CHATTER One Dolphins player said offensive coordinator Dan Henning has added interesting wrinkles. Among them: a formation with Pat White lining up, in motion, behind Chad Pennington. I'll add the link
There are reasons why Y Bell led us in tackles, JP and Merling were just not that stout against the run.
I also have a feeling were going to get thrown on again this year or at least early in the season although some pass rush would certainly help things out. I do think they did the best they could in shoring up the situation without breaking the bank in free agency.
We should be a better run D this year. We should also have a better pass rush, which will help our pass coverage.
not to be negative because I think we have a chance to win every game, but what did we do to drastically help stop the run?
Basically what alen1 said. The development of Kendal Langford and Philip Merling added to Freguson and Starks ability to stop the run should help alot this year. Plus, we have one of the best run stopping OLBs in Matt Roth. Also, I remember an article the said Gibril Wilson is excellent at stopping the run. So really, our run defense has the potential to be top 10.
Second year in the Defensive schemes of Pasqualoni, 2nd year in the strength & conditioning program, and the game should be slowing down this year for Merling, Langford and Roth at his new position. Yeah, I think we'll improve against the run. And with JT and CW added to JP I think our pass rush improves too. Still a little worried about ILB and CB spots though.
i do think we'll improve outside of the Ts on defense, but not sure we've improved inside the Ts (in baseball terms - up the middle) .... I don't want to have to count on Bell or Wilson to improve our run D
Very good point, I had not thought of that. However, it is our 2nd year in the 3-4 so the change to quarters should really affect mostly the DB's, and maybe the LB's who may have to know a different set of conditions that dictate when they have to drop back in coverage. Being in the 2nd year under Pasqualoni helps though, the players know more what he expects of them and his general schemes style. Also, isn't the Quarters Scheme supposed to be easier, more player reactive? Thought I read that, likely in here.
Excellent thoughts. But like you've mentioned, the front of our line should remain in the '2nd year category'. Our secondary has many new players anyways, so I guess it doesn't really matter if it was the 5th year. With the Quarters being easier (I read that here too), I think the cohesiveness will undoubtedly be better, because of the front 7 alone. If we can generate a better pass rush, the pressure on the secondary will only be minimized as the season progresses, and much like last year, I think we will see our secondary get better as the year passes. Especially considering a good chance at least one rookie will start.