Options at Defensive Tackle
There is no secret that the Dolphins‘ rush defense pulled a Houdini trick at the end of the season and disappeared. If you were to zero in on one thing that ruined the Dolphins’ chances of making the playoffs this season, then stopping the run in the last 6 games would probably be it. The Dolphins must make this a top priority this off-season.
For starters, the Dolphins must decide what they are going to do with Starks and Odrick, but even if they decide to re-sign both players, which I highly doubt they will, Miami still needs to find another big-bodied DT. Last week we looked at the idea of making a full-court push for Suh, I still would love Miami to make that move and hope they do, but the reality is that if Miami does sign Suh, then they pretty much do not have any more money left to go after other free agents at positions of need. Most bookie software fans would bet that Miami will take the conservative approach and look to spread out their cap space on more than one player at a variety of different positions. If that is the case, then Miami needs to have a backup plan at the DT position, and fortunately for them, there are a few decent DT options in this year’s upcoming free-agency period.
Terrance Knighton from the Denver Broncos, who helped Denver become the second-best team against the run with 30 tackles and 2 sacks will hit the market. According to Pro Football Focus, he stopped 22 run plays in 528 snaps. He was very solid against the run, however, he was more of a rotational player for Denver, so I personally would rather go after a player that has more experience being an every-down player.
Dan Williams from the Arizona Cardinals, who was on one of the best defenses in the league will hit the free-agent market and the Cardinals will already be $13 million over the cap when the new year begins, so it is going to be tough for them to afford a player of Williams‘ caliber. Williams was a first-round pick out of Tennessee, and he was a player that many draft pundits thought Miami should have selected. He finished last season with 32 tackles and 1 sack, but the thing that stands out the most about Williams is that he routinely demands two players to block him. That is something that Miami is lacking, and would then free up space for their other talented lineman. Williams is a true Nose Tackle and would be a player that Miami should highly consider looking at if they do not want to break the bank on Suh.
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Nick Fairley from the Detroit Lions who is teammates with Suh, and is an interesting case. He has loads of talent but often needs motivation. He was a stud when Auburn won the National Championship but has been hot and cold in the NFL. Last season the Lions declined his fifth-year option and left him on a one-year show-me deal and even though he suffered a season-ending injury in week 8, he was having a monster season. He had 17 QB pressures in only 297 snaps. He is a high risk according to the best bookmaker software, high reward type of player, because of his injury and works ethic history, but there is no denying that he is a talented player, there just might be too many red flags to use valuable cap space on him.
If I had to pick out of these three players I would go with Dan Williams, mainly because he is the type of player that demands double teams, and would shore up space for other players on defense to make plays. Who does the rest of the Phins fans prefer if we do not try and get Suh?
I am not a fan of Suh, he is troublesome and too expensive for my taste. Anyway what has he done for Detroit? Are they in the SB?
Detroit had the best run defense in the league, by a astounding 10/yds per game better than the 2nd place team (Denver). A direct result of Shu. Quick name another defender on Detroits team,,,, thats right you can’t!, enough said. Shu is a game changer, a guy you must game plan for. A lot of coin to get him, he would be worth every penny with this particular defense.
And “no”, Detroit in not in the Super Bowl (thanks to their offense), but they were in the playoffs, and you have to be in it to win it, been forever since we were in the playoffs. Shu puts us in the conversation and the mix right from the start next year regardless what else happens.
A young Tanny, a young Laundry, and a young Shu, this team will be there each and every year for a while.
Ross needs to do whatever it takes, Shu brings instant credibility and excitement to a mediocre team year in and year out.
Sounds Great but Facts are the Fins cannot afford many top FA!
Dolphins trade out of the 14th to 21st or 22nd for D/T in 1st Goldman or Brown.
The Fins would need to get a second round pick if not a third pick can this happen for this trade back?
I don’t think Perryman will be around for the 78th pick. They would need to take him in the second round or trade from 38th to 63rd take him then?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cv696_2014-official-highlights-miami-lb-denzel-perryman_sport
I have watch the other line backers don’t think the value is there!
Hickey will not sign a big name expensive DT. They had one and didn’t resign him, remember Solai?
Fins will take an affordable body to plug into the rotation and sign one of the DTs on the roster now.
The Fins D has so many holes that signing a Suh would make very little difference in the outcome of the games (win loss record).
Fins should trade Wallace for a decent pick, trade down from 14 for additional pick, and load up on D players and OLmen.
Until they fix the trenches nothing will change.
Sorry, but I have to disagree. Shu on this team would have put us in the playoffs the last 2 years. He’s that kind of a player. Look it up!
I agree, just look at the Lions they had the best run defense in the league
I would prefer Dan Williams. Suh is great, but I agree he would be too expensive and the Dolphins still need to get a solid FA OG, plus another veteran CB to play opposite Grimes. Not sure Jamar Taylor and the others are quite up to the job yet. By selecting Williams, Knighton, or Farley, the Dolphins would move Earl Mitchell to DT from NT. Mitchell is athletic and quick, and I think this would prove to be a very solid interior. The Dolphins also need to push hard for Tom Tupati RG from San Fran. Tupati is a pro bowl RG, solid in pass protection and a “road-grader” as a run blocker. One of the best in the league. This team main problem is the lack of strong physical play at the interior line position on both defense and offense. Draft at #14 the MLB in College and at some point, draft a “bell-cow” beast at RB to compliment Lamar Miller. Playoff teams are in the playoffs because they win 10 games or more. They do this by stopping the run and running the football in the 4th quarter. The Dolphins need this toughness to accomplish both. When we can stop the run and run the ball with power and effectiveness in the 4th quarter, the playoffs will be ours. I would also love to hear from my fellow Fins Fans regarding the return of non-return of Mike Wallace. Do you think he will be traded, or will he return in 2015? I would welcome your thoughts and comments. Happy New Year to all, and go FINS!!!
Wallace will not be traded, not that Miami will not try to trade him (they will shop him), but the league wise feeling is that Wallace will get cut anyways (if not traded). Similar to DeSean Jackson of Philly last year. I know we need LBer help, Corner help. However, I would like to get a WR in the first round. At #14 we could end up with one of the top 3 WRs, White, Parker, Cooper!
I am a big supporter of going out to get Shu, even if he is the only free agent we sign. Aponte can create enough cap space to get this done. Shu changes everything for everyone (he is that kind of player).
LBers/RBs can be had in the middle rounds, 2-4/5.
Do not have any more money left to go after other free agents at positions of need.
Go to Draft One scenario! trade out of 14th to the 20th or 21st get your DT and extra picks!
Draft Eddie Goldman
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cv693_2014-official-highlights-fsu-dt-eddie-goldman_sport
Or
Malcolm Brown Texas Long horn. Miami has done well with Long horn player such as Ricky Williams.
http://www.burntorangenation.com/football/2014/11/23/7272641/malcom-brown-texas-longhorns-2015-nfl-draft
Let them play in the November and December games.
I agree in that out of those three, I’d go after Williams. I really don’t see a lot of good LB’s in this years FA that we could spend money on so we’ll have to hit that need in the draft. I believe a lot of our problems against our run had more to do with inexperienced LB’s that were not using good gap discipline. Drafting a good MLB could help that as we need some leadership at that position.
Seth,
I agree. Although I would love to have Suh, this team needs real help at OG, MLB, CB. All these will need to be addressed in FA. I like Dan Williams too. I live in Denver and I thought Knighton would be a real good pick too. I don’t think we can afford Suh. The other players mentioned would do quite nicely. The Dolphins also need to take a serious look at Tom Tupati RG from SF. Overall, the team needs to be much more physical and tough in the interior lines which would be NT, DT, OG. We will also need to bring in another good veteran FA at CB. Not sure Taylor and the others are quite ready yet. I am excited going forward. Yes, we did not make the playoffs, but we have real playmakers on the edge and outside on both sides of the ball, not to mention Tannehill who is our QB of the future. He finished ranked 12th in the league, pretty darn good! The lack of physical toughness in the interior line is what is stopping this team from being a solid playoff team. We do need a tackling machine at MLB, but in all fairness, Misi was never healthy all season, so we never got to see if he was a possible solution. Jordan Tripp may be a little raw, but the talent is there. I think if we can land one of the afore-mentioned DL/NT, we can draft with our first pick at #14 the best MLB in college. Then the team needs to at some point draft a “beast” at RB to compliment Lamar Miller. The Dolphins need to get back to winning in the 4th quarter. You do this by stopping the run and running the football. If this team can develop a power running game so that on 2nd and 4/5, we can legitimately run the ball once or twice to get 1st downs, then the whole playbook would be open! Tannehill would have less sacks and more deep balls to whoever (not sure if Wallace will be back)? Overall, this is a very young team that has lots of talent on the outside and edges, along with excellent team speed and a rising QB. If we can fix the problems in the interior lines, I believe that the Dolphins will not only be a playoff team, but a solid contender. A lot of my fellow Dolphins fans are frustrated, but I keep telling them it is going to take more than just one off-season to fix all the mistakes that Ireland made. Now with Hickey, Marino, & Tannenbaum, we have a nice brain-trust at the executive level. The Bible says: “In the abundance of council there is wisdom”. I believe this team has turned a corner and will continue to improve. Would like to get your thoughts on Mike Wallace. Do you think he will return, or will he be traded? Go Fins! Steve.