Seahawks searching for a center midstream, on an offense already missing Russell Wilson
The middle of the season is a sub-optimal time to change to a competition at one of the more important spots on an offense already missing its franchise quarterback.
But what about this Seahawks season is optimal?
Seattle continues to pay for what it decided not to pay and draft for this past offseason, at center.
Ethan Pocic, the 2020 starter whose performance preceded the team having Kyle Fuller compete with him for the 2021 job, will play at center Sunday when the Seahawks (2-5) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5). Coach Pete Carroll said that on Wednesday.
“Ethan deserves a chance to get out there,” Carroll said. “So we are looking forward to him playing some this week.”
Carroll would not specify whether Pocic or Fuller will start against Jacksonville.
Pocic was a backup tackle and guard his first three NFL seasons for the Seahawks. They drafted him in the second round in 2017, as college center from LSU.
Pocic last played on offense for 14 plays alternating some with Fuller in the Seahawks’ opener at Indianapolis Sept. 12, one of the team’s two wins. Pocic went on injured reserve with a knee injury three days later.
Seattle activated him from IR Oct. 15. He’s played four special-teams snaps in each of the last two games.
Fuller was a part-time backup guard and tackle his first four seasons in the NFL, with Houston (2017-18), Washington (late 2018) and Seattle (2019-20). This offseason Carroll and line coach Mike Solari moved Fuller to his college position , where he had started only one game in four NFL seasons, last November when Pocic was out with a concussion. Fuller was a three-year starter at center for Baylor (2014-16).
Carroll said during training camp it was a natural fit, that Fuller instantly looked more comfortable and effective at center than previously on the line.
Then Pocic had an injured hamstring at the start of training camp. He stayed hurt much of August. Fuller won what Carroll expected would be a heated camp battle almost by default. Pocic wasn’t fully available to compete for the job he may not have won, anyway.
Last offseason, center and left guard were the pressing issues on Seattle’s offense — particularly after quarterback Russell Wilson complained publicly, loudly, in February “I’m frustrated with getting hit too much.” Left guard Mike Iupati retired. If Pocic was that strong at center last season, the coaches wouldn’t have had Fuller competing with him so openly for the job this summer.
The Seahawks eventually addressed left guard by trading a fifth-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders to add veteran Gabe Jackson.
Seattle didn’t do anything to upgrade at center.
The Seahawks declined not to get into what became an expensive free-agent market for center in March. Corey Linsley left Green Bay to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers for five years and $62.5 million, the richest deal in NFL history for a center. Also in free agency this spring, 35-year-old veteran Alex Mack signed for three years and $14.85 million, including a $3,675,000 signing bonus with Seattle division-rival San Francisco 49ers.
The Seahawks didn’t use one of their franchise-record-low three draft choices on a center this spring. Their top pick was wide receiver Dee Eskridge in round two. The speedy wide receiver returned this week from Florida seeing specialists there for a concussion.
The Seahawks then drafted rookie cornerback Tre Brown. He was on injured reserve until debuting part time at cornerback two games ago. The third selection was offensive tackle Stone Forsythe. The sixth-round pick has been a healthy inactive player for five of the seven games.
Now the Seahawks have uncertainty midway through a trying season at a position Carroll said Wednesday is “very important” in coordinator Shane Waldron’s system.
“We have to be consistently on it, with our calls,” before snaps, Carroll said of his line’s play.
The center makes those calls.
Center is certainly important to fill-in quarterback Geno Smith, who is playing his first games in four years while Wilson heals from finger surgery.
Now after doing nothing to address center this offseason, the Seahawks are trying to settle on Pocic or Fuller — while trying to keep the season meaningful.
Asked if center has gone according to his plan for 2021, Carroll said: “No, of course not.”
“Because Ethan didn’t get to stay in the competition,” Carroll said. “Ethan started (14) games for us last year to start the season, was doing really well. I had anticipated that it would be a battle, that we’d have like kind of a classic competition. It didn’t work out that way. He had to step aside because he was hurt, and Kyle took over and had worked really hard at this spot and done all right.
“But Ethan also deserves a chance to play, too.”
This story was originally published October 27, 2021 at 4:20 PM.
