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Florida Sports Buzz: Outside linebacker spot a work in progress for Miami Dolphins

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by jim1, May 30, 2010.

  1. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    Sheridan said though Wake ``can be an exceptionally dynamic pass rusher, we're trying to make sure he gets well-rounded and be a quality run-stopper and at least an adequate guy in coverage.'' ESPN's K.C. Joyner said Wake was at the point of attack on only seven running plays in 2009 and won three (considered good). The runs averaged 3.6 yards. Misi had eight total sacks the past two years at Utah, but Sheridan said, ``He's got excellent quickness, so he'll be a good pass rusher. He's going to be a good player.''

    • Karlos Dansby is Miami's best inside linebacker as a rusher and in coverage; Sheridan said the Dolphins will have him do both. ``His length is so good that when he gets in pass lanes, this guy looks like he's 12 feet tall,'' Sparano said.

    • A.J. Edds, whom management projects to play on third-down passing situations, has ``done a nice job, is a little more cerebral player, trying to figure things out,'' Sheridan said. Austin Spitler is ``quality in coverage, good run-support player.''

    • Although Channing Crowder is the front-runner to start opposite Dansby, consider that former Charger Tim Dobbins, whom Sheridan called ``an excellent get,'' had as many 2009 sacks and interceptions (one each) and more tackles (55-52) than Crowder in a lot fewer snaps (297 to 717).

    • Sparano loves how Vontae Davis ``is a lot more confident; he's up and challenging people'' and said Sean Smith has more burst. Although Will Allen vows to win his starting job back, Smith -- who has ``greatness'' tattooed on his arm -- said, ``I started all 16 games. I don't see why I shouldn't staSparano said ``a lot of things have to happen'' for Wake to become a starter. ``My hope is he can be an every-down player,'' Sparano said. ``That's why we brought him here. It's not just to be a pass-rush specialist. If at the end, that's what Cam is, then we're going to find a way to have him involved.''

    Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/30/1655094/outside-linebacker-spot-a-work.html#ixzz0pPpMEZlg
     
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  2. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

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    Lots of young guys fighting for spots, love it.

    Our LB core is very unsure with Dansby being the only obvious starter...should be an interesting training camp.
     
  3. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I'd still like to see A Thomas as a Dolphin, there is no depth to speak of, if two young players at OLB cannot hack it we have some problems.
     
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  4. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    With so many LBs coming in I'm really not sure where Channing Corwder fits in. He's ok, that's about it. Better to just go with the young guys, save the money and cut Crowder? If Dobbins starts, I would think that Crowder is in jeopardy of getting cut loose. Might depend on how Edds looks early on.
     
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  5. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

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    If Dobbins starts I have to believe Crowders days are numbered, becuase he wasnt a very good 3rd down player anyway..If the FO see's this as possible I would like to try and get a 5th or 6th for him.

    I know 7th rounders tend to rarely make the 53 but I really believe Spitler does, wich makes an even bigger "log jam" at LB.
     
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  6. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I dont see Crowder matching up with Dobbins, they are on different planets physically....Iam ready to take my lumps with a new player at the position, hope crowder is ready to be a backup.
     
  7. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    If Crowder can't hold his starting position I'd probably rather cut him and save the money, put it towards paying marshall, the rookies, whatever. Porter, JT, Ayodele, Torbor, Ginn, Smiley- all good moves to cut unnecessary players and in some cases dead weight and save some money in the process. Marshall and Dansby have to be paid and we saved a lot of money with those moves. Torbor, Ayodele and Ginn were no brainers imo, the rest solid moves.
     
  8. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I think people are underestimating Crowder. He played injured most of last year. The year before he actually played as a top 5 ILB. Here are the top 5 ILB rankings from PFF:

    Ratings Coverage
    # Name Team Snaps Overall Rush Cov. Run NFL Rating
    1 Takeo Spikes SF 784 21.5 0.0 9.0 13.5 77.8
    2 Patrick Willis SF 584 16.2 0.6 5.8 9.8 74.6
    3 Chan Crowder MIA 946 15.7 5.5 1.8 9.4 94.13
    4 James Farrior PIT 960 13.8 6.6 0.8 9.9 106.5
    5 Bradie James DAL 902 12.6 1.8 4.0 8.8 93.6

    http://profootballfocus.com/by_posi...e=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1

    Now IMO even a healthy CC is not in the same category as the top ILBs, but he is still a good starter. Too many people are selling him short based on very short term memories of just last season.
     
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  9. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    agreed...have been in favor of all those offseason departures, especially Ginn, Smiley, Akin, Gebril...if crowder goes, he'll join that list.
     
  10. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Incidentally, he did that with a hell of a lot more snaps than Willis or Spikes. I'd also beg to differ with Farrior being the top Pitt LB. Those rankings are all stat based but I think one could make the case that the reality is that guys like Harrison, Ware, and Willis should be 1, 2, and 3.
     
  11. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Hah!

    It can just as easily said no defensive player benefitted more from that season's poor schedule.

    Crowder cannot cover, cannot blitz, causes no turnovers and rarely fills holes, other than that, he's a fine ILB.
     
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  12. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    Anybody that claims Crowder can't cover is either being biased or hasn't watched other LBs. The fact is that all LBs are at a disadvantage. LBs get beat for the catch about 70% - 85% of the time. So it's easy for somebody to watch Crowder and say he gets beat in coverage without realizing that all LBs get beat the majority of the time. In coverage he is about middle of the pack of ILBs when he's healthy. In fact, PFF rated him as 23rd in coverage of 46 ILBs in 2008. As a pass rusher, he was actually 3rd, but I think that's b/c so few ILBs are used as pass rushers. Generally, pass rushing LBs play at OLB. Against the run, he was 6th in 2008 b/c he fills the hole better than most. He's not a stud in any of the categories, but he is at worst an adequate starter and a best a good starter.
     
  13. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    [​IMG]


    Wk 1 vs Jets
    Wk 2 vs Az
    Wk 3 vs Ne
    Wk 4 bye
    Wk 5 SD
    Wk 6 Hst
    wk 7 Baltimore
    Wk 8 Buf
    Wk 9 Den
    Wk 10 Sea
    Wk 11 Oakland
    Wk 12 NE
    Wk 13 Rams
    Wk 14 Buf
    Wk 15 SF
    Wk 17 NY

    In 6 games he had a rating under 1, his best game was against Houston, a loss, his best games aside from Houston were against SF,StL, Oakland and Seattle.

    Teams that all picked Top 10 in the draft in 09, Crowder merely feasted on poor competition, he had a good Wildcard game, but not an impactful one..which is typical Crowder.

    Fast forwards to 09:

    [​IMG]

    His worst games..Indy, NOLA, and the backbreaking loss in Buffalo, his best game..against Tampa Bay...:chuckle:

    That is Channing Crowder, great against poor opponents, against good ones..a liability..even during his best year.
     
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  14. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    Interesting points, but my recollection over the years is that Crowder is marginal in pass coverage, a decent run stuffer, and just an average ILB. The issue in my mind is opportunity cost- in terms of his salary dollars and his roster space. If he can't beat out Dobbins, maybe we're better off saving the money and giving the roster spot to one of the young guys. Maybe Spitler, who knows. Plus he's injured a lot.

    Watching Crowder play over the years reminds me of the famous Gertrude Stein quote about Oakland: "There is no there there." He just doesn't make enough plays to warrant all that much concern. He's just there. And if he can't beat out Dobbins, one of Parcells' rules is that you don't pay a backup starter money. Ayodele, then Torbor with his hefty price tag- maybe Crowder is next.
     
  15. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    Crowder is not good enough to be your marquee ILB. He has never been a a big play maker. He is, however, a decent second ILB. Now the same guy who feasted against bad opponents will have the easier assignments now that he's paired with Dansby.

    And who is his competition? Dobbins, whom I like, has never been as good as Crowder. He has been and will continue to be a fan favorite b/c he hits hard. But he's not as consistent as Crowder is at filling the hole, he's worse in coverage and he's no better at blitzing.

    As for his salary, I believe Crowder will earn about $2.1 mill in 2010 which should be about 3rd among the starting LBs behind Dansby (I don't know his salary but I'm sure it's high) and Anderson (about $2.5 mill). Crowder is probably 15th or 16th on the team in salary. The opportunity cost in terms of salary isn't high. And the roster spot is only an issue if you have a comparable replacement. Dobbins would be a downgrade and the savings (Dobbins makes about $1.2 mill) isn't enough to warrant that. But I'm sure the Dolphins know that. Ireland specifically said in the PC where the trade for Dobbins was announced that Dobbins was being brought in to shore up the back end of the roster. So Dobbins may be a threat just like any player may be, but realistically Crowder being supplanted is only likely on fan boards.
     

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