RENTON, Wash. -- Ahtyba Rubin signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks before the 2015 season and became a favorite of the coaching staff.

He doesn't produce gaudy statistics or flashy highlights, but Rubin does the dirty work as the team's starting three-technique defensive tackle and has been key to their stout run defense. The team brought him back on a three-year deal this offseason.

I caught up with Rubin this week for a Q&A about his role on defense, where he eats during road trips and whether he's the strongest guy on the team.

Q: At one point last year, Pete Carroll called you the best three-technique (defensive tackle) he's had in Seattle. What do you think when you hear your coach say something like that?

Rubin: That's a huge compliment. I feel honored, that coming from a great coach, a Hall of Fame coach. I've just got to go out there every week and prove it. There's a lot of pressure on me to make sure I do the right thing at practice, prepare myself and then perform on Sundays to make sure he's right. It's a lot of pressure. I'm up to the task, up to the pressure, so that's how I look at it. It feels good. That's a great compliment.

Ahtyba Rubin says he's ready and willing to play offensive line, tight end ... whatever the Seahawks need. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

Q: What's the job description to play three-technique in this scheme?

Rubin: My main thing is to stop the run, make sure the great running backs don't get over a hundred yards a week on you. So the lowest you can keep them with the rushing yards, the better. That's the key with the three-technique -- just to stop the run and cause havoc in the backfield.

Q: I've talked to you before about food on the road. Where do you guys usually eat?

Rubin: We'll always go to a steakhouse. Me, Cliff [Avril], the D-line. All the D-line try to get up the night before and go to a good steakhouse. Don't eat too heavy steak. Get a little salmon, a little appetizer here and there, scallops, something light. Then make sure you're good for Sunday. Don't get too heavy, and just go out there and perform.

Q: Do you have a team meal at the hotel? Do you eat twice?

Rubin: We skip that. You just eat light, go to sleep, wake up and kick butt. That's how we handle business.

Q: This was an intense training camp with a lot of scuffles, but I don't remember seeing you involved in any of them.

Rubin: My last big fight was against [Ben] Tate when I was in Cleveland. Me and him got into it, and he grabbed my helmet and yanked me down. The whole team was involved in it. It was pretty cool. But when you've got guys around each other, they're going to fight. It's testosterone. It's football.

Q: You played O-line in junior college. Is that right?

Rubin: I played O-line, played D-line in high school. I'm just used to the trenches. You put me in the trenches somewhere, I'm going to make it.

Q: If they had an emergency situation here and needed you to play guard for a series, could you do it?

Rubin: Hell yeah. I'll do that. I'll go out there, I'll block, I'll catch a touchdown, a little tight end, whatever.

Q: At the combine back in 2008, I think you benched 225 pounds 35 times (third among all prospects that year). Is that right?

Rubin: Oh yeah. I take pride in being the strongest guy on the team and just making sure I stay strong. That's an important thing on Sundays. Just make sure you can push the guy up off you. You're getting those double teams all day, you've got to be strong. I'm just a strong dude [laughs]. I don't know what to say. I like lifting weights.

Q: Can anyone in this locker room beat you in the bench contest?

Rubin: Shoot, I think I've got that hands down. I don't know. There's some strong guys on the team and in the NFL, but I really haven't seen anybody pushing weight like me -- that much on the bench. I'm not a squat guy. I'm a bench guy.

Q: Last question, what was the best and worst part of free agency?

Rubin: The best part was it was so quick. They wanted me, and I couldn't say no. So I just signed with them immediately. The worst thing was, I don't know. There wasn't a worst thing. Everything worked out pretty good so I'm happy.