Can't height be a detriment -- particularly if you don't have the weight to go with it?

 

I think its the technique thats more important than height .If he can get low enough to get sufficient leverage on opponents.

However the injury history does not bode well for such a change of position.Nose tackles get chopped and cut blocked a lot .

 

I think you lose the lower body stregth and low center of gravity that centers have by snapping the ball and already being low. A taller NT has trouble getting lower and gaining leverage.

Maybe i'm wrong on that, but i think that's why they should be an ideal height not really tall.

But if he can play the nose and play it well, the way Ferg. described him that woudl be awesome, he's only 24 that's young. Hope the injury thing is past him. Love the kid's attitude. Sounds like he'll fit in nicely here in So.Florida.

 

It all comes down to leverage in my opinion and I know that Jack Del Rio discussed that with McDaniel when he played in Jacksonville. Del Rio commented on how raw of a player McDaniel is and even at this stage of his career, he is still trying to get by with his brute strength. McDaniel could be a player at nose tackle down the road but right now, he seems to be a project and could possibly best fit at defensive end.

 

Disagree with what? I'm not arguing if they wanted him or not, I'm paraphrasing what Jack Del Rio said.

Also, a seventh rounder isn't going to save Del Rio's job.

 

That would be nice to see. His size should be enough to make people run but I think he could dominate in the middle.

 

If he has the lower body strength and can stop the run, his height and push could collapse pockets, and wreak havoc with opponent's passing lanes. So I really hope he turns this thing into a successful switch to NT. And Ferguson should be about as qualified as anyone to know if the kid can do it or not. Seems to me McD will need to add some weight though, 305 seems pretty light for a NT especially at 6'7".

 

Haynesworth is 6'6 or so, as far as height goes.

 

Someone to push Soliai is a good thing.

 

He needs to step it up this year. You got a 35 year old vet that he still can't beat out of a job.:pity:

 

I love the potential that McDaniels has. Whether it translates or not (ala Wake) is another story.

I could see McDaniels substituting for Ferguson in more of our 4-3 schemes where he can contribute pressure.

Like others have said, his height could be an issue, especially when asked to tie up 2 OLmen for our LBs to rush in.

 

Where did he speak badly of him? He was simply asked what he thought of McDaniels and he spoke the truth, just like Del Rio has always done. Did you see his comments this off-season on John Henderson's injury at camp? He basically called him a wimp and told him to get his rear in camp.

Link?

They likely felt that they couldn't do anything to change his injury history and when an offer came along, they thought "we got this guy as a free agent and now we're getting rewarded a draft pick despite him not being much of a contributor."

 

:beer:

 

I don't see a huge difference in Ferg and McDaniel as far as size. At their listed weights (if the Dolphins site is accurate), Ferg is 310... McDaniel is 305. Not a difference at all, if you ask me. McDaniel is 4" taller, but I don't see how the added height would be overly detrimental. Kevin Williams in Minnesota is 6'5". Haynesworth is 6'6". I don't think it makes a difference, really.

To me, it comes down to strength and conditioning. Either McDaniel can hold his ground down after down, or he can't. However, he and Ferg both sound pretty confident. I'm interested in seeing him give it a shot.

If he can do it, that'll be a big relief to me. I have very little confidence in Soliai right now.

 

Bob Baumhower did it at 6'6" & many probowls in his distinguished career
why not Tony McDaniels?
got room, opportunity & the guy wants to play NT

I say let them compete.

 

Do the Skins run a 3-4?

Technique. Do the skins and vikes run a 3-4? Because you are comparing 1 gap 4-3 DT's to a 3-4 2 gap NT. Big difference in technique and responsibility.

Also, Ferg is 310 and 6'2 vs mcdaniel at 6'7 and 305...... 5 inches taller and 5 lbs lighter is a huge difference.

Now, im not saying he CANT play NT, Im just saying your comparison isnt very good.

.....now if we switch to a 1 gap scheme on certain plays, then McDaniel and Starks should be good at NT.

 

when you've e got exceptional height
@ NT it's all about getting under (leverage) the offensive linesman
a man 6'7" & 305 has the potential to put on 40 pounds in muscle w/o losing significant agility
& the added body length makes him a bigger threat to the QB or RB in the backfield
biggest thing is he wants a shot @ the position
that should build a bond fire under Solai this season

 

Yeah, sounding like a parrot here.

Good old "want to" goes a long way, and probably in most cases, is determinative, but his height is a real handicap here.

 

Bob Baumhower was 6'6"
didn't hamper his ability to play
have to wait & see. competition is always a good thing. Solai should step up this year.
NT: Fergie, Solai, McDaniels w/ Cohen or Ellis on the practice squad

 

Huge differences between Bob Baumhower and McDaniel is the time they played(play).
The position Baumhower played was considered NT, but it is nothing compared to what Fergy currently plays. Totally different technique all-together.

Also, although Baumhower was only roughly 260, the O-lineman he was facing were also down at that same size range. Huge difference now-adays


I do hope he can at least come in and be affective there, but that height and less weight dictates a higher center of gravity..I have never seen him in the locker-room or anything, but I would imagine he is carrying it much much higher than either Fergy or Solai

 

But Albert Haynesworth is 350 pounds. Mcdaniels is 305 pounds. Big difference in weight there.
If anything, this shows that he can be versatile and play anywhere on the line.

 

I don't think height is really an issue. There have been plenty of tall DTs playing interior techniques. Terdell Sands is 6'7", John Henderson as well. Marcus Stroud is 6'6", etc. and so on. These guys have or do play positions basically identical to a 1-gap 3-4 NT.

If he was going to be a full time NT, and the Dolphins wanted him to play a Parcells-style 2-gap 3-4, then odds are he'd gain some weight. If they stick with the 1-gap, he's probably fine.

There's also a possibility he might be a passing-down NT. Bringing back Jason Taylor might mean more 3-3/3-2 nickel and dime packages, which means they'd be looking for a NT a bit lighter, and a bit more penetration oriented than a regular 320 pound guy.

 

We definitely do.

I remember reading an article that had some coach interviews where they said they were going to run a lot of hybrid schemes. This was back in mini-camp and before JT, but I'm sure that his signing only solidified this idea. I think this came up around the same time that all the Quarters talk began.

Anyways, I think we're going to be a lot more creative on D with all the interesting additions we've made with guys like McDaniel, Wake, JT, etc.

 

I've also heard that he was lazy, I dont know if thats true or not.

 

I think that's exactly why I love the 3-4.

Of course i looks a lot nicer when you have the Steelers front 7.

 

Nope and that's why I was so disappointed that we didn't address that need in the draft, especially seeing that Rey was dropping down the boards and the possibility of moving a guy like Sintim to the inside.

 

And after they got the right guys in place they've won how many super bowls recently? If it takes us that long and we win that many super bowls I'm all for it. I know you would be too. I like the 3-4 over the 4-3 personally, even if it does require more athletic linebackers and stronger Dlinemen.

As far as ILBs go we're weak up the entire gut of our defense. That triangle (NT, ILB, ILB) is weak right now due to depth or talent of player.

We did alright last year and I would guess the second year guys have progressed quite a bit and will be able to play the run a bit better. Or at least that's the running hope I'm going with.

As far as drafting a LB goes next class is loaded with them.. if we need help there (we probably do and we will see as the season goes on) we'll draft it next year.

 

We were using primarily the 4-3 in the last few years of Shula.

 

long term OLB pass rusher is still an issue. Porter and Taylor are older than younger and we don't really know the full scope of the other players at the position yet. Some of them may emerge or we may have some serious depth issues on our hands at OLB as well as ILB.