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breakthrough defensive players

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Y2K

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In 2009 IF young players like Philip Merlin, Paul Soliai, Jason Allen & Cameron Wake come alive and have break thru seasons like Greg Camarillo and Anthony Fasano and a few others did on offence in '08 and the lights come on for those players our defense would be a force to be reckoned with, i know its wishful thinkin, but is it really that crazy?, since all are young, talented and could thrive in '09....it might be the difference next year of a 8-8 or 9-7 season or 11-5, 12-4 type season..........
 
Langford (who had a good season last year) will explode this year...Merling too
 
Cam Wake and Phillip Merling are already very good players, we don't even need to hope for much improvement.

Jason Allen and Paul Soliai are both another story.

I still have some hope for Jason but I think the best thing to do in this years extreme sellers market for NT's is trade Soliai.

Soliai at 340 lbs. and running a 5.1 is a tremendous athlete and now with the proverbial 2 year NT apprenticeship under his belt should be worth a late 2nd or early 3rd round pick.

Next year with the draft replete with NT prospects he may be almost untradeable.

Paul has had his trouble in Miami, he should be moved for a pick.

Joe Cohen is hungry.
 
Unfortunately, I agree with Elliot 1. I say "unfortunately" because I really would like to see Soliai and Allen come around. Soliai is tremendously strong ... yes he has some athleticism for his size, but it is his raw power that makes him potentially special. His problem is that he isn't dedicated enough. He doesn't work hard on the field, off the field, in the film room ... he just doesn't seem to care enough about his game to take advantage of his athletic ability. :(

Allen is a different story, he has the ability, but I just question if he has the decision making to play. He makes a lot of outstanding plays as a safety, but I think every coaching staff just sees him as a risk of giving up big plays. So they try him at cornerback, but he's not really quite what is needed in a CB. He's big, fast, but he's just not a great CB. So, I keep hoping he will start to "get it" at S and solve our problem for a ball-hawking playmaker back there ... but apparently it's just not happening for him.

Merling will likely develop nicely, but he's never going to be a brain surgeon either. Luckily, playing a 34 DE doesn't really demand a ton of decision making, and that's the real difference between him ever becoming an OLB or remaining at DE. I think he'll remain at DE where his quickness will make him a 3 down player and allow him to excel.

Langford is a stud. He is going to be a great 34 DE and I'm really pleased with him. He will be a cornerstone of our defense for years to come. :)

I think people are expecting too much from Cam Wake. I hope he turns out to be a good pickup, but if he were a surefire star like many posters here think, then we would have had to pay a lot more for him. I will withold judgement until I see enough of his play to really make a valid determination.

I agree with the OP though, I really hope one or more of these guys step it up next season. My money is on Merling, as his injury set him back in the learning phase, and I'm sure he will really benefit from the extra time to absorb the role and get into shape this offseason.
 
If Jason Allen manages to be in the picture when Randy Moss catches the ball he is off to a better year.
 
I basically agree :D with Freind Y2k:
we have some serious & proven talent on both sides of the ball. would list on offense= 1. our running back stable 2. Pennington 3. the book ends 4. GinnJR & Camarillo 5. tremendous potential in the interior line & excellent potential in the WR's stable. on defense= 1.Ferguson 2.Philip Merling 3. Crowder & Matt Roth 4,Bell & Wilson 5. Porter & Cameron Wake.
I see Soliai & Jason Allen making their bones this year in a big way & I think Langford, Will Allen & Ayodele will step up & make an impact in 2009 :up:

they must compete.
.
 
Elliott 1 said:
Cam Wake and Phillip Merling are already very good players, we don't even need to hope for much improvement.

Jason Allen and Paul Soliai are both another story.

I still have some hope for Jason but I think the best thing to do in this years extreme sellers market for NT's is trade Soliai.

Soliai at 340 lbs. and running a 5.1 is a tremendous athlete and now with the proverbial 2 year NT apprenticeship under his belt should be worth a late 2nd or early 3rd round pick.

Next year with the draft replete with NT prospects he may be almost untradeable.

Paul has had his trouble in Miami, he should be moved for a pick.

Joe Cohen is hungry.
Click to expand...

JOE COHEN SUCKS. Silly post, really. Judging by the way SOLIAI played in the last 1/2 season, he may have already "arrived": that hit he put on McCLAIN in the 1st series of the playoff game w/BALTIMORE was both "textbook" and murderous. No wonder McCLAIN fumbled and wasn't the same, and did zippo, for the rest of the game and the following week. SOLIAI's play in subbing for FERGUSON was like that over and over in the last 1/2 season. I especially like the work that he does when he's in WITH FERGUSON on goalline stands. I'll bet MERLING, CROWDER, LANGFORD, and AYODELE are happy about it, too. And FERGUSON must be elated: his job just got a lot easier, and his career just got extended 1 or 2 years if he wants it. For MIAMI to trade away SOLIAI now would have to be because of disciplinary problems. It sure as hell isn't about his talent. Without the "disciplinary" thing, trading SOLIAI would be incredibly stupid at this point. MIAMI already put in all the work developing him into an NFL NT: why let someone else enjoy the fruits of that labor? PARCELLS isn't THAT generous.

So, does anybody here really think that PARCELLS & CO are incredibly stupid?
 
Believe it or not, I think Allen could break out this year and I cant stand the guy. My wildcard to break out this year.
 
FinAtic8480 said:
Believe it or not, I think Allen could break out this year and I cant stand the guy. My wildcard to break out this year.
Click to expand...

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:
Thanks I need that!!!
 
TakeOne said:
If we get a solid NT, Crowder could have a solid year.
Click to expand...

At this point I would be happy if they signed Tank Johnson. That said even with the best NT in the league Crowder is average at best.
 
I think Allen and Soliai will both have great years. Allen should finally have a full season and TC at the same position and have the same coaches for two years in a row for once, which I believe will help him out a lot. Soliai is, as of right now, the backup NT. The backup NT doesn't typically see the field a lot. The fact that he was suspended twice and is still on the team should speak volumes about what they think about him. The fact that they trust him enough to put him in on those goal line situations should speak to that as well.
 
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