08-03-2007, 11:12 AM
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Squat rookie looks like gem in the trenches
Squat rookie looks like gem in the trenches | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA
Quote:
Imagine trying to block a 314-pound Weeble.
Remember those toy dolls with sand in the bottom so they wouldn’t tip over?
The principle applies to Brandon Mebane, whose low center of gravity and powerful lower body are making it difficult for even veteran Seattle Seahawks offensive linemen to shove him off the line.
For those worried about last year’s Seahawks weakness stopping the run, and about the injury rehabilitation of massive defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, the early impact of Mebane should come as at least a hint of relief.
“He has a bright and long future in this league,” said Chuck Darby, a fellow defensive tackle who shares a similar low-slung physical architecture.
“He’s so explosive off the rock, he gets off blocks and is a good pass rusher.”
Mebane, a third-round draft pick from California, has followed the best path for a rookie: He’s kept his eyes open, his mouth closed, and respectfully approached his elders for their advice.
“He’s come to me and Rocky Bernard and asked us things,” Darby said. “That shows he’s willing to learn. It shows he’s got the attitude to play in this game. He’s playing at a high level, but he’s also humble. He’s got a great attitude.”
The soft-spoken Mebane may not be a go-to guy for the media seeking quotes right off. So it might be tough to learn much about his personality from the source.
What do you do for fun?
“Sleep.”
Do you have a hobby?
“Video games.”
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned so far?
“A lot.”
His game, though, is saying quite a bit. His reputation at Cal was as a run-stuffer, and he’s shown those skills in the first week of training camp. He already understands the ideal response to fight that center-guard double team ... he gets low and grows roots.
In those cases, he doesn’t need to make a tackle ... he needs to create a pile in the place where the back is supposed to run.
What might be surprising, though, is the way Mebane has been able to get wins in one-on-one pass-rush drills.
“He’s a complete player,” Darby said.
“I mean, he can stop the run, he can penetrate. As explosive and quick as he is, he’s gonna get in the backfield.”
The 6-foot Darby has made a career out of staying low off the ball and getting underneath the pads of offensive linemen. So he particularly appreciates Mebane’s style.
“He’s got a big lower body,” Darby said.
“He’s got a low center of gravity; he weighs 314, but he plays like he’s about 345 because of his leverage.”
The main counsel he’s received from Darby and Bernard regards the mental aspects of the game.
If there’s been a real eye-opener – for a guy who likes his sack time – it’s been the amount of studying of the scheme the Hawks defense requires.
“They throw a lot of plays at you,” Mebane said. “But in this defense, they let you be both a run-stopper and a pass rusher.”
At Los Angeles’ Crenshaw High School, Mebane wasn’t just a defensive lineman. He also scored five rushing touchdowns as a fullback.
As difficult as he is to block, we may only imagine what high school linebackers thought of trying to tackle him once he built up a little momentum with the ball in his hands.
His experience at Cal, he said, was entirely positive, and the Bears had four winning seasons and four bowl appearances. As scouts studied his films, they saw a guy stout at the point of attack, who was also explosive enough to deliver a jolt when he arrived at the ball.
The chances of a third-round pick making the team are always good, and if Mebane continues to develop at this pace, he could easily join the rotation of active defensive tackles.
“I love this pick,” Darby said of the drafting of Mebane. “He’s going to help us win. And he’s going to help this team win for a long while.”
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Squat rookie looks like gem in the trenches
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