Rookie DT Mebane filling huge hole in Seahawks line

KIRKLAND -- Any man dressed head to toe in lime green, much less one who weighs 300 pounds, had better possess the self-awareness to pull off the look.

After all, such sartorial decisions do not come without premeditation on the foreseeable eye-rolling and joshing from a locker room full of teammates well armed for such an on-a-platter comedic setup.

But Brandon Mebane, the Seahawks' resident fashion plate who doubles as a defensive tackle, has opened eyes for more than his stylistic flourishes.

"He's figuring things out," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "He's a good football player. He's young and he's still learning how to play. But he's a load; he's tough to block in there."

During Sunday's 24-21 victory over Cincinnati, the third-round draft choice out of California last April recorded his first career sack, punctuating the moment with a series of gyrations he explains as "a little dance I got from the Bay Area. They dance different out there. I don't really have a name for it. Your leg goes limp. You kind of cross over the other and pull on your collar."

A big man with an even bigger personality, Mebane is a self-professed jokester always ready for a laugh. He has endeared himself to veterans with his blue-collar work ethic and his personable temperament.

The 6-foot-1, 314-pound Mebane has played a larger role than was originally envisioned. His value increased when veteran Marcus Tubbs suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, and his expanded role had much to do with his bulk.

On a smallish defensive front, Tubbs, at 6-3 and 318, was supposed to be the team's run deterrent in the middle. That responsibility now falls heavily to Mebane, the heaviest remaining defensive lineman, who possesses a low center of gravity, surprising pass-rushing acumen and a willingness to learn.

"Some guys come in and really struggle," defensive tackle Rocky Bernard said, "but he's one of those guys who's earned his right to play right away. He puts in the work. He comes and asks and questions, while some guys might hesitate. He's been pretty good about everything."

Bernard, however, limits his praise when talk turns to Mebane's flashy wardrobe.

"Must be a California thing," said Bernard, a native of Baytown, Texas. "You don't see too many of those suits in Texas. I don't even know what to say about his fashion sense."

On Sunday, Mebane wore a blinding green suit the shade of Key lime pie, complete with matching shoes. The Los Angeles native said he buys his suits -- "I get a three-suit special" -- at a store in the Fox Hills Mall in Culver City, Calif.

He got into dressing up for games toward the end of his sophomore season at Cal, where teammate Lorenzo Alexander (now with the Washington Redskins) had a penchant for brightly hued suits. It quickly turned into a weekly derby of one-upsmanship.

Mebane said he now owns nine suits, all with the corresponding shade of shoes, including outfits in purple, peach, black and, his personal favorite, a peach-and-brown number.

"I have a motto that if you look good, you play good," he said.