Juggernaut
Samoan
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- May 21, 2007
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I was just thinking about how different this team is from last year, and how the strengths/weaknesses have moved so I thought I'd do a little ranking. Let me know what you think.
1. RBs.
There can't be any argument that we don't have the most talented RB tandem in the league. (2005-2nd pick overall, 1999-5th pick overall). Whether Ronnie is 100% is still a question, but until he proves that he's not, this is the #1 strength right now.
2. Run Defense
Believe it or not, the next greatest strength I believe will be our ability to stop the run. Our front 7 is made up of BIG, athletic, strong tacklers. YB and Allen are good tacklers on the 2nd level too. If the preseason is any indication of this (#6 overall this preseason, 3.3 ypc see link) then this is a huge turnaround from last season when were in the absolute bottom, yes.. we were #32!!
3. Run Blocking
Prior to Ronnie going down last year, we lead the league in YPC. Add Jake Long, Justin Smiley, Donald Thomas, & Boomer, all who's scouting reports say their strength is in the run game, and you have a dominant run-blocking team. Dan Henning loves to run the football and I expect us to continue our preseason success.
4. Special Teams (return unit)
Ted "Houdini" Ginn. Nuf Said.
5. Deep Pass Defense
We were near the leaders in league in Pass defense last year, despite injuries to Goodman, YB, Hill, and almost every other safety that went out there. Alot of this was due to the fact that our run D was so bad so teams just pounded us. With a healthy slate of DBs, and a improved front 7 & pass rush I think we will not be giving up a lot of big plays in the passing game.
6. Kicking Game (FGs)
Dan Carpenter will be a stud...
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/659553.html
7. Short-Intermediate Passing Game
Chad Pennington is extermely accurate in this area. Expect alot of long drives like we saw on Saturday.
------ Weaknesses ------
8. Pass-Blocking
The knock on Jake Long is that he is suseptible to an elite speed edge rusher. Hopefully Sparano can coach him up so this will eventually become a strength, but for now I have to defer to the scouting report, since he'll be playing on Chad's blind side. The rest of the team isnt known for their pass block ability.
9. Deep Passing Game
The lack of a great pass blocking unit, Pennington average arm strength (some say below average, but I say its unfair) and only 1 real deep threat in Ginn, will allow defenses to play their deep help on Ginn's side and will not allow to get a ton of big plays over the top. Our big plays will be Pennington getting Ginn the ball in stride so he can do the rest.
10. Kick Coverage unit
Our coverge unit hasnt given up a TD in the presason, but hasn't look that great either. Carpenter also hasnt kicked too many touchbacks either. Hard to guage this frmo preseason tho with so much flux going on in that unit.
11. Short-Intermediate Pass Defense
In my opinion, this is the weakest point of our team. If Matt Roth starts the season at S-LB he will have to cover the TE. I can't see him being able to do this effectively at first. Porter/Anderson might be a liablity covering the RBs out of the backfield. Our D-line is big & strong but does not posses great speed. We can be exposed on screen plays and small dump offs to the RB/FB/TEs. Sparano is concerned about our abliltiy to "get off the field on 3rd down." This is why.
Now you can see why people say that you can say Parcells already has an imprint on this team. Our two greatest strenghts will be running the football and stopping the run, the oldest cliche to winning in football.
Thoughts?
1. RBs.
There can't be any argument that we don't have the most talented RB tandem in the league. (2005-2nd pick overall, 1999-5th pick overall). Whether Ronnie is 100% is still a question, but until he proves that he's not, this is the #1 strength right now.
2. Run Defense
Believe it or not, the next greatest strength I believe will be our ability to stop the run. Our front 7 is made up of BIG, athletic, strong tacklers. YB and Allen are good tacklers on the 2nd level too. If the preseason is any indication of this (#6 overall this preseason, 3.3 ypc see link) then this is a huge turnaround from last season when were in the absolute bottom, yes.. we were #32!!
3. Run Blocking
Prior to Ronnie going down last year, we lead the league in YPC. Add Jake Long, Justin Smiley, Donald Thomas, & Boomer, all who's scouting reports say their strength is in the run game, and you have a dominant run-blocking team. Dan Henning loves to run the football and I expect us to continue our preseason success.
4. Special Teams (return unit)
Ted "Houdini" Ginn. Nuf Said.
5. Deep Pass Defense
We were near the leaders in league in Pass defense last year, despite injuries to Goodman, YB, Hill, and almost every other safety that went out there. Alot of this was due to the fact that our run D was so bad so teams just pounded us. With a healthy slate of DBs, and a improved front 7 & pass rush I think we will not be giving up a lot of big plays in the passing game.
6. Kicking Game (FGs)
Dan Carpenter will be a stud...
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/659553.html
7. Short-Intermediate Passing Game
Chad Pennington is extermely accurate in this area. Expect alot of long drives like we saw on Saturday.
------ Weaknesses ------
8. Pass-Blocking
The knock on Jake Long is that he is suseptible to an elite speed edge rusher. Hopefully Sparano can coach him up so this will eventually become a strength, but for now I have to defer to the scouting report, since he'll be playing on Chad's blind side. The rest of the team isnt known for their pass block ability.
9. Deep Passing Game
The lack of a great pass blocking unit, Pennington average arm strength (some say below average, but I say its unfair) and only 1 real deep threat in Ginn, will allow defenses to play their deep help on Ginn's side and will not allow to get a ton of big plays over the top. Our big plays will be Pennington getting Ginn the ball in stride so he can do the rest.
10. Kick Coverage unit
Our coverge unit hasnt given up a TD in the presason, but hasn't look that great either. Carpenter also hasnt kicked too many touchbacks either. Hard to guage this frmo preseason tho with so much flux going on in that unit.
11. Short-Intermediate Pass Defense
In my opinion, this is the weakest point of our team. If Matt Roth starts the season at S-LB he will have to cover the TE. I can't see him being able to do this effectively at first. Porter/Anderson might be a liablity covering the RBs out of the backfield. Our D-line is big & strong but does not posses great speed. We can be exposed on screen plays and small dump offs to the RB/FB/TEs. Sparano is concerned about our abliltiy to "get off the field on 3rd down." This is why.
Now you can see why people say that you can say Parcells already has an imprint on this team. Our two greatest strenghts will be running the football and stopping the run, the oldest cliche to winning in football.
Thoughts?
