Tony Sparano: Defense cannot rest

This blog invests much time discussing the Dolphins' need on offense.

Coach Tony Sparano has to concern himself with the Dolphins issues on defense as well as special teams.

If you've lost sight of the fact the Miami defense needs attention, click the link and see why it's important the Dolphins don't just forget the other side of the ball. Yeah, the other side of the ball, the one that was the team strength in 2010 but still isn't quite championship caliber.

I outline the things the Dolphins need to happen for the defensive unit to become championship caliber.

I believe Sparano and the Dolphins learned a lesson last year. They spent the entire offseason trying to improve the defense and pretty much let the offense become a stepchild of sorts. Oh, the stepchild got a nice Christmas gift. Brandon Marshall was signed at the high expense of two second-round picks and a multi-million-dollar contract.

But pretty much every other resource -- save for one of seven draft picks -- was used on defense. The coaching staff was adjusted but mostly on defense.

Sparano is living the other half of that coin this offseason, with offensive coaches leaving or being encouraged to leave in droves.

He does not, however, wish to simply forget the defense.

Here's an idea: The Dolphins should address both the defense and special teams in fell swoops. In other words, if the team can use some athletes on special teams (a need) perhaps a linebacker or cornerback in the draft would be a way to go.

Among the names on Miami's radar are Arizona's Ricky Elmore and Brooks Reed. Pittsburgh's Jabaal Sheard is also on the radar.

Sheard comes with at least one red flag. Let's just say he's capable of throwing defenders around because obviously Pittsburgh police believed him capable of throwing citizens around. Sheard is from Hollywood Hills. Sheard was not convicted for his arrest because he pleaded down to disorderly conduct charges and paid restitution for damages.

Comments

[murcielago]

Why an apology for Ireland???

[DyingBreed]

$0.02,

Two things must happen for better TE coverage. Misi must be wary to chip the TE when he's releasing from the line. No free releases.

Im also guessing Reshad Jones at ss can do a better job in TE coverage than Y-Bell. Though very good in run support, Y-Bell has never shown to be consistent at covering TE's.

[Armando Salguero]

GulfDolphin and Aloco are different people.

Aloco, I wouldn't be acting all saintly because you just posted as muricemanga as a near-impersonation of murcielago. That doesn't bother me because it's not the same handle.

Meanwhile, someone posted last nite as AlocA instead of AlocO. So Aloco, it seems what goes around comes around. Be good, bro.

[murcielago]

I feel redeemed thank you Armando!

[Armando Salguero]

culebra, you're good.
Yorkanis, you're good.
timortwo, you're good
Sach, you're good.
daytona, you're good.

You all know who you are. And so do I.

:)

[murcielago]

Armando, I still dont get why no one will post in blue to avoid or diminish the amount of fakes???

[DyingBreed]

Armando,

It just amazes me that total adults come here to consistently act like total kids. We all have our moment or two. But there is a certain element here seeming to be stuck in thier "terrible twos".

[Armando Salguero]

Seriously, sign in and post in blue! It saves you many headaches. More important, it saves ME headaches. Haha.

Also, can you please check out my dang column! Click on the dang thing!

[oscar canosa]

Channing probably has a brighter Bulb than most of us here; he is, just, well, bright. Although I've never met him, I like him a lot and wish him the best.

[DyingBreed]

Armando,

I was registered in blue but for someone reason it seemed my password no longer worked. So what do I do?

[murcielago]

Thanks Armando!! SIGN IN BLUE

[DyingBreed]

I read your column Armando! LOL........

[Armando Salguero]

Dying, is there a forgot password button? A reset botton? Either that or get a new login.

[murcielago]

DyingBreed, Try changing your name a little, put a space between your name Dying Breed

[Craig M]

DB,

Why can't we continue to criticize Crowder? Why does he get a free pass? The guy can't stay healthy and he can't stay on the field. He's unreliable and he's only good for flapping his gums. No way he gets an exemption. You can praise all you want but for my money he doesn't make ANY big plays and there's been a number of times he's given up big pays over the last few years. I don't like the guy and I'll be happy when he's gone. If Barnett is available and it doesn't cost anything I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[JUSTIN CREDIBLE]

IT'S A SAD DAY WHEN ARMANDO HAVE TO PUT YOU SO CALLED ADULTS IN TIME OUTS

[DyingBreed]

CraigM,

Until we can afford to get a suitable replacing Crowder is a fruitless and redundant cry. As I posted, until we can afford a 1st, 2nd rd pick. Or sign an available impact fa at the position it'll remain a baseless cry.

Replacing Crowder is far down our draft priority list at present. This draft also doesnt have any ilb's guaranteed to be any better either.

[DyingBreed]

Im back in the "BLUE" guys! Thanks Armando!

[murcielago]

Justin I love your English.

[GulfDolphin]

"Exceptions to the rule," a tongue in cheek saying which does not imply when it happens, the event is, "extrodinary."

For instance, Armando - even though busy with more important work - will from time to time email back, and even post on his own blog.
Sometimes directly to one individual, sometimes to all.

Anyway, I'm glad Armando cleared the air regarding the imposter debate.

[kris]

Armando,

I know its got to be a pain....but your responses are greatly appreciated....

Thanks

[Craig M]

DB,

I agree that it might be down our draft priority but it should be high on our agenda. This guy went off on the organization with Porter last year and he's lucky he keep his job. His time is coming and I for one will be happy when he's gone.

[cocoajoe]

Sparano made the comment he won't make the same mistake this year....drafting almost all D last year, makes me believe he had more stroke than I thought.

Got me wondering, where was Parcells during this time? Sparano's still learning on the job. So, why didn't he point out the mistake?

Parcells should be indicted for grand theft...he sure robbed the Dolphins.

[kris]

Craig M....I coudn't agree more....@ 12:20...and the post before

[fin4life]

I e-mailed Mando and he replied quickly and was very to the point about the consequences regarding the B.S. on the site, thanks Mando !

Dear fin4life,

Checked into everything you said. I'm watching the site and will ban anyone who impersonates anyone else. I added a comment on the most recent post about that. Please post a comment so I'll have your IP address. This will prevent anyone from impersonating you in the future.
Best,
Mando




Be sure to read Armando's blog at http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/ and follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/armandosalguero.

You can also listen to Armando and the Amigo every weekday morning 6-10 a.m. on 640-AM Sports in South Florida or online at www.640sports.com.

[JUSTIN CREDIBLE]

WHY DO YOU PEOPLE EVEN CARE THAT MUCH.

YOU GET INTO ARGUMENTS START NAME CALLING AND STUPID THINGS LIKE THAT.

I CAN'T LIE I GOT INTO IT BEFORE BUT I RATHER JUST FIGHT AND GET IT OVER WITH.

NO NEED TO BICKER LIKE LITTLE GIRLS.

[JUSTIN CREDIBLE]

ARMANDO

YOU NEVER SAID HOW OLD YOU WERE

[DyingBreed]

CraigM,

Im sure he maybe on the fo agenda. But what can you do until someone more suitable is available? He may not be a big play magnet but he's the best we have for now.

So all that we can do is continue to roll with him until at least this year because primary focus of this draft is more likely than not, will be on offense and nothing better is available in fa whenever the new cba is done.

[kris]

Thanks Fin4Life....

[DC Dolfan]

DB, Craig did say replacing Crowder with Barnett. Not sure the price he'd come for (definitely not a 1st or probably 2nd-rd pick), so I wouldn't be against taking a look at that.

But generally I agree, we can't worry about Crowder this of all year's (as far as the Draft) since we have too many other holes. But, Edds better be ready to go since Crowder will only be playing 1/2 the games this (and every) season.

[2 watt]

armando. those are the girls on the ss coming over stirring #@it up.lol

[ALoco]

armando,

you seem unfair , WHO POSTED AS ME LAST NUGHT ? I POSTED MAURICEMANGA ,NOW WHIO POSTS AS ME .....YOU R NOT FAIR AND PLAYING FAVORITES .

KRIS...YOU OWE ME AN APOLOGY ......

[DC Dolfan]

Testing my cool new blue name..

[cocoajoe]

Mando, I personally don't have a lot of trouble with people impersonating me. But I thought I would go blue...anything to help.

But when I tried, site didn't recognize my email address. WTF?

[DyingBreed]

DC,

Good post. Crowder may seem a little girly at times, hasnt won a fight yet and always runs his choppers. But he's the toughest dike in pads we have at his position.

Edds has shown to be greatly efficient in pass coverage in college. So for now, maybe we'll go with Crowder on known running downs and , if he remains healthy, Edds will replace him on obvious passing downs.

This maybe our best approach at that ilb position in 2011. Unless Edds can prove to also be a beast in the running game too. If this occurs Crowder undoubtedly will get the boot.

[DC Dolfan]

I agree, Crowder's a tough cookie (when he's out there). Good run stopper. Not showy, not a big playmaker, but a solid LB.

For me, it's all about the injuries with him. Another guy we knew was injury-prone in college that we took a chance on anyway.

He's got a place on this team in 2011 (as far as I'm concerned), but probably not long after that (especially if he gets hurt in the beginning of the season and we don't see him until end of November/December).

[Sherif]

If not for the end of season losses to Detroit, Buffalo and Cleveland we would have made the playoffs. And if not for the special teams collapsing, we would have probably got a first round bye. The D got us a long way last year. The trouble with the offense is that it was too scripted. Defenders always said Henne was easy to read. Marshall said Henne didn't listen to him when he talked to him in the huddle. Receivers know when they can beat a defense and will tell the QB in the huddle, but Henne the robot didn't listen because LEE and Sparano were in his head. The coaches ruined Henne by making him too predictable. If he improvises a bit, and doesn't give up on plays by checking down, I think we'll see a much higher QB rating from him and we'll score more than 17 ppg.

[DyingBreed]

cocoajoe,

Follow the directions under "having trouble logging in". Or reregister.

If upon reregistering, if it tells you the email address is already taken. Then you know the email address is correct but the password is not. If this is the case just press reset my password and the instructions will be emailed to you.

But, if the email address is incorrect you may have to reregister or remember what email address you used.

[fin4life]

Dear Mr. Salguero,

Thank you for your prompt reply, I appreciate it, I back tracked thru the weekend and found this exchange in particular about the impersenating I was refering to:

Get the fck outtta here aloco, verything was fine until you show up!
Publicado por: Darryl Dunphy | March 27, 2011 at 10:57 PM


in4life....No that wasn't me. I'm not sure whats happening here. My last post was to 0x80 Thanking him for checking out the Tawain Jones video. This is getting old, and if it continues I will try and find a different venue, or forum to discuss the Dolphins. Go back to page 11 and there is a big difference between my posts and the imposters.
Aloco..I have no beef with you, or anybody for that matter. Someone has been posing as DD for 2 days. I have been away at dinner for a few hours.
Publicado por: Darryl Dunphy | March 27, 2011 at 11:22 PM

[DyingBreed]

DC,

Right on about the injury issues. But I think what most d-fan have against him is he runs his mouth like he's a "big playmaker" but he's not. I think his injury issue is secondary to the Crowder bashers when compared to his hollow boast and frontrunner style.

[oscar canosa]

Now I have to change from brown to blue. And all becuse of some tamtrums. Sheeezzz...

[ALoco]

KRIS, GO READ ARMANDO'S POST @ 11;56 AM ,THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY YOU R VERY SORRY FOR ACCUSING ME BUD .

[DyingBreed]

Outside of Crowder's propensity to get often injured. I dont think he would have very many bashers if he learned to keep his mouth shut.

But then again, I dont many would have issue with his mouth if he backed it up with big plays. His big mouth just seems to be bigger than he plays. LOL...........

[FINSARMEGEDDON]

I think Sparano is tired of answering questions about the offense and is doing a little smoke and mirrors to get our minds off them. I agree with other posters who say pick the best athlete when the time comes.
That being said, has anyone heard of WR Torrey Smith, some mock drafts have the Fins taking him.
LASTLY, ALOCO'S CONSTANT ILLITERATE RAMBLINGS AND HIS CHILDISH WAYS ARE GETTING VERY OLD. PLEASE GUYS DON'T AMUSE THIS IDIOT ANYMORE , IT'S GETTING OLD AND TAKING AWAY FROM A GOOD BLOG WHERE PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS.

[oscar canosa]

How the hell do I change to blue? (I forgot).

[DyingBreed]

oscar canosa,

use the sign in keypad to go to blue

[DyingBreed]

then enter your email and password you choose

[fin4life]

@ FINSARMEGEDDON 1:00

I agree totally MANDO said that any proof of impersonating, not using a similar name but actually impersonating another blogger would mean being banned immediatley from the post, it`s why I put up some proof @12:51 now let the fire works begin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am as mild mannered as the next guy but when you push my buttons I can be stubborn as hell !

[dln265]

Reminds me of the offseason prior to 2004, when Wanny was reluctantly retained. You could see the ship sinking all around him (A.J. Feely, Lamar Gordon, giving away draft picks, Wade Smith as a left tackle?, etc...) but he still held up the "nothing to see here sign."

[oscar canosa]

You might forgive my ignorance, DC, but I am of a much older generation. What sign in? What keypad?

[Darryl Dunphy]

....Thank you Armando for doing kindergarten duty. I hate that this was even an issue. I'm sure you have better things to do then monitor a few children ruining the blog. But again thank you.

Wow, what I stand I made. A whole day. What willpower. I apologize if my actions made the blog a bummer. But I had to make a stand. Hopefully this is resolved and debate can continue.

[murcielago]

Aloco why should Kris apologize to you? You are guilty of using multiple names you fool.

[oscar canosa]

If that is so, DD, you have my infinite gratitude.

[fin4life]

DD,

Glad you dropped a line !!

[DC Dolfan]

Oscar,

You can click on any blue name you see (fin, violao, mine, DyingBreed) and it will take you to their TypePad page (just a page with all their posts on it). In the upper-righthand corner you'll see "Join Now" or "Sign-In", something like that. Follow that link to create an account for yourself (you'll need your name, oscar canosa, your email address and a password). Once you fill out that info you'll be signed in, and can come back here to post, and your name should come up in blue. You can sign-out at any time (and if you posted while signed-out your name would be black). So that's how you can ensure it's you, since you need a password to post in blue as yourself (I don't know, maybe a hacker could find a way to post in blue as someone else, but that's above my pay grade).

[Home]

2 losing seasons with the most overrated POSER BOY CB in the history of the Miami Dolphins

One junk bread basket interception in garbage time

Over a dozen dropped interceptions that hit Poser Boy CB in both hands due to erratic throwing by opposing QBs

That's right OVER A DOZEN DROPPED INTERCEPTIONS THAT HIT POSER BOY sean smith IN BOTH HANDS

What might the outcome be if POSER BOY actually caught the football instead of being exposed as a shucking & jiving mouthy bust of a CB?

tradeseansmith.com

[fin4life]

DC,

The funny thing about everybodies difficulties registering in blue at the typepad seems to be that for some it doesn`t want to accept there e-mail addresses or maybe it`s a language barrier thing cause mine registered me in Spanish and now when I logg in everything goes Spanish, you`ll notice in my post were I copied some e-mails from DD that all refrences are in Spanish, LOL, Not a biggie I speak it but it might be a problem for others.

[kris]

DC....my job won't allow me to sign-in.....but you will notice that most times I am in blue on the weekends and after 5PM.....although I had a Lazy spell for about two weeks .....

[Darryl Dunphy]

fin4life....Yeah this bolg is like my crack. I saw that Armando had adressed the situation.

Alright. Back to football. Anyone wanna do some Henne Bashing?

Seriously. Anyone that thinks, or assumes that the defense is going to magically be dominant in mistaken. Our ranking last year was a fraud. Not to take anything away from the improvements. We were better. But our schedule the second half of the season was pathetic. Or should I say the offenses we faced in the second half were pathetic.

Measure the defense against the top tier offenses. And the only good showing was against the Packers.(they were champs)
We must find away to cover in nickel. Against good offenses we could not get off the field on third down. I have beaten this point into the dirt. But IMO. nickel corner is the position of the future.

This is going to come with some contreversy. But VD is not a shut dowwn corner. Not even close. He is at best in the second tier of corners. I would say keep him on the outside in base coverages. but move HIM to nickel on those situations. He is the fastest corner, has size to dominate thise smaller quick, but not fast recievers. Shut down the slot reciever, and you shut down a lot of offenses. Now this is dependant on finding another corner that can cover on the outside. With out this luxury, forget my scenario.

glad to be back.

[Joe Schmoe]

Who cares if they spent the entire offseason last year on D selections? All but 2 starters that this defense fielded last year was already on the team. Only 1 of those draft picks used on D last year started.

The revamp last year was mostly coaching & philosophical. However, it still needs work. Evidenced by the fact that against bad teams the D looked good. against good teams, we looked lousy.

The problem this year is that, unlike the D headinging into last year, the players we need on O are NOT here already. And don't think we will rely on late draft picks to start, especially on the O-line. This offense needs SERIOUS help & infusion of talent. Most of it will happen in FA. The sooner this lockout is resolved, the sooner Miami can address the real needs. And that is starters on O via FA.