D-line Looking to Impose their Will

Jimmy Bourbon

9 years ago

Coming into last season one of the biggest strengths on the Dolphins team was their defensive line that consisted of Wake, Vernon, Starks, Odrick, and Mitchell. They started off the season very strong and were even ranked as high as 2^nd best in the entire league against the run at around the halfway mark of the season. However, in the last month and a half of the season, the line wore down and completely disintegrated, and were allowing teams to run at will against them. As a result, the Dolphins made it their top priority this off-season to fix the interior of the defensive line and signed Suh to a record $114 million dollar contract. If that was not enough they also used their second-round pick on DT Phillips and just signed DT Mosley to add even more beef to their line.

Once again entering mini-camp, the Dolphins appear extremely strong at the defensive line position. On paper they should have one of the best D-lines in the entire league, however being the best on paper is not good enough, and one must prove it on the field to truly be considered the best.

The Miami Dolphins news from Tuesday had a report with Suh talking about this team where he was very candid about his expectations for the Dolphins defensive line by saying “we can be an actual great team on the football field, go out there and impose our will, force offenses to not do what they want to do and get outside their box and give the ball to back to our offense.” Suh is not just talking but has been extremely aggressive and productive at practice already. Just on alone Tuesday he had 1 sack and 2 tackles for a loss and is proving to be very difficult for Miami’s offensive linemen to block. Suh is putting his money where his mouth is, and is already playing at a level that speaks louder than words.

Cameron Wake, who is the most veteran member of the defensive line unit, with 6 years on the team, has also noticed a difference this off-season, compared to years past and said “I probably could say this is the year I’ve noticed the most optimism, you look around the room with the guys, and everybody is hungry.” He was speaking about the entire team, but if his unit can play to their potential, then they could have the most to say about whether or not the Dolphins finally make the playoffs this season.

Some of the boys at the pay per head bookie service sites like AcePerHead.com say that the Defensive Line is the most important part of the entire Defense because they are the front line in regards to both stopping the run and the pass. If the Defensive line is getting a good push and clogging possible running lanes, then the opponent is going to have an extremely difficult time developing a running game against them. If an offense can not run against the Dolphins, then they will be forced to become one dimensional and rely on passing the ball. If the D-line can then have the luxury to tee off on the QB, then this will also make it difficult for the QB to have time to throw the ball and hurt the back end of the defense through the air. Also if the QB has less time to throw the ball, then cornerbacks will have an easier time staying with and covering receivers.

Once again on paper the Defensive line looks poised to be the strength of our defense, but this year they need to prove it for a complete 16 games. I believe with Suh anchoring the middle, the Dolphins D-line is going to have more of a killer instinct and will not only be able to finish off games for our team, but be able to finish off the season for our team. What does the rest of the Miami Dolphins fans think about whether or not our Defensive Line can impose their will against opposing offenses?

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