Without 3 starting DB's, Communication an Issue for Dolphins

[Perfect72]

It may surprise you to hear two words a Miami Dolphins defensive back used to describe safety Isa Abdul-Quddus, who will miss the rest of the season with a neck/shoulder injury.
“Our general,” Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell said. “And enforcer.”

“It definitely has an impact,” Maxwell said of the loss. “Me, everybody else, young guys and people that are going to be playing, we’ve got to communicate more. And that’s going to be the biggest thing. Isa, that’s what he did best, communicating and having everybody on the same page and lined up right.”

But here’s the thing: Maxwell has an ankle injury and is also out on Sunday against the New England Patriots.

And Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones has a shoulder injury and is also out for the season.

That means Tom Brady vs. 1/4 of the Dolphins’ projected starting defensive backfield. Rookie Xavien Howard, who has recently returned from a second knee injury, is the lone “healthy” starting defensive back.

“So is it a concern?” Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “Absolutely. But is it a big, big worry? It can’t be. That’s who we’ve got.”

Entering the season, Miami had one of the strongest safety duos in the NFL, with Jones, who finished his season as the 6th-ranked safety by Pro Football Focus, and Abdul-Quddus, who finished 31st.

Now, the Dolphins will likely start Michael Thomas (79th) and Bacarri Rambo (85th), who was not on an NFL roster when the season began.

More at LINK: http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachp...ks-communication-an-issue-for-miami-dolphins/

Next Man Up is always the Mantra. :idk: Let's hope the boys can continue to find a way. This game vs Brady should give a good indication of the real state of the Dolphins defense

 

[ANUFan]

How long does it take to heal from an ankle injury?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kdawg954]

That IAQ injury is one we absolutely could not afford.

Next man up . . . sure. But all I've heard in regards to Quddus this year, from coaches and other teammates, is that he is the general in the back and does a great job of being where he is supposed to be and getting the young DBs where they need to be.

This was a huge blow . . . biggest blow since Reshad went out (and Tannehill of course).

Not sure what Vance has up his sleeves, it'll have to be special.

 

[Phinatic8u]

I want us to win, but I expect Brady to murder us in the air.

Wake and Suh need to dominate.

 

[Perfect72]

ESPN: Safety Michael Thomas is Dolphins' Next Man Up

More info

It's been a phrase used over and over for the Miami Dolphins this season: "Next man up."

That phrase is en vogue again this week as starting safety Isa Abdul-Quddus went on injured reserve with a knee injury. Backup safety and special teams captain Michael Thomas is the player who will fill in for the rest of the season.

"That’s part of the game," Thomas said. "It just speaks volumes to how this team is built. ... It’s just communication. For us, that’s going to be the biggest thing. I just gotta understand assignments, get other guys lined up and just know it inside out. You’re not just doing it as a role player anymore."

The Dolphins now will enter the playoffs without their two starting safeties from Week 1. They also lost former Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones for the season in October because of a shoulder injury.

Thomas rotated with starter Bacarri Rambo prior to Sunday. Now, Thomas and Rambo are the starters Sunday when Miami (10-5) plays host to New England (13-2).

Look for future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to test this pair often. Arguably Thomas' biggest play of his career happened in 2013 when he intercepted Brady to close out a Miami win against New England.

"It's crazy it's been three years," Thomas said. "Everyone constantly reminds, fans or anybody who was at the game when they see me, they remind me of that play. Obviously it was great."

Here are some other notes for the Dolphins:

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said No. 1 cornerback Byron Maxwell (ankle) and starting outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins (knee) are not expected to play against New England. Neither practiced during the media portion on Wednesday.

More at LINK: http://www.espn.com/blog/miami-dolp...homas-is-dolphins-next-man-up-before-playoffs

 

[Fin Thirteen]

Rambo is a big concern and I'm not the biggest Thomas fan outside of ST. The fact Rambo os still starting despite being late on most plays tells you what Vance thinks of Aikens. McCain is also a liability against the shifty inside receivers that the Pats use so well.

It's going to be a seat of the pants, scratch and claw kind of defensive performance. Someone up front needs to have a monster day, but if we don't have any coverage the dline will never get near Brady

 

[hoops]

Yeah rambos assignment play vs the bills was a candidate for a benching frankly but not when we have no other options

At minimum he should have had some package run restricted