Dolphins: Miami expected to implement 3-4 The News Head coach Tony Sparano said he still isn't certain whether the Miami Dolphins will run a 3-4 or 4-3 defensive scheme, although its obvious they want to run a 3-4, according to the Miami Herald. When asked about his defense, Sparano said his starting front seven includes: defensive end Matt Roth, nose tackle Jason Ferguson, defensive end Vonnie Holiday, outside linebackers Jason Taylor and Joey Porter and inside linebackers Channing Crowder and Reggie Torbor. Our View The head coach might have been tipping his hand, as those starters represent the front seven in a 3-4 alignment. http://www.fanballnews.com/nfl/
Channing inside? ....mhm..... I'm surprised Matt Roth is expected to be out there. I thought it was going to be Starks.
From the articel in the thread labeled " Fins: NFL Owners Meetings" "-- When asked by Charley Casserly, Sparano said his defensive front-seven looked like Matt Roth, Jason Ferguson and Randy Starks across the front, with Jason Taylor and Joey Porter at outside linebacker, and Channing Crowder and Reggie Torbor inside. Later, I asked if he'd meant to omit Vonnie Holliday. He hadn't. He said Holliday would be starting, and one of the team leaders." Either this doesn't make sence or I'm being a bonehead here. He stated Roth, Ferguson and Starks starting and then said Holliday would be starting? I dont know what it means to omit so maybe that would make sence if I knew that.
I think he didn't say Starks because Roth was the starter last season, and until training camp, should still be thought of in the same way. Ferguson is our only real candidate at NT, and we traded for him, so that's why he could be injected into the starting lineup. As for Torbor, we just don't have anyone else to play inside..
Torbor is the least of my worries. Crowder inside in the 3-4 is a nightmare. He will be asked to cover the TE on his side. Roth a 3-4 DE?
Uh, Channing has essentially been playing ILB his entire career here in Miami. He was considered the weakside OLB not because of his positioning and responsibility, but simply because what Jason Taylor was doing next to him. If Taylor had his hand on the ground, Crowder was an OLB. Taylor standing up? ILB. There could be no change at all in the positioning and responsibility of either player besides that, and the labels would still shift.
I think implimenting the 3-4 would mean J.T's chances of staying would be much higher. It's easy to want to trade him away but when you think about it we really need him in that OLB/DE mold of a 3-4.
I like it. New coach, new defense. I think this all but rules out Chris Long and Dorsey though. Jake Long and Gholston are the two most likely picks if true.
Well, I don't know about that...Actually JT was more effective as a DE in the 4-3, but either way, what scheme we use won't influence JT's status here as much as who we draft at #1 will...if it's Chris or Gholsten, JT could be gone sooner than we think (like by the end of Day One of the draft). If we take Ryan, Dorsey or Jake...he may be staying... You can't take too much stock in the projected "starting lineups" this time of year...lets at least get thru the draft...You have to think that whomever the #1 overall is will be a starter...
I thought his best season as a pro was 2 years ago in Capers 3-4. But I totally agree with you about the starting lineups. Its hard for me to believe it could be set in stone before the draft.
I disagree that Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey wouldn't be good fits for the 3-4. Glenn Dorsey is athletic enough to play 34 DE. He has experience working through 2x teams his whole career @ LSU! He's the absolute best player in the draft, IMO. Chris Long has been projected to play 3-4 SOLB or WOLB from everyone from draftniks to his coach at Virginia, Al Groh. In fact, Long had such a superior senior campaign because Coach Groh decided to utilize him more in standing up, OLB defensive formations. 34 DE's don't register many sacks, they mainly tie up OL. This is especially true in 2x Gap 34 defenses. If Vonnie Holliday could play the 34 in the hybrid D, why can't Glenn Dorsey play 34 WDE? JT is moving to OLB anyway. Vernon Gholston doesn't have so many superior skills that make me believe he's better than the two guys mentioned. Jake Long isn't better than Jeff Otah; Otah's expressing those Type 2 White fiber proteins in those feet for sure! Another guy I really like is Chris Williams from Vanderbilt, though I believe the Broncos will draft him in rd 1 if Derrick Harvey doesn't fall. {Just want to add, boooooooooo 34 defenses. Too hard to find personnel and the strategic value is almost nil. Most 34 teams use more 5-2 fronts or 1-gap 3-4 like Dallas}
Gholsten is the same player as Chris Long ?? Why would he be in the mix if we don't take Chris...actually, if he is certain that he wants to run the 3-4 this year, it would more likely mean that JT's days are numbered and Chris Long or Ghosten would be in the mix. The cap hit prohibits us trading Porter (aside from the lack of real interest in taking on his contract numbers by another team). JT is person most likely to be moved out IF we draft Gholsten or C. Long. Jake or Dorsey seem to be more likely under this scenario...however, I think putting stock in what Sparano is looking at for a lineup is premature...lets really revisit this after the draft...As I said before, you have to figure that the #1 overall will be a starter day one...