Commentary: Season Game 1 Recap: Broncos at Dolphins | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Commentary: Season Game 1 Recap: Broncos at Dolphins

Nice lead-in for this one by Muck, lol!

I thought this game was particularly interesting because the trends from the last 6 weeks of last year played out almost perfectly into this game. The Broncos had gotten weaker on offense last year, particularly in the red zone and on 3rd downs, while their pass defense began to break down more, which lead to them losing 3 out of the 5 games that were not preseason in nature (actually 4 out of 6 games if you count the postseason). Meanwhile the Dolphins' pass protection had begun to improve, allowing them to pass for more yards, while the defense pretty much stayed the same.

The one new phenomenon from last year to this year was the Dolphins' run defense, which was completely non-existent last season. I will give credit to the Broncos in that despite transplanting the Browns defensive line to their own, their defense acted pretty much like it did last season.
 
Very good summary. Especially the part about Keith Traylor. Frankly, any analysis of that game that didn't focus heavily on Traylor's impact wasn't worth reading. I don't know how many games he can go full tilt at that age, but on Sunday he was all the difference. Funny that Traylor is miffed and insulted about Denver not doubleteaming him enough. It's been so long since one of our DTs drew doubleteaming, especially on the pass rush, I was doubletaking in amazement as the Broncos put two bodies on Traylor so often. I've criticized Larry Chester very often here, but not nearly enough. Acquiring and playing that do-nothing blob was one of Wannstedt's most blatant blunders. I pulled an old Dolphin tape from 2003 today just to verify the ridiculous difference between Traylor and Chester. Even more pronounced than I imagined.
 
In Chester's defense, I believe he would be a pretty effective substitute for Keith Traylor at the position that Traylor is playing for our defense. The position Chester played for us was not particularly designed for him, it was designed for Daryl Gardener. And, as such, you noticed that Chester waffled between being overly big, to being overly small, back to being overly big again. He wants to be big, he enjoys his own quickness when he's small, but he has a tendency to get big.

Keith Traylor as an under type defensive tackle was ineffective in Chicago a lot of the time. He was born for nose tackle. So was Chester, IMO.
 
ckparrothead said:
Nice lead-in for this one by Muck, lol!
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Thanks. And nobody's found the easter egg. :tongue:

Traylor was awesome for the Dolphins on Sunday. The play that summed it up was when he broke thru the single block and took Tatum Bell down with one outreached arm. They just could not stop him.

Another thing I noticed was the outstanding coverage the LBs were providing. Especially Junior Seau. We all remember him blanketing Putizier after Plummer escaped a Taylor sack and rolled out right. When Plummer's pass finally reached Putzier on the sideline, Seau was right there to defend it.

Seau was also there on 3rd and Goal, providing tight front covereage on the receiver skating the back of the endzone and helping force Plummer to throw the ball away.

Channing Crowder really showed up in the 2nd quarter. He was all over the place. This kid is really making his presence felt. My question is whether or not he'll be able to withstand the rookie wall or will Donnie Spragan have to step in a bit. We certainly could do worse than Spragan, who's an upgrade to Morlon Greenwood IMO. That said, we could also see both players in the lineup.....considering Zach and Seau's injury troubles in recent years.

Off to bed now....
 
ckparrothead said:
In Chester's defense, I believe he would be a pretty effective substitute for Keith Traylor at the position that Traylor is playing for our defense. The position Chester played for us was not particularly designed for him, it was designed for Daryl Gardener. And, as such, you noticed that Chester waffled between being overly big, to being overly small, back to being overly big again. He wants to be big, he enjoys his own quickness when he's small, but he has a tendency to get big.

Keith Traylor as an under type defensive tackle was ineffective in Chicago a lot of the time. He was born for nose tackle. So was Chester, IMO.
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Chester always played the same regardless of weight. He stood up and got into a sumo wrestler belly bump. No lateral ability, instincts or tackling ability, all much worse than Traylor. I never saw any hint of quickness.

I agree Chester was a poor fit for the DT position previously held by Gardener. With Bowens nicked and slowing you needed a penetrator, not an even more immobile DT than Bowens had become. As I wrote, it was pathetic judgment by Wannstedt to acquire Chester yet somehow Wannstedt was always let off the hook regarding that pesonnel gaffe. Chester's reputation exceeds his ability several times over.

Saban's defensive scheme requires much more movement and penetration out of both DTs than you are estimating. That's why he is playing smaller lineman like Holliday and Carter inside frquently, and why the backups are also guys who can get upfield. Traylor has to regulate and conserve his bursts these days, but still has plenty more disruptive ability than Chester. Even when Traylor retires or leaves, perhaps after this year, I guarantee the replacement we pursue will not be anything resembling a stationary Larry Chester.
 
I believe you have to distinguish interior defensive line positions. At nose tackle, Traylor is there because he is an immovable object, a "plug" as he calls himself. At the other defensive tackle position, on the other hand, we have quicker penetrating guys there because the position is basically similar to the position of a 3-4 defensive end.

Chester would be ideal for backing up and rotating with Traylor because he is another one of those "square bodied, powerful" guys as Saban called them who are there to plug the gap and pressure the center.

It's funny but you have to wonder how anyone can talk about Kevin Mawae's epic battles with Zach Thomas and how that will play out in this game, when Keith Traylor is going to be consistently lined up either shaded over Mawae's right shoulder, or directly in front of Mawae. We use to talk about how the defense we use to run protected Zach from OL, but it often left Zach open to a good center. Now, Mawae will have his hands full at all times with Keith Traylor, so Zach basically will never have to worry about him.
 
Awsi Dooger said:
Very good summary. Especially the part about Keith Traylor. Frankly, any analysis of that game that didn't focus heavily on Traylor's impact wasn't worth reading. I don't know how many games he can go full tilt at that age, but on Sunday he was all the difference. Funny that Traylor is miffed and insulted about Denver not doubleteaming him enough. It's been so long since one of our DTs drew doubleteaming, especially on the pass rush, I was doubletaking in amazement as the Broncos put two bodies on Traylor so often. I've criticized Larry Chester very often here, but not nearly enough. Acquiring and playing that do-nothing blob was one of Wannstedt's most blatant blunders. I pulled an old Dolphin tape from 2003 today just to verify the ridiculous difference between Traylor and Chester. Even more pronounced than I imagined.
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Just wondering, which game was it? Because I tape most of the games I get to watch which was about 5 in 2003.
 
ckparrothead said:
I believe you have to distinguish interior defensive line positions. At nose tackle, Traylor is there because he is an immovable object, a "plug" as he calls himself. At the other defensive tackle position, on the other hand, we have quicker penetrating guys there because the position is basically similar to the position of a 3-4 defensive end.

Chester would be ideal for backing up and rotating with Traylor because he is another one of those "square bodied, powerful" guys as Saban called them who are there to plug the gap and pressure the center.

It's funny but you have to wonder how anyone can talk about Kevin Mawae's epic battles with Zach Thomas and how that will play out in this game, when Keith Traylor is going to be consistently lined up either shaded over Mawae's right shoulder, or directly in front of Mawae. We use to talk about how the defense we use to run protected Zach from OL, but it often left Zach open to a good center. Now, Mawae will have his hands full at all times with Keith Traylor, so Zach basically will never have to worry about him.
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Good post. I'm looking forward to watching our LBs play the Jets running game. I just hope they don't over-pursue and leave Coles or a TE open. But ZT, JR., and Crowder I think will get good protection from our improved D-line. I think the big test is the HB toss the Jets like to run and IMO the Phins seem to have problems with. And a guy I liked since his days in KC Derrick Blaylock ran those well withat great KC line. One good thing is that Martin prefers to run right side and we have Kevin Carter against Adrian Jones now that McKenzie's gone.
 
Teen Girl Squad!!!!!

Maybe Trogdor will show up against the Jets and we can burninate them!
 
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