Originally posted by SJniner7:
Looks pretty solid to me. I do not quite understand the "need" for the monster NT. The only NTs I think are notable are Haynesworth and Jenkins from the Jets. The Jets didn't even make the playoffs, and the Titans lost the first game in the playoffs. Arizona, Pitt, Eagles, and Baltimore (the four conference championship teams) do not have "monster" defensive tackles, but they all seemed to do all right...
Haynesworth was a UT in a 4-3
Jenkins is a good NT that can't do it all
Eagles are a 4-3
Arizona had a lot of success with implementing Dockett into their hybrid 3-4
Baltimore has DE/NT Ngata... a very good player, as well as Kelly Greg
Pittsburgh has Casey Hampton... that should be enough said right there
( really sorry, I'm not gonna unintentionally highjack your thread here, OP )
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In this installment, we’re going to take a look at the most important position on any 3-4 defense; the nose tackle. The nose tackle is the central figure in any 3-4 defense, and is one of the most difficult positions to find. There just aren’t many athletes that have the unique characteristics needed to play nose tackle.
http://steelerstoday.com/?tag=bj-raji
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And on top of that, not only is his position the most vital one to a 3-4 defense scheme's success, but most NFL executives and scouts admit nose tackle is the single hardest football position to find and develop. "It's a hard position to find. A really hard position to find in any draft. Those guys are unique because you've got to want to take on double teams," Sparano said. "You've got to be strong enough to do those kinds of things." Miami Dolphins drafts through the years Photos That's why acquiring Ferguson, who contributed 27 tackles last season, was one of the first thing Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells did when he joined the team. He traded away this year's sixth-round pick, and swapping fifth rounders last year with Dallas to get the big man Parcells initially drafted with the Jets back in 1997, and brought with him to the Cowboys. "Ferguson has been a good player in this league for a long time, and probably doesn't get the credit he deserves to be honest with you," Sparano said. "I was in Dallas when he got hurt (in 2007) and the hole that was left there was tremendous. Now, to have him for a whole year in Miami, and to have him for 17 games, you see his value. To replace him, or find guys to replace [nose tackles] is a hard job to do."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-0221dolphins-tackle,0,1245622.story
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Joe Collier, architect of the Denver Broncos' famed Orange Crush defense and father of current Chiefs assistant coach Joel Collier, calls the nose tackle the "single most important guy" in a 3-4 scheme. Bill Belichick often credits Collier with being the one who first showed him the 3-4 defense. The same Belichick that worked with Scott Pioli in New England for 8 years. Presumably, Pioli learned the ins and outs of 3-4 personnel from and with Belichick. That said, Pioli (via Collier and Belichick) understands the importance of the nose tackle in a 3-4. Like the man who helped build the Orange Crush defense said, first you find the nose tackle, then you fill in the gaps.
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2009/2/25/770746/chiefs-seeking-3-4-nose-ta
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1) a 3-4 just doesn't work uness you have a star quality NT. (In theory, a team can have two star quality DEs instead. But this really hasn't translated to the field in the NFL). 2) From a draft and FA perspective, LBs are easier to obtain than DLmen. NTs are very rare finds. If the Broncos move to a 3-4, they will have to bring in a substantial presence at the NT position. The NT becomes something of a quarterback for the defense; none of the other positions matter if you don't have a superior player at this position.
http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/1/22/729969/mhr-university-nose-tackle
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"The 3-4 is tough to play because, first of all, you've got to have a great nose tackle," said Mitchell, the Steelers' assistant head coach who has coached the unit since 1994. "Then you've got to have two ends that will play good technique and let the outside linebackers and the inside linebackers be the featured guys in the defense." "What my guys have over a lot of guys in the 3-4 is we're better technicians," Mitchell said. "In - LeBeau's scheme, the front has to play well for everybody else to play well." "But in the 3-4 you've got to start with a great nose tackle. If you've got a guy that can't control the nose you're going to have a tough time playing the 3-4."
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/38512934.html
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I am still trying to find out what Hill did for us yet or what have he shown to be on the team and leave Battle off. I am just saying...Battle is more an asset not only on offense (where he is a solid WR and a good gadget guy), but he is a good ST guy as well. What in the F(#* did Hill did/do? And I don't want to hear anything about potential, because we thought of that in plenty of wide outs in the past....like Lloyd.