A couple of weeks ago I broke down the AFC East, pre draft to get an idea how our Dolphins stacked up in what should be a very competitive AFC East division. I can tell you this, our rivals in this division caught up nicely by adding a significant amount of talent via the draft, especially the New York Jets. The Jets were loaded with draft capital, and parlayed that into a very nice draft haul. They came into the draft with two first round and two second round picks and then with a bold move traded back into round 1 to select their THIRD pick in the first round. The Bills had a decent draft adding a couple of prospects loved by some of our FMU brethren. The Patriots had an odd draft, to put it mildly. Our Dolphins were bereft of any high picks due to the trade for WR Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins chose not to trade by using any future draft capital, despite being armed well next year with two 1st round and two 2nd round picks. Our first selection this year was a very late, compensatory pick at #102.
NEW YORK JETS
As I alluded to, the Jets came into the draft with two picks in the top 10, #4 and #10. Their first pick reflects the necessity to be able to cover elite receivers as the AFC East has a few, with the Bills having Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis, the Dolphins having both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the Patriots with DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne. The Jets took CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner at #4. Gardner, a brash, confident, lengthy CB out of Cincinnati didn’t allow a TD to a receiver last season. Well, welcome to the AFC East, where it will become commonplace. At #10, the Jets selected Ohio St. WR Garret Wilson. Two very strong picks so far and then a trade back into the first round at #26 netted the Jets the pass rusher they need in Florida St. DE Jermaine Johnson. The Jets first selection in RD 2 was another favorite here on FMU, RB Breece Hall. Four excellent picks should infuse this Jets with talent to compete. Robert Saleh must be pleased, as the Jets had already upgraded the O-line in free agency by adding OG Laken Tomlinson and a couple of TE’s in C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin. If their 2nd year QB Zach Wilson can get on track with his new WR Garret Wilson, and the O-line can create holes for new RB Breece Hall, their offense will be better and the defense should improve as well with Sauce and Johnson. How quickly though will be the key.
BUFFALO BILLS
The Bills were not lost on the talent infusion at WR in the AFC East either, with the Dolphins adding Tyreek Hill and already having Jaylen Waddle, along with the Patriots getting DeVante Parker to the Jets drafting Garret Wilson. The Bills first pick was CB Kaiir Elam from Florida, another taller, fast CB. In RD 2, probably earlier than expected, the Bills took another FMU fave RB James Cook. That Bills offense just keeps adding pieces. In RD 6, the bills broke many hearts here as they snagged the best punter in the universe, Matt Araiza. The Bills were already a strong team and their draft should help them stay that way. As was pointed out here, does a team that scores over 28 PPG need the best punter?
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
I wouldn’t say Bill Belichick’s genius was ever considered to be present in his drafting ability, and this year’s draft was no exception. Their first pick at #29 in round 1 was Strange. Literally, the Patriots selected OG/C prospect Cole Strange of Tennessee-Chatanooga. To be fair, I liked Strange as a pick for our Dolphins, he’s a nimble footed, smart OL who can play any inside position on the line, although he has never actually played C and therefore has never snapped in gameplay. He was pretty much rated as a 3rd RD pick but Bill Belichick pulled the trigger and got his guy. In RD 2, possibly another pick in which he drafted a player expected to be taken later. The Patriots grabbed speedy WR Tyquan Thornton from Baylor, the tall lanky WR ran a blistering 4.28 40 at the combine. Nevertheless, he was expected to be a late 3rd round or 4th round pick. The Patriots added a CB who will likely be a ST’s player in the 4th RD.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Our Dolphins, as previously mentioned didn’t have much draft capital left after the Tyreek Hill trade, but the Dolphins remained patient and stayed pat with they had. At pick #102, the Dolphins took Georgia LB Channing Tindall. Tindall is a very athletic LB who is a dept at blitzing which really fits this defensive style, and he has exceptional closing speed, which is really evident when you watch any reels available on the kid. He was a part time player on a very talented Georgia defense, with Nakobe Dean being the best known LB. With Elandon Roberts, a bit stockier fireplug of a LB in place, Tindall will most likely still be a part time player in ’22, but if he shows up quick, as Zach Thomas did back in ’96, perhaps he’ll be inside next to #55 Jerome Baker all season. The Dolphins second pick was Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma (Eh-zoo-comma). Ezukanma is a big WR similarly sized to DeVante Parker at 6’2 220, and displays some similar traits as an aggressive catcher of the football who will go up and get the football. Definitely nice value in RD 4. We used the first of remaining 7th RD picks on OLB/DE Cameron Goode from California. We need depth there but Goode will have a fight on his hands to make the 53. More than likely he’s a PS candidate at best. With our last pick, we took QB Skylar Thompson from Kansas St. The Dolphins currently have 4 QB’s, with Tua Tagovailoa, Teddy Bridgewater, Chris Streveler and now Skylar Thompson. With the injury histories of our top 2 QB’s, it’s not crazy to add some depth. Regardless, both QB’s will likely be on the PS.
So after the draft, my initial impression is the Jets easily improved the most after the draft. They were set up nicely to add lots of talent and GM Joe Douglas didn’t disappoint. We’ve seen teams improve quickly, think LA Rams with a young HC Sean McVay. Can HC Robert Saleh get this young squad to mesh together quickly as McVay did with the Rams? That remains to be seen, but on paper, the Jets improved the most. The Patriots seemed to tread water if you ask me, I don’t see this team making any great strides this season due to the talent infusion in ’22. They may even take a step back, although it’s hard to bet against Bill Belichick. The Bills added an important piece to the secondary if CB Kaiir Elam can show he’s NFL ready and a nice piece to their run game with RB James Cook. The Bills are already the class of the AFC east but they better have eyes in the back of their head. Our Dolphins did the heavy lifting in free agency and via the trade, adding LT Terron Armstead and WR Tyreek Hill. We also added slot WR Cedrick Wilson, added a couple of RB’s in Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds as well as a very good FB in Alec Ingold. Just as important, we basically brought back our entire defense intact by re-signing everyone whose contracts were up, a nice job by Grier and a promising sign that everyone wanted to come back. I think our division just got a lot more competitive, but the Bills are at the top until someone knocks them off. Hope it’s us!
#stangerstrong
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Peyton’s presnap adjustments just demolished defensive play calls.
And he and Brees (and Brady and Rodgers) always knew exactly where the weak spot was on the D, and they went right at it.
That is what Tua needs to think about becoming.
… …
I think McDaniel’s offense will help by being proactive,
that is, getting in the DC’s head and keeping the D players on their heels on the field.
He was supposed to be heir apparent to Brady, couldn’t cut it
What could the Raiders see in him? Josh must think he has the magic touch
Kind of figured after they drafted a QB this year
Sure would be nice to hit on a rookie OT for once
Good news, Lions can be tough on Thanksgiving
Andy Slater
@AndySlater
SLATER SCOOP: The Miami Dolphins will NOT be playing on Thanksgiving, an NFL schedule-making source tells me.
There was chatter that it would be either them or the Bills at Detroit.
I remember the lions losing a lot of games on Thanksgiving
Yeah just looked it up
They haven’t won on thanksgiving since 2016
And are 37-42-2 all time on thanksgiving
Not really tough IMO
They are likely over performing their normal won lost record
You’re looking at a stat and trying to prove what I said was wrong, and maybe it is, but I remember many times on Thanksgiving Day hearing how great the Lions are playing, they may not win all those games, but make it a harder game, than normal
I’m not trying to prove anything
I am just not worried about the Lions on thanksgiving or any other day
Adam Beasley
@AdamHBeasley
Be very cautious about a Dolphins schedule I’ve seen circulating on twitter dot com, FYI
Maybe Zaquandre White can be an undrafted gem for us like Arian Foster was for Houston.
Ricky L Watson
@LWOSrickywatson
Out of all NFL quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa’s bad throw% was 16.3%. That’s the 10th best in the NFL of least bad throws. (not completion%, 7th best in that). That means that Tua haters are only picking from 16.3% of his plays to try to prove their point. (83.7% good to 16.3% bad)
The redzone stat, that had Tua at the top of the list was misleading, because most people didn’t realize it was a stat based on how he was expected to play and not a real stat
This one is better, but who decides, if it was really a bad throw or the WR messes up the route?
Our O system allows us to use interchangeable backs, so a guy like Z white could be put on the PS and given time to figure it out, if he ever does
Rams drafting Gurley, Giants drafting Barkley, Cowboys drafting Zeke, while all 3 were dominant it was only for a short time and Cowboys paid him now he’s a shell of his great self, Barkley hasn’t been resigned and don’t think he will be, not sure on Gurley
Either way, signed to a karge 2nd contract, then downhill or let go, doesn’t seem to be a good use of a 1st, and would be even less for us
Just as Tillman seems to Be a great fit, without having to use an early pick, so should our RBs
According to the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan, the Miami Dolphins will open up their season by playing the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, September, 11 at 1 p.m. ET. This marks the third year in a row that the two teams will play in Week 1.
Andy Slater
@AndySlater
SLATER SCOOP: The Miami Dolphins will play at the New England Patriots on New Year’s Day, an NFL schedule-making source tells me.
JDFinsFan (Jeremy Hagen)
@JDFinsFan
NFL Schedule Leaks:
The Miami Dolphins will play the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 12th.
Per intuition.
I have heard that from multiple sources!
on the internet!!
on ESPN!!
Ben Volin!!
Little Mike said it!!
even
Armando said it!!!
therefore
it must be true
I must say that I was wrong TWICE recently. …
HELLO TWICE HELLO TWICE
…about us signing UDFAs.
With our stacked roster, I thought we would be light in the UDFA market.
WRONG
With the way the regular draft was a bit light this year, I thought there would not be much quality worth signing in the UDFA market.
WRONG
apropos UDFAs
Diesch
ZQ White
McKinley
Kohou
plus literally 5 others
have a shot at an NFL career.
… …
I remember years when we did not have that many actual draft picks with a shot at a NFL career.
such as 2009, when we drafted JD Folsom and John Nalbone for nothing.
However
I do wonder why none of the UDFAs have showed up on the official Dolphins.com roster.
Maybe they wanted to honor the regular draftees for a while first, before diluting them with UDFAs.
Sony ‘s name went right up though.
I think that’s on the people who update the site. I’ve seen them be behind stuff before.
Or it could be that the UDFAs aren’t official yet.
Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will not compete in the Preakness so no Triple Crown this year. And after the end of the Derby…. the horse deserves a rest.
What’s going with him?
Looks like a BS charge
“A person commits the crime of second degree criminal tampering if he tampers with property of another with intent to cause injury, inconvenience, or annoyance to that person or to another or if he knowingly makes an unauthorized connection with property of a utility,” per Colorado case law. “Second degree criminal tampering is a class 2 misdemeanor.”
It is a misdemeanor but it is also part of a domestic violence case.
Why is that a bs charge? Why do you say that if you don’t know the facts?
Did he destroy a cell phone in an argument? slash somebody’s tires?
hack their social media?
Are those examples of this?
Frankly,
I’m very worried that Tyreek Hill is going to have anger management issues again.
That smile of his looks like he’s wound up pretty tight.
I hope nothing manifests itself like that. We did the whole Brandon Marshall thing already. Among others Devon et al.
Hopefully winning is his target. Unmuddied by anything other than his desire to win.
Sure hope not.
I wasn’t aware he had anger management issues
Are you referring to his domestic violence arrest?
https://phinphanatic.com/2022/05/11/miami-dolphins-tua-tagovailoa-trends-twitter-ridiculous/?a_aid=36534&fbclid=IwAR2lP3sce6DbUSa_844VK9pbaqg-VoekGYurgfeEGcqS8Ejp2rmwh64jcU8
Maybe he’ll get turned on to the same shit the Marks Brothers we’re doing.
Can hope. 🤷♂️🐆
I’ll take some of that bread!
He’s awesome!!! 🙂
They had to show the good stuff because the non believers cried so loud.
Everyone shut the fuck up and let the process play out.
Cry baby little ducking…
I’ll leave it there and that was auto correct I ordinarily would just say fucking but anyway Tua and the Dolphins are fine. Relax.
I let him know I agree….piggystyle
It’s not sensitive content…lol
That’s the video they should’ve put out initially
Who are you going to cover?
Then
Who do you have that can beat us?
Answer to both – 🤷♂️
Somebody posted that they already fired the video producer who put that “bad throw” of Tua’s out on the internet as a sample of Tua to Hill in 2022.
It’s all so stupid as if every pass is sacred. LOL
That person probably shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place
That’s messing with a multi-billion dollar business’s brand right there. If that person did not understand football any better than that, then they shouldn’t have been working for a football team. If they don’t understand marketing a brand any better than that, then they shouldn’t have been sending out PR releases. If they did not understand social media any better than that, then … FIRE that person. That kind of shit could get in Tua’s head and mess the kid up. Advertising dollars could be lost … etc. etc.
At Ravens week 2
2-0
He’s never going to see them in the Super Bowl. Sorry dude.
Bye week 11
https://www.miamidolphins.com/schedule/
Brown’s week 10 like I mentioned, after the 8 week expected Watson suspension
Cheats week 6 against Browns
That is a tough 4 games to start the season
Same shit they do to us every year
Sheesh, and the Bengals game is the Thursday game for us, and it’s on the road again, lol.
Vikings. Randy
Vikings at Dolphins
10/16 Sun 1:00
Steelers the next week 10/23 8:20 start
First time on Sunday Night in a while. Premium ticket price on this one.
Are they releasing the schedule one game at a time?
That’s overkill.
oh sorry
n/m
Week 3 vs Bills, they’ll be coming off of a Monday night game
And they flipped it this year. They come to us in the heat and we go to them in the cold.
bye in week 11, that’s not a bad time in and of itself.
9ers, Chargers , Bills on the road in a row in December
Two primetime games, right? Steelers in Miami 10/23 and GB in Miami Xmas day
Thursday night at Cincy and Christmas Day is a regular schedule
Oh, everyone is playing on xmas?
I think so it’s a Sunday
No Monday nights no love
Sunday night is better anyway
49ers and Chargers back to back, so only 1 trip west
Followed by – AT – Buffalo
Packers on Christmas Day, I think I’m in 🤷♂️🐬😁💨🐧🐆
After our bye and Thursday Night game we get Jets and Texans, another FU nfl moment
Christmas Day is a national game. 3 games that day. Most games are on Saturday
We’re the early game too woohoo
Vikings looks like the obvious/best choice for Fest from what I can tell
I don’t like the short week @ Bengals
And I don’t like back to back west coast games in early December followed by cold Buffalo game
That’s a hard 3 game stretch
Then home to Packers
Hard December
I like the 2 Westcoast games, that was obviously a schedule preference put in by the team, by not really traveling the week before Buffalo, just back from westcoast makes it Ok,, but they really could’ve given us a home game after that trip, we do get Buff at home week 3 with them coming off of a Monday game
We get GB and Buff at home with both coming off of Minday night games
Bad games at Cin on Thursday Night and Cle coming off of a bye
Good games coming off of bye or Thursday Hou and jets
I approve of this schedule, we got a break overall for once
Cold weather games at Buffalo and NE but they get warm weather games with us
I hope it’s blasting at 95 degrees right in their faces.
We need to win both week 1 and 3
We’ll be 3-0 heading in Cincy.
Looks like the Buffalo game week 15 is a flex game, 1 week b4 Xmas, hope it’s not a night game
NE vs LV is the Sunday game, we might have to Play Saturday coming off of 2 games on westcoast
Seems we play on Xmas day and on New Years day.
The 10/23 Sunday night game for the fest is interesting
Steelers take over the stadium. Probably can’t even get tix.
Let’s go Heat!
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
BYE
W
W
W
W
W
W
PLAYOFFS
W
W
W
🏆
Weeeeeee
You are oinking right weeeeeeeeee!
Piggy,
They’ve been trying to schedule teams that have multiple games on another Coast back to back because teams usually just stay out there .
Well I guess if we stay out tHere it won’t be so bad
IF?
Does anyone remember he last time we played the bengals on Thursday night?
Halloween?
I remember that game like it was yesterday. Went trick or treating with my kids in my Marino jersey, got home, put them to bed and watched the game.
Filled their sax then watched Wake fill his 😊
😂
Minnesota doesn’t look good for us .. Browns game on Dars 55 bday weekend however 🤔
Damn.
Does the SF game work for y’all to go?
We are seriously looking at it yes
So long as we aren’t OVERTLY hosed (I don’t see it this season, IMO), I usually don’t pay too much attention to our schedule. I like our bye-week in week 11, which is something we have been hosed on over the last decade for the most part.
Happy to have back-to-back games on the West Coast, where we won’t need to fly back-and-forth from. That’s the least the schedule-makers could have done for us, being we are the #4 most traveling team this season.
We better decide soon because if it’s the Pitt game that’s going to booking up fast and have pricey tickets. I’m in no matter which game we choose.
I’d love to go to a night game
That would be cool.
That’s the game my friend Jim has been targeting
If fell nicely for him. I told him I was in but if we go to Vikes it would be tough to do both but you never know.
HIGH DRAMA AT AMALIE ARENA as the Maple Leafs and the Lightning head to sudden death overtime tied at 3-3!! Will this O.T. bring a SUDDEN DEATH to Tampa Bay’s 2-year reign as the kings of the NHL?? Will it bring a SUDDEN DEATH to Toronto’s 55-year old run of failing to win a single playoff series??? OR will Toronto’s unbelievable run of futility drag on for at least another game?? I’ve GOT to get my ugly rest tonight BUT, against my better judgement, I’m going to TRY to stay up for the first overtime period.
—————–
GO BOLTS!!
Go Bolts indeed
You’re welcome OD 😊🤯
YES. BOLTS WIN
I hate the leafs because of Tavares. No other reason.
Lol. I understand that .. once upon a time 1967-1969!they were my favourite team … then I started seeing the Bruins more often and fell in love, then it was whoever beat Montreal … was also a huge Islanders fan back in their dynasty years
Barry Jackson
@flasportsbuzz
One other schedule thing tonight: Dolphins and Steelers likely need to get off to decent starts for NBC to keep Oct. 23 Sunday night game in Week 7. NBC can flex out of two games between Weeks 5 and 10.
That would suck
Would be better flex out of late game than into late game .. travel chaos
MANITOBA–BOLTS WIN!! — BOLTS WIN!! —BOLTS WIN!!!!!!!!!
BRAYDON POINT scores the winner at 18:04 of OVERTIME to CLINCH IT!!
For at least one more game, Tampa Bay remains the champions of the NHL!!
——————-
And the ghosts of Toronto’s 55-year jinx HAVE JUST MADE ANOTHER APPEARANCE in, of all places, A HOCKEY RINK IN FLORIDA!!!!!! The Toronto Press will have a field day with THIS ONE!!
——————-
NOW I’ve got to fess up. I WORE MY #21 Lightning jersey with Braydon Point’s NAME in big letters all day and all night tonight!! When my co-workers asked me “Who’s going to score the winning goal tonight?” I just turned around and let them gaze at my jersey!!
Me and a co-worker had a $10 bet on which team was going to win tonight’s game!!
BOY, it’s going to be a long day for him tomorrow!!
WHOOPPEEEE!!
If it were to change I mean. Night game might be cool .. have to check when co worker gets back from holiday that messes up the Vikes game
Congrats sir , make his life hell
THANK YOU, Sir!
Cav’s Blues have turned it up .. look they will advance tonight (sorry Randy)
Dominated the 2nd period and all but put this one away. Binner looks to have found that 2019 playoff form after being terrible all season and our offense is going to score.
Told ya stranger things have happened ..
Dec 4th 9ers game of interest to you ?
The two games that make the most sense for the Fest are —
Oct 16 — Vikes
Nov 13 –Browns
I know Sun nite against the Steelers seems real cool, but based on when they have been here before will be almost impossible, Tix will be like twice as much if can get at all.
Browns would work for us , Vikes not work , have to check on Steelers … 9ers very likely…👍☹️🤔👍🤡
How are you doing these days my friend ?
I’m walking better. The docs are still trying to figure out why I pass out and if need a pacemaker or not. One thing have learned is if you pass out in a fancy restaurant it ain’t hard to find a doctor. 🙂
Does it happen often ?? Man that must be scary .. I hope they do figure it out soon ..
It was happening once a week but went 3 weeks before the last one (yesterday). Not so scary. You just go to sleep and wake up with a bunch of people staring at you and the thought, “damn it happened again.” Only scary part is not knowing why, but am hoping is a medication interaction (I take like 15).
Well I’m glad they are happening less frequently , meds interacting would make sense with that many involved .. also glad to hear the Pacemaker is a Maybe now … when ya last mentioned it It was sounding like a must do .. take care of yerself please
YOUNG STANGER; Thanks, again, for all that you do.
Your “comeback” is, truly, a remarkable achievement!!
NOW, this Old Dolfan is out for the night.
Thanks OD. I’m working on it with the help of my better half.
And Hell who doesn’t want to watch Tua vs Watson 🤷♂️😊 , just sayin…
I do! And 11/13 would work. Just hoping no one says the opposite of you.
🤞
Brian : I am now watching AEW wrestling from Wednesday night in LI .. CM Punk just came out in a Tavares jersey to a chorus of Boos
Haha! I saw the highlights to that on my Bleacher Report feed!
Way to finish it out Blues!! Tough break, Randy. A couple of good teams, someone had to lose,
Congrats
Cheers 🙂
Our schedule was never going to be easy with the deep AFC. The NFC North lead by GB is obvious, but not overwhelming overall, and then the extra 17th game McDaniel faces is former team in the 49ers. If you want to be good you have to beat good.
Toba,
Text me if you’re definitely going to the Niners game. Iknow someone who may be selling his season tickets game by game.
Will do , thanx
Schedule comment:
I think it’s freaking great that we have two home games against Northern division rivals at 1pm in SEPTEMBER. We never get that advantage. May the heat roast their asses! GO DOLPHINS!
looks like the Fest game is going to have to be the Vikings?
That is a pretty brutal December schedule.
Jets at Hardrock final game to clench the division…..
That opening schedule is tough but weeks 13-17 will be tougher with 4 of 5 on the road vs. 49er’s, Chargers, Bills, Pats. I think 3 road games in a row is BS but all in all we didn’t get seriously hosed.
Rookie Mini camp starts today.
Interesting that they have Tanner Conner listed as a TE?
That is how I view him. A guy who can line up inside or out and burn you with his speed if they try to line up the wrong guy on him.
Every team in our division has a tough start to the season. Bills have a tough 7 games to open the season but an easier second half with only Dolphins, Pats twice and Bengals to worry about. Pats open with 4 tough games and Jets have like 8 of 9 tough games to open with.
That said, you can’t sleep on any team.
Not a lot of projected crappy teams out there right now, as designed, so everyone in the AFC appears to have a tough schedule
With the signing of Sony Michel, our 4 draft picks and 14 UDFA’s our roster will be at a full 90 players.
NEW BLOG UP!!!
There are 18 teams with 90(+) players on their roster. Jets have the most at 94. Not sure when teams have to cut down to 90. My though it had to be by the start of Rookie Mini Camp??? The Panthers just had to release 2 to get to 90 including OT Aaron Monteiro who was an UDFA signing of ours in 2019 out of Boston College.
UDFA McKinley was a three-year starter (2019-21) at Oregon and earned first-team All-American and first-team All-Pac 12 honors as a junior in 2021. He started all 14 games that seasons, recording 77 tackles (44 solo), six interceptions, 12 passes defensed and one forced fumble. In McKinley’s collegiate career, he recorded 11 interceptions in 38 games.