Defensive Tackle
Mebane
McDaniel
Hill
Rubin
Staten
Smith
I have thought DT was one of our bigger needs the last two years and I think we are even thinner than past season with Hill and Mebane coming off injuries. I think Rubin was a very under rated signing that will prove very valuable this season, if Mebane rebounds to his normal self and Hill improves I think we will be solid but still not a position of strength.
Rankings by position
1. RB
2. Safety
3. CB
4. TE
5. QB
6. DE
7. LB
8. OT
9. WR
10. OG/C
11. DT
Really 11th?
1. Mebane
2. McDaniel
3. Hill
4. Rubin
5. Dobbs
6. Scruggs
7. King
8. Smith
9. Staten
10. McGill
Hill is fine. Mebane is questionable but lets wait to see how he performs coming back. All 4 at the have starter ability. Dobbs before his injury was excellent. Scruggs has potential if he can get his knee right. King flashed in his few opportunities to get snaps. I thought Smith could have made the team last year because he was dominating in the Pre-Season but he ended up on I.R. Jury is still out on Staten but the Seahawks liked him enough to use a 5th round pick. Maybe he has improved with a year of development. All said McGill is the only rookie, and other than Staten , everyone else has been in the league for at least 3 years.
Not to mention Michael Bennet, Will Tukuafu, and potentially Frank Clark.
I don't see as big of a problem as you paint, probably only 5 or 6 of the 10 will make the squad. For now Mebane, McD, Hill, and Rubin are locks.
Yeah, I agree that DT has to be considered one of the 'deeper' positions on the team. Brandon Mebane is back this year, which is huge for the interior line. Kevin Williams was a fine replacement last year, but Mebane is on a whole other level as a NT.
Tony McDaniel is a phenomenal player against the run on first and second downs, and Jordan Hill flashed exciting pass rushing upside in the nickel defense. Ahtyba Rubin could also fill that role if Hill is hurt. Carroll really liked the way Dobbs was playing last year, and Turkuafu (and perhaps Scruggs) gives them even more competition at an extremely crowded spot.
With the addition of Frank Clark, we now have even more options in terms of how we use Michael Bennett on 3rd downs. One of those guys would go inside to pair with Hill or Rubin, in those situations, and the other would attack the backfield from the outside.
The addition of Mebane alone was enough to compensate for the loss of Williams . . . then you add in Clark moving inside in the nickel, a more experienced Hill and Dobbs, and the return of Scruggs. This is absolutely one of the more talented and competitive position groups on paper.