Miami Dolphins Mid-season Grades: Defense

The Dolphins have played half of the season and stand at .500, which is a lot better than many national sports writers projected. The Dolphins still have a chance to make a run for the playoffs, both as a wild card contender and ans divisional champions, but it will be tough. The team is playing very well, and the defense takes much of the credit for that. The defense has improved form last year, and is one of the best in the league. We'll go through each position and grade the players based on how well they have performed based on expectations. If the player has met expectations, the receive a C, and then they can either go higher or lower based on how well they have exceeded expectations, or how poorly they have played based on expectations. Because of this, some of the rankings might seem too high, but that is because the expectations for the player were so low initially, while some may seem too low, because the initial expectations were too high. So, let's get started after the jump.

LB

Karlos Dansby: B+

63 tackles, 1 sack

After hearing rumors that Dansby was not content with the team, and was considering leaving, he has really put together a great performance through the first half of the season. He leads the team with 63 tackles, but his presence has been felt everywhere. He is the vocal leader of the defense, commanding the defensive players and performing his duties as a captain. He has been great in run defense, but has also provided solid pass rush off the blitz and has been able to hold his own in coverage. However, a few dropped INTs keep him outside of the A range.

Koa Misi: A-

38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

After being considered yet another Ireland 2nd round bust by most fans, Misi has really turned up the motor this season, flying all over the field and making a physical impact everywhere. A big part of this is that he is now playing a position that better suits his talents. He struggled as a pass rusher, never really getting it together, but as a 4-3 OLB, he rarely rushes the passer, only doing so on blitzes. Instead, he is being used in the positions in which he excels. He has been a great run stuffer, but his real talents have shown in coverage. He has been great at covering TEs, one of the issues that has plagued the Dolphins for the better part of a decade. His two forced fumbles are just the icing on the cake

Kevin Burnett: C

48 tackles, 1.5 sacks

While Koa Misi is blowing away all expectations, Kevin Burnett is pretty much sticking to his script. He was brought in to replace Channing Crowder and to provide a legit LB option next to Karlos Dansby. Burnett has pretty much done his job. He is racking up the tackles, playing well against the run, doing his job on blitzes and dropping into coverage when he has to. Burnett hasn't really shined, nor has he really disappointed, so he earns a solid "C" based on his performance as of now.

DL

Cameron Wake: B+

27 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble

After a suffering from a slow start, Cam Wake has really kicked it into high gear. He struggled to rush the passer until the Arizona Cardinals game, where he ripped apart Kevin Kolb to the tune of 4.5 sacks. Since that game, he has not looked back, tallying sacks left and right. Wake has been pressuring the QB countless times, and has been a big part to why the Dolphins hold a 4-4 record. Wake has entered his beast mode right now, and lets hope he continues to stay this way.

Jared Odrick: F+

18 tackles, 2 sacks

Expectations were high for the former 1st round pick this year. He was expected to break out and become a big, dominating DE. Instead, he has struggled to provide any form of pass rush, no matter how much help he gets, tallying only 2 sacks. He has even struggled in what used to be his forte, run stuffing. He no longer gives the push he gave last year, and is just sputtering along. His struggles, however, could be contributed to the fact that he has been playing out of position. The Dolphins did not have a starting quality 4-3 DE across from Wake, and were forced to start Odrick, a natural 4-3 DT, at the DE position. Next year, if Randy Starks is not resigned, Odrick should move back to his natural DT spot, where he should excel.

Olivier Vernon, A+

11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 blocked field goals, one blocked punt returned for a TD

Olivier Vernon has been an absolute BEAST. That is all there is to say. The third rd pick out of UM has shown his tremendous athleticism time and time again, looking like a future premier pass rusher. Vernon has only seen playing time off the bench, but has still tallied double digit tackles, a forced fumble and 2.5 sacks. He has provided just the type of pass rush off the bench we need him to provide. He also shows the diversity of his skill set on special teams, becoming a special teams staple, having blocked 2 field goals and having returns a blocked punt for a TD.

Randy Starks: A

18 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT

Randy Starks has looked like one of the league's top DTs this season. He has been providing elite pressure up the middle, dominating interior D-lineman. Not only has he been rushing the passer well, but he still has been a factor in the run defense, being a big part of why the Dolphins boast a top run defense. His affect has been felt every game as he provides the big, dominating pass rush opposed to Wake's slippery rush. He has also put his athleticism on show during his one pick, where he reached up and brought it down.

Paul Soliai: B

18 tackles, .5 sacks

Paul Soliai has adjusted well to his new spot as a 4-3 DT. He has continued to play like his old self, creating space for his fellow defenders, plowing over interior O-lineman and stuffing any Rb that would dare to run it between the tackles. Soliai's presence is felt more outside the stat sheet, as his main job is to push blokcer out of the way and to create lanes for other pass rushers and blitzers

CB

Sean Smith: B+

35 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 INTs

His horrid performance against the Colts notwithstanding, Sean Smith has really picked it up this year, turning into a true shutdown corner. before the Colts game, Smith was routinely shutting down dominant WRs like Larry Fitzgerald and AJ Green. Smith has really picked it up as a coverage corner, looking like a top 10 NFL starter, and really turning some heads around the league. That is, until his terrible performance against the Colts. It was absolutely agonizing to see him play in that game, and that is what causes his grade to drop to an B+. If he can get back to his previous form, than he should enter the A category, but if he keeps playing like he did last week, his grade will plummet.

Richard Marshall: C

17 tackles, 1 INT

Richard Marshall had really shined in preseason, which led to former 1st rd pick Vontae Davis being traded to the Indianapolis Colts. Marshall than started the season with high expectations, before going out with a back injury. He had been sidelined since he received that injury, before he was placed on injured reserve yesterday afternoon. He is going to be out for the season.

Nolan Carroll: A

40 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble

With Richard Marshall out, Nolan Carroll has really stepped up, establishing himself as a decent starting option that should be retained. Carroll has been solid in coverage, really exceeding expectations. He has also been making plays left and right, forcing a fumble and getting a sack off of a CB blitz. If Carroll continues to improve, he should be a good long term nickel option (as long as the Dolphins find a legit starting corner in the offseason). His only problem thus far has been dropped INTs, but those will come with time, at least he is in position to make that play.

Jimmy Wilson: B+

18 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked punt (led to touchdown by DE Olivier Vernon)

Wilson has seen his workload get a huge increase with Richard Marshall's injury, and he has take advantage of it. Wilson, like Carroll, has been all over the field, making plays whenever he can. He has played well in coverage, and has been a solid tackler, finishing and bringing runners down. Wilson is really playing CB only because of injuries, but he should be a safety. If he keeps changing positions like he has, his long term growth could be hurt.

S

Reshad Jones: A

42 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 INTs

Reshad Jones has really stepped it up this season, looking like a top 5 starting safety. He has consistently been shutting down whoever he is covering, and dominating runners if they get past the front 7. Jones has already pulled down 2 INTs and is looking to get a few more before the season ends. He is racking up the tackles, rarely getting beaten, and has forced 1 fumble this season. He is still young and can be a starter at the safety spot for a long time.

Chris Clemons: B-

45 tackles, 2 INTs

Like Jones, Clemons has really stepped up this season as well, however, not to the extent that Jones has. while Jones is flying all over the field and becoming a major factor, Clemons is being more quiet about his business, doing what he is assigned to do and not taking risks like Jones is. However, this safe approach to the position has also yielded it's fruits, namely a great deal of tackles and 2 easy INTs. Clemons, unlike Jones, is 27, and shouldn't be improving much more, so the Dolphins may look to find another young starter to compete with him and to eventually take his starting spot, as Clemons' safe approach lends itself better to a backup anyways.