Pete Carroll: ‘Competition is on’ for starting spot on Seahawks’ O-line
Sep 20, 2017, 2:06 PM | Updated: 2:16 pm
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll hinted at changes this week on offense. (AP)
(AP)
Changes are coming to the Seahawks’ offense. As far as where we’ll see them, though, we don’t know for sure – head coach Pete Carroll hasn’t been too specific – but all signs seem to point toward a shift at right guard.
Asked Wednesday whether the current five starting offensive linemen will start Sunday against the Titans, Carroll said, “Gotta wait and see. Competition. Compete.”
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The Seahawks coach fosters an environment in which competition is a core value, so the idea of shuffling on the O-line isn’t unfamiliar territory. However, Carroll’s comments this week indicate that there will be a change sooner, rather than later.
“I think (current starting right guard) Mark Glowinski had some struggles, and Oday Aboushi was kind of 1A and 1B there at that spot anyway,” Seattle Times beat writer Bob Condotta said during Brock and Salk’s Blue 42 segment Wednesday. “I think there’s a shot they might look to him and go that route.”
Carroll mentioned Aboushi, Matt Tobin and rookie Ethan Pocic as players who are pushing for a spot on Monday.
“Oday’s done a really good job, (Ethan) Pocic’s done a really good job, Matt Tobin’s showing us that he can play too, so there are some guys that are available,” Carroll said. “It’s hard to get very many guys on game day up with the numbers and all of that, but the competition is on. The question came up where ‘what are the things we are going to do’, we’re looking to make sure that we keep it at the right edge to get better. We have to keep improving.”
A fourth-round draft pick from 2015, Glowinski has appeared in 27 regular season games with the Seahawks. Carroll had praise for the 25-year-old guard during training camp, when he complimented Glowinski’s aggressiveness and growth from his rookie year to now.
Competing at right guard with Glowinski would be Aboushi, whom Seattle signed to a one-year deal in March. The two frequently rotated in and out of the starting lineup during camp, and the right guard spot was the last starting position to be settled. The 6-feet-5, 315-pound guard has previously appeared in 26 games through three seasons, first with the Jets and later with the Texans. He made one start for Seattle during the preseason at left guard to fill in for an injured Luke Joeckel.
The remainder of the line would otherwise appear to be set, with Germain Ifedi at right tackle, Justin Britt at center, Luke Joeckel at left guard and Rees Odhiambo at left tackle.
