i think that tyron culver deserves a shot just like bell had in his 3rd year with us, we might still need a fs draftee but i think culver could at the very least be capable to play fs…even tho i think that g.wilson will be better next year after playing a whole year as a fs with us. clemons looks like he could be our starting fs in three years time (again it goes back to the “bell rule”, let them play for 3 years and start midway throughout)

The Defense has definetly started to shape up these past couple of weeks and it has been great to see, it is making it harder and harder IMO to make any of these decsions yet based upon the recent success.

Now with that aside I think the only area that can be agreed upon is that we need help in the ILB spot and possibly the OLB spot as well. I like both Porter and Taylor but I just don’t know how much longer they will both hold up for … I personally hoping for another good season out of them both for the Dolphins. With regards to the ILB I think you hit it right on the head .. I really like Crowder and Akin but I just don’t knw if they are bringing enough to the table … once again another reason why I am glad to be a fan and not a GM.

You might see that I left out NT and FS … this is many due to the fact that I still feel these decisions will be based on the final three games, like it or not Wilson has been getting better after that terrible start and I think drafting or bringing someone else in would be a mistake. I think that if Clemons is good like you say he will be able to take the job away from him come the start of next season. I personallly have been very surprised by Paul’s play lately and would love to see ferg back … although in my heart I do see this area being addressed in the offseason.

Pun intended. If there was a way to get in on the secret coded (you know Parcell’s is doing it) messages being fed to Wilfork & agent it’d be a great way to save the draft pick.
Riddle me this; would it be wise to start two sophomore CB’s and a rookie S if we drafted one, next year?
After seeing almost all of the LB’s picked this year end up as starters, I guess we should have no worries there, either.
So who, on this team, do think will move to other teams.

Mind you, all this is coming from the mind of an O-line guy…

Great post nick and if you need any help on those new posts you having coming down the pipeline let me know (ill be your best friennnnnnnnnnnddddd)

Can’t wait.

I might be in the minority here but I think drafting a franchise nose tackle would be one of the best things to ever happen to this defense. I am from the “3-4 defense is only as good as its anchor” school, and while I really like what Soliai has done this year (especially the last two games), it would be nice to install another player like Dan Williams and run a platoon at the position (as well as use McDaniel in passing situations — love that strategy).

I’d like to take care of the inside linebacker position by adding Ryans or Dansby via FA and then look for OLB talent in the draft. And the nice thing about this draft is a lot of the premier OLBs will fall to the second round (except Kindle; he’s likely to blow up the combine in February.) I’d gladly take Hughes, Von Miller or Ricky Sapp as our second-round pick.

… Nick Buoniconti / A.J. Duhe / Bob Baumhower / Kim Bokamper / Charles Bowser / Robert Louis (Bob) Brudzinski / Hugh Green / John Offerdal / Brian Cox / Zach Thomas / and DE-LB Jayson Taylor, to name a few.

I want and the team NEEDS another elite Inside / outside bad-ass mo-fo. That guy may already be on the team (Wake) at outside, but more probable the inside backer will come thru the draft.

Is Daryl Sharpton like Zach Thomas? maybe? could be? Prolly in the 4th or 5th round like Zach was? The knock is his staying healthy.

I’m hoping for a shot at a NT and ILB in the first two rounds. Seems the middle of the defense is a major need this off season… NT, MLB and Safety. I don’t see Joey and Jason going anywhere next season and should be good enough at outside linebacker to maintain a superior defense next year. And then there’s Cameron Wake..!

The NT i dont think needs to be addressed as much since I can see this as Soliai’s trial by fire
and McDaniel’s can be a more than adequate back-up for him

Another thing you hit on that i STRONGLY agree on is someone to work along side Crowder. Crowder is not bad, he needs work on coverage though and thats why we need a ILB who can cover.

and FS, well Wilson has got to go

I agree with the general assessment, however I firmly believe that McDaniel is too tall to play NT. I can see that a lot of folks might contend that this doesn’t make a difference if he is talented and heavy, but I just want to remind folks about Daryl Gardener. He was 6-6 295, and played with his hand in the dirt at DT. He was very good for a short time, but developed back problems, in part from the position played. It was much more difficult for him to get low on opposing linemen than a guy that is 6-3. And that was at DT in a 4-3. A successful NT has to be lower than a 6-3 center on every play.
Now i realize that it doesn’t preclude McDaniel from playing the position, but in a 3-4, I see him better suited to play DE. His height in that position being an advantage as he goes up against taller OTs and has the height to take away passing lanes. Just my opinion.

That being said, I view NT as a HUGE need (pun intended). Soliai is serviceable, but the NT position makes this whole Defense go. A beast at NT allows pressure on the QB with a 3 man rush, and takes away the inside running lanes. That instantly makes our secondary and LB better. Ferguson is too old, although he would be a good backup/relief man if he were only asked to play 10-12 snaps a game.

I am not unhappy with our two CBs picked last year, but I still had NT at the top of my wish list then and see it as the overall team need next year.

LB and FS are givens, as well as WR. However, I would like to see us grab a Solid #1 WR in FA rather than take a chance in the draft. Maybe a LB or FS also, depending on what’s out there.

BTW, just want to point out that Ferg is not an elite NT. He is serviceable as well, but better than Soliai, which tells you where Soliai ranks. What we need is a Haynesworth or Wilfork type.

I learned a-lot of our defense just now. I feel a lot smarter thanks for the knowledge. Oh and Rec’d for breaking it down Barney style!!!

You and I think a lot alike. I agree with everything you said, especially about Cody. If he isn’t the least productive All-American in the history of college football, then I don’t know who is. Anyone who drafts that guy wasted a pick.

Rec’d as usual. Nice Job!

rec’d u def share alot of my views

although alot of those FA NTS are 30+ years old.

as far as NT goes, I think it depends on how Ferguson comes along. If he can make it back, I think we stand pat with him and Soliai for another season. If he can’t, then I think the most realistic option is Casey Hampton coming from Pitt. But he’s like 32 years old himself. So he’d be only a short-term fix.

Like you, I agree that we can’t take a NT in round 1. But we need to be careful not to undervalue the position. Is it part time? Yes. But it’s the most important part of a 3-4 defense.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Kindle. I also love Hughes. But I think Kindle is more versatile, making him a favorite of mine.

Eric Berry is my dream pick. I’d give up our 1st and 2nd this year to move up into the top 5 to take Berry. He’s in the Ed Reed mold of FS and would instantly change this defense from the moment he walked onto the practice field.

You and I are on the same page when it comes to our needs, especially the FS position. I’ve wanted Clemons to start since week 3 or 4.

He is in for 2 run downs, then he lays on the ground, refs call an injury TO, so trainers can get his fat ass off the field (meanwhile the rest of the D gets some rest and good play calling done), then the D is well set for the pass play to follow.

rec’d-able. like weech said, thanx for the knowledge.

I’m not as down on our ILB as you are, if our OLB improve I think they will be fine, it’s a complicated system they run and these guys are starting to get it down and are subsequently playing better.

I love the idea of moving Clemons to FS, Gibril must go, either way this area must be addressed, I’m missing Hill for crying out loud.

I’m with Lefty on McDaniels at NT, I would rather go with the other alternatives you mentioned.

Really great job Nicky

agree with everything! especially that terrance cody is balls

i’ve been preching this stuff.
i’d rec it twice if i could
nice job

draft this year is stacked defensively, and we need to take advantage of that.

I just wanted to add that the remainder of the season is do or die for 6 Dolphin defenders. Wilson, Bell, Ayodele, Anderson, Torbor and Crowder are all veterans (5+ years) who are responsible for the middle of the defensive backfield and they are failing miserably.

How is it possible that two safeties are the leading tacklers for this team? I took a look at the other teams that primarily run the 3-4 and all but 3 others have at least one ILB that will easily have well over 100 tackles. I’m sure you can guess which are more successful.

I expect the first round pick will address this issue.

Rolando McClain. What ever it takes.

I think Wilson is very good. I just don’t thing he’s a FS. Wilson and Bell are both very good TRUE SS’s. Our schemes this season have both of them playing 20 yards back. I like the idea of getting Clemons in there.