RD1 Pick#5 – QB Tua Tagovailoa – Alabama
RD1 Pick#18 – OT Austin Jackson – USC
RD1 Pick#30 – DB Noah Igbinoghene – Auburn
RD#2 Pick#39 – OL Robert Hunt – Louisiana-Laffayette
RD#2 Pick#56 – DT Raekwon Davis – Alabama
RD#3 Pick#70 – S Brandon Jones – Texas
RD#4 Pick#111 – OL Solomon Kindley – Georgia
RD#5 Pick#154 – DL Jason Strowbridge – North Carolina
RD#5 Pick#164 – EDGE – Curtis Weaver – Boise State
RD#6 Pick#185 – LS Blake Ferguson – LSU
RD#7 Pick#246 – WR/QB Malcolm Perry – Navy
That’s some haul for one draft, 11 players in all, which is actually less than the 14 picks we came in with. So how, after having 14 picks, do we end up choosing only 11, and one of them is a long snapper??? OK, I’m going to let that one slide because I think they did a very good job addressing easily the biggest shortcoming of this team, our offensive line. We traded back once and up a couple of times and I believe we really upgraded the trenches significantly in this draft.
On the offensive line, Austin Jackson, the OT from USC is a young OT prospect who needs more playing time and lots of quality instruction to groom him into a premier LT, or RT, depending on where they choose to play him. At the moment, I think with the addition of the next OL we drafted with our first 2nd RD pick, Robert Hunt, who may be groomed to play RT, or may also be groomed to play RG with incumbent RT Jesse Davis remaining at RT. All that will be worked out in time. In RD 4 we added yet another OL, Solomon Kindley who figures to be an OG. We all hoped they would address the OL, and address it they did! All of a sudden, the depth looks pretty good, we have Julie’n Davenport and Austin Jackson at LT, Ereck Flowers and Solomon Kindley at LG. Ted Karras will be the starting C and I believe Michael Deiter will be potentially be worked at C as well. Either Robert Hunt or Jesse Davis will be the RG and the other one will be the RT. OG Shaq Calhoun, OG Danny Isidora and C Keaton Sutherland round out the depth. The O-line most certainly looks more promising.
We spent the #5 on a QB, so obviously that position was heavily upgraded. I don’t stress this lightly at all, there is no reason to rush Tua on the field, especially considering the current situation with COVID-19, and the fact that all football operations have been pushed back to the point where they will most likely end up being abbreviated. We have a very capable leader in Ryan Fitzpatrick for 2020 and we have a young QB coming off a devastating injury. In my mind I’d have Tua sit the entire year and heal up but have him compete in practice with Josh Rosen to help improve his play for next season or possibly a very late season appearance depending upon our playoff potential at that point. If we’re in contention, no monkey business, but if we’re out and they want to see a healthy Tua play, I’m fine with that if he’s 100%. It will be interesting to see if we carry 3 QB’s, I would almost guarantee we will, and Josh Rosen should be one of them.
Despite our numerous additions in free agency on the DL and LB with Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson, Emmanuel Ogbah and Elandon Roberts, we remained vigilant in continuing to upgrade there in the draft. We started with DT Raekwon Davis from Alabama and added DE/OLB Curtis Weaver from Boise State. Curtis Weaver in the 5th RD was a WOW! pick. In 3 years at Boise St. Weaver amassed 34 sacks (13.5 last season) as well as an astounding (47.5) stops behind the line of scrimmage (19.5 TFL) in 2019. In RD 5 we added yet another DT/DE prospect in Jason Strowbridge from North Carolina who had an impressive week at the Senior Bowl. We came into free agency with a major weakness, and now after both free agency and the draft, we have so much more talent and potential. So many players we acquired are multiple fits, meaning they can play more than one position. It’s like DT/DE or DE/OLB etc etc. I don’t think one player will be utilized at only one spot, everyone moves around. Versatility is important in our scheme, and now we can employ it.
When we acquired DB Byron Jones, immediately you think what a CB tandem with both he and Xavien Howard. Flores loves his defense and in RD1 after a slight trade back, we selected at pick #30 DB Noah Igbinoghene. I feel like the designation DB should be used with all our guys because I think nearly all of them will be playing multiple roles. Igbinoghene looks to be a corner who will probably thrive in the slot or nickel corner spot, but he may also see work at safety like his veteran counterpart Bobby McCain. Igbinoghene is a very competitive player, very confident player and you need that at DB. Some people may look at the safety we drafted in RD 3, Brandon Jones from Texas as the replacement for Minkah Fitzpatrick, but I think Igbinoghene is as much a part of that if not more than Jones. Jones is a guy that likes to lay the wood so he may be a S/LB tweener, despite his somewhat smaller stature (5’11 200), which ironically was a part of Minkah Fitzpatrick’s repertoire.
Now what remains is to start working, see these guys on the field and hopefully we have enough time to evaluate these guys before the season starts to see how they fit best. I can’t wait to see Blake Ferguson snapping out there, I mean who can wait for that? Did we really draft a LS in RD 6? Was Tabor Pepper a problem last year? Confounding to say the least, but really, not sure why they treated that pick like a disposable pick. Did Grier and Flores both go to the bathroom simultaneously during that pick and did someone else accidentally make that pick? OK, I’m kidding but it was odd.
In RD5 we made a big move to upgrade our offense as I was probably ready to scream (OK, I WAS screaming already) where the F is our running back!!!!! Considering the fact that I was ready to pull the trigger on a RB late in RD 1 or in RD2, I was losing it that we hadn’t addressed that position yet in RD 5. The word came in that we traded our 1st of 3 5th RD picks (#151) for SF 49ers RB Matt Breida. That’s a great pick, or trade for a pick. Breida is the perfect change of pace for bruising RB Jordan Howard. He’s a speedy RB who can catch, but has had issues staying on the field. That’s the only caveat with him is he seems to get minor injuries that keep him out, missing 5 games in 3 seasons, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but considering that he was used sparingly his entire career, it’s a concern. Breida has eclipsed 150 carries once, in 2018, his most productive season. He has averaged over 5 yards a carry, quite the contrast from the pathetic 2.1YPC we’re used to. Breida had 814 yards in ’18, along with 3 rushing TD’s and 2 receiving TD’s on 27 receptions and an additional 261 yards receiving. He can help us on 3rd down as well as being a nice change of pace.
When we start making cuts after training camp (if there’s a training camp), it will be significantly more difficult to do so, as our depth after free agency and the draft is so much better. The edict was there, improve the trenches, and on that note, they will have at the very least tried their best to accomplish that. We needed a ray of hope that we have our franchise QB, and if we handle it correctly and don’t rush Tua onto the field in 2020, in 2021 we’ll have that. Ryan Fitzpatrick was a great leader, he has our guys believing and it’s no mistake that despite the quality of receivers in this draft that we passed to build the trenches. I didn’t really think we need a receiver anyway, I think we have a nice combo of young WR’s (Preston Williams, Isaiah Ford, DeVante Parker and Malcolm Perry) as well as some more veteran WR’s like Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson. It’s strange to me that so many Dolphins fans skip right past Allen Hurns, I think he may be the most overlooked player on the team, possibly with the exception of Charles Harris. (Who?). We picked up Navy QB Malcolm Perry with our final pick. Some here have suggested he can be our version of Julian Edelman. He has the wiggle and agility but he doesn’t have that insane short burst speed, which is the attribute that enables Edelman to get that quick separation from defenders, but he will probably be given the opportunity. For reference, Edelman’s short shuttle (20YD) was 3.92, while Perry’s is 4.31. That’s a HUGE difference, He may also be a gadget player because he can throw the ball as well.
I feel very pleased after this draft, and free agency. I don’t think as a whole, we could have done much better really. Sure, all of us would have liked to get this guy or that guy, we all have our favorites that went to other teams, but again, taking free agency and the draft together as steps I and steps II, we really crushed it!
GO DOLPHINS!!
#staythecourse!
Finsmob Unleashed 
First and Oink
One name on that lists jumps out to me
T – U – A
Nice write up Mike E
Thanks Ken
I love the Malcolm Perry pick. That is great value for a 7th round pick. He will be a factor in the backfield/slot.
Mike E — could have written that myself (the thoughts at least)……. so what can I say but really well done? 🙂
LOL – Thanks Stanger
“So may players we acquired are multiple fits, meaning they can play more than position. It’s likeDT/DE or DE/OLB etc etc.”
We are creating the Pats D. Not about one man one position. About the coach putting out whoever matches up to whatever scheme they want to use. Deep with guys who have special skills. Also means some of our draft picks get hit on for not being all around guys.
Thanks for finding typos, I fixed them! 🙂
Didn’t even notice any typos. You know how bad am on them. We are going the Pats way on D though far as can tell.
Great write up MikeE!
Thanks BBM!
Good solid draft until I get to that #185. I just don’t get using a draft pick on a LS. Especially a 6th.
Here are some players taken after that pick.
187. Cleveland (from Arizona): Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
194. Tampa Bay: Khalil Davis, DL, Auburn
195. New England (from Denver): Justin Herron, OL, Wake Forest
200. Philadelphia (from Chicago): Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss
202. Arizona (from New England): Evan Weaver, LB, California
208. Green Bay (from Tennessee): Jake Hanson, C/OL, Oregon
209. Green Bay: Simon Stepaniak, OL, Indiana
210. Philadelphia (from San Francisco): Prince Tega Wanogho, OL, Auburn
Round 7
215. Cincinnati: Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue
218. N.Y. Giants: Carter Coughlin, LB, Minnesota
220. L.A. Chargers: K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
222. Arizona: Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State
224. Tennessee (from Cleveland): Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii
225. Minnesota (From Baltimore through from N.Y. Jets): Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State
238. N.Y. Giants (from New Orleans): T.J. Brunson, LB, South Carolina
239. Buffalo (from Minnesota): Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
242. Green Bay (from Baltimore): Jonathan Garvin, DE, Miami
245. Tampa Bay (from San Francisco): Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana
254. Denver*: Derrek Tuszka, DE, North Dakota State
It’s almost like they got tired of picking players and decided to take the rest the draft off
^
I really like what they did on day 3 with that one exception.
25 new players in free agency and the draft not including UDFA
I expect half this team to be new when we cut down to the final 53
I’m guessing will be the youngest team in the league….. even including FitzMagic. Our FAs seemed mostly young. Assume on purpose.
Thinking about it, I can see us keeping 3 Fitz, Tua and Rosen this season. Draft another QB next year, then roll with Tua, Rosen and Rookie in 2021. Let Rosen ride out his contract. Should know if he’s got it or not by then. If not, let him go to F/A and get a possible comp pick. He’s not garbage. He would have been the 3rd or 4th best QB in this draft.
When some team’s QB gets hurt In the preseason or early season – his trade value will shoot through the roof
Exactly Stanger, that’s why I think you have to keep him. He will probably be our backup QB this season for sure, but if some QB gets hurt, and Rosen played well in preseason you know teams will be calling.
I don’t know anything about this LS, but that position is very important. If they think he’s that guy, then I have no problem with the pick.
Do you recall Pepper having issues last year? I honestly don’t remember any
You can say 1 thing for sure, they seem to be set at wide receiver, or it would appear.
I don’t understand the issue with the long snapper. It’s just one pick out of 11, and a 6th rounder at that. Must mean we did great if that is one of the only sticking points.
Read below my response to Randy. Not a big deal, just strange
In addition, I can’t just be a homer, I thought it was an odd choice at that point. I have no idea whether any other teams were going hard for a long snapper in RD 6. I mean it was the highest pick EVER used on a long snapper, so there’s that.
Maybe we’re starting a new trend lol
MikeE,
No, I don’t either, but I assume they felt a need to address it. I’m just saying that if they really feel this kid can be a quality LS for a decade….then I don’t think that’s too much to get him. Lots of 6th rounders don’t even end up making the roster. If you’re gonna trust these guys to make good picks then you gotta assume they did it for a reason. We’ll see how it turns out.
I agree
It’s definitely not a big deal, I didn’t really want it to come across that way, but it was strange to me because they were a lot of other position players we could have taken as BBM pointed out. I was just trying to recall if we had any snapping issues or blocked punts that were the long snappers fault and I couldn’t remember any, although when the team playing poorly, those things get lost sometimes.
Nice article mike, I think Robert hunt could play right tackle as well.
Thanks Rob
MikeE.
And I didn’t take it that way at all. Just my thoughts. I agree that it certainly didn’t look like we struggled in that area last season.
I hear ya Randy. FWIW, they did point out that it was the earliest a long snapper has ever been drafted, so it it’s not a common occurrence
Great Job Mike E 👍
I think the FO did a solid job with this draft and FA. We are going to look so much different this season.
Thanks Doggy
Nice article btw Mike!
Thanks Bookman
They sorted it out, but thinking the Packers might not want him making their OL calls.
——————————
“The Green Bay Packers tried to select Michigan offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr. with their sixth round pick on Saturday. There was just one problem: Runyan declined their phone call. Runyan pushed the red decline button on his phone when the call came through before realizing what he had done — sparking a massive panic.”
I don’t remember a lot of issues with the LS last season, but I’m good with competition at every position. And if they wanted to be sure to grab the best prospect at the position then no worries. 6th and 7th rd picks are just the beginning of the UDFA signing period anyway.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/2020_nfl_draft_is_most_watched_ever_with_record_viewership_numbers/s1_12680_31866359
It’s not surprising. No competition from MLB, NBA playoffs etc. Actually, there’s really no sports to compete with, so they had the only “game” in town
Yep, people are starving for anything sports related.
Nice recap, Mike. Our draft really seemed like there was a plan in place. Very happy with what we did.
Thanks Tim – No doubt!
Lol, this is a fun read if you dig superheroes.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/04/espn-nfl-draft-tragedy-graphics-superhero-twitter-thread
LOL @ Captain America
“Still a virgin. (red flag)”
As for taking the LS, it could be a simple as competition at every position.
it started by tearing it apart (obtaining draft capital)….. then winning 5 games of 9 late in the season …….. kick ass signings in FA ………..kick ass 2020 NFL draft ……….. how can you not have faith in this FO and COACH FLO ?
TRUST THE PLAN !
LOL, so much for competition at the LS position.
Doh! I feel bad for Pepper. I saw this video where he said he knows the Ferguson brothers well, bring on the competition. Now he’s OUT!
Maybe Pepper picked up a gum wrapper in Flo’s office or something, who knows?
Steve was saying yesterday that our LS sucked last year. I don’t remember it, but I guess he was right. It seems they wanted to upgrade. We can never truly discount the possibility of the gum wrapper theory though, lol.
LOL
I didn’t even know we had a long Snapper last year
Mike E,
Great article! What makes me happiest, besides QB, is your statement about final cuts. It will be harder to cut down and I’m sure we won’t be the team with by far the most player transactions during the season. Massive upgrade in talent in just a year. Not perfect, but a really solid draft.
Thanks New Age – Yeah, the sheer amount of talent we brought in one season is really something. Major house cleaning and upgrading across the board. Also great to finally have our QB. Fingers crossed!
We signed former Cowboy Safety Kavon Frazier
Yeah, I saw that. Another guy who enjoys laying the wood
What guy doesn’t
Undrafted FAs we signed.
WR Kirk Merritt
WR Matt Cole
TE Bryce Sterk
OL Donnell Stanley
OL Nick Kaltmayer
DT Benito Jones
DL Ray Lima
DE Tyshun Render
WR Kirk Merritt looks like a faster Landry. Ran a 4.43 and built like a RB.
Only comparing him to Landry in the way he gets in defenders faces.
I wonder what the reasons are why he went undrafted? He’s got a lot of impressive plays here.
Bc the draft was loaded with WRs
KJ Hill went in the 7th round
Lol @ the link Kong
I can’t stop laughing at Scarlett Witch “home country turned into a meteor”
Lmao
LOL, glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was hilarious.
I mentioned last night that Benito Jones was the 7th ranked DT on NFL.com and yet he was undrafted. Anyone have an idea what pushed him out of the draft?
I have no idea
I didn’t know much about him – I didn’t go deep into DT after the first few
You didn’t even have to go that deep, he’s the 7th one down on the first page. That’s pretty unusual. I’m gonna look and see what I can come up with.
For the first time in years I’m excited about the upcoming Madden Game
Our offense is going through a transition and may take some time to settle in, but I think we have a chance to be a badass defense right out of the gate.
Maybe not right away with the defense, especially considering the lack of offseason activities, but agree that the defense will probably be ahead of the offense.
Lots of guys added in FA have a lot of experience. Add that to the guys already on the team and then the rooks can work there way in. I think we added guys who can really help in run defense. I really love the look of this defense and how it’s being built. Charlie Casserly said what many of us have been saying, lock down corners and an aggressive blitz style and that’s what we like to do.
Maybe he loves cows more than football?
https://www.redcuprebellion.com/2020/4/25/21233241/2020-nfl-undrafted-free-agent-benito-jones-ole-miss-football-defensive-lineman-miami-dolphins
It seems that projected 2 down interior DL have been a bit devalued. He’ll have to show he can handle playing the nose at the next level to make the team. He’ll have to play some line STs too – XPT and FG.
Good, let them devalue it. When your run D was poor the previous year, I can guarantee you the team isn’t devaluing a run stuffer.
2 years ago Sanders was one if the best kickers in the league, last year he missed 7 of his 30. I remember hearing several times the issues we were having with the long snapper.
Yesterday I went through the roster to come up with 53 I thought would make it, it wasn’t easy figuring out the last few guys, because of lack of talent around the bottom of the 53, and that was giving all 11 drafted the benefit of the doubt. We had some guys that had little talent, that played over their heads, but I’d expect those types of players won’t be playing this year.
The roster still needs to be upgraded, let’s hope the rookies can elevate that issue.
From the Phinsider
These four roster moves were made so that Miami would have flexibility when signing their 2020 draft class. And if we’ve learned anything from Chris Grier and Brian Flores over the last year, it’s that the two will leave no stone unturned.
Seriously, how the fuck do these people keep their jobs?
What kind of schmuck thinks cutting 4 guys at the bottom of the roster was done so that we’d have flexibility signing our draft class?
The article said the roster was at 92, so obviously 2 guys had to be cut, but the other 2 were cut, because after the draft they didn’t fit into the teams plans.
The final trade we made with Seattle was actually a good value trade. 5th from the last pick or 37th in rd 7, for a 6th next year that at worst is the 32 pick in rd 6, so a full 37 picks better and probably closer to 50 picks better. I know it’s only a 6th rd pick, but always good to get value, especially when we didn’t really seem to want the 7th.
Stockpile the 6th rounders, that is the sweet spot for long snappers.
🤣
And kickers!
Tim – It wasn’t so much young guys or rookies that I was referring to in my post about our defense. It’s going to be almost half our defense have never played together. I know they’re vets, but it may take a while for things to come together, time they won’t have as much of in the offseason to get acclimated.
Yeah that’s totally valid. Maybe I should have said I think the defense will be ahead of the offense. I love the potential though. Raekwon Davis better not flake out on me because I think he was a big addition to the DL.
I would hope they speed up Raekwon Davis a little bit, he’s got no twitch off the LOS. He’ll be a nice addition to the DL, but He likely would’ve been there with the next pick. We should’ve gone RB there.
TRUST THE PLAN 🙂
He moves pretty damn well for a guy his size. He’s a 3-4 DE, DT and NT versatile guy. He’ll make his living between the tackles. Along with Godchaux and Wilkins they can create havoc inside and the Edge, LBs and DBs clean up.
Go watch him play vs LSU. He plays within the system, commands double teams, doesn’t get pushed back much, but if you’re looking for a sack guy, even from the outside he’s not going to get many. He’ll get an occasional sack, because the QB was flushed or the secondary has everyone covered. At 6’7″ he’ll bat some balls down will be a solid player, just don’t look for the second coming of any great inside sack man.
Never said he was a big sack guy. I think he’ll help in the run game, be a rotational DL and do what you said he’ll do. He’s a different body type than Godchaux and Wilkins and he gives us that height. Seiler does too and he’ll probably compete with Strowbridge for reps and/or a roster spot. We’ll see how the UDFAs do.
Lawson and Ogbah lead the Edge with Weaver pushing Beigel, Van Ginkel and Harris.
Let the competition begin! 🙂
I think he’s got all the tools needed to succeed in the NFL, but he doesn’t seem to play with a lot of fire. I’d hope they at least light his pilot.
Didn’t mean to leave out Taco who is definitely in the mix on the DL as a DE/Edge.
Any NSYNC (Lance Bass) fans out there? Come on Mike I know you were a big fan back in the day. Anyways yesterday my niece (she had a huge crush on Lance growing up) was supposed to get married, but it was delayed for obvious reasons, so her sister, who knows Lance (Burbank kids) had him do a short video wishing her a happy wedding and sent it to her. My sister’s family got together as they, through social media, played the video amidst tears from my niece.
Very cool memory
On their dad’s side they’ve got some Hollywood. An uncle that had a soap opera part for a couple of years, movies, sitcoms. A first cousin that was in the Disney series Aaron Stone, he was Aaron Stone. Another cousin that did some acting.
Steve, Raekwon Davis will probably start off as a 15-20 snap rotational DL and play on some STs especially against XPTs and FGs. Then see if he works himself into the lineup more.
That’s what I’d expect, but not what I’d expect for someone drafted where he was. I think maybe they selected him on his potential. I can see him having a 10 year solid not great career, if his head is in it.
Definitely about his ability over recent production. He was considered a 2-3 round pick and went #56 so no real reach there. But I’m biased, had him pegged in the 2nd for us and was glad we selected him. I was on the phone with my friend who’s a Giants fan at the time and yelled yeah, we got one of the two I just mentioned, A.J. Espensa and Raekwon Davis. LOL
AS I STATED EARLIER, I am thrilled with this draft. BUT let’s not get caught up in too much hyperbole. Phrases like “We knocked it out of the park” or The Dolphins “had maybe their best draft in the 21st Century” are just as unsubstantiated as “Give Miami a C-” or “They made way too many mistakes in this draft.”
The brutal truth is this: the 2020 Dolphins’ team has yet to have a single scrimmage, a single practice or a single meeting AS A TEAM. With a little luck, we will have a meaningful progress report when the final cuts are made just before the official start of the regular season. By the time the team has played 4-5 regular season games, we’ll know a lot more than we do now. By season’s end we’ll be able to say, with SOME justification, that this group of players played well, maybe even better than we expected while another group of players did NOT meet our expectations. However, in the case of some players, it will take 2-3 seasons in the NFL before we REALLY KNOW if drafting them and/or signing them to a contract was REALLY a good idea.
I remember way back in 1966 when the Dolphins spanked the Denver Broncos in their inaugural season. “WE ARE ROLLING NOW” I screamed into my brother-in-law’s ear!! Well, the fledgling Fins won a total of 3 games that season and Flipper was sent back to the Miami Seaquarium, never to be seen in the Orange Bowl again. By the third season, Miami managed to win 5 of 14 games and some optimism returned. But the 1969 Dolphins regressed to just 3 wins–the same number of wins they had achieved in year one. And THAT was a team that had both Griese and Csonka, plus a few other outstanding players. That poor season cost Head Coach George Wilson his job.
After failing to land Bear Bryant for the Dolphins head coaching position, owner Joe Robbie enticed Don Shula to come to Miami. Shula, for his part, was still trying to get over his embarrassing loss to the Jets in Super Bowl III. This new hire brought a sense of enthusiasm back to the franchise. But Shula decided to make only one really big change to a team that had just gone 3-10-1 in 1969. The Don of Miami traded a first round draft pick to the Browns for wide receiver Paul Warfield. Many doubted that just this one big change would be enough to make a really big difference in the team’s performance. The prognosticators thought Miami would only be slightly (if at all) better in 1970 than they were in 1969.
Once, again, the so-called preseason “experts” were proven wrong. Dead wrong! The Don led his team to a 10-4 record and a wild card playoff date in Oakland against the heavily favored Raiders. Oakland barely escaped with a 21-14 victory when Griese’s last pass fell incomplete in the Oakland end zone at game’s end!! And, best of all, this 1970 season featured Miami’s first two wins ever against the hated Jets and their foul-mouthed fans!! It was a year to remember.
A large post card, with a color team photo of the 1970 Miami Dolphins, still graces the wall of my little office where we now live. It is a never-ending vivid reminder that any attempt to predict a team’s fortunes well before the season has started is bound to be full of errors and miscalculations.
NOT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS did I believe the 1970 season would see the Dolphins come within ONE PLAY of making it to the AFC Championship Game after a 3-win effort in 1969!! – – And, speaking of “MY WILDEST DREAMS,” absolutely NO ONE could have forseen Miami going to THREE CONSECUTIVE SUPER BOWLS in the next three seasons!!
So enjoy your preseason, Dolphin fans!! Maybe, just maybe, our collective WILDEST DREAMS” will come TRUE!!
We might’ve beat Oakland, if it weren’t for a couple of ints near the Oakland goal line that Griese threw that were returned for TD(s). At least I think there were 2, was pretty young at the time.
STEVE: On balance, I thought the young Miami team outplayed the Raiders. The one factor the 1970 preseason “experts” failed to account for was the fact that, in the coaching department, the Dolphins were AT LEAST 7 POINTS PER GAME BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN 1969. That edge would become more apparent over the next three seasons.
I remember as a kid watching that game in our camper, in some southern city (maybe New Orleans) on Christmas break. I was crushed, like only a kid could be. I too thought we outplayed them, but they had our number. After the 72 season I checked the schedule to see how far the winning streak may go, and there sat the Raiders week 2.
STEVE; PAUL WARFIELD GOT INJURED in game 1 of that season and could not play in the following game against Oakland. The Raiders, playing this home game at the very spacious (and totally sold-out) Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, won game 2 by 5 points. It is a FACT that the Dolphins were undefeated in both 1972 and 1973 in games started by Paul Warfield !!!
————-
OUT for tonight. Going to be a busy Monday at work. Enjoyed the convo!
Tim I hear Taco is on the way out. Not sure how reliable, but they said he’ll make a play, then disappear for too long.
Oh okay. I think that’s been the issue with him since he was drafted by the Cowboys in the 1st in 2017. Too up and down. He’ll have to change that to make the team but I could see them letting him compete. Who knows though.
2 more of those UDFAs are gone…Hartage and Hanks
You mean from last year?
Steve
The Davis pick happened right after Dobbins was off the board
We were probably going to take Dobbins there
Davis is actually probably our safer pick
He’s not a guy with a high ceiling but he’s a solid football player
I really like the pick
I thought the pick was a little bit of a reach, but I think the player will be good for us. Rumor was we were going to take Dobbins, and I was pissed, when I saw the Ravens took him.
Some of our other picks (although I love them)
Are kinda risky
Auston Jackson at 18
Iggy
Davis is our safest early pick
He may not be a special player
But he will be productive for us
I love the Iggy pick.
I was watching PFF analytics guys rip into teams for taking RBs in the 2nd
they say it doesn’t grade out well and generally not a well spent pick
Pft, do they have a hair stuck in their teeth? I really don’t pay much attention to what these guys say, they seem to come up with some stats based on information they don’t have. How do you measure a grade on an RB? Take for example D. Henry or even Ajayi for us our last playoff year, those guys basically carried their teams to the playoffs/playoff wins. How can anyone say a DT that plays for 10 years and does a serviceable job is more valuable than an RB that took his team on his back?
In other words these guys are taking stats and trying to create a narrative that they’re selling as fact.
Is it just me, and I know we feel this way every year after the draft, but since we all seem to be sold on Flores, does it seem different this time around? What I’m getting at is, doesn’t it feel like whoever we pick in the draft within reason we feel like Flores will put them in position to succeed? So the draft looks much better to us than it should.
It’s hard to get too excited about a draft, for most people (we aren’t most people), where there’s a lot of picks in the trenches and on D in general. I think we realize how important those unsexy picks can be.
I feel it too. Whatever “it” is. It feels different this time for sure.
It feels different because Flores got more out of a roster that many people thought would maybe win one game. Grier and Flores are absolutely on the same page. That’s the difference. And Ross signed off on the rebuild for them to do it their way.
I bet Harris also gets cut.
Who? lol
Also avery moss.
2020 projected OL:
LT Austin Jackson 6-5 322
LG Erick Flowers 6-6 329
C Ted Karras 6-4 305/Michael Deiter 6-5 310
RG Jesse Davis 6-6 325
RT Robert Hunt 6-5 323
We have a pretty big OL with some athleticism. We have to start knocking people off the ball in big spots, something we have not done well for a quite a few years. Obviously pass production is paramount and as a group that might take some time, but I think we got better.
It can’t be worse than last year, and Fitz seems to be able to maneuver around back there good enough to score lots of points, despite the lack of pass protection.
Yep and I’d get this new group going right away so when Tua takes over in 2021 it’s further along.
Piggy, Austin Jackson was mocked to us at both #18 and #26 for months – it seemed like it was Jackson/Swift or Swift/Jackson. He’s only 20 years old with pro bowl/all-pro upside. This dude can move for a big man and he has prototype size.
One of the funniest moments of the draft for me was we landed Tua at #5 without trading up but kind of scratched our heads because we took a LS in the 6th round. LOL
11 picks total. I told you 14-15 was too much but no…….. you guys did mocks with 3-4 trades for 17 prospects. LOL
Not being a jerk, just busting balls. 🙂
A couple of weeks ago they said they only wanted to draft 10 guys. Couldn’t see any reason why they’d lie about it, so I assumed that was true.
When I first heard it, all the rumors were flying around about trade ups in the first. I liked the later round trade ups better.
Thoughts on the Brandon Jones pick. With 2 or 3 shutdown CBs, we needed an in the box safety to play the run. I heard that’s what he was. After watching his game against LSU and OK ST, still don’t know what he is.
He seems to play a lot in the box and also covers TEs, but he’s not a big hitter, he may cover better. Can’t really get a read on him. Going to watch highlights.
They call him the leader of the D. I’ll call him a football player, plays the run, the pass, returns punts.
He seems to move around based on matchups – plays box, nickel/slot and CF.
2 QBs (one franchise and glass-like)
3 OL
3 DL (edge)
2 DB
1 LS
965,000 cases and counting in US
54,000 dead and counting in US
STATS only.
We just test our athletes…..testing, testing.
63 players from SEC
14 players from LSU
9 players from AL
One shy of last year’s record of 64 players.
The Big 12 (insert your favorite) is the BEST conference in the nation. 😉
KRISHNA: MUCH RESPECT to you and your points of view.
HOWEVER, I’ve got to disagree with your “Glass-Like” comments about TUA.
WHEN you play in the best and toughest conference in college football, YOU ARE GOING TO GET HIT!! To me, the best compliment I can give Tua is that he has rebounded from several injuries and, currently, IS STILL either the best or second best QB coming out of college THIS YEAR!!–I believe the offensive line Miami has put together in this draft has the potential to be one of the very best in the NFL. And I believe TUA’s NFL head coach IS BETTER than Tua’s college head coach (have we forgotten that SABAN was a collosal FLOP as an assistant at Cleveland and as a head coach with the Dolphins??) Flores and his staff will develop special schemes that will better protect whoever is Miami’s starting quarterback, NOW that we’ve drafted the O-Line studs who are capable of providing said protection.
The quality of a team’s O-Line is, perhaps, the #1 ingredient for keeping an NFL QB healthy. Flores now has the horses to do this.
The last time we had an OL we made the playoffs. Back in the 70s when the schedule came out I would compare the lines to see who we’d smash and who would gives us trouble. Nothing has changed for us.
Why is the SEC the best conference? They have the best lines. Why do a lot of their skill players fail in the NFL? In the NFL they don’t have the luxury of playing with great lines.
No one has better big uglies than the SEC. That won’t change no matter how their offenses evolve. It’s sad college programs do better at preparing OT than the NFL does but it is what it is.
😉
Miami has some edge guys this year
Should be fun to watch them play
Steve,
You’ve put more work in it than me but when you say we lack talent at the bottom, was it easy to get to the bottom 44 and then harder the last few spots? I think we will always have around 3-5 players that are possible churn targets depending on weekly needs but as long as we have a solid 44, we should be ok. Add 3rd QB, LS, P, K and we are already at 48 and within that number. Just wanted to hear your thoughts.
Since I have all the rookies making it, it was easy to get to about 50 counting the 3 STs guys. Really my problem at the bottom was I don’t know enough about the fringe 53ers. Take Taco, he led the team in sacks, but they say he’s hot for a short period (5%) then he falls off a cliff. I haven’t noticed him enough to judge for myself. Sieler on the other hand they say played solid, but again I haven’t really noticed his play. The DBs, Needham stood out the rest are just guys, but I don’t really have enough to go by. Team stats and how teams move the ball on us pretty much tells me the DBs were JAGS.
On O it’s much easier, not too hard to see the OL was a train wreck, and the skill players get the ball, so following the ball…
On all the drafted rookies making it, I think that was the idea behind only wanted to draft 10, that all were picked in spots to make the team accept maybe Perry, but I think he’ll be RB 3, so i have him making it too. Even LS he was needed.
Compare that to Wanny, and with there first pick in the draft, in the 3rd rd the MD select Eddie Moore special teams player out of Tenn.
Other 3rd day players, Kindley, Strowbridge and Weaver they’re all line depth, maybe Kindley starts, but at least line depth. I could easily see these guys making it without showing too much in camp.
Watching the Flores and Grier post draft presser, Flores said they drafted the guy they thought was the better player and not just the guy who was ready now. I mentioned during the draft, that they aren’t selling out to take players that will get us to the 2020 playoffs, they’re staying the course for the rebuild.
They said that had “fist pounding on the desk” moments, and i wonder if it wasnt the Isiah Wilson pick, when they traded back and then selected Iggy Mahogany
That was probably one, I was doing it too, the other was Baltimore selecting Dobbins.
But Iggy gives a man to man nightmare for our opponents, because the 3 should be tops in the league. Once Iggy gets acclimated.
I i know, love the pick, would have rather had Wilson, but im glad to have him. He is on the ascend too, started off a little bleh, but got better all year. He is going to give us a lot of flexibility in the secondary and in contract negotiations.
Oddly enough, i actually know, though very remotely, Lance Bass. He is from Laurel Mississippi, which is where my ex wife is from. My X went to grade school with him (though she was a couple of grades above him) and i met him once when he was in Laurel doing some sort of local event thing.
Small world.
Doesn’t surprise me one bit my niece that set it up. She’s got her hands on everything. The older sister got the full parent support to college, this one went to beauty school, then started her own business doing makeup and hair for weddings, and teaching it, and online videos, and was supposed to be in Europe now for some other venture.
Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention, but most often its the mother of personal drive. Good for her, thats the way to make it, it also keeps them motivated to keep pushing, because they appreciate the work they did to get there.
Business was so good her husband quit his job and is now working as her right hand man (her bitch)😁
From fake news NBC Sports
The offensive line improved with guard Soloman Kindley and center Blake Ferguson.
And you idiots thought he was an LS. SMH at you guys😉
To be fair, we have the best OL, DL, LB’s, S’s CB’s, and usually RB’s, and possibly the best WR’s. Looks like it might start being QB’s too. 🙂
I think Brandon Jones was a good pick considering how they like to have the D be a fluid look system. I could see packages with X, IGGY, Jones, Jones, Rowe and possible McCain too. Really depends how our DL does. If we get the pressure we want and containment, thats a sick little bee swarm. They could cover outlet even in that look.
I can see that being our dime package, they’re pretty versatile.
I sure hope there’s a training camp this year.
Who knows though, if guys being at home and in their playbooks and film study is better than OTAs. Get the mental part down first.
I thought about this after the draft, i mean rookie mini camp is mostly walk through and classroom work. Thats easy to get organized remotely. The other stuff, a lot is grou[p based and could be done remotely. Its not until OTA’s and PS where shit gets real and pads come on, so i think we can get a lot accomplished remotely, and maybe by the time the pads need to go on, there will be a way they can practice. Maybe they get tested before they show up, they stay in clean facilities, and they dont leave except for practices.
The thing Flores said about taking the better player and not the guy ready now, kind if explains the Jackson pick.
Iggy’s coverage is so good, even when the receiver catches the ball he’s all over them.
In contrast the year we selected X, I was looking at CBs. Ely RoadApple in particular couldn’t cover for shit and they had him going 6th in mocks.
Yeah i didnt like Apple, but then again, the guy i did like for us, Hargreaves (who i still believe was our target), hasnt lived up to his draft pick either. Hargreaves in college stuck tyo people like glue, good press man, so i dunno if he has been put in a bad system for his skills or what, but he definitely isnt hitting the ground running in the NFL.
I just remember all the CBs I looked at that year looked bad, didn’t watch X predraft. Kind of like the DTs I looked at this year, but DTs aren’t on an island. Run D has to be 7+ guys working together or it’s generally poor.
I hate PI calls in college. They said uncatchable, so no PI. How about no PI, because there wasn’t PI on the play. All the great NFL CBs force the WRs to the sideline, just like Iggy did, great play.
He controlled the position with his body. Textbook perfect defense.
Asshole current Fins are on notice😉 I don’t know that we have any on the team though. The Landrys of the team are gone.
Golf should be the first sport back to playing. They are spaced out. They can do it without galleries. The PGA/LPGA can give more money to the courses who loose that revenue. I am one that likes to watch golf. The perv in me even likes to watch LPGA. These women golfers are getting hotter every year. Not like the butch ones you used to see in the 80’s and 90’s. This is one of my favs on the LPGA. LOL
So what is it about the LPGA that you like?
Here’s my $50, I’m out.
You mean they aught to put out some more Swim Suit issues while sports are shut down right????? 😉
What’s the swim suit for?
Sometimes I overlook that it takes a while for rookies to get acclimated, and just want to throw them right in and discard last years crop like Deiter. He’s likely the guy that will have the most improvement from last year.
I think there’s room on the roster for a run stuffer like UDFAs Jones or Lima. We don’t currently have one on the roster. I thought Davis was that guy when he was drafted, but he seems to be in the mold of our order DTs, versatile inside and out.
If the Dolphins are intent on leaving Jesse Davis among the team’s best five linemen, Deiter’s only chances to stay in the starting lineup loom with pushing Karras at center or possibly staving of Robert Hunt at right guard. For what the Dolphins are paying Flowers, he’s assured a starting spot. And Deiter, for his flexibility, isn’t a fit outside at tackle.
So, with the 2020 NFL Draft in the rear view, Deiter must gear up for a big battle this summer. His starting job depends on him showing well.
He should gear up every year, no free rides.
I think his best bet is center
I am not so sure about his comment about For what the Dolphins are paying Flowers, he’s assured a starting spot
I don’t think Flores thinks that way. If he sees Deiter playing better they will play Deiter and trade or sit Flowers.
Agreed. No way this coach is going to start an inferior player simply because he was signed for more. If Flowers gets outplayed, then he won’t be starting.
Yes, but it’s his to lose, and he’s likely going to have to do a lot to lose it early.
He may be penciled in as the starter, but it’ll come down to who plays better, as it should.
We took one Jones step back this year, and maybe 3 forward😉
Who’s next Dow.
You do pencil in players for spots and you can bet Flower is penciled in there. If he gets beat out he gets beat out and i think that can happen, but like Steve said, he will have to lose the spot, its his as of right now.
D says:
April 27, 2020 at 1:01 pm
You do pencil in players for spots and you can bet Flower is penciled in there. If he gets beat out he gets beat out and i think that can happen, but like Steve said, he will have to lose the spot, its his as of right now.
——————-
All I said is nobody is ‘assured’ of anything, the best players will play, directly refuting the USA article that says Flowers is assured of a starting spot, which is stupid. Or rather I was agreeing to Rock’s repudiation of it.
My guess is as it stands right now, this is the OL they plan to start with, and by start i mean TC. Jackson-Flowers-Karras-????-Hunt. Id like to pencil in Kindley there, but i think that one with Davis being a possibility is the most open for competition. I cant really pencil anyone in there, and expect that to be open compuetition at the start of camp.
Still look at our depth situation Deiter, who can play OG and OC, Davenport who can play either tackle (i think he is better at RT from what i saw when we traded for him last year) Calhoun who can backup either OG spot or OC in a pinch. and whoever loses out at RG, be it Davis (who can fill in at RG and RT) Kindley (at either OG spot) that gives us some serious options if something unforseen occurs.
Oh and Isadora at either OG
We usually keep 9-10 OL, so Davenport, Jackson, Flowers, Deiter, Karras, Kindley, Davis, Hunt, Calhoun, and Isadora? If so all have starter experience. Well minus the rooks.
I can see 10 making it, with all the new faces.
QB(2): Fitz, Tua
RB(3): Howard, Breida, Perine
WR(6): Parker, Williams, Hurns, Wilson, Perry, Grant
TE/FB (4): Gesicki, Smythe, Cox, Roberts
OL(10): Davenport, Jackson, Flowers, Deiter, Karras, Kindley, Davis, Hunt, Calhoun, and Isadora
DL(8): Charlton, Lawson, Stowbridge, Godchaux, Davis, Wilkins, Ogbah, Weaver
LB(8): Biegel, Van Noy, Van Ginkle, McMillian, Baker, Guiger-Hill, Roberts, Equaveon
DB(9): Rowe, McCain, Jones, Jones, Howard, Iggy Mahogany, Fejedelem, (Needham or Colbert)
So they could drop off Cox from Offense and keep both Colbert and Needham, or add to the LB’s keeping one of the Harris’. They could also drop off Calhoun or Isadora on the OL and keep Cox, or add in another RB, in that case id also keep Gaskins, or keepp a thrid QB.
Perine got cut yesterday.
It’s Leach and/or Gaskin with Perry somehow in the mix
Didnt realize, he was our better downhill grinder back. Guess Howard has to get the ugly yards on his own now.
You mean Laird?
Ford? Much more talented, than some on the list.
Sieler?
I do think on the DL there is a possibility that if they dont really think Taco is consisten enough, like reported above, then Benito Jones has a strong chance of making it. Hell he might have a chance to make it over Stowbridge, so thats a battle to watch for.
Piggy, let me say you have does your people proud, giving me at least to pause when thinking about eating pork……….with exception of bacon. Even if you were the last pig on earth, and with my deep admiration for you, your ability to fly and entertain with silly stories, id still harvest it from your underside while you were still squealing to makes a BLT or bacon and fried egg sammich. God those are so good!
My people are not people
They are porkind
Pork rinds you say? lol
OOOOOH Pork rinds!
Ballage is still on the roster too. He would have to really show sumpin fast though in order to stay on the roster. He was so underwhelming last season
Yeah he was a other regime’s guy, so i think he is on a short leash since they didnt pick him.
Chris Grier was the GM but he was buying for Gase, so yes, other guys pick
I know Weaver will be moving around but I wonder if he’ll see a lot of action at ROLB
I put him in a DL spot since we are loaded at LB and i think i saw him with hands down on a lot of his plays.
Rolling On the Lawn Barking ? 🐕
Lol, trying to listen to the Phinsiders, about the draft. Every other sentence is versa-TILE this and mo-BILE that. I wish these media guys knew how to pronunciate in U.S. English a little better, but then again U75 for a reason.🤔
That is how you pronounce them in Florida. You must be Aye-talian.
Look it up its wrong
Steve,
I know you’re just screwing around, not looking to debate it, lol, but you see that kind of stuff all over the country and the world. Regional dialect and parlance changes common words and pronunciation.
My grandma is from Tennessee and has always said ‘warsh’ the clothes and other things like that, not because she’s stupid, but because that was the dialect she grew up using.
Lol, your grandmother probably isn’t on tv. You’d think someone from their organization would correct their ignorance🤔
Yah, you know I like to bust the balls of the media, some of those guys are so arrogant.
Byron Jones and Brandon Jones will be on the roster. Know that when you have two same last names they put first initial and then last name on the jersey. Do these guys get their full names?
Br Jones and By Jones (not a good name for a CB, to have on his jersey😉)
LOL… not a good jersey for a CB at all.
But wouldn’t it be then “Bry Jones” and “Bra Jones”?
My disylexia got in the way with the last comment. Assuming they just just go to the letter when they don’t match you are right.
And you forgot Be Jones, Benito. He’s got a shot.
How do the sacks figure into that number? I would assume a sack is a hit.
D says:
April 27, 2020 at 1:01 pm
You do pencil in players for spots and you can bet Flower is penciled in there. If he gets beat out he gets beat out and i think that can happen, but like Steve said, he will have to lose the spot, its his as of right now.
——————-
All I said is nobody is ‘assured’ of anything, the best players will play, directly refuting the USA article that says Flowers is assured of a starting spot, which is stupid. Or rather I was agreeing to Rock’s repudiation of it.
There are projections and then there is performance.
Yep
D – Had to go out into the apocalypse to get a few things. I’m really thinking Weaver will get a fair amount of play at OLB. Van Noy will be at LOLB, so that pretty leaves Biegel, Van Ginkel and Eguavoen at ROLB, all totally unproven. I think Weaver should get a shot there. At END we have more guys, like Lawson, Wilkins, Ogbah, Strowbridge, Taco etc. I think he’ll work at both spots, more likely on the D-line in even sets, but not in odd fronts. Thoughts?
I think Weaver will play the same role that we’ve seen Beigel play.
Steve – You’ll be happy to know that Dave Gettleman pronounces versatile the way you think he should. He just “mispronounces” everything else. 🙂
Lol
LOL
Pig without pants, you figured out how to do it outside.
I’m just glad I remembered shoes this time
Spread the word
https://www.real-fix.com/health/pt-claims-swallowing-semen-can-help-you-avoid-coronavirus/
I just texted both my wife and my girlfriend this important lifesaving link. Cheers 🙂
I’m printing the story to being to bars with me when they re-open
Good idea. We should all do our part…
LOL
So is this how you have been avoiding it in the city with more cases than countries?
We have plenty of competition at Safety. Corner too.
Tim – Sorry, running around today – I agree with what you said about Biegel, that’s how I thought we would use Weaver.
No need to apologize. I view Van Noy, Beigel, Van Ginkel and Weaver playing similar roles. Lawson and Ogbah may line up the same way at times, but I also see them playing more hand in the ground DE as well. Then you have guys like Taco, Davis and Strowbridge who have the size like traditional DEs in the mix.
With the edge guys we’ve added I think Godchaux and Wilkins play inside most of the time and Davis will play there as well. Maybe a guy like Benito Jones earns a spot as an interior DL.
We have a lot more talent and depth now at DT, DE and Edge. Then we added some traditional type LBs in Grugier-Hill and Roberts to join Baker, McMillan and Eguavoen.
Pretty amazing how quickly we transformed the front 7 in such a short period of time. The competition should be fierce because it’s not likely they all make the 53.
FN Brett Favre😁 says to the ball boy, hey, do you have any left handed footballs?
Wonder, if the team is going to order some for Tua🤔
Tunsil speechless over his contract, he negotiated without an agent. Just goes to show you the Texans have lost all sense of reality, between this and Nuke.
Lol just saw something online thatade me lol. Jameis Winston, who the Saints are supposedly pursuing has completed more passes to Saints players than Taysom Hill, whom the just signed to an extension. 10 passes completed to Saints players for Winston and only 7 for Hill.
I think Winston to the Saints is a done deal.
ANY of youze guyz watching the replay of a Monday Night game between the Buffalo Bills (featuring a very young Marshawn Lynch) and the Dallas Cowboys (featuring a baby faced Dallas tight end named Jason Witten). This 2007 game was the FIRST TIME in 13 years the Bills had been on Monday Night Football!! Just in case you don’t want to stay up to see who won this game, I’ll tell you that the Bills found a way to blow a big lead late in the game to South America’s team!
—————–
I’ve got to admit I get a perverse pleasure out of seeing Bills fans’ suffer yet another crushing, heart-breaking loss on national television!!! – – Brings back my wonderful memories of the 1970’s when the Dolphins went 20-0 vs. Buffalo over a 10-year period (which included OJ Simpson’s entire career with Buffalo!!) Just remember, the “O” in Buffalo stands for Super Bowl wins!!!
I’m glad they got rid of that stupid force out rule on a catch. TO catches a ball on the left sideline gets his left foot down, but before he can get his right foot down they knock him out of bounds. TO is saying force out, but they say no. So I guess the natural movement of his right foot coming down is on the left side of his left foot.
I think these officials just make homer calls sometimes, fir whatever reason.🤔
Watching the first jets game. The stupidity in the last 2 minutes of the first half is baffling for 2 NFL teams. First Darnold under pressure without control, just throws it up and its int by Wiltz at the one. We get the ball, the lame ass center doesn’t get the ball out of his ass, Fitz recovers it at the half yrd line, then pulls it into the endzone, ball spotted at the half yrd line, but stupid ass Fitz calls timeout with 4 seconds left, play is reviewed and it’s a safety. Jets get the ball at 50 after the weak ass punt, then kick an FG.
Why would Fitz call a TO, when he knows it was a safety? Why would you punt the ball after a safety, when you punter can’t kick it more than 50 yards? Seiple punted it all the way to the goal line in a memorable Monday Night game against the Steelers, with the score 30-26, we had led 30-0.