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Five Key Players on Defense

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Looking at the defense it's easy to see a potential top 10 unit or a bottom 10 unit depending on how some players perform, injuries and if certain players emerge or not. Here are five that I see as the key to Miami's success this year.

1. Kiko Alonso --- I feel like Alonso is the key to this defense. He has so much ability and, if he can stay healthy, is a major upgrade over anyone else the team has had a middle linebacker for a long time. Whether he can stay on the field is a big if, though.

2. Cam Wake --- A healthy Wake is a player who can bring a ton of heat for opposing quarterbacks.

3. Jordan Phillips --- Is he the next Darryl Gardener, or can he become a consistent force? That is a huge question for the defensive line. I personally would have hedged my bet in the draft with all the talent at defensive tackle and taken one of those top guys (2nd/3rd round). But, if Phillips can reach his ceiling the Dolphins will have something.

4. Xavien Howard --- At this point it looks like Howard will be the starter opposite of Byron Maxwell. That could change, of course, but if Howard's the guy he is sure to go through some growing pains. How quickly he can develop will help determine how good the secondary could be.

5. N. Suh --- I expect Suh to dominate as he always does. He remains an important player on this defense.
 
My five would go as such:

Byron Maxwell- He needs to come in and be our #1 corner, left or right, scheme or ability, and right away. He needs to be that player that can go toe to toe with Brandon Marshall and Sammy Watkins and really any other #1 with consistent, hard, effort. He was a big part of what they did in Seattle, and I'm expecting that type of player day 1.

Kong Suh- I have no problems with him as a player, does his job very well and takes on double teams all game and still changes the game. I'm expecting the new coaching staff to really highlight him in a variety of ways to wreak havoc in the backfield and in the heads of QBs. Year 2 for him in Miami, the transition is over and he is entrenched here as a Dolphin, can't wait to see this guy go off this year.

Kiko Alonso- 2 years removed from his serious injury, former DROY, best ILB we've had potentially in a long time, so far he seems to be doing the right things and coaches are coming away impressed right away. If we can keep him clean we have our ILB of the future and I'm expecting a huge boost in rankings against the run. He's rangy, instinctual, a leader, and a play maker, so if we can keep him healthy we have a chance of striking gold here.

Reshad Jones- Pay this man, I don't care about the details, this guy has been and will be our starting safety until he calls it, he's been playing at a high level for a while now and you keep players like that around as long as possible. He covers well, tackles well, his instincts are great, and he's been healthy up to this point.

Cam Wake- What's more to be said about this guy? BEAST, BEST pass rusher in the NFL, I don't care about his injury the guy will come back and remain in quarterbacks nightmares for at least 2 more years. Game changer, makes the hot route the base call just being on the field, Vance is going to find a way to truly unleash Wake wherever he lines up and will be a heat seeking missile waiting for that 7 step drop, better watch out cuz there's blood in the water.


I think those 5 right there are our best players on defense, everyone else should compliment what these guys do best and hopefully maestro Vance Joseph can sync it all in and give us a good looking defense.
 
SF Dolphin Fan said:
Looking at the defense it's easy to see a potential top 10 unit or a bottom 10 unit depending on how some players perform, injuries and if certain players emerge or not. Here are five that I see as the key to Miami's success this year.

1. Kiko Alonso --- I feel like Alonso is the key to this defense. He has so much ability and, if he can stay healthy, is a major upgrade over anyone else the team has had a middle linebacker for a long time. Whether he can stay on the field is a big if, though.

2. Cam Wake --- A healthy Wake is a player who can bring a ton of heat for opposing quarterbacks.

3. Jordan Phillips --- Is he the next Darryl Gardener, or can he become a consistent force? That is a huge question for the defensive line. I personally would have hedged my bet in the draft with all the talent at defensive tackle and taken one of those top guys (2nd/3rd round). But, if Phillips can reach his ceiling the Dolphins will have something.

4. Xavien Howard --- At this point it looks like Howard will be the starter opposite of Byron Maxwell. That could change, of course, but if Howard's the guy he is sure to go through some growing pains. How quickly he can develop will help determine how good the secondary could be.

5. N. Suh --- I expect Suh to dominate as he always does. He remains an important player on this defense.
Click to expand...

Phillips wishes he could be the next Gardner
 
For me it's all about whether we've become stronger up the middle or not. Specifically, can Kiko stay on the field and play at a high level, and is IAQ an upgrade over Michael Thomas / Walt Aikens, especially mentally.
 
I think Byron Maxwell being off this list is crazy, as he would be my number one player on it. He has never been a true #1 CB, and we are relying on him to take over that role. Our CB play was horrible last year only o-line played worse than our secondary. I think the stat was the most TD passes we have ever given up in a season in franchise history(I could be wrong on that,) and 4000 passing yards given up 21st worst in the NFL. After Maxwell I would say Howard being a worthy starter would be 2nd, as it is a huge gamble going in to the season with 2nd round pick being counted on as our #2 CB with no depth behind him. Then Wake/Williams returning to form would next. Then Kiko being an improvement at MLB from last season being number 5. Our LBs were sooooooooo bad last year. They combined for 1int and 0 sacks. We need more production, and Kiko could change all of that.

There is no reason to believe Suh and Jones won't play exactly like Suh and Jones play. I don't see Phillips stepping up being of utmost importance. It would be nice, but we have Earl Mitchel there as well.
 
This all depends on how we view "key players." IMO, Suh and Jones will play very well - I'm not worried about them. So who are the 5 "key players" who have to step up to give Miami a top D?
Mario, KA, Maxwell, Howard, the DT beside Suh.
 
A backup DT is important than our best defender - Jones?
 
I think the keys will be the unknowns. I have a pretty good idea what we get from Cam Wake, Reshad Jones, Suh & Mario Williams. I also believe we will be better at FS (hard to be worse). That leaves the questions for....

Base SDE: Who will step up an control the edge? Most likely Andre Branch and I think they are set up to succeed in that aspect based on the wide 9 they will run.

DT next to Suh: I know what we get from Mitchell and it aint much. Will Chris Jones take over or will Jordan Phillips step up? Who will keep the offensive line off of our LB's in the wide 9? Suh will occupy 2 and still make plays. What other DT's can split a double team?

LCB: Who will that be? and will they be effective?
 
SF Dolphin Fan said:
Looking at the defense it's easy to see a potential top 10 unit or a bottom 10 unit depending on how some players perform, injuries and if certain players emerge or not. Here are five that I see as the key to Miami's success this year.

1. Kiko Alonso --- I feel like Alonso is the key to this defense. He has so much ability and, if he can stay healthy, is a major upgrade over anyone else the team has had a middle linebacker for a long time. Whether he can stay on the field is a big if, though.

2. Cam Wake --- A healthy Wake is a player who can bring a ton of heat for opposing quarterbacks.

3. Jordan Phillips --- Is he the next Darryl Gardener, or can he become a consistent force? That is a huge question for the defensive line. I personally would have hedged my bet in the draft with all the talent at defensive tackle and taken one of those top guys (2nd/3rd round). But, if Phillips can reach his ceiling the Dolphins will have something.

4. Xavien Howard --- At this point it looks like Howard will be the starter opposite of Byron Maxwell. That could change, of course, but if Howard's the guy he is sure to go through some growing pains. How quickly he can develop will help determine how good the secondary could be.

5. N. Suh --- I expect Suh to dominate as he always does. He remains an important player on this defense.
Click to expand...

I like your list, but I would make a few changes IMO....

1. Kiko Alonso -- I agree with you here, I believe a good defense succeeds or fails with how effective the Middle is (DT, M-LB, Safety), and normally the M-LB is the QB of the defense, Kiko could be the best M-LB we have had since Zach (all due respect to Dansby, who was darn good).

2. N. Suh-- This is the gem of our defense, the player that most run plays and pass plays will fail or succeed depending on how he looked on that play.

3. Reshad Jones-- This is the center fielder of our defense, how well and quick he is able to recognize pass or run, will determine how well a Offense will be able to make plays and feel comfortable.

4. CB yet to be named (Byron Maxwell)-- Personally I do not believe (hope) that we will be going into the season with Maxwell as our #1 corner, but if he is, it will be crucial that he steps up bigtime and plays well.

5. Cam Wake --I know that Cam will be on the field less, and that he is not the player he used to be, but he is still one of the most disruptive D-Ends in the NFL, if he is able to continue this, considering one of the other most disruptive ends (Super Mario) will be on the other end, it should make QBs very nervous every time he has to go back to pass and sees Wake and Williams coming from either side, and Suh coming from the middle (Can't double team everyone).
 
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Good topic. I disagree with the conclusion of your analysis, but a good topic.
 
Jones

Wake

Alonso

Lippett

Maxwell

There's the most important 5.
 
Defense? We have a defense? They sure didn't play like it last year.
 
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