Ideally, Rees Odhiambo gets to sit and learn in 2016

Seattle Seahawks rookie Rees Odhiambo has a lot of potential, but the team would be wise to use him as a backup in 2016 while he learns and gets stronger.

The available game tape for Rees Odhiambo isn’t nearly as flattering at praise being heaped onto him from Pete Carroll and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks front office. Throw in a slow recovery from a significant in injury, and it it probably best if Odhiambo uses 2016 to learn, get healthy, and build up his functional strength.

Odhiambo played LT in college, but he’ll move inside to guard in the NFL. It is easy to see why NFL scouts didn’t see him as a tackle. Besides lacking prototypical length, he also too often lets edge rushers get to the corner and then he gets all grabby.

That won’t cut it in the NFL; hence the move inside to guard. As a guard, his movement skills will be an asset.

Here is a great example of why the Seahawks liked Odhiambo. This play is blown up because the center misses his block, but Odhiambo’s skills are on display. He pulls outside the tight end and seals the LB. Had the center done his job, there would have been a nice hole just inside of Odhiambo.

For offensive linemen, it is often it is the little things that make a play work. In this next play the LG pulls across to the right side of the formation, leaving a gap between Odhiambo and the center. Odhiambo must move to his right to close that gap, and then block the left edge.

Overall, Odhiambo is currently more of a technician than a mauler. He needs to improve his functional strength before he’s ready to take on NFL defensive tackles.

There also is no need to rush him. We know Ifedi is going to start at RG, and Glow is ready to take on the LG duties. Unless there is an injury, the Seahawks have the luxury of letting Odhiambo learn and develop before running him out there.