May 29, 2008

Despite the fact he’s currently rehabilitating from minor surgery on his right knee in early May, we hear the Seahawks’ ORG job is Rob Sims’ to lose. Sims, who struggled more often than not as the team’s starting left guard last season, wasn’t initially too keen about switching to the right side from the left side, which will now be occupied by 11th-year vet Mike Wahle. But we hear it didn’t take long at all for new Seahawks O-line coach Mike Solari to get the third-year vet fired up about his change of scenery. “Solari likes mobile guys who can pull and cut off linebackers, and Sims can do that kind of thing very well,” a team source told PFW. “His problem has mostly been his recognition skills.” Sims says he doesn’t expect to miss any more than 3-4 days of the team’s June minicamp. Heading into the offseason, the consensus was that a wide-open competition would take place at right guard between Sims, longtime starter Chris Gray, who is entering his 16th season, and massive Ray Willis, and the hope is still that Willis, who had his knee scoped this offseason, will eventually offer Sims a spirited challenge. As for the steadily reliable Gray, we hear he has willingly accepted a role as the team’s primary backup at both OG spots, as well as at center, where starter Chris Spencer’s surgically repaired shoulders remain a concern. “It’s a role that will allow Mike Holmgren to get some sleep at night,” a team source joked.