The Miami Dolphins are back to having fun

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As the Miami Dolphins head back to the facility for their offseason program, there seems to be a common theme among players and coaches. That being the fun, lighthearted nature of coach Mike McDaniel.

 

“It’s more like… fun.” Emmanuel Ogbah on the differences of having Mike McDaniel as Head Coach.

At first glance, it would appear the Dolphins, specifically on defense, enjoyed their time under Brian Flores. Rattling off back to back winning seasons was quite the accomplishment, and much of it came on the back of the defensive unit. An opportunistic bunch with a knack for timely turnovers and sacks was able to drag a lackluster offense to two of their best seasons in recent memory.

However, it was clear that the other side of the ball wasn’t improving, and Flores’ no nonsense attitude was wearing on players. When the “Patriot Way” isn’t winning postseason games (or getting you there in the first place), then it all falls apart.

Mike McDaniel, however, had a clear goal coming into this offseason: keep the defense intact while bringing in players and staff who can get their offense back to being competent for the first time since Dan Marino was under center.

New Acquisitions

McDaniel came in with aggression, quickly bringing in major acquisitions in the free agency period. Namely, signing All-Pro tackle Terron Armstead and trading for the NFL’s most explosive receiver Tyreek Hill showed determination. Along with that, depth pieces and other upgrades, such as Cedrick Wilson Jr., Raheem Mostert, and Chase Edmonds are sure to give Miami a more dynamic unit.

This was a clear issue under the previous regime. Brian Flores showed an unwillingness to go after free agents, leading to an offense bereft of talent. They also brought in familiar faces and rising stars in the coaching room. Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, and Wes Welker, all former Dolphins players, will be taking on the reigns as assistant coaches. There have even been jokes about whether the assistants will run one-on-ones in practice, which is yet to be seen.

Keeping Your Best Players Happy

However, this was all on-paper, and if players are unable to get along with the coach, then it all goes downhill. Miami’s previous two coaches alienated players from one side of the ball, and it was up to McDaniel to show he won’t make the same mistake.

How would he do that? By paying Miami’s premier defenders. Xavien Howard and Emmanuel Ogbah, two of Miami’s best defensive playmakers, received extensions to remain in the aqua and orange.

Unlike Flores, McDaniel’s regime didn’t let these contracts linger, as they made sure to keep the best players happy. It’s important to make a strong first impression, and the new coaching has definitely done just that.

Fun Off the Field

However, McDaniel’s connection with Miami’s fanbase has been just as strong. Dolphins fans across social media noted the former OC’s stellar press conferences, which always included witty remarks. Thus, he struck a cord with those who wanted a more lively candidate at the helm. It’s clear that the wit and humor has remained in Miami, along with the lighthearted interactions with fans and media. 

The Bottom Line on Miami Dolphins and Their Fun Offseason

On paper, the Dolphins look to be much more fun than years past. The offensive line is vastly improved, appearing much more able to support Mike McDaniel’s outside zone scheme. This would give the support needed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa needed to get the ball to his new dynamic duo at wide receiver.

On top of that, a defense that ranks among the top of the league in turnovers is still intact. Although many thought Xavien Howard or Emmanuel Ogbah might not be retained, they are both back for the foreseeable future. They even found a way to acquire one of the league’s most fun-to-watch wide receivers in Tyreek Hill. One whose ability after the catch is unmatched, and appears to be a great fit in their scheme.

However, the X’s and O’s only begin to describe this new era for the Miami Dolphins. New Head Coach Mike McDaniel brings an aura that Dolphins fans and players haven’t seen in a long time. It is this hope, humor, and… fun, that has eluded this fanbase for decades, and comes back in it’s newest form. While we are unsure of how good the Miami Dolphins will be, it’s clear that something has changed this offseason.

We can expect coaches, players, and fans alike to be having a lot more fun in the years to come.  

 

*** This story was originally published on the ATB Network by Tyler DeSena***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel  

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: End of the Fake Show

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I didn’t know it then, but Rajon Rondo pointing a finger gun at a courtside fan foreshadowed the season that had yet come for the Lakers: a total embarrassment. Five and a half months later, with three games left on the calendar, LA was officially extinguished from Play-in contention in their trip to the desert by Devin Booker and co.  Rondo was lucky enough to get shipped out of town in January.

 

It makes it sweeter that Phoenix was the outfit that derailed LA’s chances of playing in the money grab games, excuse me, Play-in Tournament.  Just over two weeks ago Anthony Davis took a cheap shot responding to a question in a presser when he said that last year’s first-round between the two teams was decided by injury.  “It was… They got away with one,” Davis said. 

 

It was tone-deaf.  The Lakers must be living in the past if they think they are every bit as powerful as they were on a neutral fielded bubble two seasons ago.  And if they don’t think so privately, it’s worthless to front for the camera.  The painful reality of this group was obvious back in November that it was a poorly constructed roster not built to handle adversity.

 

Davis even went as far as to say the team had more starting lineups than wins.  He wasn’t lying. The Brittle Brothers (Davis, James) couldn’t stay on the court for more than 21 games next to Russell Westbrook, but the excuse is “soft like Charmin,” as Kobe Bryant once said.

 

Some media members, factions of fans, and according to the streets, degenerate gamblers everywhere held out hope that at some point, the King, in his ultimate wisdom, would find a way to kickstart this group into contention.  For the record, I made a break for the fire escape back in January.

 

Unless management sets up the greatest raid in league history to offload Westbrook for some pieces that will comfortably acquiesce to James and Davis’ playstyles, there could be an encore next year for the purple and mold.  My sources tell me, the chances of an equitable trade are about as low as the bar to hold a congressional chair in Florida (see Matt Gaetz). 

 

Getting rid of Westbrook will not solve every issue.  The Fakeshow will need a coach, as Frank Vogel is expected to be the first casualty on the team after Denver ends LA’s misery.  He’s already speaking to the press like he expects to clean out his office no later than the end of next week.  

 

A message to whoever is left in charge after the season: Good luck finding a new instructor who can turn the sour grapes of this team into wine.  James is unwilling to guard his man or closeout on each possession so that he keeps fresh legs for offense.  Davis is reluctant to play the 5, limiting the room for cuts to the basket.  And Westbrook needs to lead his four other teammates in time with the ball to be effective on the court.

 

It needs to start with James. A squad cannot win if its best player will not commit to guarding the opponent.  His age doesn’t give him a pass here, no matter how dazzling his strikes against the rim are in hot pursuit of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record.

 

If James won’t sacrifice his numbers and guard his man, why should his teammates?  I’m old enough to remember Tim Duncan at 37 years old neutralizing Chris Bosh from the field in Game 7 of the 2013 Finals.  With James’ athletic superiority over most of the league even at his advanced age in basketball years, there’s still a possibility that he can return to being a pivotal defender if he starts trusting AD and Russ to do more of the heavy lifting on offense.

 

The only way James will be able to do that is if he accepts he’s no longer the player he once was.

How Tyreek Hill can excel as a running back in Miami’s offense

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To the surprise of many, the Kansas City Chiefs placed star wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the trade block this offseason. The Miami Dolphins and their longtime AFC East rival – the New York Jets – were reported as the two frontrunners in trade discussions.

The Dolphins won these sweepstakes, sending a first, second and fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, along with a fourth and six-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, to the Chiefs in return for the services of the six-time NFL Pro Bowler. Miami then gave Hill a four-year extension worth up to $120 million with $72.2 million guaranteed.

Hill has proven throughout his six-year career to be one of the most explosive offensive weapons the league has ever seen. He has terrorized NFL defenses, whether it is in the vertical passing game with his ability to get behind safeties on deep post and fly routes or his knack for picking up yards after the catch on short and intermediate routes.

This terror also extends to the run game, where Hill has been effective in small sample sizes.

Hill played mostly at running back in his one season at Oklahoma State, recording 534 rushing yards on 5.2 yards per carry. His 5-foot-8, 185-pound stature limited his success on inside hand-offs, but outside the tackle box, he was a big-play threat.
Once Hill was able to advance to the second and third level of defenses, he was a nightmare to bring down.

Kansas City drafted Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft as a gadget player. He found an immediate role on the team as a special teams ace, scoring on one kick-off and two punt returns for touchdowns. The rookie was honored as a first-team NFL All-Pro member as a punt returner.

The 2016 season was also Hill’s most noteworthy as a running back, racking up 267 yards on 24 carries. He has still been used in the run game since then, but this utilization has been more infrequent. Hill has not surpassed the number of rushing attempts he received in his rookie year.

Under new Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, this very well could change. Hill has drawn comparisons to 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who was a key cog in San Francisco’s run game while McDaniel was a coach there.

“As far as exact ways we’ll use Tyreek Hill relative to the way Deebo Samuel was used in San Francisco, there’s probably going to be some overlap to some degree on San Francisco,” McDaniel said at the NFL Annual Meeting.

“Deebo Samuel evolved into that role because of circumstance,” McDaniel continued. “I expect there will be no difference really with Tyreek. We’re going to start with the foundational elements of the receiver position, but I promise you we’re not going to limit or — we’re going to continue the process of developing him and the Miami Dolphins football team.”

While Samuel was used as a between-the-tackles running back given his bulkier size, Hill projects more as a player who can damage defenses on outside sweeps and tosses. Both the sweep and the toss are foundational in McDaniel’s run scheme.

Hill’s ability to pressure defenses out of the backfield is not limited to just the run game. In San Francisco, the offenses that Mike McDaniel helped lead threw to the running backs a lot. The Niners targeted backs on 135 passes in 2020.

A wideout like Hill, who has gained over 6,600 receiving yards throughout his NFL career, would be a dangerous threat if used in that way.

The three-time All-Pro will play primarily at wide receiver for the Dolphins, but there are some imaginative and creative ways for him to get the ball aside from just at that position. At running back, a role in which he already has experience playing, Hill has the potential to take Miami’s offense to another level.

 

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The Miami Dolphins are setting up for a big 2023 Offseason

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After dealing DeVante Parker to the New England Patriots in an active off-season, the Miami Dolphins now have five picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

Through making several deals since Chris Grier became Miami’s GM, the Dolphins have found a way to build their team through the draft, while maintaining the capital to make big moves. For example, Grier was able to trade for wide receiver Tyreek Hill without giving up any major picks in 2023.

Furthermore, Miami is able to make a run with the current roster, while creating the best-case scenario if this year doesn’t work out. More specifically, they have created three distinct possibilities that cover just about every reasonable outcome. All three of which hinge on Tua Tagovailoa, and will play out differently depending on his performance.  

Solidifying a Contender

If the Dolphins, and more importantly Tua Tagovailoa, perform well this year, Miami is left with myriad options with their draft picks. Much like they did with Tyreek Hill, they have the potential to go out and continue their “win now” approach. Every year, a new veteran becomes available, and it may come down to who is willing to bid the most.

Miami is in a position, through these trades, to outbid just about every team.

These picks, however, could also be used in the draft. While Miami’s roster is the best it’s been in years, there are still some holes and depth issues.

Miami could opt for quantity over one quality player, stacking the spots on the team that need work. This approach would signal a further confidence in Tagovailoa, who would have to perform for this to work.

However, if his production warrants it, Miami could stack the deck for years to come.  

Pursuing a Rookie Quarterback

The other two options would admit failure for Tagovailoa, who has been inconsistent over his first two seasons. However, Miami has an insurance policy for him, and it may be put to use if he fails this season. Miami, having five premium picks next year, is in good shape in a draft filled with premium quarterback talent. Going into this season, the 2023 quarterback class appears to be the strongest in some time. Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and University of Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke highlight a deep and talented class. If Miami believes that one of these signal-callers could succeed in their scheme, they have the ammo to move up for one of them.

While it seems intriguing, this option has its risks. Miami would be banking on yet another young, unproven quarterback to succeed in ways they haven’t seen since Dan Marino. With a roster that’s ready to compete, this could set the timeline back even longer, and may be unlikely as owner Stephen Ross continues to age towards retirement.  

Blockbuster Quarterback Trades

The last, and potentially most exciting option for the 2023 Miami Dolphins comes — yet again — in pursuing a quarterback. However, it makes much more sense for Miami to go after a veteran if Tua doesn’t work out.

Miami has several veterans who are in their prime, such as Tyreek Hill and Terron Armstead. Thus, it’s crucial to maximize their championship window, which may be closed by the time a rookie is ready.

Thus, Miami may look to acquire a quarterback from another team, much like the Broncos and Browns did this off-season. While this is all speculation, there are a few star quarterbacks who could become available next year. Lamar Jackson, who intrigued Stephen Ross in 2018, has yet to sign an extension and would be a free agent if he doesn’t do so.

Kyler Murray is also a possibility, as his discontent with the Cardinals organization began to show this off-season. If they have yet another lackluster season with Murray and Kingsbury, there is potential for the young quarterback to request a trade.

There is also the option of a wild-card whose team doesn’t perform to expectations. With so much talent in the AFC, some teams are bound to not make the playoffs, which could leave fringe teams with unhappy quarterbacks who would rather play with one of the league’s most opportunistic defenses and best young cores.  

The Bottom Line on the Miami Dolphins and the 2023 Off-season

While these potential moves are just conjecture, it’s clear the team has made moves to position themselves nicely. Continuing to feed off the blockbuster Laremy Tunsil trade, the Miami Dolphins find themselves in a positive situation for 2023, and beyond.

New head coach Mike McDaniel looks promising, and the roster as undergone major improvement since his arrival. Dolphins fans have much to be happy about currently, and the possibilities continue to grow in the coming years.  

 

*** This story was originally published on the ATB Network by Tyler DeSena***

 

 Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel  

 

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Opening Day is baseball’s day of romantic fantasy

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Opening Day

It’s the first of 162 games, but it feels much more special than that.

It’s the first date of a long relationship between baseball and its fans, a day when magic happens. Reality will set in the next day but for teams like the Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks, this day belonged to them. 

The Diamondbacks were staring down the barrel of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of a San Diego Padres team with playoff aspirations. Yu Darvish went six innings without a hit and manager Bob Melvin felt that the bullpen could finish the job. For two innings, he was right. 

The 35,508 fans at Chase Field who didn’t give up and left the ballpark early got their money’s worth at the end and were witnesses to a four-run ninth inning rally that was punctuated with a three-run walk-off home run by a barrel of a man named Seth Beer. It just so happened to be National Beer Day. 

Opening Day in Arizona also marked the 20th season of pitcher Oliver Perez’s career. Only one player has been in the big leagues longer than Perez and he began his final season where it all started. 

Albert Pujols last played for the St. Louis Cardinals during their surprising World Series run in 2011. After a forgettable decade-long stint with the Los Angeles Angels, Pujols returned to St. Louis to join long-time catcher Yadier Molina and ace Adam Wainwright for one last run to glory. A career that will likely end with 3,000 games with over 3,300 hits and 2,100 RBI under his belt, the last milestone for him to chase is 700 home runs. Thanks to the new era of the designated hitter in the National League, Pujols will have every opportunity to hit the 21 home runs needed to reach 700. 

While the East side of Missouri was experiencing nostalgia at its finest, the West side was welcoming a fresh new face. 

Hope has arrived in Kansas City in the form of top prospect Bobby Witt Jr. Taken with the second pick of the 2019 MLB Draft, his first career hit resulted in an RBI double that gave the Royals a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning en route to a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. 

How the rest of his rookie season goes is anyone’s guess but he and the Royals fans in attendance will never forget this game. 

The only aspect of Opening Day that is unfortunate is that it is not played by all 30 teams. The Miami Marlins had to wait until Friday fo partake in the christening of the new season. They couldn’t have picked a better place to open on the road. The Marlins make their splash towards San Francisco in the middle of the conflicting scents of sea salt and sourdough. 

The Marlins are retooled and ready to make a run at the playoffs while taking on a Giants team looking to back up an improbable 107-win season. The pitching trio of Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Trevor Rogers have the opportunity to earn the Marlins some early credibility with a series win against the best team in baseball. 

The Marlins have been projected to finish with either a winning season or slightly below .500 in a loaded division where three teams enter with World Series aspirations. Miami goes into the new season with an above average pitching staff bolstered by a Gold Glove winning catcher in Jacob Stallings and a newly minted outfield serving as the lineup’s sorely needed power source. Avisail Garcia, Jorge Solar and Jesus Sanchez all have 30-homer potential and if Jazz Chisholm makes the leap to true stardom in his second full season, the Marlins will be able to compete with the best and capitalize in either the Mets or Phillies’ eventual late summer collapse. 

Enjoy the hope while it’s at its peak and let the games begin.

2022 NFL Draft: Three WR’s that fit the Miami Dolphins

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Building a WR Core is a lot like building the starting 5 of a basketball team. Pass catching units needs players with a diverse skill set consisting of Wide Receivers whose skills levels are labeled as: Possession, Burner, Contested Catcher, Versatile, Blocker.

Bringing a fresh perspective is New Head Coach Mike McDaniel.

“I see aggressive plays as a problem-solving solution, I look like, ‘What is defense? What defense do they play? What issues do they have? Where are they vulnerable?’ and how to attack it. It’s all about finding solutions that defense presents. And then, well, how do we take advantage of our offensive personnel?”

Miami Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel

The Miami Dolphins are fresh off a trade that entailed Tyreek Hill as their new primary weapon at the receiver position, with Jaylen Waddle returning after a record breaking rookie year.

Also, Devante Parker was traded to the New England Patriots for a 2023 third round pick,

There could be more receivers added to the roster and one possibility is through the 2022 NFL Draft. Here are three WR’s that fit the Miami Dolphins offense.

Khalil Shakir, Boise State

Khalil Shakir was a multi-level threat at Boise State. In 2021 as a senior Shakir put up his best season yet as he chalked up 1117 Yds on 77 receptions and hauled in 7 TDs.

Skillset

At 6-feet 193 pounds, Shakir is a natural and crisp route runner with great body control who has made some spectacular catches in his college career. He provides a good amount of versatility as he can line up in the slot and outside.

Having a smaller frame is not ideal and with average arm length, Shakir play style does not resemble that. He is a natural pass-catcher with reliable hands. He snatches balls out of the air, on tape his concentration on the ball makes acrobatic catches look easy

Willingly, Shakir catches passes over the middle and is not afraid of contact. He’s a really good yards after catch playmaker who’s got excellent field vision and able to slip out of tackles. Shakir had 470 yards YAC in the 2021 season.

Although he lacks an initial burst off the line of scrimmage and has more build-up speed than burners, Shakir is able to beat press man with leverage and foot speed.

Furthermore, he gets separation down the sideline and over the middle routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed.

Boise State’s offense was more spread based compared to what the Miami Dolphins run, a wide zone scheme. Shakir did not get enough experience in diversifying his route tree, running a handful of routes.

However, in those routes he has run, he executes those routes and sells others to gain separation and take advantage of space.

Projection

Shakir has experience running jet sweeps, motions and is a valuable asset in the screen game. He also has experience as a returner, as the Dolphins may not want to use Jaylen Waddle in the return game.

He’s considered to be a late Day two or early Day three prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Kyle Philips, UCLA

Kyle Philips was not so noticeable in UCLA’s offense – which was very much a run first attack. Similar to what this new Dolphins offense might look like. At the NFL level, Philips should be a great fit for a team that uses West Coast offensive philosophy.

Skillset

At 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, Philips is the prototypical slot receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft, and a prospects teams usually drool over. The Bruin product flashes the foot quickness and toughness to handle slot duties at the next level and lines up all over the field.

His route running is a legitimate weapon and he can be used to both take advantage of schemed separation and to create traffic for defenders. Philips is a fluid athlete with explosive burst and speed who makes full use of his considerable quickness and agility to breeze past defenders.

Defenders are put into difficult spots with Philips. He’s difficult to predict as his understanding of how to use all phases of his routes is a weapon. His elusive footwork allows no wasted movements between the reception and burst upfield.

While Philips ran a 4.58 40 at the Combine, his play speed is much faster than that. His acceleration on vertical routes allows him to reach his top speed to stretch the field. He is a solid vertical option that can be used on deep crossers, down the sideline or the middle of the field.

What makes Philips intriguing to me as a potential Miami Dolphin is his blocking skills. Philips is a reliable blocker, coming from a run first system, and shows that toughness on film. He plays much bigger than his size and was frequently used as a lead blocker for UCLA’s running game.

Projection

Philips could well be buried on the depth chart if he is selected as a Miami Dolphin, but he should be able to work his way up due to the scheme fit he posses in a Mike McDaniel Offense.

He reminds me a little bit about current Dolphins WR coach Wes Welker.

Philips current projection is an early Day 3 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Tyquan Thornton, Baylor

NFL Combine sensation Tyquan Thornton shocked the world with his unofficial 4.21 40 time.

Obviously, Thornton has blazing speed, his official 40 time came in at 4.28, just a hair under his unofficial 4.21. Thornton utilizes his blazing speed to create natural separation and opportunity in the passing game when the offense moves the ball downfield.

Skillset

Thornton couples that speed with his 6-foot-3 frame, having that frame gives him the ability to pluck the ball in the air over defenders with little to no contest.

This makes the Baylor product an intriguing option in the vertical passing game as Baylor was more of a running team. He fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes.

However, Thornton has concentration drops and does not secure catches as he can be too focused on gaining yards after the catch. Baylor’s offense did not fully maximize Thornton’s skillset, which means whatever NFL team drafts him is based on projection.

Projection

Opportunities will come at the NFL level for Thornton but it will be at a learning curve as he has not had many reps to showcase his entire skillset.

Thornton does block well in his weight class as the blocking reps in Baylors offense helped develop him.

I do think Thornton will start off as WR4 and make his way up special teams as a gunner of selected.

 

*** This story was originally published on the ATB Network***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

 

It’s Time to Trust in Tua

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It’s been one of the busiest, if not, the craziest NFL Offseason of recent years. A massive domino has fallen in favor of the Miami Dolphins as they have traded for star-studded WR Tyreek Hill.

Per Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs traded six-time Pro-Bowl WR Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for five draft picks: a 2022 1st-round pick (No. 29), a 2nd-round pick (No. 50) and a 4th-round pick, as well as 4th- and 6th-round picks in the 2023 draft, sources tell ESPN.

Faith in Tua

Basically, this shows the full faith effort the Miami Dolphins franchise has in Tua Tagovailoa.

After two season of realizing the team did not have enough support for their franchise quarterback, new head coach Mike McDaniel has shown his support for his QB. Actions, not words.

So far the Dolphins have given Tua Tagovailoa an upgraded offensive line, with the signings of Terron Armstead and Connor Williams.

 

Signed one of the best WR’s in the NFL in Tyreek Hill along with a YAC demon in Cedrick Wilson. Re-signed one of his favorite targets in Mike Gesicki. 

Signed two competent running backs in Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert who are fits in the new offensive scheme.

The Pressure

Since Tua was drafted back in 2020, Tua has had to deal with adversity to this date. 

Rehab from a debilitating hip injury, a QB controversy with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Deshaun Watson rumors. A WR room that never fit his skillset, an offensive line that was the worst in the league in back-to-back years (32nd and 31st).

By no means has Tua Tagovailoa lived up to his potential; however, there has been a lot stacked up against him compared to other young quarterbacks.

However, Mike McDaniel and the rest of the Dolphins Management have taken action to support Tua Tagovailoa, instead of meaningless words to show support. 

The only variable that could inevitably hold this offense back is if Tua fails to perform and injuries along the offense.

Tua Throwing Deep?

With all this talk about having the two fastest WR’s in the Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, there’s the notion that Tua and the offense should maximize the potential and throw deep more often.

The biggest criticism on Tua is that he cannot throw deep balls well. In 2020, Tua was 10/28 or 35% on deep balls thrown, good enough to be the 3rd best. In 2021, on passes that traveled over 20+ yards Tua’s passes were on target 69.6% of the time, which was best in the NFL.

The sample size argument gets routinely brought up as it may not be enough to be a conclusive data point. However, the Dolphins offensive line averaged a league worst 2.1 seconds if pocket time. It takes time to read and throw deep balls.

Not to mention, two of his final seven starts he had a 29% air yard completion, which was the highest in the NFL.

Everyone loves the deep ball game as it is exciting, but it’s minuscule on a play to play basis, it’s not how the game is played a majority of the time. 

The New Offense

In retrospect, this bodes well for the short and intermediate game, along with Yards after Catch (YAC).

Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill are two of the NFL’s best in yards after the catch and receptions within two seconds after the snap. Waddle with the 3rd most reception (46) and Hill with the 4th most (45).

In each of the last four years, the San Francisco 49ers led the NFL in YAC/reception. Mike McDaniel being the run game coordinator and offensive coordinator those last four years.

Last two years, Tua’s YAC/Completion was 4.6 in 2021 (30th) and 4.1 (2020) (31st). This year should se an increase in YAC/Completion numbers that fit Tua’s ability, along with expectations the franchise and fans want to see.

 

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*** This article was originally posted on PhinManiacs***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Look Who’s Back for the Nets

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With a stroke of a pen, the eastern conference playoff picture will change. New York Mayor Eric Adams lifted the COVID-19 private-sector vaccine mandate on Thursday, just a week after he said he wasn’t concerned about one man rather than nine million.  

 

Adams probably made his friends with the Yankees, Mets and Nets happy.  Politico pointed out that Mets owner Steve Cohen donated $1.5 million to a PAC supporting the mayor’s campaign last summer, while his team didn’t meet the 85% threshold of vaccinated players for relaxed protocols this upcoming MLB season.   Brooklyn also paid lobbyist Corey Johnson to persuade important figures at city hall on the matter.

 

Well, when there’s a will by the wealthy to throw money at a problem you can be sure someone somewhere will swallow their morals.

 

Concerning the NBA, positioning in the standings may not matter to the Brooklyn Nets.  They currently sit at eighth in the east and could make a cameo in the play-in tournament as they are three games out of sixth place.  If they survive the play-in, which would likely be the case, Brooklyn will see one of the two top-seeded groups, which could be any four between Miami, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Boston in round one.  Fingers crossed for a Philadelphia and Brooklyn matchup so James Harden’s former teammates can show the Beard what he’s missing.

 

The legislation passed significantly helps the Nets by allowing Irving to play in home games. So far into the season, Brooklyn is three games below .500 at home (16-19), but has six more wins than losses on the road (22-16).  Of the seven teams with better records away than at home, only three are likely playoff teams: the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

 

When evaluating the potential postseason landscape, it’s difficult to identify a more potent offensive duo than Kevin Durant and Irving.  Both of these juggernauts may occasionally become enamored with iso ball, but when they are moving the rock to exploit mismatches and are finding the man with space, Brooklyn could be as formidable an opponent as there is in the postseason.  

 

One of Brooklyn’s biggest concerns are its frontcourt’s defensive limitations.  With the exception of Simmons when he’s healthy, Brooklyn doesn’t have a versatile disruptor that can switch and cause havoc when rotating assignments between quicker guards or stronger forwards and big men.

 

Andre Drummond is still a fierce rebounder, but he struggles to stay in front of his man or to close out quick enough on opposing cuts.  Lamarcus Aldridge at 36 years old is not as laterally quick as he used to be and guarding was never his forte, although he was adequate.  And Blake Griffin at this stage in his career can get hunted down by an opponent forcing a switch, but he has solid instincts defending in transition. Evident by his 25 charges taken, which are tied for first with Miami’s Kyle Lowry.

 

As my colleague Ethan Skolnick has discussed on Five On The Floor, Drummond, Aldridge and Griffin were once franchise players that usually were not relied upon to be the glue guys that dive for loose balls, take charges, or crash the offensive glass.  That’s what their role is now and it takes a colossal amount of sacrifice for a former All-star to get comfortable exclusively performing a job that isn’t as glorious as dropping buckets en route to a W.  

 

 

The Nets inexplicably are optimistic that Ben Simmons will play, but he shouldn’t touch the court if his back has not completely recovered from his herniated disk.  If by some miracle Simmons does manage to suit up, the results may not be the desired outcome.  It’s complicated to incorporate a key player into a lineup past training camp, but in this case, there are nine games left for Broolyn.  He may not have enough time to learn Durant and Irving’s on-court tendencies and develop some chemistry with them.

 

But even without Simmons, now that Irving is getting his full-time gig back, the Nets become a larger headache for everyone in the east.  Brooklyn may be undermanned, but they still have enough ballers to win a round or two.  Durant and Irving have limitless range and can get to any spot because of their tight handles and elusive movements.  The last five times they’ve played together, Irving has averaged 38 and Durant 26 points per game.

 

An advantage that Brooklyn will have over every team is that Irving has fresh legs because he’s  only participated in 20 of Brooklyn’s 73 games played. An 82 game season is a marathon and players eventually hit a slump because of fatigue.  Irving probably will not have one.  He’s had extensive rest and he is so lethal that an opponent can study all of his tricks in the film room and it probably still won’t be enough to help stay in front of him.

 

Regardless of Irving’s position on the vaccine, I’m glad he’s back on the court as a full-time player.  At least for me, the east playoffs would not have been as exciting without one of the game’s greater players today.

 

Five Ways the Tyreek Hill Trade Changes the Dolphin Offense

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The Miami Dolphins dominated the ever-convoluted NFL news cycle Tuesday night when they signed the near-consensus No. 1 free agent this offseason, offensive tackle Terron Armstead to a five-year deal. What did not become clear until Wednesday morning was the fact Miami wasn’t done, either. Not by a long shot. 

 

Within two hours of the Earth-shattering tweets from NFL insiders that Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was available in a trade, the Dolphins closed the deal with a package of five draft picks, three of which come on Day 3. Miami did not just announce themselves as joining the fray of AFC contenders, they barreled the door down a la the iconic Kool-Aid Man.

 

The move summons the questions of what will this change bring to the franchise? For starters, when the schedules are released, fans can expect more than just the customary token primetime national TV game on the docket. Secondly, those same fans can put aside their modern tradition of Frankensteining their latest mock draft now that this year’s first and second rounders are no more. More importantly, they can expect a wildly different offense on the field in 2022 than they’ve seen the last two decades.

 

The Underneath is About to be Wide Open

 

Miami has long-awaited a dynamic presence at skill positions, hoping for that never ending void to be filled by the likes of Ted Ginn, Jr., Mike Wallace or David Boston. Now, they not only have one gamebreaker, second-year wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but the most unique and unguardable weapon in the league in Hill.

 

Either one of them is more than capable of getting behind a cornerback and changing the face of a game in an instant. Ever since bursting onto the scene, Hill has required safety help to ensure if he’s going to beat you, it won’t be on just one play. 

 

This changing around of the defense to account for the speed on the outside will open up a lot underneath for Miami. Whether that’s on screens, quick routes or safety valves out of the backfield, yardage is there to be had. All eyes will be on the deep ball – and those will certainly come – but in the meantime, there figures to be a lot of space underneath for the Dolphins to build drives.

 

The Field Will Also Be Stretched Horizontally to the Benefit of Mike Gesicki

 

It can be said Tua Tagovailoa or Mike McDaniel are the happiest men to receive the news of Hill’s arrival in South Florida. Not far behind him has to be tight end Mike Gesicki. The days of blocking-first tight ends are antiquated in the same way as the shower radio. Gesicki is an archetypal modern day tight end who is bigger than safeties, faster than linebackers and a mismatch wherever he goes. 

 

A career he would like to emulate as he enters what figures to be his prime is that of Hill’s former teammate Travis Kelce. The All-Pro Chiefs tight end has had six 1,000-yard seasons in his career, all six that he’s played alongside Hill. While the chicken or the egg debate can be had over who is responsible for what, the fact of the matter is they worked in synchronicity in Kansas City. That’s unquestionably something the team will hope follows Hill to Miami now alongside Gesicki.

 

McDaniel used a lot of motion and creative sets in San Francisco. Spreading the offense wide figures to open up the middle of the field for a player like Gesicki. The fifth-year tight end has seen his yardage increase each year and it isn’t a stretch to say it will do so again in a big way this fall.

 

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The Disguises on Offense will be Endless

 

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel totaled 90 receptions for 1,193 yards and 22 rushing attempts for 185 yards in his first two years combined. Then in his third year, McDaniel’s first as offensive coordinator, Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards to go along with 59 rushes for 365 yards. He was used in a variety of ways and just because he was lined up in the backfield did not mean he was only going to run it, but it did mean you had to respect it.

 

Expect both Hill and Waddle to line up in the backfield some, maybe even simultaneously. Gesicki can be lined up along the line or over in the slot. All three could be out wide, as can Devante Parker, with a single-set back in Raheem Mostert or Chase Edmonds. Lest we forget newly-signed fullback Alec Ingold who is not only capable of running the ball or blocking, but is an athletic pass catcher out of his spot. 

 

While defenses are getting more exotic with their disguises each passing year, the Dolphins now have one of the most amorphous offenses in recent memory. There is so much speed and so much versatility across the field that catching a defense off-balance appears less like a goal and more like an inevitability.

 

Miami Can Beat You in a Variety of Ways

 

Some teams want to ground and pound, control the clock and take their chances when they’re there. That drag-‘em-out gameplan can sometimes backfire when they get down and don’t have the ability to come back in a hurry. Others can spread it out and try to beat you through the air and with splash plays, though if some of those get taken away, their offense can be sterilized pretty quickly.

 

It’s no secret McDaniel values running the ball, something he was successful in doing his four seasons as the 49ers’ run game coordinator and lone campaign as the offensive coordinator. He along with general manager Chris Grier have prioritized the team’s ability to continue that in Miami. They signed Mostert, Edmonds and Ingold in hopes that if they want to establish the run, they’re able to do so. If they want to run the ball 30-40 times in a cold weather game, they believe they have the personnel to accomplish it.

 

On the flip side, if they find themselves in a track meet or in need of scores in a hurry, the firepower is there in full force. In NFL history, only Randy Moss had more 25+ yard catches in his first six years than Hill. Pair that with Waddle, Parker, Gesicki and the rest of the offense, the Dolphins appear poised to pick their own poison.

 

Tua Now has Everything he Needs

 

The overarching question for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired is “will this team find a quarterback?” For the past two years, that question has morphed into, “does this team have its quarterback?” Tagovailoa has found detractors saying he does not have the tools necessary to succeed in the NFL while his supporters have pointed to the coaching issues, talent at skill spots and development of the offensive line.

 

Now, Miami has added Armstead and Connor Williams along the line. The coaching staff, previously defensive-focused, has been overhauled and is now run by McDaniel, seen as a savant, genius or whatever other buzz word you’d like to use. Add onto that Hill, Waddle, Gesicki, Parker, Mostert and Edmonds, and he has the skill rooms that draw envy of almost every other quarterback in the league.

 

It isn’t “not having your quarterback” that kills franchises. It’s the purgatory of not knowing. Ryan Tannehill occupied the QB1 role for the franchise for seven years and not once did he leave anyone with a definitive feeling that he was or wasn’t “the guy.” That stagnant energy makes it impossible for a team to move forward.

 

Now, Tagovailoa has everything he needs around him. They have built a team with expensive supporting players around a quarterback with a rookie contract. That’s been a winning formula in recent years for teams like Philadelphia, Kansas City, Los Angeles (pre-Matt Stafford), even dating back to the Seattle Super Bowl victory. 

 

Whether or not Tagovailoa succeeds now rests entirely on his much-discussed left shoulder. If Miami wins with him, they have their guy. If he can’t get it done with what’s been provided, then those two first round draft picks in 2023 could end up awfully interesting. What we do know is that today will be looked back on in team history as one where the Dolphins went all in. The rest will be decided when No. 10 makes his debut in the fall.

The Miami Hurricanes’ Magical Misfits

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Miami is not supposed to compete at basketball, certainly not in the mighty ACC. The small, private school in Coral Gables should not be rubbing shoulders with college basketball’s aristocracy.

And yet, since Jim Larrañaga’s arrival, the Canes have done just that. In Larrañaga’s 11 seasons in Miami, the Canes have made the postseason 7 times, the NCAA Tournament 5 times, the Sweet Sixteen 3 times, and even won the ACC. But after frontloaded success early in his tenure (6 postseasons in his first 7 years), Larrañaga’s tenure appeared to be coming to a close. Wrongly implicated in an FBI scandal, staggered by a buzzer beating loss to Loyola, the Canes produced 3 losing seasons in a row, culminating with last year’s 10-17 record, the worst of Larrañaga’s career since his first year at George Mason in 1997-98.

With a mass exodus from the program in the offseason, and the Canes plugging gaps with transfers, Miami was justifiably picked to finish 12th in the ACC.

And the early returns reinforced the Canes as a finished program. After 7 games, the Canes were 4-3, having just been blown out by Dayton and Alabama. They were languishing, and the program was teetering on the brink of irrelevance.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Canes’ funeral. They started winning. But how?

This is a story of Miami not just as a program, but as a mindset. This is a story about how a group of castoffs, of players who were told they would never experience success, combined to form a harmonious band of individually flawed instruments that collectively rival Mozart in their melodic crescendo.

And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?”

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

Larrañaga’s offseason might have been his toughest. Six players, including 5 on scholarship, left the program, headlined by Chris Lykes, Matt Cross, and Earl Timberlake.

He needed bodies to just field a competent team. There was help coming in, namely in the form of freshman Bensley Joseph and Wooga Poplar. But the Canes needed more experience, players ready to start immediately.

And they found them in the transfer portal with Charlie Moore and Jordan Miller added to returning stalwarts Kameron McGusty, Isaiah Wong, and Sam Waardenburg.

Make no mistake, this was a risk. Larrañaga was already going through the worst spell of his career, and bringing in 2 transfers, including one who was at his 4th school, was fraught with peril.  But where a normal person would look at this roster and see dysfunction, Larrañaga saw opportunity. He doubled down, not just on his talent evaluations, but on the fact that he could coach this team into overcoming their lack of size in a league that is predicated on size.

With the rocky start to this season, all hope was seemingly lost.

A lot has been made of the style change, and how the Canes, with the season teetering, embraced small ball and resurrected the season. Not enough, however, has been made of the character exhibited by these kids. Players that were expecting to get playing time no longer do. Jordan Miller and Sam Waardernburg have to sacrifice their bodies playing out of position. The team in its entirety has to work harder to account for the style of play. As topsy-turvy as this season has been, the one constant has been the Canes’ adaptability.

From the blowout losses to Dayton and Alabama through the late game failings at home against Virginia Tech, setbacks never defeated this team. When people refused to rank them, kept them on the bubble despite a strong resume, and tried to downplay their qualities, they just kept playing. Everyone in the ACC knew how good this team is, and now the country is finding out.

Somehow, it’s all come together. Charlie Moore running the show, Kameron McGusty and Isaiah Wong able to create any shot, Jordan Miller and Sam Waardenburg drawing big men away from the paint on offense and defending it on defense, Anthony Walker bringing high-flying athleticism off the bench, and freshmen Bensley Joseph and Wooga Poplar making huge contributions…it’s all working.

Maybe Larrañaga saw this coming. Maybe it was because he was out of any other options. But regardless of the quality of the sheet music, it takes a conductor to produce appealing music. And Larrañaga is that conductor.

This is Miami’s 3rd trip to the Sweet 16 in Larrañaga’s tenure. This is the 2nd time they’ll be the higher seed. In 2013 when they reached this round, everything went wrong. Reggie Johnson got injured, the team had a bout of food poisoning, and they entered a game with Marquette on a low. The 2021 Canes are at the opposite end of the spectrum. One of the things that jumped out last weekend is that as we saw the pressure crush so many programs, the Miami players were having fun. Smiling, just playing game. After having been roundly dismissed, jettisoned to the periphery of college basketball, they had re-entered the fray and were enjoying the moment.

La Patria

What better place for a group of castoffs to find their true home?

Miami, as a city, is a place where anyone can belong, where it doesn’t matter what region or even what country you’re from, you can find a home here.

And so it is in this city, this melting pot, that this unlikely group of heroes assembled, because this is the only place it would be logical to assemble. They’ve been embraced by the community, and made Miamians puff their chest out with pride.

Last week, as they prepared to face 2nd-seeded Auburn, the Canes were once again diminished. The players were asked about a Jabari Smith Dunk, and how they would cope with Auburn. Miller and Waardenburg, answered respectfully. But under that veneer, they knew that not only did they have a plan to deal with Auburn’s NBA talent, but that they were going to unload on the Tigers’ front court duo.

What happened from there was a swagtastic unloading of all that is good and holy about Miami on the unsuspecting Tigers.

You can see from the score that they won by 17. That doesn’t describe the full extent of the performance. They took Auburn’s 2 best players and relentlessly went at them. Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler will be 1st round picks in the NBA draft. But on Sunday, they were taught a lesson by a group of experienced players that college basketball had largely given up on.

Bruce Pearl eventually had to bench Kessler, who could not play against Miami. The Tigers tightened up, more closely resembling a deer in headlights than a ferocious feline their mascot depicts. In the end it didn’t matter. Auburn was helpless. Miami was flying all over the court, stealing passes, dunking, blocking shots, taking wild shots on offense, throwing show-off passes…they were playing Miami Basketball.

Auburn was the unfortunate victim of Miami’s Magical Misfits reaching their zenith, and unloading a category 5 whooping on them the likes of which the Tigers had never experienced. Their previous 5 losses included 2 overtime losses and 3 other losses by a combined 11 points.

They did it as Miamians. A diverse group of previously dismissed players congregating in South Florida, believing in themselves when no one else did, and outworking, outthinking, and out-swagging the opponent.

Where does this long journey end? No one knows. It has taken Canes players through multiple schools, multiple countries, injuries, false investigations, and numerous on court setbacks to build the strength to get here. They are here not in spite of their struggles, but because of them. And that belief, forged not because people they were told they were great, but through legitimate struggle, through brotherhood when all hope was abandoned, is tough to break. Regardless of how this ends, Miami’s moment in the sun was earned through tribulations that would topple lesser men.

In Miami, the Magical Misfits found a home. And in that home resides a family.

Vishnu Parasuraman is a contributor for @FiveReasonsSports and generally covers the Miami Hurricanes. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003