Well he is project with only 4 tackles.

 

I would like to know too. I think this is really one of the more crucial questions this offseason. Who is going to replace Traylor? If we draft Dorsey, are we going to try to convert him the way the Patriots did with Wilfork?

 

It seems like Mueller reached with allot of these guys that didnt pan out.

 

I was really excited when we got him in the 4th. Technique seems to be a big problem for him, and since our d-line coach bolted recently, we can't really tell if he is being coached up properly. Actually, pretty much our entire d-line stinks this year.

 

Reaching with a 4th is better than with a 3rd.

See L.Booker

 

he wasn't a reach in the 4th, he was projected as a 2nd to 3rd rounder, and fell through the cracks. It was a bit of a surprise to get him where we did, still would have rather gotten Doug Free though

 

Sadly, I have reached the point where I have to ask myself . . . did he really fall through the cracks? Or did every other team in the league see the flaws that we only discovered after the draft? It has come to that. I have no faith in this team when it comes to college talent evaluation.

 

Wait. We can't criticize Beck or Ginn for their early play, but we are already saying that Soliai didn't pan out?

Soliai is behind a good nose tackle. Its his first year.

 

Vince Wilfork was already a big 330+ lb guy. Dorsey is not even in Wilfork's class in terms of size as of this point. Saying he's a bit over 300lbs is even pushing the envelope a bit.

I don't consider Soliai a reach. I really think we need to take a look at hiring a new D-line coach because the drop in quality this year was horrid. Our youngsters got nowhere and so did our vets. When that kind of a dropoff occurs across the board, you can point to bad coaching.

 

It's kind of early to call Booker a reach. He is just barely getting his chance to play and has been making the most of his opportunities. Give him some time, he has a lot of potential.
The same goes for Soliai. People can't expect rookies (a 2nd day pick no less) to come in and have a big impact. Especially when they have a bad supporting cast. Just give them some time.

 

Wilfork was 323 lbs when he came out. Dorsey is listed at 316 lbs.

 

paul solai ....is a bust -should have went safety or corner.....regan maui was a reach too,heck he wasn't even going to be drafted but muller took him in the fifth ...dumb *** i liked the abe wright pick in the seventh and really not sure about mormino.but if you think our run defense is bad now ..lol..if we don't get g. dorsey or albert haynesworth were fudged

 

Exactly, my goodness, he's a second day pick, he needs work.

 

his biggest probem coming out was he didnt hae proper technique yet so give him time ecspecially at that position to develop

 

I read elsewhere that he's 300ish or under according to very reputable sources. We'll have to wait for the combine for the real tally. But most agree that he's not a 3-4 NT the way Wilfork is. I don't doubt his ability to pressure the QB but I do wonder if he can stuff the run alone as a 3-4 NT in the pros.

 

Soliai will be fine there is a reason a guy like Ngata goes in the top 15 and Soliai the same dimensions and simular combine numbers goes in the 4th....He is very raw and has very bad hand technique right now...He got away playing on strength alone in college but he is going to have to learn much better technique at this level...show some patience.

 

I don't see Dorsey as a NT. He can play DT or even DE in a 3-4. But it seems we have lots of guys who fit that bill. And if you are projecting him as a DE in the 3-4 i think Chris Long is just as good at that spot maybe better.

 

I'm having to wonder why Lobo is not getting much action with all the RB's we have had go down? Maybe it's because he cant pass protect or something???

 

EXACTLY. His technique is horrible. Two year project who should show vast improvement next year

 

on the bright side, Paul Soliai has goood size.

6'4, 344 pounds. thats what u call a run stuffer. i hope he pans out one day


i was reading a mock draft and glen dorsey was listed as 6'2, 284 pounds...WTF?! 284 pounds is NOT run stuffer.

 

He's more around 300lbs. But yeah. But you don't have to be a run-stuffer to be able to stop the run. If Soliai decvelops and we draft Dorsey, it will not only give us a potent defensive tackle combo, Soliai would allow Dorsey wreak even MORE havoc in the backfield.

 

With that size, and his physical tools, Soliai will improve provided we supply our Dline with a better positional coach, and if he doesn't quit.

It took Jason Allen 2 years to become a starter, and even then it was all mental, in Soliai's case, it is only technique, he'll get better.

 

the kid need to get strong (legs)
when ever i focus on Paul he's always getting stand up
and push back

 

It's interesting that you mention Dorsey may not be suited as a NT. I've been thinking lately that it might be in our best interests to switch back to the 4-3. With Dorsey as a DT, guys like Wright and Solai might play better at DT because Dorsey could take some pressure off of them. We could move Holiday outside to DE where he may be a better fit. Thoughts?

Steve :)

 

The jury is still out on Soliai, like with the rest of this year's draft picks. Give him sometime to adjust to the NFL. Also considering that the rest of the DL played poorly this year, I dont think its fair to judge him as a player just yet.

 

it is nice that he gets snaps now, it will only help him next year

 

It's hardly all about technique. I watched Soliai every snap he was on the field in preseason and he didn't flash special ability. Sure, he can improve with time and coaching but at some point you need a flurry of difference maker athletes. That's what I see while looking at other teams side by side with the Dolphins. If we keep taking marginal athletes like Matt Roth and Paul Soliai and pretend they'll emerge as terrific players we'll continue to flounder at .500 level or below.

Mueller took premier athletes in rounds 1 and 2. Beyond that he made interesting choices, although I didn't agree with all of them, notably Mauia. But on balance it was a very sensible draft, reminding me of some of Bobby Beathard's drafts, here and at Washington. He had plenty of misfires also, but as long as the priorities are correct you're going to be successful in the long run. It's certainly preferable to recent drafts where we took pure cannon fodder in many rounds, guys who had no chance to pan out even if everything broke perfectly for them.

 

IT'S LIKE THEY JUST BECAUSE YOUR BIG DOSEN'T MEAN YOU CAN FIGHT

 

Not so much as "terrific players" as depth Awsi, Roth is expensive depth, when healthy he has played well at times, Soliai is a project, always has been.

Why Mauia Awsi? He has started every game, even with a broken hand, he hasn't embarresed himself or us has he?

I do think he should be able to catch balls out of the backfield better though.

 

I don't know if we'll be going full time 4-3. The 3-4 is still working well for top defenses like Pittsburgh, San Diego, and New England. I would hope we can see 3-4 pop up just to confuse the offense. But what we'd need is someone smart enough to run that hybrid. Saban may have been a lying sob but he knew what he was doing with the defense. And he was just 2 starting CB's shy of having himself a defense that could pressure the QB, stop the run, and grab ints by the bushel. I consider a ballhawking CB a priority for this team. Someone who can take advantage of a pass rush.

He should show improvement but we need a new D-line coach. Our old D-Line coach could've worked wonders for Soliai. And you can see the huge dropoff when he left for the Jets.