Finsmob Unleashed

Less than 2 weeks away, and the closer it gets, the crazier it becomes. I’m willing to eat some crow here if I’m wrong, but those of you fawning over Micah Parsons or any other defender for that matter, are barking up the wrong tree. I mean no disrespect, but no matter how good our defense is, if we don’t surround our QB with premium weapons, why would you expect the offense to be premium? Let’s face it, the NFL is an offensive league, and the Kansas City Chiefs have proven that to be the case by making back to Super Bowl appearances, winning last year in 2020 but losing to the offensive powerhouse Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this past Super Bowl. Did TB have the better defense? Yes, but their defense was a compliment to their own high powered offense. The TB offense put up 492 points (#3 in the NFL) and allowed 355 points (8th in the NFL). The Miami Dolphins on the other hand were #15 in the NFL on offense, and to be fair, a lot of that was a decline in the offense after Tua took over for Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins averaged 26.6 points with Fitz at the helm and only managed 24.4 with Tua, including a couple of relief appearances by Fitz which helped that average. On defense, the Dolphins were #6 for points allowed at 21.1 PPG. My point is, if you think we’re taking a LB at #6, THINK AGAIN!!!

The Dolphins have to improve this offense and that could be done a few different ways. I’ve made it clear and will continue to reiterate that our WR corps is shaky at best. The top 3 are all health question marks, Parker, Fuller and Williams. The next 3, depending on what order you believe the depth chart is would be Bowden, Hurns and Wilson. The latter 2 haven’t played in over a year and were both recovering from serious injuries, Wilson with that terrible hip injury which he seemed to have finally shaken off by his last season’s end and Hurns who suffered a gruesome ankle injury with the Cowboys in January of ’19. Add Jakeem (No Hands) Grant and Malcolm Perry, Mack Hollins and Robert Foster and I’m sorry but you just can’t expect Tua to improve with this crew. No, they need TOP SHELF talent, and being at 6, we will get it. One of the following players will be there, Chase, Pitts or Smith. I had dismissed Smith for a while because once we acquired another WR who can’t stay on the field, my thought was the last thing we need is a 170 pound WR at #6, but there is familiarity and a super high level of talent there, and in spite of his smallish stature, he knows how to stay on the field and is a superior route runner who gets separation. I still believe if Chase or Pitts is there, we will go with one of those guys but if the Falcons don’t take a QB and the Bengals don’t go OL , potentially Pitts and Chase could go respectively.

While the O-line was much improved, from terrible to average, it’s not yet become a force. I think it’s pretty clear that both Solomon Kindley and Robert Hunt are our guards for the foreseeable future, and Austin Jackson is one of the bookends, most likely our LT. Penei Sewell could be that bookend that really pulls things together. I think the way we handled the center position in FA leads me to believe we’re going to draft a center, which would mean a 2nd or 3rd RD pick, because the acquisition of former Ravens C Matt Skura was underwhelming. The Ravens are a first class organization, and when they let a guy walk, there’s a reason. Add in the fact that he’s here on a 1YR deal makes me feel like Skura is here to start unless the rookie we draft beats him out or if the rookie isn’t ready to start. Sewell would be an upgrade over swingman Jesse Davis who has been wonderful filling in anywhere and everywhere. Giving Tua more time and confidence that he has ample time makes him a better QB.

I do think one of our first 4 picks will be on a LB/EDGE player, but not at #6, we just have to give Tua a chance here, and nothing we’ve done in the offseason despite a couple of potentially good signings in Will Fuller and Malcolm Brown have really elevated the talent here. Fuller is too often injured and Brown is a committee type RB, not a bell cow back. There are LB’s and tweener LB/EDGE guys that could help at #18 like Jaelan Phillips, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Kwity Paye, Gregory Rousseau, Azeez Ojularia, Jayson Oweh etc. I get the Parsons love, I do, but with the state of our offense, I think that needs to be the focal point for a premier player, just the way I feel. We simply can’t wait to see who’s available at #18, unless we trade up from #18, which is possible, it’s about getting great players that impact the team, not about quantity. Quality over quantity every time, especially where we’re at in the rebuild.

GO DOLPHINS!!!