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Sports Buzz: Dolphins Linebacker Situation

I think this is the type of game Id let Chris McCain lose at LB some. Im not overly worried about Manual mentally picking him apart as I would have been with Brady. Let him run and chase these RBs out of the backfield this week. Jenkins will need a big game as well.

I know I don't want Trusnik in coverage on those backs in space
 
MiamiDolphin618 said:
I think this is the type of game Id let Chris McCain lose at LB some. Im not overly worried about Manual mentally picking him apart as I would have been with Brady. Let him run and chase these RBs out of the backfield this week. Jenkins will need a big game as well.

I know I don't want Trusnik in coverage on those backs in space
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I think you guys need to pump the breaks on McCain. He's not ready to be a full time starter and the coaching staff is doing an excellent job of putting him in situations that allow him to succeed. Also, he's got a hurt hip and that's not something anyone wants to aggravate or he'll end up on IR like Ellerbe and be lost for the season. Right now I'm content with McCain working from a "package" and not putting him out there full time...and I know if we put him out there full time and he has a bad game everyone will be blaming Coyle and Philbin for putting him out there before he's ready and second guessing everything.
 
hooshoops said:
god help us they get trusnick in space...
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Did you happen to catch any of the Ravens game last night Hoops or Datruth? Looked like Flacco was carving up the middle of the field. If that gameplan is employed against us not sure how we counter act it.
 
datruth55 said:
I think you guys need to pump the breaks on McCain. He's not ready to be a full time starter and the coaching staff is doing an excellent job of putting him in situations that allow him to succeed. Also, he's got a hurt hip and that's not something anyone wants to aggravate or he'll end up on IR like Ellerbe and be lost for the season. Right now I'm content with McCain working from a "package" and not putting him out there full time...and I know if we put him out there full time and he has a bad game everyone will be blaming Coyle and Philbin for putting him out there before he's ready and second guessing everything.
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While I do think thats a fair view…when I said "some" i was referring to specific packages and downs. Last week he was soley used as a DE and I would like to see him line up at LB some this week as well. He's athletic enough to run down these backs in the flats.
I get the idea of easing him in…and while I don't know the extent of his hip I certainly wouldn't want him to aggravate it. That said, he has performed every time he's been given the chance. He dominated in preseason…yes mainly against backups but he can only go against who's out there. At LB its not like he has a ton of competition…he needs more snaps.
 
MiamiDolphin618 said:
While I do think thats a fair view…when I said "some" i was referring to specific packages and downs. Last week he was soley used as a DE and I would like to see him line up at LB some this week as well. He's athletic enough to run down these backs in the flats.
I get the idea of easing him in…and while I don't know the extent of his hip I certainly wouldn't want him to aggravate it. That said, he has performed every time he's been given the chance. He dominated in preseason…yes mainly against backups but he can only go against who's out there. At LB its not like he has a ton of competition…he needs more snaps.
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He had 15 plays at DE and 2 at linebacker. We may see him more at linebacker but it also depends on his hip and how recovered he is from his illness that kept him out of practice Tuesday and Wednesday.

He's performed well because they're putting him in position to make plays. They're working to his strengths right now. Duffner seems to believe in him so lets see where he is by mid season. I suspect Tripp and McCain will be getting a lot of plays by then provided they stay/get healthy.
 
Albert Romano said:
Did you happen to catch any of the Ravens game last night Hoops or Datruth? Looked like Flacco was carving up the middle of the field. If that gameplan is employed against us not sure how we counter act it.
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EJ Manuel isn't Joe Flacco, the Bills don't have Owen Daniels or Steve Smith either. Plus Balt was pounding the run with Pierce and Forsette, LBs had to step up.
 
Mudder1310 said:
EJ Manuel isn't Joe Flacco, the Bills don't have Owen Daniels or Steve Smith either. Plus Balt was pounding the run with Pierce and Forsette, LBs had to step up.
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I understand for this game but more of a question for as the season goes along for other teams we face. There Bills backs can still cause some mismatches though on those dump passes IMO.
 
datruth55 said:
Ellerbe is slow, runs 4.9 40 compared to Jenkins who runs 4.65 40. If anything it adds more speed to the linebacking corp. IMO, right now, Jenkins is our best coverage linebacker I'm just not sure how he'll hold up against the run.
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While I do agree with everything you've been saying about the linebackers and their usage, etc.. Ellerbe is actually kind of quick, not near Jenkins level athlete. I looked up their times and Ellerbe ran a 4.6, while Jenkins I've seen 4.65, and heard he ran faster, 4.5 range in college though not official.
 
Travis34 said:
While I do agree with everything you've been saying about the linebackers and their usage, etc.. Ellerbe is actually kind of quick, not near Jenkins level athlete. I looked up their times and Ellerbe ran a 4.6, while Jenkins I've seen 4.65, and heard he ran faster, 4.5 range in college though not official.
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That time is an estimate. I read somewhere (which I can't find now) that he ran 4.9 which is why he went undrafted. Most sites had him estimated at 4.6 - 4.67.
 
Albert Romano said:
Did you happen to catch any of the Ravens game last night Hoops or Datruth? Looked like Flacco was carving up the middle of the field. If that gameplan is employed against us not sure how we counter act it.
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yeah i watched it...pittsburgh has a smilar move athlete to trusnick although i'd still give him the edge in that dept in lawrence timmons...more the between the tackle lb who struggles in space...although timmons is much more instinctual vs the run and screen game then trusnick...

miamis backers are gonna wear a target no matter what but the steelers issues at lb are also that ryan shazier shows zero awareness and feel for defending the pass...he's a card board cut out in zone and in man he wears a target...just no real feel for it...pitta was torching the guy yesterday in man...same thing i've seen every tight end he's matched up against do to him preseason and regular...

miamis got a guy i believe in more off what i saw in week 1 in jenkins that has some awareness in coverage and is assignment sound...he didnt take any false steps etc against the patriots i'm sure we will lean on him heavily...if we get into those 5-2 looks my bet would be on early downs it will be trusnick and jenkins and in the sub jenkims stays on the field and they sub out trusnick

as for pittsburgh the biggest issue that d has is they have no edge rush presence really difference makers...jarvis jones does squat unless he's across from a tight end worilds was a ghost last night there's just no real pass rush presence there...a problem we dont have...they'd be wise to let shazier blitz more and play to his strengths to help them get to the qb...cause when qbs have time they are gonna torch shazier in coverage
 
Albert Romano said:
Did you happen to catch any of the Ravens game last night Hoops or Datruth? Looked like Flacco was carving up the middle of the field. If that gameplan is employed against us not sure how we counter act it.
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I watched it. Steelers look old...everywhere. Didn't see much of a vertical passing game for the Steelers but that may have been more the Ravens playing a safety deep and keeping everything in front of them. Steelers have never had a very good pass blocking O-line either and they got a lot of pressure on Roethlisberger who tends to hold on to the ball too long anyways. They had some success running the ball but not enough. Roethlisberger was pretty inaccurate most of the night but the pressure probably had a lot to do with that.

The running game for the Ravens was pedestrian...numbers would have looked much worse if they had not had the long run in the 4th quarter by Forsett. Pierce had a few nice runs but the majority were 2 or 3 yards it seems. The difference in the Ravens offense this year from last is they're not relying on the deep ball as much. There were a lot more short and intermediate passes where last year it seemed Flacco wanted to go deep all the time. Owen Daniels was a nice pickup for them but the last few years he hasn't finished a season so we'll see how long he lasts this year. 21 completions for Flacco for just 166 yards seems awful un-Flacco like. The defense has a lot of guys who can run downhill though...if the play is in front of them they're a tough defense. The previous week though Dalton attacked them downfield and they gave up 301 yards passing. I think their linebackers, coverage wise, are not very good and really their DBs aren't very good either. Elam is another guy that can play if he keeps everything in front of him but that's a guy I would attack in the passing game. I can't remember the last time we beat the Ravens but it starts up front with us. Pass protect, play the run, get pressure on Flacco and I like our chances. We should have beat them last year.
 
Speaking of the Steelers game last night did anyone see where polamalu timed that field goal perfectly and almost jumped over the line...if he made it over and blocked that it would've been the best blocked kick ever lol.
 
Yes, if I remember correclty they were double checking to make sure he didn't commit a penalty by using the support of lineman, which he did not. Looked like he was shot out of a cannon!
 
Albert Romano said:
Yes, if I remember correclty they were double checking to make sure he didn't commit a penalty by using the support of lineman, which he did not. Looked like he was shot out of a cannon!
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That guys good at timing snaps tho, I think it was last year he took off sprinting and jumped the snap and leveled Jake locker I think it was.
 
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