"Started from the middle and stayed there" Official Miami Dolphins offseason thread

[Da_Eggman]

Suh offers help to Dolphins' defense
March, 8, 2015
Mar 8
2:33
PM ET
By ESPN Stats & Information | ESPN.com

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Raj Mehta/USA TodayNdamukong Suh is expected to sign a contract with the Dolphins for $60 million guaranteed.
With Ndamukong Suh reportedly ready to sign a contract that includes $60 million of guaranteed money with the Miami Dolphins, ESPN’s Stats & Information looks at his accomplishments.

Ndamukong Suh Career

NFL rank*
Snaps 1st
Sacks 1st
Tackles 3rd
Disrupted dropbacks 1st
* Among DTs since 2010
Suh, who entered the NFL in 2010, has 36 sacks in his career. That’s the most among defensive tackles in that time. Second is Geno Atkins (who has played five fewer games than Suh) with 32.

The Detroit Lions, the team Suh is leaving, had the top rushing defense in 2014, allowing 69.3 yards per game. The Dolphins finished 24th in rush defense, allowing 121.1 yards per game.

The Dolphins allowed an average of 2.96 yards before contact on rushes last season. The Lions allowed barely half that -- a league-leading 1.51 yards per rush before contact.

Rush Defense Ranks Last Season

Lions Dolphins
Yards 1st 24th
Yds per rush 1st 21st
YBC per rush* 1st 28th
* Yards before contact per rush
Suh had 8.5 sacks and 10.5 disrupted dropbacks last season. The Dolphins’ defensive tackles last season (Randy Starks, Earl Mitchell and Jared Odrick) combined for 7.5 sacks and 14.5 disrupted dropbacks.

Then again, Suh accounted for $22.4 million against the Lions’ salary cap, whereas Starks, Odrick and Mitchell consumed $10.3 million of the Dolphins’ cap space.

In the company of Hall of Famers
The Associated Press has selected Suh as a first-team All-Pro three times in his first five seasons. He is one of five defensive tackles in the past half century to be so recognized.

Of the five, three are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: “Mean” Joe Greene, Alan Page and Cortez Kennedy. (The fifth is Kevin Williams.)

Suh's $60 million guarantee would be the most given to any defensive player. The contract of J.J. Watt has the highest guaranteed money, according to the Roster Management System, at $51.9 million. Next is Gerald McCoy, with $51.5 million guaranteed, and Patrick Peterson, with $48 million.

Dolphins' Ndamukong Suh: By the numbers
March, 9, 2015
Mar 9
11:00
AM ET
By James Walker | ESPN.com

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New Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was the consensus No. 1 player in free agency. Suh is viewed as a rare free agent who doesn't hit the market often, which is why Miami will make him the NFL's highest-paid defensive player at $114 million on Tuesday.

How dominant has Suh been in his first five seasons?

SuhHere are several telling statistics from ESPN Stats & Information:

• Since being drafted in 2010, Suh leads all NFL defensive tackles in quarterback sacks with 36. Geno Atkins (32), Marcell Dareus (28.5) and Gerald McCoy (27) round out the top four.
• Suh leads all defensive tackles in snaps (4,107) and disruptive dropbacks (50) since 2010. He is also third in tackles (238) at his position.
• With Suh, the Detroit Lions led the NFL last season in run defense (63.9 yards per game) and yards allowed before contact (1.51). The Dolphins were 24th in run defense (121.1 yards per game) and 28th in yards allowed before contact (2.96).

My take is Suh is worth every penny for the Dolphins. Not only will he fix Miami's leaky run defense, but Suh's presence and overall dominance will make the other 10 defenders around him better.

The Dolphins arguably have the NFL's best defensive line on paper with the addition of Suh. However, Suh, fellow Pro Bowler Cameron Wake, defensive end Olivier Vernon and defensive tackle Earl Mitchell must quickly establish their chemistry and prove it on the field this season.

 

[Da_Eggman]

Miami's defensive line is now one of NFL's best
March, 9, 2015
Mar 9
7:00
AM ET
By James Walker | ESPN.com

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The Miami Dolphins made the biggest splash of free agency after agreeing to a $114 million contract with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Not only does Suh fill Miami’s biggest need, but he brings a nastiness the Dolphins’ defense lacked in recent seasons.

With Suh, Miami's defensive line is stacked.

Miami's Projected Defensive Line: 2014 Stats
Player Tackles Sacks
Ndamukong Suh, DT 53 8.5
Cameron Wake, DE 36 11.5
Olivier Vernon, DE 46 6.5
Earl Mitchell, DT 33 2.0
Do the Dolphins have the best defensive line in the NFL? They certainly have a case on paper.

Two of Miami's four starters -- Suh and Cameron Wake -- are Pro Bowlers and among the best at their positions. Olivier Vernon is a budding defensive end who has 18 quarterback sacks the past two seasons, and Earl Mitchell is a solid No. 2 defensive tackle.

In addition, backup defensive end Dion Jordan is a former No. 3 overall pick and the third defensive end coming off the bench. Despite past mistakes, Jordan has a lot of ability and could contribute with good coaching next season. This is also assuming Miami doesn't keep 31-year-old defensive tackle Randy Starks, who started last year and is due $5 million in 2015. The Dolphins have to slash salary and Starks is a prime target with Suh now in the starting lineup.

Other top defensive lines include the Buffalo Bills' foursome of Marcell Dareus, Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes, who is a free agent but reportedly will re-sign with Buffalo. The Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets are two additional teams with top-flight defensive lines.

Miami’s defensive line certainly looks elite on paper in March. But that’s only a projection based on past performance. Suh, Wake, Vernon and Mitchell eventually must come together on the field and prove it during the regular season this fall.

 

[Da_Eggman]

ESPN Dolphins reporter James Walker says Antrel Rolle and Da'Norris Searcy are affordable options at safety for Miami, which won’t have much money left in free agency after landing Ndamukong Suh.

 

[intruder]

So apparently we went hard after Cobb from the Packers

 

[SoulController]

Webb has been hurt likr 70% of his career, hell no

id be fine with taking Dre J for Mike, if only to shave off the money and get a receiver that doesn't have to be downfield to produce. I like Lofton but I think an MLB can be had cheaper and younger in the draft

 

[SoulController]

need to be aggressive if we want Rolle, Bears and Eagles both highly interested among others

Searcy is a guy with like 15 career starts, id be leary of offering him big money. Rolle is a vocal leader and can play the deep middle, we'd be able to play 1-high deep and have Jones come up and help the LB's. Delmas couldn't do that, we haven't had a good FS in a loooong time

 

[Da_Eggman]

need to be aggressive if we want Rolle, Bears and Eagles both highly interested among others

Searcy is a guy with like 15 career starts, id be leary of offering him big money. Rolle is a vocal leader and can play the deep middle, we'd be able to play 1-high deep and have Jones come up and help the LB's. Delmas couldn't do that, we haven't had a good FS in a loooong time

i think we could get at a Searcy bargin thou

 

[intruder]

I can never understand the NFL's cap situations. Going into the offseason mofos wee talking like our cap situation was a huge mess and that we were so limited.

• We offer a huge deal to Suh
• Offer a huge deal to Randall Cobb who ended up resigning for $40M (supposedly we offered him more)
• And we're still in the mix for others

 

[in the NICK of time]

 

[Da_Eggman]

All need to come home


On the cheap of course

 

[Bboystyle]

So apparently we went hard after Cobb from the Packers

cobb saw Tanny highlights as was like

 

[SoulController]

Starks, Shelley Smith out. Fields restructured

not clear on space atm, I think its around 10. still might lose Clay, but would have plenty to add Dre J or another vet wr

no one we cut so far has done shyt lately, Wallace needs to restruc too not sure whats taking so long. Starks was the only cut who was a PB player at any point, rest were FA busts or just got older

 

[Ari Gold Bawse]

Starks

 

[intruder]

Not surprised Starks is gone. With Suh coming in it was predictable.
Thing is the this team still has so many holes on the OL but Shelly Smith sucked anyway

 

[954UAlreadyknow]

we need to get ONE of them at least

mainly Andre