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NT: Can we get one via FA

mnphinfan

mnphinfan

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I have been looking at FA NT's that would be available if no new CBA is reached and basically I can only find three players that I could be really happy with our FO signing.

The first two everyone has heard and is talking about. Vince Wilfork from New England and Casey Hampton from Pittsburgh.

Sure it would be great to sign Wilfork away from the Patsies to shore up our d-line. However, he has stated many times that he hates the Fins and I don't really see us signing him.

Hampton from Pittsburgh would be a good signing as well, but he is getting a little long in the tooth and I would like us to sign someone a little younger if possible.

This brings me to Aubroyo Franklin from SF. He is an up and coming NT who will be 30 years old next season who has done an excellent job anchoring their 3-4 D-line. Since he became the starting NT the 49ers rushing defense has significantly improved. This year they were 6th in rushing yards allowed per game and tied for first with yards allowed per carry at 3.6. Patrick Willis recently credited Franklin and the double teams he takes on every play as being the main reason as to why he is able to make so many tackles (for those of you who don't know Willis led the NFL in tackles last season). IF the 49ers dont place the franchise tag on him I would love to see him in a Fin's uniform next year.
 
Wilfork will be franchized..

Franklin will as well..if he is not ..Denver will sign him..He will rejoin with Nolan..

Casey Hampton is old tho right?

I say we resign Ferg and Draft a NT first round or 2nd round if avail..

Dan Williams or Cody..

Maybe move Starks to NT?
 
Tunaphish429 said:
Wilfork will be franchized..

Franklin will as well..if he is not ..Denver will sign him..He will rejoin with Nolan..

Casey Hampton is old tho right?

I say we resign Ferg and Draft a NT first round or 2nd round if avail..

Dan Williams or Cody..

Maybe move Starks to NT?
Click to expand...
Why Ruin a good thing he has been a stud at DE so why move him to a place he has never played
 
#1dolphinsfan said:
Why Ruin a good thing he has been a stud at DE so why move him to a place he has never played
Click to expand...


He has played NT before..He played it a few times last year that I recall..

He has played in passing situations this year..

..Why move him you ask? Cause we have alot of depth at De.and could easily draft another De...

He could be a great NT ..just have him gain 20 pounds.
 
NT is a BIG need for us. The NT is a very important position when you run a 3-4 defense. I don't know if anyone in the draft would be an immediate impact as a NT. Who are the best NT coming out? P. Solai was drafted and he is huge and has all the physical tools but had not really panned-out for the Fins!

Wifork, Hampton, and Franklin would be a nice fit. Franklin would be really nice for us.

Go Fins!!!
 
Tunaphish429 said:
He has played NT before..He played it a few times last year that I recall..

He has played in passing situations this year..

..Why move him you ask? Cause we have alot of depth at De.and could easily draft another De...

He could be a great NT ..just have him gain 20 pounds.
Click to expand...
yea he could be but we already know he is a really good DE so i say keep him where we konw he is good
 
Tunaphish429 said:
Wilfork will be franchized..

Franklin will as well..if he is not ..Denver will sign him..He will rejoin with Nolan..

Casey Hampton is old tho right?

I say we resign Ferg and Draft a NT first round or 2nd round if avail..

Dan Williams or Cody..

Maybe move Starks to NT?
Click to expand...

That's exactly my point, I don't think it will be easy to sign a quality NT this year via FA.

I also don't like the possibility of a rookie getting a lot of playing time while they are in the transition of switching from DT to NT. The responsibilities are totally different and it normally takes them awhile to learn them.

Hopefully Fergie is going to be ok but I saw that he probably wont be fully ready to go until training camp and will most likely miss all of the OTA's. I just don't want this FO to leave the most important position in the 3-4 defense in limbo until midway through training camp while waiting to see if Soliai and whomever we draft can handle the requirements of the job if Fergie isn't yet ready to go.
 
Sal Lisitano said:
NT is a BIG need for us. The NT is a very important position when you run a 3-4 defense. I don't know if anyone in the draft would be an immediate impact as a NT. Who are the best NT coming out? P. Solai was drafted and he is huge and has all the physical tools but had not really panned-out for the Fins!

Wifork, Hampton, and Franklin would be a nice fit. Franklin would be really nice for us.

Go Fins!!!
Click to expand...

Cody is 365 pounds..He is a monster..Has some stamina problems but has already played NT in college..

Dan Williams is 320..He is playing the Nose as well in a 4-3 system

Both big boys who could fit right in wearing aqua and orange
 
mnphinfan said:
That's exactly my point, I don't think it will be easy to sign a quality NT this year via FA.

I also don't like the possibility of a rookie getting a lot of playing time while they are in the transition of switching from DT to NT. The responsibilities are totally different and it normally takes them awhile to learn them.

Hopefully Fergie is going to be ok but I saw that he probably wont be fully ready to go until training camp and will most likely miss all of the OTA's. I just don't want this FO to leave the most important position in the 3-4 defense in limbo until midway through training camp while waiting to see if Soliai and whomever we draft can handle the requirements of the job if Fergie isn't yet ready to go.
Click to expand...


I really dont think they will leave it in limbo..

They got Fergie for 2- 6th round draft picks was one of the first things they did..

I dont see Solai as our starter he was just too inconsistent not to mention we were bad against the run toward the end of the year
 
Tunaphish429 said:
..Why move him you ask? Cause we have alot of depth at De.and could easily draft another De
Click to expand...
i never asked why we should move him because we shouldnt and we dont know how the people behind him are they havnt started how do you know they dont suck and we shouldnt draft a DE because we already have a good one in starks
 
#1dolphinsfan said:
Why Ruin a good thing he has been a stud at DE so why move him to a place he has never played
Click to expand...

Its easier to find De for 34's in the draft then it is to find NT..

Unless you pay a premium for them
Merling would be starting if Starks was not there..

I am not saying its going to happen but its def an option

Merling, Starks, Langford would be pretty scary ...

Mcdaniel backing them up..draft another De in mid to late rounds...

So you can have your cake and eat it too kinda thing..

Draft and OLB first round
 
Tunaphish429 said:
Cody is 365 pounds..He is a monster..Has some stamina problems but has already played NT in college..

Dan Williams is 320..He is playing the Nose as well in a 4-3 system

Both big boys who could fit right in wearing aqua and orange
Click to expand...

I am not really high on Cody. He seems to have the exact size we are looking for but there are tons of reports on him always having stamina problems, being lazy, and worse yet that he takes plays off. If he is gonna play NT in a 3-4 defense in the NFL there is no way he can take plays off or our entire front 7 will have enormous problems both stopping the run and getting to the QB on passing downs.

With Dan Williams the thing with him is he plays DT in a 4-3 system. His responsibilites would now be totally different in the 3-4 defense and I would be worried about the learning curve which would take place. We have already seen how Sparano doesn't like to play people whom he doesn't feel are 100% ready (I.E. Wake/Turner/Clemons/Sheets) even when the people they would replace are playing poorly. So how would this affect a rookie DT who is now switching to NT? I would hate for us to select a NT in the first/second round and then not see him active on game days because he can't get his playbook responsibilities down.
 
Tunaphish429 said:
Cody is 365 pounds..He is a monster..Has some stamina problems but has already played NT in college..

Dan Williams is 320..He is playing the Nose as well in a 4-3 system

Both big boys who could fit right in wearing aqua and orange
Click to expand...

What college do they play for. Sorry but I'm not in draft mode yet.
 
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