I understand where you're coming from and that makes sense, but the other school of thought could be that Solia is a free agent after this year, and even though he's a good player, he's not an elite player we'd 100% want to prioritize keeping until he retires, which means the position and the interior of the Dline could remain as volatile as it looks right now, which isn't a good thing. IMO you draft a guy like Lotulelei to become the cornerstone of the defense for the next 10 years so that the position maintains continuity. I mean, look at us now; we went from Dline being the strength of the team to it potentially becoming an area of need simply b/c Starks isn't quite good enough make a priority at his price tag. Ditto for Soliai. However, the Ravens won't have that problem with Ngata, nor the Patriots with Wilfork. Personally, I'm tired of all these players we keep for one contract term b/c they're not quite at franchise caliber level to prioritize re-signing once they hit FA. What kind of sustained success or any success for that matter will we build if we keep that up? IMO our defense needs a few mainstays if we truly want to take it to the next level. Soliai is a great run-stuffer, but Lotulelei is a long term answer at a critical position, and the draft should be about building for the future rather than satisfying an immediate need considering rookies rarely outperform veteran FAs whom you can sign for a year to fill a hole. By next year we'll either need to re-sign Soliai or draft his replacement, so I don't have a problem addressing this need in advance with tremendous value and give the player a year to settle in rather than potentially reaching for a lesser caliber player out of need next year and throwing him to the wolves. Side note, the Ravens seem to do ok with Terrance Cody (341 lbs) and Haloti Ngata (340 lbs) starting together.
Yeah I know, but some folks here assume you are, because of your love for the CFL. I don't really agree though. I like the CFL and ain't from Canada, though my mom was. I'm surprised you'd want to keep it a secret though. Most folks here are proud of their nationality it seems to me.
I think if you're drafting him there you expecting him to be more than just a space eater. You think he's capable of providing a pass rush as a 1-technique, playing a 3-technique, and contributing in Nickel packages. A guy like Haloti Ngata, Shaun Rogers, Kris Jenkins, etc.
Look at the best DT's in the game, outside of Suh, it takes them yrs to become dominant. Even then, we simply have to put more points on the board, there is no way around this fact. Granted our #1 pick this years is sort of a throwaway due to talent/needs, I still think we need a more dynamic presence than a DT out of this draft at #12.
I think it's one thing to take him at 12 when the value he represents is enough to allow you to take somewhat of a luxury position, and trading up to do that where the value isn't necessarily as good. I don't think he will be there at 12 and really he probably won't get close. Giving up multiple valuable resources that can be used to fill much needed holes to take a guy who plays a position you are fairly strong, or at the very least settled at I don't see as good resource management.
Well if Star Lotulelei is there at 12 I think thats a no brainer, I don't know why we wouldn't resign Starks, I mean he shouldn't get a deal that would kill the cap. I just don't understand the mentality of the front office here, I mean are we rebuilding and letting any high priced Vet go or are we trying to win? Everyone points to the cap space that we have as some huge plus but what does it really do for us if we are losing 10 starters and have to replace them with rookies or FA vets? Not really sure what the direction is here, hopefully it will all start shaping up soon after we can sign some players and the draft.
Watched some old videos of Shaun Rogers recently. What an amazing athlete he was, even when he noticeably half-assed things.
If Odrick stays in his current role, who would you rather have replace Starks between Floyd & Richardson?
I'd rather cut Soliai if it meant we could afford Starks. Between those two and Odrick, Starks is the LAST one I'd want to lose. But, to answer your question, Richardson. Because I think he'd give us more pass rush, and whether it comes from RDE or RDT, we need someone else who can rush the passer to help Wake.
I don't know all that applies that heavily. I don't know that Paul Soliai is good enough you pass up on a better player, and that you should be playing notions of value if you like a guy that much at the top of the draft.
We can't assume the GM will repeat the Egnew effect. Saying you'd rather not trade back because of that is a vote of no confidence in the ability of the GM to make good use of the pick at all. In which case, why assume he'll make any of the picks competently? I think we have to discuss the draft with some degree of assuming we can make reasonable picks. Now I happen to agree with you that Ireland's chances of using the pick well are suspect, but it's a dead end for draft discussions if we start assessing draft decisions like trading down on the basis of stuff the organization wouldn't assume. So, assuming we won't screw up the pick, would you trade down? Or do you sincerely have that little faith in our ability to use the additional pick well?
Definitely. That's why I have a tough time deciding between the two {for Miami that is}. I can see the pros for both sides, and they're both very enticing. If I had to make the decision I think I'd take the one whose ability is tougher to come by, so in that regard I'm leaning toward Richardson ATM.
Randy Starks - DL - Dolphins NEWS: GM Jeff Ireland reiterated that bringing back free agent DT Randy Starks is a priority. ANALYSIS: "It's very important to have Randy back if we can get it done," Ireland said. "The fact of the matter is we have a very good defensive line, and keeping that intact is a focus of mine." Starks is a prime candidate for the franchise tag, which would cost the Dolphins $8.306 million.
Makes sense. If Star Lotuelelei and Sharrif Floyd look more and more sure to not escape the top 10 then you're looking at options to replace Randy Starks and you're seeing Sheldon Richardson at 12 (who might be better off at End), and then perhaps Kawann Short (if he makes it) at #42. I just lose a lot of confidence in this year's defensive tackles once you get beyond the top group. Of course you could address it in free agency with Desmond Bryant or Henry Melton...but you don't know either player will manage to escape the clutches of their current team.
Yeah I heard. He's going to time very poorly. His lack of mobility and range is evident on tape. But he does a great job beating offensive linemen and making plays at the line of scrimmage.
I'm a bit concerned about what the price to keep Randy Starks will be. He's quite good, but he isn't consistent. He gives you a handful of dominant games a year, and then the rest of the time he's a guy. That pattern has been pretty strong in my eyes with the exception of like his second year here(I think??) His marketability might be a bit of an issue, too. There have not been a lot of good free agent defensive tackles recently, he's got every reason to try and go big. He's got versatility, relative youth, and production under his hat to justify a big price.
It's completely possible, but my concern is really the cost to do so. The other thing for me is his age. He's only 29, but next year will be his 10th career season. How long can you expect him to be a full time(700+ snap) starter for?
Well, I guess the tag for a DT now is $8.3 mil or so, and we did tag Soliai for 12 mil a couple of years ago. Starks plays more snaps, so to me it would be a comparative bargain to tag him at 8.3. He probably has perhaps 3 more productive seasons, though I'm not sure of his snap count before he came to Miami. In his 9 previous seasons he has been a full time starter in 5 of them. So, before coming to Miami his snap count was probably a couple hundred less per year or so.
There was a DT at the combine who looked ridiculously v-shaped and cut for a DT- his name was Williams, by deduction it has to be Nick Williams from Samford, who's about 6-4.5 310 lbs. Ran a 4.94 so he has good wheels, but I haven't seen this guy play. Just mentioning it because he looked so athletic out there for a 310 lb guy.
