Tua Tagovailoa should have competition to push him for the Miami Dolphins starting job next season

Dolphins 3 keys to the Season: Offense

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As the Miami Dolphins prepare to begin the regular season, hopes are undeniably high among the fan base.

So with this in mind, here are the three keys to offensive success this season.

Possession and Scoring

In 2020, Miami was one of the NFL’s fastest-starting teams. In the first quarter of games, the Dolphins outscored opponents 103-55. The +48 point differential in the opening frame was the second best in the NFL.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Dolphins were third in the NFL in first-quarter scoring, averaging 6.4 points.

The 2020 Dolphins offense was one of Miami’s most productive offenses in recent years, despite having several rookie starters. The unit averaged 339.0 yards per game, the highest since 2014. 

Miami gained 345 first downs, which was tied for the second-most the team’s had since at least 1991 and was the most since the 2014 season. The Dolphins also recorded their best time of possession (31:16 average) since 1999.

If the Dolphins can continuously get out to fast starts with a brand new offense that looks to score early and often this season it will stress opposing teams to score and make mistakes.

Sort of like the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mike Gesicki and the TE Unit

The tight end unit was the most productive group in Dolphins history. TE Mike Gesicki led the TE room with 53 receptions for 703 yards, and six touchdowns. His 703 receiving yards were the fourth best among all tight ends in 2020 and trails only Randy McMichael in Dolphins History.

The Tua to Gesicki connection will be one of the most important things to watch out for this season. An offseason together should have both Tua and Mike in sync. Along with former TEs coach George Godsey as the co-offensive coordinator, the offense could be predicated on getting Gesicki moving the chains early and often.

The rest of the tight end group compliments Mike Gesicki really well. Durham Smythe is primarily known as the run blocker of the group who will look to be a key blocker in the RPO game. Smythe can also catch as an in-line tight end. He had 26 receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Furthermore, Adam Shaheen is more of a red zone threat who hauled in 12 catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Lastly, the TE room is rounded off with third round rookie Hunter Long. At Boston College last season, Long was actually their leading receiver. And finally, Cethan Carter, who was signed as a free agent looks to be a fullback in personnel groupings.

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Running game and the OL

Obviously, Miami has one of the youngest offensive lines in the NFL. They made history last year against the Cincinnati Bengals as they started three rookies on the offensive line. First-round pick Austin Jackson, second-round pick Robert Hunt, and fourth-round pick Solomon Kindley combined to start 37 games last season and allowed 34 sacks, finishing 15th in the league. In spite of that, there’s still lots of room for improvement.

The Dolphins injected more youth into the offensive line this season, drafting Liam Eichenberg in the second round who looks to play right tackle this season. Michael Deiter won the center job, not that it was a competition anyway. Jesse Davis rounds it out as the 6th man– he’s the oldest player on the line at just 29 years old. Undoubtedly, he’ll start at right tackle until Eichenberg is deemed ready.

Despite missing six games last year, RB Myles Gaskin was very productive in the games he played in 2020, finishing in the top 10 in scrimmage yards per game. Gaskin averaged 97.2 scrimmage yards per game. To put it another way, he’s better than he’s given credit for.

RB Salvon Ahmed played in only five games last year and had the franchise’s two best rushing performances by an undrafted rookie. Ahmed gained 85 rushing yards in his second NFL game against the Chargers. It was the most rushing yards by an undrafted rookie in Dolphins history. He then beat that mark against the New England Patriots as he rushed for 122 yards, the team’s first 100 yard rushing performance since 2018.

In summary, the best way to help Tagovailoa this season is for the OL to protect him better than last year. The OL will need to open up holes in the run game. Austin Jackson struggled in the preseason and needs to go back to form in the regular season. The right side combo of Robert Hunt and Jesse Davis/Liam Eichenberg should provide stability on Tua’s blindside and continue to pave the way for the run game.

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Miami Looks to Their King for Salvation

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The kick to open the 4th quarter was low, but hooked over the bar. Chris Dunn, the NC State kicker, celebrated wildly after nailing the 53-yarder. Those celebrations included gesticulating wildly at the Hurricanes’ bench imploring them to fellate him. And as well he should. The kick put NC State up 10, with a Win Probability of 85.7%. Surely, the Wolfpack had the game.

The problem with that logic is you can’t put a percentage on D’Eriq King. He immediately responded, leading his troops back. But the most impressive thing was the completeness. On one possession it was the wild, darting scamper for 28 yards to set up a score, having seemingly been trapped multiple times. It was then that we knew D’Eriq wouldn’t be denied.

On the next possession, with the lead sliced to 4, and the Canes on a make or break drive, the Mighty King was sacked. 2nd and 18…no problem as he completed a 35-yard pass. A few plays later, on 3rd and 7, he completed the winning TD, a 54-yard strike. And that’s the thing, whether on the ground or through the air, D’Eriq was there. In an iconic performance, he was transcended football, etching his place in the program’s history.

He was not merely a quarterback or a football player or a student athlete…he was a force of nature, a superhero….OUR superhero.

The Search for the Quarterback

We always hear about Miami searching for the successor to Ken Dorsey, a 20 year hunt for the next great Canes QB. The problem with that is that many really good QBs have come through here since Dorsey graduated. I believe that now as much as I dreamed of them elevating this program when they were here.

So why is D’Eriq King different?

At a glance, he’s not. But then you see him play. He has that divine spark.

I admittedly took a while to realize what we had here, precisely because we’ve overall had fairly solid QB play even has the program has waned. But that NC State game was an awakening. It’s like listening to all the talent coming out of Motown and realizing they are really special, and then hearing Diana Ross and realizing you’re listening to a completely different entity. This is someone that sits among the most talented, and elevates above that.

D’Eriq plays QB like Picasso paints, starting with a blank canvas, and ending with a masterpiece, while onlookers are forced to wonder what they just witnessed, struggling to explain it, awed by its presence. So perfectly different.

But here’s the other thing….he’s more impressive off the field.

When D’Eriq King transferred to Miami, we knew we were getting at the very least a solid college QB with success in an up-tempo offense that new Offensive Coordinator Rhett Lashlee promised to bring. What we didn’t know we were getting was an elite-level human being. Since setting foot on campus, D’Eriq King has elevated the standards of the program not just on the field, but off it. He conducts himself in a manner fitting a person many years his senior, becoming the positive face of this program.

In one short year, he has forever put his stamp on this program, setting the standard by which we expect our leaders to conduct themselves. Something has been off about this program for quite a while, and King’s presence goes a long way towards righting this ship.

The Last Full Measure

On Saturday, Miami will head into a seemingly unwinnable game. Alabama is unparalleled in college football. They just cycle through NFL talent, repeatedly winning conference and national championships. No one gives Miami much of a chance.

And on paper, they shouldn’t. Much like the Chris Dunn, they should assume it’s over. Why even play the game?

But they forgot…we have D’Eriq.

The Miami football program was built on improbabilities. So what’s one more improbable outcome? What’s to stop them from them mustering one more miracle for a miracle program…magic from the Magic City?

That’s what King has restored to the 305. Hope. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. We’ve seen this program do extraordinary things, against long odds. And we’ve seen D’Eriq do so as well.

The meandering road travelled by D’Eriq King, where COVID granted him an extra year of eligibility, where a knee injury threatened everything, by to end up leading this program at this moment is the stuff of fairy tales. Improbable in its own right. He shouldn’t be here to lead Miami, but he is.

Everyone expects Miami to get killed. D’Eriq is there to win.

And when he takes that field, leading his team out through the hallowed smoke, that simple U which elicits so much emotional pride in all of us adorned on his helmet, he represents all of Miami. He takes our hopes and dreams with him, our program, on his diminutive frame. He’s up to the challenge, and we’re privileged to have him in our corner.

Miami’s King.

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

Tua Tagovailoa should have competition to push him for the Miami Dolphins starting job next season

Dolphins fans need Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones story instead of Watson saga

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Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones will take center stage in Week 1 as Dolphins visit Patriots. With the release of Cam Newton, the Patriots ushered the Mac Jones era in with brute force.

The Patriot Way!

Nobody will feel sorry for Bill Belichick on the Miami sideline, as Brian Flores and his defense will set sights on the statuesque Mac Jones. So now perhaps the media can focus on an interesting story of two Alabama quarterbacks. Competitors from the same college team now competing at the highest level.

Instead of this:

The Watson situation has cast a pall over an otherwise triumphant preseason for both Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. Miami finished the exhibition season in spectacular fashion, with a roster for the most part intact and ready.

Jones got his first shot as a starter at Alabama when Tua suffered his hip injury during the 2019 season. When Tua departed for the NFL in 2020, the reins passed to Jones who took full advantage. Now they meet again in what should be the first of many matchups to come.

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A pretty fascinating tale if you look at it. The backup in Jones, who waited for his time while Tua was front and center. It was actually Jones who took Alabama wire-to-wire for a National Championship.

Although Tua’s relief performance in 2018 was one for the ages.

So both come in with pedigree and moxie, arriving at this moment in different yet overlapping ways.

This should be one of the leading storylines heading into the 2021 NFL season, at least in the AFC East.

But instead, fans of the Dolphins have been made to wait and wonder.

Now finally, it appears the Watson saga on and off the field may be confined to the great state of Texas.

If so, let’s embrace a nice and easily palatable story of two Alabama quarterbacks facing each other instead.

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Ranking every Miami Heat season under Pat Riley, worst to best

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Only a few weeks away from the 27th season since Pat Riley joined the Heat in 1995, I’ve created a list ranking all twenty-six seasons during his tenure.  Rather than just purely looking at total wins, or playoff finishes, I have tried to compare the rosters and rank the teams in comparison to how they would fare if they faced each other.  Unfortunately for Heat fans, health and injury issues still count in these rankings, so those teams will once again be cut short of their potential.  

 

  1. 2007-2008

Record:  15-67

This season was so disastrous, it caused Pat Riley to retire (again).  Dwyane Wade missed the last third of the season with a knee injury and Alonzo Mourning suffered a career-ending knee injury.  The 2006 championship roster quickly transitioned to significant roles for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Daequan Cook, and others who had quick stops in the league.  

 

  1. 2002-2003

Record:  25-57

With Mourning still dealing with his kidney ailment, and leading scorer Eddie Jones missing the 2nd half of the season, the Heat stumbled to the worst record in the division.  The only bright spots were Caron Butler’s All-Rookie season and the product of this struggle led to the 5th pick in the 2003 Draft which changed the course of the franchise forever.  

 

  1. 2018-2019

Record:  39-43

In Dwyane’s “One Last Dance”, the Heat narrowly missed the playoffs in the final week of the season.  This year also marked a transition to young players like Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow, and Bam Adebayo moving into significant roles.  Richardson led the team in minutes, steals, and points and was the piece moved to land Jimmy Butler that summer.  

 

  1. 2001-2002

Record:  36-46

With Mourning’s inspiring return to the court, the Heat finally got to see the vision of Zo, Brian Grant, and Eddie Jones together.  However, the additions of veterans like Chris Gatling, Rod Strickland, LaPhonso Ellis, Kendall Gill, and Jimmy Jackson were not enough support.  The Heat stumbled out of the gates, and never recovered en route to Pat Riley’s first season missing the playoffs during his legendary coaching career.

 

  1. 2006-2007

Record:  44-38 (Division Champs, Lost in 1st Round)

After winning the first championship in franchise history, the “championship hangover” lasted all the way until a 1st round sweep to the Bulls.  With injuries to Shaq and Wade, Pat Riley missing time, and a stale roster that “ran it back” to an embarrassing failure.

 

  1. 2014-2015

Record:  37-45

Losing LeBron James would push most teams into tanking, but the Miami Heat remained competitive.  And after the trade deadline acquisition of Goran Dragic, the Heat looked to be elevating itself in the Eastern Conference race.  Unfortunately shortly after the trade, it was discovered that Chris Bosh would be sidelined with blood clots and their playoff aspirations vanished.  

 

  1. 2017-2018

Record:  44-38 (Lost in 1st Round)

In a season highlighted by the re-acquisition of Dwyane Wade at the trade deadline, the Heat fought its way to a division championship before a disappointing 1st round loss to the Sixers in 5 games.  After an exciting 16-17 run, the Heat questionably “ran it back” re-signing Dion Waiters, James Johnson, and adding Kelly Olynyk to a team that seemed stuck in mediocrity.  

 

  1. 2009-2010

Record:  47-35 (Lost in 1st Round)

Without prime Wade carrying the load, this roster may be one of the worst in Heat history.  A supporting cast of Jermaine O’Neal, Michael Beasley, Quentin Richardson (acquired mid-season), Mario Chalmers, and Carlos Arroyo was enough to make the playoffs, but the season quickly ended at the hands of the Celtics in the 1st round.  The disappointment of another season wasted in Wade’s prime would soon lead to more promising times.

 

  1. 2008-2009

Record:  43-39 (Lost in 1st Round)

The Heat rebounded from one of their worst seasons in franchise history under new head coach Erik Spoelstra, who had a healthy Dwyane Wade at his peak, scoring a career-high 30.2 points per game.  Along with Wade and Jermaine O’Neal, the Heat added two youngsters to the rotation – 2nd overall pick Michael Beasley, and a 2nd round point guard Mario Chalmers who quickly became the starting point guard.  While greatly improved, the Heat lost in the 1st round to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games.  

 

  1. 2016-2017

Record:  41-41

With Dwyane leaving for Chicago, the Heat were now “Big 3-less” and started the season 11-30.  Heading for one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Heat flipped the script and finished 30-11 but lost a tie-breaker to qualify for the playoffs.  Following his max contract, Hassan Whiteside led the NBA in rebounding.  Goran Dragic starred a balanced attack with eight players averaging double digit points for the season.  

 

  1. 2000-2001

Record:  50-32 (Lost in 1st Round)

The Heat looked poised to improve on a 50-win season after acquiring Eddie Jones and Brian Grant to pair with Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, and a strong supporting cast.  But after returning from the Olympics, it was discovered that Mourning had a kidney disorder that would cause him to miss the entire season.  As part of the Eddie Jones trade, Anthony Mason had a surprising All-Star season for the Heat.  But the season ended in 1st round disappointment, swept by the recently traded Jamal Mashburn and the Charlotte Hornets.

 

  1. 1995-1996

Record:  42-40 (Lost in 1st Round)

In his first season in Miami, Riley made immediate changes.  The Heat acquired Alonzo Mourning on the first day of the regular season, and later traded to land Tim Hardaway, Chris Gatling, and Walt Williams.  The mid-season addition of Voshon Lenard from the CBA also proved to be crucial.  Mourning became the Heat’s first all-star during this season.  Although they ultimately fell to the 72-10 Bulls in the 1st round, the Heat were able to defeat the Bulls with just 8 players in February.  

 

  1. 2020-2021

Record:  40-32 (Lost in 1st Round)

A season marked league-wide by COVID restrictions and empty arenas, the Heat were unable to shake off injuries and inconsistencies after their exciting run to the NBA Finals in the Orlando bubble.  Their late season run avoided the “play-in games” but drew a 1st round matchup with eventual champion Milwaukee that ended in four games.

 

  1. 2003-2004

Record:  42-40 (Lost in 2nd Round)

This season marked the second chapter of the Riley era.  After handing the head coaching role to Stan Van Gundy, the team moved forward with rookie Dwyane Wade and undrafted Udonis Haslem, a newly acquired Lamar Odom, and what remained of the early 2000s Heat.  After an 0-7 start, the Heat managed to finish strong and land the 4th seed.  Wade began to establish himself as an emerging superstar in clutch moments, defeating the New Orleans Hornets in seven games, before being eliminated in six competitive games to the Indiana Pacers.  

 

  1. 2015-2016

Record:  48-34 (Division Champs, Lost in 2nd Round)

The Heat returned to the playoffs only one season removed from losing LeBron James, winning their division and finishing 3rd in the East.  Sparked by rookies Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, as well as the rise of Hassan Whiteside.  The youngsters complimented Wade, Goran, and an all-star return of Chris Bosh.  Unfortunately for the Heat, following the All-Star Game Bosh was sidelined again due to the blood clots which would eventually end his career.  Wade led the Heat past the Hornets in seven games in the 1st round, before falling short to the Raptors in seven games in the 2nd round.

 

  1. 1997-1998

Record:  55-27 (Division Champs, Lost in 1st Round)

Overcoming significant injuries to Mourning and Mashburn, the Heat finished 2nd in the East led by another strong season by Hardaway.  For the second straight postseason, the Heat found themselves matched up against the Knicks.  Late in game four, with a 2-1 lead, Alonzo Mourning fought former teammate Larry Johnson.  The Heat would lose that game, as well as game five without a suspended Zo.  

 

  1. 2004-2005

Record:  59-23 (Division Champs, Lost in East Finals)

The Heat immediately became a title contender after acquiring Shaquille O’Neal from the Lakers in July.  Dwyane Wade joined his new teammate making his 1st all-star game.  The Heat finished 1st in the East, swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs, but with a hobbled Wade the Heat fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the defending champion Pistons in seven games.

 

  1. 1999-2000

Record:  52-30 (Division Champs, Lost in 2nd Round)

Led by another All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year season by Alonzo Mourning, the Heat finished 2nd in the East.  Jamal Mashburn elevated his play and was 2nd to Zo on the team in scoring.  The Heat dealt with injuries to Hardaway and Lenard, but Anthony Carter and Bruce Bowen stepped into their roles admirably.  After sweeping the Pistons, the Heat found themselves up against the Knicks for the fourth straight playoffs.  After leading 3-2, the Heat lost the final two games of the series – including the unforgettable decision for Mashburn to pass the critical shot to Clarence Weatherspoon.  

 

  1. 2010-2011

Record:  58-24 (Division Champs, Lost in Finals)

After adding superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Dwyane Wade, the Heat’s expectations were never higher.  They finished with the 3rd best record in team history, but were 2nd in the East behind Chicago.  The Heat “gentleman sweeped” themselves through the Eastern Conference playoffs, before facing the Mavericks in the Finals.  The Heat won game one, led the series 2-1, but eventually lost the final three games of the series.  The failure is usually remembered by the criticism of LeBron James, who averaged 8.9 less points per game in the series and only averaged three points in the series fourth quarters.  

 

  1. 1998-1999

Record:  33-17 (Division Champs, Lost in 1st Round)

The Heat entered the playoffs as the East’s 1st seed in a lockout-shortened season.  Alonzo Mourning had his best season in a Heat uniform, finishing 2nd in MVP voting and winning Defensive Player of the Year.  Tim Hardaway also was selected to the All-NBA 2nd team.  But in the playoffs, facing the Knicks for the third consecutive season, the Heat lost on a disgusting Allan Houston buzzer-beater in a winner-take-all Game 5.  The Heat became the 2nd #1 seed in NBA history to lose in the 1st round and the Knicks’ run as the 8 seed went all the way to the NBA Finals.  

 

  1. 1996-1997

Record:  61-21 (Division Champs, Lost in East Finals)

Building on his successful first season in Miami, Riley added Dan Majerle, PJ Brown, Ike Austin, and Jamal Mashburn (mid-season) to a talented Heat team.  Hardaway had a career year, joining Mourning on the all-star team and finishing 4th in MVP voting.  They finished 2nd in the East with a team best 61 wins and won their first playoff series in franchise history.  After series wins against the Magic and Knicks, the Heat ran into the Bulls on their way to back-to-back championships.  

 

  1. 2019-2020

Record:  44-29 (Division Champs, Lost in Finals)

After acquiring Jimmy Butler in the offseason, and with the emergence of all-star Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, and Kendrick Nunn, the Heat quickly became an unexpected contender in the Eastern Conference.  When the season resumed in the Orlando bubble, Heat culture went on a magical run led by Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler – sweeping the Pacers, knocking out the MVP and 1st seed Bucks in five games, and winning the Eastern Conference by defeating the Celtics in six games.  While they extended the series to six games, the Heat struggled to overcome injuries to Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo in a Finals loss to the Lakers.  

 

  1. 2005-2006

Record:  52-30 (Division Champs, NBA Champs)

After falling short of a championship the year prior, the Heat engineered a multi-team trade to acquire Antoine Walker, James Posey, and Jason Williams, while adding veteran Gary Payton to the roster.  Led again by Wade and Shaq, the Heat entered the playoffs as the East’s 2nd seed.  After defeating the Bulls and Nets, the Heat were able to overcome the Pistons in a rematch of the previous Eastern Conference Finals.  In their first NBA Finals, the Heat found themselves down 0-2 to the Mavericks.  Taking advantage of the NBA’s 2-3-2 format, the Heat won the next 3 games in Miami and won their first championship by taking Game 6 in Dallas.  Dwyane Wade provided a legendary performance in the Finals, averaging 34.7 point, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 steals in the series on way to the Finals MVP.

 

 

  1. 2013-2014

Record:  54-28 (Division Champs, Lost in Finals)

After winning back-to-back championships, the Heat looked to 3-peat in the 4th season of the “Big 3”.  Entering the playoffs as the East’s 2nd seed, the Heat defeated the Bobcats, Nets, and Pacers on their way to a Finals rematch with the San Antonio Spurs.  In what proved to be the end of the “Big 3” era, the Spurs dominated the Heat from start to finish, winning the championship in five games.  

 

  1. 2011-2012

Record:  46-20 (Division Champs, NBA Champs)

After a disappointing finish to the previous year, and a lockout stalling the beginning of this season, the Heat finished 2nd in the East.  Once again, Bosh, Wade, and James were all-stars and moved swiftly through the first two rounds of the playoffs, beating the Knicks and Pacers.  Once again facing a disappointing exit from the playoffs, LeBron James turned in one of his most legendary playoff performances (45-15-5) in a game six Heat win in Boston.  After losing the 1st game of the NBA Finals, the Heat swept the next four games to defeat the Thunder and win their 2nd championship in franchise history.

 

  1. 2012-2013

Record:  66-16 (Division Champs, NBA Champs)

After winning its first “Big 3” championship, the Heat added Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to the roster.  Finishing 1st in the East propelled by a 27-game winning streak that is 2nd best in NBA history, all-star seasons by Wade, LeBron, and Bosh, and LeBron’s fourth MVP season (one vote from unanimous).  The Heat made quick work of the Bucks and Bulls in the playoffs, before a difficult seven game series with the Pacers.  In the NBA Finals, the Heat faced the Spurs and found themselves training 3-2 returning to Miami.  With the yellow ropes surrounding the court and a Spurs championship imminent, Bosh rebounded a LeBron miss, found Allen in the corner for a game-tying 3 pointer to force overtime.  The Heat would win that overtime sealed by a Bosh block on Danny Green, and eventually prevailed in Game 7 to win their 2nd consecutive championship.

 

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Dame Lillard needs Blazers to go for Broke

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Before the Olympics began, reports of Damian Lillard’s displeasure with the Portland Trail Blazers erupted.  According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Lillard’s worries about the organization being a genuine championship contender could push him “out the door.”  

 

Ahead of leaving for Tokyo with Team USA, Lillard denied requesting a trade, but in the same statement, contradicted himself with a stunning admission, “I haven’t made any firm decision on what my future will be.” 

 

Two summers ago, Dame Time signed a super-max extension to keep him in Portland until the end of the 2024/2025 season and pay him over $48 million in the last year.  The ink isn’t dry on his deal, yet it seems that his affections for the only pro team he’s ever known are dwindling.  How else can someone with four years remaining on their contract, while making extraordinary sums of money, claim their mind isn’t made up?  

 

The answer to that question is painfully obvious.  Lillard has no other leverage in forcing the team’s hand to improve than to give the impression he’ll look to bounce if he is suspicious that they are too comfortable.  He’s a sharp dude.

 

I’m not sure if this is what the  Big O (Oscar Robertson) envisioned when the Players Union settled with the league in the Robertson Suit in 1976, which as Sam Smith brilliantly explains in his book Hard Labor, created the NBA as we know it.  As of now, it appears that Lillard is grabbing the Trail Blazers by the balls, and he should continue to squeeze.

 

The list of players that could get away with “indecisiveness” when already contractually committed and not have their rep suffer too much is not long.  Recently, the Oakland native said, “I know what the truth is. I know where I stand. It’s not my duty to make the public know … it’s not my job to make them aware of what that is.”

 

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Lillard’s frustration with Portland is understandable, but unfortunately, the fans were caught in the crossfire.  The front office’s master plan this offseason resulted in signing Ben Mclemore, Cody Zeller and Tony Snell as free agents for the bench.  Then on Aug. 27, as part of a three-team deal with Chicago and Cleveland, the Blazers swapped Derrick Jones Jr. and a protected first-round pick to the Bulls.  Lauri Markkanen, originally a Bull, found a new home in Cleveland, and the Blazers got Larry Nance Jr., per the Athletic.

 

With respect to the new members of the Portland outfit, the front office’s performance thus far in the offseason is underwhelming, which probably doesn’t delight Lillard.  The Trail Blazers, much like the 76ers, appear to have plateaued and cannot improve without making drastic alterations to the lineup. 

 

It would behoove the team’s managers to feverishly search for a suitable trade partner, but I’ll suggest one: the Philadelphia 76ers.  Both teams could get salaries to match in trading Ben Simmons to Portland in exchange for Mr. President of the Players Union CJ McCollum and Anfernee Simons, sent to Philly.

 

In this proposed scenario, no team loses as each club eliminates a problem.  The 76ers can’t continue to utilize Simmons as the primary ball-handler because he is reluctant to shoot when left open, despite his game-changing ability on the defensive side of the court.  McCollum, in his place, gives Philly more variety attacking, and his defender won’t sag off and clog the lane for the other 76ers on the court.

 

 The Trail Blazers, over the past five seasons, have only had a top 15 defensive rating once (6), and that was in 2018.  The past two years, Portland was 29th in that category in 2021 and 27th in 2020.  Hypothetically, Simmons in black and red instantly improves the squad’s defensive ceiling due to his skills operating in multiple coverages.

 

Any suggestion that could boost the Blazer’s chances of winning needs to be explored by the top brass immediately. Dame Time is the best player to walk through Portland’s doors since Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler.  The team is not good enough, and Lillard needs the execs to reach for the stars.  

 

Manny Diaz’s Date With Destiny

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In a way, Manny Diaz embodies everything about Miami generally, and Miami football, specifically. The eponymously named son of a former mayor of Cuban descent enters a pivotal third year as captain of Miami’s ship with the daunting task of arresting a 20-year slide and restoring one of college football’s elite programs to their rightful place at the top of college football.

One of the interesting things about Diaz’s path to head coach at Miami is that it is simultaneously extremely unique having never played and having attended rival Florida State while also mirroring one of Miami’s more recent head coaches (Randy Shannon).

Shannon, a Miami-born formerly successful Defensive Coordinator with a fondness for discarding assistant coaches, famously failed at Miami. So how and why will Diaz succeed where 4 previous head coaches have failed? And why is it of paramount importance that this hire succeeds?

Smarter than the Average Bear

Sports narratives are often driven by masculine traits being viewed positively. With some merit. Toughness, strength, fortitude are necessities if you’re going to be successful in football, which often resembles gladiatorial combat as much as a game.

And when those qualities extend to the head coach we view decisiveness and consistency as strengths, and hesitation and erraticism as weakness. But did you ever stop to think about how those qualities could possibly lend themselves to success in the event that the person exhibiting those seemingly strong qualities is actually incapable of performing the job with which he’s tasked? Decisively wrong is actual weakness.

The 4 previously failed Miami head coaches dating back 2 decades have all embodied those winning qualities to some extent, and yet failed because those character traits were being exhibited by someone who was ill-suited to doing the hard work of maintaining or rebuilding the program. Where does Manny Diaz fit on this scale?

The reality is we don’t know. He has certainly eclipsed the low bar Al Golden set when he tried to simultaneously enrich a bunch of yes men while attempting to unwind the soul of the program. But that is hardly a measuring stick for Diaz.

Because for Manny, incremental improvement this year won’t be enough. He has one of the best QBs in college football leading his offense. He has personally taken ownership of a fledging defense that imploded last year in embarrassing fashion.

Diaz made this year the inflection point when he named himself Defensive Coordinator. He can’t very well come to us at the end of an unsuccessful season with D’Eriq King having played his final season at Miami and say, “my bad, I guess I needed an independent Defensive Coordinator.”

I don’t think anyone knows if that was the right move, but there was an inherit nobility in putting his neck on the line. Diaz put the responsibility on himself. There can be no scapegoat, no fall guy. He succeeds or fails on his own merit, absent any ability to apportion blame elsewhere. Manny Diaz broke with his predecessors by exhibiting bravery where others showcased venality, often putting personal gain and relationships above the program.

It might ultimately hasten his exit, but there is little doubt that in betting on himself, Manny has performed the ultimate Miami move, full of bravado and self-belief, he has decided that the best way to lead the program back to the top is to do so personally. It’s bold and decisive…and so we wait to see if that is a strength or a weakness in Diaz’s case.

Why Manny Matters

Ultimately, Diaz will be judged on his record as all coaches are. But in particular, for Miami, Diaz’s success extends beyond the field. Because in Manny Diaz the Hurricanes have more than just a son of a Miami, they have the embodiment of the person we want to lead this program. While Dabo Swinney, who has a $93 million contract, railed against the idea that some players might get some breadcrumbs, Manny took the opposite track. When social strife swept the country last summer, Manny was there, with his players.

In a sport where players are often treated as mere chattel, a means to an end, vessels to be used and disposed of, we should not take Diaz’s empathy for granted. Nor should we dismiss his frequent coaching changes as merely an attempt to save his skin. It’s actually easier to blame the players or keep an assistant coaching buffer between himself and responsibility. In fact, this is often portrayed as positive, when a coach does not fire assistants, standing firm with his people.

But do we ever consider that from the players’ perspective? They have 4 years to play college football. How is it positive to keep an unqualified, undeserving coach on the payroll and waste those players’ careers? It is positive through the lens of the old boys club, where there is a symbiotic relationship between the coaching fraternity and the coverage of it, that leads to stability, and financial gain at the expense of players.

Say what you will about Diaz, but no one will ever accuse me of being a member of that club. From inventing the Turnover Chain, to giving players multiple chances within reason, Diaz has exhibited that blend of sternness, empathy, and freedom that allows players to be themselves while also looking out for their well being.

In the grand scheme of things, none of that will matter. If Miami doesn’t win big soon, Diaz will be looking for a new job and Miami will get back on the coaching treadmill. But wouldn’t be nice if once, just this once, someone that displays empathy and cares actually succeeds? Wouldn’t it be nice if the good guys finish first? Would that it were.

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

As usual, there’s little love for the Miami Heat

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Shortly after the release of next year’s NBA calendar, the wise guys at Caesars Sportsbook revealed their win totals for the 2021/2022 regular season, enticing degenerate gamblers and casual risk-takers alike to plunge into the muddied waters of sports betting.    

 

Upon review of Caesars’ predictions, it seems that these renowned fortune tellers have underestimated the Miami Heat.  The sportsbook slots the Heat winning 47.5 games out of 82, which gives Miami a winning percentage of .580.  Last year’s Heatles finished the regular season with 40 wins out of 72 (Covid, shortened season) and in sixth place in the east, with a .560 winning percentage.

 

Statistically, that is marginal improvement, although there are three teams ahead of the Heat in the east, according to the over/under.  The Milwaukee Bucks – the champs, and they bludgeoned Miami to get there, is appropriate.  The Brooklyn Nets – despite their star-studded triumvirate suiting up for 13 games, regular season and Playoffs included, is fair because of the talent advantage they have over most teams.  Yet too much respect is given to the Philadelphia 76ers as a top three squad in the east.  

 

It has not eluded my memory that Philadelphia was first in the conference during 2020/2021.  Every year they are touted as contenders when the reality is they are spoilers.  However, what should hold the most weight in the minds of invested spectators and depraved bettors is the health of Embiid.  When in peak-form, there are few in Embiid’s stratosphere on the court, yet those moments do not last an entire season.  Keep in mind that Philly’s center elected to rehab his torn right meniscus instead of getting surgery this offseason, per ESPN. 

 

Time will tell if Embiid made the right decision based on his ability to stay on the hardwood, and fingers crossed that he did.  Nonetheless, the Heat’s improvements did not generate enough regard, and they shouldn’t be four wins behind the habitual underachievers.    

 

The Heat’s semi-makeover this offseason brought back some familiar faces and filled leaking holes the team had at the point and the power forward position.  One of the first orders of business was retaining deadeye Duncan Robinson, keeping Dewayne Dedmon, the team’s best offensive rebounder, re-signing Victor Oladipo while he recovers from his quadricep injury and committing to Max Strus, a promising understudy.  

 

Then there are the new faces.  Kyle Lowry, even at 35 years old, is an All-Star caliber orchestrator and a champion. PJ Tucker is a versatile defender at 36 and one of the NBA’s premier threats from the corners.  No player has hit more corner triples than Tucker in the last five years, as Kirk Goldsberry of ESPN pointed out in March about the champion.  Next is Markieff Morris, another winner and multiskilled scorer for the reserves, most likely.  

 

Two of those three additions for the Heat will find themselves in the starting lineup.  Most probably Lowry and Tucker, and they would immediately improve Miami’s potency on the defensive end.  It’s difficult for opposing ball-handlers to lose Lowry without a screen on the perimeter, which eliminates the threat of a breakdown and slasher going downhill. Also, Lowry is very effective at playing safety close to the baseline, cutting off rim-runners by stepping in front of them for a charge.  

 

Unless Tucker is guarding with the league’s unicorns, it’s a challenge for anyone to muscle their way past him at the elbow or in the low post.  His swift hands and lateral quickness allow the possibility to use #17 in multiple defensive coverages.  

 

The Heat’s latest acquisitions are one of the keys to getting back to what they were during their time in the bubble.  Lowry, Tucker and Morris in the lineup should alleviate much of the pressure burdened on Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler’s shoulders during this past season.  It’s possible that last year, with the health of Miami’s favorite Dragon betraying him (Goran Dragic), that Adebayo and Butler had too much on their plate as the team’s most dependable scorers, distributors and defenders.

 

I can’t speak for others, but I’m taking the over on the Heat and expect them to finish as a 50+ win team.

 

*****

 

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Could DeVante Parker be the odd receiver out?

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On Tuesday August 24th, the Miami Dolphins announced they had waived WR Isaiah Ford, waived/injured WR Robert Foster and placed Lynn Bowden Jr. on injured reserve, ending his season.

 

The WR room currently consists of:

-Devante Parker

-Will Fuller

-Jaylen Waddle

-Albert Wilson

-Jakeem Grant

-Preston Williams

-Mack Hollins

-Kirk Merritt

-Malcolm Perry

-Khalil Mclain

-Kai Locksley

 

While the WR room and the roster as a whole is not set in stone yet as things may change throughout the week leading up to cutdown day.

 

I expect a move by the Dolphins to trade one of these  Wide Receivers off for compensation, here’s who:

 

Devante Parker

 

We all love Devante Parker, when he’s healthy, the team has slated him as the primary WR on the field. Since 2015 Parker has 298 receptions, 4212 yards, and 22 touchdowns; furthermore the bulk of them coming in 2019. 

 

However, Parker has shown an inability to stay healthy; his lone season was in 2019. Tua has shown he’s able to place the ball to Parker efficiently and is a weapon to be used. And yet, Parker has been in a red-no contact shirt at practice multiple times for fear of another injury. If the Dolphins fear of another injury to Parker what could it mean about his availability for next season?

 

The Dolphins have good depth in the WR room to not be reliant on Parker, so why keep him?

 

Miami could trade Parker for assets, especially for the offensive line if help is needed, as it appears it may be. There are several receiver-needy teams that could use Parker as a weapon on the outside, such as the Saints and the Lions. The Dolphins could reel in an pass protector or a mid round draft asset for Parker.

 

Also, Miami has a potential out after this year with Parker but it comes with a steep cap around $12 million. The Dolphins would be able to shave his salary off the books to potentially extend tight end Mike Gesicki or defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.

 

Or maybe give Xavien Howard a new contract at the end of the season, after restructuring his deal to keep him happy for this camp.

 

The Dolphins have not been emotional in roster decisions. It has been all about business since the Chris Grier era.

 

Modern day offenses are changing before our eyes. Parker may be a great contested catch type of WR, but we know that is not Tua’s biggest strength. 

 

Instead, what Tua may need could be WR’s who can be contested catch guys, but win their battles separating from the defender and gaining yards after catch. After all, that is who they brought in with Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle.

 

There are several WR’s next season that can fill the DeVante Parker role next season in the draft. Some of these guys could be but not limited to: Zay Flowers (BC), Ty Fryfogle (Indiana), Jalen Tolbert (S. Alabama), Reggie Roberson Jr. (SMU) and Christian Watson (NDSU).

 

Not to mention, Preston Williams, Mack Hollins and Kirk Merrit could fill DeVante Parker’s spot on the roster and make him expendable.

 

This could happen between now and the trade deadline, or not at all. But if it does, don’t be stunned. 

 

Follow new Five Reasons Sports contributor @HussamPatel on Twitter. 

Goldie’s NFL Rundown: Who Wins the QB Battles?

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With the NFL season right around the corner, a handful of teams still haven’t decided on a week one starter at quarterback. The quarterback is the most integral member of the football team, so let’s take a look at who these teams should turn to at QB come week one:

 

Patriots: Cam Newton vs. Mac Jones

Throughout the first two weeks of preseason both the rookie and the vet have looked sharp. In the Patriots 35-0 win over the Eagles, Newton looked much more like Panthers Cam Newton than he did all of last season. Newton went 8-9 with 103 yards and a TD, but what impressed me most was his athleticism in the pocket. He showed good command of the offense and threw the ball accurately to receivers.  However, the rookie came in and had a very impressive showing in this game also. Jones threw for 146 yards on 13 completions on 19 attempts. His statline should’ve been stronger too had it not been for multiple drops by Pats receivers. Jones looked comfortable in an NFL setting, which is a great sign for Pats fans moving forward. That being said, I’d still give week one and the majority of this season to veteran leader Cam Newton. He’s had a year to learn the system, and he actually gets OTAs and a preseason this year to fine tune the offense before the regular season. I think the feeling in Foxborough should be that Cam is the guy for this season but Mac Jones is the Quarterback of the future. Let Newton mentor Jones for a season, let Jones develop for a year and see what Cam can do for another season. ‘

 

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49ers: Trey Lance vs. Jimmy Garrapolo

Of all the QB battles in this list, this one is the easiest decision in my opinion. The Niners should start Jimmy G and groom rookie Trey Lance for at least one season. One of the main reasons the Niners traded up and drafted Lance had a lot to do with the health of Garoppolo. When Jimmy G is healthy, the Niners have shown they are a very competitive football team. Many forget that Jimmy G led the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance just two seasons ago. The Niners led in the 4th quarter of that Super Bowl, so Jimmy G has already proven he can win with this team and this coaching staff. On the other side of the coin, Trey Lance hasn’t played football in over a year. His last season at North Dakota State was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although it’s no secret Trey Lance has immense raw talent, the kid needs more reps to become truly NFL ready. The Niners should look to keep the starting job with Jimmy G until he gives them a reason to take it away from him. 

 

Bears: Justin Fields vs. Andy Dalton

The Bears surprised some people by moving up in the first round of the draft to get Quarterback Justin Fields, but I think this was the perfect move for Chicago. Their QB room has been a revolving door for years now. So they got aggressive and went out and got a hard working midwest kid that fits Chicago’s culture perfectly. Fields was a stud at Ohio State, and Bears fans are praying that his raw talent will translate to the pros.  So the question is do they start Fields immediately, or let him develop for a season under Andy Dalton? In most cases, I would side with letting the Rookie develop under the veteran QB, but this Bears situation is a little different. Andy Dalton is in the twilight of his career, and he hasn’t shown much through two preseason games that shows he really belongs as a starter in this league. We saw this last season in Dalton’s time with the Cowboys too. He was put at the helm of that loaded Cowboys offense and still couldn’t produce results. Another thing working in Fields’ favor is the showing that the Rookie put on in his first preseason game versus Miami. Fields’ stat line was very solid going 14/20 for 142 yards and a TD through the air to go along with 5 rushes for 33 yards and a TD on the ground. His playmaking ability was evident in this game, while Andy Dalton looked old and weary. Dalton’s time in this league is quickly coming to a close, while Fields is eager to prove he shouldn’t have fallen out of the top ten picks.  It seems that Fields already gives Chicago the best chance to win games right now. Not to mention the fans have already started calling for Fields to be the starter. Both football wise and brand wise Fields is the answer this season for Chicago. Start the kid week 1!

 

Broncos: Teddy Bridgewater vs. Drew Lock

Denver brought in veteran QTeddy Bridgewater to create some very real QB competition for Drew Lock. There’s also been many rumors floating around about a possible Aaron Rodgers trade. I don’t buy into those too much, as it seems Green Bay is sticking with Rodgers for this season at least. With the Rodgers rumors squashed, this makes for a very interesting competition in Denver. Especially interesting because Lock looked better in preseason week one, while Bridgewater looked better than Lock in week two. Both have shown they can play in this league, but neither have taken the step to the next level. With all of that considered, expect the job to be initially given to Lock. It simply comes down to one thing: potential. Lock is entering his third season in the NFL. A third season for a Quarterback is looked at by many as a “prove-it” year. That’s exactly what the Broncos and Drew Lock are looking at this season. In his first two seasons, Lock has shown flashes of greatness, but hasn’t been able to put it all together. By about 8-10 games into the season, the Broncos should know whether or not Lock is the guy. If Lock fails to meet expectations early in the season it will be clear for Denver that it’s time to move on from Lock. The Broncos drafted Drew Lock, they should see it through for one more season. However, adding proven veteran Teddy Bridgewater to the QB room definitely adds even more pressure to 3rd year QB Drew Lock. That pressure is very necessary though, expect Lock to have a very short leash with Denver this season. 

 

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Saints: Jameis Winston vs. Taysom Hill

If Winston didn’t already have the job, he definitely proved he deserved it in his showing Monday night versus the Jaguars. Jameis solidified his role as starter by throwing two beautiful bombs to Marquez Callaway for TDs in the first quarter of this contest. Then Taysom Hill came into the game and the Saints offense struggled to move the ball. However, this doesn’t mean Taysom won’t see the field this season. Saints coach Sean Payton should continue to spot Hill in certain situations like he’s done for the past few seasons. Hill does his best work when he can catch the defense off guard, but when Hill comes in as a traditional every down quarterback the defense can do more to prepare. Jameis Winston gets the starting job, but Hill is definitely still an important member of this Saints offense. 

Miami Dolphins

Fresh Perspective: Miami Dolphins depth best it’s been in years

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Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has a very difficult job ahead of him.

It’s never a fun time when coaches have to break the hearts of players trying to make the cut for an NFL roster. Now that struggle will be magnified as there are so many players deserving of a roster spot. The Dolphins wide receiver corps, for instance, is the deepest it’s been in years. Nearly every player has managed to stand out in one way or another. Just going down the list, it’s easy to see the talent.

  • Will Fuller
  • DeVante Parker
  • Albert Wilson
  • Jaylen Waddle
  • Preston Williams
  • Jakeem Grant
  • Mack Hollins
  • Kirk Merritt

Consider that isn’t even the whole list. Lynn Bowden Jr. was placed on injured reserve during the team’s mandatory cut down on August 24. Even then, there are still more receivers who if/when released, teams will likely be eager to put in a claim for them. Even without those other players, that’s still eight different players that the Dolphins have to choose from to round out their WR corps. One could say that given the fragility of these players, it wouldn’t be hard to justify keeping seven receivers, maybe even all eight since Fuller won’t be available in Week 1 due to a suspension.

But even then, it perfectly illustrates the problem that the Miami Dolphins have on their hands. There’s too much talent. They can’t keep everyone.

However, this is the best kind of problem to have. Obviously having too much talent means that once the roster is finalized, the depth on the team will be the best it’s been in a very long time. That bodes well for when – not if – injuries start to plague the team. It inevitably happens to every team, and it will happen to the Dolphins too. Something may happen to DeVante Parker, so Preston Williams can step in.

If something happens to Preston Williams, then Mack Hollins can take over. He and Tua Tagovailoa have developed a very real rapport over the past few weeks in camp and in preseason.

If practice and preseason has shown anything, it’s that Tagovailoa is making it work regardless of who he throws the ball to.

That’s just one of many positions that are turning out to be much deeper than anyone could have dreamed. Let this be the real testament to what GM Chris Grier and head coach Brian Flores have accomplished since starting the rebuild in 2019.

Take a look at the secondary. By far, this is the strongest unit on the Miami Dolphins defense. Xavien Howard and Byron Jones are the stars of the show, with Eric Rowe acting as a tight end eliminating safety. After that? Things are surprisingly fluid. This doesn’t mean, however, that there are no defined roles. In fact, that in and of itself is the strength of the Dolphins defense. Who is doing what? It’s the opposition’s best guess.

Nik Needham returns, better than ever as an amazing reserve player. He developed from nothing into one of the fan favorite players with his sheer force of will. Good thing Brian Flores knew what he was looking at, because almost everyone wanted him gone back in 2019 after his pitiful preseason as a rookie. Brandon Jones is back a hard-hitting safety, and then they add veterans Justin Coleman – an excellent slot corner – and Jason McCourty, who can play corner and is now working as a safety as well.

That’s not even mentioning rookie Jevon Holland, who is already turning out to be a home run pick if early signs are any indication.

Now take a look at the linebacker corps. Obviously the headliner is Jerome Baker. But then take a look at his teammates. Andrew Van Ginkel came on strong last season and proved to be a playmaker as an edge rusher. He’s projected to starter. Then the Miami Dolphins traded Shaq Lawson to the Texans for veteran linebacker Benardrick McKinney. He’s already proving to be an excellent run stuffer that they sorely needed.

Speaking of run stuffers, last year’s starting LB Elandon Roberts is back, but now as a reserve player instead of a starter. Also, Sam Eguavoen – who started for the Dolphins back in 2019 – had himself a career game with four sacks in the preseason against the Falcons on August 21. He’s a backup and a core special teams player now.

Think about that for a moment. Players who were starting for the Dolphins not too long ago are now backups. And it’s not necessarily because they were demoted for lack of performance. Both Roberts and Eguavoen had their moments while starting in Miami. It’s just that the Dolphins found even more talent that eclipsed theirs. It doesn’t negate the already existing talent, it simply builds off it.

The roster’s depth keeps going deeper. On the defensive line, there are so many awesome players that some starters are having to practice with the second team just to make sure they get some snaps. Emmanuel Ogbah, Christian Wilkins, Adam Butler, Zach Sieler, Raekwon Davis, John Jenkins. That’s six defensive linemen that can rotate in and out almost seamlessly. Sieler, Butler and Wilkins can all line up as a defensive end when needed. Davis and Jenkins are built to stop the run up the middle. One of them needs a break? No problem, call on the others to take a few snaps.

That is the definition of depth.

Now to be fair, it’s not perfect at every position. There’s no star at running back, it’s a committee. They’re good, but not necessarily great. It remains to be seen what their ceiling is. At tight end there’s a significant drop off from Mike Gesicki to the likes of Adam Shaheen and Durham Smythe. Will Hunter Long eventually reach that point? The Miami Dolphins can only hope.

Finally, there’s the offensive line. The bane of GMs and coaches coming to Miami for the past decade and a half. Miami’s been trying to create depth there for a long time, while failing to make a stable starting five in the process. This year, the offensive line is struggling again. The hope is that Austin Jackson, Solomon Kindley, Michael Deiter, Robert Hunt and Liam Eichenberg all develop. It’s a bold strategy, and one can only hope it pays off for them.

The fact remains that overall, this is the deepest Dolphins roster in a very long time. Coming from New England, Brian Flores is well-acquainted with the next man up philosophy. That’s exactly what he brought to Miami. It’s easy to say, but not easy to execute. Some players are simply more talented than others. Fortunately, it looks like there’s enough talent so that if the worst happens, the Miami Dolphins will be ready to adapt.

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

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