Here is the plan for using Jason Taylor

Signing Jason Taylor was only the first step. Now the Dolphins must figure out exactly how to get the most bang for their buck. They must figure out how to make Taylor the valuable defensive weapon he was for many years but did not come close to resembling in a forgettable 2008 season with the Redskins.

Guess what? The Dolphins have a plan.

And the plan has been explained to me by team sources so this is it in a nutshell:

First of all, forget about whether Taylor starts or doesn't start. Coach Tony Sparano doesn't care about that and, soon, Taylor will probably be echoing a similar sentiment. The idea is not to give Taylor starts. The idea is to make sure Taylor finishes -- finishes sacks, finishes games, finishes the season.

Understand plans can always change given a change in circumstances such as injuries and individual game strategies, but initially the Dolphins plan to use JT as a situational player. That means someone will start ahead of him and play on obvious running downs ahead of him.

The way the Dolphins figure it, there's no sense asking a soon-to-be 35-year-old guy to play 60 snaps a game and find out he's effective in maybe only 25 of them. So the idea is to pick and choose the right spots to use Taylor. The idea is to give him maybe 20-25 snaps per game.

That useage of Taylor as a scalpel rather than a hacksaw will save his body, keep him fresh, and limit the chances of getting him injured. It will also mean he'll be full-throttle on every passing down because he'll be rested and because he'll be wanting to make the most of his limited opportunities. Rushing the passer is what Taylor has always done best. And that's what the Dolphins will ask him to do almost exclusively.

Taylor gives the Dolphins great versatility. At his core he is good odd-front player. He plays best on his feet so the Dolphins will use him exactly that way. Remember how Taylor came from every angle when Nick Saban was coach? The plan, initially at least, is to use him in a similar role again.

The idea is to limit the offense's ability to identify and recognize what the Dolphins are doing on defense and with Taylor in particular. The idea is to confuse the offense. The idea is to gain the greatest strategic advantage with a pretty good player executing the plan.

Taylor was terribly miscast in a Redskins system that didn't know how to maximize his gifts. Yes, he wanted to escape Washington for family reasons. But from a football standpoint, he needed to escape that 4-3 scheme the Redskins buried him in.

One more thing: All these plans assume Taylor earns the right to be used in this manner. Nothing is going to be handed to him.

He doesn't have to win a starting job because he's not going to be starting. But he's got to win the right to be that situational headache for opposing offenses. He has to earn those 20 snaps per game. He's got to beat out guys like Cameron Wake and Eric Walden and Matt Roth to earn his way on the field.

The Dolphins think he'll do exactly that. But that will be up to him. 

Comments

[jaksin]

gopats, well i'm a bit surprised you might ask me something painfull to me as it must be for you. how many games did the mighty (super bowl winless)bills roll your precious pats for? assuming you were a fan than. or now. i did enjoy the challenge though. you are cool!

[Gopats]

Souljabeats,

I meant that you like b-ball becuase you are...you know...you would naturally be better at it than I would.

[Dfan]

Gopats where were you born?

[souljahbeats]

because of my good jump shot? I thought you would be better because of your ball skills... (sorry, good conversation tonight with no insults, but I couldn't resist that one... its all in good fun)

[jaksin]

oh... ha! i get all those pipe jokes finally ha!

[Gopats]

OK I AMSO SICK OF THIS BS. I WAS BORN OUTSIDE THE US. LEAVE ME ALONE

[Gopats]

Rexryansucks,

I know it is you. You will pay for this now

[souljahbeats]

i am not rexryansux

[souljahbeats]

or dfan

[jaksin]

does ricky still owe the dolphins any cash? i see him playing hard this year as he needs to think about where a pay check will be coming from with out a solid performance.

[RexRyanBlows]

Jets Rock and Jets Rule:

That pock-faced migrant worker you drafted to play QB will be a joke. Now get over it. Miami will own the pathetic bi-plane for the next decade. Deal with it.

[RexRyanBlows]

Paco Sanchez will be so putrid, he will make Vernon "the ghost" Golston look like a great draft pick. Tannenboob is a poor excuse for a GM.

[Rick]

JT is a big step for the Dolphins. Um, I mean a big two step.

[Dfan]

i was born in panama city with my brother JFAN

[joey deville]

why couldnt they sign nutt zach Thomas for the minimum as well???

[Gpats]

cause, dolphins is a football team not a a retirement center

[joey deville]

yeah g pats apperantly u missed the ad on the retirement weekly magazine, that shows those new electric wheelchairs running up to 65mph.

[tickle my pickle]

I belive i have seen that add. You can use medicaid for that.

[WILLIE RAY PEREZ]

I LOVE YOU JASON WELCOME HOME !!!!!!

[Gopats]

Fake Dfan posted at 7:30am. I an an American unlike Gopats. Go Dolphins

[Gpats]

joey,

fins signed JT to sell S and XS jerseys and they don't need Zack.T to sell XL and 1,2,3,4,5 XL jerseys , they have Soliai to sell those.

dfan, i am not going to play w/ you ,find some one else

[Phins Rule]

Second Dfan fake posted saying it was fake,

[THE AFC EAST CHAMPS]

I don't listen to anthem or pledge. it's all BS to me and i'm a black man

[THE AFC EAST CHAMPS]

Born in NJ. who loves my country.

[Tickle Az]

Dfan is getting confused, he sure he's azzz

[CHAMP]

DFAN WAS BORN IN PANAMA CITY FINEST PART.

[souljahbeats]

Panama City, Florida or Panama City, Panama?

[CHAMP]

BANAMA CITY,PANAMA
GO FINS OMEGA 3 FOOD USA

[THE AFC EAST CHAMPS]

There's a Panama City Florida.

[CHAMP]

THERE'S PANAMA CITY,PANAMA

[Ron Davenport]

Like your blog not many true fans here

[souljahbeats]

yep. Panama City, Fl... Its in the Panhandle... Spring Break town... never heard of it?

[tickle my pickle]

GoPats .. Im wondering why u post Go dolphins with the name Go pats?

[THE AFC EAST CHAMPS]

no.Panhandle? are they homeless cause i have a soft spot for the homeless

[Sammy]

does Dfan loves to move back to his home land Panma City, Panama ??

[fsudolphins13]

im from panama city FL and i still live there, its a cool place to live, except during spring break b/c all the college kids go crazy when the go on spring break

[Carlos]

I guess the Herald has become a "Weekly Magazine" as you guys are leaving the same headline 2-3 days. Is that all you can write?

[carlito from golfito]

carlos, you want Armando to make something up? Maybe an update on who is pushing who?

[tickle my pickle]

Hey Carlos, U are aware that this is the offseason and that the draft is over?

[AE914]

now if we could only bring back #54 for special teams reinforcement........?....and so he could retire as a dolphin as well......

[tickle my pickle]

Hey man i dont think john offerdahl can walk anymore. Didint he retire a dolphin already?

[Gopats]

tuna isn't running a home for the elderly. he's a shark, tuna in disguise

[philm]

JT would be fine as a full time starter because we actually have an offense now. The man lived on the field when he played here two years ago. cant wait till opening day....

[Question Mark and the Mysterians]

>also the man has class, a 1.5 Million deal, it's not about the money but the love of his Dolphins and community and players who he regards as friends.

Don't doubt for a minute he didn't discuss his new 'role' with BP, and that's a significant reason for his returning,(along with his undying love for us).

[Question Mark and the Mysterians]

>The only problem with this plan, which makes sense, is that teams will use a hurry-up offense to keep Taylor from being substituted.

Damn! Call Bill, I'll bet he didn't even think of that!

[Question Mark and the Mysterians]

>3) Rita Hayworth (1944) - $16.9 million
>6) Lindsay Lohan (2004) - $33.5 million

I'd add a zero to Rita $169 mill ! She's the best blacknwhite'r.

Lindsay would be a yes, but you have to throw in the bark collar. That's it, LL nice and quiet...good girl.

Is the fake, fake Gopats the real one?????????????????????????????????????

[Cassius]

>I don't listen to anthem or pledge. it's all BS to me and i'm a black man

I don't listen to this black man for the same reason, and I'm a Black man also.

[jaxdolphin]

I see you found my correction of 'choose' and instead of thanking me you deleted my post. Is that any way to act? If you disagree that JT and JP will be sack leaders in '09 just say so, jeez.

[voom04]

who are the yets going to beat, the dolphs, nope, the panzy`s, not, the bills, doubtfull, that`s 6L rite there

[Boy George]

Somebody mentioned an 800 number for gonads or was it gopats. I'll tumble for ya

[butch]

boy gorge, like to eat candy at night and muffin early

[Whitefin]

Sounds likea good plan, to get Jt to perform. One thing bothers me. If JT is used on passing downs, wouldnt that make it easier for the opposing offence to know what the defence is doing? Wouldnt that make our defence, predictable?

[aj]

Bummer....the little (lazyass one-dimensional) dancer is back. Why, Parcells??? The first time pretty boy skips a workout can him!! 260 my ass!! Soaking wet "Mr. skinny" doesn't go a hair over 240!