miamirw
Pro Bowler
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2004
- Messages
- 2,666
- Reaction score
- 277
I'm going to assume that our coaching is going to improve leaps and bounds this year and that in turn, our Oline, playcalling, QB and RB play will be vastly improved.
With all of that said, here are the three players IMO that will determine our success this year. If all four play well, we will be very good this year.
1. Travis Daniels
-Arguably the most important spot on the field, especially when we're facing the receiver rich AFC East foes. All three of our division rivals have very good #2 receivers. We've had the luxury of Patrick Surtain for the last six years. We have only begun to see what a luxury he really was. Daniels is a good CB and knows Saban's system. He must be able to step in and play well as the starting #2 CB for us to be successful this year. Teams are going to throw early and often at Daniels to try and expose our defense. If they have success, then our achilles heal will be revealed to every other team we play. Daniels needs to make huge progress in the preseason and needs to step up and make plays from his spot early on. He does that and we're in good shape pass defense-wise.
2. Larry Chester
-When healthy, Larry is a beast and you need a guy like him in the center clogging things up. We still have a Zach Thomas-centered defense and Zach needs protection. We will blitz a lot more to help cover Zach, but Chester needs to be at full strength the whole season for our run defense to work. I love the DLine of Carter, Holliday, Chester and Taylor. Our defense has a chance to be better at the safety and opposite Taylor DE spots. Chester is a key cog though. Any updates on if he'll be ready and 100% come opening day?
3. Rex Hadnot
-This guy was born to be the starting center of the Miami Dolphins. He has all the tools (size, strength, smarts and attitude) to be a very good leader of a tough young line. Every offense starts with a great center. I can tell if we're going to play well when our center gets great push off the snap. If Hadnot can be a force up the middle, the rest of the line will follow suit. Our running game will live or die behind the progress of Rex Hadnot.
Summary: We get good play from these three players and I'm confident Saban and co. will get the rest of the team ready to beat some *ss this year.
With all of that said, here are the three players IMO that will determine our success this year. If all four play well, we will be very good this year.
1. Travis Daniels
-Arguably the most important spot on the field, especially when we're facing the receiver rich AFC East foes. All three of our division rivals have very good #2 receivers. We've had the luxury of Patrick Surtain for the last six years. We have only begun to see what a luxury he really was. Daniels is a good CB and knows Saban's system. He must be able to step in and play well as the starting #2 CB for us to be successful this year. Teams are going to throw early and often at Daniels to try and expose our defense. If they have success, then our achilles heal will be revealed to every other team we play. Daniels needs to make huge progress in the preseason and needs to step up and make plays from his spot early on. He does that and we're in good shape pass defense-wise.
2. Larry Chester
-When healthy, Larry is a beast and you need a guy like him in the center clogging things up. We still have a Zach Thomas-centered defense and Zach needs protection. We will blitz a lot more to help cover Zach, but Chester needs to be at full strength the whole season for our run defense to work. I love the DLine of Carter, Holliday, Chester and Taylor. Our defense has a chance to be better at the safety and opposite Taylor DE spots. Chester is a key cog though. Any updates on if he'll be ready and 100% come opening day?
3. Rex Hadnot
-This guy was born to be the starting center of the Miami Dolphins. He has all the tools (size, strength, smarts and attitude) to be a very good leader of a tough young line. Every offense starts with a great center. I can tell if we're going to play well when our center gets great push off the snap. If Hadnot can be a force up the middle, the rest of the line will follow suit. Our running game will live or die behind the progress of Rex Hadnot.
Summary: We get good play from these three players and I'm confident Saban and co. will get the rest of the team ready to beat some *ss this year.
