Mando on the Struggling Run Defense | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Mando on the Struggling Run Defense

Hayden Fox

Hayden Fox

Is it Sunday yet?
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http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...y-reasons-miami-dolphins-run-d-struggles.html

He hits the nail on the head IMO. The change out of LB's has not worked and they should have gone with the Dansby and Burnett for one more year. While it has little to do with the article, Dansby and Burnett were superior in coverage as well. Finally, he is right to point out that there might be something in Coyle's scheme that make the LB's ineffective hence the comparisons to past seasons and what players are doing in other parts of the league upon their departure.

It takes us to Sunday and it is one of the areas I am concerned of most vs. the Jets.
 
Just put everyone within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage even the corners have a single safety back there and MAKE geno beat us. I do not think their wr are anything to be afraid of. With everyone up so close mix it up on who is blitzing or dropping out and geno will have his little head spinning.
 
I swear I have heard Dansby's name so many times year on ESPN doing something positive that it makes me sick!

He is having a pro bowl year.

In 3 years with Miami he had 6 sacks - This year alone with the Cards he has 6.5
In 3 years with Miami he had 19 passes defended - This year he has 18
In 3 years with Miami he had 1 INT - Guess what? He has 4 this year alone.
He also has the highest number of tackles of all his career this year.

He is a great player that we just never used properly. He has always excelled in Arizona, which is why we paid him so much to come play with us.
 
This is our key to the game, we have been running it really well of late, we need to grind it out to have a chance to win.
 
Yep, got criticized heavily for speaking on this linebacker change earlier in the year. People were overwhelmed with Jeff Ireland grabbing Wallace and getting younger, etc.

Stats look great for Dansby but the guy was always a solid player for us and a true leader on and off the field for us. Sure he had a big mouth, so what, the guy played his butt off and last year played through a torn triceps, literally restricting him to one arm for most of the season. So what he got paid, we already gave him a lion's share of the contract, wish we would of just let it play out with him.

All that said, I hope Wheeler and Ellerbe both play their best games of the seasons. I have no problem seeing the stupid "Where the Ellerbe/Wheeler haters at?" thread come Sunday.

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 AM ----------
nyjunc said:
This is our key to the game, we have been running it really well of late, we need to grind it out to have a chance to win.
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The Jets definitely have to run the ball, early and often, to give them their best chances to win. Miami should know this going on . . . the more Geno Smith handles the ball from the pocket, the better chances Miami have.
 
I don't think anyone is really debating this anymore...Mando is pretty much stating the obvious. How many times have we seen counters go for 6-8 yards, and seen wheeler awns ellerbe get manhandled in the replays? Just about every time.
 
Kdawg954 said:
Yep, got criticized heavily for speaking on this linebacker change earlier in the year. People were overwhelmed with Jeff Ireland grabbing Wallace and getting younger, etc.

Stats look great for Dansby but the guy was always a solid player for us and a true leader on and off the field for us. Sure he had a big mouth, so what, the guy played his butt off and last year played through a torn triceps, literally restricting him to one arm for most of the season. So what he got paid, we already gave him a lion's share of the contract, wish we would of just let it play out with him.

All that said, I hope Wheeler and Ellerbe both play their best games of the seasons. I have no problem seeing the stupid "Where the Ellerbe/Wheeler haters at?" thread come Sunday.

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 AM ----------



The Jets definitely have to run the ball, early and often, to give them their best chances to win. Miami should know this going on . . . the more Geno Smith handles the ball from the pocket, the better chances Miami have.
Click to expand...

One thing Geno has been doing since that last Miami game is running himself which has been huge, he has really helped move the chains w/ his legs so that is also a big factor. Our rushing totals look great in recent weeks and it has mostly been Ivory/Powell but a big chunk is from Geno. he has almost 150 yds the last 3 weeks and no fewer than 44 a game.
 
There are 2 types of LBers: ones who are in the pile and ones who are standing outside looking down at the pile. Ellerbe and Wheeler are always late the party. They're pile watchers.
 
nyjunc said:
One thing Geno has been doing since that last Miami game is running himself which has been huge, he has really helped move the chains w/ his legs so that is also a big factor. Our rushing totals look great in recent weeks and it has mostly been Ivory/Powell but a big chunk is from Geno. he has almost 150 yds the last 3 weeks and no fewer than 44 a game.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with that, you definitely have to keep an eye on Geno Smith and his ability to run the ball and more than keep an eye on him . . . expect him to run it. That a way for them to open up the running game and you wanna close off all those windows.

I do think the most important matchup is our offense against your defense though. If the Jets can do similar things to what Buffalo did last week and if we haven't made adjustments . . . Geno is more than capable to put up enough points to take this game. Miami needs to score points, which means passing the ball, which means protecting Ryan Tannehill. It's the key matchup in this one.
 
LouPhinFan said:
There are 2 types of LBers: ones who are in the pile and ones who are standing outside looking down at the pile. Ellerbe and Wheeler are always late the party. They're pile watchers.
Click to expand...

They play like they suffer from piles...
 
The Dolphins have elite defensive tackles and then squander all that production by having a bad run defense. That's inexcusable and beyond pathetic. As much grief as Wheeler gets, Ellerbe is also atrocious. In some ways Ellerbe is worse because he is the mike and has greater responsibilities. As poor as these backers are playing, it's actually worse than what the stats show because the D tackles in front of them have been outstanding. It's not like they have bad defensive tackles in front of them making it tough. Wheeler and Ellerbe are actually running behind defensive linemen who are setting them up for success and they are still miserable.

Beyond all that, Coyle has done a great job with the secondary but as a coordinator he is overrated. He essentially is a top notch DB coach and poor coordinator.

From the top down, this is a mistake filled operation. The decisions to get Wheeler and Ellerbe for big money. The personnel is more suited for a 34 defense. The mis-use of Burnett and Dansby who perform better elsewhere. Granted at least Dansby is in better shape and more motivated. But still you can argue the Dolphins failed to get Dansby to that point. And of course you have to blame the players.
 
Dansby and Burnett were really good against the run and really bad against the pass. We brought in Ellerbe and Wheeler because they were good coverage LB'ers. IM we should have never got rid of Nolan as Nolan is so much better than Coyle. That hurt us more than bringing in Wheeler and Ellerbe.
 
Well, we spend so much time in nickel trying to defend the pass our lbs are expected to do more. We need to be in base defense more against the jests and against teams with young qbs inexperienced in exploiting mismatches. There are fewer and fewer of those teams out there tho
 
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