Our Kansas City Chiefs free agency preview moves onto the nose tackle position, where the Chiefs are set to lose half their nose tackle options in free agency. The Chiefs have two guys headed for free agency -- Kelly Gregg and Amon Gordon -- and another two under contract -- Jerrell Powe and Anthony Toribio.
The Chiefs nose tackle depth chart last season:
Nose tackle: Kelly Gregg, Amon Gordon, Jerrell Powe, Anthony Toribio (practice squad)
This group is set to lose the top two members of the depth chart to free agency.
The free agents: Gregg signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs last season so his contract is up. We're not sure if he has any interest in playing again -- retirement is an option. Gregg was a decent stopgap for one season with the Chiefs but he's certainly getting up there in age. If there are no other options, I wouldn't be totally opposed to bringing Gregg back but I really think the Chiefs need to think long and hard about filling this position via free agency or the draft. I'm thinking something more longterm than Gregg.
Gordon is also set to be a free agent. He played some defensive end, too, so he has value to the Chiefs. I wouldn't be surprised if he were brought back if the price were right but I also don't think he's a future starter for the Chiefs at nose tackle.
The rest of the roster: Powe was a rookie last season and was inactive for all but one game. He was a sixth round pick and, without any playing time, we really don't know where he stands. He'll likely be on the roster but we just don't know in what capacity.
Toribio is also under contract and has been with the Chiefs since September 2010. He has seen action in only five games so, like Powe, we really don't know what they have in Toribio.
One sentence prediction: The Chiefs let Kelly Gregg walk and sign another veteran nose tackle off the free agent market which gives them time to figure out what they have in Jerrell Powe.
0 recs | 78 comments
I think Gordon will be back sign Garay
Both guys can play NT/DE and it will give Powe a chance to be worked into the rotation as the pure NT
KingChief - February 10, 2012
This.
.Robert - February 10, 2012
With as much nickel as we play
I could see us sticking with Gordon and Powe at NT
RDE: Dorsey, Giberry
NT: Gordon/Powe rotation
LDE: Jackson, Bailey
Not Active on Game Day: Toribio/Late Draft Pick
Aesthetist - February 10, 2012
agreed
that’d probably be OK
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
I think you still need another backup at NT.
If Powe goes down, I don’t want to see Gordon as their only option at NT. If they think Powe is ready, I’d roll with him as the starter, grab a veteran backup, and list Gordon as an end who gets some snaps at NT on gameday.
RDE – Dorsey, Bailey
NT – Powe, some veteran
LDE – Jackson, Gordon
polodude017 - February 10, 2012
yeah, that'd be a little thin
which is why I predict Rogers or Franklin in FA…
inexpensive veteran options that could (potentially) play either position
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
one word
Paul Soliai
ok, so it’s two words, who’s counting? seriously, if there’s one “big name” guy we really should go after it’s Soliai … nail that NT position for a few years, pretty much completes the defense as a whole and is likely THE best FA money and value we could possibly get
honestly I’d rather spend guaranteed money on Soliai than a “performance based” contract on Manning
upamtn - February 10, 2012
that's a bold statement
I would love Soliai… but I like to set my sights a little lower, assuming the Chiefs NEVER sign the “biggest name” FAs
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
I'd be happy with
Rogers, Dreessen, BGE
they seem like Pioli/Crennel-type moves
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
this
It is officially the time to get our franchise NT and he is the most accomplished FA NT (besides Wilfork) in a long time.
JC25FoMVP - February 10, 2012 via mobile
One big name...
Nicks ;)
BAMFSpecialOps - February 10, 2012
Soliai or Poe for NT Please
KCMikeG - February 10, 2012
Didn't Bailey play some at NT?
I thought I remembered him being pretty efficient there?
I think I could see Gordon and Powe at NT and maybe picking up another D-lineman in the draft. You know how Pioli loves versatile players who can fill 2x positions. Give Powe a full offseason and I expect we’ll have a better idea of what he can do on the field.
I just don’t see Pioli reaching up to grab a top-tier free agent.
chuq - February 10, 2012
Akiem Hicks in the 4th..or 5th..
6-5…324 lbs..84in wingspan w/ great explosion, nimble feet and raw natural abilities…dominant at East- West..
Actually this was somewhat similar to Jason Pierre-Paul..considered raw..thought to take a couple of years to make a impact..came around quicker than thought..
I’m not comparing the two..just stating that raw talent does always take as long..
cyberry - February 11, 2012
sorry..didn't realize there was a fanshot of him already
my-bad..
cyberry - February 11, 2012
Excellent suggestion!
KCMikeG - February 10, 2012
future 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
cordalew - February 10, 2012
I believe its spelled sully eye.
chiefFANatic - February 10, 2012 via mobile
Soliai or bust?
GenericBrand - February 10, 2012
Ideally yes.
But a lot of people said the same thing about Aubrayo Franklin last year.
MtHammer - February 10, 2012
Soliai actually fits our system though
And he’s good at it. Those types of guys are hard to come by.
GenericBrand - February 10, 2012
He did grade out as the 34th best DT last year according to PFF.
That is down from 13th the year before… I would still take his overweight arse at NT anytime!
KSU-Chief - February 10, 2012
and miami is changing their system to a 4-3.
kc571 - February 10, 2012
Doesn't have patriots connections.
this will not happen.
rdc - February 10, 2012
Parcells connection so it might
km230015 - February 10, 2012
sure he does
Miami : Parcells, Daboll
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
crazy talk,
too much of a stretch there…..i doubt Pioli has the sack to try it.
rdc - February 10, 2012
When did Steve Breaston play for the Patriots?
PVChiefsfan - February 10, 2012
Around the same time Lilja was there.
MtHammer - February 10, 2012
and McClain, Gregg
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
Gordon, Shaun Smith
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
Big Ron Edwards
Lilja, Weigmann, Kerry Colbert, Siler – hope he can come back from injury, Gaither – thanks Haley duh!
KCMikeG - February 10, 2012
Oh, I'm very much in favor of it.
I’m just saying that the ideal doesn’t always happen.
MtHammer - February 10, 2012
I think Powe has a bright future
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
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
Agree on Gordon.
Was a good play maker when on the field and very versitile. I see them with another late round pick for the position as well and Gregg retiring. Okay with that.
BinSC - February 10, 2012
I agree about Powe.
Powe was a 1st or 2nd round guy before people learned of his disability. I hope Powe gets the start this coming year and I also hope we resign A.Gordon and look at the F.A market for another good NT.
CPT.Caveman - February 10, 2012
Powe needs to be given a shot as the NT, if he can keep his weight down, he coule be the answer
Gregg did a decent job, helped DJ have the best season of his career, but he got pushed back out of the play a lot. He’s clearly on the decline in his career much like Wiegmann.
Powe played well in the game against NE, and that was against some pretty good o-linemen. Romeo knows how to get the best out of his players, Powe could be the next one.
ChiefDailyBaked - February 10, 2012
I have given up trying to predict the NT position for KC...
It just isnt worth it :)
KSU-Chief - February 10, 2012
Two words: Branden Albert.
Mark it down.
go_saleaumua - February 10, 2012
One word
MIMS!!
CPT.Caveman - February 10, 2012
NT isn't that important for us since we take them out in sub-packages
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.
ChiefWarPaint - February 10, 2012
Soliai
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.
cordalew - February 10, 2012
that's why I predict
Shaun Rogers
I doubt they go “top tier” with the FA signing, considering they could draft one, and have Powe on the roster already.
I think that mid-level FA is the sweet spot, and Rogers is a good fit, and is a Crennel guy
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
And can play the end-tackle role, which our defense relies on.
If you can get it done at either spot, RAC has a spot for you.
go_saleaumua - February 10, 2012
Yeah
Hell I’d take Shawn Smith back as well.
CPT.Caveman - February 10, 2012
This is nt related (srry)
But im tryn to find sum fellow “chiefers” to ply madden on xbox, my gmertag is twanvl5!
kcchiefsfan515 - February 10, 2012 via mobile
PAUL SOLIAI DT MIAMI
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
7kiddies - February 10, 2012
Beast.
ExRoyalsFan - February 10, 2012
Having that much hair just looks uncomfortable!
It might also tempt opposing players in a pile to yank and pull
cvane - February 10, 2012
You mean like this guy
or this guy
KingChief - February 10, 2012
Wasn't that LJ pulling on Troy's hair?
Tarkus - February 10, 2012
Yep and a 15 yard penalty to go along with it...
KSU-Chief - February 10, 2012
I don't remember such a penalty
ChiefWarPaint - February 10, 2012
I thought the penalty got overturned
because they said since his hair isn’t in his helmet it is part of his uniform.
I know Edgerrin James cut his dreads short because he said he got tired of people pulling them.
KingChief - February 10, 2012
Link
Tarkus - February 10, 2012
Link
Tarkus - February 10, 2012
Hahaha!
Buck'O - February 10, 2012
Maybe that's why Troy started using Head and Shoulders
KingChief - February 10, 2012
If he's that good and has a good relationship with Sporano he may wind up in New York with Rex and the boys
Ryan really has to make a splash this year given the Jets flame out and the Giants Super Bowl bragging rights.
cvane - February 10, 2012
they certainly need a NT there
Pouha is getting olld
IPWT2009 - February 10, 2012
They drafted a guy last year IIRC
ChiefWarPaint - February 10, 2012
Pouha is 33
they drafted Kendrick Ellis and Muhammad Wilkerson recently for their DL
both could be very good players
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
Wilkerson had a good year
Not JJ Watt-esque but pretty darn good.
ChiefWarPaint - February 10, 2012
My memory is a little hazy.
But I think there was a penalty, though not for pulling his hair (which is considered part of the uniform). As I recall, it was for a hit out of bounds.
Tarkus - February 10, 2012
Ellis totally forgot about that
but isn’t he going to jail or something?
IPWT2009 - February 10, 2012
potentially Jail or deportation
but, other than that, he’s good :)
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
Can someone answer me a ?
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! :)
Jason Drue Keith - February 10, 2012
No roll-over as far as I know
it’s exclusive to that league year.
Buck'O - February 10, 2012
No link, but I've never heard cap space rolls from one year to the next.
Look at it this way: If it did, the new look Arizona Cardinals would be able to sign free agents from now until 2029, just based on how cheap the Bidwills were for the first couple decades in the desert.
go_saleaumua - February 10, 2012
It's something new to the current CBA.
Tarkus - February 10, 2012
Seriously?
I’m with JDK above…I totally believe you, but I would like a link to see if for myself.
go_saleaumua - February 10, 2012
Seriously.
Link
Tarkus - February 10, 2012
i was JUST going to link this ;(
Brad-KC - February 10, 2012
Same site?
Tarkus - February 10, 2012
same site
Brad-KC - February 10, 2012
Damnation.
So we’ve got more wiggle room than previously thought….Unless one or the other really doesn’t want to play here, there’s no reason for KC not to hang onto both Carr and Bowe, now and in the future.
go_saleaumua - February 11, 2012
Good with the link BTW; thanks Tark.
Highly informative.
go_saleaumua - February 11, 2012
I think Red Bryant from Seattle could be a less expensive choice for NT too..Guy is a beast!
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11358/red-bryant
6’4" 323 is big enough.
Mayocks Tutor - March 4, 2012
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