Suh, Alonso and Jones as center pieces

[twix2500]

Let me begin by saying, I had very low expectations this season. I felt that this season was going to be just one long preseason to evaluate players. And 3 games in, that is exactly how Gase has approach the first three games. Now that being said, I want to discuss the outlook on the defense. I have been very very impressed with Suh, Jones and Alonso. I was very surprised with what I have seen thus first in the first three games of Kiko Alonso. I never watched him play prior to being a dolphins, so I was skeptical of the hype around his talent. I can clearly see it, he is getting in the opponents backfield and causing problems rather it be getting to the QB or getting to Backs behind the line of scrimmage. He still has a lot of room to improve once he gets totally comfortable with the scheme. This year Suh has really showed me he is a monster compared to last year. He is drawing double teams every play i mean every play. If you are drawing that much attention on defense you are allowing the other Dline to have favorable matchups. Will they take advantage of that is a different story. Regardless he is doing what dominate DLinemen do. Reshad Jones is being Rashad Jones dominate. I dont not think there been a game this year that he hasnt made his present felt. But that is it, I only see 3 players worthy to talk about. The other are players have not been very good. Abdul-Quddus, Donald Butler, Phillips and Howard I am still evaluating and willing to give the year to figure them out. Suh, Alonso and Jones are the players the phins need to build around with young players. If the phins can add young talent around these three in the next year, this defense could be good.

 

[Atila]

Howard is going to be good for us. Sure Suh is a great player, but he's not worth QB money. But, with the restructure we're gonna ride with him even longer now so gonna have to just deal with that.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Alonso could and should be easily replaced by a true MLB. I'd say he's better off on the weakside but his pass defense is terrible.

 

[BAdkins159]

Alonso is terrible. Waits on backs to come to him instead of meeting them at the line of scrimmage. When he is on open field he takes horrible angles also. Not to mention he sucks at covering TE's. He is as bad as Maxwell. Awful trade all together if you ask me. Suh and Jones are studs. No doubt about it. Suck that they are being wasted here in Miami

 

[SabanHater]

Alonso gets blown up every time. Every time I see him he's getting driven backwards.

 

[nick1]

Howard looks good and I think Lippet is also here to stay. I was impressed with him against the Bengals.

 

[Atila]

Howard looks good and I think Lippet is also here to stay. I was impressed with him against the Bengals.

Really? I missed the game but from all the highlights I saw they were all with him in coverage. Granted, it was mostly against AJ Green, so can't expect too much. He was good otherwise?

 

[nick1]

[/B]

Really? I missed the game but from all the highlights I saw they were all with him in coverage. Granted, it was mostly against AJ Green, so can't expect too much. He was good otherwise?

Howard was on Green most of the time I thought although I have to look at the film again which is painful. Lippet did miss the tackle on Green and allowed the TD

 

[artdnj]

Lippet was far from good but good from far...sorry had to. He is worth keeping an eye on, he ain't no Sherman as of yet but I want to see more of him.

 

[JJM_7]

Our defense is terrible cause we haven't drafted good defensive players consistently over the last few years.

If we continue to build our defense by overpaying free agents, this unit will never be dominant. So no, I don't believe Alonso should enter this conversation. He's one of those expensive FAs that simply won't produce enough to make up for how much he cost us.

Suh is a special case cause he IS an elite talent, but he's been surrounded by duds ever since we got him, so we're not maximizing his potential at all. Again, thanks to our incompetent FO.

Dominant defenses are built through the draft. So step one into fixing our D is start drafting different makers in the first round. No more OL, no more WR, just good, talented defensive players.

Now, do I trust M. Tannenbaum to draft the right guys? No. So there's also that.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

Alonso is terrible. Waits on backs to come to him instead of meeting them at the line of scrimmage. When he is on open field he takes horrible angles also. Not to mention he sucks at covering TE's. He is as bad as Maxwell. Awful trade all together if you ask me. Suh and Jones are studs. No doubt about it. Suck that they are being wasted here in Miami

I disagree with "terrible." He certainly hasn't been playing up to top 10 MLB, but if I had to replace any one of the 3 starters, he wouldn't be my 1st pick. Let's save "terrible" for Maxwell and Jones (DE).

 

[Parcells_Guy]

I agree I think Suh, Jones and Alonso have all played pretty good thus far...Alonso has been more up and down but he has very good instincts he just needs to tackle better.


I also think that Howard is gonna be a good one and Lippett will be pretty good to. they are both playing a tough position and will take some time to learn(on the job).



this is why I laugh when ppl say we have no talent. The team DOES have talent, its just that right now a lot of it is still young and learning, so mistakes WILL happen.

A lot of our talent is 3 years or less

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

My expectations were a slow start, but a team that could approach 8-9 wins. Overall, through four games the running game has been a huge disappointment. There is time to turn things around, but my expectations now are around the 5 win mark.

But to your point, those are three very good players on defense. I feel for Suh because it's tough to make plays with the attention he's getting from the offense. Not sure if Miami has anyone who can step up and make opposing teams pay on a consistent basis.

Bottom line, in one offseason Adam Gase hasn't had enough time to put his blueprint on this team. The team desperately needs some linebackers who can make plays and more of a physical presence on both sides of the ball. With his coaching background including time under Nick Saban and John Fox, I have to think Gase will value physical players moving forward.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

I agree I think Suh, Jones and Alonso have all played pretty good thus far...Alonso has been more up and down but he has very good instincts he just needs to tackle better. I also think that Howard is gonna be a good one and Lippett will be pretty good to. they are both playing a tough position and will take some time to learn(on the job). this is why I laugh when ppl say we have no talent. The team DOES have talent, its just that right now a lot of it is still young and learning, so mistakes WILL happen. A lot of our talent is 3 years or less

Everyone here knows some players don't 'click' til season 3 (but are astonished when Miami cuts/trades a guy who blossoms elsewhere), but pass absolute judgement on players 4 games in to year 2. No, not ALL players get it - some never do. But a blanket judgement on all 2nd yr players is hard to swallow.

 

[Lionstone]

[/B]

Really? I missed the game but from all the highlights I saw they were all with him in coverage. Granted, it was mostly against AJ Green, so can't expect too much. He was good otherwise?

The good points for Howard is his tackling, his ability to knock the ball loose, and his quick reaction to the ball.

The bad point is he is allowing an obscenely high catch rate. This is happening because he is not staying close to the receiver. He will be good, but he is playing because we do not have good corners.