Dolphins’ Koa Misi: Our defense can be great
Posted by Michael David Smith

We’ll have to wait a few months to find out if the 2013 Dolphins are really a good team. But it’s clear that they think they’re a really good team. Misi definitely needs to step up or the Dolphins will draft his replacement ... if they haven't all ready.

The latest Dolphin to talk up the team is linebacker Koa Misi, who said he believes the defense will be not just good but great this season.

“We can be great,” Misi told the Miami Herald. “We’ve got a lot of new guys. They’re trying to learn the defense right now. The guys that they brought in to play in this defense and bring it to where we need to be, I think they did a good job in that.”

Among the other boasts we’ve heard from the Dolphins this offseason have been claims that Ryan Tannehill will be one of the great quarterbacks, that the arrival of Mike Wallace gives them the best receivers in the division and that they’re planning to “make some noise.”

Dolphins fans will have to hope that the noise isn’t all talk.

But can you Mr. Misi?

yup. All 3 of our linebackers were well ranked last year.

and I agree with Misi. As much as everyone is talking about our offense, I think it's our defense that will be the elite unit.

Hate to break it to ya, but he ranked as the 10th best 4-3 OLB in the NFL last season according to PFF. He ranked 15th in pass coverage and 9th in run stopping.

You're not breaking anything to me Rich. A "great" defense makes plays when the game is on the line, not giving up chunks of yards and letting the other team score. Misi himself is not great. Show me him as a an all pro, all defense/LB, or pro bowler.

stats sometimes lie. stats say we always have great players , the stat of games won says we dont.

I dont see any lying stats... I see a tough defense that did not give up a lot of points, and a dull offense that could not score.

Our defense was tough because of the effort of guys like Misi.

But hey , its all in the past now and I have no doubt that we are now elite on all 3 levels.

So the counterargument is that something as subjctive as being in the Pro Bowl defines a player as great?

No it doesn't. Playmakers and wins define "greatness". Misi is not a playmaker, nor is he great. As a defense, we need more turnovers and big plays.

Also, offensive linemen aren't "playmakers", so I guess no great offensive linemen exist...

Just posting my opinion. There were times when Misi took bad angles on tackles and he got torched as well. Again, he's not great. Keep spinning your responses Rich.

Thanks for your opinion on Misi.