Mike Nolan takes DC job in Atlanta

[mecadonzilla]

If the defense did it's job at the end of games during the 0-7 run, the Dolphins would have had an outside shot of a wildcard spot.

[Spider-Dan]

Stats lie.  Nolan was an awful DC this year.  His defense routinely choked when the game was on the line, and his defensive schemes contributed greatly to the 0-7 start.

I think a major reason behind the defense "choking" is Sparano's insistence on playing for FGs, and his apparent belief that a 3-6 point lead is a solid cushion.  When MIA averages less than 14 points a game over a 6 game losing streak, that's not on Mike Nolan.

[MikeO]

I think a major reason behind the defense "choking" is Sparano's insistence on playing for FGs, and his apparent belief that a 3-6 point lead is a solid cushion.  When MIA averages less than 14 points a game over a 6 game losing streak, that's not on Mike Nolan.

exactly! Couldn't agree more. People expect Miami to pitch a shut-out and when they don't pin the loss on the defense. Once again, we keep score in this league in points an only 5 teams gave up fewer points this year than Miami. Defense might have not been the 85' Bears or the Steal Curtain, but it wasn't the main issue with this team. Red Zone offense was issue #1. QB protecting the football was issue #2.

The Giants game is the perfect example. Miami enters the 4th quarter with the lead and a Giants offense that hadn't done crap all day. Christ all the offense had to do was eat clock, I know asking for points is alot, but just eat clock. The Matt Moore show had ONE first down and 4 yards the entire 4th quarter. What the hell do you think is gonna happen if you leave a defense on the field for an entire quarter on the road vs a playoff caliber team with an above average to top flight QB? At some point its bound to break.  Nolan's defense might not have been perfect this year, but it was not the main problem on this team. Far far from it!

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

My attitude is if you lose 48-45 you blame the defense, if you lose 14-10 you blame the offense.  Mike Nolan's unit did its job for Miami.  The problem was the offense. 

[masterfins]

I'd say it was equally the offense and defense that lost those games.  Yes if the defense made a couple stops it would have been a couple wins.  Likewise if Marshall had held onto a half dozen TD passes there would have been more of a cushion.  Team Losses (toss in some play calling errors to spread it around a little more if you want).

[Pappy13]

My attitude is if you lose 48-45 you blame the defense, if you lose 14-10 you blame the offense.  Mike Nolan's unit did its job for Miami.  The problem was the offense. 

But what if you lose 24-38, 13-23, 16-17, 16-26, 6-24, 15-18 & 17-20 to start the season?  A couple of those are definately on the offense, but a couple of those fall more onto the defensive side of things especially when you consider the offensive side can claim there was a lot of turnover and an abbreviated training camp. New O/C. New lineman and some switching positions. New RB's. QB change in the middle of that due to injury who had almost no training camp, etc.

The beginning of the year Miami fans were counting on the defense holding up the offense till it got it's legs a bit and they failed miserably to do that. Now maybe we were asking too much, but then again you had defensive players saying they were the most talented team in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball and it wasn't just one of them, it was several of them.

New England moved at will against Miami in the first game. Houston pretty much did too only they did manage to keep them settling to mostly FG's instead of TD's or it would have been a whole lot worse. They did an good job against Cleveland, but it's Cleveland and they did give up a 14 play 80 yard TD drive in the last 3 minutes of the game. They gave up 26 to San Diego which is ok. 24 more to the Jets which wasn't exactly stellar. They started playing pretty well about the time that Denver came to town, but by that time the damage had been done. They were already 0-5 and going no where but home in December.

I'm not gonna say it was defenses fault for an 0-7 start, but I will say they didn't live up to the expectations even if maybe they were a bit high.

[EKnight]

Miami was 12th in the league in TOP. Out of the 11 teams above them, 7 made the playoffs and 9 were .500 or better. What does this say? You can't look at stats in a vacuum. Looks great on paper that the D was top ten in points allowed, but a closer look shows that was because the other team's offense wasn't on the field as much. When they were on the field, they outscored Miami ten out of sixteen games. How many of those did Miami have leads going into the final quarter? Final minutes? Final drive? The entire season failure is not all on the defense and I'm not implying it is, but when Dansby says he's the best linebacker in the entire league and then gets 2 tackles the next game, and when the corners say they're the best duo in the league then get embarrassed by Brady to the time of 500+ yards, I have a hard time reconciling the two. If you're going to talk it, you have to stop somebody. Who did they stop? If a game was close- all year- you could count on Miami losing the lead. That falls on the defense, doesn't it? -EK

[MikeO]

My attitude is if you lose 48-45 you blame the defense, if you lose 14-10 you blame the offense.  Mike Nolan's unit did its job for Miami.  The problem was the offense. 

From a fan who roots for a team that actually wins, YOU GET IT! Thank you!

State it again, only 5 (yes 5) teams in the ENTIRE league gave up fewer points than Miami did all year. You can't blame the defense. We keep score in points, the defense gave up very few points compared to the rest of the league.

Maybe if the offense scored TD's instead of FG's and didn't fumble the ball away to let the opponent start drives inside the 5 yard line on a consistent basis Miami would WIN more! Miami  has a bad QB running a bad offense badly. That's why they lose! Not the defense. The defense isn't some all time great defense, they aren't one of the greatest defenses of all time, but they are good enough to be a defense on a team that is above.500 or in the playoffs. They had no help! From their Head Coach, to their QB, to anyone on offense. This defense got no help!

[mecadonzilla]

If Miami was ever able to stop a team in the last 2 minutes of the game, I'd buy that it's the offense.  But, they couldn't, so I blame the defense.  Seems rather simple to me.
The defense was put in position to win a few times this season (Cleveland, Denver, Dallas come to mind) and the defense totally collapsed on the final drive.  The defense holds and it's a 9-7 team vying for a playoff spot.

At times they were a solid unit, but let's never make the mistake of calling them dominant or great.  They were a competent unit, but that's the highest compliment that can be given to them. 

Was the defense the biggest problem with the team?  Of course not...but they and Mike Nolan bare their fare share of blame for the 2011 debacle, too, which is why I'm glad to see him go.

[MikeO]

If Miami was ever able to stop a team in the last 2 minutes of the game, I'd buy that it's the offense.  But, they couldn't, so I blame the defense.  Seems rather simple to me.
The defense was put in position to win a few times this season (Cleveland, Denver, Dallas come to mind) and the defense totally collapsed on the final drive.  The defense holds and it's a 9-7 team vying for a playoff spot.

Let's break this down. vs Dallas the Dolphins offense handed the Cowboys a touchdown by giving them a turnover and handing them the ball on the 2 yard line, but blame the defense for the offense giving away a touchdown? Please! . Vs the Cleveland Browns the defense gave up 1 TD for 3 quarters and 14 minutes, while the offense did literally nothing,  but once again when the defense finally snaps because they can't pitch a shutout, blame them. The same defense that held Cleveland to only 58 plays on offense. Only 58 offensive snaps an entire game, ya know what that means, a lot of 3 and outs! Maybe if the offense scored once in a while there would be such a thing as an easy win. Instead, blame the defense for not being "perfect."  Vs Denver if Marlon Moore doesn't fumble an easy onside kick, Dolphins win easy, that pla would have ended the game. Once again in that game offense settles for 2 redzone field goals. But yeah, blame the defense for only shutting a team out for 3 and a half quarters while the offense once again but get close and settle for field goals and does nothing else the rest of the game.

Nobody ever said the defense was great or dominate, but only 5 teams gave up fewer points.

[Spider-Dan]

If Miami was ever able to stop a team in the last 2 minutes of the game, I'd buy that it's the offense.  But, they couldn't, so I blame the defense.  Seems rather simple to me.

So if the defense gives up two scores to DEN in the first 2 minutes of the game instead of the last 2, now the defense is fine?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Miami was 12th in the league in TOP.

TOP is a lousy way to measure a team.  And and even worse way to measure a particular unit.

There are many ways to win or lose the TOP battle.  One of them is having a bad defense that can't get off the field.  But another is having an offense that always goes 4 and out.  Another IIRC (and I might not) NEP lost the TOP stat in over half the games in 2007, not because either unit was bad, but because frequently the offense would score 60 yard TDs in less than 2 mins.  Losing the TOP battle can also occur if you pass more than the other team, which could be because you are playing from behind and the other team is trying to run out the clock.  But that tells you nothing about why you are behind (offense or defense).  I am willing to be when the Dolphins had Marino they won a bunch of games in which they lost the TOP by a large margin.

[Pappy13]

Vs the Cleveland Browns...

It's Cleveland. 'Nuff said.

[EKnight]

TOP is a lousy way to measure a team.  And and even worse way to measure a particular unit.

There are many ways to win or lose the TOP battle.  One of them is having a bad defense that can't get off the field.  But another is having an offense that always goes 4 and out.  Another IIRC (and I might not) NEP lost the TOP stat in over half the games in 2007, not because either unit was bad, but because frequently the offense would score 60 yard TDs in less than 2 mins.  Losing the TOP battle can also occur if you pass more than the other team, which could be because you are playing from behind and the other team is trying to run out the clock.  But that tells you nothing about why you are behind (offense or defense).  I am willing to be when the Dolphins had Marino they won a bunch of games in which they lost the TOP by a large margin.

If it's such a bad indicator why did only 2 out the top 12 teams in TOP have a losing record? I'm not saying it's the best or only indicator, and to your point about quick, big play offenses, there are times when a team can score quickly. Miami isn't that team. The limited offense couldn't do that for whatever reason, but what they could do is keep the other offense off the field, diminishing their likelihood of scoring. If you don't/can't score a lot of points, that's the next best thing you CAN do to set up your defense better. I'm not convinced about the "if you pass the ball more" argument. The Saints were third in TOP this year, and pass-happy teams like GB, San Diego, and Atlanta all finished ahead of Miami. -EK

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

If it's such a bad indicator why did only 2 out the top 12 teams in TOP have a losing record?

Like rushing yards, it is an effect not a cause. 

Teams that have a lead run the ball and eat the clock.  Teams that are playing from behind throw the ball and run out of bounds. So the stats get skewed in the 4th quarter.