Some late thought after rewatching the first teamers three times.

Too bad Clemons was in man coverage over the slot and Vontae was left alone. Vontae needs to recognize he doesn't have help outside of a single high safety who has to watch the entire field. Vontae needs to learn how to play the right technique and coverage.

 

Exactly the point I was making. This is why Vontae is SO concerned with being outrun to the outside that he began to turn his hips to the sideline to run with Sims-Walker and make sure he didn't get burned for 7 down the sideline without safety help.

The result? A second year player who is susceptible to that move opening up the inside for the WR. As we saw.

It's not all on Vontae. Some of that is on the coverage up high that we choose to support our sophomore CBs with. If we choose to play Cover One high a lot, we'll see a lot of those sorts of chunk completions against our young corners.

On the flipside, Cover one allows you to be more aggressive at the LOS against the run and with blitzing, so it's a tempting coverage to use. We have to weigh exposing our young CBs against the extra flexibility and aggression a defense can have with cover one.

Hey, I would LOVE to see Vontae become a shutdown corner who needed no safety help, but he isn't there yet (and it remains to be seen if he gets there).

 

Hey CK, i know its just preseason and they are trying Wake out in cover responsibilities because like us they know he can rush the passer, but with Nolans tendancy to be creative and create misdirection, do you think they are going to once in a while try him in coverage, when an offense might be banking he's full out rushing.

Just trying in the preseason now to increase his comfort level in his versatility for when his number to drop back is called?

- Henne is without a question the future of this team. Having him and Long together has a well established trust. Their timing is in lockdown. Their competativeness and work ethic is really starting to show on the field.

- Henne's throws are beatiful. I think a great point by DJ, we should see more catches on well placed balls on games that are dry.

- Marshall to me brings so many additional benefits. That Fasano catch would have been a 15 yard gain last year. The 'big plays' that were missing last year, was exemplified in that 55 yard TD. Sparano said it on Sirius, we had to be perfect on almost every drive. We need more plays where we can score from outside the red zone. Marshalls blocking will help our backs our slot our TE's. One on one coverage for Hartline/Cammy, they make one guy miss and it's 6. He almost always makes the first guy miss after he catches it. I think the more the staff gets used to it, the more they can throw to him 5 yards on a 3rd and 8/9. Opens up the defense to cover more field and increases our options in those situations. His blocking is so fun to watch. Any play to his side could be a big play. He truely adds the "explosive" to this offense, which last year we were able to move the ball but it drained us as we lacked the big play, however it came. Now we can really get it from our backs, TE's and wideouts.

Great break downs everyone. Appreciated learning about the players i didnt get a chance to look at closely. Great to hear about Jerry, Odrick and Misi in their opening games.

 

I just want to say that this is one of the best thread I've seen on here in a long time. Thanks everyone.

 

I don't believe the shut down corner exists in this league anymore. Even, Revis, who is the best in the league, has help consistently regardless of what the media hype would have people believe.

 

Agreed. That's why it's got to be a calculated risk when you expose cornerbacks to isolation coverage with only one safety behind them.

Entirely risk versus reward.

I'm not sure our young cornerbacks are ready to handle it, but I think Nolan likes to be aggressive so I expect him to still do it.

Hopefully the rewards end up outweighing the risks. Much of that will depend on Chris Clemons... in his first year starting at Free Safety. I mean, at least he has the range back there. Meanwhile Bell, who is less likely to make a mental mistake in his coverage, is not as rangy back there and a great run support Safety so more likely to be rotated down towards the LOS out of the two of them.

 

I agree that the S play is key. Nolan seems to ask the CBs to protect the outside and to give up the middle where there should be help from the S, most importantly, but also traffic from the LBs dropping back.

As for the gamble, I think a big part of that will be the pass rush. We haven't seen what the pass rush will do yet. We've only heard tell of it from TC. There they were destroying our OL. Now the OL I've seen in the first two games did a pretty good job of pass pro, so either they've improved substantially or the pass rush is going to be awesome.

 

Its a very very BIG risk what the Dolphins are doing right now. Its exactly like what Bpk said, the Dolphins are gambling by putting 3 second year players basically on an island and telling them to produce. Clemons has the range with the best of them in the NFL, but he needs to put it to good use first. The Screen play he broke up showed good range, ability to evade blocks, and diagnosing of the play. If he can do this consistently, he will be set

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGXM3oiEbjc"]YouTube- Chris Clemons Screen Tackle[/ame]

 

In a scheme like that, it is key that Dansby have enough range to cover a nice middle zone.

If we send Dansby on a blitz though, and he doesn't make it to the QB, then in this scheme we are ripe to be taken for a huge play as Clemons will probably cheat down a bit to cover the vacated middle, REALLY exposing the deep sidelines and seams to speed receivers.

Let's pray that either Dansby only blitzes with a cover-2 look behind him, or always gets there when he blitzes.

 

Agreed Rob. What concerns me about Clemons is what Simon (Boomer) pointed out before the draft last year: he has bad lateral change of direction once he's already moving. This shows glaringly any time he must make an open-field tackle. Straight line fast, but change of direction, ugh. Example of this, was the touchdown scored in the Bucs game, when neither he nor Sean Smith could cut back inside to tackle the WR. Sure it was wet, but it was wet for the receiver too, and Clemons had a ten yard cushion to react. Similarly, Josh Freeman made him tackle air.

Overall Clemons is a decent prospect, but I feel he's being thrust into the starting role a year too early. Not that another year would have helped his lateral agility, I guess. Let's hope he always guesses right, never needs to change direction, and arrives before the ball carrier has any running room.

 

Couple things there. One, we typically left 6 or 7 guys in to protect Henne. Two, we had no WRs who could force a defense to expand. Therefore, no room for Ronnie or Ricky to get open underneath. Hopefully that'll change this year, IMO Ronnie is at his most effective (and durable) when he's getting 20 touches, 5 or 6 of which are receptions.

 

Hopefully it doesn't get him arrested.

Nice post Deej. Both entertaining and insightful. Not sure what this place would be without you my stripper-lovin friend!

I like what you said about creating space. This has been in the back of my mind before the Jax game b/c I've tried to imagine what it would be like having 2 monster WR's on the outside to aid the running game and downfield blocking. Now that I ACTUALLY witnessed its success 1st hand with Brandon, I have an even deeper appreciation and serious desire for it. Bring on Floyd, Baldwin, or Jones!!! (not sure if Green has the bulk)

 

I still have nightmares of him trying to tackle Jerricho Cotchery in the Jets game last year. Looked like he was on roller skates. Safety is going to be an issue again, I've already accepted it.

 

Yeah. I think there's a chance our secondary ranks higher than last year's brutal unit, but no way does it make it above #15th pass defense. Actually, I'd be thrilled with that.

More likely around 20th or 21st.

Depending on Nolan bringing enough pressure.

 

Actually... if our secondary performs this season the way it did in the first half of the Jags game, we would expect to give up about 236 passing yards and 2 passing TDs per game.

Using last seasons rankings for comparison that would make us the TWENTY-EIGHTH ranked pass defense.

Last year's much-maligned 2009 Dolphins pass defense ranked a better TWENTY-FOURTH by giving up 234.6 passing yards per game.

Now, it's only preseason, and we should reasonably expect the defense to improve... but then again, it's only preseason for the Jax offense too and the offenses we will face are also going to be playing better this season..... AND they will be better offenses than the Bucs and Jags have.

That said, maybe Nolan will bring more pressure during the regular season.

Still, we'll be lucky, imo, if our pass defense ranks anywhere better than TWENTIETH.

No Superbowl for us this year, based on what I've seen so far. We may make the playoffs, but we'll get shredded once there.

 

I have to disagree with you there BPK. Nolan's pressure isn't the only thing that is going to help improve our pass defense. I expect Sean Smith and Vontae Davis to play better than they have last season. On top of that, a healthy Will Allen and Karlos Dansby covering Tight Ends instead of Akin Ayodele should make our pass defense a lot better than last season.

 

After watching the first team offense several times on replay....

1.) I am even more convinced that the best thing that could happen to this offense is for them to somehow, any way possible........get Pat White off the roster, asap. Just settle for a certain number of snaps they are willing to commit to the WC and choose wisely when taking this base offense off of the field.

2.) After we signed Marshall, one of my first thoughts was of Fasano...... and how this tilts the field in his favor. How he has been given a golden opportunity to take his game and his name to the next level. Now we're going to find out if he has the ability to take advantage of his good fortune. So far it would appear he is trying to make the most of it.... and for us stellar play this season from that position, in this offense, means all cylinders were clicking. Another weapon to loosen up the opposition, make it even easier to roll right over them with Ronnie and Ricky.

3.) Ah Ronnie and Ricky...... two of the guys in in the running with Fasano for luckiest guy on earth. They have to be licking their chops after seeing what Marshall brings to the table. Teams with this kind of explosive power in the passing game, aren't supposed to have top 5 running games as well and now we're about to see what happens when you have both. I look forward to seeing if this turns into the perfect storm of an offense I day dreamed about while I pleaded behind this keyboard all off season for a play making WR.

4.) "Tears of Joy"..... it's like I'm a kid that asked for a dump truck for Christmas and when I woke up Christmas morning there was a real one in my driveway. They didn't just go out and get a play maker, they got one of the biggest impact players in the game. And after seeing how well his game matches our game, I believe those past 3 seasons were just a warm up compared to what he can now accomplish with this surrounding cast. The fit between team and player couldn't be better IMO.

As for what he does for our young gunslinger QB?.... what a gift he's been given.

5.) Chad Henne........ people really need to have patience with this kid and realize just how new to this he is. There will be some growing pains and INT's along the way. Deal with it.......this guy isn't ordinary. Give him enough time to show it. Of all the plays he made last Saturday, it was actually an in-completion that impressed me the most. The first drive, he's standing in his own end zone, pouring rain, 3rd and long and knowing that all eyes are wondering when this offense will get it together........ and he throws a strike to Hartline at the 20.........which bounces off of his hands. But that play left no doubt about this kid's make up. He's the future....poise and a cannon

6.) Brian Hartline......... can you be a number 2 WR? Well since you were penciled in from the beginning and have now been blessed with the astronomical advantage of being lined up across the field from a player known fittingly as "The Beast"........ we're gonna find out sooner rather than later. Better bring it everyday kid

7.) Sooner or later I'll make up my mind about Vernon Carey...... but it will probably be long after he retires.

8.) I wish Bob Griese and Nat Moore would retire.....

9.) I bet Dan Marino is loving what he saw from this offense Saturday night..... I know he's pumped and it feels good to know he's pumped. I wish I could high five him right now.

10.) And finally, this just in..... the #19 jersey is apparently not "jinxed" after all. Seriously some of you, what were you thinking? He could be wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Lucky on it and he'd still be "The Beast"

 

jetssuck - Yeah man! Nice write-up... I totally agree and your post just gets me fired up!

 

Second largest question on the Offensive side of the ball after the G/C shuffle, we all assume Hartline can be that #2 to take advantage of Marshall's presence, but so far he has been...underwhelming..as he represents the only real speed on the Wr corps, this could be a problem.

Which is why I think they resigned DMart, Ireland mentioned he was 100% healthy and they stayed on good terms with him, if he flashes that 08 form this offense will be really good.

 

Absolutely. Even the guys that mostly rush the passer do so only like 80-85%. They still drop back in coverage. Wake will still have to drop back. His responsibilities will be light, though.

 

So much for that...

 

I expected it too, but what are they doing now... saving getting better until some 'later date'? They haven't looked better this preseason, and I can only assume they are trying their best when they play.

I agree that we'll protect tight ends better, but I think that with Clemons back there behind two sophomores we'll be seeing a lot of deep balls in our face.

 

I watched the replay again. good assessments all around on the offense.

I think the defense & especially the ST play leave a lot to be desired. It seems that our offense will have to consistently be firing just to keep up with the other team as our defense surely won't be stopping them. We need Sam Madison & Pat Surtain back with Zach and Jason.

But seriously, the person who asked how our ST coach still has a job? I'm wondering the same thing. And I hope Mike Nolan has some tricks up his sleeve about our secondary that he hasn't shown us yet. The trade for the Minny DB just reeks of desperation, or at the very least an admittance that our secondary has problems - confirming most of our fears.

 

I want Championships, and those 4 didnt cut the mustard....

however, I will gladly sign up for a new breed in the mold of Foley, Johnson, Scott, Anderson, Buoniconti, Stanfill and the rest of that very special group that actually delivered the goods for a championship dynasty!

 

Agreed that I thought Bonamego should have been canned last year (or the year before when Maser got canned).

Sapp does reek of desperation. Unfortunately what we REALLY need is a starting FS, not an above average cornerback.

Sapp may help a bit on Special Teams. Mainly because they suck so hard, he certainly can't hurt them.

Although, I think it's the coach, not the players. Even Nat Moore pointed out how on EVERY punt ALL the players were giving up an inside release and pressure leading to two blocked punts in two games. That's a TERRIBLE job of coaching, not a talent problem.

 

It seems to me that the arrivals of Thigpen and Marshall made White and Turner obsolete.

The Camarillo trade indicates a couple of the speedy kids at WR will make the 53 man roster.

Wow. This offense has come a long way in three years.