Mike Nolan takes DC job in Atlanta

[EKnight]

That's a really valid point, and I see what you're getting at, but it's funny you mention the fourth quarter, when that's exactly my point- the offense kept the ball enough to carry leads into the fourth, and the defense disappeared in far too many games. Mike noted that no one said they were great or dominant, but the fact is, some of the players were saying just that and it seemed like every game, all season, if Miami kept a game close, you could count on the D snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Absolutely if the offense scores one more TD a game it's a different discussion- I don't discount that at all, but ultimately, no matter how you spin it, if you have a lead in the fourth, and the defense can't stop somebody, that's on the defense. If it happens once or twice, I can see saying, well the offense turned the ball over or didn't move it well, but it happened in what-6? 7 games this year? I don't think you can make a strong argument for a good D under those circumstances. It looks great on paper to say, "Hey, there were 6th in total points allowed!" That looks a little less stellar when you consider of the 313 points they gave up, 136 of them were in the fourth quarter or OT. That's NOT a good defense. A defense that gives up over 40% of its points allowed in the fourth quarter en route to losing 10 games is either poorly conditioned or doesn't adjust to what the offesnse does late in games. Again, once or twice they get a pass, 10 games they don't. I came across an interesting piece at FootballOutsiders.com. They rank team defenses through the first three quarters and then in the fourth. When this was published (about two weeks before the season ended), according to Football Outsiders rate stat DVOA, Their defense also goes from 8th best to 23rd in the league. The offense stunk this year, and I get that, but the defense was nowhere near what it should have been if you believe the players barking about themselves to the media. -EK
 

[MikeO]

That's a really valid point, and I see what you're getting at, but it's funny you mention the fourth quarter, when that's exactly my point- the offense kept the ball enough to carry leads into the fourth, and the defense disappeared in far too many games. Mike noted that no one said they were great or dominant, but the fact is, some of the players were saying just that and it seemed like every game, all season, if Miami kept a game close, you could count on the D snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Absolutely if the offense scores one more TD a game it's a different discussion- I don't discount that at all, but ultimately, no matter how you spin it, if you have a lead in the fourth, and the defense can't stop somebody, that's on the defense. If it happens once or twice, I can see saying, well the offense turned the ball over or didn't move it well, but it happened in what-6? 7 games this year? I don't think you can make a strong argument for a good D under those circumstances. It looks great on paper to say, "Hey, there were 6th in total points allowed!" That looks a little less stellar when you consider of the 313 points they gave up, 136 of them were in the fourth quarter or OT. That's NOT a good defense. A defense that gives up over 40% of its points allowed in the fourth quarter en route to losing 10 games is either poorly conditioned or doesn't adjust to what the offesnse does late in games. Again, once or twice they get a pass, 10 games they don't. I came across an interesting piece at FootballOutsiders.com. They rank team defenses through the first three quarters and then in the fourth. When this was published (about two weeks before the season ended), according to Football Outsiders rate stat DVOA, Their defense also goes from 8th best to 23rd in the league. The offense stunk this year, and I get that, but the defense was nowhere near what it should have been if you believe the players barking about themselves to the media. -EK
 

1) Who cares what the players say? Damn near most of the players in the league spew nonsense and BS. Half the guys say they are the greatest or the best or whatever. It means literally nothing.

2) The offense can help close out games too, its not against the rules. Get some first downs, eat clock. Just because the team has the lead heading into the 4th quarter doesn't means the offense can take the 4th quarter off and say, we did our job....not on us if we lose. That's silly. Giants game is the perfect example. Yes, Miami had a lead heading into the 4th quarter. In the 4th Quarter the Dolphins offense had 1 first down and 4 total yards.  I mean come on you can't put the defense on the field for an entire quarter like that at the end of a game.

And the Giants game is just 1 example, there were a lot of them this year. Dallas game comes to mind. Cleveland game comes to mind. Denver game. It's a long list!

[EKnight]

That was exactly my point on TOP. The offense DID eat the clock better than 20 other teams in the league. You can't put that on them. -EK

[MikeO]

That was exactly my point on TOP. The offense DID eat the clock better than 20 other teams in the league. You can't put that on them. -EK

Not in the 4th quarter of games it didn't!!!! Watch the tapes!!

[EKnight]

That's fine, Mike. If you want to believe that a defense that allowed over a TD per game in the fourth quarter, and gave up 43% of it's total points in same quarter on their way to a 10 loss season is somehow a top 6 defense, there's nothing I can say to that. Obviously the Phins disagree or they would have been chomping at the bit to keep Nolan, instead of happily letting him go to another team. -EK

[MikeO]

That's fine, Mike. If you want to believe that a defense that allowed over a TD per game in the fourth quarter, and gave up 43% of it's total points in same quarter on their way to a 10 loss season is somehow a top 6 defense, there's nothing I can say to that. Obviously the Phins disagree or they would have been chomping at the bit to keep Nolan, instead of happily letting him go to another team. -EK

Because they didn't like Nolan and wanted Bowles to be their d-coordinator. Nobody in the Dolphins front office got along with Nolan. Just like nobody in SF likes Nolan. Nolan has zero personality and is difficult to work with. That's why he bounces around so much.

[MikeO]

Hank Goldberg just reported on his radio show that Bowles is going to talk with Philly about a job there if he doesn't get the Raiders head coaching job and he will ask to be let out of his deal.

It's Hank, so take it for what its worth