Cameron Wake's Pro Bowl caliber to be tested

True Story: In January of 2009 the Miami Dolphins decided as an organization that after having Cameron Wake on their CFL tracking list for some time, they would like to move on the pass-rush specialist. The club was well beyond the film studying and workout portion of its due diligence so it was time to get about the business of trying to sign Wake.

And so Jeff Ireland got to work negotiating with Wake's agent. During one session, Wake's agent got call-waiting and excused himself from Ireland. When he returned to the conversation and negotiation, he told Ireland that it had been another team calling.

Ireland immediately thought he was being toyed with. He thought the agent was telling him it was another team and that team was also jumping into the negotiations. (It is a typical agent ploy to increase the price for his client by saying there are other bidders.)

So Ireland assumed the worst.

Except the agent was actually up-front with Miami's general manager. He explained to Ireland the team on the phone was asking for tape of Wake so it could begin studying him.

Obviously they were too late to the festivities and Wake eventually signed with the Dolphins, picking Miami over about six other teams, among other teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"We studied and pursued him when he came out of the Canada," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said this week. "We do that on a yearly basis. We identified him and Stefan Logan, a returner that we had last year. They came out of the CFL together at the same time. We were able to acquire Logan, who did good business for us, but we weren't able to get in the mix on Cameron. We've been pretty aware of him even before him getting down there."

Now, the Steelers are keenly aware of Wake seeing as that he is a pass-rush threat and will be chasing Ben Roethlisberger this weekend.

Tomlin is pretty much an expert on great linebacker play. The Steelers have James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, both of whom are Pro Bowl players. And Tomlin says Wake is "having a Pro Bowl-caliber year."

I must concur. Wake is tied for fourth in the NFL with six sacks so far this season. He has more than Harrison (5) and is close to lapping Woodley (3.5). He leads the Dolphins. And he's coming off a three-sack outburst against Green Bay last week.

But the assignment for Wake gets more difficult, not less this week.

Last week, Wake did his work against rookie tackle Bryan Bulaga. This Sunday, the Steelers have veterans Max Starks and Flozell Adams at the tackle spots.

"Two quality, quality players," coach Tony Sparano said, describing Pittsburgh's tackles. "They're two veterans who understand how to play the game."

The Dolphins admit Wake is still a work in progress on how to play the game -- particularly as it relates to making him a three-down player. We all know he can rush the passer. That is obvious. But how's he doing on the other downs?

"It's getting much better, it really is," Sparano said. "Each week he does something different in the run game, he sets the edge better in the run game, gets off blocks better in the run game. There's another step taken. Now I think this is going to be the biggest challenge and I'm not just saying that because it's the next game."

Sparano is saying it because the Dolphins defense still hasn't proven it can contain the run on the edges all the time. They believe excellent running teams, like the Steelers, will see the film and believe they can exploit the edges of the defense with their running game.

"That part of it, he's got to step up to, there's no way around it," Sparano said. "We've got set the edges of the defense. That's a big part of the progression with him, which he is getting better at. He's done a solid job in ballgames here as of late." 

[BLOG NOTE: THERE WILL BE A LIVE GAME BLOG SUNDAY. THAT IS THE USUAL. ARE ANY OF YOU INTERESTED IN A LIVE CHAT ON SATURDAY? I'M NOT PLEASED WITH THE SATURDAY TRAFFIC SO I'M WILLING TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET YOU HERE ON SATURDAYS. LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION IF YOU'D BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.]

 

Comments

[cowkilla]

Mark,
TradeStation is great. Its got pretty much all of the tools you need. My biz partner and I do day tradeing for fun, and we have long term positions that we just keep on the drip. I havent played in the commod's but could be something we will do in the future. We own a few companies as our day job and the day trading is a hobby-turned into miney maker...can you still consider that a hobby then lol?

[jets suck]

HOME--- PLEASE DON'T BREED.

THANKS FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD.

[cowkilla]

I do know that we will beat pitt on sunday...big win that we absolutely need! I say Wake has 2 sacks in this contest

[jets suck]

HOMEY should be the LAST one calling anyone out here.... with your stupid chemtrails nonsense and general stupidity. Go get as job and 100 posts a day of your drivel is boring.

Kettle...meet pot.

[Mark in Toronto]

cowkilla,

I will do some research on tradestation, thanks for the tip.

I think it can be a hobby and still make money. I operate similarly to you - consultant by day, trader by night, haha. Just don't trust the market enough to make it full time yet although it would be nice to free up all that time.

And I agree, Wake must make a mess for the defense to do well. Even when other people are getting sacks, it seems it's because of the disruption Wake causes. Just seems that if Wake doesn't get there initially, nobody does.

But I do think the Pitt OTs are average at best. They can be had and they are known for giving up a lot of sacks partially becuse of Ben's tendency to hold on to the ball.

[SoiledBottom]

Dear Mr. Salguero

Of course I'll be here on Sunday donating my posts.

Does the Blog work like a Plasma center ?

Say If I donate plasma on Saturday, then the Plasma center won't let me donate on Sunday because my cells need to regenerate.

So If I Donate my posts on Saturday here at the Blog, can I donate my posts on Sunday without having to regenerate my Brain cells ?

Don't want to cause any trouble

Soiled :)

[DC Dolfan]

cowkilla/Mark,

I'm not too worried about Wake anymore (he'll do what he does). Here's who I think need to have spectacular games for us to compete (defensively):

-ILBs (Karlos and Channing)
-Paul Soliai (when he gets pressure up the middle, we seem to stuff offenses)
-Yeremiah Bell (he's the key, if he can protect the long balls, and keep everything in front of him, it'll be a long day for the Pittsburgh offense).

Vontae should NOT be following Hines Ward all day, he should play his side. But we MUST know where Ward is at all times since he's Big Ben's #1 go to guy.

Also, please, PLEASE DEFENSE, know where Heath Miller is. Can you please take ONE TE out of the rhythm of the offense all year? Pretty please.

[Mark in Toronto]

DC, I don't worry about the ILBs at all - they're vets and good at what they do.

I think a lot of people underappreciate Big Paul in the middle. No he doesn't pressure the passer at all but more often than not - he stands the C right up and doesn't let the other team's Ol get any push up the middle. It's on the edges that the other teams' run games have been making money. Big Paul and the ILBs have the middle taken care of.

Personally, I'd rather Vontae cover Wallace all day. He's the big play danger guy for Pitt. Ward is a slightly more dynamic Welker. He'll pick and peck but won't beat you by himself as long as you keep him in front of you.

Health Miller - Yeremiah Bell - now that's a concern.

[LAPhinsPhan]

I think the key to the game is our O Line. They are facing a fierce run defense and blitzes. The game could be decided on how well they can create openings for R & R and hold long enough for Henne to pass. If we're constantly facing 3 and out, our defense will be exhausted by third quarter.

On the other hand, if our offense eat up the clock, Steelers' defense will wilt in the humidity.

[Mark in Toronto]

Good point LAPhinsPhan, sounds like the 1st half of the Saints game last year. If they play that way on Sunday - we will not lose. We are better this year and will not let it slip away

[odinseye]

I think we need to realize our team identity and play to our strengths.

Solid EFFECTIVE running with a good balance of play action passing.

We're 3-2 and was very nearly 4-1. In that span we're 13th rushing and 14th passing. That's balance!

[odinseye]

I also think a live blog on Saturday is a great idea, I'll bring the liquor!

Will it be a Q&A Armando or live blogging a college game?

What time?

[Utdolfan]

Menace,

I agree with your point about all good defenses and pressure. Just saying when Jason Allen only trails the league leader in picks by one five games in, it just seems all that more impressive. Huge difference maker for us.

[ALoco]

why do i feel some one cute is talking to himself ?

[Joseph]

Armando,

I come to the blog multiple times throughout the day to look for new entries but I have never gotten into following on the game on the blog. I have tried a few times and it seems like there are so many other posts that finding what you are thinking is a hassle. Any chance a change of format could be in order? Maybe you continually update the actual blog posts with your thoughts and people can continue to comment below? Or if there was so way to read all pages at once it would be easy to do a search for only your name. Love your work. Cheers,

[bobbyd12]

Not into live blog on Sat Mando. Too many college games going down and the fact u are stuck with this idiot Home is a real turnoff on this blog. There is a reason the Sun-Sentinel banned him. You have lost great bloggers like Carlito and some of the other guys because of this douche who thinks he knows better then anyone else. This site was great when it had live blogs a couple years ago with knowledgeable posters. Now ONE thats ONE idiot has ruined it. Now he wants to tell you how to run your blog and charge people for it. Get rid of the garbage and you will have more hits.

[ALoco]

breaking news,,,,,,,,, jared odrick PLACED IN INJURED RESERV .OUT FOR THE YEAR IN REAL LIFE .

[Marc]

great poster like carlito?

LMAO...

That HAS to be carlito himself...There were several other GOOD bloggers, carlito wasn't one of them...

NYScott, tinshaker,Nathaniel Dodsworth(actually funny when he was off topic), and yes, even Jersey and the real bobby, who that last post IS NOT...There were several others I can't recall of the top of my head

[Jimmy Jam]

Pay to use this blog? Am I reading that right?

I hope not. I enjoy it and all but $12/month? I hope you all are talking about an iphone app or something similar.

If Home wouldn't split his comments into 30 in a row, I'd enjoy him more. He is, actually, fairly accurate. The pedantic humor I could do without.

I still say Pit 24 - 17. I hope not but I think they are too good. Hope I can eat my words come Sunday. If the Fins win, it will make a lot of people sit up and take notice.

[ALoco]

HOME is a great guy ..live and let live .

[Giovanni Rey]

U don’t have to come and confess...

We looking for u...

We gonna find u!

And u can run and tell that, homeboy!

[ALoco]

GioANNI.................friday 13

[phin45]

marc I don't know if it was you or someone else who wrote that Kenny Powers line but I love that show and I almost spit my soda out reading "No I'm just daring those pu**y a** receivers to try and.....". That was hilarious!

[mames1]

that would be great Mando...sat live chat

[DyingBreed]

Steelers Are Beatable

Heres what we did right against them in 2009:

Scored 24pts. 3tds and 1 fieldgoal in 4 scoring possessions. So we did pretty maximixed our opportunities when we did score.

24 rushes for 99yds for 4.0ypc. Would like to be better but still not shabby. Effective enough to hold down the sack count.

3 sacks on Roethlisberger.

Here's What We Did Wrong:

Allowed 30pts. Far too high.

Allowed 202yds rushing @ 6ypc. That's insane! It's a miracle we had a chance to win that game until Thigpen's 4th qtr potential game winning drive ended in a pick.

Woodley had 2 sacks and Timmons 1 sack. Our line has to keep Steeler lb's off of Henne.

2010 Reversals:

Dansby/Crowder in middle. No way do Steelers duplicate 202yds rushing.

#1wr Ted Ginn had less than 30yds recieving. This will not happen with #1wr Marshall

Steelers will not score 30pts barring collapse in Offense, defense, or st's.

Steelers well outplayed our st's return unit last season. Just have a feeling this will be our best special team performance of the year after laying that total stink bomb our last home game against New England.

This is Redemption Week for our ST's. I believe they will respond and respond mightily. They owe the home fans this and they know it!

*Any scoring drive in Steeler territory from about the 15yd line on in Henne needs to be especially wary of thier linebacker fake blitz and drop into coverage.

We all saw what happened in the 2008 SB win with Harrison and the 100yd td pick.

[Marc]

marc I don't know if it was you or someone else who wrote that Kenny Powers line but I love that show and I almost spit my soda out reading "No I'm just daring those pu**y a** receivers to try and.....". That was hilarious!

PHIN45 I love that show too...There's another Phin's blog that had me dyin' too...They had some spot on impressions...

http://forums.thephins.com/showthread.php?t=55509

"You're ****in' out Hartline. I'm in. Yeah that's right I'm throwin the ball to my god damn self because you keep trippin on your panties. I might throw it to my money man Brandon over here, the man's got more money than God. Or his midget cousin Davone. Live strong, Davone. And you, Ginger McQueafstain, would you quit pissin' yourself long enough to maybe think about playin' a ****in' football game? I'm ****in' tired of your assignments runnin' a train on my A gap."

[3426ashley]

while i am eating dinneri read Marc dirty post .well pissin,,, .come'n man .

[cocoajoe]

Carlitto? Most of you haven't been around that long but let me clue you in.

The guy (like yr ago) couldn't form a sentence in English that made any sense. He didn't know anything about football (as opposed to futbol) and was a total idiot.

A couple of months after he appeared, he's speaking the Kings English and suddenly aquired a vast knowledge of the game.

Fast forward, he starts dissing Mando and the bloggers and he jumps ship to the slum sentinel.

He now appears on the SS as font of NFL knowledge.....

Cuban and some of the rest know what I'm talking about.

[falafel]

I don't really care but I gotta ask what's your point cocoajoe?

[3426ashley]

carlito was faking it cocajoe .

[ALoco]

HOW YOU MAKE FALAFEL ??

[ALoco]

CARLITO WAS A GREAT HUMAN BEING .

[falafel]

That's a good question aloco. I have no idea. I'm not even sure what the hell falafel is.

[ALoco]

falafel is a middle eastern food made w/fava beans .

whole rabbit stuffed w/wild rice
cucumber w/onion vingerette
swiss chard steamed
wood oven peaches w/vanilla ice cream

[Ex-Herald Blogger]

CocoaJoe left out one fact. Carlito was a true blooded Dolphin fan who was always rooting for his team.
Personally we need more guys like Carlito and less guys like 2 Watt, Test and bill_connors

[ALoco]

EX, we have now home to take carlito's place on this blog .you lose some and you win some .

[Darryl Dunphy]

Actually Aloco Falafel is made with garbanzo beans, parsley, garlic. The same stuff that goes into hummus. Except the falafel is dried then ground into a sort of flour. For vegetarian food it is decent.

[odinseye]

Has anybody here, seen my old friend Carlito?

CARLITO?!?!

[GinnsGone]

ALoco

Stuffed whole rabbit? No one cooks that in the US. Where do you work as a short order cook, dreaming of serving fine French country cuisine to rabbit chompin' Frenchies??? IHop? Waffle House?

[GinnsGone]

BTW, who's our genius ex-line coach, now HC, TS going to use to replace McQuitStan?

[ALoco]

darryl, the poor's man falafel is made w/garbanzo beans b/c it's to easy to work with and you can get the can and do it .but in that part of the world they have special machine to ground the fava beans w/parsly,cilantro and onion .garnished w/diced tomatoes and cucumber .

[odinseye]

The clock is moving SLOW!

I can't wait.

3 hours of watching Miami kick some A S S!

Then 3 more hours of watching Brady get his A S S kicked!

[ALoco]

ginnsgone, no need to be a cook ...you go buy fresh rabbit form the butcher ,wash it and open it then stuff it w/wild rice w/rosmary then cook it in oven.

rabbit's meat is the most heathy in the world not like AGING PORK .

[cocoajoe]

Yeah, Cuban (Ashley) it seemed so. But the fact remains, he pretty much called Mando out more than once. Then he started sucking up to NJ. NJ jumped ship to the SS and Carlitto had his nose firmly implanted by then.

The fact is, SS and the so-called mob are nothing but cheerleaders and if you criticize coaches or players but esp coaches, they dump on you.

Carlitto needs to stay over there with his suck up buddies.

[Darryl Dunphy]

Aloco. I did not know that, thank you. That must be an Italian style of falafel? Always appreciate learning something new! Go Phins...eat falafel

[odinseye]

ginngone,

What happened to McQuitstan?

[Ex-Herald Blogger]

Yes ALoco, Carlito was replaced by Home. The Herald really got the shyt end of the stick in THAT deal.

[ALoco]

daryyl, they eat it w/only creamy tahini in a fLAt bread .

the creany tahini what make that falafel SHINE .

THERE'S A BIG CHANCE THAT DANSBY WILL MISS SUNDAY'S GAME SINCE THE BRACE STILL ON HIS KNEE.

[odinseye]

Cut and paste:

Langford finished the game second on the team with 6 tackles, along with a sack and an additional QB hit. Seems like every week, Langford has a solid performance at the defensive end position. He's never a guy that gets a lot of recognition, but he definitely performs.

I'm quitely starting to be a Langford fan.

[ALoco]

ODIN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT TRADE WE DID W/SS .

HOME FOR CARLITO ?

[DyingBreed]

Yes ALoco, Carlito was replaced by Home. The Herald really got the shyt end of the stick in THAT deal.

Posted by: Ex-Herald Blogger | October 22, 2010 at 07:39 PM

So What Are You Saying?

Are You Guys Saying That There Was A Secretly Worked Behind Closed Trade Deal Worked Out Between The Herald And Slum Swapping Carlito For Home?

If we got got the short end of the stick as you guys are saying then fret not. There's still the compensatory draft. Worst case scenario we get NJ Phlim Flam back.

Think I would just rather keep Homes. LOL!

[DyingBreed]

Given A Choice:

Would you guys rather have Home or NJ Phlim Phlam?

[ALoco]

DYING , WELL IF YOU WOULD TRADE 1 BLOGGER FROM HERE AND SEND HIM THERE WHO WOULD YOU SEND AND FOR WHO ?

[DyingBreed]

Actually NJ nonPhin Fan is still here. He now hides as TorturedDolphin amongst numerous aliases!

[ALoco]

HOME ,PLEASE ..I LOVE READING THE REAL HOME .

[ALoco]

DYING, i long for the day when a blogger is required to put his photo next to his post ..

nj phin
2 watt.........i want to see them .

[DyingBreed]

Aloco,

Only blogger at the SLUM with any trade value at all is Carlito. The rest are just a bunch of slob-babbling idiots.

However over so many posters with so many alias you really havent a clue as to who's really who. We maybe trading away half of our forum just trading away one poster. LOL!

[ALoco]

lol @ dying post @ 7.57

[DyingBreed]

Those softies over at THE SLUM like to think of themselves as the mob. I like to think of them as more of a bushel basket of blonde haired peaches in grandmother's homemade pies.

[krut]

mando the last three twitter links u have posted lead to error messages still using the wild cat twitter link