Zach Overrated: People starting to take notice.

[Muck]

Take the emotions out of it and look at the bottom line, couple years they stuck somebody in the lineup because Zach was hurt and they had 17 tackles, might have been Tommy H. All Zach does is make tackles 5 million for, you need to get real.

Do you remember that game?? The Titans were blowing us out in the 1st quarter. Hendricks got all those tackles in large part because Tennessee was already milking the clock early and we couldn't stop them. So unfortunately, that game is not the greatest barometer for measuring the system/player thing. But Zach gets his 10+ tackles every week, not just the blowouts.

And even in that game, the difference was noticeable. On one particular play, Tommy Hendricks' inexperience and lack of recognition caused him to run the wrong way, leaving the crossing receiver wide open over the middle for an easy catch and run TD. How many times do you see Zach make a gigantic mistake like that, much less get fooled??

man Zach hasn't been a force since that Troy B. hit his rookie year. Anybody can out play Zach, and thats my point. JJ knew and so did Dave, but to keep people in the seats they cultivated a superstar so we can hang onto.

"Zach hasn't been a force since his rookie year".

Incredible.

And while it's true that the defense has always funneled things to the mike backer, it can also be said that offenses have always known where everyone is going to be. ESPECIALLY Zach. And that is one thing that has Zach and everyone else excited this year. The fact that they won't be stationary targets.

If you believe in Saban now, don't be mad when Zach is gone later.

He's 32. Plus he's got a big cap number. It's not a stretch to think he'll be gone in the near future. Especially with Crowder on the roster.

 

[Doktor Ivel]

he isnt overrated. he is what he is. he beat all odds, doing as good as he has done, with being picked so late in the draft. (6 round?).......the only reason he has made a name for himself, is because he plays with heart and he works all the time.

 

[R_t_Kraken]

I don't agree with this at all. Zach is still a tackling machine. He's in on almost every play. That's exactly what you want out of your MLB. If you think he is overrated, you're underrating the guy. Simple as that.

 

[Disgustipate]

Take the emotions out of it and look at the bottom line, couple years they stuck somebody in the lineup because Zach was hurt and they had 17 tackles, might have been Tommy H. All Zach does is make tackles 5 million for, you need to get real. Bledsoe, Bledsoe of all QB's would throw Zach off to avoid sacks, man Zach hasn't been a force since that Troy B. hit his rookie year. Anybody can out play Zach, and thats my point. JJ knew and so did Dave, but to keep people in the seats they cultivated a superstar so we can hang onto. He's good not great. Jeremiah Trotter could have been drafted, Ray Lewis could have been drafted and many more. Dolphin fan just like you, but I always keep it real. Tell Zach to watch for the hook, a real talent evaluator is here, Randy and Saban don't baby to anybody, players who can play will be on the team. Trust that. If you believe in Saban now, don't be mad when Zach is gone later.

Seriously, you need to get a clue. I've never seen someone so sure of his opinion but so oblivious to what he was talking about around here.

If you remember Tommy Hendricks game a few years back when he subbed in for Zach, he did pick up alot of tackles but he also embarassed himself in coverage several times. He made tackles, but the team also ran straight at him.

The idea that Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt didnt replace Zach with a susposedly better player because Zach was a "superstar" in the fans eyes is particularly idiotic. If what you are claiming is true, if JJ or Wannstedt put a "real" player in Zachs place, that player would look even better and become a superstar. If they apparently knew this, why didnt they do it? You know what? I think you're some sort of fake, no one can put together an argument that full of stupid holes.

Btw...ironically enough, that those "Real" evaluators of talent decided to implement the current Dolphins defense to play to Zach's strengths. For those of you who dont understand, the Dolphins current defense is predicated around Zach being allowed to "scrape", and follow the flow of the play unimpeded. The 3-4 isnt going to mean that he's going to have to take on blockers. If anything, he'll be harder to put a blocker on during Wannstedt/JJ.

People deriding Zach dont seem to understand the game well enough that there are different styles of linebackers that play to different strengthes. I'll tell you right now, and pretty much any GM out there will and has agreed with me here, that there isnt a player in the NFL with better play recognition skills then Zach. When it comes to reading the play and dropping back into a zone or following the flow of the play. no one is better.

 

[FinzManiac]

Overrated or not, I think there is a noticable decline with our D when he's not playing.

Steve

That's exactly what I was going to point out......our D is immensely better with him than without him.

 

[silverloop13]

Zach hasn't been a force since that Troy B. hit his rookie year. Anybody can out play Zach, and thats my point. JJ knew and so did Dave, but to keep people in the seats they cultivated a superstar so we can hang onto. .

I usually dont but I have to respond to this bc its so stupid. So your saying Zach was a force.....but only part of his rookie year?

JJ never had to worry about keeping people in the seats. Have you ever been to a Miami game? Even if that were true....why did they do everything they could to push Marino out when you knew he was putting them in the seats.


If anybody could have been plugged in and done Zachs job ....they would never have given him a big contract. Is he declining.....of course he is, hes getting older. Marino declined.....they all decline.....its called age.

How is he over rated?? I mean you never hear him mentioned with Ray Lewis....Or that cripple who plays for the Bears. If anything he gets knocked around for his size.

 

[Muck]

I really could care less what some sports writer thinks, though.

I mean, he's 32. I don't know of anybody who thinks he's the best MLB in the league. Most people think he's still very good. Dr. Z ranked him 6th overall (the top guy in the non-elite class). Everybody here pretty much agreed that was a fair ranking. So unless he's really garbage or average at best, I'm looking for the "overrated" part.

Just take a minute and look at what Zach has done in his 9 seasons as a Dolphin. Think back to all the key tackles and big plays he's made. How many times you've seen him shoot behind the LOS and drop a RB for a loss. How many times he was there at the goalline for a big stop. How many times we watched a replay of him diagnosing a play pre-snap. How many times we've seen him step into a passing lane and snare an INT (four of which were TDs).

That's a pretty damn good return on a 5th round pick, huh.

 

[HybridPHIN 23]

thats nonsense..... how can you be over-rated when you perform at a higher level than almost everyone that is bigger than you.

NOTE : any article that is more than a week old that contains info on any phin player... is a waste of time to post. It's already been done. Also, i wouldn't use Pete Prisco as your source....... he is a joke to us.

 

[Muck]

Seriously, you need to get a clue. I've never seen someone so sure of his opinion but so oblivious to what he was talking about around here.

If you remember Tommy Hendricks game a few years back when he subbed in for Zach, he did pick up alot of tackles but he also embarassed himself in coverage several times. He made tackles, but the team also ran straight at him.

The idea that Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt didnt replace Zach with a susposedly better player because Zach was a "superstar" in the fans eyes is particularly idiotic. If what you are claiming is true, if JJ or Wannstedt put a "real" player in Zachs place, that player would look even better and become a superstar. If they apparently knew this, why didnt they do it? You know what? I think you're some sort of fake, no one can put together an argument that full of stupid holes.

Btw...ironically enough, that those "Real" evaluators of talent decided to implement the current Dolphins defense to play to Zach's strengths. For those of you who dont understand, the Dolphins current defense is predicated around Zach being allowed to "scrape", and follow the flow of the play unimpeded. The 3-4 isnt going to mean that he's going to have to take on blockers. If anything, he'll be harder to put a blocker on during Wannstedt/JJ.

People deriding Zach dont seem to understand the game well enough that there are different styles of linebackers that play to different strengthes. I'll tell you right now, and pretty much any GM out there will and has agreed with me here, that there isnt a player in the NFL with better play recognition skills then Zach. When it comes to reading the play and dropping back into a zone or following the flow of the play. no one is better.

Good post.

 

[FanMarino]

if hes not that good then why hasnt anybody beat him out at MLB in 9yrs? hmmmmmmm

 

[Psychosikes]

Let's get something straight, Zach is an overacheiver, not overrated. People have been saying he's too small, he's too soft, or he doesn't have the physical tools for years. And what has he done? He's consistantly been one of the most consistant mlb's in the league for the past few years. Yes, he benefits from the system we run. If he had to take on big bodies every down people argue he wouldn't even be considered as a good linebacker in the game today, much less one of the best. However, One thing Zach has showed me over the years is not to doubt him.

Every year, players come out of college with all the potential in the world but without the heart and drive to achieve it. I would rather have a zach thomas whose heart is bigger than his stautre should allow than visca versa. Can I get a hell yeah from the dolfans who have actually watched him play and know what I'm talking about?

 

[Barry20]

Its a sad day in the nfl when people call zack overrated

 

[endorphin]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8622837




Zach is on his way out, he's good but not great. In Zach's tenure here the Dolphins never drafted any one at the position with any legit talent; the players barely could stay on Special Teams. I commend Saban for actually bringing in some competition. When Morlon was drafted out of 'Cuse, he played MLB, before he even hit the Miami Beaches he was permanently moved to OLB. This lends to the idea that Miami’s leadership was always cool with the statue quo, 10 wins, 1 playoff win and a playoff lose, push mediocre players into superstar/playmaker roles that anyone could fill. Jimmy and Dave dogged W.H. (a good man) and left this team high and dry.

Yawwnnnnn

 

[infiltrateib]

as i have said before. you can be very good, and still be overrated.

Z. Thomas is very good. but his reputation, and how people view him, are above his performance level. (even if that is very high).

same with Seau. he was one of the best. now hes slowing down. but people still think of him as that great player. and thats why he is overrated also.

Hey, if ZT can rack up 145 tackles (more than any Bill) and be 4th in the league in tackles while being "overrated," that's fine with me.

Zach overachieves given his size/athleticism. As said above, he is a student of the game with the best instincts of any MLB. Look at what Ray Lewis is working with physically... interesting they were only a few tackles apart.

"Ratings" speak of public opinion. I'll take statistics.

 

[cltchperf]

as i have said before. you can be very good, and still be overrated.

Z. Thomas is very good. but his reputation, and how people view him, are above his performance level. (even if that is very high).

same with Seau. he was one of the best. now hes slowing down. but people still think of him as that great player. and thats why he is overrated also.

I didn't think a lot of people viewed him in such a way, it always seems like most fans paid attention to Ray Lewis, Lavar Arrington, or Brian Urlacher. All I know is that Thomas is a really good lb, and fans that knew football recognized that, Miami's D wouldn't have been as good as it was for the past years if it wasn't for him.