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Keep An Eye On...

FinFan17

FinFan17

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Something to watch for this coming season.
The Dolphins will have to run the ball and defend the run to be successful this season and the running game should be good with Drake, Gore and Ballage toting the rock. That said, the defense has to make some big improvement stopping the run or it will be another long season. They were the worst versus the run this preseason and no excuse for another team to average over 150 yards a game on the ground, that is called soft. You keep hearing about how good the Dolphins defensive line is, but if they can't stop the run, then they are way overrated. Great defensive lines are good against the run and the pass, not just good pass rushers who can't stop the run.
 
Another thing to keep an eye on is scoring in the redzone. The Dolphins seem to move the ball, but once inside the 20 yard line, they seem to stall and settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. It's time the team starts to settle for more...we want touchdowns. The fins have to get better on third and fourth down and come up with big plays on these downs, it's what good teams always seem to do....rise to the occasion.
 
FinFan17 said:
Another thing to keep an eye on is scoring in the redzone. The Dolphins seem to move the ball, but once inside the 20 yard line, they seem to stall and settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. It's time the team starts to settle for more...we want touchdowns. The fins have to get better on third and fourth down and come up with big plays on these downs, it's what good teams always seem to do....rise to the occasion.
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As optimisitc as I am, I find it more than mildly unsettling how much of this year's success falls on the shoulders of Raekwon McMillan. I'm not concerned about the pass rush at this point. I'm not all that concerned about the secondary, either. But the LB will make or break this run D. And if McMillan can diagnose and call assignments properly, things could get interesting.
 
FinFan17 said:
Something to watch for this coming season.
The Dolphins will have to run the ball and defend the run to be successful this season and the running game should be good with Drake, Gore and Ballage toting the rock. That said, the defense has to make some big improvement stopping the run or it will be another long season. They were the worst versus the run this preseason and no excuse for another team to average over 150 yards a game on the ground, that is called soft. You keep hearing about how good the Dolphins defensive line is, but if they can't stop the run, then they are way overrated. Great defensive lines are good against the run and the pass, not just good pass rushers who can't stop the run.
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We have been told by the team that we will be rotating D-Linemen to keep them fresh. This should be helpful as the game progresses.
Also, I expect McDonald, Fitz, or Jones to be near the LBers and help against the run at times.
 
Next years draft will be heavy on the defense for the Dolphins, especially the front seven, the linebackers and DT will be targets.
 
The Goat said:
As optimisitc as I am, I find it more than mildly unsettling how much of this year's success falls on the shoulders of Raekwon McMillan. I'm not concerned about the pass rush at this point. I'm not all that concerned about the secondary, either. But the LB will make or break this run D. And if McMillan can diagnose and call assignments properly, things could get interesting.
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I hope you are right because McMillan was a wrecking ball on defense for the Buckeyes and I am confident he can do the same for the Dolphins. As long as his knee holds up, he will be fine.
 
FinFan17 said:
I hope you are right because McMillan was a wrecking ball on defense for the Buckeyes and I am confident he can do the same for the Dolphins. As long as his knee holds up, he will be fine.
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Wreck away we will need it. John Offerdal where are ya.
 
There’s gonna be a lot of package play at LB this season. At lease I hope

I live in my Ohio and watched every snap of Raekwon’s collegiate career - and as a fan base I think many of us are expecting a little too much out of McMillan. Especially now after injury

He’s gonna get exposed in pass coverage if Burke leaves him in those situations often

He’s a terrific leader and very good gap fill assignment sound linebacker that has the intelligence to orchestrate a defense. At least he was in college

But he’s limited physically and just not great in coverage. It’s not his game

I’m personally more excited about the potential of what Jerome baker could be.

I’m not predicting one is gonna outplay the other, one is gonna suck or vice versa. But I do believe a lot of people are set up for mild disappointment w/ McMillan
 
FinFan17 said:
Next years draft will be heavy on the defense for the Dolphins, especially the front seven, the linebackers and DT will be targets.
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The funny thing is... I think Gase and co are happy with the lb corps even though most of us see it as a weak link. They seem to be far more concerned about the boundary cb outside of Howard which I just dont get. I will say this though... if Howard goes down we are in for a looong season.
 
FinFan17 said:
Next years draft will be heavy on the defense for the Dolphins, especially the front seven, the linebackers and DT will be targets.
Click to expand...
Would like to draft a WR. Definitely puts us on a High powered offense. Not sure our cap next year but Hopefully we can fill few spots on defense and go WR 1st or 2nd round
 
FinFan17 said:
Next years draft will be heavy on the defense for the Dolphins, especially the front seven, the linebackers and DT will be targets.
Click to expand...

At this stage it looks like the strongest draft ever in terms of top tier defensive linemen. Look at any list of the highest rated prospects and you think it is a listing of defensive linemen only. Nope...it includes everybody. Just happens to be one defensive lineman after another.
 
I feel pretty confident about running the ball on offense. The addition of Gore will help those short yardage situations and Drake could emerge as a superstar. Plus, Gase is good at scheming the running game.

Defense is a completely different story. On paper, the run defense looks like bottom five in the league. There's only one defensive tackle on the roster that I see as starting caliber and that's Godchaux. I think his ceiling is probably NFL average, which is a nice return for a 5th round pick. Phillip has a lot of talent, but can he get there? He hasn't yet. If he does, that certainly can lift the unit quite a bit. Spence and Taylor are situation guys IMO.

The defensive ends add pass rush ability, but don't provide much in run support. The linebackers are a question mark. Alonso is a good player, but he's not a take on guy. Baker is very fast and the potential is there and McMillan could help the run defense, but didn't honestly look good in preseason.

Long story short, hopefully I'm wrong and some players emerge. Either that, or the offense is going to have to be lights out for Miami to have any playoff hopes.
 
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