nose tackle is priority number 1 with a 3 - 4 alignment (1 Viewer)

[SAINTFAN45]

First let me say I think we have a decent option to play NT in Bunkley . He is a run stuffer , he is strong but my only problem is size , I know he is not a small man but compared to some NT he is small . Yess some teams run a 3-4 with smaller NTs but I for one am a fan of having atleast one massive Nt on the roster. Witch brings me to my point , I wonder if Baltimore would trade Terrance Cody ? He is obviously massive and while he is a 2 down player would anchor the middle for us and he and Bunkley could rotate

 

[jboydrive]

I remember reading an article where Bilichick talks about the rarest thing right now is to find the right NT for the 34. That's why Wilfork is so valuable to them. We might need to move up and get the big guy from Georgia. It's gonna cost but I think it would be worth it.

 

[bornnraisedwhodat]

Depends on what kind of 3-4 we run. You look at a guy like Jay Ratliff who is very undersized for your typical NT, but excelled in it in Wade Phillips 1-Gap 3-4. In a 1-Gap the NT lines up in the strongside A gap, slighly between the center and the Guard. His is used as a penertrator and someone who can occupy blocks. Not your typical 0-tech NT who lines up directly over the center.

At the end of the day, all this speculating about who will play what position is pointless until we bring in a coach to figure out what he likes to do.

 

[SandyHookSaint9]

Hicks will be our NT. He has the size and the strength to do it. Strong at the point of attack.

 

[mountaineerdude]

First let me say I think we have a decent option to play NT in Bunkley . He is a run stuffer , he is strong but my only problem is size , I know he is not a small man but compared to some NT he is small . Yess some teams run a 3-4 with smaller NTs but I for one am a fan of having atleast one massive Nt on the roster. Witch brings me to my point , I wonder if Baltimore would trade Terrance Cody ? He is obviously massive and while he is a 2 down player would anchor the middle for us and he and Bunkley could rotate

AKIEM HICKS will be our nose tackle ..... He has the size and can excel in run stopping ...... you just wont know if you dont get enough playing time ..... His last game was against the cowboys in week 16 and our D held DEMARCO MURRAY to just 40 yds rushing ...... move BUNKLEY to DE/DT ...

 

[Boondock]

I think we should draft Jesse Williams out of Alabama to be our NT. Payton has stated that putting players in a position to be successful is the most important thing. That being said, I do not believe that Hicks' skills and assets would be best utilized at the NT position. His athleticism and movement skills for a big man are ELITE. Hicks should be used to rush the passer, not clog running lanes.

 

[SAINTFAN45]

AKIEM HICKS will be our nose tackle ..... He has the size and can excel in run stopping ...... you just wont know if you dont get enough playing time ..... His last game was against the cowboys in week 16 and our D held DEMARCO MURRAY to just 40 yds rushing ...... move BUNKLEY to DE/DT ...

Hicks could play NT if asked but as other posters have pointed out it does not fit his skill set . He is a big strong speed guy that uses his athletic ability to create havoc . He isn't best suited to play nose he would be better at LDE with Cam on the right in a 3-4 . We need a huge body in th middle that is why I brought up Terrance Cody .

 

[sammymvpknight]

You would completely waste Hicks by just using him as some fat guy in the middle of the field to tie up blocks. Hicks is a play maker. He needs to be at 3-4 DE. We can get another fat guy who isn't a freak of nature who takes up half the field to play the position.

 

[Wicket6]

playing Hicks at a nose would be a terrible idea, having him and cam jordan and we have the ends we need. Bunkley had a damn good year in denver playing the 34 nose so i actually like our starters on the DLine a lot, just worried about the depth. Also Hicks is flat out taller than you want for a 34 nose

 

[jerzysko]

3-4 NT do dirty work! They have to have a heart for it! 3 tech and 5 tech guys rush the passer. This draft has 4 1st rounders that have played NT in college and excelled! Hicks can rotate to NT because of his size but he's a better % tech. Bunk Sucks!!! He's more of as run stuffing 5 Tech We have some great 5 tech candidates and good OLB candidates, STRONG ILB's... NT weak right now!!!

 

[CaliSaint4Life]

Depends on the type of 3-4. To people saying they want Hicks playing NT, I hope they know what they are saying. If we go two gap, it'd be a waste of talent and I don't think he has the build for it. If we go one-gap, then I could live with it, but I'd still prefer to see him at DE where he could absolutely dominate.

 

[Joodas Avila]

I think we already have a quality NT in Bunkley. But theres also some interesting guys on the FA market this year. Terrance Knighton, Ike Sopoaga, and Alan Branch, were some of the names I saw. Good players that shouldnt break the bank if we brought them in.

 

[Euphonetiks]

playing Hicks at a nose would be a terrible idea, having him and cam jordan and we have the ends we need. Bunkley had a damn good year in denver playing the 34 nose so i actually like our starters on the DLine a lot, just worried about the depth. Also Hicks is flat out taller than you want for a 34 nose

Bunkley did not play 3-4 nose in Denver. Denver played in a 4-3 with Bunkley.

Bunkley has never played in a 3-4 scheme. We could try him at NT if we ran a two gap 3-4, but I do not see him as being overly effective in a one gap 3-4 scheme because while he can anchor great, he is not a very good penetrator.

Could try Bunkley out at NT or sign/draft a NT and use Bunkley as depth at NT as well as behind Cam and Hicks

 

[jerzysko]

I think we already have a quality NT in Bunkley. But theres also some interesting guys on the FA market this year. Terrance Knighton, Ike Sopoaga, and Alan Branch, were some of the names I saw. Good players that shouldnt break the bank if we brought them in.

You think this why??? Because of the greg job he did a year ago??? or at the last three stops he was at???

 

[PHdeacon]

I remember reading an article where Bilichick talks about the rarest thing right now is to find the right NT for the 34. That's why Wilfork is so valuable to them. We might need to move up and get the big guy from Georgia. It's gonna cost but I think it would be worth it.

Uh,the last time we moved to get a big guy from Georgia didn't work out so good.