http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19861575/philbin-concerned-by-miamis-lack-of-energy-on-defense " More troubling is the suspicion that some of the issues have been effort related. Coach Joe Philbin plans to issue a challenge to the Dolphins defensive veterans as the team prepares for this weekend's exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons." "Some of our younger guys are showing more energy, zip and enthusiasm on the field than some of our older guys, and that's a concern," Philbin said. "We're going to address that." Dansby is their leader, has he bought in yet is the question, I hope the meeting worked..Maybe Reggie will wear off on him.
Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett have to get control of the group and put in more energy, get them going. I agree with that. Although, will Dansby even play tomorrow? Jared Odrick needs to play with some more energy. He's one guy. I get the feeling Reshad Jones needs to do that too.
I agree the defense needs more energy. They need something to inspire them to get pumped up. In the meantime, they should get a couple shots of 5 hour energy.
Energy and enthusiasm comes from leaders who make plays that inspire the rest of the group. All of that is missing on defense right now IMO. There is no leadership, and there have been no plays.
What was all this talk over the past few drafts about how many of the picks were team captains and would be great in leadership rolls etc. We don't seem to have anyone on defense, other than a questionable Dansby, a free agent, who has demonstrated the leadership our team needs.
That's what I mean by "leaders." Those are guys who generate energy and enthusiasm within themselves, use it to make plays, and then vocally inspire the group on the heels of those plays. That then creates energy and enthusiasm for the guys who don't have as much of it going in. Right now I don't see a single person on the defense I'd call a true leader. That's a problem IMO, and part of the reason why I think this defense will play so poorly this year.
Dansby is an average LB in the NFL who is paid as if he is one of the top LB's in the NFL. Burnett has yet to show why the Dolphins paid so much money for him as a free agent last year. He was said to be a LB who could cover TE's down field. I certainly don't think his play last year is going to prevent opposing teams from throwing to their TE's, if Burnett is covering them. I have never though Odrick was a good pick in the first round and going into his third year with the team, he still has a lot to prove. I think Jones and Clemons may be the worst safety combination in the entire NFL. It appears to me that when these two are on the field, the WR's of the opposing team have an open field to run around in and they are always open.
Eh, hmm, run the vets ragged with the camp pace, then wonder why they are dragging? I thought Philbin was a smart guy?
I thought about that, but idk, their taking it easy before the games, not doing a lot of hitting..don't have enough info to tell what the problem is..
I think (at least on defense) that they're playing slower because they still don't have the system as down as they did the previous one. So there's just a little bit more thinking and hesitation, and that can make all the difference in the world.
Meh... I don't buy that theory. Sure its a quicker pace, but with the new CBA rules, and less practice time and such.. I just dont buy it. If these guys aren't motivated to play football, regardless of camp pace, practice time, or whatever... then send their lazy asses packing. To be dragging at this time of year because of an up tempo practice pace, just means you aren't taking your job serious enough, whether you are out of shape, or just can't get motivated to do it... then this train should be leaving the station without these guys. Don't need guys like that on any team. Cant win with em. Reminds me of Singletary's rant about Vernon Davis. Sounds like someone needs to teach Vontae and some of these other vets on D that very same lesson.
It's quicker to name the guys who HAVE been playing full out. Misi. Kheeston Randall. Maybe Soliai. Uhhhh... That's it?
For that to hold water, the older players must be dragging *** more than the younger players. has that been true? I mean the twos and threes are generally younger, I suppose... but that evens out because they ALSO have to run their arses up and down the field on special teams coverage and return all night oo, which the 1st string vets rarely, if ever have to do.
Don't buy it. The 2's have played with more energy in both preseason games, and Philbin said so. I don;t think the 2's know the system significantly better than the 1s.
Sometimes the remedy on this is to in fact go ahead and allow those younger guys to play, out of which you develop the kind of leadership you need to turn this around. Sometimes when you give a young, hungry guy a shot, he seizes the opportunity and you have a new leader and a fine player on your hands. Philbin has to be flexibile and perceptive enough to allow this to happen, and it sounds like he might.
Starting Wilson could be one way to inject some energy into this defense. Kid normally is all out and all over the place. That can rub off rather quickly.
Unfortunately, at this point if you were to cut all the players on defense who meet your criteria, almost all the players on the team first unit defense would be cut.
