Chiefs Free Agency Preview: Two Nose Tackles Under Contract For 2012

Both guys can play NT/DE and it will give Powe a chance to be worked into the rotation as the pure NT

I strongly believe we will see two big free agent signings, a big time OL and big time DL, almighty with maybe a corner if we lose Carr. With that said I see soaila from miami, and nicks being are only free agent signings. With Soaila (or however you spell it) Taribio, and Powe I think we are solid at NT for years to come, and it give Romeo the room to change are set to a 2-3-6 or whatever other funky set he wants to run. Or maybe I’m thinking of what I would do on madden……hmmm

I would love to bring in Soliai, but I’m also hopeful they see enough in Powe to give him a shot in 2012 as the primary NT.

I would like to see Gordon back, or Rogers/Franklin in that DE/NT role that Romeo really seems to like.

I though Gregg did a pretty damn good job in 2011, though… that picture above is awesome

It just isnt worth it :)

Even if we got a “good” nose I don’t see us leaving behind Sub-Packages, Crennel seems to like rotation and I do to, keeps guys fresh against an OL that can’t do the same.

Just need a more stout Nickel Package to handle running plays.

He actually fits what Romeo does, Franklin didnt. And Pioli is trying to build a team that is fast and hard, meaning depth at positions with young guys that develope over time to give both future stars and future value for trades to start the process over again. Pioli usually doubles ups on position of needs. So I see a signing of one and one drafted again untill he gets what he wants. So during free agency whatever position we sign that’s a tell tale sign of what we draft top 3 rounds. Bank it.

But im tryn to find sum fellow “chiefers” to ply madden on xbox, my gmertag is twanvl5!

By signing this awesome player we will have created the best defense in 2012 and make a run to the Super Bowl!!!!! Spend the money!!!!

Paul Soliai, NT, Dolphins. Age: 28.
At 6-4, 355 pounds, Paul Soliai is a monstrous, run-stuffing nose tackle. He made $12.3 million with the franchise tag this season.

Soliai A New Man With Big Plans On Defense; Other Notes

By Andy Kent

Posted Sep 5, 2011

Paul Soliai’s journey from unproven rookie defensive tackle to franchise player for the Miami Dolphins has been anything but easy.

But in the end, both Soliai and his head coach for all but his rookie season, Tony Sparano, have learned a lot about the fourth-round pick out of Utah. Sparano also learned a lot about himself and how best to work with players like Soliai when it comes to their development.

During Miami’s 1-15 season in 2007, Soliai managed just three tackles in eight games as a reserve. He was inactive for the final three games, and then in Sparano’s first year at the helm in 2008 he did not leave a good first impression. The 6-foot-4, 355-pound native of America Samoa was suspended twice for violating team regulations and had some discipline problems with his weight, but Sparano was reluctant to toss him to the wayside.

"I never really came close to giving up on him," Sparano said. "In fact it was kind of the other way. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt because there was flashes there of things that you saw that maybe you knew you couldn’t find out there easily. That was probably what kept him around at that particular time. It was just the flashes.

"Paul’s a good kid, he really is a good guy so we hope that we can just get through to this guy. You know some guys it’s important to and some guys maybe it’s not important to and in this case it became pretty important to the guy. He’s really has done a nice job right now."

As one of only two draft picks remaining from that ’07 class, Soliai knows how close he came to being jettisoned by the Dolphins. He also knows how difficult it is to catch on as a 3-4 defensive tackle in the NFL.

However, what is more important right now to Soliai is repaying Sparano for the confidence he showed in him and the commitment he made to giving him a chance to excel in Miami. He is using those early speed bumps as motivation to reach the next level and got off to a good start last season after taking over as the starting nose tackle in Week 3. He finished with 39 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

"The main thing I have done differently is being a professional, being a grown-up and trying to earn the trust of my coaches and teammates," said Soliai, who credits former Dolphins nose tackle Jason Ferguson for helping him. "My rookie year and the first two years I wasn’t really acting like a professional. I wish I could go back and start all over again but I can’t. These past two years have been a blessing and that’s how I want to be known. I just want to be trusted on the field and off."

During the offseason the Dolphins rewarded Soliai with the franchise tag, making him the highest paid defensive player in franchise history. So far in training camp he has not shown any signs of slowing down and has given rookie center and 2011 first-round pick Mike Pouncey a rude welcome to the league.

Perhaps the most important change Soliai made between his third season in 2009 and last season was how he took care of his body. Maintaining a good weight as a nose tackle is vital because of the pounding dished out week in and out at the line of scrimmage, and that’s where Sparano saw Soliai grow the most.

"You know I think that my time with Paul back in the day when he was maybe on the not so good list with me, it was always up and down with his body weight," Sparano said. "You could see it during the week in practice and I could tell when he was heavy and I could tell when he was right. You know you could just see it.

"Sometimes he’d be on the ground and he wouldn’t make the hustle plays that Paul makes now. I think once he figured out that his body weight was critical to his performance, all of a sudden some things started to happen a little easier. And now it’s become a little bit of a way of life to him."

Sparano has seen Soliai arrive at the facility earlier than he used to and stay in the building later working on his conditioning and his study habits. He also has noticed Soliai taking care of himself better off the field and changing his eating habits.

Just because he had a breakout season last year, earned a big pay raise and can be thought of among the top tier of nose tackles doesn’t mean Soliai will become complacent. He meets with Sparano regularly to be reminded of what it took for him to get to this point, and he admits he still has a lot of room for improvement, specifically when it comes to being consistent.

"There’s a lot of room for me to improve and a high ceiling for me," Soliai said. "That’s all I want to do is just build up every year. My goal is to just be better than last year and be a better baller than I was last year."

SOURCES WALTERFOOTBALL.COM NFL.COM

Does the remaining cap space from the 2011 season roll over to 2012? I cannot for the life of me dig up this info. I have heard yes it does and no it doesn’t! Help! If you find a link it would be greatly appreciated! :)

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11358/red-bryant
6’4" 323 is big enough.