bummer. But I think we'll be fine, assuming we don't have more serious injuries at the position. I didn't really see Edds getting the playing time that some of us thought he would get.
Jeff Darlington is probably the most responsible in the media of those who cover the Dolphins, so i'd say this is confirmed. Maybe JD Folsom has a reprieve?
Daily presser, Sparano will probably hem and haw, the same as with Merling. Merling, Ferg, Edds, so far not so good.
Yup....this isnt good.....all of a sudden they arent so deep on a shaky defensive side of the ball to begin with....come on...
Everyone has raved that Crowder will be better with Dansby. I disagreed Let's hope I am wrong. He really has to step up this season but like always I'm not holding my breath.
Well, I'm not so sure FY, Ferg was suspended for 8 games, Merling was invisibile at times, and Edds was in practice #5 as a Rook. This creates opportunity for others to step up and in.
Having Dansby doesn't make Crowder magically able to have any coverage skills whatsoever. They still got to find someone to replace him in nickel packages.
You're right and I've said it in the other thread but in general Crowder still needs to step up his game this season.
Misi"s footwork and hand placement are works in progress ... "Can get off blocks and get out of trouble"
Well..we all knew that, and yes Sheets has to block at least passably well to be a 3rd down back type, but then again when there is that much explosiveness the Coach and OC have to find ways to get him the ball with a chance to make a play.
Agreed but the depth is starting to wear thin....Miami is relying on alot of rookies as well...usually not good unless your name is Clay Matthews...
Crowder really has little to do with Edds. What Crowder is here for is to bang bodies and plug holes, so Dansby is free to get to the ball and make tackles. I think if anything, this means we'll see a 3rd safety on the field a little more than we would have previously.
Call me crazy, but Misi could replace Edds..potentially, simply put Grant on the nickel dline, use Misi and Dansby as your coverage/blitzing ILB's.
What exactly is the ceiling on Kory Sheets? Is he simply a return specialist or are we discussing a scat-back type role, a more explosive version of Kevin Faulk or better yet, a Leon Washington-type weapon?
I can see him as a stronger version of Washington, although with the logjam in the backfield, and with Sparano's professed love for Cobbs, I am not sure just how much of an opportunity there is for Kory.....the kid is fast, exposive, and is built pretty thick for his size....KO returner I could see him getting, Sheets best chance to do some damage is in space, if he gets the ball in some space I believe he could be dangerous..
Exactly, Crowder played very well when he was healthy and used primarily against the run with fewer coverage duties. He played poorly when he was injured and asked to be the primary coverage LB. This year he goes back to being primarily the run LB. Edds would have been the guy who backed up Dansby or stepped in for Crowder in more pass likely situations. Now in a more pass likely sitch you'll use more 3 safeties.
http://www.thephinsider.com/2010/7/29/1595555/acceleration CJ is the Titan's Chris Johnson, he also was a fine Receiver out of the backfield at Purdue, so he could be a faster Leon Washington, or a poor man's Ahmad Bradshaw. That is, if he can get some playing time..
IMO sheets is a guy with great speed who lacks the vision of the guys you mentioned. He's the kind of guy who can be effective if he's given a seam but isn't great creating on his own. Basically he needs more open field than those other guys. I do think he can be a weapon if we can get him into the open field as he's a decent open field runner. I'm thinking that with improved blocking on KR or maybe swing passes or quick pitches that get him on the edge he can hit a few home runs for us.
Please mention where in this thread that I said it did. I just said he has to step up and I don't think he will improve even with Dansby next to him. Doesn't anyone actually read.
Good strength and first step IMO. "He has a unique ability not to stay blocked very long," Sparano said. "He can get off blocks and get out of trouble fast. But fundamentally, he can put himself in tough positions if he doesn't understand the proper footwork. So understanding footwork and hand placement will be a critical thing." "What I find is when you tell him someting once it kind of goes into this black book over here some place and he figures out it's important," Sparano said. "Yesterday, in practice this guy had a pretty good day. Some of his rushes when you watch some of the speed coming off the edges with him and [Cameron] Wake has been pretty impressive. Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/#ixzz0vYow8NCf
You brought up Crowder in a thread about Edds and stated that now Crowder has to step up. Stringer correctly stated that the Edds injury would more likely mean that a S would now have to step up. There was nothing wrong with his reading. If you meant something else then you were unclear in your posting.
Offense is normally your cup o' tea Rafi, I just wanted to point out that Sheets has a really good stiff arm and was known for his vision and quicks at Purdue, his problem was at 208 pds, running between the tackles was not his forte'. along with coming from the spread and never having run behind a FB, or really be called on to block you are right about Sheets being more of a "Weapon X" type of player than really having a solid role in the Running Back rotation.
Con referred to this in the Club yesterday I think. I think its a good idea. You could blitz him from there as well, which I think Con also brought up. It's something he did a little of (just a little) at Utah.
Would be a lot to ask of a Rook, convert from DE to OLB and Nickel ILB. But Dansby/Misi would be a potentially great inside blitzing duo.
Yeah it would be but if you go by Sparano's comments, Misi picks up everything fast because he's a bright guy, which I referred to before. He's very smart and has great FBI IMO.
I always valued defense over offense, but it's clear the NFL has changed. I've just adapted to what obviously wins in this league. What I saw in Sheets was vision in the open field but not between the tackles. It takes better vision and patience to run in there and behind a FB. That is one of RW's greatest strengths. So Sheets seems like a guy with good enough vision for open field running, but has yet to show (at least that I've seen) good enough vision for running between the tackles.
plus his blocking has been atrocious IIRC up to this point. He couldnt be relied upon to block last year. This camp that would be one of the most important things to scout with him as far as him making the team as a RB
In this case Rafi, Sheets will have a fair shot in the preseason as even the #3 Oline: Garner/Thomas/Proctor/Jerry/Gardner Has talent, and some NFL starts among them, even if it is: Murtha/Thomas/Hartline/Jerry/Gardner That is not a horrible offensive line from a talent point of view.
For a second rounder I would....u got Brandon for nothing at that point basicially...imagine trading Pennington for 2nd rd draft pick .... Although I wopuld try to pawn Thigpen on them instead.
Yep, and a failure to block at least decently is a part of the reason why Lorenzo Booker is now out of the NFL, all the physical talent in the world means jack if a Rb cannot fill all of the roles. Sheets can still make it as a kick returner, but that is all he would be if his game is not more rounded. Did not realize that Sheets busted a punt for 61 yds in the Senior bowl until I read about recently.
In that case, Misi's primary problem would be that he can't play in two places at once. Koa's already going to be on the field in nickel situations, as an OLB. If there were an OLB that was a strong enough pass rusher to warrent him being on the field, I suppose you could consider moving Misi away from his most effective position...but for now I think that he's better off staying at OLB in those nickel packages. Charlie Anderson might give Crowder a run for those nickel LB duties. He's more of a 4-3 OLB anyway, he's very fast, and he can cover. Not much of a blitzer but then, Crowder's not considered a strong blitzer either.
By the way I absolutely believe that Dansby's presence helps Crowder's lot in coverage. It changes the nature of Crowder's responsibilities. His primary problem wasn't that he totally sucks in coverage, it was that he was asked to do way too much.
Good point on Misi. Re: Anderson - Yeah I brought up last off-season that we could give Anderson a shot at ILB because he had quite a bit of cover duties in Houston and a lot of the plays were spilled to him.
That and he has no structure and tends to run around and improvise. That is a big glaring weakness that Sparano talked about wanting to fix before last season. It is still a problem and I don't see it going away just because Dansby is here.