QB Driven League vs Defenses Win Championships

[DolphinsFreak]

Greg Cote: QB-driven NFL playoffs underscore why Dolphins hired Adam Gase

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/sp...#storylink=cpy

Greg Cote wrote an article about the Dolphins and why he thought the Dolphins did a great job in hiring Adam Gase. His opinion was that the Dolphins realized that the top teams that are still in the playoffs all have an elite quarterback at the helm and that is the only way to make it deep into the playoffs.

I disagree.

Broncos - Their elite quarterback has missed almost half the season.
Steelers - Their elite quarterback has missed almost half the season.
Packers - Rodgers has arguably had the worst season of his career.
Cardinals - Palmer is not elite, but he is playing some of the best football of his career.
Chiefs - Alex Smith is a game manager and he is far from being elite.
Patriots - Unfortunately, I would have to say that Brady is elite and ha played some great football with little to work with.
Seahawks - Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round in the same draft as Tannehill and up until this season he has been a game manager who hands the ball off a lot. This season he looks like an elite quarterback.
Panthers - Cam Newton is having the best season of his career. He looks like he has turned a major corner and looks to be an elite passer, just like Wilson.


When I look at ALL these teams I see something completely different then Greg Cotes is seeing. What I see, the common denominator that all these teams have in common, is not elite quarterbacks but elite defenses. Some of these quarterbacks have elevated their games, unlike someone we all know, but the most glaring thing to me when I look at all these teams is that they have strong defenses. Excluding the Steelers and possibly the Packers, the rest of the teams still in the playoffs have the strongest defenses in the league.

If Gase, Grier and Tannenbaum can build a team around Tannehill, by building an elite DEFENSE, while of course getting him some much needed help on the offensive line, then I do believe this team can turn things around somewhat quickly. And, before anyone on here starts in on me about Tannehill, I have been stating this exact thing for THREE STRAIGHT YEARS NOW!!! "Defenses Win Championships!" "If this team wants to roll with Tannehill as their quarterback they MUST build an ELITE DEFENSE.

Well, In My Opinion the top teams in the playoffs prove my point, that defense win championships and teams can make it deep into the playoffs with great defenses and mediocre quarterbacks. The Broncos, Chiefs, Cardinals, Patriots, Seahawks, Panthers would have done well without a great defense but I don't think they would have made the playoffs or still be in the playoffs right now if their defenses didn't carry their 2nd string quarterbacks or carry their offense that struggled due to injuries.

In My Opinion I feel that there is no other way the Miami Dolphins get anywhere if they plan to use Tannehill unless they decide to build an ELITE defense. This is my third year in a row saying this and I guess I will keep saying it until he can carry the team on his back, they finally decide to build an elite defense OR they trade or cut Tannehill. I think the Dolphins should sign a few offensive linemen in free agency and then go all in on defensive players, and then draft a quarterback in the later rounds. (Unless of course a QB like Lynch or Cook falls to them, then I feel they should draft that quarterback and continue building an elite defense)

Your Opinion ?

[Seadog]

Defenses win Championships, all there is to it....

Ask Dan Marino.....

[Seadog]

So all we need to compete on D is, 2 ea great CB's, 1 ea good S, 2 ea good OLB , 1 ea Great ILB, and 1-2 ea good-great DE

That's all, just those positions need to be filled, all good now....

[Seadog]

Good luck with Gace doing anything to help Tanny, he hasn't done much in helping a QB yet, Manning called his own plays, I know this as I live here in Denver and is the exact reason Fox left and the exact reason coaches were canceling their interviews with Elway. If Gace was so great in Denver John Elway would have hired him as HC As far as Jay, Jay threw 7 less ints and 7 less TD passes, still threw a bunch of ints and still finished 21st on O before and after Gace left....Now all of a sudden he's going to make RT better, the ONLY way RT gets better isn't what Gace can teach RT but is what Gace or Tbum puts in front of RT, nothing else, nada zilch will improve RT

[Seadog]

I also like Phillips on the DL, he had a lot of blocked passes and had our only sack in the 1st 6 or so games, but was benched because he didn't do something the way Coyle and Philbin wanted.....some stupid asre thing

[DolphinsFreak]

I agree with you on Gase being some quarterbacks guru and/or whisperer. Whomever believes he improved Manning's career or Cutler's career are kidding themselves. Ross is foolish enough to believe that but this was just a high profile hire and Ross is the idiot who falls for this every time. Tannenbaum is just looking for a coach that he can push around. I have extremely low expectations for this team and I look for the Dolphins to be in this exact same position in a few years.

[VAIDER5120]

When the playoffs start it's all about defense and running the ball.

[cuchulainn]

When the playoffs start it's all about defense and running the ball.

This...

Half the playoff teams built around a high end RBs. Peterson, Bell, Charles, Stewart, Lynch, all helped drove the success of their teams. Philbin didn't want to run it or maintain balance and Coyles ruined a Top 3 defense that Nolan put in place for us.

[DolphinsFreak]

This...

Half the playoff teams built around a high end RBs. Peterson, Bell, Charles, Stewart, Lynch, all helped drove the success of their teams. Philbin didn't want to run it or maintain balance and Coyles ruined a Top 3 defense that Nolan put in place for us.

Marshawn Lynch has only played in 7 games this season. (417 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lynch didn't help the Seahwaks get anywhere this season.

Le'Veon Bel only played in 6 games this season. (556 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bell didn't help the Steelers get anywhere this season.

Jonathan Stewart had a good year BUT Cam Newton rushed for 4 more touchdowns and with 636 yards rushing, as a QB. So, I don't think it's honest to say that the Panthers relied on their running game to succeed this year either.

These teams have one common factor, their DEFENSES. The top 11 teams, in regards to defenses are concerned are probably...........

Broncos
Chiefs
Cardinals
Panthers
Seahawks
Texans
Steelers
Vikings
Rams
Bengals
Patriots

I do NOT think there is a coincidence that out of those 11 teams that 8 of them made the playoffs and 7 of them are still in the playoffs.

[Seadog]

Another stat to help you....

11 out of the top 12 SCORING D's made the playoffs......

[DolphinsFreak]

That is an important fact!! When are the Dolphins going to realize this and starting building a DEFENSE like the teams in the playoffs?

[cuchulainn]

Marshawn Lynch has only played in 7 games this season. (417 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lynch didn't help the Seahwaks get anywhere this season.

Le'Veon Bel only played in 6 games this season. (556 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bell didn't help the Steelers get anywhere this season.

Jonathan Stewart had a good year BUT Cam Newton rushed for 4 more touchdowns and with 636 yards rushing, as a QB. So, I don't think it's honest to say that the Panthers relied on their running game to succeed this year either.

These teams have one common factor, their DEFENSES. The top 11 teams, in regards to defenses are concerned are probably...........

Broncos
Chiefs
Cardinals
Panthers
Seahawks
Texans
Steelers
Vikings
Rams
Bengals
Patriots

I do NOT think there is a coincidence that out of those 11 teams that 8 of them made the playoffs and 7 of them are still in the playoffs.

I'm well aware of the injuries. The point was that 'the teams understand the importance of being able to run the ball and have offensive balance - particularly down the stretch or when the passing game is flagging. The Seahawks and Steelers still ran the ball with other RBs once they lost their starters to injury.

Dalton and Newton have top ranked OLs and solid running games. Newton's unique in his size and ability, but he and Stewart both are viable running threats and both have to be accounted for by defenses. It an added dimension.

Hopefully VJ will get our defense back on track.

[Dolfan1]

"Hopefully VJ will get our defense back on track."

Tampa just hired Mike Smith as their DC. He was my second choice for HC but I'd have been thrilled with him as DC as well. We may regret passing on him for BOTH positions.

[Seadog]

Not sure how many more times I can look at those ears

[cuchulainn]

Agree... odd that no one hired Smith as a HC again. I thought he was good. Hoping VJ is a much better DC than his predecessor...

[Phins169]

Defense does win championships but when all other things are equal, the team with an elite QB wins. In fact, most times the teams don't have to be equal and the one with the elite QB still wins.

[DolphinsFreak]

It's usually true.........until you talk to Eli Manning who has beaten Tom Brady in the Super Bowl TWICE!

[Seadog]

Didn't Miami have an elite QB once, how many Championships did he win.......

[Dolfan1]

Defense does win championships but when all other things are equal, the team with an elite QB wins. In fact, most times the teams don't have to be equal and the one with the elite QB still wins.

So are we to assume that Eli Manning is Elite and Tom Brady is not?? Seems to me Eli's team beat Brady BOTH times them met in the Superbowl. Seem to remember them beating the Pats once or twice during the regular seasons as well.

[Dolfan1]

Exactly, no way Eli even holds a candle to Brady as much as it pains me to give Brady any kind of credit.

[Seadog]

Oh no, Eli has blown more games than Charlie Sheen's girlfriends have ...well you get the picture....

[cuchulainn]

The way to beat Brady is exactly what we did in our last game and what the Giants have done in both SBs - pressure him into mistakes and hit him until he cries.

[Phins169]

So are we to assume that Eli Manning is Elite and Tom Brady is not?? Seems to me Eli's team beat Brady BOTH times them met in the Superbowl. Seem to remember them beating the Pats once or twice during the regular seasons as well.

As with every rule, there are exceptions!

[Idahomer]

I agree that defenses win championships. I disagree that Gase didn't have some impact on the QB's success. Both Manning and Cutler speak very highly of Gase and both respect his input and effect on their seasons when he coached them.

This team needs a solid defense to win with Tannehill, or honestly any QB. Like Seadog said, just ask Dan Marino. With all that said not every playoff team is being coached by a defensive coach, so just because the HC is an offensive guy doesn't mean the team doesn't or can't have a dominating defense.

[DolphinsFreak]

Ozzie Newsome was a tight end and he built quite the defense for the Ravens. Let's hope this Grier guy can do the same thing.

[FTLDOLFAN]

Of the teams playing this weekend. I think the Dolphins should try to model themselves after the Chiefs. We need to build up our o-line and defense. Tannehill will probably never be elite but I do think he has a higher ceiling than Alex Smith and if we upgrade our o-line and defense Tannehill can lead us deep into the playoffs.

[phinfanfrom70s]

offense can only play offense.
defense can play defense and prevent an offense from putting points on the board and can play offense too and add points to the score board.
so in a stalemate a defense can win a game by generating point on its own which I imagine has happened many time throughout the history.
don't know this as fact but,I imagine that teams that are in playoffs and win SB are the team with the higher take aways on defense.

[DolphinsFreak]

Of the teams playing this weekend. I think the Dolphins should try to model themselves after the Chiefs. We need to build up our o-line and defense. Tannehill will probably never be elite but I do think he has a higher ceiling than Alex Smith and if we upgrade our o-line and defense Tannehill can lead us deep into the playoffs.

I can see your point here. Out of all the quarterbacks in the playoffs I think Alex Smith is the closest comparison to Tannehill. Of course I believe Smith is a better quarterback and everyone should have expected this comment coming from me. But, I do see a lot of similarities in these two quarterbacks. Tannehill does have the potential to be a lot like Alex Smith and I believe he can aspire to be just like him. He will NEVER be like Rodgers, Brady, etc. but I think it's realistic for him to set a goal to try and be like Smith. (No, stats guys, your input is not needed and will not change my mind. AHA)

If the Dolphins were to emulate what the Chiefs have done with their team. They have a great running back, a great tight end, a great defense, with a mediocre quarterback. The great defense is the key to this teams success and then when you couple that with a great running back and receiving threat, you have a solid start to building a Super Bowl caliber team. However, the most important ingredient needed is to find yourself a quarterback who you can rely on to move the ball up and down the field and put points on the board.