Our Defense

[mecadonzilla]

To be honest, I can't remember any exact plays where it happened.  It's happened so often over the last few years, I've almost tuned them out as expected occurrences.  However, I've googled a few links to stories about it.  I do not have the time to sift through youtube for them.

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2011/09/19/dolphins-vs-texans-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Under the "bad" section.  It also mentions the Dolphins lack of conditioning.

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/
It's nice to see that some players do care.  I hope they have enough pull to fix the problems.

http://www.thephinsider.com/2011/9/20/2438027/miami-dolphins-news-you-may-have-missed-9-20-11

http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Andy-Cohen-Henne-Showed-Plenty-Just-Couldn%E2%80%99t-Outplay-Brady/fa284b58-40a8-4caa-ac96-ac1160abc123
There was also an article by Andy Cohen that spoke of the tackling against the Texans that has been removed from the main Miami website as far as I can tell.

Most of the articles just mention recent tackling woes.  I'll let you read the relevant parts.  I chimed in because the previous posters mentioned the lack of tackling a few times.  Maybe they can provide links or list specific examples.  One thing I will say is that slamming into someone and hoping they fall down is not a successful method of tackling and I've seen it too much in Miami this season.  Other teams have similar problems, but I'm not concerned with them...those are their problems.

[Brian Fein]

I remember a specific play last week when Ben Tate was running off left tackle and a LB hit him in the hole and Tate broke out.  Then it looked like a CB hit him right after that from the other side and bounced off, and not until Jones tripped him by grabbing his foot 8 yards later did he go down.

Its not like Ben Tate is Walter Payton.

Of course I can't find that clip online.

[Diehard_Dolfan]

All he needs to do is watch the game(s) again... he'll see the missed tackles.

[Doc-phin]

I watched the games and took a brief second look at both.  I still don't consider the issue to be missed tackles.  Once the players get to the ball carrier they are pretty much either making the tackle or someone right behind them is there to finish the take down.  No team tackles perfectly.

I am not going to really try and drive home this point.  I think our defense has been shameful so far this year and at times last year.  But the major issues are not getting turnovers, not beating one on one matchups at the line, not redirecting receiver routes, and linebacker/safeties getting beat on matchups with tightends/running backs coming out of the backfield.  Since we got rid of Jason Allen, our missed tackles have been pretty been reasonable IMO.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I am truly wondering if Channing Crowder was the glue that held it all together, considering he's the only cog missing from last year's 6th ranked run defense.

I hate to admit but while watching the Houston game I was wondering the same thing. I noticed when Crowder was missing last season we struggled some with the run as well and we improved with him on the field.

They don't even attempt to wrap up... is what I have a problem with most...then you have guys like Smith that just try to go for the strip too much instead of securing a tackle.

This pisses me off as well and it is league wide. I see so many players go for a strip and miss and the runner breaks away. It is aggravating as hell.



I keep waiting for the defense to gel and I honestly think that they will but I hope it is soon because I, like many others think our defensive issues are just as big if not bigger than our offensive issues.

[Diehard_Dolfan]

I am truly wondering if Channing Crowder was the glue that held it all together, considering he's the only cog missing from last year's 6th ranked run defense.

I'm with you on this here!

Although I don't care for Crowder... I think his run support was better and his knowledge he accredits to Zach Thomas teaching him how to get the defense aligned properly seem to be missing.

[mecadonzilla]

After all the stuff he's said on the radio, I don't think he'd be welcome back to help this team out. XD

Kevin Burnett has certainly not been an upgrade thus far.  I don't know what this defense is missing right now, but they're certainly missing something.

[Pappy13]

sucks.

Make no mistake. The loss today was on the Defense. Like I've said previously they fold like a house of cards when the game is on the line. Henne had the lead and the defense gave it up like they they weren't on the field against one of the worst offenses in the league. They flat out suck.

[tepop84]

sucks.

Make no mistake. The loss today was on the Defense. Like I've said previously they fold like a house of cards when the game is on the line. Henne had the lead and the defense gave it up like they they weren't on the field against one of the worst offenses in the league. They flat out suck.

Henne had the lead?  Hennes only td drive came on a defensive turnover in cle. territory. the defense only gave up 17 points today. 

[mecadonzilla]

What happened in the first 57 minutes of the game meant next to nothing.  The only thing that mattered was stopping the Browns on that last drive and Colt had his finest drive of the day.  Simply disgusting.

[tepop84]

What happened in the first 57 minutes of the game meant next to nothing.  The only thing that mattered was stopping the Browns on that last drive and Colt had his finest drive of the day.  Simply disgusting.

It didn't matter at all?  No, if Henne actually does something in the redzone, the browns last drive is to pull within 1 score instead of taking the lead.  It is silly to only look at the last 3 minutes of a game.  The first 57 minutes count just as must as the last 3.

[mecadonzilla]

Even after all of Henne/Daboll's sucking, the defense just had to make a stop...and couldn't.  In fact, Colt had his finest drive of the day by far.

[Pappy13]

Henne had the lead?  Hennes only td drive came on a defensive turnover in cle. territory. the defense only gave up 17 points today. 

Against one of the worst offenses in the NFL without their most dangerous player. When the game was on the line, when we needed a stop the defense folded like a cheap tent just like they have a half dozen games dating back to last year.

Was Wake even on the field? Zero sacks? C'mon man that's pathetic. The offense has taken it's share of abuse over the last 2 years, you can't expect the offense to bail you out in that situation. The defense absolutely HAD to step up and make a play and they failed.

It's not Henne's fault that Carpenter can't seem to make FG's anymore. It's not Henne's fault that Bush can't hold onto the ball.