1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

How do we fix this defense?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Dorfdad, Sep 18, 2022.

  1. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

    4,052
    2,347
    113
    Dec 9, 2007
    Wow wow wow I can’t believe I’m saying this but in about 15 years we finally have an offense that’s better than our defense!

    Today game against the ravens exposed our secondary. I’m not sold on our coordinator I don’t think he is very creative but relies more on talent.

    that’s said what can we do to improve / fix the defensive woes before it costs us a playoff spot down the line?
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  2. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

    40,533
    33,035
    113
    Dec 11, 2007
    Defense came up with some big plays in the second half and 4th quarter. They need to play better for sure.
     
    Tin Indian and Dorfdad like this.
  3. cbrad

    cbrad .

    10,659
    12,657
    113
    Dec 21, 2014
    I'm not worried. They'll learn from this. One major difference from past defensive failures is it's not personnel this time. McDaniel is shaping up to be a very good coach, though I admit the team was really sloppy today (that concerns me more than defense). I think the defense will learn from this and be better down the stretch.
     
  4. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

    4,052
    2,347
    113
    Dec 9, 2007
    Offense wasn’t sloppy 2 tipped interceptions I can overlook. Blown defensive coverages are another thing.
     
  5. cbrad

    cbrad .

    10,659
    12,657
    113
    Dec 21, 2014
    I meant all the penalties, obviously many of which were on defense, but are still a separate issue from all the blown coverages. I think we'll fix the coverage issue. They'll look at game tape and figure it out.
     
    Dorfdad likes this.
  6. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,927
    63,004
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    I'm not and have never been a fan of Boyer and his defense. Games like this were just lurking, waiting to happen. We faced a lot of teams who just didn't have the talent to make us pay last year, and looked better than we were because of it. Our run D is highly suspect, and we'll always be in danger of giving up huge passes if we keep doing Cover Zero.

    Hopefully, Byron Jones is back in Week 5 vs the Jets. If he's good to go, that will be big, because Needham is much better in the slot than on the perimiter. We also need to play Rowe at SS instead of Jones when he's healthy too, because Brandon is a huge liability in pass coverage.

    As for the pass rush and the run defense, its just going to have to get better with experience, hopefully. Jalen Phillips is looking more and more like a workout wonder/bodybuilder instead of a pass rusher. Miami needs to let him focus on just rushing the passer 100% of the time and not drop him into coverage.
     
    Mafioso, dolphin25 and hitman8 like this.
  7. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

    11,815
    10,319
    113
    Nov 24, 2007
    Rockledge, FL
    Myself personally, I think it’s way too early to be Chicken Little. Keep in mind…

    -Offenses have the advantage early in the season due to the limitations on training camp for defenses. Pads and full contact occur much later in training camp than in years past thus, takes defenses a little longer to get their engines warmed up

    -This wasn’t the New York Jests or any other scrub team in the league. The Ravens are one of the premier teams in the league with an NFL MVP as their quarterback. That’s a tall order for any team to have to defend. Give credit to the players and coaching staff for stepping up when need be to give the offense the chance to get back on the field.

    I can almost guarantee everyone here there will be quite a bit of film study following this game and the defense will adjust accordingly
     
    jdallen1222 likes this.
  8. firedan

    firedan Well-Known Member

    2,000
    826
    113
    Oct 31, 2008
    palm beach county fl
    One reason the D looked bad was Lamar.All things considered they did make just enough of a difference to win.That and Harbaugh.
     
  9. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

    40,533
    33,035
    113
    Dec 11, 2007
    Again, for how bad the defense played in the first half, they still came up big in the second half. They forced the field goal, they forced a 3 and out, they forced a turnover on downs. While not a perfect game, the defense didn't fold and kept on playing. They deserve credit for the win as well.
     
    Mafioso and dolphin25 like this.
  10. tirty8

    tirty8 Well-Known Member

    1,325
    1,380
    113
    Jan 2, 2016
    I think we need to add another CB. After X and Jones, we are really thin. If our offense looks as good as we looked today vs. the Bills, I would honestly consider overpaying Joe Haden and making a run at the Super Bowl.
     
    mlb1399 likes this.
  11. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

    4,052
    2,347
    113
    Dec 9, 2007
    If they beat the bills and I’m going to say they won’t as of right now I will refrain from anything anything negative for the remainder of the year! I’m not down on tua or the offense but the defense is my concern this year. I still have us as an 10-7 team
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  12. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

    10,488
    12,821
    113
    Nov 1, 2009
    Two things:

    1) The Ravens have consistently had one of the top NFL offenses for awhile now. We also humiliated them last season in their own house, so they were coming with a grudge.

    2) Jones being out at corner makes a big difference. The Ravens also timed a zero blitz perfect and Lamar Jackson got an easy TD. Then the 1st kickoff of the game. That's 14 right there on 2 plays (technically 1 play). So with point #1, I don't think it's panic time quite yet.
     
  13. jdallen1222

    jdallen1222 Well-Known Member

    2,752
    1,373
    113
    May 31, 2013
    Plantation, Fl
    The defense will be fine, you can’t rely on them to score every week. Once Byron Jones is back things should settle down in the backfield.
     
    KeyFin likes this.
  14. Phil Hutchings

    Phil Hutchings Well-Known Member

    763
    414
    63
    Sep 16, 2018
    The D was much better in the second half last night.

    it wasn’t only the offense that helped us recover from a 21 point deficit in the fourth quarter.
     
    resnor likes this.
  15. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

    7,929
    4,404
    113
    Feb 10, 2010
    Palm Bay Florida
    I'm not going to go into panic mode yet. Lamar is so dynamic and he clearly has some good, and fast, guys to throw to. That was a tough offense to contain. We have a very similar test coming up with Josh Allen and the Bills this week and they better be more ready for it.

    If it keeps up another game or two, I will be very concerned.
     
  16. Fishhead

    Fishhead Well-Known Member

    2,068
    1,731
    113
    Sep 29, 2016
    To the Ravens’ credit, they got nothing from their running backs (we got lucky not to see Dobbins) and still scored 38. We won’t know how good or bad the run defense is until we face a better running team. I still think we can improve at MLB.
    More concerning to me are the big plays given up and the lack of a consistent pass rush. If Jones is definitely going to be ready to go week 5, then I think they can tread water until then. If there’s any doubt, then I’d bring in Haden as tirty8 said.

    As far as the pass rush, maybe unleash the speed of Tindall every now and again on third and long to strike a little fear into opposing QBs.
     
    KeyFin likes this.
  17. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

    10,488
    12,821
    113
    Nov 1, 2009
    I think part of the lack of pass rush was the game scheme itself in that we had to contain Jackson. That means sealing the edge, keeping a LB containing the middle of the field, etc. Baltimore is just really, really good at crushing defenses, and they have the potential to beat any team on any given Sunday.
     
    resnor likes this.
  18. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

    6,338
    2,400
    113
    Nov 22, 2014
    They should not have to be learning, they should know since the majority of them are the same as last year.
     
    resnor likes this.
  19. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

    6,338
    2,400
    113
    Nov 22, 2014
    Cover zero and massive blitzing are the only way this team can get pressure on the offense. They should stay with that. If they play a normal set defense they are terrible.
     
    resnor likes this.
  20. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,927
    63,004
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    If the only way that they can have any success is by playing desperation mode all game every game, then they just really suck on an epic level. Like I said, I can't wait for Boyer to be fired.
     
    resnor likes this.
  21. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

    11,881
    4,834
    113
    Nov 26, 2007
    Detroit Metro Area MI
    Eh, I don't agree it's desperation. It's more of a high risk, high reward thing using an aggressive attacking scheme vs. a passive one. The biggest thing is that it's a scheme best suited to pair with a strong offense that can take the lead early or make it up when the risk doesn't pay off.

    Also, I can't agree on Boyer - him getting fired means the defense went completely downhill and I'd rather see us be successful. This is a year where things may be a bit more open than we thought and Tua may be finally poised to leap into upper tier QB territory. We need to go for it, not faff about on the assistant coach carousel.
     
  22. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,927
    63,004
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    In my mind and vocabulary, high risk is inherently desperation. Other that, or its insanity/stupidity. There's no need to take undue risks if playing at a balanced level can be effective.

    But I'm an extremely low risk, slow paced, highly methodical person, and that's how I prefer my football to be as well. Everything about the way that we play defense turns my stomach. I've always rooted strongly for similar schemes to blow up and fail on other teams, like the Ryan family employed. Hate it.
     
  23. pumpdogs

    pumpdogs Well-Known Member

    5,185
    2,907
    113
    Sep 22, 2009
    delaware
    Not sure if anyone noticed but Needman got benched in the second half for Kohu.
     
    KeyFin and dolphin25 like this.
  24. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

    6,338
    2,400
    113
    Nov 22, 2014
    I would not call it desperation mode at is it highly affective for the Dolphins. However, i think it is ignorant (where Boyer comes in) for them not to play the defense a lot! If they don't Burrows will carve them up.
     
  25. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

    6,338
    2,400
    113
    Nov 22, 2014
    Not sure how you can say that bout the second half of last season when the defense was dominate being aggressive. What makes me ill is the bend and let them do whatever they want hoping you won't break defense.
     
    resnor likes this.
  26. Fishhead

    Fishhead Well-Known Member

    2,068
    1,731
    113
    Sep 29, 2016
    This. Bend but don’t break defenses only get you so far. A great defense should be the proverbial “immovable object “ and be able to impose it’s will on the opposing offense.
     
    resnor and dolphin25 like this.
  27. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

    7,929
    4,404
    113
    Feb 10, 2010
    Palm Bay Florida
    Pats have played a bend don't break style for years. It's fine as long as it stiffens when you get on a shorter field.
    After living thru Tom Olivadotti's bend dont break - that always managed to break - I am not a fan of it really, but currently we do pretty well at it. At the end of the day what matters is points on the board - Not yardage given up.

    I don't think you can go all out after a QB's like Jackson and this week Allen. You have to get pressure but keep your lane somehow so you make it harder for them to escape the pocket. That's when those guys get really troublesome. That said the Titans had one well timed Safety Blitz early in the game on a 4th down attempt. It didn't get home but it completely disrupted the play and forced the turnover on downs. Gonna have to pick our spots carefully.
     
  28. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

    6,338
    2,400
    113
    Nov 22, 2014
    It worked perfectly against Jackson last year and they were scared of it this year often using max protect early in game. After seeing our soft defense they backed out of it.

    I agree Olividotti was horrible defensive years. I was in elevator with him once, and wanted to say "you're terrible!" but he was bigger then I thought he was :)
     
    Tin Indian likes this.
  29. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

    7,929
    4,404
    113
    Feb 10, 2010
    Palm Bay Florida
    Well for reasons I still don't understand since we had put it on tape before, we caught the Ravens completely with their pants down last year. They had no answer for it all game. And they were worried about it enough to spend a bit of time figuring out how to beat it this past offseason.

    I have to admit at the time I was ready for Shula to go if for no other reason that he wouldn't fire Tom Olivadotti. He was awful and cost us most of Dan's great years with his sorry defense.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  30. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,927
    63,004
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    I would counter that you can't just say look at the results without looking deeper into who we were playing and what the circumstances were. During the 7 game win streak, this is what the Dolphins faced:

    Week 9: The 4-13 Houson Texans, quarterbacked by Tyrod Taylor, who gift wrapped several turnovers to the Fins. Miami was extremely fortunate to win this game, even as it was.

    Week 10: The Baltimore Ravens, who were absolutely decimated by injuries. Credit for the coaches using the aggressive scheme in this game, because it was the right call against this particular opponent in this case. On this night its what needed to happen to squeeze out the win.

    Week 11: The 4-13 Jets, quarterbacked by Joe Flacco. The game was actually tied at 14 in the 4th quarter, and Miami would have been losing if not for two missed FGs by the Jets, who put up 380 yards of offense on the day. The game was actually won by the Fins offense, who put together back to back drives totaling almost 15 minutes in the second half and played keep away.

    Week 12: The 5-12 Carolina Panthers, quarterbacked by the ghost of Cam Newton. Newton was just absolutely terrible, and was eventually benched. The Fins were aided by RB McCaffery going out injured early on.

    Week 13: The 4-13 Giants, quarterbacked by Mike Glennon. Miami should have won this in a laugher, but needed several missed FGs and bad turnovers by the Giants to seal it. Our defense gave up some really easy big gains to NY where the defenders just looked lost, and a better opponent would have probably torched them on that day. They got lucky it wasn't someone decent.

    Week 15: The 4-13 Jets again, this time QBd by rookie Zach Wilson. Like the earlier matchup, the game was tied in the 4th quarter. This time at 24, before a late TD by DeVante Parker sealed it for Miami.

    Week 16: The Saints, QBd by rookie Ian Book, in his first NFL game. Again, the Dolphins caught the biggest of breaks, when New Orleans was forced to start their 4th QB, and he was essentially a helpless sitting duck.
     
    resnor likes this.
  31. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

    13,501
    6,244
    113
    Oct 13, 2008
    New York
    It’s early, but so far, the lack of a pass rush has been very disappointing. They can still turn it on, but so far…..eeew. I thought it was going to be a strength this year.
    They will have to turn it on this week or weez in trouble.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2022
    resnor and mlb1399 like this.
  32. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

    3,893
    3,087
    113
    Mar 6, 2010
    This. I think that’s the biggest issue with the defense going back to last year. We have to bring extra guys to get any pressure which works well against bad QB’s but then the good ones rip us a new one.
     
    resnor, Sceeto and Unlucky 13 like this.
  33. cbrad

    cbrad .

    10,659
    12,657
    113
    Dec 21, 2014
    Defense played great today. On the field for that long and they have the ability to stop the Bills TWICE at the end, once to prevent a TD and the second time to prevent a game-winning FG? Defense is fine. This team is on track for a deep playoff run.
     
    dolphin25 and Phil Hutchings like this.
  34. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

    40,533
    33,035
    113
    Dec 11, 2007
    defense tired out the offense.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  35. OwesOwn614

    OwesOwn614 Well-Known Member

    3,757
    3,786
    113
    Jul 8, 2020
    Offense has to sustain drives to help the defense. Defense has to close drives to help the offense. We got very lucky today. There was no standout performance on the field or the sideline. With that being said, I'd rather be lucky than good.

    My nerves can't take much more of this...:sad:
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  36. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,927
    63,004
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    Seriously? Would you be saying that if the Bills didn't screw up three 4th quarter drives?

    I'm as thankful and happy as anyone that we won the game, but don't let the W and the opponents gaffs blind you.

    Our defense sucks the majority of the time.
     
  37. cbrad

    cbrad .

    10,659
    12,657
    113
    Dec 21, 2014
    Defense gave up only 17 points to a great offense. Yeah that's fantastic. Also, they stopped Allen twice at the end, as well as in some other crucial situations. Who cares how long they were on the field or how many yards they gave up? Points allowed is what matters. That was great defensive play against a great offense.

    Oh.. and the Bills "screwed up" those drives because of our defense!
     
  38. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,927
    63,004
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    We look at it completely differently. Nothing is more important than the subjective eyeball test for me. Always.
     
  39. Fireland

    Fireland Well-Known Member

    1,461
    1,234
    113
    Dec 29, 2013
    It was far from pretty but Buffalo had no punts in week 1 and had no 3rd and 10+ in week 1 or 2. You can't overlook how insane they are on offense.

    Letting Allen dink and dunk you do death was painful to watch but it did kind of work. Would have worked a lot better if they can figure out how to tackle him
     
    Springveldt and dolphin25 like this.
  40. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

    4,052
    2,347
    113
    Dec 9, 2007
    We have to stop the short yardage stuff. WE got very lucky today and yes I will take it but I want a defense that doesn’t give free yardage,
     

Share This Page