2013 Seattle Seahawks - SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!

[DanoooME]

Looks like it's time for this with all the moves they are making.
 
First, the Harvin trade, dealing 1st and 7th rounders this year and a 3rd next year for Percy Harvin, who was signed for 6 years, $67M with $25.5M guaranteed.
 
Second, Leon Washington is cut, saving a little over $2M on the cap.
 
Third, Seahawks sign DE Cliff Avril from Detroit for 2 years, $15M
 
Fourth, DT Jason Jones signed with the aforementioned Lions for 3 years, $9.5M including a $2.5M signing bonus.
 
They are certainly making a bigger splash than I expected in the trade/FA market.
 
Now they need DTs, a WLB, RT, and some extra depth and that's about it.

 

[soxfan121]

Now they need DTs, a WLB, RT, and some extra depth and that's about it.

 
The additions of Jones & Avril have me a bit confused with how the Hawks plan to deploy all these players. I assume Bryant is a core component of the first down/base package. I assume Avril is a 3-down player because you're not paying him $7.5M/season to exclusively rush the passer. I assume Irvin is involved in the third down/nickel package and that Jones is too. How does this shake out in your opinion?
 
EDIT: Saw your post in the other thread that partially addresses this question AND saw Jones coming and not going. Apologies. 

 

[DanoooME]

121, you pretty much nailed it that Bryant is a key run stopper and Avril will likely play a lot of snaps.  Right away, Avril takes Clemons' slot with Irvin on the other side on 3rd down.  Clemons was the only lineman to consistently play 3 downs.  Irvin is a pass rush specialist (although there's hope for more), and the DTs (Branch, Brandon Mebane, Jones, McDonald and Scruggs) were pretty much a rotation based on their abilities and rest needed.  Jones is gone as noted previously and Branch is a UFA and may or may not be back.  They love McDonald and Scruggs as part of the rotation, but Mebane is slipping and they really need a solid run presence in the middle.
 
When Clemons comes back?  Hard to say.  I presume Avril may get some time inside at that point, because Irvin is definitely an edge rusher and wouldn't work well inside.  And Clemons has been very effective outside and doesn't really have the size to consistently rush the passer from inside, although they had him line up occasionally there last season.  Maybe they'll keep all 3 on the field and stack two of them outside the tackle giving opposing OLs something to think about.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Harvin is a beast but that deal looks pretty awful given how the market shaped up for slot guys.

 

[mpx42]

When Clemons comes back?  Hard to say.  I presume Avril may get some time inside at that point, because Irvin is definitely an edge rusher and wouldn't work well inside.  And Clemons has been very effective outside and doesn't really have the size to consistently rush the passer from inside, although they had him line up occasionally there last season.  Maybe they'll keep all 3 on the field and stack two of them outside the tackle giving opposing OLs something to think about.

 
Can Avril play inside? I'm not sure he would fare any better at it then Clemons - they're about the same size and Avril isn't exactly noted for his run stopping abilities.

 

[mpx42]

Looks like it's time for this with all the moves they are making.
 
First, the Harvin trade, dealing 1st and 7th rounders this year and a 3rd next year for Percy Harvin, who was signed for 6 years, $67M with $25.5M guaranteed.
 
Second, Leon Washington is cut, saving a little over $2M on the cap.
 
Third, Seahawks sign DE Cliff Avril from Detroit for 2 years, $15M
 
Fourth, DT Jason Jones signed with the aforementioned Lions for 3 years, $9.5M including a $2.5M signing bonus.
 
They are certainly making a bigger splash than I expected in the trade/FA market.
 
Now they need DTs, a WLB, RT, and some extra depth and that's about it.

 
Also they can save a bunch of money by trading Flynn, no need to pay your backup $9m two years in a row. Though they'll have to keep some flexibility towards paying Sherman/Thomas/Wilson/Browner/Chancellor/Wagner/Okung in the next few years.

 

[Tony C]

If they can't trade him, they can always cut him. The contract, by the way, isn't for 9 million per, it breaks down as:
 

2012: $4.0M ($2.0M pro-rated signing bonus + $2.0M base)
2013: $7.25M ($2.0M pro-rated signing bonus + $5.25M base)
2014: $8.25M ($2.0M pro-rated signing bonus + $6.25M base)

 
per cap hit, if he's traded it's still a 3.25 million cap hit for the Hawks, and if he's cut it's a $6 million hit on the cap. Bottom line, at those terms worth keeping him around as he'd be a good back-up unless there's a least a decent offer.

 

[DanoooME]

And another addition to the pass rush as they sign DE Michael Bennett away from Tampa for the low, low price of 1 year, $5 million.
 
Kind of surprises me, as I thought they'd look inside for a DT, but if he helps the pass rush, I'm all for it.

 

[soxfan121]

So, no Clemons this year? The recovery or the injury had to be more severe than reported for the Hawks to bring in two edge rushers with Clemons and Irvin already on the roster. 

 

[Super Nomario]

Bennett's kind of big, 275-280 lbs. He could be an interior rusher on passing downs.

 

[ragnarok725]

Bennett's kind of big, 275-280 lbs. He could be an interior rusher on passing downs.

 
He did that regularly in TB - or at least I read about him doing it regularly when I was researching him for the Fantasy draft. He was apparently pretty effective doing it.

 

[DanoooME]

So, no Clemons this year? The recovery or the injury had to be more severe than reported for the Hawks to bring in two edge rushers with Clemons and Irvin already on the roster. 

 
Nothing official, or even unofficial, but that's the speculation at this point.  It's nice to actually have more than one guy that can rush the passer!  (see Kearney, Patrick; see also Kennedy, Cortez).  Just so you know how bad the Hawks have had it, Clemons has been here 3 years and is already 8th in career sacks for the Seahawks.
 
If they could clone Cortez, circa 1992, this defense would be unstoppable.

 

[Compass Rosy]

Nothing official, or even unofficial, but that's the speculation at this point.  It's nice to actually have more than one guy that can rush the passer!  (see Kearney, Patrick; see also Kennedy, Cortez).  Just so you know how bad the Hawks have had it, Clemons has been here 3 years and is already 8th in career sacks for the Seahawks.
 
If they could clone Cortez, circa 1992, this defense would be unstoppable.

 
Here! Here! 
Maybe it's like the old baseball adage: "You can never have too much pitching!"
You can never have too many sacs, tackles and forced fumbles!

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

I've looked at the Seahawks website , but do any of you know how much season tickets are for this coming season? Not seeing anything but a link for a season ticket deposit. I'm assuming the waiting list is long, but I have a friend that's been a diehard fan since forever and is trying to get me to bite on splitting a package. Thinking someone in this forum would know possibly.  

 

[mpx42]

http://www.seahawks.com/tickets/seating-map.html

 

[DanoooME]

Updating the flurry of moves over the past month or so:
 
1. Traded Matt Flynn to the Raiders for a 2014 5th rounder and a 2015 conditional pick saving a couple of million on the cap.
2. Re-signed DT Clinton McDonald to his RFA tender of $1.323M.
3. Signed DT Tony McDaniel (Dolphins) to a 1 year deal
4. Signed WR Brett Swain to a 2 year deal - not sure why, there's one maybe two WR spots open.  He does have 4.41 speed (allegedly) so he'd be a deep threat.
5. Signed QB Brady Quinn - ugh, Notre Dame QBs
 
And going elsewhere
1. DT Alan Branch signs with the Bills
2. WR Ben Obamanu cut saving over $2M on the cap.
3. WR Deon Butler signs with the Chargers.
 
Rumored to be coming to Seattle - CB Antoine Winfield.  He'd play in the slot, which they really needed with their existing extra CBs (Lane, Maxwell) still young and unproven.
 
Hawks are around $130M against the cap, with a max of $136M after the $13.2M in rollover money is applied to the $123M 2013 cap.

 

[soxfan121]

First, the Harvin trade, dealing 1st and 7th rounders this year and a 3rd next year for Percy Harvin, who was signed for 6 years, $67M with $25.5M guaranteed.

 
So, about that Harvin trade/extension....it appears he may have torn the labrum in his hip during offseason activities.
 

On the first day of training camp, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had to explain that Harvin may have a labrum tear in his hip, and the team is still determining whether Harvin would require surgery. Carroll said that Harvin suffered the injury recently, which would jibe with his performances during the Seahawks' OTAs, when Harvin looked faster than anyone else on the field.

 

[DanoooME]

:smithicide:

 

[pdaj]

1) Obviously, if he can't play this year, this is a devastating loss
2) Thank God this news came out before my fantasy football draft

 

[LondonSox]

Are the Seahawks and niners twins?
Whatever you do we can do too.
Before we had quarterback (later rounds, young, cheap, mobile, awesome)
Defences (hard hitting, excellent etc) etc etc
Lose your best WR to injury check.

 

[DanoooME]

Are the Seahawks and niners twins?
Whatever you do we can do too.
Before we had quarterback (later rounds, young, cheap, mobile, awesome)
Defences (hard hitting, excellent etc) etc etc
Lose your best WR to injury check.

 
The difference is now Seattle is back to the offense they had at the end of the year last year (which was putting up points like crazy).
 
San Francisco is missing a major weapon and have no replacement (Anquan Boldin?  Please).

 

[DanoooME]

Watching the preseason game against Denver and it's just scary, 33-7 Seattle at the half, with both teams playing the first units for the entire first half.  Manning moved the ball well, but couldn't punch it in (Denver actually had more total yards and time of possession in the half).  The defense and special teams played extremely well.  The only big negative was the number of penalties taken so far.
 
It's tough to not get too optimistic about this team, but wow, Denver is a serious contender in the AFC and the Hawks just blew them off the field.
 
Again, yes I know it's preseason, but they've never had a team play this well in the preseason, even the 3 years they went 4-0 in the preseason.

 

[DanoooME]

Another 4-0 preseason for the Hawks, as they beat Oakland 22-6.
 
The roster keeps getting younger and younger.  FB Michael Robinson was cut, mostly due to an illness he still hasn't fulled recovered from (what it was is still unknown, speculation was a serious case of the flu or MRSA).  According to a couple of reports, Antione Winfield, signed in the offseason, was also cut.  That leaves a total of 5 guys on the roster 30 or older:
 
QB Tarvaris Jackson, 30 (still in a battle with Brady Quinn for backup QB job that he's likely to win)
G Paul McQuistan, 30 (sort of starter, likely backup if Carpenter is 100%, could still be a cut to save cap room)
DE Chris Clemons, 31 (recovering from surgery, although not going anywhere)
LB/ST Heath Farwell, 31 (likely to be cut IMO)
P Jon Ryan, 31 (not going anywhere)
 
Only 2 other guys are even 29 (Red Bryant, Brandon Browner)
 
With Pete Carroll at the helm, older players just don't seem to be very welcome here unless they are very good.  He's rather take his chances with the kids.

 

[soxfan121]

With Pete Carroll at the helm, older players just don't seem to be very welcome here unless they are very good.  He's rather take his chances with the kids.

 
That's not the only possible explanation. It was noted, extensively, during Pete's last NFL job that his management style did not really work well with the professional adults he was coaching. It is possible that older players don't buy into Pete's system or way of doing things the way guys fresh out of college or off the scrap heap do. 
 
It will be very interesting to see if Pete has the same problem in Seattle as "his" players age and mature. 

 

[candylandriots]

So Seahawks fans - how risky is it wearing a 49ers jersey to the game Sunday night?

I don't go out of my way to start shit with anybody and can laugh off pretty much anything. I've survived in Sox gear at Yankee Stadium in some pretty toxic environments. Anything to worry about in Seattle these days?

 

[DanoooME]

So Seahawks fans - how risky is it wearing a 49ers jersey to the game Sunday night?

I don't go out of my way to start shit with anybody and can laugh off pretty much anything. I've survived in Sox gear at Yankee Stadium in some pretty toxic environments. Anything to worry about in Seattle these days?

 
Personally, I've never been there myself, but I haven't heard too many bad things about the fans there.  Although, the Seahawks fans absolutely hate the Niners so there's that to consider.

 

[DanoooME]

Game 1 was an ugly 12-7 win at Carolina (so they won a 1 PM ET start - woohoo!).  I got to see a whopping 3 highlights on RedZone, so I don't have any first hand review of how they played.  By the numbers, they did outgain the Panthers 370-253 in total yards and most of that was in passing as the Hawks only had 70 yards on the ground.  Russell Wilson had his first (hopefully of many) 300+ passing day.
 
This week brings an early huge game as they get the Niners at home on Sunday night.  It's going to be brutal.

 

[Pandemonium67]

Not a Seahawks fan, but I live in the area, have been to a few games and know the situation fairly well. My daughter has season tickets. Two years ago her boyfriend (also a Seahawks fan) got beat up in the bathroom. He had a broken nose, broken finger, and some bruises. Said he doesn't know what happened.
 
The Clink is a rowdy place. This year will be rowdier than ever, with a good team and fan expectations at an all-time high. During next Sunday's game against the Niners, Seahawks fans are going to try to set a world record for loudness at a sporting event. Officials from the Guiness book of world records will be on hand to measure the decibels. And it will be Sunday night, so there will have been a ton of drinking beforehand. Hell, the Seahawks never get on Sunday or Monday night, so that alone will build the energy.
 
None of this bodes well for a Niners fan wearing the colors. Seattle is overall a fairly mellow place, but all bets are off when you're talking Seahawks fans at the Clink.

 

[candylandriots]

Not a Seahawks fan, but I live in the area, have been to a few games and know the situation fairly well. My daughter has season tickets. Two years ago her boyfriend (also a Seahawks fan) got beat up in the bathroom. He had a broken nose, broken finger, and some bruises. Said he doesn't know what happened.
 
The Clink is a rowdy place. This year will be rowdier than ever, with a good team and fan expectations at an all-time high. During next Sunday's game against the Niners, Seahawks fans are going to try to set a world record for loudness at a sporting event. Officials from the Guiness book of world records will be on hand to measure the decibels. And it will be Sunday night, so there will have been a ton of drinking beforehand. Hell, the Seahawks never get on Sunday or Monday night, so that alone will build the energy.
 
None of this bodes well for a Niners fan wearing the colors. Seattle is overall a fairly mellow place, but all bets are off when you're talking Seahawks fans at the Clink.

 
OK - I will definitely bring something to cover up with. That was always my strategy at the toilet.
 
Strangely enough, this will be the second world record attempt at a Seattle sporting event I've attended. The first was the world's largest performance of the Macarena at the Kingdome at a Mariners-Sox game in 1996. For the record, I did not participate.
 
Edit:  I grew up in SW Washington, but it's been a long time since I've lived there. I never would have been worried as a kid, but based on the high expectations and the new hatred of the 49ers, thought I'd check.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Wilson and Kaepernick have a bet riding on Sunday's game. Whoever loses has to shave off an eyebrow.
 

 

Kap: "Big game on Sunday."
Wilson: "Yup. You know what we should do? Whoever loses has to shave an eyebrow."
Kap: "Aight. Hope you don't like your eyebrow."
Because, clearly, we needed the stakes for 49ers-Seahawks to be higher. Man this is going to be an awesome game.

 
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23575192/russell-wilson-colin-kaepernick-bet-shaved-eyebrow-on-seahawks-49ers

 

[soxfan121]

Wilson and Kaepernick have a bet riding on Sunday's game. Whoever loses has to shave off an eyebrow.
 
 
 
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23575192/russell-wilson-colin-kaepernick-bet-shaved-eyebrow-on-seahawks-49ers

 
I hope they both suffer a serious clipper accident and lose an eyelid or something.

 

[DaughtersofDougMirabelli]

Russell Wilson says the bet isn't serious.
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/10/russell-wilson-says-eyebrow-bet-with-colin-kaepernick-not-real-serious/

“It was more of just a friendly, joking around type deal. It’s not real serious. We’ll probably do something digitally. Something like that,” Wilson said.

 
I'm hoping Kaep comes out and says the bet is still on. 

 

[DanoooME]

Russell Wilson says the bet isn't serious.
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/10/russell-wilson-says-eyebrow-bet-with-colin-kaepernick-not-real-serious/
 
I'm hoping Kaep comes out and says the bet is still on. 

 
And loses.

 

[mpx42]

So Seahawks fans - how risky is it wearing a 49ers jersey to the game Sunday night?

I don't go out of my way to start shit with anybody and can laugh off pretty much anything. I've survived in Sox gear at Yankee Stadium in some pretty toxic environments. Anything to worry about in Seattle these days?

 
I wouldn't do it...it's not exactly a Raiders home game but San Francisco is the one fan base Seahawks fans really truly hate.
 
Amusingly enough the local police now has undercover officers wearing the opposing team's jersey at home games this year because of mistreatment to Jets fans at the Seahawks game in 2012. And it's not like the Seahawks and Jets have any kind of rivalry. 

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

 
I wouldn't do it...it's not exactly a Raiders home game but San Francisco is the one fan base Seahawks fans really truly hate.
 
Amusingly enough the local police now has undercover officers wearing the opposing team's jersey at home games this year because of mistreatment to Jets fans at the Seahawks game in 2012. And it's not like the Seahawks and Jets have any kind of rivalry. 

 
How many states besides Washington is mistreatment of Jets fan actually a crime? 
This vexes me.

 

[lithos2003]

 
I wouldn't do it...it's not exactly a Raiders home game but San Francisco is the one fan base Seahawks fans really truly hate.
 
Amusingly enough the local police now has undercover officers wearing the opposing team's jersey at home games this year because of mistreatment to Jets fans at the Seahawks game in 2012. And it's not like the Seahawks and Jets have any kind of rivalry. 

 
I found it interesting as well.. and it will be in effect for the 49ers game this week:  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9663735/seattle-seahawks-undercover-police-san-francisco-49ers-gear

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

I like the idea.
 
Good for Seattle in being proactive.

 

[Pandemonium67]

136.6 decibels, said my daughter.  Eardrums exploded.

 

[DanoooME]

This is like the 4th time I've tried to write this up after coming down off the high of the game.
 
Seahawks win 29-3 over the hated Niners.  Key points:
 
1. Seahawks defense played off the charts, got some good pressure consistently rushing 4 and the Legion of Boom played their best game in the last two years despite missing Browner.
 
2. Seahawks special teams got screwed up on that first punt (I agree with Collinsworth - why wasn't there a flag for false start?  Guys were all milling around on the line), but after that stepped up and played well.
 
3. Seahawks offense needs a lot of work.  Granted they played two tough front-7s in the Panthers and the Niners, but there's just no consistency.  Last week was all passing, no rushing.  This week all rushing, no passing.  Wilson did have to run for his life a few times this week and a lot of that was due to missing Okung and having McQuistan 1-1 with Aldon Smith.  McQuistan did have some good plays against Smith, so that makes me feel a little better about him than I had been feeling.
 
4. Penalties are still a bugaboo for this team (tied for 4th in total penalties, 5th in penalty yardage).  That needs to get back under control and soon.
 
Next week against the lowly Jaguars (and former Seahawks DC Gus Bradley) at home (no let downs please) before two tough games @ Houston and @ Indy before cleaning up the last AFC South game of the year (in week 6) hosting Tennessee.

 

[soxfan121]

I just hope jkempa lived through the experience.

 

[Tony C]

This is like the 4th time I've tried to write this up after coming down off the high of the game.
 
Seahawks win 29-3 over the hated Niners.  Key points:
 
1. Seahawks defense played off the charts, got some good pressure consistently rushing 4 and the Legion of Boom played their best game in the last two years despite missing Browner.
 
2. Seahawks special teams got screwed up on that first punt (I agree with Collinsworth - why wasn't there a flag for false start?  Guys were all milling around on the line), but after that stepped up and played well.
 
3. Seahawks offense needs a lot of work.  Granted they played two tough front-7s in the Panthers and the Niners, but there's just no consistency.  Last week was all passing, no rushing.  This week all rushing, no passing.  Wilson did have to run for his life a few times this week and a lot of that was due to missing Okung and having McQuistan 1-1 with Aldon Smith.  McQuistan did have some good plays against Smith, so that makes me feel a little better about him than I had been feeling.
 
4. Penalties are still a bugaboo for this team (tied for 4th in total penalties, 5th in penalty yardage).  That needs to get back under control and soon.
 
Next week against the lowly Jaguars (and former Seahawks DC Gus Bradley) at home (no let downs please) before two tough games @ Houston and @ Indy before cleaning up the last AFC South game of the year (in week 6) hosting Tennessee.

 
They also got reamed on that 4th and 1 when the Smith was offside and there was no flag. Honestly the refs seemed more bugged by the loud crowd than anyone -- see missed calls on PIs all the time, but really rarely on an offsides play and virtually never on an offsides as obvious as that one. Not quite sure how it's possible, though if it was the replacement refs that'd be getting headlines.

 

[candylandriots]

I did, but with a hangover. That game drove me to drink. Ugh.

Seattle fans couldn't have been nicer by the way. Of course, they had plenty to be happy about last night.

 

[DanoooME]

And they go to 3-0 with the expected big win over the Jags 45-17.  It was 31-0 midway through the 3rd when Pete started emptying the bench and the 2nd and 3rd stringers gave up a few points in garbage time.  Offense played well, with 479 total yards and the defense limited the Jags to 265 yards.  An added bonus was penalties were down to 4 for 24 yards.
 
Next up - traveling to Houston to face the Texans for a 1 PM start.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

The Seahawks get Bruce Irvin back this week, which will be a nice addition to the defense.
 
Michael Bennett will practice this week after being taken to the hospital on a stretcher Sunday.
 
I'm sick of the 10 a.m. games. Two in a row, plus the travel, is brutal for Seattle.

 

[kolbitr]

I'm curious to hear from Seahawk fans about the offense...RW got a lot of effusive praise for turning that game around on at least one drive, probably two, in which he demonstrated tremendous gifts and athleticism that would make a gazelle jealous. On the other hand, from the usual perspective by which one measures quarterbacks (Q-rating, QBR, etc), his performance wasn't really all that great--in fact it was below average (QBR of 20.6, rating of 49.7). 
 
So what's your take? Is he doing just enough? Are there some problems that worry you?

 

[DanoooME]

I'm curious to hear from Seahawk fans about the offense...RW got a lot of effusive praise for turning that game around on at least one drive, probably two, in which he demonstrated tremendous gifts and athleticism that would make a gazelle jealous. On the other hand, from the usual perspective by which one measures quarterbacks (Q-rating, QBR, etc), his performance wasn't really all that great--in fact it was below average (QBR of 20.6, rating of 49.7). 
 
So what's your take? Is he doing just enough? Are there some problems that worry you?

 
I think a lot of the issue is the OL.  Okung is out and he's the key guy.  Max Unger hasn't played to last year's Pro Bowl level.  The rest of the line is meh.  When Okung comes back, that will strengthen the line again and the offense will pick up.

 

[DanoooME]

Big comeback from down 20-3 at the half at Houston, to beat the Texans 23-20 in OT.  The defense really stepped up in the 2nd half/OT.
 
I thought this game might tell us how good this team really is, but I'm not totally convinced because they laid such an egg in the first half.
 
Big game this week at Indy for the same reason as last week.  We can see the potential for their season.  Winning on the road has always been their Achilles heel.

 

[Tony C]

There has to be concern about the lack of a passing game, no? They only got things going in the 2nd half by having Wilson run around. I know they're 4-0 and the defense is awesome, Wilson poised, and a really good running game, but I'd still worry. Maybe Okung returning along w/ Harvin will unleash a better passing attack.

 

[wibi]

There has to be concern about the lack of a passing game, no? They only got things going in the 2nd half by having Wilson run around. I know they're 4-0 and the defense is awesome, Wilson poised, and a really good running game, but I'd still worry. Maybe Okung returning along w/ Harvin will unleash a better passing attack.

 
To me as long as Wilson isnt turning the ball over I'm good with him not being an awesome QB.  I'd rather have him be slow, boring and decent than flashy good with some serious bad moments. 

 

[DanoooME]

There has to be concern about the lack of a passing game, no? They only got things going in the 2nd half by having Wilson run around. I know they're 4-0 and the defense is awesome, Wilson poised, and a really good running game, but I'd still worry. Maybe Okung returning along w/ Harvin will unleash a better passing attack.

 
The passing attack is no different than last year's with almost exactly the same personnel.  Hopefully they'll be able to do some good stuff with Harvin added to the mix.  
 
It's definitely the line that's the issue.  Starting RT Breno Giacomini is now out after knee surgery yesterday, so he's out an undetermined amount of time.  Max Unger was out with a triceps injury.  They have a LG (Paul McQuistan) playing LT.  They have a rookie playing RT now (Michael Bowie).  RG JR Sweezy hasn't been very good.  LG James Carpenter is pretty good when healthy (and he is right now).  This past week it was a patchwork line with backup C Lemuel Jeanpierre starting.  In a few weeks, hopefully this won't be as much of an issue.
 
Okung, McQ/Carpenter, Unger, Sweezy, Giacomini is a lot better than McQuistan, Carpenter, Jeanpierre, Sweezy, Bowie.