1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Ask David Davenport.

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Davenport, Aug 13, 2009.

  1. Larry Little

    Larry Little Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    8,621
    2,680
    113
    Dec 16, 2007
    Nashville, TN
    Great posts, David. Seriously. I'm eating this stuff up. I also appreciate the articles on the front page of the site.

    Keep up the great work!

    I have some questions for you, and they center around a position I've been concerned with on the Dolphins since Zach left... middle linebacker, or in our case, the two ILB positions.

    Personally, I'd like to see us get more physical in the middle next year. Not to knock Crowder or Ayodele. I think they're both good players. I just think an intimidating force in the middle of the field is what this defense needs to get it into the top-5 range.

    We just don't have that.

    So... if you get some time, I'd like to read your thoughts on the inside linebacker positions, what you think of Crowder and Ayodele, and what college linebackers you may watching this year.

    Thanks, bro!
     
    gunn34 likes this.
  2. Sethdaddy8

    Sethdaddy8 Well-Known Member

    13,006
    6,368
    113
    Dec 6, 2007
    NJ

    great stuff bro.
     
  3. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

    53,333
    23,006
    0
    Dec 7, 2007
    subscribing to this thread........
     
  4. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    Thanks for your great articles and answers in this thread!

    I have a question. I feel like too many teams neglect the third phase of the game, Special Teams, and treat it like a red-headed stepchild instead of an equally important aspect of the team.

    Do you believe roster spots should be held for Special Teams-only players? What sort of players does a Special Teams coach reasonably need in order to build an effective special teams unit and do you believe the Dolphins are giving Coach Bonamego what he needs to be effective?

    How do *you* evaluate players for special teams?

    Thanks and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
     
  5. Davenport

    Davenport New Member

    21
    261
    0
    Aug 13, 2009
    Blacksburg, VA
    I appreciate all the support guys, really glad that I'm able to provide content that fellow fans find interesting.

    Given that I'm now providing content for the front page, I don't want to spend too much time in this thread; not because I don't want to, but because I won't have anything to write about by the end of the season :lol:

    So what I think I'll begin to do is keep the answers here relatively short winded, and save the longer, more in-depth stuff for the front page. So if a question here is Dolphins related and something I think I can shed some light on, chances are I'll throw a write-up on the homepage. It'll also help me tremendously in figuring out what everyone is interested in reading about-- because the last thing I want to do is put up 800 words on something only to have everyone fall asleep midway through :lol:

    I'll continue to answer questions here, but if I ignore you do not be offended! Chances are it's because your question will be featured on the front page shortly.
     
    anlgp likes this.
  6. Davenport

    Davenport New Member

    21
    261
    0
    Aug 13, 2009
    Blacksburg, VA
    Thanks for the kind words.

    As far as Sparano, it's tough to pinpoint too many deficiencies in the runner up for coach of the year. However, I think any second year coach will tell you the biggest thing they need to improve on from their first year to the second is time management. Now, when I say that I don't mean clock management in a game. What I mean is his ability to use the time that his players are in the facility more efficiently.

    For instance, allocating too much time to a certain drill during practice, or spending too much time against a certain formation. A common mistake some first year coaches make is they'll know their opponent has an exceptional passing attack, so to compensate they spend an exorbitant amount of time in practice against their base passing formations. When game day comes around, they realize they didn't spend enough time against the run; so the other team comes out and runs the ball for 80 in the first half, and now all of a sudden you're dealing with a two-headed monster instead of making them one dimensional.

    Just small things like that, that can have a big impact on what happens on game day. However, I think Sparano is always the first to recognize his flaws, and works tirelessly to correct any mistakes he makes-- which is why I think he is going to be a tremendous coach in this league for a long time.
     
  7. Davenport

    Davenport New Member

    21
    261
    0
    Aug 13, 2009
    Blacksburg, VA
    In today's NFL, being a special teams coach is not a job that I envy. I mean, think about it for a second. You're a coach, you don't get to pick any of your players, your players interchange weekly, and you get almost no credit for success and all the blame when your unit lets up a big play.

    It's extremely difficult for a player to earn a roster spot solely due to their play on special teams, because on game day you only have 45 active players. There are 22 positions on offense and defense, and each one needs a capable backup. Throw in the punter, kicker, and long-snapper, and you really don't have much of anything in the way of roster flexibility.

    A player must be able to contribute at his natural position if he wants to make a team in this league, even though special teams play can often be the deciding factor between two similarly capable players.

    As far as scouting special teams players. Obviously you want them to be fast, but the number one attribute any special teams player must possess is balance. At any given moment you can get blocked, pushed, tugged, or chopped from anywhere, and the player maintaining his balance or falling down can be the difference between a tackle and a touchdown.

    At Virginia Tech I've been able to see some of the greatest and most innovative special teams play in the history of college football. They have strict athletic requirements for each of their special teams positions, and often they use players that start defensively as well. In the NFL this isn't possibly because these guys make far too much money for them to risk injury blindly running down field. However, if the NFL were to increase the active roster size to say 60, I think you would see much more competitive special teams play that is comparable to what VT has been doing for years, because it would allow coaches to bring players in specifically for special teams.
     
  8. Larry Little

    Larry Little Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    8,621
    2,680
    113
    Dec 16, 2007
    Nashville, TN
    Has David gone bye-bye?
     
  9. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

    99,377
    37,301
    0
    Nov 22, 2007
    inching to 100k posts
    Crickey, it sounds like our first three games....Channing Crowder was torched n the regular by Dallas Clark...
     
    gunn34, dolfan7171 and jetssuck like this.
  10. jetssuck

    jetssuck I hear Mandich's voice...

    16,657
    5,163
    0
    Aug 4, 2009
    Perfectville
    Braggart :shifty:
     
    padre31 likes this.
  11. finz810

    finz810 Season Ticket Holder

    Im also looking to get into the NFL or maybe espn im a freshman majoring in Sports Management.

    but for now tell me will Ginn do anything for us??? does he have any #1 potential?

    thanks
     
  12. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

    99,377
    37,301
    0
    Nov 22, 2007
    inching to 100k posts
    That sounds Scottish...:shifty:

    We eventually did go to 3 safeties though.
     
    jetssuck likes this.
  13. Jeffrey

    Jeffrey Banned

    1,358
    234
    0
    Oct 8, 2009
    The answer to your question is this........did Ginn "do anything for us" last season?

    There is your answer.
     
  14. finz810

    finz810 Season Ticket Holder

    he had slight glimpses and this guy is deep in the NFL and the sport would love to hear his opinion
     
  15. Rhody Phins Fan

    Rhody Phins Fan Well-Known Member

    4,348
    1,436
    113
    Jan 14, 2009
    The answer is yes.
     
    Jeffrey likes this.
  16. Jeffrey

    Jeffrey Banned

    1,358
    234
    0
    Oct 8, 2009
    Ted Ginn had a role in 11-5 just like everyone else last season.
     
  17. finz810

    finz810 Season Ticket Holder

    he had a role, but I see where u were getting at he wasnt our PLAY MAKER
     
  18. GISH

    GISH ~mUST wARN oTHERS~

    19,893
    9,750
    113
    Nov 23, 2007
    Over Yonder
    wow, i hadnt seen this thread until just now. i havent read the whole thing yet. but wow, great stuff. i couldn't agree more about David's views on double drafting. You can point to the Tyler Thigpen trade as another "double drafting" type of move. competition is vital to improvement.
     
  19. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box


    Wow, THANKS David!

    Seems like Jason Allen, Lex Hilliard, Vontae Davis, Cam Wake, PatCobbs, and Erik Walden are our best STs players right now. I'm guessing it's their balance that let's them fight through traffic. I also could see Walden getting pushed off the 45 man active list now that we have Wake coming to games.

    It sounds like roster limits and game day inactive lists really handcuff Special Teams in the NFL. Any chance of that changing? Maybe if we go to a longer schedule those limits will increase?

    Thanks again. GREAT insight.
     
    GISH likes this.
  20. gunn34

    gunn34 I miss Don & Dan

    21,755
    3,475
    113
    Jan 5, 2008
    Oviedo FL
    :theman::theman::theman:
     
  21. Xeticus

    Xeticus Junior Member

    1,500
    160
    63
    Mar 30, 2008
    Davenport I have some questions. In your opinion how does Ginn compare to Hartline? Hartline appears to be taller, stronger, a little slower but according to Sparano has already mastered the 3 wide receiver positions and 4 special teams positions. Is there anywat Hartline can replace Ginn as a Y receiver? And since Hartline has caught on to these positions already I'm guessing he has an exceptional football intelligence. Anyway I'd love to hear what you have to say.
     
  22. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

    9,173
    2,398
    113
    Apr 20, 2009
    Tampa Area
    study this: there will be blood!
    who survives the trenches shall emerge victorious
    24/6-Miami
     
  23. Frumundah Finnatic

    Frumundah Finnatic U Mad Miami?

    39,245
    10,681
    0
    Dec 2, 2007
    Miami FL
    what do you think of Cam Wake Dave?
     
  24. adamprez2003

    adamprez2003 Senior Member

    37,392
    14,745
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    new york ciity
    nostradamus quatrain 4:22 :up:
     
    anlgp likes this.
  25. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    omfg

    :sidelol:
     

Share This Page