2009 Dolphins Season preview..Defense

Without question the unit that was upgraded the most this offseason, the Phins D added 3 new starters and several key backups.

Dline:

The Jason Ferguson returns at NT to anchor the starting Dline, at 35 though, his snaps and situational usage will be monitored and Soliai or Starks will spell him from time to time, Fergie is the Veteran presence on the Dline and a team captain.

Soliai the understudy, Mr. Potential consistently displayed his ability in TC and in the preseason, losing Fergie would be a blow, but Soliai's time is now or never.

Defensive Ends: A mixed group of youngsters and castoffs, the unit does have talent led by Kendal Langford, the best of the Dline in 08 Randy Starks won the RDE slot that had been gifted to the talented Phillip Merling, who then disappeared in Traning Camp, Starks is a physical, typical exTitan Dlineman, increased snaps will lead to increased production but he did have a quite preseason.

Tony McDaniel, a ex Jacksonville Jaguar wunderkind, was acquired for a 7th round pick, massively physical, his play in the preseason reminded anyone who watched why Stroud was dealt from Jacksonville with the thought McD could take his place, an underachiever, Sparano's Boot Camp for underachievers may have been what he needed.

Secondary:

This unit is intriguing, Yeremiah Bell led the Phins in tackles with 103, Bell is another dolphin that has just completed a one year training cycle, one full calendar year of physical training, Bell played 16 games last season and must play 16 this year for the Defense to improve.

Gibril Wilson, a Free Agent target in 07, who signed with the raiders and then was cut after accounting for a incredible 139 tackles from a Safety, teamed in the same Secondary as Y Bell, we could have a dominant pairing of Safeties this year.

Cb:

The intrigue continues, Will Allen had a down season relatively speaking, seriously "Jacked up" all season with injuries, he still held his Cb position down.

The Draft brought 3 players to the secondary, Vontae Davis, Sean Smith and Chris Clemons, Smith appears to be a starter from Day 1, his ceiling is tremendous, Davis is more in the Will Allen mode, good all around game, he is better at run support than any of the other Cb's, Vontae knows how to force the run.

Chris Clemons is a large, fast Athlete who plays safety, but perhaps could play Cb in a pinch, Nate Jones is the nickel back who is best suited for that role, an accomplished blitzer, Jones's value goes beyond his cover ability.

Perennial Disappointment Jason Allen has found his niche as a dime back and special teams gunner.

Linebackers:

The deepest, most talented unit on the defense, Joey Porter returns after leading the AFC in sacks, Channing Crowder was resigned and blitzed more in the preseason and looked good doing it, Akin Ayodele had a fine season, recovering 4 fumbles, Akin A is a liability in coverage though.

Which brings up the largest addition this offeseason, Jason Taylor returns after a year long stint in DC, JT was injured and played out of position in DC but quitely had a productive season for any player not named Jason Taylor, the 35 yr old defended 10 passes last season to go ontop of his paltry 3.5 sacks.

Taylor has been moved to the strongside linebacker's role in place of the quasi injured Matt Roth, even at 35 JT still has gas in the tank as he showed in the preseason where he tipped 4 passes in limited duty, his ability to anchor against the run is one of the keys to our Defense, if JT is on rollerskates early in the season, he may go into rotation with Quentin Moses.

The backups are Charlie Anderson, Erik Walden and Cameron Wake, Anderson is a ST player and has a nice speed rush, he was nagged with a hamstring injury last season and only this preseason did he show he can pass rush.

Walden is a ST player and fillin nickel OLB, Cam Wake can rush the passer, but his all around game is suspect, he could see the field in nickel packages as a Defensive End.

Summary:

The Secondary could surprise the NFL this season, Todd Bowles worked magic with lesser talent last season, this year the 3 draftees all have loads of physical ability, the situation is very similar to Bowles time in Cleveland when he took rookies and led the NFL in interceptions.

The Defensive line is solid, but perhaps too unknown to rely on for much production, once the season begins things will clear up, I suspect Randy Starks and Tony McDaniels are going to surprise this season.

Linebackers, A fascinating group, JT and Porter were paired in 07 with mild results, this time around JT is playing his more natural Strongside, JT's skillset from his time at LDE should serve the defense well.

Channing Crowder calls the defenses, however his play production has always been lacking, with the new OLB's Crowder is primed to have a big season blitzing up the middle.

Prediction:

A solid defense, with depth, the keys are Sean Smith not playing like a rookie and JT naturally assuming his role as well as Ferguson's health.

3 big questions heading into a NFL Season, but two can be answered by looking at JT's and Fergie's track record, leaving Agent Smith as the man there is a lot riding on.

 

Well, the thing of it is Disnardo, we have Veteran Talent on Defense.

2 Safeties that are in their primes and productive, 2 OLB's who can rush the passer.

If Sean Smith plays like a Veteran, our Defense will be surprisingly good, probably the most improved unit on the team and maybe Top 10.

Last season we headed into 08 with Roth at OLB, Fergie coming off of an injury, and two rookies and Vonnie H.

BTW, I'm listening to Omar K explain "why" we will lose to the Falcons, he is mesmerized by Gonzo, apparently he has forgotten that we handled Gonzo easily last year in KC.

We won't have 5'10 Zach Thomas trying to cover 6'5 Gonzalez...