Can Porter become face of new Miami ‘D’?

By Joe Mayes  |   Friday, August 01, 2008  |  Comments( 4 )

Miami Dolphins
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It began when legendary Dallas coach Tom Landry was asked about the Miami defense days before his Cowboys were to meet the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI in 1972.

"I can't recall their names, but they are a matter of great concern to us," said Landry.

Thus, the Dolphins' famous "No-Name Defense" was born.

The next great Miami defense was led by a statistically unlikely group of players whose names began with the second letter of the alphabet. Once again, the Dolphin 'D' was known by its collective identity rather than by any individual hero. After the retirement of eventual Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese, the core of Miami's defense -- known as the "Killer B's" -- was formed by Bob Baumhower, Bill Barnett, Lyle Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, Glenn Blackwood, Doug Betters and Bob Brudzinski.

Then, after more than a decade of Canton-bound signalcaller Dan Marino as the face of the franchise, the Dolphins began to build the foundation of another defensive unit that would carry the team into the new millennium. In 1996 the Dolphins drafted Zach Thomas, then they grabbed Jason Taylor in '97. Together, the brothers-in-law were the heart of a 'D' that for a decade pressured opposing passers and made running backs earn every yard.

With Thomas and Taylor now gone, the Dolphins are hunting for the new defensive face of the franchise, something fans thought they were getting when the organization signed linebacker Joey Porter as a free agent prior to the 2007 season.

Miami's defensive depth chart is a mixed bag of returning, serviceable players combined with those who are in Davie, Fla., for their first training camp. There is plenty of hope and potential, but not much in the way of a proven defensive presence.

After the Pittsburgh Steelers made Porter a third-round pick in 1999, he went on to play eight years with them, earning Pro Bowl accolades and a Super Bowl ring along the way. After 2006, though, the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder inked a five-year, $32 million contract with the Dolphins; needless to say, expectations in South Florida were instantly high.

After starring as a blitzing linebacker in Pittsburgh's 3-4 scheme, Porter struggled to adjust to his new team's hybrid base 4-3 in 2007. Despite finishing last year strongly, recording four of his 5.5 sacks (fewer than all but one other season, 2003, when he had five in 14 games) in December as he became more comfortable in former coordinator Dom Capers' defense, questions remain as the Dolphins begin the 2008 season.

Porter said and did all the right things during the offseason, but he missed the team’s first four training camp sessions because of an ankle injury suffered during individual training. However, after passing the team’s mandatory conditioning test on Monday, Porter showed flashes during the Monday afternoon session, recording two sacks and generally wreaking havoc.

But does Porter have what it takes to become the cornerstone of the next standout Dolphins defense? Of course, he needs to consistently produce on the field before he can ascend to the pantheon of great Dolphin defenders, but Bokamper -- a former Pro Bowl defensive end/linebacker for Miami -- hesitates to anoint Porter as the new defensive leader.

“I think that Joe needs to make some big-time plays before he becomes the face of the Dolphin defense," Bokamper said.

Coming into 2008, head coach Tony Sparano and defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni seem committed to using Porter as he was utilized in Pittsburgh, namely as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4.

“This scheme ... I'm familiar with this 3-4 scheme,” Porter said. “It's what I've been waiting for.”

In the past, Bill Parcells-led defensive units (he's now Miami's front-office head) have favored pressure OLBs (think Lawrence Taylor and DeMarcus Ware), a scenario that -- assuming Pasqualoni installs a similar style -- sets up perfectly for Porter. But while a familiar scheme will highlight Porter’s skills, it will be up to Porter on the field to lead this largely anonymous bunch of Dolphin defenders into the future.

“He needs to show that he is the Joey of old,” Bokamper said. “If he does, then, yes, he could be the man.”

Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game!
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About Joe Mayes

Joe Mayes is an award-winning writer with credits ranging from national sports columns to local newspapers and commercial and technical writing. Joe is the host of "The Morning Wrap," a morning drive-time sports talk radio show on WTKE-FM in Northwest Florida.
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