New Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator helps tackle problem

16 replies

Sep 17, 2010, 01:29 PM

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/17/1828787/new-miami-dolphins-defensive.html

Then again, considering missed tackles might have plagued the Dolphins more than any other problem early in the season last year, it is still hard to view any tackles like this one as routine.
Encouraging might be a better word.
``At least right now, it has improved,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. ``Judging from the ball game last week, I'd say it has improved.''
The timing of this improvement couldn't be better. When the Dolphins play at the Vikings on Sunday, they will be dealing with some difficult offensive weapons to take down, most notably running back Adrian Peterson and wide receiver Percy Harvin.

``Last year, we didn't swarm like we're doing this year,'' Bell said. ``You've got guys around the football to make up for it, whereas last year guys weren't running to the football like we should have been. Once one guy missed, the play was out of the gate.''
Perhaps the most memorable collapse happened against the Colts. The Dolphins missed seven tackles during a game when Indianapolis only ran 35 plays.
That might have been the worst day, but it wasn't the only one. The Dolphins found themselves doing tackling drills during September practices, not typically a time when coaches want their players on the ground because of the injury risks. This year, the Dolphins believe they improved their ability to make more open-field tackles before the season began. Bell and Clemons said they are seeing better results because of the emphasis that has been placed on the skill by new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.
``We're always practicing getting to the football,'' Clemons said. ``Wherever it is, we're hustling to it. If it's a pass, the defensive linemen turn and sprint. If it's a run, we're all in pursuit.''
That is something Nolan began talking about as soon as he arrived. He preached the need for every defensive player to have a sense of urgency to ``swarm'' the ball carrier, while also talking to the players regularly about pursuing smart angles to the play.
Bell said the unit isn't immune to missing tackles, pointing out that he actually missed one during last Sunday's game against the Bills. But although they are still susceptible to making mistakes, they aren't as vulnerable to those errors becoming magnified.
``It's just not as evident because we've got 11 guys flying to the football,'' Bell said. ``It's just a mentality that Coach Nolan brought with him from day one. He made sure we were always to the football, that no one guy was falling behind.
``That's one thing, when he came in, that we got sured up right away.''
Sparano warned that this Sunday's game will pose a challenge in that department, given Peterson's ability to put himself in isolated situations through swing passes and screens.

Win, Lose, or Tie, I will be a Dolphins Fan Until I Die:up:

The G Manforum_veteran

Sep 17, 2010, 01:43 PM

The improvement in the tackling department is one thing that really stood out to me last Sunday. Kinda hard to believe that players have to be coached up in that area at the pro level, but hey...whatever works. Tip o' the cap to Coach Nolan for getting these guys to hustle.

http://larrycsonka.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/071511-NFL-Larry-Csonka-PI_2011071516291173_660_320.jpg

padre31luxury_box

Sep 17, 2010, 01:47 PM

Well, when you trade out slow, poorly tackling Veterans who may or may not have enthusiasm week in and week out and trade them for younger, faster, hungrier players, gang tackling should improve.

And no scheme in the world could cover up Torbor and Ayodele's lack of foot speed.

No BS from the Gerbil about "my pee wee football coach even called me about how poorly I was tackling.."

frozenfinNew Member

Sep 17, 2010, 01:52 PM

Dumping Gibril Wilson & Akin Ayodele and Crowder on the shelf eliminate last year's tackling problem.

But in addition to that, it was great to see the defense gang tackle and swarm the ball in ways not seen since late 90s/early 00s. Dansby missed a tackle of Spiller on a short pass he was covering, but then about 4 other defenders were right there to greet Spiller with with only allowing 2 or 3 YAC.

The G Manforum_veteran

Sep 17, 2010, 02:00 PM

"padre31 wrote:
Well, when you trade out slow, poorly tackling Veterans who may or may not have enthusiasm week in and week out and trade them for younger, faster, hungrier players, gang tackling should improve.
And no scheme in the world could cover up Torbor and Ayodele's lack of foot speed.
No BS from the Gerbil about "my pee wee football coach even called me about how poorly I was tackling.."

Good points Pad. :up:

http://larrycsonka.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/071511-NFL-Larry-Csonka-PI_2011071516291173_660_320.jpg

MikeHonchosubscriber

Sep 17, 2010, 02:01 PM

We got a new DC?

Headcoach material wouldn’t want to work somewhere they’re not trusted with actual football decisions.

DePhinistr8forum_veteran

Sep 17, 2010, 02:03 PM

"lmeister3 wrote:
We got a new DC?

Nolan Michaels..I hear he's the bees knees.

padre31luxury_box

Sep 17, 2010, 02:29 PM

"frozenfin wrote:
Dumping Gibril Wilson & Akin Ayodele and Crowder on the shelf eliminate last year's tackling problem.
But in addition to that, it was great to see the defense gang tackle and swarm the ball in ways not seen since late 90s/early 00s. Dansby missed a tackle of Spiller on a short pass he was covering, but then about 4 other defenders were right there to greet Spiller with with only allowing 2 or 3 YAC.

This is the fastest, deepest Dolphins Defense since JJ was running things.

Consider that the D has lost:

Starting NT (Ferg)
Starting ILB (Crowder)
Starting RDE (x2 2 #1 picks in Merling and Odrick)
Starting Cb (1 injured, 1 benched)

And that really hasn't been commented upon

"If" in say 2006 these guys were out:

NT Traylor
MLB Zach Thomas
RDE Jason Taylor
Cb Will Allen

By game 1 of the season people would be going Jets Fan style meltdown.

Now, "eh" whatever, the backups are good enough to start as well.

DePhinistr8forum_veteran

Sep 17, 2010, 02:32 PM

"padre31 wrote:
This is the fastest, deepest Dolphins Defense since JJ was running things.
Consider that the D has lost:
Starting NT (Ferg)
Starting ILB (Crowder)
Starting RDE (x2 2 #1 picks in Merling and Odrick)
Starting Cb (1 injured, 1 benched)
And that really hasn't been commented upon
"If" in say 2006 these guys were out:
NT Traylor
MLB Zach Thomas
RDE Jason Taylor
Cb Will Allen
By game 1 of the season people would be going Jets Fan style meltdown.
Now, "eh" whatever, the backups are good enough to start as well.

depth is a beautiful thing, ain't it?

padre31luxury_box

Sep 17, 2010, 03:09 PM

"DePhinistr8 wrote:
depth is a beautiful thing, ain't it?

Oh, so this is what Depth is?

We had not had any since what..2000?

Hmm..now what if McDaniel steps in and goes full on Beast?

We'd have Odrick and Merling waiting in the wings two #1 picks who can play in the NFL who couldn't get out on the field.

dolfan7171New Member

Sep 17, 2010, 03:30 PM

Now we need to take advantage of this depth and tackling ability vs Minnesota.

Win, Lose, or Tie, I will be a Dolphins Fan Until I Die:up:

PhinsRockluxury_box

Sep 17, 2010, 04:34 PM

Been saying this over and over for 6 months, our best pickup this off season wasn't Dansby or Marshall, is was Mike Nolan. Can't wait to see what Nolan unleashes on the Vikes, I know we didn't see much new against the Bills, because these things talked about in the article were enough to slam stop the Bills offense.

This week I think we start to see some of Nolan's goodies pulled out of his bag of tricks. We're going to need them.

2011 & 2006 World Champions, 2013 National League Champions; St. Louis Cardinals!

Disnardosubscriber

Sep 17, 2010, 05:37 PM

"The G Man wrote:
The improvement in the tackling department is one thing that really stood out to me last Sunday. Kinda hard to believe that players have to be coached up in that area at the pro level, but hey...whatever works. Tip o' the cap to Coach Nolan for getting these guys to hustle.

Not just improvement in tackling...

We have speed now on the Defensive side (LBs), which helps get to the ball carrier quicker...

Nardo
"I'm Drinking the Koolaid, Would You Care to Join Me"???

Thanks to CrunchTime for the Awesome Banner

The 2016 Miami Dolphins- "The Answer to the Thill Experiment."

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.- Mark Twain.

dolfan7171New Member

Sep 17, 2010, 05:38 PM

"PhinsRock wrote:
Been saying this over and over for 6 months, our best pickup this off season wasn't Dansby or Marshall, is was Mike Nolan. Can't wait to see what Nolan unleashes on the Vikes, I know we didn't see much new against the Bills, because these things talked about in the article were enough to slam stop the Bills offense.
This week I think we start to see some of Nolan's goodies pulled out of his bag of tricks. We're going to need them.

Very true. He is going to tap into that defensive genius and devise an attack that the Vikings can't handle. Look out NFL, the Dolphins is back:up:

Win, Lose, or Tie, I will be a Dolphins Fan Until I Die:up:

Disnardosubscriber

Sep 17, 2010, 05:46 PM

From what I heard and read over the last few days. Miami has a decent chance of beating Minny...

Minny only has their Run game working for them, we neutralize AP and we have a good chance of getting ahead and staying there... once that happens we put our pressure on the ole man....

Henne should have a good game against their secondary, if Con is correct on his opinion, but I heard other media experts say that the Minny secondary can be had if Henne is on target...

Here is to 2-0 after Sunday...:ffic:

What can be better... oh yeah... the Jets 0-2...:wink2:

Nardo
"I'm Drinking the Koolaid, Would You Care to Join Me"???

Thanks to CrunchTime for the Awesome Banner

The 2016 Miami Dolphins- "The Answer to the Thill Experiment."

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.- Mark Twain.

Disnardosubscriber

Sep 17, 2010, 05:48 PM

"dolfan7171 wrote:
Very true. He is going to tap into that defensive genius and devise an attack that the Vikings can't handle. Look out NFL, the Dolphins is back:up:

We got a very young D and a cordinator that will tap their talent...

Imagine when they actually familiarize themselves with the system... after half the Season...:up:

Nardo
"I'm Drinking the Koolaid, Would You Care to Join Me"???

Thanks to CrunchTime for the Awesome Banner

The 2016 Miami Dolphins- "The Answer to the Thill Experiment."

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.- Mark Twain.

padre31luxury_box

Sep 17, 2010, 06:01 PM

"dolfan7171 wrote:
Very true. He is going to tap into that defensive genius and devise an attack that the Vikings can't handle. Look out NFL, the Dolphins is back:up:

but no one is talking about, they just say "oh, it was the Bills".

We gonna see some things this Sunday..

A young, fast, physical D will come of age in Minny.

Nolan=Voodoo Shaolin Ninja Bad Juju for Offenses Dispenser.

I want to see 3 Dolphins Jerseys in on every tackle.:yes: