Campbell facing imposing challenge

[FinNasty]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Past defensive performance is one of the worst predictors of future defensive performance. It's why the league gets shook up every year and the Redskins can be 4th in D one year, and 32nd the next.

Fins have a lot of talent on the defense, but they aren't young.

So you expect a fall off... even though they improved the talent?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by FinNasty

So you expect a fall off... even though they improved the talent?

I think a fall off is inevitable. They were top ten last year. If they can stay top half, the Fins have a chance to be .500 (or maybe a bit better). But as good as Thomas and Taylor have been, it's not like they will be this good when they are 60. At some point production peaks and begins to slide.

How else has Miami improved their D? Porter? He's in the same boat as the other two with age.

What about whatshisface safety you guys drafted from Tennessee last season. Is he going to be in the starting lineup this year? Is Channing Crowder going to be a lot better than last season? Wheres all this optimism coming from?

[bigSkinsfan61]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think a fall off is inevitable. They were top ten last year. If they can stay top half, the Fins have a chance to be .500 (or maybe a bit better). But as good as Thomas and Taylor have been, it's not like they will be this good when they are 60. At some point production peaks and begins to slide.

How else has Miami improved their D? Porter? He's in the same boat as the other two with age.

What about whatshisface safety you guys drafted from Tennessee last season. Is he going to be in the starting lineup this year? Is Channing Crowder going to be a lot better than last season? Wheres all this optimism coming from?

yea what he said damnit....xredskins players sometimes haunt us 2. trent green is a quality guy. shit i used to pull for him when he was here. but i wont happen tomorrow, we getting in a winning style early this year...good luck though dolfan wish i had some mahi for the grill at the stadium tomorrow....

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by FinNasty

So you expect a fall off... even though they improved the talent?

Enough talk. Everybody knows Miami had a great defense last year, and chances are that should carry over into this year. But, until the game is played nobody knows for sure what to expect. Let's see what happens, and come back after the game and talk then.

[Big Dave]

Originally Posted by Chief X_Phackter

Enough talk. Everybody knows Miami had a great defense last year, and chances are that should carry over into this year. But, until the game is played nobody knows for sure what to expect. Let's see what happens, and come back after the game and talk then.

I think adding Joey Porter actually makes this defense even better. DC Dom Capers simplified things for the secondary as well as Saban had too many options for the safeties to think about. Hopefully fans on either side will not cut their wrists thinking it's the end of the world if they lose.

The winner of this game will be the one that dominates the line of scrimmage. You can say this about any game, but this the supreme key for this game. If you are a fan of defense then this will be your game.

You are Jason Campbell. You are the Washington Redskins quarterback this weekend. You are facing the Dolphins defense. And you have issues.
On the field, you see Jason Taylor, only the NFL's defensive player of the year in 2006, and he's charging you like a locomotive with no brakes. On the other side is a snarling, scowling Joey Porter and he's coming just as hard as Taylor -- except that's not your left tackle trying to block him.
It's your running back.

This is a bad situation getting worse because the Dolphins also have ascending pass-rusher Matt Roth chasing you, Vonnie Holliday, too. Your running game has been clogged like an old sink, the secondary is confusing you with funky coverages and defensive wizard Dom Capers hasn't even started with his zone blitzes yet.

You are Jason Campbell. Can you overcome these problems to beat the Dolphins?

That's the most fundamental question Sunday. It's the question that could determine the game's outcome.

And this as well.

The Dolphins -- despite their warts the past four seasons -- have feasted on young quarterbacks as if they were turkeys on Thanksgiving. Young quarterbacks Tim Hasselbeck, Matt Cassel, Brooks Bollinger, Tim Rattay and even Rex Grossman all have been victimized by Miami's defense during that time.