Tag Archive for: Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins: Adam Shaheen arrival creates battle for second TE spot

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The Miami Dolphins  picked up a new tight end on Saturday night. The Chicago Bears traded Adam Shaheen to the Dolphins for a conditional 2021 six-round draft pick.

Shaheen was a second-round pick for Chicago in the 2017 NFL draft. In his Chicago Bears career, Shaheen played in 27 games, and recorded 249 yards and four touchdown catches.

This is certainly an interesting tight end competition for the Miami Dolphins. We all know that Mike Gesicki is undoubtedly the starter. However, there are some questions as to who will be the backup. By adding Shaheen into the fold, Miami has three tight ends who will now compete for the job. Durham Smythe and Michael Roberts will be the other two looking to fill the backup role.

This is a low-risk, high-reward get by Miami. Although he is known as more of a blocking tight end, he could provide some value in the passing game. Miami ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of tight end targets in 2019.  Gesicki had 89 while Smythe had 14

Shaheen could certainly win the backup job, as there wasn’t a ton of production in that area last season. At the very least, this gives Miami another potential red-zone weapon. At six-foot-six, 258 pounds, Shaheen could be an intriguing target. Now, he will have to differentiate himself in order to be a viable roster piece. Otherwise, he could be just another body in camp.

It will be interesting to see if his arrival creates a battle during training camp. This may be one of the more intriguing battles during camp, as the Miami Dolphins look to make a big leap in the 2020 season. After showing signs of promise last year, they figure to be able to make some noise in a revamped AFC East.

Running game should be better for Dolphins

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The Miami Dolphins were historically bad when it came to running the football during the 2019 NFL season. The Dolphins were last in the NFL in rushing with just 1,156 yards gained on the ground.

Six NFL players – Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans, Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns, Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers, Ezekiel Elliot of the Dallas Cowboys, Chris Carson of the Seattle Seahawks and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens – gained more yards running the football last season than the entire Dolphins team.

Here’s a great trivia question to stump NFL fans – name the two quarterbacks to lead their team in rushing during the 2019 campaign. Jackson, who set a new NFL single-season rushing mark for QBs, was one of them. But if you got Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick as the other answer, you win a cookie.

In his 15th NFL season, Fitzpatrick, 37, rambled for 243 yards.

That total was enough to lead the Dolphins, and that stat is truly embarrassing. Miami needs to run the football significantly better this season in order for people in Florida to bet on the Dolphins as a legitimate AFC East playoff threat.

Beefing Up the Backfield

The Dolphins signed RB Jordan Howard as a free agent. Photo by: YouTube.com screenshot.

During the offseason, the Dolphins set out to address their needs in the backfield. Matt Breida was acquired in a trade with the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. Jordan Howard, who’s had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, was signed as a free agent.

Among NFL running backs from 2016-18, only Elliott and Todd Gurley churned up more yards on the ground than Howard, 25, who gained 3,370 yards over that span. A shoulder injury limited him to 525 yards last season. Howard has also suited up for playoff teams each of the past two seasons.

Breida averaged 5.1 yards per carry for the NFC West champion 49ers last season. He rambled for 623 yards on 123 carries and scored one touchdown. Equipped with explosive speed, he broke 18 runs of 10 yards or more. On average, that means he made a big play 14.6 percent of the times when he ran the football.

A Net Gain

Historically, when the Dolphins run the football well, things tend to go well for them. Miami’s most recent playoff appearance came in 2016. That season, Jay Ajayi rambled for 1,222 yards on the ground. Miami was ninth in the NFL in rushing that season with 1,824 yards gained.

A half-dozen of Miami’s 23 postseason squads have featured a 1,000-yard rusher. The legendary unbeaten Super Bowl champion 1972 Dolphins featured a pair of grand runners. Larry Csonka ran for 1,117 yards, while Mercury Morris contributed an even 1,000.

There were 17 Dolphins playoff clubs that included a running back with 800 or more yards on the ground. Of those that didn’t, several teams – especially the Miami clubs of the early-to-mid-1980s – were prominently led in the ground game by a backfield by committee formula.

Miami’s 1984 Super Bowl team that lost to the 49ers included Woody Bennett (606 yards), Tony Nathan (558) and Joe Carter (495) in the backfield behind rookie quarterback Dan Marino. The following season, four runners went over 250 yards on the ground, led by Nathan’s 667 yards.

Running Still Matters

The NFL might no longer be the run-dominated league that it was in the early 1970s when Miami ruled as kings of the hill. Sharing the workload between Csonka, Morris and Jim Kiick, those Dolphins teams could continually punish and simply wear out a defense.

Certainly, today’s NFL is first and foremost a passing league but to suggest running the football has become an afterthought would be pure folly. Five of the top six NFL teams in rushing yardage during the 2019 season were all postseason participants. Two of the top three – San Francisco and Tennessee – played in their respective conference championship games. Baltimore, which led the NFL with 3,296 yards on the ground, also posted an NFL-best 14-2 regular-season record.

The Dolphins will need to run the ball to succeed this season, whether it’s with the veteran Fitzpatrick or 2020 first-round draft pick Tua Tagovailoa at the helm of the offense. Sending the rookie Tagovailoa on the field to figure out and adjust to NFL defenses without a capable running game at his disposal would be suicide for the kid.

Finishing 2-2 to close out a 5-11 campaign last season, Miami actually averaged 100.75 yards per game on the ground. It was a big increase over the Dolphins’ season average of 72.25 yards per game.

That’s where Breida and Howard could really make a difference in Miami. Last season, Breida was a dangerous weapon in San Francisco’s three-back system that saw him, Raheem Mostert (722 yards) and Tevin Coleman (544) all run for over 500 yards. They were the first team to suit up three 500-yard rushers in the same season since the 1978 New England Patriots.

Working in combination with two-time 1,000-yard rusher Howard, they could provide a dynamic duo in the backfield for Miami.

 

The 5 Best Dolphins of All-Time? Here’s one list.

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Over the years the Miami Dolphins have seen some incredible talents walk through their doors, even if not as many the past decade or so. The latest of those is Tua Tagovailoa, who is just one of several that could have bright NFL futures ahead, but instead of speculating over what lays ahead we’re going to look back at some of the stars from yesteryear.

Here is a list of five of the best to have donned the Dolphins jersey.

 

Number 5. Zach Thomas 

Even allowing for the fact that Thomas was a round five pick, his arrival in Miami was underwhelming to say the least. He had a decent college career at Texas Tech but question marks remained over his size and attitude.

By the time he retired after a 13-year NFL career, those questions had been well and truly answered. Seven Pro-Bowls, five first team All-Pro honours and he was twice named Linebacker of the year.

All bar one of his professional years were spent with the Dolphins – the other being at the end of his career in Dallas – and he called it a day having landed 1,700 tackles. Doubters, what doubters?

And he should be in the Hall of Fame.

 

Number 4. Dwight Stephenson

Stephenson was snapped up in round two of the 1980 draft after he’d been part of the Crimson Tide side that had just won back to back National Championships. He wasn’t the headline maker of the Dolphins but he was a big player and was a vital cog as they made two Super Bowls in three years during the mid-eighties.

Of course, Stevenson might be held in even higher regard had he not been forced to call time on his career after just seven years. Then again, five Pro-Bowls and five All-Pro awards in consecutive seasons along side winning the NFL Man of the Year award and being named in the 100th anniversary side isn’t a shabby legacy.

 

Number 3. Larry Little

For a brief moment it looked like Little had missed his chance to compete at the top when he went undrafted. The San Diego Chargers offered him a chance though and two years later he was jetting into Miami. Little wasn’t keen on the move but he quickly had an impact on the Dolphins. Fast forward five years and he had made three Super Bowls – winning two – and had been honoured with five All-Pro and four Pro-Bowls. From there on out Little was a Dolphin through and through before retiring in 1980.

 

Number 2. Larry Csonka

Csonka was a machine that would not be stopped. He was the Dolphins round one pick in 1968 but a couple of serious blows to his head early on in his pro career left things in the balance. He overcame the odds to return to the field. Thank goodness he did. Four seasons followed with Csonka an ever present in the team.

Of those four years, the final three ended in Super Bowl appearances with the Dolphins triumphant in 1973 and 74. Csonka was named Bowl MVP for his contribution in the latter. He moved on after that but couldn’t stay away and returned in 1979 for one last season, which saw him awarded the comeback award after recording a career high of 12 rushing touchdowns. Who says ‘never go back’?

 

Number 1. Dan Marino

Then there was one – Dan Marino. Who else? We’ve touched on the team that dominated in the early to mid-seventies and it’s fair to say that if Marino played then, he would not have looked out of place.

For 17 years he loyally served the Dolphins as he carried them to 10 play-off appearances but, sadly, just one Super Bowl, which ended in defeat. If anyone deserved the glory of a Super Bowl win then it was Marino too. However, just like a horse who underachieves in the Kentucky Derby odds, Marino never quite made it as far as he deserved.

Over his career he threw more than 61,000 yards with his second season seeing him throw 48 touchdowns and 5,084 yards – records that stood for 20 and 27 years respectively. We could list all his honours but, quite frankly, that would be exhausting instead we leave you with the thought that this is just a snapshot of what Marino achieved – nine Pro-Bowls, five years of leading the league on passing yards, another three where he led on passing touchdowns, a league MVP award and a place in the Hall of Fame.

There you have it, five legendary Dolphins. Over to you, class of 2020, just some small shoes to fill.

 

Dolphins’ Ryan Fitzpatrick on Tua: “Loved Watching Him”

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Dolphins’ quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux met with the South Florida media earlier today.

(Note: all quotes are paraphrased. Official quotes will be out later today.)

The two players spoke on multiple topics, but the biggest takeaway from this was that the future is bright in Miami.

First, Godchaux met with the media. And between trying to ride 40 miles on his bike and endless zoom meetings, he’s excited for the 2020 Dolphins.

Here’s what he had to say when asked his thoughts on what the Dolphins did this offseason.

Obviously, all the fans wanted a quarterback. That’s big drafting Tua. He had a great career at Alabama….Miami added depth and continued to get stronger, younger… Coach Flo is going to be consistent and expect great things out of you.

He then spoke on what is most important in football.

Lastly, GODchaux discussed what he believes is the process to building a winning franchise.

Everybody wants to win, but everyone has to take the steps to win. New England didn’t win overnight. It takes time to build the process. It’s always a process. I think it’s our time. Why not the Miami Dolphins? I think we kicked it off with a good draft…Sky is the limit

Focus then shifted to Dolphins’ QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. And the first thing everyone noticed was his epic facial hair, which has not been groomed since barbershops closed down.

Fitzpatrick’s main talking points were obviously rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa and the addition of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey this offseason.

When asked his thoughts on the Dolphins drafting a QB in round one:

It was expected. Tua happened to be the guy in that spot. They obviously really like him. I plan to be myself. To be an open book…but i’m also going to express my opinions and thoughts. I’m excited for him to be here. I loved watching him play in college.

He wrapped things up with his thoughts on Chan Gailey.

The Dolphins have a lot of new faces on both sides of the football. And players and coaches look forward to getting back into the facilities.

One thing however, is clear, and that is on paper; the Dolphins look much improved.

And for two of Miami’s veteran leaders, the sky is the limit.

 

DeVante Parker took flight for seven catches for 159 yards against the Eagles. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

DeVante Parker holds his own in Instagram battle with Michael Thomas

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas had a nice and friendly Instagram exchange on Monday night. It was certainly a sight to behold, and I have to give the advantage to Parker in this one.

The NFL on FOX Instagram asked the question which feat was harder: Catching a pass on Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore or breaking up a pass while guarding Michael Thomas? Parker answered catching a pass on Gilmore, much to the chagrin of Thomas.

As some of you may recall, Parker had a rather easy time catching passes in Gilmore’s direction. In what was a win versus the New England Patriots in December, Parker recorded  eight receptions for 137 yards. In any event, he still made the Defensive Player of the Year look silly.

DeVante Parker won this battle

Parker certainly has a point. When I watch Thomas play, he catches a pass from Drew Brees on a five- yard slant and then makes things happen after the catch. Parker for one has never had the luxury of a Drew Brees. Secondly, Parker makes things happen down the field and doesn’t rely on the slant.

Sure, people can knock Parker for not being healthy. Health has certainly been an issue for him over the course of his career. However, he is undoubtedly one of the most explosive receivers in the game when healthy. The 2019 season really proved that. He was able to find his groove, particularly late in the

season. Hopefully, he can build off that and give the Miami Dolphins a true number one receiver in 2020.

With nothing else going on, social media had a field day with the exchange between the two receivers. Here’s a little bit of a glimpse at what the rest of the world thought of this heavyweight battle.

 

 

 

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa officially signs rookie contract

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The Miami Dolphins have locked up the future. According to Field Yates of ESPN.com, the Miami Dolphins have signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a four-year contract worth over $30 million. The contract has a fifth-year team option.

Tagovailoa is viewed as the franchise quarterback for Miami. He put together a great career at the University of Alabama. With over 70,00 passing yards, 87 touchdowns, and one 3,000-yard season, Tagovailoa put together a solid career in Tuscaloosa. Now, he will look to be that same stabilizing force for Miami.

As of the time of publishing this article, he is the second top-10 pick to have signed a contract with his team. Derrick Brown of the Carolina Panthers is the other.

There has already been so much hype surrounding his arrival in Miami. From wearing the number one, to getting praise from Dan Marino, Tagovailoa has had a busy couple of months.

Now, the Miami Dolphins need to focus on signing their other two first-round picks. Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene  are the other draft picks in question.

Miami Dolphins spending big this offseason

It’s reassuring that Miami has already signed Tagvailoa. Sometimes, rookie contracts can take a while to sign, and the negotiating process can take longer than expected. Especially with the uncertainty of the season, the fact that the Miami Dolphins were able to get this deal done quickly is certainly a positive.

According to a tweet from Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Tua is just the seventh-highest paid Dolphin. Interestingly enough, two of the players on the list were already on the team prior to this offseason. The rest on the list are new arrivals.

Now, the waiting game begins. No one knows for sure when Tagovailoa will make his debut. Some have speculated it could come in the second half of the season. Whatever the case may be, he is now officially in the fold.

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa set to wear No. 1 as new era begins

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We finally have an idea as to what number new Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is going to wear. According to  the team, Tagovailoa is set to wear number one for Miami.

Cam Newton, Kyler Murray, and Warren Moon are some of the more recent quarterbacks to have worn the number.

Let us not forget that Randall Cunningham also wore this number towards the end of his career. He had quite an impressive career of his own.

 

The bottom line is, the number one carries a lot of weight. The exclusivity of the number itself means that  the Miami Dolphins are putting their trust in Tua.

In total, there have been 110 players who have worn number one. That certainly makes Tagovailoa’s jersey number even more special.

Tagovailoa war number 13 while at Alabama.  There was a debate in social circles whether or not the dolphins would  unretire Dan Marino’s number. However,  this announcement puts that debate to rest.

The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era

The Miami Dolphins are looking to enter a new era of football. The organization has received an overhaul this offseason. Tagovailoa is a big  part of this overhaul. He has certainly brought energy to the organization as the Miami Dolphins look to rise back to the top of the AFC East.

With this jersey number for the rookie, the Dolphins are making a statement. They believe Tua is the future of the organization. With the New England Patriots undergoing a rebuild in the post-Tom Brady era, the entire AFC East now has a chance to compete.

More so than any other team in the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills will undoubtedly be a thorn in the side of the Miami Dolphins for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, wearing number one, Tagovailoa will help bring the organization back to respectability and help them land a spot in the playoffs.

Don Shula

Miami Sports Community Mourns Passing of Don Shula

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Don Shula was the patriarch of Miami sports and a resonating symbol of integrity and excellence.

The Miami sports community, and the world in general, lost an icon with the passing of Miami Dolphins legendary coach Don Shula today at age 90.

 

Shula personified everything sports, and life, are meant to nurture.

Determination.

Work ethic.

Integrity.

 

His accomplishments on the sideline set the standard not only for a franchise, but an entire league.

 

Shula’s legacy cast an unintentional shadow over the Miami Dolphins, along with that of Dan Marino.

A nearly impossible bar to reach, yet one that shows what the pinnacle of achievement means.

He did that for us.

 

 

Shula came into the NFL as a hard nosed cornerback after serving in the Ohio National Guard and played seven seasons in the NFL.

That toughness in both service and football transitioned to the coaching ranks in a storied career spanning four decades.

 

One could stop at the numbers and Shula’s impact would be unfathomable.

Yet that would not do him justice.

 

His mentorship and commitment to an unwavering standard help mold a team in his image that would transcend the NFL.

Perfection is often referred to as an unobtainable illusion.

 

Don Shula did not subscribe to that philosophy.

He came so close to the mountaintop in 1969 with the Indianapolis Colts, reaching Super Bowl III with Johnny Unitas.

 

That game would of course be known for Joe Namath’s guarantee of victory which came to fruition.

A feat which gnawed at Shula and fanned the flames of his determination and will.

Which he would use to take himself and the Miami Dolphins to the summit.

 

The 1972 Miami Dolphins under Shula are the pinnacle, the standard by which any team that follows will be measured against.

They say luck is when opportunity meets preparation.

The Miami Dolphins were lucky enough to have the opportunity to land Shula when he left the Colts.

Sometimes, timing is everything.

When the stars align and everything falls into place, you end up with a destiny beyond what you thought was possible.

That was Don Shula.

 

Charles Harris

Miami Dolphins trade DE Charles Harris to Atlanta Falcons for 7th round pick

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After releasing veteran DE Taco Charlton on Thursday, the Miami Dolphins took the predictable next step and moved on from former first-round pick Charles Harris on Friday. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, GM Chris Grier actually managed to find a trade partner. In exchange for Charles Harris, the Dolphins will receive a 2021 seventh-round pick.

Considering Charles Harris has only 3.5 sacks throughout his entire three seasons with the Dolphins, it’s shocking the Falcons were willing to give up an asset for him. With that trade, Miami now has a total of 10 draft picks ready for the 2021 NFL Draft. Their extra first and second-rounders come from last year’s trade that sent Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans. The extra sixth-rounder comes from the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

  • 1st Round – 2 picks
  • 2nd Round – 2 picks
  • 3rd Round – 1 pick
  • 4th Round – 1 pick
  • 5th Round – 1 pick
  • 6th Round – 2 picks
  • 7th Round – 1 pick

Harris’s departure is under the same circumstances as Taco Charlton’s. The Miami Dolphins have added a lot of talent at both defensive end and outside linebacker for their 3-4 defense. For different reasons, neither Charlton nor Harris were expected to contribute. Charlton is speculated as not being a “locker room guy,” while Harris was simply unproductive. Consequently, the door is open for the likes of Curtis Weaver, Jason Strowbridge, and Miami’s free agent haul to provide what Harris couldn’t.

All of a sudden, the Dolphins roster is now devoid of any of their hand-picked first-round talent from 2009-2018. The only one who remains is WR DeVante Parker, who recently signed a 4-year, $30 million dollar contract after a breakout season. However, while Harris will remain as a certified bust on Chris Grier’s resume, Grier deserves credit for not hanging on to hope for too long and cutting ties in a timely manner.

Now Miami can move forward with new, more scheme-fitting talent. In essence, the extra pick is icing on the cake that allows the Dolphins to continue building for the future.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Taco Charlton

Miami Dolphins release veteran DE Taco Charlton

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It would seem that Taco Tuesday in Miami has come to an abrupt end. The Miami Dolphins are releasing veteran defensive end Taco Charlton after he led the team in 2019 with five sacks. This continues the Dolphins roster churn as they look for the best possible talent.

Charlton, 25, was picked up off waivers from the Cowboys last September. In his short stint with the Dolphins, Charlton played in ten games, made 21 tackles and – as previously mentioned – led the team in individual sacks with five. As a former first-round pick for Dallas (28th overall in 2017), Charlton was never able to live up to his first-round potential. But Miami made it a point to give several castoffs a chance to revitalize their careers last season, to no avail.

Despite Charlton’s numbers, he fell out of favor with the coaching staff and soon found himself inactive on game days. Coaches never gave a concrete reason as to why Charlton wasn’t playing on Sundays. However, speculation is that Charlton didn’t have the versatility they were looking for in their defense.

“We base who plays and all of that stuff based on game plan.” Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said last December. “The thing is Taco is working hard. That’s what we’ve asked him to do. Then based on game plan, we make a decision on that.”

 

The hope among fans was that Charlton would get an chance to compete in training camp for a roster spot. If anyone was to be released, it would be fellow former 2017 first-round pick Charles Harris, who has only 3.5 sacks in his entire career.

Whether it was Harris or Charlton, the likelihood of either or both of these players no longer being with the team in 2020 was high. The Dolphins invested a lot of capital in shoring up the defense in hopes of creating a pass rush. Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah all project to offer both pass rushing and edge setting at either defensive end or outside linebacker. Then in the draft, Miami selected second-round defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, fifth-round defensive lineman Jason Strowbridge and sixth-round defensive end Curtis Weaver.

Not only that, the Dolphins also have linebackers on the roster who can rush the passer. Vince Biegel signed his restricted free agent tender for $2,133,000 and was disruptive all season. 2019 draft pick Andrew Van Ginkel is also capable of getting to the QB in a hurry.

All of these additions and holdovers make Charlton expendable. The new players on Miami’s roster all offer versatility that Taco Charlton does not. The Dolphins aren’t looking for pure pass rushers anymore. Their 3-4 defense requires players who can set the edge and stop the run. Speed rushing is no longer a high priority.

There will be more moves made as teams shuffle their rosters to find the best possible combination of 90 players.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung