Finsmob Unleashed

A lot is going to have to go right, there are an awful lot of “ifs” involved here, but if things work out as we all hope they do, the defensive front might just be the best and most impactful unit on this team. Our first RD pick, DT Kenneth Grant will probably be starting at the LDE spot as a bookend to veteran RDE Zach Sieler. In the middle will be veteran NT Benito Jones, but there will be many different looks to the D-line, this will likely just be the base 3-4 formation. I would expect 5th RD pick DT Jordan Phillips to see a bunch of playing time and 7th RD pick DT Zeek Biggers to also be in the mix. DT’s Matthew Butler, Ben Stille, Matt Dickerson will also get chances as depth guys at the end spots, providing they make the 53 man roster. We will have a pretty young defensive line, with the exception of Sieler and Jones. We added a a few young big bodies to help fortify the D-line, but these guys have to show up and play, and the philosophy of not playing rookies will have to go out the window out of necessity here, as well as other places too, like the secondary. Grant, Phillips and at least one or two others will be counted on to make an impact this season.

This defensive line will have some size, but size alone doesn’t make a solid D-line. DC Anthony Weaver will have his guys working, and if he can get these young players to bite early, the size will matter. Last year we had veteran Calais Campbell at LDE and he is a huge man. Campbell is 6’8 308. We’re switching Campbell out for a much squatter but heavier defensive end in rookie 1st pick Kenneth Grant, who is 6’3 339. Sieler is 6’6 300, and NT Benito Jones is a stout 6’1 335. When we swap in some of the young guys, they’re also stout like DT Jordan Phillips 6’3 320 and Zeek Biggers 6’6 320. DE Matt Dickerson is on the light side at 6’6 298 and Matthew Butler is too at 6’3 290. but these guys will be on the end, not in the middle. Much like the situation in the secondary, we have almost no choice but to run with young players and hope they bite early.

Now on to the linebacker unit which could potentially be the best in some time. “Could be”, because we have one young player coming off a nice rookie year in 2024 1st RD pick OLB Chop Robinson. We can’t have a sophomore slump from Chop, we need him to be better than last season. We have 2 players returning from injury, OLB Bradley Chubb and returning from two consecutive season ending injuries, OLB Jaelan Phillips. It’s impossible not to admire Phillips who has great resolve and determination to come back from back to back devastating injuries, a torn achilles and then a torn ACL. He’s a warrior, and I think we all hope he can have an amazing successful season and stay healthy for a change. The football gods have been taking from Phillips, it sure would be nice for them to give for a change. If all these players, Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb, and Jaelan Phillips play up to the best they can be, this can be one scary pass rush defense and maybe even one of the NFL’s best units.

The inside backers don’t wow you, but we have some excellent depth there, and the former Seattle Seahawks duo of Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks is a good one. Behind them we have Willie Gay and K.J. Britt. Definitely solid there, and all Tyrel Dodson did last year was make plays. Dodson had 3 INT’s last season, along with 7 passes defensed in just 8 games, and he started only 3. He was around the football, and that’s a good thing. to get back to the outside LB depth, it’s a little shaky. Mo Kamara didn’t really give any indication he’s a player, and Quinton Bell has been given opportunities but also hasn’t really shown progress. Add Grayson Murphy and Cam Goode to the unproven list. ILB Jordyn Brooks had 143 total tackles last season, 3 sacks, 6 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries. I like the middle guys, and once again feel very comfortable with the depth we have there.

So we know we have “ifs”, every team does, but sometimes special things happen and sometimes “if’s” actually do happen too. I’d love to see Jaelan Phillps and Bradley Chubb at the top of their game and able to stay healthy the whole season, along with some progress from our young OLB Chop Robinson, as well as a surprise player from the remaining depth guys that just shows up and takes off. If Kenneth Grant makes it look like we stole him at #13, and that we got an absolutely ridiculous steal with 5th RD pick DT Jordan Phillips, that would be great too. We need solid play all around, it can’t just be the D-line or LB’s, we need the entire front 7 to wreak havoc! To me, this is the easiest unit to root for and Ihope they reward us this season with something special!

GO DOLPHINS!!!