What do you guys think of Paul Soliai? He's listed at the #2 NT spot. I thought he was starting. Did he get beat out? Is he not delivering? Thoughts?
No he's not delivering. During the off-season before camp and before workouts, each player must indicate to Bill Parcells his love for football repeatedly. Randy Starks is doing better. Parcells loves his men to be in great shape.
I honestly think Soliai is a solid back up for us and will get his playing time this year. He's turned into a fairly dependable player in a limited role. That being said, he still struggles from time to time and is not up to the same capabilities as randy starks.
We don't have a team, so I don't really follow one team. I try to follow the players off of my college team in the pros. Now that there are three UTES on the PHINS I am trying to get to know this team better. Because of the TV coverage deal we have the Broncos on every weekend, but I don't really care for the Broncos, so...
nah, he'll be fine. In fact, now that he's strictly a rotational guy behind Starks, he should be pretty good in that role.
And quite a bold one. He's got the size and ability, that's for sure. But he'll have two young guys, one high-motor (Baker) and another just as big (Ivey) pushing him. For all Soliai's inconsistency, those two kids will need to show a lot for the coaches to trust one of them for eight weeks behind Starks.
Big Paul will, I know some fans are kinda down on him, but every now and then he flashes brilliance, at worst he is traded off to a team that needs a 4-3 DT like Carolina. Big Paul's one problem from what I've seen is he doesn't shed blockers, he fights them, I've seen the cat throw 300 pd offensive lineman to the ground..which is impressive..meanwhile the play went by him.
Yeah, he gets more interested in fighting the guy in front of him than the actual play or ballcarrier. Not as bad as Joey Porter, who you could see was at least aware of the ball carrier coming, but then did absolutely nothing to get off his block.
Yup and the fact they are moving to a 1 gap 3-4 system says to me they really don't want 'blob' type NT's like Soliai. Bold yes...but then I also said Channing will be cut/relegated to backup when beaten by Dobbins to ;p But maybe that's cause I've thought Channing's been a bum for close to 2 1/2 years now.
I know exactly what you mean. He's done that at every level. That's the drawback with the Samoan players. The way they learn the game is to beat the hell outta the guy in front of them. Some of them get past it, but some of them can't. Jonathan Fanene at Cincy is a good example of someone who was able to grow his game. Paul is still struggling with his.
they will compete. doesn't really matter who gets the start, takes two NT's in the 3-4 to work the system they will both get plenty of time on the field we're just fine @ NT no more problems in either trench & the game is won or lost in the trenches
I think Junior attended HS, and subsequently played ball, in San Diego in Southern California. Koa Misi is Tongan and played in Northern California in HS. Soliai and Fanene played HS ball in American Samoa. They didn't get the mainland version of the game until they played JC ball.
They moved Baker to NT and told him to gain weight. That's 2 challengers for him with the undrafted kid. It's not totally far fetched considering how many 7th rounders this staff has turned into NT's.
