Are Satele's days as a starter numbered?

by Matty I on Feb 11, 2009 12:15 AM EST in 2012 Miami Dolphins News

Over the past week, there's been increasing talk that the Dolphins are looking to replace center Samson Satele as the team's starting center. But we didn't need to read these stories to know his role on the team was in question.

With our own two eyes, we saw Satele get dominated at times during the season - especially against bigger nose tackles. And considering 2 of the Dolphins' divisional rivals run a 3-4 base defense featuring large nose tackles, Satele's struggles were as evident as ever in '08. However, we then learned that Samson played much of the year with a torn labrum, making some sense out of his disappointing season.

That still might not save his job as starting center. ESPN's Tim Graham, who worked at the Palm Beach Post before taking over as ESPN's AFC East blogger, wrote on Tuesday that he's hearing more rumblings that the Dolphins want a bigger, more physical center. Writes Graham:

It's becoming common knowledge in the NFL community the Dolphins already have decided Satele won't snap the ball next year because the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Hawaiian isn't physical enough.

An NFL source informed me Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano have made finding a new O-line anchor their priority -- and they don't care if they land one through free agency or the draft. Satele could be rendered a depth player if he doesn't evolve into an effective guard.

This isn't too surprising when you also consider Bill Parcells' fondness for big, nasty centers. Samson, unfortunately, isn't exactly what this regime likes in a center.

Luckily, there are options for the Dolphins at center. Some free agent centers on the market include Jason Brown, Matt Birk, Jeff Saturday, Brad Meester, and Duke Preston. At 6'3, 320, the Ravens' Brown would be the ideal fit for the Dolphins. He's big, physical, and blocked for one of the top rushing teams in the NFL last year. He's also only 25 years old and is likely a top priority of the Ravens this offseason. You don't let young stud centers just walk away.

Matt Birk would also be a fit for the Dolphins - at least in terms of size. At 6'4, 308, he's bigger and more physical than Satele. But Birk will be 33 when the season rolls around. However, he would make a solid placeholder at center for a few years while the Fins groom a young center - perhaps a late round rookie - to be his eventual successor.

Jeff Saturday and Brad Meester are both roughly the same size as Satele and probably won't intrigue this front office all that much. After all, it makes no sense to bring in a center who is rougly the same size as Satele but much older. And while Duke Preston fits the size mold (6'5, 326) and is young (26), he's just not very good and many Bills' fans would tell you the same thing.

The draft also provides the Dolphins with some options. Alex Mack and Max Unger represent the top of the draft class at the center position. If Mack is around at pick 25, he could be an option. He's 6'4, 316 pounds, and possesses that killer instinct that coaches staffs love. Unger, on the other hand, only (only?) checks in at 300 pounds - similar to Satele. But he might have room to add some bulk to his frame and his upside is far superior to that of Samson.

Louisville's Eric Wood is a 2nd round prospect who could entice the Dolphins. He weighs 310 pounds and the scouting report on Wood is that he's smart and a very hard worker. But he isn't a great run blocker and would need to be more physical at the point of attack. Arkansas's Jonathan Luigs is a guy who could fall to round 3 and has a lot of upside. He checks in at 6'4, 314 pounds and plays with that nasty streak that Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano would love. I'd keep my eye on him if he's still on the board when the Dolphins pick in round 3 - assuming they haven't filled their need at center earlier in the draft or via free agency.

One sleeper to keep an eye on is Maryland's Edwin Williams. He checks in at 315 pounds and, from what I've read (I don't catch too many Maryland football games - who does?) he's a high upside player who will need some coaching up. But he's supposedly strong and physical. In the mid to late rounds, he's a guy to keep an eye on.

Your thoughts on how you would address the center situation?

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Comments

Hot topic tonight it seems lol

But yeah, I definitely think an upgrade is in the works, but I think that even if Brown hits the market we’ll still look to the draft for the upgrade. Brown will cost a good amount of money, and I think there are good enough options at C in the draft that we don’t have to pay a FA a ton of money. Mack is the ideal pick for the 1st round IMO, but it’s a question if he makes it all the way to 25. The rest would be a reach in round 1.

Luigs would be a good option, as would Antoine Caldwell from Alabama. Checking in at 6’4 310, he’s got a big frame and would definitely be able to add 5-10lbs of bulk, and he showed out in the Senior Bowl as one of the top Center prospects in this years draft. I think Mack, Luigs and Caldwell are my top 3 options for the upgrade.

However, I still think Satele has some value to the team. I believe he’ll be able to make the switch to guard, because he has ideal quickness to pull and trap. He should be able to play 3 positions well enough to add some versatility and depth to the OL, especially as a backup.

"Are we doing this? Is this happening?"

by Little Nicky 21 on Feb 11, 2009 12:24 AM EST reply actions

LOL- Robot minds think alike I guess-

If we are going to draft a center early- Alex Mack is the one to go for. He pretty much blows everyone else out of the water. The only other center worth of a late 1st, early second round grade is Max Unger, and he blows Unger away. Mack was the only one at the Senior bowl who stalemated BJ Raji, and manhandled everyone else. He is big, physical, and nasty.

I’m not high on Luigs- he said himself on the radio today he is better suited and prefers to play against 4-3 fronts. Wood I have heard struggled in post season workouts, but has the build you like to see. The Maryland kid seems like a decent prospect- I actually did see him play in a few games- and Maryland rushed for 4.3 YPC, 1800+ yards, and a whopping 18 rushing TDs with him paving the way- hard to gauge him as a pass protector though because his QB was a Schizo who went on and off at random.

"They say statistics are for losers, but losers are usually the ones thinking that. . . . Everything we do is analyzed. Is that the bottom line? No. You can't analyze the heart of Tim Tebow." - Urban Meyer

by GatorPhan on Feb 11, 2009 12:25 AM EST reply actions

I was just thinking this

“Mack was the only one at the Senior bowl who stalemated BJ Raji, and manhandled everyone else.”

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that."- Bill Shankly

by Phinaddict on Feb 11, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Interesting topic

I’m not sure what the team may do this offseason, but I do think it will help this team out huge if they get this problem solved. I can see them spending some big money on the offensive line as they have done in the past with Leonard Davis back in Dallas.

If the FA route is taken it will open up the draft fo rthe team as the oline will not be a huge concern with the added depth by having someone like Satele to be a backup. This may be the ideal situation that the team is looking for.

If we don’t land the big fish in FA and the draft is needed I like the sounds of someone like Mack joining the team. Overall I like taking the best player available at that position if possible and if not I’m more for taking someone else .. possible Duke if he is available. Just a question that some of you maybe able to answer for me. Aren’t guards suppose to weight in more than center’s and if so doesn’t that make it less likely that Satele would play guard unless injury happend

by markus_13 on Feb 11, 2009 3:32 AM EST reply actions

Not a surprise at all.

But, I do think Satele makes the transition to guard. He’s athletic and can pull well for the run game. Plus at guard, he won’t have someone lining up directly over him (in the 3-4 obviously) and will be able to move to help out the center or the tackle as needed.

I like Mack. I would love to see Mack make it to Miami. I just wish we could use the first round pick on something other than Center. Wish Satele could have locked down that position and we wouldn’t have a need there.

"The dolphin is one of the fastest and smartest creatures of the sea. Dolphins can attack and kill a shark or whale. Sailors say bad luck will come to anyone who harms one of them." - Joe Robbie, Oct 8, 1965 upon announcing the name of the new AFL Miami football team.
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by Kevin Nogle on Feb 11, 2009 6:12 AM EST reply actions

Honestly

I disagree with Nicky about spending the money on Brown if he becomes available. He’s only 25 years old, and although he will demand a good bit of money , he will anchor our line and improve a running game that did little to nothing outside of the wildcat. Plus it’ll frre up our first pick.

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that."- Bill Shankly

by Phinaddict on Feb 11, 2009 9:18 AM EST reply actions

Agreed

If Balt. lets him hit FA I believe he’d be worth breaking the bank for. We have the cash and finding the right anchor for your OL for the next 10 years is an investment you have to make.

MIAMI DOLPHINS: 2008 AFC EAST CHAMPIONS!!!

by ATS16 on Feb 11, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions

Shocked if C is addressed in first 2 rounds

While i would love to see the Phins take Mack in round one of the draft, I would be shocked if that happened. Parcells draft history is DE and LB early. He addressed DE’s last year in the first two rounds. This year IMO he is going after LB’s. There just were not enough big plays out of that position last year. I also think that is why they aren’t real interested in getting Crowder back unless he comes cheap. He was solid but not a game changer.

by ct1361 on Feb 11, 2009 9:59 AM EST reply actions

I wouldn't be entirely shocked to

even see a C taken in the 1st round if the right guy is availalble. Of course, we would also have to lock up Carey or get a RT in FA because that is a more valuable position. Stories abound of Parcells and drafting LBs in the 1st- but Sparano was an O-line coach so maybe he will sweet talk him in to it ;)

by GatorPhan on Feb 11, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

did i mention that Carey is 350lbs?

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Feb 11, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

I still think

Samson will get his chance he played well his rookie year just goes to show that the injury effected the way he played this season im not big on drafting Alex Mack with the first pick I would rather draft Knicks or a linebacker but whatever.

Ahhhh Ta Ta Ta Ta Bye Bye Foy518

by Foy on Feb 11, 2009 10:00 AM EST reply actions

I think C might well be addressed in FA.

Brown would be worth the bucks if he makes it to FA.
As for Satele and upgrades to the O-line, here is a quote from an article I wrote in early December:

Most of you know that at the end of last year, the beginning of this year, I was a bit skeptical of Satele’s ability. I wasn’t convinced that he was as good as he looked last year, simply because, well, the Dolphins stunk so bad that I thought he might just have been one of the best of a bad bunch. Others have also seemed to hold this opinion about Vernon Carey, as well.

Well, Satele seemed to come out playing pretty well this year… not great, but serviceable. He certainly hasn’t been blowing anybody off the ball, but he hasn’t been making many big mistakes either. But it does raise the question, “As we upgrade all positions, and the line improves, is the center position subject to being "upgraded” as well?

During this part of the season, the Dolphins were already experimenting with Al Johnson at C; a guy who is much bigger and nastier than Satele. While I like Johnson from what I have seen, I believe he may be too tall (6’5") to play Center effectively. That’s why I think they pick up another guy; probably in FA or maybe a developmental guy in a later round. I would expect the first 1-2 draft picks to be on Defense.

BTW, anyone see that VC is listed at 350lbs on the team roster? What’s up with that?

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Feb 11, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions

Also (too lazy to re-type):

I just think that the quickest way to upgrade your running game is to bring in a dominant center

LT is set. We have some promising prospects at G. RT… eh, we have to get a body there, but Center… that is where the inside run success starts, and an upgrade will make both Guard positions better instantly. If there is one line position i would look to upgrade, it would be Center. But Satele is good, and may still improve, but i just don’t see him as a mauler in the run game. Good pass blocker. Would make a more than adequate backup.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Jan 13, 2009 8:26 PM PST
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-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Feb 11, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions