Defense vs TE's

[Perfect72]

Why do the Dolphins always seem to struggle against TE's?

Aside from the flippant answers that they simply stink, I'm looking for someone with an X's & O's answer.

• Is it a scheme problem?
• Is it a talent problem?
• Is it a coaching problem?
• Is it a secondary communication problem?

The Dolphins seem to continually get burned by the TE & I'm sure Gates will be targeted by Rivers often this week. Remember the Steelers TE killed us a couple of years ago as well on a long catch.

Well, at least the Defense should be well rested this week after only being on the field for less than a quarter and then only having to run a couple of light sprints after Colts receivers, they should be pretty fresh.

So, what's the answer?

 

[Phantom]

I'll go with #2, lack of talent.

 

[dlockz]

Mostly scheme and coaching although neither of our safties are really known for thier coverage skills.

We should be bumping the TE off the line and have the safeties take over much sooner. I have no clue why we have LB;s covering Te's deep down the field. Thats failure waiting to happen on good Te's. Now that may work on Joey Haynos because he sucks but not on a real TE.

 

[Lorenzo Rules]

we really need to get a big bruising te ourselves and we need to get better shutting out tightends on defense.

 

[Pinkboy]

Aside from the flippant answers that they simply stink, I'm looking for someone with an X's & O's answer.

The Dolphins have bigtime coaching and scheme problems on defense. For many reasons.

But the first TD by Clark didn't surprise me after looking at the coverage scheme and the personnel on the field...

First of all, you need to be in nickel on the first play, especially when there is a tight end who can run routes like a WR, is athletic, and is one of the top TE's in the NFL at catching the ball.

And a TE who is known to motion and go line up at the slot..... Clark lines up in the slot as much as, or more than any TE in the NFL. That is a testament to his athleticism.

Secondly, the Colts pass almost twice as much as they run... They have a generational talent at QB.. And a QB who has fantastic rapport with Clark and Wayne... You need to be in at least nickel there.

I would have put Vontae in there, as he is a sure tackler if they tried to run (and he may be the best tackler we have in the back 7 anyway, he could be if you combine his burst and closing speed with his great tackling ability), and he can cover the TE a heck of a lot better than either Ayodele or Crowder.

The Colts only had two known immediate receiving threats in that game (Wayne, and a TE in Clark).. And they played a scheme in the secondary that is known to be weak against Tight ends.. Especially against guys like Crowder and Akin who are weak in covering the real athletic TE's.

They had a deep safety to Clark's side with him matched up on a ILB. You're dead every time.

They lined up Clark to the "left" side which is normally the weak side (smart move by the colts).. Away from Bell who was closer to the line than the deeper Wilson who was on Clark's side.

Manning audibled when he saw that stupidity the Dolphins showed on defense, did a little play action, Clark went right to the closest seam via the audible call-- result was an easy TD.

End of story.