Got Road Graders?

The pick was not sexy. It wasn't even cute. It was in fact, ugly.

This is the type of ugly you don't mess with. We are talking about a beast of a man. Alabama offensive tackle, James Carpenter, was chosen 25th overall by the Seattle Seahawks last week. Most people said, "Carpenter who?" They said "what about a quarterback?" There was plenty of criticism to go around.

Upon further review, I believe the Seahawks made a smart choice. They backed up that decision to improve the offensive line by using their next draft pick on Wisconsin guard, John Moffitt.

Both Carpenter and Moffit stand 6'4, 320 pounds and come from winning universities that pump out NFL talent on a annual basis. They each played tough schedules while battling against other future NFL prospects every Saturday.

Head coach Pete Carroll plans to insert those two alongside last year's high draft choice, Russell Okung. Also guard/center Max Unger joins the offensive line again after suffering season-ending surgery in the 2010 preseason. Okung and Unger are huge men just like the rookies, both weighing in at 6'5, 320 pounds. Can you say road graders?

The commitment to restoring a dominate offensive line is obvious. Anyone who knows football and what it requires to be a great team, knows winning starts with a great offensive line. It won't matter if the Seahawks attained a great quarterback if he can't stand back there long enough to find a reciever. It won't matter if Marshawn Lynch gets the ball 20 times a game if there isn't a hole to run through. He can't "Beast Mode" everyone.

See, many people think quarterback was a greater need than offensive line but coach Carroll and general manager John Schneider aren't on that same wavelength. How easy people forget that our offensive line was so inept and constantly injured last year that even the biggest Seahawks fans were confused who even lining up each week. It was like a speed-dating service in which the player showed up for one game and was gone the next.

Lastly, these young beasts will learn the ways of blocking from Tom Cable whom is regarded as one the top minds regarding dominate offensive line play. Cable restored the Oakland Raiders offense by drafting nasty linemen and a hard-hitting runningback. Last year under Cable's tutelage the Raiders rushing attack averaged 156 yards per game.

Regardless of what happens at quarterback, there is one thing we do know. With an improved offensive line, the storied "Beast Mode" will rise again running behind a wall of bulldozers.