Cam Wake is easily my choice. So far, he has 13 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 TL's, 3 passes defended, and 1 FF. I'm not even including pressures and hits. I can't really compare to last season, as he played sparingly. I can compare to Porter. After 7 games, JP had 9 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and defended 1 pass. The 7 games, compared to 4, seems fair as JP was hurt. For #2, I would like to nominate Langford. This year, 14 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 TL, and 2 passes defended. At the same point last year, he had 10 tackles and a sack. He is making his presence felt. Agree, disagree, or have someone else?
Jason Allen: -Int leader with 2 -#3 in tackles with 25 Chris Clemons 19 tackles/15 solo/4 asst's. And Vontae Davis, his stats won't show it, but he held Randy Moss without a reception for the first time in 4 seasons, last yr Moss torched him a couple of times this yr Voodoo locked him down.
i dont know if its an easy choice. players that have improved the most dramitically CB Vontae Davis CB Jason Allen FS Chris Clemons OLB Cameron Wake WR Devonne Bess Players that have improved incrementally NT Paul Soiai QB Chad Henne
Impossible to dispute those picks. Both have shocked the hell out of me. To a lessor degree, I have to add Soliai. He has not been great but, I did not even expect him on the team.
Davis has been LIGHTS OUT so far. I just wish QB's would test him. I still think Wake improved more but, we are both right. AHWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Wake was a player I saw this coming based on his stats from last year with 167 snaps (134 as a pass rusher), 7 sacks 6 hits and 20 pressures. This year 240 snaps, 2 sacks, 6 hits, 8 pressures. Seems like a slight step back until we factor in how much better his run defense has gotten, the lack of quality, consistent, pass rushers opposite Wake and the fact that he has gotten a consistent double team. Langford is definitely a player who has improved a lot as well, especially as a pass rusher. Hes been one of the best run stuffing 3-4 DE's for the last two years but now hes pressuring the QB consistently, though it seems like his run D has taken a slight step back so far. Chris Clemons, Chad Henne, Jake Long and Davone Bess have all shown considerable improvement as well.and yes its possible Long has been even better then last year. He is right now unquestionably the best and most complete LT in the NFL by any standard with 1 penalty, 2 pressures and 2 hits allowed in 4 starts, 0 sacks. But ultimately my choice is Vontae Davis. Hes giving up just 6.7 Yards Per Completion and has a QB rating of 43 when hes targeted. Only Jason McCourtey has been better in the entire league and hes hurt right now. The long against him is 13 yards. May as well look to the other side now. Least Improved Player: Yeremiah Bell Last year he missed 1 tackle all year and now he's missed 7 in 4 games. Hes got to be better in coverage as well.
Wake and Davis. They played really really good during those first four games. I also like Henne and I'm one who thinks that he can be our franchise QB. He definitely improved over last year and now he has real weapons!
Vontae is definitely the obvious one, but it really showed on our D-line against the Pats when McDaniels wasn't in the rotation.
You sir are not the only one who thinks henne can be our franchise QB. Some of us have been saying that for a while but the bandwagon always has room for one more.
Vontae Davis by far. Last year he was behind Sean Smith. This year he’s being talked about as a top five corner. Honorable mention: Jason Allen. Perfect fit in this defense. Just get the man some longer cleats.
I know that we have plenty of guys who think that he can be the one, but after all the hate he received during the last weeks I thought that I had to point that one out especially
Can't give it to Wake as he's doing what everyone expected him to do after his through the roof pass rushing statistics last season in limited time. The MIP imo, is Chris Clemons. He's playing well beyond a level I expected him to.
Where are these offensive weapons you speak of We are #31 in the lowest amount of offensive touchdowns Only Carolina has less tds than we have
Well, we also have 256 plays from scrimmage, the bye week means we will trail in most stat categories, also a function of turning the ball over and not creating turnovers ourselves.
Wake and Davis are playing like they did in spurts last year. I would say I have been most surprised by Jason Allen, he gets my vote.
Vontae Davis and Chad Henne... Davis has become a shutdown CB and is playing at a pro bowl level...Henne has improved alot, but hes not at a pro bowl level yet... So Vontae Davis would get my vote.
We don't. As long as they follow the terms of service they are welcome as any teams fans are. We don't ban folks for not being dolphins fans, we ban them if they act like knuckleheads. The point of the board is to inspire healthy debate even if they are jets/bills/pats scum
channing crowder...supposedly he is playing tommorow right? while im not his biggest fan and would love to see him replaced,a healthy crowder should instantly improve our defense so not only is he improving himself but an entire unit.other than that wake and chris clemons to name a few.
I'm all about Vontae and Henne too...... especially considering Chad's level of difficulty in comparison to other positions. Not only is Vontae not being targeted but he's lights out in run support as well. God I wish we had 2 of him!!!! I also think Q has quietly improved and is becoming a late bloomer.
Agreed. Many believed that Wake was going to be pass rusher only. I picked him because of his big improvement in becoming a complete OLB. Although he still has a ways to go, his dropping in coverage (3 PD's), and as you mentioned, run D are like day and night from last year. IMO, he has accomplished this without a drop off in his overall impact in putting pressure on the QB. Do you have stats on how many snaps wake was a pass rusher this season? Also agree on Bell. I would add Smith and Starks, although there are circumstances surrounding both. I still very much like both players.
wake is on pace for 12 sacks. awesome! (watch for him to have 3 today ) but the obvious answer is vontae davis. he wasnt even a starter last year, until WA got injured. and jason allen is "all world" improved. unreal.
At the end of last season, most believed that Vontae was going to be special, even opposing players, coaches, and analyst. Wake was viewed more as a "one trick pony." It is Phantastic to see these young guys develop and improve before our eyes, and I believe that there are more coming.
Sorry it took me so long to respond but I was recovering much of the day from my brother in laws 30th birthday....and then watching the phins win Coming in to today Wake had played: 240 total snaps with a 104 run defense/116 pass plays/20 coverage plays breakdown. 4 sacks 6 hits 8 pressures 2 Batted Passes 9 "Stops" which is defined by Pro Football Focus as plays that constitute an offensive failure, including sacks.
Until yesterday I think the vote had to be Vontae Davis hands down. Going from literally one of the worst corners in the league (from a production standpoint, yards, catches, attempts, snaps, etc) to literally one of the very best...is a RIDICULOUS improvement. Now I don't know. What I do know is the following players have clearly improved from one year to the next, anywhere from dramatic improvement to modest but discernible improvement: QB Chad Henne - Improved touch passing, improved pocket presence after first game, improved accuracy, fewer mental mistakes WR Davone Bess - More decisive OT Jake Long - Pass protection better than ever NT Paul Soliai - Much better at penetrating and dominating single blocks LE Kendall Langford - A much better pass rusher RE Tony McDaniel - A marked improvement all around LB Cameron Wake - Pass rush slightly improved but his run defense has severely improved LB Quentin Moses - Pass rush has improved, coverage is basically the same CB Jason Allen - Streaky as always but now able to fight back with interceptions CB Vontae Davis - Fundamentals have improved dramatically CB Sean Smith - Tackling has improved dramatically FS Chris Clemons - Mental game turned up two notches On the other hand, the following players seem to have regressed: FB Lousaka Polite - Ruined his short yardage streak and been questionable as lead blocker WR Brian Hartline - Not catching any deep balls, not creating YAC on the short ones RE Randy Starks - Not pass rushing like he did last year, and a lot worse against the run SS Yeremiah Bell - His missed tackles tells the story, been a little worse in coverage The other players are either new, or I would argue they've stayed about the same. Ronnie and Ricky have not really regressed, they're still just inconsistent.
The thing that has improved most about Cameron Wake is to me his tackling fundamentals. That has made him a more dangerous pass rusher and it has also made him dramatically better against the run. The play where he chased Aaron Rodgers out of the pocket and Aaron tried to juke and outrun him in the open field was a good example of a play that Cameron Wake might not have made a year ago with his tackling fundamentals the way they were. Last year he was able to pressure the QB and hit him a whole bunch without really getting him down for the sack. This year he seems more forceful on the ball carrier once he gets a shot at him, better in pursuit.
The instinct's to athleticism transition on that play and a few other QB pursuits give me a glimmer of hope that we can somehow contain the great Ben Rothlesburger.
A friend and I split a $500 bet, and celebrated as well. Better I read this today. LOL It would seem that, after Sunday, Wake's numbers may be even a little better than last year overall on just the pass rush after adjusting for the snaps. Really doesn't matter, he's playing great. Appreciate the info. PFF was a favorite site of mine. Just can't see spending $90 but, I may change my mind.