Dolphins defense trying to change ... but not to 3-4

[DKphin]

Last season, as the Dolphins declined in multiple defensive categories from the season before -- run defense, third-down defense, pass completion percentage, first downs allowed, yards allowed, and the the big one, points allowed -- there was the suggestion in cyberspace that perhaps the defense would be better off as a 3-4 defense rather than a 4-3 defense.
I know the idea was out there because, well, I helped create it. It just seemed to me the Dolphins defense that was pretty good in 2011 as a 3-4 unit was less effective in 2012 as a 4-3 unit and then was worse again in 2013 in multiple categories in that same 4-3.
Well, forget that switch to the 3-4.
It is not happening.
The Dolphins are indeed doubling down on the idea of running the 4-3 and this brief free agency period has already shown the team's intent. When the club had linebacker D'Qwell Jackson in for a visit weeks ago, coaches told him they saw him as a middle linebacker fit in their 4-3.
When the club first contacted and talked with defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, they told him that though he'd played in the 3-4 in Houston, they saw him as a 4-3 defensive tackle. Indeed, that was a selling point for Mitchell.
"I definitely wanted to be a part of a 4-3 team," Mitchell said, "so I’m definitely ... I’m excited and I really appreciate getting involved with this organization for giving me an opportunity."

Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...-defense-trying-to-change-but-not-to-3-4.html

 

[showstopper]

Ideologically speaking, believe Coyle wants to run more of a hybrid scheme.

 

[datruth55]

Like I haven't been saying Vernon is a tweener and would fit better as a 3-4 OLB :rolleyes2:

Just like the offense the defense is a mixed bag of players that don't all fit the scheme the coaches want to run. Not a shock to those of us that thought Ireland was an idiot.

 

[Zounds]

Ideologically speaking, believe Coyle wants to run more of a hybrid scheme.

Which is what he has been doing. I've said it before, people focus too much on formations, but its the players' role after the ball is snapped that determines scheme.

 

[hoops]

i don't buy all this hybrid stuff...and yeah mike backer is what i think is the priority...not weak...i expect that to be the case in the draft unless the options are not there for the value of the pick...ideally i think it's mike

dion jordan isn't getting moved to lb in the 43 either...his position coach wouldn't have been talking about how much he needed to develop a counter etc if that was the case...not sure why people keep talking that switch up

 

[datruth55]

i don't buy all this hybrid stuff...and yeah mike backer is what i think is the priority...not weak...i expect that to be the case in the draft unless the options are not there for the value of the pick...ideally i think it's mike

dion jordan isn't getting moved to lb in the 43 either...his position coach wouldn't have been talking about how much he needed to develop a counter etc if that was the case...not sure why people keep talking that switch up

The fact that people keep arguing what position he should be playing should be enough to clue everyone in that he was the wrong freakin pick. You take a guy 3rd overall and you're not sure where he should play? Ridiculous.

 

[hoops]

The fact that people keep arguing what position he should be playing should be enough to clue everyone in that he was the wrong freakin pick. You take a guy 3rd overall and you're not sure where he should play? Ridiculous.

34 olb we are miscasting to try and salvage something...but don't worry truth those same scouts that pounded the table for jordan as the top pick in the draft period for us are the ones pounding the table for this years draft picks...

no worries at all

 

[Zounds]

34 olb we are miscasting to try and salvage something...but don't worry truth those same scouts that pounded the table for jordan as the top pick in the draft period for us are the ones pounding the table for this years draft picks...

no worries at all

Well the 2 guys responsible for directing those scouts are gone - Ireland and Gaine. We dont have these clowns telling our scouts to look for 3-4 OLB when we don't run that scheme anymore. Ireland has always scouted for a 3-4 defense going back to his time at Dallas. Hickey has always scouted for a 4-3 going back to the days of Tony Dungy's Tampa 2. I think its unfair to compare the two.

 

[FSU Truth]

Ireland was horrible at finding guys that fit the team specific scheme...

As far as a change....Coyle has always run a 4-3 and I doubt he changes that....find a good MLB and I think they can be ok...

 

[MiamiDolphin618]

Dion Jordan may be better suited for a 3-4 OLB....but if he ever learns a pass rush move or two hes going reak havoc off the edge. He generated alot of pressure last year just by being freakishly athletic...people get caught up in sacks because they are the sexy stat...but the pressures were there.

 

[Andyman]

Dion Jordan may be better suited for a 3-4 OLB....but if he ever learns a pass rush move or two hes going reak havoc off the edge. He generated alot of pressure last year just by being freakishly athletic...people get caught up in sacks because they are the sexy stat...but the pressures were there.

Agreed 100%

 

[utahphinsfan]

The fact that people keep arguing what position he should be playing should be enough to clue everyone in that he was the wrong freakin pick. You take a guy 3rd overall and you're not sure where he should play? Ridiculous.

The only people that have whined (ad nauseam IMO) about Dion's position are here on FH. I have not heard 1 peep from Coyle or Joe.

Dion Jordan may be better suited for a 3-4 OLB....but if he ever learns a pass rush move or two hes going reak havoc off the edge. He generated alot of pressure last year just by being freakishly athletic...people get caught up in sacks because they are the sexy stat...but the pressures were there.

Agreed.

What about the play where DJ95 lined up @ DT against the stealers then proceeded to drop into coverage & blew up a dump off pass?

 

[ITS!MATEO]

Jordan has all the tools to be Jason Taylor'esque.. Who was also a "tweener" of sorts.. Worked great here, eh?

Was Taylor better as a 3 4 OLB? The stats say he was, but look how long he was great at 4 3 DE. Jordan isn't a missed pick, he just needs to learn his role. He'll get it down eventually.

 

[datruth55]

Well the 2 guys responsible for directing those scouts are gone - Ireland and Gaine. We dont have these clowns telling our scouts to look for 3-4 OLB when we don't run that scheme anymore. Ireland has always scouted for a 3-4 defense going back to his time at Dallas. Hickey has always scouted for a 4-3 going back to the days of Tony Dungy's Tampa 2. I think its unfair to compare the two.

Even when Ireland drafted for the 3-4 he drafted players that didn't fit. Philip Merling...that was a head scratcher. Odrick was always more of a natural fit as a DT in the 4-3. If Spitler was drafted purely for special teams then OK but if he ever though Spitler could be a backup linebacker in the 3-4 then he was wrong again. Merling (pick #32) and Odrick (pick #28) were both technically 1st round picks (Merling in a year there were officially only 31 picks because of a forfeited pick by New Orleans). Really, outside of Reshad Jones (who better get his act together) what better than average player did the guy even draft on defense?

 

[DKphin]

Like I haven't been saying Vernon is a tweener and would fit better as a 3-4 OLB :rolleyes2:

Just like the offense the defense is a mixed bag of players that don't all fit the scheme the coaches want to run. Not a shock to those of us that thought Ireland was an idiot.