Re: IT HAS TO CHANGE A LITTLE
Nice to get back to some reality. I definitely don't agree with the word GLARING. If you didn't like the adjustments or think there were not enough that's fine everyone is entitled to their opinion. But don't make it sound like the absolute truth.
Barbarian is right????? I don't think you read his posts. Ranking defenses on total yards is what is done. Now if every team racked up the yards on the Fins that's fine. BUT it had to happen to all the other teams too considering its a total yards ranking. Some played the run better and some played the pass better. You cannot discount it altogether. The Dolphin's D beating up on their weak opponents??? The Dolphins usually have one of the more difficult schedules in the league. How about setting up the players for failure. You agree with that and think Barbarian is right???
You say the team cracked at the end which was much too early this year and that's true. It also has to be considered that every team cracks at the end of the season as there is only one Super Bowl winner. All 31 teams cracked and we all have to fix it. This is not an excuse to not change but trying to bring some back to reality. This is a league where any one team at any time can beat another team. That's why IMO self-motivation, momentum and home field is so important. Some on this board never give the other team any credit. The Dolphins have to beat them all, hold the offense to less than 17 points or the sky is falling.
Now I don't necessarily disagree with you but it does seem like most of the defensive coordinators in the NFL do disagree. It is seen all the time at games' end in the playoffs where we all get to see some of the better teams in the league showcased. I could defend it or tear it apart but it's a mute point. As you said we have seen it for the last 20 years.
Sounds like a decent enough opinion but we all know this is not a new phenomena. Until a D.C. is hired that sees the light the way you do maybe the players should just execute???
Now I don't remember discussing this but what does Surtain's quote have to do with anything??? Bates told him to play zone and Coles made the play??? The Dolphin's made an adjustment that wasn't successful ???? Bates tried to change up the D to be unpredictable or give a different look and got burned for it??? Or is this a case where Bates set up his players for failure???
Originally posted by Muck
This is a very good defense. And Jim Bates has probably done a better job than we give him credit for. But it can be better. And it starts with Jim Bates making adjustments (his GLARING weakness) and ends with players executing.
Nice to get back to some reality. I definitely don't agree with the word GLARING. If you didn't like the adjustments or think there were not enough that's fine everyone is entitled to their opinion. But don't make it sound like the absolute truth.
Originally posted by Muck
You can look at rankings all you want. But the fact is that Barbarian is right. Every team that CAN go down the field DID. This team CRACKED when the division and the playoffs were on the line. Sometimes it was the players' fault. Sometimes it was the coach's fault. But in this case, change starts at the top, because I don't feel that mental toughness/shapness was the problem. We've got all the talent in the world on this side of the ball. Championship talent. Talent that can execute.
Barbarian is right????? I don't think you read his posts. Ranking defenses on total yards is what is done. Now if every team racked up the yards on the Fins that's fine. BUT it had to happen to all the other teams too considering its a total yards ranking. Some played the run better and some played the pass better. You cannot discount it altogether. The Dolphin's D beating up on their weak opponents??? The Dolphins usually have one of the more difficult schedules in the league. How about setting up the players for failure. You agree with that and think Barbarian is right???
You say the team cracked at the end which was much too early this year and that's true. It also has to be considered that every team cracks at the end of the season as there is only one Super Bowl winner. All 31 teams cracked and we all have to fix it. This is not an excuse to not change but trying to bring some back to reality. This is a league where any one team at any time can beat another team. That's why IMO self-motivation, momentum and home field is so important. Some on this board never give the other team any credit. The Dolphins have to beat them all, hold the offense to less than 17 points or the sky is falling.
Originally posted by Muck
And if we learned ANYTHING from the Tom Olivadotti era, wouldn't it be that the Prevent Defense PREVENTS you from WINNING?? Apprently this defensive coordinator doesn't subscribe to that theory.
The Prevent Defense hurt us the last two games in the 4th quarter (watch the tape and you'll see that God-forsaken thing show it's ugly head). It's not that Brady didn't have the arm to beat us deep (his arm is better than most give him credit for). The problem was that the Prevent allowed him to dink and dunk us underneath.
Now I don't necessarily disagree with you but it does seem like most of the defensive coordinators in the NFL do disagree. It is seen all the time at games' end in the playoffs where we all get to see some of the better teams in the league showcased. I could defend it or tear it apart but it's a mute point. As you said we have seen it for the last 20 years.
Originally posted by Muck
Our team plays lights out for 3 quarters and then collapses in the 4th. Just as we play awesome for 12 weeks and collapse the last 4. The common thinking here is, "We have to continue to be aggressive and strong-willed down the stretch.". Wouldn't that include being aggressive and not going into a shell down the stretch in an individual game (Prevent/letting up)??
This team won't succeed in the 4th quarter/December until it's defensive coordinator decides to challenge an offense for 4 quarters. After that, it's up the the players to execute.
Sounds like a decent enough opinion but we all know this is not a new phenomena. Until a D.C. is hired that sees the light the way you do maybe the players should just execute???
Originally posted by Muck
Finally, in regards to Surtain letting Coles get behind him in the Jets game, you might want to read into Surtain's statements after the game......where, when questioned about what happened on that play, he replied, "I play the defense that's called".
Now I don't remember discussing this but what does Surtain's quote have to do with anything??? Bates told him to play zone and Coles made the play??? The Dolphin's made an adjustment that wasn't successful ???? Bates tried to change up the D to be unpredictable or give a different look and got burned for it??? Or is this a case where Bates set up his players for failure???
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