Updated Dec 28, 2012 - 9:25 am
Pro Bowl voting reflects Seahawks' improved O-line
The Seahawks' offensive line had its issues last season while dealing with injuries and inexperience.
 Max Unger |
That all contributed to issues with pass protection and in the running game, especially in the first half of the season.
Seattle's offensive line has been considerably better this season, so much so that it will send two members to the Pro Bowl. Okung and center Max Unger were named starters Wednesday for the NFC team, becoming the first Seahawks offensive linemen to play in the Pro Bowl since Walter Jones following the 2008 season. It is the first Pro Bowl selection for each player.
The 49ers, with tackle Joe Staley and guard Mike Iupati, are the only other team sending two offensive linemen to the Pro Bowl as starters.
"Having two guys being able to start for the NFC just really kind of shows where our line has gone," Unger told "The Huddle" on Thursday.
The Seahawks have allowed 27 sacks with one game remaining. That number was 50 last season, which was the fourth-most in the NFL. Seattle has the league's second-leading rusher in Marshawn Lynch, whose 1,490 yards are by far a career high.
Continuity has been one key. Injuries forced the Seahawks to use several difference offensive line combinations last season. While J.R. Sweezy, Carpenter, and Moffitt have split time at right guard this season, the rest of the line has mostly stayed intact. Unger, Okung, left guard Paul McQuistan and right tackle Breno Giacomini have missed just one game combined.
"This is the first time since I've been here that we've had for the most part four of the five guys start almost every game, and we really have been able to build a little bit of chemistry," Unger said. "That really does help. You can see that."
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dbhawkfan84 wrote...GO HAWKS!December 28, 2012 11:37 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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Bob Stelton is the co-host of "Bob and Groz". He came to 710 ESPN Seattle from 101 ESPN in St. Louis and had previously worked for Sporting News Radio in Chicago and Santa Monica, Calif. Bob began his radio career in Seattle in 1997 after a failed attempt to become a rock star. 
Dave Grosby is the co-host of "Bob and Groz." The Groz has spent the last 21 years of his 39-year broadcast career as a Seattle sports talk show host. Dave is also the play-by-play announcer for Seattle U basketball on KTTH 770. Before coming to Seattle, Dave worked at KFI in Los Angeles and KFBK in Sacramento. He's been married to his wife Bonnie for 23 years.
After two years as the producer for "Brock and Salk," Colin Paisley now produces "Bob and Groz." Colin also hosts "Seattle Sports at Night" with Tom Wassell and Matt Pitman. Colin came to 710 ESPN Seattle after five years at various FM music stations in Bellingham and Seattle. In addition to his time as producer and host, Colin likes to spend his time embracing his "Slacker Gen-Y" persona by napping and not caring about stuff. Plus he likes tons of bands you've never heard of, and once you hear of them he'll stop liking them.
