Samson Satele...finally in the right system?

[BlueFin]

The Dolphins drafted Satele during Cam Cameron's year of horror In 2007.

In 2008...The Parcells era arrived and Parcells quickly recognized that he didn't fit his man blocking scheme which utilizes larger lineman. He was shipped off to Oakland where they failed to recognize Samson didn't fit that system either.

Indy was the next team to miscast him in 2012....even though the Colts with Andrew Luck went 11-5.

In 2014, in a cost cutting move Samson was released making him available to the Dolphins...who are now running a zone blocking system.

I bring up for discussion the possibility that Samson truly is a Zone blocking center....mediocre in a man blocking system at best.

Maybe the Dolphins truly got lucky for a change when he was available?

I believe if he plays at high level the next several games...you move Pouncey to guard.

This is scouting report on Satele by the "Huddle Report" which recognized that Samson would only be valuable to a zone blocking team.

Samson Satele C/G Hawaii
STRENGTHS
One of the most difficult blocks for a center to handle is the strength of this kid’s game. Samson is a powerful kid that plays with good leverage and excellent strength. He is smart and has excellent leadership skills. Samson can handle a big nose tackle straight up in the passing game without any problems at all and like I said before, that is the hardest blocking technique for a center to deal with when playing his position. He shows decent enough lateral agility to help out his guards in the double team and shows the mental stamina to deal with a full 16 game schedule without any problems. For the right offense, Samson is a plug-in center for the team that drafts him.

NEEDS TO IMPROVE
The areas in which Samson needs to improve will be very difficult for him to improve in because of his body type. He has naturally wide hips, which reduces his ability to run in space and turn his body at the same time to block without almost slowing down to a stop. Samson will also have problems going out to the next level to block a Linebacker and when he pulls for a sweep. That being said, Samson is a perfect fit for a zone-blocking scheme.

TALENT BOARD ROUND: 2
If Samson did not have difficulty in turning his hips, I would rate him as the top center in the draft. Teams that use the zone-blocking scheme on offense might rate him as their top center; however, for the purposes of this draft and for all thirty-two teams, I cannot rate him as the top center in the draft. He is strictly a system center and a damn good one. If you are a team that deals with a lot of teams in your division that use a 3-4 defensive scheme, then you would be very smart to draft this kid early in the process. He is a powerful, confident kid and in that scheme, he will be as impactful as Nick Mangold has been for the New Jersey Jets. Samson has natural pass blocking abilities and although he is a powerfully built player, he is an excellent pass blocking offensive lineman. I say this because when you look at him, you think automatically that he is going to be a better run blocker than pass blocker, but that cannot be further from the truth. Because his hips are so wide, it’s easy for him to set himself with strength and quickness into a perfect pass blocking stance. All he has to worry about is a quick move laterally to help out with a double team or hand fighting the bull rush, which is another techniques that he does almost naturally. The only question I have is how well does he handle playing in cold weather? That is a big question for a kid coming from the big island! I’m just not sure how a kid from Hawaii is going to handle playing for a team in New Jersey, Chicago, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or any other cold weather team, which could affect where this kid is drafted as well! If your team drafts him, cold weather or not, don’t worry. He will be a good Center and start right away.
Drew Boylhart

 

[ronnienchambers]

Calm down. He had one good game. I hope he does have a few more good ones too but you don't move one of the best centers in the NFL to guard so you can play a journeyman center....

 

[ANUFan]

Calm down. He had one good game. I hope he does have a few more good ones too but you don't move one of the best centers in the NFL to guard so you can play a journeyman center....

Agree on the clam down. But, I'll also reiterate something I said in another post. Assuming things continue to progress positively from the OL I'm nervous about just inserting Pouncy and taking Samson out.

On the surface this may seem like a great idea. Pro bowl caliber center in and journey man out...so the OL should be that much better with the switch right? Not so fast...I hope the coaching staff is very cautious with that kinda move.

 

[Yessir]

Pretty damn sure the Raiders under Tom Cable ran a zone blocking scheme during Satele's stint. And he wasn't very good there either.

Satele is nothing but a borderline serviceable player, who's just keeping the seat warm for Mike Pouncey.

 

[russianbear]

The quicker Pouncey can come back the better IMO.

It's great that Satele is doing a good job when called upon, but don't forget who the ProBowl anchor of that offensive line is.

 

[BlueFin]

First of all....calm down what?

I clearly stated IF he continues his excellent play.....This is a legitimate topic of discussion.

I do stand corrected though...in 2009 & 2010 with the Raiders Samson was in ZBS under Cable....and he had his best years in those years.

Sandwiched around those two years is 2007, 2008(Dolphins).....2011 (Raiders), 2012 & 2013(Colts) where he was miscast in MBS.

Some of you seem stuck in Madden football and fail to recognize that a player can grow and develop with experience.....that a given player can fit one system and not another.

Stick your calm downs....if you Don't want to discuss it don't.

Some of you are too ignorant to realize Pouncey played guard as well in his past and could do it just as well.

It's legitimate for discussion purposes to theorize what may occur should Satele play at a very high level over the next month.

If Satele does actually play at that level....if the light bulb has gone on....if he is motivated like never before....having Pouncey line up at guard next to Branden Albert is only going to make this even better.

 

[Zounds]

There is probably a better time to ask this question.....like maybe Monday morning after the Buffalo game.

 

[ronnienchambers]

First of all....calm down what?

I clearly stated IF he continues his excellent play.....This is a legitimate topic of discussion.

I do stand corrected though...in 2009 & 2010 with the Raiders Samson was in ZBS under Cable....and he had his best years in those years.

Sandwiched around those two years is 2007, 2008(Dolphins).....2011 (Raiders), 2012 & 2013(Colts) where he was miscast in MBS.

Some of you seem stuck in Madden football and fail to recognize that a player can grow and develop with experience.....that a given player can fit one system and not another.

Stick your calm downs....if you Don't want to discuss it don't.

Some of you are too ignorant to realize Pouncey played guard as well in his past and could do it just as well.

It's legitimate for discussion purposes to theorize what may occur should Satele play at a very high level over the next month.

If Satele does actually play at that level....if the light bulb has gone on....if he is motivated like never before....having Pouncey line up at guard next to Branden Albert is only going to make this even better.

I don't feel I am ignorant, don't play video games, and realize Mike has a twin brother who played center at Florida and you are totally entitled to your opinion on this matter. That is what these boards are for. No need to call people ignorant when they don't share your opinion. We all love the fins here, we are on the same side....

 

[Fin Fan in Cali]

First of all....calm down what?

I clearly stated IF he continues his excellent play.....This is a legitimate topic of discussion.

I do stand corrected though...in 2009 & 2010 with the Raiders Samson was in ZBS under Cable....and he had his best years in those years.

Sandwiched around those two years is 2007, 2008(Dolphins).....2011 (Raiders), 2012 & 2013(Colts) where he was miscast in MBS.

Some of you seem stuck in Madden football and fail to recognize that a player can grow and develop with experience.....that a given player can fit one system and not another.

Stick your calm downs....if you Don't want to discuss it don't.

Some of you are too ignorant to realize Pouncey played guard as well in his past and could do it just as well.

It's legitimate for discussion purposes to theorize what may occur should Satele play at a very high level over the next month.

If Satele does actually play at that level....if the light bulb has gone on....if he is motivated like never before....having Pouncey line up at guard next to Branden Albert is only going to make this even better.

Awesome post brother! :hi5:

---------- Post added at 11:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:16 AM ----------

I don't feel I am ignorant, don't play video games, and realize Mike has a twin brother who played center at Florida and you are totally entitled to your opinion on this matter. That is what these boards are for. No need to call people ignorant when they don't share your opinion. We all love the fins here, we are on the same side....

On the brothers defense he was told to calm down when he was just posting a thread for others to discuss and enjoy.

 

[zach attach]

The best part about this is that we have 2 very good players. A good problem to have. Maybe Satele does so good that another team trades for him after Mike gets back.

 

[NBP81]

This is a very legitimate OP. Not going to bash people who seem to violently throw this idea out the window, they re entitled to their opinion. If satele does keep it up, this is absolutely what they should do. Its a BIG IF but if Satele plays like a decent starter until Pouncey comes back, then Satele is a better center than Colledge at guard and Pouncey would be a Pro Bowl LG. Albert- Pouncey-Satele(playing good)- Smith-James> Albert- Colledge-Pouncey-Smith-James...

 

[PhinFan1968]

This is a very legitimate OP. Not going to bash people who seem to violently throw this idea out the window, they re entitled to their opinion. If satele does keep it up, this is absolutely what they should do. Its a BIG IF but if Satele plays like a decent starter until Pouncey comes back, then Satele is a better center than Colledge at guard and Pouncey would be a Pro Bowl LG. Albert- Pouncey-Satele(playing good)- Smith-James> Albert- Colledge-Pouncey-Smith-James...

It's not like Satele just filled-in and did OK (which, frankly, was what we were all hoping for)...he was rated very highly (4th) at C in the first week. Really small sample size, yes, but that was against the Buffet Barbarian. This week will be another strong test. Would love to see him repeat last week's effort.

 

[ronnienchambers]

I have a feeling Wilfork isn't even close to 100% healthy which may be the reason Satele graded out so well. Hopefully I am completely wrong as the line would be better as proposed if Satele grades out like he did game 1 consistently. I would just like to wait a few more games and see as Satele hasn't played that well consistently through his career....

 

[NBP81]

I have a feeling Wilfork isn't even close to 100% healthy which may be the reason Satele graded out so well. Hopefully I am completely wrong as the line would be better as proposed if Satele grades out like he did game 1 consistently. I would just like to wait a few more games and see as Satele hasn't played that well consistently through his career....

I agree, which is the whole basis of this scenario. For this to be possible, Satele absolutely has to keep playing at least at an above average level until Pouncey comes back. In that case you're replacing a below average player on the line (colledge) with an above average player(Satele) strenghtening your weakest link on the OL. If he just manages to play at decent or less, then it wont warrant the trouble of moving around players on the line as it would just be tossing mediocre players around with no real upgrade...

 

[BlueFin]

I have a feeling Wilfork isn't even close to 100% healthy which may be the reason Satele graded out so well. Hopefully I am completely wrong as the line would be better as proposed if Satele grades out like he did game 1 consistently. I would just like to wait a few more games and see as Satele hasn't played that well consistently through his career....

Which is exactly what I said....IF his good play continues.