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Lippett looking good in OTA's

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Finatik, Jun 10, 2016.

  1. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    The Dolphins traded for Byron Maxwell with the intentions of having Maxwell start at one cornerback spot. On the other side, there’s an interesting battle that figures to continue into training camp going on between second-round rookie Xavien Howard and second-year man Tony Lippett, who seems to be progressing well as he transitions to defense.


    At Michigan State, Lippett was a three-year starter at wide receiver and also started seven games at cornerback. At 6-foot-3, Lippett is one of the tallest defensive backs in the NFL, and the 2015 fifth-round pick is competing to become a full-time contributor after playing in nine games last season.


    He had a three-interception day during an OTA practice last week. “[Lippett] has done a great job,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said, per the Miami Herald. “That’s not an easy thing to be able to do [moving from receiver to cornerback]. I love the fact he’s so engaged. He’s competitive. He knows he’s got a fight on his hands. “I don’t think he’s going to sit back and say, ‘This guy [Howard] is a second-round pick, he can have it.’ He’s fighting because he wants to be on the field.”
     
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  2. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Our corner situation I would say is in dire straits..
     
  3. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    A couple of quick things:

    - The defense is predicated on getting pressure with the front 4 and using minimal blitzes. In short, there won't be many instances where you'll see 5 or my guys rushing. They'll be there, but not as frequently as we saw under Kevin Coyle.
    - The front four in this look can run a LOT of stunts and games to shake guys free and give them open runs at the QB. Ndamukong Suh was fantastic as a cog in Detroit in this aspect of the defense.
    - With the anticipated lower number of blitzes this frees up your LBs and slot CBs to do some more creative things in coverage to help, especially if the perimeter CBs are going to be in press a lot.
    - It'll be interesting to see how fast Xavien Howard can move into the lineup. Vance Joseph comes from Cincinnati and they've had a recent history of high-profile draft picks not playing right away. Both Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard did not start and played minimal snaps as rookies. It took Kirkpatrick two years and Leon Hall's injuries to crack the starting lineup.
    - Now, having said that, Cincinnati's defensive system is more complex than what it appears Vance Joseph will be doing with Miami's secondary. If the perimeter CBs are in press more often than not, then that favors BOTH Howard and Lippett.
    - Slot CB in this defense is key, so Miami are going to need Bobby McCain or someone else to play well in this role. McCain did well in limited slot CB opportunities last year, but struggled when he moved outside. Vance Joseph also mentioned Jordan Lucas getting a look here. He's certainly got the size to make a difference inside. My money is on McCain at this point to win that job though.

    I think with the mix of new faces and new scheme, the secondary will be better than last year. Brent Grimes tailed off. Brice McCain played outside his normal position. Miami also gave reps to Jamar Taylor, Bobby McCain, Tony Lippett throughout the year, and the safety play by Michael Thomas and Walt Aikens was horrendous. I think getting vets in Maxwell and Abdul-Quddus helps solidify things at some weak spots and not having as complex a scheme will help younger guys come along more quickly than they did under Kevin Coyle; hell, Jamar Taylor and Will Davis never did.
     
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  4. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    the article is from 2015..
     
  5. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    I think it's a bit premature to label it as "dire". Until you see how these three (plus McCain) can function in the new system, it's useless speculation.
    while I don't expect any pro bowlers, it's all about how they operate in the system with the pressure hopefully thriving up front.
     
  6. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    unless both howard and Lippett play really well all year were in trouble..we can't afford to have one not play well or get injured.
     
  7. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Whatever word one uses, LB and CB are realistically seen as relative weaknesses of this team until proven otherwise. It's only if things go just according to plan (which often doesn't happen) that we'll be fine there.

    I personally am still waiting for the effect I thought we'd see after adding Suh on the DL. At least in theory a really good DL (both run defense and pass rush) should make everything else easier. If that alone materializes, then maybe the relative weaknesses at LB and CB won't matter as much.
     
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  8. resnor

    resnor Derp Sherpa

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    Huh?
     
  9. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

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    That's not possible, since Maxwell, Howard and Gase were not part of the team in 2015.
     
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  10. gruuv

    gruuv Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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  11. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

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    I don't know if you remember, but last year I predicted that he would not have a huge impact, because he's overrated.

    I watched a ton of his tape after we signed him, and I came away from it a bit surprised, I thought he was better, but since I don't follow the Lions, and didn't see many of their games, most of what I'd seen from Suh was highlights, and he puts up some good high lights.

    His every down game is different, Suh has incredible quickness and athletic ability for a 310lber, but he doesn't have great strength, he has decent strength, so he isn't hard to contain if you get your hands on him, as we saw last year, his strength is getting off before you get your hands on him, and then he can make explosive plays.

    Those explosive plays are great, and look great on the high light reel, but the rest of the time he only does an adequate job, he does have special abilities, but those abilities aren't that difficult to neutralize, as we saw last year, and as I saw on his Lions tape.

    For Suh to be able to really be a weapon, you need a space eater next to him drawing doubles, so that Suh can get 1 on 1's most of the time.
     
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  12. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

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  13. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    this is from gase obviousy..


    the three td in a practice thing is from last year.
     
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  14. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    I do remember. Suh played well last year, doing a lot of dirty work for guys around him that really should have taken a lot more advantage of Suh eating blockers, but he definitely wasn't a top 5 DT last year or the menace he was in Detroit.

    However.. while you were mostly right last year, I'll still have to see whether your prediction holds in the future (the situation you describe hasn't changed this year) because I'm not convinced the coaches used him properly. Still.. good job on the prediction! That was definitely an against-the-grain prediction that panned out.
     
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  15. Fineas

    Fineas Club Member Luxury Box

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    I don't think Suh is overrated, but I also said last year that he wouldn't have the impact many thought he would have. Many thought his presence would open things up for everyone else and that's the part I didn't think would really happen. Yes, he gets double teamed but the best DT on every team gets double-teamed because there are 5-7 guys blocking on offense and only 4 DLs. So I said that he'd be good, but his impact would be largely limited to his own production and not some kind of halo effect that "makes everyone around him better." I think that turned out to be true last year and I think it will be the case again this year.

    As for CB, I am not as worried as some others seem to be. My sense is that we are modeling our secondary on Seattle's with big, physical press corners and a lot of Cover-3 and Cover-1 looks. Seattle has drafted big late round CBs, including some with very little experience, and indoctrinated them into their system and gotten good play from all of them. They actually play very simple coverage schemes and limit the thinking and responsibilities of the CBs. We know Maxwell can play well in that system and it seems like it should be a good fit for Lippett and Howard as well. At least that is what I think we will be doing.
     
  16. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    We were in big trouble last year because of:

    crappy Oline
    crappy coaching
    crappy CB play (outside of Grimes)
    crappy LB play

    We potentially have solved two of those problems. IMO, our overall CB play will be better than it was last year. maybe no stars, maybe not great, but overall better.
    Lot of Big IF's in there. Another one - if Kiko can stay healthy.
     
  17. invid

    invid Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    According to PFF, Suh had a career year last year IIRC. The lack of splash plays might have been something inherently wrong schematically, due to the decisions of a now extinct defensive coordinator. Whether or not he made an impact relative to his contract number is another argument however. With Washburn coaching the DL and a new coordinator, I expect to see Suh have a greater impact this year with TFLs, sacks, and turnovers.
     
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  18. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    im a positive guy but our corner situation is scary at best as is, if we lose 1 guy, were fooked.

    need to sign vet corner.
     
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  19. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

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    Suh may have had a career year, I don't know, but I don't put much stock in PFF, coaching may have played a part as you say, but I'm not sure it played that big a part.

    The offense will usually double the DT that demands it, I believe you need another beast DT to draw doubles to free Suh, and then you will see more splash plays.
     
  20. Redwine4all

    Redwine4all Well-Known Member

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    I think it's possible that Maxwell and Lippett are the S/L corners, and Howard is the slot, McCain is the dime. Young and inexperienced to be sure, but it would be a feisty bunch, and they would challenge those big WRs...and if our Dline can generate pressure regularly...this could be a really good unit with some experience.
     
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  21. Surfs Up 99

    Surfs Up 99 Team Flores & Team Tua

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    As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. I like our coaching staff and from what I have heard they are really good teachers. I think it will take a while for our team to come around so I am going to be patient and enjoy the ride.
     
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  22. Pandarilla

    Pandarilla Purist Emeritus

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    Lippett is truly a gangly freak. I've never seen a cornerback with such a long gangly body. He should've played more last year. A lot of guys should'veplayed more.

    Lippett would be a huge positive for a team that has flat out sucked at making good on projects. To think we got rid of Sean Smith and Evil Ronnie is so effin' laughable to me right now. I hate myself for knowing the backstories of these countless failed projects.

    Disqusted with the lot of 'em...Coaches, that is.

    Ahhh! Still soiled by the zombie residue of Philbin!!!

    He makes Cam Cameron seem palatable! How the Phuck did I make it through that!?!

    If I came out with a new brand of hot tea named "Creepytime Tea", I'd have a photo of Philbin on the box.

    Can we sue Ross for Philbin?
     
  23. P h i N s A N i T y

    P h i N s A N i T y My Porpoise in Life

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    Thats why Tannenbaum wanted Phillips after signing Suh......
    Brandon Phillips is another kid we need to step up into a big role, if this defense is going to be any different than last year.
     
  24. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    It will happen closer to the season when a young nickel corner takes a vets job and the team part ways....or something similar.
     
  25. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

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    Reds fan?
     
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