Dolphins are deep at linebacker position http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphi...olphins_0614.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46
The close-knit linebacker corps now numbers 13 - more than any position. (Miami ended last season with eight on the 53-man roster.) It's a deep mix of youth, size, speed and versatility that the Dolphins hope carries their defense from the middle of the pack to the NFL's elite. Camp will be very interesting here to see who makes it and who doesn't. Could be some trading done here before the season starts.
seven to keep: Roth, Porter, Crowder, Wake, Taylor, Walden, Ayodele #8(?):George, Torbor, Moses, Martin, Anderson, Kershaw, Folsom
One thing you can bet -- is the #7/8 MUST be able to play ILB .... so, someone like Moses doesn't stand a chance. Torbor/Kershaw/Folson and maybe George if he can move inside ... Locks (5): Roth, Porter, Crowder, Taylor, Wake Near Lock (1): Ayodele/Torbor Up for Grabs (2): Ayodele/Torbor, Kershaw, Folson, Walden, Anderson Maybe Folson can win the Gunner position on ST ...
Man this is great. To have so many to choose from has to be some kind of luxury. If these players could play anything like we are expecting them to, we are going to have a feared defense. No one is going to want to play us. I am getting excited just thinking about it.
We actually have 14 DBs on the roster FFIC. * 32 Jason Allen CB/FS * 25 Will Allen CB * 37 Yeremiah Bell SS * 27 Will Billingsley CB * 47 Courtney Bryan S * 30 Chris Clemons FS * 29 Tyrone Culver S * 24 Vontae Davis CB * 21 Eric Green CB * 33 Nathan Jones CB * 43 Ethan Kilmer FS * 31 Sean Smith CB * 22 Joey Thomas CB * 28 Gibril Wilson FS and 15 OLinemen * 57 Andy Alleman G/C * 67 Joe Berger G * 72 Vernon Carey T * 76 Brandon Frye G/T * 63 Andrew Gardner T * 75 Nate Garner T * 64 Jake Grove C * 60 Mark Lewis G * 77 Jake Long T * 61 Shawn Murphy G * 68 Ike Ndukwe G * 69 J. D. Quinn G/C * 73 SirVincent Rogers T * 65 Justin Smiley G * 66 Donald Thomas G
Yeah, well, we still have mediocrity at ILB. Maybe Crowder will step up. I haven't seen anything to indicate he "looks to live up to the standard established by Zach Thomas". He's a very good communicator, but merely average in LB skills.
I do not think he is Zach Thomas level, however I feel if Zach Thomas was playing on a team that won a few superbowls we would be talking about a hall of fame player. His instincts were absolutely amazing. I think it is unfair to judge Crowder on being a hall of fame player. To me it is like saying Pennington hasn't lived up to the standards established by Dan Marino. Or judging Jake Grove with Dwight Stevenson or Jake Long's pass blocking with Richmond Webb. I would like to have hall of fame players at every position. Sometimes you have to settle for good rather than great at some positions. Crowder's injury showed last year that this team is much better against the run with him in there than without him.
Oh, I agree. I just think the comment about ZT standard is way over the top. My comment concerning Crowder being great communicator came from the huge fall off @ KC. He's just an average tackler; no "play maker", but he keeps everyone on the same page. In his absence, the run D was horrid. When he's in, its average.
One thing I do notice about our LB depth is that if Roth goes down, we don't have anyone with his skill set on the roster that can set the edge like he can. JT and Wake I think are more suited for the WOLB role and not an every down SOLB role. Jeremy Jarmon, the DE in the supplemental draft might be an interesting name for backup SOLB.
I want to ask you guys a questions. This is obviously thinking much further ahead, but Porter and Taylor are our older LB's, and we can't expect them to play too many more seasons. The question is, and its probably way too premature, do you think we have their replacements on the current roster; or do you think the 2010 draft has our answer?
2010 draft has an answer. 2010 draft is deep at 3-4 OLBs. Plus, this will be the third draft under our FO, which means linebackers, linebackers, and more linebackers.
Going to agree here. PLUS, LBs show early whether they're playmakers or not. I can't recall a LB that was crappy early on that turned into a game changer as he developed.
Yea, I agree with that. I just do not think we give Channing enough credit. I think he is pulling a little of the replacing Hall of Fame player effect. It is my opinion that minus Crowder all other inside linebackers hopefully will be upgraded after this year. Even Crowder if they find an upgrade.
Ok, Crowder is a pretty good ILB, but he's not anywhere close to what ZT was for us. True, our LBer position is deep and pretty strong, not great but pretty good. However, comparing Crowder to Thomas is way off....
Yup, ILB is the weakest spot on the team IMHO. Crowder is "good" but he is no ZT. And we are weak with whoever we put next to Crowder. We seem to have focused this offseason on OLB, so yeah I agree ILB will be the position we double up in next year's draft.
indeed We may see a improved ILB play this season because we upgraded the other spots of the defense, so the weight on the ILB's shoulders should be lower this season,, though we definately could go LB heavy next years draft
Who exactly are the Dolphins starting two ILB's and who is the top reserve? With the Jets we are set with Scott & Harris if they remain healthy, but Harris is coming off a broken leg he suffered in the Week 17 game and Brandon Renkart, a UDFA from Rutgers last season, is backup option #1 and was with the starting team at the Minicamps I attended last week. Our depth at ILB is a huge question. I was wondering whats Miami's situation. Any help is appreciated.
Crowder and Ayodele are the starters with Reggie Torbor as the imediate backup. We need ILB upgrade...especially at depth
In Torbor you have a more proven reserve than we have. I always loved watching Reggie in New York with that other team. Sucks that he goes to another team I hate. Just like Crowder. Wanted him to be a Jet so bad, and he's spent his career in Miami.
heheh I like Crowder...Torbor does fine... imo what miami's ILB depth lacks is big-play ability...crowder-ayodele-torbor is that LB group that will do all the basics correctly, though won't change a game. Jets have a good LB duo, but if this UFA is your top backup then you indeed have a serious problem if one of them goes down.
Yeah our starters are going to be one of the best 1-2 punches out there, the problem is if Harris isn't ready or if god forbid Scott goes down, Renkart steps in and he as a UDFA isn't too convincing that he'll become anything special. Then again, Scott himself was a UDFA I believe. The Jets' biggest problem is depth at NT (although we are hoping Howard Green and Sione Pouha can step up and fix that and they should, at least Green) and ILB, along with the obvious hole at WR.
No offense to Ginn and I know the past is the past but I sure wish we had taken Patrick Willis when we had the chance. I think the Dolphins will address this critical position in the next draft.
could try Walden, Moses, George & Roth @ ILB also Folsom(R) might pan out straight up (in his bios George was sighted as being very quick & having excellent lateral pursuit) lot of talent to move around & adapt to the system
