Defensive Line Rotation

Clare Farnsworth at the Seattle PI reported some detailed and interesting information on the defensive line rotation in practice today that is exactly in line with what I discussed following the Seahawks-Packers game.

No. 1 line – Patrick Kerney, Rocky Bernard, Darby/Tubbs and Tapp.
No. 2 line – Atkins, Craig Terrill, Mebane and Fisher.
No. 3 line – Nu'u Tafisi, Eric Taylor, Russell Davis and Brandon Green.

Darryl Tapp worked with the first team ahead of Bryce Fisher. It looks like I might have been 10 days ahead of myself when I said I expected that to happen in September. I really meant by the end of September, and in a real game (not just in practice or the preseason). Even it if was just practice, it is a clear indication that we should expect to see Darryl Tapp starting at some point this season, and getting more snaps this year than Bryce Fisher. That is hardly news to anyone that has been reading this blog (or watching the team for that matter).

It also appears that Baraka Atkins has done enough to warrant moving ahead of Brandon Green on the depth chart. That is bad news for Brandon Green, and it doesn't look like he will make the team (although that shouldn't come as a surprise either). His only shot now is probably an injury, as Craig Terrill is back on the field and playing pretty well. Green is ostensibly 11th on the depth chart of defensive linemen, and the team isn't going to keep more than 10.

Brandon Mebane also made his way up the depth chart to get action with the second team defensive tackles. He was in there with Craig Terrill, and Russell Davis moved back to work with the third team. That isn't so significant, except that Mebane is getting his due.

And that was with Marcus Tubbs rotating in for Chuck Darby with the first team. The rotation at defensive tackle is always going to be confusing. The Seahawks have three starter caliber players in Tubbs, Darby, and Rocky Bernard. And then it appears that Terrill, Mebane, and Davis are all second string caliber guys at this point. The problem is that gives you six guys for four spots.

The rotation during the season isn't that cut-and-dried. Terrill will likely come in mainly on third down, and Davis is a first and second down guy. Tubbs is also a first and second down player, and he will have his snaps limited, at least initially. The combination of Darby and Bernard isn't very tough against the run, so depending on the opponent, Mebane or Davis would work with the first team when Tubbs isn't healthy. And Brandon Mebane is proving so versatile that he can be counted on to be effective against the pass and the run.

DT Marcus Green sat out practice with an undisclosed injury. He was working ahead of even Brandon Mebane in the Chargers game. That changed against the Packers and he had dropped behind even Eric Taylor, at least in terms of playing time in that one game. When healthy, Marcus Green is probably the 12th best defensive linemen (7th DT) on the Seahawks. He is good enough to play in the NFL, but he has always needed two injuries to defensive tackles to make the roster.