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Seattle's tackles turn on the health of Walter Jones.

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Seattle Seahawks
Blogger: John Morgan

I’m in a tough spot. There was a time I would guess about Walter Jones. I would guess if he’s healthy enough to play and if healthy enough to play, at what level. I won’t do that. Because of that, Seattle’s tackle ranking is incomplete. Jones is one of the five best offensive tackles to ever play in the NFL. Even as late as last year, he played at a high level. He turned 35 this January. He ended last season on IR and underwent some kind of microfracture surgery. The success rate for players of his age, weight and who play a line position is not good, but that’s for all microfracture surgeries. The team insists this was a "minor" surgery and that Jones will be ready by training camp.

Primary right tackle Sean Locklear is Seattle’s immediate depth behind Jones. Locklear started two games at left tackle last season. His first, against New England, matched him opposite future Hall of Fame defensive end Richard Seymour. Seymour is a matchup nightmare for Locklear. Locklear has a few above average skills. He mirror slides very well and is rarely beat around the edge. His overall footwork allows him to play well in space or when isolated, and he does a great job of keeping himself between the quarterback and the defender. He has decent blocking technique and can get under defenders, but isn’t a mauler and isn’t overpowering. Seymour is powerhouse end that’s made a career out of overwhelming, overpowering and outlasting opposing tackles. He targets Locklear’s greatest weakness: The ability to sustain blocks especially against a bull rush. Yet Locklear held his own. He played strong against Seymour and looked capable of becoming a competent left tackle.

Seattle didn’t get many chances to test Locklear’s aptitude. He was lost for the season one week later. Kyle Williams started the next two games. It took a lot of game-planning, but Seattle survived. Should Williams start, Seattle would almost certainly have one of the worst regulars at left tackle in the NFL, but he’s starter capable. The Seahawks are legitimately three-deep at left tackle. There’s good if not substantial proof that Seattle could start Jones, Locklear or Williams at left tackle and field a capable offense.

The other big body in the tackle mix is Ray Willis. Tim Ruskell drafted him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. Willis is a huge body, hugely powerful and surprisingly athletic. He doesn’t handle the edge rush well and is a confirmed right tackle, but given tight end help or a chip when needed and he’s a good enough overall pass blocker. He is a very good run blocker and capable of being great. With a healthy Jones, Willis probably starts at right guard or works as a super-sub. Locklear starts at right and is a potential league-best pass-blocking right tackle. It was Seattle’s pass blocking that made its 2007 passing offensive possible.

The Seahawks could toy with Max Unger at tackle, but probably won’t. For deep depth there’s Na’Shan Goddard, who’s more size than athlete, and William Robinson, who’s more athlete than size. (He’s built like a basketball player.) The grade flexes on Jones. Without him it’s an average unit that could collapse. Greater exposure may prove Locklear incapable of playing left tackle. Neither Locklear nor Willis are consistently healthy. There’s "A" potential and there’s "F" potential. I’ll put my faith in Walter and call it a "B".

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch