Rob Sims proving to be an anchor on Seattle’s fluctuating offensive line

Seattle’s Sims steady at left guard

RENTON, Wash. — When Rob Sims arrived in Seattle four seasons ago, he played so well in the few starts he got as a rookie for a playoff team that many believed the Seahawks had their replacement for Steve Hutchinson.

Problem was, Sims says he didn’t come close to having the needed maturity or experience.

“They were demanding a lot from me and everybody was expecting (Hutchinson) and honestly I wasn’t (Hutchinson),” Sims said. “I put that extra pressure on myself because my goal was always to stay in this league a long time. Anytime you hear anything bad you’re under a microscope. Anytime you hear something bad you think it’s your last shot. So I pushed, and pushed, and pushed and pushed myself too hard.”

Now, after missing most of the 2008 season with an injury and back at his natural spot of left guard, Sims is trying to forget the criticism from his first few years in Seattle and prove to the Seahawks they have one of their offensive line questions answered.

With the retirement of Mike Wahle at the start of training camp, Sims was shifted back to left guard, the position he played in college and his first two seasons with Seattle. Unlike those first couple of years, Sims now understands the effort needed to team with Walter Jones and solidify the blindside of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

“The cool thing about it I played with Walt my first two years, and it was a blast and I learned a lot, but I just didn’t know enough about the game for me and him to be on the same page,” Sims said. “I was young and he was a veteran and he did his thing and I was kind of catching up and trying to emulate him. Now I know myself I know how I need to play, I’m more confident.”

For offensive line coach Mike Solari, Sims has been his only constant fixture in the early days of training camp. Jones has mostly spent time as a spectator, resting a balky back. Starting center Chris Spencer missed a handful of days after a scary pileup that only resulted in a sprained left ankle.

Sean Locklear, the expected starting right tackle, is shifted to the left side when Jones is out, which means Ray Willis, a potential candidate at right guard, steps in at right tackle.

“Rob has done well,” Solari said. “Rob has really worked hard in the offseason, you can see in the type of shape he came in. … His techniques are really improved. I’m excited to see him in action Saturday night ready to go.”

Sims had time to get in the best shape of his NFL career after missing most of the 2008 season when he tore a pectoral muscle in the season opener against Buffalo. It was the first of the several injuries that cost the Seahawks in 2008, and hurt Seattle’s plans of moving Sims to right guard.

Those plans were thrown even more out of place when Wahle’s surgically repaired shoulder didn’t heal properly and he decided to retire, bumping Sims back to the left side earlier than he planned. Even Spencer still gets a little confused about where his fellow lineman is.

“Sometimes I get up there and still think Rob is on my right,” Spencer said.

Should Sims falter on the left side, Seattle used a second-round pick on Oregon’s Max Unger in April’s draft. Ultimately, the Seahawks hope Sims plays well enough on the left side that Unger can be used both at center and right guard.

“I’m within myself, I feel myself, I’m more confident. I can go out there and just play,” Sims said. “I remember going out there just being afraid to make a mistake. You can’t play like that. I’m fortunate. I’ve learned a lot.”