Seahawks ‘tough guy’ J.R. Sweezy refines his game

RENTON, Wash. – The testimonials come without much prodding.

Here is offensive-line coach Tom Cable, the mentor: “It’s my opinion, but I think J.R. Sweezy is as good as anybody in football at what he’s doing right now.”

Here is offensive tackle Russell Okung, the teammate: “He’s playing at what I’d say is a Pro Bowl level.”

And here is offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, the coach: “He’s probably one of the better guards in the league.”

That those words can be spoken about J.R. Sweezy, the Seahawks’ third-year guard, with a straight face is an accomplishment in itself.

Sweezy’s career arc has always been, and probably always will be, a part of his story: a defensive lineman at North Carolina State whom Cable converted into an offensive lineman. He started the first game of his rookie season, a self-described nightmare, and even as recently as last season his play still had plenty of holes.

Then came this year. Sweezy has become a bright spot along a banged-up offensive line. He has always been a physical, mauling player, and Bevell recently called him “our tough guy.”

But he was a bull in a china shop early on, all effort and aggression and will. Now he has added refinement – a bull in ballerina slippers.

One of the ways that most shows up is Sweezy’s ability to get downfield on screens or running plays and “get into the second level” – another way of saying he can block linebackers and defensive backs downfield. That not only requires a certain quickness, another one of Sweezy’s strengths, but also an understanding of angles, how plays are going to develop and where defenders will end up.

A perfect example unfolded in the Carolina game two weeks ago. Sweezy popped forward at the snap, moved into the second level of the defense, found linebacker Thomas Davis in the middle of the field and knocked him onto his back with a crushing block. Marshawn Lynch followed Sweezy’s lead for 5 yards.

“When you count on guys to make big plays, you know because they’ve made them before and they continue to do it,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “They continue to arrive, and J.R. is doing that. If you guys could pick him up on his downfield work, the efforts and the finish blocks that he makes. There’s nobody doing that any better than him.”

Sweezy has shown flashes of that technical tenacity before, but what has made this year different has been the frequency at which he’s doing it.

“It’s every game,” Cable said. “He’s dominating whoever he’s playing against. He’s blocking second level, blocking in the secondary. He really has become a complete player.”

Sweezy’s creed on the field hasn’t changed. He wants to play fast, he wants to physically dominate his opponent, he wants to play right up until the whistle – and he wants opponents and his teammates to expect that.

But there is a method attached to his play now.

“I still have things to work on,” Sweezy said. “It’s a never-ending process, but I love it. I’m really comfortable with the position now for the first time, and it’s fun to play.”