Defense Biggest ‘Must Have’ Going Into Ravens Game

Offense is no longer the primary concern… the Phins defense is.

Against the Ravens, Matt Burke’s defense is the biggest issue that needs to be fixed

Other than inside the Dolphins organization and the most staunch Dolphins fans, the prediction for the 2018 Season is dire. Most of the media outlets and bookie website software providers are predicting the Dolphins will be at the bottom of the barrel this year.

If QB Ryan Tannehill can’t stay healthy, it will be a primary reason for a poor record. But if he can stay healthy, and the O-line can equal, or even better, their play so far this preseason, it will be the defense that determines if Miami has success or not.

The hopes of the fans and franchise rest on Matt Burke and the defense getting their act together fast.

Under Adam Gase, the defense has been terrible. In Gase’s rookie season, with Vance Joseph, the run defense was the worst in Phins history. Last year, with Matt Burke, Kiko Alonso was THE worst cover LB in the NFL by a mile and the defense was ranked 29th in points per game. Interestingly, the Dolphins ranked 14th and 16th in run and pass defense in 2017. So there is hope. And to be fair, they moved Kiko to a new position and suffered from multiple injuries.

Many thought the Offense would be the biggest concern at this point

The 2018 defense lost a huge presence on the inside line in Suh. So the concern is our run defense has the chance to be as bad as 2016. Now the poor play of McMillan in coverage and opposing Tight End’s success has fans fearing that a replay of the ‘Kiko disaster’ of 2017 will get a sequel in 2018.

Worst case scenario: We could have both the weaknesses of 2016 and 2017 at once.

But let’s slow that roll. The ‘Worst case scenario’ is still a ways off.

Miami has shown defensive flashes in Preseason that they didn’t show in 2016 or 2017. So if they can fix a handful of issues and get consistent, the ‘D’ could become a strength.

Our interior D-Line is just part of the problem on defense. Godchaux seems to be in a sophomore slump. Tonight he could go a long way to proving that he’s pulling up from the nose dive.

Godchaux was excellent in 2017 and was expected to be a starter in 2018

The Dolphins Linebackers are still a huge question mark. Thankfully, the pass rush finally looks like it might have serious teeth. Quinn and Wake are looking like the real deal.

Dolphins brass seem to be willing to sink or swim with McMillan

The Linebacking unit has been a problem for many years now. Besides drafting Jerome Baker, the Dolphins stood pat at Linebacker this offseason. Gase seems to be willing to live and die with McMillan in the middle and as a Nickel LB. Baker has shown something in the 2 preseason games, but he’s still a very raw prospect and needs to improve.

Can they both take the steps forward needed and at a fast enough pace?

A primary reason the Dolphins didn’t add additional Linebackers is that 2nd-year player Raekwon McMillan was returning. Beyond his draft grade, he only had limited time with the staff to validate his value. It was a big roll of the dice.

And given his level of play in the last two preseason games, it looks like, at least so far, that isn’t ready to start and make an impact early in 2018. McMillan hasn’t played like starting linebacker.  He looks slow and stiff. It will take top-shelf play diagnosis to overcome these limitations.  From soup to nuts, McMillan needs to show a vast improvement against the Ravens. The good thing is the Ravens will run it inside. So McMillan will get plenty of chances on Saturday to prove he has stepped up. Maybe it will all click and be a Cinderella story? We at Phinsnews like McMillan and hope like hell that he blossoms.

IF Gase is right about McMillan then it will go a long way towards building credibility with fans

It appeared in the Offseason we had a lot of depth at Corner. But Tankersley’s play has gone ‘Titanic’. He had a disaster of a game against the Panthers. He’s not even playing like a quality back up at this point.

On the good side Howard, McCain, and Fitzpatrick are playing excellent.

McCain recently got paid. Sometimes after players get paid their performance declines. So far, McCain looks good on the outside and seems on top of his game.

M.J., “While the pass was caught, McCain’s mirroring in Over Technique is excellent here.”

Also, Lippett is almost back from his battle with injuries. There’s an outside shot he could offer help in the secondary. But it doesn’t seem like Gase is ready to bank on it. Miami has been aggressive in search of a veteran cornerback in Free Agency that would be ready to start day 1. This shows the lack of confidence in Lippett, Tankersley, and the depth at Corner.

Bashaud Breeland and the Phins look like they are on a crash course.

Tonight is a big one. If we can’t stop the pass or the run then it does not matter if Tannehill plays in all 16 games.  It is very difficult to be good with a poor  Defense, especially if the offense is struggling to score touchdowns, convert 3^rd downs, limit penalties.

Defense and discipline at the most needed ingredients for the Dolphins tonight.

Ravens are always tough against the Phins. They can run and pass, and the starters will see at least 2 full Quarters of play. Good play by the defense and some question marks turned to exclamations marks would go a long way toward offering hope for fans in 2018.

What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans thoughts about the Dolphins Defense for this upcoming season?