Miami Dolphins Find Success Because Of Their Core Players
The Miami Dolphins are 2-0 because the immortal Brett Favre and the Vikings gave a game away on Sunday.
Well, that's what the national media will tell you today.
But, I am here to give you the real scoop. The Miami Dolphins are 2-0 because they finally have a core of players that you can count on in crucial moments and, truth be told, Miami dominated much of the game because of those players.
Before discussing those core players, let's examine some of the facts from yesterday.
Minnesota's only touchdown came on a one-yard scoring drive after Ricky Williams fumbled.
Williams' mistake was arguably the most unusual and inexcusable Dolphins gaffe by a running back since Sammie Smith fumbled into the end zone in back-to-back games in 1991.
The Vikings' field goal came after the ball should have been turned over to Miami on downs. Only a ridiculous spot by the referees gave running back Toby Gerhart a first down.
When notorious anti-Miami and CBS announcer Dan Dierdorf begrudgingly has to agree with the Dolphins, you know that the refs blew it big time.
Chad Henne attempted a whopping 15 passes.That's called knowing that your defense can stop the opponent, so don't take any unnecessary chances.
Also keep in mind that Miami did show some big-play capability on offense with Henne's 46-yard bomb to Brandon Marshall and a 51-yard burst over the left side by running back Ronnie Brown.
Granted, I am not a big fan of a conservative game plan and Miami will regret it if they don't "plunge the final dagger" into some teams, but showing this kind of faith in a defensive unit that is facing a team on the road that reached the NFC Championship Game last season is impressive.
How much does Miami's success have to do with coaching, especially new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan?
No one is denying that Nolan's schemes have much more variety and have produced more success than that of former coordinator Paul Pasqualoni (How is it in Big D today, Paul?)
Still the edict that "Players win games" is true, and all you have to do is look at the following slides for proof.
1. Karlos Dansby
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Earlier this summer, probably to stir the pot a little, I wrote that Karlos Dansby would have more of an impact on the Miami Dolphins than Brandon Marshall.
The link is here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/410574-why-dansby-is-a-bigger-addition-to-the-miami-dolphins-than-marshall
If Sunday is any indication, Dansby might just be the most important acquisition that Miami has made in years.
First of all, consider that Dansby is the unquestioned emotional leader of the defense who got the unit ready before the Vikings game.
However, it was two plays that set Dansby's performance apart from others against the Vikings.
After Williams' fumble, Brett Favre tried to go to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the end zone. Dansby's stretched out with one of his big mitts to deflect the ball away.
Even though Adrian Peterson scored on the next play, it was this exemplary pass coverage on a big-play tight end that Miami missed all of last year.
The next play has the chance to go down in Miami lore as a very significant play in franchise history
There aren't many defenders who are willing to go one-on-one with Adrian Peterson in a hole. There are even less who can pull it off on fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line.
Dansby did. Yes, Peterson might have sneaked across the goal line if it wasn't for Vontae Davis coming over to clean up, but Dansby's clear ability against the run and the pass might make him one of the best middle linebackers Miami has ever had.
He's only 28 and he has the size and athletic ability to hold up for several more years.
2. Jake Long
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According to Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel in a tweet, Minnesota Defensive End Jared Allen said of the Miami offense, "To be honest, I thought it was going to be more physical than it was."
Maybe the MMA training is getting to Allen's brain, as Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long abused Allen for most of the day.
Yes, Allen had a sack, but it was clear who won the battle as Henne had plenty of time to throw on most plays, and the Dolphins running game averaged 4.1 yards per carry.
It's a good sign when your offensive tackle simply says, "It was fun."
Legendary Miami Dolphins quarterback and CBS analyst Dan Marino put it another way,“[Minnesota All-Pro defensive end] Jared Allen is one of the best pass rushers in the league," he said. "In the dome, on the turf, coming off the corner, with the crowd noise, the whole thing. And he (Long) pretty much shut him down, and that’s a big deal.” (Courtesy of Joe Rose and the Sun-Sentinel).
The key to Long's success was a consistent hand punch and sustaining contact with Allen as long as possible.
His performance was a defining statement that Miami has a franchise left tackle who should be around a "Long" time.
3. Vontae Davis
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Vontae Davis had six tackles, two passes defensed, a miraculous juggling interception on his back, and he helped prevent a game-winning score on the goal-line in run support.
Get the picture?
Ironically, Jason Allen, Miami's other starting cornerback had an even better stat line with two interceptions and 11 tackles, but that's in part because opposing offenses are learning not to go Davis' way.
Minnesota quarterback Brett Farve had the ultimate praise for Davis. "Twenty-one, I felt like is one of the best corners in this league, especially that nobody knows about," Favre said.
Now, Davis still has to shut down a few No. 1 targets in this league to take his place among the elite (Braylon Edwards and Randy Moss come to mind in the next two weeks) but it's clear that when he has confidence, he certainly has the skills to blanket any receiver in this league.
Perhaps one of his best plays he made on Sunday came on a catch that he allowed. While slipping on the turf, he still managed to corral the Vikings' Percy Harvin for a short gain on what would have otherwise been a huge gain.
If Darrelle Revis has his own island, Davis' overall game (a beast in run support) might deserve its own country if he keeps progressing.
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4. Cameron Wake
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The fourth member of Miami's core group right now is outside linebacker Cameron Wake.
The two-time CFL Defensive Player of the Year showed plenty of promise last season in racking up 5.5 sacks last season. In 2010, he is becoming a game-changer.
His strip of Brett Favre and resulting recovery for a touchdown by Miami's other starting outside linebacker, Koa Misi, gave Miami a 14-0 lead that they never gave up.
On the play, Wake beat a double-team block of right tackle Phil Loadholdt and tight end Shancoe proving that Minnesota knew Wake was coming and they still couldn't stop him.
Call Wake a "late bloomer" and question his other skills if you dare.
He is fearsome rushing the passer and at 28, with very low mileage due to his nearly two years off from the game after being cut as an undrafted free agent for the Giants, he should only get better with more snaps.
In short, you might be having plenty of "Wakes" for opposing quarterbacks in the near future.
5. Brandon Marshall
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Given Brandon Marshall's reputation, he probably would expect to have over 200 yards receiving and three or four touchdowns right now.
However, with where the offense and quarterback Chad Henne are in their early stages of development, Marshall will have to settle for being Miami's best offensive threat for the moment.
His impact is undeniable regardless. He leads the team in catches (12) and yards receiving (124) and when he hauled in the aforementioned rainbow from Henne in Miami's opening game, it was the big play out of a receiver Dolphins fans have been craving for years.
Miami lacks a true downfield speedster to make Marshall even more of a threat right now, but when Henne begins to get his timing down with his 6-4, 230-pound target, defenses will have even more trouble with the "Air Marshall."
Granted, I've only mentioned five players as core components that are Pro-Bowl caliber and that any franchise would want to build around.
You can add defensive lineman Randy Starks to this list, even though he probably won't have the gaudy statistics due to the variety of roles he will fill for this team (he looks much more comfortable at defensive end, by the way).
Six cornerstone players are still a lot better than what many other teams have in the NFL and if Miami can add or develop roughly four to six more they will have a Super Bowl-caliber team.
Chad Henne, Koa Misi, Jared Odrick, Brian Hartline, Chris Clemons, John Jerry or a host of other young players may be future building block or may not. Only time and a lot more than two games will tell the story.
Remember, the previous regimes arguably didn't leave Miami with any building blocks for the future.
Now, Miami has players and that's why they are 2-0. They have earned it, no matter what "bill of goods" certain members of the Minnesota Vikings or the national media might try to sell you.
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