[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]Phinsational - Scroll down in that second link for this point you're addressing about packages; there are two charts. When someone writes "let's start by", that usually means there's something to follow. Spoiler: Jon Dwyer is 15th in running on loaded boxes while having 2+ wideouts, Redman is 25, and Reggie Bush is 31. That second chart addresses this package stuff you wrote about in your last paragraph. I provided 3 links to get the biggest body of info I could rather than post 1 as the end-all. But all three imply a similar thing: defenses, for whatever reason, loaded the box against Mike Wallace's Steelers just as much or more often than they did against the phins. I'm just trying to figure out if this cure-all Mike Wallace effect everyone talks about actually happens, or whether Reggie really had it that hard up front last season. And I'm not saying Mike Wallace has had a bad career; he was really freaking good in 2010 and was crazy hot out of the gates in 2011. But look at the guy's last 24 games; his production just isn't that good for the last season and a half. [/FONT]
I don't think that is going to be nearly as meaningful as you think. I'd also like to say Mike Wallace is one of my favorite players to watch, and I like him a lot. Just not the Dolphins offense for that price. Yes, I was thinking of the season finale. Whoops. Playing certain coverages are risky, but if you're expecting to never see that with Mike Wallace you're going to be disappointed.
Overrated in the context of this message board? Yes, absolutely. It's important, and very much an aspect this team lacked but it's been fetishized here to a bit of a ridiculous degree. It was important the team get it but not important they find the fastest guy possible.
The league has so much parity that often games come down to one or two plays made or not made. Wallace has the ability to both make those plays and open up opportunities for others. He was obviously our FO most coveted player, I have to believe they have a very well thought out plan.
I hate to say it but IMO Mike Wallace being exciting as a player was likely somewhat of a factor in signing him. I know you think he is overpaid, maybe he is. But so are Meagtron, Fitz, and Revis, and given our cap situation I'd love to have any of them. No, no, I HOPE we see those same coverages next year. I just don't think that we will.
hmm, I would think fastest is better than fast and adds another threat In itself in the minds of a safety..I think it's a fascinating topic, and certainly something very difficult to quantify.. I feel like great speed in a package like Wallace, who isn't just a one trick pony, will keep the corner and safety from drifting into other areas of the field..what that all means to other payers and the run game is where it's gets exciting to me, how much, I don't know, but when I think of a safety worried about helping out his corner I can't help but to think of an unfair advantage.
I think the key is spacing. You need players that can attack all areas of the field. We lacked an element that threatened the deep thirds consistently. That allows the D to compress on the other areas. That makes the offense's job more difficult in the compressed areas. The offense becomes a grind. A timely comparison might be the Heat when they can't hit 3 pt shots. The D just clogs the paint and makes it harder for LBJ and Wade to drive. If the 3 pt shooters only succeed a small percentage of the time (ala Hartline making only a few deep plays), then the D doesn't pay enough for compressing down. The stats show that RT was actually pretty accurate on the deep passes compared to the rest of the league. If he maintains his success percentage with more opportunities then we'd be a much more explosive offense. Hopefully Wallace and Keller can help improve the spacing and increase the number of deep pass opportunities. I don't think Keller is a great seam threat, but he's an improvement over what we had. I also believe that Matthews has a knack for making deeper plays. He certainly did in college. I'm hopeful that he can develop into the same kind of player in the pros. Even Gibson is an improvement over Bess at attacking deeper zones. He has a knack for getting over the top of DBs on those fades. I wouldn't say Gibson is better than Bess in the short zones, he's just different. Bess was better at using his quickness and instincts to find holes in the zone. Gibson is better at positioning his body between the DB and the QB. That may translate to a better target on those quick passes (which our offense relies on).
