My thought as well. Cameron Wake mentoring: "First, you get this lightning quick burst 3 yards into the backfield before the OT takes one step. Then, as you pass the guy on your free path to the QB you put your arms out to tackle the QB." "Here's how you get rich. First, you get a million dollars ..."
Granted the sample sizes were small, but Shelby and Kaddu both had higher PRPs, pass rush productivity ratings from PFF, last season than Vernon did. Shelby had an 8.6, Kaddu a 7.5, and Vernon a 6.1. PRP is a formula they comprised which combines sacks, hits and hurries,(with hits and hurries getting three quarters the worth) relative to number of snaps they rushed the passer. By comparison, Odrick was a 5.5 and Wake a 12.9.
They have a stat called run stop% and our best DE at that was Vernon. Among all 4-3 DEs who played a snap last season, he was 11th. Wake was 30th, Shelby was 37th and Odrick was 57th, out of 93 DEs. They define run stop % as A player's impact in the running game is sometimes erroneously based on the total volume of tackles made. However, firstly, does that number include tackles on passing plays and, more importantly, did those tackles really count? Stops constitute a "loss" for the offense so this table shows the percentage of stops per snap played only in run defense. This is a percentage of snaps that constitute a defensive stop
Even if he marginally improves in his pass rush ability, he seems like a decent fit at the right end spot. There's good reason why they're not chasing Dumervil. Dumervil would have the price tag of a full-time rusher like Avril with the production of a nickel pass rusher.
You honestly don't see how an effort guy can mentor someone? Mentoring isn't just about technique, which I'm sure Wake still uses some, but also how to make your body better at being a DE, how to be a pro, how to deal with kick slides, how you cna set up a guy for a spin move.
Was JT a good mentor?? Just asking because he had excellent first step and physicality. I'm pretty sure Wake has stated that JT helped him become a better passrusher. BUt of course JT couldn't translate into a mentor. Give me a break.
Ok, color me confused...if Kaddu is on the roster, and since Philbin made some comments about him, I assume he is, why is he counting $140,055 in dead money in Volin's article on the salary cap ?? I realize he may not be on the list at all because he's not in the top 51, but why is there dead money accounted to him ?? http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...ing-brandon-gibson-dustin-keller-nate-garner/
I never claimed Vernon was a better pass rusher than any of the other rookies, but he's certainly less likely to be replaced on the roster this year than Shelby IMO.
Defensive end is where Kaddu has to be. That's what his college production pointed to. I didn't approve of the pick because I didn't think the puzzle pieces fit together. As a linebacker he was bad in coverage and had bad instincts for stopping the run. He didn't really behave like a true linebacker. On the other hand, though he was a productive pass rusher, he was more of a blitzer than a real pass rusher. So on the one hand you're thinking well he can't really be a linebacker and on the other you're thinking well damn he can't really be a defensive end either. But he's got more strikes going against him at linebacker than at pass rusher so you might as well toss him in there. Only thing I was confident he'd be able to do coming out is play good special teams. I thought we caught a few glimpses of that in 2012.
I have to agree with Fin on this one. I am an introvert and was in the military for 20 years. I was put through more than a couple leadership training programs during my career. I was a great follower, always earning top marks on my way up the chain. But when it was my time to shift into positions of authority, it was like pounding a square peg in a round hole. Fin is right, some people, no matter how great they are at their craft, don't always make effective leaders.
Not even sure "fine" describes it. One of the highest I've ever seen. Not highest "PRP" because I only just discovered that rating a few months ago, but I've been calculating my own version of it since around 2008 or 2009 and I've rarely seen more pass rush efficiency than I saw in Wake that year. Took one preseason game (against the Jaguars IIRC) to realize that dude was for real.
The underuse of Wake that year was one of the most mystifying and annoying things in my 35+ years as a Dolphin fan. It didn't take an expert to recognize that he had special pass rushing ability and he demonstrated that regularly in the limited snaps he got, but still couldn't seem to get on the field. It was ridiculous.
Same here. It was a continual complaint. Jason Taylor and Joey Porter were ahead of him only because of their names.
Cut during the season last year and now brought back ?? Otherwise why would Philbin be talking about his progress ??
Right.. because he got cut. My point is that calling a guy a bust because he didnt see play time his first season in the NFL can be a bit of a reach at times. It frequently takes players a few seasons before the light comes on. Could be that Kaddu has the talent to be an impact player and just needs to improve certain parts of his game. Fact of the matter is that I trust what Philbin has to say about Kaddu more then I do anyone on this board. If Philbin said he saw some potential there then I believe him until he is proven wrong. BTW, this is the same faulty thinking that people are using to call J Martin a bust. Could be that Kaddu is never going to amount to crap in the NFL, I dont know that but I am not ready to call him a bust either… if that makes sense to you.
The Giants cut Derek Wake before he even got to training camp because of self admitted immaturity issues. He went up to Canada and that's when he learned to take football more seriously. You can't really say that Wake ever performed poorly at the NFL level before he performed great. He never even donned pads until his first training camp with the Miami Dolphins.
OK, maybe Wake isnt the right choice… Paul Soliai had 3 tackles in 2007, another 3 in 2008 and 25 in 09. 31 tackles his first three seasons which about what he has averaged since 2010 per season. Also, started a grand total of 5 games in his first three seasons. Paul Soliai was a bust his first three seasons, I know because I read it here millions of times… In 2010 Paul finally figured out that he wanted to play in the NFL, got in shape and has been a different player since. Once again, I have no clue if Kaddu is going to amount to crap in the NFL.. fact of the matter is none of us do.
James Harrison spent two years on and off the practice squad for the Steelers, being released three times, and was also briefly on the active roster towards the end of the 2002 season, playing only special teams between 2002-2003. He was signed by Baltimore in late 2003, then sent to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, but eventually cut by the Ravens. He didn't become a true starter until 2007 and immediately made the Pro Bowl. Rest is history... You never know. If a kid has some physical tools and learns the game - gets strong enough, is fast enough, stays away from injury, it may take 2-3 years but he can become a player. Like mroz, I am not guaranteeing it. But, what happened last year is not really a tell-tale sign if he flashed potential.
Ya, it really depends on expectations. I had Paul Soliai mocked to the Dolphins in the 4th round the year we took him. He pretty much progressed as expected. Can't say I wasn't disappointed that he didn't play better sooner but back then it was the 3-4 and he was the 0-technique and those guys were known to take 2 or 3 years to really be ready. I thought Kaddu looked just awful in preseason last year. I do think he will be a wasted 5th round pick. Those I don't mind, it's all the wasted 1st-3rd's that really hurt. I hope I am wrong about Kaddu.
