Spence is a solid player with a high motor and a good deal of experience
The NFL Draft is over and the analysts and fans are already evaluating Miami’s draft. The response has been polar opposites of hit and miss.
Reality is no one can fully grade this draft until three years from now… but everyone will put in their two cents anyway.
The two biggest knocks on the Dolphins 2018 Draft were that they didn’t select a QB or DT.
Well, Mike ‘Trader Joe’ Tannenbaum has attempted to fix one of these flaws post draft with the trade for Lions Defensive Tackle Akeem Spence. The price tag for Miami is a backend 2019 Draft Pick, some reports say a 7th Round Pick. His 2018 salary is roughly $2.5 million.
Considering the need for the position and talent acquired for relative peanuts… Not bad.
PFF gave Spence a 76.7 rating for his 2017 Season, which is an average rating. For a comparison, Cameron Wake received an 83.2.
Phinsnews loves PFF, but takes its ratings with a grain of salt.
So, let’s look at the tape:
The film below is a look at Spence in the 3 Technique (when he plays between the Guard and Tackle).
The depth and talent of the DL received a decent shot in the arm
At 6’1′ and 307 lbs, Spence has the advantage of leverage. He displays good burst and strength to go with his leverage advantage. More often than not he can maintain his position in a double team, but one-on-one in the run game is his strength. His one major weakness is his ability to deal with blocks, single or double, coming at an angle as seen in the last two plays. Not sure if this weakness stems from lack of awareness or lack of balance… or both.
The clip below is Spence in the 0-2i Technique (head up over Center through inside shoulder of the Guard).
The theme is similar inside: high effort, scrappy stands against the double. Spence shows he can contribute inside and outside but doesn’t have the talent to be anything more than a rotational player. But in this ‘piece of the puzzle’ role as a run defender, he’s a good addition, especially for the salary and price of his acquisition.
Pass rush isn’t a strength in his skillset. His speed does come in to play– a tad bit– on stunts, his screen recognition is above average, but his lone pass rush move with some pop (as seen in the clip below) is the bull rush. The pay per head services bet Spence will never be a primary factor in the pass rush… but occasionally he does get some push up the middle.
Familiarity played a heavy role in the trade with the Lions
Part of the decision to trade for Spence had to revolve around their new Defensive Line coach.
Terrell Williams was the coach of Miami’s defensive line the last three seasons. But one of the few holdovers from Joe Philbin’s coaching staff was released in favor of DL coach Kris Kocurek.
Kocurek was familiar with Spence and likely lobbied for him. He coached Spence to a career-best season with the Lion in 2017 of 39 Tackles, 3 Sacks, and 1 Forced Fumble. But new H.C. Matt Patricia has the Lions moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, so Spence (and Kocurek) became expendable.
Kocurek wants a heavy rotation on his DL. His philosophy is maximum effort and dogged pursuit. Spence fits this mold with his all-out effort play after play. Spence will stick on the Dolphins 2018 roster, barring an injury, and willbe in the second tier of the DL with Hayes and Taylor… and whoever else makes the roster and practice squad.
Phinsnews likes the player and the move. While this doesn’t fix the Phins issue of a lack of high-end talent at Defensive Tackle, it does add depth and raises the talent floor. The ability to play up and down the line is also a critical factor. Miami’s DT philosophy demands versatility. Now the Dolphins have 3 DT’s with the ability to play all the way from the 0 Tech through 3 Tech. So given everything involved, only the dourest Phins Fan will see this as a negative. Go Phins!!!
