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I love what Miami has done this off-season

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Canuck, May 7, 2010.

  1. Canuck

    Canuck New Member

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    Once the season ended, and our defense continually collapsed, the Trifecta went to work. Dumping Pasqualoni for Nolan was our first coup. Nolan runs a complex hybrid defense altering 3 and 4 man fronts with blitzers coming from all locations. That alone should have told us something about our draft plans. We then jettisoned LB-Adoyele , FS-Wilson, LB-Porter and let JT walk via FA. In hindsight, I’m not at all surprised they let JT walk, given they only signed him to 1 year. He was a stop gap at SOLB only. The plan was in place to get both better and younger at the LB position and FS couldn’t get worse.



    Then FA opens. We sign the best ILB FA on the market, paid him handsomely and well put him in virtually the same scheme, one that alters between 3-4 and 4-3 and keeps him on the field for all three downs. Dansby is going to be a BEAST in this D. We attempt to sign the best 2 FS FA options on the market (Rolle & Clark) and were simply outbid. They clearly could have stepped it up but chose not to over pay for a position that is not unlike the SS position in this defense. It remains to be seen if we’ll play as much quarters coverage as last year but if we do, over paying for a FA FS would not be a sound financial move. Then we make what appears on the surface to be a depth move at G with Richie “the Volcano” Incognito. Truth is, he very well could be our opening day RG. What a right side road grader tandem he and Carey will form. I like our short yardage pkg a lot better already. Re-upping Chad Pennington cannot be understated. That was a HUGE move in both depth and a coach on the field for 2nd year starter Chad Henne.



    Not to be outdone by gang green and their toker pick-up Holmes…..Miami trades 2nd rounders this year and next for Brandon “MacDonald’s bag” Marshall….a top 5 wide receiver talent. Our WR corps went from bottom 5 to top 15 right there….perhaps better. Hartline is an ideal #2 and only getting better and Bess is an ideal slot #3 WR. Camarillo is a luxury to have as a #4. That leaves #5 open to a returner type or over-sized and under-performing 2nd year prospect Patrick Turner. Perhaps Marshall can teach him a thing or two about getting off the line and attacking the football in the air. Otherwise, he doesn’t make our opening day roster IMO. I love our WR corps right now…..LOVE it. TE’s?.....not so much.



    The draft comes. We’re all thinking we need to fill the gapping holes at SOLB, FS, and NT so when we trade down to select a 3-4 DE, we’re all left scratching our heads. Well, I’ve been on the Odrick bandwagon for a few weeks prior to the draft. He beat out Michigan star Brandon Graham for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, was a team Captain and a Senior. I even thought we might select him at 12 if we could not trade down. To make the trade down, get Odrick, get a higher 2nd rounder (than we gave up for Marshall) and get a ILB like Tim Dobbins was another coup. Odrick was being compared to former Pat and #6 overall pick Richard Seymour for a reason. And if we got another Seymour at #28, we struck gold. Then we pick up Misi in the 2nd and we took all of 60 seconds (of our allotted 7 mins) to pull the trigger on that move. Misi, a former DE at Utah, can rush, drop and play coverage. He was not a 1 trick pony for the UTES and again was another captain/senior. He is an ideal candidate for Mike Nolan’s hybrid D at SOLB and will be playing beside Dansby.



    The key to our draft was 2 fold. First off we drafted teams captains (good guys/leaders), seniors (physically and mentally more mature) and they’re all versatile. As it turns out versatility is ctrically important to a Mike Nolan defense. Remember Adalius Thomas playing for him? He played OLB, DE, ILB and safety…..yup safety. Hec, I even think he lined up against WR’s to jamb them at the line from time to time…..no doubt with Ed Reed behind him. We move Starks to the nose and Odrick to his old spot (unless the light finally comes on for Merling) because we’re going to change from a 2 gap Defense with guys standing up their guys and racting to what the O does to a 1 gap defense where Starks can penetrate (ala Ratliff in Dallas) when we slant/stunt the DL and the backers fill. Everyone will be moving and dictating to the O, not reacting to it. Kinda sounds like what’s going on in Jetland, doesn’t it?



    Personnel-wise, I can see a HUGE improvement on D (especially) as I see WOLB Wake starting and being asked to rush MOST of the time. I can see Robbins taking Crowder’s starting WILB job right out of camp rendering Mr. No sack, No forced turnover guy useless and unemployed. I don’t know much about Robbins but his part time stats were better than Crowder’s STARTING stats. Dansby is a HUGE upgrade over Adoleye and Misi fits the SOLB position better than JT does (who, IMO, was best used at WOLB). Throw in Will Allen coming back to take Nate Jones spot as our nickel back and we only have one hole on D that still needs plugged……FS.
     
  2. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

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    Friend Canuck:

    excellent & well thought out thread
    only flaw @ this time: the need for a quality veteran FreeSafety
    to enter the equation. one could still be had but its a long-shot
    seems more probable Will Allen moves from CB to the position

    We will contend in 2010
     
    dolfan7171 likes this.
  3. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    Welcome to the site Canuck. Great post. Keep 'em coming. :up:
     
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  4. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    excellent assessment! :up:
     
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  5. Canuck

    Canuck New Member

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    Thanks, I enjoy sharing my opinions and hopefully it's more realistic than optimistic. :)

    I forgot the end of my original post: "Can you say OJ Atogwe?"

    FS is still a pretty big and obvious hole to fill. It'd be asking a whole lot of rookie 5th rounder Rashad Jones to start at FS THIS year. And to be honest, from reading about him post draft....he sounds like Bell's eventual replacement at SS than our next FS. Just sayin.
     
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  6. fins1

    fins1 Sect 145 Row 20

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    Great write up Canuck and GO HAWKS
     
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  7. mommabilly

    mommabilly No riders allowed

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    On the Atogwe issue. Have a neighbor that is a die hard Rams fan for the last 20 years. Good guy, sound football person and he is not all too impressed with OJ. He likes the kid, thinks he is a decent FS but also says in no way shape or form was he franchise tag material on most teams.

    We all have to remember, being the best looking free safety on probably the worst defense in the NFL, is not a hard thing to do. The Rams are rolling the dice on him because he had shoulder surgery and just recently, surgery for a sports hernia. I have not played sports at any high level but those I do know that did play have told me sports hernia is not that uncommon but once you have one, your chances of getting another one are pretty good.

    Atogwe is not a mega contract type of player but from everything I have read in various places, it appears he is going to try to get a big contract. Not saying the player is garbage. Just saying I am one person that thinks if this kid is given a mega contract he will be a HUGE dissapointment for the team and the fans.
     
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  8. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

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    we need experience @ this position
     
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  9. siciliansith

    siciliansith Resident Deviant

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    This belongs in the Thread # (What she's not to say in bed lol)

    But agree i need a solid FS in my life
     
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  10. eric

    eric New Member

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    id take production over experience any day.
     
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  11. dolfan7171

    dolfan7171 Well-Known Member

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    Great stuff man!! I love it!!
     
  12. Larryfinfan

    Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member

    Welcome Canuck...nice post.

    It really mirrors what we've all been saying for the most part. I'm concerned with the FS spot like most because Culver has been a journeyman so far and Clemons is relatively unknown. The troika must have some concerns or they wouldn't have been pursuing Clark and Rolle, as you said. Reshad Jones is their type of player for the position, although at this level and with his skillset he may be more of SS then FS type. We've seen how that experiment of using two SS on the field work...it didn't. I'm not overly enamored with Atogwe, although I was at one time. Now, I'm not too sure and in reality, we don't know what the Rams are really going to do with him. That chapter remains open...

    All the things they've done this year look exciting now on paper. Now we have to see it all come together on the field. As with every year, this looks like it could be the best draft we've had in years (said in my most tongue-in-cheek style)....at this time, before the OTAs, minicamps and TC... We'll see.
     
  13. Makados10

    Makados10 Active Member

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    I think if Reshad Jones can pick up the FS position quick enough, he'll be the starter. He's a good enough athlete to do it.

    Plus I just like the thought of having Bell, Jones, and Vontae all in the backfield. We'll have the most physical secondary in the league :shifty:
     
  14. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    Great Read. Nice post!
     
  15. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

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    one veteran in the defensive backfield, a rookie & two newbies, wouldn't want to set to sea in that ship. need experience @ free safety, potential & talent are not enough to win games. its our last line of defense & sports the best vision of the field for making calls during the game. my best guess would be a healthy Will Allen, even a Jason Allen on a career upswing enters the fray... still two more quality veterans may come available before the opener. something has to & will be done or the season will fall short of desired outcomes. not much to fix :no: a position away from a run on the BigEnchillada :yes:
     
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  16. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    Will Allen can be a coach on the field @ FS, I hope the coaching staff takes a long look at him. When healthy, he's got the speed, quickness and ball skills, plus he's a good tackler. I think moving to FS can add a few years to his career, b/c I cant see us paying him starter money to be a nickel back that doesnt even play ST. Lastly, Allen, Bell, Davis and Smith are our best DB's, putting those four on the field gives us our best chance for success.
     
  17. Canuck

    Canuck New Member

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    When you think about it, this team did a lot in one off-season to plug several holes in the roster.

    Needed a #1 WR, let's get Brandon Marshall
    Needed a playmaking ILB, let's get Karlos Dansby
    Needed a 2 gap NT, nope....we're going to an attacking 1 gap front so let's move our best DL over to the middle (Starks) and draft his replacement (Odrick) with our first pick.
    Needed an OLB who can drop in coverage as well as he rushes the passer, let's get that versatile kid from Utah (Misi).

    Add in the Incognito and Pennington signings to the mix and we addressed a hole at guard and back-up QB (I still think Thigpen gets moved this off-season). That's a lot of holes filled folks. To fill them all would in one off-season would have been a minor miracle. I'll take one hole (FS) and be very happy. Nice job Trifecta.
     
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  18. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

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    the free safety hole will be filled adequately, one way or the other by the opener :yes:they know what they are doing
     
  19. eric

    eric New Member

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    i remember will allen getting a lot of pass interference penalties last season, maybe a move to safety wouldnt be bad for him.
     
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  20. Pauly

    Pauly Season Ticket Holder

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    For me the biggest positive of the off season was the acquisition of Mike Nolan and replacing Paul Pasqualoni.

    Pasqualoni, while a good coach, wasn't getting the job done. Some of that had to do with talent, especially the complete lack of it at FS. Mike Nolan simply has a better pedigree of getting results.

    IMO front office and coaching are more important than talent acquisition. You can coach players up but putting the right player in the wrong place does you no good.

    On the playing talent side of things I was disappointed to see Ted Ginn go. He had genuine football speed that you'll see only once in a generation on a team and I thought he could have done great things with opposing defenses having to cover Brandon Marshall and still be honest with Ricky and Ronnie in the backfield. Not a 10 catch/game kind of player but getting 3 or 4 catches at close to 20 yards per is what I thought we could have gotten out of him.

    The only real question mark that I don't feel we've addressed fully is FS.
     
  21. Canuck

    Canuck New Member

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    Teddy was doomed after last season. Hartline showed he's a #2 in the making. Bess is an ideal #3. Marshal was (obviously) traded for to be the #1. That left Ginn as a situational #4 at best. I think it was time to say good-bye under the circumstances. THIS regime gave him 2 years and after looking OK as a sophmore, he tanked as a 3rd year player.
     
  22. adamprez2003

    adamprez2003 Senior Member

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    pretty solid assessment. I think the only things that might come back to bite them a bit are:

    1) passing on a seam busting tight end. Reshad Jones will be Yeremiah Bell's replacement at SS next year as we continue the youth movement but would we have been better drafting TE Andrew Quarless with that pick?

    2) We dumped JT and Porter and with them just about our entire sack production. We made up for a little bit of it in an unconventional way by improving our pass rush from our DE position instead LB with the drafting of Odrick. . Zero problems with that. If you can get a 3-4 DE to get pass pressure thats more valuable than a OLB. Still you need pass rushing from your outside linebackers. Misi seems to be a solid all around player. Does everything well but isnt going to be a sack beast. He'll get sacks, but double digit will probably be too high a goal. It seems by drafting Edds we have tied our wagon to Wake being WOLB. Norwood was still there though only 6'1". The WOLB position will be key IMO to our season. We need about twelve sacks from that position. Hopefully Wake is ready

    3) we obviously upgraded our WR corps but we threw away our only speed out there by dumping Ginn. Did we dump him too early? Have to hope Ginn fails in San Fran because they have the combo in Crabtree/ Ginn that we could have had in Marshall/ Ginn
     
  23. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    Generally agree, Canuck.

    If they stay healthy, I think the team will significantly improve over last year.
     
  24. Canuck

    Canuck New Member

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    I think this regime is planning on going HARD after Vontae's big brother this offseason. Vernon would fit the bill at TE for us and still be a great run blocker too. You could say that Vernon is Shockey w/o the injuries and attitiude. They also must see something in Haynos and Nalbone. Not sure what.

    Wake is ready. At least to play forward 90+% of the time. And really, can he be be that much worse than Porter was at setting the edge and dropping into coverage? Wake is already better than the declining Porter at his main job....getting after the QB. Misi will be asked to do a lot more than Wake. And this scheme is going to have guys coming from everywhere, not just the OLB position.

    I disagree with folks on Ginn. That drop against Porter (as Sharper came over) down the sideline was a quniteseeential Ginn deep (semi) pass drop. Hell Sharper turned that into points against US! (Even though the SI cover shot shows Ginn strip it JUST before he breaks the pane). Ginn also blewi it against the Colts in the dying minutes. Hartline has already shown he's a better deep threat than Ginn, just doesn't have the deep speed. That 50+ yarder where he split Porter/Sharper (and got caught from behind) was a HUGE play. One that Ginn never catches much less runs after the catch with. The catch against the Titans was ridiculous. Hartline's the real deal and has better hands, size and overall understanding of the position than Ginn ever had.
     

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