Will Dolphins’ revamped LB corps be a beast or bust?

By Hugo Guzman  |   Tuesday, May 22, 2007  |  Comments( 11 )

Miami Dolphins
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Is the heart of the Miami Dolphins' linebacking corps made up of aging veterans with little left in the tank, or is it constructed of seasoned superstars on the verge of true collective greatness?

Zach Thomas is a borderline Hall of Famer whose only true blemish is his lack of championship hardware. Jason Taylor, a linebacker in the 3-4 set, is a surefire Hall of Famer who will go down as one of the greatest defenders of his generation. Joey Porter is arguably the most productive and influential outside linebacker of the current decade and already has a Super Bowl ring on his resume. Channing Crowder is still young and unproven but has occasionally shown flashes of Pro Bowl-caliber ability and tenacity, seemingly poised to take Thomas' place as the centerpiece of the defensive front for years to come.

But do these seemingly dazzling parts make for a brilliant whole?

Naysayers would say that age, and the inevitable decline in skills that come with it, will finally catch up with Taylor and Thomas. After all, Taylor is set to turn 33 and Thomas will be 34 by the season opener (both have Sept. 1 birthdays).

However, there are some major issues with this assertion; for example, Thomas led the league in tackles last season and Taylor garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors. Both of these grizzled veterans have steadily produced at a Pro Bowl level for roughly a decade, and both have shown no signs of slowing down, playing in all 16 games in 2006. So while neither might match the eye-catching output they managed in '06, there's no reason to believe that these two brothers-in-arms will suffer through a significant drop-off in production.

And what about Porter? Some say that he is no longer the gamebreaking force that made him one of the most well-known defenders in football. But the numbers beg to differ. The eight-year veteran registered 55 tackles, more or less his career average, collected seven sacks, defended five passes (a fairly impressive number for a linebacker) and bagged two interceptions last year.

Ironically enough, Miami fans were the unfortunate witnesses to one of Porter's most impressive individual efforts of the '06 campaign. In Week 1 Porter keyed the Steelers' 28-17 victory over the Dolphins, sacking Miami's quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, twice and taking an interception to the house for the defining score late in the fourth quarter.

Crowder, meanwhile, a former University of Florida star, has carried the label of "promising youngster" for his first two pro seasons. This year, he will likely be called upon to step up his play and avoid garnering the label of "weak link."

With Donnie Spragan relegated to a backup role, Crowder will suddenly find himself surrounded by perennial Pro Bowlers, and his play could very well determine whether Miami's linebacking corps is simply good or ascends to a level of true greatness. He did manage to break the 100-tackle plateau in 2006 but will have to improve his pedestrian ability to make game-changing plays in order to earn his keep. In two seasons Crowder has just one sack, two forced fumbles and zero interceptions.

But what the former third-round pick lacks in statistical production is more than made up by the energy and charisma that he brings to the field. Crowder's approach to the game and penchant for bone-jarring hits gives the impression that he is a born football player, plain and simple.

Is Miami's LB corps the best in the NFL? On paper, maybe. But there won't be a definite answer until the regular season rolls around.

Here's what it known at this point: Sandwiched between an aging defensive line and a young and shaky secondary, the linebacking corps will likely be the glue that holds Miami's defense together.

The Dolphins' fans should be thankful that the 'D' is bursting at the seams with talent and ability. After all, that's the only thing they can ask for in mid-May.

Original Miami Dolphins insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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