Friday, September 11, 2009

Miami Has Best Defense in AFC East - Part 1

Let's face it. The Dolphins have the most likely IMPACT DEFENSE in the division. It's not an easy argument to sell to most outsiders, but let me give it a go. Feel free to agree/disagree/add to the argument.

Part One - The Buffalo Bills

There's no denying that Buffalo has a fine set of starting defensive linemen. Kelsay, Stroud, Williams and Schobel are among the best groups of starting 4-3 linemen in the NFL. But the Bills are the only team in the division still running a 4-3 scheme. And when you have four guys on the line on every play you need extra reserves. And Buffalo's reserves are NOT good. They are small, injury prone, lack experience and let's face it, any reserve DT in a 4-3 is going to be at best, the 3rd best player at the position. As several of you tend to point out, the best reserve is someone who could be starting for any team but your starter is just a bit better. Well, in these guys' cases, they're not a shave under the first guy, they're under the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and possibly 5th guy.

In comparison, the Dolphins had plenty of competition for their starting line-up, and several of the reserves have looked very strong in the pre-season. And they're a big bunch, averaging over 6'4" and 307lbs. But besides size, they're all very athletic.

Things get worse as you move into the second level. Now, Kawika Mitchell is a very good LB, if you ask me, but his sidekick, Paul Posluszny is very over-rated, in my opinion. I'm not saying he isn't a good linebacker, but his size is suspect and his numbers could be inflated by the lack of support around him. The Bills run defense gave 312 yards to the Patriots last year. The Patriots!! On the other side of Poz, is Keith Ellison, who is just another body, and a small one at that at 6'0", 229lbs.

The Dolphins are pretty stacked at LB thanks to the overload of pass rushers kept on to allow more of a rotation to increase the level of blitzing. Only one of Buffalo's linebackers are smaller than our 7th round drafted practice squadder JD Folsom.

Then things get ugly as you move into the secondary. McKelvin is serviceable and McGee is pretty good but once again, very undersized. Their is no depth at corner, but they kept 6 on the roster. Then there's the Safety position. No one on this team would be starting on another team. Donte Whitner in 3 years in the league has more arrests than interceptions and sacks combined. I don't want to say anything bad about Bryan Scott, the strong safety because he's a classy guy, which is rare in Buffalo, not to mention the entire NFL. But he's only started 16 games once in 6 years in the league and that was the only year he had over 68 tackles in. His size, 6'1" 219lbs makes him just as big as Buffalo's linebackers. Once again, their is no depth to speak of at this position.

Miami kept nine defensive backs in comparison to Buffalo's eleven. And increased competition has helped out this unit as well. I like the idea that even though Sean Smith will start on Sunday, Vontae Davis will forever be clipping at his heels. And Jason Allen and Nate Jones both have huge incentive to play the best football of their lives this year. The only concern with the secondary is that we still don't know if Gibril Wilson is THE guy. To be honest, with Tyrone Culver and Chris Clemons in reserve, I don't see the coaching staff hesitating to make a change if necessary.

19 comments:

  1. Disagree and Hate Everybody
    Only Kidding
    Time will tell
    If We Gel

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  2. The Knight who says Ni!September 11, 2009 at 12:16 PM

    I think so. We need to see how the young corners hold up but if they do and I think they will, we'll be in good shape on defense. I'm anxious to see if Soliai has earned 20 plays per game as opposed to the 10 he got last year. I think Sparano said Fergy played 30-35 plays last year. If we can knock that down to 25 that would probably help the old man. LOL

    Peter King said he thinks the Dolphins have the one of the top 5 front sevens in the league.

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  3. Think there will be more concerns in the Dolphins secondary as of Sunday at 4:00 when the Tin Man starts dissecting and analyzing our new secondary

    Individually,  On paper
    U would think the Dolphins have something real good here

    If they can play to the level Dolfans are expecting
    All will be good

    If they can play TOGETHER  as a shut down unit
    All will be good

    As a Dolphin
    Hope All will be good

    But having serious doubts in game 1

    Buffalo had big time injury problems last season after an excellent start

    We (me included) seem to discount Buffalo before they have played their games
    Could come back to haunt us and our puffy chests

    That being said
    Pats will destroy Buffalo
    Monday night football Game 1  :)

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  4. Tin, you could have saved us all some time and just condensed it to Buffalos D sucks AGAIN! Hell you probably typed double the amount that will be used all season long on the Bills D lol

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  5. Tin, you could have saved us all some time and just condensed it to Buffalos D sucks AGAIN! Hell you probably typed double the amount that will be used all season long on the Bills D lol

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  6. The Knight who says Ni!September 11, 2009 at 1:26 PM

    It will be the 11th straight year the Bills miss the playoffs.

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  7. Everyone deserves a shout-out now and again....lol

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  8. Want to see all of our division rivals lose
    Of course
    Neighbor is staunch Bills fan

    Knight how many years in a row did the Fins miss play offs (reality check)

    But no more
    Like the Jeffersons "movin on up"

    Did a Florida Cracker just make reference to the Jeffersons? lol

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  9. The Knight who says Ni!September 11, 2009 at 2:03 PM

    "Knight how many years in a row did the Fins miss play offs (reality check)"

    6 years not quite 10 going on 11.

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  10. Do U think T.O. will be miserable and ready to quit or have an emotional breakdown or fake an injury in a couple months

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  11. U know if there are no other flat surfaces
    U can Iron right on my face (see my profile)

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  12. Like last year this defense will give up some yards between the 20s and tighten down in the red zone.  If so look for them to give up plenty of yards but few points.  As the game goes on the defense will get tighter and tighter and take over in the 4th qtr.  Mostly because we have better quality players when the starter need a breather.  I don't see many players getting any more than 30 or 35 plays a game, that's what TS wants.  Just like Lola what Tony wants Tony gets.  Didn't Jimmy Buffet sing the song?   What Lola wants Lola gets in Damn Yankees ?  Tin you should know this.  LOL

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  13. ***off topic***

    I was just @ the Dolphins site and was wondering if anyone could answer these ?'s for me, since I know you all go there:

    1.  What exactly is different?  It has said for MONTHS the new site is coming, and when it does, it looks just like the old one.  Am I missing something?  I mean it is EXACTLY the same, is it not?   Reminds me of a joke Steven Wright used to tell, someone breaking into his apartment, stealing all his furniture and replacing it with exact duplicates.

    2.  I was listenting/watching interviews, and the noise in the background, are they playing dominos? 

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  14. I've been meaning to mention that for weeks. First they said it was
    changing in August, then they said Sept. but you're right absolutely nothing
    has changed since earlier in the year. Well, actually i think the depth
    chart format is new but they changed it during training camp.

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  15. You young uns don't know nottin :)� That song was done before I was born and Jimmy also.� I didn't think you would know it.� But I had to yank your chain about Buffet.� We know how much you like him.

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  16. I know the song, I don't live in a cave, but I don't know much about it
    other than having heard it about 200 times in my 31 years...
    I do like a good buffet...oh...nevermind, I see what you meant....

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  17. I know the song, I don't live in a cave, but I don't know much about it
    other than having heard it about 200 times in my 31 years...
    I do like a good buffet...oh...nevermind, I see what you meant....

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  18. Ross may be great at rounding up celebs, but his inhouse IT managment needs replacing. Whoever is in charge of the Fins site upgrades needs to take a hike bigtime. Yes I too have been waiting for the "new" site lol

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