Here's a rough look at investment vs return on our highest paid players this year. The contract value for this year is from memory, and may be off a bit but, close enough to make a point. Soliai- $12M, and is #18 for NT/DT. Long- $11M, and is #42 for all T's. Injury noted. Marshall- $10M, and is #41 for all WR's. Dansby- $8M, and is 47 of 48 3-4 ILB. Burnett- $5M, and is #48 of 48 3-4 ILB. Bush- $5M, and is #56 of 56 RBs. That's $51M for 6 players, and over 40% of our entire 53 man payroll. We can easily add Bell, Columbo, and Carey to the mix, making $2-3M this year. That's basically half our payroll for 9 guys doing nothing. Maybe we should hire a financial adviser, in place of a coach, to explain that IF you play well, you can make more money. Meanwhile, Phans get to comment on guys playing well, and getting paid little.
Did we really give Burnett 5 million? And I know Dansby hasn't been playing exceptionally but there's no way he can be that far down the rankings.
In defense of Grove and Smiley, they did play up to their contracts when they were able. Other than Long, these guys have been a very overpriced joke.
This is what bothers me though. There's something wrong with scheme, with preparation, something that all of these guys are playing poorly. Many of them are exceptionally good players elsewhere and then they suck here? Soliai is one guy I wasn't surprised about not playing all that well this year. Colombo I knew wouldn't play well. Carey's career here is done most likely. A few of those guys I think are struggling heavily based on skill position fit. Kevin Burnett for example never would I have guessed would be at the bottom ranks of ILBs. That's crazy stuff. He was a good player for both the Chargers and Cowboys. The same with Dansby. A few of these guys really need to be played in better systems. A few of them suck and a few of them were never that good to begin with.
We gave Burnett a 4 year $21M deal, with $9.8 guaranteed. The rank can be disputed some but, he has pretty much SUCKED.
Well, to be fair to those players, let's see what happens after the bye week, Dansby and Long have been playing with injuries, Marshall has caught a case of "suck" though, with Moore in at Qb he could see his play improve. As for Bush, he has 53 total touches, he did have a groin issue that led to DTrain playing, 2 weeks off and a light workload over the last 3 weeks should have him back up to speed. Do think the key to any improvement this yr is found in those 5 or 6 names.
Seriously, Jake Long? Many players are under-performing, but I don't think there are very good arguments for going back and saying Marshall, Long, or Dansby were mistakes. Paul Soliai being on there is ridiculous. The Dolphins have handled that situation as well as they reasonably could. It would have been absolutely and totally wrong for them to have signed him for long term, and there's no way they logically could have just let him walk either at the time.
I agree, the entire defense just looks like they do not know what they are supposed to do, or where they should be on any given play. Perfect example, v the Chargers, 3rd and 9, the slot Wr was completely uncovered in the middle of the field, SD picks up the 3rd down. It has been like all season, some I lay on Lost Jones just being a menace, the others act as if we have changed coverage schemes and they did not get the memo.
Dansby was ranked much higher last year in the same system. Burnett was not ranked high last year, other than rushing the QB. Langford also ranked very high until now.
Burnett has never been in the right defense in his career. That dude is a Will in a 4-3. Why Parcells drafted him to play in a 3-4 ILB or San Diego signed him for that is something mind-boggling. Dansby's play has much to do with the lack of Crowder taking on blockers and Soliai's dip in play as well as injuries.
Big Jake's injury was noted. He has not been close to his dominating self. For the rest, I'm just pointing out what has been done ON THE FIELD by players being paid millions, and not living up to it. Cannot imagine how anyone would disagree with their play.
Fair point Jaj. However, if you are paying someone multimillions, they have to be able to make plays, regardless if you and I are playing NT and ILB. Yes, this is a OVER-exaggeration. Crowder's loss is being felt much more than Nolan had thought.
It is annoying I admit that they aren't playing up their pay grade but if you remember a guy by name of Warren Sapp absolutely hated playing two-gap 3-4 DE for Oakland years ago. They had him play one-gap 3-4 and he still didn't like it. At old age (what was he 34) he returned to where he was best as a weak side defensive tackle and he had double-digit sacks again. Scheme-player fit is so critical in the NFL and it annoys me to no end how guys lose their careers simply because a coach is stupid enough to think that somehow these guys will suddenly become new players. The fact that Soliai and Langford aren't playing well has absolutely suffocated the play of Burnett and Dansby (not to say that they been great regardless, they keep missing tackles and are not well conditioned). Starks has played well but I'm not sure if he's played his two-gap scheme well, whether he's been allowed to play one-gap to the detriment of Burnett. It's a mess of things. It's simply poor system-player fit and I hate that. The same with Reshad Jones. He's played poorly, but it wouldn't be nearly this bad if he were playing SS in a man coverage in the box role. That's what he was projected coming out of college. Instead he's playing a deep cover FS. What the ****? Really? Why would you try that, he wasn't good at it in college why would he suddenly do it now? Is it Sparano that decides this? Nolan? Ireland gave him a FS in Clemons. Let the guy play.
Could not agree more on Jones at SS, as posted many a time. He is a perfect fit for the position. Yet, he is at FS, and doing his best to try and trying to get players in position, which he does not know enough to do. When Jones has to tackle someone, he's dead. When Jones has to cover someone, he is VG. When he is responsible to get everyone else in place, he loses his place and is getting killed. JMO
Then he would just have to remain unemployed then. But seriously tho, I meant that for all contracts regardless of tenure. Even then they would be paid hansomely even if they could not get the job done. atheletes should be no different than any other worker.
Most NFL players are at least decent at the roles they played in college. There are some that are total busts, but there are a large number of guys that could be solid in the right roles. Now the guys that can play many different schemes well should get more money I agree, but there's no reason for Miami to have struggled the way that they have. The second that Langford and Soliai started playing poorly, Miami simply should have adjusted. Instead they've been things like playing Jared Odrick at RE in the nickel. What the **** is Jared Odrick going to do at RE in the nickel other than perhaps run stop. Unless you're three other rushers are incredibly good pass rushers then I wouldn't do that. It's not like Odrick is a shut down Kevin Carter like two-gap end. Strange, strange stuff. Here's an easy run down: Burnett- WLB in a 4-3, probably in a couple different schemes Mitchell- stack-and-shed MLB that can take on blocks, tackle well and has decent range Dansby- A 4-3 SLB Misi- a RE spill defensive end that can cover the flats as part of a zone blitz if you like Wake- a LE spill defensive end Odrick- a three technique DT is his best spot Starks- a one or three technique DT Olshansky- a one-gap DT at one or three technique or a 3-4 DE in a one-gap technique McDaniel- Similar to Olshansky Jones- a SS with man coverage skills Clemons- a FS with good deep cover skills and excellent tackling, plus big hitting Each guy in that defense has something he was good at in college. The majority of these guys are doing something completely different than what they got into the NFL for. Ask a LF in baseball to become a CF? Does that sound wise? No. Same thing.
Hey Disgusty John Abraham is a FA this year. We switch to the 4-3 how would you like to see Brady against Abraham, Wake, Odrick, and Starks? Better money spent than Kendall Langford and Soliai right?
They had Stradford and Madison and Drayton running the finsiders today, and all 3 called out Brandon Marshall, a sentiment I completely agree with, they basically said he has been playing like crap because the coaches allow it. Have to agree, he has dropped a TD per game, they went further and said there is no one on the offense who can call him out on it, meaning the Coach has to do it, and so far, Sparano ain't. I'd bench him.
Here's a closer look at what a difference a year makes on the high priced players listed. Marshall was #28 in 2010, nothing great but far worse than #41 so far this year. Dansby was #12 in 2010, and now #47. Burnett was #20, mostly on bushing the QB, and now #48 doing nothing. Soliai was #10 in 2010, and now # 18. He may come around, did not start well last season. Long was #2 in 2010, and now #42. He is one to take a step further. In 2010, he gave up 6 sacks, 3 hits, and 12 pressures for the year, while playing with one arm. This year, in 4 games, he has given up 4 sacks, 4 hits, and 5 pressures. Columbo has given up 3 sacks, 5 hits, and 16 pressures. This is just not right. NOTHING to do with SFL but, I am wondering if we should maybe shut Big Jake down for the year. He is not close to the player we all love and respect.
