Miami Dolphins need shake things up defensively to fix issues

The Miami Dolphins defense is struggling and there are no easy answers as to why but perhaps a shake-up could help turn it around.

When looking over the last few weeks the one thing that stands out is how poorly the defensive side of the ball is playing. While the Dolphins beat the Bears the defense wasn’t very good and the Lions and Texans lit up the poor play from start to finish.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the problem is but making a change for the sake of change never works. The Dolphins however could be in need of change because that might be the only way to fix the problem.

The biggest question is who is to blame if anyone. The players are talented but not producing. Earlier this season they were making all of the right decisions and that showed in red-zone defense and takeaways but something has changed since the Dolphins played the Patriots. They simply can’t get off the field and lately when they do it’s because of a quick scoring drive.

Last nights game against the Texans was an all too familiar sight. Miami’s offense scores and the defense gives up a touchdown on the next drive. Miami is not built to play shootouts. There are simply too many issues on the offense related to injuries.

Naturally the first place to look is at the defensive coordinator. Matt Burke is in his second season as the DC and it is not looking like he is progressing. In fact it’s the opposite. All across social media platforms Burke’s name is being mentioned as the one person who should be fired. Is that the right course of action?

Maybe.

The Dolphins need to get a new direction and if they want to save any part of this season they need to do it quickly. Adam Gase is stubborn but not incompetent. He is loyal to a fault and that is a problem as well. He also seems loyal to Burke so if you are hoping for a change, it might not come during the season.

Burke is being out coached and there is no way around seeing that. His half-time adjustments are not working and his in-game adjustments are not working. This isn’t a one game review, it’s the entire season for the most part.

Defensively the Dolphins can’t blame a lot on injuries. Something is not right with Cameron Wake and he has not played well this season. Perhaps age is catching up. He missed two games this season with a knee issue but Wake isn’t the only one not performing.

Robert Quinn was supposed to be a stellar addition but so far he has not made the impact that everyone expected. While he is getting pressure, he isn’t winning the battle all the way through the play. Add to that the inexperience at linebacker with Raekwon McMillan and there are holes all along the front seven.

So is the problem Burke or the play on the field? Execution is a big problem for any team and you can have a brilliant coach but if the players are not following the game plan and making plays it won’t matter. Regardless the fault inevitably falls on Burke.