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View Full Version : Chiefs 30 FAs in 30 Days: Paul Soliai


Mr_Tomahawk
02-29-2012, 07:34 AM
I realize he has been discussed here multiple times, but....

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http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article-2/30-FAs-in-30-Days-Paul-Soliai/85445158-afaa-482b-90e2-7913df1c6828

NAME: Paul Soliai
POSITION: Nose Tackle

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-4, 355

COLLEGE: Utah

GP/GS: 68/31

AGE/EXPEREINCE: 28/5 seasons

BACKGROUND: Nose tackle remains a need for the Chiefs entering the 2012 off-season and the position is filled with several intriguing veterans. One nose tackle who’s generating plenty of chatter from Chiefs fans is Paul Soliai of the Miami Dolphins.

Soliai is your prototypical 3-4 nose. He’s a run-stopping specialist, uses his body to effectively play two-gap technique and, at 29 years old, is young enough to be more than just a one-year stopgap.

With a handful of 3-4 teams needing help at nose tackle, Soliai is expected to be one of the more hotly pursued free agents at his position. ESPN’s AFC West blogger Bill Williamson says he’d be “shocked” if both the Chargers and Chiefs don’t make “big plays” to sign Soliai.

A former fourth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2007, Soliai played last season under the franchise tag. Miami paid him $12.47 million for one season of work after he posted career-highs across the board in 2010.

In classic nose tackle fashion, Soliai’s career highs consisted of just 39 tackles and 2.0 sacks. His ability to occupy blockers in the center of Miami’s defense is what got him paid.

Soliai became an integral part of the Dolphins defense in 2010 after struggling to produce in his first three NFL seasons. He drew just five starts and posted only 41 tackles from 2007-09 before breaking out in the final year of his contract.

Though Soliai’s numbers declined in 2011, his reputation as a stout run defender stayed strong. He received his first Pro Bowl invitation in January, replacing Ravens NT Haloti Ngata on the AFC roster.

AVAILABILITY: Soliai’s tenure in Miami appears to be nearing its end. The Dolphins have been trying to secure a multi-year deal with Soliai since 2010 and have been unable to meet on financials.

Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post reported over the weekend that the Dolphins are no closer to a contract extension with Soliai after meeting with agent Ben Canter.

In addition, the Dolphins are transitioning from a 3-4 defense into a 4-3 hybrid scheme and are also thought to be a possible landing destination for Peyton Manning. Dollars add up and Miami currently has around $13 million in cap space.

It would cost the Dolphins nearly $15 million to franchise Soliai again in 2012.

According to Volin, via Pro Football Focus, Soliai played in just 450 of 1,126 defensive snaps (39.96%) last season. That’s a workload that paid just under $28,000 per snap last season.

COACHING CONNECTIONS: Chiefs offensive coordinator Brian Daboll spent last season with Soliai in Miami. Though Daboll coached on the other side of the football, he saw plenty of Soliai between practices and games.

WHY HE FITS: The Chiefs have been searching for a long-term solution at nose tackle since switching to a 3-4 defense in 2009. Ron Edwards ushered in the first two seasons of the scheme and Kelly Gregg manned the position last season.

Edwards has since moved on to Carolina and Gregg’s future is in the air as a 35-year old veteran scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

In addition to being a proven player, Soliai still has several solid seasons ahead of him.

The Chiefs currently have 2011 sixth-round draft pick Jerrell Powe and Anthony Toribio under contract for next season.

FAX
02-29-2012, 07:36 AM
Can he play quarterback?

FAX

InChiefsHeaven
02-29-2012, 07:38 AM
Sign this dude. Our Defense would pretty much be complete. Sign Orton, Manning ain't gonna be there. Draft a QB early and let Stanzi and that guy fight it out with Orton.

Let Cassel go...

htismaqe
02-29-2012, 07:44 AM
This is tampering!

Mr_Tomahawk
02-29-2012, 07:46 AM
This is tampering!

LMAO

FAX
02-29-2012, 07:50 AM
Sign this dude. Our Defense would pretty much be complete. Sign Orton, Manning ain't gonna be there. Draft a QB early and let Stanzi and that guy fight it out with Orton.

Let Cassel go...

This is a plan I could really support. And I don't support a lot of plans.

Of course, I did support the plan to kidnap twenty PETA girls, tie them to a chair, and force-feed them liver pate on crackers but that fell through when I ate all the Triscuits.

FAX

Hydrae
02-29-2012, 08:00 AM
Outside of talk on this board I know little of this guy. The fact that he did little for three years, broke out during a contract year, and then fell back off last year raises concerns in my mind. Is he a contract warrior who will revert to being only ok once he has his money? It seems like it happens a lot with these big linemen.

suds79
02-29-2012, 08:27 AM
Clark talked about spending $$ this off-season.

No reason why they shouldn't push hard for this guy.

InChiefsHeaven
02-29-2012, 08:29 AM
Outside of talk on this board I know little of this guy. The fact that he did little for three years, broke out during a contract year, and then fell back off last year raises concerns in my mind. Is he a contract warrior who will revert to being only ok once he has his money? It seems like it happens a lot with these big linemen.

In Crennel I trust. He'll get the most out of this guy.

Toad
02-29-2012, 08:36 AM
40% of the snaps is a little concerning...

patteeu
02-29-2012, 08:51 AM
Outside of talk on this board I know little of this guy. The fact that he did little for three years, broke out during a contract year, and then fell back off last year raises concerns in my mind. Is he a contract warrior who will revert to being only ok once he has his money? It seems like it happens a lot with these big linemen.

This may well be a legit concern, but fwiw, last year was a contract year too.

Direckshun
02-29-2012, 08:58 AM
40% of the snaps is a little concerning...

It's pretty typical of a two-down nose.

That's why I think Soliai will not be nearly as expensive as people are making him out to be.

Micjones
02-29-2012, 10:16 AM
40% of the snaps is a little concerning...

Not for me.
You'll want Gordon or Gilberry inside in on 3rd Down passing situations.

This is the Free Agent I want the most. Sign him Scotty!

FAX
02-29-2012, 10:21 AM
Outside of talk on this board I know little of this guy. The fact that he did little for three years, broke out during a contract year, and then fell back off last year raises concerns in my mind. Is he a contract warrior who will revert to being only ok once he has his money? It seems like it happens a lot with these big linemen.

It seems that his popularity is driven by the fact that he's a nose tackle in a 3/4 world. He certainly has the body type and, apparently, has developed some technique along the way. Those bigs tire easily, I've heard (especially when their technique is sloppy and they have to work harder), which may account for both his off-years and his percentage of plays.

This makes me wonder, though, about why it is that the NFL doesn't allow walk-ons ... or, if they do, why that doesn't happen with defensive linemen more often. There are some big-ass mothers out there who blossomed (in girth, at least) after college ... or never attended college in the first place. It seems as though some brick-layer somewhere would jump at the chance to bonk heads for $25k per snap.

FAX

The Franchise
02-29-2012, 10:23 AM
Outside of Dwayne Bowe.....this guy should be our #1 FA target.

BossChief
02-29-2012, 10:52 AM
If we come out of this offseason with a solid draft, Manning and Soliai, I don't care what else happens.

If we lose Bowe and replace him with Wayne, so be it.

That is a pill I'd be ok with swallowing because going from Cassel to Peyton makes us a contender.

If there is a way to keep Bowe and sign Paul and Peyton, I'm gonna buy season tickets and tell my son it would make me happy if he decides to be a Chiefs fan.

I haven't gotten him any Chiefs gear yet, for a reason.

The Franchise
02-29-2012, 10:56 AM
There should be no reason why we can't keep Bowe and sign Soliai/Manning.

BossChief
02-29-2012, 11:06 AM
We have 32 million worth of space....but if we sign Peyton that let's us free up another 5 by waving goodbye to Cassel.

It would be close.

Franchise tag for wideouts is 9.5
Soliai will be around 8.

Peyton isn't gonna be cheap.

The Franchise
02-29-2012, 11:11 AM
We have 32 million worth of space....but if we sign Peyton that let's us free up another 5 by waving goodbye to Cassel.

It would be close.

Franchise tag for wideouts is 9.5
Soliai will be around 8.

Peyton isn't gonna be cheap.

Manning already said that he'd be willing to accept an incentive based contract.

Plus you know Bowe is going to want to sign a contract if Manning is signed.

BossChief
02-29-2012, 11:18 AM
Manning already said that he'd be willing to accept an incentive based contract.

Plus you know Bowe is going to want to sign a contract if Manning is signed.

Even incentive laden contracts require you to keep the incentive part available in your cap space.

That's why they added the rollover deal to the new cba....if your players don't hit em, you can use it the following year.

Hammock Parties
02-29-2012, 11:27 AM
This guy is massively overrated according to PFF.

Came in 24th in run defense rankings, out of 88 players.

Kelly Gregg was ranked higher.

He was 5th in 2010, 29th in 2009.

2011:

http://i40.tinypic.com/334l009.jpg

Direckshun
02-29-2012, 12:12 PM
Out of curiousity, what free agent NTs are rated higher?

Gregg, for one. Who else?

Hammock Parties
02-29-2012, 12:21 PM
Out of curiousity, what free agent NTs are rated higher?

Gregg, for one. Who else?

Anyone can use this:

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/12/2012-free-agent-tracker/

By the way, this is not the same rating as the run defense ranking I quoted. This is overall rating, which includes pass rush, etc.

http://i42.tinypic.com/11jp3bl.jpg

The Franchise
02-29-2012, 12:25 PM
We could go after Pouha but he's 33. How many more years does he have in him? 2-3?

Sofa King
02-29-2012, 01:18 PM
We could go after Pouha but he's 33. How many more years does he have in him? 2-3?

Sammie Lee Hill!!1!1!