23 Teams Check Out DT Phil Taylor's Pro Day At Baylor

[Tribal Warfare]

23 Teams Check Out DT Phil Taylor's Pro Day At Baylor

Ever since the Kansas City Chiefs moved to a 3-4 defense with the arrival of GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley, the topic of a nose tackle has been a hotly debated one. The Chiefs to this point have gone with NT Ron Edwards but he's without a contract for the 2011 season and we don't know if he's coming back.

If he isn't, the Chiefs may be wise to keep an eye on Baylor NT Phil Taylor. Baylor held its pro day on Thursday and 33 personnel folks representing 23 NFL teams were in attendance.

The Godfather Gil Brandt wrote on NFL.com that Taylor improved his stock during his workout. He stood on his times from the Combine but worked out "extremely well" (<--Link) in position drills.

Brandt has Taylor, 6'3" and 334 pounds, among his top-30 prospects in the draft and says he may have "solidified" himself as a first round pick with this workout.

Also working out was 26-year old G Danny Watkins, who also performed well, Brandt reports.

[Chiefnj2]

The day before the draft I bet there are 20 teams showing up at Taylor's home with a scale, to see if he is keeping himself in shape, or if he ballooned back up.

[Titty Meat]

This tells me if theres a free agency the top NT is going to make some money.

[BigChiefFan]

We really need a NT. I hope this kid is there when we pick. He looks like he could be the brick wall were are needing on the line.

[JimBaker488]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

We really need a NT.

Are the Chiefs specifically after a big 2-gap Nose, or would they consider a smaller, quicker type guy ?

[Quesadilla Joe]

This is why I'm so glad that Denver switched back to the 4-3. Half the league is running a 3-4 now and half of those teams don't have the parts necessary to run it. Teams will be fighting for NT's and will be reaching in the draft and overpaying in FA to get them.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

This is why I'm so glad that Denver switched back to the 4-3. Half the league is running a 3-4 now and half of those teams don't have the parts necessary to run it. Teams will be fighting for NT's and will be reaching in the draft and overpaying in FA to get them.

If the Donkeys decided to line up 11 DBs on defense, you'd spin as some kind of great idea by the team.

If they decided to line up 11 DTs, you'd spin it as a positive.

You don't have the intelligence for critical thinking, so you'll have to pardon me if laugh at your dumb ass.

[Quesadilla Joe]

Originally Posted by milkman

If the Donkeys decided to line up 11 DBs on defense, you'd spin as some kind of great idea by the team.

If they decided to line up 11 DTs, you'd spin it as a positive.

You don't have the intelligence for critical thinking, so you'll have to pardon me if laugh at your dumb ass.

Regardless of my optimism for the Broncos that post is 100% true.

[Quesadilla Joe]

The Dolphins raised a lot of eyebrows when they put the franchise tag on nose tackle Paul Soliai, guaranteeing him about $12.5 million in 2011. Why did the team step out like that on a player who most fans aren’t even aware of? My sources tell me the Dolphins surveyed the free agent field and believed there were no other nose tackles close to Soliai in ability. Given the number of teams playing a 3-4 defense, the Dolphins feared Soliai would be the subject of a bidding war. In fact, there were rumblings that the Redskins and Texans coveted him.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...litz-3902.html

[suds79]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

This is why I'm so glad that Denver switched back to the 4-3. Half the league is running a 3-4 now and half of those teams don't have the parts necessary to run it. Teams will be fighting for NT's and will be reaching in the draft and overpaying in FA to get them.

I see what you're getting at but D-linemen are always going to be in high demand. Regardless of 3-4 or 4-3.

3-4? Everybody is looking for that 330 lb NT yeah.

4-3? Every single talented 300 lb man is in high demand. For the two DT spots in a 4-3 and the DE spots in a 3-4. So if you think you're getting a break or deal in it by going 4-3, I disagree. I think it's all the same.

Like you said. If half the teams in the NFL are running 3-4s, that means that half as well are looking for 4-3 guys.

[Quesadilla Joe]

It is harder to find players that "fit" the 3-4 though and not just defensive lineman either. It is easy for 4-3 teams to find 240 pound OLB's who can run and make one on tackles in space against RB's, it is much harder to find 270+ pound OLB's that can do that AND rush the passer.

[suds79]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

It is harder to find players that "fit" the 3-4 though and not just defensive lineman either. It is easy for 4-3 teams to find 240 pound OLB's who can run and make one on tackles in space against RB's, it is much harder to find 270+ pound OLB's that can do that AND rush the passer.

Maybe so. But honestly I think a lot of teams with those 270 pound OLBers (call them what you will) are nothing more than standard DEs who are asked to rush the passer the vast majority of the time. They just do it from a standing position rather than a 3 point stance.