I’d say we had what most of us here at FU believe was a very successful draft, and for those of you have been here a long time, which is most of you, to get any kind of consensus on our drafts is normally impossible. Despite that fact, along with the return of our starting QB, Las Vegas oddsmakers have us winning only 6 games. In Tannehill’s worst season we were 6-10, not coincidentally, that was Joe Philbin’s last year as Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins. I’m sure there are 3 major factors as to why they have us so low, and I believe first and foremost it’s the health of our QB Ryan Tannehill, and how long he’s been away from the game, 19 games to be exact. When we cut Suh, we lost one of our best defensive players. When we chose not to pay Jarvis Landry $15M + per season, we lost one of our most productive offensive players.
We know the losses, but I feel like they don’t consider the gains we’ve made strongly enough. I think we finally got the back end help we’ve been missing here in Miami, and I’m pretty confident that Minkah Fitzpatrick will be playing a lot, right from the start. He will instantly prove he’s better than anyone else we have as a deep safety, or even a LOS cover man on a TE, or bigger slot WR. He will have a ton of opportunities, and will make the best of them. I think Ryan Tannehill is healthy and ready to go, and although there is so much worry his wretched knee can’t hold up, look at Frank Gore who shredded his knees in college at U of Miami, and is still playing in the NFL 14 years later. There was nothing special or unusual about Tannehill’s injury, and I say once again, it wasn’t two separate injuries, he had a slight tear that he tried to rehab without surgery, and then it finally tore later on. Not devastating, it’s like a button on your jacket that’s loose, and then one day it just FALLS OFF! It’s still just one button, and yes it was disheartening when Tannehill went down, it was a run of the mill knee injury,
In addition to Fitzpatrick and Tannehill, we finally drafted that receiving TE that gives all NFL DC’s nightmares. We’ve been terrorized for years by them, but now we have one of our very own. Mike Gesicki will make a difference here from day one. I know they say TE’s historically start slow in the NFL, but if you watch the NY Giants, you’d know that Evan Engram, a smaller version of Gesicki had 64 receptions and 722 yards and 6 TD’s last season. I think Gesicki can easily duplicate that or better that. He will additionally open the offense for everyone else. Once he’s out there tearing up the middle of the field, he will garner more attention, which in turn will open things up for the run game, and our perimeter receivers, Parker and Stills, and also for short passes and screens to Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant.
We have had lots of problems covering TE’s, and RB’s and we’ve seen LB Kiko Alonso burnt far too often. The addition of Fitzpatrick and also LB Jerome Baker gives us flexibility. I think we’re going to try and figure out who our primary LOS cover guys will be in both nickel and dime formations. It might change a lot, but they have to identify which guys can get it done. Fitzpatrick, Baker, McDonald will all get the chance to be on the field more, since in today’s NFL, offenses operate with 3, 4 and 5 receiver sets so often that teams are in the nickel and dime more than ever. We know what the issue is, and they drafted talent to combat it, in addition to signing T.J. McDonald last year. You could even throw LB Stephone Anthony in the mix, big, fast LB who can cover.
We didn’t replace the huge hole in the DL after releasing Ndamukong Suh. The fact is, even if we took Vita Vea or Da’Ron Payne, we still wouldn’t have filled that hole. Suh was a beast, he played a ridiculous amount of snaps throughout his entire career, and easily led the Dolphins in that category. The philosophy has changed, and we’re going to rotate fresh players in more often from now on. At the moment, that’s Jordan Phillips, Davon Godchaux, Vincent Taylor, Gabe Wright and also DE/DT William Hayes. Also keep in mind the cap money we get after June 1st, and I won’t be surprised in the least if we pick up a DT in FA at that point. After the draft, veterans are often cut, so we’ll have some choices to bolster the DL.
I love the Kalen Ballage pick. I know I’ve said it a bunch of times, but watch the kid play, and he’s a lot like Arizona’s David Johnson. He’s a very reliable receiver, he has some giddyup running a 4.46 40 at 6’2 228. He’s a tough short yardage back, but also one who has the breakaway speed to take it the distance. Ditto on the pick of Durham Smythe, TE. He’s the blocking TE to replace Anthony Fasano, and he’s a decent receiver as well. When we’re running the ball, Smythe will be the in line blocking TE, and I’m sure there will be formations with both Smythe and Gesicki, with Gesicki split out. You can run or pass from that formation, and also keep in mind that although Gesicki wasn’t asked to block much at Penn State, he will block here in the NFL. He won’t be Durham Smythe, but he will block.
We also bolstered special teams in the draft with the selections of LB Jerome Baker, Cornell Armstrong, Quentin Poling, and K Jason Sanders. In addition, I think we also got some help on the offensive line. Acquiring Josh Sitton, one of the best pass blocking OG’s in the NFL, we definitely improved. We got an OC we can count on being there the whole season, and who will be able to practice with his linemates when we traded for Daniel Kilgore. LT Laremy Tunsil will be a better player having LG Josh Sitton next to him, teaching him his responsibilities and of course, having better play next to him. If Ja’Wuan James is healthy, he will be a good player playing for his next contract, a good spot for us to be in. Hopefully we both benefit by that, and we re-sign James after a great season. Right guard is a question mark, but we have promise in up and comer Jesse Davis and veteran Ted Larsen. Between those 2, they should be able to hold down that spot. Also, maybe last year’s draftee OG Isaac Asiata enters the mix and surprises.
6 wins? FU Las Vegas!
Finsmob Unleashed 
MF13 says:
What makes you think that, SB7? And yes, I’d heard the theories that the Maloof Bros wanted to move the team to Las Vegas. Is that why ya think that?
__________
Because I watched the games. Big time chokers. They brought it on themselves. I was so mad too.
When I heard the story about Minkah all alone going over game tape just before a game, I thought how greatly he prepared himself to play, but what I didn’t know was, he called the D plays, so by being prepared he put his team in position to make plays.
Can you say Zach Thomas?
It doesnt get any better than a guy that has the skills and puts in the work. Gase has been bitching about guys not putting in the work, maybe Minkah will help change that.
well Saban has a pretty high opinion of his work ethic – that says a lot
vegas has the over and under at 5.5 games, we won 6 last year and i believe this FO has tooled this team to win next year, i would think taking the over on 5.5 wins is a safe bet
I’ve seen 5.5 to 6.5, been thinking about making that bet, but it needs to be done before OTAs. Once we get on the field and the beat writers start talking us up that figure will rise.
National perception is based on what the national writers get out of what our beat writers tell, and our beat writers are a bunch of putzes, so…
Then you get Volin sticking his nose in our business, Mando trying to clarify…2 guys not present at the draft, trying to validate a rumor.
we have horrible beat writers. The fact that Mando is the most reputable is discouraging. I feel like we cannot trust any of their takes at this point
Ross did confirm most of what Volin said. But assuming everything is true, imo it has no effect on what occurs on the field.
Gase showed last year in the cheats game win his true colors, but he lost control of our leaders the next week, so changes were made.
Gase was with Denver and Denver has been close to the top of the page as far as win/loss record for sometime and has dominated the afc west for sometime. that said i think Gase should know how to be successful being a part of a successful team. Denver has always had a strong running game and with the new rb acquisitions; it looks as if he’s headed in the right direction.
Denver success = Peyton, but taking that O to record levels, over the top, was Gase.
Absolutely! Ride the Drake train until the wheels come off!
😉
Time to get an early morning workout in to start the day!#WorkoutWednesday
YUP! Because she always has camera crews following her around at her Wednesday workouts! Luck for us!
You don’t get an ass like that by sitting on the couch.
Actually, I did get this ass from sitting on couch….Oh, wait, you weren’t talking about my ass. Never mind.
SB7,
Did you live in Sac at one point? Or were you anti-Lakers? I’m assuming it has to be one of those because I think there are about 5 or 6 Kings fans outside of the Sacramento area, lol.
I’m anti-Shaq. lol.
But I present 2. running back Kenyan Drake. What if I told you no running back in the NFL had more yards than Drake over the last five weeks of the season? None. What if I told you Drake had three rushing plays for 40-plus yards, which tied for the second-most in the NFL, despite starting just five games?
But there is no way he is a starting running back! He is only a 3rd down back. Someone I respect says so. (well, I kinda respect, well…you know)
NEW BLOG UP!
One thing that came out of the seat draft yesterday, other than some pretty good seats on the cheap, is that we have a bunch reserved. Our new rep buddy Tim reserved five more than I was asking for, maybe just to finish off one of the rows. So Fest is still an option for all who have not dived in yet or thinking about bringing some friends.
Till payment is due in like late August……plenty of seats in rows, 10, 13 and 15 in Sec 417 to be had at $65 each.
sorry….Sec 317
Those are the best seats we’ve ever had Jon! Excellent job!
GoodStuff MikeE!!!
Yea, FU LV!!
Still think that the Las Vegas Raiders shoulda drafted that one armed bandit LB..
We got Quinn and Stephone out of this draft too,
While McMillan & Asiati might as well be new rookies too!!!
Lippett returns as o16 team leader in picks,
And we get our ONE TIME injured QB back!!!
QB and definitive cogs stay healthy,
And I don’t see outside distractions like (13 consecutive weeks that included)
Losing THE starting QB two weeks before opening day, or
Irma/week one home opener/cancelled bye weeks, an AWOL Timmons,
a white Dragon rideing OL coach,
a what had become diva RB, ball hog slot receiver,
or a drunk in public Maualuga
among numerous other uncontrollable beyond the field instances
taking a toll on weekly performances!!!
Not sure Vegas agrees with their own prognostication??
Kinda odd!!
Play the under, and you risk more than you can win..
Play the over, and you risk less than you can win…
Seems odd, don’t it??
Ehhh to all THE MOB,
GOFINS!!!
Got TWO WR’s for the price of one,
TWO OL for the price of one,
and already got TWO DL for a third of the price of one!!
What’s not to like!!!
Convo has moved to the next article….and I am positive too.