The playoffs aren’t usually a time to be experimenting with lineup changes but the Seattle Seahawks are making a switch to their offensive line anyway.
Rookie Michael Bowie is expected to start at left guard for Seattle against the New Orleans Saints. Bowie worked with the first-team offensive line in pregame warmups and took the majority of work at the position during the last week in practice.
Bowie started seven games at right tackle while Breno Giacomini was sidelined due to injury and one game at right guard while J.R. Sweezy was out with a concussion. He has not played at left guard for Seattle this season.
Bowie replaces Paul McQuistan and James Carpenter at left guard. McQuistan and Carpenter had been in a time share at the position for the last month of the season after Giacomini and Russell Okung returned to the lineup from injuries. Carpenter was a healthy scratch for Seattle as one of the team’s seven inactive players.
McQuistan and Carpenter have been wildly inconsistent for a Seattle offensive line that still hasn’t completely gelled together after the return of Okung and Giacomini. With the bye week available after earning the top seed in the NFC, Seattle elected to put in the rookie to see if they can increase their production.
The Saints made a similar move a few weeks ago in putting Terron Armstread into the starting lineup at left tackle in place of Charles Brown. However, making the change before your first playoff game is a bit of a risky move by the Seahawks.