Just as an FYI, our defense requires 2 different types of DT's.
As many have stated in the past, there's not a huge difference between the 43 and 34 today the way Miami plays, because we essentially play both. The gist of our base package is essentially a 43, but it is played so that the personnel can work in either. In a 34 Wake is considered a LB, and in a 43 he is considered a DE, but his role doesn't really vary much ... we don't drop him into coverage regardless. That's why we are really a 43.
The 43 look has one large strong DT to dominate the interior of the line and force double teams keeping OL off the LB's. This position is similar to the 34 NT in role despite not lining up as one. This is the guy who collapses the pocket and prevents the QB from stepping up, and also is the guy who makes it hard to execute interior run plays. Soliai plays that position, and there really isn't anyone else on our roster who can play it like he can. Losing Soliai would mean we lose run defense on 1st down, 2nd down, and 3rd and short, not to mention goal line defense. Those guys are well paid in today's NFL. They don't play at a pro-bowl level as rookies either, generally. So plugging in even a first rounder would be a significant drop off next season. Essentially, if we don't re-sign Soliai, we'll have to pay the high price for someone else and hope they give us Soliai type production. IMHO, it makes the most sense to re-sign him. Bite the bullet and pay the man.
The other DT in our 43 scheme is typically a quicker gap penetrator. This is the guy who stunts/twists and gambles to get into the backfield. That's the position that Starks plays ... and Odrick ... and Shelby. On obvious passing downs, we can easily play 2 of those guys up front ... but those guys tend to be subpar against the run and if a teams runs a lot, they wear down in the 4th quarter. Ever notice how teams ran against us when Soliai wasn't in the game? It is because two gap penetrators often get moved and allow the LB's to get blocked. These gap penetrator guys are important, they tackle in the backfield, create pressure in the pass game, and are generally the guys causing the 3rd and longs ... but we have coverage there. If we lose Starks, we will play Shelby more and keep Odrick fresh by rotating in someone else throughout the game but keep Odrick in for key series.
Without Soliai, our defense will be considerably less effective. If we lose Starks that will hurt, but it means that the talented Shelby plays more, and he's pretty good IMHO. Between the two, I'd definitely keep Soliai ... even if it means we have to keep negotiating with Canter.
