Dolphins players love what Coyle calls the “speed” package featuring three defensive ends (Cam Wake, Vernon, Dion Jordan) plus linebacker Koa Misi, with all of them able to rush or drop into coverage. Vernon said he could see the confusion “in the eyes” of Cleveland players when Miami unleashed that package on some third downs. Sherman said Charles Clay’s 64 snaps (in 70 offensive plays) were probably too much. The Dolphins hope to work in more of Dion Sims (15 snaps), if he continues to improve. They believe he has a chance to be a complete tight end, and he's the best blocker of the group. Michael Egnew had 21 snaps. A veteran player said rookie offensive lineman Dallas Thomas has struggled in practice and coaches have been hard on him. Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...ts-fins-canes-heat-chatter.html#storylink=cpy
That package is exciting. Everyone is versatile enough that you can do anything you want with them. Scary for offenses.
I apologize if this has been posted elsewhere, but what were the snap counts for Stark and Odrick? And Solaii for that matter.
who is that lined up to the right of Vernon? Is it Jimmy Wilson or Phillip Wheeler? It's the Angry Dolphin defense... Dolphin Swarm? "Are they ill tempered?"
One of the other things I noticed on defense for Miami during the game is that I believe Kevin Coyle made the defense more "portable", for lack of a better word. Disgustipate pointed out in a different thread that it appeared the OLB situations were more similar. And I think this is absolutely correct. I had Cincinnati's game on in the background Sunday, and for comparisons sake, if you watch them line up, just about everyone plays to the strength or weak side of the formation, meaning their D-Line and LBs will flop sides of the field based on the opponents formation. If you look at what Miami did during the game, the only two guys moving in base packages (other than LBs widening out against 2 receiver looks to their side) were the DT's. Only Paul Soliai and Odrick/Starks moved pre-snap based on alignment. And they don't have to go far. Miami used both Under and Over fronts during the game, as well as a more traditional looking 4-3 stack (when Cleveland went to the odd pistol formation or had 3 receivers on the field when Miami did NOT bring in nickel personnel). Cameron Wake was always on the left, Vernon on the right. Koa Misi generally stayed on the right and Philip Wheeler stayed on the left (except against multiple TE packages, then Misi moved to that side regardless; at least that's what I noticed). They both played general "Sam" and "Will" responsibilities. I think the main things I took away from that are, they can get effective play without tipping their strength of the formation from side to side; they just line up and can call whatever they want. Cameron Wake's strong enough and plays with such exceptional leverage he can hold the point of attack in a 5 technique; Olivier Vernon is athletic enough he can play in a 7, stand-up 7, or 9 technique on an open side; Dannell Ellerbe is athletic enough to stay in the middle the whole game, all 3 downs. While it wasn't really a revelation against the Browns offense, I think this could end up paying bid dividends down the line against different offenses. For example, playing against teams that use a no-huddle or sugar huddle (New England, Buffalo, or if we ever played Philadelphia), Miami won't have to spend time shifting their alignment pre-snap, they can just line up as they are and go. I think this "speed" formation could show up a lot this week against Indy. I'm pretty sure that lask Miami led the entire NFL in sending 5 or more pass-rushers on a per snap basis than any other team in week 1. I think in ESPN's blog the other day, they said Andrew Luck was something like 11-12 for 99 yards and a TD when facing 5 or more pass-rushers against the Raiders. He torched Miami last year on blitzes; so hopefully Kevin Coyle has learned. I think with this formation, you still have two guys in Dion Jordan and Olivier Vernon that can still get back in coverage, along with the 3 traditional LBs. Believe it or not, even Cameron Wake had at least one snap where he stood up and dropped into a short zone against Cleveland. I think the more Miami can pressure Luck with 4, and keep good integrity in their rush-lanes, the more success the defense will have against the Colts. I'd still blitz him occasionally, but you're really going to have to pick choice spots as I think Luck can really hurt us with T.Y. Hilton underneath against the blitz, especially if Dimitri Patterson is still banged up or worse, doesn't go.
The obvious counter to that speed package would be running the ball whilst going hurry up (e.g. the patriots). For all the possible confusion etc, the biggest threat we have is still just Cameron Wake off the edge. Guy looks like big cat about to pounce in the photo above, and after the play is over he is going to deposit the QBs head on Ross' doorstep as a present. Probably the biggest share of our overall net talent of the whole team in one player since the late 80s edition of the Marino years. Our next best player may only be barely more than half the player Wake is.
What I would like to know is what happened during the plays when the package was used. Was it effective?
Hmm, Wake cannot cover a man hole though. Otherwise, this is exactly what I had in mind for Dion Jordan especially, his skillset reminds me a great deal of Adalius Thomas' glory days with the Ravens, only it won't take him 5 yrs to be a starter for us. I personally hope they use Jordan to spy Andrew Luck this week that way our guys can still pin their ears back while Jordan handles Lucks' mobility.
yup, thought the same thing, let him spy for the game, someone should lose reps, Ellerbe loses coverage with these types of qbs, sub him out in passing situations. Could you imagine how cool that would be to see, Dion could do it to, take away lucks greatest strength and let that freak track that dude.
What is another interesting angle is the DLine can flush Luck to a side via designed overloads, basically feeding Luck to Jordan out on the edge. Put Jordan off the LOS to keep him clean, Luck will have his work cut out for him.
I'd focus on collapsing the pocket as opposed to going directly after Luck. Force him to make tough throws from inside the pocket. It won't lead to as many sacks but it'll give the secondary more chances to make plays on the ball.
Andrew Luck is scary good at attacking us from anywhere on the field, he throws such a good seam route to the TE's that we have to be careful that our safeties aren't dialed in just on the speed guys (Hilton, DHB). We are going to need to play very good intermediate coverages, and when he makes a mistake? We need to capitalize on it unlike last year. I believe we can do well getting a push on Luck, without blitzing a high % of the game...our DL has a huge advantage vs Indys suspect OL. I also feel the same on the flip side of the ball. We will see some big holes opening up in the ground game, wich will allow better looks for Tannehill especially with deeper routes. Call it blind faith but I think we are significantly better in the trenches on both sides of the ball, Luck will have to play very well for us to lose.
Sorry, but I don't see our OL being significantly better than ANYONE'S DL. Maybe it's just me though........
Dolphins don't swarm but they do rape one another, amd occasionally try to do it to humans. True, unfortunately. So, Dolphins Gang Rapists. Send that one through marketing for approval. Maybe name a section after them.