Burnett Helping Dolphins Shut Down TEs

Miami satisfied with new "don't leave opposing TEs wide open" policy so far

The Miami Dolphins finished the 2010 season with the sixth best defense terms of yards allowed per game, but one major problem kept the Dolphins defense from reaching its full potential.

Opposing tight ends seemd to make a name for themselves when they played Miami.

Last season, the Vikings' Visanthe Shiancoe, the Jets' Dustin Keller, the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski, the Browns' Ben Watson, and the Lions' Brandon Pettigrew all caught four or more passes for 70 or more yards in Dolphins games.

"Last year on third downs — and even on first downs — our linebackers were getting exposed in space," Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland said recently.

Athletic, pass-catching tight ends are "kind of becoming a theme in the NFL," linebacker AJ Edds told the Sun-Sentinel Sunday.

Miami made a commitment to ending the all-you-can-eat tight end buffet by acquiring veteran linebacker Kevin Burnett, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. Burnett signed a four-year deal after the lockout ended, replacing the released Channing Crowder.

Burnett has displayed some serious skills in coverage during training camp, impressing many of his new teammates.

"He's all over the place, making plays all over the field," defensive teammate Cameron Wake said of Burnett Wednesday, adding, "We tease him and tell him he's a big [defensive back] sometimes."

It helps that Burnett played safety in high school. He switched to linebacker in college at Tennessee, but has retained his coverage skills.

Burnett teamed with Karlos Dansby could make for the best pass-covering linebacker tandem in the league.

"He's real quick," Dansby told the Sentinel. "He thinks he's better than me but he's not."

So far, the defense is getting better results against tight ends - at least in preseason play. Against Atlanta, Tony Gonzalez did not make a catch, while Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey of the Panthers combined for 5 receptions and 43 yards on Friday.

But the real test awaits on September 12, when Gronkowski and the Patriots visit Sun Life Stadium for the season opener.

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