The Seattle Seahawks' offensive line was a major weakness last year despite the team finishing 10-7. They allowed 54 sacks, which was tied for the third-most in the NFL. Only the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns, who combined to win eight games, allowed more sacks.
Making matters even worse, they were rarely able to create holes in the running game. The Seahawks' 95.7 rushing yards per game were the fifth-fewest in the NFL. Fixing the offensive line was a major focus for John Schneider, Mike Macdonald and staff this offseason and they made that clear as they used the 18th overall pick to select Grey Zabel.
The unit has looked much improved in the preseason as Seattle has averaged 219.0 rushing yards per game and given up just one sack. While there is still plenty of work to do, a recent report listed Zabel as one of the top performing rookies in Week 2 of the preseason.
Seahawks OL Grey Zabel receives praise for standout preseason performance
Anytime a team is able to run the ball for 268 yards (174 of which came in the first half) the offensive line likely had a big day. That was the case in the Seahawks' 33-16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. The strong showing followed a 170-yard performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in the preseason opener.
While Klint Kubiak's playcalling has been very impressive, Seattle's offensive line has shown signs of a major turnaround. Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report ranked Zabel as the fourth-best rookie in Week 2 of the preseason, writing:
"It's important to understand what Seattle is trying to accomplish and how rookie guard Grey Zabel fits in the mix. The 23-year-old primarily started at left tackle for North Dakota State. He made four starts at left guard during his collegiate career. Even so, the transition to the position on a full-time basis has gone smoothly, mainly because of his movement skills. The heavier reliance on zone-blocking plays to Zabel's strength. This year's 18th overall pick is reaching defenders and getting to the second level at a consistent basis, which makes the system so effective. As a pass-blocker, he has yet to allow a pressure during the preseason, per Pro Football Focus."
While the preseason is more about evaluating talent and less about results, the Seahawks have to be pleased with the early return on their first-round pick. Zabel, and the offensive line as a whole, will have to prove that their preseason results are legitimate when the regular season starts.
If Seattle is able to get consistent production from their offensive line, it is likely that they will be able to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022. The Seahawks will have one final preseason test before opening the regular season at home against the division rival San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 7.
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