A lot of things have happened last year, trades bringing in top tier talent like WR Tyreek Hill, DE/OLB Bradley Chubb, a few key FA signings, notably C/OG Connor Williams and LT Terron Armstead. With less than a handful of 2023 NFL Draft picks, the front office once again entered the trade market and acquired a huge piece for our defense, CB/S/LB Jalen Ramsey. There were a few FA signings, LB David Long formerly of the Tennessee Titans, S DeShon Elliott from the Detroit Lions, LB Malik Reed from the Steelers, TE Eric Saubert from the Broncos, WR Braxton Berrios and OG Dan Feeney from the Jets and more recently, we’ve signed a couple of OT’s, former 1st RD picks Isaiah Wynn from the Patriots, and Cedric Ogbuehi from the Jets. Besides player personnel, we also signed one of the defensive minds in the NFL, DC Vic Fangio.
I can’t remember a player added via trade that had an impact like Tyreek Hill. He was better than anyone could have hoped, he completely changed the offense, the game, everything. He’s a dynamic force that even when teams employ multiple personnel to try to contain him, is still able to impact the game. On the downside, Bradley Chubb was less, much less that advertised as a Dolphins defender last season. I think that changes significantly this season with Vic Fangio. I can’t wait to see Phillips and Chubb feast with Fangio running the D. Fangio, no doubt was behind acquiring Jalen Ramsey, who will deployed at multiple positions, but the key here is we have so much depth, with S Brandon Jones returning, and the addition of S DeShon Elliott so that Fangio can move guys around without missing a beat. The NFL is set up for parity, but our depth right now both on offense and defense is the best it’s been in a very long time.
Although we didn’t have a lot of picks in this year’s draft, that doesn’t mean we didn’t add valuable players, quite the contrary. Our first pick, CB Cam Smith will have opportunities to play this season. I can’t say he will be the starter outside Game 1, but I do believe he could be before the end of the season. He was a pick both for now, and definitely for the future. CB Xavien Howard is on the decline, and while he possesses excellent ball skills, we have seen his speed, mostly recovery speed diminish. I love that we re-signed AVG, and added Malik Reed and last year’s first pick (3rd RD pick) Channing Tindall will all be key depth guys to help rush the passer. Our depth is truly impressive, with starters DE Zach Sieler, NT Raekwon Davis and DE Christian Wilkins, and then the LB crew of Jaelan Phillips, David Long, Jerome Baker and Bradley Chubb, CB’s Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey, along with safeties Brandon Jones and Jevon Holland. There will be a lot of mixing and matching personnel. Now keep in mind, this is just the defense I’m talking about!
Like I said, having only 4 picks doesn’t mean we didn’t bring in impact players, and I think our second pick, RB De’Von Achane may provide a ton of excitement this season. He will get touches as a return man, both punts and kicks. He will see the field as a RB, and he will be a demon as a receiver out of the backfield. With Hill, Waddle, Berrios, Anderson, Cracraft and even draft pick Elijah Higgins, you simply can’t cover ALL-THAT-SPEED. A-Chain is going to be fun to watch. Now I didn’t mention QB Mike White as one of our FA acquisitions, but let’s face it, we were ridiculously unlucky with our QB’s last season. Tua’s fragility has been well documented, but how many times did our 2nd and 3rd string QB’s get hurt, and a few times in the same game. Mike White also got knocked out of action, but he was tossed around like a rag doll by Buffalo that one game. I expect him, if needed to be better than what we had last season in Teddy Bridgewater and rookie Skylar Thompson. White was impressive when given decent protection, and he played through some tough rib injuries. We all hope Tua remains unscathed the entire season, but I believe if we need Mike White for a game or two, he can deliver.
On special teams, we have new punter, Jake Bailey formerly of the Patriots. K Jason Sanders looks to have a bounce back season. Braxton Berrios, and draftee De’Von Achane will be the return men. With the excellent depth we have on our defense, and offense, our ST’s coverage should be much better than last season with all the injuries. It’s not crazy to expect both our offense and defense to both be top units, certainly top 10 or better. When was the last time you felt this way, and had legitimate conviction about it? So, be excited Dolphins fans, really, be excited! It’s OK, I know somewhere inside there’s that Dolphins Fan Reflex that makes it difficult to get hyped, but we have a very talented team, and I think we have the right coaches to get what we need from the deep roster. GET HYPED!!!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Good! I hope he gets used to it.
Tua Tagovailoa testing out new helmet designed specifically to protect quarterbacks
Posted by Michael David Smith on June 8, 2023, 1:40 PM EDT
The NFL and NFL Players Association approved a new helmet this offseason that helmet maker Vicis designed specifically to protect quarterbacks from the kinds of injuries they suffer when their heads hit the ground. Unsurprisingly, Tua Tagovailoa is interested.
Tagovailoa, who suffered multiple concussions on exactly those kinds of hits last season, said he is wearing he newly designed helmet at Organized Team Activities to see how comfortable he is in it.
“I’m still trying to feel it out, so what better time to feel it out than OTAs? I heard it’s supposedly better than the helmet I was wearing last year,” Tagovailoa said. “If it could be that much more safe, then why not give it a shot?”
Tagovailoa said he’s not sure if he’ll wear the helmet during the season, but he wants to give himself plenty of time to try it out on the practice field. Of course, quarterbacks don’t get hit in practice, and Tagovailoa won’t really know how much extra protection the helmet gives him until he needs it. But it’s something he’s considering, and other quarterbacks may follow suit.
I can’t believe this came from Omar…
Tyreek Hill Says Dolphins Go as Far as Tua Takes Team
Tyreek Hill Gas Seen Significant Growth From Tua Tagovailoa, and Is Confident he’ll Lead Dolphins to Successful 2023 Season
OMAR KELLY15 MINUTES AGO
In this story:
Miami Dolphins
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Tyreek Hill statistically is on pace to become a Hall of Famer if the speedy receiver stays consistent with his current level of production for the next four or five years.
But the seven-time Pro Bowl receiver isn’t shy about sharing his opinion that the 2023 Miami Dolphins will “only go as far as (Tua Tagovailoa) takes us,” and Hill is confident Miami is a Super Bowl contender because of the growth he’s seen from his fourth-year quarterback.
Tagovailoa has a better mastery of Mike McDaniel’s offense, and is working to form better chemistry with his receivers, which includes the addition of two new receivers in Robbie Chosen and Braxton Berrios.
But more importantly, he’s taken ownership of the offense, and the team, Hill points out.
“Tua has stepped up a lot in his leadership role. I know last year was my first year playing with him, but seeing him this year, he’s more vocal with the offense, leading and group chats and stuff like that,” said Hill, who had a career-high in receptions (119), receiving yards (1710) and scored eight touchdowns last season in his first year with the Dolphins.
TUA ORGANIZING WORKOUTS
“(He’s) organizing workouts outside of the Miami Dolphins stadium. When I first got here, I said, ‘Bro, you should be comfortable with telling a group of wideouts to just meet you somewhere.’ We’re going to pull up regardless, so he’s been doing a great job.”
According to Hill, if Tagovailoa, who finished 2022 as the NFL’s top-rated passer, wanted those workouts to be in his home state of Hawaii, his playmakers would be hopping on Spirit Airlines to make it happen.
“That way I can sneak a vacation in with the family and also get some work in,” said Hill, who said Thursday that his goal is to become the first receiver in NFL history to deliver a 2,000-yard receiving season.
Hill, a four-time All-Pro selection, would need to average 117.6 yards per game for 17 games next season to become a 2,000-yard receiver.
Last year he averaged 100.6, but it should be pointed out he didn’t play with Tagovailoa, the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, for five games last season.
There was a moment last season when Hill was on pace to achieve that 2,000-yard milestone, but he battled a few injuries late in the season, which is when Miami’s offense struggled, especially in games where Tagovailoa was sidelined by his second concussion.
“I feel like I’ve got the right tools around me,” Hill said, referring to the Dolphins offense, which ranked sixth in the NFL last season. “I’ve got obviously the most accurate quarterback in the NFL. I’ve got one of the best head coaches in the NFL, and also my position coach (Wes Welker) is a monster also. So just having those three things, and me just keeping the same mind-set each and every day that I want to get better and I want to break the record. And I do want to break the record.”
HILL HAS BETTER MASTERY OF OFFENSE
According to Hill, he was just winging it “out there just using all athleticism” in McDaniel’s offense last season, and didn’t have a firm grasp of the playbook like he does now.
“This year everything has slowed down,” said Hill, who sat out team drills during minicamp this week because he’s nursing a minor injury.
“I do want to break the record,”Hill said, pointing out the addition of a 17th game provides him a chance to eclipse the 2,000-yard threshold. “So I feel like this is one of those years that I can achieve it.”
And, Hawaii would be a great place to train…lol
Cut the Benny Hill music
CUE
I hate it when auto correct f’s up your sentence.
It really is a problem. I have watched it change a perfectly spelled word into something else entirely. Sometimes with embarrassing results! 😂
it does it at the last second sometimes. Like it is spelled right and then just as you hit post it goes hahahaha psyche imma just gonna drop clitoris into the sentence to your grandma.
https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/miami-dolphins-have-high-expectations-for-tua-tagovailoa-in-2023
rah rah
I guess you didn’t read it the first time…lol
Krishna says:
June 8, 2023 at 8:35 am
Lol…you sound like a bleeding-heart liberal…lol. Seriously, every year farmers have to deal with climate. It’s part of the that life choice.
And, nature will take of itself far better than humans will…lol
—————
Man, why would you say something like that, other than to razz me?
Seriously, food prices have been soaring and the drought isn’t helping matters. I feel badly for the farmers who produce the food we eat. It may be a life choice for them, but why scoff at them? They don’t work or have a good yield, you don’t eat: farmers are people too.
What you stated doesn’t make much sense to me… nor does it sound very humanitarian on your part.
Now I grew up on George Carlin, so I get that the planet will take care of itself (LOL, and I agree! 🙂 ), but come on, man.
If you want to see even MORE crime under this hostile regime, wish for the people to starve… NOT COOL. We’ve seen this play out once or twice before in relatively recent history… don’t think I need to mention their names, either.
Lol…you honestly have no idea who I am or what I believe…
….and you like to “razz” with your spin and mischaracterizations…lol
….carry on.
Alrighty, then!
So a fellow Dolphins fan stopped me at work today and asked me: “Do you think we sign Dalvin Cook?” (after his release was announced earlier).
I said that I think we’re very interested in him, if the price is right. And being he’s from South Florida — and has publicly stated that he wants to play for us — I think it’s going to happen.
And SHOULD that happen, we’ll probably be shopping/cutting one or two of our current RBs (Gaskin and Ahmed).
Randy,
You generally have a great pulse on the Vikes. What are they trying to do up there, man? Seems to me that they’re trying to get younger, perhaps? They’ve already purged some fairly decent players, and now they’re fielding calls for a trade of Danielle Hunter as well.
Wonder if Hunter gets outright cut, just like Dalvin Cook.
To be clear, I love the bees, hummingbirds, fresh air and water, nature, organic, farmers, fisherman, earth, clean…lol.
What’s not to love about that?
I agree! Where was the spin?
I’m more curious about extensions for Wilkins and Sieler than chasing Cook….
I’m with Rock on this.
I agree. Let’s not let two in the hand get away for a bird in the bush. I think it’s a PRIORITY to bring Wilkins and Sieler back via extensions.
Can’t lie: Danielle Hunter may be more valuable to our Defense than Dalvin Cook may be for our Offense. But it’s all contingent upon how often Vic Fangio wants to disguise pass-rushers and how often we go 4-3.
That stated, I think Fangio has his guy in Bradley Chubb. I’m just thinking aloud at this point.
Not sure we’ll see much 4-3.
What’s the deal with the tiny text on here?
Unless he gets close to 20 ypr, I hope ths doesn’t happen
https://www.thephinsider.com/2023/6/9/23754866/miami-dolphins-wide-receiver-tyreek-hill-has-eyes-set-on-nfl-history-in-2023-calvin-johnson-2000
Tiny text??? Need reading glasses? I know a guy
Something changed on my phone, now all I get for this sight only is everything in a tiny font. Phone settings doesn’t fix it
Sure I can make the text bigger with 2 fingers, but then I have to scroll to right for each line, need to find line wrap I guess
I have consulted with the baby back rib council
We have reviewed all the bones and performed the usual pork rituals of farting in circles and rubbing our pork bellies with a dry rub
All signs point to the Dolphins signing Dalvin Cook
So we have that going for us….
LOL Piggy, you need to read the new blog!!!
NEW BLOG UP!!!
4. Miami Dolphins
Roster core: QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Tyreek Hill, CB Jalen Ramsey, WR Jaylen Waddle, OT Terron Armstead
Average core age: 27.6
The Dolphins’ offensive core proved its potential in 2022. When all four of Tagovailoa, Hill, Waddle and Armstead were on the field, the team averaged a massive 0.24 EPA per play. For context, the Chiefs led the league with 0.17 EPA per play overall. Add Ramsey in to spice up the defense, and this core looks dangerous.
Cheats were #27, this was for top 5 core players