Dolphins in the Market for a Nose Tackle

Here is an article form Sun Sentinel, written by Omar Kelly. With Ferguson not getting young this may be a wise choice to be looking for a new news tackle.

INDIANAPOLIS - When Dolphins coach Tony Sparano was reminded that nose tackle Jason Ferguson is getting up there in years he quickly warned: "Don't tell him that!"

But Ferguson, who is routinely called on to anchor the middle of the Dolphins' defensive line, is a 34-years-old, 12-year veteran, who has openly talked about playing another season or two.

And on top of that, not only is his position the most vital one to a 3-4 defense scheme's success, but most NFL executives and scouts admit nose tackle is the single hardest football position to find and develop.

"It's a hard position to find. A really hard position to find in any draft. Those guys are unique because you've got to want to take on double teams," Sparano said. "You've got to be strong enough to do those kinds of things."
That's why acquiring Ferguson, who contributed 27 tackles last season, was one of the first thing Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells did when he joined the team. He traded away this year's sixth-round pick, and swapping fifth rounders last year with Dallas to get the big man Parcells initially drafted with the Jets back in 1997, and brought with him to the Cowboys.

"Ferguson has been a good player in this league for a long time, and probably doesn't get the credit he deserves to be honest with you," Sparano said. "I was in Dallas when he got hurt (in 2007) and the hole that was left there was tremendous. Now, to have him for a whole year in Miami, and to have him for 17 games, you see his value. To replace him, or find guys to replace [nose tackles] is a hard job to do."

That's why the process needs to start early because it would be beneficial for Ferguson to groom his replacement.

Last season, when Ferguson suffered an oblique injury in the regular season 27-13 loss to Baltimore defensive end Randy Starks filled in at his spot. But the Dolphins gave up 139 rushing yards in that game.

Second-year defensive tackle Paul Soliai is Ferguson's present backup, but the former fourth-rounders development has been slow (six tackles and a forced fumble in two seasons). Soliai was also suspended twice last season.

Finding a young nose tackle in this draft could become critical if one isn't added in free agency, but defensive tackle is one the thinnest units in the 2009 draft according to most scouts and analysts. And out of that lackluster crop of big men only a handful of the prospects have the size, strength and athleticism needed to play nose in a 3-4 scheme.

Behind Boston College's B.J. Raji, the elite defensive tackle prospect, his college teammate Ron Brace is the best suited to play 3-4 nose considering he's 6-foot-3, 330 pounds.

"Guys like Mississippi's Peria Jerry and [Missouri's] Evander Hood are all 3-technique, undersized guys," said ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. "So if you don't get Brace in the first two round you'll be looking for backup guys in the fourth, fifth or sixth round."