The most encouraging aspect of the Miami Dolphins’ startling flurry of acquisitions at the onset of free agency is that it revealed the method to the madness of last season.
GM Chris Grier and Co. accumulated a huge stockpile of assets — beaucoup draft picks and money under the salary cap — and Monday quickly showed they are going to be aggressive about utilizing them.
The initial signing of five players revealed a cogent plan that addressed vital areas of concern throughout the roster, particularly on defense.
Investing $17 million a year in Byron Jones, the best cornerback available, was the signal the Dolphins are making a big move to win as soon as possible.
That continued Tuesday with a reported agreement with defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who was the sack leader for the Kansas City Chiefs before a season-ending injury (pectoral tear).
Miami had already bolstered the pass rush via Kyle Van Noy (Patriots) and Shaq Lawson (Bills) on Monday.
Later Tuesday, Miami reached a deal with former Eagles running back Jordan Howard, who has 3,895 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns since 2016.
Adding established players in their prime increases the likelihood the Dolphins will use some of their league-high 14 picks in the upcoming draft (they also have four in the first two rounds of 2021) to trade up for whichever quarterback they have targeted.
Yes, they need to get maximum value out of their draft capital. But they don’t have to rely on turning around their fortunes with this year’s Senior Bowl roster.
This Dolphins free agency extravaganza in the making is more than a welcome distraction at a time the sports world is at a standstill amid a global health crisis. Dolfans haven’t had much hope to cling to in years, and something extraordinary appears to be unfolding.
They aren’t just pushing chips to the center of the table and rolling the dice. Jones will become a vital cog in coach Brian Flores’ secondary scheme emphasizing man-to-man coverage.
The Dolphins now have premier bookend corners, provided Xavien Howard emerges healthy from an injury-curtailed season. Returning safeties Bobby McCain and Eric Rowe are also former cornerbacks who can cover.
yesterday, the #dolphins made byron jones the highest-paid DB in football when they signed him to a 5 year, $82.5M contract. over the next few days, I plan on doing several breakdowns on MIA's FA class.
All of them fit as useful pieces for a coaching staff that got surprising production out of a threadbare roster over the final nine games of 2019.
The worst pass rush in the league has been altered dramatically already, as indicated above.
Van Noy was a key component in the Super Bowl defense Flores oversaw in New England.
The first step in addressing the offensive line was taken by adding Ereck Flowers. The former Miami Hurricane has a spotty NFL record, but he showed more promise after transitioning from tackle to guard.
It is just a beginning of a needed overhaul of the line.
But here’s the thing: All of the new acquisitions are upgrades, not only at the top of the depth chart but in broadening the depth.
And a purpose is evident in each one.
Former Bengals safety Clayton Fejedelem projects as a backup in the secondary, but he will play a leading role on special teams.
Dolphins’ work just beginning
So, has a flurry of free-agent acquisitions transformed the Dolphins from one of the least talented teams to playoff contender? Whoa, there.
The only conclusion that can be drawn at this early stage is that the so-called tankathon of 2019 was the foundation for how Grier and Flores conceive of assembling a championship team.
Will it work? It’s way too soon to say for sure.
But for months Dolphins fans and media have been wondering about and debating the team’s plans.
The early moves are intriguing and encouraging.
Tom Brady rumors afloat — kooky or not?
At a time when there are no games to watch, the Dolphins offer the best sports story to follow over the upcoming weeks and through the draft (April 23-25).
What will they do about a quarterback?
Crazy rumors are even percolating about Tom Brady. But that seems like an unlikely marriage that doesn’t fit what what the Dolphins are trying to achieve.
It makes more sense to stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the bridge to the future. He’s an established presence on this team who inspires without being the central figure in a soap opera.
But it’s tough to rule anything out right now.
I am convinced the Dolphins will trade up and make sure they get one of the top QBs in the draft — and I’m OK with it. This week’s action makes it clear this Dolphins regime isn’t leaving anything to chance.
Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns
Well, to be completely honest, the day got off to a most underwhelming start, as big name after big name came off the board, and the Dolphins were just sitting there with two uninspiring signings. Things changed in a hurry, as your Miami Dolphins made the biggest of splashes.
So how did they do?
ERECK FLOWERS LG, $30 Million for 3 years, $19.95mil Guaranteed.
Ereck Flowers in 2019
Weeks 1-8: 5 penalties committed, 1 game with a pass blocking grade over 70.0
Weeks 9-17: 1 penalty committed, 1 game with a pass blocking grade BELOW 70.0#Dolphins pick up a player trending up heading into 2020 https://t.co/UplbmJl0T0
Oof. Where was Andrus Peat? Graham Glasgow? Joe Thuney? Anybody? Ereck Flowers has been, for the better part of his career, a bad NFL player. What is the “better part” of that career? How bout the first five years of it, till this past year in Washington. In 2019, he was moved to Left Guard and excelled. He had six penalties and allowed 2.5 sacks in 16 games. A further examination of Flowers suggests that he turned the tide in the final 8 games of the year, as he was for the most part, very good. He is young, trending up, but this signing is more about faith than conviction.
SHAQ LAWSON DE, $30 Million (could be worth $36) for 3 years, $21mil Guaranteed.
One of Shaq Lawson's former teammates to me about him:
"He's a baller. He stop the run and plays the run well. He plays hard. His sack numbers aren't high but he's worth it. He's different. He's loud. He thrives off competition."
Starting to sense a trend. Young players to “scale” deals, that are trending up? It’s a plan. Gotta give them that. Shaq Lawson gives them versatility on the defensive line and can play anywhere from 3 Tech to 9. Highly touted coming out of Clemson, he rejoins his old defensive line coach Marion Hobby in Miami. Lawson will play many snaps, and this signing looks to pay dividends if he continues on his current trajectory.
CLAYTON FEJEDELUM S, $8.85 Million for 3 years, $3mil Guaranteed.
These last 3 days have been absolutely surreal. I married my best friend Saturday, and now I’m part of the @MiamiDolphins ! Thank you to the @Bengals and the loyal fan base for the last 4 years; I couldn’t be more grateful for everything. Excited to continue my career in Miami!
Good bye Walt Aikens. Gonna miss him. Was always courteous to us in the media, and was a helluva special teams player. This is who Clayton is. Although further inspection finds that he ran a 4.54 40 yard dash with a 40 1/2 inch vertical, to go with 20 reps of 225 at the combine in 2016, as he was drafted in the 7th round.
Our own Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) had other ideas:
Wonder if we’re underplaying Clayton Fejedelem. Easy to forget about him amidst all the others. But that in itself is a bit of a statement, no? At the same time they targeted these BIG puzzle pieces, they targeted him. Reminds me a bit of when Miami signed Isa Abdul-Quddus.
What else can be said for Byron Jones. He was the consensus #1 target amongst us on the Three Yards per Carry Podcast. I always say that the quickest way to relevancy is to be “elite” at something. We now get to test that theory, as the Miami Dolphins now have a stacked secondary. Jones is a freakish athlete, sticky in bump man to man, with the versatility to play boundary corner, and safety. A home run signing. Although, does this mean that Xavien Howard could be on the move? I hope not. These two healthy, remind you of the days of Madison and Surtain. The Dolphins now have 2 of the 3 All Pros from 2018 at one position.
KYLE VAN NOY OLB, $51 Million for 4 years, $30mil Guaranteed.
Kyle Van Noy said he will always carry a chip on his shoulder that he was traded for a sixth-round pick. He brought that edge to New England in 2016, was a key contributor to two Super Bowl championship teams, and it set the stage for this big payday. Well deserved. https://t.co/NuPXnOXTqEpic.twitter.com/0akqtLRtgi
The 16th ranked EDGE player on Pro Football Focus, Kyle Van Noy was used much more as a pass rusher in 2019. Good coming off the edge, Van Noy is even better against the run. The Dolphins now have a couple of guys renowned for setting the edge, and in Kyle Van Noy, they just signed the new Captain of the defense. Highly intelligent, and an interesting character, he is also close with Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores, and this signing falling in the “friends and family” plan as my podcast partner Chris Kouffman likes to put it, is just fine with me. This was a near perfect Day 1 of Free Agency.
Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FloresGrier.jpg8561280Alfredo Arteagahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlfredo Arteaga2020-03-16 23:25:572020-03-16 23:26:18THE EXTRA YARD: Big Day for the Dolphins
While I usually cover the Miami Hurricanes for Five Reasons Sports, I do have a professional rooting interest in the Dallas Cowboys. Sometimes, worlds collide and with the Dolphins signing Byron Jones to a 5-year, $82.5 million deal, with $57 million guaranteed, I found myself in a unique position among my Five Reasons brethren given that I’ve watched all of Jones’ career and have some thoughts on him.
Jones’ career has been interesting. When he was drafted, he was more of a tweener, with the ability to play corner and safety. And sure enough, that’s what he did. He started at corner for one year, then spent 2 years at safety, before moving back to corner for the last 2 years, where he became a Pro Bowler.
So what attributes allowed Jones to excel at both corner and safety? Physicality. Probably the one consistent thing throughout his career is he loves to tackle. The 2019 season featured Jones’ lowest tackle output, and he still had 49 tackles. In 2016, where he started at safety for a team that went 13-3, Jones had 81 tackles. He’s also very durable, having only missed one game in 5 seasons.
Basically, for a Cowboys fans, Jones represented a safety blanket. You could put him at any position in the secondary, and he would perform well. And the prospect of losing that safety blanket does make me uneasy.
But the Dolphins didn’t make Jones the highest paid CB in the NFL because he is a Swiss Army Knife. Can Jones be the best CB in the NFL?
I’d say no, but I also think it doesn’t matter. By my definition, the best CB in the NFL needs to be more than solid and more than an all-round player. He needs to change games. And for all of Jones’ positive attributes, the glaring miss in terms in his portfolio is the INTs. Byron Jones has 2 INTs in his entire career, both while playing safety. He’s never intercepted a pass while playing CB. That play making, game changing element is missing, and if the Dolphins expect him to be the style of player Xavien Howard was in 2018 (as an example), they’ll be very disappointed.
There’s a reason, however, I said it doesn’t matter. First, the market always dictates price, to a certain extent. There were other suitors for Jones and comparing across years is difficult. You can always argue someone is overpaid relative to their peers after they sign a new deal, because salaries generally rise. Second, the Dolphins know exactly who they’re getting with Jones. In fact, the Dolphins executed a well thought out offseason plan.
They landed Jones in addition to Shaq Lawson and Kyle Van Noy. They are building the 3 levels to their defense and with an improved pass rush, they are looking for Jones to be steady and physical on the outside, something he excels at. Jones represents the answer to a problem, a piece of the larger puzzle, and plugging that gap without someone that is steady and reliable was worth it to the Dolphins in the context of the larger rebuild. That is why I don’t agree that Byron Jones is the best CB in football, but I do agree with the Dolphins paying him as such.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dolphins-helmet-photo-scaled.jpg19202560Vishnu Parasuramanhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgVishnu Parasuraman2020-03-16 20:58:482020-03-16 20:59:26New Dolphins CB Byron Jones: View from a Cowboys Fan
Let me start this off by saying that I never thought I’d be typing this. But here we are.
We miss you.
Life has took an unexpected turn, a turn that took you away from us. At this time, you had to take a back seat. You aren’t important right now. We are in a crisis with a virus. Stopping the spread of this thing is the most important thing for many us right now.
But damn we miss you.
And we realized howdeeply we under-appreciated you.
We are five days in from you being taken from us and it looks like we have a lot more to go.
We are now confused because when we needed you most, you were taken away. You are the one we usually ran to in times of crisis, when we needed to get our minds off the harsh realities of the world, you were there. You cheered us up. You occupied our minds just enough for the world to feel fine. You kept our sanity in check.
When you got taken from us, It opened my eyes because I’ve never experienced something like this. The world has stopped, literally. We are trying to pickup the pieces and figure a way to get through it. People are confused.
You being gone made me realize a couple things.
It made me realize how unimportant you were in the grand scheme of things but at the same time, it made me realize you are one of the most important things there are.
I know that sounds confusing, so let me explain.
You are unimportant because you can be stopped when the world is going through a pandemic. Getting home to watch the game is the least of our priorities.
But you are so important because so many people relied on you to get through their days. A medicine to anxiety. Myself included. At this time, i need you more than ever. This thing has me and many other people nervous. I wish i could turn on the TV and watch the Miami Heat give us a heart attack, or make a joke about how the Panthers have games in hand. You kept us normal. You kept us sane. You kept us entertained.
Now the world isn’t normal and you’re gone, we don’t know when you’ll be back but when you are, I think we will appreciate you differently.
So let me end this by saying it again, we miss you.
In what has already become a pretty eventful sports weekend, without the actual, well..you know, sports? We were met with a report from ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) loaded with nuggets that includes possible early free agent targets for the Miami Dolphins:
The Dolphins are set to have a NFL-high $95 million in salary cap space once the league year begins, and they will attack free agency with judicious aggression.
I have since been able to confirm interest in many of the names reported above.
To summarize, the names are:
Logan Ryan (CB), Kamalei Correa (OLB), Kyle Van Noy (OLB), Shaq Lawson (DE), Markus Golden (EDGE), Danny Shelton (NT), Andrew Billings (DT), and A’Shawn Robinson (DT), on Defense. Graham Glasgow (OG), Ted Karras (C), Connor McGovern (C), and Melvin Gordon (RB), on Offense.
Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe), goes on to offer alternatives to some of these players. Now, here is the view of the Three Yards Per Carry crew on the Five Reasons Sports Network:
Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga)
First of all, what an underwhelming list. For a team with near $100 million in cap space, they are sure being thrifty and measured with this initial list. Logan Ryan headlines this list, and is a versatile boundary corner that can/has moved inside as a slot corner.
Many in the NFL consider Ryan a top 5 slot corner, and he is a very good fit. Now, here is the issue. He will cost $11 million per year, and would be a good signing, but at that point, spend the $16mil per year and get a MUCH better corner in Byron Jones. He is also 29 years old and did not have a very good 2019. Buyer beware.
Kyle Van Noy is predictable. Another perfect scheme fit, captain, leader type. He is also very close to Head Coach Brian Flores,so we could have seen coming a mile away. Correa is interesting in that he is a heat seeking missle as a sub package linebacker capable of doing a lot in nickel, and even dime. He would be an instant fan favorite because his effort is evident right away. The rest of the defensive group, is about a lot of wishing and hoping, with some projection sprinkled in. I like Shelton and Golden a whole lot. The rest, are a 50/50 group in my opinion.
On offense, Glasgow, would be a home run signing. Capable of playing all along the interior, he offers the versatility they need, and desire on the offensive line. Karras and McGovern, would be slight upgrades over the departed Daniel Kilgore. I really don’t see the benefit of gradual improvement at the center position when the resources are there for a pretty big jump in talent level. Its a waste of time in my opinion. Then we have Melvin Gordon. I have written extensively about him on this site and on twitter, so you know how I feel. Gordon is the perfect one cut back for Chan Gailey’s lead Iso heavy run game. Averaging 91 scrimmage yards per game for his career to go with 47 TD’s in 67 games, makes him underrated as far as productivity is concerned. He is also a complete back, and you can do a helluva lot worse than Melvin Gordon in leading your running back room.
Simon Clancy (@SiClancy)(Simon offers these bullet points on the entire Cameron Wolfe piece)
-Van Noy is a perfect scheme fit, although I wonder how effective he’ll be surrounded by lesser players. Used more as a pure pass rusher last season, will be interesting to see if he heads back to a more versatile role.
-Correa is probably a sub package pass rusher who can drop off in coverage. To his credit he was strong down the stretch for the Titans.
-Ryan is consistently solid. Nothing spectacular. I think he’s best suited as a slot. Missed a lot of tackles last season.
-Lawson really didn’t do much until his last season in Buffalo so immediate buyer beware. Only played 47% of snaps last season. But Marion Hobby will know him well. He’s also said he prefers playing 43 end.
-Golden is a decent pass rusher who can set the edge. Pretty heavy handed. I don’t think he’s best suited as a number one edge but a valuable piece. Had better numbers across the board than Ngakouye last season. He’s 29 tho.
-Danny Shelton played really well last season. He and Lawrence Guy had a great thing going. Good free agent target in my opinion.
-Billings is a two down 1T run stuffer.
-Robinson was really good in 2018 and really bad in 2019.
-Graham Glasgow is one of the most underrated players in football. Solid at all three interior spots, was a good starting OC till they kicked him to RG for Ragnow who’s one of the league’s best. Never missed a game.
-Karras is OK and could play G. Pats know they have David Andrews coming back.
-McGovern similarity OK and didn’t embarrass himself like the rest of the Denver OL.
-Beachum actually played pretty well last year. He was solid in pass protection. Team captain. He’s 30 tho.
-Gordon you know how I feel: only one season of more than 4ypc, an anomalous 5.1 in among the mire of 3.7’s. Only had one 1,000 yard season, only completed one full season in five. Finding holes hasn’t hurt Austin Ekeler, the guy they decided to keep.
-Hyde has played for four teams already. Looked good in Houston last season at times but a guy heading to his 5th team?
-Miller we know. Slowing down and injury prone.
-I like Jordan Howard. I thought he was one of the best inside/outside zone runners in football in Chicago. Played well in Philly till he got hurt.
-Gore is Gore.
Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot)(Chris offers some bullet points of his own)
-With A’Shawn Robinson, I guess you’d just have to have a pretty good running thesis on why he was so much better in 2018 than 2019. But just having a bad year doesn’t mean you’re a bad signing. More often you get hurt for grabbing a guy super expensive off a great year.
-I don’t know what to make of this new found interest in A’Shawn popping up. I don’t really like the idea of Andrew Billings.
-The parts where Cameron Wolfe denotes expectation are interesting. I forgot about Kamelei Correa. He’s alright. I’ve looked at him. Didn’t really strike me as anything to write home about.
-I think Melvin Gordon is a fine player. You can’t always judge a RB by his YPC. He makes people miss and he gets yards after contact. He catches the ball and he produces touchdowns.
-It’s worth noting that there’s gonna be a rash of cuts in short order as teams have to get their cap space relative to the $198 million cap in order by Wednesday.
You can follow Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) on twitter, and listen to their episodes on your favorite podcast provider.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Webb-scaled.jpeg20772560Alfredo Arteagahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlfredo Arteaga2020-03-15 15:05:492020-03-15 15:05:49THE EXTRA YARD: Takes on reported Dolphin targets
On the face of it, this initial Miami Dolphins free agency”wish list” will seem a bit unrealistic.
It is not.
This team has near $90 million dollars to spend in 1st year salaries for free agents, so this ambitious wish list for the first wave of free agency is well within their capabilities. Three free agents at three key positions of need should be the focus for the start of NFL Free Agency on Monday, March 16th (legal tampering period), and then kicks off in earnest on Wednesday the 18th. Coronavirus allowing.
So, here is my wish list for the first wave of Free Agency:
BYRON JONES, CB, 6′-0″ 205 LBS., 27 Years Old AVERAGE OF $14-$17 Million per year.
Byron Jones and Xavien Howard would make up the best cornerback tandem in the league. The quickest way to becoming relevant in the NFL is to be elite at something. Passing the ball and preventing the pass happen to be the two most important aspects of the NFL today, so why not concentrate on a unit where Coach Brian Flores has traditionally excelled at teaching, developing players. Jones would be a strong injection of talent for a unit that came around a bit toward the end of the year. Jones is not only good in man to man coverage (what Flores defense requires) but he is a highly intelligent, and vocal leader. Byron Jones is not some guy that gets by on tricks and veteran savvy either. He is a remarkable athlete that set the long jump record at the combine. The WORLD record that is (12′-3″). Jones will also give you options going forward if standout Xavien Howard’s injury issues resurface. After having an elite season in 2018, Jones came back to earth a bit in 2019, so the thinking is that he could come a bit cheaper. Not so. He is very likely to become the highest paid Corner back in football. The Dolphins are in a position to do just that, while staggering “the pain” to co-exist with already expensive Xavien Howard. Byron Jones gets my first free agency call.
ANDRUS PEAT, OG/OT, 6′-7″ 316 LBS., 26 Years Old AVERAGE $11-$13 Million per year.
Andrus Peat has some detractors in the analyst world, as they feel that Peat has not lived up to his promise from being drafted 13th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Stanford. I see something a bit a different. I see a highly mobile, versatile lineman that is a deserved 2x pro bowler capable of being slotted in at Left Guard or even Left Tackle on day 1. For an offensive line that needs everything, the versatile Andrus Peat is a good start. His position flexibility also allows for a bit of browsing in the draft to mix and match the line to fit what they want to do. So how is he as a fit? Perfect. Chan Gailey’s running game is built on Lead Iso plays, and needs guards that can combo block/ reach the second level. Peat does both very well. Quick feet and good technique as a pass blocker, make him a candidate to permanently move to LT. His only flaw is his hands. He can be a bit wild with placement, but it hasn’t hurt him with flags as he averages a little over 2 holding penalties a year for his career.
MELVIN GORDON, RB, 6′-1″ 215 LBS., 26 Years Old AVERAGE $8.5-$10 Million per year.
Oh boy. I can already hear it. The Dolphins have cap space, and have a barren running back room. They gotta start somewhere. Get over it. I have heard the complaints of his lone thousand yard season, and his sub 4 yard per carry seasons. I would counter with his career 91 yards from scrimmage per game to go with his 47 Touchdowns in 67 games and his 2 pro bowls. Melvin Gordon is not only a good pass receiver, and pass blocker, he is also one of the most remarkable one cut backs I had ever seen come out of college. His work in that regard, in the NFL, also checks out. Guess what a Chan Gailey run offense requires? Yep. A good one cut back. Gordon can be the lead back and a good start in rebuilding the Running back room that in my estimation is only populated with Patrick Laird as a possible keeper. To nitpick Gordon is to not realize there is a reason this player is available at his age, productivity and at what could be a discounted price. Good value at a desperate position of need.
Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dolphins-Helmet.jpg300655Alfredo Arteagahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlfredo Arteaga2020-03-13 13:42:332020-03-13 13:43:37THE EXTRA YARD: First Wave of Dolphins Free Agency Wish List
Jimmy Butler recently appeared on the JJ Redick podcast and shared some thoughts on his former team the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philadelphia has lost three of their last four, including a 118-114 loss at Golden State on Saturday.
They’re slipping deep into the sixth seed, while the Heat are firmly in fourth and chasing Boston.
Might as well kick them while they are down, right?
“I didn't know who the f–k was in charge…I didn't know what the f–k to expect whenever I would go into the gym…I was like: 'Man.' I think I was as lost as the next motherf–ker."
And Butler is comfortable with Redick, having played half of last season together.
From the JJ Redick podcast, courtesy of phillyvoice.com (edited due to language):
JJ: Was last year difficult for you? Not just getting traded, but the whole s*** in the summer, preseason?
Butler: “Hell yeah it was difficult. It was so different and on any given day, me as a person, as a player I didn’t know who the f*** was in charge, that was my biggest thing. I didn’t know what the f*** to expect whenever I would go into the the gym, whenever I would go into the plane, whenever I go into the game, I was as lost as the next motherf*****.
Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown is squarely in the crosshairs, not only with Butler but with local media and fans as well.
In the fourth quarter Steve Kerr ran circles around Brett Brown, who continues to coach in broad strokes, & waited far too long to substitute.
For a team that sits at 38-26 and seemingly a lock to make the NBA postseason, the cracks are surfacing at an inopportune time.
Jimmy Butler on last season in Philadelphia: “I didn’t know who the fuck was in charge.”
In a new interview with JJ Redick, he dishes on his relationship with Brown, an awkward film session, the infamous meeting in Portland, and why he left Philly: https://t.co/eH7OQT3Kih
Thankfully for Butler, and Heat fans, he now plays for an organization with a real culture.
We really want that 4-5 matchup. Or 3-6. Or whatever.
Just play in the playoffs.
Jimmy Butler on those in charge at the Sixers (Brett Brown) on The JJ Redick Podcast:
“On any given day….I didn’t know who the fuck was in charge. I didn’t know what the fuck to expect when we went into the gym….I think I was as lost as the next motherfucker”#HEATTwitterpic.twitter.com/geXP4E6DXo
It’s mock draft season, and in a Draft where the Miami Dolphins own the 1st round with three first round picks, many options exist to improve the team. The possibility exists that Miami can stay put and get their man at QB in Tua Tagovailoa, so this Mock Draft allows for this. In reality, the Lions will surely leverage their draft position for an asset or two, or three. One issue that will remain is this, if the Lions move down to #5, is there a player they would be targeting that will go off the board at #4 and thus make the trade down a bad idea? Isaiah Simmons, Jeff Okudah, Tristan Wirfs?
Here is the view of the 1st round from one third of the Trio that makes up the Three Yards per Carry Podcast:
1. BENGALS – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
There has been rumors and innuendo of Burrow not wanting to go to Cincinnati, but all of that got put to rest at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Bengals get a “local” boy to lead the franchise for the foreseeable future.
2. REDSKINS – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
New Head Coach Ron Rivera gets his Julius Peppers. The clear cut best defensive prospect goes to a team in desperate need of a reset, and all the rumors of a QB being taken at #2 to compete with Dwayne Haskins prove to be head fakes designed to entice a team into unloading a haul of assets to get up to #2.
3. LIONS – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
A Staff with little job security is not going to draft the future for some other regime to reap the benefits. Stafford, Golladay,Jones, makes for a potent offensive trio, but their 29th ranked Defense (based on Efficiency) gets desperately needed help in a signature player from Clemson. Simmons, is not too far off from Chase Young in being the best overall prospect in this draft.
4. GIANTS – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
I was tempted to put any one of three Tackles in Wirfs, Becton or Thomas here, so I went with Andrew Thomas who was for the better part of the last 18 months the near consensus top Left Tackle prospect for the 2020 draft. Nate Solder’s stint as the LT for Big Blue comes to an end soon, due to price tag and age (he is 32 years old), and Andrew Thomas steps right in.
5. DOLPHINS – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
The worst kept secret anywhere. For the better part of two years, the Miami Dolphins have committed considerable resources to the pacific northwest contingent at QB (Herbert, Love) but with a keen eye on what is going on in Alabama. No secret they like him, and would take him here. Had it not been for Tua’s hip injury, he was a serious consideration at #1. Tagovailoa is not particularly athletic, and does nto posses a rocket arm. What he does have is uncanny anticipation, football smarts, and great intangibles that have traditionally translated well to the NFL.
6. CHARGERS – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Jordan Love here made a little sense due to rumor, and all the takes coming out of #DraftTwitter, but I’ll just go with the older consensus that Herbert was a top 3 QB prospect and the Chargers get theirs here at #6.
7. PANTHERS – Jeff Okudah, CB,Ohio State
What a gift here for the rebuilding Panthers. They get their QB in 2021, as they fill out a talent deficit in 2020. Okudah is a great start on that. A signature player on offense in McCaffrey, Okudah is just that on Defense. Very lucky to get him at #7.
8. CARDINALS – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Cardinals just finished locking up their young LT, D.J. Humphries to a 3 year $45 Million extension, and now they get the best Right Tackle prospect in this draft.
9. JAGUARS – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
The complete makeover of the Jags defense continues. This time with a mammoth Defensive Tackle to compliment edge standout from the 2019 Draft, Josh Allen. This is a pretty good 2 year start on a makeover of what was once a talent laden defense.
10. BROWNS – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Browns have been rumored to be in on any of about 4 different Tackle prospects, and this is as good a fit as any. With their previous LT Greg Robinson facing Free Agency and possible jail time, Becton falls nicely to the Browns at #10.
11. JETS – Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
A reach here in my estimation, but the run on Tackles gets the Jets a bit nervous, and they make sure they get some OL help for Sam Darnold in what could be a make or break year for the QB, and Coach Adam Gase.
12. RAIDERS – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
The Raiders were much improved in 2019, but the disaster that was the WR corp. after the Antonio Brown debacle gets remedied by a guy that can do it all. Lamb will be a welcome addition for Derek Carr, or..Tom Brady?
13. COLTS – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
The Colts have cap space to address many needs, but a veteran QB is not in the cards. They get a young one to groom behind Jacoby Brissett as the Colts learned in 2019 that the answer at QB after Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement is not “in house”.
14. BUCCANEERS – Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
The Bucs have a lot of the elements for a successful offense already in house, and I believe Arians will figure out the QB position. On defense, Devin White, Shaquil Barrett (he is a FA), Vita Vea and now Kinlaw to pair with Vea up front is a helluva start on improving what is an underrated defense.
15. BRONCOS – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Broncos continue their hot streak of finding offensive talent after unearthing undrafted Free Agent Phillip Lindsay, and drafting WR Courtland Sutton, OT Dalton Risner and TE Noah Fant. 2nd year QB Drew Lock gets even more help in Jeudy. Good looking and young offense, being built in Denver.
16. FALCONS – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
The Falcons need a lot of help on defense, and after taking two offensive linemen in Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary in the 2019 draft, they turn their attention and resources to the defense with their 2020 1st round pick. An Edge player like Chaisson fits the bill.
17. COWBOYS – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
The Cowboys have a mess brewing in their salary cap. they have a QB that is sure to be expensive that they are not sure they want to pay, a WR that is good in theory, but not at $20 million a year, and a CB that they have all but given up on resigning (Byron Jones). The Defense is still chock full of talent, but will have a deficiency in the secondary after the exit of Byron Jones. CJ Henderson mitigates a bit of that.
18. DOLPHINS – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
I foresee the Dolphins addressing most of their offensive line issues via Free Agency and possibly a trade or two. Fulton gives them the prototypical boundary corner in a Brian Flores Patriots like “system”. Speed? Check, he ran a 4.46 at the combine. Intelligence? Check. Good in man coverage? Check. Xavien Howard and Kristian Fulton is a pretty nice tandem.
19. RAIDERS – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
The additions to the Raider defense last year didn’t bare much fruit, so it continues this year with a rangy, long, physical corner in Trevon Diggs. The secondary should get a boost with 2nd year Safety Jonathan Abrams returning. Diggs is a good start on rounding out that secondary. Rumors were also abound that they could trade for his brother Stefon Diggs, so a family reunion is possible.
20. JAGUARS – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Justin Jefferson joins DJ Chark to form a “all LSU” WR Tandem, and Chris Conley to form a pretty good WR group. Gardner Minshew gets more help with the pending trade of Nick Foles clearing the deck for the 2nd year QB.
21. EAGLES – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Eagles have serious issues in the secondary due to possible defections and injury, so it makes sense that they take what most consider, the best safety on the board. Many options for the Eagles here, but they save corner for later rounds and make sure their safety group is squared away with McKinney, Jenkins and maybe…Rodney McLeod?.
22. BILLS – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
The Bills have one of the most talented defenses in the NFL, but they lack playmakers to compliment QB Josh Allen. You ad Higgins to John Brown, Cole Beasley and Devin Singletary, you begin to take better shape as a competent offense.
23. PATRIOTS – A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
The Patriots get a pretty fortuitous drop from Epenesa due to his less than exciting combine performance. The versatile end makes a lot of sense in a Belichick Defensive system. You gotta think that they square away Tom Brady and his pass catchers before the draft.
24. SAINTS – Grant Delpit, S, LSU
The Saints are still in Super Bowl or Bust mode, and could lose some bodies in the secondary. Safety is a desperate need for New Orleans, in what should be a heavy defensive offseason.
25. VIKINGS – Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota
How much sense does this make? A Winfield and Harrison Smith Safety tandem is pretty attractive. He played at Minnesota. His father was a 3x Pro Bowler at Corner for these very Vikings. What a match.
26. DOLPHINS – Josh Jones, OT, Houston
I’m presuming they would have solidified what is essentially the blind side for Tua Tagovailoa by now (in Free Agency) and RB should be taken care of (at least the lead back), so BPA comes in here at Left Tackle in the form of Josh Jones. Yes, the blind side is the RT. But free rushers right into your face as a left handed QB can be a bit distracting. Jones is a skilled, sleek, “Tunsil like” Lineman.
27. SEAHAWKS – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
The Seahawks have tried a lot of different things to “solve” the RB position, including using a 1st round pick on Rashaad Penny a couple years back. Taylor is a very nice addition to a pretty stacked skill position group.
28. RAVENS – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
What do you give the team that has everything? How bout shore up that RB position on the best running team (mostly Lamar Jackson) in pro football? As time goes by, Lamar will run less out of self preservation, so it would be nice to have aback like Swift to take the reigns from an aging Mark Ingram.
29. TITANS – Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Titans already have a sledgehammer run game, (Henry is a FA however), and a superstar in the making at WR in A.J. Brown. Ruggs would compliment this group perfectly, especially if good deep ball thrower (never thought you would hear that right?) Ryan Tannehill returns.
30. PACKERS – Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
So many ways you can go here. Packers have aging Tackles, and can use interior linebacker /Safety help. But we are in Aaron Rodgers last stand and run at another Super Bowl, and this is a tempting pairing. Shenault, to go with Davante Adams gives Rodgers an imposing pair of pass catchers. Super Bowl or bust for the Packers. This pick reflects that.
31. 49ERS – Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
How do you keep a strength a strength (The Defense)? It’s pretty simple. As soon as a position begins to look weaker, you inject some talent. Hall was considered the best CB prospect and a top 10 pick as late as early int he 2019 college season. An ankle injury clouded his future and drops him to #31 to a very lucky defending NFC Champions.
32. CHIEFS – A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Chiefs could have gone with playmaking LB Patrick Queen, or perhaps, solidified the RB position with J.K.Dobbins? No. The Super Bowl champs have desperate needs. They have half their secondary out in free agency, and the cornerback position was hardy a strength to begin with. A.J. Terrell had a standout combine, and will interview well. Perfect fit here to the champs.
Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020-nfldraft-logo.jpg6001900Alfredo Arteagahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlfredo Arteaga2020-03-09 08:37:372020-03-09 08:52:24THE EXTRA YARD: MOCK DRAFT 1.0
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Olynyk.jpg7541024David Eversolehttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgDavid Eversole2020-03-07 18:32:312020-03-07 18:32:31Olynyk has Emerged as a Catalyst for Miami Heat
Fans, media, and critics alike are all wondering – what happened to the Florida Panthers?
After a scorching end to the first half of the NHL season, the Panthers have once again collapsed when it counts.
Florida has dropped three straight and five of six heading into a must win against Boston Thursday.
This season was poised to be one of fulfilled hope, with a new coach and goaltender to lead the way.
Instead, the losses are piling up.
Before their 10 day break in January, the Florida Panthers were one of the hottest teams in the NHL, riding a 6 game winning streak and sitting in 3rd place in the Atlantic. Since the break they’ve won 5 of 17 games and are in 11th place in the east.
It will take a monumental effort for the Panthers to defeat the Eastern Conference leading Bruins, who have won three straight and eight of ten games.
The Panthers will have one more home game on this five game stand, Saturday against Montreal.
Roberto Luongo will have his jersey lifted to the rafters this weekend, the first Panther to earn that honor.
Hopefully his former team will show some inspiration this week and right the ship before it is too late.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Jonathan-Huberdeau.jpg15622331David Eversolehttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgDavid Eversole2020-03-05 09:31:272020-03-05 09:31:27What Happened to the Florida Panthers?
