What is the major reason behind the decline of the defense? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

What is the major reason behind the decline of the defense?

SkapePhin

SkapePhin

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Im trying to understand what happened to this defense. Almost all the starters returned except for Crowder. The same defensive coordinator. Other than Crowder, the only other thing that is different is the injury to Vontae and Chris Clemmons. Althoguh, for whatever reason, Cam Wake is not able to generate the same amount of pass rush as he used to.

Was Vontae this important to the defense. Was Crowder?
 
I don't believe the D was as good as the #s, as good as you guys believed they were and as good as the players thought they were. They struggled in ,key spots last year and facing Miami a year ago teams were a little conservative basically knowing if thhey didn't turn it over they had a great shot. That can make #s look a little better than they actually are. Also, the players read the press clippings, saw the nice ranking and had an inflated view of how godd the unit actually was.

This is just my opinion from afar, it's not an anti-dolphin opinion but one that I believe is true.
 
honestly. and i dont care if i get bashed for this, this defense was really not all that great to begin with.

our weaknesses have been exposed this year because 3 of our first 4 games have been against top offenses. also, even last year, although the numbers looked good, how many times did we need just one final stop to win, or even just a stop after we gained momentum, and our defense let us down?

this defense also never forced turnovers, which is a thing big defenses do. this is just not such a good d. its better than it is playing now, but all in all, its an average defense, not elite by any means.
 
I think the biggest problem with our defense has been the fans expectations. We expected a dominant unit, and we maybe weren't as good as we thought we were. But also keep in mind it is still early, we've had injuries and teams are better prepared for our D. This biggest hope for our defense is that we are young.
 
Redzone, if you gonna play bend dont break D, then you gotta stop teams in the redzone...Losing Vontae hurts for sure..

Also we are facing some good qbs so far..
 
Injuries, other teams caught on, lack of effort by players. Secondary-wise, I think we're missing Crowder's ability to line up guys properly, and Clemons > Reshad Jones at this point, and that's not saying much.
 
The defense is built fine if you want to stop a power running game, the problem is somewhere along the way we moved out of the 90's ground and pound and into and air attack style of league. Miami has 7 DT's that play the D Line and only Cam Wake that can get any kind of consistany pass rush. They have no speed that can pressure the QB and the LB's are big and slow compared to RB's WR and even TE's now. They also have the best Cb tandem errrrrrrr, Cb's that can't stay healthy, and three safties that can't cover, or even stay in their zone.

Last year's #'s were smoke and mirrors and as much as I didn't like Crowder he was the emotional leader on the defense, there is not ONE player on that D that get's in your face and pumps you up, ZERO leadership out there.
 
nyjunc said:
I don't believe the D was as good as the #s, as good as you guys believed they were and as good as the players thought they were. They struggled in ,key spots last year and facing Miami a year ago teams were a little conservative basically knowing if thhey didn't turn it over they had a great shot. That can make #s look a little better than they actually are. Also, the players read the press clippings, saw the nice ranking and had an inflated view of how godd the unit actually was.

This is just my opinion from afar, it's not an anti-dolphin opinion but one that I believe is true.
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nonbiased view. they had many of us fooled. i think at one point over the off season you stated you believe we could have a top D again.
 
state06 said:
nonbiased view. they had many of us fooled. i think at one point over the off season you stated you believe we could have a top D again.
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I thought your D would be good but I wasn't buying the top 5 stuff. I think I said maybe they could be a top 10 D.
 
There aren't too many defenses playing great so far this season. Pats are giving up 477+ yards per game...who saw that coming?

The lockout hurt a lot of teams. We were the #6 ranked defense last year mainly on scheme...we didn't cause a lot of turnovers, we don't have any playmakers on defense so we have to be smarter, play within the system and be disciplined. Problem is, with no off season there is a lack of communication on the field and so players aren't staying with their responsibilities. We don't all of a sudden suck, we just aren't on the same page. The lack of playmakers on defense can't cover up the mental mistakes.
 
Lots of valid points being made here.
1. No team chemistry on this entire team is the number one issue. It was destroyed in the last game of last year and nothing they did in the offseason repaired it. The players just do not believe in winning which leads to a lack of effort.
2. The last 3 years the team was built to run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense. We have changed the offensive personel to address this but nothing on the defensive side of the ball. During the Marinio years when many teams still ran the ball statically all of our defenses stunk. The defenses do not get the same amount of time to regroup on the sideline when the offense is heaving the ball downfield instead of pounding it. Jimmy Johnson saw this right away and change the offensive around to more of a running team first and our defenses suddenly started shinning.
3. Coaching is always the bottom line with me if you have a outstanding defensive coach they get the job done regarless of what happens on the offensive side of the ball. We have never had it here in the last 35 plus years. Nolan is a decent coach but not an outstanding one and maybe his style fits better with a different offensive style.
4. Yea Vonte and Crowder not being here hurts. Vonte was a started for a reason and regarless of how well or bad you anyone says Crowder played while he was on the field the entire defense played better and that a fact.

Bottom line we are not going anywhere no one the players, coaches or fans beleive in this team anymore. The front office has other plans god knows what. We can hope to get better or they may just be planning to rob the piggy bank and go cheap like the old Tampa Bay and Detroits teamsofthe past.
 
nyjunc said:
I don't believe the D was as good as the #s, as good as you guys believed they were and as good as the players thought they were. They struggled in ,key spots last year and facing Miami a year ago teams were a little conservative basically knowing if thhey didn't turn it over they had a great shot. That can make #s look a little better than they actually are. Also, the players read the press clippings, saw the nice ranking and had an inflated view of how godd the unit actually was.

This is just my opinion from afar, it's not an anti-dolphin opinion but one that I believe is true.
Click to expand...

Well this is one Dolphins fan that agrees with you. Bottom line most important stat is wins and losses. That stat says 7 - 9 last season. It was done with smoke and mirrors on defense. I'm still waiting for the D to cover a TE. Tony Gonzalez shredded them in the first game last year. Pat's tight ends went off in the first game this year. Go thing they only play 4 quarters otherwise Brady and the TE's would still be scoring points.
 
Q:What is the major reason behind the decline of the defense?
A: Lockout + Injuries
 
Soft in the middle. NT, LBs, FS, and SS. No gamebreaking playes by either.
 
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