While the results might not have always shown it, the line's turn in the right direction in a lot of ways began around this time last year when the Seahawks traded for Brown, bringing in a Pro-Bowl left tackle to solidify a position that had been somewhat in flux since Russell Okung left in free agency in 2016. Brown has not only come in and played at a Pro-Bowl level, his leadership has also proven valuable, particularly to Ifedi, a Houston native with whom he formed a relationship while he played for the Texans and Ifedi was in college at Texas A&M.

"Germain grew up in the area and knew of Duane as he was a guy playing his position and so he looked up to him," Carroll said. "He was a natural mentor for him. I don't know that they had a great relationship beforehand but there was tremendous respect from Germain's part… Immediately that relationship was obvious. It was just good for Germain to have a guy that's been through it, and also who has a willingness to share his thought and his concerns. It's the thing we talked about, somebody taught us a while back about sharing your scars. He's been through it all and Duane's willing to help a young guy. That just, it was a natural fit for us with some background that helped us out."

And if anything has served as a symbol for the improvement the entire line has made, it has been the play of Ifedi this season. After starting his season with perhaps the toughest test possible for a tackle—back-to-back games blocking Denver's Von Miller and Chicago's Khalil Mack—Ifedi has settled in and played a very high level after some mixed results during a 2017 season in which he led the NFL in penalties.

"I said it before the season, I expected a big year from him," Brown said of Ifedi. "He has always had the tools to be successful, it's just a combination of him just preparing a little bit differently with another year of experience, and just playing with more confidence. He has confidence in his ability, he has confidence in his preparation, and you can see him having a lot of fun out there.

"The first few weeks, he had the toughest schedule of any tackle in the league, and I think he held his own. Obviously those guys are going to make their plays, but he didn't have bad games, and since then, he has been one of the best in my opinion, so it's great to see that, and I think he'll only get better. I'm looking forward to it."

Brown knows more than most what Ifedi has gone through over the past couple of years, playing a very difficult position while dealing with the expectations that come with being a first-round pick. While Brown is now a four-time Pro-Bowler and regarded as one of the best left tackles in the league, he too went through some struggles early in his career.

"It's very hard," Brown said. "That tackle position, it's an island out there, and the transition from the college game to the NFL is so different. Everyone in the NFL is good, even guys you've never heard of before. So you have your growing pains. I had my growing pains and my first couple of years were rough, and I was able to fight through it. That's something I've been able to share with him and relate to him, and I think he has taken every piece of advice I've been able to give to him and apply it. I'm looking forward to what he can continue to do."

Much of Ifedi's improvement is the result of his own hard work and the experience that comes with two years of starting in the NFL, but he also credits Brown and the leadership he brought upon arriving in Seattle last year.

"Duane is as good of a veteran offensive tackle as you're going to find in this league," Ifedi said. "He's seen it all, done it all, heard it all, experienced it all as far as playing offensive line in the NFL, on and off the field. So he's just a steadying force. He just gives you genuine perspective on how things are week in and week out."

Having already known Brown and spent some time with him in Houston, Ifedi was "really excited" when he found out the Seahawks traded for the Pro-Bowl left tackle last season.

"He's one of those guys you just know is ready to give knowledge and really help you grow," Ifedi said. "He knows his job is not just, 'I'm coming here to lead by example, do my job and leave.' He's going to stay here—we sat here two hours after practice talking, talking about ball, other things in life. He's always there for you, 12 at night I text him, he texts right back. He has been great for our offensive line, and he's helped steady us and help us get continuously better since he got here."

Ifedi insists his only focus this season is on doing his job and getting better, not of proving his doubters wrong.

"I come here to do my job and play ball. I'm not here to prove the doubters wrong, not out to prove the supporters right, I'm just out to set the goals and do those goals I set, and if I do that, I'll sleep well at night," he said. "… People feel how they want to feel, good bad and indifferent, so you just keep doing your thing, doing your job, working your craft, and I'm usually pretty happy about it."