The Good And Bad Of Miami Dolphins Wide Nine
Miami Dolphins new Wide Nine could provide both big plays or big losses for opposing offenses.
The Miami Dolphins defense will be using the Wide Nine this season.
Most of us know by now that the Wide Nine, along with it’s most recent proponent Jim Washburn, has come to the Miami Dolphins to be used as a specialized component.
The Wide Nine isn’t anything revolutionary as High School teams use it all across the nation. It’s been around the NFL for decades. Washburn brought it back with the Eagles and used it to rack of 50 sacks in a season – the year after it pretty much crumbled as the foundation of a defense.
I remember watching an Eagles game and saying what *BEEP*! I was laying odds with the best sportsbooks that the D-Ends were going to take a seat on the sidelines.
The good thing is Miami Dolphins are going to use this exotic formation the way it should be used…in specific situation – obvious passing downs.
The Dolphins Wide Nine will bring both pros and cons this season.
The good side is this: Cameron Wake will fit perfectly in it and should be an equal or better than Babin; it will help contain Tyrod Taylor and stress the Bills very large tackles; Suh’s presence will be an offset to its weak underbelly; it will give opposing team another wrinkle to work on; and it will be another tool in this new, aggressive Dolphins defense.
The bad side is this: Brady, like all top QB’s, is least affected by outside pass rush; it could offer Taylor an escape hatch inside; and aggressive play like this needs a very good backer at the heart of it.
Suh credits Washburn with alot of his success. So Washburn not only brings more experience, but also will be a liaison to the Dolphins most crucial defensive player. And it’s here, at defensive tackle, that the most crucial aspect of this formation lay. The D-Ends reap the rewards, but it’s the pressure on the 0-2 gaps that the Wide Nine will thrive or die. If Miami can get a very good backer behind Suh, this new defensive wrinkle could provide some big plays for Miami in 2016. Go Fins!!!
The wide nine is and can be an effective strategy on passing downs, obvious passing downs. It is just another wrinkle for offenses to prepare for. It is and will not be the base defense. The pick is not an assumption, just looking at the facts to try and guess which direction/pick they are leaning towards at 13.
Makes me laugh how so many fans criticize the moves on defense. Did the fans and/or you Freak not see how our defense performed, or better yet, did not perform last season. So again, any schematic/personal changes on the defensive side of the ball is much welcomed. All the defensive moves came without spending big $ either.
They are going zone press and heavy pressure. The wide nine will be an arrow in the quiver. I think you have nailed it twice…defense focused and pick accumulation.
I question how you might KNOW this? Or is this an assumption on your part? The reason the Eagles dropped it was because teams learned that they could run into it when they captured this in pre snap read. Running draws, screens, hurt the wide 9 then with the introduction of the read option, it destroyed the wide 9.
So I dont think this pass rush play will be used very often at all.
used it in Philly and Detroit…and I stated “The good thing is Miami Dolphins are going to use this exotic formation the way it should be used…in specific situation – obvious passing downs.”
I like the thought. I like that we have a coach with the vision and brass to employ such a defensive set. At least there is creativity, and as mentioned above; another wrinkle for offenses to prepare for. Our defense can only improve from last year, so anything different in both schemes and personal defensively is a step in the right direction.
Does such strategies give us an insight to the draft? At least the firs round? Wide nine can be maximized with good LBers. Is the 13th pick (as of now), a LBer, to further strengthen such sets???
I am convinced they are going back, LB or Cb with the first – likely CB. Elliot though might have them pick RB.
Admin, I think that you are right. It is going to be a CB or LBer at 13 (for me I’m hoping D.Lee). Rumor has it the Falcons are in love w Lee, that could be one trade partner for us, would garnish us another third round pick (81st overall) to slide down 4 spots. The only other pick I could see, would be Elliot if he falls there. At this point, I would be fine w that also. As long as said player is a day 1 starter. Our first 2 picks need to be day 1 starters, and it would be great if our third pick (should it be a guard) be a day 1 starter also. Need to have a draft that this franchise hasn’t had in many years.