Beyond Suh Defensive Tackle Might Be A Need
Defensive Tackle is a tough spot for the 2017 Dolphins – close to being filled, but not close enough.
Dolphins Defensive Tackle Phillips could make the unit whole…then again, he could not.
The Miami Dolphins greatest area of improvement in 2017 must be in stopping their opponent’s running game.
Miami’s run defense has been a huge problem for the last two seasons. And in 2015, it sank to new lows as the 30th ranked rush defense, allowing an average of 140.4 yards per game with 4.8 yards per attempt.
Can you say terrrribblle!
We all know Miami needs to add two more talented linebackers, which would certainly improve the run defense.
However, the run defense starts with the defensive line.
Miami needs to find a starter next to Suh and a back-up behind them.
Earl Mitchell battled injuries last season and might not be resigned next year as his sticker price is high at 4 million and isn’t commensurate with his injury-riddled production.
Jordan Phillips played very well and also disappeared. So much talent, but you can’t build around potential. Phillips is still on his Rookie contract, so there is no reason to let him go, but you can’t base a whole season around his play. At worst, he’s a good and cheap back-up.
Miami still needs a certain starter who is talented and consistent to start in the likely case that Phillips once again has an inconsistent season.
Or I guess, they could go with a pay per head bookie service and roll the dice on Phillips.
The quandary is can they afford to spend a high draft pick or big bucks on the DT spot, given all Miami’s other needs? And as the Devil’s Advocate would say, can you afford not to and have another season wasted because the defense is a doormat?
Defensive Tackle is the foundation of a defense.
The top of the list in regards to FA DT’s would be former Carolina Panther DT Kawann Short. Short has played in the league for the past 4 years, and he has not missed a game. He has tallied 180 tackles, 22 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries. Considering that Short is a DT, these numbers are very impressive, especially the sack numbers. Last season, he had 17 QB hurries and was one of the top run defenders in the league. Pro Football Focus ranks him as one of the top 5 run defenders in the NFL.
But, can you say HUGE contract! His price might be prohibitive if the Fins want to retain cap responsible.
Guys like Nick Fairley and Brandon Williams would be talented second tier guys, but each has his short comings and would cost a big chunk of change. They could always go down the ladder in price and talent for a stop gap, but there isn’t much certainty that Miami’s issues with the interior line would be resolved.
The 2017 NFL Draft has most of the top DT talent coming from 3-4 schemes and that, as well as being a rookie, would off uncertainty about their production on the NFL level. Also, as with most young DT’s, they need a few years to build their strength to handle vets with ‘man power’. Likely a young DT wouldn’t offer much help this year.
So, despite all Miami’s other off season issues, the interior line will likely be one of the tougher challenges facing the Mike Tannebaum and Chris Grier. But, if you build a palace on a bad foundation, no matter how pretty it looks, it won’t last long. So they’d better get it right if they want to succeed in 2017. Go Fins!!!
Me no like the new layout. I don’t mind change, once on the site, have no clue as to which is the current topic, is there a new one, if so which? No way to tell if anyone posted, responded, etc. Why the change?
Here is a good piece for our own Cam Wake; Congratulations
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-pffs-2016-nfl-season-award-winners/
Just got a chance to look at it…Wake should have won…Jordy is younger and Achilles is a worse injury. I hope next year Miami has more players up there than that. Wake did amazing and I think he can go one more at that level.
…what is up with the new layout? …I have to open a page now to see who has commented lately?
👎👎👎
it was a surprise to me…still trying to figure it out myself…
Yeah, you’re right…I’ll talk to Jimmy to see if he can fix it.
got the ball rolling.
fixed…thanks Lemmus!
I completely disagree with your premise that “the run defense starts with the D line”. Semantics aside, run defense is achieved with LBers not DL. Pass rush is achieved w DL. In run D, the DL primary responsibility is gap integrity which frees up LBers to make tackles. This is not to say DLmen arent responsible to stop the run, the primary role for LBers is to stop the run. This is one of the benefits of running a 3-4 D alignment, not to mention creative pass rushing schemes.
I wish the Fins ran a 3-4 but due to lack of LB talent they cant.
Fins’ weakness against the run blame is placed on LBers, not DL.
Well, “In run D, the DL primary responsibility is gap integrity which frees up LBers to make tackles.” that would lend credence to my statement. If you have linemen blocking LB’s you will have a long day in run stop. DT’s / NT’s backed by MLB / ILB’s control the center of the field. If the O controls that real estate the D is in for a long day. Saying it starts with the D’s doesn’t mean they make all the tackles, a MLB getting C’s or G’s in his face all day will not be a pleasant film study by said MLB or DC…
“Fins’ weakness against the run blame is placed on LBers, not DL.” edge wasn’t contained by DE’s — that was why Williams and Jones fell in the depth chart, also DT’s were pushed off the ball too often — Suh included by the end of the season. Zach thrived under the concept he was allowed to roam semi-free…that happened because the DL occupied the OL. Bowens and Gardener…miss them.
“This is not to say DLmen arent responsible to stop the run, the primary role for LBers is to stop the run.” and this “Semantics aside” is the meeting point. ‘Starting ‘means the plate is being set, LB’s clean it up. Maybe it wasn’t clear enough…I and Jimmy will be more explicit next time.
” This is one of the benefits of running a 3-4 D alignment, not to mention creative pass rushing schemes” Couldn’t agree more, but that NT is a hard find.
First time I may actually agree with Freak. Wow, what a “freaky” beginning to the off season.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/sig-stats-run-stop-percentage-interior-dl/
Admin, you know I am a PFF guy, as I think they are as legit as they come for what they do. There is some merit to it. However; if I had a choice between top 5 D-Linemen(s) (Interior) or top 5 LBer(s), give me the LBers all day and twice on Sunday. The last 5 Super Bowl Champions are as follows: Denver = Strength LBers, Patriots = Strength LBers (Patriots have ALWAYS had good LBers defensively, the rest are roll players), Seattle = Strength LBers (not including backend), Ravens = Strength LBers, Giants = Strength D-Line. I just feel that it is easier to mask a weaker D-Line w great LBers opposed to weaker LBers and a great D-Line. I like Suh and want him here, but for me I’m pay 60 million for a top 3 LBer instead of a top 3 D Tackle, I just think it is easier to game plan around.
This is all personal preference, some coaches may prefer one opposed to the other, but I must tell you that seems like great LBers are always winning. For instance look at the Rams of 2016, everyone has their Tackle tandem of Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers ranked as the top 3, yet they as a team ranked 16th against the run. I guess maybe because we have Suh but we also have the weakest group of LBers in the league is why I feel so.
Told myself I wasn’t going to do it, but ah what the heck; GO FALCONS!!!
I view DL as the OL. : They set the table for the skill positions. Best QB w/ no line = no good. DL and OL are the foundation for the skill players to reach their heights. DL is more often out shined by the glory boys of the DBs and LB’s in stats, but the trenches is where football is won or lost…it all starts in the trenches. If the trenches are successful the skills shine. This is my opinion, but would I take an LB or DT of equal value, it would be a DT. Now, if I had solid, but not stellar DT core, then the LB. But, a great LB with terrible DT core or even worse a terrible NT, while they would produce in coverage and make tackles, they’d suffer greatly and you’d have to upgrade your DL to get star play from a star LB. Especially the MLB, a LB without a quality DL is comparable to a QB without a good OL. Also of the Rams issues were terrible O’s that put them in terrible situation over and over with them being on the field for drive after drive. It’s not to say one can dominate without the other. Football IS the ultimate team game. It’s simply that a play starts at the trenches and is the foundation of a play. Would I want to live in a S-box on a awesome foundation…no, but it would be better than living in an awesome house on a crumbling foundation — and easier to fix. Just my take brother.
just found this doing some research on the inner working of the 3-4…a quote from Nick Saban who was very influenced by Belichick:
“In all situations, we will defend the inside or middle of the field first – defend inside to outside. Against the run, we will not allow the ball to be run inside. We want to force the ball outside.” Nick Saban in a discourse on his Defensive philosophy.
…sigh …shakes head …breaks out calculator …which quikly overloads and fries
…there are only so many bucks for FAs
…we MUST have two starting Guards and there are none in this draft
…we MUST have two starting LBs and both FA and the draft are loaded
…we MUST have one starting DE, two of you think Wake will go downhill from here
…that’s 5/6 starters that we MUST have
…THEN and only then do we start looking at NEEDs …including DT and TE
…there are other positions where the need is just as great as it is at DT if a starter goes down …Safety comes immediately to mind
…just my opinion of course …firmly held 🙂
…more and more I think we’re going to see Tannebaum sign one year do or die contracts …aka Alonzo, Williams, and Arians …that are cheap “show me” types
…just don’t see any other way he’s going to cover all the needs after the MUSTs are addressed (hopefully)
…hate to see it but just don’t think it’s possible otherwise
I agree with most Lemmus, but there are three MUST needs RG and MLB / SLB and DE…Albert could stay although he’d be an expensive 2nd tier LT with injury history…he’d miss his 2-4 games, but we could survive that and Tunsil could suck up the LG /LT. But, we MUST have one more LG. Alonso and one other excellent LB could work as well. Patriots did it with two good LB’s and one steady Eddie. Same could be said with this DT situation. But, basically we have Wake and that’s it. I’m not a fan of Branch as an every down guy…and that’s likely the money he’ll want. Also, given Wakes age you must get a DE in here who is young to start the replacement process. 1 DE, 1 LB and 1 RG of quality is a MUST and the remainder is a STRONG need. Just filling those 3 must with talented players will be quite hard and that’s not including the needs. You so right about 1 year prove it deals and scrap heaps and long shot being needed to fill holes. The Carroo picks could haunt Miami if he doesn’t become a star and they dont ace this draft. This is one heck of a crucial off season.