Langford leap easy to envision in Year 2

By Adam Sweeney  |   Thursday, June 04, 2009  |  Comments( 2 )

Miami Dolphins
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Lost amid the havoc that Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter was wreaking on opposing NFL clubs last season was the success of teammate Kendall Langford, who was a rookie defensive end in 2008.

Even the best pass rushers like Mario Williams can tell you that life as a rookie is a battle. Considering that, Langford's 31 tackles and two sacks are solid. A lot of rookie pass rushers have to learn that physical talent and instincts aren't enough to get by the big nasties in the NFL. Langford is learning that and looks to be on his way to an improved sophomore season. How large of a leap the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder makes is up to him.

Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano has been monitoring Langford's progress and had a lot of good things to say about it, according to WFOR in South Florida.

Sparano said: "Kendall put together a really solid year for us last year. I thought he got better and better. He did have sacks early in the season. To be honest with you, one of his sacks came, I remember it clearly, and there was a mental error out there. It's hard for those defensive linemen, I think, to get sacks in what it is that we do. It's more outside linebacker driven probably than anything else. But that being said Kendall, I think has developed some pretty good pass rush moves right now.

He's working real hard on it. He is a guy that I think can provide pressure on the passer. So if we get on in this we'll see. I've been impressed with what I've seen so far."

Langford's success will be as dependent on the players around him as it will center on his improved knowledge of the game and the techniques needed. No pass rusher can up his stats if the secondary is letting the opposing receiver slip loose into the gaps, which the Dolphins' DBs will freely admit they are guilty of. Buy the pass rush more time, and you can get more pressure on the quarterback. Langford will likely see his sack total jump this season with all of the added weapons, not to mention a healthy group, around him.

The Dolphins, who won the AFC East last season, are a year wiser and will not be playing catch-up to Sparano's schemes. That should go a long way toward improving this team, even if the wins don't jump dramatically. Look for Langford to exceed the promise he showed when the Dolphins chose him in the third round.
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About Adam Sweeney

Adam Sweeney spent 4 years as an opinions and arts & entertainment columnist with the Lone Star Lutheran, also working with Sports Illustrated.com. Along with his work on Realfootball 365 he currently is a contributor for Film School Rejects, SLAM Online, Talkhoops.net, and C-Heads ...
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