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Our Best Blitzing Defender is also our most underrated player

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by padre31, May 29, 2011.

  1. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Can you guess the Dolphins defender who:

    -led us in tackles for the 3rd straight season
    -notched 100 tackles over those same 3 yrs
    -was the second most effective blitzing player for his position in the NFL?
    -had pressures on 29% of his blitzes

    http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/03/19/defensive-backs-bringing-heat/

    His blitz effectiveness finished behind only 1 player and he was a Top 5 pick...
     
  2. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    The mother grabbin Bullfrog.
     
  3. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I don't see Reshad taking anyones place this year so he provides us with good depth and excellent special teams play..good stuff, we need him there this year..
     
  4. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I'm not going to talk him up to much Deej as the last guy I did that with, Lou Polite, fell off the cliff the next yr.
     
  5. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Bell has been a good pass rusher at the position for years now. In fact, that's originally how he was getting on the field. Before he was a starter Nick Saban would have him substitute in as essentially a nickel corner back pass rush specialist.

    Bell is a little bit different deal, I think, because he's playing essentially linebacker a decent amount of the time in passing situations. Does that help his situation because he's in a position to blitz more, or does it hurt him given blockers are more aware of him?
     
  6. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I'd have to say that doesn't hurt him as he still generated pressures at a solid 29% pace, 5% behind the NFL overall leader, suspect he was the largest beneficiary of Nolan's scheme in terms of passrushing.
     
  7. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yes, but who would have saw Chris Clemons as a starter last season? It was much more unlikely I would argue given his rookie season which was pretty bad when he was on the field.Jones playing as well as he did in limited action don't mean he's going to be a star, but it certainly isn't a bad sign.
     
    djphinfan likes this.
  8. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    Clemons played pretty much exactly like I thought he would last year. I thought that he would be solid in Nolan's system b/c of the simplified responsibilities. He's a good athlete with good range and a reliable tackler. I liked him for those reasons coming out of college. However, he has never shown a tendency as a play maker. I don't think it's likely to expect him to suddenly be able to produce the turnovers that Nolan's system puts him in position to get. I see that a play making S as what separates this defense from an elite unit. Bell can and does make plays as a pass rusher and a tackler, but isn't enough of a turnover generator. S and pass rusher have become the premier defensive positions. Getting play makers there will make a defense special. As much as I like Clemons, I wanted Earl Thomas. I see that as another missed opportunity in last year's draft (along with missing out on a TE).
     
    texanphinatic likes this.
  9. DHPVW

    DHPVW DuB addict

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    anyone who doubts Bell as a quality player that continues to produce every year is just being silly. He isn't the best in pass coverage but he doesn't exactly suck either. He give us a lot of help in the run game and his blitz skills are superb. Any team in the league would welcome a Safety like Bell. With the CB's we have Bell should have a great season next year. He should have plenty of time to blitz and press the run next year considering that Davis, Smith and Allen should be able to cover the secondary pretty well.

    I have always been irritated by Miami fans who down play Bell's ability and production. Since Zach left he is the best player we have against the run and by far the most consistent tackler. Asking for a better Safety is just being greedy imo. Sure it would be nice if he was a bit faster and covered a little better but I don't think he is lacking a whole lot from other top Safeties in the league. He is by far one of the most consistent over the past few years and we don't pay him a fortune either
     
  10. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    Bell is a good player but this defense needs a S that produces turnovers. Seeking that is not greedy any more than wanting a great QB is. If you look at the history of the SB you generally find that successful teams have good passers and good pass defenses.
     
  11. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    The other thing that interests me is the numbers themselves, the Jest had 4 Db's on that list with only 1 making any impact Coleman and #12, which sort of supports the notion that Nolan was not particularly aggressive last season were the Jest were really aggressive at sending their defensive backs.
     
  12. PhinPhanatic

    PhinPhanatic New Member

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    And a 7th round pick!!
     
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  13. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    6th round pick. 213th overall.
     
  14. VanDolPhan

    VanDolPhan Club member Club Member

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    I just don't like when they match Bell up with a TE and the fact he's not getting any younger out there. Be keeping a close eye on him this year just to see if he slips.

    Easily though one of our best low round picks of the last 15 years.
     
  15. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    I agree. The #1 thing I want from any DB is coverage ability, to include being a good ball athlere. #2 is tackling, and #3 is extra things like being a good blitzer. It's all well and good that Bell can blitz effectively, but I'd trade that ability for better coverage and making more plays on the ball.
     
  16. CrunchTime

    CrunchTime Administrator Retired Administrator

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    Correct me if I am wrong but I think Bell is the lone remaining player drafted from the Wanny-Speilman era except for Carey.Even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in awhile .:wink2:

    He was a 6th rounder BTW .

    I like his game but he is showing signs of age.
     
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  17. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Yeremiah I-bent-steel-for-a-living Bell?
     
  18. rdhstlr23

    rdhstlr23 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yeremiah is underrated. He's the glue to that defensive secondary. LOVE the Bullfrog.
     
  19. Samphin

    Samphin Κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει

    The longest tenured current Dolphin. As he gets older, I actually wouldn't mind seeing him go back to what his initial role as a nickel passrusher. Like others have said, is coverage ability is coming into question these days and having a playmaking safety really would take this defense to the upper echelon of current defenses. But Bell still has some gas in the tank so scaling him back to somewhat of a specialist would be ideal.

    Especially as he is one of the leaders of the team on top of it.
     
  20. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

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    I dont think he is underrated he is what he is, a good run stopper, but an utter liability on passing downs...
     

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