Ta'amu might be a little TOO similar to Hampton

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/145 ... ssue-round

He came into mini camp a bit over weight at around 346. That's not too bad, but what worries me is him admitting he had weight issues his first two years in college and his freshman year he came in at 380! He's played as low and 320 and I think the ideal weight for a DT is around 330. I really like this pic a lot, as I like Hampton a lot, but I hope the team doesn't run into the same problems it had with Hampton when he showed up to camp overweight. The team doesn't seem to be too concerned about it but I don't know.... Thoughts?

 

not sure what is ideal playing weight is, but the kid was unblockable at the senoir bowl. If his combine numbers had shocked people the way poe's did he would have been picked in the first round. in my opinion

 

I agree, I think Poe is the next Vernon Gholston, all combine numbers and hype. Poe had little to no production on the field. I think Ta'amu will have a better career. I also like the part of the article that says he's learning his roll and taking up blockers instead of him being a "Superman." He said that doing that attributed to his numbers dropping his senior year. I think that makes him ideal for our system.

 

Yes, in our system that's exactly what he'll be asked to do. Take up space and stop the run.

 

Can we ask for more out of a rookie starting NT ? Really though but to plug the holes and 2gap sometimes

 

He broke his foot his senior year of high school, and blamed that for his weight gain. He claims he wasn't even really aware of it, and thought when he reported to college that he was around 330, til they weighed him.
So the fact that it did take him around 2 years to lose the weight, but played his junior and senior years in the 320-335 range, most likely means it was an aberation. And I know he's around 345 now, but any athlete is going to put on some weight in the offseason. He'll be in the 330-335 range in time for the season. Really shouldn't be a concern.

 

if he was a little overweight it sure didn't look like it at the rookie minicamp. the kid looked pretty solid and moved well. he looks like he will be fine at 345-340 range. i'm also anxious to see what mclendon gets to. they have said he can also backup DE, so i don't really expect him to get much over 300-305 and do that. kade weston may ,make some noise too. he's listed at 315 and 6-5. do we know mclendon is a lock to start NT or backup DE only or both? again alot of good competition at all these spots. corbin bryant is another guy they like at DE. how will ziggy look? will he even get a shot at NT now? many questions to come and alot of talent to sort through.

 

Where does it say he came into rookie mini camp over weight? The only thing it says is...

"Despite coming to camp out of shape, Ta’amu dropped 50 pounds and contributed as a true freshman, starting five games and posting 21 tackles."

They're talking about when he went into college his freshman camp there...not the Steelers rookie camp. Jeeez!

Ta'amu is and will be fine. Especially as was said once they get him in and find out where they think he should play...and get him on their plan/etc...he should be good to go.

 

When it comes to weight, the team should talk to him about hiring a nutritionist and then he should work out at the team facility.

When it comes to his ability and role here, you are talking about a guy who was projected to go in rounds 2 or 3 and we got him in the 4th. He will be a solid starter for us without any doubt.

I think we may actually have gotten the best true NT in the draft. Poe may develop, but I think Ta'amu has faced better players in his career and has had similar production.

 

Every year with nose tackle prospects people talk about "weight issues," which seems funny to me. Being around 330-350 pounds can be a great thing for plugging the run... and you're never going to have some guy that's 350 pounds and in spectacular shape (unless he's like 7'2").

I wouldn't worry about it as long as it doesn't get out of hand.

 

he's the one that said it at the steelers rookie camp. he said he likes to play at about 340, then he said 345. he came to steeler camp at 346. for stamina sakes 340 may be his best weight. it's a long season for the newbies.

 

Ding ding ding!

 

I too am very interested in seeing camp battles for this important DL play.
I am hoping that are defensive line philosophy is different and dick Lebeau demands
more pressure from our lineman. How else are we going to generate a pass rush. this
I feel is the very most important phase of our upcoming season. WE MUST GENERATE
A PASS RUSH.

 

Amen to that. I know the statistics pointed to a pretty damn good defense last year, but I was not impressed as a whole. Not the Steelers D I am used to seeing and the one that helps win the Division and Championships. And I really think a lot of it came down to the lack of QB pressure. Some was due to the OLB injuries, but even when they were in and fairly healthy it seemed like they got no help from the DL pushing the pocket. All that up front led t the lack of INTs. The 3-4 relies on the line being able to eat up blocks and push/collapse the pocket. Keisel had some good plays, but as a whole they just didn't win the trenches.

 

Alameda is different and shouldn't be compared to Hampton just because they are both very large men.

Has anyone seen a journalistic story on American Football in Samoa and/or other Polynesian Islands. They have that Warrior mind set and approach Football with a Warrior's attitude. I know Alameda was born in... alameda, but his culture is still the same and his approach will be that of a Warrior and THAT is was seperates him from Hampton!!!!!!!!

He will struggle in our defense as we want to sub-due him and force him to maintain Gap integrity at the zero-tech and he'll want to be That Warrior winning the battle and making the Play but its a good problem to have, I'd rather have to hold some-one back than have to push him forward.

Cajun-

 

Couldn'y agree more, I also hope that Ta'Amu has a better work ethic than Hampton.
Got by on God given ability, same way with Woodley.

 

i kinda like the fact that our new o-line will have a formidable new D-line to practice against. i think it will make each side better. there are alot of guys on both sides of the ball that are fighting for a spot. the competition should be very nasty and without injury i hope. this really should be a fun camp to sit back and watch.

 

He's a NT in the 3-4! I have no issue with his weight. Article is talking about his freshman year. I think he'll do fine. The one thing his youth will bring is someone who's going to (hopefully) be able to avoid that cut block and still maintain his gap.

Also, him being able to get to the QB is going to help when they drop into coverage. He's going to have the ability to pressure up the middle on that 3 man rush, preventing that step up by the QB.


Since when did Hampton coming to camp overweight ever effect his performance during the year?

 

Agreed 100% with all said :rocksign:

 

What people are saying is right, that they are different body types. Ta'amu is like 3 inches taller than Casey, and that goes a long way. If he was only 6'1" like Casey, he'd probably be more like 315 than 348. The way he is now could be compared to Casey Hampton circa 2001, but not today's Casey Hampton.

I'm fine with his weight where it is. The only concern I can see is about the future. Casey started out around 315 and then grew into the 340s or so. IF Ta'amu does the same thing, where will that put him? 380? He just has to make sure he works at it, and the team sounded committed to keeping his weight in check.

What I'm mostly curious about is how his height, not weight, affects his play.

 

snack his height might help if he still takes up two people and he can tip some passes. casey was challenged in the jumping department. maybe the kid can take away a passing lane too. every little bit helps.

 

Big snack was/is a formidable 34/NT in this league.

I think this kid is another Casey and if that's the case we're very lucky.

 

When it comes to weight, the team should talk to him about hiring a nutritionist and then he should work out at the team facility.


I knew a young lady years ago out in Chicago who was a nutritionalist. She was hired by the Bears and was solely assigned to William "The Refrigerator" Perry. If any of you remember Perry, you will know her efforts were a total waste of time.

 

'learning his roll'
Maybe he's QUITE a bit like Casey!
A jelly roll??

OK, couldn't help it.