trade deadline

Fresh Perspective: Top 3 potential trade deadline targets for Miami Dolphins

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As the trade deadline quickly approaches, the Miami Dolphins have some interesting possibilities to explore. With Tua Tagovailoa set to make his debut as Miami’s starter, the future is now. But the future is also still the future, and there are players available to acquire that could help the Dolphins now and in the years to come. General Manager Chris Grier has proven he’s willing to make deals when he sees an opportunity. The draft day trade for quarterback Josh Rosen comes to mind.

Obviously, any acquisitions need to be at a good price. Miami shouldn’t try to trade simply for the sake of trading. Nonetheless, part of being a GM is doing due diligence. Here, we shall take a look at the top three players who could potentially find roles with the Dolphins if they were acquired.

DL Quinnen Williams – New York Jets

The New York Jets are a miserable 0-7 and are on the fast track to drafting Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. As such, the Jets are in a prime position to be sellers at the November 3 trade deadline. They have already traded defensive tackle Steve McLendon and a 2023 7th round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2022 6th round draft pick. So at the risk of accusations of tanking, New York needs to build up draft capital to create a decent team around Lawrence.

Probably their most valuable piece – aside from QB Sam Darnold – is second-year defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Coming out of Alabama in 2019, Williams was considered the most dominant interior defensive lineman in all of college football before the Jets drafted him 3rd overall. He dominated one-on-one blocking, held his own against double-teams, and most felt he still hadn’t even reached his ceiling.

So why would he even be available for trade with all that in mind? Simply put, Williams has had a somewhat disappointing start to his career. In the 13 games he played for New York in his rookie season, Williams only contributed 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks. For someone projected to be the best defensive lineman in football in a few years, that’s not the stat line teams hope for. He has improved so far in 2020, already recording three sacks in seven games. But he’s not making a difference in whether the Jets win or lose. Also, there are some analysts who believe that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has misused Quinnen Williams so a good offer may be enough to shake him loose.

This is a two-fold situation. The Miami Dolphins need defensive tackle depth with the loss of Davon Godchaux to injury. Not only that, Godchaux is in a contract year, and he’ll be looking to cash in in 2021. By acquiring Williams before the trade deadline, Miami takes care of their depth problem and even potentially upgrades from Godchaux. Not only that, Williams will be under team control until 2023, meaning the Dolphins have relatively cheap, possibly elite talent for a few more years. Icing on the cake? If Miami trades for Williams, and Godchaux signs a huge contract elsewhere, they will still be eligible to receive a high compensation draft pick. Trades are not included in that formula. There are very few downsides.

That being said, acquiring Williams isn’t likely to be cheap. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets are looking for something more than just a 2nd round draft pick. Of course, the Dolphins do have the draft capital to meet their demands. Miami can easily package their 2nd rounder, along with one or two late-round picks to sweeten the deal.

Ultimately, this boils down to how badly the Jets want to sell at the trade deadline. According to Connor Hughes of The Athletic, the Jets have not yet received any “serious” offers for Williams. And according to Manish Mehta of New York Daily News, the Jets are trying to trade Williams before the trade deadline. Of course, Brian Costello of the New York Post says the opposite. So there’s no telling what the Jets are really thinking right now. In a vacuum, if Miami is willing to send a package of picks to New York for a young defensive tackle brimming with potential, it might be worth the risk, especially if they can get away with keeping both 1st round picks.

WR John Ross – Cincinnati Bengals

John Ross is good at one thing. He’s really, really fast. So why bother trading for someone who is essentially just a taller version of Jakeem Grant? Because speed kills, and Miami’s WR corps – without Albert Wilson – is lacking serious top-end speed. While DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki (a tight end) are all terrific options to catch contested passes, they don’t have the speed and agility to break away at the line of scrimmage. It’s often a challenge to catch the ball.

This is why Jakeem Grant’s lack of targets is puzzling. Through six games this season, he’s only been targeted 17 times, 13 of which have been caught. Perhaps things will change with Tua Tagovailoa taking the reins. Ryan Fitzpatrick prefers taller wide receivers, and getting the ball to Grant requires pinpoint accuracy on account of his size. Tagovailoa projects to be a more accurate passer, but that doesn’t mean Miami should stand pat with one speedster.

Ross suffers many of the same issues Grant does. He tends to drop passes, his reliability is suspect. Not only that, his early career mirrors that of DeVante Parker’s. Often injured, Ross has only played in 24 of 48 games since he was drafted 9th overall in 2017. Now, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Ross is requesting a trade. Rookie WR Tee Higgins is impressive, and Ross’s snap count has decreased dramatically. He wants to play.

If the Cincinnati Bengals decide to honor the trade request, Ross could be had relatively cheaply. He has the makings of a redemption project, so perhaps a 3rd or 4th round pick would be enough to shake him loose. His contributions with the Bengals are minimal, and his reliability is suspect at best. Let us not forget, however, that is exactly what everyone thought about DeVante Parker. Looking into Ross’s history, a lot of the same patterns emerge. Nagging injuries, lack of confidence, no investment in taking care of his body, too much investment on social media.

Ring any bells?

Brian Flores was able to bring out the best in DeVante Parker. Perhaps he can do the same for John Ross. If they decide it doesn’t work out, they can let Ross go in the offseason no worse for wear and try to get a comp pick for him. If he does play well, then he can be re-signed to an affordable deal and add blistering speed to a WR corps that desperately needs more of it.

Safety Justin Reid – Houston Texans

The younger brother of Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, Justin Reid has had a mixed start to his career. On the one hand, he’s very versatile. He can play in the box and as a deep safety. That fits the Miami Dolphins defensive style to a tee. On the other hand, Reid isn’t exactly playing at a Pro Bowl level. He’s good, but not great. That can change, however, if put on a team that values the secondary like Miami does.

While Bobby McCain and Eric Rowe are coming into their own, adding a young, developing player like Reid could offer a new range of possibilities for the Dolphins. Reid is only 23 years old, and he’s under team control until 2022. He’s also insanely cheap with his rookie contract, so the cap hit would be negligible.

As of now, the Houston Texans are 1-6. They have almost no draft capital whatsoever, and their salary cap is not a pretty sight. They only have about $7.5 million in cap space this season, and next season’s cap projects to be even worse with DeShaun Watson’s contract set to give him a massive pay bump. Houston needs to do something to collect picks for the future, because extending existing players isn’t going to be easy with their cap woes.

Any one of these three players gives Miami an added dimension they’re currently lacking. They also fit the youth movement the Dolphins clearly are looking for. Will they go out of their way to pursue anyone at the trade deadline? That remains to be seen. There are even rumors Miami may be sellers, as media speculates Ryan Fitzpatrick could be on the move.

Whatever the Dolphins decide, they should heavily consider using some of their picks to acquire established talent and potential before the trade deadline. Thanks to world events, NFL scouting has taken a massive hit. Picking players in the 2021 draft beyond the 2nd round is going to be riskier than ever as a result. So there’s no reason not to explore the possibility of acquiring young talent from bad teams looking to rebuild. With Brian Flores in charge, they may get something out of those players that previous regimes could not.

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

World Series Game 4 shows why baseball is beautiful 

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No other sport has what baseball has.

Football is religion, basketball is popular and hockey is just intense but baseball is beautiful

Only baseball gives you that one moment where everything can go one way or the other. Think of a situation in the card game “war.” You reach a stalemate with two cards of equal value, so three come out on each side and it all depends on the next draw.

That’s baseball at it’s best. Game 4 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays had what makes any postseason event feel so amazing.

Stakes.

It’s the key to every meaningful moment in sports. Without stakes, the game just becomes background noise in your living room or sports bar.

With the Dodgers leading the Rays 7-6 at the bottom of the ninth, it was time to send their closer on the mound. Three outs and the Dodgers go up 3-1, one step closer to their elusive championship, something they haven’t achieved since 1988. The Rays need to come back and claim this game to tie the series.

Now the cards are being stacked.

That isn’t the only thing that is on the line in the ninth inning. Reputation is on the line as well. Kenley Jensen has been with the Dodgers for a decade and the closer for eight years. With 312 career saves and 936 strikeouts in 636 innings, he is considered one of the best in baseball. Yet even he has shown to be mortal, and because of his elite status, his blown saves get magnified. Last year, he let a career high save opportunities get away from him.

The stage was set with two outs and a runner on first base. The Rays had their best hitter at the plate, a rookie. Randy Arozarena has literally played only two months in the big leagues yet has become a legend by hitting a postseason record ninth home run earlier in the game.

Arozarena was called on to be the hero once more while Jensen was relied on to shut him down.

The objective was clear; hit a home run and win the game or get a hit and keep the inning alive for the next guy to have the opportunity to be the hero. Fail to reach base and the game is over.

These are stakes. This is now the part of the game where after all the cards have been drawn, this next card decides it all. Jensen threw nothing but sliders and cutters just trying to get the rookie to swing and miss; a strike looking, a foul ball, three straight balls, another foul ball. In between each of those pitches is the anticipation everyone feels, desperately trying to wish their preferred outcome into existence.

After all that, after spending one minute, which felt like one hour, waiting for the pitch on 3-2, the result was a walk. So now it falls on someone else. The result of that last at-bat could mean nothing or everything. It all depends on what happens next.

Ask yourself, where else in sports creates this kind of tension in between the action? You can find something close to this in football but that only comes with the momentum of the final drive or the last second field goal that is almost supposed to happen every time. Basketball free throws don’t come nearly close. Hockey has this in shootouts but those are only for the regular season.

Only in baseball where someone with the reputation and stature of Jensen could fall to someone like Brett Phillips, who is on his third team still looking to establish himself.

Prior to this game, Phillips was known only for having a unique laugh. He has played for three teams but has a .202 batting average in 153 career games over four seasons. His hometown Rays traded for him in the middle of this truncated season.

This was his sixth postseason game but only his third plate appearance. There is no way Jensen could not get this guy out. In any other sport, this would be a one-sided affair.

This is where the final cards are flipped.

Phillips hits a single to centerfield, scoring Kevin Kiermaier to tie the game. Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor kicked the ball, and Arozarena was off to the races. Taylor threw the ball to first baseman Max Muncy, who relayed it to catcher Will Smith.

If Smith catches the ball, he would have Arozarena, who stumbled around third dead to rights and the game would be extended into extra innings. Instead, the ball bounced off of Smith’s glove and Arozarena slid into home plate to end the game.

Now Phillips is a hero for his hometown team. The series is tied and there is still a chance the Rays could win their first ever championship.

On the other side, this could be the moment that leads to the Dodgers losing their third World Series in four years.

This doesn’t happen in any other sport. That’s what makes baseball in the fall so beautiful.

Houtz Special: Dolphins eye playoffs, division title after Tagovailoa promotion

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Prior to the 2020 season, I was telling anyone that would listen this season was the amuse-bouche (appetizer) before the inevitable Wagyu steak in 2021.

Translation: 2020 is year two of Miami’s rebuild. Playoffs will come in due time, young grasshopper.

But for a team that has only had five playoff appearances over the last 20 years–each one of those resulting in a loss—it seemed like Miami had to feel good about their chances of landing one of now seven playoff spots heading into their newly-rescheduled Bye.

Let’s check the facts:

  • The Dolphins are 3-3 and .500 for the first time in the Flores Era.
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick has the 7th highest-QBR rating of any QB in the NFL (79.6)
  • Miami currently sits one-game back of first in the AFC East, with the tenth-easiest schedule remaining.

(Is it too soon for a Brian Flores must be a passer-rating guy joke?)

The Dolphins appear to be in a good position.

After all, the offensive line is much improved. (Despite what ESPN thinks)

And with the 17-year Fitzpatrick at the helm, Miami’s offense was averaging 26.7 points per game (14th).

So while it seemed likely, the team was headed towards being In the Hunt with ten games remaining. It was clear this wasn’t about landing a Wildcard birth and slowly getting bounced. This wasn’t about participation trophies. The move to Tagovailoa was about making the playoffs, winning divisions, and, most importantly, playing complementary football on both sides of the football–and that starts now.

I’ve been critical of Fitzpatrick’s play throughout the season.

Early on, I pointed out that his arm looked like a noodle. And we all saw the plays left on the field, most particularly vs. Seattle.

I think Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post said it best when he referred to it as ‘leaving too much meat on the bone.’ Because let’s face it, that’s exactly what this offense did under Fitzpatrick.

You can look at the Dolphins first six games and make a pretty damn good argument that you win two of those games if Fitzpatrick plays better.

There’s also a very good chance you lose two of those games without him. But even in the blowout wins vs. Jacksonville, San Francisco, and the New York Jets, Fitzpatrick didn’t execute in the second half. Especially last week vs. New York.

And then it happened.

With a little over two minutes to go, Tua entered the game.

Was it the standing ovation that swayed Flores’ decision? Probably not. Was it the poise in the huddle? Or maybe it was the way he rolled to the left before throwing a dart to Patrick Laird for a two-yard completion. Maybe it was the way he manipulated the safety with his eyes before finding Jakeem Grant in the soft spot of the defense–converting the only third down of the day.

Wait, I know what it was

“It was just time.”

We’ve heard that said over the last several days, but what exactly does that mean?

No one thought it was time.

NO ONE.

Many of us couldn’t wait to see Tua in action, but during the BYE after a 3-3 start and a legit chance at the playoffs? #nah

I respect the decision Flores, Grier, and whether you want to believe it or not, Ross ultimately made. And while it sucks for the feel-good veteran Fitzpatrick, it’s time.

What I like most about this move isn’t that the team is upgrading the most important position on the roster. Or that Gailey will begin implementing new formations like the pistol–which we saw vs. New York–or even utilizing more zone reads and RPO concepts to make things a bit easier and maximize Tua’s skills.

What I like most is that for the first time in years, the Dolphins believe they have an opportunity. I believe they have an opportunity, and they’re going for it.

The truth is, Miami’s offense was already putting up points, and when healthy, the defense is firing on all cylinders. The only thing this team could truly do at the BYE to ignite this team and squeeze every last drop out of Gailey’s offense. Every last drop out of the 2020 Miami Dolphins was to make a move to Tagovailoa.

Tua does a lot of things that remind you of Drew Brees or Russell Wilson. He has an exceptional feel for the pocket. And his best traits are his accuracy and decision-making. He’s also the ability to make things happen when everything around him falls apart. Most of all, his skills should fit perfectly in Gailey’s system, and I’m excited to watch it evolve with Tagovailoa under center.

It’s Tua Time

I’m not going to sit here and tell you the Miami Dolphins will make the playoffs. That would be foolish for anyone, especially a Dolphins fan.

But Brian Flores and his staff have to believe.

The players have to believe.

And I sure AF believe.

I think I speak for all Dolphins fans when I say how thankful we are for what Ryan Fitzpatrick accomplished throughout his NFL career. But most importantly, what he did during his first 18 months in Miami. And I think I speak for everyone when I say; I’m excited to watch you transition from starting QB to mentor. Tua’s mentor.

Brian Flores and his team won’t play a game of football for another nine days. But when they do, things will look much different than they’ve ever been before because the clock struck Midnight on FitzMagic. And my clocks telling me it’s time. Tua time.

#InTuaWeTrust

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Ryan Fitzpatrick

Fresh Perspective: Ryan Fitzpatrick embodies true leadership for the Dolphins

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What makes a leader? Is it the ability to rally the troops? To rise above adversity and come out on top? Getting the best out of those around you? There are many different ways to define leadership. However, the one thing that almost everyone can agree on is the burden of leadership is a heavy one. Not everyone is cut out to be a leader. Some are crushed under the pressure, some prefer not to take up that role at all. Those that find ways to thrive under the pressure, they’re a precious commodity. That’s what Ryan Fitzpatrick has been for the Miami Dolphins since he signed back in 2019.

Every player on the team has said how much they love the 37-year old veteran. His energy on the field is infectious, his love for the game spreads to everyone on the roster. He is a beloved figure, both in the locker room and to the fans who watch him.

But what happens when everything comes to a screeching halt? All of a sudden, Fitzpatrick is no longer the focus of the Dolphins offense. Now this team belongs to Tua Tagovailoa, which everyone found out – not by an official statement from the team, but late Tuesday morning from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, stating that the information came from an unnamed league source.

It’s quite possible we will never know who that source is. Many have speculated that it was Tua Tagovailoa’s agent. Some have said that it was an overexcited executive within the team who ran to tell Schefter the news as soon as they heard it was going to happen. Regardless of who it was, it immediately put Miami into a very uncomfortable situation. This news wasn’t meant to break when it did.

“One thing on this situation that’s unfortunate is that I didn’t get a chance to address the team before this was out.” Head coach Brian Flores said on Wednesday. “The media – it’s not the way I or we want to do business. Unfortunately that’s kind of the way of the world right now. That’s unfortunate. I’m not happy about that at all. I’ll address that to the team and really apologize to them that they had to find out through social media. I don’t think that’s fair to them.”

In this hypersensitive world of social media, news gets out before anyone has a chance to stop it. There are reports from the Sun Sentinel’s Omar Kelly, with the condition of anonymity, that certain players question the decision to go to Tagovailoa at this point in the season. Others are excited about the idea of Tagovailoa starting, but were no less shocked about how they found out. Linebacker Jerome Baker appeared on the Fubo Sports Network and said that he found out about Tagovailoa being named the starter on Instagram. Later, Baker expanded on his thoughts during a Zoom conference with South Florida media.

“I think just the one thing, we were just off, and that’s when we all heard it.” Baker said. “We were just off. One thing about ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) is he always makes sure we know news first. I think the team is excited. We’re all excited; we are ready to go. We believe in Tua. He definitely can get the job done. We’re all excited about what he can do, so I guess we’ll see when the time comes.”

As it turns out, however, there was at least one person who knew about the news ahead of time.

Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“I found out – ‘Flo’ called me to his office and we talked.” Fitzpatrick said during a very somber interview on Wednesday. “He’s – with everything last year and this year – everything, he’s real up front and honest and likes to have those face-to-face conversations, so I definitely appreciate that.”

This is where Fitzpatrick’s leadership truly becomes a factor. Everyone who knows Fitzpatrick knows that he loves to play the game. That’s part of why his teammates love him so much. He makes the game fun every week. Everyone is also aware of when he cheered Tagovailoa on when he went into the game against the New York Jets. He was praised as being a terrific teammate, rooting for his future replacement.

But after the interview on Wednesday, it’s obvious that Fitzpatrick believed he would have more time to play than he got.

“I was shocked by it. It definitely caught me off guard and it was a hard thing for me to hear yesterday.” Fitzpatrick said. “Just kind of digesting the news, my heart just hurt all day. It was heartbreaking for me. ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) kind of said what he said and said what he said to you guys as well, and that’s the decision and the direction that the organization is going in, and obviously we’ve talked in the past – me and you guys – about how I’m the placeholder and this eventually was going to happen no matter – it was just a matter of kind of when, not if. It still just broke my heart yesterday and it’s a tough thing for me to hear and to now have to deal with, but I’m going to do my best with it.”

So with that said, it’s clear that Fitzpatrick does not appreciate the idea of being benched. Coming off a 24-0 shutout against a division rival, he expected to suit up and start against the Rams. He did not expect to sit on the sidelines and watch Tagovailoa go in his place. Now whenever he sees Tagovailoa in the film room, it’s not the student who watches and learns while he plays. It’s the person who is keeping him off the field.

“This profession is interesting in that I basically got fired yesterday and then my day of work today consisted of me in Zoom meetings listening to the guy that fired me, and then locked in a spaced out room with my replacement for four hours today.” Fitzpatrick said. “There aren’t a whole lot of jobs that are like that, but I know how difficult it is to play the quarterback position and I know that that room is so important to the guy that’s playing in terms of everybody having your back and pulling in the same direction.”

But this is where the true mettle of Ryan Fitzpatrick is put on display. This is where he proves he embodies leadership in all of its forms. It’s a lot easier to be a leader when things are going your way. When you’re forced to face a harsh reality, being a leader becomes much more challenging. Fitzpatrick being hurt by the decision does not disqualify him from leadership. If anything, he’s proving to be more of a leader than ever.

“Today is a day to digest a little bit and we’ll get away for the bye a little bit,” He said. “But once this thing starts up again, I’ve got to do my best for Tua to help him out, because there’s two separate situations here. One is with Tua, and I want him to do well and I think he’s a great kid, and I think he has a really bright future. The other one is my feelings and just kind of what I’m going through, and that has to be separate from when I walk into this building and help him out. I’ve got to separate those feelings from trying to be a professional and help him out as best I can.”

That right there says it all. There is the biggest reason this team respects Ryan Fitzpatrick and looks up to him. It’s not his seniority. It’s not because he always has a big grin on his face. The reason he’s earned the team’s respect is that no matter what, he wants what’s best for his teammates. Even if it means his own feelings are disregarded. Very few people accept this type of demotion with this much class. Even fewer are willing to continue to mentor their replacement afterwards. That is what makes Ryan Fitzpatrick such a unique individual.

And make no mistake, Miami’s young rookie QB is very aware that he’s lucky to have someone like Ryan Fitzpatrick in his corner even after what happened through this whole sordid ordeal.

“I was very excited.” Tua Tagovailoa said on Wednesday. “That’s news that I think anyone would love to hear, being named the starter at any position. But at the same time, I also felt for ‘Fitz’ as well. Me and ‘Fitz’ had a conversation about all of this. Like I’ve continued to say, although it kind of hurts me in a way to see ‘Fitz’ hurt, I’m just very, very lucky to have someone like ‘Fitz’ in my corner, regardless of the situation we’re in right now. He’s just – I hate to say it like this but it is like this, it’s like a father and son.”

The mutual respect between Tagovailoa and Fitzpatrick cannot be understated. Is Fitzpatrick upset? Of course he is, and he has every right to be. But instead of making things difficult, he’s making it clear he still wants to do what he can to help Tagovailoa find success in the NFL. Even if it means he can’t play anymore. As for Tagovailoa, he’s the man now, but even the guys most excited for him aren’t going to make it easy for him.

“I think in the locker room, he’s still our rookie.” Jerome Baker said. “He can get all the hype he wants, but he still has to do his rookie duties. He still has to – honestly he still has to prove that he’s ready. We understand that the media is going to give you all of the credit and all of that; but at the end of the day, you still have to strap on those pads and gain our trust and gain the trust of everybody that you can do it. The one thing we all can agree on is that we’re behind him 100 percent, and we definitely believe in him.”

That includes Ryan Fitzpatrick.

So what makes a leader? Dolphins fans have questioned this for years. Is it the ability to lead by example, like Cameron Wake used to when he was in Miami? Is it to be the best player on the field, like Dan Marino during his tenure? Or is it about being loud and pumping up the crowd like Jarvis Landry? Any one of those definitions would be acceptable, but they don’t tell the whole story of leadership.

Perhaps, leadership can’t be defined through words. But it is something that can be recognized when it’s there. It remains to be seen whether Tua Tagovailoa can bring the leadership he had in Alabama to the Miami Dolphins. But for now, he can continue to learn from the man who stole the hearts of Dolphins fans everywhere. The man who is willing to try and put aside his own broken heart to help the person who indirectly broke it.

Appreciate Ryan Fitzpatrick, ladies and gentlemen. He is the embodiment of what true leadership is all about.

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

Changing of the guard at quarterback from the Miami Dolphins as Tua Tagovailoa takes over.

Pressure Point: Brian Flores makes bold move to Tua as Dolphins QB

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Woke up this morning and surprise of surprises, the future had arrived.

Turns out that wasn’t just a Tua tease at the end of Sunday’s game. It was the dawn of a new era for the Miami Dolphins.

Reports that Tua Tagovailoa will start at quarterback when the Dolphins return from the bye week against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 1 spread through South Florida as the most welcome news for Dolphins fans since, well, since the last century at least.

Any other time the demand for tickets would be over the moon. But of course, this isn’t like any time we’ve ever known.

So the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium will be limited and social distanced. But years from now, perhaps millions will claim to have been there to witness the onset of the savior of the long downtrodden Dolphins franchise.

That is, if Tagovailoa measures up to the hype and expectations. That is what fandom has been waiting to see, and the opportunity is coming sooner than foreseen, even as recently as yesterday.

After the Dolphins won their past two games by a combined score of 67-17 and pulled to within one game of the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills, a quarterback change from veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to untested Tua seemed unlikely.

Alfredo Arteaga on the elevation of Tua to starter

Flores follows his own vision with conviction

What the move says about coach Brian Flores is what makes it fascinating. The second-year coach, groomed under Bill Belichick, is unlike anything we’ve seen with the Dolphins.

In that regard, elevating Tagovailoa at a time the team is playing well and winning is not out of character.

Flores, since he arrived, has been unconventional and unpredictable. A number of his personnel moves have been surprising if not baffling. But they have always been driven by conviction.

This coach has a clear sense of how he sees the team moving to the next step. Given how far the roster teardown and rebuild has already progressed since he took the reins from the Adam Gase debacle, you have to say he knows what he’s doing.

Concerning the starting quarterback, Flores always says something along the lines of, “I believe, [fill in the blank] gives us the best chance to win this week.”

Fitzpatrick never reached playoffs

Clearly, he has reached the conclusion that Fitzpatrick, whose time in Miami has been inspirational and admirable in leading a young team, has taken the Dolphins as far as he can.

Fitzpatrick, at 37, has started for eight different NFL teams but has never appeared in a postseason game.

And, Flores apparently has seen enough of Tagovailoa’s progress in practice to entrust him with leading an improving team in a playoff pursuit.

Dolphins followers have had no basis to gauge the rookie’s progress. Due to the preseason canceled by the pandemic, Tua saw no game action from the time he went down with a major hip injury that ended his college career last November until that five-play cameo at the end of Sunday’s 24-0 win against the Jets.

It wasn’t the two short passes he completed, which had fans clamoring for more while expecting the wait would continue until at least Dolphins fell out of playoff contention, that precipitated the move. It was that Flores had seen enough progress in practice to believe Tagovailoa is ready to do for the Dolphins what he did in a remarkable run for Alabama.

Tua’s injury history ongoing question

What makes Tua’s situation different from most rookie quarterbacks is the health issue. A few weeks ago Flores indicated it was a factor in gauging when to play him.

“If it was my kid and he had a serious injury like that, I wouldn’t want his coach to be in a rush to put him in there because of media pressure,” Flores said at the time. “No one is going to pressure me into doing anything.”

Tagovailoa’s health, in relation to the hip injury, will continue to be an issue until he proves it’s not.

Which makes Flores’ decision to raise the curtain on Tua Time at this particular time all the more bold and intriguing.

But the Dolphins didn’t identify Tagovailoa as their quarterback of the future and draft him fifth overall (higher than any quarterback since they took Bob Griese in 1967) to shelter him indefinitely.

It has been a carefully measured process. The development of the offensive into a competent unit in pass protection undoubtedly provided some comfort in making the move.

Tua’s father weighs in on Flores

Most revealing was an interview the quarterback’s father, Galu Tagovailoa, did with KHON2 sports director Rob DeMello in Hawaii after Tua’s debut against the Jets.

“It’s very comforting. It’s things as parents you want to hear and it’s things that you want to know,” Galu Tagovailoa said. “I have direct communication with Coach Flores, with Brian, calling him and we talk and texting back and forth. He’s not just a coach for Tua out there. He’s also a father for him on the field and the things that he’s going through with Tua.

“It’s always good to hear things like that and to see it through our son and then to hear it through coach, I mean it’s so comforting. We really, really appreciate that.”

Now Flores has made his most impactful decision yet as Dolphins coach, and the future of his young quarterback and the team are on the line.

For Dolphins fans, it has been a very long time in coming. And this next game can’t come soon enough.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

Switch to Tua seemed unlikely after win over Jets

Tua Tagovailoa made his debut in a brief appearance, but the big story of the Miami Dolphins is their rise as a playoff contender.

THE EXTRA YARD: Tua Tagovailoa named the Starter.

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After Tua Tagovailoa saw some action in mop up duty versus the New York Jets, the questions began on Twitter and elsewhere as to when Brian Flores might make a change at the quarterback position. Brian Flores has since named Tua Tagovailoa the starter, going forward. We do have one other instance in Dolphins history where a coach and quarterback navigate the early part of a NFL schedule till replacing the original starter, Don Shula and Dan Marino in 1983. So how did Shula arrive at the decision to start Marino and how does it compare to what Brian Flores has executed with Tua Tagovailoa? Let’s examine.

Very Different Teams/ starting QB’s.

The 1983 Miami Dolphins were coming off a Super Bowl appearance, losing 27-17 to the Washington Redskins, mainly because of a very ineffective passing game led by David Woodley. Woodley had a 65.7 career passer rating, and had thrown 5 TD’s against 8 Interceptions in 9 regular season games in the strike shortened Super Bowl season. David Woodley was plainly put, one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL on one of the best rosters. The Dolphins were on the hunt for a franchise guy, and found him in the 1983 draft at #26 overall in Dan Marino. The 2020 Dolphins have a much better quarterback at the helm in Ryan Fitzpatrick, and are not a Super Bowl contender like that 1983 Dolphin team was. The only similarity in these circumstances are that both teams took their franchise QB in the first round.

When did Shula go to Marino?

The 1983 season kicks off and Shula starts David Woodley. Dolphins got off to a 2-0 start with a 12-0 win versus the Buffalo Bills and a 34-24 win over the New England Patriots. In those two games, David Woodley was 8-22 for 40 yards, and 11-22 for 218 yards with 2 TD’s,no INT’s. Not terrible, but not spectacular either, and a showdown game was coming against the Los Angeles Raiders,on Monday Night Football.

September 19, 1983.

Raiders, Dolphins. A battle for AFC supremacy. In the 4th quarter, Woodley was 10-18 for 144 yards, with 1 interception, while bein sacked 3 times. The score was Raiders 27 Dolphins 0. Shula goes to Marino against what at the time is considered, the best Defense in the NFL, and let’s it rip. Dan Marino is charged with running a hurry up offense, and goes 11-17 for 90 yards, with touchdowns to Joe Rose, and Mark Duper. Final Score Raiders 27 Dolphins 14. The writing was on the wall. Teh 2020 Dolphins have not been in such a hopeless situation as that 1983 Dolphin team was on that Monday night in September.

Short Leash for Woodley.

The writing was on the wall, but Shula still started David Woodley in week 4 when the 2-1 Dolphins took on the 1-2 Chiefs in the Orange Bowl, and methodically outlasted Kansas City 14-6, with Woodley going 10-17, for 92 yards, (1 TD,2 INT). After the game, talk radio began the drum beat for Dan Marino, and Shula appeased the fans by pulling David Woodley after an ineffective 4-12 start the following week in a 17-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Marino connected with Mark Duper for Miami’s only points that day. The 2020 Miami Dolphins have Ryan Fitzpatrick on an upswing, but on a downswing in play in the second half of his last game. The parallels are not there.

Tua Tagovailoa named the starter for week 8.

Marino is named the starter for week 6, and the rest is history. Brian Flores is now naming Tua Tagovailoa the starter for week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams after a bye week. This had to have been part of his plan. The Dolphins have had some “spotty” QB play, but it hasn’t been fatal in any games. We have long speculated that Brian Flores is not a patient man, but he has been more than deliberate. This is not a “rash” or “hurried” decision. Coach Brian Flores feels as if he has a contender on his hands and he is merely plugging in what he feels is an upgrade at the quarterback position. History was made today, and it was not made as it was in 1983. This wasn’t a case where an obviously inferior QB was holding the team back. This was Brian Flores following his own plan, and upgrading the QB position for a run at the AFC East Divisional crown. That is the belief. There is no doubt. It is Tua Time.

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Tua Tagovailoa made his debut in a brief appearance, but the big story of the Miami Dolphins is their rise as a playoff contender.

Pressure Point: Miami Dolphins’ rise as contender eclipses Tua debut

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Rewatching Tua Tagovailoa’s brief but eventful Miami Dolphins debut in mop-up duty in the 24-0 thumping of the Jets, and my thoughts drift back to a Monday night in September 1983.

Was watching a lackluster Dolphins loss to the Raiders in a bar in Newport, Rhode Island, which would have been lost to memory until it suddenly became unforgettable. That was when Don Shula sent in the rookie quarterback Dolphins fans had been clamoring to see, and Dan Marino began a Hall of Fame career by chucking two touchdown passes to enliven a 27-14 defeat.

It would be another three weeks before Marino would get his first NFL start (with another relief effort in between).

Remains to be seen when Tua surfaces again. Safe bet the first start won’t come in two weeks when the Dolphins play host to the 4-2 Rams (who will be coming off a Monday night date with the 5-1 Bears).

Unlike Marino, who got enough time to toss fourth-quarter TDs to Joe Rose and Mark Duper that night at the L.A. Coliseum, Tagovailoa only got five plays Sunday.

He threw two passes, completed both for nine yards. Still, he showed mobility rolling to his left on the sort of play he broke his hip on last November, and completed the first to Patrick Laird.

The second was on the mark to Jakeem Grant for a first down. Notably because it was the only third-down conversion the Dolphins made all day, in nine attempts.

More from Five Reasons: Can the Dolphins follow upward trend of Heat, Marlins?

Only one game back in AFC East

It was a tantalizing taste of Tua that will leave fans wanting much more, and soon.

I was ready for it after the 1-3 start. But circumstances have changed in the past two weeks. The surprising blowout win at San Francisco was a seismic shift.

Now at 3-3, and just a game behind the AFC East-leading Bills, the Dolphins are in position to chase a playoff spot. The way they have played in winning three of the past four weeks shows it is a realistic ambition.

The improvement since the ragged opening losses against New England and Buffalo is profound.

What stands out as meaningful about Sunday was not that Tua got on the field. It was what it revealed about how far Coach Brian Flores has taken the Dolphins as opposed to how previous coach Adam Gates has turned the Jets into the sort of mess he left behind in Miami.

The comparison was highlighted by the CBS studio crew at halftime.

Boomer Esiason on the Jets: “Looking at the Jets’ sideline, it looks dead to me. It looks like a dead team walking. … They look lost.

Bill Cowher on the Dolphins: “They are building a culture, which is about winning football games, holding people accountable and bringing people together.”

Dolphins find togetherness

That togetherness was evident in Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the cheers for Tagovailoa from the sideline. And in Mike Gesicki, who didn’t catch a pass all day, dashing from the sideline to the end zone to celebrate fellow tight end Durham Smythe’s touchdown catch.

Understand, these Dolphins aren’t ready to make a run deep into the playoffs. But they may be good enough to get there.

This rebuilding effort under Flores and GM Chris Grier appears to be well conceived and is much farther along than could have been envisioned a year ago when they were on the way to a 0-7 start.

The offensive line, with two rookie starters, has been solid all season. And when rookie Austin Jackson went down with an injury, they plugged in rookie Robert Hunt with similar results.

But most significant is the improvement in the defense in recent weeks. This is what Flores was supposed to bring, and positive signs are mounting that it’s working.

With the return of Byron Jones and Xavien Howard trending to pre-injury form (four interceptions), the secondary is solid on the corners, and Eric Rowe has been outstanding at safety.

Emmanuel Ogbah is becoming a force on the pass rush and Christian Wilkins has been stout against the run.

Stats tell of Dolphins’ improvement

All of that and more are showing up in the results:

Through Sunday, the Dolphins led the league in third-down defense. They were tied for second in points per game allowed (18.8). Their 17 sacks ranked seventh.

By outscoring their past two opponents 67-17, they pushed their net points to plus-47, third in the AFC behind the Ravens and Steelers.

It is difficult to remember when stats cast the Miami Dolphins in such a favorable light.

“I just feel like it’s a culture change,” said linebacker Sam Eguavoen, who endured the growing pains last season. “We still have a lot of guys from the team last year and then they brought in some more guys this year. It’s just been a culture change. ‘Flo’ is still hard on us but he took it back on us a little bit. We still work hard. I feel like we’re the hardest working team in the NFL. I feel like now we’re working a little bit smarter. Guys are buying in. We don’t dread coming in on Wednesdays like we kind of did last year. We’re just growing better as a team.”

Quite the opposite of what was apparent on the opposing sideline Sunday with Gase and the Jets.

So, if Tagovailoa doesn’t start a game this season it will be because they are doing fine with him on the sideline, which they are right now. That could change.

As intriguing as the prospect of what Tagovailoa may eventually bring to the future of the Dolphins, and as much as many of us our eager to see it, if the team is buying in, the rest of us will just have to trust in Flores.

He’ll let us know when it’s time for Tua.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

5 Reasons Contributors on Dolphins-Jets “clash”

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The Miami Dolphins are favored for the first time in forever against unintentionally-tanking former coach Adam Gase and the hapless New York Jets.

We asked some of our Five Reasons Sports contributors to assess the matchup.

*****

 

Though matchups between divisional opponents—especially when a head coach is going up against his former team—are supposed to be interesting, this one probably won’t be. The Jets are a dumpster fire this year led by Adam Gase, who should be on the hot seat after starting off this season 0-5 and finishing last year with a 7-9 record and whatever bag of chips you’re rewarded for being 3rd in the AFC East. 

 

Not to mention that the Jets somehow managed to waive Le’Veon Bell, arguably one of the best runningbacks in the league and almost certainly their best player, instead of trading him and getting at least something for him. Bell walks away with a cool $28 mil and the Jets walk away with… another bag of chips? Don’t ask Adam Gase about Bell though; those questions are “irrelevant.”

 

Without Bell and QB Sam Darnold, who is still nursing a shoulder injury, New York will have to hope veteran backup Joe Flacco can put something together. Flacco was 18 of 33 for 195 yards and a single touchdown in last week’s embarrassing 30-10 loss to Arizona.

 

The Dolphins, meanwhile, have started to show some grit with a big 43-17 win over last year’s Super Bowl contenders, the San Francisco 49ers, last week. Though the 9ers were decimated by injuries, the Fins showed some true potential on both sides of the ball, totaling five sacks and two interceptions on defense and 444 total yards of offense led by Ryan Fitzpatrick’s best performance of the season (including a QBR of 99.1, the highest of any quarterback this year). 

 

The only way this game could get interesting is if Bell signs with Miami, considered as of now to be one of his top three landing spots. There’s nothing better than a revenge game, right?

— Kylie Wang

*****

 

The Miami Dolphins are preparing to take on a division rival in the New York Jets this Sunday, bringing back an old face in Adam Gase. And with Sam Darnold out,  Joe Flacco, an old Dolphins nemesis, will be under center for the Jets once again this week. 

Flacco has been very successful against the Dolphins with a total of 7 wins and 0 losses. — six wins in the regular season and one in the postseason.

His regular season numbers over those 6 starts against Miami include completing 71 percent of his passes with 10 TD’s to 3 INT’s and adding 1 rushing touchdown. In his last start in 2017, the Dolphins got embarrassed 40-0 even as Flacco’s outing ended early on the controversial hit by then-Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso.

Fast forward to Sunday’s game, though, and times are different for the former Super Bowl MVP. His best days are behind him and he is currently on the worst team in the NFL.

The Dolphins are favored by eight. Don’t expect Flacco to keep it that close.

— Jaccare Givens 

 

*****

With an annihilation of the 49ers on the road comes some expectations.

We have learned that Miami can win and play good teams tough with “Fitzmagic”.  They have little to no hope with “Fitztragic”.  In this case, Miami has a decided talent advantage, are home, and confidence is riding high.  The last time I said this team had real expectations, was the Thursday night beat down of the Jaguars.  I expect much of the same.  It is required.  No letdowns allowed.

Miami Dolphins 30  NY Jets 16

— Alfredo Arteaga

 

*****

 

Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has shown that with inferior competition he can devise strong game plans. That will continue. I expect the Dolphins to take an early lead behind the arm of Ryan Fitzpatrick attacking downfield to DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki and Preston Williams. Once the adrenaline starts to fade, an ugly, punt filled late afternoon will take place with whichever team can establish the run coming out on top. I trust Coach Flores to take advantage of the early lead and let his pass rushers like Emmanuel Ogbah, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker and maybe the banged-up Kyle Van Noy go to work. Jason Saunders will also extend his consecutive streak of field goals to start the year and in the process break Olindo Mare’s record for overall consecutive field goals of 19 to his 20.

Dolphins 27 Jets 13

— Juan Cardona 

Lomachenko vs. López: Throwback SUPER FIGHT

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Where to watch: Saturday, October 17, 2020, MGM GRAND Conference Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, Available on ESPN+ PPV.

The lightweight division in boxing is not known for it’s “Super Fights”, as the division has usually been a wait station for young lightweights making their way toward paydays in the Welterweight division. But in this case, we have one guy in Teófimo López, the hot shot young star who may make a run at a division or two higher, due to his frame, and another in Vasyl Lomachenko, who is a throwback to great lightweights of years past in Pernell Whitaker and Roberto Duran, combining slick boxing with killer punching power.

The contrast in styles is stark and will make for an action fight, unless too much respect is paid. López, puts straight punches together, as well as any on the division, his power punching is consistent and accurate. His flair and showmanship as what sells him as well, but make no mistake, it’s his killer instinct that has gotten him here.

For Lomachenko, it’s his pure boxing skill, and his next level anticipation, of incoming combinations, that allow his creative counter punching. “Loma” is the rare unicorn in boxing, where by his pure boxing style entertains, for it’s pure mastery. The difference between “Loma” and a Floyd Mayweather for instance, is that Loma is slick, and skilled offensively, while Mayweather’ built his legend on his defensive prowess.

How does Teófimo López win?
He is 23 years old, and “Loma” is 32. For one, you can hope the age difference works in López favor, in energy and strength. Realistically, Teófimo must crowd Lomachenko as often as he can, and he must use his jab to steer “Loma” into range to be able to crowd him. It is clear to all who have seen both guys fight that López cannot win a “points” battle with Lomachenko as Lomachenko, is an expert at winning exchanges, and anticipating combinations from range. So you must get rid of that range and turn this into a brawl, then use your youth and punching power to beat Lomachenko in closed quarters, getting a finish to the fight within the 12 rounds/win the judges over with your aggressiveness.

How does Vasyl Lomachenko win?
Being a southpaw and facing a power punching conventional fighter, Lomachenko must resist the urge to circle and jab left. “Loma” must step right and into exchanges by first throwing range finding jabs, to keep the fight at a distance. Pace will be important as well, and bailing out of López in-fighting exchanges will be key. Keep moving right and reset after your combinations. Repeating these patterns should frustrate the young challenger into possibly opening himself up for the right combination, that could lead to a TKO.

PREDICTION: Vasyl Lomachenko wins by Unanimous Decision.

All Odds cited are via SPREADS

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Five Players The Miami Heat Should Target

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Miami has become the new sexy pick for best free agency destination after the Heat’s run at the NBA championship in the bubble this season. With the new-found popularity, the Heat will have some tough decisions to make when looking to improve the roster.

5. Demarcus Cousins

Despite being injured for the better part of the past two seasons, when healthy, Boogie Cousins is one of the most skilled big men in the league. His ability to shoot, pass and be a presence in the post should all be attractive lures for Miami. If Cousins buys into the now famed Heat culture and improves his fitness level and conditioning, the Heat could grab a steal. A year in the Heat organization could also help Cousins recoup some of the value he has lost due to injuries. He was in line for a max contract that never materialized after he ruptured his Achilles in 17-18 while playing for the Pelicans.

 

 

4. Victor Oladipo

Oladipo has made it apparent that he wants to win now. He has also expressed, albeit less overtly, his love for the city of Miami. At his peak, Oladipo is an all-star level two-way player that adds scoring, defense and some playmaking ability to a team. However, according to Ethan Skolnick on the Five on the Floor Podcast, Oladipo’s behavior in the bubble has raised some eyebrows about whether or not he is a winner. His injury history is also an area for concern — returning from a torn quad tendon in January. He averaged 14.5 PPG on 39 percent (32 percent from 3) shooting in 19 games.

3. Christian Wood

Brady Hawk has already detailed everything I wanted to in his article on Wood’s fit with Miami. Over Detroit’s final 13 games as the starting center, he posted numbers of 22.8 points and 9.9 boards on 56.2 percent shooting and 40.0 percent from three. Prying Wood away from Detroit will not be an easy task considering his breakout season following the trade of Andre Drummond. However, there is a chance and that is all Miami can ask for.

2. Jrue Holiday

Point of attack defense has been an area of concern for the Heat dating back to the beginning of the season. Holiday is an immediate upgrade in that area and many more. Not only is he an elite perimeter defender, but also a capable combo guard that can both facilitate the offense and score the ball. The 30-year old’s averages of 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists will fit in nicely with the current Heat squad. Holiday has also recently been recognized by several of his peers on various platforms as one of the most underrated player in the league. We all know where those types of guys can find a home.

1. Giannis Antetokoumpo

The reigning back-to-back MVP is at the top of every team’s wishlist. Rightfully so. His gawdy averages of 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game and recent earlier-than-expected playoff exits (you’re welcome) have GMs around the league salivating at the opportunity to acquire his services. Miami is believed to be amongst the frontrunners to land him should he decide to part ways with Milwaukee, along with Dallas, Toronto and Golden State. What the Heat offer Giannis is a ready-made championship contender that fits his style of play. In turn, Giannis gives the Heat another star to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

 

Royal Shepherd (@RoyalAShepherd) has written for several major newspapers, including the Tallahassee Democrat and the Augusta Chronicle, and now contributes to Five Reasons Sports.