Seahawks Lineman Wahle Retires

[Coachnorm]

Mike Wahle has decided to retire from football after being released by the Seahawks Friday. Wahle was a Free Agent brought in to shore up the O line awhile back. Recently he has been fighting shoulder injuries. He failed his pre-camp physical and was dropped right then.

Rookie Max Unger is expected to move into the starting lineup, with Rob Sims possibly moving to the left side.

Adam Caplan, of Scout.com, reports the Seattle Seahawks options to take over a starting guard position are OL Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto and rookie Max Unger.

Mike Sando, of ESPN.com, reports Seattle Seahawks OT Sean Locklear could see some time at offensive guard.

Mike Sando, of ESPN.com, reports the Seattle Seahawks are easing OT Walter Jones (knee) back into action. Jones will not participate in football drills for a while. Rehabbing from kne surgery.

Seahawks signed C/G Cory Withrow as a depth move. rookie Max Unger is a candidate to start at guard. Withrow will back up at both guard and center if he makes the squad.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

What will be the impact?

 

[Coachnorm]

Hard to put a finger on it exactly. Wahle was hoped to be andanchor but recently has had 2 shoulder surgeries. Now as you look at the Seahawks draft they obviously anticipated this to some degree. Some new faces, new places but added talent should make the Seahawks line better overall from last years squad. It is good that they have put the Wahle experiment entirely behind them so the can synch the new pieces together for the entire camp and preseason. Last year the line was a big problem, this year they probably start out as an average line that gels into a good one.

 

[Arctic Dawgs]

Hard to put a finger on it exactly. Wahle was hoped to be andanchor but recently has had 2 shoulder surgeries. Now as you look at the Seahawks draft they obviously anticipated this to some degree. Some new faces, new places but added talent should make the Seahawks line better overall from last years squad. It is good that they have put the Wahle experiment entirely behind them so the can synch the new pieces together for the entire camp and preseason. Last year the line was a big problem, this year they probably start out as an average line that gels into a good one.

I can't see what they did in the draft that makes you think they anticipated it. Unger was drafted to replace the only high pick that Ruskell has ever used on an Olineman while in Seattle, Spencer. If you look at the depth chart LG is the only position listed without a backup.

"better than last years squad" ?? It is last years squad. Do Not put your $$ on Hass making it through the season healthy.
:shake:

Anyone who has read anything I have posted for the last couple years will know how badly Seattle needed to draft a TOP OT/OG (not a 4th/5th rounder). Back to Wahle, it's been said that he is not well-suited to the ZBS scheme that the 'Hawks have gone to. That is why Car let him go.

If Unger can take over the play calling at the line and Spencer can move to LG, then we may see an improved line IF Walter comes back healthy. Otherwise you are looking at a repeat of last years Oline at best

 

[Arctic Dawgs]

By the way, Sando is an idiot regarding the Seahawks.

And Locklear will not be playing Guard. Other than Jones and maybe Unger, he the best lineman they have. That should tell you how bad this line can be

 

[WesDawg]

I think you may have a little alarmist in you, bud. Only because you of all people knew how high I was on Unger coming into the draft and I REALLY hoped Pittsburgh would land him. He's got the flexibility and intelligence to move all over that line and still make the calls for the blocking schemes and blitz pickups. When you introduce a guy such as that into your O-line, it often has a trickle-down effect on the other 4 dudes.
Hopefully that will be the case for your 'Hawks.

 

[Arctic Dawgs]

Granted, That was my initial unresearched alarmist reaction. After checking a few of the Seahawk forums and local (Seattle) papers, here are some highs and lows of the Oline situation.

I don't like Sando, but this is fair

Mike Sando, he of the fleet fingers and prolific blogging, is first in with the composition of today's first string offensive line.

The Seahawks' first-team offensive line, left to right, featured Sean Locklear, Rob Sims, Chris Spencer, Mansfield Wrotto and Ray Willis.
​

That's not an impressive bunch of names, but it's not a terrible group of talent. Locklear is (probably) a steady-enough left tackle. Sims is, again, steady and the two form a pretty good pass blocking left side. Spencer is rounded and the most talented of this bunch. The right side would be scary against any kind of strong pass rush, but if they're not refined, they're barbaric too. Wrotto and Willis are a couple of maulers cut from the same cloth. It's a little odd to see Sims at left and Wrotto at right, but I've read Tim Ruskell that thinks left is Sims natural position. Hmmm. Anyway, this unit will not be a good unit, it will likely be a below average unit, but it isn't a crippling unit and it might be a fivesome we see at some point this season.

Calling Spencer the most talented of the bunch is very scary. He's considered a bust as a center, but most feel if Unger is able to take over the line calling he'd (Spencer) be a good OG.

something funny going on here ??

Mora tried to minimize the impact, saying the team needed to make it just a "hiccup" before moving on. Rob Sims was moved over to left guard and Mansfield Wrotto and Max Unger will be given shots at Sims' old right guard spot.
Sean Locklear also will be given a look at guard, if Ray Willis can take over the right tackle position where he saw considerable time with the first unit Friday.
"It's a bit of a puzzle," said Mora, who'll spend much of camp figuring out which five players form the best unit up front.
Of course, one part of the puzzle that won't be moved is Jones on the left side. That anchor remains firmly in place, even if his recovering leg allowed him only to work during the first part of Friday's drills as he takes his return slow.

Locklear just got a big $$ extention as Jones heir apparent, and now he's gonna play RG ??

WTF :hmmm:

One with pieces that are still moving after Mike Wahle's release on Thursday. Rob Sims moved from right to left guard and Mansfield Wrotto practiced as the first-string right guard. But at some point in training camp, Wrotto could also see some time at center.

Unger's expectations
Rob Sims moved to first-string left guard after the release of Mike Wahle, leaving an opening at right guard. Mansfield Wrotto practiced there with the first unit and Max Unger worked with the second string. Is it possible Unger — a rookie from Oregon — can begin the season as the starter? "It's too early for me to say that," Mora said. "When we drafted him in the second round, we certainly felt, at some point he'd be a starter. I don't know if it'll be the first game, the first year, the second year."

Overall, I don't think the loss of Wahle is going to make much of a differance to this unit though

 

[Arctic Dawgs]

email from Fanball

Aug 03, 2009 04:56 PM CDT
Jones misses practice
The News
Walter Jones missed Monday's practice due to back spasms, according to the Seattle Times.
Our View
The team does not believe the ailment is serious, but Jones has been slated for an MRI. The former elite tackle is 35 and coming off microfracture knee surgery.

Best be keeping an eye on this

 

[Kingdome]

They need to keep Walt going at a minimum until late in the preseason. It worked just fine back in the franchise tag days.

 

[Sgt John]

Unger was a great draft pick because he can play so many positions on that line.

 

[1 Crazy Commish]

One of the best OL 's we (Pack)had in 2000's