Soliai ready to start at NT for Miami Dolphins

[DKphin]

Miami Dolphins nose tackle Paul Soliai gets to show how much he's learned from his mentor, fellow nose tackle Jason Ferguson, when he starts in the middle at 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo. It's a lot to ask.
Ferguson was a rock who took on double teams and held his ground, freeing the linebackers to make tackles. But the 12-year veteran suffered a season-ending quadriceps (thigh) injury in last week's 24-17 victory at Carolina. And Soliai couldn't do anything to help his teammates.
This week Soliai will be charged with clogging the middle against a running game that includes the Bills' tag team of Fred Jackson, Buffalo's leading rusher with 528 yards on 129 carries (4.1-yard average), and rugged Marshawn Lynch (272 yards on 87 carries, 3.1-yard average).
Ferguson was a model of efficiency and a prized asset in Miami's 3-4 defense.
Now, Soliai hopes to show he's that guy.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-notebook-1126-20091125,0,3526166.story

 

[phinfan33]

and i sure hope he does,because if he can,we won't have to worry about drafting a NT until the later rounds in the next draft...

 

[josekareh]

I guess rotation will be pretty important

 

[DNADD]

Right, and Ted Ginn is ready to have a break out year. I expect Soliai to get run over by anyone even remotely mediocre. Look for him on the sidelines. He'll be the one sucking wind, wishing he didnt suck so much.

 

[phinfan33]

Right, and Ted Ginn is ready to have a break out year. I expect Soliai to get run over by anyone even remotely mediocre. Look for him on the sidelines. He'll be the one sucking wind, wishing he didnt suck so much.

i don't expect him to get run over by anybody,when i've seen him in there,he's been disruptive...now i also know he'll take a few lumps,but i expect him to play good,and show why Coach Sparano has given him chances...he has to know that this is his time to step up and show he's our new starting NT,because if he doesn't,he'll be shipped out...

 

[RealDriscoll]

The rotation is very important as Paul Soliai gets gased pretty easily; Players such as Randy Starks and Tony McDaniel become very important down the stretch.

 

[RealDriscoll]

Feruson's injury is like Pennington's and Will Allen's as it allows young people to step and be evaluated. Paul Soliai's performance will judge how much of a a need Nose Tackle is come off-season

 

[phinfan33]

Feruson's injury is like Pennington's and Will Allen's as it allows young people to step and be evaluated. Paul Soliai's performance will judge how much of a a need Nose Tackle is come off-season

yep,i agree

 

[jlfin]

Right, and Ted Ginn is ready to have a break out year. I expect Soliai to get run over by anyone even remotely mediocre. Look for him on the sidelines. He'll be the one sucking wind, wishing he didnt suck so much.

You obviously haven't watched him play much and when you have , it has been tainted with a bias against him.
He has had some very good games this season and some (Pats game) which he did not play well.
Many NT's are the same way.
Did Pats fans say that Wilfork sucked last yr when Satele DOMINATED him in the 1st game at New England?
I'm not comparing the 2 except to point out that any player is capable of having good games and bad games. Solai has been solid and at time dominant in most games this season. He has been average in some and played poorly (Pats) in others. I prefer to judge players on the balance of their work and for the most part he has been above average.

 

[HybridPHIN 23]

Right, and Ted Ginn is ready to have a break out year. I expect Soliai to get run over by anyone even remotely mediocre. Look for him on the sidelines. He'll be the one sucking wind, wishing he didnt suck so much.

you should work for the herald

 

[BobDole]

we obviously need to draft a NT come april. his play will dictate how high the priority really is. if he struggles we should use an early rounder on someone like dan williams and if he thrives we should wait and take a guy like cam thomas late. he's played really good so far this year - now we'll get to see if he has starting potential.

 

[Dr. Phin]

You obviously haven't watched him play much and when you have , it has been tainted with a bias against him.
He has had some very good games this season and some (Pats game) which he did not play well.
Many NT's are the same way.
Did Pats fans say that Wilfork sucked last yr when Satele DOMINATED him in the 1st game at New England?
I'm not comparing the 2 except to point out that any player is capable of having good games and bad games. Solai has been solid and at time dominant in most games this season. He has been average in some and played poorly (Pats) in others. I prefer to judge players on the balance of their work and for the most part he has been above average.

I'm sorry, but Soliai has only had one really decent game all year. That was against the Jets. In that game we were playing a 6-man line with both Soliai and Ferguson in at the same time. They couldn't double Soliai, because they had to deal with Ferguson. It was good game planning. With Ferguson out, we will be playing a standard 3-4 like all the other games. In those games, Soliai has been far from "dominant." I don't think Soliai can handle a double-team at all. I expect to draft an NT high next year...quite frankly...because we have to. Soliai has shown "flashes" of being good, but has shown no signs of being a truely dominant NT to build a 3-4 defense around. Right now...he is just another body in the rotation and that is about it.

 

[Dajesus]

I can not imagine him being able to make us not miss Ferguson, but if you look at this season and how everyone has responded when the player in front of them went down you have to think there is a chance he will break out. Think about it...Chad went down, Henne comes in and wins his first start and has gone 5-2. Porter missed the game against Tampa and Charlie Anderson had 2 forced fumbles and was all over the place. Our o-line was a mess last week, and they did not give up a sack. Ronnie went down, and Ricky has had back to back 100 yard games. We just need a WR to go down, so somebody steps up at WR.

 

[juniorseau55]

I think that Paul has looked great at times and at others times he has been mediocre. Even if he manages to have a good peformance this sunday there is a chance that he won't make that type of performane in the next or the following games.

 

[Pinkboy]

Right, and Ted Ginn is ready to have a break out year. I expect Soliai to get run over by anyone even remotely mediocre. Look for him on the sidelines. He'll be the one sucking wind, wishing he didnt suck so much.

You mean like how Soliai totally ran over a Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold here???

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