I can’t recall a Super Bowl where I have l less of an interest in the outcome of the game. I despise both teams, despise the Head Coaches of both teams, and especially the methods both teams choose to employ to circumvent the rules. We all hate Bill Belichick, somewhat because he’s a divisional foes Head Coach, GM and Emperor, and mostly because he’s a liar, and a cheater.
I also hate Pete Carroll, and it’s impossible for me to think of anything but him standing on the sidelines all smug with his hand to his neck pimping the choke sign to our kicker Pete Stoyanovich.
His players have racked up more suspensions, and have taken as many steroids and other PED’s as Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco combined.
BTW – Is this Superbowl Ex-Lax? (XLIX) It is for me . . .
What I do look forward to is the delusional thought that after the SB, the Patriots will be hit with a severe punishment, suspending Palpatine, er Belichick for the entire season as a penalty for cheating. I think as Dolphins fans we all know that’s not going to happen. Justice will not be served against the Patriots, it never is!
After the SB, the next thing as a football fan is all the hoopla regarding the NFL Draft, which, BTW, is no longer in NYC, and will now be in Chicago, April 30 – May 2 in the Auditorium Theater. That will be different. No longer will we see the cretinous NY Jets fans yelling incoherent things before and after every pick. Instead, we might hear shouts of “Ditka!” or “Da Bears!”, or “Mini Ditkas!”. Who knows, it may actually be less entertaining, or it might be an improvement. We’ll find out soon enough, as it’s already January 29th, and April 30 is only 3 months away.
What about our Dolphins? Do we cut Mike Wallace? Hartline? Both? Do we trade back, or do we trade up? Do we take the BPA, or do we take our biggest need? What is our biggest need? O-line? (AGAIN!!!) DT? CB? LB? WR? TE? RB? Depending upon which players are sent packing, it all might change so fast, and new positions may end up clearly being the biggest need.
In any case, I love the draft. Love it! There’s nothing like the promise of infusing potential young talent into your football team. As fans, most of us who really dig into the draft tend to compile our favorites, our “mancrushes” so to speak, and when we don’t get them (As is usually the case), we pout, we are petulant, and we lash out at our know-nothing GM (whoever it may be), and sit in dismay and utter disbelief that the scouting department, comprised of likely 30-50 very qualified people know substantially less than we do, especially since we watch a lot of college ball (not me), or because we read all the scouting reports put out there by amateur draft “experts”, or even the semi qualified draft “experts” like the guys who have been in the NFL for many years like Pat Kirwan, Charlie Casserly, Gil Brandt etc . . . Yeah, we do it every year, and every year we become the “experts”, and not to disparage anyone, because I think some of you guys really do know what you’re talking about, yet still, in comparison to the information that our scouts and personnel professionals have, it pales in comparison.
I hope you all enjoy the big game, maybe win a box pool, hopefully don’t get indigestion, or worse diarrhea. Don’t throw up on your friends couch, don’t throw the remote at the TV when the Patriots or Seahawks win, and bet with your head, not over it.
Maybe some of you can convince your wife that you need a new TV for the big game (amazing how often that one works!) and you can get a hold of a big 70” 4K UltraHD TV. That would be cool. I’d bet in 4K, you can probably see Palpatine, rather than Belichick. I can’t prove that, I don’t have a 4K TV, but if any of you do, and see it, please let me know, and if you can upload it to the site here, that would be even better! Thanks!
Enjoy the Superbowl! GO P, naw, Go S, nah, ahhh, WHO CARES!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I can’t think of a chianti without thinking of Silence Of The Lambs
And why are we discussing getting rid of our top performing interior DL…Starks? Even with missing a game and far fewer snaps and playing out of position….he still outperformed Odrick. If Odrick is smart….he signs with a 3-4 team, anyway.
We’re talking about getting rid of both possibly. I agree Odrick should be a 3-4 end, and I think we can replace Starks and his $6M salary.
A lot depends on what they think they have in those 4 young DTs – Francis, A. Johnson, K. Johnson and Coleman. Also who can they target in FA. One thing you don’t want to do is get weak on the DL. Starks faded down the stretch but he also played well at times.
Mike E. says:
January 29, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Funchess doesn’t seem as explosive as DGB is. DGB seems like the better athlete.
Reply
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Funchess is much quicker off the LOS and into his route. He can beat press pretty easily, but struggles catching on contact. He’s a very good route runner.
DGB is slow as hell off the LOS and does not fight off the jam. very slow in and out of breaks while rounding his routes. Buildup speed but not pure speed. Once he hits top gear he strides past defenders. Catches the ball much better on contact than Funchess. His off field baggage is that of Lawerence Phillips. He needs major coaching to correct his game, but is tough catching in traffic. He also gives a nice effort run blocking.
Mike,
Nice write up. I don’t care who the other team is, I’m just rooting for the patsies to lose. That’s the only thing that brings me joy after Miami falls flat every year.
GDP,
Halliday is a good player and my favorite QB in the PAC12 next to Mannion (Oregon St). I would be happy with either of those guys late in the draft. Halliday played under Mike Leach in that “air raid” offense so his numbers are inflated, but he is capable of making every throw and is a tough SOB. Mannion didn’t have much to work with on offense other than Cooks and I was never a fan of his HC offense. He reminds me a little of Matt Moore with a better arm. Can throw receivers open, accurate, good pocket presence.
Just want to say I’m heading to SC tomorrow for a week so I may not be blogging much if at all. If I all of a sudden disappear, that’s why. LOL
Randy — makes an entrance and Tanny is proud, and we are all happy. 🙂
Agree though that Starks is a likely stay. See an ask for renegotiation, test the FA and come back though. You think he is worth six mil?
Thanks drg – You sound like Ryan Tannehill, he said the same thing, that he can’t root for the Patriots. I just feel like I can’t root for either team, but yes, I’d rather have the pats lose, this much is true.
Have fun Tim! If you were gone for any extended period of time, I’d figure you were holed up in your room doing a 1 week Monty Python marathon
Thanks, man. It’s Monty Python all the time. LOL
I think you offer Odrick a fair contract…if he takes it, fine…if not, let him walk. Let Starks ride out the last year of his contract while you keep developing the young fellas.
Starks’ cap hit is just one mil though. He might as well be a FA. Think we have Aponte to thank for that.
According to the prosecutor: “A marijuana blunt found near Lloyd’s body had traces of both his DNA and that of Hernandez.” Guess that’s the new version of this.
stanger,
I really am not a contract guy. Is $6M a year an average contract for a veteran DL? It doesn’t sound like a lot to me, but I really have no idea. I don’t see the downside of keeping him thru his contract. He’s been a pretty consistent performer…not great but consistent….even when he’s asked to be a lane clogger which isn’t what he excels at. And, he’ll break down again late in the season if he’s asked to eat up blocks all year. Actually, if they do keep him and limit his snaps while they develop the youngsters, his productivity may even be better.
It’s cold Randy…..but I would be learning about his personal situation if I was Hickey. Where does he want to retire and how many years does he want to play. Huge factor when a guy is getting towards the end of the line.
Randy
It’s not so much that Starks isn’t worht the $6M, it’s that we’re in cap trouble, and when that happenes, guys who are dropping production wise, but are getting a hefty salary are likely to go. We need to clear space, and he’s a only a $1m cap hit if you cut him. I think we have a few other players that are in a similar spot.
Stanger,
Yep, but Starks is actually relatively young for a DL. He’s only 31. He does have a lot of miles on his legs, but he still eats up snaps. I’d be fine either way, but I have no faith at all in the young guys on the team. Not because I think they’re not good, but they simply haven’t proven a thing. If they do let him go, you’d think they’d still wanna bring in a veteran DL. And, if they’re gonna do that….why not just keep Starks….he’s a known commodity. Odrick, to me, is the bigger question because I think he’s gonna wanna get paid.
MikeE,
I have no idea what our cap situation is. If cutting Starks makes sense financially, that’s fine. Nobody on this team is a “must keep” to me.
Randy, it’s about time you get here.
Randy
http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/miami-dolphins/
herd,
Thanks for the invite. I just needed a break.
Hey Randy
Good to see you here
Randy
Do you really think Starks was our beat performing DL last year
It didn’t feel that way
I thought a lot of guys faded at the end of the year, not just Starks. We’re under-sized. We need to get more stout.
Randy – What do you think of the new digs? (Diggs?)
YOUNG STANGER:–To win that $100 on Seattle, I had to plunk down $50 on Christmas Day in Las Vegas.–To collect, I mail the ticket back to the casino I purchased it from, plus a SASE, and they mail me back my winnings.
I’ll be rooting for you Randy……and your win means the Pats lose. Even better.
THAT was my primary motivation, my friend!
HERD; GOOD to see you on the board tonight.–Meant to ask you yesterday if there’s any chance you can make it to a game down here this year? –Lasy year’s “Fest” was epic except for the last 4 seconds of the game!
“LAST” year’s
Piggy,
Thanks. I’m just going by stats. His tackles were pretty much the same as Odrick and Mitchell, and his sacks were much better(4.5 to Odrick’s/Mitchell’s 1) The only thing Odrick really stood out in were his passes defended, and I don’t really care much about that stat for DL. I didn’t say I thought he played good…just that he performed best out of our DL. The stats are hard to dispute…and Odick had many more snaps than Starks too, if I remember correctly. I thought Mitchell played well, but his stats(33 tkls, 1 sack) aren’t better than Starks, and they were used in a similar fashion.
I’m not trying to pump up Starks. His play wasn’t all that great, but it wasn’t that much different from his career output, given his snaps.
His career as a whole has been pretty good
I just think our entire DL sort of declined significantly in the 2nd half of the season
6 is kinda like if you threw away the top top guys like McCoy, Suh, and Atkins, he is probably at the top of that next tier. Its a little high for the guy in the second half of the season but probably right on par with the guy at the first half of the season.
Starks is done as a full term 4-3 DT. He’d get more life as a 3-4DE, but this team needs that big fat block eater. Starks, Idrick, Mitchell, & Johnson are those quick slashing DT’s. They aren’t meant to eat blocks for a whole season. That’s why you move on from Starks & Idrick and try to land Dan Williams and possibly another fat block eater.
How you doin’ Mr. President?
Quite well, Mike. –GREAT day of weather here (High of 71 and sunny), a superb dinner cooked by Mrs. OD, a couple of half-mile walks with my dogs, and a few chats here with fellow DolFans. –Throw in a couple of Colorado Kool-Aids and life is pretty good!!
Check out josh Gordon’s open letter
View at Medium.com
MikeE,
I’m still trying to get used to the newness, but I appreciate all the work you and others have put into giving me and others a forum to spout our egomaniacal ramblings.
I’m still trying to figure out how the whole WordPress thing works. I never realized I had a “WordPress” account. I feel a little violated. Lol
Piggy,
I had some issues with how we used our front 4 last season, and I think our LBers were a major liability. Even in a passing league, when a bunch of your top tacklers are DBs….something is really wrong.
Speaking of DTs
Anyone checked out Danny Shelton?
I know some one who loves him
did randy come in saying ‘nobody puts baby in the corner’? it sure sounded like that
Randy
Yes
The LBs were deifinately a problem too
What’s up FUers? Nice article Mike E.
ffr,
I knew you’d get the reference. I always figured you were a big “Dirty Dancing” fan.
Good to see you Randy
Lol@ Swayze lines
To add to that
“Pain don’t Hurt”
But watching this SB will.
I am so sick of the SB hype. Can’t wait for this game to be done with.
“Dirty Dancing” fan.
well yeah, i mean who isnt
Dbolt,
I’ve said it 1000 times, but it’s all in how you wanna align your front 4….playing them over/under…yadda, yadda. We didn’t play our front 4 in a way that would require a classic 2 gap controlling NT. People see how our run defense collapsed and think it was bcause we didn’t have a big, block-eating NT. I don’t think that’s the case because we didn’t play our guys that way. We didn’t even use Soliai in that fashion his last year here.
Randy:
I agree with you on Starks over Odrick. Starks is the more productive of the 2. If I had to keep 1 I keep Starks and hope Fede is ready to contribute more.
Ken,
Good to be seen, Jolly Green Giant!
Ho ho ho. Well at least I got to say Ho.
Randy, we played guys at nose with a DT between a G and T with our DEs on the edge and LBs showing blitz through the gaps quite a bit.
Randy:
Do you have any particular big uglies you like in the draft?
Tim,
We still weren’t asking whomever was playing NT(usually Michell) to play 0 technique and control both gaps. They shaded the center a lot, which means your NT is really only responsible for one gap. I don’t think we’ll be going after any true NT type guys. They could’ve done that when they signed Mitchell, or just kept Soliai. That they didn’t told me they probably weren’t going to play that way.
Ken,
I’ve been so disgusted by this past season that I haven’t spent more than about 5 minutes looking at draft stuff. I’m still trying to regain my interest, actually. I just don’t give a shit yet.
I’ll say I’d draft Scherff from Iowa and plug him in at guard….but that’s just because I’m an iowa homer. Lol
Feel much the same way. I will have to check out some video on Scherff. I heard the name but I have not watched him. But we need OGs bad. Definite need to upgrade there.
Randy, I’m not saying necessarily a NT, just adding a stout interior DT. Maybe we get it from within.
ALL OF YOU good Dolfans have a terrific evening and a better tomorrow.–By this time Sunday night the Cheatriots will have lost a record-tying 5th Super Bowl, tying them with Denver!!
Peace OD.
And to you, sir. –The Old Dolfan is out.
Tim,
I think our run defense issues had more to do with our edge defenders and our lbers. Ya can’t run a bunch of 305 pound DTs out there and xpect them to hold up against the run all season long. Neither vernon nor wake did a good job against the run. Shelby was probably our best edge defender against the run.
I thought Vernon was alright vs the run but Wake struggled in run defense.
I don’t disagree. I’d like to see better overall tackling. I don’t think it’s coaching as much as it is individual desire. I saw guys n the right place and whiff too often. 6 yard gains became 15 when it should have never happened.
Ken,
Brandon Scherff was a highly touted LT…and I’m guessing he’s one of the top LTs in this draft. I just think he’d be a monster at guard bcause he is a little limited on the edge. I could see him doing what Zach Martin did this year for Dallas.
Thanks for the info on him. I heard the name but I have not seen Iowa games this CFB season so not that familiar with him.
MF13, Comeback man…I miss ya…hope to see you on here as much as you are on the other blog bro….it’s all good my brother from a different mother.
Say hi man!
Gotta another busy day tomorrow. I am out. Peace to you all.
Have a good one Ken…nite.
Ken,
I think vernon was a non-factor in too many games. he had 8 games with 2 or fewer tackles. Not good. Almost half of his total tackles came in 3 games. he got neutralized a lot.
I’m out too. Good chatting with you fine folks again. Later.
I know one guy here that thinks so . . .
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-omar-kelly-dolphins-0130-20150129-story.html?track=rss
Randy, do you think Vernon could play some ILB?
He’s got 4.8 speed, but he’s football quick, but not sure he has the range or coverage abilities…might take too long to adjust….We need his pass rushing skills.
Now in a 3-4, he’d be able to handle some stand up LB duty.
Randy is right about them not shooting for the big fatty 0 technique stuffer. They want someone like knighton who would be ideal for us. Starks is the right type he just on the decline. My issue isn’t his fit as much as it is a full years salary for partial years production. He takes a pay cut he stays he doesn’t he is gone I think.
Piggy you know as well as I do that letter wasn’t written by Gordon.
He can’t even spell marywanna!
I guess I was expecting too much from Hartline all of these years. I thought he’d be a more productive receiver but he hasn’t developed into the guy I expected him to become. Landry may not be able to work the outside but he will still be more productive on the inside with respect to catches and td’s than Hartline will ever be.
If we can pick up an outside guy and one more guy later it would be nice because we are going to need it. Gibson was a 6th rd pick and Matthews a 7th rd pick. Some times you find guys later who turn out and sometimes you don’t. Maybe Hartline hangs around for the vet presence but it’s time to move on with the depth and look elsewhere.
Lol@D
I liked the letter
I don’t know what to think of Gordon
I’m hesitant to make character assassinations of him
But I’m glad he is not on my team
He is nit a good investmenypt for any team
I liked tag the called out Stephen a, Barkley and Chris carter for their rampant speculation guised as some sort of sympathy for him