Kendell Langford should have a huge year

[mattgilm]

If Taylor and Porter are both rushing from the weakside or where ever they end up this year. Langford will be Quarterbacks worst nightmare every game. Langford will be hard to stop while also blocking Porter,Taylor, Bell, Wake and BigFergi. I think Langford will have a great year because of how great his fellow pass rushing teamates are. Go Dolphins.:rimshot:

 

[cafinfan408]

Langford is there for his great ability to stop the run any pass rush he gets is just a bonus.
I would look for Merling to get around 6-8 sacks this year though

 

[Dr. Phin]

Langford normally goes out on passing downs, and the is when Porter and Taylor will be in at the same time...so I don't think Taylor's presence will not help Langford.

 

[AccordOn13z]

I doubt both Porter AND Taylor will be rushing on the weakside. Porter/Wake and Merling come from the weak side. Langford and Taylor/Wake/Roth from the strongside. The best part is that both sides are equally as dangerous so you wont know what side the rush is coming from (if not both!). The problem last year was that teams knew the rush was coming from the weakside from Porter but their issue was that even when anticipating the blitz they couldnt stop him (at the beginning atleast). Porter+Taylor+(3-4 Defense)= Mayhem!!

I do think Kendall is gonna have a BIG year; however, I think Merling is gonna have just as BIG a year as Langford. I think that both of these guys are shaping up to be a great DE tandum that will be solid for years to come. Langford with his brute force/Mechanics and Merling with his agility, high motor, and football intelligence. I say intelligence because he obviously understands offenses because that pick6 he had from Farve last year was not because he was in the right place at the right time, it was because he actually adjusted to the screen and picked off the pass with his solid hands. Im comfortable starting them all season long. The new problem now is at DT and if Ferguson still has anything left in the tank, Solia can loose the weight and get it together, or if Starks can even play DT.

 

[JT-forpresident]

langford will have a good year, but look out for merling mostly.

the guy's production and imput in the game skyrocketed as the season went on, and he finished with a huge pick 6 against the jets. he was asked to play multiple positions ( 5 technique, 7 technique in our dime package, 3 technique in our 4-2-5 nickel package) but next year, with JT back ( who will be our 2nd pass rusher opposite porter in nickel and dime) , merling will concentrate on 5 technique and that's about it (a little bit of goalline also, but that's normal) so i think he'll learn/progress even faster.

If his progression continues in '09 as i foresee it, he'll be a probowler without a doubt.

As for langford, he played the 5 technique ALL year but didn't progress as much (even though i really like what he does). he'll be a very effective player on running downs but his pass rush won't be showcased like merling's ... and that usually doesn't help to get you noticed, because the average football fan doesn't see the player who seals a gap and makes the RB bounce in a LB's lap. the average fan doesn't see the relentless pass rush against a tackle and guard that crushes the pocket. No, the average fan sees and watches the sacks, the tackle for losses, etc etc. and langford simply doesn't produce that much, even though he's a VERY effective 5 technique, so don't be disapointed people if langford doesn't put up surprising stats next year, and don't go thinking he's a bad player, because those guys up front are the unsung heroes of our defence (whenever it's successful, that is :D)

 

[SamTodd]

I remember kendall opened up the season on fire and then died off as the season wore on... Regardless, I remember times when kendall was so close to have a sack! dude did provide pressure regardless of his numbers... This year the pocket will be collapsing alot faster, and everyone on the team will benefit from more inflated sack numbers.. the more they try to block Porter and Taylor the more eveyrone else will get!!

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Langford will have a big year, but the average fan won't notice. If he ends up with 4 sacks, I'll be surprised. He'll eat up blockers and plug up lanes.

I agree that Merling will put up more stats and be more dynamic, but I think seven sacks would be a very high number - unless they find ways to free him up on 3rd-and-longs.

I don't know how people can be so critical of our recent draft after looking at what we got in the '08. Long, Merling, Henne, Langford. If our first four picks have that kind of impact this upcoming season, we'll be looking good.

 

[RUDEbyallMEANS]

I'm worried about Miami's run defense.. Miami is bringing in the same exact squad from last year with the exception of switching out Holliday with the guy from JAcksonville.

Unless the mountain from Jacksonville comes in and takes over a staring DE spot... I think that the undersized Miami 3-man D-line will have problems.

Ferg is 300 at NT.... Langford is 295 at DE and Merling is 285 at DE.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

295 and 285 is big enough for DE - even by 3-4 standards.

I'd like a bigger NT, but Ferg did the job when healthy.

 

[Rick Cartman]

langford is one of the most up and coming 3-4 ends in the league, he played at 1-aa hampton and stepped in and won the starting job here in less than a week into training camp, the same spot merling could of won too. langford started 16 games and the fact we never heard about him is a good thing, that means he's doing his job. He is and will be a great asset for this defense for years to come.

 

[phinfan33]

langford is one of the most up and coming 3-4 ends in the league, he played at 1-aa hampton and stepped in and won the starting job here in less than a week into training camp, the same spot merling could of won too. langford started 16 games and the fact we never heard about him is a good thing, that means he's doing his job. He is and will be a great asset for this defense for years to come.

exactly...i've had a good feeling about him since we got him,and he's done good so far,and will hopefully improve...after our playoff loss,i remember reading an article where he said that he's going to spend the offseason working to improve his pass rushing ability...if he does that,he'll be good for us for years...