Explaining how Seahawks Germain Ifedi is still starting
By Geoff Shull
Year three Ifedi shows some progress for Seahawks
During Ifedi’s third year and first under new o-line coach Mike Solari there were glimpses throughout the season of a solid tackle. First, his penalties per game dropped from 1 to .59 per game. A drastic decrease to just about middle of the pack for offensive tackles in the league.
Ifedi also had above league average in pass block win percentages standing at 82% (league average was 80% in 2018 per Next Gen Stats). The pass block win percentage is a metric showing the likelihood the lineman can sustain a block for at least 2.5 seconds. That being said Ifedi still allowed 29 total pressures, including 6 sacks. The progress is there, the production just hasn’t quite reached where the Seahawks need him to be.
Germain Ifedi allowed 29 total pressures (6 sacks, 23 hurries) on 466 pass-blocking snaps last season, which ties him for 56th in pass-blocking efficiency out of 83 qualifying offensive tackles. #Seahawks
— PFF SEA Seahawks (@PFF_Seahawks) May 2, 2019
Offensive lineman, tight ends and defensive ends are widely regarded as the slowest positions to develop. The college game simply doesn’t prepare them for the speed and style played in the NFL. In some cases, it takes years to develop into solid players, they need time and experience under their belt before gaining a full understanding of how to succeed.
The Seahawks clearly believe this to be true for Ifedi. Given the time, manpower and resources that they have exhausted shows they know he has the talent they just want to figure out how to get it out of him.