Dolphins Plan An Attacking Defense

As the Dolphins went through their offseason program, there was one word that kept coming back when the discussion turned to the system and philosophy brought in by new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. 

Attack.

“It pretty much sums it up,” Head Coach Adam Gase said. “I mean, I’m sure that we’re making it easy as far as what we’re saying, but for the most part that’s what we want our guys to do.” 

Defensive end Cam Wake had a pretty similar assessment. 

“Attack, that’s one word,” Wake said. “It’s something that I think fits well with a lot of guys that are going to be playing in it. Just getting after it, being aggressive … I think that’s something that a lot of guys really will enjoy. I’m one of those guys and I look forward to it.” 

The other term we heard throughout the spring was “Wide 9 defense,” which actually isn’t so much a scheme as it is an alignment within a scheme. 

The “wide 9” refers to the defensive gap along the line of scrimmage located outside the tight end. A January 2016 article in Philadelphia magazine indicated the idea of using that formation with the defensive ends lined up wide first came from the 1999 Tennessee Titans, whose defensive staff included Jim Schwartz and new Dolphins senior defensive assistant/pass rush specialist Jim Washburn. 

Schwartz used the technique quite a bit during his time as head coach of the Detroit Lions when Washburn was on his staff and some of his players included current Dolphins defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Jason Jones. 

“I enjoy it,” Suh said. “I enjoy that attack-style defense. It has suited me well. (I have) broken records with it. If you’ve had success with something, why not go back to it?” 

Said Jones: “To tell you the truth, there are a lot of defenses that work around the league. Being a 9-technique, it does have its advantages in the run game. It’s just about the players you have, how it is coached and how you go out there and play. It could be a 3-4 or it could be a 4-3, it’s just how you go out there and play. To me, it’s all talent. I think any player could probably play (in a Wide 9 defense), it’s just what that player has built inside and what coaches you have.” 

One of the ideas behind the Wide 9 is taking away stretch runs from the opponent and forcing them to run inside, which puts pressure on the defensive tackles and linebackers to fill the gaps and make tackles. 

The Wide 9 also puts an emphasis on speedy pass-rushing defensive ends, which the Dolphins certainly have with Wake and Mario Williams. 

Once training camp starts, the Dolphins’ defensive players will learn more and more about their new scheme, but their early impressions were favorable. 

Asking what has struck him so far about the Wide 9 defense, linebacker Jelani Jenkins said: “That we are just always attacking. I think that’s just the biggest part of it. It’s a very attack-style defense (with) constant pressure and I think that’s how we like it.” 

“It’s fairly easy, but it’s difficult,” Williams said about learning the new defensive scheme. “By that, I mean (Joseph) is really relying on the guys up front to turn it loose and get after it, which is what most of us (are) accustomed to doing. The difficult part is changing old habits in general, especially with the new acquisitions and stuff that we have. We’re players who have done different things in the past as far as schemes and stuff like that, but it’s exciting to cut it loose, turn loose."

(via Miami Dolphins)

Allen Robinson discusses his outlook, Jaguars offense

"The 100 Yards" Staff Report

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson recently sat down with CBS Sports and discussed many topics, like his fantasy outlook and many other topics on the Jaguars.

Robinson was the No. 4 Fantasy receiver in standard leagues. He is one of just four receivers since the 1970 merger to have at least 1,400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns and average at least 17.5 yards per catch.

The other three are Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice, and only Robinson and Rice did it in their second seasons.

Robinson finished with 80 catches on 152 targets.

Robinson said numerous times the Jaguars offense should be more "efficient," which is the focal point this year.

"It's being better on third downs, being better in the red zone and just being more consistent," he said. "We know it's not going to be how we want all the time, but we can't go as many possessions over the course of weeks without scoring in the red zone or converting at the right rate we want on third down."