Seattle Seahawks Roster Battles: Defensive Tackle

Defensive tackle will be one of the most interesting position to watch in training camp this year. There are simply not enough roster spots to keep all of the talented player at the position.

This is a position that’s rotation, and thus the roster battles, are influenced greatly by another position. Defensive ends Michael Bennett, Frank Clark and Greg Scruggs all have the ability to log significant minutes as a 3-tech pass rusher. This allows the Seahawks the keep fewer defensive tackles on the roster than most teams do.

In case you missed it, yesterday we covered roster battles to make the 2015 version of the the Legion of Boom.

Expected Roster Spots: 4

Locks: Tony McDaniel, Ahtyba Rubin

On the bubble: Brandon Mebane, Jordan Hill

Longshots: T.Y McGill, D’Anthony Smith, Jimmy Staten

Jordan Hill will return as the pass-rushing NT. This season he must show that he can stay healthy or he’ll find himself on the bubble next year. A significant injury in training camp this season could also lead to Hill losing his roster spot.

McDaniel will be back as the starting three-tech. Brandon Mebane is the starting NT presuming he makes the final 53, otherwise it’ll be Rubin who plays in that spot.

Yes, Mebane is on the bubble. Not because of a talent issue, obviously, but because of his cap number. Rubin is capable of replacing Mebane as the starter, but the team needs someone else to show they can handle the backup role in the rotation before they can move on from Mebane.

It is tough to believe that any of the other guys on the roster can handle that responsibility though. Unless one of them plays completely out of their mind in training camp, Mebane’s status will mostly depend on Seattle bringing in a veteran like Kevin Williams.

Next: Seahawks roster battles: defensive backs

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