Jackson's Monday sports buzz- Miller/Moreno and Why the run defese got worse

[Daytona Fin]

### Joe Philbin made clear this past week that while he likes Lamar Miller and that he has all the skills to thrive as an NFL back, Philbin is pushing him for more.

There's a good chance Miller could go from starter to backup with the addition of Knowshon Moreno.

“We want to see him make more explosive runs here and there," Philbin said of Miller. "His pass protection improved but there’s still room for development there. He can do all three things a running back needs to do -- he has good running skills, he can pass protect, he can catch the football. We thought Lamar played well."

But… “We’ve got to break more tackles. I may have been guilty of overcoaching, harping on the ball security issue. He really did a good job of that. At some point, running backs need to break tackles. It’s not that he didn’t break any. But he’s got to break some more. There is room that we could potentially utilize him more [as a pass receiver]. He has good natural hands, good speed.”

Moreno figures to be the back who catches the majority of passes among the team's running backs. Miller will compete with Moreno for the starting job, but Moreno enters as the favorite.

Why has the run defense gotten worse over the past two years?

Here was Philbin's explanation: “They’re not magical things. But at times, the gap soundness was compromised. There are some missed tackle that led to explosive runs. That’s been a culprit. It’s been more an issue of fundamentals, technique, staying within the scheme, making sure we’re all tied together.”

Philbin and Dennis Hickey didn't say it, but it's obvious, as we have stated, that the move from Karlos Dansby/Kevin Burnett to Dannell Ellerbe/Phillip Wheeler made the Dolphins worse against the run.

And unfortunately, the Dolphins did not pursue the top run-stopping linebackers in free agency (Brandon Spikes, Jon Beason, Darryl Sharpton). They made an offer to D'Qwell Jackson, who graded out below average against the run, but he opted for the Colts.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/

 

[Daytona Fin]

Might be without a fullback again.

Philbin didn’t sound like the Dolphins are determined to have a natural fullback on the roster. “Priority wise, it’s not at the top of our list.”

 

[ANUFan]

Arrrghhh CB Patterson visiting the JETS. I'm pretty sure he signs there and immediately becomes a starter. When healthy the guy is a baller!

 

[Hayden Fox]

If Joe likes Miller so much...give him the ball more!

 

[Hayden Fox]

A quality LB in the draft is almost as important as the RT or OG that is left.

 

[TheWalrus]

The scheme was as big of an issue as the linebackers in our run stopping problems. Too many stunts and shifting and not enough playing downhill, especially since last year we had a personnel advantage against just about every offensive line we faced. We should have been playing straight up and downhill way more than we were. It was stunning watching the all 22 at times, how we'd stunt ourselves right out of the way of a run and there's Ellerbe or Misi or Wheeler in the hole face up on an offensive lineman with a fullback in behind the OL.

Coyle needs to stop being too clever by half, especially since he didn't really show much feel for when to call the flashy stuff. I was hoping this year he'd realize the error of his ways but the Earl Mitchell signing told me he was doubling down on a great athlete, thinking that the problem was we just weren't executing the four billion stunts per game with enough speed. Unfortunately for us I think he's sadly mistaken.

 

[Daytona Fin]

As previously reported about Hartline and Gibson. I think we expect them to be fully recovered for the season. I wonder if the Dolphins medical staff has looked at them, because Philbin said at the owners meeting they hadn't.

Philbin said Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson are progressing well in their recovery from significant knee injuries and both are expected back for training camp.

 

[Atila]

Our problem, even more than Phillip Wheelers play last year, was that we had no one behind him good enough to take his playtime. Think about that... as bad as Phillip Wheeler was at times last season, the next guy up was Jason Trusnik or some other nobody... players that were always getting burned even if they were only on the field for 5 or 6 plays.

 

[fishfanmiami]

The scheme was as big of an issue as the linebackers in our run stopping problems. Too many stunts and shifting and not enough playing downhill, especially since last year we had a personnel advantage against just about every offensive line we faced. We should have been playing straight up and downhill way more than we were. It was stunning watching the all 22 at times, how we'd stunt ourselves right out of the way of a run and there's Ellerbe or Misi or Wheeler in the hole face up on an offensive lineman with a fullback in behind the OL.

Coyle needs to stop being too clever by half, especially since he didn't really show much feel for when to call the flashy stuff. I was hoping this year he'd realize the error of his ways but the Earl Mitchell signing told me he was doubling down on a great athlete, thinking that the problem was we just weren't executing the four billion stunts per game with enough speed. Unfortunately for us I think he's sadly mistaken.

I think they went into last season with the number one goal on defense being to cause turnovers. The blizing and chance taking did result in more of those but the payback was being out of position and allowing RB's to gash us for big yardage on runs.
Coyle has got to find a happy medium and like you say play more downhill. Blitz when you find a weakness you can exploit but not as a way of life so to speak.

 

[TheWalrus]

I think they went into last season with the number one goal on defense being to cause turnovers. The blizing and chance taking did result in more of those but the payback was being out of position and allowing RB's to gash us for big yardage on runs.
Coyle has got to find a happy medium and like you say play more downhill. Blitz when you find a weakness you can exploit but not as a way of life so to speak.

I don't see how line stunts force interceptions, honestly. The purpose of line multiple stunts and creative blitzes up front are to create negative yardage runs and sacks. And they do that if your personnel can run it, you've scouted the opposing OL's strengths and weaknesses, and most of all you're smart about when to call them. Because it's a bit all or nothing.

Now, on the plus side a run for a loss of five yards or a sack is greatly correlated to punts. Basically, they're how drives get stopped. So unless you're totally dominant then it's something you should to be willing to incur risk to achieve. However, there's something to be said for realizing where you're strong and can create a positive outcome without incurring so much risk -- and also something to be said for timing -- and on those accounts Coyle failed, at times miserably. He kept going double or nothing like a guy with "Born to Lose" tattooed on his chest when he should have played the odds more.

I think you said it perfectly. For us it was a way of life. And it shouldn't have been.

 

[nick1]

No doubt the defense is being called aggressively. Which means if your wrong with your guess you give up a big play. Ideal for a team playing with a Lead. If we have a better offense the defense will look a lot better. Defense will thrive playing with a Lead

 

[hoops]

no **** the run d's gonna be worse...tell em joe we dont need no stinking waste a 53 roster spot fullback in this o

 

[dolpns13]

Arrrghhh CB Patterson visiting the JETS. I'm pretty sure he signs there and immediately becomes a starter. When healthy the guy is a baller!

I hope so. Because that 3 games he gives them next season will put a nice dent in their salary cap. Then Kyle Wilson can be their starter

 

[ANUFan]

I hope so. Because that 3 games he gives them next season will put a nice dent in their salary cap. Then Kyle Wilson can be their starter

That's one side of the coin. Have you thought of the other? Patterson being healthier next season and plays alot more games?

 

[phinfanNY08]

Arrrghhh CB Patterson visiting the JETS. I'm pretty sure he signs there and immediately becomes a starter. When healthy the guy is a baller!

Thats should state IF healthy. Even when he was in the lineup, he went down with an injury. Dude is as fragile as a tennis player