Manny Wright's Role? | Page 3 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Manny Wright's Role?

Manny Wright is not fit for nose tackle. At least, not yet. StLouisFinFan failed to account for a very important attribute in a nose tackle and that is height. A guy that is 6'6" like Manny Wright is never going to be an every-down nose tackle because he is 6'6" tall and therefore can't get the proper leverage to be an immovable object.

Yes, there are ultra-quick NT's out there used to gain that first step right on the center's jock and collapse the pocket from the inside. But those guys are not every down nose tackles. Guys like Ted Washington and Keith Traylor are every down nose tackles. They are your bread and butter.

Manny has the potential to be a specialist nose tackle, like you mentioned John Randle, and Richard Seymour functioned as a specialist nose tackle too, but he does not have that potential to be the big square body that stands in the middle and does not get moved. Anyone who thinks differently is fooling themselves.

Our second team defensive line in the 3-4 formation against the Jaguars was Manuel Wright at LE, Josh Shaw at NT, and Kevin Vickerson at RE. Get use to that image. In a few years (with any luck if Wright & Vickerson develop), you will probably see the exact same thing except Josh Shaw probably won't be that nose tackle.

I think Greg Bedard brought up a good point that Matt Roth may have the potential to put on a bunch of weight and be an active nose tackle in the mold of Jim Burt. But that probably ain't happenin. We still haven't found our nose tackle of the future. Suffice it to say, I'm sure Saban wishes the fins would have drafted Vince Wilfork :)

Then again, considering how amazing Carey has turned out at left tackle, maybe not :D
 
Oh, and for all the people enamoured with how huge a guy that is 6'6" tall and 330 pounds is, for Manuel Wright to be an effective every down nose tackle with his 6'6" frame, he'd probably have to be 370 pounds.
 
I think a good clue for the type of "NT" Saban likes to use would be to look at the type of players he brought in and started on the line at LSU.

It appears that he consistantly went with the guys in the 290-310 range. That's probably why Josh Shaw is the #2 guy at 290 ish pounds.

I don't think it's wise to try to use the standard "fat guy" at Saban's NT position. He values versatility too much.

Hopefully, Wright will find a spot on the line during special teams (field goals) with his huge size and wingspan in the middle of the line.
 
I wouldn't extrapolate too much based on college. College players are different from pro players. In college there's not much reason to need a guy to be 350+ pounds. In the pros, there's a reason for it...because EVERYONE is so much stronger than in college. And I mean physically stronger, bigger, more imposing, especially offensive linemen.
 
phinphan11 said:
Role = "Brook Trout"

:lol:
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He is stuck with that image until he does something.He has only been in camp a couple of weeks and he already has two nicknames both disparaging."Crybaby" and "Brook Trout".He needs to grow up quick.His father should have named him "Sue".:tongue:
 
Role= Project for long term

If it works, Saban is a genius getting him

If it doesn't, no biggie only a 5th rd lost.

Either way his role is minimal right now.
 
ckparrothead said:
I wouldn't extrapolate too much based on college. College players are different from pro players. In college there's not much reason to need a guy to be 350+ pounds. In the pros, there's a reason for it...because EVERYONE is so much stronger than in college. And I mean physically stronger, bigger, more imposing, especially offensive linemen.
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Saban ran a pro-style team and recruited the players that fit his design. His use of the "NT" doesn't exactly match the stock role.

In the Jacksonville game Traylor only lined up directly across from the center twice in the first quarter...and the second time he dropped back into a short zone coverage. Zgonina (305 lbs) also got two reps at Nose tackle in the first quarter.

It very much appears that Saban will continue to run his defense with the same exact style as at LSU and that design uses the smaller sized player at NT. It's a defense that is always mixing it up by design. 350 lb players have a role to play...but, it would only be a limited role because of the endurance factor.
 
Trekbiz said:
6-6, 300 lbs. is small? :rolleyes:

The kid is a rookie. He has a huge frame and loads of talent. If he looks small to you ..... get glasses.

His size is fine, it's his mental state and drive that are the question marks.

What's his role? A little early to expecting that to be decided when Saban probably dosen't even know. If they want him to stay at DT he could easily add 20-30 lbs on a 6'6 frame. If they want him at DE he could lose some pounds as well. Again, he's a rookie and only time will tell.
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Maybe if you would've read the whole thread, then you would understand on why i said that.
 
ckparrothead said:
Manny Wright is not fit for nose tackle. At least, not yet. StLouisFinFan failed to account for a very important attribute in a nose tackle and that is height. A guy that is 6'6" like Manny Wright is never going to be an every-down nose tackle because he is 6'6" tall and therefore can't get the proper leverage to be an immovable object.

Yes, there are ultra-quick NT's out there used to gain that first step right on the center's jock and collapse the pocket from the inside. But those guys are not every down nose tackles. Guys like Ted Washington and Keith Traylor are every down nose tackles. They are your bread and butter.

Manny has the potential to be a specialist nose tackle, like you mentioned John Randle, and Richard Seymour functioned as a specialist nose tackle too, but he does not have that potential to be the big square body that stands in the middle and does not get moved. Anyone who thinks differently is fooling themselves.

Our second team defensive line in the 3-4 formation against the Jaguars was Manuel Wright at LE, Josh Shaw at NT, and Kevin Vickerson at RE. Get use to that image. In a few years (with any luck if Wright & Vickerson develop), you will probably see the exact same thing except Josh Shaw probably won't be that nose tackle.

I think Greg Bedard brought up a good point that Matt Roth may have the potential to put on a bunch of weight and be an active nose tackle in the mold of Jim Burt. But that probably ain't happenin. We still haven't found our nose tackle of the future. Suffice it to say, I'm sure Saban wishes the fins would have drafted Vince Wilfork :)

Then again, considering how amazing Carey has turned out at left tackle, maybe not :D
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You're right CK, height is definitely a disadvantage for him. However, height doesn't have to a handicap if you learn to establish leverage at first contact. If your'n can get under his'n, then your'n can take his'n all the way out the stadium and on down to that barn up yonder...sorry, had a flashback to my days in Alabama.
 
NYinBostonFin said:
Role= Project for long term

If it works, Saban is a genius getting him

If it doesn't, no biggie only a 5th rd lost.

Either way his role is minimal right now.
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Yep...he's the equivelant of a low cost tech stock...you never know what's going to happen, but it comes with TONS of potential and should make for a fun ride.
 
In the Jacksonville game Traylor only lined up directly across from the center twice in the first quarter...and the second time he dropped back into a short zone coverage. Zgonina (305 lbs) also got two reps at Nose tackle in the first quarter.
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I would probably dispute that, but I will review the Jacksonville game tape to be sure. I would be very surprised if I see any plays at all where Traylor was not lined up directly on the center's left shoulder, right shoulder, or directly across from him. Keep in mind that any defensive tackle that is lined up over center, whether it be his left shoulder, right shoulder, or directly over him, is playing technique whose position is commonly referred to as a nose tackle.
 
StLouisFinFan said:
You're right CK, height is definitely a disadvantage for him. However, height doesn't have to a handicap if you learn to establish leverage at first contact. If your'n can get under his'n, then your'n can take his'n all the way out the stadium and on down to that barn up yonder...sorry, had a flashback to my days in Alabama.
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Yeah I'm not saying it's impossible for a 6'6" guy to learn to play well at the nose position where you need to become an immovable object, but would be very unusual. I thought it was impossible for a 6'6" guy to run a 4.37 in the 40 yard dash, but then Matt Jones came along and destroyed everyone's vision of what a wide receiver could or could not be.

What I will say is that knowing Wright's history and seeing him play, I find it even more unlikely for him in particular to develop into that kind of player that breaks the mold, so to speak.

If Manny and Kevin have a future with the phins it would be as DTs in the 4-3 technique, and defensive ends in the 3-4 technique. That's the kind of players they are, IMO.
 
His role is to stay on the treadmill and weight room for 2 years and keep his ears open for instruction.
 
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