FO did a great job on the d-line

[Sirspud]

Out of its two best pass rushers, one guy left in free agency and the other had an achilles tear. I thought that, combined with weakness on the other part of the defense, this line was primed to take a big step back from a year that was actually disappointing considering the talent we had. And we didn't have a great group of young talent to build around. We brought in Mario Williams, a big name player whose stock was low, but the rest of the guys on that line we brought in were ones I'd never heard of and most fans in this league would say the same thing. And half a season in, I still barely know who these guys are, because it's not a few guys getting a sack every now and then, it's a group that as a unit is generating pressure on almost every play. I don't know where out sack totals sit, but I know that these guys are doing what a d-line is supposed to do in the pass rush. They are disrupting the offense on every play, limiting their ability to dictate the game and to make aggressive plays. And the guy that gets the best pressure on one play is usually different than the guy who did the play before. The Dolphins have a tradition of great pass rushers for years, and yet I don't feel like pressure was ever this consistent game in and game out.

And its impressive to look at how we've hurt other teams QB's, legally in a non-bountygate way. Wilson (who stayed in), Jimmy G, Big Ben, Fitzpatrick...ironically one of the only ones not hurt was a Browns QB. That's a pretty telling fact right there.

Obviously there have been questionable moves with draft picks, trades, etc. But this is one place where we can really say they excelled this offseason.

 

[finfanatl]

Very well said.
Totally agree.
Some of the guys like Branch have revived their careers.

 

[dphinsx2]

Don't forget about the linebacker play. It has really come around.

 

[Sirspud]

Don't forget about the linebacker play. It has really come around.

It's improving, and Alonso has actually shown up, but I still think they needed to do more in that regard.

 

[Heinegrabber]

Cam has company when he gets to the QB.

I think he was involved in at least to gang sacks today. I know one was called back by penalty.

 

[xXwarXx]

I expected our Dline to get heavy pressure on him if the run game wasn't working.

But holy ****!

We destroyed thst pocket the entire second half.

That was a performance by our Dline!

 

[BobDole]

Williams' effort has been disappointing but branch and jones have been pleasant surprises that came out of nowhere. Jones is decent but branch is making an impact against the rush and pass. He could be one of those guys who just needed a change of scenery because he was not nearly as effective in jax. I was very wrong about him.

 

[TheWozz]

Williams' effort has been disappointing but branch and jones have been pleasant surprises that came out of nowhere. Jones is decent but branch is making an impact against the rush and pass. He could be one of those guys who just needed a change of scenery because he was not nearly as effective in jax. I was very wrong about him.

I just hope Branch keeps up this level of play if we pay him. It would be great if that were the case. he has been a great surprise!

 

[BobDole]

I just hope Branch keeps up this level of play if we pay him. It would be great if that were the case. he has been a great surprise!

I'd worry more about injuries than I would effort for a guy like branch. He's still more of a fringe guy on the outside looking in than anything. He doesn't have the entitlement of a former #1 overall pick with a full career of stats already under his belt like williams. But you never know, sometimes they get paid and the incentive is gone, although he doesn't seem to be the type to me.