Former GM Chris Grier wasn’t kind to the Dolphins roster situation and salary cap situation, but he may have left behind a few players who could help this team from last year’s draft. Some of these players made some early contributions like defensive linemen Zeek Biggers, Jordan Phillips and 1st RD pick Kenneth Grant. Others, played in all 17 games last season but we wish they didn’t, specifically I’m pointing out 2nd year OG Jonah Savaiinaea. He gets a fresh start this season, going back to the position he played in College at Arizona which was RG. All of the players above need to be better if this season is going to be successful in the win column. You can add in a couple of other 2nd year players like CB Jason Marshall, S Dante Trader and RB Ollie Gordon.
GM Jon Eric-Sullivan did what he could to add his type of players to the existing roster and purged plenty of veteran players as well, mostly due to salary cap woes. In that regard, I think he did an excellent job. Culture change happens when you have players that buy into what you’re trying to accomplish, and bringing in 13 + players from the draft and signing some undrafted free agents is a great start. On that same token, both GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and mostly Head Coach Jeff Hafley now have to mold those 2nd year players to buy in and fight for the the right to stay on the field. All the aforementioned D-line guys like Grant, Biggers and Phillips need to up their game. I really don’t expect any veteran signings like last season such as CB Rasul Douglas. Douglas was great for us, he did what we asked and more, but now it’s about keeping the spending down and getting value from younger players.
It’s not only going to be first year and second year players that are important. Veteran DL Zach Sieler needs to keep being the solid dependable lineman he’s been. 3rd year EDGE rusher Chop Robinson needs to make an impact, or he will unfortunately go down the path of yet another failed Dolphins 1st RD pass rusher. Under Grier, he’s extraordinary successful at failing at just that, identifying the right 1st RD pass rusher. The first attempt at a an EDGE rusher was 2017 with the 22nd pick in RD 1 for Missouri DE/OLB Charles Harris. Harris only played in 8 games over 3 seasons for the Dolphins. Grier tried again RD 1 in the 2021 NFL Draft with DE/OLB Jaelan Phillips. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Phillips injury history in College followed him to the pros, and he missed tons of time with injuries and despite showing flashes of what could be, it never really materialized here in Miami over 5 + seasons here. Grier’s next swing at a 1st RD pick pass rusher was none other than Chop Robinson himself from Penn State in 2024. He’s played in 18 games over 2 seasons but has only started 4. His 10 sacks is unimpressive. While he shows excellent initial burst or get off, there’s not a lot of pass rushing skills or a repertoire of moves. Hafley has to get this kid going, find spots for him to succeed.
We’ve talked about the defensive guys, and it’s not completely clear as to when we’ll be running 3-4, 4-3 or 3-3-5. It doesn’t matter. A lot of the same guys will be on the field in a couple of them, but rookies like LB/S Kyle Louis, LB Jacob Rodriguez, DE/LB Trey Moore, DE/LB Max Llewellyn will get opportunities. While we didn’t go early for a pass rusher, Sully did double down, and then signed one of the better UDFA pass rushers in DE Mason Reiger. Add in a couple of guys we picked in Free Agency before the draft like David Ojabo from the Ravens and LB Josh Uche from the Eagles and Chop Robinson is going to have to start making plays to stay on the field or Hafley wind find someone else who will.
I know a lot you truly hate Mike Florio, he’s been hard on the Dolphins, but dammit, they have deserved it. I listen the Joe Rose show nearly every day, and Florio is a regular guest on Friday mornings in the 9 O’clock hour. He’s not killing the Dolphins now, no, in fact he believes the Dolphins have finally got it right with GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley. I love to hear him say the same things many of us here have been saying, it’s a wonderful thing to have two guys on the same page for a change. I think it’s so important, because it’s a stark contrast to what has been in place here since 2016. A little bit of Gase, a little bit of Flores, and then too much of Mike McDaniel, and all along, no clear demarcation of responsibility with any of these relationships as to who was responsible for personnel and who had the most impact on draft choices. Now, it’s crystal clear, Sully is making ALL final decisions, but they are made with Jeff Hafley’s input, but in the end, the choice is made by Sullivan and the responsibility falls on him. It’s never too late, and for us Dolphins fans, now the fun begins to watch what an organization that is built by 2 guys with a common vision can look like. It doesn’t happen in 1 season and after only one draft, but I think these guys made a nice dent in changing the team to what it should look like and will be like down the road. Enjoy!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I’m not a big basketball fan but it’s the Knicks and that’s who I grew up rooting for. I hope they knock the shit out of the cocky/dirty Spurs tomorrow.
Steve – This is for you!
https://x.com/BigKnickEnergy_/status/2065653101625803106?s=20
maybe I stumbled…homer🤣
Or maybe you’re just wrong. I know I’m a Knicks fan homer, but you being wrong is also possible. I doubt you’ve watched the games as closely as I have
no I haven’t, my viewing was with open eyes, and 55 yrs of exp
Randy, I hope it’s true on Grant also. It’s time to backup the talk (in 6 weeks).
Randy was the first here, I believe, that said, Grant had a weak upper body (which I don’t think is debateable), and needed to get stronger
Anyways, sure seems like Grant has answered the request. We’ll see, if it was just smoke
during the draft a lot of us we bitchin about the selections, after watching many of these types of videos, I believe we thought we were watching them play checkers, while they were actually playing chess
Im pretty nervous about the pass rush so I really hope he brings some pass rush
that’s what I see as our biggest ?? Then WR
secondary would be next
I don’t see worst in the league with these groups, I do see below avg to start the season, getting avg by midseason
Sully/Haf building a TEAM
Hafley is going to get creative blitzing, that’s where I see the majority of sacks coming from. Sacks by committee
I think secondary and pass rush are the biggest question marks
but I’m probably putting a little too much faith in Bell and douglas to contribute right away
I love the potential of the WR unit
Reagor I think solidifies our WRs, not that he’s really done much in his career, but he brings another vet pressence and what little there is of his stats they are pretty good.
I really don’t know his story, I’d bet he hasn’t been given much opportunity. I don’t expect him to have a great year, I’m expecting the collection of WRs we have are enough to get the job done (not top unit, just not Colonblow), until Bell makes his pressence felt
I don’t any teams are going to want to play us late in the season, weather be damned
one theme, that’s pretty clear is we don’t have traditional type players, we have players that do multiple and specific things. Douglas is an example of this. He may not begin the season as a great WR, but his blocking will get him on the field early and often. Point is you can’t measure these guys by stats
didn’t think he would be a versatile player when drafted
I thought he was a 3rd down specialist
If you look at Jalen Reagor’s 3 cone time of 7.31, that’s pretty awful. That shows he has a decided lack of agility, probably rounds off routes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t make our roster
underwear Olympics, he plays fast on the field
3-Cone Drill: 7.31 seconds (Ranked low in the 5th percentile at his position, despite strong film showing change-of-direction)
Playing fast isn’t running sharp, controlled routes. He may be fast in a straight line but he probably doesn’t cut well. There are O-linemen with better cone drill scores than that
piggy,
I’m hopeful that we can piece together a pass rush. Chop should be able to do better in a Wide 9 because that plays to his strengths. I like the Uche signing, and I think it’s possible he can get you 6-9 sacks. I also think we can anticipate getting more pressure from our young DL. Rodriguez is also a sneaky sack guy who might be used situationally to get a few sacks.
I realize all of these things are speculative but I think we, at least, have a few pieces to work with. My GB friends here tell me Hafley usually had better pass defenses than run defenses, so we may have more concerns against the run.
Steve,
I’m just sayin’… I highly doubt Jalen Reagor will do squat for us. Personally, I’ve no problem signing him to vet min $ (it is vet min $, right?) to see if he could be a reclamation project of sorts.
It’s just that he’s always been a lazy route-runner (rounding off his routes), lack of dedication, enthusiasm, and attention to details… and he gets the dropsies.
Hopefully, he works out for us… but he now has a track record (not track speed record!) of sucking hard.
Just remember, he was drafted in 2020. He probably is what he’s going to be.
I DO want to reiterate: hopefully, he works out for us. He’s a low-risk signing who just may have needed better coaching, a change of scenery, and personal maturation.
I agree. I think Reagor may not even make it through TC. They are taking a look, but he was mainly brought in to give us more bodies with Douglas down and Bell still rehabbing.
Kenneth Grant is a 22 year old big man learning to be a pro. I’ve been reading some negative commentary about him and when I dig a little deeper it’s not coming from the team but just outside noise.
Anything for a click, SMH
Don’t believe the hype, and don’t believe the shiite.
In the spirit of Old Dolfan, SHOW ME!
Like you, Tim, I’ve got high hopes for our ’25 Draft class.
I think we’re going to play good defense. Other than Achane I really don’t know yet.
I think DT will be a strength based on all of them getting better through the season last year. Same DL and same ILB, I don’t see any reason they regress. Secondary will be the only worry for me.
I don’t know. There are players who could make a difference. I think Trader and Louis are going to make an impact. Trader 2nd year he’s a good football player. Kyle Louis whether big nickel or SS I think he might end up being the best value pick for us.
Let’s fucking go New York Knicks!!!!!
NY Knicks – NBA Champs!!!
Congrats Knicks!
I watched Kyle Louis video. There is nothing he can’t do. He covers like a corner, he plays the run, very good blitzer and a good man up open field tackler. I think we hit on this dude.
After 40 long years, one of my teams FINALLY won a championship!!!!!!!!
Congrats y’all!
Thanks Mike!
Is the city burning yet?
Well, Dirty Wemby can go fuck himself for the next few months because that fucker lost! Couldn’t be happier than to see that douchebag go down
BTW – That pussy ran into the tunnel and didn’t congratulate anyone, in fact, not sure I saw anyone on the Spurs besides Coach Mitch Johnson congratulate anyone on the Knicks. Team of dirty sore losers who can now spend the summer sad and angry of their choke jobs. They definitely have some budding stars on that team like Dylan Harper, Castle, but the supposed face of their team, Wembanyama, he has some serious growing up to do
NEW BLOG UP!!!!