defensive line

[sonic-ben]

Excited to watch this crew dominate

[Sweezo]

That's definitely going to be one of the positions to watch out of training camp as people are going to get cut that are legit NFL players. I'm curious to see who makes the cut and who doesn't. Any guesses?

[sonic-ben]

Be interesting if they go talent over chemistry

[Sweezo]

Are they mutually exclusive?

[Danny Darko]

I'm not sure chemistry means alot to the D line like it does to the O-line. I know they still need to communicate, but I'd guess when in doubt whoever gets results is in. I'm curious to see if Tubbs has a career left in him. I want to hope so.

[Ex-hippie]

How many players does everybody think we're keeping? Assuming everyone is healthy, I'd rank the players about like this (with probability of making the roster in parentheses):

DE - (1) Patrick Kerney (lock), (2) Darryl Tapp (lock), (3) Lawrence Jackson (lock), (4) Baraka Atkins (near-lock), (5) Chris Cooper (bubble), (6) Jason Babin (outside looking in).

DT - (1) Marcus Tubbs (lock, and like I said, I'm assuming everyone is healthy, not commenting on how strong an assumption that is), (2) Brandon Mebane (lock), (3) Rocky Bernard (near-lock), (4) Craig Terrill (lock), (5) Red Bryant (near-lock), (6) Larry Tripplett (bubble), (7) Howard Green (outside looking in).

It's not by accident that I rank Bernard as a "near-lock," yet ahead of Terrill who is a lock. Bernard should be relatively high on the depth chart, perhaps even starting, but could be the surprise cut because of his salary and age.

It also feels strange putting Larry Tripplett, who's been a starter on multiple teams, on the bubble. But he hasn't been in the organization as long as the other vets, he's the same age as Bernard, and the team hasn't invested a recent draft pick in him the way it has in Bryant. I just don't think there would be the same sense of loss if the team dumped him. Of course, all of this can change -- Tripplett may well turn out to be the best defensive lineman in camp.

Anyway, it should be fun to follow. Definitely the best position battles on the team.

[sonic-ben]

Terrill is awesome for the locker room.... Chemistry
Tripplett is a better talent in my eyes...

Red Byrant ..... better be a lock

[Ex-hippie]

So if Terrill, Tripplett and Bryant all make the team, who gets cut? Obviously the decision gets easier if Tubbs is injured, but that's not good for the team. Is there a chance they keep 6 DTs? In that case, what position gets sacrificed?

Anyway, here is a more professional look at the position battles. Tubbs as a "long shot" is jarring, but based on the commentary it looks like this is because of his health, not because the team wants to cut bait.

[Billy]

Here's hoping Tubbs can stay healthy. He's essentially like adding a brand new player to the mix who just happens to know everyone on the team and the defensive playbook.

I'm really interested to see who wins the battle between Tapp and Jackson for the spot on the end.

[asdf1223]

red bryant out for 5 weeks
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/ ... ant02.html
damn i was really looking forward to see him this year. looks like he was great in practice.

and here's a nice quote about our rookie tackle from last year brandon mebane from mike wahle

"I liken it to when Fred Flintstone needed the dinosaurs to lift the boulders in the quarry. He's a like a little boulder." – Wahle, when asked what it's like to block Mebane