Our top offseason need should be: NNAMDI ASOMUGHA/becoming an elite defense
114 replies
ToddsPhinsNew MemberOPMost of us saw what the Packers' defense is capable of. Dom Capers' 2-4-5 nickel is difficult to play against and wreaks a great deal of havoc. The hardest part of its success is having the personnel to effectively run it (along with a coaching mind to make it work). You need versatile Dlinemen up front, good LBs, a stud pass rusher, great CB play, and an x factor manning the nickel CB spot being key. If I'm leaving anything out, please jump in.
IMO, our defense is 1 key player away from terrorizing offenses with this scheme.
We have just as much talent & versatility up front with Soliai, Starks, & Odrick (and Langford is no slouch, nor is McD if we resign him).
With Misi being a year seasoned, our LB corps should be comparable.
We have the elite pass rusher in Wake to match Clay Matthews.
We have a stud who can be developed as the nickel X-factor---- Vontae Davis.
We have the defensive master mind to put it together.
The only key missing ingredient is an upgade in coverage to allow the x-factor role to exist and blossom. With SS growing better in coverage, both he and Nnamdi would give Nolan the ability to move Vontae all over the field in many roles ala Charles Woodson.
Nnamdi would greatly change the face of our defense and what it's capable of. With him shutting down his side of the field, we have the existing talent to harass offenses with all sorts of fun schemes & pressure/blitz packages.
The potential negative about using an entire draft to upgrade our offense is the fact that these young guys might not make us better right away. It's possible that we'll need as much help elsewhere if we want to reach the playoffs....... and IMO an immediate, major upgrade to the strongest part of our team, our defense, might be the easiest way to get there <while our offense is developing>.
Enter Nnamdi Asomugha. He'd cost us a ton of money, but the things he would allow our defense to accomplish would make him worth every penny. Not many teams around the league can say the same as far as I'm concerned. On some teams, he's just an elite CB; in Miami, he's the guy who allows us to transform our defense into something truly dominant and special..... and I'm not sure you can put a price on that.
NaboCaneNew MemberHe'd be a great get for the Phins.
Put it this way: I'd rather we made Asomugha the highest-paid non-QB in the league than do what I think Ireland will do, which is go into draft day with CB as his top positional priority, and take a CB at 15.
Asomugha would instantly make us a far more aggressive Defense and improve us by a year or more in terms of a build plan.
Rhody Phins Fanforum_veteran"NaboCane wrote:
He'd be a great get for the Phins.
Put it this way: I'd rather we made Asomugha the highest-paid non-QB in the league than do what I think Ireland will do, which is go into draft day with CB as his top positional priority, and take a CB at 15.
Asomugha would instantly make us a far more aggressive Defense and improve us by a year or more in terms of a build plan.
Why do you think Ireland's biggest priority is CB? Corner is one of the deepest and youngest positions on the team.
MikeHonchosubscriberCan he throw? Does he keep his eyes downfield when forced out of the pocket? How is his footwork?
Headcoach material wouldn’t want to work somewhere they’re not trusted with actual football decisions.
Pandarillaforum_veteranWe've already masturbated enough with our defensive hand. Now you wanna make that hand bionic?...Switch it up already.
DisgustipatesubscriberThis makes about as much sense as spending loads of resources on another wide receiver. You've already got arguably too many cornerbacks on the roster as it stands, two second year players who look like they might be elite corners, and a rookie who didn't look out of place in a decent amount of action, along with Sapp who did solidly and has a specific skillset as a slot corner, and Will Allen who might be a kind of excellent addition for the money.
Not to mention that the player in question didn't really even play up to his billing last year.
ToddsPhinsNew Member"Rhody Phins Fan wrote:
Why do you think Ireland's biggest priority is CB? Corner is one of the deepest and youngest positions on the team.
B/c this is a passing league. Just b/c it's deep and young doesnt mean it's consistent and dependable. Our secondary is arguably the weakest part of our defense.
CashInFistforum_veteranWe need a REAL NFL QB or it doesn't matter what we do on offense or defense.
padre31luxury_boxNow you are thinking properly TP, non of that wussy "offense" stuff, but maybe we can get Justin Bannon to play ILB for us?
:wink2:
A guy who could be interesting is Brodney Poole.
padre31luxury_box"Hurricane wrote:
I'm just starting to like you again, really lol
And I mean this in the least possible insulting way, but....
WHAT??????
You mad?
:chuckle:
Just funning about their love for large players.
BTW, you kind of have "the future is now" a bit wrong, that would not involve drafting a Qb, it would involve signing someone like Kerry Collins, as "the future is now".
NaboCaneNew Member"Rhody Phins Fan wrote:
Why do you think Ireland's biggest priority is CB? Corner is one of the deepest and youngest positions on the team.
How is it deep? Who is behind Smith and Davis? Will Allen?
And how is it good...I mean consistently good? Smith got benched last season and Davis has one good game and two bad ones. And NEITHER of them is any threat to turn a game around with big plays.
In Asomugha you'd get a legit worry for opposing OCs, a guy who would force gameplans to change; no one in the Secondary right now represents anything even close to that.
Besides: it wouldn't cost us a damn thing except money!
And why do I think Ireland is focused on CB? Because if you follow the Phins' drafts over the last three seasons at all there's one pattern you see above all others: picks that do not address the greatest areas of concern at the time.
We needed a pass-catching TE last draft; despite several dropping right into our lpas at various points, none were taken. NONE.
We needed a stud power back to address the concern that Ronnie couldn't make it through a whole season uninjured—not to mention that he wouldn't even be under contract after the season; LaGarrette Blount was the stud back we needed, yet round after round late, we kept passing on him and taking...who? Can you even NAME our picks in the 6th and 7th rounds? I can't. But Blount gained 1000 yards in his rookie season for Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent.
I don't have to list them for you; if you have eyes you can see the trend, and if not you're simply blind or willfully ignorant; this team does not draft well to fill needs. Except last draft with Linebackers, and then they drafted 55 of them just to get one right.
Here's the one thing of which I am confident going into draft day 2011: Ireland's pick in the 1st will confound EVERYONE'S expectations.
We're all talking about Ingram, and how if not Ingram it should be Julio Jones, and if not...
But it doesn't matter, because I know in my considerable gut that the last thing Ireland intends is to draft Ingram or Julio Jones, or ANY RB or WR in the 1st. He will draft what we least expect.
But hey...maybe it won't be a Corner.
Another DE maybe. :rolleyes:
RevRicksubscriber"CashInFist wrote:
We need a REAL NFL QB or it doesn't matter what we do on offense or defense.
We HAD a REAL NFL QB for 16 years with NO RUNNING GAME and NO DEFENSE!!!
WHAT GOOD DID THAT DO US??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
We are real sailormen, the destroyermen of the fleet.
We can follow the tracks and ride the backs of the dolphins.
We will be where the action is in every situation.
When things are getting too rough for anyone else,
they're getting just right for us!
GMJohnsonNew MemberI'm all for upgrading the CB spot. If we cant get Namdi then John Joseph and Cromartie would be next on the list. There were at least 5 games (at Buff, vs NY, vs Cle, vs Buff, at NYJ) where dropped INTs could've changed the outcome of the game. Despite having no run game, a banged up OL, no speed or play making ability on offense, and outmatched OC and an HC w/ a FG fetish, the season would've been very different if:
A. Kendall Langford or Jason Allen make the INT vs NY on Sunday night.
B. Carrol makes the INT for the TD vs Cle
C. Dansby or Smith make easy INTs vs Buffalo
5 more plays, 3 more wins. And FYI, 10-6 w/ a sweep of the Jets would've put us in the tournament and the masses wouldn't have to spend the whole off season bashing the QB.
GMJohnsonNew Member"Rhody Phins Fan wrote:
Why do you think Ireland's biggest priority is CB? Corner is one of the deepest and youngest positions on the team.
IMO we're not deep at CB at all. Vontae and SS are the only guys on the roster w/ legit starting capability, and neither of guys made (m)any plays last year. Neither can be trusted one on one vs opposing teams #1 WRs. Devin McCourty had 6 INTs as a rookie, that's more than VS & SS have in two years, combined. And if one of them were to get hurt we'd be deep all right, knee deep in sh^t.
CashInFistforum_veteran"GMJohnson wrote:
IMO we're not deep at CB at all. Vontae and SS are the only guys on the roster w/ legit starting capability, and neither of guys made (m)any plays last year. Neither can be trusted one on one vs opposing teams #1 WRs. Devin McCourty had 6 INTs as a rookie, that's more than VS & SS have in two years, combined. And if one of them were to get hurt we'd be deep all right, knee deep in sh^t.
Are Will Allen and Nolan Carroll just gutter trash now?
texanphinaticforum_veteranAdd a top CB and I can definitely see the parallels to the Packers D on our own. Work on the offense and we may have something.
GMJohnsonNew Member"CashInFist wrote:
Are Will Allen and Nolan Carroll just gutter trash now?
Nolan Carrol is not a starting caliber CB. Allen hasn't played a snap in 2 years and he just took a huge pay cut to avoid being released. If we had to start either of those guys on opening day we'd be in serious trouble.
Disgustipatesubscriber"GMJohnson wrote:
Nolan Carrol is not a starting caliber CB. Allen hasn't played a snap in 2 years and he just took a huge pay cut to avoid being released. If we had to start either of those guys on opening day we'd be in serious trouble.
Nolan filled in repeatedly as a nickel and did a pretty good job. That's fairly promising as a rookie he'll continue to be able to do so, especially since he'll probably end up being the 4th or 5th CB on the roster.
CashInFistforum_veteran"GMJohnson wrote:
Nolan Carrol is not a starting caliber CB. Allen hasn't played a snap in 2 years and he just took a huge pay cut to avoid being released. If we had to start either of those guys on opening day we'd be in serious trouble.
OK...so you are speculating. Gotcha. Because you have no way of knowing if what you said is true. You would be better served to start using "IMO" when posting your opinion, rather than stating it as fact.
IMO, If Will Allen is healthy he is more than capable of starting for either Vontae Davis or Sean Smith. And Nolan Carrol looked pretty damn good playing quite a bit for a rookie. There is no reason to think at this point that he could not possibly win a starting CB spot some time in the future.
CashInFistforum_veteran"Hurricane wrote:
The implication is that Ryan Mallett would lead us to the superbowl this year (many predict it will take several years to contend, let alone reach and win a superbowl).
It's obviously a joke, but I want Mallett and I believe he is a franchise quarterback.
"Ryan Mallett or Julio Jones or Bust" :lol:
padre31luxury_box"GMJohnson wrote:
IMO we're not deep at CB at all. Vontae and SS are the only guys on the roster w/ legit starting capability, and neither of guys made (m)any plays last year. Neither can be trusted one on one vs opposing teams #1 WRs. Devin McCourty had 6 INTs as a rookie, that's more than VS & SS have in two years, combined. And if one of them were to get hurt we'd be deep all right, knee deep in sh^t.
Really? I think we are loaded at Cb GMJ, as in we have 4 guys who can start for most teams, especially if WA shows he is healthy.
I watched Nolan Carrol last yr and thought he was a solid man press corner, so much so that made Al Harris expendable, that is good progress in a Rook 5th rd pick.
Disgustipatesubscriber"KingMotion wrote:
There are no franchise QB's available to the Dolphins. There are NONE available to the Dolphins. .
We've got no idea if this is actually the case or not, and acting as if there isn't is just as big a recipe for failure as acting if every prospect you've heard of before is going to be.
padre31luxury_box"Hurricane wrote:
The implication is that Ryan Mallett would lead us to the superbowl this year (many predict it will take several years to contend, let alone reach and win a superbowl).
It's obviously a joke, but I want Mallett and I believe he is a franchise quarterback.
Well, Mallet is maybe my #5 guy at #15, for me I want to run the ball, and to be able to run it against anyone as I believe that would solve a host of problems the offense had in 2010, if that means adding Mark Ingram, I'm fine with it, if that means Daboll thinks Hilliard can do what Hillis did in Cleveland, even better, if Sheets can come in on spot duty for both, wonderful.
Just get it fixed or we are going nowhere.
CashInFistforum_veteran"KingMotion wrote:
If you think something is that stupid, it's because you misunderstand. He's saying that having Marino and no supporting cast makes no sense. There are no franchise QB's available to the Dolphins. There are NONE available to the Dolphins. So you can all caps needing an NFL QB as much as you want. How do you propose we do that? We have ways to bring up the team other than QB though, so since we can do those, we might as well. Bring in a solid running game and elite Defense and then IF (it's not a guarantee) you can get a franchise QB, you'll be set.
OK...
A) Marino had a good O-Line, Good WRs, poor RBs on offense, poor defense. We have, a top five or so defense, good WRs, good pass protection O-line, decent RBs, crappy QB. We went SEVENTEEN YEARS without a losing season (only one with Dan Marino)!!! How can you even compare those?
B) Ryan Mallett is the QB we should be targeting at #15.
C) I can not help it if Don Shula was senile and could not put together a defense and a good running game for Dan Marino in the decade and a half he had the chance to. He was too loyal to his crappy coordinators if you want to know my opinion. He should have made changes to the coaching staff but did not.
ToddsPhinsNew Member"Disgustipate wrote:
This makes about as much sense as spending loads of resources on another wide receiver. You've already got arguably too many cornerbacks on the roster as it stands, two second year players who look like they might be elite corners, and a rookie who didn't look out of place in a decent amount of action, along with Sapp who did solidly and has a specific skillset as a slot corner, and Will Allen who might be a kind of excellent addition for the money.
Not to mention that the player in question didn't really even play up to his billing last year.
It's nothing like spending a load of resources on another WR. Do we already have an elite DB that we're spending $40 million on? I don't think so. We spend half of that on Vontae, SS, Nolan Carroll, Reshad Jones, and Clemons combined. $20 million combined for ALL their contracts is peanuts. There's nothing financially keeping us from throwing a big contract into the mix. I could understand if we already had a pocket-breaker somewhere in our secondary, but we don't. Bell is by far our largest contract at $20 million, and within 2 years he'll probably be replaced by Reshad or a rookie who cost less than $5 million.
There's absolutely no reason to pass on one of the most impacting defensive players in the game if he immediately makes your team better. Not only does he improve the corner spot that he takes over, but he improves the nickel by allowing Vontae to shift over. You also missed the entire point of the post. Adding a guy like Nnamdi isn't just "adding another CB"....... it's altering an entire defense b/c of what his play allows us to do. Would anyone here not want to see Vontae in a Woodson type role where we can continually throw different looks at offenses and confuse QBs like the Packers did to Cutler? Developing Vontae into Woodson's nickel role is worth bringing Nnamdi here all by itself.
It doesn't matter if our young corners "look like they might become elite", b/c until they "become" elite, they're not elite. We're one top guy in our secondary away from having an elite defense. Why should we have to wait around to see if these young guys tie their game together when we can definitively address the concern with one fell swoop? Adding Nnamdi means our defense has finally arrived, while waiting for one of our youngsters to step up only prolongs it.
The other thing to consider is we're going to have a chunk of cap space left over with a tiny buffet of talent to choose from b/c most of the quality players have high tenders on them. Grabbing Nnamdi might be one of the few ways to improve our team outside of picking up a stud interior lineman like Harvey Dahl. We need impact players, and if it comes down to Nnamdi or nothing, than it'd be silly to not go after him. All the #1 running backs are spoken for with at least 1st round tenders, as are the stud TEs, and there are no QBs worthy of a big contract. After Guard, the only big upgrade we can make on offense is via WR as far as I'm aware..... and I'd rather have an elite #1 corner than another expensive WR. The money's gonna have to go somewhere, unless you'd prefer us to just sit on it.
Nnamdi didn't play up to his billing last year b/c he played through a sprained ankle for half the season.
Log in to reply.