So Porter's obviously out and Wake is getting the chance to start. While the coaching staff has apparently been unimpressed with his run or pass defense, I'm really excited to see him make a big impact in the pass rush in this game, which I think he's nasty at. Case in point, this game is 20 seconds old and he just registered a sack.

If our coaches think Joey Porter is an acceptable choice at outside linebacker and god knows he's one dimensional, why have they been so mum on Wake when he's the same kind of player, though maybe even better at getting to the QB. I hope he upstages Porter this afternoon.

let all the kids play. the season is over, no practice is as good as GAME EXPERIENCE!!!

Play all the kids and lets build towards the future.

Wake, Turner, Hartline....play em all!!!!

Three sacks for Wake on the afternoon so far. I really love this kid. He's incredible out on the edge.

Henne played well, no turnovers and a TD

Hartline caught a TD

Wake with 3 sacks

Vonte got burned twice but he had an INT for a TD


The kids are playing well

WAKE FAN HERE TOO. I would love to have a rotation of fresh legs.

The season is not over, we proved that today. There is still a long season ahead and with injuries and teams riding emotional highs, anything is possible. Plus if anyone remembers, the phins used to always start off great and then fall flat on our face in Nov/Dec. I would much rather stumble out of the gates then not have enough gas to make it to the finish line.

Wake is another example of a player who didn't impress the coaches in practice...and is a GAMER!!!!!

Porter's injury opened things up enough for him to show the coaches that he can do it in the NFL.

Below is what I said a week ago. I know what I saw and I think he can be a real terror.

Re: Afghanistan in the house! Posted by: Jonathan Twilley ()
Date: September 27, 2009 07:34AM

I would like to see Cam Wake get activated a show what he has. Perhaps he isn't refined as an linebacker in general, but in the little I saw of him this preseason, he sure can turn the corner and rush the passer.

Yeah, I'm a Wake fan! We're in great whape at OLB!

Im sure THunder will pop up under a new name here soon. I dont think he can handle being away after a win like this......

Look for a new poster soon.....

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

LOL Oh no doubt I am sure he will LOL

ok, the jury is back on cam, suit this beast up every damn game and turn him loose. He was all over edwards tonight, and tackled and got his mask in on every play. It stands to reason he deserves another shot against another team. He injected some serious energy out there tonight and i think he may have forced jt to step up his game. Not a knock on jp but wake is simply bigger, faster and stronger. LET HIM PLAY!!!

Phinsfan2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> montequi Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yeah, I'm a Wake fan! We're in great whape at
> > OLB!
>
> Wake did a great job today rushing off the edge
> but he hasn't played OLB while having to cover
> anybody. Are we actually in great shape at OLB?
>
> Porter is getting older and might be done, JT is
> close to the end.
>
> After that...what else do we have?
>
Anderson and Moses...and Wake.

Nice to see Wake do what they brought him here for ......... they should have started him from the first game. What were they thinking ?

Actually Wake does play special teams. He's part of our kick off coverage team. And how exactly would you know that Wake doesn't know our blitz packages? You know they gave him a playbook, right? I'm sure he's learned our blitz packages.

And as far as not showing the ability of a 3/4 OLB as the reason he's been benched this whole time, I would say that it has more to do with Joey Porter just being ahead of him on the depth chart than an indication that the coaching staff doesn't have faith in him. He is fairly one dimensional right now, but Porter is the same way and Wake could very well be better than Porter at the one thing that Porter does well, pass rush. I'd be interested to see what kind of production Wake would have as our starting OLB if we rushed him on every play the way we do with JP. My suspicion is that he'd be a double digit sack artist.

I have to agree.

Wake has tremendous speed, jumping ability, and he appears to be an effective tackler. the only question is his ability to cover WR's.

Porter isn't terribly effective in coverage, not that he sucks, but he is often behind the guy making a tackle but not threatening the completion.

Personally, I have come to the opinion that Sparano is too dogmatic in awarding playing time based on practice performance.

When you consider the following from an article on Philip Merling not being given a chance to be a starter:

1. Phillip Merling is just who he says he is.
While coaches have criticized his practice habits throughout his stay in Miami, Merling, the second-year defensive end from Clemson, has insisted that he saves his best for games. That was in evidence Sunday when his four tackles in a reserve role proved to be the most of any Dolphin D-lineman.

IMO, Sparano needs to give athletes a chance to show him in a GAME situation. Practice work ethic is important. But there are TONS of guys who are amazing in practice and play stupid in games, and lots of guys who are average in practice and find some magic in Games.

Wake is a pass rusher. Special breed of cat. No prey...no pounce! Gotta have a live target.

> No prey...no pounce! Gotta have a live target.

Nice tag.

Why can't we play Porter, Taylor and Wake and sit Crowder if we need to sit somebody. I think that would be a nasty combo

ranger1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why can't we play Porter, Taylor and Wake and sit
> Crowder if we need to sit somebody. I think that
> would be a nasty combo


Who's going to stop the run? Who's going to cover the TE, RB, FB, or slot WR catching short passes over the middle? That lineup would work on 3rd-and-long. Otherwise it would be suicide.

Yeah but Crowder is not good at coverage anyway. You telling me Porter, Taylor nor Wake can play coverage?

A lot of guys are coming back to chat welcome back Colonel

ranger1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah but Crowder is not good at coverage anyway.
> You telling me Porter, Taylor nor Wake can play
> coverage?


Porter can't. That's the knock on him. Taylor rarely has in his career. DE's don't usually drop into coverage. Wake is an unknown.

Regardless, all 3 of these guys have made a career or rushing the passer, NOT dropping into pass coverage.