Sports Buzz: Concerns still linger | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Sports Buzz: Concerns still linger

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gafin

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But it’s difficult to gloss over serious concerns about this roster and this team’s deficiencies --- from run defense (24th in the league in 2013) to chemistry between the quarterback and star receiver (Ryan Tannehill and Mike Wallace connected on 6 of 36 throws of 20-plus yards last season) to the offensive line (toasted for eight sacks in Thursday’s scrimmage, albeit without pads).

The defense has replaced perhaps its most stout run stopper (Paul Soliai) with Earl Mitchell, who ranked 57th of 69 tackles against the run last season. (Soliai was 16th.)
The only other major front seven personnel change: Koa Misi moving to middle linebacker, flip-flopping with Dannell Ellerbe.
“We’ve got to find a way to get Koa on the field more,” Cameron Wake said. “He runs around like his hair’s on fire. He’s strong at the point of attack and fearless.”
But is that enough to substantially improve a unit that allowed 1998 rushing yards (their most in six years), including 140 by a then-winless Tampa team? We’re skeptical.
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He has several more concerns and a few positives:


### Positives? Several. Among them: Jamar Taylor looks much improved. This group of defensive ends should be among the best in the AFC, from a pass rushing standpoint.

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s pre-snap motion and willingness to allow Wallace to vary where he lines up will confuse teams, or as Tannehill said, “We’re going to put people in positions they don’t want to be on defense, get the ball to our playmakers all over the field.”
And the Dolphins have probably eight or so NFL-caliber players at receiver, including second-round pick Jarvis Landry, who Tannehill says has the strongest hands he has ever seen.
“Landry is awesome,” quarterback Matt Moore said. “He came in with a veteran mindset. His catching skills are off the charts. He’s going to help us a lot.” One NFC scout predicted “Landry’s going to be a great No. 2 receiver” eventually.
### Cornerback Cortland Finnegan, trying to rebound from two disappointing seasons, looked good this offseason before sitting out last week to rest his knees. One NFC front office executive said Finnegan has a good chance to rejuvenate his career here partly because he wasn't properly used by former Rams defensive coordinator Tim Walton, the ex-UM coordinator who was fired by the Rams after last season.
When I asked Finnegan about that last week, he said Walton’s defensive system was “atrocious. From the game plan to technique to fundamentals, they weren’t in line with a defensive coordinator who knew what he was doing. He was a great defensive backs coach, but when you're in over your head, it's kind of tough... Here coaches know to play guys to their strengths. I wish I had been here a long time ago. [Coordinator Kevin] Coyle is so good at dissecting offenses.”
After two disappointing seasons, does Finnegan, at 30, still have the same skill set he showed as a Pro Bowler for Tennessee six years ago? “It’s still there,” he said. “But until I prove it, we’ll never know.”
### Lazor is being very demanding with his quarterbacks, but his tight ends are getting no slack, either.
"We have the second hardest job next to the quarterback," Dion Sims, who's holding down the No. 2 tight end job, said last week. "It's our job to know every position [H-back, etc]. It's tough on us."
Michael Egnew was scolded by Lazor after forgetting one play, but Egnew has been a generally reliable pass catching target in the 10-to-20 yard range throughout the offseason program.
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http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
 
Sunday Sportz Buzz - Lots of Dolphins tidbits

As for the offensive line, left tackle Branden Albert assuredly will be an upgrade, but his two sacks allowed to Olivier Vernon Thursday were reminiscent of the swinging door we saw at the position last season.

Right tackle Ja’Wuan James, who also allowed a sack Thursday, hasn’t embarrassed himself in the offseason program but remains something of an unknown.
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Last season, Wallace caught 53.3 percent of passes thrown to him --- 23rd-worst of 111 NFL receivers. Many were Tannehill’s fault, but Wallace’s 11 drops tied for fifth in the league.

Wallace said they have connected on “three or four” of six deep balls in offseason practices, but why have they attempted so few?
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Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
 
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Well done gafin, you beat DF by a minute. Gonna have to be concerned with him being in shape, like Moreno. lol
 
He probably was having his Sunday lunch, no way I beat him normally.
 
gafin said:
He probably was having his Sunday lunch, no way I beat him normally.
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Been there, done that. Just had to joke a bit on DF's off season condition.
 
gafin said:
He probably was having his Sunday lunch, no way I beat him normally.
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Haven't been on twitter today , I guess we just happened on the article about the same time.:up:
Fin Fan in Cali said:
Or taking the kids to the pool.
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No, they get get dropped off early in the morn after Ive had my two cups of coffee. :lol:

Southbeach 2 said:
Been there, done that. Just had to joke a bit on DF's off season condition.
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Are you calling me a slacker? :ponder:
 
Daytona Fin said:
Haven't been on twitter today , I guess we just happened on the article about the same time.:up:

Are you calling me a slacker? :ponder:
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Not at all Pal, just having a bit of fun "while I can." lol
 
This roster does have a lot of question marks going into training camp. We have major question marks at 3 offensive line positions, the entire linebacking corp, Finnegan and Delmas in the secondary, depth behind Clay at TE, and RB now that Moreno is injured. Not all of these are Hickey's fault, he didn't really have much say at the linebacking unit because of the amount of money Ireland gave them last year. As for the secondary, I am hopeful that Jamar Taylor is ready to be a starter this year, because I really don't have faith that Finnegan can be anything decent at CB2. I hope Delmas can stay healthy and that one of the TEs we've drafted these past few years can develop behind Clay. As for RB, with Moreno's injury it looks like we could very easily have the same exact backfield this year, which isn't good.

On the offensive line we are looking at 3 first time starters there. That is a lot of faith we are putting in unproven players to protect the quarterback.
 
There are still plenty of questions going forward but i also see some potential answers on the team so that's encouraging.

As far as Daytona he's probably just getting home from an all nighter with multiple hot babes and a little slow on the trigger until he replaces body fluids and catches 40 winks :chuckle:
 
Another great article by Barry Jackson. He's right on point all over. Landy gets nothing but rave reviews; run D is a concern.

I've wondered why Barry doesn't do radio spots like the other scribes in town do?
 
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