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Mike Solari not ready to name Seahawks starting offensive line

Citing Pete Carroll's competition philosophy, Seattle Seahawks new offensive line coach Mike Solari wouldn't name even a tentative starting five on the offensive line for this upcoming season.
New offensive line coach Mike Solari running drills with the offensive line.

Citing Pete Carroll’s competition philosophy, Seattle Seahawks new offensive line coach Mike Solari wouldn’t name even a tentative starting five on the offensive line for this upcoming season.

“We don’t know yet as far as we develop this offense, as the offensive linemen develop,” coach Solari offered Monday after OTAs. “Who are the starting five? Who are the starting 11? And so forth.”

“That’s the great thing about the Seattle Seahawks and Pete’s system, it’s all about competition, you compete,” Solari continued. “So that’s what’s exciting. It keeps everybody sharp and it keeps everybody hungry, ascending as a football player.”

It seems fairly safe to predict 2017 Pro Bowler Duane Brown will start at left tackle. Likewise, center Justin Britt should step back into his usual role as the team’s starting center this year.

Free agent addition D.J. Fluker is ticketed for the right guard spot. He has played both guard and tackle in his career, always on the right side. He is an accomplished run blocker and should be a huge help in Seattle’s renewed attempts to bolster its struggling run game.

The final two spots are less certain, with second-year lineman Ethan Pocic and veteran Germain Ifedi sitting atop the depth chart at left guard and right tackle, respectively.

The team also has Rees Odhiambo and George Fant on hand to compete for either of those spots. Likewise, fifth-round draft pick Jamarco Jones could factor into the competition at right tackle if he performs well in training camp.

With more depth than usual on hand heading into training camp, it’s possible the entire starting five will not be officially determined until much closer to the start of the season.

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