DT Earl Mitchell thread

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Time to go after Poe/Williams/Hankins!

Kevin Nogle, who writes about the Dolphins for a website in Miami, told David Fucillo of SB Nation that Mitchell was expected to be a strong, run-stuffing inside presence in Miami, "but never really developed into that player for the Dolphins."

Added Nogle: "Mitchell is a solid player who will be able to fill a role on a defense still looking to find itself and he will provide veteran leadership, but do not expect to be getting a dominating defensive tackle who will take control of the line of scrimmage. That's just not Mitchell's game."

In fact, Eric Eager of the analytic website Pro Football Focus wrote this past year that the Dolphins' contract with Mitchell ranked among the NFL's five worst for interior defensive linemen, pointing to 2015 numbers in which Mitchell ranked 97th among interior linemen.

Wrote Eager: "Mitchell has never finished higher than 30th in overall grading among defensive tackles during any point in his career."

Source: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Can-49ers-New-Defensive-Tackle-Live-up-to-Big-Contract-414880843.html#ixzz4ZulEUFfc 

I've been wanting to hear an analysis from a Dolphin fan/site so thanks for posting. This is a little disheartening being that it's a recent assessment although I don't think many are expecting a dominant run stopping force. If he was all that he wouldn't have been let go by MIA. Seems like his play has regressed a bit from the time he left HOU and signed with MIA till now. He appears to be a high character vet so perhaps his intangibles give him added value for this young roster.

I think we should look towards the draft for a beefy DT or sign a lower tier one,if not Re-sign Jones. If we stuff them on first down we're going to a nickel and the SAM comes out and change of DL line shift can easily occur as well.

I don't think I go after the big boys anymore and look towards Dorsey/Jones as the run stuffing DT.

5.5 million for a guy who's started 38 out of 100 career games & missed 11 games due to injury in the last 2 seasons.

This guy better not be the master plan for a starting NT. 6'1, 289 and oft-injured.

As of now is he not the only NT on the roster? (Purcell if he signs his tender I guess) So we needed to sign someone.

This suggests to me that they plan on drafting a NT later in the draft to develop behind this guy. It also would suggest that Ian Williams is done, and let's be realistic, we've had to slightly overpay for Mitchell, so there wasn't a hope in hell we were going to sign Poe or Williams.

It's a front loaded contract for a solid if unspectacular high character vet, and I expect FA to mostly continue in this manner.

Originally posted by mayo49:
Mitchell fits in perfectly as our NT.

yeah because 4-3 D's have nose tackles.

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by mayo49:
Mitchell fits in perfectly as our NT.

yeah because 4-3 D's have nose tackles.

The 4/3 they may use does use a DT over C. So whether you want to call him a NT or a DT playing where a NT would normally play is moot. From what I'm reading the DL will play an uneven set that has a DT over C and the other side spread a bit between OG and OT and on the edge. Of course, they will move around a lot and have to be very versatile, which is the point about Mitchell. He can move around the inside and is not just a prototypical NT.

For those of you more familiar with our DC let me know if this is incorrect!

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by mayo49:
Mitchell fits in perfectly as our NT.

yeah because 4-3 D's have nose tackles.

The 4/3 they may use does use a DT over C. So whether you want to call him a NT or a DT playing where a NT would normally play is moot. From what I'm reading the DL will play an uneven set that has a DT over C and the other side spread a bit between OG and OT and on the edge. Of course, they will move around a lot and have to be very versatile, which is the point about Mitchell. He can move around the inside and is not just a prototypical NT.

For those of you more familiar with our DC let me know if this is incorrect!

Also almost all NT's are heavier than Mitchell who weighs 310. Poe is 346. B-Williams is 340.

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by mayo49:
Mitchell fits in perfectly as our NT.

yeah because 4-3 D's have nose tackles.

The 4/3 they may use does use a DT over C. So whether you want to call him a NT or a DT playing where a NT would normally play is moot. From what I'm reading the DL will play an uneven set that has a DT over C and the other side spread a bit between OG and OT and on the edge. Of course, they will move around a lot and have to be very versatile, which is the point about Mitchell. He can move around the inside and is not just a prototypical NT.

For those of you more familiar with our DC let me know if this is incorrect!

Also almost all NT's are heavier than Mitchell who weighs 310. Poe is 346. B-Williams is 340.

Mayo's comment was "fits in perfectly as our NT." I'm pretty sure he's aware the a 4/3 NT doesn't usually weight as much as a 3/4 NT. But if you have a great player at NT he can weigh whatever. Justin Smith probably could have been a darn good NT at 280. The key is being able to anchor.

I would not be surprised if they brought in another big DT so they could have even more versatility. A guy like Poe would be most helpful...evermore!

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by mayo49:

Mitchell fits in perfectly as our NT.

yeah because 4-3 D's have nose tackles.

The 4/3 they may use does use a DT over C. So whether you want to call him a NT or a DT playing where a NT would normally play is moot. From what I'm reading the DL will play an uneven set that has a DT over C and the other side spread a bit between OG and OT and on the edge. Of course, they will move around a lot and have to be very versatile, which is the point about Mitchell. He can move around the inside and is not just a prototypical NT.

For those of you more familiar with our DC let me know if this is incorrect!

Also almost all NT's are heavier than Mitchell who weighs 310. Poe is 346. B-Williams is 340.

Mayo's comment was "fits in perfectly as our NT." I'm pretty sure he's aware the a 4/3 NT doesn't usually weight as much as a 3/4 NT. But if you have a great player at NT he can weigh whatever. Justin Smith probably could have been a darn good NT at 280. The key is being able to anchor.

I would not be surprised if they brought in another big DT so they could have even more versatility. A guy like Poe would be most helpful...evermore!

The biggest difference I see is that the traditional 3-4 NT may be asked to 2 gap as a zero technique and clog up the A gap running lanes. Big and immovable. The 4-3 under is a 1 technique lined up on the strong side. Smaller with more ability to get into the backfield quickly and disrupt. This is what I see more from Mitchell. Would have been a perfect fit for Ian Williams which makes his injury all the more damaging.

Originally posted by Dsoto87:

Originally posted by Ensatsu:

Originally posted by ChazBoner:

maybe he can pick up AA's slack. maybe not.

AA will be on the bench when all is said and done anyways.

AA practically has as many sacks in a season and a half then this guy has racked up in 7 seasons. Let's not get too carried away about this guy.

A DT isn't expected to put up big sack or tackle totals. Being good or bad at the role Mitchell will play doesn't really show up in the stats.

Originally posted by walker807:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by mayo49:
Mitchell fits in perfectly as our NT.

yeah because 4-3 D's have nose tackles.

The 4/3 they may use does use a DT over C. So whether you want to call him a NT or a DT playing where a NT would normally play is moot. From what I'm reading the DL will play an uneven set that has a DT over C and the other side spread a bit between OG and OT and on the edge. Of course, they will move around a lot and have to be very versatile, which is the point about Mitchell. He can move around the inside and is not just a prototypical NT.

For those of you more familiar with our DC let me know if this is incorrect!

Also almost all NT's are heavier than Mitchell who weighs 310. Poe is 346. B-Williams is 340.

Mayo's comment was "fits in perfectly as our NT." I'm pretty sure he's aware the a 4/3 NT doesn't usually weight as much as a 3/4 NT. But if you have a great player at NT he can weigh whatever. Justin Smith probably could have been a darn good NT at 280. The key is being able to anchor.

I would not be surprised if they brought in another big DT so they could have even more versatility. A guy like Poe would be most helpful...evermore!

The biggest difference I see is that the traditional 3-4 NT may be asked to 2 gap as a zero technique and clog up the A gap running lanes. Big and immovable. The 4-3 under is a 1 technique lined up on the strong side. Smaller with more ability to get into the backfield quickly and disrupt. This is what I see more from Mitchell. Would have been a perfect fit for Ian Williams which makes his injury all the more damaging.

Thanks! That was my view as well. Labels can get us in trouble at times but good will and understanding will help us out!

Originally posted by walker807:
The biggest difference I see is that the traditional 3-4 NT may be asked to 2 gap as a zero technique and clog up the A gap running lanes. Big and immovable. The 4-3 under is a 1 technique lined up on the strong side. Smaller with more ability to get into the backfield quickly and disrupt. This is what I see more from Mitchell. Would have been a perfect fit for Ian Williams which makes his injury all the more damaging.

Spot on.

I'm beginning to think we may still go after Hankins or Williams, Poe isn't happening, KC is going to franchise him now that Berry has re-signed.

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

I'm beginning to think we may still go after Hankins or Williams, Poe isn't happening, KC is going to franchise him now that Berry has re-signed.

What do you think Hankins will fetch?

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
I'm beginning to think we may still go after Hankins or Williams, Poe isn't happening, KC is going to franchise him now that Berry has re-signed.

What's making you think that? That's a lot of resources going into one position, and that doesn't include the two first round picks we invested in the other interior DL positions. The money we gave Mitchell doesn't scream backup to me.

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

I'm beginning to think we may still go after Hankins or Williams, Poe isn't happening, KC is going to franchise him now that Berry has re-signed.

What do you think Hankins will fetch?

Estimates are about 9 mil a year.