Dolphins defense – Whole is better than the sum of its parts

There will be quite a few new faces added to this defense, some coming via free agency and some through the draft. This is going to be a young defense, especially the front 7. The oldest guy on the front 7 is LB Kyle Van Noy at 29 years old and the youngest is LB Jerome Baker at 23. Even the depth is young with players like Emmanuel Ogbah, Andrew Van Ginkle, Vince Biegel, Elandon Roberts along with rookies Raekwon Davis, Curtis Weaver and Jason Strowbridge. When you have a young defense, especially in a season with limited practices and no preseason games, there are going to be mistakes. Even veterans like Van Noy and Lawson will be playing aside so many new faces that there will be little if any familiarity with their teammates. Every team will be in this situation but I think the Dolphins have added more new players to their roster compared to most likely every other NFL roster.

What this means fellow Dolphins fans is we’re going to have to be patient. Keep in mind, this is year 1 of the rebuild. Last year we tore it down, and tore it down good. This was the first free agency period followed by the first draft. I think we did extremely well on both counts. Our secondary may be one of the best in the NFL and any added pressure we might generate from our front 7 will complement the shutdown potential of that secondary. If we don’t get a better pass rush and create more pressure and sacks a good secondary can only hold up for so long, especially against teams with better QB’s. The Patriots took a huge step backwards with Cam Newton, The Jets stand pat with young Sam Darnold as the Bills do the same with Josh Allen. Besides the downgrade at QB for the Patriots, the amount of players opting out for the 2020 season is now at 7, and there are some quality players in that 7.

I’m actually starting to feel a little less sure that a 2020 season is actually going to happen. The fact that so many Patriots players are opting out makes me nervous. Sure, maybe they’re trying to get a better pick in the 2021 draft or maybe they know something due to relationships with Goodell. Not starting a conspiracy theory here but you have to find it odd that one team has so many more that any other. In any case, if the season does proceed it will help us that the team that has taken the division 11 years in a row has not only lost their future HOF QB but has already lost 7 players to the opt out clause. The Bills should be the favorite probably followed by the Jets because of continuity with their young QB who showed improvement the 2nd half of 2019. We should be in the mix as a young upstart team as well, I’m not discounting us. If somehow our O-line can play like an average NFL teams and our pass rush can improve we could be right in that race. Then if at some point we start Tua Tagovailoa and he plays as well as he did at Alabama, well . . .

GO DOLPHINS!!!

#staythecourse

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883 Responses to Dolphins defense – Whole is better than the sum of its parts

  1. The Flying Pig says:

    I canā€™t stand Simms

    Honestly I think heā€™s a little bit slow, like eating paint chips slow

    And the fact that they started talking about Tua and rumors that he was actually an ā€œowners pickā€….well… thatā€™s silly

    The people who believe Tua was an owners pick are probably the same people who believed the Dolphins were going to trade up for an OT

    The GM did everything possible to Manufacter Tua being available are 5

    After the draft, it should be painfully obvious to everyone that the Dolphins were crazy about Tua for a long time and were doing everything they can do to hide it

    I just donā€™t know what with people that they have to approach talking about Tua like heā€™s some flash in the pan glamor pick instead of what he really is – a good football player

    I loved watching Grier launch more smokescreens than the US Navy in World War I and II combined leading up to the pick….it was brilliant and it worked…

    Iā€™m thinking the people that are the source of those rumors just canā€™t deal with the fact that they were fooled by Greir

    Tua was a pick by football guys. Deal with it before you start trying to sell me on the Dolphins love Justin Herbert again…

    • D says:

      He didnt just sell it to people, he solde it multiple times to the same people who seemed to buy it, and just when they were coming to their senses, he sold them on it again

    • stangerx says:

      “The people who believe Tua was an owners pick are probably the same people who believed the Dolphins were” going to Tank for Tua.” — and now they want to get clicks by saying getting him at #5 was a mistake.

  2. bailbondmike says:

    My Friday music video.

  3. Randy says:

    Tua was a very solid pick at #5. Weā€™ll all get to enjoy seeing how he progresses. The pick….no matter who had the final say….was a good pick. If he stays healthy, he might be pretty good. Weā€™ll see.

  4. D says:

    steveccnv says:
    August 7, 2020 at 11:55 am

    Why would injuries be a part of that, when we could have one or two of those guys on the PS?
    ————————————————————
    Well first because if you carry them on the 53, you keep them, they cant be poached, i would never carry a guy i might actually have to count on on my PS, first he is good enough that other teams will likely want him and 2 because you could easy lose out on your next man up plans.

    I also think you dress at least 5 on any game day in that system. The 6th guy is the only buffer you have in case of immediate injury and you have had him working with the first team some so he is ready to go vs a PS guy who (again, if you kept him somehow) has a good bit of adjustment to make.

    Still logic says, with so many teams carrying 6, there has to be a reason for it right? Its not uncommon for a team to carry 6.

  5. wyoming85 says:

  6. D says:

    A guy i have seen early mocks of us taking with our top pick in 2021 has just opted out of the season at the U. DE Gregory Rousseau has chose to skip the season and start prepping for the NFL Draft.

  7. D says:

    I wonder. If they opt out of the college season, are they now free to get an agent and start working the meetings and workouts with NFL people, ie get a head start on all the background stuff or do they officially have to declare for the draft. Also, can they actually declare for the draft this early or do they have to wait?

    • pheloniusphish says:

      I would think they could get agents and start meetings. The rules against are all predicated on NCAA eligibility. If you are out of school, they don’t matter.

  8. Mike E. says:

    D – I think they still have to declare for the draft. They were talking about players who might opt out of the 2020 CFB and that they will be able to finish their college education and then enter the draft.

  9. stangerx says:

    Here’s how draft eligibility works. Seems a lot of it is up to the NFL (like for juniors)……. but have to think if you are 3 years out of high school and declare for the draft you are good to go.
    —————————————–
    “To be eligible for the draft, players must have been out of high school for at least three years and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season. Underclassmen and players who have graduated before using all their college eligibility may request the leagueā€™s approval to enter the draft early.”

    • steveccnv says:

      That seems dated.

      This part doesn’t look right:
      and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season. Maybe these guys just loophole it by getting an agent, which ends college eligibility.

      • stangerx says:

        Can’t speak for the site I took it from, but I do agree something missing. Think it might be you can renounce college ability…… like you say by taking on an agent. All those juniors in the draft could have played another eligible year.

  10. steveccnv says:

    D, you aren’t proving your point on keeping 6 wrs in case of an injury, if they aren’t a top 53 player.

    You seem to be advocating for keeping a 6th WR, if they aren’t one of our top 53, because this system needs a 6th.

    We’ve got 3 PS eligible wrs that could be a 6th wr, why should we worry about one getting poached? We also have a 4th in Ricardo Lewis.

  11. stangerx says:

    The kid sent pictures of other kids in her high school to social media. And gets suspended 5 days? Just not right. Got worse than that but least I was drinking beer.
    ————————————–
    “In North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia, a series of widely shared photos showed students crowded into packed hallways during their first days back to class this week. Few were wearing masks, and there was little sign of social distancing, generating criticism and outrage in news reports and on social media.

    A 15-year-old student at North Paulding, Hannah Watters, was suspended for five days for posting some of those images on Twitter”

    • steveccnv says:

      Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. The kid isn’t an employee, the school can’t tell her what to do in her spare time, even though the picture was from school.

      • D says:

        Well not without some previous rule in place ie in the handbook, and even then there would have to be established parameters for the punishment.

  12. CavalierKong says:

    Thanks for the responses on the flooring, guys. I had been looking at laminate, but they have a vinyl section as well, and I’ll make sure they bring those samples too. Cheers!

    • son of a son of a shula says:

      If you track water or have pets Iā€™d use vinyl laminate over wood ones. Tile that looks like a wood floor is very durable and can get as wet as you want.
      What substrate is it going on? Wood or slab?

      • CavalierKong says:

        It’s going on a slab. We have a couple of cats, no dogs, but we’re definitely looking at high traffic durability as a key element.

      • son of a son of a shula says:

        I wouldnā€™t recommend tile over wood but on a slab itā€™s great. I just put the wood look tile in our master bedroom and we love it. The vinyl stuff is really a great product too.

      • CavalierKong says:

        Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I have zero experience so I’m taking in any and all advice.

  13. son of a son of a shula says:

    Dan Marino was inducted to the Hall of Fame on this date in 2005.

  14. stangerx says:

    No doubt at this point that going on the Covid list includes just having had an exposure.
    ——————————-
    One day after the Miami Dolphins added six players to their reserve/COVID-19 list, the team removed three players from the list Friday. Dolphins starting defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, new defensive lineman Shaq Lawson and rookie safety Brandon Jones are now able to return to the teamā€™s practice facility and participate in team activities.

    Lawson and Jones were on the list for a day, while Godchauxā€™s stint lasted two days.

  15. bailbondmike says:

    Looks like Russia may be working to damage Biden in the up coming election while China and Iran are doing opposite to hurt Trump. Russia apparently does not like Biden because of his ties and support to Ukraine. Moscow views him as antagonistic to the Russian establishment. China and Iran oppose Trump for the obvious.

    ā€œAhead of the 2020 U.S. elections, foreign states will continue to use covert and overt influence measures in their attempts to sway U.S. votersā€™ preferences and perspectives, shift U.S. policies, increase discord in the United States, and undermine the American peopleā€™s confidence in our democratic process,ā€

    Shit, now I can’t find the article. No matter, it’s the same shit that’s been going on for a long time. I am just waiting to hear the fake media spin about Trump and Russia again and leaving out the part about China and Iran supporting Biden.

    • bailbondmike says:

      Reason I bring up the fake media spin was because of the headline, “Russia Working to Damage Biden’s White House Bid, Spy Agencies Say”

    • stangerx says:

      Countries like Russia, China and Iran will for sure try to social influence the election….even if we could debate who wants who. NATO countries, Canada, ANZAC, etc. would as well, except they have morals.

  16. Rockphin says:

    LOL

  17. Tim Knight says:

    Guys, I understand wanting the young guys on the OL to make a push but I don’t think you want that much youth right out of the gate. I already had our two rookies at tackle. A 2nd year center and rookie guard especially in this weird offseason looks too green to me.

  18. Rockphin says:

    I am guessing that these people are not concerned at all about the Covid. LOL

    • stangerx says:

      LOL — on that cruise you go past the Amsterdam red light district. Wife and I did one like that last year. Based on what the guide said all is safe though. šŸ™‚

  19. Rockphin says:

    I don’t remember how long ago it was exactly but it was current era, we played the Cowboys in the preseason and they were talking that off-season about how the Boy’s had one of the worst O-lines in the league. (they were all pretty much young) they drafted a Guard high and by the end of the season they were talking about how the Boys had the best line in football. They were all the same guys, except for the rookie guard.

    What I really want to see is the guys that Flores showed faith in last season who might not have been all that good, come back and be that good. YKWIM?

  20. Mike E. says:

    Most apes get vinyl flooring, especially since you guys are always dropping banana peels and throwing shit around.

  21. Rockphin says:

    Stanger, you and your wife went on an Anal Cruise last year? Tell us more!

  22. wyoming85 says:

  23. wyoming85 says:

  24. son of a son of a shula says:

    Jason Day and Tua kinda look alike

  25. son of a son of a shula says:

  26. CavalierKong says:

  27. son of a son of a shula says:

  28. son of a son of a shula says:

  29. wyoming85 says:

    I thought I was done. But I’ve never heard this rendition!

  30. son of a son of a shula says:

    Iā€™m not afraid of Eddie Moore…
    Take a listen youā€™ll hear that line

  31. wyoming85 says:

    Try this at the fest!

  32. son of a son of a shula says:

    • son of a son of a shula says:

      The zydeco stuff is pretty cool but itā€™s not the same when youā€™re outside of Nawlins

  33. Krishna says:

    Happy birthday, Mrs. K. I miss you dearly.

    Sorry to the blog for the drunken, non-sensical rage last night. Probably need to stay away for a while. DOD 16th, too.

  34. Tim Knight says:

    I love this sort of stuff and it’s funny to watch their reactions. Enjoy!

  35. wyoming85 says:

    Krishna
    I wish you nothing but peace and love brother!

  36. son of a son of a shula says:

    Dolphins had WRā€™s Ricardo Lewis (was a Dolphin) and Chester Rogers (Colts) in for physicals

  37. steveccnv says:

    The Marlins are 7-1, stop the presses, and are ridden with covid, so why is everyone so worried about itšŸ¤”

  38. Krishna says:

    Thanks all.

  39. CavalierKong says:

  40. Mike E. says:

    Krishna – My best to you sir. That’s a tough one among many other tough ones. She was a special lady, so happy birthday to her in her special place up above. You obviously are a special guy too to be with her, so there’s that . . .

  41. wyoming85 says:

  42. steveccnv says:

    Stanger, how do you feel about Biden’s policies with China?

    • stangerx says:

      Not even sure exactly what they are. Is he proposing to re-start the TPP? Thought that the best way to deal with China.

      • steveccnv says:

        Yes, restart TTP, as he calls it, remove the tariffs, so the trade deficit grows again, and likely continue his shady dealings. China is in his corner for sure.

      • stangerx says:

        I’m a free economy guy so that sounds good to me. Trade wars make no sense in my mind. Understand you don’t agree.

  43. CavalierKong says:

    Golden Knights playing the Avalanche today, winner is the #1 seed going into round 2.

    Blues just hoping they win a game.

  44. CavalierKong says:

    Flyers and Lightning also playing today for the #1 seed. Both of these should be good games. I’m looking for the Kinghts/Avs feed right now.

    • CavalierKong says:

      Lol, the ‘feed’ is national network tv – NBC. I’m so used to streaming things I forget to check regular tv.

    • stangerx says:

      Sounds like you are looking for some old time hockey. šŸ™‚

      • CavalierKong says:

        I’ve really enjoyed having these games to watch. Add in some Hanson brothers, and it’d be great.

        Excellent game in OT right now between the Avs and Knights

  45. wyoming85 says:

  46. stangerx says:

    Just checked how my college is doing the Fall semester. Small place in the middle of no where. They are creating a bubble like the NBA in Orlando.

    Kids can either “opt out” or take classes remote but if you come in the bubble you are there to stay. Show up to campus and you get tested then quarantined for 48 hours. At Thanksgiving break you can go home, but if you do can’t come back and have to finish your classes online.

    Sports team can practice, but no road games. Not sure if that means opposing teams can come in….. but guessing not.

    • stangerx says:

      Is Tannenbaum still on the payroll? Damien Woody sure ain’t.
      ——————————
      Mike Tannenbaum, the Dolphinsā€™ former lead football executive and now an NFL studio analyst for ESPN, elicited uproarious laughter from former Jets guard Damien Woody on NFL Live on Friday when Tannenbaum declared that the Dolphins have the best defense in the AFC East.

      Woody said Buffalo obviously does, but Tannenbaum held firm to his view, asserting there are two reasons why the Dolphins have the best defense in the division.

      ā€œYou look at their secondary,ā€ Tannenbaum said. ā€œThey can play man-to-man with anybody. They signed Byron Jones from the Dallas Cowboys. They have Xavien Howard. They have a guy like Bobby McCain, a former corner at safety. They can really match up and play man-to-man on the back end.

      ā€œAnd on the front end, I really like the versatility ā€” Kyle Van Noy, former New England Patriot that Brian Flores brought down. Last yearā€™s former first-round pick Christian Wilkins. Theyā€™re talented but theyā€™re also versatile. They should be able to rush the passer and they can play man to man on the back end. And when you can do those two things, you should have a very good difference.ā€

      Woody, after he finally stopped laughing, said: ā€œMike T, you saying that with a straight face right now? Better than the Buffalo Bills?Buffalo Bills second in the league last year! I know you live down in South Florida, Mike!ā€

      • stangerx says:

        Sorry….didn’t mean to reply to myself.

      • CavalierKong says:

        LOL, yeah, I think we definitely have the potential to be the best D in the AFCE, but we have so many new parts and things that need to be shown for that to happen. Until we go out and do it, I’d pick Buffalo too.

      • steveccnv says:

        Cav, it kinda depends on what you call the best D in the AFCE. If you’re talking about as stats for the year maybe not, but if you’re talking about who is playing the best when the regular season ends, that’s quite possible. This is how I see it happening.

      • steveccnv says:

        Continuing on, the U75s use the entire season to project the next one. I think you have to consider it, but the EOY indicators are more important.

      • steveccnv says:

        To go even further, we had a better team than the cheats did 2nd half, and they list Brady and a lot of others, so…

      • steveccnv says:

        Stanger when write a post like that, you can put it anywhere you like. Good thing FFR isn’t onšŸ˜‰

  47. Mike E. says:

    I feel like it’s pretty hard to gauge how good our defense will be this year. I think continuity is best, so teams that have a lot of players/coordinators/defensive scheme that have been in place are ahead of the curve. I think our potential is there, but with so many new faces, I think it’s a lot to expect us to be the best right away.

  48. CavalierKong says:

    Steve,
    Yeah, for any conversation of substance, I get you really have to define what ‘best D’ means and drill down into details. I don’t look at this as an in depth discussion though, lol. Just kinda throwing out loose opinions based on what we know.

    In the context of that statement by Baumer, I’m starting by looking at the best overall defense in our division in 2019. By best I only mean which D would I have taken last year given the choice? That’s an easy choice for me in Buffalo. The Pets ranked #1, but I agree they weren’t great in the 2nd half of the season when their schedule got tougher, and it let them down in the end. We got better as the season progressed but I don’t believe we were in Buffalo’s class. And f$&ck the Jest.

    I think with additions to their line, Buffalo may be even better this year. The Pets got weaker by losing 2 of their key starting LBs and a starting safety. And we got significantly better on paper, but we haven’t seen our guys in a single game yet, so I’m not going to pencil us in as the best D based on paper. And f$&ck the Jest.

    I like our potential and think we have an opportunity to be a special D by the end of the year. How could we not believe in that potential after what Flores did with a bare bones team last year?

  49. CavalierKong says:

    Congrats on the #1 seed btw.

    At least you guys will have home field advantage when we knock you out down the road, lol. šŸ˜‰

  50. CavalierKong says:

    Flyers are looking like the class of the East and the Golden Knights the class of the West.

  51. steveccnv says:

    Tampa Bay Lightning look terrible OD. What’s up with them?

  52. Tim Knight says:

    The Flyers are playing at a very high level. They were playing really well before the season was suspended. I hope it continues. šŸ™‚

  53. wyoming85 says:

    • steveccnv says:

      We were fine at WR before this signing, but that’s not how this FO has operated this year. They’ve added depth at every position, overkill compared to anything we’ve seen before.

      This signing and everything done so far this year screams we’re making a run, at least, at the playoffs this year. You don’t spend all that money, bring in all these vets, and make sure all your bases are covered for any other reason.

  54. steveccnv says:

    Rogers enjoyed a career year with the Colts in 2018, quarterback Andrew Luckā€™s final NFL season. That year, Rogers posted 53 receptions for 485 yards and two scores ā€” and he now comes to Miami as a possible slot option to replace Albert Wilson.

    Sure looks like we’ll keep 6 wrs, unless Perry beats Roger’s or Louis out, and they consider him an RB.

  55. Mike E. says:

    NEW BLOG UP!!!

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