Miami Dolphins Defense Remaining a Hybrid 3-4 Scheme

by Kevin Nogle on Feb 17, 2012 9:39 PM EST in 2012 Miami Dolphins News

Despite Miami's 3-4 defensive scheme, linebacker Cameron Wake is often found in a three point stance on the defensive line. Look for the Dolphins to continue the hybrid scheme next year.

With the Miami Dolphins' recent coaching regime change, many expected the Dolphins to change from the base 3-4 defensive scheme utilized under previous defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to a 4-3 scheme. But, according to new DC Kevin Coyle, that's not where the Dolphins are headed.

"The days of saying we're going to line up and play a 4-3 or a 3-4 are somewhat distant right now in terms of the way the game has evolved," said Coyle told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"Keeping the quarterback off-balance, through pressure, through coverage, through disguises, will enable your guys to have more opportunity to make plays. There will be elements of both packages."

In fact the Dolphins are leaning toward remaining a 3-4 base defense - if you want to call it that. The Dolphins actually ran a four man defensive front, with Cameron Wake joining the defensive line with his hand in the dirt, more than any other formation last year.

Miami actually has the flexibility to utilize either scheme. Despite the fact that the Dolphins are not expected to resign Pro Bowl nose tackle Paul Soliai, the team could flex Randy Starks back to the nose tackle position. Starks played there to start the 2010 season, before injuries to the line forced him to move back to defensive end, giving Soliai the nose tackle position.

Wake, despite his being listed as an outside linebacker, is primarily a pass rusher, having been a defensive end in the Canadian Football League prior to joining the Dolphins. Jared Odrick and Tony McDaniel, the other defensive lineman currently on the roster, have both also played in a 4-3 scheme.

Coyle seems happy to keep the team listed as a 3-4 base defense, but will keep the flexibility already in place in Miami. Now the team just needs to find the pass rusher to pair opposite Wake, whether that's with his hand in the dirt, or standing up with the linebackers.

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If we stay in the 3-4...

first, we need to resign Soliai regardless. Secondly, that would set us up to draft Melvin Ingram at 8/9.

aka "The Duke"
Proponent of I-AA Football
Captain of the Draft Brian Quick Bandwagon
Captain of the Titan, a warship in the Draft Robert Griffin III Fleet
Occupy Joe Robbie

by The Earl on Feb 17, 2012 10:01 PM EST reply actions

Soliai sucks

Why do we NEED to resign him?

We had [Brady] down… but we didn’t kick him. We helped him up and gave him a PowerPuff Girls band-aid for his knee. What exactly did you expect would happen when we did that?

by Jason Scott_90 on Feb 18, 2012 8:03 AM EST up reply actions

i am..

really just getting excited with the direction we have gone and are going

by finsfan1331 on Feb 17, 2012 10:06 PM EST reply actions

A few of Odrick's sacks came out of a 4-3

The sack on Grossman had Odrick at DT and the sack on Fitzpatrick had Odrick at DE (with Starks and Soliai as DTs)

Just some fun facts. Make of it what you will.

"The first thing I do when I get out of bed and feel the jolt in my knees is think of Roy Winston. On the second step, my calcified Adam's apple starts bobbing, and I think of Carl Eller. A few more steps in the dark and it's Willie Lanier. By the time I get to the bathroom, I'm flashing back to Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke. And when the light finally comes on, I just hope that somewhere in the darkness they're thinking of me, too" - Larry Csonka.
He played before my time but one of the toughest SOBs to ever play!

by Strange on Feb 17, 2012 10:14 PM EST reply actions

Incredible how an answer just raises more questions.

What about Soliai? What about Langford? Where will we get depth at NT? Who will be the OLB opposite wake?

Interesting off season coming.

Alumni, Ball So Hard U.
Jake Long laughs at bull rushes, swings, and dips.
Ph.D. in Applied Jest Statistics.

by Phinatics on Feb 17, 2012 10:22 PM EST reply actions

I think we should resign Soliai and Langford, though Odrick could probably start in place of Langford

Melvin Ingram should be the starting OLB opposite Wake.

aka "The Duke"
Proponent of I-AA Football
Captain of the Draft Brian Quick Bandwagon
Captain of the Titan, a warship in the Draft Robert Griffin III Fleet
Occupy Joe Robbie

by The Earl on Feb 17, 2012 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

Big money right there

I want to keep Langford, but Soliai might be the issue if he demands too much. May need to look at Poe or Tamau in the draft.

The addition of Ingram could make this one of the most ferocious front 7s in football.

Again, interesting stuff coming.

Alumni, Ball So Hard U.
Jake Long laughs at bull rushes, swings, and dips.
Ph.D. in Applied Jest Statistics.

by Phinatics on Feb 17, 2012 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

Poe and Ta'amu would be good choices

aka "The Duke"
Proponent of I-AA Football
Captain of the Draft Brian Quick Bandwagon
Captain of the Titan, a warship in the Draft Robert Griffin III Fleet
Occupy Joe Robbie

by The Earl on Feb 17, 2012 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

The Salami Schwami is here to answer all. My crystal ball has all the answers and even more questions.

What about Soliai?

He is going, going, gone. He isn’t worth $8+ million and someone else will give him that.

What about Langford?

He will be re-signed for the next 3-4 seasons.

Where will we get depth at NT?

Round 7 / UDFA

Who will be the OLB opposite wake?

Melvin Ingram

QUESTIONS:
-Is it April Yet?
-Has anyone seen my other sock?

NY Jets = NFL's Chicago Cubs

There's a fine line between hopeful and desperate. Just look @ Jets fans.

by TheFinReaper on Feb 18, 2012 12:43 AM EST up reply actions

Hell throw me the powerball numbers if you can get that off your crystal ball

I wouldn’t bat an eye if Soliai left. I really want to keep Langford, really like him as a player. Depth at NT is tricky. We picked up Kearse last year and he was signed off the PS. Would love the Ingram pick.

Alumni, Ball So Hard U.
Jake Long laughs at bull rushes, swings, and dips.
Ph.D. in Applied Jest Statistics.

by Phinatics on Feb 18, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

I just love the picture with the post.

No wonder Brady gets so much time, and you know that there was no holding call on the play.

Are the voices in my head starting to bother you too?

by Northern Fin Fan on Feb 17, 2012 10:49 PM EST reply actions

That was that opening game

They kept talking about how great a job Solder was doing. Meanwhile, I was screaming my head off because he held him on nearly every play… God I hate the Patriots.

Alumni, Ball So Hard U.
Jake Long laughs at bull rushes, swings, and dips.
Ph.D. in Applied Jest Statistics.

by Phinatics on Feb 17, 2012 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

So right. Wasnt really brought up much either. Having a couple holding calls on a rookie could have changed the whole game, instead he was made to look like Orlando Pace instead of the nervous, holding tackle he was out there against wake

by Corners on Feb 18, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

Soliai is as good as gone, he isn't good enough to warrant the money he is demanding.

Run with Starks and add depth in the draft etc. We have far bigger (pun intended) issues than depth at NT.

Can we just wheel Shula onto the field at the start of ever game being pushed by one of the Miami Cheerleaders? Talk about mixing fear and distraction...

by Hollywood Dolfan on Feb 17, 2012 11:39 PM EST reply actions

I have to agree with you on that one

I can’t see us giving him 6,8 10 or 12 Million a year.

"I likem me some UDFAs"

You can never get enough Bush!

by Phintastic on Feb 18, 2012 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

and hes not even close to as talented as the Ravens NT. At least their NT makes sacks and plays behind the scrimmage, while also taking up his blocking duties.

by Corners on Feb 18, 2012 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

I hate to say this, but I'd like to see a Joe Kleco type... Robo Joe....

A woman is an occasional pleasure but a cigar is always a smoke.
- Groucho Marx
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. -H.L. Mencken.
"Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it."
"The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who have tattoos, and those who are afraid of people with tattoos."

by Alpha6 on Feb 17, 2012 11:56 PM EST reply actions

Starks will play NT in the 3-4 scheme

Miami has no choice but to let Soliai walk

Wish we could sim this season

by biggaandbadda on Feb 18, 2012 4:53 AM EST reply actions

I can see us drafting a young DT in the draft...maybe even in the 2nd

aka...Jason laKdog
Contributing writer to The Phinsider

"Kdog will make a Fanshot out of it. Before there’s even a report. And no one will know how."-Mosul
Winner of The Davone Bess Little Guy Award, 2010

by Kdog92 on Feb 18, 2012 9:22 AM EST up reply actions

Last year Miami couldn't really generate pressure from 3-4 so they needed to use 4-3 a lot.

by Irishphan on Feb 18, 2012 5:50 AM EST reply actions

I'm calling it

Odrick will be our best Defensive Lineman this year

get ready for some pee-wee

aka...Jason laKdog
Contributing writer to The Phinsider

"Kdog will make a Fanshot out of it. Before there’s even a report. And no one will know how."-Mosul
Winner of The Davone Bess Little Guy Award, 2010

by Kdog92 on Feb 18, 2012 9:22 AM EST reply actions

I don't devalue Soliai as much as some of the other guys here...

But the fact is, he and his agent are looking for better than Vince Wilfork money.

Think about that. Wilfork is an 4x All Pro and Pro Bowler, and Soliai’s agent, with a straight face, has said Soliai deserves an even better salary based on really 1 season total of solid work from Soliai. Soliai didn’t start all of the 2010 season and frankly wasn’t dominant in the 2011 season until later in the year, so he has maybe 16 or so games of dominant play, following years of underachieving with poor effort and discipline. Soliai only made the Pro-Bowl as an alternate this year because Haloti Ngata didn’t play.

I wouldn’t put it past Soliai to pull a Albert Haynesworth if he gets an enormous contract, and that would cripple our team for years. I prefer Starks as a DE, but as many have mentioned, our team only plays in a true 3-4 formation for something like 1/3 of defensive snaps, so I can’t really justify an enormous price tag for Soliai, and we need to find a way to get Jared Odrick on the field more given the clear pass-rushing ability he’s demonstrated. I say QB via free agency, Melvin Ingram 1st round, RT second round to compete with Jerry and Murtha, and NT 3rd round. Rounds 4-7 will be devoted to depth at S, CB, and OL.

by MartinH04 on Feb 18, 2012 9:52 AM EST reply actions

drafting de, rt and nt first 3 rounds would doom our secondary, which needs help. We need a play maker at safety or cb.

by Corners on Feb 18, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

Our base Def will still be a 3 - 4

Wake / Odrck / Starks will be our D-line with Couples / Ingram as our hybrid pass rusher.
If we take Couples, then Wake will be our hybrid pass rusher.
Our LBs will be Dansby & Burnett with either Misi / Spilter as our cover guy.
Lankford will provide depth for our D-line or start if our rookies can’t.

Solai will be gone for salary cap considerations.

by Elzabar on Feb 18, 2012 10:28 AM EST reply actions

This makes no sense

Putting Wake as 3-4 DE is waste of his talents. The 3-4 DE lines up in a 3 technique, outside the guard… which is an interior DL position. With Wake’s speed and strength he needs to rush the outside.
2nd point. Spitler looks like a cover guy, yes, but he can’t be a 3-4 OLB, at this point in his career. He hasn’t shown much to play the edge, as an OLB needs to do. If this team is going to stay in a 3-4 defense, then NT is a big position and Soliai is the best option there IMO.

The Fins have a ton of 3-4 DE’s Odrick, Starks, Langford, Merling, Daniels… but only one 3-4 NT… Soliai. I think the Fins need to show a base 4-3 with some 3-4 played in on passing downs, because if Soliai doesn’t stay there isn’t a two gap player to plug the run in the middle.

The Patriots Suck

by k2oconnor on Feb 18, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Sign Mario Williams

Besides QB this would be my second priority. He is one of the best defensive players in the business and he also can play DE in a 4-3 or LB in a 3-4. This guy is worth the money. Signing him would prevent both the Jets and Patriots from signing him. Our front seven would be awesome with his addition. Ireland would have to restructure some contracts but I believe that it would be worth it.

by sundevil11 on Feb 18, 2012 2:12 PM EST reply actions