The 2022 NFL Draft hasn’t happened yet, but I figured let’s take a look at the current state of our division. The Bills were aggressive in free agency as were the Miami Dolphins. The New York Jets were somewhat quiet in free agency but they are primed to add talent in the upcoming draft. As of right now, the Jets hold picks #4 and #10 in RD 1, picks #35 and #38 in RD 2, #69 in RD3, two 4th RD picks #111 and #117 and two in RD 5, #146 and #163. So four picks in the top 40, and then an additional 2 picks each in round 4 and 5. The Patriots have a pretty standard draft selection available with one pick each through the first 5 rounds and then one additional 6th rounder for 7 total picks. The Patriots pick in RD 1 #21, #54 in RD 2, #85 in RD 3, #127 in RD 4, #170 in RD 5, and then 2 picks in RD 6 at #200 and #210. The Bills have 8 selections in the 2022 Draft, two in RD 6, and one in each other round, RD 1 #25, RD 2 #57, RD 3 #89, RD 4 #130, RD 5 #168, in RD 6 2 selections at #185 and #203, and in RD 7 #231. The Dolphins as we all know sent two of our top picks RD1 and RD 2 to KC for the services of one Tyreek Hill, WR.
The Bills struck first in free agency with a big move for their defense, acquiring Von Miller formerly of the SB Champion LA Rams. I was a little surprised that Miller left the Rams, but he did go to the AFC super bowl favorite Buffalo Bills. Miller signed a 6YR/$120M deal. The Bills aren’t the unanimous favorite, but they are among the favorites. The Bills added depth at QB behind Josh Allen trading for Case Keenum and signing Matt Barkley, They added a very good slot receiver in Jamison Crowder, a solid OG in Roger Saffold, a pretty good TE although an underachieving one in O.J. Howard. The Bills also brought back former Bill and former Dolphins DT Jordan Phillips. They added Dolphins fave RB Duke Johnson for depth, as well as former Dolphins C Greg Mancz. The Bills are definitely an elite team as currently constituted, we’ll see if their draft can put them over the top.
The Patriots were not big spenders in free agency this year. Last year, uncharacteristically they were very aggressive but have settled back into just filling depth, and not going for the high ticket players. They brought in RB/WR Ty Montgomery from the Saints and re-signed their own RB James White. They did also re-sign OT Trent Brown. They added QB Brian Hoyer as a backup for Mac Jones. They re-signed S Devin McCourty and added FA CB Malcolm Butler from the Cards. There were a few mor low key signings as well, and due to BB being the HC and GM, the Patriots are still ranked as one of the better AFC teams, usually ranked higher than our own Dolphins.
The Jets fortified their O-line by signing OG Laken Tomlinson (who I really wanted!) early in free agency. They signed TE C.J. Ozumah who showed promise last year for the Bengals. They re-signed WR/KR/PR Braxton Berrios (Another player coveted by FU bloggers). Theyt also brought in another TE, former Vikes TE Tyler Conklin. They re-signed all purpose RB Tevin Coleman and brought back flash in the pan QB Mike White as well as long in the tooth QB Joe Flacco. Their big move was Tomlinson but their fireworks will be in the draft.
So right now, the Bills, who already had one of the best teams in the AFC got stronger on defense by adding one of the best pass rushers in the game in Von Miller. The Bills also have 8 picks in this draft. The Jets are definitely going to add lots of high ranked prospects from the draft having 4 picks in the top 40 picks. The Patriots while not having a reputation of drafting especially well, and this year received ZERO compensatory picks, no doubt due to their free agent spending spree of 2021, still have 7 picks and the rest of free agency including post June 1st cuts to improve their team. Our Dolphins are low on picks with just 5, and 2 of those are in RD 7, with the first not coming until RD 3, pick #102. There’s always the possibility of trading up and trading either a player or future assets. I don’t say no to any of those possibilities. The idea is to use assets to acquire players that can help the team now, and in the future. It doesn’t matter to me if we use future assets, we’re ready to compete now, it just accelerates the schedule. If there’s a player we feel will make us better now and in the future, go get him.
We closed the gap on the Bills, but if I’m going to be completely honest, until I see us play a competitive game against them, they are light years ahead of us. We haven’t really belonged on the same playing field with them the last few years, losing every game, including a 35-0 drubbing and an ugly 26-11 defeat last season.In 202, Ryan Fitzpatrick lost a shootout 31-28 and then we all remember the shellacking we took Week 17 with the playoffs on the line for us, 56-26. In 2019 we lost 31-21 and 37-20. You have to go back to November of 2018 where slid past the Bills 21-17, but lost the 2nd meeting Week 17 to start their dominant run, 42-17. We played well against the Patriots and Jets, but those Bills will hinder our playoff chances if we can’t take on from them. Can’t count on sweeping the Pats and Jets every year either. It will be interesting to see how much the Jets improve as they surround their QB with upgrades from the draft. They will almost certainly be selecting a WR and possibly on OL early. They need a pass rusher too and that could also be an early selection. If we want to compete in an ultra competitive AFC with teams like the Bills, Chiefs, Bengals, Titans, Raiders, Broncos and Chargers, and any other upstarts, we’re going to have once again do well in our own division, so at least 4-2 at a minimum.
#stangerstrong
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I lit my Patience Brigade membership card on fire to light the fuse of the last blow up so I am no longer a card carrying member.
It was dipped in Homeraide first for extra combustion
PAGE TURN!
The current version of the Patience Brigade are the folks who are convinced Tua will be elite (or already is when you factor in excuses). Those also tend to be the folks who believe we are a lock for the playoffs this year.
NO MORE EXCUSES FOR DA TUA MAN DIS YEAR111111!!!!! NONE!!!
How much did they charge you for your course at the OD school of blogging? 🙂
I see the connection forming🥳
“Well, number one, I mean a complete freak athlete, He can do whatever he wants on a football field, which not all guys can do. But, again, I’m going to go back to speed, high-motor, relentless pursuit, a natural pass rusher who can run like that who’s so physically gifted. He’s got all the traits that you can’t teach, so that’s why he’s a first-round pick.”
— co-director of player personnel Adam Engroff on Jaelan Phillips
Thanks Naples
stangerx says:
April 19, 2022 at 11:28 am (Edit)
The current version of the Patience Brigade are the folks who are convinced Tua will be elite (or already is when you factor in excuses). Those also tend to be the folks who believe we are a lock for the playoffs this year.
———————
I am convinced Tua is our franchise QB but Hulk hardly patient. Hulk’s impatience because FO still leaves Tua’s blindside to Jackson or Eichenberg. This make Hulk angry
I love ‘choose your box’ arguments…
is this in reply to the cheerleader post above?
LOL, it should be
Steve/Mike – Yes, as owner of the Dolphins and the legal business entity that runs them Ross is the one that ultimately pays the signing bonuses and the rest of the salaries too. But the way I read it, M13 is saying he is paying the signing bonuses out of his pocket as in outside of the cap as a way of getting around the cap. I could be interpreting it wrong, which is why I asked.
He just meant he was paying a lot of cash upfront
Not sure if any teams still have problems paying signing bonuses, but a short while back it was a rumor the Steelers weren’t active in FA, because Rooney didn’t want to or didn’t have the money to pay it
Mike – I had a father in law once that used to put a shot of Jack in his cornflakes every morning.
At least it wasn’t piss😉
Boy, this guy on PhinPhanatic sure sounds like he loves the taste of Josh Allen’s jock.
https://phinphanatic.com/2022/04/19/3-reasons-tua-tagovailoa-will-not-josh-allen-type-leap/
I mostly agree with what he said
The Patience Brigade wasn’t about any player being elite or the team making the playoffs. It was about being patient with rebuilding and the development of young players.
But that was back in 2008-2009. How long can one wait?
I’ll answer that myself NOT THAT LONG. I was in my 30’s then. I’m in my 50’s now. Patience has run out! LOL
Bring me a winner or bring me Chris Grier’s head on a plate!!!!!!
Well as you’ve seen I think we’re all in to win now and would should be a playoff team with our roster. It has nothing to do with patience anymore. We’re past the latest rebuild. It’s time to be a contender.
Phelon – gotcha on the cap.
Jack in cornflakes? Yup, that’s an alcoholic. 🤪
Dude would drink one shot an hour. Said he never got drunk that way.
Reasons we won’t make the playoffs or win a playoff game
1) we’re the unluckiest team besides the jets
2) just when the Pat’s dynasty ended we went right into the Bills dynasty
3) we finally have a good team and the AFC is better than its ever been
4) too many FU fan distractions🤪
We re-signed DT Benito Jones.
https://twitter.com/MathisReports/status/1516463079780929539?s=20&t=pVUVZRWNnRg-g2bX1YInXQ
Maybe Jones will get to play this year? He played in 6 games in 2020 but had no stats. I don’t know if he actually played or was just dressed. Nothing last season.
Wait, NFL network was wrong. He had ONE tackle.
He played 48 snaps in 2020 but was on the PS all of last year.
YouTube had a guy doing film study on him he said, Jones isn’t a tackle might be ok inside and had film to prove what he was saying
Wrong Jones
Although it’s only spring practice, a few of those videos of Tua throwing to the WRs shows the base under center 3-5 step drops and the ball is out. I expect a lot of that this year off the running game.
I guess we need to have a trigger warning if the term ‘all in’ is going to be used? 😂
All in on the trigger warning
lol @ pig
NFL Live has a piece on Ryan Clark saying, Fins to make playoffs
In one of the highlights they show Austin Jackson blocking, he comes flying back and his hit was like pulling a punch, no follow thru or sustained block
He really needs to be coached up
Herd – There are lots of triggers on this blog, but “All in” seems to be the new hot one. lol
Needs in the draft after the Benito Jones signing:
backup center
backup DE to Ogbah
big bruiserback for running out the clock late
ultra fast WR6 w/ KR/PR chops
backup CB with potential
Starting RT
Starting OC
You don’t need a big bruiser back to run the clock out. You can use a committee to do that. Just keep running your scheme. Yards are yards. It doesn’t matter how. If we can find a physical RB with good feet great! But in our system you have to be quick.
RIP Deuce.
pheloniusphish says:
April 19, 2022 at 5:05 am
Where do you get this? I am pretty sure that’s not allowed under the cap rules. If owners were allowed to pay bonuses “out of pocket” it would defeat the purpose of having a cap.
—————-
I was referring to the flexibility of moving signing bonuses between years signed for, thus opening more cap space to any given year. I should have stated GUARANTEED $$$ (not Bonus $$$) promised by Steve Ross that he’s paying out over recent FA signings.
My bad for the wrong wording (I accept fault), but the concept remains: Ross is paying to win NOW, not 3 or 4 years down the road. YES… we’re more or less going ‘all-in’, and we’re following the model set forth by the likes of the LA Rams over the last couple of years.
The only similarity with the Rams is making moves to try to win. We didn’t trade big for a CB, QB and Edge. We traded for Hill. The rest was draft and then targeting FAs that fit what we want to do. We haven’t traded draft capital like they have.
You just watch… the Rams are going to outbid us for Melvin Ingram. But HOW?!! Because they are moving $$$ around like we’re just now beginning to learn to do.
The Rams are on the cutting edge of moving $$$ around, and that’s why they can sign like 4 Pro-Bowlers every off-season.
Tim,
I know this isn’t lost on you: both Iggy and Austin Jackson are now a mere 22 years after playing 2 NFL seasons.
I still see hope in both, yet WAY more so with Jackson than Iggy at this point.
I also issue caution with cutting Iggy too early, being he plays a skill position that generally takes about 3 years to master.
WHAT IF… both Jackson and Iggy turn out to be worthy of their 1st round status? We might be even STRONGER this year than we ever thought possible!
Agreed. But it’s time as former 3rd year 1st round picks to solidify themselves.
Correct… 3rd year, they’d better start showing their worth.
M13, we don’t need Ingram. He would be nice vet depth but we do have edge guys. The Rams lost Von Miller.
And the Bills gained Von Miller. 😦
I’m well aware but we were talking about the Rams.
People are sleeping on Jaelan Phillips. I think he’s going to become our T.J Watt. He’s just getting started. Not many guys his size and strength that can move like him.
YUP on Jaelen Phillips!
GM Tim,
You get the ‘green light’ to sign one more FA for our Miami Dolphins. Who do ya sign, man?
I don’t have one. I would dip back into the draft if one of my coveted prospects is there at a sweet spot. 😉
I think we did enough in FA.
I’ve got zero respect for Bleacher Report. Yes… I’ve taken shots at Austin Jackson, so as to call him “Austin Sackson” this past year. However, the kid is young, strong, and now he finally has a real team of O-Line supporting coaching.
I think he has a breakout year this season under Mike McDaniel, Hulkster.
Even my guy Matt Miller jumped ship from Bleacher Report. Now he works for ESPN.
The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Jackson blows and relying on him or Eichenberg for that matter to protect Tua’s blindside is a big mistake
Tim Knight says:
April 19, 2022 at 10:08 pm
I don’t have one. I would dip back into the draft if one of my coveted prospects is there at a sweet spot. 😉
I think we did enough in FA.
———–
Interesting! As for me, I’m still wanting either Melvin Ingram (maybe Ant Barr) or JC Tretter… only one. Honestly, I’m really liking what I’m hearing from Chris Grier regarding Michael Deiter (<– my guy), so perhaps we needn't sign Tretter after all.
Tell me! Who are some of your coveted prospects!
I don’t really have one, it’s about what the team thinks.
Here’s an example I’ve thought of. What if Nakobe Dean is there at #10 or whatever in the 2nd round. Oh wow, had no idea he’d still be there. We have a 1st round grade on him and he’s a Baker type player. Let’s see what we can do. He’s a speed LB with upside and will play STs right away. Let’s not act like backup and STs with future upside doesn’t have value. He’d be a premium backup now and part of the defense sooner than later.
He makes you better.
You’re not wrong on Nakobe, but the price to trade up for him will be tragic to our future draft capital.
If he’s there at #10 in the 2nd round and we trade our 3rd #102 and one of our 1st round picks in 2023 is that tragic? We didn’t trade for him for one year. He’ll be under contract through 2025.
Just an example. That type of thing is what I mean with trading back into this year’s draft.
M13, I’m gonna homer it up even more. Jevon Holland is our Ed Reed. He’s the real deal as is Jaylen Waddle at WR. I think we landed the mother load with those 3 last year.
I don’t disagree… not in the least. The future is looking hella good.
Ken says:
April 19, 2022 at 10:22 pm
The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Jackson blows and relying on him or Eichenberg for that matter to protect Tua’s blindside is a big mistake
—————-
The best indicator of the present is present behavior. 😉
Let us hope that Mike McDaniel can bring out the very best in Jackson and Eich. If not… FAILURE.
It would truly SUCK if Jackson and Eich became FAILURES.
Became? They already are. We needed 4 new OL this offseason. We got 2 but I hope we are not or else the OL will be a real Achilles heel on what is likely the most talented team we fielded since 1994
We’ll see what happens, Bro. I have FAITH that McDaniel can fix these two (Jackson and Eich).
Too early to write them off.
WAY too early to write them off.
Geez Ken you’re tough grader. Eich has ONE year, AJ TWO with crap coaching.We also have others waiting in the wings. OL will be fine. No more CoCo either.
Let’s just say it’s this.
LT Armstead
LG Collins
C Deiter
RG Hunt
RT?
Jackson and Eichenberg aren’t even penciled in and Jesse Davis is no longer a part of it. The OL is not the same and I wonder about Kindley.
I meant Conner Williams not Collins. LOL
We knew who you meant.
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden_/status/1516453807915520000
Ken would this work?
Armstead
Williams
Tretter
Dieter
Hunt
I think we’ll be fine with this one below
and
I think this is what the FO is planning at this moment:
Armstead
Williams
Dieter
Hunt
Jackson
I do think that’s what we’re going to try, but Eichenberg is in the mix for that RT spot, and even if Eich doesn’t win, he gives us better depth than we’ve had.
I think Jackson has quicker feet and more agility all around than Eich,
so he’ll win the job and do well in this offense.
I think the HC will be forced to play Jackson at LT a few games,
and thus Eich @ RT,
if Terron’s history is any indication.
Ken says:
April 19, 2022 at 7:54 pm
Starting RT
Starting OC
Reply
LOL @ Ken
Sorry pal, those guys are already on the roster.
That is my concern
Why I think we need to draft a BruiserBack such as Zamir White
is partly for short yardage power for 1st downs and on the goal line.
(We don’t have one on the roster unless you count Doaks.)
… …
It’s also to chew up clock whenever we need to run off some minutes
to give the D a rest or to keep an opponent’s hot offense on the bench,
say at the end of the first half.
… …
And it’s also to run it down their throat late in a game and break their spirit.
… …
Except for Doaks, all 4 of our RBs are about the size of CBs.
That’s great for speed and catching the ball, but that’s tough on their bodies.
It’s a 17 game season,
and I want Mostert healthy in December.
… (and January and February … Go Dolphins.)
This is why I disagreed that we upgraded at RB this offseason. You’ve got a guy who’s had a decade in the league in Mostert with one barely good season and you brought in Edmonds who’s a worse pure runner and receiver than Duke Johnson. People keep saying that Gaskin is our #3 now and that proves we upgraded, but he was already basically our 4th running back by season’s end. Ahmed was getting more time than he was. It should also tell us something that the Dolphins are still bringing in running back draft prospects for visits and interviews.
As for 3rd downs and goal lines, improved blocking should help there. We also have a fullback on the roster now along with a coach who understands how to work a running game. That being said, we won’t need to run it on those downs as we should have some good play action calls in those situations as well where a TE or FB slips out and is wide open for the conversion.
FB?
What does that even stand for?
Is that some new position from some exotic new playbook
our new HC invented?
I’ll have to see that in a game to believe it’ll work.
Only 17 teams even had one of those on their roster last year. (PFF)
btw
Ahmed was a healthy scratch for the last 4 games of 2021.
Not injured, yet not even dressed out.
He only appeared in 12 games all year, ran for only 149 yds and no TDs.
He did not pass Gaskin on the depth chart at the end of the season,
although Duke Johnson certainly did,
by virtue of Duke’s hard-nosed, possession style running inside
and ability to score from inside the 5 yd line,
but he is not on the Miami team.
Here is a rundown of Ahmed’s very disappointing 2021 season.
2.8 yds/carry
Blame it on the OL?
https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/salvon-ahmed-player
Well I stand corrected on the end of the season, but there were definitely times during the middle and the start of our win streak where he was more involved than Gaskin was. The point being that we truly didn’t “upgrade” at running back.
Duke Johnson became the lead back at the end of the season. Naples, I agree we could use a physical back, since we are devoid of one. I also like Zamir White, he’s that bigger, physical guy
I want to see this from Wilkens to Gesicki this season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcuenyI-PKM
Is there a Mike Alstott in this draft? Because that’s what I want on this team
Funny you should mention it!
I thought you were answering my question. He’s a bit taller and lighter to be a true Alstott. Plus he needs to wear those oversized pads to make him look even bigger lol. Wouldn’t be a bad late round pick, but doubt we are looking at him.
102.Isaiah Thomas EDGE Oklahoma
125.Braxton Jones OT Southern Utah
224.James Empey OC BYU
247.Zander Horvath RB Purdue
Zander Horvath
RB Purdue
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 229 | RAS: 9.83
When Purdue running back Zander Horvath broke his fibula in the 49-0 win over UConn earlier this season, college football fans and NFL Draft analysts were deprived of the opportunity to further study a rare creature in his natural habitat.
Horvath plays the game with a physicality that you’d expect from a 6’3″, 230-pound running back. Yet, he combines that physicality with an athleticism associated with a smaller framed athlete. The Purdue RB also has the hands of a wide receiver while possessing the blocking ability that most playmakers can only dream of.
At the time of his injury, Horvath averaged 4.6 yards per carry and 9.0 yards per reception for his career. While he has played exclusively as a running back for the Boilermakers, his size and skill set should see him effortlessly transition to fullback in the NFL like former Purdue RB Mike Alstott did for Tampa Bay.
Tim Knight says:
April 19, 2022 at 9:28 pm
You don’t need a big bruiser back to run the clock out. You can use a committee to do that. Just keep running your scheme. Yards are yards. It doesn’t matter how. If we can find a physical RB with good feet great! But in our system you have to be quick.
I agree, we don’t need a big back
Tim Knight says:
April 19, 2022 at 9:36 pm
The only similarity with the Rams is making moves to try to win. We didn’t trade big for a CB, QB and Edge. We traded for Hill. The rest was draft and then targeting FAs that fit what we want to do. We haven’t traded draft capital like they have.
I agree again, thanks Tim, didn’t have to write out a lengthy response to either of these posts
We seem to be on the same page, sans all-in
Jones was on the Dolphins’ practice squad for the entire 2021 NFL Season.
Jones will will be on the Dolphins PS all of 2022
Depth signing for injury purposes
Sure the light may come on in camp and he might make the team, but doubt it’s the plan
Lol, that picture says it all, since we have no draft picks
I just wanna see if he’ll be wearing a suit with a baseball cap.
After the first month of the season, the training wheels seemed to fall off for the former Oregon star, as he became a fixture all over the field, making plays in every tier of the defense. Holland showcased his versatility and range on Thursday Night Football at home against the Baltimore Ravens.
The real reason our D picked up the slack in the 2nd half, along with Phillips hitting his stride, not because of Flores or someone else calling the plays
But whoever came up with the gameplan against the Ravens…can’t give them enough props
My guess is it was a collaborative effort after, likely Flo said we need to bring the heat against Lamar
LMAO!
sounds like a good plan
or …
bluffing
What a maroon Joe, of course that’s what they said
When asked what he thought of Tua?
Candidate A: he’s got the weakest arm in the league and throws too many bad passes, and can’t get anything on the deeps throws unless he gears up
Candidate B: I like Tua, but we’re going to have to replace him in 2023
Candidate C: Tua set your franchise back 5 yrs, but I’m going to fix it
GM Chris Grier is meeting with the media for his pre-draft press conference – a thread of the highlights:
9:00 AM · Apr 20, 2022·Twitter Web App
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Travis Wingfield
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CG opens his availability with congrats to the Heat and Panthers, the respective 1 seeds in the NBA and NHL Eastern conferences. Included Inter Miami – “it’s a good time to be a South Florida sports fan.”
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Asked about social media, CG says his son keeps him posted. Said his son told him before the Hill and Armstead moves, everyone in South Florida hated him (laughs). Then, after the moves, his son told him, “now everyone loves you.”
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CG says multiple teams called on DeVante Parker but the Patriots were the most aggressive. Says the team wanted to do right by DeVante, too. Getting that third round pick was very important, CG says.
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CG says he still believes in building through the draft but also wants to always remain aggressive. The ability to get young players, as young as we are, and having the two first rounders in 2023 enabled us to be that aggressive. Says they were looking at multiple vet players.
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CG says when you have so few picks you need to make the most of them and make sure the fit on the roster is right, that the role is well-defined.
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CG says the O-line is one of the strongest positions in the draft, says there could be some finds all the way through the mid rounds. Also mentions pass rushers as a strength of this draft, but reiterates O-line again.
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CG says Mike McDaniel and QB Coach Darrell Bevell have been raving about QB Tua Tagovailoa. Says that was a big emphasis in getting Mike McDaniel and his system, in addition to adding pieces on offense.
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“Trading those picks had nothing to do with how the draft looked, it was the opportunity to acquire Tyreek Hill, which was the special talent we were looking for.”
Travis Wingfield
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CG says the Dolphins haven’t changed their process in the absence of those early picks. Scouts, coaches, front office is still going on the road and meeting with players.
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CG says that Tyreek Hill made a play in practice yesterday that had the Dolphins buzzing a little bit – “look at this guy,” he said was among the chatter.
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CG says each candidate the Dolphins talked to for the HC position expressed excitement about Tua Tagovailoa, doing it’s part to affirm belief in the young QB.
Getting that third round pick was very important
It was so important, that next week he’s going to give up 2023 picks, to move up?
I’m all in on Tyreek highlights during Round 1.
Not me, because they include Mahomes, who seems like he has a stick up his ass and holds the ball too long only to have to make the great play, because he didn’t get the ball out quick enough🤮
I’d rather watch the video of Tua throwing the out to Tyreek from mini camp😝
If getting a big back to use as I suggested keeps Mostert from getting hurt with 10 games to go, then that would be a good use of the roster spot.
Even after signing Mostert and Chase, we still feel undermanned at RB to me.
That’s all I’m saying.
And if we need another guy,
then why not get a guy to take some of the wear and tear off Mostert and Edmunds?
Why get a guy exactly like the guys we have already?
Think they like Cook from GA
Big back is a waste of a roster spot to use him 10 times during the year, shouldn’t have him and an FB, plus when the FB runs the deception element comes into play
I like Cook, also. He’d be a great get.
And I agree about the FB usage, which I hope will be as exciting and effective for us this year as it has been for SF with Juice.
6’1 235
Alec Ingold
6’1 240
Thanks for the idea, Grier. Day one I’ll have the draft on the little tvs and Tyreek highlights on the big screen.
This ^^
I’d use the Big Back a hundred times a year.
I’d use him to smash mouth the D, so our speed guys are running against tired guys.
I’d use him to cause shoulder injuries to opposing CBs.
I’d use him like Lousaka Polite on 3rd and 4th and 2.
(Maybe Ingold is that guy.)
I like big backs and I can not lie
You other brothers can’t deny
That when a back walks in with the speed to win a race
And a big bubble in your face
You get sprung
Wanna run up tough
Cuz you notice that back wont get stuffed
Rock can spit, y’all.
Bro … that was Fire.
The only guy that’s NOT wasted if you only use him 10 times a year is the Punter.
… or Brissett.
Honestly, I don’t feel like we’ve had some major organizational shift in philosophy (Kong stays away from the trigger phrase). I feel we’re operating the same as always. The difference is, we’re just in a different phase as a team. We finally have a talented team, we re-signed our talent, then added more talent.
Armstead was always the plan, nabbing Hill was opportunistic, a top 3 guy suddenly became available, we got him. That trade brought out this media/ fan hype of (insert trigger phrase here).
We should have a playoff team this year, we all know this, we’ve been on the cusp for two years now. We’re a better team this year. But we’re not pushing all our chips to the middle because we still have next year, and the year after, and the year after.
I think we’ll see a pretty tame draft for us, maybe move up, but I don’t see us giving up big picks from 2023, and after the draft we’ll get one or two more of those FA vets. Let’s go out and win one against the Bills, make the playoffs, and see what we see.
Really all I care about is getting into the damn playoffs. Let’s move out of the ‘also-ran’ category and get into the postseason.
This!
Sigh, Mocks are just not as fun now.
R3 P38 LB Brandon Smith – Penn State
R4 P20 RB Tyler Allgeier – BYU
R7 P3 OT Tyler Vrabel – Boston College
R7 P26 EDGE Isaiah Thomas – Oklahoma
but that’s a really good one.
Grier on what the Dolphins will do during day one of the Draft: “We’ll just watch Tyreek highlights.”
—————————————————–
What he should do is troll the other teams while they are on the clock!
Ring ring,
GM assistant: Hey the it’s Chris Greer do you want to take the call?
GM: yeah, let’s hear what he wants
GM: What’s up chris we only have 3 mins until our pick, what’s on your mind? You want to trade a pick or players?
Chris Greer: Huh? Oh, nah, I’m just checking in to see how you are doing. How’s it been?
🙂
rotfl
Adam Beasley
✔
@AdamHBeasley
Replying to @AdamHBeasley
The Miami Dolphins have traded their 3rd, 4th and two 7th round picks to the Chicago Bears for a 2nd round pick in the 2023 draft. They are done for the 2022 season..https://www.profootballnetwork.com/f-theym-picks-why-the-miami-dolphins-new-approach-to-the-nfl-draft-probably-wont-last-psyke/ …
That would be very tempting.
CK,
I think the difference for me was that when they brought in a new coach they didn’t automatically go reset when they didn’t need to. We’ve been a playoff cusp team for the better part of two decades, although we got in a few times, but we never did anything to add to the success of what we had. We just got rid of people and replaced them with other people who were similar or worse. The drafting wasn’t all that good either. The free agents signed and veteran trades were me-first head case guys who took up cap space and didn’t help the team. I definitely feel this offseason has been handled differently in the past.
This is well put and whether you think it is that we are totally committed to this season or it’s just phase 4 of the process, it does feel different than years past.
… …
Me, I am craving for it to be different.
… …
I am really tired of the same ol same ol way we have been doing it.
I want us to be bold and go for the Championship.
This is far more exciting than being timid when Hill became available and saying “we have picks this year and next year, let’s draft and build for next year.”
I’m tired of waiting for next year.
That’s fair if you feel that way. The difference I see is not a shift in philosophy, rather we finally have a team in place that we like and we’re continuing to build on it. We’re just seeing a phase we haven’t reached in a long time.
Usually after 2 or 3 years of having a coach and then switching him out, we’re a mess and we have to start again. This year, we liked our defense and wanted to keep it, and we feel we have some good building blocks on offense that just needed to be complemented, so in my mind it seems obvious this offseason feels different.
What did our team look like after the Gase debacle? a mess
How did our team look when we got rid of Philbin/Campbell? a mess
At the end of 2021 we had a good team and were all shocked when Flores was fired. The reason we were shocked was because we all see this as a team that is ascending. So it makes sense that with an ascending team we’d add to it, not start over like we’ve had to so many times. It’s not some change to the way we operate that dictates we start making bad value trades with our future picks, it’s just moving forward IMO.
“Not going to lie, it was important to us to keep those two [first-round] picks because we had done so much to acquire those before,” Grier said. “I think, for us, when you make a move for Tyreek like that, you also want to be prepared to have picks for the future. And having those two picks and picking up the pick for DeVante, another third gives us, you know, five picks in the first three rounds with two ones and two threes. We feel good about that heading into next year and 2023.”
SB,
I think it’s a bit of a semantic argument. I think where the real difference lies in what I’m talking about vs the ‘all-in’ concept I feel is just hype, is the idea that we have to use any and all resources to win this year vs continue to build the team and get better, make smart decisions, and keep building with the future in mind as well as the present. I don’t think we’re throwing everything we have at this year.
Okay, we’ll I’m not talking about all in vs not all in. I’m just saying that this new coaching change was about adding to what we had vs blowing it up when we didn’t need to. I didn’t see our teams (roster wise) as messes after Gase and Philbin were fired. They were just coaches who were as good as Flores. All three HCs were inconsistent in winning every year and nearly every year we were in the playoff hunt only to fold in the remaining weeks. At least Gase got into the playoffs. Also, Grier wasn’t running the show until basically Flores came on board in 2018. That’s when we got rid of Tannenbaum.
If you thought our team and rosters were in good shape after Philbin and Gase, then we just fundamentally disagree. We were average rosters with average teams at best who were on two year downslopes when the coaches were fired, whether it was all coaching or a combination of coaching and rosters is debatable, but it isn’t really debatable that we weren’t teams on the rise by the end of their tenures.
And that is the fundamental difference between those offseasons and this one. No one can debate that we ended the 2021 year as a team strongly on the rise. Can you say that about Philbin/ Campbell’s last year? Or Gase’s? We had losing records Gase’s last two seasons (6 and 7 wins) and were 8-8 and 6-10 Philbin’s last two seasons. Were we all saying “keep the roster, this is great”? Did we have a strong defensive team to build around? Or anything to hang our hat on and build around?
We have a very good defensive team this year. Why wouldn’t we keep that in place? We have a young QB to build around. All we really needed to do was fix our offense. That is what we’ve done. It would have been done with Flores, but he pushed himself out the door, he wasn’t fired because the team was in bad shape like our last decade of coaches were.
This offseason feels different because our coaching situation was completely different than in years past. At least that is the way I see it. Not some major change in the way we operate.
There goes the rest of our picks!!!!!!!!!!!! 😉
Couldn’t imagine life without MickyD.
NOW
Dwayne Haskins was walking on 595 cause he ran out of gas. Man how one little mistake can mean the end.
Tua Tagovailoa Wednesday 4/20 media availability thread
11:44 AM · Apr 20, 2022·Twitter Web App
3
Retweets
47
Likes
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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17m
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@WingfieldNFL
He can catch a negative 2-yard screen pass and turn it into a 20-yard gain… You see his speed. Tua on Tyreek Hill
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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3m
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@WingfieldNFL
Tua says he sat down with McDaniel and went over 150 clips of throws, throws that need to be better, throws that were good, all sorts of throws… the reason he showed Tua was how it transitions to the way he schemes up the offense. The biggest thing for us is YAC.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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@WingfieldNFL
Tua on his relationship with Brian Flores – “I’m very thankful that he drafted me to come play here for the Miami Dolphins.”
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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@WingfieldNFL
Asked about the relationship with Mike McDaniel, Tua says the videos at the luau speak to that relationship. “Very supportive,” Tua said.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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8m
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@WingfieldNFL
Tua said that he will get his family out in the backyard and use his brother, dad sometimes his mom line up so he can visualize what he needs to see from the new offense.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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@WingfieldNFL
Tua says he went to Maryland this winter to throw with his brother in the snow.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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@WingfieldNFL
Tua says his point of emphasis this offseason has been his footwork to better match up with the scheme.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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@WingfieldNFL
Tua says there are a lot of vets at this voluntary camp and that’s a testament to Mike McDaniel – says there’s a good energy at practice.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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Tua says Coach McDaniel doesn’t force guys to be who their not. Says he encourages him to lead in the way that’s natural to him.
It’s interesting Tua credits Flores with drafting him
It was a duechbag question from the reporter wanting him to compare HC’s.
That was his only comment about Flo! the rest he dodged or plead the fifth!
Ahh, so he gave a rote non controversial response. Gotcha
” The biggest thing for us is YAC” and “Coach McDaniel doesn’t force guys to be who their not” both seem to indicate this will be a short pass scheme on steroids. And with all the speed….. a logical choice.
Catch it in stride and turn it up field, Big Hoss.
Boxing out is fine in the End Zone,
but YAC is King in the open field.
he needs to stop jumping for balls that he can catch flat footed.
So much for the “Tua can’t play in cold weather” BS.
(I hope.)
Tua says he went to Maryland this winter to throw with his brother in the snow.
CavalierKong says:
April 20, 2022 at 12:36 pm
If you thought our team and rosters were in good shape after Philbin and Gase, then we just fundamentally disagree. We were average rosters with average teams at best who were on two year downslopes when the coaches were fired, whether it was all coaching or a combination of coaching and rosters is debatable, but it isn’t really debatable that we weren’t teams on the rise by the end of their tenures.
________
I don’t think any of those things and I’m not debating that our team was in better shape after Flores left. Some things are getting lost in translation so I’m not going to carry this any further.
One thing about this team and HC is that there is the highest percentage of people I like on one season’s team that I can remember.
Right from the start, I never liked either Philbin or Gase as people. JMHO
So far, I like McDaniel.
(I did like Sparano. RIP)
Everywhere I look on this roster, there are men I like as people.
I know.
I’m weird,
but it’s important to me to root for guys I really want to do well.
I hate divas and criminals and guys only in it for themselves and the money.
I like money fine, but I’m a gung ho, team first kinduva guy.
That is the one thing I totally give Flo credit for.
Finding guys who love football and play with their hair on fire and root for each other.
Go Dolphins.
CBS just mocked James Cook to us @ 102.
I’d be absolutely ecstatic with that.
@125 they give us Dylan Parham OG Memphis
meh
Then they have us trade down from 225 to 245 and take RB Ty Chandler.
I’m better than ok with that.
He ran a 4.38 40 @ 5’11 204,
and his traits are perfect for the McDaniel prototype.
… …
@ 248 they give us Scott Nelson S Wisconsin
who is unknown to me and seems to be a major reach,
even for the 7th round.
AND VELUS JONES is STILL THERE!!!
(Get that guy if he is still there in the 7th.)
… …
Finally we get Logan Bruss OL Wisconsin @ 258.
meh
With our RB room, I can see drafting another but 2?
Kong – just fucking say it:
ALL IN.
Don’t beat around the monkey bush
😆
Nobody ever won Olympic Gold without going All IN.
… …
P.S.
I’d trade all of our remaining picks for a 2023 2nd.
(see above)
(If it’s with a team we think will have a top 5 pick.)
Is that your counter response to all-in
😂
@125 they give us Dylan Parham OG Memphis
meh
—————————-
Parham is a Center/OG and projected as a top 5 OC on most boards. He is projected to go late 2nd to mid round 3. He could be a steal at #125.
I agree. If Parham falls to us, he should be under strong consideration for us.
He could plug right into RG and move Hunt to RT and be a backup Center.
Exactly!
Rockphin says:
April 20, 2022 at 11:05 am
Sigh, Mocks are just not as fun now.
R3 P38 LB Brandon Smith – Penn State
R4 P20 RB Tyler Allgeier – BYU
R7 P3 OT Tyler Vrabel – Boston College
R7 P26 EDGE Isaiah Thomas – Oklahoma
————-
You. Are. In. My. Head!!!
OUTSTANDING!!!
I really hope Brandon Smith drops to us (he’s an unpolished FREAK athlete AND from my PSU), and I have a ‘man-crush’ on Allgeier… you and I are on the EXACT same page here if we don’t trade up or down.
Vrabel makes a lot of sense in the 7th what with his connection to Matt Applebaum, and ya can’t go wrong in adding another EDGE late in Thomas… though I’ve seen him mocked all over the place: with any luck, he falls to us. I’d probably take Thomas @ R7P3 and then Vrabel @ R7P26.
Rockphin, I know you and I don’t get along all the time (or even seldom, LOL), but this mock draft is seriously good, man. Props!
Cameron Wolfe
@CameronWolfe
“We want to YAC the heck out of people.”
Tua Tagovailoa says after watching 150 of his throws with Mike McDaniel that was big conclusion.
#Dolphins new offense is “very similar” to what he ran at Bama. Based on timing, footwork. He also worked out in cold weather this offseason
Similar to what Brady had in NE, short safe passes with YAC, so few ints is very possible
One of my favorite highlights of Brandon Smith’s career… and he was only a freshman when he did this…
#69 for PSU on the sideline is priceless after this hit!!!
LOL, hit him so hard the vibration must have knocked him down.
Just imagine Brandon Smith in our Cover-0 package, going after the QB…
In this clip he tackles Tua’s little brother
at about the 7:09 mark.
Yessir!
Note to self:
(((Change Parham from ‘meh’ to ‘K’)))
(must overcome my distrust of Memphis players)
BBMike,
We’ve discussed Brandon Smith’s missed tackle % (over 17%, per PFF college), and I think we agreed that he can be coached up to tackle in a more proper manner, right? He could be an incredible LB for us, IMO.
I’m damn near willing to trade up for him at the top of the 3rd if he gets that far, and it shouldn’t take a king’s ransom to get there. Thoughts?
steveccnv says:
April 20, 2022 at 10:30 am
Getting that third round pick was very important
It was so important, that next week he’s going to give up 2023 picks, to move up?
—————
Maybe trade R3P38 (#102) this year and one of next year’s 3rd rounders to get into the 2nd round this year? I’d do it, but nothing MORE in terms of robbing from our 2023 draft capital.
I’m not touching our two 1st rounders, 2nd rounder, or one of our two 3rd rounders of next year.
IF that’s the plan with Chris Grier stating, “Getting that third round pick was very important” earlier, I wonder who we may be targeting?
Trevor Penning OT?
Kenny Walker RB?
Troy Andersen ILB?
LEO CHENAL ILB?
Dylan Parham OG/C? nah
… …
There are tons of excellent prospects available in the 2nd.
Honestly, using a 3rd rounder from our 2023 draft class (coupled with our #102 this year) isn’t going to be enough to get us into the 2nd round this year alone. It’s probably more likely to get us back into the early 3rd this year at best.
If we’re shooting on getting into the 2nd round this year, it’s going to take more.
I think this is one of the harshest critiques of a well regarded player that I’ve ever read:
Brandon Smith
By Lance Zierlein NFL Analyst
Overview
Linebacker who is likely to test better than he plays at the next level. Smith possesses five-star traits and is extremely athletic, but those traits tend to go to waste on tape. There is a consistent lack of fundamentals that leave him out of position or blocked on too many plays. He lacks decisiveness and an aggressive demeanor that are fundamental in becoming an NFL linebacker.
continued on Brandon Smith
Weaknesses
Instincts and physicality are both lacking.
Doesn’t play with recognition to stay in front of the action.
Poor technique in his take-ons.
Gets moved around and engulfed too often.
Doesn’t read keys and ends up out of position.
Gets blocked and stays blocked.
Too much arm tackling.
Ball awareness in man coverage is an issue.
Prospect Grade
5.67
Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad
WOW! HARSH is right!
I’ll say that Brandon Smith is far from a finished product/prospect and there are areas of his game that need to be cleaned up. But WOW!
Most of his shortcomings are easily fixable at the next level of coaching, IMO. He’s likely not going to be a plug-and-play ILB in ’23, but his traits are absolutely incredible.
He’d be an instant starter on STs this year, he’d quite easily be able to come on in pass-rush sits this year, and he’s a 3-down LB of the future.
“We want to YAC the heck out of people.”
I dig that!
I dig it too, but we’ve been TRYING to YAC the heck out of people since the days of Joe Philbin… and it was supposed to be a staple of the Adam Gase Offense, too.
NOT trying to be a downer (I’m actually VERY big on what we’re seeing on paper!), but we’ll see what happens. I DO predict success this time!
Except both Philbin and Gase ran most of their plays in shotgun and did not run it enough. I think that will be the biggest difference.
VERY great point, Tim.
Hopefully we’ve seen the last of the 1st down draw plays out of the shotgun…hallelujah, lol.
Who’s #11 now????
Cedric Wilson Jr.
OOPS
Lions legend Matt Millen breaks down Penn State’s Micah Parsons, Brandon Smith
WOW on Brandon Smith!
I’ve never been a fan of Matt Millen the GM being he didn’t know much outside the Defensive side of the ball. But Millen KNOWS the LB position as well as anyone out there.
For him to give Brandon Smith these kinds of props is saying something!
Or he’s a homer
WTF!!!!!!
OK #11 is
Cedrick Wilson Jr.
(in this video that has nothing to do with DR J)