Clogging the Middle

By the end of the season, the Miami Dolphins’ once-vaunted rush defense fell apart and was allowing teams to run up and down the field against them as if it were a track meet. Miami was getting gashed on the ground even when they knew that the other team was going to run. If the Dolphins want to reach the playoffs next season, then they will have to find a way to stop the run, especially late in the season.

Randy Starks has played in this league for 11 seasons, and it was painfully obvious last season that his age was starting to show its ugly head. He is going to count $6 million against the cap, and based on the Dolphins need to sure up some cap space, and Starks’ age and declining level of play, the wise move would be to either drastically restructure his contract or cut him.

The other player in the middle is Jared Odrick, whose rookie contract has now expired and is looking for a big payday. He has been very good, but it appears that the Dolphins are willing to let Odrick test the waters. If the Dolphins do not want to re-sign Odrick, then they will need to have some type of backup plan. Regardless if they re-sign Odrick or not, the Dolphins need to either draft or go out and sign a pure Defensive tackle in free agency.

With this being Senior Bowl week, most sports fans would go to their free bookie software and if they could, bet that Hickey and the Dolphins will be keeping a close eye on DT Danny Shelton. A lot of scouts are comparing him to this year’s defensive rookie of the year, Aaron Donald from the Rams, but with even more size. Shelton was the nation’s leader in sacks for a defensive tackle with 9, however, 6 of those sacks need to be taken with a grain of salt, because they occurred in the beginning of the season against two inferior teams, Hawaii (2) and Eastern Washington (4). But still, 9 sacks for a DT is not something to overlook. In addition, Shelton did a great job stuffing the run, which is clearly something Miami needs help with. He finished last season with 88 tackles with 16.5 tackles for a loss and 2 fumble recoveries. He is projected as a first or second rounder and many mock drafts are already predicting that Miami will draft him at the number 14th spot in the first round.

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Regardless if Miami keeps Odrick and Starks, or if they do decide to draft a DT in the first round, such as Shelton, the result needs to be that the Dolphins get better in the trenches. The best way to get better in the trenches against the run is having a big-bodied individual that demands two players to block him. Paul Soliai was that type of player, but Miami decided not to pay him, the result is that after a season without Soliai they are still looking for a player to replace him.

4 comments

  • Phinfreak

    This would never happen , so long as Philbin is HC. Philbin has jettisoned better citizens for less.
    Fins better served finding stud OLman and thumper at RB ie what Patriots did when steelers stupidly cut Boy was that a mistake.

    As for the DL I really am convinced the style DT Philbin prefers is lighter more agile DT vs the heavier stouter plugger type. I totally disagree w that type at the DT position. I agree you find body types that force dbl team blocks and stopping runners in the creases w LBers aka Jimmy Johnson school of 4-3 D w press corners and the S in the box.

    Not Philbins mentality this ,500 outcomes.

  • Dunner

    Make a franchise statement and go get Shu. Do what it takes to get him and draft a WR in the first round and again in the 4-5 round(s)! Know we need linebacker help; however, if Shu is there in the middle eating up 2 players sometimes 3, that will enhance our linebackers productivity as well as allow Wake and Vernon to work beating single instead of double teams. Use 2-3 round picks to get/find a linebacker or two.
    Shu to offset Brady, if we can move Brady we win, WRs to continue Tannys growth and improve the offensive production. Shu would give this team on both sides of the ball an attitude, an edge, a identity, something Coyle’s (God help us) defenses have never had. Again, all this is to beat the N.E. Patriots, that is where it starts and that is where the AFC East goes through. Do not worry about the other 30 NFL teams, again it starts and ends w/the Pats. Unseat them and we are on to something, until then, same old mediocre team if that!!!

    • Jimmy Bourbon

      Yes I am a fan of making a full court push for Suh as well. He will fix the rush defense immediately