Is the defense’s age showing?

[BAMAPHIN 22]

The Dolphins defense looked a step slow Monday night as the Colts scored 27 points in just 34 offensive snaps.

A bad night, or a sign of something deeper?

Time will tell, but for a team focused on building for the future, the Dolphins have a defense that could be showing its age.

Three of the team’s four linebackers are 30 or older – Joey Porter (32), Akin Ayodele (30) and Jason Taylor (35). Cornerback Will Allen and strong safety Yeremiah Bell are 31.

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...s-talking-points-veteran-defense-looking-old/

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

I don't like our starting OLBs being old and also our starting NT as well. We need a major infusion of talented youth at those positions

 

[Pinkboy]

Before the draft I was saying that I wouldn't mind if we made every pick for the defense.

All our picks should have been for the defensive side of the ball. Maybe one pick for offense if a great offensive player fell into our laps. But that's it.

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

The problem is, we have a lot more holes on our team then we care to admit. We have no gamebreakers on offense, no big-time QB, an old starting NT, old starting OLBs, average guys starting at ILB and a free safety who needs to be replaced

 

[BenchFiedler]

Sparano, who coached tight ends for Bill Parcells in Dallas, also blamed the lack production by his TEs on opponents playing “a coverage that not the tight end is going to catch a lot of balls in.”
Makes you wonder if the Dolphins should begin lining up in the same coverage.

This is funny. We recognized other team's coverage but we can't seem to figure out our own coverage to shut down the TE. :boohoo:

 

[Butterfrog 2.0]

This is funny. We recognized other team's coverage but we can't seem to figure out our own coverage to shut down the TE. :boohoo:

That quote is just BS, Sporano is making excuses for Fasano. Nobody is going to gameplan to stop our TE's, they're just not good enough to be focused on like that.

 

[phintim]

You have to be kidding? You have Ferguson, Taylor and Porter and tons of young backups who can rest those guys. Porter is 1 year away from the Pro Bowl and Taylor 2. Ferg has looked decent so far. Everyone else is young.

 

[phintim]

The problem is, we have a lot more holes on our team then we care to admit. We have no gamebreakers on offense, no big-time QB, an old starting NT, old starting OLBs, average guys starting at ILB and a free safety who needs to be replaced

You cannot replace them overnight. We have pretty good young backups everywhere you mentioned but ILB and safety. I am not sure Culver might be better than Wilson too. That is my gut feeling and watching him play. He reminds me a bit of Bell when he was a specials teams ace and playing the dime.

I really think part of our issue on defense is just additude. They need to go out every game with something to prove a chip on their shoulder like someone is picking on them. They are just not playing tough enough. The offensive line is the same way too though I think that Grove brings a bit of that toughness to the table. I hate to say it but I beleive that Ryan for the Jets has brought that to the table which is the reason for their resurgence this year. You wait till we play the jets it is always a blood fued but they are going to be looking to just beat us up. They are practicing that every week. Ryan is coaching them to want to hurt the opposing team and while I am not sold that mentallity will ever win the super bowl it sure can win some games. Baltimore has been playing that way for quite some time with their defense basically winning many games. Of course Ryan came from that team too.

Parcells endorced the guy last year too not good to hear. His daddy Buddy was of the same mold to with Philly. Philly was a tough team back then but he could never get them over the hump but there were a lot of players those Philly teams put on IR.

 

[Phinsfan210]

First of all, talk about OVERREACTION at its best. One game haha what a joke...second of all, last i checked this is year 2 in a 4 year rebuilding process. Were not a superbowl team, but we are a decent team and with our schedule this year, we are an 8-8 team.

 

[BenchFiedler]

First of all, talk about OVERREACTION at its best. One game haha what a joke...second of all, last i checked this is year 2 in a 4 year rebuilding process. Were not a superbowl team, but we are a decent team and with our schedule this year, we are an 8-8 team.

Well you see it that way that we are an 8-8 team, but others don't.. Last year the Dolphins teased us by winning the Brady-Less AFC East and going 11-5.... How do you expect some us to accept defeat after such a great season in 08..

 

[ArmyFin7]

That quote is just BS, Sporano is making excuses for Fasano. Nobody is going to gameplan to stop our TE's, they're just not good enough to be focused on like that.

I'm not sure it's making excuses for Fasano nearly as much as covering Pennington....

Defenses try to shut down the middle of the field on out D and force us to attack the edges and deep.....the majority of Fasanos routes take him over the middle...running amongst 9 or 10 defenders...

 

[Phinsfan210]

Well you see it that way that we are an 8-8 team, but others don't.. Last year the Dolphins teased us by winning the Brady-Less AFC East and going 11-5.... How do you expect some us to accept defeat after such a great season in 08..

By using common sense....why didnt the front office break the bank for some big time receiever this off-season?? maybe because they know were still a couple years away from being a superbowl contender...hmmmmm

 

[Phear]

funny thing is some of you thought the dolphins were a top 5 defense and the best d in the afce. your season isn't over but some are more realistic than others.

 

[Pinkboy]

funny thing is some of you thought the dolphins were a top 5 defense and the best d in the afce. your season isn't over but some are more realistic than others.

I definitely think the Dolphins could have a high ranked defense if they used the Rex Ryan school of defensive scheming.

When you play vanilla showing your hand on every down, it's easy for offenses to read and play against.. Just like you'd lose every hand at poker if you showed everyone your hand as soon as you received your cards.

 

[fishypete]

I'm not sure it's making excuses for Fasano nearly as much as covering Pennington....

Defenses try to shut down the middle of the field on out D and force us to attack the edges and deep.....the majority of Fasanos routes take him over the middle...running amongst 9 or 10 defenders...

Running amongest 9 or 10 defenders? Well thats the problem...other teams are playing with far too many players.

You can't have 9 or 10 defenders playing the middle now can you?