I thought this was very well done. Pretty fair and balanced. A few quibbles and, ultimately more work would need to be done to fully evaluate him. But, pretty good stuff here: http://www.thephinsider.com/2013/5/30/4376238/new-miami-dolphin-introduction-philip-wheeler
i think it's fair to say Wheeler is under the radar regarding him being an ex Raider. He's never got in the highlight reels. There are always good players who play for poor teams. Lance Louis from the Bears (poor O-Line) being a case. I hope Irelands cherry picking from lesser teams bears fruit. pardon the pun.
So.. we brought in Kevin Burnett for his ability to cover TEs - and then replace him with someone who struggles to cover TEs. Damn I hope we can get some pass rush going - otherwise those NE TE 's will be open all day.
I think the weakness of both wheeler and Ellerbe is what happens when their engaged by an Olineman, their not big players so then can get swallowed up..the question is will one vulnerability outweigh the other things they can do well, and then compare the overall games to the duo of Dansby/Burnett.
Good article, and I think well balanced. As to the Pats TEs, I think that we cover that (or attempt to cover them) using a combination of zone and the safetys. After all, their WRs arent exactly going to demand double coverage. The question I have is that when we show a 3-4 look, who stays on the field, Wheeler or Misi? You would think that Odrick, Solia and Starks make up the DL, and that Wake, Jordan and Ellerbe are locks at LB, leaving one spot at MLB. I think that our nickle defense could look a lot like the 3-4 as well, subbing out Solia with the 3rd quarter.
The cool part of that thought is the deception that can be played with Jordan's skillset, he's so explosive in short areas that he can make the Qb think hes gonna do one thing, and then do the other.
I don't think you've really got any sort of personnel change for a 3-4, the front that they put on the field last year, and what they'll likely roll out this year basically already has the same kind of package. They've got a lot of 3-4 influences already, and I imagine the investment in Dion Jordan means it's at least here to stay if not expanded.
It's a well done analysis but it doesn't say anything different than what many of us have been saying since the signing. Basically, we lost man coverage ability, but we gained in zone coverage, pass rush and run defense (w/ our DTs protecting the LBs) and youth.
This is one of the reasons why Misi not doing more is a disappointment to me, he was a fine DE in college and fine, though not outstanding, Lb in the league, one would think that flexibility would have found a hybrid role in our scheme
