Finsmob Unleashed

There are opinions all over the place as to what the Dolphins need to accomplish in the 2024 NFL Draft. There are some that are hyper focused on improving the team for the 2024 season, and basically at the cost of the future of the team. Just win this year! While I understand there is an artificial timetable in place, some due to salary cap issues, others due to how long WR Tyreek Hill will be in a Dolphins uniform, and of course the elephant in the room, the looming contract extension for QB Tua Tagaovailoa which could potentially free up some cap space this season, yet hamper us in the future. Looking at the current roster, it’s easy for this author to see the gaping hole left by RDE Christian Wilkins, and also the potential holes on the OL, despite LT Terron Armstead not retiring, the signing of OC Aaron Brewer from the Titans, and swing OT Jack Driscoll, and the one year deal for OG Isaiah Wynn. As to which is line is more desperate for help, the O-line or the D-line, that depends on your viewpoint.

To make the case for the O-line is easy. LT Terron Armstead has played more than 10 games 5 times in his 11 year career, and has never played an entire season. He almost retired, I could imagine there was some begging done by GM Chris Grier and HC Mike McDaniel, so Armstead remains an active NFL player. In 5 years, Isaiah Wynn has gone over 10 games once, and has also never played an entire season. He was the starting RT in 2022 for the Patriots and managed just 9 games. Last season with the Dolphins, Wynn played in 7 games before being out for the season. OC Aaron Brewer actually started every game for the last seasons for the Tennessee Titans. Durability is not his issue, it’s pass blocking. He’s not the worst rated OC, he’s just been less than average. RG Robert Jones played well in a backup role for the Dolphins over 3 seasons and he has been a starter for 13 games in 3 seasons. RT Austin Jackson missed one game last season, and his play has been the best in his 4 year career as a Dolphins player. We also have a few guys capable of stepping in for spot start duty such as the aforementioned swing tackle Jack Driscoll, swing tackle Kion Smith, OG/C Liam Eichenberg who played both last season, and OG Lester Cotton. Depth is not the issue, quality along the interior line is questionable and every interior OL is a decent injury risk. Another issue is you have to bank on this being Terron Armstead’s farewell season.

For the D-line, in my eyes, the case is even easier. We brought in a bunch of players for the D-line to join incumbent LDE Zach Sieler. The problem is, with the exception of NT Benito Jones (6’1 335), who may possibly be an upgrade over NT Raekwon Davis, Da’Shawn Hand is not an adequate replacement for RDE Christian Wilkins. It’s funny how departed players get completely under appreciated now that they’re gone. Christian Wilkins who played every single game and over 80% of the snaps and had the most tackles in the history of the NFL for a DT in his first 5 seasons. “He made no impact, no pro bowls!” they scream. I’m going to be shocked if a D-lineman isn’t our first pick at #21. It could be Byron Murphy II, or “Johnny” Newton, or possibly even T’Vondre Sweat, although he currently projects more as a NT.

How the draft actually plays out though could definitely impact which direction we go. In other words if a bunch of interior O-lineman come off the board before we pick at #21, or we trade back, and there’s only one IOL we have an early grade on, we may draft the IOL. On the other hand, the same could happen at DT. We may like only one or 2 guys early and if the other is gone, we may want to pull the trigger to get the one we want, full well knowing he won’t make it to #55. Despite priority, sometimes you have to get the best player at a position of need, and both lines are very needy!

Now, back to your favorite topic. Look away Tua defenders, if you must! All I want is to have a winning team, and by winning, let me reiterate by saying to me, winning is a team that can compete in the post season, in big games at the end of the season, especially those games that decide whether we play at home or travel to another stadium where the weather will negatively affect the entire team. I’m a Dolphins fan through and through, and a football fan for who follows the game pretty closely. I fully understand it’s a team effort to win a game, but when your QB, the most player on the roster can’t elevate his team, and more importantly elevate his own play to help the team, then you’re not going to be a winning team. I’m not putting up stats, because certain people, and you know who you are just ignore them anyway. QB Brock Purdy isn’t a particularly athletic QB. He had 144 yards rushing during the 2023 season for the Niners. In the playoff game against the Detroit Lions, Brock Purdy did what he had to do. He rushed for a super important 48 yards on 5 carries. The first big run was a 21 yard scramble to the Lions 4 yard line with the Niners trailing 24-17. That set up the game tying TD late in the 3rd QTR. The next big play was another scramble by Purdy in the 4th QTR with the Niners leading 27-24, from the DET 49 yard line, a 21 yard run to the DET 28 yard line. That set up yet another TD for the Niners as they held on for a 34-31 victory. The Niner defense wasn’t great, you can’t always count on that, but Purdy made some huge plays to help his team win. If we gave up 31 points and lost 31-14, you guys would finger point at the defense, despite the QB and the offense only scoring 14 points.

So that’s pretty much it in a nutshell. You need the QB to do more in big games, if you want to win in the NFL. In the last 2 seasons, that has not been the case. 2 seasons ago Tua was injured and couldn’t get us a win in games 12 through 15, so four games with the season on the line, in which we scored 18.10, 17 and 16 points against the Niners, Chargers, Bills and Packers. Then of course his season was over and that left 1st year QB, 7th RD pick, Skylar Thompson to battle the Patriots and the Jets, and then ultimately, the Bills in a wild playoff loss. This past season, with 5 games to go and a 3 game lead in the division. Against the Titans, zero TD’s, zero INT’s. We lose in a heartbreaker 28-27. We play the hapless Jets and we dispense with them easily 30-0. Then we eke out a 22-20 win against the visiting Cowboys, the NFL version of the Miami Dolphins, who can’t beat winning teams either (It’s a narrative!) Then the wheels come off against the mighty Ravens, who by the way, managed to keep their star DT and paid him! We manage to allow the Ravens 56 points, while only scoring 19 ourselves. Then the coup de grace, the season finale against our division rival Buffalo Bills. Our QB can only manage 1 TD and 2 INT’s, and while the Bills QB wasn’t much better, he had 2 TD’s and 2 INT’s and 1 fumble, but that guy is relentless! He had 15 rushes for 67 and carried and ran over Dolphins defenders all game and helped them win.

In summation, some people here scoff at Josh Allen because he’s not an accurate passer. He’s not. He can probably throw it 70-80 yards, but who knows where it’s going to land. On the other hand, he’s a winner! He’ll do whatever it takes to win, put his body on the line, damn the future, damn his life, he’s going to get it done. Yes, I understand he’s as big or bigger than a LB, so what? He may not always be pretty, but he will take the hits, and he will deliver the hits, and he will help his team win games. I love his spirit, I wish our QB had the same indomitable spirit. I wish he could help us win some big games, not in Week 3, but in Week 15, 16, 17 and 18 and then if we qualify, in the post season. If Tua isn’t the guy that can deliver that, then it’s time to move on and find the QB that can, and you keep trying until you find him, even if it takes another 20 years!