The Seattle Seahawks have used George Fant in a variety of roles over the past two seasons. He has served as the backup at both left and right tackle, and has also played a handful of snaps at tight end, effectively serving as a sixth lineman on running plays.
Now that the Seahawks acquired tight end Luke Willson – who is a much better blocker than Nick Vannett – and with the struggles of Germain Ifedi at right tackle, many believe that Fant should get a chance to compete for that starting job.
However, while Fant has yet to run a route or catch a pass over at the tight end spot, coach Pete Carroll is still very confident in his role this season, and it doesn’t sound like he will take over for Ifedi anytime soon.
“We use him in other ways,” Carroll commented on Wednesday. “He gives us great value in that he can play both sides and the other stuff that we do with him. Really, we like the role that he’s got. He could play easily. He can play on both sides.”
Fant is a solid pass blocker, but Ifedi trumps him in run-protection and with Carroll’s desire to attack on the ground it makes sense to use Ifedi as the starter.
Fant, and Jamarco Jones, will both be in consideration if Ifedi’s struggles get worse, or if he gets hurt, but for now it looks like Seattle’s starting offensive line will remain intact in Week 4 against the Cardinals.
