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Dolphins Game Changing Offseason Moves: A play maker at inside linebacker

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It's amazing to me that I am making the third post in this series and am yet to touch on the largest free agent contract the Dolphins have handed out in a long time. But that just goes to show you how potentially amazing this offseason has a chance of becoming once these new guys hit the field.

So let's think back - back to midnight of March 5. Many of us were up late hanging out right here discussing all of the rumors and reports about which free agent was visiting each team. Less than 24 hours later, the Dolphins handed out the largest inside linebacker contract in history (until Patrick Willis recently broke that record) when they signed Karlos Dansby to a 5 year, $43 million deal.

Just like that, the Dolphins added a play-making inside linebacker the likes of which this franchise has not seen in a long, long time.

Star-divide

One glance at Dansby's numbers and you'll see what I mean. Over the past four seasons, Karlos is averaging the following stat line: 102 tackles (83 solo), 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 6 tackles for a loss, and 5 pass deflections.

Channing Crowder doesn't even come close to those numbers. In fact, his 14 career tackles for a loss is one fewer than Dansby has in just his last two seasons. And I don't need to point out how Crowder's insanely disappointing sack and interception numbers.

You can even go back to Zach Thomas and fail to find similar "play-making" statistics to those of Dansby. Thomas, for all his greatness as a guy who could read and react to a play and make the tackle, still wasn't the kind of play maker that Dansby is going to be here in Miami. While Zach did average 7 tackles for loss per season during his 12 years in Miami, he averaged less than 1.5 interceptions, just over 1 forced fumble per season, and only had 19.5 sacks as a Dolphin.

Granted, Zach wasn't asked to rush the passer often. But that's exactly my point. Karlos Dansby will bring to this defense an element of which we have not seen. His best comparison to a semi-recent Dolphin is probably Bryan Cox...but with his sanity.

Dansby's versatility is exactly what Mike Nolan loves. The Dolphins will be running a "tweaked" defense in 2010 that is naturally more fluid. And it's going to be Dansby who is the key cog in that front seven. I expect his versatility to be the reason Nolan's revamped defense will work.

And for $43 million, we shouldn't expect anything less.

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Dansby...Marshall...

The Heat aren’t the only team in town building a dynasty this summer :o)

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by David Dwork on May 14, 2010 12:39 AM EDT reply actions  

I cant wait till July

Draft Laron Byrd now!!!
Master Phinja, accepting anybody to the clan!!!
IT SIMPLY IS ALL ABOUT THE U!!!
"You wanna get high man? Does howdy doody have wooden balls?"
- Cheech & Chong - Up in Smoke -

by Weecho85 on May 14, 2010 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

Already got my Dansby jersey

He’s been one of my favorite players over the years and I looked at him as the key to that Cards D. I’m very excited about how he can alter drives in multiple ways on a consistent basis. My expectation is for a career high in sacks and hurries this year. The more he can make up for what we lost in J Pissy and JeTs the better off the rest of the LB core will be.

Dansby seems like one of the few players in this league that could carry an inexperienced or unproven group of surrounding LBs. I bet he and Nolan are enjoying working together.

The Front Office continues to prove we should trust them
Stephen Ross continues to prove we should appreciate him
What better defense on a Jet than an Air Marshall?
Feel free to correct my spelling and grammar in fanposts and comments. I've lived my entire life in the U.S. so you understand.

by special agent wildcat on May 14, 2010 12:47 AM EDT reply actions  

Lets not fail to mention Bill Sheridan is a great LB coach so Wake will get better and Dobbins, Crowder and co. should too

"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die."
Long, Tsoumpas, Grove, Incognito, Carey - Starting OL

by dolfan0918 on May 14, 2010 1:01 AM EDT reply actions  

wow.

“Sanchez steps back in the pocket, look to crotchery, edwards and holmse, but are blanketed by the super young/ awsome secondary, but oh! He just broke his nail and is crying to let the trainers massage him, because odrick, wake, starks, misi, (takes long breath) langford, and dansby all hit him at once!!!!!”

by dolger14 on May 14, 2010 1:04 AM EDT via mobile reply actions  

Gang bang..?

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64 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"Official draft Koa Misi bus -- the A.J. Duhe of this decade!"

by Alpha6 on May 14, 2010 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

I can see in now...

this is how it’s gonna go down. When Sanchez drops back, Odrick and Misi are both gonna colide into New Jersey’s young QB. The ball pops up and Dansby, the playmaker that he is, will pluck the ball out of the air for a pick six. After that, he’ll run down the side line and shove that pigskin up Rex Ryans jelly donut eatin ass, then use it to give Bart Scott a Dirty Sanchez! I hate that dude.

by FingerBang on May 14, 2010 2:12 AM EDT reply actions  

lol

I don’t like Fart Scott either

P. H. I. N. S.
Punish
Hit
Intimidate
Non
Stop

by inishe8 on May 14, 2010 3:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

yeah but we should atleast let them score once

i mean i do want to see Brandon Marshall play lol

Laces out!
-2008 AFC East Champions-
Suck it Pats, Bills and most of all... the god damn jets.
Sean Smith/Vontae Davis= Pat Surtain/Sam Madison
BRANDON MARSHALL- FUTURE MIAMI HOF WR!!!!!

by BSerious72 on May 14, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

We'll get the ball first after halftime :P

'Phins phor Liphe!

Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.

by joel311 on May 14, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Brandon Marshall will point and laugh haha (Marshall mic'd up)

Chillin in the Henne ERA!!!!
"I'm not afraid to hit an old man in Public" The Hangover
Who will win Terrance Cody or Rex Ryan?
Driver of the Brandon Graham Limousine!!!
Dam Rite, I'm Latino

by DPL3 Rollin on May 14, 2010 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

This will be a very interesting season

P. H. I. N. S.
Punish
Hit
Intimidate
Non
Stop

by inishe8 on May 14, 2010 3:12 AM EDT reply actions  

No reason why he couldnt thrive under our system

Our Dline is every bit as good (if not better) than Arizonas, and with Nolan runnning the show im expecting big things from our front 7

by aquandy on May 14, 2010 3:26 AM EDT reply actions  

We haven't made our biggest offseason linebacker signing yet!

Zach Thomas gave this team everything he has, and he was pretty damn good at what he did! He won’t go to the HOF, he never won a Superbowl, and he still never gave up on his team. He absolutely deserves a one-day contract to retire a Dolphin, seeing as we as Dolfans are the only ones who would completely understand what he was as a football player, and how valuable he was to the team. I actually don’t care about how the whole thing with JT played out, as I accepted a couple years back that all Dolphins’ players are expendable given proper compensation, but Zach not getting his one-day contract would be the first thing this regime did that I would say was 100% wrong.

Most exciting Miami offseason since Ricky came to town!

by #54Thomas on May 14, 2010 5:44 AM EDT reply actions  

Zach not in the Hall

That is Crazy talk. He was the most productive LB in the league for 10 years. In that 10 years was the rise and fall of Ray Lewis. He will get the Vote. I am not saying he is going in on the first ballot but he will be in.

Dansby, I have a man crush. I don’t have my Jersey yet but I will for game one. He is worth the money because he is a game changer. I know all we are doing is talking but I love waking up in the morning to see 100’s of fan pumped up for the season like never before. We are building a Dynasty.

by MDFINSFAN on May 14, 2010 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions  

Maybe it's just me

but what is the point of signing him to a one-day contract to retire? We all remember Zach and the great things he did for the Miami community and organization, and I don’t think we’ll be forgetting them. So what’s the point of him “officially” retiring as a Dolphin?

by Ham420 on May 14, 2010 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

Dansby signing is big, But Nolan signing is way bigger

I can’t wait to see Dansby running around with a fish on his hat crushing opponents, but the key to the new Dolphin D is absolutely Mike Nolan. Our defense is no longer a rudderless ship. Look at what Nolan has done with defenses where ever he has gone. He has taken average defenses and made them stellar the first year. Imagine what he can do with our tallent laiden young core of defenders.

by Dolphinatic in Toronto on May 14, 2010 7:28 AM EDT reply actions  

Dolphins are not fishes lol

And yeah the key is Nolan

Gieco Needs A New Slogan...So Easy A Jets Fan Can Do It LOL

by EverybodyLovesDolphins on May 14, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

They are mamas

Adjutant General, Matty Fan Club
64 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"Official draft Koa Misi bus -- the A.J. Duhe of this decade!"

by Alpha6 on May 14, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

*they are mamals

Adjutant General, Matty Fan Club
64 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"Official draft Koa Misi bus -- the A.J. Duhe of this decade!"

by Alpha6 on May 14, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

**they are mammals..!

God! I can’t talk today!!

Adjutant General, Matty Fan Club
64 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"Official draft Koa Misi bus -- the A.J. Duhe of this decade!"

by Alpha6 on May 14, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions   2 recs

they are camals

Laces out!
-2008 AFC East Champions-
Suck it Pats, Bills and most of all... the god damn jets.
Sean Smith/Vontae Davis= Pat Surtain/Sam Madison
BRANDON MARSHALL- FUTURE MIAMI HOF WR!!!!!

by BSerious72 on May 14, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Rec'd...

For how much I laughed…lol.

This is Team Teal. Sharks and Phins.
Cut me open and I bleed Teal...

Just a reminder, fans, comin’ up is our "Die-hard Night" here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Dolphins won a Super Bowl. -Mosul_DolFan, Phinsider.com

Marc Emery ... the Big Bad Bogeyman ... who offered natural seeds that could potentially become a non-toxic, non-addictive, highly beneficial 12,000-year-old plant. Where are the victims? Where are the bodies? "Justice Minister" Rob Nicholson and his ilk should be the criminals imprisoned.

by Sharkz_N_Phinz on May 14, 2010 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

I would not describe Denver's 08 defense as "average",

in fact, I would describe it as “atrocious”. They were #29 in the league, and Nolan turned them into #7 IN ONE OFFSEASON!! September cannot get here soon enough!

'Phins phor Liphe!

Driver of the Make David Lee OC Bandwagon
Driver of the Trade-Ronnie-Brown Bandwagon.

by joel311 on May 14, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm just wondering if Dansby will regularly play...

the WILB, or SILB. Let’s just throw out there that Channing holds onto his spot because of his run stopping ability. Or do you think Dansby takes on that spot. Even though he’s a big signing, I think we see him more in Ayodele’s spot more often because of the range he has.

Bold Pat White Prediction: 500 Yds Rushing, 300 Yds Passing, 3 Touchdowns
Driver of the "DRAFT RAS-I DOWLING IN 2011" bandwagon!!!

by Heater OsE on May 14, 2010 8:15 AM EDT reply actions  

Shawne Merriman?

I heard he might be getting moved around. Any chance we’re persuing him?
Feel like he’d be the perfect fit

by t.shug on May 14, 2010 9:10 AM EDT reply actions  

I don't want Merriman at any price

Well maybe really cheap, but besides the roid, tequila, and blasting JT for winning DPY when Phins don’t make playoffs, he is past his prime , unlike Dansby, I would be surprised to see him post numbers similar to anything he had.

by pj521 on May 14, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

Please no

Knights, Canucks, Dolphins, Jays and Raptors all the way.

by Jevant on May 14, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

Tequila slapper?!

No thanks……..

Adjutant General, Matty Fan Club
64 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"Official draft Koa Misi bus -- the A.J. Duhe of this decade!"

by Alpha6 on May 14, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

is it just me...

or is that “sprint” add just way out of hand?

by dlux2561 on May 14, 2010 9:33 AM EDT reply actions  

be careful

I brought that up a while back and got shouted down. Yes way out of hand.

God is Great,
Beer is good
and people are crazy.

by phyrmun on May 14, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

yea

its rather large….but if it pays sbn’s bills, what can i do?

by Matty I on May 14, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

As long as it keeps things free I am personally ok with it.

"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin
"Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that."-Steve Earle
"I'd rather be a dead Gram Parsons than a live Garth Brooks"-Kinky Friedman
Now riding in First Class on the "DRAFT LaRON BYRD IN 2011" Airbus A380.

by texascowpunk on May 14, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

Good to hear.

"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin
"Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that."-Steve Earle
"I'd rather be a dead Gram Parsons than a live Garth Brooks"-Kinky Friedman
Now riding in First Class on the "DRAFT LaRON BYRD IN 2011" Airbus A380.

by texascowpunk on May 14, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

Bs

I want a cut matty.

Phinsider HOF C/O 2010
Winner of 2 "Matty's" Creator of the "Samory"
When i die, i want to be reincarnated as OFF4L.
"- Lousaka Monster only masturbates to pictures of The Lousaka Monster." --- Rzayo24
13 1/2 phinsider fued points!!!

by MrMedic on May 14, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

same here medic

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

As ThePhinsider’s lead debate and conversation starter I demand a contract extension. I’m thinking along the lines of 5 years-43 mil

Laces out!
-2008 AFC East Champions-
Suck it Pats, Bills and most of all... the god damn jets.
Sean Smith/Vontae Davis= Pat Surtain/Sam Madison
BRANDON MARSHALL- FUTURE MIAMI HOF WR!!!!!

by BSerious72 on May 14, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Gas, grass or ass

… nobody rides free…

Adjutant General, Matty Fan Club
64 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"Official draft Koa Misi bus -- the A.J. Duhe of this decade!"

by Alpha6 on May 14, 2010 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

This is going to be a completely different defense

Then what we saw last year. The dinamic duel (Vontae and Sean) will have a year of expirence, Wake will be a menance and the LBs will be much improved, resulting in better secondary play. Its good to be a fin fan.

Gieco Needs A New Slogan...So Easy A Jets Fan Can Do It LOL

by EverybodyLovesDolphins on May 14, 2010 9:45 AM EDT reply actions  

Zack was better than Dansby

Sorry – but Zack Thomas was better. Sure Dansby had a few more big plays – but who stuffed the RUN all the time ? comparing their first 6 years in the league – thomas also had 2 more INT TD’s… did you forget that ? 810 tackles vs 559 for Dansby ? I suppose you put very little stock in that stat too ?
don’t get me wrong I am REAL HAPPY with Dansby and glad we signed him…. but don’t disresespect the HUGE career ZT had … he did the “dirty work” each and every week.
Zack wasnt asked to rush the passer – and KD was… KD did a good job too, but making plays in the run game EVERY DOWN is pretty important too… I am a HUGE Dansby supporter…. but let’s not minimize what ZT did for this team.

40 Year FIN FAN
DRAFT a #1 WR now.........

by 62Lou on May 14, 2010 10:31 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

He was involved in almost every tackle in every game he played too.. He was an animal !!

Where ever the ball was so was Zach.. He was my 2nd favorite on the team next to Marino. Just wish we had him and JT for all of Marino’s career maybe we would have won a SB or two. The only reason we didn’t is because the D sucked back then.

by 13DolFan23 on May 15, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

Dansby

I want to be optimistic, and I like the signing and the guy, but there’s no guarantee that he’s going to be the same guy he was with Arizona. He’s older, for starters, and coming to a different system.

I still think it’s a great signing, but expectations need to be tempered a bit, I think.

Knights, Canucks, Dolphins, Jays and Raptors all the way.

by Jevant on May 14, 2010 10:42 AM EDT reply actions  

I wanted us to go after him for a long time.

2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.

by Patssuck456 on May 14, 2010 10:55 AM EDT reply actions  

Hey does anybody know when Marshall is

getting a number? Too funny!!

Miami Dolphin fan since 1971. 17-0 fan club. Winningest all-time head coach fan club. Best QB ever fan club.

by madcitydave on May 14, 2010 2:54 PM EDT reply actions  

When Bess breaks

(a new record for selling a number).

(LoL)

by Tunaflipper on May 14, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

LMFAO2

Miami Dolphin fan since 1971. 17-0 fan club. Winningest all-time head coach fan club. Best QB ever fan club.

by madcitydave on May 14, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

well played Tuna, well played...

Bold Pat White Prediction: 500 Yds Rushing, 300 Yds Passing, 3 Touchdowns
Driver of the "DRAFT RAS-I DOWLING IN 2011" bandwagon!!!

by Heater OsE on May 14, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

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