Phins “D” Issues Reach Deep Into The Core

M.J.

5 years ago

Phins “D” must play well to have any shot at a “W” this week

The Phins “D” has issues from the foundations to the ceiling

The Phins “D” is struggling hard… again. The 2018 Season is another year where Miami’s ‘D’ is suffering from a weak defense. The 2017 Season was middle of the road and the hope was that this ‘D’ would take another step forward. This isn’t the case. While big plays from Xavien Howard bailed out the defense this past week, Miami allowed another 400+ yards against the Bills.

It’s time to admit that these issues are well beyond a tweak here and run fit fix there. These weaknesses are ingrained into the very foundation of the system.

Matt Burke is a favorite culprit among fans for the defense being a sieve. While he is certainly a factor, the reality is the defense’s failings go much deeper.

The NFL is about talent. ‘He with the most thoroughbreds has the easiest ride to victory’. So, let’s examine the team building side of things over the course of Adam Gase’s three seasons as Head Coach.

Prominent Phins acquisitions on defense and where they are now:

2016:

Trades: Kiko Alonso (trade back, starter) and Byron Maxwell (trade back, cut).

Free Agency: Mario Williams (cut), Andre Branch (backup), and Isa Abdul-Quddus (career ending injury).

Draft: Xavien Howard (2nd RD, starter, Pro Bowl)

2017:

Trade: Stephone Anthony (trade 5th, backup).

Free Agency: William Hayes (I.R.), TJ McDonald (starter), Rey Maualuga (cut), Lawerence Timmons (cut).

Draft and UDFAs: Davon Godchaux (5th RD, starter), Vincent Taylor (6th RD, I.R.), Charles Harris (1st RD, back up), Chase Allen (Undrafted, I.R.), Raekwon McMillan (2nd RD, starter), Cordrea Tankersley (3rd RD, I.R.)

2018:

Trade: Akeem Spence (trade 7th RD, starter) and Robert Quinn (trade 4th RD, starter).

Draft: Minkah Fitzpatrick (1st RD, starter), Jerome Baker (3rd RD, starter) Cornell Armstrong (6th RD, backup).

Injuries are an annual theme in Miami. Nearly half of the 2017 Draft Class is on out for the season due to injury. The loss of Quddus in 2016 had a major negative ripple effect on this regime. Quddus was an excellent player and the perfect compliment to Jones. The Phins have had to use three major chips to fix the Safety spot alone.

This ‘throwing a zillion darts’ to hit one bullseye has happened on a few positions. Look at the Defensive end: big contracts were spent on Branch, Quinn, Williams, and high draft picks on Harris, but it was Hayes, and his modest contract, that turned out the best.

Now Miami has Cameron Wake turning 37 with very little around him. They’ll need to spend more chips to resolve the Defensive End situation.

You can make a sure bet with a pay per head sportsbook like AcePerHead.com, that this isn’t a winning strategy.

Quality of players in relation to expectations upon acquisition:

Exceeded expectations: Howard, Fitzpatrick, Baker, Hayes, Allen, Godchaux, Taylor, and Quddus (8).

Equaled or close to expectations: Kiko, Armstrong, and McDonald (3).

Below expectations: Maxwell, Williams, Quinn, Maualuga, Anthony, Timmons, Harris, McMillan, Tankersly, Branch, and Spence (11).

Mike Tannenbaum and Chirs Grier have made some very nice acquisitions in the draft. BUT, their big misses have balanced out the big wins. Wasted blue chip in the draft and poor choices in huge contracts on underperforming Free Agents have been a big anchor on what they’ve done right. And whether it’s poor trainers, bad luck, or both, injuries to some of their good picks has tipped the scales hard against them.

Poor choices and bad luck is never a good mix.

The tally of all 22 moves based on their relevance to the 2018 active roster:

Cut: 4

Starters: 9

Backups: 4

I.R. or retired: 5

Currently, on the active roster, 4 players are exceeding expectations, 3 equal, and 6 are below.

Even if Burke was a genius, he needs tools to succeed. Whether by injury or poor acquisition the unit has been robbed of talent. The defensive production in 2018 is nearly identical to that of 2016. So two coaches and the same result. Gameday coaching is a problem… but, play calls are just one piece of a very ugly puzzle.

These moves in conjunction with the defensive philosophy compound the problems… But that’s for the next article. Go Phins!!!

Phins “D” must play well to have any shot at a “W” this week

Prominent Phins acquisitions on defense and where they are now:

Quality of players in relation to expectations upon acquisition:

The tally of all 22 moves based on their relevance to the 2018 active roster:

Ace Pay Per Head Tips: