Dolphins' defense out to become dominant | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Dolphins' defense out to become dominant

B

BAMAPHIN 22

FinHeaven Elite
Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
19,666
Reaction score
47
Location
Huntsville, AL
They are in the business of denial. Denying yards. Denying points.

They are not in denial about last season's performance, however. They know how far the praise can go.

"We were a good defense," safety Yeremiah Bell says.

"We were a good defense," linebacker Channing Crowder repeats.

Once more, with feeling …

"A good defense," linebacker Akin Ayodele says. "A prideful defense. We knew who we were. We knew our identity, what we were trying to be, so we really didn't get away from that."

They know what they must be this time around:

Better.
Click to expand...

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...ck-dolphins-defense-s0sbaug17,0,156701.column
 
I think the pieces are coming together to form a dominate defence for years to come.

Crowder stepping up this year will be key in how good the Fins 'D' will be in 09'. He needs to be disruptive in the middle. I'd love 2 see him in the top 3 in strips, an under rated stat IMHO.
 
I have to believe that our defense will be better in year two of this system. The way that they progressively got better just through the course of last season tell me that.
 
We should be better.. We have a heck of alot more talent on that side of ball. I wouldn't expect anything esle but us being better this year.
 
I dont think we have good enough personel in the key positions to be dominant. At NT, Ferguson is not dominant at the line. He is very good against the run and serviceable, but offers very little pass rush and is now 35 I think. Also we lack a dominant ILB. I know people have high hopes that Crowder will break out this season, but IMO he will remain just a good player and will continue to provide what he always did.

The fact we have Taylor back should improve our pass rush from our linebackers. Wilson is a huge upgrade on what we had last season, which should improve the D as a hole. But without dominant players at NT and ILB, I dont think we can get to the level that the Ravens, Steelers and even the Jets are at.
 
This makes me eager to see what Coach Pasqualoni has up his sleeve this year and if the present cast of players can execute it properly.
"I don't know if it's being ****y or what, but I didn't see many teams load up in fullback, tailback, tight end and just pound us to death," Crowder says. "I think we're so talented up front, that you can't just load up and run leads on us all day. You've got to misdirection and do all that tricky stuff."

By spreading the Dolphins out with extra receivers, offenses got Ferguson as well as a linebacker (usually Ayodele but sometimes Crowder) off the field. That often led to gaping holes for running backs, or even quarterbacks, through the middle.

"Teams started copycatting," Ferguson says. "The thing is, now we know what to expect."

"We've got to be ready for it," Crowder says.

He says they know how they'll be attacked, and now "we can attack their weaknesses in it. Pasqualoni has been in the lab this offseason. It's only eight, nine more schemes, but it can really do a lot."
Click to expand...
 
I think the key to this defense will be how much pressure we can get on the QB. If Wake and JT can give Joey some help this yr, that will make our CB better. I feel pretty good about our run defense which hopefully will give teams alot of 3 and longs.
 
Also, JP is getting up there in age. We have to at least start looking elsewhere for a WOLB. Haven't heard enough from Wake :(
 
We have to stop the spread offense. This is how every team will attack us this year until we can show that we can stop it.
I'm still pissed at that 2nd Patriots game with Matt Cassel looking like Brady.
 
very nice, and encouraging article !


i'm glad to hear pasqualoni is working something out against offences who spread us out...

those were the killers last year, apart from the ravens, every team who beat us were playing a brickload of 3 and 4 wr sets
 
if we can stay healthy, we're going to be a much better defense. we have one year under our belts in a new system, a group of guys that are pretty much guaranteed to disrupt the QB, second year guys that will have improved, rooks that have looked damn good in camp, and a safety tandem that will fugg people's worlds up. can't wait to see the improvement on D. should be a fun season.
 
I'm curious to see if we'll be able to slow down Brady and the Patriots. We got lit up with Brady and then by Cassell in the second game last season so hopefully things will be different this year.
 
i just hope we field a Top 5 Defense overall and young Cam Wake can help with our passrush...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom