Despite criticisms, Russell Okung sees progress for Seahawks’ O-line

Veteran offensive lineman Russell Okung called Seattle's penalties "drive-killers" but sees positives in Seattle's up-tempo offense.

BY ERIC MANDEL

Nov 18, 2015, 11:36 AM Updated: 1:02 pm

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Russell Okung called Seattle's up-tempo offense "a curveball" that can be dangerous with their weapons. (AP)

(AP)

Despite continued criticisms of the Seahawks’ offensive line, veteran tackle Russell Okung said the group is progressing “very well” in terms of technique and players understanding assignment.

“Guys are looking a lot better than we were in the past,” Okung said on “Danny, Dave and Moore” on 710 ESPN Seattle. “And I knew this day would come, I knew that we’d be more dependable up front and we’re doing it. So we just got to keep pushing it and, before you know it, we’re going to be breaking bigger runs and protecting the quarterback a lot better. Throwing no-hitters.”

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The Seahawks allowed two sacks and rushed for just 115 yards Sunday against Arizona, but it was the season-high 14 penalties that might have been most costly. A handful of those flags were called on the offensive line. Okung said the mistakes were “drive-killers.”

“We pride ourselves in being really methodical in our approach if you want to have good success down the field,” he said. “You have those penalties and you go from being possible second-and-5 to first-and-20, and that just can’t happen.”

Okung said the up-tempo offense Seattle employed later in the game worked well.

“It’s a nice change-up,” he said. “We’re definitely a team that’s in shape and a team that can really go that type of distance. A lot of teams have a hard time keeping up, especially with the weapons we have. It was a curveball (Sunday) and we saw some success doing it.”

Prior to the up-tempo offense, the Cardinals took a 5-0 lead in the second quarter on a safety that Okung took the fall for. He said the play was supposed to be a screen-pass, but that he lost his leverage on the defensive end, when he was supposed to force him either up field or inside.

“I guess I just went too far and I just kind of bumped into (quarterback Russell Wilson),” he said. “I definitely take the blame for that.”