NT right under our nose

Nfl.com....

..has Starks listed at 305. Probably not quite heavy enough for the 2-gap type of NT we need.

 

Starks has proven he can hold his own very well at NT, but that takes him out of his better and more natural position of DE IMHO.
BTW Rio, he's more like 305 not 350. He wouldn't carry that much extra weight very well I don't think.

 

Randy Starks would be a beast at 350 23rd..j/k..

The project nose tackle is still on the team in Solai, he's 350 and came out when he was 20 years old...lets see if the player can keep ascending..

I wonder if drafting a young NT would help him mature?, sometimes a young guy feels like a big brother and steps up his game.

 

I agree with DJ on this one.
I think we do have him on the roster, but Starks will be helping to spell him on occasion.
I, Not like most in here it seems, am encouraged by big Paul's progress last year. Have to keep reminding people, it takes many true NT's a handfull of years to master the position. I think Soliai is actually right on schedule.

 

Randy Starks goes and has the best year of his career at DE and you want him to get fat and play DT? He's too valuable to switch especially with his ability sack Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez, and I'm assuming Vinny Testaverde passes for the Bills now.

 

i think Randy Starks should move to nose tackle. We should focus on defensive end in the first round. Maybe trade down.

 

He's listed at 305lbs, not 350lbs man.

http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/roster

 

I think if NT was an "enjoyable" position to play guys would gladly go on the Kevin Smith diet to do it

who was that cat we had a few years ago?, he started as a LB

 

Tractor Traylor.

 

You don't need a website to tell you he's not 350. Ray Charles could see he's nowhere near that and never was.

He's also one of the strongest defensive linemen in the NFL already, and had played some NT for the Dolphins before back in 2008. I think the coaching staff has seen enough that they would put him there if they thought he was the answer.

 

Can't wait to see Starks at NT!!!!

 

You have to figure that Starks is the fallback in case we don't get either a FA NT or one from the draft to work in while Fergy is out. As AZ said, imo, you lose a valuable rotational DE if you tie Starks to the NT and he's not exactly the prototype guy they want at NT...

 

I understand that at 220lbs, Starks would be Juan Juron fast....!!

 

I do believe it is Starks, Soliai and McDaniel for the 'NT' rotation until Fergie gets back ...

As noted, Soliai did have a good year ... especially when he was healthy -- as soon as he injured his ankle, his play slipped. He did show some serious potential for the short time he was going good. He isn't just a 'fat' guy that plugs the middle ... he is quick and has some penetration capability - which is why i comepare him to Sapp ... and not to Fergie.

If we were to draft a NT, I look for Joseph in 4-6 .... as a nice project.

 

Zach Thomas should've been moved to safety.

 

The roster at MiamiDolphins.com places Starks at 305, not 350.

Starks is not a nose tackle, nor should he be converted to one after his performance in 2009. He's the sort of aggressive DE we need.

 

That thread was simply ridiculous.

 

That was the first thing I thought of when I read this.

 

I am going to have to disagree with your statement. Soliai had a decent year, but far from good.

Did he show good penetration on occasion? Sure. But his biggest problem is taking on double-teams. This defense does much better with the guys who can consistently take two, rather than the guy who beats his guy and lets the guard/center take on our LBs. Miami NEEDS that big-body in the center, and Soliai is just not the type.

In fact, it was because he played too high that he got injured. Up to the point of his injury, he played decently. But it was against NE where he totally got blown up and run over by either guard or center. I forget by whom, but it was a one-on-one situation. That's how he hurt his ankle, because he did not stay true to form/technique.

Soliai is not a Warren Sapp type in that, he is late on his penetration. Sapp could get in the backfield and create plays on his own. Soliai might get in the backfield, but because he is much slower than a Sapp, the play is already past him on most occasions.

This is why Miami chose to re-sign Ferguson. Firstly, it gives Ferguson a full half-season to get back into shape from injury. Also, Ferguson will be fresh for the end of the season (when games matter most), where most of the O-lineman will begin to wear down a little. Very smart by Miami. Ferg can come right in and give you 20+ snaps, and in turn, keep the other guys fresh.

Trust me, if Soliai was the man, I seriously doubt we'd be having this conversation.

 

You mean he got hurt due to lack of technuque?
The same way Fergie, Jenkins and Jamal Wiilliams did.
While those are 3 of the very very best NT's in the league, none of them started coming into their own until they were in the league a while and learned the position.
Give Soliai some time, I think he's gonna be just fine.
Athletically, he is very good. He does need to continue learning the position and technique.

 

You rang?

 

And me too

 

I haven't a problem with Solai, and i think he may progress again. i just worry if he gets injured early and we dont get Fergie back until week 9. The NT is an integral part of the 3-4, and we dont have much in the way of cover. Starks could do the job, but really he would be better suited as a 4-3 DT.

Good NT's are so hard to get hold of it would make sense if there was a good one available, to draft one. Having said that I wouldn't want us to waste a pick with one of our first two draft picks, unless he was better than any LB or FS available

 

Ferguson is 310 so i dont think 5 pounds is going to make a big difference

 

Maybe Juan Huron could bulk up to 320 and play NT. I think we could get him at reasonable cost.

 

I have no clue how exactly the three you mentioned got hurt. I do, however, know exactly when Soliai got hurt. It was the game in NE where he took over for Ferguson. He played horribly, garnering ZERO tackles.

His best game was at the Jets a couple of weeks prior where he had six tackles and one FF. Other than that game, he was pretty much just a body in the mix.

It was because the Jets game that we fans thought that Soliai turned the corner, when he, in fact, did not. Was pretty much a fluke, IMO.

While I agree (as well do the coaches) that the guy has some potential, I just do not know if he is ever going to turn out to be more than just a body in the rotation.

While I hope he makes that transition, I am not keeping my hopes up.

 

Although some on here are comparing this transition to the absolutely ridiculous ZT to SS, this one isnt ridiculous at all.

In fact, if we were playing a 1 gap, I think Starks would be a very good 1 gap NT. Hes strong, plays the run well, and can get a good pass rush. He reminds me of Jay Ratliff in Dallas.

However, if we are playing a 2 gap, then Starks best spot is at DE where his pass rush abilities can be best taken advantage of.

Just for reference, Jay Ratliff is 6'4", 305 lbs. Pretty much identical size as Starks.

 

Just an FYI for the uninformed.
While Randy Starks is listed @ 6'3 305, Jason Ferguson is listed @ 6'3 310.
That's equal height and 5 POUNDS heavier than Starks.
...not too much of a jump from 305 to 310. Not to mention Starks has been in the NT rotation already. When Soliai was suspended and when Ferguson was injured Starks picked up some of the slack.
Why is it so inconceivable to think that Starks may be considered for Soliai's relief while Ferguson is suspended? And why is the suggestion cause for ridiculing the OP?

 

i don't think Starks is going to be asked to put any more weight on ... we will make due with Starks, Soliai and McDaniel ... and maybe draft a guy like Joseph -- who might be forced to play earlier than would otherwise be expected to ...

 

If Ted Ginn could gain 900 pounds, then he could be 350 and a great NT. He'd be Phatst

 

Putting on weight isn't something that happens easily or without side-effects. He's at his optimal weight which is why he had a breakout season last year. If he puts on two small children that could make him more prone to injury. NT's aren't made, they're people who naturally hover around that size. Why would you take away the BEST DE on our roster to fill in for a project and eventual draft pick. So many athletes gained weight and just never were the same.

Shaq hasn't had a single tackle since he went to Cleveland....

I'm going to have to agree with GISH on this one. That's simply conjecture and pretty horrible conjecture at that.

 

Ferguson weighs 310lbs. Starks is 305lbs. Adding 5-10lbs to a 300+ frame is hardly comparable to 2 small children. Nor would it be a difficult feat to accomplish.
NTs are in fact sometimes made. Keith Traylor, for instance played LB for several years before adding weight and moving to NT.
Nolan's NT last year, Ronald Fields weighs 314lbs. 9lbs difference.
For the 2 years that Starks has been on the team he's filled in as needed @ NT when Soliai was suspended or Ferguson was injured.
During his time with the Titans he played DT.
It's doubtful that a rookie would make a bigger impact at NT than Starks.
Obviously Starks has done well for us @ DE. However, I don't understand the thinking that he can't play inside for us, since he already has done just that.

 

yes, starks played DT in tennessee.

starks IS THE SOLUTION to the nose tackle problem, as the OP suggests. He is being groomed for the position. Sparano has openly stated that Soliai needs to step up or be replaced. Why would he say thatif he's not secretly conspiring with Mike Nolan to convert Starks to NT? If we draft a DE high enough, it won't force Merling into the starting lineup, weakening our rotation.

 

I agree with you that it's highly doubtful that Starks will see more than situational duty inside. It's Soliai's job to lose for now.
However I disagree with posters who are responding with belittling comments directed at the OP.
It was nothing more than some random thoughts from one of our own.

 

It wouldn't make sense. The guy who I replied to wanted Starks to get up to about 325. I don't believe in taking someone out of their natural position especially when they have a great year and put them in a new situation. Taking Starks out of DE would cause unnecessary personnel issues such as who do we get to add more depth? I think we'd be OK with Soliai starting and a draft pick helping out until we get Fergie back.