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Title: Miami Dolphins' defense is ready to crank it up Post by: DolFan619 on August 25, 2008, 02:06:43 pm http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/656405.html
Miami Dolphins' defense is ready to crank it up BY JEFF DARLINGTON Miami Herald Once the play ended, after Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder successfully knocked the ball loose from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle's hands early in the second quarter Saturday night, Crowder hopped to his feet and celebrated with a new move. He crouched low to the turf and made a motion that looked almost as if he was digging a hole in the ground -- only with a more fluid, circular rotation as he did it. But he wasn't pretending to dig anything. Instead, he was pretending to crank up an old car. The move, Crowder said, will be known as ''The Flywheel.'' And on Saturday, in a 24-0 shutout that included five sacks and three interceptions, the fresh celebration (albeit a little obscure) had plenty of opportunities to make its debut. ''Have you ever seen those old cars from way back in the day that you had to crank back up?'' Crowder said. ``Well, we got a new defense, and we didn't really know it. So we're slowly taking steps. And when you first start cranking the wheel, it's hard. But when you get the momentum going, and you get oil moving, it starts going much smoother.'' At least the group gets points for originality. Since the Flywheel is reserved only for big plays on defense, the Dolphins are hoping a somewhat-strange celebration soon becomes something very familiar to both opponents and fans alike. Last year, the New York Giants' Super Bowl-winning defense became well known for a premeditated big-play celebration of its own, which involved defensive players mimicking a basketball jump shot. The Giants' move was inspired by the music video for rapper Jim Jones' hit song We Fly High, and the inception of the celebration also coincided with a historic string of success after a dismal start to the season. The Dolphins' new move, though, wasn't inspired by any music videos. Instead, it was inspired by Dolphins defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, who used the analogy of those antique cars that required a crankshaft to kick the flywheel into gear. In an automobile, a flywheel is a rotating disc that relies on momentum to store kinetic energy. A potter's wheel is the most common example used to explain the concept of a flywheel. IT'S ABOUT MOMENTUM The point is, once you crank up a flywheel, it becomes much easier to maintain the momentum for long periods of time in a much smoother fashion. Pasqualoni explained this to the players, hoping they understand the importance of making big plays early. Even though several players had not heard of the concept before, they have taken a liking to the purpose. ''I don't know anything about a car that you crank,'' Crowder said. ``I was born in 1983. We had Ferraris by then. But Coach Pasqualoni told us a story about it, and we just rolled with it. Everybody is starting to do it. ``We make big plays, so hopefully you'll see it a lot.'' The team initially hoped to keep the meaning of the celebration quiet, but that was soon a lost cause. And it's probably smart to explain it, since some reporters wondered aloud Saturday whether the celebration was supposed to be mimicking the action of digging a grave. If referees interpreted it the same way, the Dolphins could be susceptible to unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties for a gesture that depicts a violent act. It still remains to be seen how referees respond to the Flywheel as it is, since referees once again warned NFL teams last month about an emphasis to curb excessive celebrations. PLAY IT AGAIN . . . As long as it doesn't cost any penalties, the Dolphins hope they will be doing this celebration plenty this season. If the defense's success during training camp is any indication, linebacker Akin Ayodele said, he is looking forward a season full of Flywheel-inspiring plays. ''There are a lot guys put in place to make big plays,'' Ayodele said. ``Consistently, we've been picking up our game. You see a lot of it at practice, and it's been transferring to the game, which is big. ``When you can do it at the game, that's when it counts.'' |