You can spin the Vic Fangio departure whichever way it suits you. It seems the defensive players are happy that Vic Fangio is gone, most notably Dolphins Safety Jevon Holland whose “Kick Rocks” YouTube video got a lot of clicks and attention. The problem is, why was Vic Fangio here in the first place? What was the plan, the vision? We all know he’s a great defensive coordinator with tons of experience, but was he right for this team? I can give Head Coach Mike McDaniel a pass due to the fact that this is his 2nd season as a Head Coach, but GM Chris Grier has to know how to vet coaches after being the GM for 8 seasons now. Continuity is a good thing in the NFL, especially when you’re successful. I feel that the defensive side of the ball was the better unit down the stretch, despite the myriad of injuries they were dealing with for that unit. In fact, considering how bare the shelves were, I think the defense was worthy of praise. Of course, part of this is this talent we had, DL Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler were so impressive, all the while playing more snaps than most of their NFL counterparts. CB Jalen Ramsey did his best playing with a lesser CB on the other side and way too many safety combinations due to injuries to Safeties Jevon Holland, DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones. Not to mention the Linebackers in the last couple of games, especially the playoff game where we needed to sign 3 LB’s off the street, Justin Houston, Bruce Irvin and Malik Reed. As good as the unit performed, now we’re forced to go in another direction, which breaks the continuity. If Vic’s heart was in Philly all along, that’s a bad job by the Dolphins, period.
On January 15th both GM Chris Grier and HC Mike McDaniel had a press conference discussing the future of the team. Regarding DT Christian Wilkins, Grier praised Wilkins, stated that he was happy for him, that he bet on himself after the Dolphins offered him a fair market offer, but now he’s earned the right to be a Free Agent. Grier didn’t close the door, he said he would like to have Christian Wilkins and will keep his eye on the situation, but we’re in cap hell right now, and it truly seems as if there will be big changes here, not just player personnel, but obviously coordinators and assistant coaches too. DL Coach Kenny Baker is leaving the Dolphins to be the Defensive Line Coach for the University of Texas. Assistant Offensive Coaches Mike Judge, Ricardo Allen, Kolby Smith as well as Special Teams assistant coach Brendan Farrell are all leaving as well. If you think about our defense, it’s hard to argue against the statement that our best, most consistent unit was the defensive line, and out goes our DL Coach. Not trying to be negative, but that’s not good. Then again, after listening to Grier, and perusing our cap problems, we probably won’t have Christian Wilkins either.
Back to Christian Wilkins, and really one of the Dolphins shortcomings for quite some time. Drafting quality players and signing them to second contracts. We drafted Christian Wilkins in RD1 #13 in 2019. He had a fantastic season in 2022, played every game, nearly led the team in tackles with 98, but perhaps one shortcoming, only 3.5 sacks was what kept Grier from giving Wilkins more money. They couldn’t agree on a contract, and Wilkins balled out this season, and while he didn’t have as many tackles, he really showed an amazing improvement rushing the passer and creating havoc. Wilkins finished ’23 with 65 tackles, 9 sacks and 23 QB hits. If you watched Hard Knocks, you saw how close he is with his DL mate Zach Sieler. If there’s a contract that needs to get done, this is it right here folks. You can’t let your star walk on his 2nd contract, one you drafted, developed, and actually became a top player. If you’re going to overpay anyone, this is the one.
Back to Tua Tagovailoa. I listen to WQAM every morning, I don’t live in Miami, but I listen to Miami. Host Joe Rose is on the West Coast covering the game out there, so “Hollywood”, Omar Kelly and others have been filling in. This morning, they had CBS Sports NFL commentator Leger Douzable on, former NFL DL for the Rams, Jaguars, Jets, Bills and 49ers. Omar asked Leger point blank, do you give Tua a new contract or let him play on his 5th year option? Leger responded “No way, I let him play on his 5th year option”. In addition to this, there was discussion about Tua and whether he’s a top 5 QB, or even top 10 or worse, as someone else had Tua ranked #16. Douzable said for a good part of the year, Tua played like a top 5 QB, but the way he played in big spots, and down the stretch, he has Tua somewhere around 10-12. He said Tua’s biggest deficit is not being able to elevate the team in big spots. Of course the world is littered with opinions on both sides, but I feel that too many people are too easily willing to overlook how small his play is against better competition and especially big games. I can say if the Dolphins do give Tua a huge contract and can’t find the money to pay Christian Wilkins, I may lose my mind.
Let’s get back to coaches and Defensive Coordinators. We know the players didn’t like Vic Fangio’s “Old School” attitude, “My way or the highway” type of relationship. This is going to be a very big hire. At the end of the season, despite the injuries, Fangio got this defense, or the defense got itself to top 10. We need to improve on this. Of course player personnel will be changing, and the issue of both/either of OLB’s Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips not being available at the start of the season and beyond is already troubling. Add in the likelihood that CB Xavien Howard won’t be back, along with LILB Jerome Baker, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, OLB Andrew Van Ginkel and every Safety not named Jevon Holland, which includes DeShon Elliott, Brandon Jones, and Elijah Campbell. Perchance, maybe we’ll finally see the ascension of CB Cam Smith, who we spent a 2nd RD pick on in ’23 (#51). It was well illustrated that Fangio didn’t trust the rookie, but we must get more out of him next season. With all the turnover on defense, including our Coordinator, GM Chris Grier has a load of work to do. One of his signature moments had better be re-signing DL Christian Wilkins to a contract. He’s the player worth investing in. Much like Wilkins proved his mettle, and worth by elevating his play on the last year of his contract, we have to hope that the same could happen for our QB, Tua Tagovailoa.
I’ve had some discourse with fans on “X”, AKA Twitter regarding our young QB. I love when fans say “you keep moving the bar with Tua”. My answer to that is you keep putting the blindfold on about other deficiencies that come up. Yes, Tua played 17 games, but does that prove he can really be relied on to finish a 17 game season on a regular basis? It might, if he plays in the bubble wrap he played in all season long. Could he ever be expected to dive over the center to get a first down like every single QB remaining in the playoffs, and even those that were already eliminated do on a regular basis? The answer is NO. If the game is on the line and a defender and he are converging short of the first down, can you expect Tua to engage the defender and attempt to get that first down or lose the game? The answer is NO. That’s how he played this season, there’s no denying this. 45 YO Tom Brady was diving over the center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Brady didn’t have concussion issues. I’m not blaming Tua for his concussions, but I think you have to be realistic about what you’re paying for. Now maybe McDaniel and Tua change things up and they allow Tua to play with abandon, and put his body on the line. Do you really think he will last? Some of you will point to Joe Burrow and say he didn’t last. Joe Burrow is a BIG GAME QB. Tua is the king of SMALL GAMES. I don’t say this with animosity towards Tua, just speaking true, and it’s all there for everyone to see, even those wearing blindfolds. I love the kid, he’s a nice, likable player, I just don’t think he’s a winner in his compromised form. I believe he has just as much heart as Joe Burrow, but his HC so desperately wanted to have Tua play the entire season, and with good reason. Tua did not extend plays, as evidenced by his fastest in the NFL release times. You don’t get hurt if you don’t have the football. I’m not saying your QB has to run like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, but if you can’t see Tua’s self preservation for what it is, I can’t help you see it. You just don’t want to.
As for Free Agents, our most notable one is the extremely aforementioned DL Christian Wilkins. OG Robert Hunt. NT Raekwon Davis. Safeties DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones. OC Connor Williams, OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, NB Nik Needham. WR’s Braxton Berrios and Cedrick Wilson. OG’s Isaiah Wynn and Robert Jones and OT Kendall Lamm. CB Eli Apple. I feel like we can do better at NT than Raekwon Davis, especially considering how good both Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler were. I think #55 was never really appreciated here. Like Randy said, he’s a very good weakside LB, he’s out of place as an inside banger. I think we do need a new ILB though, which probably ends Jerome Baker’s tenure here. I’ll miss him. Safety DeShon Elliott was a good signing. I would like him back. Eli Apple was a necessity, and therefore he was exposed when relied upon. He’s a good coverage guy who never seemed to get his around to play the ball, despite being step for step with the receiver in coverage. He’s also a willing tackler, and a good one. Robert Hunt should be the 2nd priority. Once again, you want to get those 2nd contracts on your good players, the best NFL teams do this on a regular basis. It shows you’re drafting players. I think we’ll find a new OC, it probably won’t be Connor Williams, despite the fact that he played well. We probably won’t have the cap space available. There will be many difficult contract decisions, most all, I hope they get Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt and Tua Tagovailoa all correct. Fingers crossed!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
First!
Another good article Mike E!
I find it typical Dolphins to let their arguably best defensive player, who is out there every game, just walk away. Great job Grier!
Thanks ER! They haven’t let Wilkins go yet, but it would be a telling sign that we’re not going in the right direction
I would be very surprised to see him back. We don’t have any money now. Thanks Grier! Lol
Thank Goodness
Good article MikeE. I’m right with you on these concerns.
2025 QB does not look so promising outside Quinn Ewers and Carson Beck. Unless someone takes that next step up. Going to keep an eye on Alabama’s Milroe, also.
2025 QB draft class
I don’t worry about draft class. I think there are always guys out there who can play, you just need to find them. There will almost surely be 3 or 4 guys in consideration for RD 1, they just haven’t shown up yet
Your brain skipped forward and you missed some words.
Where? I did have a lot of thoughts I was trying to put down
Man, it will be faster for you to read what you posted than for me to go back and read it again, find them and post them.
You know who used to have the fastest release time in the NFL: Brady. Also Marino. Having a fast release time is a positive not a negative. You know who didn’t finish the season: Burrow. You know who didn’t make the playoffs: the Bengals.
I also know if Burrow did play the season that the Bengals would have been in the playoffs and would have probably advanced past the first round. Once again you’re picking out one thing to disguise another. Once defenses forced Tua to hold the ball, he had no answer. This offense was predicated on Tua throwing quickly to not get injured. If teams were able to cover well enough to make him hold, or pressure him, he lost the down. He very rarely was able to extend plays for a positive. That’s who he is. Again, you don’t want to see it, fine, but just because you close your eyes, it doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Every good defense shut our high powered offense down. The Bills, Eagles, Chiefs and then the Ravens knew how to shut Tua down. You can’t deny this. Burrow is a proven winner. He started off slow this season with a calf injury, but then once he felt better, he killed it against better teams, teams we could only wish Tua could play as well against.
Home against Buffalo / 31-44 348 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 INT’s
Away against SF / 28-32 283 yards 3 TD’s, 0 INT’s
He beat the Jets twice and they had a very good defense.
OK, I’ll play. He had a good game the first time they met, if the Jets were a complete team and had a QB, they might have beat us the 2nd game.
Tua 21-30 243 yards 1 TD, 2 INT’s. It was 10-6 before the Fail Mary play where Holland returned the INT for a 99 YD TD. We rushed 37 times for 167 yards and 2 TD’s. Not like Tua played like Burrow played against the better teams.
Burrow beats the Ravens, Chiefs and Bills like it’s nothing. A lot of QB’s can be successful against poor teams, but only a select few can go toe to toe and beat the best teams.
Burrow/Bengals beat the Ravens in back to back games, last game of season then in the WC round. He then beat the Bills in divisional round and lost by 3 to the eventual SB champs Chiefs who he beat during the reg season.
Right BBM. Burrow is a winner. Not many like him.
Fucking aye!!!! I got a mention in a MikeE write up! Holy crap. That made my whole damn day. Yeessss.
🙂
Rock – C’mon man, it’s hard to see your own mistakes because I’m able to complete the thought. Help a brother out!
What does Burrow have to do with Tua? Nothing. Ok. End of that. Isn’t it a basic expectation for every player to actually play? I don’t give out gold stars for suiting up and doing your job.
***
Has Tua beaten good defenses in 4 years? Of course he has. Has he lost to most good teams? Yes, he has. We’re past the stats. It’s about winning and losing when it matters. Until Tua starts doing that at a high clip, he’s not doing his job. I’ve fought against putting wins and loses on QBs for years but that’s just the way it is in the NFL where you get paid $50M/year.
Mike E. says:
January 26, 2024 at 2:07 pm (Edit)
I also know if Burrow did play the season that the Bengals would have been in the playoffs
—————
Exactly my point. There is value to Tua staying healthy and there is a cost for Burrow getting hurt
Not enough value for me Ken. We folded down the stretch with him at QB. We did the same thing last season, and frankly, put up a better fight against the Bills with Skylar Thompson than we did this year with Tua against KC. The risk that Burrow and all these other QB’s take is to WIN. If Tua wants to play to stay healthy, he can play Madden ’24 like Rock. lol
Nice write, Mike E!
As usual, I agree with almost everything ya wrote. However, we disagree on Tua… and that’s alright.
Only thing I can offer regarding a new contract for Tua is this: we can structure his contract to make it far easier to re-sign Wilkins.
we can structure his contract to make it far easier to re-sign Wilkins.
—————
That’s where I am at. We can win with him and the tough games also if we have a stout defense. Yeah, Brady won all those SB’s and is one of the best all time. You can’t tell me he wins half of that without the stellar defenses they had to include in Tampa.
Brady is also a winner. Some guys just have ice in their veins, and they do whatever has to be done to win. remember when the Patriots beat the Falcons down 28-8 in the 3rd quarter? It just this intangible thing, a will to win that infects the whole team.
In the Super Bowl
I’m not advising we do this, but I can already see it happening. Trade down from R1P21 to the bottom of the 1st round to recoup our lost 3rd rounder.
Of course, we could stay @ R1P21 and trade down in the 2nd round to recoup our lost 3rd rounder.
I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to trading back and picking up more capital. We need an influx of cheaper talent.
I’m in favor of that. The OT’s with elite potential will be gone.
Randy – It’s so hard to write things sometimes to get the point across. While I agree for the most part that W/L’s shouldn’t necessarily be attributed to QB’s, the question is does their play in these big games give you a chance to win? I put up the stats in my last article, and those stats answer the question with a resounding NO. If your QB can’t elevate the team and give them a chance against a good team, you just can’t win. If he’s going to play poorly in 80% of the games against winning teams, how can you give him $50M per year?
M – Tell me what it is that you disagree with me about Tua
I think he’s worthy of extension now. JMO
Extension = new contract… you get the gist.
Give me more please. Besides offering cap relief, why sign Tua? Do you disagree with me that McDaniel is protecting him, and Tua has obviously bought in as well to keep him healthy? Do you think he’s somehow going to elevate his play now in year 5 against the better teams? How is he going to do that?
Tua keeps getting better with each and every season. This means he has yet to reach his ceiling.
FIX the O-Line already(!!!) and he’ll have time to make his 2nd and 3rd-level reads instead of HAVING to get rid of the ball so bloody fast.
Mike E,
Another thing, I realize I’ve been very hard on (Beavis & Butthead: uh, he said “hard on”, heh, heh, heh, heh!) Jerome Baker, but I’ve concluded that he is fine player. I’m not sure he’s Pro-Bowl worthy, but he doesn’t suck, to be sure.
I’d love to keep him if he’d take a money shave. If not, he’s just too damn pricey. Like you, I will miss him if we cut him outright.
Yeah, Baker isn’t an All Pro LB, but that boy has heart, and has been a good player for us since he got here. If they do keep him, do you still start him at LILB, or maybe a position change? Who even knows if we stay in the 3-4 to be honest.
For the reasons ya stated, it’s too early to tell. I think if we sign Brandon Staley as our DC, I’d move Baker to OLB. JMO, and I think Randy has stated the same.
Of course Randy stated as much… it’s in your article! DUH! LOL 😀
M – So it’s still the O-line? I can’t say the O-line was great, but it certainly seemed like an NFL O-line. How are we really going to improve the O-line w/o money? Draft a LT at pick #21? Who plays C? I think we’re always going to be chasing that elusive awesome 5 player offensive line. We need a TE, 3rd receiver, probably need a CB more than the 2 I just mentioned. It’s not gonna be easy.
Not only that, we have to sign Robert Hunt too. Fuck!!!!!!
YUP!!! We MUST re-sign Robert Hunt!!! I couldn’t agree more.
I believe it’s still the O-Line, yes. I think this is why Tua was “bubble-wrapped” as you would call it… the reason he got rid of the ball so fast and instructed to do so.
Yes, I believe it was both the O-Line AND to protect Tua from injury. Both can be true at the same time.
M – If we move Baker to Weak OLB, then that means we have Phillips and Chubb at DE? Maybe Van Ginkel if he re-signs with us at strong OLB?
Anything is possible, but until we know who our new DC will be, it’s purely speculative at this juncture, my friend.
Yes it is
M – I guess you and I have a different confidence level in Tua. You and Ken both feel he can get better. Maybe I’m wrong on this, I don’t see it. We will find out next season.
EXACTLY! Hey, maybe I’m wrong on this as well, and I’m certainly not going to chastise anybody (not that anybody has) for their opinion on this matter.
It’s not a hill I’m willing to die on due to so much uncertainty with our team right now.
MikeE,
That’s kind of where I’ve gotten to with QBs. They have morphed the rules so much to favor them, and teams are paying them so much it’s changed the balance of a game, so I’m expecting more from QBs than I used to.
^
Here is why you extend Tua now:
He is only 26
He has gotten better every year
We have 4 consecutive winning seasons with him at QB
We have 2 consecutive playoff appearances with him at QB
He led the league in most statistical categories for the last 2 seasons.
He has a career winning percentage of approximately.650
I mean if we don’t extend him we will deserve the decade of mediocrity that will follow
AND… we can structure his new contract to be cap friendly, so as to re-sign the likes of Christian Wilkins.
I think we’re just a little better than mediocre right now. When Tua got injured and missed a bunch of games (5) including the playoff game we were 9-9. With Tua playing every game this season we were 11-7. You thinking Tua is somehow going to magically improve is just as likely as us drafting another great QB. Either one can happen, but not much reason to think it will.
11-6 was tied for the second best record in the AFC this year. That is a little more than just above mediocre and I don’t care about strength of schedule as much. All 32 teams are professional teams stocked with professional athletes. The margin between #1 and #32 is not all that wide
To me we’re kind of lumping things together. Every team would like to get the ball out quickly. It’s almost always to the offense’s advantage. A team may choose to throw shorter routes and get the ball out quicker for lots of different reasons. I don’t really have a problem with Tua getting the ball out as quickly as possible. What I didn’t like seeing this year was when he pulled the ball down and basically just flopped to the ground. His ability to move inside the pocket and buy an extra half second or so was nonexistent. Whether that was an active choice by the team to have him do that or just that he was trying to protect himself or that he just doesn’t have the mobility that he used to, it’s hard to say. All I know was it killed a lot of plays. You can never play at your best if you are truly trying to protect from injury. I doubt that’s really been a talking point for the team.
That is fair. His mobility in the pocket was not great. I am not sure why either. He was never fast but he did show more elusiveness in the past but not this year
IMO, Tua’s bulked up (to protect from hits) to the tune of affecting his speed, agility, and scrambling ability.
Take a look at photos from his rookie season with us in ’20… then look at photos of him this season. His thighs are like tree trunks now, whereas he wasn’t nearly as thick in his rookie season.
He’s seriously ripped nowadays.
Ken,
Do you really believe Tua makes that big of a difference in our winning or losing? If he does make that big a difference, just how good is this team, really?
Absolutely he does. Do you think we would have made the playoffs the last two years without Tua? I certainly don’t. Is Tua the only reason why we were there? No. But there was no way we get there without him. I also believe that if he was healthy for the playoff game last year vs Buffalo we would have won because Skylar Thompson played like 💩 in that game
Ok, but Tua played like shit in this one. What’s the difference?
Ken,
Yeah, he was never a speedster but he used to look more mobile. This year he just looked different.
That’s what 15+ pounds of muscle mass will do, especially on his frame.
It’s not as though he’s some tall, lanky dude who could put on 15+ pounds of muscle mass without it affecting his mobility/speed.
M13,
The NFL has no problem with players using supplements when it’s QBs. Tua definitely looks bigger, but not so big that he should look so damn slow. He’s still a small guy. Now he’s just small AND slow. Lol
And JACKED!
I’ve seen pictures of Tua without a shirt. I’m tellin’ ya, man, he is JACKED! I wouldn’t want to get in a fight with him today vs when he was a rook.
Ken – I wish Tua played like 1-15 like he plays against 16-32. Sorry, you left that up there, thanks for the alley-oop!
M13,
Sorry, but I haven’t seen Tua in the shower so I don’t know if he’s jacked. I can tell by his face. Lol
***
If he’s jacked then the extra weight should be even less of a problem. I don’t know if he put on 15 pounds of actual muscle. If he did, you can most certainly do it in a way to keep your speed and quickness. If it was just 15 pounds of weight then maybe not so much. I’m not so sure it was all about the extra mass anyway. Teams started taking away his primary read, and he struggled handling it.
To be honest, Mike E and I slipped into our now legendary chiffon robes and went undercover to get those pics of Tua in the shower. Don’t tell anybody now… don’t blow our cover!
😆
😀
🙂
That is where I think a better receiving TE would help. It would give him that escape valve for when his initial downfield reads are taken away
I don’t disagree with that, but I’m not drafting a TE so early when we have bigger fish to fry.
Doesn’t baseball have some stat that measures performance over replacement or some shit like that? Don’t we have that for QBs?
WAR – Wins Above Replacement. I’m a little skeptical on that stat
Moneyball. I am not a huge believer in the money ball philosophy
Randy says:
January 26, 2024 at 4:12 pm
…Teams started taking away his primary read, and he struggled handling it…
———–
I think that’s a very fair point, to which I would say… if 90% of the time one is dedicated to hitting his primary read, one would have difficulty hitting a tertiary read when one is only used to doing as much 10% of the time.
I have faith that Tua will get this fixed.
M13,
I have no patience with a 4th year player still getting things like that right. There is no legitimate excuse for Tua being stopped because he couldn’t go to his first read. Plays are always set up with multiple options. It’s up to Tua to get the ball to them. That shouldn’t be something we’re still hoping for in year 5.
That is certainly understandable, and really not a big ask. So, that’s why I think it’s easily attainable for Tua… to master reads outside of his primary.
I don’t think Tua has issues with secondary targets. Sometimes guys aren’t open. I’ve seen him survey the field many times for the best play.
We’re all interested in seeing how this offseason will play out. Lots of decisions to be made.
SO true, man.
BBL
Tom Pelissero
@TomPelissero
The #Dolphins requested an interview with #Bills LBs coach Bobby Babich for their defensive coordinator job, per source.
That’s three for Babich, who has emerged as a top young candidate.
We don’t always know about the up and coming coaches, but the coaching fraternity does.
Babich has a good amount of experience coaching secondary and LBs last two years.
Tim,
I think all smaller QBs struggle surveying the field sometimes. They just don’t have the same vision as a tall QB. it does literally take smaller QBs longer to look at targets because they probably have to move to get a view. It’s part of why I’ve always talked about how important interior protection is for guys like Brees and Tua. Keeping that gap right in front of Tua between him and the LOS so he can try to look around the bodies is crucial.
Oh okay. Gotcha!
I think Bobby Babich looks a lil like McDaniel. Could we use that to our advantage? lol
Only if the other side is the one vaping
Berrios has shared on social media that he won’t be back in Miami.
Was he on a 1 year contract?
Yes
babich is starting to look like the front runner at DC
Nice article Mike.
The Dolphins HAVE to at least tender Wilkins to a non exclusive tag so they can allow for the opportunity to get two firsts back for him. They can’t let him walk for nothing. If they do, it is a MASSSIVE failure on Grier’s part.
Not sure what’s going to happen but I’ll be bummed if we lose him. He won’t be easy to replace.
Thanks Bri
Okay, did the trade down again (a couple). OL starts to get thin after 2nd round.
34. Jackson Powers-Johnson OC Oregon
59. Ruke Orhorhoro DT Clemson
64. Cedric Gray LB North Carolina
123. Jaden Hicks S Washington State
132. Cade Stover TE Ohio State
135. Dominick Puni OT Kansas
156. Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M
185. Ja’quan Sheppard CB Maryland
199. Jabari Small RB Tennessee
221. Kyle Hergel OG Boston College
238. KT Leveston OT Kansas State
Stover killed Penn St. this year
Tim – I don’t see how we let Wilkins go. That will be such a fail by this organization.
That’s why it’s going to happen. 😆
Agreed
As I always say, I don’t know much about how this all works. I also don’t know if Tua is it, maybe he is, maybe not. What I do know is he didn’t come through in the big games like everyone is saying. He has to realize that too. As far as a new deal for him, I don’t see how anyone can justify a huge contract. He’s not earned it. Not yet anyway.
It’s going to be an offseason of mystery. 😂
I just hope that Grier and MM didn’t just have a 1YR plan, and now they’re just doing damage control. We’ve see teams like the Rams make a slew of moves and trades and at least in the Rams case, won the Supe Bowl, but then fell off the map. Is it possible the Dolphins thought they had a Super Bowl run in them and now are trying to figure out how to stay relevant?
The Rams also suffered major injuries the season after the Super Bowl and that’s why they faltered. They were competitive again this year.
Injuries – Check! We got those!
Bingo. They blew their wad and now they’re done. Eat a sandwich take a nap.
MikeE,
I really don’t think any team in the NFL thinks or plans just one year ahead. But, you still have to figure out how to rebound if an initial plan doesn’t work out. This is a good team. I think it is a playoff caliber team, up but I’m not willing to say it’s more than that until they figure out how to actually win in the playoffs.
***
Even if we did nothing, I think we’d still have a shot to get back to the playoffs next year. The question is are they able to make the right moves that allow us to do more than just get into the playoffs. Or, do our players simply gain experience and learn how to win in big games? I think some moves need to be made, but we’ll find out. Every year is so different.
Totally agree. Good post
I’m completely agree
I think we are a postseason team next year
The tough place we are in now, is whether we can take the next step
And also whether committing to anyone long term now, is going to to set us back in a couple years if we can get past the obstacles in front of us next year
Mike
If just had a 1 year plan, they would have signed Tua and Wilkins last off-season to big contracts
They demonstrated restraint IMO
Well, not necessarily. They may have thought they were going to win in ’23.
Confession:
I’m scare to commit….
To Tua
I think it’s hard to say we’re a playoff team because our defense may be totally different to begin the season. Maybe no Phillips, Chubb, Van Ginkel, DeShon Elliott, and more. We don’t know if Armstead is back, or who’s playing OC and RG, and probably LG too for that matter. That’s a lot of question marks.
If our defense sucks in September, that will just be a repeat of this season….lol
I think the big question mark in terms of our success is what the rest of the afc East does
If we are 4-2 against next season I the afc East, we are a playoff team.
The Bills have cap issues as well
I figure we may steal one from the Bills, but the Jets and Pats are due to steal one from us, so I’d sign up for 4-2 right now.
BB Mike,
Guess who hit #1 on iTunes?!! Tom MacDonald (feat. Ben Shapiro!)
Yeah, saw it yesterday. Shapiro is looking at getting a Billboard #1 on his first ever rap song or anything for that matter. lol
3.6 mil views on youtube in just over 1 day. TM is smart and he knows what people are tired of. He is going to make a lot of youtube $ with this one.
“My money like Lizzo my pockets are fat.”
We finished with a top-10 Defense this past season under Vic Fangio. First half of the season there was an obvious learning curve, as we were as low as the #27 Defense. In the second half of the season we started seeing top-5 results, to balance it out to a top-10 cumulative Defense… and in light of ALL of our injuries.
I think continuity is key when it comes to a top-10 Defense, so I’m rooting for Brandon Staley to be our next DC.
If we transform into a 4-3 Defense, strictly for cap-saving measures, I won’t be happy.
It makes a lot of sense. System and coaching relationships.
Been checking out the OL who should be available at #21 the pickings are good. Only thing is the best LT’s left are projected to move inside to OG at the NFL level. Only exception is maybe LT Jordan Morgan from Arizona.
Just from watching video’s of draft geeks breaking players down (get a life BBM, lol), my take is there are 5 elite OT’s in this draft. Two LT’s and 3 RT’s.
LT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
LT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
RT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
RT JC Latham, Alabama
RT Amarius Mims, Georgia
I believe these 5 will be gone by the time we pick. Possibly one of the RT’s fall in Latham or Mims, most likely Mims. Latham is a monster and can probably move to LT. Bama struggled at LT but Saban didn’t want to disrupt his OL with too much switching players around so he left Latham at RT. Many fans were pissed about it.
This draft is stacked at WR, solid at QB and even at CB. I can easily see 11 of the 20 picks before us go to those 3 positions. One of the other 8 spots will be Brock Bowers. Probably 1 DL and 3 edge will also go in the top 20. That leaves 4 spots for OT’s to be drafted.
This leaves us with taking at #21:
RT Mims hoping he can move to the other side.
LT Jordan Morgan, Arizona – Seeing/reading a lot of good about him. Projected late 1st to early 2nd.
OC Jackson Powers-Johnson – If you want the best center you have to take him here. He won’t be there at #55.
The next 2 are LT’s who are very good prospects but both project to LG due to arm length and project late 1st to early 2nd. Many are saying these 2 are potential pro bowl talent if they move inside.
LT/OG Troy Fautanu, Washington
LT/OG Graham Barton, Duke
Looking a lot more into LT/RT Kingsley Suamataia, I didn’t like/care for what I saw.
These are the only OL I see worthy of our 1st round pick. We will have some decent options.
It’s only 1/27/24… but I’d say at this juncture in the here and now (VERY early), I’d love to select either Latham or Mims, should they fall to us @ R1P21.
I very much dislike that they’re both RTs, but I believe they can be converted to LT for Tua.
If both are gone by the time we pick (again, it’s VERY early in the Draft process), I’d be good with trading down a few spots to select another player while gaining another day 2 selection.
We’ll be better next year because many of our players will improve after their experience this year and because McDaniel learned a lot and will incorporate that into his coaching.
I didn’t want Fangio and how our defense played is exactly why. He lost the Titans game and was stodgy against all the good teams.
We MUST resign Wilkins.
I think MF13 explains why re-upping Tua helps us keep Wilkins.
I think it’s ridiculous to give up on Tua at this point, but whether we resign him now or later is more of a business decision than a football one IMHO.
We can let Williams, Ogbah, and Raekwon go, and Berrios I guess, but I’d like to keep everyone else. I’m undecided about keeping X, but we must play Cam Smith more.
We MUST draft a high quality Center, and there should be one still available at P21.
We also need another TE. I love Smythe, but he should be our 2nd best TE with a true star as our TE1. There should be one there for us in the draft.
Thank you, kind sir!
Naples, I think Jackson Powers-Johnson (JPJ) would be the center choice at #21 or Zach Frazier at #55.
I watched more on Sedrick Van Pran and saw a lot of flaws. For a big dude, he lost a good number of battles in pass pro and run blocking at the line. He was good blocking on the 2nd level though.
I agree on all 3.
Naples,
Both BB Mike and I are VERY high on Jackson Powers-Johnson OC Oregon. If we trade down from R1P21 and select him later in the 1st round, we’d get a nice return.
Confession: some of you guys fuck me up regarding OC as it pertains to ‘Offensive Center’. Really? Is there any other kind of Center?
To me, OC means ‘Offensive Coordinator’! Just sayin’! 😀
I know. When I look at draft sites, most also list as OC. That’s were I got it from. LOL
I’d love to select either Latham or Mims
————–
I am interested to see Latham at the combine. Some sites list him at 6’6 360 and yet he is projected to run a 4.85 to 4.90 forty. That’s crazy!
I’ve seen him listed anywhere from 335 to 360. Even running a possible 4.85 at 335 pounds is still crazy.
We have the following picks:
R1 P21
R2 P23 (55th overall)
R5 P23
R6 P8 (from Chicago)
R6 P23
R7 P21
The exact number of the picks after round 2 are subject to the compensatory picks, but it is generally accepted that the Dolphins will not get a Comp pick.
Yep, on tankathon, they try to factor in comp picks but it’s not exact. There is about 100 picks in between our 2nd (#55) and our Projected 5th (#156).
https://www.tankathon.com/nfl/full_draft
Mike E.
The points you make about Tua are the reasons I put forth against drafting him.
However, I couldn’t have predicted getting this specific HC.
McDaniel is the key to Tua doing what you correctly say he is NOT doing.
If, and I’m hoping for the best here, as a Dolphins KoolAid pusher,
IF … McDaniel can grow into a game-plan genius to match his playbook genius,
and
IF McDaniel can grow to be able to match wits during games with the great HCs,
and
IF Grier can get us a first round Center and IF Hunt and Wynn can return to form and stay healthy,
then Tua will show us he can use that extra 2 seconds to find his 2nd and 3rd read.
Improving the OL, especially Center, will also mean our RBs can float out to be true check downs and not panic buttons, and our TEs can sometimes get into patterns without being required to block first every play.
Tua is NOT a gifted runner like Jackson or a magician like Mahomes or a buffalo like, well, Josh Allen,
BUT he is more accurate than any of those guys, more consistent than all of those guys, and just as high in his QB IQ as he needs to be.
His OL was second worst in the league at passblocking win rate, which relates exactly to time to throw. Tua and McDaniel were forced into calling and making 2-second throws by their pathetic pass blockers.
But turnstyle OL play also relates to time to scramble and lanes to dart through and vision lanes to see open men and a clean pocket with room to set his feet to throw long or not have the ball sail on him.
IF Hunt and Wynn can return to form and stay healthy,
———-
IF we can resign both
NFL combine begins in 33 days, NFL free agent “tampering” in 44 days, NFL free agent signing in 46 days, Offseason workout programs in 79 days and NFL draft in 89 days.
(smile)
I’m putting those dates into my calendar, tyvm.
Just incase I screwed up counting. lol
https://operations.nfl.com/gameday/nfl-schedule/2023-24-important-nfl-dates/
If they resign Wilkins, Hunt, Wynn, Lamm and draft JPJ, I will have a much better feeling going forward.
Maybe throw in Brandon jones and/or Deshon Elliott, also since we only have 1 safety on the roster.
R1 – C Jackson Powers-Johnson or RB Trey Benson 6′ 221
R2 – TE Cade Stover or ILB Jeremiah Trotter
R5 – ILB Omar Speights or TE Jared Wiley
R6 – ILB Trevin Wallace or ILB Nathaniel Watson
R6 – C Matt Lee or C Dylan McMahon
R7 – EDGE Myles Cole or NT Justin Rogers
It’s so early, I give myself 2 choices at each pick …
in case the one I want is either not there for us
or fades after a bad combine.
Getting to our 2nd round pick and OL possibilities available at pick #55. I think we get into projects as far as OT’s. Only exception:
C Zach Frazier, WV, if we don’t take JPJ at #21 Frazier is solid.
RT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma, I think he is good and might not last to #55. Even if he does, he is a RT.
The rest I think are projects, IMO.
LT Patrick Paul, Houston
LT/RT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
LT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
I think Patrick Paul would give the most upside.
I don’t want projects. Lamm can play better than a raw project.
Exactly
R1 – C Jackson Powers-Johnson or RB Trey Benson 6′ 221
————–
That’s what sucks. Not being in position to draft a RB like Benson. At least, not right now and will be clearer after free agency starts.
Not having a 3rd or 4th has me steering away from RB even though we could use an upgrade over Wilson and future replacement for Mostert.
Benson would be that guy! Size, speed, power and elusive. I believe he will run a sub 4.40 forty. I remember a game this year where he was clocked at 22 mph.
I think he is going to be special.
EXACTLY!
What if we went ahead and got our future Thunder
to go with Llightning (Achane) right now?
We need a short-yardage power back,
and Benson can be that without telegraphing
the play due to his speed and twitch.
I love Raheem, but we’re wearing him out fast.
With 17 games plus playoffs, you need a 5-deep RB room.
We had 5 this year, and ALL 5 missed at least a game.
I put 4 different badass thumpers on my draft at MLB,
so we can have an enforcer there like SF Ravens Bills and Steelers
always have.
So our safeties don’t get so beat up making tackles the Bigs should be making.
So when a LB fills the hole, the RB stops right there.
Trotter is a stud like his dad. Not sure he makes it to #55.
More than likely, the first ILB off the board.
Naples, if we still had a 3rd, a RB I like who is tough as nails, gets yards after contact, good receiver, doesn’t have elite speed but about 4.45 +/- with very good acceleration is Will Shipley.
Early thought is TE Jared Wiley is a
Gronk-style sleeper.
He’s 6’7 260 out of TCU.
First team all Big 12.
Was a HS starting QB and
also played HS baseball.
Ahhh my man … Shipley. I fear he’s too small for the NFL.
But he has a lot of heart and a lot of talent…
sooo maybe he’ll make it.
He won’t be there for us though.
Small? I thought he was like 5’11, 210. Either way, I think he gets drafted somewhere mid to late 3rd.
R6 – ILB Trevin Wallace or ILB Nathaniel Watson
————-
Not familiar with these guys yet. As a 6th round ILB, I was also looking at Aaron Casey from IU and Tyrice Knight, UTEP but will check these guys out also.
Forgot, Tatum Bethune is another.
Tim is not on here. He is going to be so upset when he sees we have been talking draft all evening and he missed out. 😉
When I watch Jared Wiley, I’m not sure how I feel about him. I feel like he is a tougher Gesicki. A better blocker, but not as fast and a little harder to tackle. Great hands. I guess when I look at TE’s to draft, I am thinking about our blocking schemes. Do they have the short area quickness to get to their block on time. Not sure I see it with him.
I think he would be great in a O like the Bengals.
I had an epiphany. Or maybe it was an episode. For Miami to play with the big boys, the QB has to be the star of the team. Right now Hill is their star. All of the top teams QB are their stars. Not the WR, not a defensive player, not RB. All of those players can be stars but they are not THE star of the team. Now the question is whether Tua can be Miami’s star. To date he has not shown he can and they shouldn’t extend him unless he shows it this year. Nice kid but doesn’t seem to have an alpha personality.
I think Brock Purdy is not necessarily the star of SF, but he sure plays like one, including and especially in big games.
That makes him the star. Might not be the guy the media focuses on, but he is the guy in charge.
Sorry, meant to post a different video.
Meant to post this one. Dude is a little long winded. If you want to skip he jabber about what he looks for then jump to about 7 min mark when he finally starts talking about the players. No highlights but he hits on 3 of my favs in Zach Frazier, JPJ and Graham Barton plus 2 others I have not looked much into because the were strictly OG’s and just been looking at OT and C.
I think having Graham Barton come in at LG would be huge. Especially if we can bring Hunt back. Having those 2 beasts on the interior would be very nice. He could also backup at LT if needed. LOL, “if needed”. I’ll change that to when needed.
Man, if there is a way to trade down to bottom of the 1st and gain an early second to get both JPJ and Graham Barton to play LG then resign Hunt, our interior OL would be sick for years.
Both play with a nasty mean streak.
If we aren’t able to trade down, I would still be stoked with LT/LG Graham Barton at #21 and C Zach Frazier at #55.
Buffalo Bills
2023 · 11-6-0
COACHING INTERVIEWS
The Bills are interviewing former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai for their DC job, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources.
The Eagles officially announced the hiring of Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Jan. 25 that the Eagles were planning to hire Fangio.
We probably won’t get any comp as they parted ways before he was hired to Philly.
They’ll probably take a draft pick away, because Stephen Ross. lol
Phelon – Purdy is more of a star than Tua right now, that much is clear. Sf really does have an excellent team, very balanced. We played like thst against weak teams but looked like posers against the better ones. The Ravens were the one team that made the Niners look more like us
The Ravens will be getting TE Mark Andrews back for this game. It’s crazy, because backup TE Isaiah Likely looks like a really good receiving TE in his own right. That’s just great drafting. Wish we could be like that. Our starting TE isn’t as good as their 2nd string
The Ravens beat played bad teams good but really beat the shit out of good teams.
I hate them.
Purdy and the Niners beat the shit out of good teams too, with the exception of the Ravens.
Go Lions👍
GO LIONS!!!
No commentary just highlights. Would love to have him back.
Me too
Let’s not sleep (under a tree ) on signing him
Testing…
https://www.pff.com/draft/nfl-mock-draft-simulator?ref=f136fe1c-8272-4a08-a16d-5eb768ccef6f&complete=3&draft_grade=B-&multi=false
Nah, that didn’t work.
It would be great to have that extra pick and still end up with an OT, Center and a LB
That would be a stellar draft! I just did one but had to give up a lot to get the trade through.
Don’t k ow a thing about Barton but eveytime I do mocks I seems like there are many OTs there. Not sure if Jackson powers is going to make it to our 2nd round pick, we might want to pick Center first Then OT in the 2nd round
I know some of y’all won’t like my rationale for this take, but I’m rooting for the Ravens today: I cannot tolerate this Taylor Swift nonsense any longer! I wish “Tay-Tay” would just go away!!!
But on the realist tip, I really don’t care who wins. I’d just like to see an entertaining match as a fan of the game.
I am wanting Lamar to get this win. Idk why people still hate on him.
I hear ya, man.
I don’t hate Lamar. I just hate the Ravens.
I still can’t believe Grief passed over trading for Roquan Smith.
And here we go! The “Tay-Tay” cam has been activated! SMH
Mahomes looks dialed in today
Playoff experience is worth a lot
Also. If we draft a guy named trotter, I’ve gotta get that jersey
Mr. Pig’s feet highlights
Then Lamar makes a play. Sigh….
That was an INCREDIBLE play!!!
Traded #21, #55 and a 2025 4th for #27 and #35
27. Graham Barton OG Duke
35. Jackson Powers-Johnson OC Oregon
156. Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M
185. DeWayne Carter DT Duke
199. Malik Mustapha S Wake Forest
238. Jordan Strachan EDGE South Carolina
I don’t think JPJ lasts to #55 is why I made that trade. Like what I got but not what I gave up.
I agree: highly doubt (at least at this juncture) that JPJ lasts to #55.
IMPRESSIVE!!!
BB Mike,
Sounds to me as though we are both SOLD on JPJ!
Yes sir! Barton also.
I just can’t the thought of Barton, JPJ and Hunt on the interior of our OL out of my mind.
Got to resign Hunt.
Who is this Barton guy you guys keep drafting?
I don’t know a thing about him – but does Duke really produce OL?
Why not Mims, Latham or Fautanu?
Just curious
They might not be there. We need a LG. LT Barton projects to move to LG in the NFL. He’s a beast.
Post again for you. Playing LT #62.
bailbondmike says:
January 28, 2024 at 3:46 pm
I just can’t the thought of Barton, JPJ and Hunt on the interior of our OL out of my mind.
Got to resign Hunt.
————–
Absolutely, man. GOT to re-sign Hunt, IMO.
WHAT A STOP by the Ravens there on 4th and 1!!!
lol, that was amazing
that could have been intercepted if he didn’t catch that. just an unbelievable play