PUP list, but the projected no. 2 Christine Michael finally backed up the rave reviews with a solid performance against the Chiefs. Both Carroll and Darrell Bevell love to rave about Michael, and have gone to great lengths this summer to a) again rave about him and b) go out of their way to explain why this year is different.
Thus it may be possible not that Rawls will lose his starting job, but more likely he could lose carries. Especially early on as the coaching staff will be able to cling to the excuse of bringing Rawls back slowly. As a fan, I can not get behind such a move, even though I do sincerely hope that Michael has refocused and is indeed a changed man/player. But he's been built up before, only to tear his own self down.
Something to keep in mind though with both the new o-line and Michael is that the Chiefs were missing some key figures along their defensive front. Therefore this weekend against the Vikings will either validate or negate the quality both showed last Saturday.
Photo: Flickr/Keith Allison
the offensive line will be a major source of conjecture and interest (at least) in the early going.
Would love to see C-Mike become a capable RB2 in the system. 6-10 scheduled carries per game with the potential to give the coaches the 'hot hand' option week in, week out is *exactly* where his value would be maximized.