The night of Oct 12th, 2009

It's Oct 12th in Miami. It is a night game being shown nationwide on ESPN. Dolphin stadium is rocking, it is so loud that Nick Mangold is having a problem hearing the snap count. Kellen Clemens had just left the field on a stretcher the play before and the 93,000 Dolphins fans are on their feet screaming for more blood.

They remember the week before when after being sacked 6 times, Trent Edwards had to leave the game and Ryan Fitzpatrick came in and attempted few passes in what quickly became a rout. TO is already spinning out of control, he cannot believe that he agreed to play for the Bills. Buffalo, he keeps saying to himself, how did I up in Buffalo?

Dirty Sanchez is behind the center for the first time in a regular season NFL game. He has been pressing for his chance to play, the New York media and fans have been calling for him lately but this is not how he wanted to make his first entry into a game. He is trying to remain calm but his mind is racing. He almost threw up when he saw the bleeding broken bone sticking out of Clemons left leg moments before. During the injury time out he was given the play, a short pass to Jerricho Cotchery with Dustin Keller being his 2nd read.

As he puts his hands under Center he sees that the defense is still in it's base 3-4. He does not notice who the three down lineman are but he reads that Matt Roth has been replaced by Cameron Wake who is over Dustin Keller. Wake often blitzes but Sanchez knows that he is also able to cover Keller at least for a short time. He glances out at Cotchery and he sees Sean Smith press covering him. Looking over at Chansi Stuckey he sees Vontae Davis is looking for his second pick of the game.

Years of playing QB reminds him to check the safeties. He reads Chris Clemons moving up behind Cameron Wake. Clemons has two sacks already in his rookie year. Is he going to blitz, use his speed to drop back deep or is he going to cover Keller?

Looking over the LOS he suddenly realizes that Jason Taylor has replaced Akin Ayodele at inside linebacker. Startled, he starts to straighten up and call a time out. Inexperienced, his hand brushes too hard against Mangold who snaps the ball and quickly steps back, stepping on Sanchez's foot, knocking him down and giving no Jet player a chance to see the football let alone fall on it.

As the home crowd roars the Dolphin defense excitedly leaves the field as the Dolphin offense runs on.

After being helped up, Dirty Sanchez limps off the field thinking that it is going to be a very long game.

 

I wanted to sorta break down how our new defense would/could look.

I closed my eyes to think about it and it came to me in the vision of one play, against the Jets, on a night in Miami.

This is what we will be bringing to the table this year.