Despite talent lost, Phins defense will be better in 2019
The Phins defense last season was terrible… just about the worst defense in the NFL.
This has been the trend for years.
In the 2013 Season, Miami moved on from presenting a flexible defensive front and went to a 43 scheme. After moving on from a hybrid 3-4 / 4-3 Defense, simplistic rigidity, along with diminished talent, has created some of the worst Dolphins defenses in team history.
Tom Olivadotti eat your heart out.
I expect Brian Flores to change this… but will he? And how long will it take to see tangible results? Two years? Three years?
The hope for many fans is a positive change will be obvious this year. But losing Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn from a ‘talent-deficient’ defense has many fans wondering if this will be the case.
Addition by subtraction: the defense was held back by a combination of factors
While there’s no doubt that talent is a major factor in football success, how that talent is used makes or breaks it, except in the most extreme case.
Hall of Fame players can find success in negative environments. But long-term team success can only be achieved through the teamwork of eleven players in a quality system.
The combination of a lack of talent and nuance, poor coaching, and weak offensive production has been the recipe to the Phins defensive flops.
Check out our thorough breakdown of the Dolphins run defense from last season’s game against the Texans here… if you can stomach the refresher.
So what will change in 2019 compared to 2018?
First, let’s set a baseline with the Dolphins defensive ranking in 2018:
Rush Defense: 31st allowing 145.3 yards per game on the ground
Points Allowed: 27th in points with 27.1 per game
Pass Yards: 21st 245.8 yards allowed through the air
Total Yards Per Game: 29th with 391.1 yards given up every game
Forced Fumbles: 25th with 11 strips of the ball
Interceptions: tied 13th with three teams with 13 pick
Sacks: Tied for 5th with 3 three teams with 52 QB takedowns
Consider the Dolphins rankings in 2018. Obviously, the stat that kicks you where the ‘sun don’t shine’ is Run Defense. The compounding negative value of such an incompetent run defense is profound. It’s surprising that Miami didn’t rank worse in the other defensive categories.
Miami will improve in run defense this year for several reasons, and when they do, it will enhance every other aspect of the defense.
Reasons why this defense will improve their run stop
Scrapping the Wide 9 concept as the scheme foundation will make a world of difference
Scheme flexibility because the base concept now is the Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4
2-Gap responsibility is a primary technique v.s. last year’s upfield penetration
Opposing Offenses must prepare for diverse looks
Size upgrade on players in the box
Players limitations won’t be exposed to job assignments
Bend but don’t break philosophy will limit big runs
Use of Big Nickel will limit RPOs and maximize Miami’s talented Safety group
The influx of talent along the D-line (hopefully)
Better coaching
After watching most of the Patriots defensive snaps from last season, they weren’t dominant, but they dominated key downs, grew over the season, played smart and consistent.
An example of their intelligent adaptability, the Pats opened the 2018 Season against the Texans with a 3-3-5 base to deal with the mobility of Deshaun Watson and went with a 4-2-5 to defend against the Zone Stretch run game of the Rams in the Super Bowl.
Talk about using the right tool for the job.
This wasn’t an ultra-talented defensive unit. The Pats were ranked 11th against the run, 22nd against the pass, but 7th in points allowed.
Run defense was a major factor in putting the defense in good situations.
While I don’t expect similar rankings in 2019 in run defense and point allowed, adjustments in philosophy, technique, concepts, and scheme will pay dividends over the course of the season.
The Wide 9 with the talent Miami had and a raw Defensive Coordinator was an awful recipe. By changing the formula to a competent one, Miami will return to a competent defense this season. Will it get better than that? Now that’s the great unknown. Let’s hope. Go Phins!!!
Defenses are good because they have athletic and football smart personnel. The Dolphins have some people that fit this bill but not everyone measures up. The secondary is in better shape from a personnel standpoint than linebacker. The DL is not blessed with either. The lack of LB material is the greatest problem. We barely can field three acceptable linebackers, let alone a fourth. 3-4 OLB’s are not just tweeners, they are true linebackers capable of coverage and pass rushing. Besides, only Kiko Alanso, the dumbest starter we have, is a bone crushing tackler. 3-4 DL starts with a nose tackle, not a DT but a real nose guy. Our DT’s are more suited for the 3-4 DE positions because these are really def. Tackles that can get off the ball and pressure the QB while containing him.These two assist the NT by reducing those double teams on him. The Dolphins cupboard is bare. a base 4-3 might be attainable in some mediocre fashion this year.
Just remember, we are not tanking – we are rebuilding but of course we don’t want to make fans think we are going to suck so we will call it building for the future! ARE WE THAT STUPID?
Sorry for the delay, but was under a little burnout.
With this D scheme, consistency, intelligence, and discipline are more crucial than raw talent. Obviously, some physical talent is required, Van. But these D’s are based on winning over the long run or the game and on critical downs. They give up yards but limit the run and points. They will run a load of big nickel and 4 lb’s are rare in the scheme. I think you be surprised how some borderline player will perform when they are given limited and specific duties. If Miami can pick Lawrence for example, they will have solved a ton of problem. I think they can even just add a NT who is a 2 downer in the 4-5th. There are some good ones there if they miss or go elsewhere than Lawrence. They will use Elephant as the 4th LBs quite a bunch and use the big nickel for compensation. They also use big dimes a lot too. IF they are near as competent and creative as the Pats, expect a big difference on D with only a few changes. Not taking Top 10, but I could see them move up 10-12 rankings this year on D. We’ll run some 4-3, some 3-4 some 3-3-5, A lot of big nickel, some 2-3-6 (big dime)… it will be more interesting than you expect. Watching all the D snaps in NE and as disgusting as it sounds… it was fun. Of course that IF is still a long ways off.
Defenses are good because they have athletic and football smart personnel. The Dolphins have some people that fit this bill but not everyone measures up. The secondary is in better shape from a personnel standpoint than linebacker. The DL is not blessed with either. The lack of LB material is the greatest problem. We barely can field three acceptable linebackers, let alone a fourth. 3-4 OLB’s are not just tweeners, they are true linebackers capable of coverage and pass rushing. Besides, only Kiko Alanso, the dumbest starter we have, is a bone crushing tackler. 3-4 DL starts with a nose tackle, not a DT but a real nose guy. Our DT’s are more suited for the 3-4 DE positions because these are really def. Tackles that can get off the ball and pressure the QB while containing him.These two assist the NT by reducing those double teams on him. The Dolphins cupboard is bare. a base 4-3 might be attainable in some mediocre fashion this year.
Just remember, we are not tanking – we are rebuilding but of course we don’t want to make fans think we are going to suck so we will call it building for the future! ARE WE THAT STUPID?
Sorry for the delay, but was under a little burnout.
With this D scheme, consistency, intelligence, and discipline are more crucial than raw talent. Obviously, some physical talent is required, Van. But these D’s are based on winning over the long run or the game and on critical downs. They give up yards but limit the run and points. They will run a load of big nickel and 4 lb’s are rare in the scheme. I think you be surprised how some borderline player will perform when they are given limited and specific duties. If Miami can pick Lawrence for example, they will have solved a ton of problem. I think they can even just add a NT who is a 2 downer in the 4-5th. There are some good ones there if they miss or go elsewhere than Lawrence. They will use Elephant as the 4th LBs quite a bunch and use the big nickel for compensation. They also use big dimes a lot too. IF they are near as competent and creative as the Pats, expect a big difference on D with only a few changes. Not taking Top 10, but I could see them move up 10-12 rankings this year on D. We’ll run some 4-3, some 3-4 some 3-3-5, A lot of big nickel, some 2-3-6 (big dime)… it will be more interesting than you expect. Watching all the D snaps in NE and as disgusting as it sounds… it was fun. Of course that IF is still a long ways off.