Tit for tat -- Dolphins sign a Jets DE.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2010/07/ex-jets_defensive_end_marques.html

He should wear jersey number 54.99

[Spider-Dan]

I don't get it.  Are you sure you don't mean #99?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't get it.  Are you sure you don't mean #99?

Yeah....I meant #99, brain fart.

[Doc-phin]

Looks like a good signing to me.  I thought we might be deep enough to handle our D-line losses of Ferguson and Merlin and use the roster spot somewhere else, but it may be asking too much to have high expectations on Odrick his first year in a 3-4 scheme. 

Honestly, this is probably an upgrade in a way since Douglas is obviously a better example setter for Odrick than Merlin was.  We always hear about how Merlin was an inconsistent practice guy.  Wish I knew more about Douglas' football ability; for all I know he is outright better than Merlin.  But for all the knocks on Merlin, he was pretty good when he got opportunities on Sunday.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Looks like a good signing to me.  I thought we might be deep enough to handle our D-line losses of Ferguson and Merlin and use the roster spot somewhere else, but it may be asking too much to have high expectations on Odrick his first year in a 3-4 scheme. 

Could also just be an intelligency gathering signing. 

[Doc-phin]

Could also just be an intelligency gathering signing. 

Strange use of the word intellegence there, since I know you are a pretty smart fellow I will give you a pass and assume it is some sort of proper english use of the phrasing that I am not familiar with. 

Beside that, do you actually think that this concept works?  I could potentially see where a free safety might be able to give some good info on how a defensive backfield operates, but how much do you think we could actually get out of a player like this?  I am assuming that a DE like Douglas is really only going to take with him technique (like leverage, placement of hands) and maybe a couple of offensive line assignment nuggets.  Still, I don't see these things as anything particularly unique to the team they come from.

[Pappy13]

I think it's less intelligence gathering and more the fact that coming from the Jets, he fits the role that is expected of the Dolphins defensive lineman this year.  I saw an article earlier this year that said that new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is expecting his nose tackle and defensive ends to try to shoot the gaps and get into the backfield more this year rather than just try to take on blockers to free up the linebackers to make tackles.  It's a hybrid 3-4 rather than a typical 3-4 and I think the new defensive ends they have picked up fit that role.  That's also why Starks was moved to the inside and Odrick was picked.  Expect to see the Dolphins be a lot more aggressive this year rather than the read and react they have been in the past.