I have no idea, because I'm not the most experienced NT talent evaluator. I get drunk during the games, so I usually have no idea who's making great stops at NT.
What do y'all think?
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I think he could for sure but still has some work to do. Pretty young though and there's room for improvement. I still expect us to bring in someone else though.
dolfan7171 likes this. -
He has shown flashes, so this is his year to step up and prove if he will be the man. However we definitely will be drafting a NT to back him up since Fergy is out 8 games and may not come back even then.
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He can be physically dominant but struggles with play recognition. He is probably good enough to ensure we do not need to select Williams at 12 - but will need one soonafter. This is good because our OLB is critical.
dolfan7171 and gunn34 like this. -
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1) Paul Solai (6'4" & 355 lbs.playing w/ good leverage) is the prototype for the position & has developed into a starting quality member of our defense. He made his bones in the NFL last year. The problem is not Solai in & of himself, it is the position of NT that has to be addressed differently than most other positions.
2) it takes two "starting quality" NT's to run the 3-4 successfully. you need to rotate the position because of the stress put on the point of attack. w/o two NT's in rotation you open yourself for a critical drop in production in the second half & an increased chance of injury as the season progresses.
3) the learning curve for a NT in the NFL is about two years. it is difficult to draft someone straight out of college & have them step up & play well @ NT. I see a strong possibility in resolving the problem in free agency rather than the draft.
4) I don't care who your line backers are, if the NT is not effective, the defense will collapse in the center, the opposition offensive line will get a push & they will run all over you & effectively maintain a pocket for pass protection.
5) this is the most crucial & difficult position to fill correctly in the 3-4 defensive system & you need two of them to run it successfully over the course of a season.dolpns13, Pauly, dolfan7171 and 4 others like this. -
Like it or not, Soliai will be the starter. Even if we draft Williams at #12, he's still going to have a huge learning curve.
The Ravens are about the only team with 2 starting quality NT's.....NT is a 2 down player...Ferg got rotated bc of his age mainly....anytime NE was in a 3-4 set...Wilfolk manned the middle.
On passing down we'll be running a 4-3 set that won't include Soliai anyway. I seriously doubt it will be a NT @ 12.....
IMO Soliai made some serious strides last yr, it's really a matter of him showing up to camp in shape this yr. Im sure we'll draft a guy, but it probably won't be in the first 2 rounds. -
Sure, when he started last year he was a fairly average guy who had flashes of being better. He has room for growth. We can have an elite run defense with Soliai starting.
gunn34 likes this. -
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regardless of how we do it we are brunging somebody in that will be eaqual to or better than soliai.i wasn't high on this kid when he first got here but he has shown much improvement.that said we cant go into this season with just soliai wether he stars or not we need to have someone to spell him without a major loss of production like we saw from our lb's when crowder went out.nor can we go through this season soliai stays completely healthy the entire season in which he probly won't if we start playing him like cleeland played rogers and his 900 snaps.atop of that we just spent some major cash on dansby and the dt position may be key to his success here so i doubt we see this f.o go with just solisi and joe carpenter behind him.also this is what his third season?so he should be ready to start.
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NT's are the MOST important position in running the 3-4, Soliai isnt cutting it by himself, I expect them to get somebody in there where it be through FA or the draft...if Clark signs they are going to turn their attention on this I would assume.... -
dolfan7171 and the 23rd like this.
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Guess I was typing to fast without thinking....meant 4 down lineman anyway...
Reguardless, Miami won't use #12 on a 2 down player. -
god bless in Iraq bro, be safe....I was there Feb 03-April 04dolfan7171 likes this. -
IMO Soliai was good. He ocassionally showed flashes of being great. I don't remember him showing flashes of sucking. So I think with another year under his belt, he will be very good and gould have a great season.
If he showed us he was good, but had flashes of being terrible, then I would worry.
Having said that. NT is a position that takes alot of beatings. We need to get him help.dolfan7171 likes this. -
Either way, we need some depth at NT with Ferguson suspended. Like many of you already stated, it is just too physically demanding of a position to not have at least 2 guys to rotate.
I think we can all agree that the FO is addressing the NT position. Whether or not it's with the 12 overall pick, we will just have to wait. -
GARDENHEAD likes this.
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Soliai is a backup in this league. Nothing special. He has his moments but it's what ever. We can do better.
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Paul Soliai is good when he wants to be. Hes big, strong and very nimble for such a huge man. Can we afford for him to be our starting NT this year? Yes. Forever? No. Dig for a prospect in the later rounds of this draft. Theres my input.the 23rd likes this. -
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He's just a big body and based on the runs that we gave up on the inside last year he'll be lucky if he doesn't get cut. This guy has zero mean streak. Vince Willfork he ain't...
I think the phones on draft day will be red hot trying to find a big, consistent, and mean NT. This draft has much to offer in the NT department. -
I think Soliai had some very, very good moments last year ... his style seems more suited towards a quick penetrating NT (Sapp-like) vice a beef eater type that we expect out of our NT. I think he has much talent.
Our top 3 draft positions: DL, LB, S .... i do believe we sign a WR in FA (either bite the bullet with Marshall-if you can lower the price or sign Bryant as a stop gap). I do like Gilyard as a better version of Bess in rds 3-4 if he lasts that long. Then we need another developmental ILB to grow along with Dansby and Crowder. -
IMO Soliai is a two-down guy. They will be looking for a third down NT that can rotate with him. I don't see Dan Williams as a fit at all. I think a guy like Odrick is much more likely. That's why you hear of their interest in Clark. He brings something that Soliai doesn't. But #12 may be a bit early for Odrick. I think Bryant followed by E. Thomas and Graham is the top of our board.
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What it comes down to is having depth at that position. I mean, we KNOW the FO is going to address it because they're looking hard at Jared Oddrick and Cam Thomas, it's just a question of when. -
Last year, our problem stopping the run wasn't about nose tackle play. The fact we had the worst ILB play in the NFL last year was the problem. Soliai still has a ways to go but it looks like he is maturing and could become a serviceable NT for us. I believe Soliai has only been playing the position a few years having started on OL at Utah. I do think we take a NT prospect but probably not at 12 unless they really like Odrick, which I happen to do.
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I like Soliai, but as everyone is stating we need another quality NT to be successful and he has to come before the 8th game. Not a whole lot out there right now, and I am hoping we don't use our 1st rounder for a NT, as I am not too sold on any with that pick.
And to those who have dissed on Soliai, I have to ask why?
The guy made some nice plays last season (as pointed out a couple of times), and if you are looking for big stats out of a NT then you don't understand the NT position in the 3-4 (also pointed out a couple of times). -
He's no exceptional nose tackle but he's far from a weakness. If they add a third veteran NT I'll be very pleased with the rotation. Perhaps the third guy will be a depth player at multiple positions. I'm curious if Marques Douglass could hold up at the nose with a little weight gain.
For shorter players who've played two-gap 3-4 DE I'm honestly not convinced the transition is all that difficult. -
I'm thinking 43 regardless should be used on Cam Thomas. He has the ideal size for a NT on a Parcells team at 6-4, 330. Any higher or shorter and that's just too fat especially for a rookie. He's played for four years and has the right attitude for Parcells.
Pariah likes this. -
Now it still leaves us with a hole at W.R. most, and also T.E. - But hopefully the F.O. can work something out to fill those needs, I am just not sure what or how. -
Soliai has a lot of trouble sheding his blocks to tackle when they are running right by him off center and often takes himself out of the play. Go back and watch the highlights of the games we lost last year. He isn't responsible for all of them but a good majority through the 1 and 0 holes.
Also, judging by his continued suspensions by the team he is not well thought of. The above is not the making of a starter in the NFL. He is average and still needs continued improvement. With all of that said I am not down on the guy but I think he will remain mediocre and agree that he needs help.
I was a NT when I played college ball so I guess I can really see the need for upgrading there. I wish Jason Ferguson was 10 years younger. He is superior to Soliai. -
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