By David Hyde
Full article: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/dave-hyde-blog/fl-sp-hyde5-dolphins-lb-20180116-story.html
It touches on the unnecessary extension of Alonso, the bad scheme fit for Timmons, the ill signing of Maualuga (almost forgot about him), The 5th rd draft pick given up for Anthony, and the early injury to McMillan.
So with all those poor decisions and the unfortunate injury behind us, where do we go from here to fix the worst unit on the defense? FA? Draft? Both?
I think you have to expect McMillan to come back from his knee injury and man the the middle. He's a natural at Mike. So then what do we do for the Sam and Will?
Chase Allen is a possible in house option at Sam, which is a two down spot for us currently.
I haven't delved into the depths of the draft yet (that's offseason fun for me) but in just taking some quick glances at articles and film, and as much as Roquan Smith stood out this year, VT OLB Tremaine Edmunds appears to be the best fit for our scheme. My first impression is that he has the size and strength to be stout at the LOS and has the range and mobility for pass defense.
I also haven't looked over FA at any options as to who might be available.
How would you fix this unit?
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I would also target a decent free agent once we cut timmons who was a complete waste of time. Maybe try to sign Zach Brown again. Basically we need to use both the draft and free agency to adequately address the position which is still probably the weakest unit on the team along with oline.Redwine4all and Carmen Cygni like this. -
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dolphin25 and Carmen Cygni like this.
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Deluca
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I prefer actual game footage with all their snap counts to properly scout a player.dolphin25 likes this. -
Nigel Graham from the eagles would shore up our coverage problems. He' young and plays in the wide 9. He will also cost a lot. If you want to get a cheap bargain I think barkevious mingo from the Colts might be worth a look. You won' get sacks but He's good at run support and pass coverage.
In the draft, raquon and Treadwell seem to be the consensus picks but I'm not sold on them 100 percent. I might rather wait a round or two to get better value. Arius Moore, sione teuhema, and keishawn berria are 2nd 3rd day picks and udfas I am interested in.ripper1961 likes this. -
What I WOULDN'T DO is hit free agency for an aging veteran- we may as well extend Timmons if that's the strategy. We have a pretty young team and that's been our one challenge slot for years now- imagine if we had someone young like Mack out there just blowing up the field!?!
So that would be my goal- count on McMillan and find 1/2 young guys to compete with Kiko, Allen and others. With that said, I know nothing about college football players entering the draft so I'll have to defer to others there. -
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Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member
Can't have to many LB's. They are the core of your special teams also. Draft at least two. There are some VERY good prospects this year. We need depth and starters at every spot so a 1-2 and a 5-6-7 wouldn't hurt my feelings. Throw in a FS ball hawk and a couple of big mean Malafalas at G and C and then find speed wherever you can. This team is SLOW. That FS needs to be able to fly, and so do the LB's
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Carmen Cygni likes this.
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danmarino likes this.
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Kiko is very athletically gifted. He, like 99% of all LB's, needs help in order to excel. He's not the best at anything, but he can pretty much do it all. He's not going to be able to cover TE's like Gronk or Kelce (not many LB's can), but he can cover most RB's for a reasonable amount of time. He can rush the passer, and he can defend the run.KeyFin likes this. -
Kinda early for predictions but at this stage wouldn't mind
FA.... Andrew Norwell G. Panthers
Draft Minkah Fitzpatrick or Roqaun Smithadamprez2003 likes this. -
Just read an interesting article that said Burke is looking to go even more hybrid nickel and dime packages next year. Will basically become our base defense. The plans are for McDonald to replace the WLB. We would have two linebackers, the Mike and sam. We will need a FS unless mate Allen is the guy. Starting to think Minka Fitzpatrick might be in our crosshairs
danmarino, Puka-head and Carmen Cygni like this. -
I'm more interested that we pick up atleast one QUALITY lineman in FA.... Plus IMO Pouncey though He can be outstanding is just to hard to depend on through a season due to injuries. (makes 2)
And with our top pick know they won't even really think about a QB.... I see us still in that perpetual early stage of rebuilding so I'm not looking for the quick fix like some, to think that we are one or two players away...Damn we need 2 just on the OL...adamprez2003 likes this. -
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When we run into more traditional running teams we will probably revert back to a more traditinal 4-3 alignment with 3 linebackers. But since passing seems to be the order of the day this could well become our base defense -
If this occurs, we will be nothing like them. We don't have the personnel versatility ( or coaching knowledge, IMO) to make it so.
Patriots base D last year was a 3-3-5 w/ a 50 front & Bear alignment. They also played many other alignments (4-3 Even, 4-2-5, 2-4-5, etc.) in both their front 7 and secondary that we would never be able to match. We also don't have a back 7 that can play strong M2M that creates a free defender. A free safety is a must to be able to successfully employ a subpackage as our base D, b/c of the need for an extra man in the the box vs the run. -
Carmen Cygni likes this.
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I´ll vote for strengthen the LB in both the free agency and the draft. The Phins have Raekwon McMillan returning after injury and Kiko sitting with his huge contract, but they need much more than that. If he is available at 11, Roquan Smith will be a No brainer to get to Miami. But nevertheless, the LB unit also needs experience and a guy who is able to lead the young squad. Remember: Roquan Smith will be 21 at draft day, Raek is also 21. Stephone Anthony is 25, Kiko is 27 years of age. As the Phins should likely cut Timmons to save about 5.475 Million Dollar, they should look after an experienced player of outragous skills who will be free agent and is projected to cost about 4.9 Million (spotrac.com):NaVorro Bowman. With the three times pro bowl-selection the LB unit will become one of the powerfull parts of the team. Bowman, McMillan, Smith, Anthony and Alonso would be a perfect fit at this position ;-)
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But very unlikely: New Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther would like to see NaVorro Bowman re-signed, and Bowman, who joined the Raiders in Week 7 last year, has said he is open to returning to Oakland.
Plus The Raiders (pk. 10) are considered by many a landing spot for Roguan Smith.....
Other free agent ILB
Mason Foster, Redskins...29
Avery Williamson, Titans....26
Gerald Hodges, Saints...27
Nigel Bradham Eagles... OLBLast edited: Jan 22, 2018Carmen Cygni likes this. -
I agree; as I noticed the latest mock drafts, Oakland usually picks LB at 10th spot (hopefully, they grab for Edmunds or Landry). So I had another idea, what the Phins could do to improve the LB squad: by picking an edge defender like Harold Landry or Marcus Davenport (in combination with downtrading, likely with the Cardinals) - then there is no nedd to re-sign Hayes. In free agency, grab for Nigel Bradham and Zach Brown - this could also fix the needs at LB, EDGE and OT (because I likely trade down with Arizona for a third round-pick and their OT D.J. Humphries). Four gaps closed (and the Phins would earn another promising pick) by using only little more salary (Timmons and Hayes are projected to earn 13 Million, signing the three FAs and picking similar to my plan wouldn´t be much more expensive).
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There will be good vets available in FA that if staff is awake could finally realize the Need to be acquired and hopefully we don't go into our Ground Hog day approach of the last 15 years and go with cheap half azz save money fingers crossed potential starters that always turn out to be depth if lucky and has the organization bewildered 3-4 games into season at what to do. OL has to be top or very close to top on the Needs List, IMO
Nigel Bradham and Zach Brown.... still my beating heart, would be more than hoped for
Stick at 11 BPA fingers crossed Fitzpatrick, Raiders go DT, hello Roguan Smith, Nelson,
also to throw in a little intrigue feel the right QB is not out of the question...Don't have alot of confidence in RT. But we will see and it would be nice to be prepare if needed. 5 years of RT on exhibit and still wondering actually says something to me. Not like were going to the Superbowl the next couple years....
But we have to make an impact with a LB and OL in the FA market understanding that were not near a legit contender but with the right moves could be in 3-4 years, ( Coaching staff being the major screw up that is going to put the 3-4 years on). So like to see improvement with acquisitions that will be around when we actually have a shot and not get the FA moving into their twilight years just for the temporary fix... -
We are so bad at LB I wouldnt be surprised if we spend $$$$ in FA AND draft one in the 1st
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