An unpopuular decision about NT

[Joshecalpoly]

As Joe Collier once said:
The nose tackle and the inside linebackers, those are three guys that are very important. But when you go through it, the nose tackle is probably the single-most important guy.

Please no 4-3 discussion I am believing we are going to 3-4 because Dennison seems to want to keep it and is our current front runner

I have been looking at the NT's this year and am not sold the elite talent needed at NT is there.

Jerrell Powe maybe the best NT in the draft however because his coach is miss using him as a gap shooter this year his performance has been lack luster. Still I question how elite he really is.

Phil Taylor is a big huge guy with fairly good production even ignoring the injuries that made his weight a bit unstable before this year he is still missing that wow factor

Fua to me is the Cameron Jordan of NT's he is a bit undervalued and undersized and despite having the best technique isnt convincingly better with the production he has. He would be elite if he was bigger but I question the amount of weight we can set on his frame he might be better as DE

None of these guys compare to Short a little known NT prospect from Purdue who as a sophmore is stunning. He has the same wow factor BJ Raji had as he dominates the line in almost every game. He doesnt have a lot of talent around him but as a NT has made players around him better. He was the 2nd highest recruited potential NT after Kerry Murphy who is forced to backup an unimpressive Champman because Saban values his upper classmen

I recommend we get a band aide at NT. This means Soliai or Ngata in FA, I hate to see Williams go because he has been amazing despite everything but he doesnt have much fuel left and we need to think about the best path to the future. This and-aide would keep the NT spot for 3 or 4 years depending on when Short is signed and ready to start. This gives us less concerns in the draft and puts off drafting one of the hardest positions in football for 1 or 2 more years. I know this may have an impact on rebuilding but it will help make the years after more exciting.

[berlownacyo7s]

or we could switch to the 4-3 and not have to worry about getting a NT, just sayin'....

[Joshecalpoly]

or we could switch to the 4-3 and not have to worry about getting a NT, just sayin'....

LOL i said I didnt want to talk about the 4-3. Besides the MLB in 4-3 is like NT its rare that a team does well without a good one. They are the anchors the captains and the heart of the D. Either way we are missing a key ingredient to the defense. Not to mention our pieces fit a 3-4 better.

Ill reiterate lets not discuss the 4-3

[McLean]

I agree with the whole band aide idea, unless im wow'd at the combine that is. Right now your right no NT looks to be elite. I really like Fua myself but your analysis on him makes alot of sense, its not the 1st time i have heard it.

None the less we do need to stick with the 3-4.

[Joshecalpoly]

I agree with the whole band aide idea, unless im wow'd at the combine that is. Right now your right no NT looks to be elite. I really like Fua myself but your analysis on him makes alot of sense, its not the 1st time i have heard it.

None the less we do need to stick with the 3-4.

Your right the Combine can have a lot of impact last year is evidence of that. If Fua can add some weight before the combine and prove he is still dominant with it then he might explode up the boards. Powe and Taylor could use a similar boost especially since many worry Taylor cant keep his weight stable (something important for a NT and why Chris Baker was cut)

[Broncos FTW]

What if we switched to a Phillips 3-4 defense instead of the Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4 McDaniels imported from NE?

The Phillips 3-4 relies more on 1-gap penetration by the linemen instead of the 2-gap responsibiltities of F-B. In that case, you don't need a fat behemoth at NT. Jay Ratliff of the Cowboys is just over 300 lbs. Then you could draft someone like Paea or Fua to play NT, whereas otherwise they might be too small at the position.

[THEdraftnik]

I believe we get Soliai to be our band aid, and a project for Nunnelly to develop. How the hell is Ngata a band aid?

[MindField]

or we could switch to the 4-3 and not have to worry about getting a NT, just sayin'....

To run a great 4-3, you would need an outstanding MLB, which the Broncos currently don't have on their roster, and this is a very poor draft for LB's in general...just sayin'

[MindField]

I think you saw a sleeper Monday night in the National Championship game in Michael Blanc of Auburn.

He was a beast that night, and was playing head up on the nose for most of the game.

At 6'4"-297, he has the same general profile of a converted DT, similar to what the Chargers did with Antonio Garay.

Garay was drafted in the 6th round as a 4-3 DT out of Virginia at around
6'4"-303, and has added about 20lbs and is now a stud NT.

This is what the Broncos pay their scouts for.

There is a NT to be found, the Broncos just have to do their homework and find one.

Blanc has the frame to get bigger, and he plays intense. His play on the goal line where he blew up three O-linemen and stuffed the run for a safety was big time.

[berlownacyo7s]

McD was very determined to disagree with you though. He had chances to draft the top rated NT each of the last 2 years and yet we're still sitting here with old Jamaal Williams and not much else. If we do stick with the 3-4 I would love to get Ngata. The guy is a monster. Otherwise, I'd prefer to draft someone and hope they can be a stalwart for 10 years and not a quick fix for 2 or 3.

[THEdraftnik]

McD was very determined to disagree with you though. He had chances to draft the top rated NT each of the last 2 years and yet we're still sitting here with old Jamaal Williams and not much else. If we do stick with the 3-4 I would love to get Ngata. The guy is a monster. Otherwise, I'd prefer to draft someone and hope they can be a stalwart for 10 years and not a quick fix for 2 or 3.

Cool story bro

Get over it and move on, the rest of us have.

[berlownacyo7s]

Cool story bro

Get over it and move on, the rest of us have.

I was just pointing out that not all coaches believe that NT is the most important part of the 3-4. That might have flown over your head though, but I can assure you I no longer care one ounce about anything McD might have screwed up in the past.

[Joshecalpoly]

I believe we get Soliai to be our band aid, and a project for Nunnelly to develop. How the hell is Ngata a band aid?

Ok he isnt a band-aide honestly besides Soliai I couldnt think of a good one.

[berlownacyo7s]

Ok he isnt a band-aide honestly besides Soliai I couldnt think of a good one.

Isn't that Gabe Watson guy from Arizona going to be a FA again? I'm not sure he is, but I remeber a lot of people wanted us to bring him in a couple of offseasons ago.

[Den615]

If we can land Soliai I would absolutely be all for staying in the 3-4 defense. He could prove to be more than a band-aid as well. He is just 27 years old, and has improved every year he has been in the league.

If we get Soliai and Fairly (or any other top rated lineman) it would help our defense make a quicker than expected turn around.