Evaluation of Defense: DL

I've slacked on my roster evaluations, but I'll try to pick it up this week. Having done the offense already, now it's the defense's turn. I'll start with the defensive line.

Jason Taylor

The clear-cut best player on this defense and possibly the team, I'm not entirely sure I expect Jason back next season. Like in 2006, Jason had a slow start to the year and made us wonder if his best football was behind us. However, he picked things up as the season progressed and eventually turned in another Pro Bowl year.

However, Taylor will be 34 next season and will start slowing down eventually. His desire for a championship won't be fulfilled, at least not in Miami. A team in need of a pass rushing specialist might be willing to fork over a late 1st or a 2nd round pick for him, so I would aggressively shop him around to see if there is any interest.

I doubt Jason would be offended by that move. He knows it is a business and he also knows it allows him to leave Miami looking like a good guy if he is traded.

Verdict: If you can get something valuable in return, I'd say it might be best he moved on. However, he is a proven veteran and the heart and soul of this defense. Unless you get a fair deal, he needs to stay.

Matt Roth

The supposed beast in practice disappointed on the field in 2007. He wasn't bad, but Roth barely equaled the production of his predecessor Kevin Carter, and that's not saying much. He certainly does have the motor that scouts raved about before the draft a few years back, but he hasn't made a whole lot of game changing plays.

Verdict: He is still on his rookie deal and is not a bad player, but would probably be a better fit in a rotation scheme as a backup. He needs to improve before becoming a full time starter again.

Vonnie Holliday

Vonnie is a good player who often plays out of position. He didn't make too many game changing plays either, but then again almost nobody did on this defense. However, given his age and cost, he might not be around next year.

Verdict: Parcells likes big guys. Vonnie is not a small man by any means, but is pretty undersized to be playing DT. He just finished the first year of his 4-year 20 million dollar contract, so cutting him probably wouldn't be too cost effective. Instead, I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved back out to his more natural DE position.

Keith Traylor

Traylor's play has fallen over the years, but that's understandable. The man is almost 40. His effectiveness goes down with an increase of snaps played, so it makes him a liability to get worn down.

Verdict: He's probably going to retire anyway, but there's no way I would bring him back next season. This team needs youthful players who can make an impact. Also, Traylor's personality isn't the most conducive to team chemistry, and the plane incident probably sealed his fate in Parcells' eyes if everything else doesn't point to him not returning.

Paul Soliai

All I heard from this pick was that the Dolphins loved that fact he slipped so far and that he had a 1st round grade. In fact, I heard all 4 of our first picks had "first round grades" by the Dolphins, and that's why our draft was such an outstanding success *insert sarcasm here*. Out of all 4 of those supposed steals, Soliai was the biggest bust.

I'll give him a couple of more years to prove his worth on this team, because DL is probably one of the hardest positions to learn in football. However, for a guy his size, Paul gets blown up off the line by Centers who he outweighs by 50 or more pounds. Sometimes I would see him get pushed 7 or 8 yards downfield.

Verdict: As a rookie, he is entitled to his mistakes. And I'm sure he will improve with time. So he'll stay on the team next year, but he was NOT impressive this past season.

Rodrique Wright

The DT/DE standout from Texas finally got some solid playing time. Coming out of college he was considered a borderline 1st round prospect who slipped to the 7th due to an unforeseen injury. So far he has been up and down in the pros, but has some very nice potential.

Verdict: He's a keeper. Young guy who can contribute and perhaps improve into a very good full time starter.

Quentin Moses

Here was a head scratcher. Moses would have been a 1st round pick had he left Georgia early, but chose to stay in school instead. His final year he struggled and ended up being drafted in the 3rd round in last year's draft. He was then cut by the team that drafted him (Raiders) and then cut by yet another team (Cards) before being picked up by the Phins.

Once here, he made a couple of plays that impressed me in the final month of the season. I liked the guy coming out of college and I like his potential now.

Verdict: He's not too big at 265 pounds, so he might not return unfortunately. I would definitely consider him a backup though, and would prefer his return to that of Steve Fifita or Chase Page.