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Deep, experienced defensive line expected to anchor Dolphins

DKphin

DKphin

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Not to be debbie downer, but wasn't this supposed to happen last year? We all know how that turned out.

080516-fsf-nfl-miami-dolphins-defensive-line-PI.jpg

Cameron Wake (left), Ndamukong Suh (center) and Mario Williams (right) are all four-time Pro Bowlers.

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Miami Dolphins defensive line coach Terrell Williams was engaged in conversation on the field following practice Friday when end Cameron Wake came up from behind and playfully draped a large, sweaty arm around his coach's neck.

Williams smiled and kept talking, but soon decided to pull rank on Wake.

"Get out of here," Williams barked with a thrust of his shoulders that sent the 263-pound Wake stumbling away.

The coach, a former college nose guard, can clearly still hold his own in the trenches. That's good, because he's dealing with more than 4,000 pounds of talent in training camp, sorting out a unit that may be the strength of the team.

Miami's front four includes three four-time Pro Bowlers -- Wake, end Mario Williams and tackle Ndamukong Suh. Others expected to have prominent roles include tackles Earl Mitchell and Jordan Phillips and ends Andre Branch and Jason Jones. Former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan has received conditional reinstatement following a 15-month suspension, and youngsters Terrence Fede and Chris McCain might also be part of the mix.

Terrell Williams, who is in his fifth year as an NFL coach, said he has never had such depth.
Click to expand...
http://www.foxsports.com/florida/st...eron-wake-ndamukong-suh-mario-williams-080516
 
It better be a heavier anchor than last year. Too many big names on the line to perform like they did even with Wake's injury. I expect at least 20 sacks between Suh-Wake-Williams barring injury. Anything less is a big let down.
 
I get that this was supposed to be the case last year, but I think this is an area where coaching will help a lot. Better LB play will help a lot against the run game as well.

Let's hope that Kiko and Cam stay healthy.
 
Too many Defensive Ends and not enough Defensive Tackles IS NOT DEPTH.

Terrell Williams, who is in his fifth year as an NFL coach, said he has never had such depth.

"We're trying to figure out where all these guys fit in," he said. "It's going to be interesting when we start playing preseason games."
Click to expand...

That quote doesn't mean they have depth. Stupid reporters.
 
That's another way of saying that it's the only unit on the defense that probably won't be a complete disaster.
 
normaldude said:
Here's the big hole:

DTs Jordan Phillips and Earl Mitchell were rated 122nd and 123rd against the run among 123 defensive tackles.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...n-defense-will-be-better-amid-skepticism.html

If we're going with a "wide nine" alignment, teams are going to hammer that weakness again & again.
Click to expand...

I'm aware that these guys weren't lights out, but I have to place most of the blame on the run game at having a LB corps that was staffed with UDFA's and career special teamers.
 
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