Dolphins Will Become Champs Via the Draft, Not Free Agency

demonstrated both the importance of a strong pass rush and the value of a good draft a month ago. The No. six-seed 2005 Steelers are another example of the value of making a Hall Of Fame Quarterback look like a one-legged 10-year-old school girl in the 2005 AFC divisional at Indy; Peyton spent all day on his ass. 

Cornerbacks can’t touch the receiver like they used to; the rules won’t allow it. Corners are effective by reacting to an effective pass rush.  The less time a receiver has to get open, and the less time a QB has to throw the ball, the greater the CB will look. I would much rather have Reggie White or Bruce Smith than a Deon Sanders any day. 

The Super Bowl Champion Giants had a mediocre secondary at best. A 60-year-old Sam Madison, McQuarters, Webster? Please. Rookie CBs Pope and Ross had just as great of an impact.  This secondary was banged up all year and there was nothing exceptional about them. 

If you are a average Chess player, and don’t know much about openings or strategy but enjoy playing, try this strategy the next time you play; Identify the central four squares on the board, and do nothing but try to control those four squares for the entire game. Every move you make, especially in the opening, should be geared toward protecting and controlling the central four squares.

Notice the difference in your play now?  

Parcells has acquired two very large defensive tackles and linebackers, an offensive guard, and a tight end. I imagine the draft will also bring in some new blood on the offensive and defensive lines. He is attempting to rebuild from the center and work his way outward.

So far I am impressed with his management choices with this organization, and I will enjoy watching it all come together over the next couple of seasons.

My Thoughts on Taylor 

Regarding Jason Taylor, we all know what kind of play he brings to the field. In my opinion, Jason Taylor has two solid years left in him, providing Jason wants to continue playing. Yesterday, Parcells shot down rumors that Taylor may be traded. This may or may not be a bluff. We will see between now and the end of April.  

I hope Miami and Taylor can stay together for a few more years. Taylor is the only pro-bowler this team has left and he is one of the most important positions on the field. I cannot help but think the defense would be better-served with him over the next couple of years. 

If Calvin Pace is acquired, I fail to see any reason this makes Taylor expendable. Taylor is a DE, and Pace is a LB, both have played both positions in 3-4 and 4-3 hybrids. Yes we will have Taylor, Porter, Pace, Crowder, Torbor, and Anderson and maybe even rookie DE Long. As the Giants proved this year, you can never have enough pass rushers, and the Dolphins would only be one injury away from this overcrowded defense not being so overcrowded. 

I have to agree with recent criticism of Taylor, however. He is participating in “Dancing with The Stars,” and this will eat up three months of his spring while living in Los Angeles.

I understand Taylor’s motive for planning for life after football, but he is the senior leader of the entire team, and his lack of presence in Miami during the months between March and May is probably not making Parcells too happy.  There will be a lot of new young faces and a lot of changes, and the team’s All-Star leader is not there to support all the change.

 

You lead by example and I question Taylor’s leadership in this instance. Granted this is the fifth new regime in as many years for Taylor, but this one is different.  Or maybe Taylor and Parcells already know he is a goner, and Taylor is thinking, “What’s the point?”  

 

I look forward to seeing how the Taylor story evolves between now and the Draft.

 

All of my articles can be found at 

http://thedolphininsider.blogspot.com/

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