ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk 1 min Safety Louis Delmas agrees to terms with the Dolphins. Max deal of $3.5 million for one year.
But it's short-term, and if their play is roughly equal and Clemons gets a fatter contract elsewhere, then we're better off for next year and a little more flexible.
If you're gonna go around using common sense then maybe pick a different medium other than the internet. The web is no place for reason.
If Delmas is healthy...yes its a big if I know, he will be a great addition. Clemons has been great in coverage but some of his angles to the ball, mainly on run plays, have drawn our rage so many times. In my opinion Delmas is equal but a different player from Clemons. Youre giving sonething to get something and paying a lot less.
Isnt delmas more similar to reshad Jones than the center field type FS we're apparently replacing ( Clemons )? Hopefully we atleast use one of them to their strengths....... "COYLE !"
IMO Delmas is the type of guy that will give up a couple more plays in coverage but will also create more turnovers in all aspects.
Meh. If they were going outside the team to find a safety they should have gone for T.J. Ward and put up or shut up. Louis Delmas isn't measurably any better than Chris Clemons, and it's a one year deal. I don't like it.
Delmas is a much better playmaker than Clemons. Clemons may be generally solid in coverage, but he's average at best making tackles, and almost never makes a big play or creates a turnover. I love the move. If he's healthy and plays well, then he could be a longer term fit for us at the position. Either way, we now have 3/4 of our starting secondary locked up for sure, with two young corners with potential waiting in the wings too. I'd like to see the team draft a safety in the middle rounds as well.
According to PFF he is not very good against the run but OK in coverage. Ok signing for a 1 year deal. Better than throwing lots of money at Chris Clemons who had more balls bounce off his hands then anybody in the history of football besides channing crowder.
Lets hope he stays healthy and gets the obligatory Coyle DB boost. I like this deal because it's cheap and allows the team to focus on OL/DT's etc. Could be they draft a guy to play the 3rd safety this year and take over next year.
I was a big fan of Delmas coming out. He's a nice player when he's on the field and I believe he's better than Clemons. I like the deal as it's very similar to what we did with Brent Grimes and Dustin Keller last year. A one year "prove yourself" deal. Delmas is a local guy so I'm sure he's thrilled for the opportunity.
I agree, but that does nothing to answer my question you quoted .... Isn't delmas a safety suited to play closer to the line, like jones..... ? we don't even use Jones to his strengths.
Delmas played FS as a rookie and SS ever since. Jones has the ball skills to play FS I guess, but not sure he is cerebral enough. Clemons was a smart FS, called the coverages for the secondary. I guess they figure either Delmas or Jones can handle FS.
I would have preferred a full on assault on Byrd because I think we need some seriously big play at Safety. Great safeties are hard to find; but great safety play - esp. against the pass - usually translates to a lot of Ws for the team; and this is little more than a stop gap measure. It's very much a tossup as to whether he is any better a playmaker than Clemons. Clemons is much faster in recovery and is bigger. In 48 starts, Clemons has 17 PDs and 4 INTs. Delmas has 64 starts, 24 PDs and 6 INTs. A bit better production from Delmas but not really all that great. Clemons has gotten beat pretty good several times as well. Delmas does come cheap so we better use that savings to get not only Albert but 1-2 other big hits. If they are letting Clemons go for that. Still think at this rate we will have another slightly above mediocre D. With Byrd, and a couple of other additions our D could have been significantly improved. Even an upgrade to a mediocre OL would have made this team potentially great. Once again, there is a fear to be great, imo. THe issue is, do we want to be great or just good? You have to take risks. I think they could have put on a big sales pitch for Byrd and signed him.
Charles Tillman converted to safety was my choice. That would have resulted in turnovers and plays being made. It also would have resulted in some of the best veteran leadership in the NFL. The Dolphins continue to ignore the leadership,character, and intelligence issues involved in true success. You will never build a perennial NFL power without strong veteran leadership. The main reason the Dolphin defenses were so good when Zach and JT were getting it done is because the defense was made up of smart players and there was strong, brilliant veteran leadership. I hope they are intending to draft a smart young leader type to add at the safety position.
3.5 mil is a fantastic deal on our end. Its a 100% show me contract. Flat out no downside to it IMO. And with the releasing of Patterson we actually gained cap room today.
Delmas has 24 career pass breakups and 6 ints (nfl.com) in 2371 career coverage snaps (PFF). Hands on the ball once in 79 plays Clemons has 17 and 4 in 1849 career coverage snaps. Hands on the ball once in 88 plays. So yeah Delmas has been a little better in that regard. Clemons coverage metrics last season were much better though. Yards allowed per cover snap, Clemons 0.20, 1st safety, Delmas 0.53, 33rd safety. Cover snap per reception, Clemons 56.7, 2nd safety, Delmas 42.4, tied for 3rd safety. Cover snaps per target, Clemons 29.7, 2nd safety, Delmas 18.5, 15th safety.
I believe this means that Clemons was looking for more than the Dolphins were willing to give, either in years or dollars. So instead of throwing a big contract at Clemons they signed a similar player at a cheaper rate for one year. This is essentially a stop-gap signing meant to give us another year to figure it out. It's a win-win for both sides.
A Detroit Lions fan and season ticket holder here. Let me tell you just how lucky you are to land Delmas and shed a little light on him for you. In 2010 he was a Probowl alternate. When healthy he plays at a high level. In 2011 the injury bug set in. He had repeated knee injuries in 2011 and 2012. When healthy he's been one of the best safeties in the game. Sure your taking a gamble on his health but if it pays off you will win big. Last year Delmas played all 16 games but he really was nursing his knee all year. He rarely practiced last year and it showed in his play. He missed tackles and took some bad angles that he rarely did in the past. Yet he managed to play all 16 games a first in his NFL career. I honestly think Delmas is on the road to recovery because he had knee surgery last off season and he just wasn't 100%. He had to nurse his recovery along last year. If he can return to form (I think he will) you will have a Pro Bowl caliber safety at a bargain price. Is he better then Clemons? --- Way better! Is he a FS or SS? --- He's both ... Under Jim Schwartz the FS and SS had the same role. They flip flopped based on where the WR's lined up. Detroit's safeties had to be able to both cover and tackle. Often the Lions safeties played 2 deep. Delmas plays both very well but I think he's better in pass support. He's one of the biggest leaders on the Lions defense. He's very vocal and a fan favorite. He's often the last to leave practices because he's signing autographs. Just a real good guy. Here is an interesting fact ... Prior to last season the Lions secondary was top 10 when Delmas played and bottom 3 when he didn't. Also Prior to last season the Lions had a winning record when Delmas played and a loosing record when he didn't. What he brings -- A smart, confident, vocal leader that understands the game. He's high intensity and others feed off it. Lions CB's said that when Delmas was in they had the confidence to play more aggressive because he had their backs. He will bring confidence to your entire DEF and make those around him play better. His negatives -- His injury history. You have to worry he's taking the Bob Sanders route. He's sometimes too aggressive. He likes to go for the big hit and or big play. As a result he sometimes gets hurt, misses tackles or gives up a play he was in position to stop. What he needs to do --- Get healthy, practice, be more disciplined and realize its not all on him. I think being in Miami where he has a better supporting cast he will shine. He really is a very good player. If he stays healthy I think your fans will love this guys passion and desire to win. I believe he will be a pleasant surprise for you all. As a Lion fan we had hoped we could get Delmas back on a one year prove it deal. Congrats on the signing and I wish Delmas well.
