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Defense

killerb58

killerb58

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I can't help it. Defense wins championships. 2023 Unit was ranked 10th. Had some games were they vanished but overall a good year. We all know the D' has been completely revamped with players and coaches. I just don't know what to expect.

I am really having a hard time looking over this unit and saying it is improved or even capable? I just see the additions as better players than the losses. Then we have two key injuries at each bookend and unknowns when they will play and if they will be fully recovered? Anthony Weaver is unproven as a DC and how will the guys respond to him should there be any adversity?

I would be delighted if this unit plays as well or even better than last year. I just don't see it or believe it. To me it is a hodgepodge group that will be complimentary to each other but never really gel. If I had to guess they take a big step back and rank in the middle of the pack (18th).

I really hope I am wrong and they turn out to be a top 10 Defense. I just don't think so. I believe it will be on the Offense to win the games and looking at the late season games...Well, I won't say it. Can we win in December?
 
I thought OL's win championships? Confusing around here ...

Defense is a bit of a mystery and total wild card especially the pass rush. Will just have to see how it pans out this week and then throughout the season if they improve with time in the system, key players getting healthy and young players getting better.
 
killerb58 said:
I can't help it. Defense wins championships. 2023 Unit was ranked 10th. Had some games were they vanished but overall a good year. We all know the D' has been completely revamped with players and coaches. I just don't know what to expect.

I am really having a hard time looking over this unit and saying it is improved or even capable? I just see the additions as better players than the losses. Then we have two key injuries at each bookend and unknowns when they will play and if they will be fully recovered? Anthony Weaver is unproven as a DC and how will the guys respond to him should there be any adversity?

I would be delighted if this unit plays as well or even better than last year. I just don't see it or believe it. To me it is a hodgepodge group that will be complimentary to each other but never really gel. If I had to guess they take a big step back and rank in the middle of the pack (18th).

I really hope I am wrong and they turn out to be a top 10 Defense. I just don't think so. I believe it will be on the Offense to win the games and looking at the late season games...Well, I won't say it. Can we win in December?
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Hard for me to say the defense had an overall good year. I think they played some putrid offenses in the middle of the year, feasted on those teams and the stats got skewed a bit. I don’t think they were bad, especially when mostly healthy, but they weren’t a top 10 unit in reality.

But either way, this years defense is still a TBD. They have a lot to prove.
 
I most curious on how Weaver is going to generate pressure. Youve got Phillips back, Chubb is coming back, Ogbah was looking good during camp, David Long. Jr. Then maybe the most interesting thing for me is how they plan on using both Chop and potentially Channing Tindal on some blitz packages. Could we see Tindal take over that Van Gink role?
 
This year's D will be middle of the pack, at best. I think we all know that. Full year of Ramsey plus Holland not getting hurt every 5 minutes will definitely help. Losing Wilkins is a loss but CC looks way better than I thought he would.
 
I'm not sure what to expect from Weaver and his defense. Miami lost quite a bit of talent to F/A and player releases. While also having one player in Phillips, who's returning from an injury, without knowing if he'll return to pre injury form?

They also have two rookie Edge players, who are talented, but untested at the pro level. What scares me about Chop Robinson, is he's undersized and not very stout against the run along the edge. Washington took advantage of him during their preseason game, and ran at him.

The secondary played very well during the preseason, no matter who was playing. Which is extremely important. It shows they might be the strength of the defense.

Miami’s defense seems to have, at least on paper, downgraded vs the run. That could be an issue. Although Pili and others played well replacing Wilkins, it remains to be seen, if they can continue, once teams start to gameplan against them.

If the defense comes together out of the gate, Miami could be sitting pretty atop the AFC East. Unfortunately it also could take some time for that to happen. So it looks like the offense may have to carry the team, initially.
 
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AyyJayy said:
I most curious on how Weaver is going to generate pressure. Youve got Phillips back, Chubb is coming back, Ogbah was looking good during camp, David Long. Jr. Then maybe the most interesting thing for me is how they plan on using both Chop and potentially Channing Tindal on some blitz packages. Could we see Tindal take over that Van Gink role?
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I don't know that there is any such thing as a Van Gink role.

Weaver's scheme certainly won't resemble either VFs, or Boyer's.
 
I’m HOPING for a 10-15 range for defense. Thats most realistic. Anything worse than our Super Bowl hopes are in trouble. Anything better will be stellar.
 
I’m a lot more bullish on our defense than most.

When healthy, our edge group is elite. Phillips/Chubb/Chop/Ogbah is as good a group as anyone. And all four should be healthy by end of October.

Our secondary is also elite. Ramsey and Fuller are both Top 10 CBs according to PFF, and Holland is a Top 10 safety. Poyer and Maye are both very good.

Interior DL is above average. Sieler and Campbell are both excellent, and Hand is good depth. Nose tackle is the weak spot, but Benito and Pili aren’t terrible.

Inside linebackers are solid. Brooks hasn’t been great, but we obviously believe in him given the payday we gave him. Seattle was upset to lose him. We need to hope he takes a leap this year. Long and Walker are also solid. Tindall has upside.

I bet we add another interior DL somewhere along the way, and I expect Brooks to surprise people. Think our D will be very good if it stays healthy.
 
Fintastic2124 said:
I’m HOPING for a 10-15 range for defense. Thats most realistic. Anything worse than our Super Bowl hopes are in trouble. Anything better will be stellar.
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It's tough to predict.

The phrase "complimentary football" comes to mind.

If the offense can put up points at the rate many expect, it puts the defense in a great spot. Make an opponent one dimensional and the defense can feast.

A few timely turnovers can make a big difference, too.
 
Mach2 said:
It's tough to predict.

The phrase "complimentary football" comes to mind.

If the offense can put up points at the rate many expect, it puts the defense in a great spot. Make an opponent one dimensional and the defense can feast.

A few timely turnovers can make a big difference, too.
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This is also a good point. Our defense is built around elite edge rushers and an elite secondary. It’s weak inside.

In other words, we’re built to get a lead and hold it. Teams will probably have success picking us apart 5 yards at a time up the middle and in the short passing game. But if they need to drop back and throw it, they’re going to have issues.
 
Marino2.0 said:
This is also a good point. Our defense is built around elite edge rushers and an elite secondary. It’s weak inside.

In other words, we’re built to get a lead and hold it. Teams will probably have success picking us apart 5 yards at a time up the middle and in the short passing game. But if they need to drop back and throw it, they’re going to have issues.
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I see your point. But, Miami has Phillips who is returning from injury, and two untested rookies. Nothing is guaranteed at this point, or at least until there is clarification on Phillips ability and/or the rookies developing to the point, where they are consistently applying pressure.
 
Not sure why some think chop isn't stout enough to play the run. The dude is 6'3" 255 lol....it takes time to learn to set the edge as a pass rusher, but being stout enough is certainly not an issue at that size and his incredible athletic traits.
 
cullenbigcstill said:
Not sure why some think chop isn't stout enough to play the run. The dude is 6'3" 255 lol....it takes time to learn to set the edge as a pass rusher, but being stout enough is certainly not an issue at that size and his incredible athletic traits.
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I don't think it's a matter of "stout". Many edge players struggle at first in the NFL.

The "reads" are more complicated, and more discipline is required than most were used to at the collegiate level.

Even great pass rushers such as JT and Wake took time to get to the point of not being a liability on early downs.
 
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