Straight talk from Branch on why Dolphins were so bad against the run | Page 2 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Straight talk from Branch on why Dolphins were so bad against the run

Ya I believe the talent level had much to do with that abysmal defensive season.


If you really believe that take some time to go through all of Jim Schwartz's years as either HC or DC and view his defense's yards per carry. Talent has little to do with the flaws of the wide set front.

I don't particularly care for the wide 9, but I feel like the lack of talent was more of the issue. Burke is smart and I wouldn't be surprised if he tweaked things a little bit, maybe using wide 9 only on more obvious passing downs.


I thought he was smart until he called the "wide 9" a defense. :sick
 
If you really believe that take some time to go through all of Jim Schwartz's years as either HC or DC and view his defense's yards per carry. Talent has little to do with the flaws of the wide set front.

I thought he was smart until he called the "wide 9" a defense. :sick
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Amen
 
Our defense wasn't horrible last season. Our run defense was, okay, but our SCORING defense wasn't. Our defense also caused turnovers and was solid in the redzone... the coaching was excellent last season even though our talent level was absymal. We've had worse defenses...and did everyone forget we went 10-6 last season with an average offense? Our defense made timely stops. We will be better this season on the defensive side of the ball.
 
A little off topic....we haven't had a team as talented this since Bob Griese was at the helm.

When we had Woodley, the rest of the team was talented, but he sucked.

When we had Marino, the WR's and the defense was good, but we had no running game.

When we had Ricky killing the league, and a good defense, we had no QB, and no coach.

Since Ricky left, we've had no run game (don't even mention Ronnie Brown), no coaching, no QB, and no WR's.

We now have a top 15 QB, a top 10 WR group, a top 5 RB (IMO), a top 10 defensive line, REAL linebackers, a solid group of young DB's, and finally a Coach that is smart enough to beat Bellicheat.

Fins should make the playoffs the next three years at least. If Tannehill balls out, we may have a chance for a chip.

In summary though, the defense was bad last year for two reasons....injuries, and management not bringing in solid linebackers when you knew Misi and Jenkins were not 100%.

I'm too young for those years ,but I absolutely believe this is the most talented team I've seen since 2001-2002.

We have so many super talented skill positions (three pro bowlers) Landry, Parker, Stills, Julius, Williams, Drake, Ajayi, and Fasano. And they all bring something different which is great

Our Line has a chance to be special if Pouncey can stay injured and the guards play just good enough.
We are pretty sure Laremy will turn into a star quickly.
(it was amazing when Pouncey actually played)

Our Front 7, Defensive backfield, and STs are extremely talented with a nice mixture of old and young players at key positions with Wake, Suh, Phillips, Branch, Hayes, Harris, Timmons, Kiko, Mcmillan, Misi(if healthy), Howard, Mcdonald, Jones, Maxwell, Lippett, Tankersley, Allen, McCain, Mike Hull (I think he has the ability to be a starter or a great back up), Aikens, Mike Thomas, Darr, Grant, etc..

And the huge difference is we actually have a real deal QB.

I know stats aren't everything but Tannehill had a 93.5 rating last season. Very good yet still a question mark to some lol

With a career 106 tds, 66 ints, and a 63% completion, I'd say he's having a really good career.

I think a lot are hard on him because we see some of the best throws a man can make and expect consistency.
If Tannehill can just be consistent, our Squad will be legit.

And most important of all...COACHING!! lol Finally we found a competent coach that may very well be the man that brings us a title. I'm not saying this year obviously. I think he's committed to making the Fins great again lol Our FO has been great so far IMO.

If we make the playoffs again this year, we're a legit team with not many holes to deal with next offseason.

I was totally against a pass rusher in the draft until I actually did some due diligence on Harris.
Tankersley already getting a pick 6 in practice is so awesome to hear even if it was off a horrid Qb.

I truly believe Howard and Cordrea are going to be a great CB tandem for years.

With Jones and Mcdonald, we have legion of boom (Not as good but you get the point lol)

Ya I'm excited to say the least!!!

PHINS UP!!!!
 
If you really believe that take some time to go through all of Jim Schwartz's years as either HC or DC and view his defense's yards per carry. Talent has little to do with the flaws of the wide set front.

I thought he was smart until he called the "wide 9" a defense. :sick

You really don't think our lack of talent hurt badly? Our scheme hurts the run game most correct?

Bacarri Rambo, Donald Butler, and Spencer Paysinger should never touch the field unless it's special teams.

Our coaching must be great other than the defensive scheme many don't like which is understandable.
I thought our D was pretty clutch last year in the red zone or in close situations.

Why don't we just switch back to a traditional 43 as we don't have the right personnel for a 34

Aren't we going to switch up the defense this year more than last?

Play a little of everything ,and I could've sworn I heard Burke say we'd be super aggressive and blitz more.

I think our Secondary is going to be the main transformation that makes us very special.
 
I'm too young for those years ,but I absolutely believe this is the most talented team I've seen since 2001-2002.

We have so many super talented skill positions (three pro bowlers) Landry, Parker, Stills, Julius, Williams, Drake, Ajayi, and Fasano. And they all bring something different which is great

Our Line has a chance to be special if Pouncey can stay injured and the guards play just good enough.
We are pretty sure Laremy will turn into a star quickly.
(it was amazing when Pouncey actually played)

Our Front 7, Defensive backfield, and STs are extremely talented with a nice mixture of old and young players at key positions with Wake, Suh, Phillips, Branch, Hayes, Harris, Timmons, Kiko, Mcmillan, Misi(if healthy), Howard, Mcdonald, Jones, Maxwell, Lippett, Tankersley, Allen, McCain, Mike Hull (I think he has the ability to be a starter or a great back up), Aikens, Mike Thomas, Darr, Grant, etc..

And the huge difference is we actually have a real deal QB.

I know stats aren't everything but Tannehill had a 93.5 rating last season. Very good yet still a question mark to some lol

With a career 106 tds, 66 ints, and a 63% completion, I'd say he's having a really good career.

I think a lot are hard on him because we see some of the best throws a man can make and expect consistency.
If Tannehill can just be consistent, our Squad will be legit.

And most important of all...COACHING!! lol Finally we found a competent coach that may very well be the man that brings us a title. I'm not saying this year obviously. I think he's committed to making the Fins great again lol Our FO has been great so far IMO.

If we make the playoffs again this year, we're a legit team with not many holes to deal with next offseason.

I was totally against a pass rusher in the draft until I actually did some due diligence on Harris.
Tankersley already getting a pick 6 in practice is so awesome to hear even if it was off a horrid Qb.

I truly believe Howard and Cordrea are going to be a great CB tandem for years.

With Jones and Mcdonald, we have legion of boom (Not as good but you get the point lol)

Ya I'm excited to say the least!!!

PHINS UP!!!!
We will see how this year goes under Gase before its time to hit the all good switvh with our club. Could last year been a little bit of blind luck, maybe but this year will tell us that. While I agree with you our roster appears improved this year compared to last I believe we are a full year out still to filling all the gaps. We need outside linebackers, guards, saftey and possibly a tight end to be there.
 
I also believe a possibility big issue could be the new defensive coordinator. Even as bad as we were on defense maybe we were just good enough because of the coach we just lost. Stay tuned.
 
I know, right. Before Paysinger and Butler were starting we were 25th against the run. Way better than 30th.

Actually, considering how successful we were as a defense in a lot of other categories, that IS a lot better.

I'm also not sure what you were expecting from a team with HORRIBLE depth at nearly every defensive position. Seriously not sure how some of you can be SO negative about EVERYTHING.
 
We will see how this year goes under Gase before its time to hit the all good switvh with our club. Could last year been a little bit of blind luck, maybe but this year will tell us that. While I agree with you our roster appears improved this year compared to last I believe we are a full year out still to filling all the gaps. We need outside linebackers, guards, saftey and possibly a tight end to be there.

Ya I agree with a lot of what you said.

I think Tj Mcdonald will be the surprise FA pick up. Maybe it's a little too much wishful thinking but I know the kid has talent.

Our FO has done a good job. Even with most not liking Tannenbaum, he's done a job well done with the help of Gase and Grier.

Asiata could be set at guard for years.

I remember Keith Sims saying you can have one bad guard but two you're done.
 
Aren't we going to switch up the defense this year more than last?

Play a little of everything ,and I could've sworn I heard Burke say we'd be super aggressive and blitz more.

Talking about our aggressiveness is a reference to the d-line in always getting after the QB and the CBs in press, it doesn't have anything to do with blitzing. Burke has stated that the will simplify the defense and there will less zone blitzes than what VJ used. All that falls directly in line to the Gym Shorts philosophy of defense which has always been in the bottom part of the league in blitzing of around only 10-15% of the time.
 
Talking about our aggressiveness is a reference to the d-line in always getting after the QB and the CBs in press, it doesn't have anything to do with blitzing. Burke has stated that the will simplify the defense and there will less zone blitzes than what VJ used. All that falls directly in line to the Gym Shorts philosophy of defense which has always been in the bottom part of the league in blitzing of around only 10-15% of the time.
I just wonder how many of those zone blitzesb covered up our defensive issues last year
 
I just wonder how many of those zone blitzesb covered up our defensive issues last year

I haven't finished charting all the games yet, but thru 7 games (wks 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14) we only blitzed 14% of the time. So in general it wasn't (and most likely won't be next year) a big part of our defense.
 
Talking about our aggressiveness is a reference to the d-line in always getting after the QB and the CBs in press, it doesn't have anything to do with blitzing. Burke has stated that the will simplify the defense and there will less zone blitzes than what VJ used. All that falls directly in line to the Gym Shorts philosophy of defense which has always been in the bottom part of the league in blitzing of around only 10-15% of the time.

It's weird that you quoted me and I don't see that post in this thread and I'm pretty sure I've never uttered those words. Bug?
 
It's weird that you quoted me and I don't see that post in this thread and I'm pretty sure I've never uttered those words. Bug?

My apologies. That was a quote from Jakeem the Dream not yourself.

Pretty sure it was my mistake in that I hit reply on the wrong post, then chose the correct one and this system will leave any old replies that you select in the reply box. Then when I went to edit the reply to JTDream, I mistakenly left your name but his post to reply to without checking before I sent it.
 
Some of you guys are overthinking it. Our run defense stats will improve when we are able to score more points and get the lead. Our defense is built to play with the lead, when teams are forced to pass to catch up...we never get the lead and teams pound the rock and wear out our defensive line... IMHO...
 
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