After rewatching the game,and reading comments from much user,i say they are upgrades..Ellerbe is a Playmaker more than Dansby was supposed to be...And Wheeler played fairly well besides thqt horrendous tackling vs cincy
I'll say this. TE's are no longer destroying the Dolphins. I can't say for sure it's because of those two, but that is the biggest change between last year's defense and this year's.
Yes, and next offseason we are signing Peter Pan, because man, he can really fly. Then we'll release Hartline and he will go to the Rams and be ranked in the top 5 in the league but we will have Peter Pan and he will be great because whatever we imagine in fairyland comes true.
Ellerbe made a couple of tackles on 3rd down which forced the punt and he got an INT. Wheeler is an open space LB. He DIDN'T have a bad game. Ive seen a few times the Bengals O-Lineman get to the 2nd level. That whole D was gassed in the 2nd half. I think too much is being made regarding negative comments about the new LBs. They didnt play badly. Im watching the whole game again right now. Sometimes we forget the opposition.
I think Ellerbe and Wheeler are pretty much a wash on Dansby and Burnett, and I think what you've gotten is pretty much what you should expect. You traded consistent, quality run defense for guys who are a bit more dynamic. They've been less consistent than Burnett/Dansby, but I think some of their upside as pass rushers has been diminished without Wake's presence in the blocking scheme.
Dansby would have dropped the INT. How many did he have right in his hands all of last year? Ellerbe is an upgrade. Wheeler on the other hand has missed tackles but he is fast and gets to the ball. They are younger and faster, not necesarily better just a different play style. With Odrick moving inside and Jordan outside with Vernon the defensive front 7 is different than last year, faster but weaker.
They were never faster or even quicker than Dansby and Burnett. That is just crap some media people made up. Go check the forty times. It isn't even close. All they are is younger. They aren't even close to being better than Dansby and Burnett.
Not sure about Burnett but as far as Dansby goes... go watch some Cardinals games before you say that Ellerbe is better. Not even close, Dansby is far better.
I'll give Wheeler credit. He went straight up against a guard yesterday and while you would think he'd be washed out and knocked over he actually stood up well to the guard and made the play. The two LBs are getting grief all around but overall I'd say the problem is the tackling not so much the line getting pushed around. What's interesting about Miami is that they're exposing Wheeler to linemen. Usually it's the Mike that gets that duty.
According to PFF, Ellerbe is in better by about 6 spots. Wheeler is substantially worse than Burnett. Overall, I'd say it's a wash except for the fact that they're younger.
Remember though: Odrick and Starks protected Burnett at WLB. Wheeler is being asked to go head up on linemen. PFF does not adjust for that kind of schematic difference.