Cameron Wake and the Buzz Surrounding the Miami Dolphins Defense

D is for Dolphins.

Defense has been the moniker for Miami from the days of the "No Names" through the years of Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor and to the present day. It seems as if the Dolphins always have a star or two to anchor a physical defense.

All of the recent questions and concerns point to the offense. Rightfully so.

Last year, the 'Fins offense suffered through needless turnovers, a lackluster running game and a failure to establish the Henne-Marshall connection that so many salivated over.

There is no qualm about this Dolphins defense. The question is not how consistent they will be, but how prolifically and violently they will establish themselves.

The drafts of the past few years have been mixed, with offense sometimes taking hold and defense other times given focus.

One thing is for sure: The Dolphins front office worked magic taking Vontae Davis and Sean Smith in the same draft, signing a no-name in Cameron Wake, and acquiring stalwart Karlos Dansby.

The defense that finished sixth in 2010 now has an opportunity to assert itself as a top-three defense, if not the best defense in the NFL.

The sixth-place finish is abhorrent, the Fins being in third before the Patriots dismantled them. Even in a division in which there are two Super Bowl contenders bearing All-Pro offensive linemen, the Dolphins relentlessly pursued quarterbacks and made it hell to run on them. 

Beginning our dissection of this defensive monster is the absolute star power it contains. Whether it be an emerging star or a longtime hero, these 'Fins have stars.

From the line to the secondary, this defense breathes fire.

Randy Starks will once again move to the nose-tackle position following two years of excellent pressure combined with run stoppage.

Kendall Langford, a genius draft pick out of Hampton, will continue to relentlessly attack the QB. He was one finger short of a pick six against the Jets that would have won the game and shamed Sanchez before the brutal New York press. 

Bolstering an already deep corps of big boys is the return of Jared Odrick, a first-round pick whose selection was widely booed, but who offered promise last year before exiting early with a leg injury. 

These linebackers clearly are the best unit on this team; their strength is five, maybe six deep.

Despite Koa Misi's having trouble getting to the quarterback, he will likely start at strong side, with All-Pro Cameron Wake wreaking havoc on the weak. Wake was a genius pick up from Canada; he is a candidate to lead the league in sacks next year and a surefire front-runner for defensive MVP.

Inside is already an improvement over Channing Crowder, whose mouth was most likely his strongest muscle. Crowder was solid, but lacked the big plays—interceptions, big hits, forced fumbles—that new signing Kevin Burnett will likely bring to the table.

Next to Burnett is the prize of last year's free-agent class, Karlos Dansby. Dansby had a monster 2010 season, showing just why Jeff Ireland put so much stock in signing him.

Add the ageless wonder, Jason Taylor, and Miami has the makings of a beast.

Rounding out the D are a pair of corners who are primed to be the first duo of Pro Bowlers in Miami since Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison.

If Sean Smith caught half of the balls that hit his hands, he would be Pro Bowl bound, and Vontae Davis continues to shine well beyond his 25th-pick selection. Both show fearlessness in run support and the kind of blanket coverage that makes them the most underrated duo in the NFL.

At safety are the increasingly reliable Chris Clemons and the lone 30-plus-year-old, Yeremiah Bell. Bell has proven his worth with multiple Pro Bowl selections.

It seems as if there are no true holes in the defense, with each starter bearing an opportunity to make the Pro Bowl in any given season.

My prediction is a top-three defense—one that keeps the'Fins in games (see the Chicago game), despite any offensive struggles, and provides a scouting nightmare in coverage, run support and pass rush.

This team could easily have a top-three defense, if not the most virulent defense in all the NFL.