espn article

[campeonaso]

didnt see this posted...



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2483473


DAVIE, Fla. -- During a break in his first mandatory minicamp a year ago, while questions were being asked about a potentially lackluster Miami Dolphins' offense, head coach Nick Saban wondered whether the collective age of his defense would allow it to remain a premier unit for at least another year.

 

[Rytackle22]

hey nice find

 

[Geforce]

Actually this was already posted here
http://www.finheaven.com/boardvb2/showthread.php?t=145807
It's part of a merge post.

 

[Calvin Clean]

Saban's trying to make the defense a little younger and tougher with an SEC flavor.

During a break in his first mandatory minicamp a year ago, while questions were being asked about a potentially lackluster Miami Dolphins' offense, head coach Nick Saban wondered whether the collective age of his defense would allow it to remain a premier unit for at least another year.


Saban emphasized that he anticipated the Dolphins defense would still be solid but also noted that most of its best players -- ends Jason Taylor and Vonnie Holliday, tackle Keith Traylor, linebackers Zach Thomas and Junior Seau and cornerback Sam Madison -- were all 30 years of age or more. And he declared that, over the ensuing few years, he would have to begin phasing in younger defenders through the draft.


A year later, let it be duly reported that the greening of the defense has definitely begun, and with Saban's favorite kind of players: Instinctive, active, multi-talented players from SEC programs.

What Crowder can feel, he said, is an SEC mentality taking over on the Miami defense in 2006. There is, said Crowder, who was also recruited by Saban in high school, a merit badge of sorts from having played in the SEC.

"There's a toughness to being an SEC guy," Crowder said, "and we're getting that here."

 

[DolphinDevil28]

Excellent, excellent, excellent article.

I LOVE this part:

You dig into that (playbook) or just listen to (Saban) talk about the defense," said Allen, who seems to be fully recovered from the hip injury that all but scuttled his senior season in 2005, "and you understand what a genius the guy really is. It's like, you're sitting there studying everything in there and you can't help but think, 'Man, does this guy have a life? Does he just eat and sleep football?'

I'm really excited about Jason Allen, and you have to LOVE Channing Crowder. He's going to be such a cornerstone for us for a long time.

 

[Anthony D.]

Gem of an article. Thanks for the post.

 

[cheyannefan]

It says in the article that Travis Daniels WILL start.

Besides Allen, two youngsters from the 2005 draft with SEC affiliations, weak-side linebacker Channing Crowder of Florida and left cornerback Travis Daniels from LSU, will start.

Is anyone else concerned that Will Poole isn't getting a chance? I think he is a great talent, but maybe I'm overanalyzing the article.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

Nice article. I really believe with the talent we have on defense and with the addition of Culpepper we could win the SEC this year and even be a favorite to win the BCS.

 

[DolphinDevil28]

It says in the article that Travis Daniels WILL start. Is anyone else concerned that Will Poole isn't getting a chance.

Don't worry one bit.

Will Poole is 100 percent healthy and he'll get his chance in camp. At the very least, he's going to be our nickel back.

 

[Perfect23]

good read