NFL Draft
Seattle's best offensive lines

Bryan Millard led a tough O-line in 1987.

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1. Current group (LT Walter Jones, LG Steve Hutchinson, C Robbie Tobeck, RG Chris Gray, RT Chris Terry)

No doubt this is the best offensive line the Seahawks have had. Jones has been to three straight Pro Bowls. Hutchinson was a Pro Bowl guard and All-Pro last season. Tobeck and Gray are the seasoned vets, and Terry's addition in November 2002 "was like night and day," according to QB Matt Hasselbeck. This line has helped Hasselbeck become a Pro Bowl player and set a franchise record for season passing yards, among other marks.

2. 1987-88 (LT Ron Mattes, LG Edwin Bailey, C Blair Bush, RG Bryan Millard, RT Mike Wilson)

This group helped a balanced offense go to the playoffs both years. It allowed just 29 sacks in '88 and 36 in '87. Bush was already established as a hard-nosed center, and Mattes and Bailey were stout on the left side, with Mattes remembered for his flexibility.

3. 1983-84 (LT Ron Essink, LG Reggie McKenzie, C Blair Bush, RG Robert Pratt, RT Steve August; RT Bob Cryder and LG Edwin Bailey in 1984)

These groups helped the Seahawks to back-to-back playoff appearances and helped make Pro Bowlers out of RB Curt Warner in 1983 and QB Dave Krieg in 1984. Warner ran for 1,449 yards in 1983, and Krieg passed for 3,671 yards in '84.

	ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES Seahawks offensive linemen from left, Howard Ballard, Brian Habib, Phillip Glover, Pete Kendall, and Walter Jones pose for a picture in 1998.

4. 1998-99 (LT Walter Jones, LG Pete Kendall, C Kevin Glover and Chris Gray, RG Brian Habib, RT Howard Ballard in 1998 and Grant Williams in 1999)

Jones began establishing his dominance and made the Pro Bowl in 1999. In 1998, the unit allowed just 34 sacks — ninth fewest in the NFL. RB Ricky Watters rushed for 1,239 yards. In 1999, QB Jon Kitna passed for 3,346 yards and was sacked just 32 times in 15 games. Watters gained 1,210 yards, and the Seahawks made the playoffs.

5. 1978 (LT Nick Bebout, LG Tom Lynch, C John Yarno and Art Kuehn, RG Bob Newton, RT Steve August and Norm Evans)

Jim Zorn loved this line because of its speed. Offensive linemen were not quite the size they are now; the heaviest Hawk was Evans, at around 275. Yarno provided the competitive fire, "Papa Fig" Newton had heart and desire, and the group was good at running the sprint-draw play. It had to deal with Zorn's scrambling on many plays in games. It gave up 44 sacks but had to be mobile and leave the line of scrimmage often. It helped Zorn throw for 3,283 yards in the franchise's first winning season (9-7).

Jose Miguel Romero

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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