Other than RT, I don't think any other player means as much to the Phins chances this year as this guy. I am not as down on our interior line as some others. I think there is a chance to be better than last year--I'll actually be surprised if we're not. I think our DBs will also be better. BMax actually got it turned around after the fifth or sixth game was ok (before that he was a "WTF" guy)...I like Xavien and I actually think Lippett can play a bit. We also have talent at the slot with McCain and some of the younger guys. WR we are loaded. RB, I think we are fine. That kid from Michigan, De'Veon Smith can play. He doesn't have 4.5 speed, but between the tackles, he doesn't need it. I think he can be that 4th RB. I like our DEs. Wake is timeless, I think Hayes will be a good player, and Branch was more than serviceable last year. I think our LBs will be much improved with Timmons and McMillan... Brings us to DT. What gives me hope is Jordan Phillips has all the talent in the world...he plays next to a great player, and he is in a contract year. If the light goes on for this guy, and we get the play he's capable of, our defense can be a top 12 unit. What gives me pause is to this point in his career, he's been lazy. He hasn't been sound fundamentally, and he loses focus. But this guy can be a Pro Bowl player if he plays consistently the way he flashes. He's huge and at times plays great. If we get even close to PB caliber play out of JP, our whole defense will be greatly improved. The closer your best players are to the ball, the better your team will be. DL, imo, is the most important position on the defense. Thats where the disruption takes place. I hope Phillips plays the way we think he can. If he does, this could be a very special season for us.
I all honesty, I think you'd be better off wishing for this with one of the late draft picks from this year, because I think the JP story is already written, he is a rotational player, a low effort, lazy, sloppy tech player, just like he was in his unimpressive college career. I still can't believe we took this guy with Ali Marpet still on the board.
IF...regardless of how big the if is, he turns it on this season, we could be force playing late in January. Our team is missing that presence on the Dline. If we get it, we are perhaps good enough at every other position.
I agree the Phillips performance is important. I disagree that he is the most important player after Tannehill. MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS TO OUR SUCCESS: 1) Ryan Tannehill 2) Mike Pouncey 3) Cameron Wake 4) Ndamukong Suh 5) Jay Ajayi 6) Lawrence Timmons If any of them are injured or just have a garbage year (unlikely for Suh, but still, the point is how important their performance is) then our team is much more negatively affected than if Phillips poops the bed. I'd put Phillips 7th tied with Rashad Jones. Even though Jones is a much much better player. Truth is, it'd be easier to scheme around a hole at Safety, imo, than plugging a major hole right up front. Especially in a wide 9.
even if the guy turns it on 50-60% of the time, it would make a huge difference on our defense getting off the field a lot more. but we definitely still need a LB to fill that void in the middle. I think Timmons we'll do fine there. That trifecta turns our defense around.
Put another way... in terms of who matters more, I think of whom it would hurt more to lose. Which would you choose... Phillips at last years level paired with Suh at last years level, with Kiko Alonso at MLB, Raekown the rook at OLB and Hewitt or Lacy at the other OLB spot. (So the only upgrade to our run D over last year is Raekwon, if the rookie is ready) OR Godchaux the rookie (who reports are is not yet starter material and may not be, ever) and Suh with Timmons at MLB behind them, flanked by Raekwon and Alonso ?
see your point, but that's not what i was suggesting. the point was a "surging" Philips. An improved Philips would clearly, dramatically improve the middle of our D and would easily make me choose the scenario favoring Philips over Timmons. If Jordan fails to improve, then it's the other scenario
I see where you were coming from with the original post. As for most important player, I think it is Pouncey, but after qb, the most important position is the defensive line and specifically stopping the run. Stopping the run seems to be the springboard to unleashing an offense that can be special this year, but it has to have enough plays. With that said, Phillips is important, but so are DE's and LB's that can set the edge.
There were times last year where I felt like our D-line didn't play great, but they played good enough, and gave our Linebackers a chance to make plays. Unfortunately, I saw our LB take bad angles run towards darkness, or miss tackles. I think at this time the much improved LB core is going to make the whole defense look better. Even if Phillips plays like he did last year, the LBs will cover up some for him. If he comes out destroying people off the line, well, this could be a very special season.
I am having positive thoughts about Phillips the end of last year he was blowing things up, I hope that continues.
Interesting to look at it that way. Who would add more Dolphins playoff wins... If Phillips had a Defensive MVP season or if Timmons did? Hm. Not sure.
IMO, Philips taking it to the next level gives us a dominating DT lineup with Suh and gives Timmons much more ability to make plays. Whereas if Philips doesn't improve, Timmons now has to compensate for the big running lanes (like last year after Suh gets double teamed) and he also has to cover short term routes coming through the middle.
I am thinking of very good defensive teams that make it to Superbowls. More often, the MLB is getting crazy props. Singletary. Kuchely.
After reading the responses, I realize the way I posted the premise was rather clumsy. You guys did a better job of presenting the answers that I did of posing the question--sorry about that. If I may try it again...who, of the new players or last years players, would it be most important to be a Pro Bowler. I think, after Tannehill, its Phillips. Suh and Wake are already at that level. If Phillips could be too, IMO, it would be ridiculously good for our defense.
I mostly agree with you, except I think Xavien Howard would be as much of a boon as Phillips. But hey, it would be nice if we could have our cake and eat it too.
this team needs to depend on the last three draft classes, which aside from Tunsil and Ajayi, has disappointed: 1. Parker 2. Phillips 3. McCain 4. Lippett - improved last year and took steps 5. Howard 6. Drake 7. Carroo 8. Grant (ST) and we need immediate impact from 2017 from: 1. Harris 2. McMillan 3. Tank 4. Asiata 5. Ford I am not sure from what I hear that the DT's stick. That's 13 people we need production from or 25% of our roster
Our defense wasn't good last year, but they also weren't healthy. We pretty much ended the season with only like 2 or 3 defense starters out of 11. Had they stayed relatively healthy we still would have struggled against the run but with additions of Hayes, Raekwon and a healthy Reshad, we should improve on that.
I completely agree that would be amazing for the defense. And maybe I'm not giving the DT enough credit here. Usually I think probowl DT and we stopped the run. Probowl MLB and I think we stopped the run and disrupted the passing game... That might be over simplifying the answer though. Phillips is clearly high on that list of players that will impact the game the most if he turns it around though.
My problem, I think JP is the least likely candidate for stepping up, however I agree he would have a huge impact if he did, but I would focus on what is "more likely" than what we would "like more".
I'm kinda MEH on Phillips. Hasn't stood out to me very much. Of course I hope he improves but some players just don't it's the reality.
Phillips reminds me of Daryl Gardener... all the tools, but inconsistent. He flashes and disappears, then makes an eye popping TFL, INT or runs a RB down 20 yards down field. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1996-04-21/sports/9604210057_1_dolphins-daryl-gardener-schwartz Hopefully, this is the season Phillips starts to put it all together and improves his play. He can be a real difference maker when motivated and the fatboy has some wheels on him.
Gardener however didn't struggle like JP once he got to the pro level, him and Bowens were a good tandem.
DG had the same knock as JP coming out of college, inconsistent and lack of effort, but at the pro level he was much better, where with JP it continues as it did in college. DG started having back problems(common with tall DTs) after a few years in the league, and eventually it made him retire early, I think that's what you're remembering.
As I recall, Gardener was extremely inconsistent and stayed in Jimmy's doghouse. JJ even said himself that when DG showed up to play they won games. Timbo was the real force. Same with Phillips... Gardener was also a distraction in the clubhouse.
Eventually yes... but he took plays off and Jimmy had to keep his foot up his *** to keep him motivate. The injuries cut his tenure here short, but he bounced around to the skins and Broncos too, who signed him to a terrible contract, then couldn't wait to cut him.
Let's see what Phillips does this season. He's now in a more stable defense and should be coming into his own this season. Hopefully, he lives up to the potential.
I don't remember that, I remember him being a beast, and I remember JJ loving DG, those 2 kept Zach clean, and they got constant praise from JJ and Zach, DG took the job away from the incumbent in his rookie year, JJ didn't have time for non hackers, they'd get cut, lol. I remember it being a common Dolphin joke when a player would screw up, "CUT!!" would ring out through the bar, JJ had no problem cutting high draft picks if they weren't panning out.
DG *COULD* be a beast WHEN he wanted to be. Jimmy was famous for being able to handle guys like him, and old man Timbo helped kept DG in check for a while early on. Once he got that $50M contract, he was a bum. He was prone to missing meetings and workouts and was reprimanded for once starting a fight with OJ McDuffie of all people. DG loved to talk... about himself - a top 10 draftee, superbowl, all pro, HOF... etc... he did none of that. Right now he and Phillips aren't that far apart at either level.
I keep forgetting we added Hayes. I shouldn't forget that, because he's good. Yep, Those additions, plus Timmons sure won't hurt.
We had 3 rookies score TDs...Lippett made plays. i dont think we NEED immediate impact from Ford or Tankersley. it would be great if Carroo contributed, but we can be fine if he doesnt. if we dont get better DT play, we wont be better than last year, imo.