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Dannell Ellerbe goes from left out to leader

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by GMJohnson, May 31, 2013.

  1. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    Thoughts on Ellerbe and Wheeler replacing Dansby and Burnett?
     
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  2. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Largest gamble of our offseason tbh, we were a good defense with those two in the lineup.

    Ellerbe started a handful of games, Wheeler was a waivee from Indy and had one great yr in Oakland.

    Really, it can make or break our season.
     
  3. Onehondo

    Onehondo Senior Member Club Member

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    More athletic and faster, just have to wait and see if their abilities can match their potential. We knew Dansby and Burnett were at their peak and what we saw was all we were going to get. Ellerbe was the heir apparent in Baltimore of one of the best linebackers to ever play in the NFL and that speaks volumes.
     
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  4. PhinGeneral

    PhinGeneral PC Texas A&M, Bro Club Member

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    I think Dansby and Burnett offered solid, if unspectacular, production. Their baseline, at the very least, was fairly dependable. I see Ellerbe and Wheeler as a more volatile combination that can raise the ceiling if they live up to their billing and are used creatively in Coyle's packages, but also with the potential to be busts if they really aren't as good as what they've shown.
     
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  5. Sethdaddy8

    Sethdaddy8 Well-Known Member

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    Heir apparents remind me of Jay Fiedler.
     
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  6. Bruzer

    Bruzer New Member

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    I would have to say that LB's are big questions at the moment but reason I guess I haven't really worried is I like Coyle's style and I think he knows how to use his guys.
     
  7. VManis

    VManis Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Wasn't Damon Huard suppose to be the heir apparent but then got beat out by Fiedler.
     
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  8. Dol-Fan Dupree

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

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    My memory was that Huard was in a competition where he would only win if he blew Fielder away. Kind of like the KAJ/Parmalee competition, where Parmalee was a better all around player including runningback, however didn't have 'potential' so lost the battle.
     
  9. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    It was supposed to be Tannehill but he wasn't born in time.
     
  10. Larryfinfan

    Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member

    Nah, it was Ray Luc.... Sorry, my fingers just won't type that....hehehe



    I know, I know, Luc... was a few years later, but I think VManis was right on Huard...
     
  11. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    Based on how well Dansby and Burnett played, I'm thinking the swaps were made with more than just this season in mind. They turn 32 and 31 this year and are probably arrow down players at this point. Wheeler and Ellerbe are entering their primes, I don't expect them to outperform what Dansby and Burnett did last year, but over the next 3-5 years I think they'll be a better combo than KD/KB would've been.
     
  12. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    They won't have any excuses playing behind Soilia, Starks, Wake, and Odrick. If you can't run around and make plays behind that DL then you just can't run around and make plays.
     
  13. Coral Reefer

    Coral Reefer Premium Member

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    I do my best to forget about that guy...... yet someone always has to bring up his name! thanks dude! :angry:

    As for Ellerbee and Wheeler, I do think they will be an upgrade.
    Younger, faster and more athletic.
     
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  14. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    Agree with Coral - younger, faster, more athletic.

    They will probably make more mistakes than Dansby and Burnett. But, their athleticism and aggressiveness changes the D strategy. It allows Coyle to mix in more blitzes and I think at the core - along with getting much younger for years to come - it is about finding ways to create turnovers and get off the field sooner. Their speed and aggressiveness will allow them to create more hits and get more pressure on the QB on blitz packages.

    With the other guys getting older - the Dolphins were going to have to replace them. They did with two guys who are still very much in their prime and will be for a few years.

    This was not at all a high risk move. It was a smart move even if they aren't phenomenal players.
     
  15. VManis

    VManis Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    IIRC, Dan had endorsed Damon as the heir apparent but Wanny brought in Jay and was he!! bent on going with his guy.


    I always like KAJ, primarily because he got the 1,000 yard RB monkey off our back. He was never a great back but he sure had a nose for the goal line.
     
  16. Dol-Fan Dupree

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

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    I hated KAJ. I felt he always left yards on the field, had terrible vision and was very easy to take down. He got 1,000 yards because he had 1000 carries. Well not htat much, but he did average around 3.3 yards per carry. I thought Parmalee was a better runningback, plus he could catch the ball.
     
  17. firedan

    firedan Well-Known Member

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    That was before Wanny did things his way.
     
  18. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    or Aaron Rodgers
     
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  19. FanMarino

    FanMarino Season Ticket Holder

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    Three words....younger,faster, hungrier.
     
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  20. Sceeto

    Sceeto Well-Known Member

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    This and this:

    Word up!! :pointlol::up:
     
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  21. 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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    Ellerbe started a handful of games ? that's it ?..... that's your diagnosis of what he brings in comparison to dansby ? Talk about selling him short. Arguably the Defensive MVP on a strong defensive unit that won the superbowl. It's like getting a player of Dansby's caliber all over again, only younger, cheaper... and he's not a jackass. Can truely Lead.


    Wheeler was a waivee ?...... They also waived Peyton MAnning. James Harrison was waived once, or 3 times. He had a better year than any 4-3 OLB we've had since i forget his name back in Zach's early years. Donald Jones was it ? Not Derrick Rodgers, though he was solid.

    Clear upgrades. These are the last moves people should be questioning. Apparently not everyone was as down on the LBs as I was. I promise you guys won't miss those bums. Especially not Dansby, who could possibly have already made the last start of his career, by the way.

    Largest gamble ? the new Tackle arangement, the Corners, Runningbacks, expecting Wallace, Keller, Miller and Gibson to transform this offense. Hardly the upgrades at LB.
     
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  22. Electric Boogaloo

    Electric Boogaloo Inventor of the question mark

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    Agree with most that they bring youth and upside to the D. More than anything, I think it shows vision and foresight. Sorry for the corporate bingo phrase, but it's pro-active rather than reactive. Certainly comes with some risk and ties up some future cap room even if this year it's a wash, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

    Above all, I think the franchise is demonstrating there is a plan in place to build a competitive team beyond the current season. Consider the alternative...don't make any moves on Dansby & Burnett and as age, injuries or their careers hit the decline....we're forced to use a top draft pick to gamble on a replacement with a learning curve as QB of the D. Right as were ready to make the leap from wildcard to SB contender. And unable to focus picks on replacing Soliai, adding a safety or marquee running back.
     
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  23. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

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    I agree... and I was irritated with Dansby showing up out of shape each season and staying injured while running his mouth about being the best this or that. Burnett seemed to always be injured in camp as well. I think they covered his "recovery" on Hard Knocks as year as well.
     
  24. FanMarino

    FanMarino Season Ticket Holder

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    I have always thought it needed big moves in FA and Draft to make the step up. We have been so stagnant the last 10yrs plus its frightening. Same goes for Bills. Jets no so much but they dug a huge hole with Sanchez and poor Drafts lately. If any team is going to mount a challenge to the Pats and win the AFC East its the Phins. Ireland has given the team a chance to do it.
     
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  25. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    I can't call them upgrades until I see them on the field but yeah, they're established vets not green players or rooks. And they'll be protected by one of the better DLines in the league so I don't see any reason to think they'll bomb. The entire D is shaping up to be much better than last year. Better depth especially. No more Trusnik and Spitler coming off the bench at LB. No more Jimmy Wilson, RJ Stanford, Brice McCain, etc getting snaps at corner. Hopefully Jordan will add some juice to the pass rush and take some pressure off of Wake. Hopefully the offense will put some points on the board and give the D some leads to work with (more chances to be aggressive).
     
  26. WhiteIbanez

    WhiteIbanez Megamediocremaniacal

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    You have to go back and watch the countless times Dansby whiffed on plays pod.
    I agree they made a big step with the changes but it is for the best. I hope.
     
  27. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    I think there is a huge risk in this move. While some people on here felt Dansby didn't play up to his contract. He and Burnett were two of the solid pieces on a decent defense. Personally I would rather have seen the Dolphins keep Dansby and Burnett and use those cap dollars to upgrade their secondary, which I still think will be a problem area in the 2013 season.

    Ellerbe and Wheeler may be younger and a bit faster, but I don't know if they will be an upgrade over Dansby and Burnett. Hopefully Ellerbe and Wheeler will be at least as effective as the LB's they replaced or else this defense could end up taking a giant step backwards and not forward during the 2013 season.
     
  28. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    How long do you figure Dansby and Burnett can play at the level they did last year?
     
  29. 54Fins

    54Fins "In Gase we trust"

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    If you could put a face to this, I would say you were talking about Terry Kirby except for the 1,000 yard part, of course.

    Loved Bernie, he was my homeboy in every sense of the word.
     
  30. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I disagree, the dynamics at linebacker needed to be changed, plays weren't being made, defense wasn't making it happen at crunch time, corner and linebacker needed to be revamped, and we did, I really like what was done at the corner position, I like my chances with grimes and Taylor..I've seen Ellerbee make some plays that neither linebacker we had could make..really happy with the job.
     
  31. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I agree that the dynanmics needed a reboot, just not 100% Ellerbe and Wheeler are the guys to reboot them, and my real concern is both are effective blitzers their coverage skills are not as good as Dansby and Burnett's were.

    Really do not want to see the return of Te's running free with a Lb in "trail position".

    This is one of the reasons why I have high hopes for Jenkins and to a lesser extent Kaddu and Shelby
     
  32. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Removing two pieces from a successful defense and replacing them with 2 guys who do not have a long track record of performance and paying large FA $$ for them is a risk, there is no way around it.

    Take Clabo for example, you know exactly what you are getting with him, his performance is consistent as his durability.
     
  33. Dol-Fan Dupree

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

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    KAJ. Terry Kirby was great at catching the ball
     
  34. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I gotcha, Ellerbe does have some susceptibility to that, he's a downhill guy as you know, so his first step is always hard at the Los, sometimes he bites on that fake pretty hard obviously leaving you vulnerable.
     
  35. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    I wasn't inferring that the line backing was great last year. I just think that Dansby and Burnett were solid contributors to the defense and I just don't know if Ellerbe and Wheeler are definite upgrades at this time. Wheeler will be playing for his third team in the last three seasons and Ellerbe only became a starter for the Ravens last year because Lewis was injured.

    Both of these players may come in and show they are better than Dansby and Burnett, but until the do, I still have to question the need to sign them and cut Dansby and Burnett. In fact I think both Dansby and Burnett are still far better than Misi and cutting both of them and keeping Misi around makes no sense to me. I just hope they find a replacement for Misi after the 2013 season. He is a free agent after this season and the Dolphins should just him go in free agency, as far as I am concerned.

    As far as the CB positions are concerned, both Grimes and Marshall are coming off major injuries in 2012. If they both have full recoveries and are able to be the players they were earlier in their careers, the CB position may be okay. If they aren't the players they were prior to their injuries, I think the CB position is going to be a major area of concern for this team.

    Taylor and Davis are still huge question marks because of their status as rookies. One or both of them may turn out to be effective NFL CB's, but right now we just don't know if they will be upgrades or not. Carroll is a below average NFL CB and Patterson is fighting for a roster spot, it appears.

    Relying on two veteran CB's coming off major injuries and two rookies who have never played a down in the NFL to be your major contributors at the CB position is a major risk. Hopefully it will work out, but if he doesn't, opposing QB's will have a field day throwing against the Dolphins secondary.
     
  36. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Eh, with you on the Lb's, disagree about the Db's rookie Cb's tend to play quickly in the league and have success now.

    Jones is up and coming, Clemmons is solid if unspectacular, and we still have Patterson so imo, we are in good shape.
     
  37. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

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    Linebackers don't have season-breaking impact.
     
  38. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    point is, when your consistently producing medioricre results, changes have to be made, they were, the linebacker replacements are not rookies coming in, their young vets replacing older ones, sure you can stay the same at the position, but it's not likely those two were gonna give you more than what you saw the last couple years, and you always must find ways to improve your team and take those chances, of course everyone wants to see them play in our uninform before we judge but, GMs don't have that luxury when putting together a roster that is trying to get over a hump and compete for championships, sometimes you gotta go with what's on tape and your own talent..I think it was a good unit to revamp, it didnt have depth and had two staters in their thirties with pretty high contacts..I respect the move.

    Remember, for me this is Ireland's 3rd year with full power, I don't think we can judge him before that with any conviction or proof so I cannot prove the level of his power, to me I've got to judge him in some absolute senses, I would say if we can just drop our past for a sec, and think about the job he has done since his first year, it would be good considering all the variables and cosching changes and reshuffling, topping off with an aggressive offseason aquiring young players..
     
  39. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    I do agree that it is the job of the GM to constantly upgrade the positions on the football team. Hopefully that is what Ireland has done with his various signings in free agency and through the 2013 draft. Some times young players come in and provide this upgrade and other times they come in and find out that the NFL is more difficult to adjust to than they thought it would be.

    I have my doubts about many of these free agent signings and even some of the players drafted. Of course as a fan, that is to be expected. It isn't my job on the line if these players don't succeed. It will be the players jobs, as well as Ireland's and Philbin's jobs. I am looking forward to this season more than I have looked forward to a season since 2008. So I obviously think this has a chance of being the best season for the Dolphins in at least five years.

    I just have concerns regarding the CB position and the LB positions. Once the season begins, these concerns may prove to be for nothing, but right now it is just the way I feel. I certainly want all these players to work out and prove to be upgrades at their positions. I will just continue to have my concerns until I see how they play once the regular season begins. Hopefully the players Ireland has been responsible for signing and drafting over the last three years will finally provide a winning team on the field. Anything less then at least a 9-7 record in 2013 would be seen as a severe disappointment and would mean that Ireland has failed as the teams GM. If the Dolphins finish 9-7 or better, I feel Ireland will have proved he is a capable NFL GM and he should remain as the Dolphins GM. We will see how it all works out after 16 games.
     
  40. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Has Channing Crowder caught Dallas Clark yet?
     

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