Joe Rose Blog
"Training Camp Preview"
Jul 30, 2010
Joe Rose Q&A (7/31)
Q: What is the impact Brandon Marshall will have on this team?
A: Brandon Marshall will totally change the direction of this offense by having him on the outside as a really big-time #1 receiver. It is going to help the receivers on the other side; it’s going to help the receivers in the slot. I expect all those guys that had good years last year to have even better years like Bess, Camarillo and Hartline, and the tight ends are the ones that I am really, really looking for a bounce back. I just think this could be a huge year for the tight ends and it all starts because of Marshall.
When you put your defensive game plan together, it starts with how do you stop Brandon Marshall. That also helps the running game. I expect the running game to be at top five or top six running game in the league and be even better than last year as long as they can stay healthy.
The best thing that happened for the offense last year is they were forced to throw the football a lot and I think it just did wonders of good for Chad Henne’s confidence that he couldn’t just play in a ball-control offense. The Dolphins got behind, he had to play catch up, and that experience going into this year is going to help him immensely!
Q: With the running game, how important is it that it’s a two-headed monster with both Ronnie and Ricky?
A: It has to be. That’s when it is at it’s best and the big question for this offense is not Henne or Marshall, but Ronnie Brown. Brown can do so many things when he is healthy. He has been the big teaser in this offense because he has been so good, so good, I mean Pro Bowl good, and then he gets injured. We have seen it now not once, but twice where he was on his way to big time years only to get injured and knocked out of two seasons. That put too much on Ricky, too many carries on Ricky, he gets pounded and it is just better if it a one-two punch.
Q: Where does this team, as you see it now, generate its pass rush?
A: A big question mark throughout the defense. We got a lot of young pass rushers, but we don’t have a track record. We’ve come into the last few years and we’ve know we’ve had a Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, we had guys who had done it in the league, put in Pro Bowl seasons, from 10-18 sacks, they’d done it.
This year, we’re asking guys that we think have the ability, but we haven’t seen it yet. So, for me, I have to see it to believe it. You drafted young guys, you spent money on Cameron Wake, it’s now time to shine, and there is no backup plan.
Q: Is there a guy on defense that intrigues you. A guy you will have your eye on during training camp?
A: Koa Misi. Misi has to be a big impact guy. If there is one guy on the defense, for me, it’s Koa Misi, even more than Jared Odrick. Misi needs to come in and be an impact guy right away. It would be disappointing if he weren’t because we don’t have a lot of experience. He needs to be in the rotation playing on the outside.
