There are differing opinions on the current state of the Miami Dolphins roster as we head into the 2024 NFL Draft, just a couple of days more than a month away. I try to listen and read and absorb various sources. Some of them “homer” sources, others what might be considered “haters” and then others that are from outside either of the former two, totally neutral opinions. In general, the most common feeling is that the quality of the roster has gone down, the talent. Chris Perkins from the Sun Sentinel was on the Joe Rose Show this morning and Perkins feels the Dolphins have assembled a tougher roster. Elaborating on this, he feels the addition of Aaron (Ay-run) Brewer was a welcome one, and that he will bring toughness to the interior offensive line. I believe toughness is a tangible issue for our team, as we always seemed to get pushed around and beaten down by certain teams, namely the Bills, Ravens and Chiefs. In a discussion last night with a fellow Dolphins fan on twitter, or “X” if you prefer, I was called a “hater”. The discussion began after I responded to a tweet regarding our current WR’s corp, and how we could really use OBJ. I responded by listing KC’s WR depth chart from last year as an example of how ridiculous that statement is. Having 3 great WR’s doesn’t get you a championship. You have to win in the trenches.
So this brings me to the newest Miami Dolphins headline. Odell Beckham Jr. visited the Miami Dolphins facility yesterday, was given the red carpet treatment by the organization, was given a tour by none other than everyone’s favorite HC Mike McDaniel, showed him the lush grass playing field, as well as the lush grass practice facility. “Those grass fields would be nice for those 31 year old knees, eh?” Here’s the deal, if we can get OBJ for say $5-7M for a one year or even two year deal, go ahead and bring him in. Just realize that he got paid FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS last season, so MM is going to have throw quite the sales pitch to get OBJ here in Miami for the contract I would prefer. Now realistically, I don’t work for the Dolphins so it doesn’t matter, but what NFL team has the highest or near the highest cap allocation at WR, and has won the Super Bowl? Don’t bother looking, you ain’t gonna find it.
I can see the merit in bringing in Odell Beckham Jr. Last season, when either Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle went out, the offense definitely missed them and we struggled. If you bring in OBJ, he could theoretically replace either Hill or Waddle on the outside for a while, although to be fair, OBJ has played a full season only twice in his 10 year career. At 31, don’t expect that to improve, so therefore if we sign him, we have to do so at a reasonable price. I would also like to see third year WR Erik Ezukanma get an opportunity. He looked good early on, he got touches in the run game and short passing and screen game, and showed the ability to get run after catch yardage. We brought in TE Jonnu Smith to help with that, having another outlet couldn’t hurt. Our offense is predicated on quick throws and with guys that can get yardage after the catch when Hill and Waddle are covered, they can be a QB’s best friend. We also re-signed Braxton Berrios, so the WR room is getting a bit crowded already, without adding OBJ.
This brings me to my next point. I discussed toughness at the start here, and while I’m not enamored with any of the guys we brought in for the defensive line, maybe toughness was more of a factor than actual talent. Sieler is back at LDE or DT, whichever way you want to label it, and now Benito Jones will be at the NT spot. I always felt Raekwon Davis 6’7 325 was miscast as a NT, so maybe the shorter, more stout Jones at 6’1 335 is a better fit there. At the moment, and unofficially, Da’Shawn Hand may play RDE, the spot previously occupied by Christian Wilkins. This is the spot I believe we draft first in the upcoming draft. I know we need another OL, and you can make an argument for the interior or tackle spots and not be wrong either way, but to me the most glaring spot is RDE. We lost Wilkins and now must replace him with a legitimate threat and a talented player. Byron Murphy would be my 1st RD pick if he’s there. There are a couple of guys that may be there with our 2nd pick, assuming we don’t move up or back with our 1st. Jer’Zhan Newton, Braden Fiske and Ruke Orhorhoro could be 2nd RD options. There are some that think WR will be one of our top picks, that would shock me. Build up those trenches, you know, where we tend to lose against most teams. We’ve already potentially taken a step back there already, so I go either 1) DT and 2) OL, or vice versa.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Oh please. Purdy didn’t have a healthy Deebo at the end of the season. If Tua didn’t have either Tyreek or Waddle the excuses came raining down. Purdy took his team to the Super Bowl and damn near almost won it. Tua would have thrown 1 TD because that’s his max output in big games. You’re hilarious that Tua would have won the SB. He can’t win a game against a winning team during the regular season
The Niners O-line was ranked #17 by PFF. Not so great.
In his third and most recent mock draft, Kiper had the Dolphins selecting Duke interior offensive lineman Graham Barton in the first round.
“Barton played mostly left tackle in college, but he has the traits to move inside and command the game,” Kiper wrote on Tuesday. “Miami ranked 31st in pass block win rate (49.2%) last season, so it has to improve.”
I would say it got worse as the season went on due to all of the injuries. For the 1st half, it probably wasn’t that bad.
I think defense is likely the first pick, either a DL to replace Wilkins or an OLB to help as a pass rusher with uncertainty of the timetable for Chubb and Phillips
Goodnight guys, talk tomorrow
As much as I Iiked Wilkins he’s not an elite player but was paid like one. Really good player but never made all-pro or the pro bowl. Aaron Donald was defensive rookie of the year, made the pro bowl every year he was in the league 10 times and an 8 time all-pro with 3 DPoY awards. Wilkins has none of those but was just paid like he’s that.
We complain about Grier throwing money around. Hmmm…?
Oh yeah the same with Hunt. 5 years $100M. Really? Not one all-pro or pro bowl but let’s pay him like he’s John Hannah.
Kind of funny how that works. Neither player changes games. They’re good not great. But we should have paid them. 🤣
Tim – If we pay Tua $50M per, it will be exactly the same thing. He’s done nothing to earn that kind of payday. Does it matter though? Are these other teams so stupid and we’re the only smart one? Is Grier running circles around other NFL GM’s? Uhhhh, no! Once again, we had a chance to get Wilkins for maybe $22M per, we didn’t go for it. He got $27.5M after his best season. He was a top tier FA at his position, so this is what happens. We had a chance before he became a FA but we didn’t want to pay him. That’s fine, but also realize now we’re going to have to replace him, and that won’t be easy. Hopefully Grier drafts the right guy.
QBs are overpaid, overdrafts and overhyped, just the way it is
Pay one top $ you get Minn with Cousins, let one go that was pretty good and you start over
What to do? Put your tail between your legs and run or stick with Mr Potential? IDK (Mr Hand – I like that, Im going to put it on the board for all my classes to see…)🤪
You play Tua on his 5th YR contract. If he plays well, you pay him next season. If he flops, or gets hurt, say goodbye, and draft another QB.
Looks like we really don’t need the cap space, so might be better to just play him on his 5th year salary
Initially I thought we could save some future year cap by signing him now, don’t really see them not re-signing him at some point
The other issue is for injury purposes, should he have a career injury we’d mostly be screwed (not sure exactly how the injury settlement factors in)
Tim – Also realize what you’re saying. I can make a strong argument that both Wilkins and Hunt were the best players on our team on their respective lines. So you’re saying that Grier was a genius not to pay them ridiculous amounts of money, yet they were our best players on the O-line and D-line. It’s all about the quality of the roster. Now our roster was filled on the D-line by 3rd tier FA’s. The O-line was done on 1 YR contracts on one guy that was a backup, Robert Jones, and the other a starter, Isaiah Wynn who has NEVER played a full season in the NFL. Does that mean we’re better now? We’ll have to hope for the best, but we’re not better. If we weren’t paying a WR more than anyone on the team, maybe we could have kept one of them.
If we’d paid one or both, then it would’ve reduced the amount we could spend at other positions
At some point you have to redistribute the cap across the board, we went for broke while we had some top rookie contract guys, now it’s time to real things in a bit
If you want to sign high cap guys from other teams, like we did with Chubb, Armstead, Ramsey…then at some point its going to cost you your home grown talent
You make a choice and live with it, and don’t look back
I’d say the guys we paid from other teams mentioned above play more important positions, than DT and OG, so it’s justified
Forget about who was drafted and who wasn’t, you have to re-evaluate your team each year
Sometimes i think we feel too much loyalty to a player, that was drafted, I know I’ll be crushed, if we let Waddle, Phillips or Snowman walk
Steve – Just like QB’s are overpaid, top tier FA’s are also overpaid. The key is to extend their contracts while they’re under contract. This is not a new phenomenon. We used to sign top FA’s all the time here in Miami. Grier is in recovery mode, he went all in last year and now he’s in piece together mode. It’s why we all realize he has to hit on guys on the draft that can contribute now because we can’t pay anyone else.
I agree, so let’s sign Tua now😜
Steve – I have no idea how injury settlements work. I can’t imagine they have future cap implications though, do they?
Absolutely
Let’s say player A signs in 2024 a 4 year 100m, 75m fully guaranteed contract with 40m in signing bonuses gets hurt in year 1 of the contract and its career ending, the team is on the hook for cap in the amount of 30m at some point plus whatever the injury settlement is
It’s why players hate playing on the 5th year and tags, they don’t have insurance,m should they get a career ending injury
So that’s if we give him a new contract. Even more reason not to then!
MikeE, I agree with your “toughness” discussion in your write-up.
The one thing I could count on from our defense last year, was getting “run over” in the 4th qtr. (poor tackling, bad angles, whatever).
From the defensive side, stopping the run game definitely requires more ‘toughness’ from our roster.
Hmm..bad 4th quarter stats usually means out of shape or over-used for a D
Who to blame? GM for lack of depth or coaches for improper use of playing time?
NFL Approves Rule Change for Successful Challenge to Award Team 3rd Attempt
Coaches will be granted a third challenge if they were successful on one of their first two tries.
Under the old rule, a team could only make a third challenge if both of its previous two were successful.
Finally. I always thought it was dumb, you had to be successful on both to get a 3rd.
We’ll find out where this team is at soon, but it’s hard to imagine the team is better when they let some of their best players walk and replaced them with backups.
Different players in different spots mean different results
Too vague to just think total talent means A or B
Last year we really struggled when Hill and Waddle were covered, we had no help at TE
We also had the 31st rate pass blocking win rate, hard to believe health alone won’t make that better
Tua’s shackles didn’t help either
NFL owners voted unanimously on Monday to ban the swivel hip-drop tackle during the league meetings, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
@TomPelissero
No surprise here, despite the NFLPA’s objections. The NFL made clear it wanted what it calls the swivel hip-drop tackle out of the game, and now it is. Expect more fines than flags as the league and coaches work to remove the technique.
Not to mention that teams have now figured out how to stop Tua and this offense. It won’t be able to work like it did early last year when teams were still learning and adjusting. MM will need to figure out wrinkles to address how teams will be playing us moving forward.
I think there is a possibility we see Eichenberg playing OG next season and starting. He’s become our utility OL. He’s had his struggles but I thought he improved a lot last season
honestly I think too many people expect OL to be plug and play after drafted. More often than not, it doesn’t work that way.
We were rewarded for being patient with Austin Jackson – I think Eichenberg follows that trend. Stability within the team (coaching and gm) is going to help that development
“Despite some questions about whether McDaniel has too much on his plate on game days, the Dolphins’ third-year coach said at the NFL‘s Annual Meeting here Monday that he intends to call plays again in 2024.”
Mike McDaniel Reveals Who Will Call Plays for Miami Dolphins’ Offense in 2024 (profootballnetwork.com)
Just make it flag football and get it over with
Steve,
This game is about players. It’s not about how cute MM can be with his plays. It’s about players performing. This fallacy that a TE is gonna make some major difference is pie in the sky. It won’t. We will, once again, lose the battle along the LOS yet again this year, and nothing else matters after that. We’ll continue to beat average or bad teams and get our asses whooped against good teams who are good teams because they have better players.
That would be true, if our OL was healthy last year
It’s quite obvious, when Tua had time last year he played great, and not very good, when he didn’t
At Buffalo Eichenberg was inserted at C and got destroyed, other games our backups didn’t get it done, Tua being more mobile will help as will a 3rd receiver
Tua also has to trust his OL more too
to your point – our new center has started every game last year and 16 games in 2022
he brings stability
Eichenberg actually played in 16 games all over the line last season. He has been durable
Yes, the key will be health
Almost unheard of to have the #1 passing O and 31st pass blocking win rate, things fell back into place against the good teams though
Tua’s quick passes helped at times, but once it was figured out, that he was mostly looking at his top 2 targets Ds began to bottle us up
MM surely needs to move the ball around more and forget about Hill getting 2k
Tua mentioned he’s going to slim back down to be more mobile, so we’ll see how that goes
@uSTADIUM
JUST IN: #Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel said the team has made an offer to Odell Beckham Jr. Conversations are ongoing. McDaniel said he’s not looking into his crystal ball but would enjoy coaching him.
7m seems to be what they’re saying it will take
Maybe we can get him to take 5m
if we only paid 5-7m I would pop champagne
if I am right about Eichenberg – I hope everyone notes he played in 16 games (and started 12)
and when pair that with a[our new Brewer who started 17 games and p,aged over 1000 snaps in each of the last two years
and Austin Jackson who started 16 last year
and I think our OL can do a 180 with those 3 as a foundation
especially if we take OL at 21
for me the ideal situation is to take an OT who is versatile enough to play LG while learning the game from Armstead
for me the ideal for for that role is the Washington OT – Fautanu
if I’m right and our OL looks like this
Armstead – Rookie – Brweer – Eichenberg – Jackson
then who are you selecting to fill that rookie spot?
I agree we need to take a versatile OT, who can move from LG to LT after Armstead retires, or have Armstead move to LG in 2025 and have this rookie move to LT
The season of Hope has begun. Lol
I used to fall for it every year!
We did make the playoffs the last 2 years
this is a wild stat but we have the other most wins of any nfl team since 2020
https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-regular-season-nfl-wins-last-4-years
out best year was last year
this team is on the rise
Randy
I don’t think expecting more out of the TE position is a fallacy. I think it’s the next step up – and I say that bc our coach has publicly stated so much.
as far as the OL goes – if we can just have some durable Guys on the OL, I think that’s the difference
Piggy, I think Driscoll beats out Eich. I hope Eich continues to improve as he did into last season. He still misses/gets beat a lot. I think it will be to start the season: Armstead, Wynn, Brewer, Driscoll, Jackson. We could see a rookie winning a starting spot like Barton or Fantanu at LG. That would be a decent OL. Armstead, Barton/Fantanu, Brewer, Driscoll, Jackson. That with Wynn, Eich, Jones and OT Kion Smith at backup. Driscoll is also a backup OT.
Question is how long Armstead holds up.
armstead being a question mark is why we should be looking at the versatile type of OT
Barton or Fantanu could move out to LT if needed. Also, I think Kion Smith continues to improve. Driscoll has also played a lot of snaps at RT.
PFN simulator. I just love multiple trade downs. lol
29. Graham Barton OG Duke
56. Braden Fiske DT Florida State
72. Cole Bishop S Utah
148. Theo Johnson TE Penn State
158. Javon Foster OT Missouri
164. Aaron Casey LB Indiana
174. Jarrian Jones CB Florida State
184. Justin Eboigbe DT Alabama
198. Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M
201. Charles Turner III OC LSU
208. Rasheen Ali RB Marshall
229. Omar Speights LB LSU
241. Ryan Watts S Texas
2025 NYJ 5th
Holland has said he wants to get paid. After the 2024 season, until/if they resign Holland, we have no safeties under contract for 2025. I think it is a must we draft one.
More proof Grief is an idiot:
According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Barrett’s deal is for one year (with four voidable years on the end) and is worth up to $9 million. He’ll receive a $7 million base salary ($1.46 million guaranteed), a $5.54 million signing bonus (prorated to $1.11 million per season due to void years) and $250,000 in per-game roster bonuses.
Considering the financial commitment, Barrett’s a lock to make the roster in 2024, but when the year is over the remainder of the prorated signing bonus ($4.43 million) will be left as a dead-cap hit in 2025 unless he’s extended.
How many contracts and extensions did this bozo give out with voided years attached?
Aaron Brewer’s contract finally hit. His cap hit in 2024 is only 2.5 million. Then 8.1 million in 2025 and 2026. AND, of course, he is another player they kicked MORE dead money down the road on. He has a 1.1 million dead cap hit in 2027 and 2028 when he is a free agent.
As Rock stated, Barrett’s contract created a 4.4 million dead cap hit next year.
People say the cap goes up every year. Not for us. Grier is spending it all now.
Our dead cap 2 years from now in 2026 is up to 25.3 million on players who will be free agents or retired.
Our dead cap 3 years from now in 2027 is up to 21.8 million on 10 players who will be free agents or retired.
Our dead cap 4 years from now in 2028 is up to 15.7 million on 10 players who will be free agents or retired.
Grier is not done yet. I imagine if they sign OBJ, they will do the same thing with him.
If I were Ross and Grief came to me and asked if he could push dead cap into future years on purpose I would fire his ass immediately.
Ross wants to win an SB before he dies, he may be telling Grier to kick it down the road, directly or indirectly
Mike E.
says:
March 24, 2024 at 10:04 pm
I think defense is likely the first pick, either a DL to replace Wilkins or an OLB to help as a pass rusher with uncertainty of the timetable for Chubb and Phillips
————–
Thanks for your reply, and I’m beginning to think the same way after some pondering. The DT position is (generally) more valueable than IOL positions, so if we seek to replace Wilkins’ production, it makes sense that we’d do so with a rookie contract in the 1st round… rather than shelling out top dollar on a FA DT or waiting to draft a DT in the 2nd round.
It KILLS me to come to this conclusion, especially after all the time I’ve spent on O-Linemen for the upcoming Draft.
At the end of the day, I’m sure we’ll go BPA for need all day… but I now firmly believe that the DT position is in play for day 1 of the Draft… not just O-Linemen as I used to believe.
Maybe Grier is expecting an all-out WWIII in 2025 with nukes and no more football.
!!!
The way he is running this team into the ground with no future, it sure seems that way!
I did some homework earlier, and welcome to my ‘Man-crush University’ of 2024, Jer’Zhan Newton…
Imagine Newton next to Sieler… who are you going to double?
Yeah, I like him. Never really mocked him to us because he is already gone by #21 as the 1st DT off the board.
A different perspective:
In 2027 the projected cap is at 312 million.
The dolphins have already spent 1/6 of their 2027 cap and only have ONE player under contract (Chubb).
When they give Tua that big contract, Grier will have spent 1/3 of our 2027 cap and have only 2 players under contract.
That’s rather… SOBERING.
Makes it clear that we’re going ALL-IN, once again, in 2024.
I have been crying and rocking the mushroom cloud avi all off-season for a reason!
Grief:
https://mediaproxy.salon.com/width/1200/https://media2.salon.com/2016/08/this_is_not_fine.jpg
We need to draft OT replacement for Armstead at 21, who can play OG in 2024
2nd rd DT
If that’s the way ya feel (and it’s definitely warranted), I think Graham Barton, Duke, is the guy we want and need.
Rockphin,
I know you’d like to draft a Kicker this year at some point, and I think(?) you also enjoy Star Trek TNG.
Check it out, Will Reichard, K, Alabama. If we draft him, he should be requested to drop the ‘d’ in his last name, so as to make it sound like ‘Riker’… Will Riker. Tua should be forced to give up his #1 (number One) as well.
Would you ‘make it so’? *in my Captain Picard voice* 😉
Apologies in advance for the GEEK humor! 😀
I would very much like us to kick the current kickers (both) to the curb and get some competent guys in here. I mean what the actual fuck was Grief thinking signing the worst punter in the league to an extension? Forget about the 10 million he is giving a place kicker who can’t reach 45 yards on a consistent basis!
Mike, why do you think Tua could flop next season? In what way coming off the season he just had? Just because he didn’t win the playoff game means he still has to prove he’s a good QB? I think he’s done that already.
What I think is he played very carefully last year, and I think if he continues to play like that, not extending plays and throwing the ball away instead, and not using his legs, or going down on a scramble to not take a hit he won’t be better than last season. I think if he changes back to the way he played in 2022, he may get hurt again. Of course if the O-line is an issue again, then we’ll see more of those throws in 2 seconds or less.
A team from Miami has zero chance to win a playoff game in -27°
How many playoff contending teams have we seen throughout the years not even make the playoffs, because of injuries?
2022 Ravens for one
It was also Tua’s first playoff game. He can continue to get better and grow as a player.
We should have been home for the playoff game. Some day we need to get past the Big, Bad Bills.
Or not choke away a 3 game lead with 5 to go. Clutch performance
It’s the ultimate team game folks. Nothing works if all the moving parts aren’t working in sync. Putting it on one guy is missing the boat.
At 6:42 PM Mike E. says “Some Day we need to get past the Big, Bad, Buffalo Bills.”
Oh how soon they forget. (Fortunately I DON’T FORGET!)
In the decade of the ’70’s the Miami Dolphins were playing their best football. Three straight Super Bowls, including the NFL’s ONLY perfect season, plus the 32-2 record over a 2-year span. Yes most of us who are in their 60’s or 70’s remember this period of historic dominance.
Undoubtedly, the team that remembers it best is the Buffalo Bills. During a 10-year span from 1970 through the end of the 1979 season, Miami beat the Bills 10 consecutive years in the historic Orange Bowl. And, incredibly, the Dolphins also beat the Bills 10 consecutive years IN BUFFALO. The Bills, even with stars like O.J. Simpson, went “Oh for the ’70’s against the Miami Dolphins. On TV or in person, I saw 19 of those 20 victories, missing only 1 game due to being on active duty in the Army in 1971 and part of 1972. When asked “What’s the toughest thing about beating Buffalo, Csonka replied “The airline flight to Buffalo.”
Buffalo is beatable. That’s why, in 65 years of existence, the “O” in BUFFALO still stands for Super Bowl wins!!
TWO years ago, Tua led a Fins victory over the hapless Bills, partly because his offensive line was still intact and not yet ravaged by injuries. for the second regular season contest for both teams. So, part of the winning formula for beating Buffalo is scheduling a game in Miami in the first or second game of the season. However, by late November and December, Miami’s O-Line has been both under talented and injured, with limited first teamers remaining in the offensive line during the Tua era.
Best way to improve the entire team’s performance against Buffalo is to have MORE and BETTER offensive lineman!! Seams obvious to everyone except Steve Ross’s front office. Conversely, when Shula was calling the shots personnel-wise, Miami’s offensive line was stocked with real talent plus adequate back-ups (a luxury Tua has yet to experience).
Should we expect better performances by Tua? ABSOLUTELY!!
Will we get those better performances??
Probably not, unless the upper levels of the front office start emphasizing the offensive line. And that won’t be hard to do after last season’s decision to draft NO OFFESIVE LINEMEN IN THE ENTIRE DRAFT!!
The technique will be illegal next season. However, NFL officials are unlikely to consistently penalize players for executing hip-drop tackles, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero added fines will be more common than penalties as the league allows coaches to work on removing the common technique.
So they’ll call it when it fits their agenda?
Either call it or don’t, you can’t call it sometimes
They should just fine players this season, based on the injury incurred, no injury no fine
Tim – I ask you the question now :
You like to say it’s the ultimate team game, so . . .
I know we’ve yet to draft, but do you think the roster is better in ’24 than it was in ’23?
Starting lineup no. Depth yes
If they don’t find a DT/DE somewhere close to Christian Wilkins talent, than the depth won’t mean a thing. I’m not sure what we’re going to get out of Benito Jones either, although I don’t think Davis was any more than decent. I don’t think our O-line depth is better, and the C will be a question mark as a pass blocker. TE we have better depth with Jonnu. RB is the same. LB we’re about the same, providing Brooks is as good the always under appreciated #55. CB depth looks better.I think a lot of you hyped up about Poyer, I’m not sold. He’s 32, I’d rather have had De’Shon Elliott back
it’s not about being better, it’s about being able to succeed in different ways
Jonnu was the biggest signing on O, he’s filling a huge hole, Hill and Waddle are great on 1st and 2nd down, but on 3rd down they get doubled, and we didn’t have that 3rd receiver
Our pass D wasn’t very good, especially over the middle and short, , X seemed like he’s been hurt for 2 years, should be vastly improved also with better pass D LBs
Last years OL was much better when everyone was healthy, so 2 games worth
Tua will be more complete, instead of just playing not to get hurt
Mahomes and Allen don’t run much until the 4th qtr, if needed, Tua must do that too
Wilkins and Hunt spots leave us much worse, than last year, we’ll see what the draft brings and how it affects the game
Also, if we had signed Wilkins and Hunt would we have holes at LB, S, CB…? Which would nullify signing them?
We’re gambling on Isaiah Wynn staying healthy though. He played 16 games 1 season, otherwise no more than 10. This is what we bitched about last season, no one could stay healthy. So you bring back a guy who has never played an entire season. Also, on the D-line, Wilkins not only never missed a game, he played over 80% of the snaps the last 2 seasons.
We have 4 guys, that can play OG and 5, if you count our C, and 6 after the draft, so as long as Wynn isn’t on IR at some point and us healthy enough come playoff time, will be good enough
Wilkins playing 80% of the snaps was stupid
Even Michael Jordan mostly coasted for 3 qtrs, so he could impact the 4th
I think a good OT drops to 21!
21.JC Latham OT Alabama
55.T’Vondre Sweat DT Texas
158.LaDarius Henderson OG Michigan
184.Hunter Nourzad OC Penn State
198.Patrick McMorris S California
241.Quinton Newsome CB Nebraska
We need a plug and play from the draft at OG or DT, both would be great
I see a lot of you guys drafting T’Vondre Sweat. Don’t you think he profiles better as a NT in our 3-4? I think Byron Murphy, Jer’Zhan Newton, Kris Jenkins and Braden Fiske fit better at END than Sweat. Right now, I think Benito Jones will be fine at NT.
If you take a DT @21 you are correct.
Sweat doesn’t usually make it to 55 either?
But who know? that is the entertaining part!
Gotcha! Just wondering what your thought process is
Steve – We had no chance to sign both Wilkins and Hunt. To be honest, once they hit free agency, we really didn’t have a chance to sign either, due to the capocalypse.
Agree, I was referring to re-signing them last year
Do you agree we’re more balanced now, than if we had both?
Not sure. I think our talent level dropped, we’ll find out if that hurts us once the game begin.
Upper end talent for sure, but what’s the point, when you’re only as good as your weakest link
Sometimes you can hide guys, but…
The Ravens way is that giant NT, that is unmovoveable, everything else feeds off of that
I’d prefer a giant space eater/runstuffer, in the 3 safety look it’s important
Wilkins sacks last year were related to the Fangio D, it won’t be as important to Weaver’s D
I mentioned last offseason, that Wilkins should have more sacks in the Fangio D, because of less blitzing, especially on 3rd down
Mike, I think Steve just said it best
It’s just my speculation that Weaver will want a monster NT?
Even if it’s Jones, we will need another one
I’m trying to work in a DT and NT in the mock’s, But haven’t got it figured out yet
Ok, I get that. They did have Justin Madubuike though at DE, and he was one of the best in the NFL. We don’t have that guy at END that they have. Plus, while Sweat is massive, Michael Pierce is more of a fireplug type, only 6’0 355. T’Vondre is much taller at 6’4 1/2, but he does have the sand at 366 for sure
I guess you think Seiler will forget how to play without his buddy?
Our D seems good enough, when our O is moving the ball and scoring, it’s when our O falters that things fall apart, for that reason we need to draft OL at 21
It’s an O league, no one really stops anyone in big games at the end anyways
@NFL_DovKleiman
BREAKING: The #NFL has approved the new kickoff rule change, per
@jjones9
Owners voted in favor of it 29-3.
I think we need to go to the college overtime rules for the whole game
Start at the opponents 35. move it back 5 yards after each possession. Go to mandatory 2 points for overtime
So the kicker kicks off from the kicking team’s 35, and the rest of the team lines up on the opposing 40? How do onside kicks work then?
Ok, I was reading more, so no onside kicks until the 4th quarter, and you have to declare it? lame
Dicker the kicker kicks it 10 yards and recovers it himself, no one else is allowed to move😝
lol
Crossman’s unit would probably still screw it up somehow…
@AdamSchefter
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32m
Here’s what the new NFL kickoff will look like this season:
Copy video address
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14.2K Views
Oh well. Video didn’t post. Just a half ass pic.
That’s the just of it with different lineup yard lined for the kick and most of the players
Try this
BOTH XFL Kickoff Returns For Touchdowns | XFL Highlights (youtube.com)
OH SHIT!!
About 20 people in the water after Baltimore bridge collapse (youtube.com)
Best to kick it to the 5 yard line, no way anyone wants to kick it for a touch back
Since no one can move kicking it high, other than to get a good bounce, is pointless
This rule change brings KO returns back into the game, without the kamikaze guys flying down the field, will be a pseudo LOS 5 yards wide
the new kickoff rules are wild
the ST defense lines up on opposing teams 40 and can’t move until the ball or caught or hits the ground
we should probably just have Achane and Hill return kicks all season
you are giving those speedsters the ball with the defense lines up 40 yards back – that’s kind of wild
I’m sure different guys will be tried out during camp
I’d use Tyreek only in 4th or in a playoff game depending on the circumstances
Thanks Wyoming
Has anyone watched these KOs from an XFL game?
I’m not sure I like this rule change, since we suck on STs
So we went out and got an ace ST gunner and now gunners are irrelevant, lol.
Oh, nvmd, that’s punts. I’m dum
So, there should be way fewer touchbacks, probably more big returns, and no surprise onside kicks.
It should be more fun than the way kickoffs have been the last few years.
Touchbacks will give the offense the ball at the 35 instead of the 25 now.
One thing Jeff Darlington didn’t touch on is if the kickoff lands short of the 20 yard line or “landing zone”, it is considered an out of bounds penalty and the receiving team will get it at their 40 yard line. He did touch on if the ball lands past the “landing zone” which is the goal line/end zone then the receiving team gets the ball at the 35 yard line (if the receiver doesn’t return it).
Kickers have to drop it between the 20 and goal line.
If the ball hits the ground in the landing zone but bounces into the end zone and the receiver downs it, the offense gets the ball at the 20 yard line.
No more fair catches.
what about onside kicks?
how do you do one of you have to land inside the 20?
Only allowed in the 4th quarter and you have to declare in advance and then you line up in a conventional formation
Wyo
I think losing Wilkins is going to hurt Sieler a lot, unless we we get someone on the other side that is a pass rush threat
Seiler will still be really good but of course there will be some impact. Rarely do DTs have that significant impact on a team. We tried giving a huge contract to the best DT in the game when we signed Suh. Our defense was marginally better. Even as great as Aaron Donald is he didn’t win a SB until they upgraded QB
Cooper DeJean just became more valuable.
Every rule they put in place ruins the game just a little bit more. Just call it touch football and be done with it already.
Film Breakdown: Jonathan Harris Brings VALUABLE Versatility to the Miami Dolphins DL (youtube.com)
Having watched the XFL last year the new kickoff rules are better than what the NFL has been doing but not as good as the way it used to be
And again, Iowa’s punter is really really good. 🤙
I wish they did away with the onside kick rule and adopted the XFL 4th and 15 play instead
Jaden Hicks is another safety I like if we trade down and gain a 3rd. He’s 6’2 211.
Jaden Hicks | Defensive Back | Washington State | 2023 Highlights | 2024 NFL Draft (youtube.com)
@AdamSchefter
Update: NFL will play two Wednesday Christmas games this season. A Christmas doubleheader.
————-
HOW is that going to work?? Christmas is on a Wednesday this year.
Teams don’t get bye weeks that late in the season.
I guess those teams will play the Saturday before Christmas. Be like a short week for a Thursday night game.
@MySportsUpdate
Another change: NFL teams are now allowed to place up to 2 players on IR before rosters go from 90 to 53 and still have those players designated for return during the season. Before this, any player placed on IR during camp would be out for the season. A noteworthy change for roster flexibility.
@NFL_DovKleiman
BREAKING: The #Eagles week one game in Brazil will exclusively air on peacock.
Wilkins drew the attention of teams. I don’t see teams doing that to Seiler. Wilkins is a player teams account for. Seiler is not. Seiler may take a step back. It depends on the overall defense, but I don’t see him getting better. There is now nobody on our DL that probably scares anybody in the league. Seiler has been a nice story, but he’s going to miss Wilkins, big time. But as I always say….its all about how they play their DL. We really don’t know what they’re going to do yet. I’m not concerned about Seiler, but he isn’t a game changer anyway. I don’t expect that from him.
Was PFF reading us/me yesterday?
BB Mike,
THIS is the earliest I’ve seen Graham Barton go to date… 16.
Randy knows what’s up. He sees it.
But what if we DO end up drafting Newton?
Did you read my response to you yesterday? And did you see my post (with highlight video) about Newton becoming my latest “man-crush”?
DT/DE is more valueable than IOL. Going DT/DE makes more $$$ sense in the 1st round.
Something I just realized…
KSU’s Cooper Beebe can play all of LT, RT, and G. 6’4″, 335. His football IQ is also off the charts, according to sources.
I find this to be very acceptable…
R1P21: Jer’Zhan (Johnny) Newton, DI, Illinois
R2P55: Cooper Beebe, OL, KSU
I like it! We would need to find a safety at #158. We have none under contract after this season.
I’ve also identified another zone-scheme fit at RG: Christian Haynes, UCONN, 6’2″, 313, and has only given up 3 sacks in 3 FULL seasons.
That’s just 3 sacks yielded in 2,423 snaps… NICE!
Does he play LT too? We need to groom someone
Cooper Beebe could be that guy if we address O-Line in the 2nd round, rather than the 1st round.
The new KO rules are meant to dial back the previous rule, that was boring as hell with 80%+ touch backs
The new rule will allow returns without having the KO team at full speed making contact with the return team blockers, so less injuries than the traditional rule
BBM,
Has Trump come to you for a bond yet??? 😀
I’m not registered in NY to post bond. lol
https://phinphanatic.com/posts/the-miami-dolphins-have-only-one-realistic-tradable-player-on-their-roster-ahead-of-the-draft-01hsxkmyh9fx
If all we can get for Holland is a 2nd, I’d rather keep him 1 more year and take the comp 3rd
Tory Taylor, Iowa’s punter, averaged about 46 yards a punt and put 43% of his punts inside the 20….in his career. Over 250 kicks…because our offense sucks so fricking much.
Mike, I would say our roster is not as good on the DL. The OL is yet to be determined but we’re better at TE and possibly LB.
Who comes up with these odds?
𝘑𝘢𝘺𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘴
@DimesJayy
Follow
NEWS:#Giants are favored to sign QB Dak Prescott in 2025 if he does not get a extension done with the #Cowboys New York Giants – 115 Miami Dolphins +550 Dallas Cowboys +700 New Orleans Saints +950 Los Angeles Rams +1200
M – yes, I saw. I would be happy with Newton
Good! I asked you the question late on Sunday night, gave it some thought before responding to ya yesterday, and I tended to agree with ya on a DI in the 1st round.
bailbondmike
says:
March 26, 2024 at 3:09 pm
I like it! We would need to find a safety at #158. We have none under contract after this season.
———–
Thank ya, sir! I’ll do my homework on a Safety @ 158.
Do you have a preference of SS or FS?
steveccnv
says:
March 26, 2024 at 3:14 pm
Does he play LT too? We need to groom someone
———–
Cooper Beebe could be that guy if we address O-Line in the 2nd round, rather than the 1st round.
Hours after the NFL adopted a new kickoff rule, the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with versatile return man Cordarrelle Patterson, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
mf13ss
says:
March 26, 2024 at 3:40 pm
Do you have a preference of SS or FS?
————————–
I prefer ones who can cover and gravitate towards the ones who are reported as versatile.
I say that but then one of the guys I like at #158, Malik Mustapha is kind of like an old school SS.
Malik Mustapha Career Highlights (youtube.com)
Maybe Tekee Smith from UGA also.
Check out Dominique Hampton from Washington.
Dominique Hampton 🔥 Hard-Hitting Safety ᴴᴰ (youtube.com)
He’s 6’2 215, 4.51 forty.
Mike E
Not arguing! This is just a visual effect!
(Don’t puke on your keyboard)
LOL
lol
Rosen was the one that shocked me
Watched him often at UCLA and thought he was worthy, but after he was a bust for us I went back and watched some really bad college game tape and wondered why anyone thought he could play in the NFL
Wyo – I’ve seen this before from other Dolphins fans. That doesn’t mean anything to me at all. I’m not settling just because we’ve had crap. If he can’t win a big game, you move on and try again. I see a 7th RD pick playing better than Tua right now so we know it’s possible. I’m not sure Grier is the guy to find the QB, but I don’t want to see him get a 5 YR contract worth $250M that’s going to hamper our chances for a half a decade if he still can’t win big games, or gets concussed again and is out of football. I also don’t get why people forget that concussions are cumulative, we saw it first hand here with TE Jordan Cameron who I was so against us picking up, but we did, and then he got another concussion and that was it!
Was anyone drooling over C.J. Stroud? Probably some folks, but he looks pretty darn good for the Texans, right? Do they have $80M worth of WR’s? Did they get 27 rushing TD’s from their RB’s? Did he win a playoff game?
The correct answers are No, No, No, YES!!!!!!!!!
Don’t forget my moto is upgrade every position!
Just be sure you UPGRADE!
While both are impressive. It’s not a slam dunk argument that either would be an upgrade from Tua.
And no I’m not going to argue it all day!
@gregauman
Bucs are hoping to have two sessions of joint practices before preseason games in August — home vs. Dolphins, away at Jaguars — and are awaiting formal approval from the league.
NFL Draft 2024: Miami Dolphins mock draft tracker 1.0 – The Phinsider
@schadjoe
Dolphins were tied for 9th in kickoff return average last season Dolphins were 32nd in kickoff coverage average But Miami allowed only 15 returns They forced 83 touchbacks, 2nd most in NFL
—————————
32nd on kickoff coverage on ONLY 15 returns. HTF does Crossman still have a job?
Anyone have confidence in him with the new rules?
It’s an avg yard per return stat, so a long return or 2 can skew the stat with only 15 returns
Wyo – We don’t need to argue. It’s simple. If C.J. Stroud is as good or better than Tua, he’d be about $40M per season cheaper than Tua, so we can have a balanced team. The construction of our team currently is so far from the model. We’re paying entirely too much for the WR room, our DL is under manned. Our O-line is questionable, especially the LT, pass blocking for the C, and the injury history of the LG.
If CJ continues to stay / get better, then Houston will bee having this very conversation in 3 years!
Mike,
Exactly. The Bengals tagged Higgins because they didn’t want to pay too much for just one position and that’s probably their strongest position. We’re playing the same game the Rams did so that we can have one SB before our owner dies. I’m just not sold that Grier or McD are good enough at their jobs to get us there fast enough.
Wyo – They don’t need to have the conversation. C.J. already won a playoff game. We’ll see how he follows that up, but in his rookie season, he’s already got one more playoff win than Tua. We just need to pay Tua $50M per to give him the confidence in year 5 to finally win a playoff game.
Forget about CJs injuries or that they got blown out in their playoff loss or their division situation was different, he was a top 5 pick
How do you reckon we get our hands on one of the top QBs in the draft?
I’m not a big Purdy fan, we’ve seen avg QBs in the past win SBs
If Purdy is average, WTF is Tua? Purdy has been better than Tua. You guys talk in fucking circles. Just look it up. His record is better, stats are better, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G is better. And, he took, yes TOOK his team to the SB. Our QB led us to a division choke and a sad WC playoff exit.
Tua’s upside IMO is higher than Purdy’s, SF went the route of great overall team, that makes its QB better, rather than great QB like Mahomes with some great players rest avg, that are made better by QB
Do you want to trade for Purdy?
Not sure why you’re so in love with this guy