In an effort to beef up a bad offensive line, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and G.M. John Schneider used their first draft pick in 2010 on tackle Russell Okung.
Injuries and ineffectiveness have prompted some to suggest that Okung may be a bust, based on his first two seasons in the league.
But in his third season, Okung is stepping up. As Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune points out, Okung hasn’t given up a sack through nine games.
“Russell’s playing real well,” center Max Unger told Williams. “I think he’s done a good job. He’s had some pretty tough injuries his first couple years. But he’s a very talented guy, I don’t think there’s any question about that. And he’s kind of putting it all together right now.”
Okung has 10 penalties, but that’s not causing anyone to take a dimmer view of his performance.
“Russell Okung is off to a really good year,” coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s really playing solid, and he’s getting better and improving and he’s more confident. You can see that there are more plays where he is demonstrating his power and overwhelming at times by making some big-time blocks.”
They’ll need Okung to make some big-time blocks on Sunday, given that the Jets are hoping to rattle the unrattleable (that’s probably not a word) Russell Wilson.