By Dr. Bruce Banner
Bruce Banner here again. I have not had a season as peaceful as this season in a long time. The Miami Dolphins are 9-5, in sole possession of the 6 seed in the AFC playoff picture and in control of their own destiny. Every time I get that angry feeling like things are going to implode these Dolphins do something to help calm me down. Take the last game against the Jets, they got down 7-0 early on and the Jets were driving looking for a second touchdown. I was starting to get angry, pacing, punching walls and feeling a little green and then all of a sudden a turnover. Then a score and then another one. They took the lead and didn’t look back. It had an amazingly calming effect on me. When I am calm I am very reflective and some thoughts came to mind that I would like to share with you.
First is how good Kenny Stills has been. He is not a number 1 receiver but he has been one of the best deep threats in the NFL this year. He has 7 touchdown catches, all of them over 24 yards long. 3 of them over 50 yards long. He has developed into a true stretch the field threat that could seemingly get behind any defense. In my scientific opinion I would make it a priority to resign him this off season. Our offense is undoubtedly better with him on the field.
It also occurred to me while watching the game this past Saturday night that we may have witnessed the beginning of something special in the secondary. Ronnie Lippett and Xavien Howard were on the field together as the top 2 corners for really what was the first time all season. They proceeded to take a very talented Jet wide receiver corps out of the game. Lippett demonstrated his WR ball skills on a tremendous interception while covering Marshall and then snagged another on the final play of the game. Howard had a number of fine pass break ups as well. This combination has not been on the field much due to injuries from Howard and the need to transition Lippett from a WR to a CB. However, I think we got a glimpse of the future of what these 2 young corner backs can do and I was very impressed.
It cannot be stated enough about what an impact Adam Gase has had on this franchise. First and foremost he is holding players accountable. He is putting in the rookies and giving significant responsibilities during this playoff push. There are no more kit gloves. But more than that he has brought an aggressive play calling style to the offense. We push the ball down the field and he is willing to take chances instead of the Sporano 2 yards and a cloud of dust play calls and the Philbin 3 yard curl route. His aggressive play calling was never more evident than last Saturday’s game against the Jets. With a backup QB playing and the Jets stacking the box to stop the run, Gase put the game in the hands of Matt Moore. He aggressively called for some down field shots and throwing the ball to beat the Jets. He was not afraid to put the game in the hands of his backup QB.
Finally, I must mention how impressed I am with the job Matt Moore has done. He has delivered for us 2 weeks in a row. He came off the bench cold against the Cardinals and delivered a game winning drive in adverse weather with time running out. Then he goes on the road into the house of divisional rival in the middle of the playoff hunt and throws 4 touchdowns while leading this team to a huge victory. He is not as physically gifted as Ryan Tannehill and you can see he threw a couple of flutter balls. But he also made really good quick decisions. He has a very quick release and showed a great command of the offense. If he can win one of the two remaining games and deliver this team to the playoffs he will go down with Earl Morrall and Don Strock as among the great backup QBs who have played for this franchise. Moore has done exactly what you want a backup QB to do. Be ready when called upon and if needed to go out and start some games then his job is to give you a realistic opportunity to win those games. Moore has delivered on that in spades. There are some that say trade Moore this offseason as he likely will have the highest trade value he will ever have. However, I believe that Moore’s role as the dependable backup is far more important than any trade value he will bring. His presence of knowing you can’t count on him if Tannehill goes down is a calming effect on this team. And as you guys know I am all about staying calm.
Finsmob Unleashed 
http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/12/19/miami-dolphins-run-nfls-most-explosive-offense/
Wait, what?
Who knew?
Who is Ronnie Lippett?
We have a cornterback named Tony lippett.
What I want for Christmas;
1. Jay Ajayi end the season with over 1,350 yards
2. A sweep of the Bills
3. The donkey’s losing to Kansas City
4. The first playoff game for the Dolphins since I can’t remember
Finally this would happen after Christmas a win at home against the Pats
On a related note, Kenny Stills’ 52-yard score against the Jets made him the first Dolphin in 30 years (Mark Duper) to record three 50-yard touchdown catches in a season.
*
This statistic is stunning to me.
Good job Bruce. Signing Stills MUST be a priority before FA begins. Is he hits the open market, I have a feeling some team will throw some big money at him.
EXCELLENT BRUCE!!–Yesterday on the other site I highlighted an article on CONDITIONING by the PBP’s Hal Habib. BOTTOM LINE??–Coach Gase has done his best to INSURE your Dolphins are THE BEST CONDITIONED TEAM IN THE NFL!!!!!!!! – – JuWaun James believes this is Miami’s “Secret Ingredient” to their second half victories!! Gase has become SHULA II when it comes to having your team in primo condition!!
How’s THAT for an early Christmas gift!!! – – Goooo-o-o-o FINS!!
https://twitter.com/TomLikeFootball/status/810840656256073729
And with that I’m off to enjoy the Winter Wonderland that is Wyoming!
If I don’t check in You all have a Happy and Healthy Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Wyo! Enjoy the homeland!
Besides Lippett and Howard
Maxwell has also played well
I think Lippett and Noward may be the future
But don’t write off maxwell
Now let’s get a LB this offseason!
Can’t wait to see reshad jones in our secondary again with those cbs
Lock up Stills
THIS morning’s betting line in Las Vegas has moved from Buffalo favored by 3 points to the Jills favored by 4 points. Saturday’s weather shows a high of 39 with scattered showers and winds of 15-20 MPH.
——————
BUFFALO will NOT be able to fully stop Miami’s air attack which features wideouts Landry, Stills and Parker PLUS a red-hot TE in Sims!! Look for Moore to make use of our speedy backs flaring out of the backfield for some nice gains, too!
—————–
A FEW less penalties would be a plus, BUT I wouldn’t mind taking one for a BIG HIT on Tyrod Taylor who’s the most sacked QB in the AFC as of now. Make him a SUH-WAKE sandwich!!
Kill Kill
Kill Bill
Tony Lippett Ronnie Lippett all the same to Hulk
Only his close friends call him Ronnie. For everyone else it’s Tony. 😉
Excellent write Bruce! I’m hoping we’ve seen the last of Hulk this season, even if I find him amusing.
I do think we should try and re-sign Stills, but sometimes, it just gets to the point where monetarily, it doesn’t make sense. If some team throws a ton of money his way, we’re going to have let him go.
Maxwell has played very well the last 8 games or so. You need to have 4-5 good CB’s, and he’s definitely one of them.
I propose we call him
Oink Lippett
Maxwell is okay. He is better of late but I don’t trust him and don’t think he is worth the money we are paying him. To me Howard is much faster and just as physical as Maxwell
You’re selling him short. 15 passes defensed, 2 INT’s, and 4 forced fumbles. He compares very well with Josh Norman, a similar player, and Maxwell is slightly better this season
I have seen him get toasted too many times for my liking. He is feast or famine. Both Lippett and Howard have superior athletic skills and I much prefer to see them on the field.
Where has Howard been most of the season though? Injured. Who’s been playing every game? Maxwell. Like I said, you have to have at least 4-5 good CB’s, and Maxwell is a good starter.
Good read!
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/12/20/nfl-maimi-dolphins-adam-gase
I’ve heard other coaches say the same things. Stick to your process. One week at a time blah blah. the difference is Gase is winning.
Maxwell is playing well and I think we keep him next year. You can never have too many good CBs.
Miami Dolphins @MiamiDolphins 19h19 hours ago
We have signed linebacker Trevor Reilly off New England’s practice squad and waived linebacker Zach Vigil.
I will be surprised if we keep Maxwell next season at his current salary
Maxwell will be getting $8.5M next season, totally in line with his production as a veteran starting CB. His dead cap is $5M , so I don’t see a cut happening there.
I agree I don’t see it. Imagine if we didn’t have maxwell this year when howard went down. That would have been ugly.
I actually think Maxwell has been one of our best defensive players this year
And if you recall – I hated him in Sept
I thought he was bound to suck
He’s been excellent
We have a great situation at CB with the young guys coming along and a vet like Maxwell
I agree. I think Ken is looking at the beginning of the season where he struggled a bit, but so did most of the team. He’s been a very good player for us for a long stretch of games.
Maxwell is physical and has decent ball skills but he is a liability in terms of coverage. I think we have done a pretty good job disguising his liabilities with a good pass rush. I think the upside for both Howard and Lippett is far greater and Maxwells salary is not in line with a #3 CB
You can’t have 15 passes defensed but be a liability in coverage.
Yes you can. He gets toasted as much as he makes plays
Do you have stats to back that up?
Ken, this is only up to Week 12, but Maxwell was #24 on this list, and he’s played well the last 3 weeks too. Keep in mind there are 64 starting CB’s.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-top-25-nfl-cornerbacks-this-season/
Who would you rather have on the field as one of your top 2 Howard, Lippett or Maxwell? To me the choice is pretty clear
I think I’d want to have all 3 of them. I don’t think it’s as clear cut as you do, he’s a smart veteran who knows how to play. I think we’ll need him in the playoffs big time.
I’ve seen Lippett get burned also. Right now, I’d want Xavien and Maxwell.
I agree we need all 3 this year but I don’t agree that is the case going forward next year
What changes next year? We don’t need good CB’s anymore?
FA and the draft where we can get an alternative that is cheaper and potentially better
Vinnie:
I have not seen Lippett getting burned much, especially lately but where I think he needs improvement is with his tackling
In FA, if you think you’re going to get a better one that’s cheaper, think again. In the draft, we have a lot of other needs, so why create another need?
I think you overrate Maxwell. He is not all that. He can be replaced
We’re gonna be 50m under the cap even if we keep maxwell. I don’t think he’s going anywhere. If anything we’re gonna shore up the defense not get rid of our good defensive players. Go get some LBs and DEs
cutting him only saves 3.5 in cap room
which is nothing given 50M in space
Ken
No matter what happens this season
This is not an offseason to start cutting salary when guys have played well (Maxwell)
we need to build off that performance
this is not an offseason to make a decision to cut Maxwell bc of salary
Its also not exactly a good cut
His salary is 8.5M next year but if we cut him we still take a 5M cap hit
you only save 3.5
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/byron-maxwell-7892/
2 years from now – maybe you cut him
you give Lippett more time to grow that way
I also think you are wrong on Maxwell
He has been good for us in 2016
I don’t think he is easily replaceable
even if he was
Lets not just start trading pieces
this will be an offseason to build off 2016
truthfully, I don’t really want to see a lot of cuts this offseason
I want to see them keep this core together if possible
basically spend every penny in cap room if necessary
I also think Maxwell is our best CB right now
1. Maxwell 2. Howard 3. Lippett
I’m a supporter of the Lippett project
but don’t crown him yet
He’s going to need more time
Hey look – don’t judge CBs bc they get burned
They all get burned
Judge them by their overall play
I don’t think we have been vulnerable over the top or on the perimeters
I think defensively we get beat in the middle of the field more often than not
its usually a TE or a RB mismatch and not one our CBs are covering
^ well done
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/mike-pouncey-7730/
Pouncey is a big decision for us this offseason
but you are only saving 4M by cutting him
I wonder if there is room to restructure him
He’s injury situation is so problematic
And Albert saves us over 7M in cap space
So I would say something is up with him this offseason
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/branden-albert-4311/
The major concern in terms of cap to me is what effect keeping our WRs will have on the cap space
Assuming we keep Stills and resign Landry (his contract expires on 2018)
it might cost us somewhere between 20M and 25M in cap space for both players
They are going to eat up a lot of that cap space
We need to get to the point where we are like New Orleans, Pittsburgh, or Green Bay and can just allow guys who go aren’t affordable or irreplaceable.
Pig — think 20 to 25 million is a bit high, least for next year. As good as Stills has been, don;t think he will find himself with a huge contract (least not with team). He might end up in say the 6-7 mil range though. And even Landry signs for big money, normally the cap hit on early signings is pretty low first year even if they inflate in years after.
Well the highest WRs in the league make 15m a year
So Landry may get close to that $
Even with inflation and contracts, still not thinking Landry is AJ Green. He’s awesome, but not a force on the boundary combined with the middle where the money is made. He hits FA….maybe $12 mil per. Sign him early and he gets the guarantee lifetime set and maybe ten mil per year.
As far as OL FA’s for next year, OG Kevin Zeitler, Jonathan Cooper (not sure if he’ll ever be the player he once was). At C, not looking good. No real upgrades there.
Yeah, we can’t keep shipping people out and replacing them with newer guys. We need depth, competition, and veteran leadership. Howard and Lippett have a lot of growing to do still. I’d like for them to earn their way into the starter role, not just get it through injury.
No reason to ship anyone out really
I think we purged ourselves the underachievers already
Just build depth to the extent possible
“Every time I get that angry feeling like things are going to implode these Dolphins do something to help calm me down.”
Great article Bruce — and glad it is still you writing, also have a feeling that there have been still a bunch of ripped clothes before you end up hitting the key board.
And good as Moore looked in the TD column, saw what you saw — the arm strength is not all that, even if the reads and anticipation are. Am thinking the key factor for him against the Bills is not cold or rain/sleet/snow (those hit all QBs equally), but rather wind speed.
Hopefully we can run a little better too
Buffalo is 27 in the NFL in run defense
And stop Mccoy. If we can stop their running game, I think we win this game.
We will be going run first for sure. Plays into Moore’s gunslinger play action style. And we were doing that with Tanny too. Even if the results weren’t in the rush yards total that played in the pass yards one. They go eight in the box and it is almost like we keep running to keep those eight in the box.
We can’t count on Pouncey going forward. We won’t find another pouncey in FA but we can upgrade from steen and urbik.
He doesn’t really save a lot of money if we cut him
I’m sure he is in Miami in 2017
He played well in the few games he played in
Maybe he will restructure
YEs he’ll be in miami but we need a better backup for him when (not if) he gets injured again.
stanger,
isn’t landry signed through 2017? They’ll extend him but I bet that won’t happen this offseason.
He has one year left, but I (and Pig too) are figuring he is one of those keys to the team both on the field and off that you want to lock down for the future. Could happen next season too though after the draft is done. Only thing can see getting in the way is an agent.
This may be the offseason to do it
Don’t let a player like that hit FA
I agree that he shouldn’t hit FA. And they still need to extend jones as well.
Here is a great holiday story to share with your loved ones
I can’t wait till jenkins is dumped.
Adam Beasley ✔ @AdamHBeasley
Jelani Jenkins is on an exercise bike to start practice.
For salary cap purposes
I don’t see resigning jones as a problem
He will probably make the same he makes now in 2018
He makes about 8M now
Ken is shooting fireworks off right now
Jenkins is a guy that makes sense to let go. He can’t stay on the field, and when he is on the field, he’s hurting, and limited., and doesn’t play well
He is our best coverage LB, so if you do let him go, you better be very sure you go big at LB in the draft or FA so you can get a coverage guy back in the mix. We got ass raped by Balt for the simple reason we couldnt cover shit crossing across the middle.
I really dont care if Ajayi makes 1350 or even 1100 for that matter, other than the fact that if he hits those totals it means we won both our last games in blow out fashion. He did an amazing job this season and i more care that he finishes healthy an available in the playoffs assuming we make it.
As for Howard, the game was a pretty good one, he has some decent press skills, good knack for slapping the ball away, however even though i was fairly impressed with him, i was a little concerned at the same time. He had too many times where he was having to recover to slap the ball away, than just there to make the play. A few of those plays would have gone for big yardage had Bryce Petty threw a crisper pass with some zip. He wont get away with that same coverage with many of the better QB’s so he better tighten up his coverage.
As for Pouncey i fully agree with Boulder, we need to backup to him that can also provide an upgrade at OG. I really like Evan Pocic to be that guy, we would have to draft him in the 2nd at the very least possibly we would have to trade up in the round to get him, depending on where we draft. We could also possibly trade back in the first and take him if all the top LB’s are gone if we could pick up an additional 2nd or 3rd.
Id also still add a solid CB in the draft to compete with Lippett, Howard and Maxwell. I would let the top 2 control the outside and the third place be our NCB/rotational on the outside. If all of them are pretty close we could rotate a lot keeping them fresh.
D
Two things
1) Jenkins is still our best cover LB when he’s on the bench because he’s hurt, which basically means it’s not saying a lot that he’s our best cover LB. lol
2) We need to find another LB that cover and actually play in the games healthy. So many of the LB’s we liked here are flourishing in the NFL, like Bernardrick McKinney, Kendricks,. Anthony had a solid rookie season, but he’s been hurt too.
Yeah i was a big fan of McKinney, and TBH i think we had our sights set on him that year but Houston jumped us and took him, which then we traded back in the round and then took Jordan Phillips.
These pretzels are making me thirsty
Wash them down with Urine…. re-hydrate and lessens the salty flavor of the pretzels.
yuk
I get ya Mikey, im not saying he contributes much not playing, im just saying he is a pretty solid LB when healthy and a really good coverage guy when healthy. If healthy isnt something he can stay it doesn’t really help us and with this years LB class we can and should address that. Id also look to see if Cleveland lets Collins hit FA or tries to work a trade or something because even though he got the boot in NE because he got on Belichick’s wrong side, i still think the guy is extremely talented and has good instincts for the position.If the price is right for Collins id be at least throwing a bid in.
Howie
Dolphins 35
Bills 10
Lets ride these Bills all the way back to Miami!
I just stopped at a rest stop on the turnpike and I noticed that there is a sign over every urinal saying the water used to flush this device comes from reclaimed water do not drink. Is there a big problem with people drinking out of urinals at the rest stops? If someone is stupid enough to want to drink out of a urinal fucking let them
I would think the fact that it’s a urinal is a good enough hint that it’s not safe to drink from
D
I mentioned Collins in Ask Mike a couple of weeks ago. Supposedly he was dogging it on a TD run where he had the angle, but didn’t hustle to make the tackle. I would look at him also, but I’d do my due diligence with him, make sure he’s motivated, if it’s possible to tell that. The other guy is Chandler Jones.
The other NE castoff
They should buy new signs that say do not eat our urinal cakes either
Nothing like urinal cakes and coffee
I think those guys probably just had enough with the patriots way. and became surley. There is a certain amount of that its my way or the highway, get in line and know your place shit that some people can take before its just over. Collins had little issues until this year, and it is a contract year so it may be that he was trying to make big plays, get Von Miller like stats so he could get paid like Miller. He goes off Belicihicks very mandated script, gets disenfranchised when put in his place and then bails out. I agree about the due dilligence part and being cautious, as its always a red flag when a top guy gets cast off like a dirty rag, but it may be that he would be more successful in an environment that seems pretty player friendly, by that i mean under Gase.
The redskins claims vigil off waivers
They were vigilant.
What?
That looks more like a little sitter than a stander
best I could do
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article121984294.html
Barry Jackson at the Miami Herald does a good job of breaking down all the playoff scenarios in this article
Bar-ry Jack-son always had a way of explain’n things so Rock could under-stand them…..
Fins Mob Unleashed Fantasy FB Playoff update..
Not sure if any of you were confused this morning looking at the Schedule/results on I-phones as it was down right messed up in the way it was displayed, but…
Congrats to Mike E and Herd for advancing to the Finals of the league which go down this weekend.. looks like it will be a very close game… everyone one else does have a game this weekend, but they really don’t matter as we are relegated to LOSERS now..
Survivor Update.. we are down to 13 survivors , and I am not liking my choices this week.. right now leaning toward San Diego over Cleveland, but GEEZ dont the Browns Have to win one game ? and it gonna be -900 F supposedly..
or do I put it all on Cousins play last night as an anomaly and take the Skins over Chicago …
if I get through this week I can have Oakland or Baltimore looking okay next week.. lean toward Baltimore though..(Sorry)
oh well that’s my weekly dilemma..
last weeks dilemma worked well Wife and I both won our Semi’s and now meet in the Finals of our Money Fantasy league.. (Thank you Matt Moore) so the house will take home about 700.00 there..
Carry on Peeps.. Kick some Bills ASS .. GO PHINS !!!!!
Go Toba!!! Good luck man! I do think Cousins and the Skins should bounce back against CHI, I think it was a bad game, but I’m not getting involved in your choice. Best of luck to both of you.
Evening Update
DOLPHINS-BILLS
Howie 27-23 MIA
Naples20-17MIA
Wyo 24-17 MIA
Stang 17-10 MIA
Piggy 35-10 MIA
GO PHINS!
31-20 MIA
31-13 Miami
I wouldn’t trust San Diego in December Toba.
It is Cleveland though… so
I hear bith yer points and appreciate them 😕
Howie
MIA 23 – BUF 12
Aaannnndddd my snowblwer crapped out grrrrrrr
Been there….sucks!!
Josie.
21-13 Miami
Howie not Josie…..wow…have no idea how I did not notice that
There goes the fantasy winnings. Easy come easy go.
At least you’ll have a new blower 😎
Kinda where i went with that 😕
“We’re gonna break out the hats and hooters . . . . . “
What?
When Josie comes home . . .
I bet Son knew it. Tim probably would too. Do you know the song? Steely Dan
From mando FA list, I think I would keep sims and stills as must have then branch and jones and possibly Thomas.
“That means receiver Kenny Stills, tight end Dion Sims, defensive end Andre Branch, defensive end Jason Jones, linebacker Jelani Jenkins, defensive back Michael Thomas, and offensive guard Jermon Bushrod should be on notice. The stronger these players finish this season, the better their chances of becoming offseason priorities and returning to the team next year.”
I just read that about 1/2 hour ago – Play good pay good?
keep Stills, Sims and Branch
All those players would be resigns for me at the right price. I’d be ok paying Stills a little more, but I wouldn’t extend myself too much to get the deal done. He did well for us this year but I still don’t think he is such a priority for us I would break the bank over. I’d rather save the money to resign Landry
Keep all of ’em and keep Rambo too
I knew it before I even read that you said I’d know it.
…sleep on the beach naked…
Blue Bayou
I’d resign Stills, Sims, and Branch.
Resign Jones and Thomas at the right price.
Jenkins has played about as poorly this year as I’ve ever seen an LB play…when he hasn’t been riding the pine. Literally the only time I notice him on the field is when he’s getting burned in coverage, which is often. Coaches must see something though, because they keep starting him every chance they get. I’d help him pack his stuff and shove him out the door, but due to whatever it is the coaches see, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him resigned.
Regardless of Jenkins, we need two LBs, so draft a LB or two and/or get the second in FA.
Keep Maxwell. I was really down on him about the first month of the season, but he has been solid for two months+ as he’s learned and developed in the system. You can never have too many CBs in this league, especially when you share a division with the Pets. If you have 3 quality CBs, you’re in good shape.
Draft a DE with high upside even if he’s a project. Need to get younger at the position in the next couple of years.
Pick up a center with intention to start (if Pouncey’s career isn’t over then maybe we can pick up a G/C that can duke it out with Bushrod, keep Bushrod as depth for when Pouncey inevitably misses games).
Pick up a TE to pair with Sims (Gray as depth).
Draft a safety to hopefully pair with Jones or develop to start, (Quaddus (sp?) and/or Thomas may still start or be depth).
Pick up a kicker that can make a 45+ yard FG.
SO after resigning our players, I figure we need 6-8 players and maybe a couple of upgrades at depth positions. Not too shabby. It’s attainable. Pick up 2-3 starters and a couple of developmental players in the draft and a couple of FAs, and we should be able to fill most of those needs. I think with this coaching staff, which actually knows how to develop and accentuate player skills, as long as we don’t completely whiff on our draft picks, the future looks very bright for us.
This is the most excited I’ve been as a Fins fan in more than a decade.
Kenny Stills is definitely a priority for the team to re-sign. Branch would be another guy they’d definitely like to keep around and I imagine Jones could be re-signed as well. He didn’t have a major impact on the line like Branch had but he played well enough to keep him around for at least another year.
The guys who are going to have a tough time sticking around will be Misi, Jenkins, Bushrod and Thomas. I know Thomas is a special teams guy so maybe that’s where his niche will be. Other than that I think he loses out to someone else in any kind of nickel D scheme because he’s just not good on defense. Like Misi, he was only playing due to the lack of talent at the position.
Agreed on Thomas. I don’t think we’ll use a high draft pick on a safety and for FA, we will/may need to fill another starter role, so Thomas may be our best option at depth behind Jones and Quaddus depending on how the draft plays out. If we can pick up another quality starter opposite Jones, and move Quaddus down, then i agree Thomas is gone.
I had completely forgotten about Misi. Is he a FA this year? Unless we can pick up 2 starters at LB in the draft and FA, we may get stuck with another year of starting Misi as BPA at the position on the team.
Tedrick Thompson (and no, it’s not Ced Thompson in disguise) is an interesting prospect who I wouldn’t mind seeing the team take a flyer on in mid round.
Thomas or Aikens on ST?
Right now it’s Aiken and Rambo is playing well with Jones coming back.
Tough spot for Thomas but he is a vocal leader on the team.
If it comes down to a choice between keeping Thomas or Aikens as a ST player, it’s got to be hard not to choose Aikens after the plays he’s made the last two weeks, right?
I can’t remember the last time a Fins team has had multiple ST plays impact games like this. It’s been forever.
I’d like to see Landry resigned before hitting FA too.This offseason would be a great time to do it. It might cost us a little more next year, but pay the man for play on the field, and sign him while he’s still trending up. We likely save in the long run.
(I say likely cost us a ‘little’ more next year because it would likely be structured to not be a big hit in the first year of the new contract.)
I don’t think they try and re-sign Landry this year unless it’s close to the end of the season. I think we go into the year and see what we’ve got going on; especially from a guy like Carroo. You just never know how things will turn out.
From an offensive perspective, and I’ve said this before, Gase is going to get this offense to be “plug ‘n play”. It’s not there yet and has some to go but next season it’s going to be pretty close. It’s going to be more about “system” vs “player”, meaning, he’s going to be able to plug in any number of guys on the offensive side of the ball and still be successful.
Consider that a good thing. We’ll never need to worry about players coming and going.
Gil Brandt @Gil_Brandt 13h
13 hours ago
Best records since Week 6::
Giants 8-1
Patriots 8-1
Cowboys 8-1
Dolphins 8-1
As much as I enjoyed the Jets game… the Bills worry me. Their run game could hurt us like Tenn did.
HOWIE: Miami 21 Buffalo 20
Howie UK 20-17 MIA
Tannehill may of course have been going to get some sunshine or doing his Christmas shopping. But it seems like a big coincidence.
Morning Update
DOLPHINS-BILLS
Howie 27-23 MIA
Naples20-17MIA
Wyo 24-17 MIA
Stang 17-10 MIA
Piggy 35-10 MIA
Herd 31-20 MIA
MikeE 23-12 MIA
Toba 31-13 MIA
B’man 21-13 MIA
Rhino 21-20 MIA
UK 20-17 MIA
GO PHINS!
MANITOBA SAYS “And my snow blower just crapped out!”
—————-
WELL, as Hooper said in the movie “JAWS,” –“I can top that- – – ”
“I just ran out of Sun Tan Lotion!! – – And it’s supposed to be 80 today in Tampa Bay!!”
I’m sure all you Canucks feel sorry for me!!
—————-
HOWIE – – – HOWIE – – – HOWIE
17-16 MIA
A blocked extra point puts MIAMI IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!
OD
we are not in or out of the playoffs whether we win or lose this game
our chances of making it are greatly affected by the result (obviously)
but its not an automatic in if we win
I think we need a couple more teams to lose on Sunday (if we win)
Send in your questions please . . .
ASK MIKE nj1dolfan@yahoo.com
Thanks!
I hope Dr. Jimmy has great news for our QB. I’d like to see him back for the playoffs.
DOLPHINS PRO BOWLERS
DT Ndmukong Suh
DE Cam Wake
Th-th-th-th-at’s all folks!
But . . . . . What we have here, is a TEAM! A group all focused on the cause, and I’ll take that baby!
We need more of this Sunday!
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000760660/article/bills-plan-to-slow-ajayi-after-214yard-outing-last-time
This is the weakest run defense we have played since the 49ers in week 12
he didn’t really do well in that game (45 yards a\on 18 carries)
in this 8-1 streak we have had the only really bad rush defenses we have played are Buffalo and the 49ers
So some of Ajayi slowing down in terms of production the last few weeks might be attributed to better rush defenses rather than the OL
this weekend we will see the value of Mike Pouncey
I think he was balling out in the 2 game 200 yard streak and its a shame we don’t have him
but I expect a better game from Ajayi then we have seen in a while
especially after Matt Moore hit so many deep passes
“Hmm. I can’t really say.”
— Mario Williams on what he missed most about his time in Buffalo (and after a long pause).
—————————
Sounds like he might be up for staying for less though.
“Here in Miami, the biggest thing is it’s just a great atmosphere. From the top to the bottom with our coaching staff all the way down to us players. We just really enjoy coming into work every day, we enjoy being around each other and going out there and practicing and everything that goes with it.”
Hopefully he’s willing to stay for about $100 because he’s pretty damn useless.
lol
His best game of the season was the Buffalo game
he has been barely visible in almost every other game
I hope he has a big game in Buffalo – this one is personal to him
I like Williams, I think he has had a great career
and I like having a guy like that buried on our depth chart
but he has been pretty underwhelming for us this year an was the same in Buffalo last year
I think he has a trick or 2 up his sleeve
Mario Williams has a 6.5M cap hit this season
Too miuch for his production
but when you are below the cap – not a huge issue
next season however that cap hit balloons to 10.5M
and the dead money if he is cut is 2M
8.5M can be saved by a cut
So guess which direction this is going
But maybe he resigns for a much smaller salary
I do think a declining veteran presence has a value to a young up and coming team
even if the production isn’t where you want it to be
he may have a little left in the tank to give us a little depth on the DL
He’s been injured, but they have seen enough of him and what ails him to know what they think he is worth. If they signed him at say $4 or $5 mil, that’s really just two or three versus the cap.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/mario-williams-3849/
For sure he ain’t getting that, but he costs us the two mil even if we cut him. That is an advantage another team wouldn’t have.
I can’t imagine Super Mario will be here next year. I’d rather see an undrafted FA DE busting his butt out there each week than see MW watching the game even when he’s supposed to be playing. Unless somehow he manages to show up in the next few weeks, he’s gone.
It really is time to get the J-Train back on track. No more local making too many stops, we need the J-Train Express baby!
Mike E. says:
December 20, 2016 at 7:48 pm
“We’re gonna break out the hats and hooters . . . . . “
bookman11 says:
December 20, 2016 at 7:55 pm
What?
Mike E. says:
December 20, 2016 at 7:59 pm
When Josie comes home . . .
I bet Son knew it. Tim probably would too. Do you know the song? Steely Dan
Mike,
I did not recognize the song and was like WTF? Why is Mike posting a comment about hooters out of the blue? LOL
LOL – I really like Steely Dan, and it’s one of their oldies, although who am I kidding, ALL of their songs are oldies. It’s just one of their older oldies. 🙂
Give a listen . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg9RyiPKhx8
Thanks Mike
I will have to listen later on my phone.
Piggy,
I’m all for having veteran presences in the locker room. That’s what Wake and Suh are for. As you stated, Mario is most likely gone at the end of the season. I’ll eat 2 mill if it saves us 8.5 mil. Ideally I’d like to see us with around 60-65 mil in cap space to play with this off season.
Whatever happens, he won’t be getting paid the $8.5 mil more he is on the books for. He knew when he signed though that he wasn’t getting that unless he had a major show-it year……and that did not happen. So even he knows he’s essentially a FA now.
I don’t think they can afford to keep him at that salary given his lack of production
But if he was willing to wind down his career (after coming to the realization he is not what he used to be) and we cut him for him to resign to a one year contract with guaranteed money – I think it’s worth it.
If you cut him you have one less player on the roster and you take that 2M salary cap
But if you restructure and pay him 3M for 1 year
It give the team a little bit of a cushion to work with at DE going into the offseason
He is at that point of his career when he has to be thinking about how he finishes It if he still wants to play
So he might be willing to play for a small sum
And it can be an asset to us in terms of depth
I don’t think he’s been good this year
But I do think he has had a great career
And I think good teams find a balance like that with aging declining vets and it fosters brining in better talent
I want to draft a DE fairly early
I also want to keep Branch
I think if that happens Williams place on the roster next year is at best #4 DE
So the salary has to match that kind of depth
We can easily survive without him
He’s not a great price now
Just throwing it out there
Generally I’m a fan of minimal turnover in 2017 if we can avoid it
I don’t know about you guys, but I’d love to steal Jordan Reed this year in free agency. That dude can ball out.
That would costs a ton of $$$
but he is the kinda player that would help us tremendously
Eric Berry and Jordan Reed are probably the 2 big blue chip free agents this offseason
at least that I can think of
I’m not so sure going after high priced FA is a good move for us
I expect Wash to try to keep Reed too
They still have to worry about paying Kirk first. Alshon Jeffery and Le’Veon Bell are probably the biggest FAs though.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2016/07/15/2017-nfl-free-agents-franchise-tag-contracts/87161916/
In case you were wondering about some one else’s position on the top FAs this offseason
the only one I would touch (for the Dolphins) on this list is Berry
Right now the Chiefs don’t have a lot of cap room. Somebody could land Berry.
I love the player
and he is the one high $ guy I would be all in for
but generally I don’t want to go crazy in FA this offseason
and I would rather concentrate on keeping this group together and building through the draft
Jordan Reed is a really interesting option though
If the money is right – its worth pursuing
I do this kind of wishful thinking
hoping the Bills cut Charles Clay this offseason and he comes back to Miami
but fat chance of that
look at these crazy numbers in terms of cap hit
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/charles-clay-7893/
WTF Buffalo
9M hit in any of the next 3 years if you cut him
that’s a dumb contract
Also a contract we chose not to compete with, and for good reason. With that money set only way we get him is if the Bills trade and eat part of the contract.
Your AFC Offensive Player of the Week is also the NFL New Dad of the week.
Was a big seven days for Matt Moore.
Its funny (in a painnful way) to see Eric Berry hit free agency
it reminds me that 2010 was a good year for safeties and generally a good draft
Eric Berry went #5
Earl Thomas went #14
but we picked Odrick at #28
we made that pick after a trade down with San Diego from 10 to get an extra 2nd round pick
Chargers picked Ryan Matthews (who ends up being a pro bowler)
and we get Misi in the 2nd round
In hindsight, that was another Ireland special
Other probowlers that went in that draft in the first round
Suh #2, Gerald McCoy #3, Trent Williams #4, Russell okung #6, Joe Haden #7, CJ Spiller #9, JPP #15, Iupati #17, Twin Pouncey #18, demarius Thomas #22, Dez Bryant #24
what a draft!
and we came away with Odrick and Misi…
Of course I can’t be too hard on Ireland since I wanted Rolando McClain who was waived later that year when he put a gun to some guys head….
At least we weren’t the Broncos that year – Tim Tebow #25!
You know there’s some dude missing half a hand that just so happens to be a free agent this year.
Yeah – not sure I want to purse that one though
Allright guys I got work and oinks to do
no more procrastinating
Catch up later
Mike E I sent you an Oink
Thanks Piggy!
Piggy
I want no part of Charles Clay unless he’s our #3 TE. I want a 6’5″ – 6’6″ TE that is a red zone threat. I also want a guy that can line up and block, and has some size. Clay is undersized, not really what I envision in this offense.
Sims is a big TE that can block – he even has a few TDs lately
but he’s not a great receiver
I really don’t mind having one blocking TE and one receiving guy
those do it all TEs – they aren’t really common
I know you want a big receiving target
but honestly some of those productive receiving TEs – they aren’t very good blockers
Sims is like an extra tackle out there
I think adding one of the TEs you want might actually take us down a notch in terms of the run game
and given the OL the last few years we need all the help we can get….lol
Don’t mess with Mike and his pass catching TE’s…LOL
LOL – Bookman understands me.
Mike E — even if have dreamed about that aqua Gronk for a while…..less sure of it now as a huge need. We play three WR and combined with a running game so much now. And Sims has shown he is a keeper.
So might be we are better off taking in a seam threat who doesn’t block as much for passing downs to spell Sims. Obviously you want the all world TE, but more a luxury take now than say three years ago. Those studs cost a bunch of chips that we could put in at other positions.
I want my MLB.
I want that force of nature at TE. We need both to take our team to another level.
On the Mario Williams conversation, I wish we would have retained Shelby. He at least was productive as a reserve. I understand why we did it, but I still wish we wouldn’t have and that’s what I said in the offseason.
I’m still not ready to crown Howard and Lippett after one game against Petty. The euphoria of a win always makes guys look better. They did well, but some of you guys are going overboard.
Think we all want that force at LB and have no doubt we are at least going to try to bring one in.
Maxwell should be back though and not like McCain is a slouch either. So CB seems less of a need. If I was going stud db, would put safety before CB.
I agree with all of this.
Afternoon Update
DOLPHINS-BILLS
Howie 27-23 MIA
Naples20-17MIA
Wyo 24-17 MIA
Stang 17-10 MIA
Piggy 35-10 MIA
Herd 31-20 MIA
MikeE 23-12 MIA
Toba 31-13 MIA
B’man 21-13 MIA
Rhino 21-20 MIA
UK 20-17 MIA
Old 17-16 MIA
GO PHINS!
If you want a MLB in this next draft the guy’s name is Marquel Lee of Wake Forest. CBSSports.com has him as a 4th/5th rd projection but he’s a hammer in the middle.
Howie,
Put me down for 27-16 MIA!