Ethan Pocic’s play this preseason has earned his spot on Seahawks roster
Aug 27, 2019, 11:57 AM | Updated: 12:40 pm
The Seahawks offensive line showed improvement in 2018. (AP)
(AP)
The Seahawks’ offensive line took a big step forward in 2018 – jumping up to 17th overall in pass-blocking efficiency by Week 16, according to Pro Football Focus – and while the starters have had limited action this preseason, 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny O’Neil and Dave Wyman are pleased with what they’ve seen from the unit.
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Even more impressive (and reassuring) has been the performance of backup guard Ethan Pocic, who looks to have cemented a spot on Seattle’s 53-man roster.
Here’s what O’Neil and Wyman had to say:
O’Neil: Pocic cemented his role on the team this offseason
“Their whole offensive line I would say for the most part has been pretty good,” O’Neil said. “Even though we haven’t seen Mike Iupati pretty much at all, Ethan Pocic’s played really well. I came into this season thinking it was unlikely that Pocic was going to make the team. I’m now certain he is going to make the team, and as a top backup. And if either Iupati or Fluker gets hurt, which is a pretty good likelihood given their age and injury history, I think Pocic is more than ready to step in.”
Wyman: Depth isn’t great, but that’s a league-wide issue
“Up until this year, Ethan Pocic let things happen to him,” Wyman said. “Now, I feel like he’s grabbed the job by the throat, like he’s going to make it work. And he’s a professional now.
“I was also really disappointed to see Joey Hunt get hurt. I don’t know how bad it is, but that was a bummer because he blocked really well too. I was sitting next to somebody and we were talking about the line, and I said the offensive line depth is not very good on this team. And he said, ‘Where is it good?’ And I’m like you’re right. You know how John Schneider always jokes, ‘Oh, I’ll just go out to the offensive line tree and pick a lineman off of it.’ There’s just not good offensive line out there. There is for first string. But I think having Pocic as a backup, and Joey Hunt as well, is really a great benefit.”
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