There will be lots of decisions that both GM Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel have to make to kick off the offseason flurry of moves and machinations. The very first one, and one that will impact all of the others is whether to give current QB Tua Tagovailoa a new contract that would keep him in a Miami Dolphins uniform for the next 6 years or more, or just let him play out the 5th year option we’ve already picked up which would pay Tua $23.17M in 2024. It’s easy to say that if we give him a new contract that it will free up much needed cap room to re-sign players here, and sign other players that are not. On the other hand, this could be a very short sighted move if Tua Tagovailoa cannot bring this team to a championship. I’m a fan of Tua Tagovailoa, he’s as likable as they come. He’s not a “Me” guy, always puts the team first. I want him to succeed, I really do, but my doubts about him really spiked seeing how he struggled against better teams, and I mean every single one of them. It’s not just a slight difference either, it’s Jekyll and Hyde different.
The games I’m referring to are the 2 against the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, then the Eagles, Cowboys and then the Ravens. I’m going to throw in the Titans game as well.
In 10 games against the Chargers, Jets, Patriots, Broncos, Panthers, Raiders, Giants and Redskins, this is what Tua did . . .
324 pass attempts, 233 completions, 3040 yards, 22 TD’s and 8 INT’s / QBR 113.45
Then in 8 games against the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens, Cowboys and Titans, this is what Tua did . . .
275 pass attempts, 175 completions, 1833 yards, 8 TD’s and 7 INT’s / QBR 81.98
Those numbers are disturbing. The Cowboys game at home was the only game against the better teams that Tua finished with a good QBR, and that was 98.1, but again, we needed 5 Jason Sanders field goals to win that win as Tua managed only 1 TD. If you watched all the games, the numbers alone don’t even tell the full story. Our passing game was just shut down, and a bunch of these games are before the injuries occurred. For example, we out rushed the Bills in our first meeting 142 – 104. So it wasn’t a case that Tua had do it all. The same goes for the Chiefs game during the regular season. We out rushed KC 117-93. It’s not a matter of complimentary football, the run game was working, but the QB just didn’t get the job done. We easily out rushed the Titans, 158 – 83. Again, the QB just didn’t get the job done, and this game, the defense as well. My point is, some of you would probably think that our offense as a whole played poorly in these games, but clearly, that was not the case.
One of my favorite players, Christian Wilkins put up a great season in ’22, and we offered him a relatively low contract, and he decided to bet on himself in ’23. Well, if we can use him as an example of playing on the final year of a contract and rising to the occasion, Wilkins did even better in ’23.
2022 17 Games - 98 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF’s, 1 FR, 16 TFL, 7 QB HITS
2023 17 Games – 65 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 1FF, 2 FR’s,10 TFL, 23 QB HITS
Is it really so crazy to let Tua play on his current contract? I suppose the Dolphins can offer Tua a low contract around $40M per with less guaranteed money, but would he take that? I would think not. We could only hope that he would embrace his opportunity like Christian Wilkins did, bet on himself, and cash in in 2024. It would be the best possible outcome, rather than relying on confidence that he can finally step up in these big games, or that we can save possibly $10-12M in cap space in 2024 if we give him a big contract. Once again, that’s looking at the end of your nose, not out in front. Unless you have absolute conviction that Tua Tagovailoa can bring this team a championship, without everything being ideal, then in my opinion you just can’t do it. They already made a choice by opting in for his 5th year. I fully understand that he answered the “Can he stay healthy?” question by not only playing 17 games, but also a playoff game. On the other hand, if you watched every game, no question Tua played like he needed to play next week every game. Sliding before securing the first down on numerous occasions, and in general just not playing with abandon, like his Buffalo Bills counterpart Josh Allen, or even Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, and especially the Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, who puts his body in peril almost every play.
Besides Tua, this team has plenty of other decisions to make. We must shed contracts and open up cap room. We’re nearly $50M over the cap so the roster as it stands can’t remain. I think we’re going to lose some good players, one’s we’d like to keep, like OLB Andrew Van Ginkel. We can’t win a bidding war, and I know fans like to think he wants to stay, and he probably does, but $$$ talks, it always does. Of course we’ll ask the top salary earners for restructures which basically pays them money up front, so no problem there. Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and probably Jalen Ramsey will be the ones to accommodate here. I do believe we may have seen the last of CB Xavien Howard in a Dolphins uniform. Unfortunately, I feel the same for ILB Jerome Baker. LT Terron Armstead is another huge earner, and there are thoughts he may retire. That would be great for our salary cap, not so great for the team, although his availability is in question every year, and every game to be fair. OLB/DE Emmanuel Ogbah is another player who may have played his last game in Miami. His $17.7M contract is not going to happen, despite our hole at OLB with both Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips injured and questionable to play at the start of the ’24 season, along with the potential departure of OLB Andrew Van Ginkel.
Our draft haul is so important, and although meager in quantity, we absolutely need to hit on our first 2 picks. What I mean is not only do these players have to be good down the line, but we must get quality contributions NOW! We’ve been awful, just dreadful lately. RB De’Von Achane was the only bright spot, but already his durability is in question. CB Cam Smith, our first pick in RD2 couldn’t make any contribution at CB, despite a plethora of injuries at that position. Disheartening in the least! 2022 was no better. LB Channing Tindall RD3, WR Erik Ezukanma RD4, and then LB Cameron Goode and QB Skylar Thompson in RD 7. Zero, zilch, nada! That just has to change this season. We’ve traded to acquire lots of talent, never a prudent formula in the NFL. The best organizations like the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, both perennial playoff teams just don’t do that. Now we’re stuck in a cap forced window where we just have a year or so to succeed. We must hit on picks so that when that window closes, we don’t fall to the basement of the AFC and spend a decade digging ourselves out. Just to reiterate something here, if we give Tua a contract now, it would almost certainly be in the neighborhood of $45-50 per year. If he plays so well this year in 2024, and say takes us to the Super Bowl, maybe he gets $55-60M? Well worth the gamble in my opinion. On the other hand, if he plays worse, the team regresses, or he gets injured, while also unfortunate, we’ll have made the right choice.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I heard Ron Rivera in Philly as DC.
Fangio to be HC in Philly
What?!!! Siriano I is out?
Not yet as far as I can see
But a lot of people expect him to be out
That would actually make a hell of a lot more sense than a lateral move,
Jim Harbaugh new Chargers HC
Saw that coming awhile ago. Makes sense in a lot of ways.
Yeah, I think everyone did. He works well with QBs. This may be what the Chargers need to get over the hump; Harbaugh is been incredibly successful everywhere he’s been.
His wife loves California, they’ve had stops in Stanford and SF and he has a talented QB in Herbert to work with.
Mike E. says:
January 24, 2024 at 6:32 pm
If we bring in Brian Flores as DC, maybe Tua won’t mind playing on his 5th year option. lol
HAHAHAHAHA!
Cam Smith is probably doing victory laps right now
We should consider hiring that guy in Minnesota as DC
What’s his name…Flowers…floes…Flonase thing
Anyone know his name?
(Piggy ducks )
😂
Fangio saw the writing on the wall He sees the situation as it is.
His family is there- also, maybe there is traction to him being the HC there
I wonder if Fangio tries to recruit AVG to the Eagles …
What about Wink Martindale?
He sounds too much like a game show host. Next.
🤣
This is sad.
I am actually tired of being a Dolphins fan. It is emotionally exhausting
Every year it gets harder to care
I don’t think moving on from Fangio is going to affect what happens on the field next year
Rock, two playoff seasons in a row not good enough for you?
Not enough for me, tell you that much.
FinsUp! Sports are becoming solely entertainment, not real life anymore. I can’t control what I can’t control. Go team! 🙂
No, it is not. Are you going to be satisfied with next season if they are last in the AFCE again? Tim: “Oh well, they DID make the playoffs last year and the year before. So what most of those players couldn’t be retained”
Apparently Fangio really wants to be in Philly and was never all in in Miami
That is the way I’m reading it too.
His family is in Pennsylvania
Well, now he’s all OUT!
Not too surprised. McDaniel is a players coach. Fangio is not. It was a weird dynamic.
Hope he goes to Philly, gets pissed and punches that asshat of a coach.
LOL
RappIan Rapoport on the NFL Network Wednesday evening said former LA Chargers head coach Brandon Staley is a name to watch as he is close to Mike McDaniel. Staley also worked for Sean McVay for one year, and the Rams and McVay is also very close to McDaniel, and there could be a tie-in there. So that is something to keep an eye on and watch. Staley runs the same scheme Vic Fangio ran, and learned under Vic Fangio in Chicago and Denver. It appears the reason Vic wanted out of Miami was not results-based but more of a personality clash with Fangio and the players. So, keeping the same scheme with a different coordinator may be the plan of attack here.
Did you guys know that I have no confidence in Chris Grier and think he should be fired?
“Rob and all those offensive linemen worked tirelessly to improve and get better and buy into the scheme and so for us, like all of them, he’s earned the right to be a free agent,” Grier said. “We did have a conversation with him during the season, so we’ll see what happens here as we go through it. But again, these guys have earned the right to be free agents”
Fuck you Grier, they earned the right to be RESIGNED BEFORE WE LOSE THEM TO FREEAGENCY!
Here is his quote about Wilkins too:
“He bet on himself and it paid off for him. I’m very happy for him,” Grier said. “So we’ll stay in communication and see where this ends up, but he earned the right to be a free agent. Again, I’m happy for him. We drafted him here, developed him here, and he’s the type of person we’re looking for.”
Yeah we are really happy too you prick
Renaldo Hill also worked under Fangio in Denver and was DC for Staley before coming to Miami.
So Wilkins is all but gone already. Raekwon Davis is an URFA. Da’shawn Hand is a URFA. We have two DTs under contract in ’24. Seiler and Pili. That is it!
the ’24 team is not going to look like the ’23 team except for maybe 25 players. Some of them unable to play until well into the season because of injuries.
Grier fucked this team.
Fangio was in the 2nd year of his contract. If he signs with the Eagles as new DC almost immediately after leaving Miami, isn’t that tampering?
the team and he “mutually agreed to go separate ways” they cut him loose. He is free to go where he likes. No tampering.
If he “mutually agreed” bc he had a job waiting for him in Philly, then that’s tampering
https://x.com/finsxtra/status/1750280720306647119?s=61&t=NWZ–WfgKu_dYbC-fKuB3A
Rosenhaus says he was disliked by players which seems to pretty obvious now
Why the hell can’t we have nice things?!?
Miami Dolphins
2023 · 11-6-0
COACHING NEWS
The Dolphins are moving on from offensive assistants Ricardo Allen and Mike Judge, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, reported per sources. Assistant special teams coach Brendan Farrell won’t return for 2024 season, Wolfe added.
Wow, a little house cleaning going on?
I wonder how Ramsey feels about Staley since he played under him on the Rams?
Rock, at least we have 2 DT’s on the roster. We also only have 1 safety, Javon Holland. Jones, Elliott and Campbell are all UFA’s.
The incomparable Crossman still a Dolphins coach?
Clearly a guy who knows where all the bodies are buried
Guess it was all the assistants fault.
oh no Mike Judge is leaving? damn it. no more Beavis and Butt-head
So, did the Eagles interview two minority candidates before hiring Fangio? Is the Rooney rule still in effect? He is signing with the Eagles today. Doesn’t seem like they had time to honestly go through the process. They should be fined.
He was hired as Head Coach or DC? If it’s DC, the Rooney Rule doesn’t apply
Yes it does Mike. The Rooney rule applies to Coordinators too. Only need to have one Minority interview for coordinators though, so I guess the could interview any of their internal minority coaches and call it a day.
WOW, I had not realized that Anthony Campanile has been with the Dolphins since 2000. 24 years coach out line backers? I would think I would remember that!
that’s because it isn’t true. I looked it up. 2020. The author of the article I just read had a typo and wrote 2000
I was not impressed with Fangio.
he has had a top 10 Defense in 1/2 of his seasons (bottom 10 in the other half! Go figure, they left that part out when crowing about him being a top 10 DC)
Of the coache’s names they are throwing around as potential hires for Miami’s DC I like Wink the least. He has the most experience, but I would rather go with a younger guy like Staley
Tua led the NFL in Passing yards.
His OL finished next to last in pass block win rate.
Holland not a Fangio fan? LOL
Cam Smith tweeted an open lock emoji. I guess Cam felt Fangio was holding him back? LOL
Tua set the Dolphins single season pass completion record. 69.3
Lester Cotton played the 6th most snaps on our offense. 56%
The Dolphins led the league in total offense and in passing offense.
We won 11 games for the first time in 15 years.
What point are you trying to make Naples?
Only half the starting 11 on offense played half the offensive snaps.
Only 1 game featured the starting 5 OL.
Yep. Denver.
70 points
Only 2 guys played 90% of the offensive snaps.
Tua at 93 and Austin Jackson at 90%.
Miami’s running back coach, Eric Studesville, will be interviewing with the Commanders for their vacant OC job.
Positions where the player missed at least one full game:
RB1
RB2
RB3
RB4
RB5
WR1
WR2
WR5
TE1
LT1
LT2
LG1
C1
RG1
RG2
RT1
EDGE 1
EDGE 2
OLB 1
OLB 3
ILB 1
S1
S2
S3
CB2
CB4
In Brandon Staley’s lone season as a DC (Rams, 2020), he had the #1 scoring Defense, #1 overall Defense, the #1 passing Defense, and the #3 running Defense.
He’s good friends with Coach McDaniel, he learned under Fangio (we’d get to keep the same scheme in ’24 for the sake of continuity), he seems to be a player’s coach like McDaniel, and he’s young.
I’d say we’ve probably already contacted him to be our new DC… and I think he’ll accept.
And he knows how to use Ramsey.
Unlike Fangio.
Yessir!
Oops left out CB1
Rock, sports doesn’t bother me like it does you. I have a few friends who were huge sports fans and don’t watch it anymore. It’s just not important to them anymore. I’m not where they are because I still do enjoy it. But I’m not as emotional about it anymore.
so your answer is yes? You will be satisfied being in last place in the division this season because we made the playoffs two years in a row and had a first round exit? No, not good enough for me.
Never said that and it’s a bit of a silly accusation.
I root for the Dolphins as they are, not what I demand.
Sounds like Naples is satisfied with what our team did considering all the injuries
I hold Fangio responsible for the Titans loss.
Fangio also had no plan to slow down Buffalo’s offense.
naplesfan2010 says:
January 25, 2024 at 1:19 pm (Edit)
I was not impressed with Fangio.
I was saying this at some point during the season. I don’t know anything about all this, but I felt like I’d been lied to, the great Fangio defense I was expecting didn’t seem to be all that. Then it seemed like it got better. I actually said, I think I owe him an apology. 🤣 Then the injuries and not so much again. 🤷🏼♀️
100% agree
MF13 Staley is my #1 pick if I had any say in the matter.
Because of his connections with McDaniel it’s very possible.
Free agent signing period begins in 48 days.
They need to clear up 60 million in cap space first.
I will not be happy if Staley is our DC. His defense in SD was horrible
He was the HC of the Chargers and doled out Defensive responsibilities to his DC… just as he should have as HC.
BTW, it’s no longer SD (San Diego), it’s LA. And please don’t take me the wrong way, as I make the same mistake a LOT, Bro! 🙂
Still he is a defensive minded HC…and his defense in SD blew donkey dick
he had a top defense as coordinator for the Rams.
Yes but then in SD despite elite talent his defense blew donkey dick
Rockphin says:
January 25, 2024 at 3:30 pm
MF13 Staley is my #1 pick if I had any say in the matter.
————-
Absolutely, man!
😡🤢
Hulkster,
I continue to make the mistake of calling the Chargers of San Diego, and the Raiders of Oakland.
You are certainly NOT alone, buddy! 🙂
Hulk smash geography
😆
Ken, I am not suggesting hiring Derrick Ansley. (The DC for LA the last 3 years) I want to hire Staley, who learned under Fangio and ran the same system. We would have continuity that way and not have to start AGAIN with a slow start due to scheme change.
^
I want anyone other Staley who convinced me he was a f’n moron during his time with the Chargers
There are all too many instances where a HC couldn’t cut it… and they are much better as coordinators. I feel as though this is one of those instances when it comes to Staley.
Norv Turner comes to mind, instantly.
Not all coaches make good head coaches. Some are better suited as coordinators.
Boy that Charger D sucked. They gave up SEVEN more points than the Dolphins last season…
They gave up 15 more points than the Dolphins in ’22
That is a teeny little donkey you got there
Belicheat* is suddenly running out of options. Most thought he was going to be the next Falcons’ HC.
Chargers got their HC, Panthers are looking at our guy, Falcons looking at Morris. Where is Belicheat going to end up?
Commanders?
Retired
I also like that Staley is a “Failed HC” that should keep him at the coordinator level for a couple of years at least.
Following in the footsteps of Fangio. 🤣
Strictly, because if he does well, then next season, he would be the target of another team to be head coach
Belichick may sit out a year and see if the Giants have an opening next year.
What about that Buffalo DC who is laying out a year. Leslie?
He knows Josh Allen AND the Buffalo D personnel as well,
so he might help us with all that.
Is he done?
or was he just fed up with the Bills HC’s asshole attitude?
Leslie Frazier?
We’ll probably promote Campanile.
Sigh 😔
I am sitting at Starbucks outside and it happens to be next to a hair salon and there is a woman with foil in her hair getting her tips done. So she has layer after layer after layer of tinfoil sticking up from her head. Trying to be cute. I said you get better reception with that. She looked at me with a blank look. You know like an antenna. Apparently she’s too young to have ever seen a TV antenna. 😩
YOU OLD!!!
Florida bans social media for kids under 16
https://patch.com/florida/sarasota/s/iuh01/social-media-ban-for-teens-under-16-passes-fl-house?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert&user_email=051679310dc8fb0dcf5bd84615d2c0c56c2e8fe75265d6b4c3a02b1973bc5d64&user_email_md5=35c2ef6c3fb7bed9c66ee1895bc54d67&lctg=60c67e1ba926ab70ab2d7bfa
I feel like
I owe Rock a beer
I’ll gladly drink it. Not sure what it was for but I’ll take it. LOL
Fake news
This guy gets it
https://phinphanatic.com/posts/right-now-it-s-hard-to-have-much-optimism-as-a-fan-of-the-miami-dolphins-01hn0ae7m6gd
Rock, not sure Staley will get another HC opportunity anytime soon. Maybe in 3 years or something like that. There will be up and coming coaches who will get opportunities over him. Minority hires are on the rise as well.
Apples – Florida did just remove Sociology as a core course at FL universities
Naples – fucking autocorrect
pheloniusphish says:
January 25, 2024 at 6:34 pm
Retired
———————–
That would be so awesome for him to fall short of Shula’s record.
It doesn’t really matter, no coach has been in more Super Bowls than him. He has a great legacy.
It does matter depending on what you’re looking at…both can be true
It matters to me. And, right, I’m sure Belicheat doesn’t care at all about getting the all-time wins record. 🙄
I’ll tell you this, it mattered to Shula very much, and he’d be thrilled to see Belicheat didn’t get his record, because he held nothing but disdain for the man and the way he conducted his business.
Agree…because he can’t get a job.
lol, that would be the icing.
Yep
To borrow a phrase…I’m a bad man..lol
Bellicheat didn’t do anything before Lady. Didn’t do anything after. His assistants all failed too. Time to put him out to pasture.
Don’t agree. He’s an excellent defensive coach. He was the architect of one of the most underrated defenses in history, the mid and late 80’s Giants defenses. He also played a role in suggesting LT be a pass rusher. It changed the game.
Agree
Rockphin says:
January 25, 2024 at 4:48 pm (Edit)
Boy that Charger D sucked. They gave up SEVEN more points than the Dolphins last season…
They gave up 15 more points than the Dolphins in ’22
That is a teeny little donkey you got there
—————
Another reason why I am not that broken up about losing Fangio. And leave my donkey. Just don’t be an ass 😉
Belichick coached two of the greatest players in NFL history. Both sides of the ball.
Turn up your volume for this. 🙂🤘
https://phinphanatic.com/posts/right-now-it-s-hard-to-have-much-optimism-as-a-fan-of-the-miami-dolphins-01hn0ae7m6gd
Nice write up and I agree with him. We look like we’ll be worse just based off how much we owe and how many need paid. So worse players with a new DC and same old, same old on offense. This also hits right in the feels; “That same Texans team blew it up twice since the Laremy Tunsil deal and won a playoff game before Miami did. Think about that for a minute.”
When looking at our team for next year this is the core to me.
Tua
Hill
Waddle
Achane
Sieler
Ramsey
Holland
Long Jr.
Phillips and Chubb could be 2nd half of the season 😔
These are significant players that are signed.
I think we have Mostert for another year too.
I really like Mostert but he’s going to be 32 in April.
We need a young, tough, physical back to complement Achane. Not necessarily a big “power back”, but a physical back.
So are you thinking make Achane the featured speedy back, kind of take Mostert’s place at the top next season, and add another physical guy to pair with him as 1b?
Then trade Mostert? Or keep him in training camp and if he balls out then maybe he’s 1C?
Wow 8 players out of 53 positions. GREAT core. NOT
I just hope we can find some stability on the oline next season.
Kong, we want a Pacheco or James Cook. That type of back. Achane is Gale Sayers when he’s good to go.
I’m not against Mostert he had a historic year for himself. But I don’t see him being a main cog going forward.
Gotcha
NEW BLOG UP!!!