How good can Karlos be?? Solai?? Vontae?? Wake??? Solai..Could they??

Meant to ask you Deej:

I compared Wake to Terrel Suggs, you sort of were not buying it, still of the same mind?

Have to think Nolan is loving all of the toys he has to work with on the Defense, in Denver he had Bailey and Dumervil and that was about it, in Miami two young and up and coming Cb's, and keep an eye on N Carroll as they had little problem sticking him at boundary Cb, Starks, Langford, Soliai, Odrick and Merling coming back, Misi moving into yr #2, keep an eye on Koa as that cat can run sideline to sideline and he has a knack of picking up the fumbles Wake Creates. Christmas came early for DC Nolan.

per our very own PhinsRock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYzfXPXOOFU

I miss Al Harris.

BADASS To The Bone DJ. Misi, Smith, Starks, and Langford are not far behind Fab Four projections.

Need to sign Solia to a new contract and exted Wake past 2012. They were talking before the lockout but, were not close to a new deal for Wake. He's only getting $400 and $500 K this and next year.

That video makes me miss football. This part of the year sucks and the lockout ain't helping.

"Uncle Rico wrote:

That video makes me miss football. This part of the year sucks and the lockout ain't helping.

I hope the team is as pissed off as Dolphins fans are, man this past yr just sucked, we started out 2-0 and had a good shot at the playoffs and the wheels came off, the D folded like a napkin v the pats, just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Padre, Suggs imo was the premiere rush 34 hybrid outside linebacker in the game so the standard was high for me..Would I trade him right now for Wake...no sir.

I know Clay matthews, Ware is out there, that would be so tough considering hes true, and hes our's..and that he has the coolest celebration in football..lol..

I can honestly say after really watching them in their first year in this scheme, with all the talent across the board, I have the most feeling of badasssness I've ever felt.nobody can talk sh$# against that defense..Highlight reels are nice, but watching them in the details, their strength at the POA, they have it all..

Koa Misi is gonna be a baller for us, it was the right move not bringing in high draft picks at that position..That dude was not outmanned on the field during his rookie year, physically,mentally, or instinctually..

I think the one thing they lack Deej is the will to dominate an opponent, that is something the Ravens and Steelers have that this unit does not have, could be due to all of the youth but I never got the sense that the unit as a whole really wanted to be "great" they were more or less happy to be there and playing football.

IMHO.

"padre31 wrote:

I hope the team is as pissed off as Dolphins fans are, man this past yr just sucked, we started out 2-0 and had a good shot at the playoffs and the wheels came off, the D folded like a napkin v the pats, just left a bad taste in my mouth.

how much stock do you put in for having a team that comes together during this type of offseason...I know that this is not a good thing for the players to have this much freedom from nutrition and training..The team that keeps that edge, is going to have a big edge this season imo.

"padre31 wrote:

I think the one thing they lack Deej is the will to dominate an opponent, that is something the Ravens and Steelers have that this unit does not have, could be due to all of the youth but I never got the sense that the unit as a whole really wanted to be "great" they were more or less happy to be there and playing football.

IMHO.

They have the players that have it, first year in a new scheme in all, thats just confidence man, once they feel comfortable in what their doing, they have overall as a unit, the athleticism to be a great defense...2nd year now,all players in their prime except bell, who stays in great shape and has a hungry rookie behind him pushing him..

"djphinfan wrote:

They have the players that have it, first year in a new scheme in all, thats just confidence man, once they feel comfortable in what their doing, they have overall as a unit, the athleticism to be a great defense...2nd year now,all players in their prime except bell, who stays in great shape and has a hungry rookie behind him pushing him..

To me, what we lack is that sort of ultra physical ILB who fires everyone up.

I love watchin Dnsby play ball, naturally gifted football player, sure I would like a stud next to him, but we cant be to greedy, wake is the best and Misi is up and coming, its a nice group..

"djphinfan wrote:

I love watchin Dnsby play ball, naturally gifted football player, sure I would like a stud next to him, but we cant be to greedy, wake is the best and Misi is up and coming, its a nice group..

That is kind of the thing Deej, consider Bart Scott in NY, he is sort of the leader of the Lb Corps, but in Baltimore he was the 3rd guy on the group.

Definitely looking forward to our defense next year. Especially with getting back Odrick and Edds, should be fun.

I'd also like to see more reps for Reshad Jones. He showed some serious ballhawking ability!

"djphinfan wrote:

Karlos..The man is an overall football player, plays the linebacker position like a large safety in the box, excellent in coverage, sideline to sideline player, instincts are top notch, and arrives with impact ..If he gives us his contract length, at this level of play, where would this player stand in our tradition?..I would say he and Zach would be our 2 best..We've had some nice linebackers in our history, But I think Karlos is the most talented, ?

Cam Wake...I'am at a loss for superlatives myself, I can tell you that I watched him track ray rice, from equal starting position, and got him at a full sprint 15 yards down the sideline..It was ridiculously impressive. I wouldn't trade him for anyone so imo, hes the premiere player at his position..nothing else to say..Best dolphin outside linebacker ever?, just give me 4 more years, maybe 5, and yes..

VD21...has a lock on becoming the best ever, most explosive player we've ever had at the position....whatta you think?

Big Paul...The most impressive of them all last year...A complete man who was toying with the best centers in the league {Pouncey, Mangold}, with Tim Bowens standing in his way, can he do it? he sure has the talent to do it? no question about it.

I think all four if retained, for the next 4 years, could be the best dolphins at their positions in our history? pretty cool ya know, whatta you think?..

These 4 in their prime, The most important positions on a 34 defense.

Nose..

Rush linebacker..

Middle linebacker..

Corner..

I really like what we have at those positions, all four players are perfect prototype size, the blueprint was followed, and achieved in these cases, you couldn't design them any better, and, the size/athleticism ratio's, off the charts..

Our whole defense excites me, the whole feeling of having a great defense is what I personally have always wanted to root for, and have never been completely confident TO root for.. Imo,We have the best defense we've ever had going into a season with a Great coordinator handling a young strong athletic unit that has played together that has great players at core positions..

Basically I just wanted to talk about how badass our defense is..

Does anyone stop to realize that everyone could have been having a career year last year, and that we can't count on the defense being as good or better next year ? People on this board just automatically assume we'll be better. Everyone assumed our offense would be better last year too, and look at what happened. That is why I feel such gloom & doom about the future. I am not convinced that our defense will automatically be as good or better, and I certainly don't see any promise in what they have done with the offense.

"DolfanJake wrote:

Does anyone stop to realize that everyone could have been having a career year last year, and that we can't count on the defense being as good or better next year ? People on this board just automatically assume we'll be better. Everyone assumed our offense would be better last year too, and look at what happened. That is why I feel such gloom & doom about the future. I am not convinced that our defense will automatically be as good or better, and I certainly don't see any promise in what they have done with the offense.

Nah, for a couple of reasons:

-every starter was under 30 save for YB
-we led the NFL in dropped interceptions
-Nolan can install more complex stuff now that they have a yr in his system.

Hmm, no player set "career" highs in any category in 2010, maybe Soliai in games started and Wake has had 17 and 22 sacks in the CFL so that is debatable and Dansby did not play all 16 games, and we get Odrick, Edds and Merling back at 100% health, that is two #1 picks and a #4 pick and Will Allen is back in the mix and also 100% healthy.

Whenever Nolan has been a DC two yrs in a row the Defense has improved going back to his Ravens days.

"padre31 wrote:

Nah, for a couple of reasons:

-every starter was under 30 save for YB
-we led the NFL in dropped interceptions
-Nolan can install more complex stuff now that they have a yr in his system.

Hmm, no player set "career" highs in any category in 2010, maybe Soliai in games started and Wake has had 17 and 22 sacks in the CFL so that is debatable and Dansby did not play all 16 games, and we get Odrick, Edds and Merling back at 100% health, that is two #1 picks and a #4 pick and Will Allen is back in the mix and also 100% healthy.

Whenever Nolan has been a DC two yrs in a row the Defense has improved going back to his Ravens days.

Well as far as I am concerned we'll need to have the best defense in the league, because our offense could be the worst. I wonder if that would be an NFL 1st ? Best in one category and worst in the other.

"DolfanJake wrote:

Well as far as I am concerned we'll need to have the best defense in the league, because our offense could be the worst. I wonder if that would be an NFL 1st ? Best in one category and worst in the other.

#1 and #32?

Not sure, do know SD was #1 in D, and #1 in O, and 32nd in ST though.

As for the offense, to be honest I do not know what to expect, which is good as when "we" know what to expect so does everyone else.

I'm looking forward to seeing which, if any, specific areas of disparity are revealed early on, that possibly point to Hennings oversight, or lack thereof.

...and here's hoping they at least don't multiply.

Our defense is very young, talented and capable of being a dominant defense for years to come no doubt. The only problem to me is the lack of timely, big plays/turnovers and that swagger dominant defenses have. We don't seem to hold onto INTs at crucial times and we don't seem to put teams away like the great defenses do, we still seem to give up big plays at heart breaking times as well. This defense is close, I think its just a matter of keeping this core group together and some of the really young guys to come into their own. They are going to be a fun unit to watch, we should be right up there with the best Defenses in the league next year if our guys stay healthy. Getting something out of last year's first round pick would help out too...

IMO we have five still young players (Dansby, Wake, Soliai and Davis and Smith as a tandem) who could all reasonably be top 5 at their respective position. I don't buy the gloom and doom angle simply b/c it is unlikely that all of those guys have peaked given their age and experience levels.

"rafael wrote:

IMO we have five still young players (Dansby, Wake, Soliai and Davis and Smith as a tandem) who could all reasonably be top 5 at their respective position. I don't buy the gloom and doom angle simply b/c it is unlikely that all of those guys have peaked given their age and experience levels.

I didn't say peaked, but that many of them had the best year to date (career years so to speak) they have had. Can they all repeat that next year ? That is the big question on D. We should be solid, but will we be a really great defense again ? Those guys will have to play at that level or better for this team not to regress from 7 wins. I think we have to get lucky for that to happen, because I forsee our offense as worse than it was last year. We have the OC from a team that had, believe it or not, a worse offense than ours last year. Bill Belicheck didn't see enough in him to keep him, and Mike Holmgren didn't want him around. I think their indictment of his abilities says a lot to me. He just was not good enough for them. So why should we have to settle with him..........oh yeah........its because we couldn't attract anyone else, because of our coach & owners little problem at then end of last season. :headwall:

"DolfanJake wrote:

I didn't say peaked, but that many of them had the best year to date (career years so to speak) they have had. Can they all repeat that next year ? That is the big question on D. We should be solid, but will we be a really great defense again ? Those guys will have to play at that level or better for this team not to regress from 7 wins. I think we have to get lucky for that to happen, because I forsee our offense as worse than it was last year. We have the OC from a team that had, believe it or not, a worse offense than ours last year. Bill Belicheck didn't see enough in him to keep him, and Mike Holmgren didn't want him around. I think their indictment of his abilities says a lot to me. He just was not good enough for them. So why should we have to settle with him..........oh yeah........its because we couldn't attract anyone else, because of our coach & owners little problem at then end of last season. :headwall:

That is decently normal when it comes to younger players.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

That is decently normal when it comes to younger players.

But can they get better than that ? Maybe, but then again, a lot of guys regress after a really good season. Careers are often up and down, with the middle years they average the best. But that is just it, they AVERAGE that, its no guarantee that they will get better or even stay the same for next year. As I have already stated I think they will have to do that, in order for us to even maintain the 7 win level next year.

"DolfanJake wrote:

But can they get better than that ? Maybe, but then again, a lot of guys regress after a really good season. Careers are often up and down, with the middle years they average the best. But that is just it, they AVERAGE that, its no guarantee that they will get better or even stay the same for next year. As I have already stated I think they will have to do that, in order for us to even maintain the 7 win level next year.

We will find out. Generally players do not peak in year 3 or 4. Sometimes people do regress after a really good season. However if you look at their careers they did look like a general progression. it was not like they were crappy and then became great for one year. I tend to think players that show a steady rate of improvement will at least level off, if not keep on getting better.