Turnovers and defense will be the keys to the Miami Dolphins beating the Cleveland Browns. Two games into the season and the Dolphins have created one turnover. The Cleveland Browns have the potential to be explosive and it is up to the Miami defense to make them one-dimensional.
The lack of turnovers is an indication the Miami defense is not making the kind of hits that dislodge the football. It is also an indication the defense is not getting enough pressure on the QB to force him into making bad decisions that result in interceptions. Defenses feed off big plays, the kind of plays that give the offense a short field and momentum.
Pressure starts from the front seven and so far this season they have not stepped up. The Dolphins have only four sacks and have not been applying the type pressure needed to make opposing QBs uncomfortable in the pocket. Two of the best offenses in the NFL have attacked the Dolphins and the in-game adjustments have been a step behind at recognizing personnel packages in relation to play calling. In other words, our pass defense has been on the field against running personnel and our run defense in passing situations.
Cleveland presents less of a challenge in the passing game than New England or Houston but with Peyton Hillis the Browns running game has the potential to dominate. Miami must take Cleveland out of its running game early and force them to become one-dimensional throwing the ball. This will only came from making devastating hits that jar the football loose. So far this season Miami has played a passive defense, not using blitzes or stunts to disrupt the offense. Mike Nolan has placed so much emphasis on not giving up big plays that QBs have had enough time to do just that.
It is time for the Miami defense to pin back its ears and come after the Cleveland Browns. The strategies so far have not worked, doing the same thing and expecting different results not only defines insanity, but ignorance as well. Attacking defenses may be more prone to giving up big plays but they are also more prone to making them. There so much pressure on the Dolphins to win, the only option is to sellout now because Sparano may not get many more opportunities.
This is a pivotal game for the Dolphins. In only week three, it seems early to proclaim this as a make or break game, but starting 0 and 3 virtually eliminates Miami’s chances of making the playoffs. For the Dolphins, this is a must win game. The Miami offense has shown the ability to move the ball and its troubles in the redzone will end this week. That places the onus for this game, and perhaps the entire season, on the shoulders of the defense.
The players’ only, meeting this week was not a slight on the coaching staff, as some have suggested. Without being behind those closed doors, the summation here is, the veteran leaders in the locker room told the players, “it’s do or die time for the Dolphins.” Getting rid of vocal players like Channing Crowder may promote the Parcells’ philosophy of media silence, but it also removes those guys from the locker room.
The players’ only meeting gave rise to new leadership among the Dolphin players and it would be very interesting to know who those players are and what they said. If Chad Henne is ever to move from average to good, it will start by the team believing he is the leader an NFL QB must be. Dolphin fans will know unequivocally whether this team has the heart and soul to compete or will lay down in 2011. The soul may be on the offense but the heart must come from the defense and that unit must come out with reckless abandon to bring home a victory.
The Dolphin season is not over… The team will prove it with a break out, defining win against the Browns.
Showing posts with label Mike Nolan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike Nolan. Show all posts
The Dolphin Defense was Ugly - The Coaching was Bad
Analyzing the ugly play of the defense, in a previous post, began a backward look at the good, the bad and ugly. This post will analyze the bad. The “bad,” falls squarely on the shoulders of the coaching staff for allowing Bill Belichick to outwit them the past four years. The answer, doesn’t come from trying to find a weakness in the Patriots, it comes from self-examination.
Great coaches all have one thing in common; they study themselves as much as they study their opponent. They know their own weaknesses better than their opponent does. With that knowledge, they can accurately predict what the opponent will try to exploit. The Dolphins were unaware the game plan to generate a pass rush without blitzing or stunting could be mitigated by a two tight end hurry-up passing game.
Benny Sapp became the scapegoat for what was supposedly poor play in the secondary. By cutting Sapp, the Dolphins exposed to coaches like Belichick, they still don’t understand why they lost. Cutting a corner back does not fix the root of a problem that schematically gave Tom Brady the time to pick the secondary apart.
The talk all week has been about a lack of talent and depth in the Dolphin secondary. Only a lack of introspect would lead to the conclusion the secondary could stop Brady within the framework of a poor game plan. There is no secondary in the NFL that will stop Brady when he has enough time to scan the entire field and even return to receivers after breaking off patterns.
Bill Belichick knew his offensive line would be determined as a weakness by his opponent. He knew the Dolphins had strength and depth on the defensive line. He knew the Dolphins would conclude they could get pressure without blitzing and they would try to maximize coverage. By knowing his weakness, he was able to accurately guess his opponent’s game plan.
With this knowledge, Belichick no longer had to worry about offensive line adjustments caused by exotic blitzes or stunts. He no longer had to worry about backs picking up linebackers or tight ends forced to block blitzing safeties and corners. He installed a hurry-up offense with simple blocking assignments geared at stopping the defensive line. It should not be surprising a rookie tackle was able to handle Cameron Wake, when Wake was his only worry.
The Dolphins made protecting Brady easy. Instead of exploiting the opponent’s weakness with aggression, they took the passive approach of trying to beat Brady with coverage. They further exacerbated this mistake by not realizing it was a mistake and making the proper adjustments. The brain trust envisioned Brady making big plays on an aggressive defense, was worse than Brady making plays on a passive defense. The key theme to this entire analysis is, “Brady making plays.”
Around the league and on every NFL related TV program, the common conclusion all analysts share is, beating Tom Brady requires pressure and pre-snap confusion. The Dolphins chose a passive game plan that accomplished neither of those things. The coaches can blame players like Benny Sapp, but bad coaching and poor game planning are the true culprits. Coaching against the likes of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is no easy task and this analysis does not insinuate the Dolphins have bad coaches. They just had a bad plan.
Belichick is a master and the best we can do in life is to learn from the masters. Belichick spends as much time learning about his own team as he does learning about his opponent. Through this introspect he is able to project himself into the mind of his opposition. This enables him to accurately predict his opponent’s game plan. It also allows him change his tendencies and fool his adversaries.
The bottom line is, Brady is going to score points whether it’s through big plays or long marches, the only sure way to stop him is to plant him on his backside. The Dolphins knew the Patriot offensive line did not match-up well against with the Dolphin defensive line. Not expecting Belichick to know this as well, led to the poor decision of using a passive game plan, without blitzing, and thinking Belichick would not have a plan for it.
To counter, Belichick installed a two tight end hurry up passing game that caught the Dolphins in a base defense. Instead of dictating the flow of the game by using the strength of its front seven, the Dolphins were trapped on their heals. Belichick made a plan to mitigate the Dolphin front seven and worse he ran them into the ground. By analyzing there own strengths the Dolphins could have predicted Belichick’s options. Knowing those options would have presented a different picture and more than likely a better game plan.
The Dolphin offense cranked it up and the Dolphin defense cranked it down. It won’t happen again. Mike Nolan is an excellent coach and he is probably kicking himself worse than any analyst possibly could. Look for the Dolphin defense to come out against the Texans like a pod of angry porpoise attacking a shark. The Patriots didn’t really expose a weakness because there are few teams with the depth and skill of the Patriot tight ends. The lesson learned is, aggressive beats passive, on the football field, every time.
Great coaches all have one thing in common; they study themselves as much as they study their opponent. They know their own weaknesses better than their opponent does. With that knowledge, they can accurately predict what the opponent will try to exploit. The Dolphins were unaware the game plan to generate a pass rush without blitzing or stunting could be mitigated by a two tight end hurry-up passing game.
Benny Sapp became the scapegoat for what was supposedly poor play in the secondary. By cutting Sapp, the Dolphins exposed to coaches like Belichick, they still don’t understand why they lost. Cutting a corner back does not fix the root of a problem that schematically gave Tom Brady the time to pick the secondary apart.
The talk all week has been about a lack of talent and depth in the Dolphin secondary. Only a lack of introspect would lead to the conclusion the secondary could stop Brady within the framework of a poor game plan. There is no secondary in the NFL that will stop Brady when he has enough time to scan the entire field and even return to receivers after breaking off patterns.
Bill Belichick knew his offensive line would be determined as a weakness by his opponent. He knew the Dolphins had strength and depth on the defensive line. He knew the Dolphins would conclude they could get pressure without blitzing and they would try to maximize coverage. By knowing his weakness, he was able to accurately guess his opponent’s game plan.
With this knowledge, Belichick no longer had to worry about offensive line adjustments caused by exotic blitzes or stunts. He no longer had to worry about backs picking up linebackers or tight ends forced to block blitzing safeties and corners. He installed a hurry-up offense with simple blocking assignments geared at stopping the defensive line. It should not be surprising a rookie tackle was able to handle Cameron Wake, when Wake was his only worry.
The Dolphins made protecting Brady easy. Instead of exploiting the opponent’s weakness with aggression, they took the passive approach of trying to beat Brady with coverage. They further exacerbated this mistake by not realizing it was a mistake and making the proper adjustments. The brain trust envisioned Brady making big plays on an aggressive defense, was worse than Brady making plays on a passive defense. The key theme to this entire analysis is, “Brady making plays.”
Around the league and on every NFL related TV program, the common conclusion all analysts share is, beating Tom Brady requires pressure and pre-snap confusion. The Dolphins chose a passive game plan that accomplished neither of those things. The coaches can blame players like Benny Sapp, but bad coaching and poor game planning are the true culprits. Coaching against the likes of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is no easy task and this analysis does not insinuate the Dolphins have bad coaches. They just had a bad plan.
Belichick is a master and the best we can do in life is to learn from the masters. Belichick spends as much time learning about his own team as he does learning about his opponent. Through this introspect he is able to project himself into the mind of his opposition. This enables him to accurately predict his opponent’s game plan. It also allows him change his tendencies and fool his adversaries.
The bottom line is, Brady is going to score points whether it’s through big plays or long marches, the only sure way to stop him is to plant him on his backside. The Dolphins knew the Patriot offensive line did not match-up well against with the Dolphin defensive line. Not expecting Belichick to know this as well, led to the poor decision of using a passive game plan, without blitzing, and thinking Belichick would not have a plan for it.
To counter, Belichick installed a two tight end hurry up passing game that caught the Dolphins in a base defense. Instead of dictating the flow of the game by using the strength of its front seven, the Dolphins were trapped on their heals. Belichick made a plan to mitigate the Dolphin front seven and worse he ran them into the ground. By analyzing there own strengths the Dolphins could have predicted Belichick’s options. Knowing those options would have presented a different picture and more than likely a better game plan.
The Dolphin offense cranked it up and the Dolphin defense cranked it down. It won’t happen again. Mike Nolan is an excellent coach and he is probably kicking himself worse than any analyst possibly could. Look for the Dolphin defense to come out against the Texans like a pod of angry porpoise attacking a shark. The Patriots didn’t really expose a weakness because there are few teams with the depth and skill of the Patriot tight ends. The lesson learned is, aggressive beats passive, on the football field, every time.
Part II Miami Dolphin Roster - Defense & Special Teams
Mike Nolan's Miami Dolphins defense ranked 6th in 2010 and is poised to climb higher in 2011. Free agent acquisition Kevin Burnett steps in for released veteran Channing Crowder at ILB, as the Dolphins return 10 starters from 2010.
The Dolphin defensive line may be the deepest in the NFL. Any of six players could be starters on most NFL teams, Lankford, Soliai, Starks, Odrick, Merling, McDaniel, with Ryan Baker in the mix. The depth will give the Dolphins the ability to swap linemen at will as situational pass rushers and run stuffers. It would not be surprising to see the Dolphins trade one of these players if the right opportunity arises.
At Linebacker, replacing the underachieving Crowder with Burnett is a definite upgrade in the middle. Burnett and Dansby are both considered coverage LBs. The Patriots are loaded with TEs and slot receivers in an offense designed to exploit plodding LBs, that problem has now been addressed. On the outside, Misi is a good all around LB and the Dolphins welcomed back Jason Taylor as a situational pass rusher opposite the dynamic Cameron Wake.
The secondary returns all its starters from a year ago. On the corners Vontae Davis has proclaimed Sean Smith and himself as the best tandem in the league. A cornerback without confidence should be looking for another profession and Davis is full of it. Smith tends to play a quieter game, his lanky frame and exceptional speed find him in position to make plays on the ball, but this year he needs to turn those plays into interceptions. Yeremiah Bell is a veteran team captain at strong safety and Chris Clemons has solidified himself at free safety.
Coming into the draft the Dolphins were looking to fortify the offensive leaving fewer opportunities for rookie, or FA defensive players to make an impact. As predicted, 7th round pick Jimmy Wilson showed the aggressive play that landed him on the roster. FA Linebackers Jason Trusnik acquired from the Browns and Marvin Mitchell from the Saints excel as core special teams players. NT Frank Kearse went to the practice squad after initially making the team. A move used to make room for TE Will Yeatman, sniped from the Patriots.
The lack of roster moves on the defensive side points to stability not seen in Miami for a number of years. Overall Jeff Ireland and his crew have done a great job of evaluating and acquiring defensive talent. The original blueprint called for a QB, someone to protect him and then defense, defense, defense, until the unit was complete. It is safe to say the Dolphins have manned the defense and are now looking to finish off the offense.
Wilson, Trusnik, Mitchell and Yeatman strengthen the special teams. There was a lot of speculation Will Allen was a contract casualty, but Allen was released because he did not contribute on special teams. Nolan Carroll was not lighting things up at the corner in the pre-season, but he too is a core special teams player. A.J. Edds may have played a little better than Austin Spitler, but Spitler’s play on special teams won him a spot, with Edds landing on the practice squad. Sapp and Culver won positions in the nickel and dime packages. Along with Alama-Francis their special teams prowess kept them on the roster. Reshad Jones fought it out with Chris Clemons for the free safety but he too has value on special teams.
The Dolphins made a concerted effort to impact special teams with the players not on the starting roster. It is obvious special teams coach Darren Rizzi influenced the final roster moves. Losing Patrick Cobbs as a core special team player hurt the Dolphins, but Cobbs did not fit in the new offense. Once again, not re-signing Cobbs shows that Tony Sparano has no intention of reverting to his old conservative ways.
What are your thoughts on the Dolphin roster? Is the team ready to compete in 2011?
The Dolphin defensive line may be the deepest in the NFL. Any of six players could be starters on most NFL teams, Lankford, Soliai, Starks, Odrick, Merling, McDaniel, with Ryan Baker in the mix. The depth will give the Dolphins the ability to swap linemen at will as situational pass rushers and run stuffers. It would not be surprising to see the Dolphins trade one of these players if the right opportunity arises.
At Linebacker, replacing the underachieving Crowder with Burnett is a definite upgrade in the middle. Burnett and Dansby are both considered coverage LBs. The Patriots are loaded with TEs and slot receivers in an offense designed to exploit plodding LBs, that problem has now been addressed. On the outside, Misi is a good all around LB and the Dolphins welcomed back Jason Taylor as a situational pass rusher opposite the dynamic Cameron Wake.
The secondary returns all its starters from a year ago. On the corners Vontae Davis has proclaimed Sean Smith and himself as the best tandem in the league. A cornerback without confidence should be looking for another profession and Davis is full of it. Smith tends to play a quieter game, his lanky frame and exceptional speed find him in position to make plays on the ball, but this year he needs to turn those plays into interceptions. Yeremiah Bell is a veteran team captain at strong safety and Chris Clemons has solidified himself at free safety.
Coming into the draft the Dolphins were looking to fortify the offensive leaving fewer opportunities for rookie, or FA defensive players to make an impact. As predicted, 7th round pick Jimmy Wilson showed the aggressive play that landed him on the roster. FA Linebackers Jason Trusnik acquired from the Browns and Marvin Mitchell from the Saints excel as core special teams players. NT Frank Kearse went to the practice squad after initially making the team. A move used to make room for TE Will Yeatman, sniped from the Patriots.
The lack of roster moves on the defensive side points to stability not seen in Miami for a number of years. Overall Jeff Ireland and his crew have done a great job of evaluating and acquiring defensive talent. The original blueprint called for a QB, someone to protect him and then defense, defense, defense, until the unit was complete. It is safe to say the Dolphins have manned the defense and are now looking to finish off the offense.
Wilson, Trusnik, Mitchell and Yeatman strengthen the special teams. There was a lot of speculation Will Allen was a contract casualty, but Allen was released because he did not contribute on special teams. Nolan Carroll was not lighting things up at the corner in the pre-season, but he too is a core special teams player. A.J. Edds may have played a little better than Austin Spitler, but Spitler’s play on special teams won him a spot, with Edds landing on the practice squad. Sapp and Culver won positions in the nickel and dime packages. Along with Alama-Francis their special teams prowess kept them on the roster. Reshad Jones fought it out with Chris Clemons for the free safety but he too has value on special teams.
The Dolphins made a concerted effort to impact special teams with the players not on the starting roster. It is obvious special teams coach Darren Rizzi influenced the final roster moves. Losing Patrick Cobbs as a core special team player hurt the Dolphins, but Cobbs did not fit in the new offense. Once again, not re-signing Cobbs shows that Tony Sparano has no intention of reverting to his old conservative ways.
What are your thoughts on the Dolphin roster? Is the team ready to compete in 2011?
How Much Should The Dolphins Focus On Drafting Defense?
It is very obvious that the Miami Dolphins need to fix their offense after being one of the worst scoring teams in the league last year.
The most frustrating part about last year's offense was that they had a lot of playmakers. Say what you want, but Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams didn't just go from being one of the best running back tandems in the NFL to an average at-best tandem because they weren't playmakers. They were still playmakers last year, they just weren't utilized correctly.
The same goes for Miami receivers. Brandon Marshall doesn't just go from scoring ten touchdowns in a year with the Broncos to three the next year with Miami because he isn't a playmaker. He did it because the Dolphins underutilized their playmakers.
There were a few reasons Miami wasn't able to use their playmakers well enough, and the biggest of those were Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning, Quarterback Chad Henne, and the overall play of the offensive line.
But, you guys already know all of that. We all know that the Dolphins need to focus the majority of their attention on offense.
What we don't talk about much, though, is how much they should focus on defense, and particularly during the draft. Miami's defense last year was superb, and Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan needs to be commended for his efforts. He turned a very bad defense into a great one in just a year, and he did it with a lot of very young players.
I think we can all agree that the Dolphins shouldn't draft a defensive player in the first round. No position on Miami's defense is lacking enough to warrant drafting a prospect from that position 15th overall. This discussion is about later rounds and what positions the Dolphins should consider adding to.
There are only two positions that I can think of that are questionable enough to warrant a defensive player being drafted, and those two are OLB and MLB/ILB. Both positions aren't weak by any standard, but they could each use some more depth.
The Dolphins are obviously set at OLB on one side with Cameron Wake. Wake is a beast, and there aren't many other linebackers in the NFL better than him. The other side could be cause for some concern. Koa Misi is the current starter, and I think he will be a great starter for the Dolpins for many years. The only problem is the depth behind him. Ikaika Alama-Francis is alright, but what would be ideal is to get another player to compete with both Misi and Alama-Francis. Both players are very young, and it is important to keep pushing them so they can improve. Adding another OLB to compete with them would do just that.
As for an inside linebacker, Karlos Dansby is obviously safe, but Channing Crowder might not be. Crowder is questionable at times, and he could use some competition for his starting spot. I don't expect Miami to try and draft in ILB, but it is possible if they see someone who could potentially replace Crowder.
If I had to guess, I would say the Dolphins probably only take one defensive player in the draft with a late pick, and that position will probably be an outside linebacker. It is always possible that Miami picks a prospect in a defensive position other than LB if they really like that prospect, but it isn't likely given what they need to fix on offense.
I have to say that it is hard finding any holes in Miami's defense, which is a testament to the Dolphins ability to draft well last year and Mike Nolan's ability to train his players. Nolan really put together a great group of defenders, and it showed.
Hopefully they will be able to use those drafting skills on offense this year. I would like to see the Miami Dolphins playmakers actually making plays instead of watching Dan Carpenter kick the ball.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think with a comment.
The most frustrating part about last year's offense was that they had a lot of playmakers. Say what you want, but Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams didn't just go from being one of the best running back tandems in the NFL to an average at-best tandem because they weren't playmakers. They were still playmakers last year, they just weren't utilized correctly.
The same goes for Miami receivers. Brandon Marshall doesn't just go from scoring ten touchdowns in a year with the Broncos to three the next year with Miami because he isn't a playmaker. He did it because the Dolphins underutilized their playmakers.
There were a few reasons Miami wasn't able to use their playmakers well enough, and the biggest of those were Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning, Quarterback Chad Henne, and the overall play of the offensive line.
But, you guys already know all of that. We all know that the Dolphins need to focus the majority of their attention on offense.
What we don't talk about much, though, is how much they should focus on defense, and particularly during the draft. Miami's defense last year was superb, and Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan needs to be commended for his efforts. He turned a very bad defense into a great one in just a year, and he did it with a lot of very young players.
I think we can all agree that the Dolphins shouldn't draft a defensive player in the first round. No position on Miami's defense is lacking enough to warrant drafting a prospect from that position 15th overall. This discussion is about later rounds and what positions the Dolphins should consider adding to.
There are only two positions that I can think of that are questionable enough to warrant a defensive player being drafted, and those two are OLB and MLB/ILB. Both positions aren't weak by any standard, but they could each use some more depth.
The Dolphins are obviously set at OLB on one side with Cameron Wake. Wake is a beast, and there aren't many other linebackers in the NFL better than him. The other side could be cause for some concern. Koa Misi is the current starter, and I think he will be a great starter for the Dolpins for many years. The only problem is the depth behind him. Ikaika Alama-Francis is alright, but what would be ideal is to get another player to compete with both Misi and Alama-Francis. Both players are very young, and it is important to keep pushing them so they can improve. Adding another OLB to compete with them would do just that.
As for an inside linebacker, Karlos Dansby is obviously safe, but Channing Crowder might not be. Crowder is questionable at times, and he could use some competition for his starting spot. I don't expect Miami to try and draft in ILB, but it is possible if they see someone who could potentially replace Crowder.
If I had to guess, I would say the Dolphins probably only take one defensive player in the draft with a late pick, and that position will probably be an outside linebacker. It is always possible that Miami picks a prospect in a defensive position other than LB if they really like that prospect, but it isn't likely given what they need to fix on offense.
I have to say that it is hard finding any holes in Miami's defense, which is a testament to the Dolphins ability to draft well last year and Mike Nolan's ability to train his players. Nolan really put together a great group of defenders, and it showed.
Hopefully they will be able to use those drafting skills on offense this year. I would like to see the Miami Dolphins playmakers actually making plays instead of watching Dan Carpenter kick the ball.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think with a comment.
Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland Better Be Feeling Pressure From Everywhere
Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland told WQAM radio that he was feeling "pressure from everywhere" during an interview a couple of days ago.
All I have to say is that he better be feeling pressure, because his job is at stake. If him and Tony Sparano don't put together a winning season next year, then they will both be looking for new jobs in 2012.
Another problem is that they hired a coach without a very good resume. When Miami hired Mike Nolan we knew that he would be able to turn the team around, but Brain Daboll doesn't inspire as much confidence in next year's offense.
So yes, Jeff Ireland, you should be feeling "pressure from everywhere." We haven't seen any move you've made this offseason that excites us about next year. Fans of the Miami Dolphins expect success, and they haven't gotten that success in a long time.
Thank you everybody for reading, and please let me know what you think about Ireland saying he's feeling pressure from everywhere.
I am also curious as to whether you guys recognize the quote that I put on the logo at the top of the page. Give me your guesses about who said it and what they were talking about.
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All I have to say is that he better be feeling pressure, because his job is at stake. If him and Tony Sparano don't put together a winning season next year, then they will both be looking for new jobs in 2012.I would be worried if he wasn't feeling a lot of pressure to succeed. After such a great season in 2008, the Dolphins have fallen back to mediocrity, and they just can't seem to get everything working at the same time.
In the 2009-2010 season, Miami's biggest problem was their defense. So, during the offseason they hired Mike Nolan and revamped the roster. The result in the 2010-2011 season was a much better defense that ranked among the Top 10 in the NFL. The problem was that Miami's offense was terrible, and now they will have to focus on fixing that.
Another problem is that they hired a coach without a very good resume. When Miami hired Mike Nolan we knew that he would be able to turn the team around, but Brain Daboll doesn't inspire as much confidence in next year's offense.
So yes, Jeff Ireland, you should be feeling "pressure from everywhere." We haven't seen any move you've made this offseason that excites us about next year. Fans of the Miami Dolphins expect success, and they haven't gotten that success in a long time.
Thank you everybody for reading, and please let me know what you think about Ireland saying he's feeling pressure from everywhere.
I am also curious as to whether you guys recognize the quote that I put on the logo at the top of the page. Give me your guesses about who said it and what they were talking about.
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Mike Nolan Leaving The Miami Dolphins? Another Strong Possibility Pops Up In Miami
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| Could Mike Be Leaving The Dolphins? |
That rumor in Miami is that Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan may be taking a Head Coaching job with another team for next year. Two possible candidates for Nolan to coach are the Broncos and Texans, and I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to either team.
It would be a no-brainer for Nolan personally to move up to a Head Coaching job, which is why I have a feeling that he won't be a Dolphin next year. I see no reason for him to stay in Miami when he can get a better job with another team if that team wants him. Every football coach dreams of an NFL job, and he has earned the chance to take it.
While moving up to head coach would be great for Mike Nolan, losing him would be terrible for the Miami Dolphins. Miami's biggest strength has been their defense, which, thanks to Nolan, has been superb this season. I am not sure how much of the Dolphins defensive success is due to Nolan's efforts and how much of it is due to the players, but I get the feeling he has had a pretty big influence. I still think the defense can be good, but I don't know how good they can be without Nolan.
He was able to transform last year's pathetic passing defense into one of the best in the league this year, so I am not surprised at all that he might be leaving. I just wish it didn't have to happen.
On another note, I have heard a few people suggest that the Dolphins should bring in Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator to replace Dan Henning, who is, most likely, going to either retire or be fired from the Dolphins at the end of this season. I wanted to say that bringing in McDaniels would be a huge mistake simply because of Brandon Marshall. Marshall was mad at the Broncos last off season partly because of McDaniels, so it would only bring back bad memories if the Dolphins hired McDaniels.
That's all for now, and please be sure to check back soon. I look forward to reading your comments.
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The Miami Dolphins Defense Is Quietly One Of The Best In The NFL
You may not realize it, but the Miami Dolphins defense is ranked as one of the top defenses in the NFL. They have allowed the 10th lowest amount of points, 6th lowest total yards per game, and 4th lowest passing yards per game. Their record doesn't really reflect the tremendous amount of talent on Miami's defense, but they are still one of the best.
The number that the Dolphins defense should be most proud of is the 4th lowest passing yards per game. They have only allowed 201.4 passing yards per game this season, and they have been able to do so with a very young secondary.
The Miami Dolphins haven't done so well stopping the passing game thanks to just one or two players. While players like Vontae Davis and Yeremiah Bell have been able to dominate, they haven't had to do it alone. Nine different Dolphins have gotten an interception this season, and that isn't counting Jason Allen who plays for the Texans now.
Miami's secondary still has its moments where they make mental mistakes and allow a big gain, but I have noticed those mistakes have significantly decreased as this season has progressed. This defense will only get better with time, too. The average age of the Dolphins starting cornerbacks and safeties is 25.5 years old. If you don't include 32-year old Yeremiah Bell, then their average age is just 23.3 years old.
We have a very talented and young secondary that, with the exception of Yeremiah Bell, has a long and promising future ahead of them with the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins run defense has also been pretty good. The Dolphins have allowed the 14th lowest rushing yards per game, and that is including games against the likes of Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson.
Mike Nolan has really put together a talented defense, and we should all be very thankful that the Dolphins hired him as the defensive coordinator. He turned a very bad defense into a top-tier passing defense in just one offseason, and that is not easy to do.
I would also like to put a little shout-out to Cameron Wake, who is really taking the NFL by storm with his ability to get to the quarterback. He has 10.5 sacks and is has the second most sacks in the NFL. He is just one sack behind first place Clay Matthews, and he has the more sacks than any other player in the NFC. It's hard to imagine that last year Wake didn't even play that frequently when he is able to do so much when he is on the field.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing your responses.
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The number that the Dolphins defense should be most proud of is the 4th lowest passing yards per game. They have only allowed 201.4 passing yards per game this season, and they have been able to do so with a very young secondary.
The Miami Dolphins haven't done so well stopping the passing game thanks to just one or two players. While players like Vontae Davis and Yeremiah Bell have been able to dominate, they haven't had to do it alone. Nine different Dolphins have gotten an interception this season, and that isn't counting Jason Allen who plays for the Texans now.
Miami's secondary still has its moments where they make mental mistakes and allow a big gain, but I have noticed those mistakes have significantly decreased as this season has progressed. This defense will only get better with time, too. The average age of the Dolphins starting cornerbacks and safeties is 25.5 years old. If you don't include 32-year old Yeremiah Bell, then their average age is just 23.3 years old.
We have a very talented and young secondary that, with the exception of Yeremiah Bell, has a long and promising future ahead of them with the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins run defense has also been pretty good. The Dolphins have allowed the 14th lowest rushing yards per game, and that is including games against the likes of Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson.
Mike Nolan has really put together a talented defense, and we should all be very thankful that the Dolphins hired him as the defensive coordinator. He turned a very bad defense into a top-tier passing defense in just one offseason, and that is not easy to do.
I would also like to put a little shout-out to Cameron Wake, who is really taking the NFL by storm with his ability to get to the quarterback. He has 10.5 sacks and is has the second most sacks in the NFL. He is just one sack behind first place Clay Matthews, and he has the more sacks than any other player in the NFC. It's hard to imagine that last year Wake didn't even play that frequently when he is able to do so much when he is on the field.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing your responses.
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Monday Night's Game Is The First Elite Test For The Miami Dolphins Secondary This Season
Say what you want to in support of Brett Favre, but he is nowhere near where he was last year. Nobody can argue against that point with any accuracy.
He just isn't what he used to be, and his poor performance so far means that the Miami Dolphins secondary has yet to face an extremely dangerous QB yet this season.
That is about to change when Tom Brady and the Patriots come in to town Monday night.
Tom Brady is an elite quarterback.
Whether or not you hate him doesn't matter. He is elite, and he knows how to win, which is why it will be such a challenge for the Dolphins secondary this week to try and stop him.
So far we are not quite sure how good this Dolphins defense really is. They have shown an ability to make big plays, but they have also given up just as many big plays.
It will be a toss-up when predicting how the Miami D will do. They could do really well and hold Brady to average or even bad numbers, or they could do not so well and give up big plays that put the team in a hole.
I want to think that we will be able to hold him, but I am not really sure. I believe the deciding factor for how the Miami Dolphins secondary does this week is Jason Allen.
Jason Allen is the wildcard in this game. The game will most likely depend on how well he does.
No pressure big fella, but the game is riding on your shoulders.
When Allen plays well like he did against Brett Favre the Dolphins are much more likely to win than if he plays poorly like he did against the Jets. Those things will happen when you haven't been starting for very long, so I am not at all concerned about Allen.
Allen has been beat by Randy Moss before, so it will be interesting to watch the matchup between the two if Allen does end up covering Moss. Randy Moss (6'4") is three inches taller than Jason Allen (6'1"), so that puts the Dolphins at an immediate disadvantage.
What Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan should do is put Vontae Davis on Moss. Davis is even smaller than Jason Allen at 5'11", but he is an incredible defender. It would make sense to have him cover Moss, but you never know with these Dolphins coaches.
I do hope that Sean Smith plays well this week. It would great to see him covering Moss successfully. He sure has the height to do it. That is just what I want as a huge fan of Smith, though. I don't know how much he will actually be used Monday night.
We'll see. Let's hope that Miami is able to contain Brady enough for a win. I like winning, and I want the Dolphins to do a little bit more of it.
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| Jason Allen Has A History Against Randy Moss |
That is about to change when Tom Brady and the Patriots come in to town Monday night.
Tom Brady is an elite quarterback.
Whether or not you hate him doesn't matter. He is elite, and he knows how to win, which is why it will be such a challenge for the Dolphins secondary this week to try and stop him.
So far we are not quite sure how good this Dolphins defense really is. They have shown an ability to make big plays, but they have also given up just as many big plays.
It will be a toss-up when predicting how the Miami D will do. They could do really well and hold Brady to average or even bad numbers, or they could do not so well and give up big plays that put the team in a hole.
I want to think that we will be able to hold him, but I am not really sure. I believe the deciding factor for how the Miami Dolphins secondary does this week is Jason Allen.
Jason Allen is the wildcard in this game. The game will most likely depend on how well he does.
No pressure big fella, but the game is riding on your shoulders.
When Allen plays well like he did against Brett Favre the Dolphins are much more likely to win than if he plays poorly like he did against the Jets. Those things will happen when you haven't been starting for very long, so I am not at all concerned about Allen.
Allen has been beat by Randy Moss before, so it will be interesting to watch the matchup between the two if Allen does end up covering Moss. Randy Moss (6'4") is three inches taller than Jason Allen (6'1"), so that puts the Dolphins at an immediate disadvantage.
What Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan should do is put Vontae Davis on Moss. Davis is even smaller than Jason Allen at 5'11", but he is an incredible defender. It would make sense to have him cover Moss, but you never know with these Dolphins coaches.
I do hope that Sean Smith plays well this week. It would great to see him covering Moss successfully. He sure has the height to do it. That is just what I want as a huge fan of Smith, though. I don't know how much he will actually be used Monday night.
We'll see. Let's hope that Miami is able to contain Brady enough for a win. I like winning, and I want the Dolphins to do a little bit more of it.
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Brandon Marshall Has Not Been The Best Performing Offseason Acquisition For The Miami Dolphins So Far
| Mike Nolan |
Marshall has done well, too, but he has only done as much as the Dolphins have given him the opportunity to do. The play-calling on offense has not been in Marshall's favor as most would have liked, but he has still done well.
But -by no fault of his own- Brandon Marshall's performance this year for the Miami Dolphins has not been the best of the Dolphins offseason acquisitions.
No, that honor belongs to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.
He was hired as the defensive coordinator during the offseason, and he sure has performed well so far. He has completely turned around the Miami Dolphins defense, and he has turned them into an aggressive group that has not allowed many points to this point.
Brandon Marshall does have the potential to be be the best performing offseason acquisition, but the offensive play-calling is to blame for how he has done so far. But, it isn't like he has done bad. Nolan has just been really great.
I am not even sure whether Brandon Marshall will be able to perform better than Nolan's defense this season. Marshall could have a career year, but he still might not be the best performer because of how well Nolan is performing.
That is a good problem to have, though. Both have played really well, and it would be great for both to continue to do well(and better in Marshall's case).
Let me know your opinion. Do you think Marshall will be able to perform better than Nolan? I understand that Nolan does not technically perform, but you can consider what he does performing because you do have to be skilled to do it.
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2-0 Baby! The Miami Dolphins Pull Out A Great Win Against The Minnesota Vikings
| 2-0! |
Even though Adrian Peterson was able to run everywhere in the second half we should still be really encouraged by the Miami Dolphins defensive showing. There is only so much you can do against a guy like Peterson, so performances like that will happen to the best of them.
What really saved the Dolphins was our ability to turn the ball over. Miami's secondary had three interceptions, and all three were crucial. The biggest surprise today was CB Jason Allen's impressive showing. Allen had 11 tackles and two interceptions. I apologize to Jason for ever doubting him, and I am extremely glad that he was in and able to make the big plays he did.
Another huge contributor was CB Vontae Davis. Without Davis we would have lost this game. Simple as that. He had a crucial interception on the goal line and he put the finishing hit on Adrian Peterson on the hugely important goal line stand in the 4th quarter. Yes, Karlos Dansby was the first player to wrap Peterson up and he was also crucial in saving the game, but without Davis there Peterson would have been able to reach for the endzone.
The pressure the Dolphins were able to put on Favre was incredible, too. Not only did they sack him three times, but they were able to bat the ball down on a big 4th down play early in the game. The best part about the pressure, though, was the fumble they forced on Favre that Koa Misi was able to recover for a touchdown.
Not only was it the first career touchdown (of hopefully many more) for Koa Misi, but it was also the touchdown that gave the Dolphins the points they needed to pull the game out in the end.
Moving along to the offense now.
Who loved the play call for Chad Henne to immediately throw the ball long to Brandon Marshall to start off the game? I know I did, and it helped the Dolphins to start their momentum and get in position for their first score.
It was great seeing the Dolphins start off with a statement like that game even though they didn't throw many more long balls afterwards.
And, did anyone else notice how well Jake Long covered Vikings DE Jared Allen? Allen was held to basically nothing. The only time he did do anything was when Henne scrambled and all he had to do was move in the other direction to tackle him. One of those tackles was considered a sack, but don't let that statistic fool you. Jake Long had him on lock all game.
I am so glad that the Miami Dolphins hired Mike Nolan as the defensive coordinator. Even with a young defensive corps that made a few mistakes (i.e. 12 men on the field call twice in the same drive) he was able to help lead the Dolphins to a victory.
Let me know what you guys thought about the game with your comment. If you would like to leave a comment you can just click here and it will take you to the commenting.
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Miami Dolphins CB Will Allen Will Be Missed During Training Camp
News of the Miami Dolphins CB Will Allen's arthroscopic surgery has just recently surfaced, and while he will only miss training camp, he will be missed none the less.
The surgery was apparently a clean up from his surgery last fall.
I know that Allen isn't the starter at CB, but having him helped the starters a lot. He was added depth at the position, and depth made the competition better.
It motivated Sean Smith to perform better at the scrimmage after Allen was put in the 1st-string defense during the previous practice. Competition brings out the best in players, and losing Allen takes away some of the challenge.
Thankfully, Miami's other rookie CB Nolan Carroll is still there to add some competition. He has done really well and should keep the competition up, but not as much as Allen.
Just hope that Allen can recover as quickly as possible. We need him back to help keep up the competition.
Depth is the key, and competition will create a champion
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The surgery was apparently a clean up from his surgery last fall.
I know that Allen isn't the starter at CB, but having him helped the starters a lot. He was added depth at the position, and depth made the competition better.
It motivated Sean Smith to perform better at the scrimmage after Allen was put in the 1st-string defense during the previous practice. Competition brings out the best in players, and losing Allen takes away some of the challenge.
Thankfully, Miami's other rookie CB Nolan Carroll is still there to add some competition. He has done really well and should keep the competition up, but not as much as Allen.
Just hope that Allen can recover as quickly as possible. We need him back to help keep up the competition.
Depth is the key, and competition will create a champion
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Miami Dolphins FS Decision: Should The Dolphins Continue To Give Chris Clemons More Reps Or Not?
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| Chris Clemons |
The only problem with that is that you don't want to give your player too many reps and risk injuring him.
That is the current dilemma the Miami Dolphins coaching staff faces with second year FS Chris Clemons. Clemons is the most likely candidate to start at FS this year, so the Dolphins coaches have given him more reps than any other player on the team.
238 to be exact.
It is great that they are working him and giving him as much experience as possible, but I am not sure how much longer they want to push him this hard. An injury is the last thing Miami needs at Free Safety.
Tony Sparano and Mike Nolan will have enough trouble using what little they have at the position. Imagine taking away one of the potential starters and having to start preparing another player.
I am not saying that the Dolphins need to stop giving Clemons reps, and I am also not saying that they should reduce his reps.
I honestly don't know how well he is holding up. Maybe he is doing fine and isn't really affected by all of the work he is doing. We can't be sure. The only people that know that are Clemons and the people in the Dolphins organization.
So hope that Clemons doesn't get hurt, but also gets all of the practice he needs.
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Dolphin Shout Miami Dolphins Fan Question - "Defensive Scheme" from Barry
Today we have another question from our man in London: Barry West. This was a tough one, so thanks for making me think a little bit more Barry. Here it is:
Hi Paul,
What scheme do you think Mike Nolan is going to run this season, bearing in mind our personnel?
Without a true NT will we see a hybrid scheme with Randy Starks at NT, and then Paul Soliai in when operating a more standard 3-4?
My Answer
First, let me say that I don't expect Paul Soliai to play a whole lot this season. Soliai is a good player, but I think that Starks is an even better player.
The only time I see Soliai in is when Miami is running the standard 3-4 like you kind of said, but Starks will probably still get more time in the standard. I believe that Miami is going to try and use Starks as much as possible at Nose Tackle to see if he is capable enough at the position because it is really hard to find talent at the Nose Tackle position.
To me, Starks (305 pounds) seems to be the better decision because he is smaller than Soliai (355 pounds). I know it sounds weird to think that smaller is better for a defensive lineman, but it can be.
Starks is obviously going to be faster than Soliai, and he can use his speed to his advantage. Most centers in the NFL are about Starks size. So, while bigger Nose Tackles like Paul Soliai would be unable to quickly pass a center, Starks has a better chance of being able to. I'm not saying that Starks is a small man compared to you and me, because he is still huge. He just isn't as big as other NFL Nose Tackles.
As for when Miami runs the hybrid scheme and brings a linebacker down to the line, expect Starks to be in. That is because he will no longer be at the nose of the defensive line.
Normally in a 4-3 you have two tackles. One is bigger like Soliai, and his primary focus is to stop the run and take on two blockers to leave an opening for one of the linebackers. The other is usually smaller and around Starks size. His main goal is similar to the others, except he needs to try and rush the quarterback during a pass play.
The great part about having Starks in as the player in the bigger tackle spot is that he can also rush the quarterback. Normally the big guy wouldn't try and rush the quarterback, but with Starks being smaller he is able to. Now, instead of having one tackle who is a threat to the quarterback, you have two tackles threatening him.
The only problem with two smaller tackles is that the linebacker has a harder time getting to the quarterback. But, that shouldn't be too much of a problem because Starks is great at getting to the quarterback himself.
So, in a nutshell your answer is this. Starks will definitely be in during the hybrid scheme, and he should be in for the majority of the traditional scheme. Soliai is good, but Starks is better and he has the potential to become a very good Nose Tackle.
Thanks for your question Barry, and keep them coming everyone. I enjoy difficult ones like those. My email for your questions is paul@dolphinshout.com.
Also, let me say this. As much as I try to be completely accurate about formations and such, I sometimes mess up something or describe a position wrong. If I do please either email me or leave a comment letting me know.
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Hi Paul,
What scheme do you think Mike Nolan is going to run this season, bearing in mind our personnel?
Without a true NT will we see a hybrid scheme with Randy Starks at NT, and then Paul Soliai in when operating a more standard 3-4?
My Answer
First, let me say that I don't expect Paul Soliai to play a whole lot this season. Soliai is a good player, but I think that Starks is an even better player.
The only time I see Soliai in is when Miami is running the standard 3-4 like you kind of said, but Starks will probably still get more time in the standard. I believe that Miami is going to try and use Starks as much as possible at Nose Tackle to see if he is capable enough at the position because it is really hard to find talent at the Nose Tackle position.
To me, Starks (305 pounds) seems to be the better decision because he is smaller than Soliai (355 pounds). I know it sounds weird to think that smaller is better for a defensive lineman, but it can be.
Starks is obviously going to be faster than Soliai, and he can use his speed to his advantage. Most centers in the NFL are about Starks size. So, while bigger Nose Tackles like Paul Soliai would be unable to quickly pass a center, Starks has a better chance of being able to. I'm not saying that Starks is a small man compared to you and me, because he is still huge. He just isn't as big as other NFL Nose Tackles.
As for when Miami runs the hybrid scheme and brings a linebacker down to the line, expect Starks to be in. That is because he will no longer be at the nose of the defensive line.
Normally in a 4-3 you have two tackles. One is bigger like Soliai, and his primary focus is to stop the run and take on two blockers to leave an opening for one of the linebackers. The other is usually smaller and around Starks size. His main goal is similar to the others, except he needs to try and rush the quarterback during a pass play.
The great part about having Starks in as the player in the bigger tackle spot is that he can also rush the quarterback. Normally the big guy wouldn't try and rush the quarterback, but with Starks being smaller he is able to. Now, instead of having one tackle who is a threat to the quarterback, you have two tackles threatening him.
The only problem with two smaller tackles is that the linebacker has a harder time getting to the quarterback. But, that shouldn't be too much of a problem because Starks is great at getting to the quarterback himself.
So, in a nutshell your answer is this. Starks will definitely be in during the hybrid scheme, and he should be in for the majority of the traditional scheme. Soliai is good, but Starks is better and he has the potential to become a very good Nose Tackle.
Thanks for your question Barry, and keep them coming everyone. I enjoy difficult ones like those. My email for your questions is paul@dolphinshout.com.
Also, let me say this. As much as I try to be completely accurate about formations and such, I sometimes mess up something or describe a position wrong. If I do please either email me or leave a comment letting me know.
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Dolphin Shout Miami Dolphins Fan Question - Defense - From Anthony Bertolini
Here is a question from Anthony Bertolini in NY. That's right, he's in the heart of Jets territory. But, please don't attack him because he is loyal to the aqua and orange. Here is his question:
Although we went Defense in the draft I'm very worried about numerous factors:
-We're still a bit weak at OLB
-We still dont have a proven Free Safety
-We have a defensive lineman moving to NT for the first time as a permanent solution
-Even Jason Ferguson (when he gets back) is in his late 30's and has to be battling weariness after all these years
Paul, I'm very excited about the upcoming season, and I wait all year for this, so I guess my question is...... Are we thinking with our hearts too much as opposed to our heads? Is there a distinct possibility that I'm going to have to suffer through another sub par season while praying for a great 2011 draft? Is Mike Nolan capable of taking pieces from elsewhere and making them work in new positions? Please keep in mind I'm surrounded here by Damn Jet Fans who think every year they're Super Bowl Bound..........Please can you give me some news?
My Answer:
First, let me put one thing to rest. Jets fans are always going to think they are good, even if they aren't. Just ignore all of the hype. They maybe pretty good this year, but they aren't near as close to where their fans think they are.
As for thinking with our hearts and heads, I will admit that I do get a little over-excited and think with my heart sometimes. But, I don't think that there is a possibility that you will have to suffer through another mediocre season. Everything really is looking up for Miami. The offense is very, very good, and our defense is getting better by the day.
And about Mike Nolan, I am completely confident in him. He is the least of any of my concerns this year. I did a little bit of analyzing how he helped defenses when he was a coordinator, and here is what I came up with:
Nolan has been a defensive coordinator for 11 years. In 8 out of those 11 years, Nolan's defense has been in the top half of the NFL in points allowed. Of those 8 seasons, his defense has been in the top 10 six times.
While those are just statistics and the results can vary from team to team, that is still a very good indicator of his skills.
I have also read about how he has changed Miami's defensive mindset to a more agressive one, which I think sounds great.
I know you are concerned with the OLB position, the free safety position, and the moving to the nose tackle position. But, stop worrying about it. If Mike Nolan is willing to make the move, then I am willing to trust him. He has 22 years of coaching experience in the NFL. He knows what he is doing.
So, put your mind and heart to rest. Miami is going to be great this year, and any problem they may have most likely won't be big enough to ruin the season. The Dolphins have a great chance at making the playoffs this year.
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Although we went Defense in the draft I'm very worried about numerous factors:
-We're still a bit weak at OLB
-We still dont have a proven Free Safety
-We have a defensive lineman moving to NT for the first time as a permanent solution
-Even Jason Ferguson (when he gets back) is in his late 30's and has to be battling weariness after all these years
Paul, I'm very excited about the upcoming season, and I wait all year for this, so I guess my question is...... Are we thinking with our hearts too much as opposed to our heads? Is there a distinct possibility that I'm going to have to suffer through another sub par season while praying for a great 2011 draft? Is Mike Nolan capable of taking pieces from elsewhere and making them work in new positions? Please keep in mind I'm surrounded here by Damn Jet Fans who think every year they're Super Bowl Bound..........Please can you give me some news?
My Answer:
First, let me put one thing to rest. Jets fans are always going to think they are good, even if they aren't. Just ignore all of the hype. They maybe pretty good this year, but they aren't near as close to where their fans think they are.
As for thinking with our hearts and heads, I will admit that I do get a little over-excited and think with my heart sometimes. But, I don't think that there is a possibility that you will have to suffer through another mediocre season. Everything really is looking up for Miami. The offense is very, very good, and our defense is getting better by the day.
And about Mike Nolan, I am completely confident in him. He is the least of any of my concerns this year. I did a little bit of analyzing how he helped defenses when he was a coordinator, and here is what I came up with:
Nolan has been a defensive coordinator for 11 years. In 8 out of those 11 years, Nolan's defense has been in the top half of the NFL in points allowed. Of those 8 seasons, his defense has been in the top 10 six times.
While those are just statistics and the results can vary from team to team, that is still a very good indicator of his skills.
I have also read about how he has changed Miami's defensive mindset to a more agressive one, which I think sounds great.
I know you are concerned with the OLB position, the free safety position, and the moving to the nose tackle position. But, stop worrying about it. If Mike Nolan is willing to make the move, then I am willing to trust him. He has 22 years of coaching experience in the NFL. He knows what he is doing.
So, put your mind and heart to rest. Miami is going to be great this year, and any problem they may have most likely won't be big enough to ruin the season. The Dolphins have a great chance at making the playoffs this year.
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Miami Dolphins Fans Should Be Excited About Next Season
If you are a fan of the Miami Dolphins you should be excited, very excited.
Your team is about to take a big step in to being one of the top teams in the NFL. The foundation has already been built, and now is the time to start putting it to use.
This year is the year that good things will start and then continue to happen for the Miami Dolphins franchise. This is the year that people will start to realize that the Dolphins are here to stay, and here are just a few reasons why:
A Much Better Passing Game
The Miami Dolphins passing game has only gotten better from last year. They released the excess baggage that was holding them down in Ted Ginn Jr, signed Brandon Marshall who is one of the best receivers in the NFL, and still have all of those consistent receivers you have come to love over the last couple of years. Chad Henne has all of the tools he needs to become one of the best quarterbacks in the league, now let us see what he does with those tools.
The Same Old Running Game
In the last two years the Dolphins have consistently ran the ball with success. No matter what was happening with the passing game or with the defense, you could be sure that the running game would work out. Well, that same old running game is back and now it does not have to carry the bulk of Miami Dolphins offense. Now that Miami has a stronger passing game, opposing teams will focus less on Miami running the ball and more on them passing the ball. This will, no doubt, open up the field for the Dolphin backs.
A Great Offensive Line
One key to Miami’s success the last two years running the ball was the offensive line’s ability to block. The Dolphins offensive line corps does a superb job at protecting all of its backs (QB and RB), and all signs show that they will be able to do it again.
A Great New Coach
The Dolphins have been improving their defense for basically the entire off-season. Miami started off by hiring Mike Nolan as their new defensive coordinator. Out of the eleven total years that Mike Nolan has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL, Nolan’s defense has been in the bottom half of the NFL in points allowed only three of those years. Six of those years Nolan’s defenses were in the top 10 in points allowed in the NFL. So, as a defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan’s defense has been in the top ten of the NFL for the majority of his career.
A Much Better Defense
The bulk of Miami’s focus this off-season has been on the defense. Nolan was obviously the first big change for the defense, but he definitely wasn’t the last. Miami then went on to sign Karlos Dansby, an extremely talented linebacker from Arizona. The Dolphins also looked to the draft to improve their defense. Seven out of their eight draft picks were used on defensive players. Mike Nolan has also, apparently, been changing the mentality of the defense. Nolan has been turning the defense into an attacking defense. Instead of sitting back like Paul Pasqualoni had them do last year, Nolan has been teaching them to be more aggressive and force offenses to have to make more changes against them.
Not only will next season be great for the Miami Dolphins, but so will the seasons following it.
Teams like the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots were able to build foundations around great quarterbacks and win 10+ games every season. Miami should now be able to do the same simply because they now have a franchise quarterback named Chad Henne leading the team.
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Your team is about to take a big step in to being one of the top teams in the NFL. The foundation has already been built, and now is the time to start putting it to use.
This year is the year that good things will start and then continue to happen for the Miami Dolphins franchise. This is the year that people will start to realize that the Dolphins are here to stay, and here are just a few reasons why:
A Much Better Passing Game
The Miami Dolphins passing game has only gotten better from last year. They released the excess baggage that was holding them down in Ted Ginn Jr, signed Brandon Marshall who is one of the best receivers in the NFL, and still have all of those consistent receivers you have come to love over the last couple of years. Chad Henne has all of the tools he needs to become one of the best quarterbacks in the league, now let us see what he does with those tools.
The Same Old Running Game
In the last two years the Dolphins have consistently ran the ball with success. No matter what was happening with the passing game or with the defense, you could be sure that the running game would work out. Well, that same old running game is back and now it does not have to carry the bulk of Miami Dolphins offense. Now that Miami has a stronger passing game, opposing teams will focus less on Miami running the ball and more on them passing the ball. This will, no doubt, open up the field for the Dolphin backs.
A Great Offensive Line
One key to Miami’s success the last two years running the ball was the offensive line’s ability to block. The Dolphins offensive line corps does a superb job at protecting all of its backs (QB and RB), and all signs show that they will be able to do it again.
A Great New Coach
The Dolphins have been improving their defense for basically the entire off-season. Miami started off by hiring Mike Nolan as their new defensive coordinator. Out of the eleven total years that Mike Nolan has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL, Nolan’s defense has been in the bottom half of the NFL in points allowed only three of those years. Six of those years Nolan’s defenses were in the top 10 in points allowed in the NFL. So, as a defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan’s defense has been in the top ten of the NFL for the majority of his career.
A Much Better Defense
The bulk of Miami’s focus this off-season has been on the defense. Nolan was obviously the first big change for the defense, but he definitely wasn’t the last. Miami then went on to sign Karlos Dansby, an extremely talented linebacker from Arizona. The Dolphins also looked to the draft to improve their defense. Seven out of their eight draft picks were used on defensive players. Mike Nolan has also, apparently, been changing the mentality of the defense. Nolan has been turning the defense into an attacking defense. Instead of sitting back like Paul Pasqualoni had them do last year, Nolan has been teaching them to be more aggressive and force offenses to have to make more changes against them.
Not only will next season be great for the Miami Dolphins, but so will the seasons following it.
Teams like the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots were able to build foundations around great quarterbacks and win 10+ games every season. Miami should now be able to do the same simply because they now have a franchise quarterback named Chad Henne leading the team.
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How Big Of An Impact Will Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan Make?
The Miami Dolphins had one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL last year.
So, obviously, something had to be done. And, that something was firing defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and hiring Mike Nolan as their new defensive coordinator.
Nolan is a great coach that can make a huge impact on the Dolphins defense. He has had a great career so far with 25+ years of coaching experience, and that includes the top defense in the NFL with the 1993 New York Giants. Here is a quick look at what Nolan has done with defenses in his career:
Nolan has been a defensive coordinator for eleven years.
Eight of those eleven years, Nolan's defense has been in the better half of the NFL in points allowed. Six of the years, it has been in the top 10. So, that means Nolan has had a top 10 defense in the NFL for the majority of his career. That is a very good sign for Dolphins fans.
Mike Nolan is the best acquisition the Miami Dolphins made this offseason. Better than Brandon Marshall. Defense wins championships, and while great receivers helps a lot, they still don't help as much as a great defense.
Let me know what the Dolphins community thinks on that one with your comments right below this post.
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So, obviously, something had to be done. And, that something was firing defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and hiring Mike Nolan as their new defensive coordinator.
Nolan is a great coach that can make a huge impact on the Dolphins defense. He has had a great career so far with 25+ years of coaching experience, and that includes the top defense in the NFL with the 1993 New York Giants. Here is a quick look at what Nolan has done with defenses in his career:
Nolan has been a defensive coordinator for eleven years.
Eight of those eleven years, Nolan's defense has been in the better half of the NFL in points allowed. Six of the years, it has been in the top 10. So, that means Nolan has had a top 10 defense in the NFL for the majority of his career. That is a very good sign for Dolphins fans.
Mike Nolan is the best acquisition the Miami Dolphins made this offseason. Better than Brandon Marshall. Defense wins championships, and while great receivers helps a lot, they still don't help as much as a great defense.
Let me know what the Dolphins community thinks on that one with your comments right below this post.
Subscribe to DolphinShout
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