Dolphin D- Keeping The Band Together?

[So Be]

Some have questions on this D and are looking to change it, and I want to keep them together. My reason is simple in that we did not give up many points, and we're good enough to be a legit contender as we are.

I'm keeping Soliai and Starks. Last year we paid both around $15M, and there has to be some way to split that up for both. If you look to FA, the DT is horrible other than Melton who is coming off injury, and if you're looking for a rookie to step in next year, play lotto.

Franchise Grimes, if need be, cut Patterson for the cap space, and keep Carroll for insurance. Taylor and Davis will be much improved, and can make up for Patterson, who only played a few games.

Re-sign Clemons. He has been rock solid, and is the QB of the secondary, no easy task to fill. Jones has to be better, and the star of one game in Michael Thomas may chime in.

At LB, Misi is a Rock. Anyone not seeing that has not watched his play. Ellerbe and Wheeler have disappointed but, both have the talent to be much better. All you have to do is watch how they both played a year ago. It is not a reach to believe they will be much better, and elevate this D to among the best in the NFL.

Then, we have to add in this guy named Jordan. The only complaint on him is playing time, and nothing more. He has the talent to be as good as JT. Hell of a wild card to add, as well as a couple of young guys developing to be better.

Gotta keep this Band together for next year. They can be VERY SPECIAL.

 

[AL R]

I cannot see Soliai and Starks both staying..first I don't think they really want to- well at least Starks...and we can only franchise one player. Also don't think the team will want to invest that much in just the D-line. I agree with your overall opinion though to try and keep as many pieces as possible of the Defense. If Ireland (whoever) think they can just insert replacements especially for Soliai and Stark thay would be a huge miscalculation IMO.

 

[Travis34]

I agree with everything you're saying, with a couple tweaks.

First, the sooner we jettison Wheeler the sooner our defense gets better. Misi is by far our best backer, indeed he is usually rock solid. Ellerbe would be better with more talent back there (not wheeler). And I think we should only resign one of the DT's. Soliai is my preference, while not to his level yet, Odrick can help fill Starks' role better than anyone else on our team can become the behemoth that is Paul Soliai.

Absolutely resign Clemons to a 3-4 year deal. He played better than Reshad this year, it's a shame we extended him so early. Resigning Grimes is a major priority, agree on the keep Carroll and cut Patterson

 

[So Be]

I cannot see Soliai and Starks both staying..first I don't think they really want to- well at least Starks...and we can only franchise one player. Also don't think the team will want to invest that much in just the D-line. I agree with your overall opinion though to try and keep as many pieces as possible of the Defense. If Ireland (whoever) think they can just insert replacements especially for Soliai and Stark thay would be a huge miscalculation IMO.

I'm hoping we can keep both, and spent around $15M this year to do so. That tells you something. With Odrick, they split up snaps really well, and give us the option to go 3-4 if and when we choose as Starks and Odrick are VG 3-4 DE's, and Wake, OV and a man named Jordan can wreak havoc.

IF we lose either Starks or Solia, our D has a huge loss, with no one I see available to fill in. It has to be a 3 man rotation.

 

[gdiaz0358]

At the beginning of the season i would have said we keep both Starks and Soliai, now im ok keeping only one which is Starks. Ive read every where he is out playing Soliai in the run game, and we allllll know how bad our run D was this year. We could use an upgrade over Solai maybe Melton woudlnt be a bad choice. I like Odrick, but more depth is needed. Starks and Odrick are much more agile and can be moved to DE if needed, Soliai is not as versatile.
As for the LBs id love an upgrade, but i doubt we cut Ellerbe and wheeler after one season. Grimes is a MUST resign, and id like to upgrade Clemmons if possible but not top priority. He cant catch a cold!!

 

[Namor]

1st thing we need to do..is fiqure out if we are a true 3-4 or 4-3,and then go from there.

And Jordan on the field..someway.

 

[So Be]

I agree with everything you're saying, with a couple tweaks.

First, the sooner we jettison Wheeler the sooner our defense gets better. Misi is by far our best backer, indeed he is usually rock solid. Ellerbe would be better with more talent back there (not wheeler). And I think we should only resign one of the DT's. Soliai is my preference, while not to his level yet, Odrick can help fill Starks' role better than anyone else on our team can become the behemoth that is Paul Soliai.

Absolutely resign Clemons to a 3-4 year deal. He played better than Reshad this year, it's a shame we extended him so early. Resigning Grimes is a major priority, agree on the keep Carroll and cut Patterson

Most will agree that Wheeler is the sore spot on this D but, he has played much better last year than he has showed this year. I remember when we signed Burnett, a signing I hated, and he lived down to my expectations in his first year. However, he then turned things around to playvery well in his second year here. Don't know that Wheeler can do the same but, like him more than I did Burnett.

Regardless, there are many options available in maybe Jordan, maybe OV, or maybe someone comes out of nowhere. All in all, things will look VG IF we keep the interior DL together, and depend on Ellerbe and Jones to play up to their contracts and talent to stop the run.

 

[So Be]

At the beginning of the season i would have said we keep both Starks and Soliai, now im ok keeping only one which is Starks. Ive read every where he is out playing Soliai in the run game, and we allllll know how bad our run D was this year. We could use an upgrade over Solai maybe Melton woudlnt be a bad choice. I like Odrick, but more depth is needed. Starks and Odrick are much more agile and can be moved to DE if needed, Soliai is not as versatile.
As for the LBs id love an upgrade, but i doubt we cut Ellerbe and wheeler after one season. Grimes is a MUST resign, and id like to upgrade Clemmons if possible but not top priority. He cant catch a cold!!

Starks has outplayed Soliai on the run but, that is somewhat misleading as he has done the same vs each and every DT or NT in the NFL other than four. He has had a fabulous year. Hard to fault Soliai who is only at #17. We need to keep both

 

[So Be]

1st thing we need to do..is fiqure out if we are a true 3-4 or 4-3,and then go from there.

And Jordan on the field..someway.

I do love the option of being both, as should Coyle. We can change from one to the other with no changes in players.

 

[AL R]

I'm hoping we can keep both, and spent around $15M this year to do so. That tells you something. With Odrick, they split up snaps really well, and give us the option to go 3-4 if and when we choose as Starks and Odrick are VG 3-4 DE's, and Wake, OV and a man named Jordan can wreak havoc.

IF we lose either Starks or Solia, our D has a huge loss, with no one I see available to fill in. It has to be a 3 man rotation.

This is just a hunch SouthBeach, Ireland has re-signed AJ Francis and Isaako Aaitui...I am afraid he is thinking a younger guy or someone in the draft will fill one of the spots.

 

[So Be]

This is just a hunch SouthBeach, Ireland has re-signed AJ Francis and Isaako Aaitui...I am afraid he is thinking a younger guy or someone in the draft will fill one of the spots.

This may be true Albert, kinda like thinking we did not need to trade for a LT and Martin, with much higher credentials, would be just fine. This is why we all love the man. :)

 

[ProStyle]

No to Starks. Good player, must part ways tho.

 

[Danny]

I don't think we need a whol new defense but to stand the way we are right now is crazy. Our LB's can't tackle to save their life. Patterson is an in jury waiting to happen(too bad too)and Carroll and Clemons were playing cause we had nobody else. As far as the D-line, don't be surprise if both Starks and Soliai are gone. BTW if we were to switch back to a 3-4 defense then Wheeler would have to be gone which he should be anyway and you'd need to play Jordan as an OLB which might be his best position. He can't play END on a 3-4. You'd then really need to keep Soliai to be the NT with Odrick at one END and then you need to find another END just to start. Wake would have to play OLB too. You'd need another 2 big LB's to play inside. You can't have small LB's playing inside on a 3-4 or they'll get killed.

Ozzy rules!

 

[broccoli rob]

I don't think our Run D was that great... Rather cut one loose, promote Odrick to the others spot, and use the money elsewhere...

we need a whole line new, we need a running back, we need a corner, LBs.. I think keeping Soliai and Starks is a waste.

 

[So Be]

I don't think we need a whol new defense but to stand the way we are right now is crazy. Our LB's can't tackle to save their life. Patterson is an in jury waiting to happen(too bad too)and Carroll and Clemons were playing cause we had nobody else. As far as the D-line, don't be surprise if both Starks and Soliai are gone. BTW if we were to switch back to a 3-4 defense then Wheeler would have to be gone which he should be anyway and you'd need to play Jordan as an OLB which might be his best position. He can't play END on a 3-4. You'd then really need to keep Soliai to be the NT with Odrick at one END and then you need to find another END just to start. Wake would have to play OLB too. You'd need another 2 big LB's to play inside. You can't have small LB's playing inside on a 3-4 or they'll get killed.

Ozzy rules![/QUOTE

Where are you finding a replacement for Starks? I cannot find anyone half as good but, would love to hear who it is.