AFC East: Akin Ayodele
In response to the relentless stream of power rankings that have sustained us through the lockout, friend of the blog Bill Barnwell recently compiled his list of the NFL's 25 least valuable players at Grantland.com.
You probably can guess a few players with AFC East connections. Surprisingly not listed, however, was former New York Jets defensive end Vernon Gholston.
Here are the players with strong AFC East ties on Barnwell's chart, with No. 1 being the worst (as opposed to best of the least):
You probably can guess a few players with AFC East connections. Surprisingly not listed, however, was former New York Jets defensive end Vernon Gholston.
Here are the players with strong AFC East ties on Barnwell's chart, with No. 1 being the worst (as opposed to best of the least):
- 25. Laurence Maroney, free-agent running back
- 23. Aaron Maybin, Bills outside linebacker
- 18. Akin Ayodele, Bills inside linebacker
- 11. Chris Chambers, Chiefs wide receiver
- 10. Darius Butler, Patriots cornerback
The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players continues, one weekday at a time ...
About the choice: Williams has been one of the NFL's most overlooked players for the past couple years, but he finally garnered enough recognition to make it the Pro Bowl and was voted second-team All-Pro. He was slotted as the Buffalo Bills' nose tackle when they switched to a 3-4 defense. But as they struggled to stop the run, his versatility moved him along the line. Williams led the Bills and tied for sixth among all defensive tackles with 5.5 sacks. He also posted a team-high 16 tackles for losses and recovered two fumbles.
Key fact: Williams had more sacks than outside linebackers Chris Kelsay, Reggie Torbor, Akin Ayodele and Chris Ellis (all of whom started at least one game) combined. Add rookie Arthur Moats' 2.5 sacks and Williams comes a half-sack shy of all five.
Hint about No. 10: He's the only player remaining on the list who plays the same position as someone rated higher.
Previous picks:
About the choice: Williams has been one of the NFL's most overlooked players for the past couple years, but he finally garnered enough recognition to make it the Pro Bowl and was voted second-team All-Pro. He was slotted as the Buffalo Bills' nose tackle when they switched to a 3-4 defense. But as they struggled to stop the run, his versatility moved him along the line. Williams led the Bills and tied for sixth among all defensive tackles with 5.5 sacks. He also posted a team-high 16 tackles for losses and recovered two fumbles.
Key fact: Williams had more sacks than outside linebackers Chris Kelsay, Reggie Torbor, Akin Ayodele and Chris Ellis (all of whom started at least one game) combined. Add rookie Arthur Moats' 2.5 sacks and Williams comes a half-sack shy of all five.
Hint about No. 10: He's the only player remaining on the list who plays the same position as someone rated higher.
Previous picks:
- 12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
- 13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
- 14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
- 15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
- 16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
- 17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
- 18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
- 19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
- 20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
- 21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
- 22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
- 23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
- 24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
- 25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end
AFC East wire: Players already going broke
May, 25, 2011
5/25/11
12:35
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
Miami Dolphins
- Andrew Carter of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel drops by the mass workout of Dolphins and other locked out AFC East players in Boca Raton, Fla., and writes up linebacker Channing Crowder's comments about players already gutting their funds.
- Palm Beach Post reporter Ben Volin updates the Brandon Marshall stabbing, with no charges filed against the star receiver's wife and his refusal to cooperate.
- Associated Press reporter John Wawrow writes about the front office's decision to stop funding employee pensions during the lockout.
- Patrick Moran of Buffalo Sports Daily marks the arrival of first-round draft choice Marcell Dareus for informal team workouts in Elma, N.Y.
- Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis was invited to fly in an F-16 fighter jet with the Thunderbirds, Ian R. Rapoport writes for the Boston Herald.
- Comcast SportsNet New England gadabout Tom E. Curran has been previewing the free agent market and wonders if former Bills outside linebacker Akin Ayodele is a good fit for the Patriots.
- Kristian Dyer of Metro New York catches up with receiver Jerricho Cotchery to discuss back and groin injuries that made him such an inspiration last season.
- Chris Hearing of the Wall Street Journal draws parallels between the Jets and the Miami Heat when it comes to the pursuit of championships.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills drafted a third straight defender, adding Louisiana State inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard with the 68th pick Friday night.
Why the Bills took him: The Bills already have addressed each level of their defense with a lineman (Marcell Dareus), a defensive back (Aaron Williams) and now a linebacker, a position that was thin last year. Sheppard is considered a smart and emotional leader, and he might need that kind of passion to overcome limitations as a sideline-to-sideline tackler.
How it affects the roster: Veteran linebackers Paul Posluszny and Akin Ayodele are free agents. Sheppard could contribute immediately.
Scouts Inc. says: Good communication skills. Quickly reads keys and reacts. Do not see many false steps from him. Has improved his discipline and rarely got fooled by misdirection or play-action in 2010. Flashes ability to sniff out draws and screens. Shows awareness to go for the strip when wrapping up ball carriers. ... Is technically sound with his hands and will almost always take on blocks properly. He is tough and fearless, but he does not have explosive upper body power. He rarely shocks the blocker with initial pop and he has some trouble disengaging from bigger blockers.
Why the Bills took him: The Bills already have addressed each level of their defense with a lineman (Marcell Dareus), a defensive back (Aaron Williams) and now a linebacker, a position that was thin last year. Sheppard is considered a smart and emotional leader, and he might need that kind of passion to overcome limitations as a sideline-to-sideline tackler.
How it affects the roster: Veteran linebackers Paul Posluszny and Akin Ayodele are free agents. Sheppard could contribute immediately.
Scouts Inc. says: Good communication skills. Quickly reads keys and reacts. Do not see many false steps from him. Has improved his discipline and rarely got fooled by misdirection or play-action in 2010. Flashes ability to sniff out draws and screens. Shows awareness to go for the strip when wrapping up ball carriers. ... Is technically sound with his hands and will almost always take on blocks properly. He is tough and fearless, but he does not have explosive upper body power. He rarely shocks the blocker with initial pop and he has some trouble disengaging from bigger blockers.
Buffalo loses Parrish, Davis for the year
November, 8, 2010
11/08/10
7:01
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
One player forward, two players back.
Parrish
DavisThe Buffalo Bills made a move last week that should improve their team, claiming Shawne Merriman off waivers. But on Monday they placed two starters on season-ending injured reserve, weakening both sides of the ball.
The Bills lost important receiver Roscoe Parrish to a broken wrist and starting inside linebacker Andra Davis to a nagging shoulder injury.
Parrish suffered his injury late in Sunday's 22-19 loss to the Chicago Bears in Toronto. He leaped high to catch a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass along the sideline and came down awkwardly while trying to stay inbounds.
Parrish will be difficult to replace. After getting mothballed by previous coach Dick Jauron, Parrish was having a breakout season as a receiver. Through eight games, he had 33 receptions (two short of his career-high) for 400 yards (most of his career) and two touchdowns (tying his career-high). His catches and yards ranked second on the team behind Steve Johnson.
"You don't just replace guys that have been that productive," Bills coach Chan Gailey said, "but it's an opportunity for somebody else to step up. Donald Jones will jump into the fray and we'll see what he can do."
Jones is an undrafted rookie out of Youngstown State. He has played in every game but didn't make his first catch until Sunday.
Davis was hurt in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins and couldn't recover. He played in six games, starting four. Davis had 42 tackles, including one for a loss and Buffalo's only interception this year.
Akin Ayodele started in Davis' usual spot Sunday.
The Bills lost important receiver Roscoe Parrish to a broken wrist and starting inside linebacker Andra Davis to a nagging shoulder injury.
Parrish suffered his injury late in Sunday's 22-19 loss to the Chicago Bears in Toronto. He leaped high to catch a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass along the sideline and came down awkwardly while trying to stay inbounds.
Parrish will be difficult to replace. After getting mothballed by previous coach Dick Jauron, Parrish was having a breakout season as a receiver. Through eight games, he had 33 receptions (two short of his career-high) for 400 yards (most of his career) and two touchdowns (tying his career-high). His catches and yards ranked second on the team behind Steve Johnson.
"You don't just replace guys that have been that productive," Bills coach Chan Gailey said, "but it's an opportunity for somebody else to step up. Donald Jones will jump into the fray and we'll see what he can do."
Jones is an undrafted rookie out of Youngstown State. He has played in every game but didn't make his first catch until Sunday.
Davis was hurt in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins and couldn't recover. He played in six games, starting four. Davis had 42 tackles, including one for a loss and Buffalo's only interception this year.
Akin Ayodele started in Davis' usual spot Sunday.
Dolphins D unable to clamp tight ends
September, 30, 2010
9/30/10
3:50
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
The Miami Dolphins have a problem defending tight ends.
They struggled throughout 2009 to contain them, and they're off to a rougher start this season.
Tight ends accumulated a nice stat line against Miami last year: 68 receptions for 993 yards and four touchdowns.
Through three games, even with the Buffalo Bills not throwing a single pass to their tight ends on opening day, that position is on pace to catch 69 passes for 1,099 yards and 11 touchdowns against the Dolphins.
That's an All-Pro campaign.
"We've got to do a little bit better job," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said.
Next up are a pair of rookies who've already established themselves as dangerous targets.
The Dolphins will have difficult matchups Monday night with New England Patriots tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.
Each is capable to doing damage.
Hernandez is more of a pure receiver, averaging 70.3 receiving yards per game. That ranks him fourth among all tight ends behind only Jermichael Finley, Antonio Gates and Dustin Keller and ahead of Dallas Clark.
Gronkowksi is the bigger red-zone threat. He has a pair of touchdowns, tying him for third in the league. On the Patriots, he has one fewer touchdown than Randy Moss and Wes Welker.
"They've done a very good job," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "Both are very young in age. I think one of them is 20 (Hernandez) and one just turned 21 (Gronkowski). So for young players, it's pretty neat to find them playing such a great role on our offense.
"With each week, I think they are gaining a little more confidence in what they're doing through the experience that they're having, and we're relying on them every week to be playmakers for us."
The Patriots were one of the few teams who didn't get in on the tight end passing party last year.
As gaudy as the aforementioned 2009 tight end stats versus the Dolphins looked, the Patriots actually improved the averages. Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker combined for only five receptions and 55 yards in two games against Miami.
Tight ends tearing apart the Dolphins in the middle of the field -- think of Clark's seven-catch, 183-yard night -- were a major reason they made so many offseason defensive changes. The Dolphins fired coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. They released linebackers Akin Ayodele and Reggie Torbor and safety Gibril Wilson because they were responsible for so many big plays.
Keller exploited the Dolphins on Sunday night. He helped the Jets post a big road victory with six catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The Dolphins did shut him out after the intermission, but that wasn't soon enough.
Sparano knows he'll have problems again Monday night.
"It's difficult, no question about it," Sparano said of Hernandez and Gronkowski. "I think you can try a lot of ways, but with the Patriots you've got to kind of pick your poison a little bit. You can go out there and maybe try to double one of those guys, but then you could expose yourself with Randy or with Wes or with any of those people. You've got to be a little bit careful."
They struggled throughout 2009 to contain them, and they're off to a rougher start this season.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Paul Spinelli The Dolphins face Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez on Monday night. He's averaging 70.3 receiving yards per game.
AP Photo/Paul Spinelli The Dolphins face Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez on Monday night. He's averaging 70.3 receiving yards per game.Through three games, even with the Buffalo Bills not throwing a single pass to their tight ends on opening day, that position is on pace to catch 69 passes for 1,099 yards and 11 touchdowns against the Dolphins.
That's an All-Pro campaign.
"We've got to do a little bit better job," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said.
Next up are a pair of rookies who've already established themselves as dangerous targets.
The Dolphins will have difficult matchups Monday night with New England Patriots tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.
Each is capable to doing damage.
Hernandez is more of a pure receiver, averaging 70.3 receiving yards per game. That ranks him fourth among all tight ends behind only Jermichael Finley, Antonio Gates and Dustin Keller and ahead of Dallas Clark.
Gronkowksi is the bigger red-zone threat. He has a pair of touchdowns, tying him for third in the league. On the Patriots, he has one fewer touchdown than Randy Moss and Wes Welker.
"They've done a very good job," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "Both are very young in age. I think one of them is 20 (Hernandez) and one just turned 21 (Gronkowski). So for young players, it's pretty neat to find them playing such a great role on our offense.
"With each week, I think they are gaining a little more confidence in what they're doing through the experience that they're having, and we're relying on them every week to be playmakers for us."
The Patriots were one of the few teams who didn't get in on the tight end passing party last year.
As gaudy as the aforementioned 2009 tight end stats versus the Dolphins looked, the Patriots actually improved the averages. Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker combined for only five receptions and 55 yards in two games against Miami.
Tight ends tearing apart the Dolphins in the middle of the field -- think of Clark's seven-catch, 183-yard night -- were a major reason they made so many offseason defensive changes. The Dolphins fired coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. They released linebackers Akin Ayodele and Reggie Torbor and safety Gibril Wilson because they were responsible for so many big plays.
Keller exploited the Dolphins on Sunday night. He helped the Jets post a big road victory with six catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The Dolphins did shut him out after the intermission, but that wasn't soon enough.
Sparano knows he'll have problems again Monday night.
"It's difficult, no question about it," Sparano said of Hernandez and Gronkowski. "I think you can try a lot of ways, but with the Patriots you've got to kind of pick your poison a little bit. You can go out there and maybe try to double one of those guys, but then you could expose yourself with Randy or with Wes or with any of those people. You've got to be a little bit careful."
Halftime thoughts from Jets at Dolphins
September, 26, 2010
9/26/10
10:00
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
MIAMI -- Some first-half thoughts Sunday night from Sun Life Stadium, where the New York Jets lead the Miami Dolphins 14-10 at the intermission:
- The Dolphins made major changes to their defense because they couldn't cover players up the seams. They got rid of inside linebacker Akin Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson for repeatedly giving up big gains in the middle of the field. Yet they've forgotten to cover Jets tight end Dustin Keller. He's having a huge game with six receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Dolphins' defense gave up two touchdowns in their first two games. The Jets scored two on their first three possessions.
- The Dolphins are picking on Jets rookie cornerback Kyle Wilson. On their first play, the Dolphins went deep. Brian Hartline had him beat, but Chad Henne overthrew him. Henne seemed a little extra jacked up in the first quarter. His passes sailed, but he settled down in the second quarter and seemed to find a rhythm.
- Miami receiver Davone Bess has made some big grabs. He has four catches for a team-high 60 yards.
- Meet the new Dolphins running back, Brandon Marshall. With about six minutes left in the second quarter, Marshall had two rushing attempts (3 yards) and one reception (10 yards). He finished the half with four catches for 43 yards.
- Miami's backfield hasn't done much. They have only 39 rushing yards. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have combined for nine carries and 32 yards.
- Jets owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan voted unanimously to bench receiver Braylon Edwards for the first quarter as punishment for his drunk driving arrest. They did fine without him, taking their opening possession 72 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. Edwards didn't have the ball thrown to him.
- Jason Taylor elicited boos from the Sun Life Stadium crowd when he sacked Henne and did his bull's-eye celebration in the first quarter.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Here are the inactives for Sunday's game between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Most notable is Chad Pennington officially assuming the No. 2 role ahead of Tyler Thigpen and the stand-down order to outside linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis, who might have started but woke up sick in the morning.
Miami Dolphins
Most notable is Chad Pennington officially assuming the No. 2 role ahead of Tyler Thigpen and the stand-down order to outside linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis, who might have started but woke up sick in the morning.
Miami Dolphins
- Quarterback Tyler Thigpen
- Receiver Roberto Wallace
- Tackle Lydon Murtha
- Tackle Jeremy Parnell
- Outside linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis
- Defensive end Clifton Geathers
- Defensive end Rob Rose
- Inside linebacker Channing Crowder
- Quarterback Brian Brohm
- Guard Kraig Urbik
- Tackle Ed Wang
- Defensive end Alex Carrington
- Defensive end John McCargo
- Inside linebacker Akin Ayodele
- Inside linebacker Antonio Coleman
- Outside linebacker Reggie Torbor
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
Game plans will be an exercise in speculation. There's always a healthy dose of mystery heading into opening weekend. Teams withhold much of their playbooks throughout the preseason, creating wonder about how a new player will be utilized or how much coaching philosophies might have changed since the year before. Whoever guesses best likely will win Sunday's matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium. New Bills coach Chan Gailey has installed his offense and has switched the defense to a 3-4. The Bills also will show their full backfield for the first time. Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch return from injuries sustained in the preseason opener. With them out, rookie lightning bolt C.J. Spiller was limited to tailback duties. Where will Spiller line up now? Could be anywhere. The Dolphins, meanwhile, have new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Gailey has been watching Denver Broncos film and trying to project how Nolan will use the Dolphins' roster.
The New England Patriots defense could be in for a long afternoon. The Patriots better have something up their sleeves for the Cincinnati Bengals. Otherwise, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will have plenty to crow about. How will the Patriots contain the Bengals, who have placed an emphasis on their passing game? They added T.O. and drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham in the first round to help quarterback Carson Palmer. The Bengals have a strong enough rushing attack to keep any defense honest. Straight up, the Patriots appear to be at a disadvantage against the pass. The Patriots have the NFL's least experienced cornerbacks in Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty. As for a pass rush, the Patriots haven't had an effective one for a couple of years.
Don't dismiss the possibility of a big game from Darrelle Revis. The All-Pro cornerback had one week of practice to get ready for Monday night's opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed training camp and all four preseason games during his contract dispute. But that doesn't mean Revis will be rusty. Remember when the Jets signed cornerback Ty Law off the street in November 2008 for a Thursday night game against the Patriots? Law was 34, and they lined him up against Randy Moss. In the first half, Moss had zero receptions. He finished with three catches for 23 yards, and it took a pinpoint Matt Cassel rollout pass and a sensational sideline grab to beat Law for a 16-yard touchdown. Revis isn't 34 years old, and he wasn't signed off a free-agent scrap heap just before Thanksgiving. Revis kept himself in shape while AWOL, working out with a fellow Aliquippa, Pa., native named Ty Law.
If you have Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams on your fantasy team, start them. Heck, fourth-stringer Lex Hilliard might be a decent option against the Bills' run defense. The Bills' transition to a 3-4 defense hasn't made them noticeably better against the run, and they ranked 30th last year. The Bills were on the smallish side to begin with, and they're dealing with injuries at linebacker. Starting outside linebacker Reggie Torbor and backup inside linebacker Antonio Coleman won't play. Top inside linebacker reserve Kawika Mitchell was placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday. Newly acquired inside linebacker Akin Ayodele will be deactivated until he learns the system. On top of all those circumstances, Buffalo boasts a formidable secondary. Motivation for Miami to throw will be low.
Left guard, not quarterback, could turn out to be the Jets' weakest link. All eyes will be on Mark Sanchez on Monday night. So they might not see the peripheral blurs attacking him in the pocket. Left guard is among the chief concerns. The Jets featured a mimeograph offensive line over the past two seasons. That's 33 games of continuity for one of the best units in the league. But the Jets cut Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, and his potential replacements have been shaky. Matt Slauson won the job by default over disappointing rookie Vladimir Ducasse. As head coach Rex Ryan acknowledged in "Hard Knocks," there's not a lot of faith in either of them to keep Sanchez off his back.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Paul SancyaThe Dolphins can't be sure what to expect from new Bills coach Chan Gailey.
AP Photo/Paul SancyaThe Dolphins can't be sure what to expect from new Bills coach Chan Gailey.The New England Patriots defense could be in for a long afternoon. The Patriots better have something up their sleeves for the Cincinnati Bengals. Otherwise, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will have plenty to crow about. How will the Patriots contain the Bengals, who have placed an emphasis on their passing game? They added T.O. and drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham in the first round to help quarterback Carson Palmer. The Bengals have a strong enough rushing attack to keep any defense honest. Straight up, the Patriots appear to be at a disadvantage against the pass. The Patriots have the NFL's least experienced cornerbacks in Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty. As for a pass rush, the Patriots haven't had an effective one for a couple of years.
Don't dismiss the possibility of a big game from Darrelle Revis. The All-Pro cornerback had one week of practice to get ready for Monday night's opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed training camp and all four preseason games during his contract dispute. But that doesn't mean Revis will be rusty. Remember when the Jets signed cornerback Ty Law off the street in November 2008 for a Thursday night game against the Patriots? Law was 34, and they lined him up against Randy Moss. In the first half, Moss had zero receptions. He finished with three catches for 23 yards, and it took a pinpoint Matt Cassel rollout pass and a sensational sideline grab to beat Law for a 16-yard touchdown. Revis isn't 34 years old, and he wasn't signed off a free-agent scrap heap just before Thanksgiving. Revis kept himself in shape while AWOL, working out with a fellow Aliquippa, Pa., native named Ty Law.
If you have Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams on your fantasy team, start them. Heck, fourth-stringer Lex Hilliard might be a decent option against the Bills' run defense. The Bills' transition to a 3-4 defense hasn't made them noticeably better against the run, and they ranked 30th last year. The Bills were on the smallish side to begin with, and they're dealing with injuries at linebacker. Starting outside linebacker Reggie Torbor and backup inside linebacker Antonio Coleman won't play. Top inside linebacker reserve Kawika Mitchell was placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday. Newly acquired inside linebacker Akin Ayodele will be deactivated until he learns the system. On top of all those circumstances, Buffalo boasts a formidable secondary. Motivation for Miami to throw will be low.
Left guard, not quarterback, could turn out to be the Jets' weakest link. All eyes will be on Mark Sanchez on Monday night. So they might not see the peripheral blurs attacking him in the pocket. Left guard is among the chief concerns. The Jets featured a mimeograph offensive line over the past two seasons. That's 33 games of continuity for one of the best units in the league. But the Jets cut Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, and his potential replacements have been shaky. Matt Slauson won the job by default over disappointing rookie Vladimir Ducasse. As head coach Rex Ryan acknowledged in "Hard Knocks," there's not a lot of faith in either of them to keep Sanchez off his back.
Bills add another ex-Dolphins linebacker
September, 10, 2010
9/10/10
11:35
AM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills are loading up on Miami Dolphins castoffs before their game Sunday in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The Bills on Friday announced they've placed inside linebacker Kawika Mitchell on season-ending injured reserve and signed Akin Ayodele, who spent the past two years as a starter for the Miami Dolphins.
The signing will allow Ayodele to continue his remarkable streak of games played for an inside linebacker. He hasn't missed a game since he entered the NFL as a third-round pick out of Purdue in 2002. He has started all but 11 games over the past seven years.
Ayodele will be reunited with former Dolphins teammate Reggie Torbor. They were handpicked by former Dolphins football operations boss Bill Parcells to help rebuild from a 1-15 season. Both were released after this offseason.
Pacells coached Ayodele with the Dallas Cowboys and swung a trade to acquire him and tight end Anthony Fasano at the 2008 draft.
Miami tired of Ayodele because he was a huge liability against the pass. The coaching staff got sick of giving up mortifying plays in the middle of the field and whacked Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson.
The Denver Broncos signed Ayodele in April, but he didn't survive training camp.
Mitchell was a starter last season until a knee injury ended his season after five games. In the Bills' conversion to a 3-4 defense, Mitchell took a back seat to Paul Posluszny and Andra Davis.
The Bills on Friday announced they've placed inside linebacker Kawika Mitchell on season-ending injured reserve and signed Akin Ayodele, who spent the past two years as a starter for the Miami Dolphins.
The signing will allow Ayodele to continue his remarkable streak of games played for an inside linebacker. He hasn't missed a game since he entered the NFL as a third-round pick out of Purdue in 2002. He has started all but 11 games over the past seven years.
Ayodele will be reunited with former Dolphins teammate Reggie Torbor. They were handpicked by former Dolphins football operations boss Bill Parcells to help rebuild from a 1-15 season. Both were released after this offseason.
Pacells coached Ayodele with the Dallas Cowboys and swung a trade to acquire him and tight end Anthony Fasano at the 2008 draft.
Miami tired of Ayodele because he was a huge liability against the pass. The coaching staff got sick of giving up mortifying plays in the middle of the field and whacked Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson.
The Denver Broncos signed Ayodele in April, but he didn't survive training camp.
Mitchell was a starter last season until a knee injury ended his season after five games. In the Bills' conversion to a 3-4 defense, Mitchell took a back seat to Paul Posluszny and Andra Davis.
Without so much as a single Pro Bowl appearance -- not even in last season's diluted exhibition -- the Miami Dolphins made Karlos Dansby the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history in March, when they signed the Arizona Cardinals free agent.
DansbyHe has been showing his worth so far.
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano was asked Sunday who has popped out in the early days of training camp.
Sparano had one name in mind.
"I've been really impressed with what's happened with Dansby," Sparano said. "The combination of him and Channing [Crowder] right now, when you're watching them communicate and you're watching them go through what they're going through in the huddle together, has been really impressive to me."
The Dolphins identified inside linebacker as a major weakness for them at the end of the season. They released starter Akin Ayodele and top reserve Reggie Torbor. They fired defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni.
And they threw a pile of money at Dansby, the best inside linebacker in this year's free-agent class despite a lack of individual honors. His contract is for five years and $43 million.
Dansby's instincts have struck Sparano most of all.
"When Karlos sees it, he pulls the trigger right away," Sparano said. "And some people, they don't do that. They see it, and they don't quite pull the trigger, and now there's a missed tackle or it's an almost. ... With him, he sees it pretty fast and gets there in a hurry.
"I think it's rare when you find some of those kinds of players that have that ability."
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano was asked Sunday who has popped out in the early days of training camp.
Sparano had one name in mind.
"I've been really impressed with what's happened with Dansby," Sparano said. "The combination of him and Channing [Crowder] right now, when you're watching them communicate and you're watching them go through what they're going through in the huddle together, has been really impressive to me."
The Dolphins identified inside linebacker as a major weakness for them at the end of the season. They released starter Akin Ayodele and top reserve Reggie Torbor. They fired defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni.
And they threw a pile of money at Dansby, the best inside linebacker in this year's free-agent class despite a lack of individual honors. His contract is for five years and $43 million.
Dansby's instincts have struck Sparano most of all.
"When Karlos sees it, he pulls the trigger right away," Sparano said. "And some people, they don't do that. They see it, and they don't quite pull the trigger, and now there's a missed tackle or it's an almost. ... With him, he sees it pretty fast and gets there in a hurry.
"I think it's rare when you find some of those kinds of players that have that ability."
Earlier, I mentioned defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is a Miami Dolphins addition who often gets overlooked when judging their offseason.
Then Football Outsiders editor in chief Aaron Schatz produced a piece for ESPN Insider that reminded me about addition by subtraction.
The Dolphins' defense should be substantially better simply because linebacker Akin Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson aren't on it anymore.
Schatz compiled data on the defenders who allowed the most broken tackles, defining them this way:
Ayodele was the worst among all linebackers, with 17 percent of his attempted tackles ending up broken. Wilson surprisingly didn't make the top 10 among defensive backs, but former Dolphins Andre Goodman (third at 20 percent) and Renaldo Hill (10th at 17 percent) were there.
Elsewhere in the AFC East, Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny and new Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby tied for sixth among the most efficient tacklers at their position, getting their tackles broken a mere 3.3 percent of the time last year.
In the secondary, Dolphins backup Jason Allen rated tops with no broken tackles, while safety Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell was sixth best at 3.7 percent.
Schatz shared the team data, breaking it down both offensively and defensively at FootballOutsiders.com.
On offense, the New England Patriots were tied for fifth, breaking tackles on 6.3 percent of their plays. The Bills were tied for eighth at 6.2 percent. The Dolphins were tied for 15th at 5.6 percent. You'd think a run-dominant team like the New York Jets would be higher than 24th, making opponents miss on 4.9 percent of their plays.
Defensively, the Jets were the most efficient AFC East club, with opponents breaking tackles on 5.2 percent of their plays.
The rest of the division was below average. The Dolphins were tied for 18th at 6.1 percent. The Patriots were 22nd at 6.2 percent. The Bills were tied for 24th at 6.7 percent.
Then Football Outsiders editor in chief Aaron Schatz produced a piece for ESPN Insider that reminded me about addition by subtraction.
The Dolphins' defense should be substantially better simply because linebacker Akin Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson aren't on it anymore.
Schatz compiled data on the defenders who allowed the most broken tackles, defining them this way:
Either the ball carrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ball carrier jukes him out of his shoes. If the ball carrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn't count as a broken tackle.
Ayodele was the worst among all linebackers, with 17 percent of his attempted tackles ending up broken. Wilson surprisingly didn't make the top 10 among defensive backs, but former Dolphins Andre Goodman (third at 20 percent) and Renaldo Hill (10th at 17 percent) were there.
Elsewhere in the AFC East, Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny and new Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby tied for sixth among the most efficient tacklers at their position, getting their tackles broken a mere 3.3 percent of the time last year.
In the secondary, Dolphins backup Jason Allen rated tops with no broken tackles, while safety Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell was sixth best at 3.7 percent.
Schatz shared the team data, breaking it down both offensively and defensively at FootballOutsiders.com.
On offense, the New England Patriots were tied for fifth, breaking tackles on 6.3 percent of their plays. The Bills were tied for eighth at 6.2 percent. The Dolphins were tied for 15th at 5.6 percent. You'd think a run-dominant team like the New York Jets would be higher than 24th, making opponents miss on 4.9 percent of their plays.
Defensively, the Jets were the most efficient AFC East club, with opponents breaking tackles on 5.2 percent of their plays.
The rest of the division was below average. The Dolphins were tied for 18th at 6.1 percent. The Patriots were 22nd at 6.2 percent. The Bills were tied for 24th at 6.7 percent.
What could flip Taylor's Jets hate to love?
April, 7, 2010
4/07/10
1:22
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
Throughout his career with the Miami Dolphins, star pass-rusher Jason Taylor didn't conceal his contempt for the New York Jets.
In a collection of comments posted earlier, Taylor calls Jets fans "ignorant," their stadium a "hellhole" and their famous "J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!" chant "dumb-ass."
"Some Jets fans take the 'c-l' out of class," is another Taylor quote.
So what could possibly change Taylor's mind enough to swallow those words and sign a contract with the Jets?
He's not desperate. It's early April. The Dolphins reportedly have talked to him about re-signing. The Jets are bound by the "final eight" plan and can't throw fistfuls of money at him.
But there are reasons Taylor could be swayed, and much of it has to do with the dynamic culture the Jets have fostered.
Jets head coach Rex Ryan: Not even Dolphins inside linebacker Channing Crowder could remain upset with Ryan.
They publicly feuded last summer, but Crowder developed a genuine respect for Ryan as a defensive master and fun-loving dude.
"It's hard for me to say this, but I'm honest. I like Rex now," Crowder told me the week before the Super Bowl. "He's a funny guy. He first became a head coach, [their feud] was one of the first things that happened. I was like 'Who's this guy?' That's when everything kind of manifested.
"Now that I see what kind of guy he is, he seems like a funny guy, a funny coach. I'm starting to lean towards ol' Rex. I might give him a hug when I see him."
Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery made a similar point with me last week while talking about Ryan's role in making the Jets a team opposing fans love to hate. Cotchery noted players around the league are envious of the atmosphere Ryan has cultivated.
"A lot of players don't experience that fun," Cotchery said. "There are some people on the other sidelines who are jealous."
A new stadium and headquarters: The Jets' training facility isn't two years old yet, and they're moving into a dazzling new Meadowlands stadium this year. Those who have toured the $1.6 billion structure have been amazed.
"I was blown away," Ryan said of his first tour. "The stadium is massive. It's just a great place to watch a game, and I can't wait to play a game in that stadium with our fans rocking. If our fans come out the way they did for the last Cincinnati game and the first New England game, whoo, are we going to be tough to beat."
The Jets' defense is in much better shape: The Jets boasted the NFL's top-rated total defense, scoring defense and passing defense in 2009. Their defense was the backbone of a team that reached the AFC Championship Game, and there's no reason to think it won't be great again this year.
Taylor would be a great fit as a pass-rush specialist in Ryan's aggressive 3-4 schemes.
"That would be an excellent acquisition," Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson wrote to me in an e-mail. "My worry is that Taylor would wear down, but they have enough bodies at the position to keep him fresh. Plus, he would have to be a good influence on Vernon Gholston -- you would think, at least.
"Taylor isn't as explosive as he once was, for sure. But he does understand how to set up blockers and is a pretty cerebral player overall. He keeps containment well, feels blocking schemes and can be pretty stout versus the run.
"He would make an excellent defense even better."
The Dolphins' defense, meanwhile, ranked 22nd last year and is in a state of flux. It could turn out to be formidable under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and with prize free-agent Karlos Dansby, but the unit has been overhauled. Gone are defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, outside linebackers coach Jim Reid and inside linebackers coach George Edwards.
Also gone from the front seven are outside linebacker Joey Porter, a captain, and inside linebacker Akin Ayodele. Another defensive captain, nose tackle Jason Ferguson, will be suspended the first eight games of the season.
It's the Big Apple: Taylor doesn't plan to retire into anonymity when his playing days are over. The reason he accepted an invitation to compete on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2008 was to help lay a foundation for a career in the entertainment industry.
The Jets recently were selected to be the featured club for this year's edition of "Hard Knocks" on HBO. Taylor, with his striking looks and on-field résumé, would be one of the leading characters.
In a collection of comments posted earlier, Taylor calls Jets fans "ignorant," their stadium a "hellhole" and their famous "J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!" chant "dumb-ass."
"Some Jets fans take the 'c-l' out of class," is another Taylor quote.
[+] Enlarge
Doug Murray/Icon SMIJason Taylor would be a nice fit as a pass-rush specialist in the Jets' 3-4 schemes.
Doug Murray/Icon SMIJason Taylor would be a nice fit as a pass-rush specialist in the Jets' 3-4 schemes.He's not desperate. It's early April. The Dolphins reportedly have talked to him about re-signing. The Jets are bound by the "final eight" plan and can't throw fistfuls of money at him.
But there are reasons Taylor could be swayed, and much of it has to do with the dynamic culture the Jets have fostered.
Jets head coach Rex Ryan: Not even Dolphins inside linebacker Channing Crowder could remain upset with Ryan.
They publicly feuded last summer, but Crowder developed a genuine respect for Ryan as a defensive master and fun-loving dude.
"It's hard for me to say this, but I'm honest. I like Rex now," Crowder told me the week before the Super Bowl. "He's a funny guy. He first became a head coach, [their feud] was one of the first things that happened. I was like 'Who's this guy?' That's when everything kind of manifested.
"Now that I see what kind of guy he is, he seems like a funny guy, a funny coach. I'm starting to lean towards ol' Rex. I might give him a hug when I see him."
Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery made a similar point with me last week while talking about Ryan's role in making the Jets a team opposing fans love to hate. Cotchery noted players around the league are envious of the atmosphere Ryan has cultivated.
"A lot of players don't experience that fun," Cotchery said. "There are some people on the other sidelines who are jealous."
A new stadium and headquarters: The Jets' training facility isn't two years old yet, and they're moving into a dazzling new Meadowlands stadium this year. Those who have toured the $1.6 billion structure have been amazed.
"I was blown away," Ryan said of his first tour. "The stadium is massive. It's just a great place to watch a game, and I can't wait to play a game in that stadium with our fans rocking. If our fans come out the way they did for the last Cincinnati game and the first New England game, whoo, are we going to be tough to beat."
The Jets' defense is in much better shape: The Jets boasted the NFL's top-rated total defense, scoring defense and passing defense in 2009. Their defense was the backbone of a team that reached the AFC Championship Game, and there's no reason to think it won't be great again this year.
Taylor would be a great fit as a pass-rush specialist in Ryan's aggressive 3-4 schemes.
"That would be an excellent acquisition," Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson wrote to me in an e-mail. "My worry is that Taylor would wear down, but they have enough bodies at the position to keep him fresh. Plus, he would have to be a good influence on Vernon Gholston -- you would think, at least.
"Taylor isn't as explosive as he once was, for sure. But he does understand how to set up blockers and is a pretty cerebral player overall. He keeps containment well, feels blocking schemes and can be pretty stout versus the run.
"He would make an excellent defense even better."
The Dolphins' defense, meanwhile, ranked 22nd last year and is in a state of flux. It could turn out to be formidable under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and with prize free-agent Karlos Dansby, but the unit has been overhauled. Gone are defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, outside linebackers coach Jim Reid and inside linebackers coach George Edwards.
Also gone from the front seven are outside linebacker Joey Porter, a captain, and inside linebacker Akin Ayodele. Another defensive captain, nose tackle Jason Ferguson, will be suspended the first eight games of the season.
It's the Big Apple: Taylor doesn't plan to retire into anonymity when his playing days are over. The reason he accepted an invitation to compete on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2008 was to help lay a foundation for a career in the entertainment industry.
The Jets recently were selected to be the featured club for this year's edition of "Hard Knocks" on HBO. Taylor, with his striking looks and on-field résumé, would be one of the leading characters.
The Big Question: Are Fins doing enough?
March, 30, 2010
3/30/10
1:00
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Have the Miami Dolphins done enough since the free-agency period began?
Miami got off to a rousing start in free agency by pouncing on Karlos Dansby like a 43-year-old bachelorette on the bride's bouquet. Bill Parcells whipped out owner Stephen Ross' checkbook to make Dansby the NFL's highest-paid inside linebacker, one of top two or three most-significant moves at the start of free agency.
That was nearly a month ago.
The Dolphins haven't done much else since then. They courted safety Ryan Clark, but he re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They haven't gotten involved with any wide receivers, much to their fans' chagrin.
The Dolphins brought back Chad Pennington to be their third-string quarterback and nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who won't be able to play until he serves an eight-game suspension. They added freak-on-a-short-leash guard Richie Incognito with a low-risk contract, making him one misstep away from being cut.
Upgrades, however, don't always occur through acquisitions. The Dolphins made some classic addition-by-subtraction moves, cutting outside linebacker Joey Porter, inside linebacker Akin Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson. Porter signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was arrested for DUI. Ayodele and Wilson haven't found work.
Dolfans should be relieved those guys are gone, but only Ayodele has been replaced. They still need to establish a new pass-rushing presence on the edge (especially if they don't want Jason Taylor back) and locate a safety in addition to help at receiver and nose tackle.
Dansby will be a force on Miami's defense, and Incognito will be a nice pickup if he can keep his temper under control.
But the Dolphins, who went 7-9 last year, need to find more veterans to keep pace with the AFC runner-up New York Jets and defending AFC East champion New England Patriots.
Have the Miami Dolphins done enough since the free-agency period began?
Fernando Medina-US PRESSWIREThe Dolphins started free agency by signing Karlos Dansby, but they have done little since.
That was nearly a month ago.
The Dolphins haven't done much else since then. They courted safety Ryan Clark, but he re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They haven't gotten involved with any wide receivers, much to their fans' chagrin.
The Dolphins brought back Chad Pennington to be their third-string quarterback and nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who won't be able to play until he serves an eight-game suspension. They added freak-on-a-short-leash guard Richie Incognito with a low-risk contract, making him one misstep away from being cut.
Upgrades, however, don't always occur through acquisitions. The Dolphins made some classic addition-by-subtraction moves, cutting outside linebacker Joey Porter, inside linebacker Akin Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson. Porter signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was arrested for DUI. Ayodele and Wilson haven't found work.
Dolfans should be relieved those guys are gone, but only Ayodele has been replaced. They still need to establish a new pass-rushing presence on the edge (especially if they don't want Jason Taylor back) and locate a safety in addition to help at receiver and nose tackle.
Dansby will be a force on Miami's defense, and Incognito will be a nice pickup if he can keep his temper under control.
But the Dolphins, who went 7-9 last year, need to find more veterans to keep pace with the AFC runner-up New York Jets and defending AFC East champion New England Patriots.
Summarizing the Dolphins' tackling woes
March, 11, 2010
3/11/10
10:02
AM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
In pouring over ProFootballFocus.com researcher Sam Monson's data on missed tackles, what stood out most of all was the abysmal season the Miami Dolphins had in that area.
We knew the Dolphins had trouble tackling, but to see where their players ranked was disconcerting.
They were near the bottom at cornerback and inside linebacker and had an erratic safety.
Tackle data is subjective. The NFL declines to acknowledge tackles as an official stat. The league does list unofficial numbers on NFL.com, but teams generally keep track of their own when coaches break down game film. Team figures are what I quote when writing a story.
It should be pointed out that tallying missed tackles is even more subjective, but when criteria is applied uniformly, then I believe there is value in seeing how players compare.
The Dolphins were atrocious, and the misses certainly contributed to the Dolphins' decision to fire defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. Inside linebackers coach George Edwards (now Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator) and outside linebackers coach Jim Reid (now University of Virginia's defensive coordinator) also left.
Here are Miami's lowlights from Monson's spreadsheet on a stat called "tackle inefficiency rating," which factors solo tackles and missed tackles:
"What I'm surprised of -- and this is my fault; this is what I'm disappointed in me for -- is that I take great pride in the fact that we work our team hard enough, and that our team gets better as the season goes on," Sparano said. "We didn't get better in that phase. We didn't get better fundamentally. We didn't tackle well enough."
We knew the Dolphins had trouble tackling, but to see where their players ranked was disconcerting.
They were near the bottom at cornerback and inside linebacker and had an erratic safety.
Tackle data is subjective. The NFL declines to acknowledge tackles as an official stat. The league does list unofficial numbers on NFL.com, but teams generally keep track of their own when coaches break down game film. Team figures are what I quote when writing a story.
It should be pointed out that tallying missed tackles is even more subjective, but when criteria is applied uniformly, then I believe there is value in seeing how players compare.
The Dolphins were atrocious, and the misses certainly contributed to the Dolphins' decision to fire defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. Inside linebackers coach George Edwards (now Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator) and outside linebackers coach Jim Reid (now University of Virginia's defensive coordinator) also left.
Here are Miami's lowlights from Monson's spreadsheet on a stat called "tackle inefficiency rating," which factors solo tackles and missed tackles:
- Inside linebackers Channing Crowder and the recently released Akin Ayodele ranked 114th and 106th, respectively, in TIR among 117 graded linebackers (inside and outside).
- Rookies Sean Smith and Vontae Davis ranked 82nd and 54th, respectively, in TIR among 88 graded cornerbacks.
- Free safety Gibril Wilson, cut the same day as Ayodele, had a mediocre TIR. But Wilson missed seven tackles through the first six games. His miscues were glaring in Miami's 2-4 start.
"What I'm surprised of -- and this is my fault; this is what I'm disappointed in me for -- is that I take great pride in the fact that we work our team hard enough, and that our team gets better as the season goes on," Sparano said. "We didn't get better in that phase. We didn't get better fundamentally. We didn't tackle well enough."
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
