Sports Buzz: 3:45pm update Coyle responds to play criticism

[gafin]

3:45 p.m. update: Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle and coach Joe Philbin said Monday they were unaware of player unhappiness about defensive decisions made by the coaching staff in Sunday’s loss against Kansas City.

The Miami Herald reported Monday that players were irate over some elements of the game plan, including Cameron Wake and Jason Trusnik sometimes being asked to cover speedy running back Joe McKnight on passing plays. Wake was targeted once in coverage, resulting in an 11-yard touchdown pass to McKnight.

Coyle and Philbin said no players came to them to voice displeasure about the defensive strategy.

“I didn’t hear any of that,” Coyle said. “But after a game, a lot of times everyone is emotional. Emotions run high. Guys may say something and haven’t had a chance to look at the tape… There are things I could have done better in the game. I’m not sure who said it or what, but it’s not a big deal to me.”

Wake, considered one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, is used in pass coverage on occasion but Coyle said he has never considered using him only a pass rusher.

“We know he can provide us with a great rush at times; other times there are opportunities to take advantage of protections and things people do,” Coyle said. “They will slide protection to him and you’re rushing into a brick wall at times. It’s a chess game you’re playing. We don’t [put him in coverage] an inordinate amount of times. There are occasions we do it and a lot of teams do.”

### Though the Dolphins’ defense is third in yards per pass play and ninth in total yards allowed, they are 29th in points permitted per game and 20th in yards relinquished per rushing play. Kansas City bludgeoned the Dolphins for 174 yards on the ground, including 132 yards from backup tailback Knile Davis, on 32 carries.

Of his run defense, Coyle said: “We’re not happy with it right now. We started the year OK. We didn’t tackle very well [Sunday]. We missed a lot of tackles, which enabled runs to break out. There were a number of instances with unblocked player in position to make the play and we didn’t do it. It’s frustrating but we have to get better.”

Coyle said the Dolphins’ play at safety has been “inconsistent. Guys playing hard but not as effectively as I know they are capable of.”

Reshad Jones, the Dolphins’ highest-paid safety, has one more game to serve in his four-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...gressed-dolphins-notes.html#storylink=addthis

 

[TheJetsBlow]

**** you Coyle

 

[raving]

Joe Philbin did not know about Martin. He did not know about Dion Jordan's drug problem. He does not know about his defense sucking because players are utilized incorrectly. He does not know that they are irate!

Well these JACKASSES keep thinking they are the Dolphins. They are NOT!

We fans are the Dolphins. And we do not deserve this crap and we do not have to put up with it anymore!

This guy has got to go! I cannot stand Mr. 8 and 8.

How in the hell is this good enough for anybody....

I cannot take it anymore - and nor should any other true fan of this team...Just sayin...

 

[hoops]

lazor seems to think it's just gonna take time with ryan...i hope he's right...coyle other than trusnick in the sub package i didnt have a problem with that gameplan...the tackling on the back end was as bas as i can remember from this team

 

[Zounds]

lazor seems to think it's just gonna take time with ryan...i hope he's right...coyle other than trusnick in the sub package i didnt have a problem with that gameplan...the tackling on the back end was as bas as i can remember from this team

Me neither. I thought the game plan was good enough to win. I think we could have covered TEs and the RBs better, but we didnt lose because of the defense.

 

[Andyman]

Me neither. I thought the game plan was good enough to win. I think we could have covered TEs and the RBs better, but we didnt lose because of the defense.

Agreed all around. Tackle better, better situation play and MUCH better execution on offence required. Ryan has to know when to escape and run a bit.

 

[Killerphinz32]

Me neither. I thought the game plan was good enough to win. I think we could have covered TEs and the RBs better, but we didnt lose because of the defense.

Same here, the defense looked on fire in the beginning. Then after the half when the offense could not move the ball, the defense gave up. Whats the point of risking your body if the offense can't convert a third and 4, or a third and 1. How many times did the defense put the offense in great position. They got a freaking safety for christ sake. Tannehill sucks, he has no sack, and couldn't lead a group of kindergartners to disney land.

 

[deester11]

Your best pass rusher and one of the best can rush the passer sometimes? That's a fireable observation right there. GTFO

 

[Sherif]

Me neither. I thought the game plan was good enough to win. I think we could have covered TEs and the RBs better, but we didnt lose because of the defense.

I disagree with the Defensive game plan. The DBs should press more and we need to set the edge better against the run. If Alex Smith can convert a 3rd and 10 running the ball, then that's a defensive breakdown. We have some scrubs on the D because of injuries, but we're just playing way off in the passing game and we should press more. It's not ok for your D to give up 34 points and that's on Coyle. Sure we missed some tackles, but overall they had 4 long drives that culminated in TD's. First blame is on the coaching and lack of adjustments, second is on execution.

 

[MRojas4]

lazor seems to think it's just gonna take time with ryan...i hope he's right...coyle other than trusnick in the sub package i didnt have a problem with that gameplan...the tackling on the back end was as bas as i can remember from this team

Trusnick, dear lord sweet baby jesus, please get his ass off the field.

Terrible.

I lost count how many times I saw him trailing RB/WR/TE by 5+ yards.

 

[roy_miami]

Cameron Wake is a football player and a competitor first and foremost, I highly doubt he's complaining about being tasked with anything that occurs on the football field.

 

[MRojas4]

Cameron Wake is a football player and a competitor first and foremost, I highly doubt he's complaining about being tasked with anything that occurs on the football field.

I'm sure he thought it was dumb as **** for him to be trying to cover a RB from his stance.

 

[Zounds]

I disagree with the Defensive game plan. The DBs should press more and we need to set the edge better against the run. If Alex Smith can convert a 3rd and 10 running the ball, then that's a defensive breakdown. We have some scrubs on the D because of injuries, but we're just playing way off in the passing game and we should press more. It's not ok for your D to give up 34 points and that's on Coyle. Sure we missed some tackles, but overall they had 4 long drives that culminated in TD's. First blame is on the coaching and lack of adjustments, second is on execution.

Setting the edge is technique, we were talking about game plan here. Even still, our guys were doing a decent job of containing outside runs. The runs up the middle are what got us - when they ran right at Trusnick

And Brent Grimes is not really a press guy, Finnegan used to be, but I like how he's being used now. We held their WR's to 7 catches - that's pretty good CB play. Coyle has established a scheme that fits his players. We just dont have LBs that can cover.

---------- Post added at 04:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 PM ----------

Cameron Wake is a football player and a competitor first and foremost, I highly doubt he's complaining about being tasked with anything that occurs on the football field.

Yea I'd have a hard time believing he's the one who texted to Adam Beasley that the defense is "irate" about Coyle's gameplan.

 

[xSxPxHx]

**** you Coyle You're a POS

 

[phinfan40353]

I think in all fairness to some involved (players especially), we are being exposed and being made to compensate for a subpar, when healthy, and decimated by injury LB core. We are losing the mismatch war in some cases and we will continue to bleed until Misi is healthy and some of these backups go back to the bench. Our 1st string LB core isn't going to scare anyone. And that is on the coaches and FO.

Moving Misi to MLB, not using a high enough draft pick on the long term solution and not doing anything about the problem in free agency would be easy to blame the GM at face value. But he had too many holes to fix in front of the QB left by the last GM.

But I will say that our handling of the LB core this year seems eerily familiar to our handling of the OL last year.

Coyle wasn't given any real starting talent toys to help him out. And he was given hot garbage in Ellerbe and Wheeler to start the problematic process. I don't know enough about schemes to criticize his playcalling.

But I will say this.... If I am an offensive coordinator designing a game plan based on what I see on paper, I attacking the middle of the field all day long against us. And I would do it with quick hits and slants. Neutralize the edge rush and don't test the boundaries as much. Here's the problem... even if I email my game plan to Coyle the week ahead, he simply doesn't have the talent to stop me right now.

Until Coyle can improve his talent at LB, we will get ripped on a weekly basis up the gut. And with our offense punting the ball, the opponent's running game only makes it worse.