Was the Capers signing about JT?

[GridironCanuck]

I am not sure if something like this has been posted yet but I was thinking about this the other day and thought it made sense. JT had extensive success this season and has become the face of Dolphins football especially since his defensive POTY award. He spoke very high of how things were run under Capers/Saban's defense and how much he liked playing as the hybrid Dline/LB position. He also stated that he was not interested in going back to be an exclusive defensive end.

Now combine this with talk of his retirement and the fact that he is on the "later" part of his carreer (despite being in his prime) and it seems to make sense to me. Ensure that JT will remin being the JT that has taken the NFL by storm and he will return. Not only will he return but will continue to thrive and that will result in a more sound Miami defense. Also add ZT to the mix and his relationship with JT.

Continuation is huge in football and Capers can provide a lot of that to the D. Keeping your best defensive player in a system that helps him to continue to play the way he chooses and is most deadly only makes sense to me. The only way to ensure this was to keep Capers intact and not take a chance that a new DC would work him in the same way.

The offensive priority was strong thus the desire to keep Capers at DC and not head coach. I really feel that we have the best of both worlds now. Hopefully this will translate into Dolphins success and that we are able to keep this tandem for years to come.

 

[muscle979]

It's not that far fetched. You have to do whatever it takes to keep a player like JT on your team as long as possible.

 

[dolpns13]

I am not sure if something like this has been posted yet but I was thinking about this the other day and thought it made sense. JT had extensive success this season and has become the face of Dolphins football especially since his defensive POTY award. He spoke very high of how things were run under Capers/Saban's defense and how much he liked playing as the hybrid Dline/LB position. He also stated that he was not interested in going back to be an exclusive defensive end.

Now combine this with talk of his retirement and the fact that he is on the "later" part of his carreer (despite being in his prime) and it seems to make sense to me. Ensure that JT will remin being the JT that has taken the NFL by storm and he will return. Not only will he return but will continue to thrive and that will result in a more sound Miami defense. Also add ZT to the mix and his relationship with JT.

Continuation is huge in football and Capers can provide a lot of that to the D. Keeping your best defensive player in a system that helps him to continue to play the way he chooses and is most deadly only makes sense to me. The only way to ensure this was to keep Capers intact and not take a chance that a new DC would work him in the same way.

The offensive priority was strong thus the desire to keep Capers at DC and not head coach. I really feel that we have the best of both worlds now. Hopefully this will translate into Dolphins success and that we are able to keep this tandem for years to come.

Im sure it was a HUGE reason why he didnt retire. Im sure Zach had something to say to him too to influence him to stay... I cant hear Zach now, "Come on man, I can't run this defense on my own and you know noone else is going to step it up like you have"

 

[bluehaze]

Huizenga said they re-signed Capers because every single coach they interviewed said if they got the job they wanted to keep Capers as thier DC.

 

[Mike13]

It could be a factor, also Capers is a good DC.

 

[Mile High Fin]

First and foremost, it's because he did an OUTSTANDING job with the Defense as a whole...

He was kept because (in order of importance):
1. The Defense, as a whole, played great...
2. Our new HC was going to be offense-minded guy.
3. To provide at least some continuity for the team.
4. To make JT happy.

So, Capers' extension may have been a LITTLE BIT to do with JT, but it's not the primary reason at all.

 

[PHINANALYST]

NO, it was about the fact that Capers is a very good DC; did very well with this unit; and has a poor record overall as a HC

Why would you not lock him up .... continuity helps as well -- and 'maybe' JT / ZT would have not liked to see him go ....

But the bottom line is ... with all the uncertainty a new HC brings .... why would you not want to keep a valued commodity in position -- provided the relationship can work out

 

[dolpns13]

First and foremost, it's because he did an OUTSTANDING job with the Defense as a whole...

He was kept because (in order of importance):
1. The Defense, as a whole, played great...
2. Our new HC was going to be offense-minded guy.
3. To provide at least some continuity for the team.
4. To make JT happy.

So, Capers' extension may have been a LITTLE BIT to do with JT, but it's not the primary reason at all.

He did do a great job with the defense given the amount of talent in the secondary. But Im sure JT staying had ALOT to do Capers extension...Why would JT want to come back and learn an entirely new system after he succeeded in Capers system. Capers now runs the 3-4/4-3 Hybrid which JT said he likes alo and said he didnt want to go back to a primary 4-3 ,so i think its inaccurate to say Capers extension wasnt one of the biggest deciding factors. Also the defense didnt play great as a whole. Our CB's were mediocre this being one the worst teams in the league getting interceptions. I think we had just a total of 4 picks by our secondary. The pressure that was put on the QB's by our d-line hid alot of problems in the secondary. So to also give the same amount of credit to the secondary as the d-line and linebackers is crazy...I doubt JT thinks the secondary played great. Everyone knows they played alright, so if we all know they played ok, he must think thats how they played because he was right next to them.

 

[PYRO]

Huizenga said they re-signed Capers because every single coach they interviewed said if they got the job they wanted to keep Capers as thier DC.

Who wouldn't. Our defense was in the top five. If our offense was even the slightest bit good it couldv'e ended up at the top in the nfl. I don't blame the coachs for wanting to keep him. And I definately don't blame JT for wanting to keep him after his amazing season.

 

[BeanGreen]

Was it *about* JT? I doubt it. While he's is great, football is still a team sport, and you can't base your coaching decisions on the desires of any one player. In fact it should be (and from my understanding, was) about how well that coach does his job.
That being said, it would also be foolish to think that the 2 had absolutely nothing to do with each other. High praise from your best players probably factors into the front office decision-making equation somewhere, and continuity and being able to play in a system that you love probably keeps some players motivated as well.

 

[Denverfinfan]

I am not sure if something like this has been posted yet but I was thinking about this the other day and thought it made sense. JT had extensive success this season and has become the face of Dolphins football especially since his defensive POTY award. He spoke very high of how things were run under Capers/Saban's defense and how much he liked playing as the hybrid Dline/LB position. He also stated that he was not interested in going back to be an exclusive defensive end.

Now combine this with talk of his retirement and the fact that he is on the "later" part of his carreer (despite being in his prime) and it seems to make sense to me. Ensure that JT will remin being the JT that has taken the NFL by storm and he will return. Not only will he return but will continue to thrive and that will result in a more sound Miami defense. Also add ZT to the mix and his relationship with JT.

Continuation is huge in football and Capers can provide a lot of that to the D. Keeping your best defensive player in a system that helps him to continue to play the way he chooses and is most deadly only makes sense to me. The only way to ensure this was to keep Capers intact and not take a chance that a new DC would work him in the same way.

The offensive priority was strong thus the desire to keep Capers at DC and not head coach. I really feel that we have the best of both worlds now. Hopefully this will translate into Dolphins success and that we are able to keep this tandem for years to come.

I think that they kept him because he installed a defense that excelled this year. I also think JT is staying because he is just not ready to let it go. He was saying that RIGHT after a disapointing season

 

[Finfan53]

DB's overall didn't play well or as consistently early on....but much better with Y. Bell in the lineup.
Even though JT doesn't like to be in the end position solely...he is still a phenomenal pass rusher, using his leverage and hands incredibly well.... so hard to prepare for a guy like Jason Taylor when maybe only dwight freeney has close to his speed in the whole NFL.

 

[whatsburning]

JT was never seriously going to retire. He even said it was as much frustration as anything else, when he said he may retire.

 

[Jimmy James]

I thought JT was supposedly one of the people in the Bates for HC lobbying group.

 

[melvindillon]

I just hope Capers does wonders with our DB's. They were our achilles heel this year, even though I am proud of the work Goodman has done last year. They are just so fragile. They are not so dependable. So, we'll need some help there.