This should be an interesting converstation... http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2009/12/miamis-biggest-problem-on-defense-lbs.html
We should sign Matt Roth. Zing! I think we go OLB/ILB, more so than WR. Unless of course a WR falls to us (which I would love!)
I'd say I'm on board with this. Although honestly any of our holes being plugged in the first round if a pick falls far enough would be a good idea
LB's is something we need but I believe we need to put some depth in the DT, CB, S areas. We need that defense to be really strong for the upcoming year.
I think one of the reasons the LB's were so exposed against Houston was because of the lack of pressure on Schaub. Alot of it is on the cover skills of Ayodole and Torbor, but not all of it. I do agree LB is a top priority this offseason though.
not sure we do much with CB, assuming Allen comes back ... if not, i'm sure we pick up another CB. same for S, assuming Clemons can get on the field .... we probably pick up 1 more S along the way. if Ferg doesn't sign up for 1 more year .... and i think he will - we'll need to take a flier on another DL .... but we must, must, must, pick up at least 1 starting OLB, and 1 starting ILB .... on offense, we need a dominant WR, a developmental RB, and some more development OL and TE ..... our needs on O just aren't as dire as defense ..... assuming we line up the same offense - with a dominant WR, and less Smiley and maybe Carey .... our O would be good enough to win most games. i don't care if Fasano stays or goes .... i think Haynos and Nalbone can produce just as much ...
I've been screaming for an upgrade at ILB since training camp. Now everyone is writing articles about it. I want my **** guru badge.
The Texans really showed how inept we are at ILB. Crowder is okay, but when he went out it was brutal. Our LBers were just getting pushed around and out of place against the run, and slow against the pass. I'd look at a stud ILB with our first pick and a true #1 receiver second (or through FA for either or both). Posted via Mobile Device
We definitely need both. Problem is being able to get both in a single offseason. Posted via Mobile Device
As much as I hate to agree with Armondo, I agree with Armondo. I'd would feel a lot better if we went into next season with Wake and Roth slated as starters. Not it just looks like Wake and JT. Peazy was lost on the run long ago - if he can't get to the QB, he shold hang it up. Crowder is OK, but he should be our second best ILB, not our best ILB. We are in trouble. Good thing that LB is a position where you can start a Rookie on week one, or we'd be up the friggen creek.
But then you start nickling and diming D. If 115 is ok then 110 or 105 is ok. If 110 or 105 is ok then... well you get the idea.
The problem with this thread is finding anyone who disagrees that our ILBs suck. The only place it can go is a discussion of who else sucks.
Couldn't agree more. Our ILB's can't cover anyone, and our OLB's are old and don't get pressure consistently. Not to mention Cam Wake still has a lot of work to do as an OLB, he does just fine rushing the passer as a DE on 4 lineman sets. I do think ILB will be fixed. The LB class in FA is great. McClain, Spikes, Pawalek, and Micah Johnson are all ILB's I like in the draft. OLB unfortunately, doesn't look like it could be fixed in FA. Broncos are not letting Dumerville walk, not a chance. The next best option is Shawn Merriman, who just hasn't been the same. Lucky for us, some nice options in the draft.
1) holes to fill: WR (play-maker), ILB (stud), NT(starting calibre to rotate w/Soliai) & a Guard not so much... for the end of the second year of the rebuilding project. doable in 2010. 2) the positive: the Franchise QB emerged, the Orca-5 established, DefensiveBackfield acquired, the RunningStable continues strong, the ReceivingTeam solidifies w/o the PlayMaker & the team has another year working together under consistent coaching, on the same page & w/ tremendous character We will Contend in 2010!
Actually, I'll do it. Neither Crowder nor Ayodele suck. It's just they are both better as role players, and both of them being on the field at the same time limits the front-7 athletically to a degree which is fairly harmful. Crowder has been a good player from his rookie year up until this year. However, this year he's been remarkably worse in terms of pursuing sideline to sideline in coverage, and I think the last of his reoccurring knee injuries that ended his '08 season may be to blame for that. Inside the tackles, Crowder is fine. He does a good job taking on blocks and shooting gaps. Next year, Crowder is probably going to move to Ayodele's position for whomever they pick up to be the sidelines to sidelines pursuit guy, and let Crowder go back to his natural "Ted" linebacker position. Ayodele doesn't suck, either. It's just he doesn't offer anything Crowder is lacking, and he'll probably be demoted for it in the offseason.
I think the bigger issue is that ILB is not a position that has a huge impact. We could add the best ILB in the league and our won/loss record won't change much. The reality is that he's still going to get beat for completions by TEs and RBs the majority of the time. That is a fact, not an opinion. There isn't a single ILB in the league who has stopped more than 50% of the passes against him in the last three years. There's this delusion that by replacing the ILBs all those completions would go away and we'd have won all these extra games. But the fact is that only a few of those completions would have been stopped. If you really want to make an impact on the D, then you improve your FS. That is a position where an upgrade would improve your won/loss record. If Eric Berry is there he's the obvious pick. If he isn't, and most likely he won't be, the most likely avenue for improvement is the growth of of Clemons.
