I've read many different opinions on Starks being switched to NT. Most of it being trepidation. Like the "he's not big enough" opinion. The "don't mess with success" mantra. Even the "we should have drafted one" argument. One memory keeps popping up in my mind...Bob Golic. Kinda looks like Zach Galafinakis in this photo Anyway, here's a guy who came into the league as a linebacker and transformed himself into a probowl NT for the Cleveland Browns. Golic is a great personality and very humorous often quoted as saying "If you're mad at your kid, you can either raise him to be a nose tackle or send him out to play on the freeway. It's about the same..." My point being is that here's a guy who made an even bigger jump from LB to NT and became a success. He was voted in as a pro bowl alternate a year after making the transition in '83. Ultimately making three probowl appearances in '86, '87 and '88. I've liked Randy Starks' game since his playing days at Maryland. He's played well in spot duty at NT in the past and I think he has a great attitude toward the full time switch. Fail or succeed, I think he represents our greatest chance at solidifying the position this year and years to come.
Randy Starks has the size Bill, Jeff, and Tony look for in a 3-4 DT.They have even said they want them around 6-3 315lbs and Randy is 6-3 305. Most 3-4 DT just have bigger butts and legs then Randy,,,,,so it's not a huge deal.It would only be if he couldn't hold his ground, but we know he can.So if anyone really said something about his lack of size you should go ahead and put them on your dum dum list. The only concern anyone should have with Randy is if he starts trying to just blow by oline and trys to get after the QB on 1st and second down.......but i think he'll be fine.
You could also draw the same comparisons of a more recent guy, Jay Ratliffe. A guy that went from DE to NT in the 3-4 and has been successful at it. For that matter, our own Jason Ferguson was drafted as a DE but has converted to NT as well. I don't have an issue with moving Starks. I don't know if he'll be our next Jason Ferguson, but he'll do well in the spot. There are two differences between Golic and what we want to do with Starks. One is that his D in Philly ran 4-3 with some 4-6 and 3-4 sprinkled in. We are a pure 3-4 D with perhaps some situational 4-3 D in place. The bottom line is that while he was listed as the NT, he played more of a Warren Sapp type role along the DL. Second, we don't have a Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, or Jerome Brown to couple with our "Golic" on the inside....that's a big difference. However, I see the point you have been making. I don't think most fans have as much knowledge about the nuances between the difference of NT and DE in the 3-4 and don't fully appreciate what Starks is being asked to do. But if Starks can transition like say, Jay Ratliffe has, that would be a boon to this D, for sure.
the NT is a tandem of sorts: Solai/Starks will do just fine. more than adequate, potentially excellent. Nolan will sort it out not to worry
Funny you should mention Bob Golic Pandarilla, as I vividly recall an write up back in the day about the "best player on every team" in an ancient "Don Thompson's Pro Football Review" that said: "..he missed time with a broken arm that had a metal plate put into it, hell he so mean he will use it to beat people with it..." My concern with Starks is injuries, All Pro De's do not grow on trees, NT's tend to get dinged..a lot..and I hate the thought that such a thoroughbred is being turned into a plow horse. Even Ratliff had an elbow problem that lasted over a yr until he finally had surgery on it.
History could teach a lot about judging the size of the fight in the dog by the size of the dog but i will offer this argument. Manny Fernandez