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Worst Miami Dolphins Running Defense Of All Time!

BennySwella

BennySwella

We need better LB's
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Am I wrong? We are getting worked every game by every back. Has to be the Wide 9...

Yet we have some of the most interceptions as a team in the league. I am baffled.
 
People love to throw around "wide 9" without actually knowing what it is. Like any scheme, it works if you have the right players and if the coordinators use players to their strengths.

Miami's problem? Having two strong safeties and having to use one of them (reshad) as a deep safety when he's a beast near the LOS.

Having two slot corners playing on the boundary because of injuries (Minkah and McCain).

Having defensive ends that aren't getting pressure and not properly setting the edge.

Having linebackers that incorrectly guess the holes that runs are going to.

Having defensive linemen being pushed out of their gap assignments allowing offensive linemen to get to the second level and put a body on our linebackers.

Yes, it's partly scheme, but Burke has done very little to overcome the injuries and shortcomings of this defense. Situational defense has been poor (see the Patriots game when Miami needed to hold NE without a first down and decided to play its corners 10+ yards off the LOS). But there are also a lot of players playing out of position and a lot of players who aren't adequate. Sorry, but Miami doesn't have a good defensive end on the roster. Wake does what he can with his age, Quinn has been a massive disappointment, and the rest speaks for itself.

That's why I wouldn't be upset if Miami picked 3 defensive linemen in the first three rounds of the draft. It's that big of a need.

We also need to find a boundary corner opposite Xavien. And figure out what the **** to do with TJ and Reshad. Let Minkah play free safety, which means Miami will likely have to choose either TJ or Reshad. Or they can keep them both and be stupid by playing one of them out of position.
 
Wildbill3 said:
Wide 9 and Burke. Oh might as well blame the talent acquisition side for drafting poor fits for the wide9. And the coaching staff for being unable to adjust. No more excuses means fire every goddamn body.
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I really don't see any other way. Yeah this team is 7-7, but it's one of the worst .500 teams in NFL history based on point differential.
 
Is the wide 9 typically running zone coverage? I'm so tired of seeing opposing teams all pro WRs running totally uncovered. Like to see more man press coverage at the LOS throw a few zone blitzes in too put the safety's up in the box occasionally to help generate some more pressure. We are just so vanilla sit back and let the opposing QBs pick us apart. The only bright spot on defense is the Interceptions but I'd gladly trade that for less yardage, time of possession, and some more 3 and outs.
 
TX-FinFan said:
Is the wide 9 typically running zone coverage? I'm so tired of seeing opposing teams all pro WRs running totally uncovered. Like to see more man press coverage at the LOS throw a few zone blitzes in too put the safety's up in the box occasionally to help generate some more pressure. We are just so vanilla sit back and let the opposing QBs pick us apart. The only bright spot on defense is the Interceptions but I'd gladly trade that for less yardage, time of possession, and some more 3 and outs.
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Despite the vanilla look Miami runs a pretty complicated coverage scheme which is probably why you see all the **** ups.
 
SCLSU Mud Dogs said:
People love to throw around "wide 9" without actually knowing what it is. Like any scheme, it works if you have the right players and if the coordinators use players to their strengths.

Miami's problem? Having two strong safeties and having to use one of them (reshad) as a deep safety when he's a beast near the LOS.

Having two slot corners playing on the boundary because of injuries (Minkah and McCain).

Having defensive ends that aren't getting pressure and not properly setting the edge.

Having linebackers that incorrectly guess the holes that runs are going to.

Having defensive linemen being pushed out of their gap assignments allowing offensive linemen to get to the second level and put a body on our linebackers.

Yes, it's partly scheme, but Burke has done very little to overcome the injuries and shortcomings of this defense. Situational defense has been poor (see the Patriots game when Miami needed to hold NE without a first down and decided to play its corners 10+ yards off the LOS). But there are also a lot of players playing out of position and a lot of players who aren't adequate. Sorry, but Miami doesn't have a good defensive end on the roster. Wake does what he can with his age, Quinn has been a massive disappointment, and the rest speaks for itself.

That's why I wouldn't be upset if Miami picked 3 defensive linemen in the first three rounds of the draft. It's that big of a need.

We also need to find a boundary corner opposite Xavien. And figure out what the **** to do with TJ and Reshad. Let Minkah play free safety, which means Miami will likely have to choose either TJ or Reshad. Or they can keep them both and be stupid by playing one of them out of position.
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To be fair, I think everyone thought Tank would be about the same as '17 or better. I don't think anyone saw implosion coming. So Miami THOUGHT they had one top CB and one average or above.
You nailed setting the edge. I didn't watch Harris all game, but 3-4 times he set the edge well. IMO, when NONE of the DEs can set the edge, look at coaching/scheme.
I wouldn't call Quinn a MASSIVE disappointment. Not what I expected, but not the 'garbage' some like to throw around.
From watching, Miami doesn't play wide 9 exclusively, but the D is bad wide 9 or not. Anyone knowing the %, please post.
Someone just mentioned complexity. I think that's a BIG part of receivers open deep.
 
Until his injury I still would have been starting Tank every game
Its not like there was anyone better on the roster to play opposite X
He does have upside and I would have let him work through his issues rather that playing musical chairs
Hell they keep Larsen in at G
 
SCLSU Mud Dogs said:
People love to throw around "wide 9" without actually knowing what it is. Like any scheme, it works if you have the right players and if the coordinators use players to their strengths.

Miami's problem? Having two strong safeties and having to use one of them (reshad) as a deep safety when he's a beast near the LOS.

Having two slot corners playing on the boundary because of injuries (Minkah and McCain).

Having defensive ends that aren't getting pressure and not properly setting the edge.

Having linebackers that incorrectly guess the holes that runs are going to.

Having defensive linemen being pushed out of their gap assignments allowing offensive linemen to get to the second level and put a body on our linebackers.

Yes, it's partly scheme, but Burke has done very little to overcome the injuries and shortcomings of this defense. Situational defense has been poor (see the Patriots game when Miami needed to hold NE without a first down and decided to play its corners 10+ yards off the LOS). But there are also a lot of players playing out of position and a lot of players who aren't adequate. Sorry, but Miami doesn't have a good defensive end on the roster. Wake does what he can with his age, Quinn has been a massive disappointment, and the rest speaks for itself.

That's why I wouldn't be upset if Miami picked 3 defensive linemen in the first three rounds of the draft. It's that big of a need.

We also need to find a boundary corner opposite Xavien. And figure out what the **** to do with TJ and Reshad. Let Minkah play free safety, which means Miami will likely have to choose either TJ or Reshad. Or they can keep them both and be stupid by playing one of them out of position.
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Well said @SCLSU Mud Dogs .

In a Wide 9 scheme, the DE's have a launching pad to pressure QB's. It gives up defense against the interior runs in favor of setting a strong edge and preventing wide runs, funneling everything to the LB's. The fact that our DE's are NOT generating much pressure means that the entire point of the Wide 9 is not working because those DE's aren't having career years. Add in the fact that they're not setting the edge, as SCLSU Mud Dogs points out, just underlines that our DE's have been the biggest disappointment on our team this year. We all love Cam Wake, he's a great player and a legend … but nobody plays at peak levels forever, not even Cam. The time has come for him to hang up the cleats I'm afraid. He can still be a situational pass rusher … but his time as a starter and high salaried star are over I'm afraid. Robert Quinn simply did not earn his paycheck this year, despite his ability. Production is what matters … and this system amplifies their ability, and they still had poor performances. Time to find new DE's. Charles Harris … looks like a wasted pick so far. Andre Branch … overpaid FA mistake. Those 4 DE's the foundation of our Wide 9 scheme, and none of them are good enough.

Regardless of whether we change schemes or not, those 4 guys have not earned their paychecks, and need to be replaced. I'm not a fan of the Wide 9, but it was worth trying … two failed DC's later, I would prefer we switch schemes. Since we need to change out essentially all of our DE's anyway, this looks like a good time to change schemes.

Speaking of schemes, this system funnels the run into our LB's, which means less chasing and more thumping, yet 100% of our LB corps are chasers, and people are laughing at our LB corps stopping the run up the middle. Between Baker blowing his assignments leaving gaping holes to Raekwon filling the wrong gap to Kiko being out-physicaled, none of our LB's are getting it done against the run … and don't even get me started about our LB's in coverage. Raekwon might be the worst coverage LB in the NFL these days. These things have to change.

Chris Kocurek has been doing a great job with the DT's this year, and those guys really were pleasant surprises in the post-Suh era. But, with our DE's underperforming and our LB's not knowing their assignments and run fits, this defense has woefully underperformed. I miss the days of Coyle and Nolan … those guys weren't perfect, and were inconsistent, but we made use of our talent. With Burke, we don't.
 
Digital said:
Well said @SCLSU Mud Dogs .

In a Wide 9 scheme, the DE's have a launching pad to pressure QB's. It gives up defense against the interior runs in favor of setting a strong edge and preventing wide runs, funneling everything to the LB's. The fact that our DE's are NOT generating much pressure means that the entire point of the Wide 9 is not working because those DE's aren't having career years. Add in the fact that they're not setting the edge, as SCLSU Mud Dogs points out, just underlines that our DE's have been the biggest disappointment on our team this year. We all love Cam Wake, he's a great player and a legend … but nobody plays at peak levels forever, not even Cam. The time has come for him to hang up the cleats I'm afraid. He can still be a situational pass rusher … but his time as a starter and high salaried star are over I'm afraid. Robert Quinn simply did not earn his paycheck this year, despite his ability. Production is what matters … and this system amplifies their ability, and they still had poor performances. Time to find new DE's. Charles Harris … looks like a wasted pick so far. Andre Branch … overpaid FA mistake. Those 4 DE's the foundation of our Wide 9 scheme, and none of them are good enough.

Regardless of whether we change schemes or not, those 4 guys have not earned their paychecks, and need to be replaced. I'm not a fan of the Wide 9, but it was worth trying … two failed DC's later, I would prefer we switch schemes. Since we need to change out essentially all of our DE's anyway, this looks like a good time to change schemes.

Speaking of schemes, this system funnels the run into our LB's, which means less chasing and more thumping, yet 100% of our LB corps are chasers, and people are laughing at our LB corps stopping the run up the middle. Between Baker blowing his assignments leaving gaping holes to Raekwon filling the wrong gap to Kiko being out-physicaled, none of our LB's are getting it done against the run … and don't even get me started about our LB's in coverage. Raekwon might be the worst coverage LB in the NFL these days. These things have to change.

Chris Kocurek has been doing a great job with the DT's this year, and those guys really were pleasant surprises in the post-Suh era. But, with our DE's underperforming and our LB's not knowing their assignments and run fits, this defense has woefully underperformed. I miss the days of Coyle and Nolan … those guys weren't perfect, and were inconsistent, but we made use of our talent. With Burke, we don't.
Click to expand...
This is really a good read, learned something new today....well done.
 
The main problems I have with Burke are:
1. Why so many big cushions by the CBs on 3rd and manageable?
2. If the main reason for the blown assignments and coverages is the scheme being too complicated, why can't he simplify it? I mean are there no variations of what he does that his players could understand?
However, and I know it's not popular to say this around here, I'm not willing to blame Burke completely for how bad this D is. As with the offense, the lack of talent is clear. We have 2 SS on the field at the same time, a FS/slot CB playing boundary CB, our DEs are either old, washed up or draft busts, LB unit is weak and the depth is also poor. It's not like he has all the tools to work with and just can't put it together.
 
Anyone remember the defense during JJs first year here?

The way I remember it, we were giving these huge cushions by the CBs and getting eaten alive.

We played GB, and they played an aggressive press (with that skinny CB that ended up here).

After seeing it, JJ basically said, paraphrasing, “if we are going to get beat, we are going to get beat while being aggressive”.

He completely changed the style of corner play the following years.

Gase needs a moment like that.
 
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