I think Miami's Defense is going to be more of a 4-2 base defense or a 4-2-5, meaning 4 down lineman + 2 Linebackers + 5 DBs.

It's a passing league and that isn't news.

Miami is going to have 4-3 looks. Miami might even show a decent amount of 3-4 looks, but without Soliai I wouldn't count on seeing Miami in a 3-4 often.

If you look at the 4-2-5 defense and Miami's roster, you'll see that obtaining a #3 CB is actually Miami's greatest defensive need this offseason. I love the Jimmy Wilson story, I think he's got a heck of a lot of talent. But to throw all those eggs in one basket on a guy who is probably going to play more snaps than Paul Soliai did in 2011 would be pretty stupid. Also, I don't see much growth in Nolan Carroll so far and Will Allen is a free agent.

Some people are even speculating that Sean Smith might move to Safety this year, but that's probably just a bunch of crazy talk. If I ran the defense and another team's offense had my defense in the red zone, i'd be very happy to have a guy like Sean Smith playing CB for me and I imagine Miami's new defensive coordinator would agree.

Still though…Miami needs another cornerback.

What about the defensive line?

If Soliai isn't retained, then the most heavily invested Defensive lineman award would go to Randy Starks until Miami works out a long term deal with Cameron Wake who should end up earning a bigger chunk of the pie when all is said and done. Miami needs to give Wake a new deal, he's a fan favorite and plays one of the most important positions in football at a very, very high level, however, he is currently being paid a base salary lower than Miami's longsnapper.

John Denney is good at what he does, but in the business world this just doesn't make a whole lot of sense, I'm sorry.

Following very close (almost exactly the same base salary for 2012) behind Randy Starks would be Tony McDaniel at 3 million dollars this year.

In my eyes, Tony McDaniel should be the starter for the 2nd DT spot in this 4-2 defense. I don't just say that because he's getting paid starter money. I say this because every time this guy is asked to go in, he plays very well. Miami's front office agrees and paid this guy as a result of his play. That is why the guy is getting paid starter money in the first place, he's a really good, he should start.

I also think Miami should retain Phillip Merling because like McDaniel, Merling is more of a 4 man front type of player. I can see Merling play both DT and DE in a 4 man front and also, he would come at a bargain. Merling is a restricted free agent because he didn't play enough games due to injury so Miami can offer the lowest tender for him and if another team tried stealing him away for more money, then Miami would get a 2nd rounder since that's when he was originally drafted.

I just don't see another Team giving Miami a 2nd rounder for Phillip Merling but I wouldn't mind if it happened.

Some people want to spend the 1st round pick on a Defensive End, but Miami already did that with Jared Odrick who in my opinion has better pass rushing ability and a higher ceiling than the top Pass Rushers that will be available in the 1st round of the 2012 draft.

I think that's a good nucleus for a 4 man front. Wake seems to play his best against the Right tackle, so that's where I would put him.

I'd put Tony McDaniel next to him and then Randy starks, who has experience getting double teamed when Miami had him at Nose. Then have an open competion between Merling and Odrick for the other defensive end starting slot. Whoever doesn't win will be able to provide depth for DE or DT as a solid backup.

As far as the 2 linebackers in the 4-2, I think anyone still reading this knows who those guys are going to be in 2012.

If Miami is in a 4-3 look, I see Koa Misi getting that #3 LB spot, but in my mind that 4-3 concept is a package and not a base defense by definition.

4-2-5 buddy, that's the way I see it.