Fix What Is Broken

Heading into the 2009 season, hopes were high that the Dolphins Defense would be significantly better than it was in 2008.  So far, it hasn't been.  And that doesn't sit well with myself and other fans, because we can see the problems.  And the Dolphins management is acting like there isn't a problem.  

Just like we could see that we needed to run the ball with force and determination, and the Dolphins management seemed unwilling to try it in week 1, was hugely successful with it in week 2, then abandoned it after only a quarter (a successful quarter in terms of time management) in week 3.  I think the issue here lies more on the ideas of the coordinators and the UPPER management than on Head Coach, Tony Sparano, but ultimately, he'll be the one to lose his job and take the blame if things don't turn around.  

So here are my 'inside tips' that only we fans seem to know.  Maybe the Dolphins coaching staff can find something helpful in the paragraphs below.

• The core defensive line is doing a good job.  Ferguson, Starks, Merling, and Langford have looked stout and have been sure tacklers.  Maybe, just maybe, you should show the film of how they are moving in tight spaces and wrapping up ball-carriers, to your linebackers, corners and safeties, who can't seem to get in the right gaps, or tackle people when they are in position.  Instead of using Jason Taylor as an example, use someone who's actually getting the job done. 
  

• Gibril Wilson is slow, aims to 'pop' receivers instead of wrapping them up, and does not play deep enough, possibly because he's scared he's too slow to recover.  But he's getting the ball thrown over his head.  The free safety is supposed to keep the ball in front of him.  The fact he keeps getting thrown over the top of his head, means Pasqualoni isn't correcting him.  If he is correcting him, Wilson isn't learning the lesson.  One of these two needs to be benched and I vote for whomever the guilty party is.  Considering the other facets of the defense that aren't working, I'm leaning more towards Pasqualoni at the moment.

• Will Allen is not a slot corner.  He's very good on the outside, but he cannot track across the field.  I've seen it, you've seen it, the Dolphins have tons of game film showing this.  Yet they still continue to move him inside on nickel downs alternating him with Nate Jones., another guy who seems to get lost in the middle of the field. There is no reason why Jason Allen has not been given more than a baby's handful of reps.  As a converted Safety, he is much better at covering the middle and has the speed to hold up to the quick slant.  

• So much was made of the overload of talent at outside line-backer.  It was sooo good that we collectively dismissed Matt Roth's injury as a distraction rather than a major cause for concern.  Once the roster was whittled down, we figured we would have a ton of fresh bodies circulating in and out, providing consistent pressure on opposing QBs.  But that's not how the Dolphins seem to want to do it.  They'd rather have Joey Porter and Jason Taylor do it all on their own.  Forget Wake.  Forget Moses.  Forget Walden.  And I really wish they would forget Charlie Anderson, who shouldn't have even made the roster.  Since we were already down Matt Roth, we should have kept someone like Tearrius George or Orion Martin to help beef up the strong side.  When the Dolphins realize that Cameron Wake and Quentin Moses can rush the QB as well, maybe JT won't get run all over like he has been.  At some point you have to be realistic and see that your superstar isn't playing at a high enough level, and probably can't handle the rep count.
  

• The Rookies.  The Dolphins like to talk about not rushing a player through developmental stages, etc.  But they don't walk the walk.  Davone Bess, Jake Long, Donald Thomas, Philip Merling, Kendall Langford, amongst others were first year starters in 2008.  And look how that turned out.  In 2009, they only Sean Smith has gotten any significant playing time with 1st round pick Vontae Davis coming in distant second.  Turner, Hartline,  Gardner, Nalbone, Clemons, and Wake have barely touched the field or not dressed for games at all.  Well I have to say something to the NFL geniuses out there.  Rookies can and DO make impacts, often significant ones.  And the only way to make sure they don't get 'scared' is to put them in the game.  Has Will Allen looked good this season?  Has Gibril Wilson?  Has Anthony Fasano?  Has Greg Camarillo?  Has Vernon Carey?  Has Jason Taylor?  Let's be honest, none of these guys has looked like starters out there.  I'm not saying bench them and start the rookies, but surely the vets could do with a break on the rep count.  I noticed they used Nate Garner in the San Diego game, and he looked pretty damn good, better than he probably ever has.  Better, I dare say, than Vernon Carey.  But at the same time, on 3rd and goal from the 2 yard line, Nate Garner officially got more NFL pass route running in a game than Patrick Turner and John Nalbone combined.  This paragraph is about both the defense and the offense, but the core thought here is that the Dolphins management is so busy trying to fool people, keep things secret, and 'protect' their rookies, they've forgotten to line up our guys versus their guys, and play football.
  

So what I'm saying here, is that things do need to change, but I'm not confident that the changes made are going to be the logical ones.  Because we haven't seen a whole lot of logic so far.

Coming up on Thursday we get back to having some fun, as our first opportunity of the season to  actually bash an opponent (at least on paper) occurs.  It's the Buffalo Bills, people!  If we can't beat them, we should join the new Arena League.