So much has happened in the last week, my head is spinning. The day I wrote the last article the Dolphins traded for DB Jalen Ramsey. The moves kept coming in a flurry of activity. We all knew we had a lot of players to re-sign, and the Dolphins seemed to feel like they wanted to continue forward with many of the same players. Let me start with the RB depth, which we brought back intact, the entire RB roster. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Salvon Ahmed and then recently, Myles Gaskin. I saw an interesting tweet the other day, basically stating that the SF 49ers discarded two of their main backs, Wilson and Mostert and decided to draft Elijah Mitchell and later acquire CMC in a big trade. So the essence of the tweet was basically the Dolphins backfield is led by two castoffs from the 49ers. Well, as we’ve all learned, one mans trash is another mans treasure. Mostert and Wilson both succeeded and played well here, and Ahmed and Gaskin are decent depth players. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to draft a RB, but now it will most likely be a later RD pick, because it seems like they made it a priority to bring the entire RB room back. Some young blood is a necessity, but this can also be accomplished as UDFA’s, like half of our depth was acquired, Salvon Ahmed. We drafted Gaskin in RD 7 in ’19.
So, let’s tally up who we brought in . . .
DB Jalen Ramsey (LA Rams)
RB Jeff Wilson (MIA)
RB Raheem Mostert (MIA)
RB Salvon Ahmed (MIA)
RB Myles Gaskin (MIA)
LB David Long (TEN)
LB Duke Riley (MIA)
DB Nik Needham (MIA)
TE Eric Saubert (DEN)
QB Mike White (NYJ)
WR Braxton Berrios (NYJ)
OG Dan Feeney (NYJ)
OT Geron Christian (MIA)
S Deshon Elliot (DET)
Some notable losses are LB Elandon Roberts (PIT), one of my favorites, and one of my former favorites, TE Mike Gesicki (NE). I’m very interested to see how both of these players fare on their new teams. I think Roberts fits the Steelers defense perfectly, he’s an inside thumper, coming off his best season. Gesicki is an enigma, we know he has receiving talent, but somehow we never managed to get as much as I thought we could get from him. Gesicki’s most productive season was in ’21, where he caught 73 passes for 780 yards and just 2 TD’s. I expected him to be a high volume pass catcher with a high YPR, but that never panned out. He’s definitely a red zone threat, and the Patriots would be wise to employ him often there.
With most of free agency moves in the books, the team still has a pocket full of draft picks left for 2023. Our fist pick is #51 in RD2, followed by a 3rd RD pick acquired from NE for DeVante Parker (#84). We have #197 in RD 6 from the Bears, and then finally #238 in RD 7. Remember there is also free agency after the draft, and I suppose there may be a few veteran castoffs that might fit here. We’re definitely pushing to go deep this year, and as we all know, the health of #1, QB Tua Tagovailoa is paramount to that success. Yes, we signed Mike White, who is a nice story being from FLA and a fan of our Dolphins, but Tua is the linchpin to the season. We have to keep him upright and healthy, but most of all he has to play smart and keep himself out of harms way. If throwing the ball away saves getting hit, so be it. He can play aggressively, but he can’t allow himself to be in a position where he will absorb punishment.
Vic Fangio has put his stamp on this free agency. First, the trade to bring Jalen Ramsey here. Ramsey is truly a multi faceted DB who can range anywhere from a cover corner on the perimeter, to an in the box LB on obvious passing downs. He’s an excellent piece that Fangio will love to employ. LB David Long, who wasn’t a full time starter last season in Tennessee, is also a versatile player. He’s an excellent tackler, but can also cover very well. I think the latter is the biggest reason why we chose him over Elandon Roberts, we need a LB that can not only make most the tackles expected, but cover as well, and that unfortunately, was not Roberts strong suit. I’m thrilled that we brought back Nik Needham, he’s been a favorite of my mine because he’s such a gamer, and always stepped up when needed. Hopefully he’s fully recovered and ready to go by the time the season begins. Fangio now has a very strong defense, with two very good cover corners (I believe the acquisition of Ramsey will invigorate Howard this season), a strong defensive line with Ogbah, Wilkins and Sieler, excellent pass rush ability and run defense from two very strong OLB’s (Phillips and Chubb), and then the addition of David Long to help out the extremely underrated and underappreciated #55, Jerome Baker. He played every game the last 2 seasons, and always gets the job done, and do multiple things, run and tackle from sideline to sideline, cover, and always end up with 100 or more tackles. Seems like every year we want to upgrade, and I get it, but I like Baker, and think we should all like him more than we do.
Sorry to be redundant, but with #1 on the field healthy, we will methodically use two of the best wideouts in the NFL, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. We brought the entire RB squad back, in 8 games Jeff Wilson averaged 4.7 YPC for 392 yards. Mostert averaged 4.9 YPC in 16 games for the Dolphins for 891 yards. One element of concern is that this is clearly a RB by committee approach, and none of our backs can truly shoulder a big load, and haven’t done so in their NFL careers. We have two obvious needs on offense right now, TE, and a young RB. You can argue against the latter, but I think we need to have a guy that carry the ball 20-30 times in a game and not be on the injured list the next week. I don’t care if it’s an UDFA as I mentioned earlier, but I wouldn’t mind if we spent a pick on one either. Eric Saubert is a blocking TE, and for the most part, so is Durham Smythe. To be fair, we don’t have a real receiving TE on the roster, so we may look to draft one early on, there are a few that should be available to us at either #54, or #84.
The Jets and Green Bay Packers are still working on a deal that would bring QB Aaron Rodgers to NY. Apparently, Green Bay’s compensation for Rodgers services is the holdup. I would say it’s safe to assume that both sides will eventually get it done, but Rodgers is a loose screw that can nullify the trade at any time, but if he wants to play this season, I just can’t see him playing again in GB. If the Jets do indeed get Rodgers, then the AFC landscape changes significantly. It will be a very tough 3 way race between the defending AFC East champion Buffalo Bills, NY Jets, and our Miami Dolphins. You can make an argument for any of the 3 as to why they can win, or why they will fail. Injuries are the devil, and we know all too well that if our QB played all 17 regular season games, we had a legitimate chance to be either the #2 or #3 seed. I think our roster is better now. The Bills sustained a substantial loss in LB Tremaine Edmunds, but managed to retain S Jordan Poyer, as well as pick up OG Connor McGovern from the Cowboys. The Jets signed WR Allen Lazard, purportedly because potential QB Aaron Rodgers requested them to do so. The Jets lost a pair of DT’s though, Sheldon Rankins (HOU) and Nathan Shepherd (NO). The Jets also re-signed K Greg (The Leg) Zuerlein, one of the best in the league. If Rodgers comes to the AFC East, it will be an absolute dogfight and potentially all 3 teams could secure playoff berths. Hopefully, 2023 is the one where the Miami Dolphins are on top!
GO DOLPHINS!!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I will never forgive the GM (forgot his name, but as soon as someone mentions it…lol), went to MN, for giving up Ogunwale…what an idiot….we could have had a nasty pass rush…lol
Adewale Ogunleye was traded by Nick Saban and Randly Mueller in 2005 for WR Marty Booker and a 3rd round pick to the Bears.
It was a money issue
Lol…oh well…
Interesting!
He’s a free agent, right?
Saw that on ESPN, bring him in. He looks lean and mean, after slimming down, but does he fit our O?
I like it
Good draft Wyo
Why are you drafting a guy with erectile dysfunction so early????
32 YO out of football for two years missed 24 games in the five years prior to that.
Great vibe going
I wonder how many of them have been body slammed by Wilkins yet?
Krishna, have you ever played this course the PGA is playing this match play tournament at? WGC Dell at Austin Country Club.
Can you get us on?
That course is gorgeous. I love all the stone and wood fences. 17 the par 3 oh I would love to play that hole (I think they said they flip the nines for this so ordinarily it’s the eighth hole.
I’m sure you must have driven over the beautiful bridge they show frequently I forget which hole it’s behind.
Yes, I’ve played at Austin Country Club (ACC). It’s a beautiful course and runs along the Colorado river.
They do flip the nines. That’s my favorite hole (driving out of a chute of trees) facing the 360 bridge, all downhill. It’s a smallish green surrounded by water on left and back. Very cool hole.
All the par 3s are gorgeous too. I love the one where you feel like your dropping your ball into a canyon green…wall of rock and earth to your left and with the green way below the tee box, like a tabletop. You miss the green, more than likely you another tee shot….lol
Lot of old money at ACC…old school Pennick club house, no women allowed….lol
Many lunches there….
Been to several of the Dell Match Championships, too, even with Mrs. K. She was a great sport.
Jalen Ramsey y’all
Uuuuuge
WELL Kansas State edged Michigan State 98-93 in a thrilling overtime game in Madison Square Garden!!
Next up is Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee in the Garden. The Vols are 5.5 point favorites. But most expect Tennessee to win by double digits here in Tampa Bay.
Well the Vols are BIG, STRONG and determined to play the best defense they possibly can. In their prior game they soundly defeated Duke. Their defense was awesome!! However, Tennessee has had trouble scoring points. So if FAU can hit their 3-point shots they WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SCORE A BIG UPSET!!
I CAN ONLY watch a few minutes of this game because I’m scheduled for surgery at 7:00 AM in Tampa. So I’ll be up at 4:30 AM to do what I’ve got to due in the morning. “DO” not “DUE.”
I’m hoping against hope that FAU will upset the Vols and advance to the Elite 8!!!
However, this season has been the best in FAU history by quite a margin. To say that I’m pleased would be a major understatement!
GOOO OWLS!!
Not looking good early
Seiler is a lunch pail guy, plays the run very well, but not much pass rush, think he’s the biggest problem with the low sack numbers
Rodgers and Tyreek, preferred us over jets
Lots of others want to play in Miami, that’s a big deal, you don’t have to over pay
FAU hanging around…
You got a shot OD, Tenn struggling a little, without a pt guard
RIGHT YOU ARE, STEVE!!
I TRIED to go to sleep at the end of the first half. But I couldn’t do it!!
Now, the Owls are hitting their 3-point shots and turned a 7 point deficit into a 7 point lead (48-41) with 7:22 left in the game!!
YOU’RE SO-O-O RIGHT, Steve!!
FAU has a real shot to win this game!!!
GO-O-O-O OWLS!!!
FAU on a 20-4 run now leads by 10 with 5:35 to go!!
UNBELIEVABLE!!!
That was a big 3 by Tenn. 5 point lead with the ball 3:16 left. I am totally into this game, lol. Everyone loves a good Cinderella story
This game is over. Congrats, OD. FAU in the elite 8!
👍
THANK YOU CAV KONG AND STEVE!!!
FAU has slayed the Giant!! The big dogs from the SEC CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!
WELL BELIEVE THIS: Florida Atlantic is 34-3 this season, currently THE BEST W-L
RECORD IN DIVISION I BASKETBALL!!
AND THEY ARE A LEGITIMATE CONTENDER FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
Kansas State looked terrific tonight beating Michigan State in overtime. But they better NOT make the mistake of taking Florida Atlantic lightly!!
OFF TO BED! Big Day tomorrow for the Old Dolphin!
I’ll talk to you fine folks when I get back home from the hospital.
G-O-O OWLS !!!
LOL….I picked up my mail this morning and found my Medicare Rx and Supplemental cards. I am officially an old fucker next week….oh my!
I even received the “Medicare & You 2023: The official U.S. government Medicare handbook.” Lol….
Holy fuck, that’s scary! Don’t they know you’re still 19 years old?
Lol…someone said I looked like an old hippy….I said I am…lol
…that was yesterday…lol
LOL
I keep getting stuff from AARP in the mail and I have been like fuck you guys I’m not old enough to be a part of your organization!! And then I realize that I have been for more than three years now😭😭😭
Lol…I think membership is free!
It’s not free, but buyer beware, make sure what they stand for is what you want your money going to, they’re pretty far left
Congrats OD!! Hope everything goes well today!
Malik Reed’s contract hits OTC at $1,092,500, barely denting it 100k
Several players not in the top 51 have a decent shot at making the 53 like Kohou, Trill, McKinley…
Someone like Crossen at 3.15m with no dead money might not make the cut
AVG is the lone player not yet accounted for
Spotrac has joined the party and now has us at 3.9m under, and OTC has us at 3.8m
Both without AVG yet
ROCK, my son is going through the Weird Al catalogue. He had never heard him before. I still find Weird Al funny as hell.
My son sent me this one and I died laughing. I immediately thought of you every time MikeE posts a new blog.
I saw him at Six Flags Magic Mountain mid 80s, they have concerts some Saturday nights included in park admission, he puts on a good show
😂😂😂😂😂😂
I never heard that one before. I love it.
One of my favorites is “Yoda”
I met him in a bayou down on Degobah where is bubbles all the time like a giant carbonated soda. S O D A soda
NEW BLOG UP!!!