Does Anyone realize this about our D

[Lawrence]

They don't have a history of letting up at the end, they have a reputation of letting up at the end. That reputation is not deserved.

They don't let up any more than any other defense. Their let ups are just noticed more because they are in so many close games. When another team wins 38-35, nobody complains about their defense letting up. The Fins D doesn't have that luxury.

That last point you made was a good one. Maybe their 4th quarter letdowns have been more highlighted than other teams, because of that.

 

[FakeSpike13]

how many times does a prevent-style defense get burned by an offense in a two-minute drill... its the failure to get pressure on the quarterback... if we hadn't blitzed, johnson probably would have still made the catch, but maybe not for 20 yards... besides that was only one play... palmer was 7-8 on that drive... unacceptable

 

[LOCAL SCUM!]

And for some reason the D gets bashed constantly!!

People like Lawrence who only remember the Bungles' last drive.

 

[Lawrence]

People like Lawrence who only remember the Bungles' last drive.

And last season vs NEw England at home, or did you forget that 1?

 

[FakeSpike13]

well that was the game winner wasn't it? Im not sayin Lawrence is right, but he's not that far off either... no1 is sayin that this isnt a very good defense, just not a great 1... a great one quashes that drive, or forces a turnover

 

[Muck]

u have to blitz in that situation BECAUSE of wyrick... that was our only hope, because that "street free agent" can't stay with him for more than 2 seconds... the problem was that wyrick and edwards lost sight of Johnson, the best wr on the field.... that left man coverage with the deep safety, who was late in his assignment...

I disagree because of the way we tried to bring pressure. We man blitzed. If pressure was what we were seeking, then why take Jason Taylor and Jay Williams out of the equation?? They sent Jason, one of the best pass rushers in the league, out in man coverage on the TE (which he did very well I might add) and Jay Williams (at left DT) to stand up and watch the RB (who went on a delayed route). What the Dolphins did was try and flood the left side while sending absolutely zero pressure on the right. The problem is that it created one big mess over there and nobody got near Palmer.

Wyrick and Edwards both covered the WR in the flats and let Johnson run free. That left Freeman up top. So somebody missed an assignment out there too.

I still think you play a 4-man front and drop everyone else.

 

[FakeSpike13]

maybe the method of bringing pressure was flawed, but the basic principle was there... it comes down to this:


what would u rather have the best d-line, or the best secondary?

Obviously, the d-line because they can mask a porous secondary... conversely, even the best db's cannot usually sustain coverage for more than a few moments... when they do, usually a "coverage sack" occurs... but not to often... we needed to bring pressure, and we got burned... thats not why we lost the game though... you know what's funny, too bad we don't have a real o-line: i'd love for the other team to be having this debate

 

[Muck]

maybe the method of bringing pressure was flawed, but the basic principle was there... it comes down to this:

what would u rather have the best d-line, or the best secondary?

Obviously, the d-line because they can mask a porous secondary... conversely, even the best db's cannot usually sustain coverage for more than a few moments... when they do, usually a "coverage sack" occurs... but not to often... we needed to bring pressure, and we got burned... thats not why we lost the game though...

Absolutely. Defense isn't the reason we lost. They're the reason we almost won. And I agree that you've got to get pressure. DBs can only cover for so long. So you've got to get to the QB. I just don't like the way we went about it on that play.

you know what's funny, too bad we don't have a real o-line: i'd love for the other team to be having this debate

Boy you said it!!

 

[Spinelord]

u have to blitz in that situation BECAUSE of wyrick... that was our only hope, because that "street free agent" can't stay with him for more than 2 seconds... the problem was that wyrick and edwards lost sight of Johnson, the best wr on the field.... that left man coverage with the deep safety, who was late in his assignment...

It was actually Freeman who took half the blame along with Wyrick on that play-not sure of the link but it appears several times in post-game articles

 

[BigFinFan]

well that was the game winner wasn't it? Im not sayin Lawrence is right, but he's not that far off either... no1 is sayin that this isnt a very good defense, just not a great 1... a great one quashes that drive, or forces a turnover

I will say it!

This is a GREAT DEFENSE!

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

And last season vs NEw England at home, or did you forget that 1?

That game illustrates my point perfectly. The defense held the Pats to one TD drive and FOUR drives of only four or fewer plays in the entire second half. That includes a complete shutdown of the Pats offense when they got the ball with 2 minutes to go on their own 35 after Miami missed the game winning FG. With 1:52 on the clock, NE ran 4 plays for 19 yds before the clock ran out. FOUR PLAYS in a two minute drill.

Here are the drives that NE had in the 2nd half:

3 plays - 2 yds (punt)
14 plays - 76 yds (TD)
3 plays - 9 yds (punt)
3 plays - 5 yds (punt)
4 plays - 19 yds (end of regulation)

During that span the Miami offense managed to miss the game winning FG.

In overtime, Miami drove the length of the field and missed the gaming winning FG AGAIN. NE's first possession was a 'great' 7 play 14 yds drive.

At this point the 'suspect' D had given up one scoring drive and five drives that averaged 9.8 yards in just over one half of football against the eventual world champs.

As we all know, the offense gave up the ball on an INT and one play later the game was over.

BTW, in the first half of the game, the defense was just as good. NE had one 54 yd drive that ended in a FG and FIVE other drives that averaged 14.2 yds. One of those drives started at the Miami 26 following a fumble and led to the other FG in the first half.

This game clearly shows that the D must play perfectly. NE's offense was killed by the Miami D the whole game until one pass in OT, but that is the only thing that is remembered.

Can you imagine stuffing the SB champs on 10 drives in the game and not be considered a great defense? On 10 drives the Pats averaged 12 yds per drive.

The reputation is NOT deserved.

 

[MarinoEqualsGod]

That game illustrates my point perfectly. The defense held the Pats to one TD drive and FOUR drives of only four or fewer plays in the entire second half. That includes a complete shutdown of the Pats offense when they got the ball with 2 minutes to go on their own 35 after Miami missed the game winning FG. With 1:52 on the clock, NE ran 4 plays for 19 yds before the clock ran out. FOUR PLAYS in a two minute drill.

Here are the drives that NE had in the 2nd half:

3 plays - 2 yds (punt)
14 plays - 76 yds (TD)
3 plays - 9 yds (punt)
3 plays - 5 yds (punt)
4 plays - 19 yds (end of regulation)

During that span the Miami offense managed to miss the game winning FG.

In overtime, Miami drove the length of the field and missed the gaming winning FG AGAIN. NE's first possession was a 'great' 7 play 14 yds drive.

At this point the 'suspect' D had given up one scoring drive and five drives that averaged 9.8 yards in just over one half of football against the eventual world champs.

As we all know, the offense gave up the ball on an INT and one play later the game was over.

BTW, in the first half of the game, the defense was just as good. NE had one 54 yd drive that ended in a FG and FIVE other drives that averaged 14.2 yds. One of those drives started at the Miami 26 following a fumble and led to the other FG in the first half.

This game clearly shows that the D must play perfectly. NE's offense was killed by the Miami D the whole game until one pass in OT, but that is the only thing that is remembered.

Can you imagine stuffing the SB champs on 10 drives in the game and not be considered a great defense? On 10 drives the Pats averaged 12 yds per drive.

The reputation is NOT deserved.

I couldn't agree more...The D can only hold up for so long. The offense has to at least make a little contribution to help em out.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

I couldn't agree more...The D can only hold up for so long. The offense has to at least make a little contribution to help em out.

Oddly enough, in the NE game, the offense moved the ball well, especially late. The special teams was the letdown in that game. The point is that overall there is little margin for error. Everyone has to play well.

 

[PhinPhan1227]

They get bashed for finishing games the way they did on Sunday. The difference in TOP was only about 3 minutes, and they sure didn't look tired the series before. That's what keeps the D from being considered great.

Sometimes watching the Offense on the field is more exhausting than being on the field yourself.

 

[Dphins4me]

They don't have a history of letting up at the end, they have a reputation of letting up at the end. That reputation is not deserved.

They don't let up any more than any other defense. Their let ups are just noticed more because they are in so many close games. When another team wins 38-35, nobody complains about their defense letting up. The Fins D doesn't have that luxury.

You are correct that they get more chances to be exposed, because Miami keeps the game close.

That does not change things though. Several times they have shut teams down until their very last drive and then failed to finish. In '02 Miami was 1-4 in games with the D on the field and the game on the line. (Last drive situations)

This is not bashing the D, because they are the reason Miami is in the game, but what is the reason they can play lights out until the end and then look like you could not stop a good HS team?