The two guys above are very busy working on one of their most important undertakings together as GM and Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins, their very first NFL Draft. This would be the case for any new GM and Head Coach, but for these two and specifically for the Miami Dolphins, it’s exponentially more important due to the roster needs, and the cap restrictions former GM Chris Grier has left the Miami Dolphins with. Both are well aware that they will need to build this team back through the draft, so while this exercise is always important, both Sully and Haf know they need to hit on many of their picks because these players will be the foundation of the team.
I have to admit, that whenever I get to listed to either Jeff Hafley or Jon Eric Sullivan, I come away feeling positive and impressed, and very hopeful that they are up to the task ahead of them, and a huge task it is. Despite the fact that they will get a mulligan for this season, they are building a team in their image. What makes me so optimistic is hearing over and over and strenuously reinforced, that the two men tasked with this rebuild are completely in lockstep in doing this. Now this doesn’t mean that they make each other redundant, they might have differing opinions on certain things, but both completely respect each other and are completely willing to work together to accomplish their goal. When I hear HC Jeff Hafley talking to Mike Florio, and why he came here and took the job of Head Coach for the Miami Dolphins, he spoke of “Alignment”, and he meant alignment with new GM Jon Eric Sullivan, the opportunity to join him and the Miami Dolphins organization. This was once a proud NFL Franchise, and these two gentlemen seem hellbent on making that once again a reality in South Florida and the NFL.
As both Sully and Haf are at the NFL Combine right now, the underwear olympics are in full throttle with the DL and LB’ sand K’s already doing their part. Today, DL and LB’s will do their bench press while DB’s and TE’s will do their workouts such as 40’s and other drills. Lord knows we need players that will come in and not only compete for a starting job but be successful if they are drafted. We truly have so many holes you wouldn’t be wrong if you said the most important position is EDGE, CB, OL, S, TE. All of the above are important, and since the likelihood is that QB Tua Tagovailoa will either be traded or cut, you can add QB to the list, being we have only QB’s Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller on the roster, and once again, very little cap money to spend on a QB. Despite the persistent talk of QB Malik Willis to Miami, I just don’t buy any of it. Whether the salary rumors are completely accurate or not, Malik Willis can probably get paid NOW, and like most players, he will go where that can be done. I just don’t believe we’re in any position to once again dole out $25-30M annually at the QB position right now.
There were some impressive performances yesterday at the combine, a few EDGE players and LB’s ran very well to help themselves, notably EDGE Arvell Reese 4.46, EDGE David Bailey 4.50, and LB’s Sonny Styles 4.46 and Kaleb Elarms-Orr 4.47. All these players mentioned will be doing their bench press today, and that will further give a picture of just what kind of athlete these players are, besides of course the more important game tape they have accumulated during their college careers. That is first and foremost, though we all fall in love with the elite 40 times and 10 yard shuttles and broad jumps and vertical leaps. As Randy pointed just a day or so ago, 2022 2nd RD pick LB Channing Tindall. 4.47 40, 42″ vertical leap, 10’9 Broad Jump, all very impressive, equal to the best performers this year, but his play tape was so far below all the best of this year’s draft and even his own draft in 2022, and just think how important is was for us to make a strong selection in that draft when we had no 1st RD pick, and only 4 total picks, a 2, 4, and two 7’s. Randy reminded of us how great an athlete Tindall was, but how lost he was on the field. Listening to Hafley describe what a Miami Dolphins player will be, Tindall was the complete opposite. He wants players that played football, love football, and players that will last in any climate and all 4 quarters of the game. I can’t wait to see how we do!
Just a quick note to all our bloggers here, but specifically the Admins. I’d like to point out without calling anyone out that YES, I notice the absence of many of our Admins, and that I’m concerned. I know Twice has never been a full time participant, but Ken, Sonny, Herd and not one of the Admins but always a pretty strong participant here, Stanger, has also been long absent. If there’s an issue with my content here, or anything you’d like to change, I’d love to hear it. More importantly, I miss all of you and miss your presence here. If there’s anything you want to say and you don’t want to say it here, I believe you all have my number, so either shoot me a text or if you want it said out here in this forum, go right ahead and do so.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Foist?
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
Two can be as bad as one. It’s the loneliest number after number one.
💯💥
Hey Mike E – I truly appreciate everything you do to keep this place running – I know you aren’t looking for accolades, but sincerely thank you for the time you put in. I think your articles are all great and I wouldn’t suggest changing anything with what you do.
Speaking for myself, it’s been increasingly difficult to get into the details of all things Dolphins as the organization has left me with dwindling belief over each succeeding year that things will get better. Could be true for others as well – I don’t know. But it certainly makes it tougher to follow them especially offseason.
Having said that, this is the only place I go to anymore for anything Dolphins related, as I trust what you and others here have to say, and appreciate how everyone dives into the important details much more than national or even local media do. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts here on football and Dolphins related things. I’d contribute more but sometimes I’m just not up to speed enough on the discussions to add anything.
From a tech standpoint, I know WordPress can be a PITA sometimes. Not too much I can do there as it isn’t open source, but if there’s anything with the layout of everything of that nature, I can change things up on that front if anyone has requests.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Thanks for the feedback, and definitely not looking for any flattery, just anything I can do to bring some folks back here. I know you’ve always been busy so I completely get that. What I can say about the Dolphins is that the steps they have made have been long overdue, and I am literally the most optimistic about this team than I have been in a long time. Hang in there Jeff, I see good things happening for this team. It’s going to take a while to see it translate in the standings, but the tandem of Sully and Haf look all the world like excellent hires.
Thanks – I know I’m not saying anything deep or profound with this next statement, but I guess the draft will be the first big indicator to me of if they finally ‘get it’. Like many others here, I feel they need to focus on the trenches and toughen up. Not going anywhere without those two things in place. It’s football – not tiddlywinks.
Thanks Mike!
NFL salary cap officially set at $301.2M
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That really sucks! They were projecting more. With our cap, not just every million matters but in our case every 100k matters. With the cap at this # we currently have about 880K in cap space.
Kenyon Sadiq measured in at only 6’3 241
You never hear Sadiq being called a small TE but hear it all the time when people talk about Eli Stowers. Stowers measured in taller than Sadiq at 6’4 and only 2 pounds lighter at 239. lol
TE Sam Roush 6’6 267 but T-Rex arms at 30 5/8″
Ponds with a 43 1/2 vertical jump. Impressive!!!
Beer to you
Hopefully CB Devin Moore 4.55 and CB Masses 4.56 run a little faster the second go around.
De’Angelo Ponds came in at 5’9 182 with a 43.5″ vertical though I guess he is not running today.
Moore with a 4.50 and Masses a 4.46
That’s much better
Not watching it, but looks like neither CB’s Delane or McCoy are running today. Anyone know if that’s the case?
Looks to be the case. Same with Ponds. Ponds only did the vertical.
They are completing the second round of running so no they are waiting until their pro days it would appear.
The small school CB I like in the 5th round Charles Demmings is crushing his combine.
BBMike – I guess when you know you’re coming off the board as the #1 and #2 CB’s, you’re in the catbird seat. You have a bad day and run a 4.6, it can only hurt you, so for them, the best thing to do is run at their pro day.