I just wanted to share a little history on the CB position on the Dolphins over the years since this has been such a hot topic lately.
In the Don Shula days fewer high round picks were used on CB’s than any other defensive positions and by coincidence they also played a 3 / 4 on the defensive side of the ball which Bill Parcells is attempting to install with the Dolphins. Yes, I know abouy Troy Vincent and Don Mc Neal but that’s about it for the first round picks used on the CB position for many years. There certainly appeared to be less emphasis on a shutdown corner and more emphasis on the linebacker and defensive end positions to put press on the opposing QB. A major trade was made with Tampa Bay back in those day to acquire Huge Greens OLB services to work with ISLB John Offerdal. Actually the year Troy Vincent was picked in the first round Marco Coleman a DE was also chosen in the first round and Shula was even considering Coleman instead of Vincent. Then there were the John Boza and Eric Kumerow 1st round picks along the DL and LB that did not work out which helped contribute to Shula’s slide. In this defense the 3/4 the CB’s played more zone coverage and they were required to cover the WR’s a shorter period of time with the idea that the LB’s will apply quickly apply pressure to the opposing QB to unload the ball earlier.
After Shula came Jimmy Johnson who overhauled the Dolphins current defense cleaning house and installing the 4 / 3 with the emphasis on stopping the run first at all costs. For those of you who remember there was a player named J.B Brown who had a decent career under the Shula system but fell apart under Jimmy Johnson system. In fact in Jimmy Johnsons purge of the defense the only player he lamented loosing was Troy Vincent because Jimmy knew in his defense he needed shutdown corners and they were not easy to find. In Jimmy’s 4 / 3 the defensive back is left on an island so to speak as the seconds tick away until pressure finally arrives to pressure the QB to throw the ball. A whole different and quality CB is needed. Dave Wanstant continued this style along with Nick Saban and Cameron. In fact 2 second round picks were used on under Jimmy J on cornerback’s. The frist one he used on Sam Madison’s in Jimmy’s first draft and in Jimmy’s second draft he traded away a “first” round pick the following year to pick Patrick Surtain that year. Lots of value was put on the CB position under Jimmy.
Tony Sporano shows up and Mel Phillips the defensive backs coach is let go whom had survived all the Dolphin coaching changes over the years. Mel’s talent and years of service to the Dolphins was not enough to keep him around under Bill P or Tony S. Granted Bill P does like his own coaching tree for filling out his staff and considering the corner back position is not high on Bills concerns Mel was expendable. Once the team started winning last year especially in second half of last season when the defensive backs play improved Mel Phillips departure was soon overlooked.
Most important to realize though is that Tony Sporano and Bill change the defense scheme back to the Shula’s style the 3 /4 and suddenly our retread defensive backs look a whole lot better than they had the past couple of years. Is it because they really played better or the entire defensive scheme?
As fans this is only our second year under the new Bill P/ Tony Sporano coaching style and we have been trained for the last few years to view the CB position differently the these guys appear to be looking at it. That does not mean the coaching staff is correct or incorrect in their approach this year only time will tell that. We the fans just need to remember that have been used to looking at this position of the team differently than in the past.
In the Don Shula days fewer high round picks were used on CB’s than any other defensive positions and by coincidence they also played a 3 / 4 on the defensive side of the ball which Bill Parcells is attempting to install with the Dolphins. Yes, I know abouy Troy Vincent and Don Mc Neal but that’s about it for the first round picks used on the CB position for many years. There certainly appeared to be less emphasis on a shutdown corner and more emphasis on the linebacker and defensive end positions to put press on the opposing QB. A major trade was made with Tampa Bay back in those day to acquire Huge Greens OLB services to work with ISLB John Offerdal. Actually the year Troy Vincent was picked in the first round Marco Coleman a DE was also chosen in the first round and Shula was even considering Coleman instead of Vincent. Then there were the John Boza and Eric Kumerow 1st round picks along the DL and LB that did not work out which helped contribute to Shula’s slide. In this defense the 3/4 the CB’s played more zone coverage and they were required to cover the WR’s a shorter period of time with the idea that the LB’s will apply quickly apply pressure to the opposing QB to unload the ball earlier.
After Shula came Jimmy Johnson who overhauled the Dolphins current defense cleaning house and installing the 4 / 3 with the emphasis on stopping the run first at all costs. For those of you who remember there was a player named J.B Brown who had a decent career under the Shula system but fell apart under Jimmy Johnson system. In fact in Jimmy Johnsons purge of the defense the only player he lamented loosing was Troy Vincent because Jimmy knew in his defense he needed shutdown corners and they were not easy to find. In Jimmy’s 4 / 3 the defensive back is left on an island so to speak as the seconds tick away until pressure finally arrives to pressure the QB to throw the ball. A whole different and quality CB is needed. Dave Wanstant continued this style along with Nick Saban and Cameron. In fact 2 second round picks were used on under Jimmy J on cornerback’s. The frist one he used on Sam Madison’s in Jimmy’s first draft and in Jimmy’s second draft he traded away a “first” round pick the following year to pick Patrick Surtain that year. Lots of value was put on the CB position under Jimmy.
Tony Sporano shows up and Mel Phillips the defensive backs coach is let go whom had survived all the Dolphin coaching changes over the years. Mel’s talent and years of service to the Dolphins was not enough to keep him around under Bill P or Tony S. Granted Bill P does like his own coaching tree for filling out his staff and considering the corner back position is not high on Bills concerns Mel was expendable. Once the team started winning last year especially in second half of last season when the defensive backs play improved Mel Phillips departure was soon overlooked.
Most important to realize though is that Tony Sporano and Bill change the defense scheme back to the Shula’s style the 3 /4 and suddenly our retread defensive backs look a whole lot better than they had the past couple of years. Is it because they really played better or the entire defensive scheme?
As fans this is only our second year under the new Bill P/ Tony Sporano coaching style and we have been trained for the last few years to view the CB position differently the these guys appear to be looking at it. That does not mean the coaching staff is correct or incorrect in their approach this year only time will tell that. We the fans just need to remember that have been used to looking at this position of the team differently than in the past.
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