The Half-Way House is Seven Eighths Full - Part 2, The Defense

Yesterday, we looked at some of the offensive progression through training camp and two pre-season games. For the most part, the unanswered questions on that side of the ball remain unanswered. We know who the starting right guard will be, but we won't know until game 3 who the starting receivers are, and probably won't know until game 4 who the reserve offensive linemen will be. But despite that uncertainty, the future looks brighter than it did in 2008.

Today we venture into my favorite side of the line of scrimmage - the one where you get to hit someone. The defense of the 2009 Miami Dolphins looks good on paper, and minus a couple of big plays here and there during the pre-season, has looked good on the field has well. The most noticeable strength is the front 7. The jury is still out on the secondary, but I'm confident, if nothing else, it will be stronger than it was last year.

Let's look back to our pre-season previews and compare where we are now:

DEFENSIVE LINE

Jason Ferguson - We were probably all worried that he had lost a step after a down year production-wise, but Fergie looks quick, strong, and as commanding of a nose-tackle as he ever did. Sure, it's just pre-season, and he will wear down as the snap count rises, but for now we don't have anything to worry about, especially because....
Louis Ellis - I said back in June that Ellis had shown some potential but at a weak level of competition and wondered about his work ethic. After seeing him play in the last two games, I know he's a keeper, at least on the practice squad. Did you see him blow past the o-line to get to the QB vs Carolina? I can't remember ever seeing a nose-tackle move that fast. And this guy is built like a wall. I suspect the Dolphins see something in him or he wouldn't have survived this long as a the 4th string NT. With Joe Cohen recently released, Ellis is in better shape now to showcase his talent.
Philip Merling - Merling was projected to be a starter before any OTAs started, but I suspect his inability to get off the line is the main reason for his slip from that status. Last year, Kendall Langford was the one applying QB pressure and Merling was better as a run-stopper. Nothing seems to have changed there. Merling isn't a BAD lineman, he's just not showing an ability to apply pressure. He still makes tackles and has been pretty strong versus the run game. Randy Starks, on the other hand, is better at getting into the backfield, and since this regime seems obsessed with rushing the passer, I suspect they'd prefer to have their linemen do that first and let the LBs handle most of the run-stopping.
Tony McDaniel - I said back in June that McDaniel could have an upper hand in the reserve battle as he could move around the line, much like Starks did in 2008. If Starks is to be the starting RDE, then someone would have to take over his role from the previous year. McDaniel flashed some real athleticism in Game 1, but to be honest, did not have a strong Game 2. The jury is still out on where he falls on the roster.
Lionel Dotson - Dotson has really shown up this year after coming in undersized and under-prepared in 2008. He has been applying a lot of pressure on the QBs in the first 2 games and we've heard a lot of buzz around him coming out of practices. Last year they kept him on the 53 to save him from being picked off of waivers. He did eventually get to play in a couple of games after Ferguson got injured. I think this year he will solidify himself to the point heading into 2010 he'll be considered a 'lock'.

LINEBACKER

Channing Crowder - I know, Crowder gets enough press, but he deserves some mention as he has looked like a different beast in the pre-season. He is actually getting to the quarterback on blitzes. Obviously the Dolphins plan on throwing the kitchen sink at opposing quarterbacks this year, and Crowder could be considered the soap dispenser - not the heavyweight of the basin, or the stainless steel of the faucet, but he just might poke you in the eye, and soap burns once it gets in the eye. Of course, all this blitzing eventually results in turnovers, and isn't that what we all wanted Crowder to contribute?
Reggie Torbor - The most overpaid backup in the NFL has a target on his back. If he doesn't prove that he is worth even half that money, he may be on the chopping block next year. Probably our best bet is if he shows up and we can manage to trade him, because he's not about to take a paycut. Still, he has the energy and the physical skills, but his fundamentals were shaky in 2008 as he adjusted to the 3-4. Perhaps now is his time.
JD Folsom - Wow. Where do I start? I pretty much came out and said this was a horrible draft pick and there was no point even putting a Dolphins logo on his helmet. But he has 'flashed' at times in practice, laying bigger than anticipated hits on people, and has an INT and a tackle for a loss in limited play in the pre-season. He still looks like a big safety, and could be used as a situational player, but he'll probably end up on the practice squad. I still can't believe the Dolphins chose him over Nick Reed. You know how some fans won't let go that we didn't draft Brady Quinn? I think that will be me in 4 years - "We could've had Nick Reed!!" (for the record, in two preseason games, Reed has blocked two punts, forced a fumble, made an amazing interception, and has 3.5 sacks!)
Charlie Anderson - Anderson is a sort of mild-mannered outside linebacker. You can't even put those words together and make it sound right. This guy looks depressed on the sidelines and though he has looked pretty sharp on special teams lately, he's on the losing end of a battle. I said back on June 28th that the Dolphins would likely keep 8 linebackers, with at least 3 of those being inside guys, leaving a maximum of 5 OLBs. I'd be willing to change that number to 9 total, if at least one of them could play both inside and outside. But I don't think I'll need to. Anderson could still have a good shot at making the team.
Matt Roth - I didn't think I'd be needing to mention Roth's name at all in this article. In June I said he wasn't a lock to start, but was probable. At this point, I honestly don't see him being on the 53-man roster. We're about to head into game 3 on Thursday night. The team will have Friday off and return to practice on Saturday. If Roth is not on the field and moving at a high rate heading into the final week of the pre-season, how could the coaches possibly justify putting him on the field ahead of someone like Quentin Moses who has shown tremendous growth? If I were the GM, he'd be on the PUP list as of next week.
Cameron Wake - In June I wrote, "This could be the biggest impact player of training camp. His inability to stand out in the pajama parties could make him even that much more noticeable once they start going full speed." Well, in hindsight I should've said in pre-season instead of in training camp. Any guy that can get to the QB while being held by the facemask is A-OK in my book. Having Porter, Taylor and Wake on the team have really eased the frustration of Roth being sidelined. You would think Roth would want to get out there to prove his relevance. SO how many sacks are we predicting for Wake this year? 20? 25? ;)

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Vontae Davis - Well, despite everyone wanting to throw Davis under the bus after Game 1 vs Jacksonville, I've been very impressed by this rookie's ability to glue himself into the backs of the receivers he's been covering. His fundamentals are better than I thought they were and his tackling has been superb (maybe he can teach some of the vets a thing or two). Two or three times now he's shown that he cannot be juked in the open field. That's something that overly-aggressive players usually get burned on, but he's shown he's not a complete animal but has some ability to be patient.
Jason Allen and Sean Smith - I have to reserve judgment because of their absences last week. Both showed good skills in game 1, but despite Smith's rise to the starting line-up, I'm confident that if Davis continues his strong play, he could wrestle that spot away from Smith. Allen should be secure to make the roster but he'll probably always be the 'most-requested' trade from Dolfans.
Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson - It's not easy being a highly paid starting safety in the NFL. You have one bad game and people start questioning whether or not you belong in the league. These guys are going to be tested this week versus Tampa Bay as they face off a stable of powerful running backs, and a couple of very capable tight-ends. The Bucs' starting WRs are pretty good too and our CBs may need more help this week than in the two previous ones.
Tyrone Culver and Chris Clemons - Another hard one to judge - Culver was fantastic in game 1 and terrible in game 2. Clemons was not so good in game 1 but great in game 2. In any event, both have shown enough to make the team.

There are still a lot of questions to be answered on Defense, but they're not the same questions as in previous years (i.e. which of these shi**y players is not as bad as the others?). Now we get to really put a good group on the field and have solid backups. Which defensive player, vet or rookie, do you see making the biggest impact this year?

Note: Tomorrow morning I will post the PREVIEW of the Tampa Bay game, and on Friday we'll do a RE-CAP. But come Monday morning, I expect everyone to have their projected 53-man rosters ready for comparison before Tuesdays cuts (the Dolphins don't actually have to cut anyone since they're already under the limit).