olphins, picking Miami over, among other teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolph...#ixzz1377PEY9g
My understanding is that as many as 16 teams had contacted Wake about potentially signing him and that about 8 teams (including Miami) had offers for him by the time the Dolphins signed him.
Pro-Bowl? Let's slow this down some please. He's looked great so far, but let's just slow it down some shall we.
Well, WQAM's Joe Rose had the best, all encompassing interview I've heard from Wake as of yet, and he was contacted by a slew of teams "but" Wake was clear he had written down all of the factors and was going to sign in Miami the entire time. Now what is really interesting, and uncommented upon, is Wake did not just take the CFL offseason off and then head down to Miami, he worked out for NFL teams that November, notably the Broncos, and they declined to sign him but did offer him a practice squad spot. Meaning basically a nothing deal and he could try out for the Broncos that spring, he turned that down and signed in Miami after the season. As for pro bowl talk, folks take it easy, I'm an unabashed Wake (and CFL to NFL) enthusiast, but there are 11 games to go Wake has to prove himself week in and week out and as he has success, the harder it will be to have success. Teams just are not going to stick a Rook Tackle on him for an entire game no matter how badly he is whipping their butts, soon he will get that "special player" treatment double teams, chips, draws, shovel passes. Wake will go as far as Misi or Ikaika picking up the pressure on the other side will allow him to go, when Taylor was a All Pro, he had O-Gun and Armstrong and Kevin Carter across the Dline from him..just sayin'
No reason to think that he is not going to be able to keep this pace up... having said that, there is still a long ways to go before the season is over.
Certainly does start half way through the season, but I will reiterate El Padre's point: 1) he must show he can keep it up with increased attention coming from other teams (the 3 sack performance against GB helps/hurts in that regard) and 2) he has some luck with Misi, etc. who will play opposite of him. If the rush linebacker on the opposite side sucks...well it will be even more difficult for Wake; this is in part why Pitt's Harrison does so well...the guy opposite of him is a handful in Lamarr Woodley (the inverse applies in this case).
his production is pressures and also holding penalties. Which he is also one of the top in the game in. he will have to keep up his production, however it is not too early to talk probowl. it is not like it is preseason.
We are barely 1/4 way through. Teams haven't seen much tape on him...but they will now. That being said, he has been held more than Marilyn Chambers on any given day, and the Refs have seen tape repeatedly I am sure. I have a feeling he might not get more sacks a game, but I do think he's gonna start getting the flags he has deserved.
For me its been all about his speed. He has shown some moves but up to now he has beaten guys with his quickness and accelleration. Lets see how this goes over the rest of the season. i love him to bits, but the jury is still out there in my opinion
We still have Chicago (27 sacks allowed), Oakland (18 sacks allowed) and Buffalo (18 sacks allowed) on the schedule. All top 8 in the league in sacks allowed. I'd have to think that Wake could get 4-5 in these 3 games alone.
My impression was not that Wake was being touted as a lock for the Pro bowl, but rather that he was playing at a pro bowl level. Based on the number of sacks and big plays he's generated, I find that to be an accurate statement. Who knows what will happen the rest of the season, but looking at the first six weeks I don't think that anyone would argue against Wake being in the pro bowl discussion.