Ahtyba Rubin

Rubin was an important addition to the Seahawks' D-Line last season, teaming with Brandon Mebane on the interior to form a a solid-run stuffing unit. The team could only afford to sign one for this season, though, so they went with the younger in Rubin. At 6-2, and a listed 310 (probably closer to 325), Rubin is a load in the middle. Like most tackles, he doesn't have the opportunity for IDP consideration, but he'll again be a key component of the D-Line, likely topping 500 snaps this season (476 last year).

Rubin's offseason signing was largely overlooked in NFL circles, but he could end up being a key part to Seattle's defensive success this season. He adds depth to what was a thin DT unit last year, especially after Bandon Mebane was lost of the season, and at 6-2, 325, he is a load in the middle. Rubin likely will fill the starting job that Tony McDaniel vacated when he was released.

Rubin is projected to be a starter at defensive end in new coordinator Jim O'Neil's 3-4 scheme in 2014. He'll primarily be used as a run-stopper, but has recorded at least two sacks in each of the past four seasons.

Phil Taylor is expected to man the nose tackle role in Cleveland instead of Rubin, who should shift out to end in the team's 3-4 alignment. The distinction shouldn't matter a whole lot for Rubin, who has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to find ballcarriers on the interior of a defensive line. He had two seasons in a row with more than 80 tackles in 2010-11, so there's reason to believe he'll surge above last year's numbers, particularly considering he dealt with calf troubles in 2012.

The Browns mentioned the possibility of lessening Rubin's snap count in 2012, but then fellow tackle Phil Taylor suffered a torn pectoral muscle in early May. Scratch that plan. Rubin is in for another huge workload, one that led to back-to-back seasons (2010 and 2011) of 80-plus tackles – a figure that is puzzlingly high for any defensive lineman, let alone a nose tackle. It's probably just time to stop being surprised by Rubin, who has 165 stops (113 solo) and seven sacks the last two years.

Rubin is a stout run stopper who is quietly establishing himself as one of the better young tackles in the league. Next to first-round pick and fellow giant Phil Taylor, Rubin figures to be a nuisance in the middle of the field this year. It doesn’t seem particularly reasonable, however, to expect him to duplicate his big numbers from a year ago, when he led all defensive linemen with 82 tackles (57 solo) in Cleveland’s 3-4 defense. Between the switch to the 4-3 and the general improbability of a defensive tackle making that many stops two years in a row, it’s prudent to expect regression from Rubin in 2011.

Will likely assume the starting role at NT with Shaun Rogers making the move to end.