RENTON – The mention of San Francisco running back Frank Gore galloping 80 yards untouched into the end zone still brings shivers to Seattle Seahawks defensive line coach Dan Quinn.

“That one is going to haunt me until I die,” Quinn joked about Gore’s 207-yard performance against Seattle on Sept. 20. “But that happened. You can’t take it back. It’s one of those things where you’ll never forget it. It will always keep you sharp because you don’t want that to happen to you.”

The game served as a turning point for Seattle’s run defense. Seattle hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since that game, and the team is ranked No. 10 in run defense, allowing an average of 101.3 yards per game.

Take away the San Francisco game, and the Seahawks are allowing only 3.3 yards a carry.

Seattle ranked 18th against the run last season, giving up 118.7 yards a contest, or 4.2 yards per carry.

Second-year defensive end Lawrence Jackson credits the coaching staff for the improvement.

“They set up the wooden structure and we just have to go build the house,” Jackson said. “I feel like they give us a lot of ammunition, and a lot of tools to be successful in the run game, and it’s up to us as professionals to go out and do our job.”

Seattle’s best interior lineman, Brandon Mebane, did not play in the San Francisco game because of a strained calf.

Both Mebane and offseason addition Colin Cole are still adapting to new roles as the defensive tackles whose main task is to plug the middle on running plays and push the pocket in passing situations.

Mebane switched from a run-stuffing position to more of a pass-rush role inside, and Cole was brought in from Green Bay to fill in for Mebane.

Quinn said he’s working on transferring Mebane’s initial quickness into a consistent, up-field pass rush. Almost halfway into the season, Mebane, who faced his fair share of double teams this year, has one sack. It cam in the opener against St. Louis. Last season, Mebane had 51/2 sacks to tie Darryl Tapp for the team lead.

“It’s still a work in progress for him,” Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. “There’s still a learning curve. You wouldn’t think that it would be as difficult as maybe it is, just to slide over about four feet, but the game changes from that perspective.

“I think the thing about Brandon is that he’s working at it hard, and he’s committed to becoming a good player.”

The 6-foot-1, 330-pound Cole has no sacks and 22 tackles. Cole said he’s still learning the new scheme and can play better.

“I’m not totally happy with how I’ve done so far,” he said. “I don’t have any sacks yet on the season, and I’ve may have gotten maybe one or two pressures, so I’m not really happy with it.

“As far as my role goes, I’m still kind of learning the position and working to get better at the position. It’s still a little bit of an adjustment, but overall I feel like there’s room for improvement.

“And I’m going to continue to work to try and get to that point where I can be one of the most dominant guys on the inside to have people afraid to run at me, or to have people concerned about finding me on every play and try to get one, two or three people on me.”

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437

eric.williams@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks

SEAHAWKS GAMEDAY

DETROIT (1-6) at SEATTLE (2-5)

Kickoff: 1:05 p.m., Qwest Field.

TV: Ch. 13. Radio: 710-AM, 97.3-FM.

The series: Seattle has a 6-4 lead in the all-time series with Detroit, including a 9-6 road win when the teams previously met in the 2006 season opener.

What to watch: The Seahawks should have offensive tackle Sean Locklear available today, although coach Jim Mora said Locklear likely will not start against the Lions. Mora said offensive tackle Damion McIntosh played solid at left tackle for Seattle last week against Dallas, so Locklear can ease back from his high-ankle sprain injury. … Expect Seattle to pressure Detroit rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, who’s thrown three touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. … The Lions haven’t won a game on the road in November since Nov. 19, 2000, when Detroit defeated the New York Giants, 31-21, at the Meadowlands. Detroit is 0-15 in November road games since.

TNT pick: Seahawks, 27-7

Prime numbers

SEATTLE

No. Name (position)Ht./Wt.Year

22 Julius Jones (RB)5-10/208Sixth

Seahawks need a big game from the former Notre Dame star today.

23 Marcus Trufant (CB)5-11/197Seventh

Looking for redemption after struggling in his first game back from injury.

55 Darryl Tapp (DE) 6-1/270 Fourth

The second-round pick in 2006 is due for a big game.

84 T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR)6-2/203Ninth

Less talk, more touchdowns would be preferred by fans.

DALLAS

No. Name (position)Ht./Wt.Year

34 Kevin Smith (RB)6-1/217Second

Former Central Florida star has a shoulder injury but is expected to play.

55 Larry Foote (LB)6-1/239Eighth

Detroit native and former Steeler leads the team in tackles.

59 Julian Peterson (LB)6-3/245Eighth

Returns to Qwest Field to face his former team.

81 Calvin Johnson (WR)6-5/236Third

Big receiver could give Seattle problems on the perimeter.

Eric D. Williams, The News Tribune