By Dr. Bruce Banner
So last week Hulk watch President give State of the Union Address and Hulk reminded that Constitution make President every year have to go tell congress what the state of the union is. So Hulk think maybe every year after season over Hulk should tell you what is the state of the Phins. So Hulk now tell you.
Ladies, gentlemen, and Fin Fan Rob, the state of our Phins is not good. Hulk know that many of you think that some quick fixes in this off season and that this team can compete next year. While Hulk knows anything possible Hulk here to tell you that competing next year is not likely. There are deep flaws in this team that are not likely to be corrected in one off season. Let’s start on offense.
Is four scores and seven points so damn hard to get? The offense average less than 20 points a game. That no going to work in today’s NFL. There must be more productivity at just about every position.
Hulk look at QB and remember that a house divided cannot stand. There is no more divisive figure to Phin fans than Ryan Tannehill. We hold these truths to be self evident: That he has passed for over 4,000 yards, completed over 60% of his passes and has had a 2-1 or better TD to interception ratio for two consecutive years. We also hold these truths to be self evident: That he seems to play his worst ball when the game is on the line in the 4th quarter and has failed to deliver against divisional foes more often than not. So Hulk and Phin fans everywhere wonder do we have a QB? Hulk still believe Tannehill can be franchise QB and even though Tannehill did not take the big jump forward that many expected this year he did show good deep ball this year, especially late in year to Parker. This next season is very important for Tannehill’s, Gase’s and Phins’ future. If Tannehill no progress then retooling project might just become an all out rebuilding project.
Now running back is an area where Phins got good production but Hulk foresees trouble next year. Under utilized Lamar Miller is going to be a free agent. He has shown enough productivity over the last 2 years that it is likely someone will come bidding for his services and that someone is likely a contending team such as Indianapolis or Dallas who both need a running back. So Hulk not counting on Miller being back. That leaves Jay Ajayai who flashed in limited opportunities but he have history of injury and behind him there is little depth. Hulk think running back once again become position of need.
Then there is the offensive line which is doing it’s best impersonation of the Maginot line which the Germans went right around with ease in 1940. Branden Albert is physically ailing and does not look like the player he was 2 years ago. He cannot be counted on for 16 games. Jawuan James followed up a promising rookie season with an injury plagued 2015 that saw him miss most of the season. That left Jason Fox as the defacto starting RT and the results were miserable. Fox is at best a single game alternative as a backup and not a guy who can be counted on for multiple starts. But as bad as the tackle play was this year the interior line play was worse. Hulk think it time to acknowledge the Dallas Thomas experiment is over. He just no good. Jamal Douglas won the other starting guard spot but lost it just as quickly as he won it. Billy Turner took over at guard and showed skill at run blocking which is unfortunately only half of the game and unfortunately in the case of the Phins more like a 1/3 of the game. So the offensive line remains a major weakness for the Phins.
Hulk happy to report that one area of offensive has positive news. The WR position has been turned from a deficit into a surplus. Jarvis Landry has set both team and league records over his first 2 years in the league and while not a burner he is an outstanding route runner and always seems to make the first defender miss and picks up good yards after the catch. Devante Parker overcame an injury plagued start to his rookie season and really flashed ability over the last several games. He has inconsistent habits in terms of effort and route running but you can see an exceptional skill set. He can get open deep, he can fight for the contested ball and he can run after the catch. He and Landry can become the cornerstone of a stud WR tandem for years to come. Kenny Stills provides a good #3 WR who has good speed and flashed the ability to get open deep. Rishard Matthews was very productive early then started to fade before getting injured. He is a free agent and likely not to be re-signed. Hulk think that we may want to pick up another WR for depth.
TE, all Hulk have to say is ugh! The state of the Phins is not good at TE. Cameron looked lost and failed to have significant impact in red zone as expected. Dion Sims seemed to have regressed as a receiver. He have some notable drops, in particular in game against Giants where he was miserable. Hulk think Phins need to get better TEs.
Hulk now turn to Department of Defense where despite massive spending the level of performance reached a new low. Phins spend lots of money for Suh who although he play okay he no worth what Phins pay him. Now Phins are burdened with his contract for the next several years and that may impair ability of Phins to sign other free agents. Suh was supposed to take up double teams so as to allow other players to make plays. Suh did that but no other players step up. Suh also had numerous off sides penalties. Earl Mitchell also seemed to lack in making impact plays. Again if Suh is getting double teamed Mitchell should be making more plays than he did. Jordan Phillips flashed promise as a rookie showing ability to generate inside pressure and a good knack for getting his hands up so as to bat down a number of passes.
At defensive end Hulk think we may have seen last of Cam Wake. He tore Achilles tendon and his recovery at his age is uncertain. Also his contract may be too large for someone with declining skills. Then we have Olivier Late & Low Vernon. Yes Vernon show ability to generate pass rush but he also have way too many personal fouls for late and low hits on QBs. Hulk not sure his sack yardage out gains his penalty yardage. Vernon is a free agent and Hulk has heard some pundits say the Phins will franchise Vernon. That would make Hulk very angry to tie up so much money into a DE who has produced middle of the road statistics. Hulk think DE is a position of need in this draft and free agency. This especially so when you consider the once promising career of Terrance Fede who went from being unblockable during training camp to being inactive over the last several games of the season. So the state of the DEs is not good.
If the state of the DEs is not good then the state of the LBs verges on abysmal. Only Jelani Jenkins is of NFL starting caliber and his play last season was not up to the level it was the year before. Koa Misi is best suited as role player and not as a starting LB. He just lacks the quickness necessary to play the position. At MLB Sheppard look lost at times. He has the physical skills but not the instincts for the position. This may be the greatest area of need on the team.
In the defensive backfield Reshad Jones is the only impact player we have. Jones had an excellent season and Hulk very angry that Jones no go to pro bowl. Hulk also very angry that rest of defensive backfield still on Phins roster. Brent Grimes while still has a knack for the interception but any WR with a modicum of speed can get behind Grimes. Jamar Taylor can now officially be labeled a bust. Of all the other CBs only Lippett flashed some potential late in the season but he remains very raw and largely untested. CB is a major area of need.
Finally there are the special teams. Matt Darr seems to have filled the large shoes of his predecessor. Andrew Franks has simply not kicked enough field goals to be properly evaluated. He shows a good leg but Hulk no trust him just yet. Landry is an outstanding punt returner but Hulk prefer he no return punts because he so good as a WR. Hulk think Phins need an upgrade at KR.
So there you have Hulk’s state of the Phins position by position analysis. The bottom line is Hulk see too many areas of need, OL, TE, DE, LB and DB for a quick turnaround. Hulk predicts he be very, very angry again next year. And remember vote early and vote often.
Finsmob Unleashed 
Great job Ken. This is probably your best work yet!
Good write up, Ken. But yes we can turn it around in one offseason. I do not see it as dire as others at so many positions if we just add some impact players and develop some young players in a few spots, and we actually run an offense that makes sense.
Too many ifs imo. No band aid is going to fix this mess
Not saying it will get done, but it can be done.
Very good write up Ken (Hulk)! I agree with Tim though, things can change very easily in one year. Shore up the O-line pass protection, get better tacklers on defense (LB’s), and a couple of pass rushers, and we’re there.
There are only 7 rounds in a draft and limited cap space. We are not fixing all those holes in 1 off season
Don’t need to, no team is strong everywhere.
Mike E and Brian.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14625273/yoenis-cespedes-new-york-mets-discuss-3-year-deal-opt-first-season
Yeah i dont think you can expect to fill every hole in this one upcoming year, but you can do your best to solidify. Some moves it will take to do so, may include ones that arent appealing to all of us, so you kinda have to trust the system. I have my ideas for what is best, but i never expect them to be fully realized, and i am just happy with a couple of them turning out like i hoped. Also as much as i invest time into studying certain players, im open to a lot of other ones. I have my favorites for sure, but i dont get stuck on them like some to where if we dont get MY guy, then its a fail. I just want to see us strenthen the team, shore up some inconsistencies and move forward as a team.
Im happy with the coaching moves so far, and specifically Christensen im really excited to have on our team. I hope we do well in FA, there are plenty of guys out there that can help us. I hope we do well in draft, again lots of guys that can help us and lots of directions we can go in as far as a draft strategy. In one way the massive number of needs we have is a bad thing because we cant just fill it, but its also liberating, since no matter how we choose to go, its going to help us.
Good post. I think Gase and Christensen will be very good for RT and the entire offense. They’ve both been apart of successful offenses even if most of it was with Peyton. Still they know what works. It’s not like Peyton threw passes nobody else is capable of, he was simply a great executioner.
Another interesting connection on offense even though it’s not totally connected is our new QBs coach Bo Hardegree was a QB at Tennessee like Peyton was, though I’m not sure he ever played. LOL
He didnt, but maybe when you sit an observer all game every game, from an educational standpoint you become a better student and therefore a better teacher.
Most coaches were not good players so your point makes sense.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25458239/nfl-draft-top-50-draft-board-10
It is SNOWING! Storm started here around 9 15. I had to go to the office this morning because they hadn’t cancelled today. Was there about an hour and a half and they sent us home at 9 30 Roads were already covered after 15 minutes…this could be a bad one.
We’re not suppose to get it until some time tonight. I’m just glad it’s happening on the weekend.
I find it really fucked up that this goes on in our country and we don’t do more about it.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/01/22/the-sex-trafficking-victim-next-door.html
That was excellent Hulk…I mean Dr. Banner…or Ken.
Herd
I didn’t realize the storm was supposed to hit so early. We’re not getting it here until late this evening, early in the morning.
She’s south of us and that’s where it’s starting. Hopefully Herd will just ask the storm to stay by her. LOL
Yeah its going to be really bad in her area. DC/Baltimore/WV areas are supposed to be the worst hit. Started for them yesterday.
Herd i was listening to the radio this morning and they said it was going to be REALLY nasty the next few days up there. Stay safe/warm.
LOL @ Tim – I’m sure Herd would be thrilled to have it stay there. lol
Tim
I was listening to B&C this morning, and the Nationals and the Yankees are both involved with Cespedes. Can you imagine Cespedes on the Nats? I will not be happy if it goes that way. Not only does it remove that bat from our lineup, but it puts it on our biggest division rival. That would suck
Yeah it’s a weird thing that Murphy and Cespedes could end up on the Nats. Our only counter would be to win the division anyway. 🙂
Nice job Hulk — wish I could say I disagreed overall, but I can’t. DE, LB, DB……this defense is in need of a major rebuild, which I find curious since Suh was supposed to be the X factor cap stone on a dominating one.
I think rebuild is too extreme. We’re not having to replace all pros except for Wake if his Achilles takes him down. We’re looking to upgrade over mediocre and sub par for the most part.
Rebuild might be too extreme, but too many holes to fill like Ken said. CB, S, 2 LBs and DE are all needed……..and that is without talking about the OL.
Thats the only people i have really pushed for us to remove. Wake is the hardest one for me to suggest to cut, but i just cant see him getting back to all pro form. Achilles is a hard one to repair.
Was looking online and it said that about 12% of the time the person could re-tear the repaired tendon, and that was for normal activity. They also said that scar tissue does sometimes occur shortening the length of the tendon affecting full recovery and that generally those who have to have surgery will be unable to return to sports for 12 months, and that again was not return to NFL, that was return to sports in general.
The prognosis doesn’t sound definite, but it sounds like there is a fairly high probability given his age and the level of damage he has that at best he will never be back to the level he was previously. Upside is he has the best doctors im sure, he has the best rehab people, but still im not optimistic we ever see the same Cam Wake.
They said DC residents were freaking out about the first couple inches that fell yesterday, wonder how they are going to feel by noon today lol.
D — I was there for what they called Snowmaggedon in like 2010. Like three+ feet over 36 hours and then another 1.5 like two days later. Place was shut down for like two weeks. Was nice to see how people joined together to help each other though. Man I helped push out a lot of cars.
stangerx says:
January 22, 2016 at 11:28 am
Nice job Hulk — wish I could say I disagreed overall, but I can’t. DE, LB, DB……this defense is in need of a major rebuild, which I find curious since Suh was supposed to be the X factor cap stone on a dominating one.
Reply
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I dont think it was him. He was still pretty dominant, and disruptive, but ultimately the passive style of defense they were playing seemed more design for containment than aggressive penetration (this should bring FFR out of hiding) , especially from the DT position. Generally when teams do this the LB’s are blitzing like crazy or at least aggressively playing thier gaps, but they also showed a more containment scheme. It was pretty dumbfounding. The only unit that looked like they were schemed aggressive was the safeties, which is a good plan to mix in, but making them the primary leaves you with no safety net in the secondary. Whole defense just looked out of whack, no identity and midol’d to hell. Needed to release the inner PMS a little more.
D — I agree, and I am not blaming Suh all that much. Think he did what he was supposed to do, least after the slow start. I do blame the FO for signing him though. He was an over-the-top expense we weren’t ready for. If it helps any, I thought that at the time too……even if I did get into what he could mean for our D. Dude is a difference maker.
I agree we weren’t ready for him because he was suppose to help put us at another level when in actuality we took a step backwards. That’s over now so now we build around him.
I hope VJ employs an aggressive and unpredictable style of defense. Obviously talent is the key but I tend to agree, last year we just seemed to run the same stuff based on down and distance and really didn’t mix it up much.
D says:
January 22, 2016 at 11:47 am
Thats the only people i have really pushed for us to remove. Wake is the hardest one for me to suggest to cut, but i just cant see him getting back to all pro form. Achilles is a hard one to repair.
Was looking online and it said that about 12% of the time the person could re-tear the repaired tendon, and that was for normal activity. They also said that scar tissue does sometimes occur shortening the length of the tendon affecting full recovery and that generally those who have to have surgery will be unable to return to sports for 12 months, and that again was not return to NFL, that was return to sports in general.
The prognosis doesn’t sound definite, but it sounds like there is a fairly high probability given his age and the level of damage he has that at best he will never be back to the level he was previously. Upside is he has the best doctors im sure, he has the best rehab people, but still im not optimistic we ever see the same Cam Wake.
So basically even if we keep him we need to pretend we arent, because we most likley wont have him for at least half the year. We dont need to rush him back either, from reading the article it seems like you have to be really careful in the recovery of this due to about a 4-5% chance of sever infection developing, 12% chance to re-tear, etc etc. At least a year push us middle of the year next year at best so we got to get someone to be our primary PR for at least that long.
Thanks everyone. It’s kind of fun to have some snow since we haven’t this year yet, but we’ve already gotten enough by now. It can leave anytime now. It wasn’t supposed to start until around 11, but I started seeing flurries at around 9:10 and by the time I was leaving work at 9:30 there was at least an inch or more on my car, parking lot and all the surface streets were covered. My son just left here to walk down the street to a friends house wearing snow shoes. lol
Tim Knight says:
January 22, 2016 at 11:53 am
I agree we weren’t ready for him because he was suppose to help put us at another level when in actuality we took a step backwards. That’s over now so now we build around him.
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I think thats exactly what ya do, you scheme to utilize him to his utmost, you put the right guys around him and you treat him like the nucleus of our defense.
D, I agree on Wake. I’m concerned he won’t ever be the same player. His game is based on his explosiveness. This is a guy who had a 45″ vertical and he uses that explosiveness in his rush. An Achilles tear basically takes that away.
ACL/MCL/PCL have become almost meh, you tear them you do the proper things getting well from them and you can move on with out a ton of concern you wont have full mobility back or risk for re-injury. I do think Albert rush himself back and i do think it caused him to injure other things compensating for not being fully recovered from the ligament tear, but i digress. Hamstring is another thing altogether. The article also said that many of those who have to have the achilles surgically repaired have lingering discomfort even once fully recovered. So he will be playing through pain most likely.
Toe is another really bad one. I saw someone mentioning here about toe injuries yesterday, those are no joke, and not only take a very long time to recover from but they affect almost every position player in an extreme way. Id so OL injuries, id be most worried about toe or peck tears the most. Those really hurt an OLman, may seem funny but foot work and balance are big components for OL play as well as punch and being able to steer the defender so those two, which neither heal quickly, are very damaging.
McDuffie was ruined by a toe injury
Turf toe is definitely no joke. You sprain your big toe that all your weight relies on. Foot injuries in general are painful and hamper movement. No way around it.
I strained something on the outside of my foot, near my ankle a couple of weeks ago doing squats. I rested a couple of days, and then went back to squats through the pain, and it wasn’t healing well. I haven’t done squats in a week and a half, and it’s finally starting to feel better.
Just thought you all should know this. lol
If it is ligament/cartilage stuff, only real cure is time (try some advil though cause it is an anti-inflammatory). Key is that when you feel good in every day movement…..that doesn’t mean you are ready to test it again in a work out. You’ll just aggravate and set yourself back. So let it be and do some upper-body if you want to work out.
Thank you Dr. Stanger 🙂
LOL — got my MD after 15 years of study at Rugby U. 🙂
I’ve been trying to get over a foot injury since the summer. It got better to the point where it was like it never happened then I knelt down to fix something and bent my foot and it was right back. I think it’s a sprain but it’s my right foot, driving foot and I need it for stuff like walking so it’s hard to rest it. LOL
It’s close to being good again but still tender at times. I once sprained my thumb and it took at least a year for it to completely heal where I could bend my thumb back a bit without pain. I think it’s the same deal with my foot. I have to avoid certain movements until it heals 100%. I hope shoveling tomorrow doesn’t make it act up again.
Same as for Mike E…..get yourself some Advil, or just generic ibuprofen. Other than that test it and work it gently as rehab…..but pain is your friend. Tells you when you are hurting things.
Stay safe everyone in the NE. We had one major snowstorm here so far, but it was only 12″..LOL
LMAO!!
Looking at the coaching moves you can tell the organization is intent on getting the most out of our two highest paid guys in Tannehill and Suh.
Herd,
We got snow at 7 AM and it was bad for a while but it’s slacked off. Got off early so glad we got some. I think we will get hit again tonight but I have no plans for this weekend lol.
Ken,
Good article! I will try to put something up over the next week or so to help out. Maybe a CB piece or something.
Good write up Hulk
I do think the team has the ability to make quick improvement
I won’t call it a turnaround – we were average prior 2015, we weren’t contenders
I don’t want to be the 013 and 2014 Dolphins
those teams weren’t very good
For a few reasons
#1 I thought the coaching was god awful in 2015. I don’t know what is next. It may end up being god awful again. but it might be good. if the coaching goes from bad to good – I think you are virtually guaranteed dramatic improvement. If there is a single area that can have a big impact fact its coaching.
But that is a big “if” – we simply don’t know who these guys are.
I would not feel comfortable predicting good or bad coaching in 2016 – and frankly I probably won’t form an opinion on the coaches until 2017.
but if we hit on the coach – there is no question IMO that there will be improvement
And you cannot argue with me that the coaching in 2015 did not make this team worse
(con’t oink)
#2 defensively we were bad in 2015.
There are good pieces there with Suh and Reshad being the kind of players most teams covet.
I think the next best guys with less “if” factor are probably Phillips and then Jenkins
I don’t really think Jenkins is great – but I think he is a good piece
I do think Phillips looks very good
So starting Suh and Phillips in the middle is a good start to build from
I have 4 starting spots (in a 4-3 traditional set) where I think we are bad and that is not a question of “if”
MLB, OLB (other than Jenkins), Safety (other than Jones) and CB
IMO those 4 spots should be the focus of the draft
Now I don’t think you start 4 rookies next year at those positions – but I think there might be immediate young help on the way
The other CB slot brings me to Grimes – and to me Grimes is not bad (I know some have written him off which I think is fueled by his cunt-mouthed wife) but Grimes decline in 2015 was sharp
too sharp if you ask me
that’s not a player who is done
that is a player who ha a bad year.
That said – I call grimes an “if”
Also I think we have a good young nickel back in Bobby McCain
I think Tony Lippett might be something too – but that is a big “if” as well
That brings me to the pass rushers (that Tim covets)
wae coming back from injury is a big if” I am going to call it 50/50 though. Its not what I would call dire
I think Vernon is a goner. I think we might keep Shelby too
I’m hoping we keep Shelby, Coples, Moore and believe it or not Jordan – but that has to be affordable
We might bring in a DE with a high pick but IMO that leaves us vulnerable elsewhere
Just from a raw talent point of view Coples, Moore and Jordan have the good to excel in the NFL. But they have’t it. Its a gamble but its there
You add Fede and McCain to that mix and I think the depth is there
Its a lot of “ifs” but maybe one or 2 of those “ifs” fall our way (Piggy shrugs)
Unless wake comes back full force – I don’t think we have a great pass rusher
but there are good defenses that don’t have 12+ sack guys
I think the defense can get good fast – if we have a good defensive draft
I would call the coaching and defensive the most likely arrears where we can improve
on offense I think things get a little hazy
I don’t know what they do with Miller
but if they kept Miller and paired Miller with Ajati and those 3 top WRs (Landry, Parker and Stills) those are good pieces
those are players that can make things happen on 1 play even when the rest of the offense sputters
The OL is shit
my solution is to sign some vet OGs with the small cap space we have but leave the Albert – Pouncey – James nucleus along. We need to work on depth too – but that is fairly cost efficient.
At TE I think Stills is a typical #2 blocking focus TE. I don’t think he should be thought of a huge factor in the passing game
At #1 TE? (Piggy Shrugs)
I guess I’m looking at that as a negative
I think the biggest “if” in 201 is Ryan Tannehill
If he doesn’t play like a franchise QB I don’t think anything else matters
if Ryan Tannehill is the same Tannehill he was in 2015 – I don’t see us getting over .500
Probably half the games we play are going to be determined in the 4th qtr
That is just the NFL
So I think QB is huge “if” and an important one
Now I will stop oinking
Go fuck yourselves Humans!
Fish and chips
Stanger, yeah I did some of my own rehab to get my foot feeling better. It just takes time.
My last day of work at my offense is next Friday
I received my first going away gift for my new office
Its awesome – A Dolphins Stapler!!!!
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
believe it or not a Jets fan gave it me.
Here is a pic of it I found online
Don’t hurt yourself. LOL
You nervous or excited or both?
Both Tim
Definitely both
Its such a crazy change
I’ve been at the same firm for 12 years
The container the stapler comes in actually says ‘”Jam Free Guarantee”
which s probably similar to Coyles old scheme
So you can have sex with it.
Already had 1 go around
” Grimes decline in 2015 was sharp
too sharp if you ask me
that’s not a player who is done
that is a player who ha a bad year.
That said – I call grimes an “if””
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Right with you on that Pig — hoping he just had a Miko down year, but he’s still up there in years. Particularly cause the dude lives by his athletic skills, which decline at his age even if the smarts are still there.. We need a good CB coming in…even if Grimes rebounds. Would be different if Taylor was looking like an up and comer.
Miko didn’t have a bad year
Miko is just obnoxious…lol
Athletic skills defiantly decline
but he fell off a cliff
He lost a step and at his size he can’t afford that.
LOL @ Piggy
Grimes can’t cover anything anymore, including his wife’s mouth. lol
Piggy:
I think you just wrote an article’s worth of material on here today
See its not just me……see!
Lmao
Thats why i cant ever get it when you guys bust my balls on “why doesnt D ever write articles”….. i give you guys full length articles multiple times daily!
And you guys say i writ a lot lol……… JKBB Piggy.
Oh and before i forget i had a reply for you yesterday night you missed.
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The Flying Pig says:
January 21, 2016 at 8:21 pm
You would take out sugar to make something sweeter would you?
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D says:
January 21, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Can’t make tea sweeter taking out the sugar, but I hear you can make a pig sweeter taking him on a white water rafting adventure. 🙂
I am less optimistic about Grimes than Piggy is. If he lost a step he will be mediocre at best
Piggy, the pass pro better not be the same in 2016 as it has been the last few years or we won’t be over .500.
Piggy
Nice stapler – Is he related to Ken?
No him. LOL
Grimes is fine…he’ll still be a real good CB in 2016, just not sure it will be in Miami with his price tag or his scally wag hag!
Grimes really needs to move to slot, but he also needs to take a pay cut when he does so. He still has great instincts, but he just cant run with the youngins anymore. He is a liability on the outside. I really wouldnt consider him more than a middle the pack guy on the outside anymore. He’s play doesnt justify his money. If we are going to pay 10per, why not have a guy thats young, up and coming and can run with these younger WR’s.
Im liking the idea of either replacing him in the draft or taking Janoris Jenkins who probably is going to get 8-9 mil per, maybe 10, and is averaging 12 PD and 3 ints a year, and also takes every other one back for a TD.
Tim, you’re right, we need a better pass rush & that will make Grimes & the other DB’s much more effective. That and a better approach in the secondary than what Coyle had installed…ugh.
Also if we draft a stud CB that can start right out of the gate, or if Bobby mcCain or Lippett show they can be a #1 corner, then I move Grimes to the other side to cover the #2 WR. With a contract restructure of course…lol
But that could be a winning combo if it worked out that way.
I’m starting to think Ramsey would be a good pick if he falls to us. He may be more of a safety than corner, but he’ll likely be a good matchup player in different personnel packages and on the field for most snaps.
GD how can ya say pass rush will make them better, its clearly the other way around. You dont even get a chance to rush a guy if the CB’s cant stick to the receivers. Too many systems are quick pass systems and we need a guy who can be like glue on them. Someone capable of playing press. Grimes is a off man corner, he’s not good in press due to his size disadvantage and even as an off man corner, he’s lost a step to be able to cover deep. Its same argument as Wake with his achilles, the type of player he is feeds off something he cant do anymore. At least with Wake there is a chance he bounces back to old form. Im skeptical of it, but a chance. Grimes showed every game this year that he’s losing a step.
Press also gives up a ton of big plays if you don’t have real good press corners. That’s why most teams play off man, not just the Dolphins. 😉
Here here!
Nice!
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Tim Knight says:
January 22, 2016 at 3:32 pm
I’m starting to think Ramsey would be a good pick if he falls to us. He may be more of a safety than corner, but he’ll likely be a good matchup player in different personnel packages and on the field for most snaps.
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Ramsey would be a great pick for us, but we would still need to add a CB in the second. We need a stud on the outside.
Be careful about finding a stud corner, not easy to find, especially a rookie.
Which is why I wrote the post below.
D, I like Janoris Jenkins, I believe you gave me props when I first brought him up several weeks ago.
But as much as I dislike Miko & want them both gone, I still say Grimes is a very good CB. He got burnt a few times, who doesn’t?
He was also likely trying to over compensate for this horrible defense. Poor pass rush & being 31st in stopping the run will get your CB’s toasted at some point.
BTW, Grimes had 4 INT’s & 14 PD’s, in fact all 3 years in Miami he’s had 4, 5, 4 INT’s & 16, 13, 14 PD’s. Grier & Gase might want to keep him, hope he agrees to a restructure.
Regardless, Grimes is not done by a long shot.
I bety if you asked Vance Joseph he’d say he wants Grimes to remain here, that he could really use the CB in his defense.
Watkins roasted Revis often late in the season.
Exactly, receivers like him you need good safety play to roll over to help out.
Ken,
I think the Fins can get about 3 fixes in if they execute perfectly in the draft. That would involve trading down the #8 overall pick and picking up an additional 2nd RDer.
I’d so love seeing an extra 2nd round pick, or even a 3rd.
If the Bengals are any reflection of how our secondary will play, expect to see a lot of press, and tight man coverage. I dont think you are going to see a ton of zone or off man, unless its an adjustment made for a specific team/player. You have to have an aggressive, guy with a little size to him, so when they are rubbing in that first 5 yards its not him getting knocked off coverage, but the receiver knocked off his route. I just dont see Grimes fitting that, and i definitely dont see Grimes covering a burner. Watkins made him look silly, Beckham too, and before i start hearing how great those guys were, other players i would have even expect to give him fits, did this year..
I dunno, i dont expect him back personally. Having him gone and having a hole at safety is why i think we really have to get at least one FA in the secondary and one in draft. We need to replace Grimes with a stud and see if we can get someone to step up on the other side. Id really like to see Lippett be that guy, Bobby McCain at slot. FS too. Secondary is key to making pass rush work. I dont discount the need of having a great pass rush as well but its not an either or and its definitely not CB<DE. You can still get sacks with decent pass rush and really good coverage, you arent going to get them if the coverage isnt there, you are just going to get quick completion after quick completion after quick completion.
I’m with ya D
GDP, D, & company,
What you think about LSU DT Vernon Butler as a 2nd RD option?
I bring up DT because the front office will have to decide with coaches as to what is the real problem with the DL and pressure…
Are the DT not pushing up in the pocket and making the QB side step into the pass rushing DE?
LaTech, not LSU. He looks pretty decent, i mean he plays mean and he find his way to the ball. Im not sure though just due to small school play. When he played against the big boys, with talent at OL he wasnt nearly as impressive, but he is aggressive, and potentially better than Mitchell.
I thinkt hey are going to be more agressive with the DL this year. I dont think you can have the lack of aggressiveness to the level we had it last year and not play more aggressive. No one is going to want to see more of that same ole shit. I think he goes later int he draft, probably more like 4thish round, and if he was BPA then id take him.
Its not about him getting burnt on a couple of plays, he got be A LOT. Again it doesnt matter. I wont make the decision, but i dont see him being here. If he is then you are right they can use him and then we will see. I dont think he has it anymore, but id be more than happy to be wrong.
The problem with playing a lot of man is penalties. You can’t touch receivers so it’s a real tough balancing act to mix up your coverages.
GDP,
I also believe years of nothing but solutions at FS such as Clemons, an injured Delmas, and not ready rookies and other journeymen FS have hurt the scheme badly.
You have to go back to Brock Marion to find any good FS play in Miami.
I thought Delmas played well it was just short lived.
Yeah Delmas was pretty solid. Not Jones good but definately a good pairing with those two. TBH i see Ramsey as practically a Jones clone. Very aggressive play, puts the pads on guys when making tackles, great blitzer, great instincts, reads the plays well and has great closing speed when he breaks on the play. As much as i would love to have Hargreaves (and i do still like him over Ramsey) there wont be anything but cheers from me if we get Ramsey. Saying a lot for me too cause i hate FSU lol.
Renaldo Hill wasn’t bad either. Not as good as Marion though
I forgot about him.
Louis Oliver
I’m saying
I’m not convinced Grimes lost a step
I see players go through ups and downs all the time
when I see a probowl player in 2014
and a guy that gets beat on every deep pass in 2015
I’m a little less inclined to assume its a decline for the player’ skills
rather than just a down year
Its one thing if a guy gets steadily worse
but if he falls off a cliff
I’m not sure its losing a step
Its going from good to shit
rather than steadily becoming shit
So I’m not connived its long term shit….lol
Last year towards the end of the year year before last it showed. I thought maybe was just let down or something, end of the year wasnt looking like we were going to make the playoffs, whole team just kinda had a let down. This year is was all year long. He had more bad plays than good. He was getting twisted up in coverage by the good moves by these receivers and falling down more than he was staying with them. It persisted all year long, so this has been a trend for more than a full season now.
Sorry first part should have said last part of the year, season before last…..
The whole defense took a nose dive in 2015
GD, yes thats right but you know as well as i do, you can see skill failure over scheme failure. Having a receiver pop a double move on you and you get twisted up and fall down isnt a scheme failure. Lined up in man and having a receiver run a middle dig on ya and you are 3 steps behind them in coverage isnt a scheme thing.
Even Suh wasn’t Suh in 2015, especially early on. It was a hot mess on defense.
No argument there. Ya know i had joked earlier in the year that they should swap Coyle and Lzaor since Lazor was so great at makign opposing defenses look good and Coyle was so good at making offenses look good. It did turn out however that promoting an offensive guy did make our defense good, part of me thought that Campbell might make a reall good LB coach to get our LBs to play more agressively.
Lol, know what ya mean.
As far as Campbell, I bet he could coach most any physical position. Wish he was our OL coach….lol 😉
D
Louis Oliver played before Marion.
i think i missed te point of the exercise lol, i thought we were just naming off good FS from our past.
It’s a shame that Atkins & Micheal Thomas didn’t evolve when they got the chance. Ya always hope 1 out of 2/3 guys can become a playmaker.
Interesting hind sight from PFF, this was dated in June 2015.
http://www.thephinsider.com/2015/6/11/8758741/dolphins-have-horrible-roster-according-to-pff
LOL @ D
I wonder if we re-sign Ced to a futures contract once his PS time with the Patsies is over. Smart move on his part, make more money on an active roster, even as a PS player than you do on a futures contract.
He didn’t exactly come close to the preseason hype, but maybe he’ll learn something in NE & wanna come back to the warm weather of Miami. 😉
A critical factor: Making sure there’s consensus in the building on the team’s first-round pick — which hasn’t always been the case.
“When you acquire a player, you have to have a vision, from the assistant coach to the coordinator to the college scouting director,” Tannenbaum said, appearing Friday morning on 790 The Ticket. “I look at some of these [successful] NBA organizations, and I think they do a really good job of that. Adam [Gase] and I have talked about it, Chris Grier. We want to select players that we all believe in collectively.”
This is no abstract issue.
Dion Jordan is an extreme example of what can go wrong.
The Dolphins traded up in 2013 to take Jordan third overall, despite misgivings within the building. The doubters ended up being right; Jordan has been an epic bust.
In the three years since, Jordan has missed nearly as many games due to suspension (22) as times he’s actually been on the field (26).
Jordan is a three-time violator of the league’s substance abuse policy, and is still serving a yearlong suspension that cost him all of 2015. The ban is expected to run at least through April 27.
The Dolphins have been tight-lipped about their plans for Jordan — assuming he even returns to football. Based on the terms of the league’s policy, his suspension will seemingly keep him out of the beginning of the team’s spring conditioning program.
Jordan is in Stage Three of the NFL’s substance-abuse program, which means he is subject to as many as 10 drug tests a month.
Plus it’s no sure bet that he will be activated, even if Jordan has been clean the last year.
Jordan’s reinstatement is solely at the discretion of commissioner Roger Goodell, according to the league’s policy.
The NFL declined comment when asked specifically about Jordan’s status for 2016.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article56100310.html#storylink=cpy
I just dont trust him. I was a strong supporter of him for a while. Pulled for him to get back on track and prove that we made a good decision with that pick, but he kept driving that point home, BIG MISTAKE and now i got nothing for him. I hope they cut him personally or go round two on the trade route and see if some sucker *cough* Kelly *cough*
^^will take him
I doubt even crazy Kelly would risk losing another job by taking Dion FF!
I would have just like to have seen Ced on the field, fuck i mean we were out of the playoff hunt pretty early why didnt we just bring him up, put him in and see what we had.
We did put a lot of youngins on the field towards the end, Kudos to Campbell etc.
But ya can’t always get everyone out there. That and maybe Ced looked very shabby in practices.
Walter football has this as their mock for us.
Walter’s Mock:
1) Deforest Buckner DE/DT Oregon (not a fan)
2) Denver Kirkland OT/OG Arkansas (i like him but not as a second round pick, maybe 3rd)
3) Zack Sanchez CB Oklahoma (havent even looked at this guy)
4) Vonn Bell S Ohio State (not bad)
Charlie;s Mock:
1) Jaylon Smith LB ND (not a fan, not without a trade back)
2) Shaq Lawson DE Clemson (dont think there is a way in hell he falls this far)
3) Le’Raven Clark OT Texas Tech (he looked liked shit against LSU)
Id love to have Lawson, and i do like Kirkland, and Bell was a decent pick up as a 4th round pick, but overall not really impressed with these guys choices.
Drafttek (who i generally hate their mocks) have us doing this.
1) Jalen Ramsey S FSU
2) Shaq Lawson DE Clemson (again have real doubts this is possible)
3) Artie Burns CB The U
4) Eric Striker OLB Oklahoma
5) Austin Hooper TE Stanford
6) Jonathan Williams RB Arkansas
7a) Antonio Longino ILB ASU
7b) Conner McGovern OG Missou
Pretty decent mock overall i could see this not being a bad draft. Williams had a season ending foot injury before the start of the season that required surgery, so im not sure how i feel about that pick, over maybe Kelvin Taylor who was picked 2 picks after him and has remained healthy during his career at UF. Also not really comfortable with waiting to take ILB so late.
Draft Site has this.
1) Vernon Hargreaves CB UF
2) Jonathan Bullard DE UF
3) Darian Thompson S Boise State
4) Willie Beavers OT Western Michigan
5) Binequez Brown LB Miss St.
6) Clay DeBord OT Eastern Washington
7a) Elijah Shumate S Notre Dame
7b) ??? They didnt show us having a second, dunno if they mocked a trade or what.
I already said im taking a day off work if pick 1 and 2 end up like that lol, but that aside, its a pretty solid draft up until about the 6th round. A second OT seems odd, unless they feel one would be used at OG, a second safety is also really odd and LB in the 5th seems a little low to me, but not far off. He is a LB i like so im ok with the pick. Oh and GD they got your big beaver there at 4 lol.
San Diego tribune has us going, Myles Jack, then Eli Apple in their two round mock.
Apple would be a good pick in the 2nd. Another big corner along with Lippett.
As much as he stunk at UF, Jeff Driskel might be a decent UDFA or 7th round pick as a QB backup. He turned shit around after getting to a easier conference, dont know how much it settled him down. He couldnt handle the pressure in the SEC, and if he got rattled he kinda was all over, passing went to shit, etc. He does however have a cannon for an arm, he has GREAT mobility, and if you saw anything of his HS footage you had to think this guy was headed for greatness. I dunno if its in him, i dont know if he has learned to stay composed but when he is on he looks like the real deal, and i think he probably is at least equal the QB and athlete that Logan Thomas is. Would be nice to throw those two in a competition for backup, along with maybe a couple other dudes.
Went back and was watching the UF LSU game watching Bullard and Hargreaves and the LSU DE, Lewis Neal was fucking on fire. Went back and checked his stats against some other SEC teams and he looks like a pretty decent prospect, maybe 5th – 6th round projection currently. LSU’s entire defense is just stacked. Im so surprised that so many games got out of hand for them, they should have been a at most 1 loss team this year.
Damn so much talent on that field that game. Bullard, Beckwith, Lewis, Jones, Hargreaves, Fournette (too bad he isnt draftable), Jalen Mills, TreDavious White, Jalen Tabor, Keanu Neal, Marcus Maye, Vadal Alexander, Jerald Hawkins, Kelvin Taylor, Jake McGee, Antonio Calloway, Brian Poole…..
I would be so pleased if Lippett turns into a starting, serviceable CB. That would be great
Agreed, really like his long frame to matchup against bigger WRs. He said this offseason he wants to get bigger and stronger and work on his feet. Even if he doesn’t pan out as a starter, he should be better next year. The same with all the rooks from the last draft.
I wouldn’t write off Aikens yet as a guy who could be an eventual starter. He’s got the physical ability but he needs to get up to speed with assignments. Jones wasn’t real good right away either. Some of these young guys on our team still have potential.
Your score is: 7236 (GRADE: A-)
Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 10 (NYG): Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA (A+)
Round 2 Pick 9 (NYG): Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri (B)
Round 2 Pick 11: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (A+)
Round 3 Pick 10: Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford (A)
Round 4 Pick 9: Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State (B)
Round 5 Pick 8: Deiondre’ Hall, CB, Northern Iowa (A-)
Round 6 Pick 11: Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State (A+)
Round 7 Pick 6: Deon Bush, FS, Miami (Fla.) (B)
Round 7 Pick 10: Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford (A-)
Woop woop
LB + LB
Love it
“D:”–Saw your comments on Jeff Driskell. I wouldn’t mind if the Fins took him in round 7 or signed him as a free agent. BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW that his younger brother, Jason Driskell, was, by the end of the season, FAU’s best quarterback!! Jason turned down full scholarships from Penn and at least one other Ivy League school. He also turned down Memphis to stay in Palm Beach County and play for Florida Atlantic. I look for him to have a breakout sophomore season after impressing all the coaches as a freshman. You may remember Jason replaced FAU’s starting QB, Jacquez Johnson, late in the first quarter of the opening game against the U. of Miami. He led the Owls to two touchdown drives in his first two possessions!
OD, I thought it was pretty cool Gase spent a few hours with Don Shula at his home recently. Gase said it was one of those great lifetime moments he’ll never forget. He said meeting with Shula really made him realize wow, I’m the HC of the Miami Dolphins.
Guess you Yankees DIDN’T HEAR that Shula told Gase, “If you have a losing season I’m going to make you and your assistant coaches run gassers until your fuckin’ legs fall off!!!!!
Not looking forward to this snow storm but can’t do anything about it. We’re prepared though.
STILL a few airline seats available for flights to Tampa!!
HULK, er, Dr. Banner, er KEN: –Your column today was maybe your best ever! –REALLY enjoyed it!! Totally agree that most of the starting positions on the Fins are in need of IMPROVEMENT!! By my calculations, 12 of the starting 22 need upgrading and they need it badly!! DON’T see THE DOOFUS BRIGADE successfully upgrading those 12 positions in one year (BUT I hope I’m WRONG).
————
My ONLY complaint with your terrific column was your virtually ignoring the number one cause of our current predicament, namely the new Trifecta of ROSS, T-BAUM and KING CARL. Together, this DOOFUS BRIGADE’s moves and recommendations have made the Dolphins ONE OF THE WORST FRANCHISES IN THE NFL!!! – – Can’t believe you almost gave them a free pass (but, perhaps, I’ve been too critical during this 7- year streak of non-winning seasons?). –Anyway, I appreciate the thought and the work that went into your effort. –WELL DONE my friend!
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HOPE ALL U DOLFANS up and down the eastern seaboard are safe & sound & warm tonight. It was 66 this afternoon in Tampa Bay. Lows are expected to be in the upper 30’s over the weekend. But highs will return to the 60’s and 70’s next week and the usual group of northerners will be swimming along Clearwater Beach.
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I’ll be working 7-Day weeks 3 of the next 4 weekends (but I’ll have Super Bowl Sunday off). Next weekend I’ll be at a convention in Georgia. Then, in February, I’ll be at another one in Charlotte. –I ALWAYS bring my ice scraper and my huge DOLPHINS winter parka to this Charlotte Convention!! –Reminds me WHY I moved to Florida!!!! Y’all stay warm.
Carl Peterson is not part of the team. Why do you keep going there?
BECAUSE, according to Omar and Mando, Ross STILL consults King Carl on most (but not ALL) major issues before deciding what to do. I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS!!! IF I gave MY BOSS (or just a business partner) THIS MUCH BAD ADVICE, I’d be out of his inner circle of advisors in a heartbeat!!–ROSS REWARDS bad advice BY TAKING MORE OF IT!!! THAT’S WHY HE STILL PICKS THE WRONG PEOPLE TO LEAD HIS FRANCHISE!!!
http://www.miamidolphins.com/multimedia/videos/Albert_Discusses_His_Long_Road_Back_To_Pro_Bowl/1baa0f0d-3432-41be-92ae-cff75f4bad70
OD, I think Peterson is just a friend and colleague of Ross in other business ventures. If you want to keep believing that go ahead. I don’t think it’s worth it or has any real impact on the team. It’s about coaching and players and execution. Fans add too much drama to the whole thing. It’s not that complicated. This team needs stability moving forward, not constant turnover. I’m willing to see if we have the right mix.
FYI, there was a report right after Gase was hired that Mr. T was against Gase and the So. FLA media created it. Mike Francesa of WFAN radio knows Mr. T and asked him personally about it and he said totally not true. There is an agenda in the the So. FLA media to make themselves come off as sleuths to save their jobs in a dying industry.
Of course Tannenbaum denied that. Not saying it’s true but even if it was you know he would deny it.
Ya, you are right, TIM. The media is lying about Peterson. I’m saying you are DEAD WRONG ON THIS ONE!! You and all the other Ross ass-kissers can lie down and accept this mess to your heart’s delight. I will NEVER DO THAT because I KNOW Ross rarely makes a big decision without consulting King Carl. Ross needs to wake up and consult someone who can turn this team around instead of listening to the T-Baum’s and King Carl’s of the world.
———-
But go ahead and tell all the media they are wrong and that you are right. Good luck with that one!
OD:
I am no fan of Ross but I have essentially given up on fighting about ownership and upper management. Unless I got a couple billion there ain’t much I can do about it.
GIVING UP is not one of my traits, Ken.
ONE last comment regarding Ken’s analysis of the Dolphins talent needs. He’s absolutely RIGHT when he says Miami’s O-Line resembled the “Maginot Line.” T-BAUM’s failure to pick an O-Lineman in the first 3 rounds came back to bite Joe Philbin right in the ASS last season. A BAD O-Line means Tanny still takes a brutal beating; the running game thus suffers b/c Miami’s in too many 2nd and long or 3rd and long situations which means FEWER LONG TIME CONSUMING DRIVES and more time on the field for our mediocre defense because the O-Line SUCKS. I’m betting T-BAUM DOES NOT take a much needed O-lineman in either of the first two rounds of the upcoming draft and, as a result, our offense will sputter again! ANY TAKERS???
Okay, I’m not getting into the TMZ stuff. I don’t follow football for that. Go Phins!!!
http://www.miamidolphins.com/multimedia/videos/Jarvis_Landry_Speaks_About_Pro_Bowl_Honor/2aac6b0b-a1c1-42d6-9b64-0082b236287d
http://www.miamidolphins.com/multimedia/videos/1on1_With_Walt_Aikens/042823ae-5307-448f-a052-6372b0e628e4
http://www.miamidolphins.com/multimedia/videos/Kickin_It_With_Andrew_Franks/dc3a15f6-5166-41b6-88d6-615fb5764fa2
Tim,
How is the snow going there/
Nothing yet but it feels like snow is coming.
I know the feeling
Bookman, I’m willing to pay some teens for help this year. I’ve seen them in the past. I hope they come down the street to do the apron of the driveway. The plows pile the snow of what you just shoveled and you’re like come on man, really?!!! Oy! LOL
You don’t have a snowblower?
My driveway is tight with 3 household vehicles. I have no room for a snowblower to work. We live in a modest cape.
My job is about walkways and vehicle transport access. The past few winters the slush/ice/crap was brutal to the point of overload/weight. I’m getting to the point of I’m out, I’ll pay for it. LOL
8: R1P8
OLB MYLES JACK
UCLA
38: R2P7
CB KENDALL FULLER
VIRGINIA TECH
69: R3P6
DE SHAWN OAKMAN
BAYLOR
100: R4P5
TE JORDAN LEGGETT
CLEMSON
135: R5P8
OG REES ODHIAMBO
BOISE STATE
164: R6P7
FS DEON BUSH
MIAMI (FLA.)
195: R7P6
ILB LUKE RHODES
WILLIAM & MARY
197: R7P8
FB DEREK WATT
WISCONSIN
Ok, I pay little attention to these mock drafts….but…I love to see Derek Watt on here…..I would love to see him on our roster…..as Madden would say…”he is a football player”
Tim,
Gotcha ya. Too bad, it is the only way I can survive in the Winter…or I would do what you are…farm it out..LOL!
37 reps of 50+ pound hauls of slush/ice/crap at 50 years old is getting annoying. I’ve been doing this since I was 5-7. LOL
LOL..me too…the best part is when you get done…then the snow plow comes through
I’m still a shovelin’. I can’t do the snowblower thing. I’m so mechanically challenged, that something would go wrong with it, I’d just shelve the damn thing. When it gets to the point that I can’t shovel, I’ll just pay a service to plow us out every time it snows.
Bookman, “The plows pile the snow of what you just shoveled and you’re like come on man, really?!!! Oy! LOL”
Then they go and plow their own driveway out
Just saw a report the Mets signed Cespedes to a 3 YR deal, with a 1 YR opt out. YES!!!!!!!
No fuckin way?!!!
See below. 3 YR/$75M
http://nypost.com/2016/01/22/mets-to-re-sign-yoenis-cespedes-in-stunning-turn/
Yeah!!! Is it official?
YES! See below. 🙂
http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/162639412/mets-agree-to-contract-with-yoenis-cespedes
Wow!!!
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14629430/yoenis-cespedes-agrees-deal-new-york-mets