MIAMI GARDENS – It must have been surreal for Josh Rosen. For a while Sunday, he actually had time to look for a receiver and throw without someone nasty in his face trying to crush him.
That was a rarity for him last year as a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals and previously this season with the Dolphins.
As to how the young quarterback might fare with reasonable protection, the indication was, pretty well.
That was particularly evident in the first half of the 30-10 loss to the Chargers when Rosen had a passer rating of 126.8 while completing 12 of 16 for 159 yards and a touchdown.
The sterling moment was the 34-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker that gave the Dolphins their first lead of the season at 7-3. The pocket was clean and he put the ball on the mark to Parker, who had slipped behind the coverage.
Some questionable decision-making would later mar the overall impression of Rosen somewhat. He finished the day with 180 yards and rating of 88.9.
But Rosen shows the instincts and ability to make strong and accurate throws down field that haven’t been seen in a Dolphins quarterback in years. It verifies that he is a real quarterback, not a converted wide receiver.
He isn’t the quarterback, though.
Not the one they are ultimately looking for. That guy is still in college playing for Alabama. It is difficult to foresee whatever Rosen might do the rest of this written-off season that would alter the objective of drafting Tua Tagovailoa.
That is, if they end up in position to draft him.
Here’s the worry for the tanking strategy: Rosen may not be their long-term answer, but he could prove too good for the objective of attaining the first overall pick in 2020.
Fortunately – for that line of thinking – the Dolphins’ defense is plenty bad enough. Defenseless Miami came into Sunday with a passer rating against of 139.1 (158.3 is the highest rating possible) over the first three games. Philip Rivers’ 131.9 PR on Sunday is par for what we’ve seen and can expect to continue.
Likewise, the second-half cave-ins of an overmatched team are showing no sign of ending. Being outscored 81-0 in the second half through four games is the most astounding of all the lopsided stats that have marked this inexplicable start to the season.
Revamped line surprises
There were encouraging signs earlier. The makeshift offensive line that was surprisingly competent in the first half, became less so as the game wore on.
But then, so was Rosen, who had a couple of notable unforced errors in the second half.
He wasn’t under pressure when he threw a sideline pass intended for Preston Williams, who wasn’t open, that was easy picking for Michael Davis in the fourth quarter.
“I just kind of hesitated a little bit. Just a couple of adjustments they made. I just made a real dumb decision,” he said.
Earlier, the heat was on when Rosen was nearly trapped for a safety. He did an admirable job of scrambling out of the end zone. Then, running to his right, he made another poor choice in taking the sack at the 1 when he could have simply tossed it out of bounds.
But there was also plenty to like in Rosen’s second start for the Dolphins and reason to believe he will get better.
“I’ve just got to not almost get a safety on the 1-yard line and understand the bigger scope of the game, the field position and just make smart plays,” Rosen said. “Then, the quick little screen out to my left, I should have just thrown it in the dirt instead of trying to run like an idiot playing high school football. [It was] just a lot of little things here and there, but I think we’ll improve and be better [after the bye week].”
Winnable games on schedule
The Dolphins are not the only team lost in the NFL shadows. Through the early games Sunday, they were just one of seven teams without a win this season.
Following its bye week, Miami will play host to one of them when the Redskins visit Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 13.
Of the other currently winless teams, the Dolphins play the Steelers, Bengals and Jets (twice). And there are some other suspects on the remaining schedule as well (Colts, Giants, Eagles).
So as monumentally bad as the Dolphins have been – now outscored 163-26 – putting together an oh-fer season through 16 games seems unlikely.
So the vision of next year and who may be playing quarterback in Miami isn’t clear at all.
The paradox of this season is that long-suffering Dolphins fans who have accepted the rebuilding strategy may find themselves rooting against a second-year quarterback the team just traded a second-round draft pick to acquire in the interest of elevating next year’s first-round possibilities.
As for Rosen, he may not be Miami’s quarterback of the future, but he is in position to have a hand in determining who may or may not be.
Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/rosen-podium-chargers.jpg14932000Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2019-09-29 18:40:072019-09-29 18:41:03Given protection, Josh Rosen shows promise in second start
The Arizona Diamondbacks finished the 2019 season with a better record than the previous year thanks to the trades that were made before the season and during it.
During the trade deadline, the Diamondbacks sent their ace in Zack Greinke to Houston but potentially gained another one in Zac Gallen.
While the title of the ace doesn’t concern Gallen, he does in fact believe that he can do what the ace is expected to do on a consistent basis.
“When it’s your day to pitch, you’re the ace,” Gallen said.
Gallen finished his rookie season with a 2.81 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 80 innings but he never thought it would begin in Miami but end in Arizona. The weekend leading up to the trade deadline, Gallen was in the home dugout watching his Marlins dispatch the Diamondbacks 3-1 in a four-game series while wearing the 1997 World Series throwback threads.
Two days later, he joins them.
“It was kind of crazy,” Gallen said. “I was going in, getting ready. I pitched the night before so I was getting my flush run in. [Marlins pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr.] had called me into the office, thought we were going to go over last night’s outing which you usually do as a starter. And then we go to [Marlins manager Don Mattingly’s] office and I’m like, ‘alright, this is a little different.’ I’m sitting there and at first, I thought they were sending me down, it stinks, whatever, and as the conversation when on, [Marlins president of baseball operations] Michael Hill was like, ‘Hey, we actually made a move. We traded you.’
“It was a lot of nice stuff but at the time he didn’t say where I was going,” he added. After being told that he was going to Arizona, “The first thing that went to my head was I got to pack up my apartment, I gotta get ready to go so everything was a bunch of whirlwind emotions.”
After phone calls with his agent and Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen to sort out the travel plans, Gallen went from a young rebuilding team in the bottom of the standings to a slightly older team that was in the middle of the playoff hunt.
Despite the statistical strength he brought to the table, Gallen was once again the new guy and at the time felt more like a rookie than in Miami.
“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Gallen said. “I kinda kept to myself for a few days, just kinda saw how things were going. Guys were giving me some stuff about not talking or anything like that but it’s just my personality, kinda feel things out, what the deal is.”
The good news was that he was welcomed with open arms by the team.
“I think I was telling one of our veterans, Steven Souza Jr., I think it kinda helped that I came from the big leagues to the big leagues,” Gallen said. “A little bit of more credibility kind of deal.”
This was a season for Gallen to get his feet wet in the big leagues and be a part of the Marlins latest rebuild, that was until August and September came around and he found himself in a different black uniform on the other side of the country pitching in meaningful games as a key component of Arizona’s playoff chase. He recorded a 2.72 ERA in seven starts with the Marlins and a 2.89 ERA in eight starts with the Diamondbacks.
“I think it kind of elevated my performance a little bit more,” Gallen said, “just kind of brought even more of a competitive side out of me.”
So where does this leave the Marlins? It seems as if the Diamondbacks appear as a mirror image of what the Marlins may, or should, look like in the next phase of the rebuild plan. Arizona has a core of young players and a potential 1-2 punch on top of the rotation in Gallen and Luke Weaver, who came in the Paul Goldschmidt along with catcher Carson Kelly and recorded a 2.94 ERA in 12 starts. Gallen came to Miami as part of the Marcell Ozuna trade in the 2017 offseason and still believes that the Marlins are on their way.
“I think in Miami, they have a front office and staff that’s in place and gonna carry out the plan that they have,” Gallen said, “so in that sense, fans in Miami should 100 percent be in on the Marlins. I mean I’ve played with some of those guys who came up this year in [Triple-A] New Orleans and had some success in the big leagues and there are still guys that I haven’t played with this year in Double-A that are having really good years, had really good years. I think the fans should be excited. I think there’s a good system in place that’s gonna be fruitful in years to come.”
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0158-1-e1569745320558-scaled.jpg15362560Tony Capobiancohttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgTony Capobianco2019-09-29 05:52:012022-11-15 20:42:44From Miami to Arizona, Zac Gallen reflects on rookie season
If you’ve just clicked on this because you’re curious as to my draft plans, welcome. If you’re joining me from my lengthy free agency plan, welcome back. The 2020 Miami Dolphins will be a blank slate in many regards. After a spending spree for the ages, Miami is recharged and ready for action in 2020. However, are they ready to compete for a Super Bowl? Stephen Ross wants Super Bowls, lots of them.
“What you want and what I want, is really sustained winning seasons and having an organization that is used to winning, because that’s what people in Miami expect.” Ross said back in December. “That’s what the fans want and the fans deserve. Basically, the thought is we’re going to look to really build this organization based on our needs and if it takes a year or so – two years, three years – we’re going to be there and we’re going to be an organization.”
That’s all well and good, but one free agency is not enough to build a contender. This team is going to be built through the draft. It will succeed or fail based on how the draft picks of the next two seasons and beyond develop. So with the abundance of draft picks at their disposal, who do the 2020 Miami Dolphins select?
This mock draft is from Fanspeak and is based on the difficult algorithm with Fanspeak’s most up to date draft board and draft positions as of September 25, 2019. Of course, things will change as the season progresses, but that’s the fun of it all, isn’t it? So as of Week 3 of the 2019 season, this is what I managed to come up with. If you feel a certain player won’t be available at the position they’re taken in, then blame the algorithm.
2020 Miami Dolphins Draft
Round 1, 1st overall – Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
There are some of you reading this now and thinking to yourself, “but this guy hates Tua! Why would he pick him?”
First of all, as I’ve made it clear already, I don’t hate Tua Tagovailoa. I hate the hype that is surrounding him through no fault of his own. More on that here. It would be foolish to pretend that Tua doesn’t bring something special to the table, otherwise fans of several QB needy teams wouldn’t be fighting over him. In just four games this year, Tua has completed 87 passes on 112 attempts, amounting to a stunning 77.7 completion percentage.
His other stats? 1,300 yards, 17 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Zero. Interceptions. And, to make that 17 touchdown stat even more impressive, he only has a total of 25 incomplete passes so far. That’s unheard of.
Here’s Tua Tagovailoa talking to me for @gridiron a little earlier about whether he’s heard about “Tanking for Tua”, what his teammates think, and the fact he says he has “ten games” before he can think about all that. An indicator of his future plans? https://t.co/dO1I9PwX2s
Tua isn’t the consensus top QB of 2020 yet. There are some holding out hope for the likes of Justin Herbert, Jake Fromm or Jordan Love. Perhaps, the Dolphins will draft one of them when the time comes. There’s no way to know their plans until they come to fruition. But based on hype and the production on the field, there’s no question who would fill the most seats in 2020. Tua is scarily accurate, can anticipate throws, has a terrific arm, and he even makes highlight runs from time to time (which led to my erroneous assumption that Tua was a running QB).
There are only two real question marks regarding Tua at this point: What will he do when he goes from Alabama to a more depleted team in Miami, and can he stay healthy? The latter is a more pressing concern than the former. Tua’s been banged up throughout his collegiate career, and the Dolphins are notorious for putting sub-par offensive lines on the field. However, should they follow my offseason plan, that will not be an issue. Tua has a very good chance of becoming the best QB in Miami since Dan Marino.
Maybe he’ll even surpass him someday.
So after drafting Tua, the QB room looks like this:
Tua Tagovailoa
Josh Rosen
Jake Rudock
If that’s how Miami’s room is going to look, then there’s no reason not to be optimistic. Rosen still has something to be developed, and at worst he’s a top level backup QB. As our own Chris Kouffman once said, QBs are like gold. If you have two good ones, it’s like money in the bank. That’s Miami.
Round 1, 11th overall – EDGE Chase Young
Somehow, the consensus top pass rusher in the draft fell all the way to 11, right into the hands of the Dolphins. Once again, bear in mind, Miami’s draft position changes every week. This is what came about based on what was available at the time on Fanspeak.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected EDGE A.J. Epenesa first, leaving Young for the taking as the other teams ahead of Miami shored up their OL, WR corps, and secondary. Paired with Yannick Ngakoue, Young turns Miami’s pass rush situation from desperate to dangerous. His production is amazing, and respected evaluators like Matt Miller go as far as to say he would have been the best pass rusher in last year’s draft class too. Keep in mind, that draft featured amazingly talented pass rushers like Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, Brian Burns, and Clelin Ferrell. So saying Young would be the best of them all is a remarkable statement.
Chase Young continues his dominance this season with an early strip sack. Now up to 10.0 sacks in his last 6 games. pic.twitter.com/RcGQuybFfY
Young can rush with his hand in the dirt or standing up, and he still has room to improve even as talented as he is. He’s explosive off the ball, can force turnovers, and can even provide some shallow spying if necessary. He can do more than just run towards the quarterback. Some more coaching and development on his pass rush moves, practice on using his moves rather than trying to use brute strength when engaged with blockers, and Young will be the perfect specimen.
On a lesser note, he would finally break Miami’s curse of drafting bust pass rushers. No more Charles Harris or Dion Jordan debacles. Even if Young doesn’t turn into Cameron Wake in his rookie season, there’s a good chance he becomes top tier as time goes on. That’s enough to pull the trigger.
So here’s the DE/EDGE lineup if the plan goes as projected:
Yannick Ngakoue
Chase Young
Charles Harris
Taco Charlton
Robert Nkemdiche
Jonathan Ledbetter
Dewayne Hendrix
Obviously they can’t all be kept, but that’s an impressive lineup of names. If even one or two of them pan out or revive themselves, the Dolphins pass rush is in good hands. Then it’ll be even better when Cameron Wake returns for his farewell tour.
A man can dream.
Round 1, 24th overall – Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III
This season is all about giving Miami’s new franchise QB all the help he can get. Familiarity and chemistry go a long way for young QBs, and drafting Ruggs is the perfect way to give Tua a security blanket he can count on early in his career. Ruggs is a ridiculously fast player. Like, 4.2 40-yard dash type fast. To put it in perspective, he would outrun Jakeem Grant without even breaking a sweat.
But speed isn’t all he’s about. He has the ability to leap up and make contested catches, is solid catching the football, and has elite level body control in the air. He’s everything a team could want in a wide receiver.
Henry Ruggs III already up to 3 catches for 131 yards and 2 TDs in the first quarter.
Henry Ruggs is a whole different type of fast! There is no group of DB group in the nation that can line up man for man & win. You better coach your butt off on that Saturday no matter who you are… Honestly, just hope you get to 13.
If there’s only one knock on Ruggs at this point, it’s that his route running sometimes leaves something to be desired. Back when Jakeem Grant was just starting out, coaches told him to slow down because his speed was throwing him off. The same goes for Ruggs. If a coach can sit him down and teach him to realize when full speed is and isn’t to his benefit so he can run his routes properly, there’s no telling what kind of ceiling he could reach.
With the addition of Ruggs, and the signing of Amari Cooper to go with Albert Wilson, Preston Williams and Jakeem Grant, Miami’s WR corps is deadly. Tua could throw it anywhere on the field, and the potential of a big play would be there. However, there is a downside.
Recall the level of investment I put into free agent signings on the offensive line. Anthony Castanzo isn’t there just because. He’s there because with this draft plan, the 2020 Miami Dolphins don’t invest a top pick into an offensive lineman to replace Laremy Tunsil at left tackle. As a left handed QB, right tackle is more important for Tua anyway, but that’s a different story.
The OL for 2020 would be: Castanzo, a left guard to be named, Michael Deiter, Brandon Scherff, and Jesse Davis. Not bad, but who’s the left guard if Deiter is playing center? We will get to that, stay tuned.
So the WR corps as it stands would be:
Amari Cooper
Henry Ruggs III
Albert Wilson
Preston Williams
Jakeem Grant
The top five spots would be locked in at that point, and there’s no doubt Isaiah Ford will be in the mix to try and earn a sixth slot. He’s on the active roster now after Danny Isidora landed on injured reserve, so this could very well be his best chance to audition.
Round 2, 33rd overall – Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons
Now is the part where you’re probably wondering why an offensive lineman still hasn’t been taken. Simply put, Simmons is too promising to let slide. He can rush the passer, he can cover from the slot, there’s very little he can’t do on the football field. Truly, a Swiss army knife. Sound familiar?
Parting ways with Minkah Fitzpatrick removes a key piece of Miami’s defense. Versatility was what made him so valuable. After he put up a fight about moving around and refused to go along with it, the Dolphins traded him for a first round pick, that turned into Chase Young. Simmons takes Fitzpatrick’s place as the chess piece all over the field.
So what’s the catch? According to evaluators, Simmons’ main problem is that he has a bad habit of launching himself at defenders instead of wrapping them up. In the NFL, that’s not going to fly, especially with how strict referees are about helmet to helmet contact. Simmons also has to learn some extra nuances when it comes to his technique. But make no mistake, Simmons has an insanely high ceiling. If Brian Flores is even half the mastermind everyone assumes he is, Simmons will find a role somewhere. Maybe Christian Wilkins can even offer some insight on what makes him tick.
There’s no position listing for him. Let’s just call him a DW for now. Defensive Weapon. The NFL can’t stop us from calling him that.
Round 2, 47th overall – Georgia OG Solomon Kindley
At last, a guard. Rejoice, trench lovers. Solomon Kindley from Georgia is an absolute mauler at left guard. His size, strength and punch at the snap make him an impressive specimen that should, in theory, be a plug-in starter. Of course, knowing the Dolphins luck, there’s no telling for sure. Until then, we can appreciate Kindley as being a nasty, extremely strong prospect that is a key piece of the Georgia offensive line.
Solomon Kindley (LG) is a bully. Torque allows him to create displacement and finish blocks violently. His sturdy lower half and powerful hands negate any momentum brought on by initial rush. He’s a physical specimen who should catch the eye of many evaluators this draft cycle. pic.twitter.com/MaXu1qJqGO
One of the only criticisms of Kindley is more along the lines of nitpicking his frame. Becoming a tiny bit leaner would help his overall athleticism, but it takes something special to challenge Quinnen Williams, which Kindley did in the 2018 SEC Championship Game. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was enough to show he had plenty of potential. If he ends up lasting this long into the NFL draft, the 2020 Miami Dolphins would be very fortunate.
So with Kindley hopefully locking down the left guard position, this is what the offensive line would look like.
LT – Anthony Castanzo LG – Solomon Kindley C – Michael Deiter RG – Brandon Scherff RT – Jesse Davis/Isaiah Prince
If that isn’t enough to keep Tua protected, what would be?
Round 3, 65th overall – Alabama OL Alex Leatherwood
This is the third Alabama player selected by the 2020 Miami Dolphins so far. Nevertheless, this selection is more of an attempt to hedge bets and make sure that one way or another, the offensive line is taken care of. Leatherwood can play both guard and tackle, which makes him versatile. As has been noted more than once, versatility is incredibly important to Miami. Leatherwood could easily become the backup to Castanzo and perhaps even start after the veteran departs, or he could compete with Kindley for the rights to start at left guard. Either way, the Dolphins have finally solved their guard problem.
Leatherwood is strong, athletic, and has a terrific first step. His familiarity with Tua and how he likes to play quarterback also gives him an inside edge. His technique is not perfect, yet. He’s a little sloppy at times. But make no mistake, Leatherwood can easily step in and make an impact. If either he or Kindley pan out, then Miami’s offensive line is set. There can be no room for error on this line if Tua is to have a bright future.
Round 3, 105th overall – Alabama CB Trevon Diggs
And the third round compensatory pick gifted by the departure of Ja’Wuan James gives the 2020 Miami Dolphins their fourth player this draft from Alabama. Yes, there is a pattern. But one cannot deny that with Alabama routinely being kings of the hill in college football, that elite level of coaching from Nick Saban and company has churned out talent on a regular basis. Cornerback Trevon Diggs is just another of those players.
What makes Diggs interesting is that he started out at Alabama as a wide receiver, just like his older brother Stefon Diggs. However, Trevon Diggs made the transition to defense and became a cornerback as well. He played both positions for a while before settling on defense.
Another former Dolphins parallel, Miami drafted Tony Lippett in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. He too started out as a wide receiver, but the Dolphins wanted to use him as a corner. So began the long experiment to transition him from offense to defense. It never panned out for Lippett, who is now a free agent, but Diggs is making a much smoother shift.
Trevon Diggs (Stefon's younger bro) showed up to Alabama as a WR his freshman year and made starting DBs look silly…
The transition to CB has been as smooth as it gets.. running routes of his opponents like this w natural ball skills/instincts… Stay healthy he's a top-20 guy pic.twitter.com/cKcpuaOJeI
Diggs is what one would describe as a “long” cornerback. He’s confident in press coverage, and his wide receiver instincts means going up for the football to make interceptions should be easy as pie for him. He can also handle off man coverage as well. Many consider off man coverage to be one of the most difficult things for an NFL corner to do, so for Diggs to have potential in that regard bodes well for him.
With the proper coaching, Diggs could easily become a solid NFL cornerback. Durability is something to watch for, however, as he’s returning from a broken foot injury that ended his 2018 season. With Diggs, that gives Miami a cornerback stable that looks like this:
Xavien Howard
Byron Jones
Bobby McCain
Eric Rowe
Cordrea Tankersley
Trevon Diggs
Jomal Wiltz
Chris Lammons
Ken Webster
Not a bad lineup if this is how it looks. Diggs will have time to develop while Howard and Jones keep the boundary spots on lockdown. Perhaps, he can eventually take over for Bobby McCain in the slot.
Round 5, 156th overall – South Florida TE Mitchell Wilcox
The Dolphins gave up their last fourth round pick when they made the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. So Miami takes a break for a round and waits until the fifth round to get another shot at making a selection. With this pick, the Dolphins select a tight end out of South Florida in Mitchell Wilcox. They already have Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe, and they brought back Nick O’Leary. However, they could use another player at that position, and Wilcox brings some promising traits to the table.
Standing in at 6’5″, 245 pounds, Wilcox is a versatile player (there’s that word again) who can line up in the slot, the backfield, pretty much wherever he’s needed. Much like Gesicki, however, Wilcox isn’t much of a blocker as a tight end. Wilcox is best suited to act as competition for Gesicki as a seam threat. As it stands, Wilcox is now the USF record holder for touchdowns in a career with seven. That number could still go up too.
There are a couple of red flags with Wilcox. Number one, his route running isn’t as crisp as a pass-catching tight end should have. Number two, he sometimes makes mental errors that result in drops rather than easy catches. Players have to remember to catch the ball before they turn to run up the field. Wilcox struggles with that at times.
All things considered, as a fifth round pick, the 2020 Miami Dolphins aren’t investing too much into Wilcox. Best case scenario, he somehow beats out Gesicki and becomes Miami’s primary seam threat. Worst case scenario? Well, he can’t be any more disappointing than Gesicki has been so far.
Tight end lineup:
Mike Gesicki
Durham Smythe
Nick O’Leary
Mitchell Wilcox
Surely some camp bodies will be thrown into the mix. Chris Myarick is still sitting pretty on the Dolphins practice squad, and he was fairly impressive with the third string units. Wilcox may not be the answer at tight end, but he has the potential to provide an overall upgrade, however small.
Round 5, 178th overall – Ohio State CB Damon Arnette
This is one of those best player available situations. Damon Arnette isn’t an elite athlete. In fact, he isn’t even impressive by any physical standards. What he does have going for him, however, is his cerebral ability. He can play in the slot or on the boundary, and he uses his technique and excellent ability to be in the right place at the right time to make up for his lack of supreme athletic ability.
So why should the 2020 Miami Dolphins bother drafting someone who isn’t all that fast or strong? Again, his cerebral capability and versatility makes him a valuable asset. Consider what the New England Patriots pride themselves on: Fundamentals, execution, knowing where to be at any given moment. That fits Arnette to a tee.
With the secondary being a point of emphasis for the Dolphins defense, finding the best players possible to fill out that group for when they go into dime and even quarters formations should be a priority. Worst case scenario, Arnette could be a key special teams player for Miami.
Lineup now:
Xavien Howard
Byron Jones
Bobby McCain
Eric Rowe
Cordrea Tankersley
Trevon Diggs
Jomal Wiltz
Chris Lammons
Ken Webster
Damon Arnette
Cordrea Tankersley may not make it onto the 2020 roster due to injury concerns and perhaps talent deficiency. Webster, Lammons and Wiltz will all be on the bubble with a blank slate. This is a position that needs any and all investment possible.
Round 6, 179th overall – Washington RB Salvon Ahmed
The Dolphins drafted running back Myles Gaskin in 2019. Now, Miami revisits Washington to get their hands on Gaskin’s former teammate Salvon Ahmed, who sat behind Gaskin for two years. The reasoning behind this pick is very simple. He’s a speedy, dangerous player who can weave through crowded fields with the ball in his hands. In essence, he’s here to try and replace the departing Kenyan Drake.
Husky touchdown ⬇️🏈🔥
Salvon Ahmed all the way to the house. #PurpleReign
On top of that, Ahmed has some returning capability. That gives Jakeem Grant some competition in that department. Given Grant’s struggles to hang onto the football so far in 2019, it may not be a bad idea to give him some legitimate competition.
With the addition of Ahmed, the 2020 Miami Dolphins running back lineup is as follows:
Kalen Ballage
Mark Walton
Patrick Laird
Myles Gaskin
Salvon Ahmed
Ahmed doesn’t project to be able to break as many tackles as Drake does, but he has the same speed and agility as Drake. It won’t be a one-to-one replacement, but Ahmed can fill most of the void left by Drake as a gimmick player.
Round 6, 209th overall – Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts handled his uprooting at Alabama with class, but he ultimately transferred to Oklahoma so he could keep playing after Tua Tagovailoa transformed into a superstar. Hurts isn’t earning as much national spotlight, but he’s in the running for the 2019 Heisman Trophy.
Unlike Tua, however, Hurts truly is a running quarterback. While he made some big throws at Alabama and now in Oklahoma, his best trait is his ability to run with the ball. Miami drafts him to compete for the QB job. If he shows enough to be a good backup, the 2020 Miami Dolphins could trade Josh Rosen for further draft capital for the 2021 season. If he shows potential but struggles, he gets stashed on the practice squad.
Once again, quarterbacks are as good as gold in the NFL. Hurts being in the running for the Heisman means there must be something there to develop. With all the picks Miami has, doubling down on quarterback is a no-brainer. Tua is the future of the franchise, but teams that have an abundance of quarterbacks can easily accumulate draft picks. This sets them up to do just that as Hurts battles it out with Rosen and Rudock.
The final pick of the 2020 Miami Dolphins incredibly eventful draft. Best player available, another Clemson defensive lineman who essentially was stuck sitting behind Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence last season. He has excellent hustle, he can stand his ground when double-teamed, he’s a very strong man.
He lacks some length, but the biggest knock against him is that there’s limited tape on him. He was a key role player when Wilkins, Lawrence and Clelin Ferrell were at Clemson, but being a backup to star players like that doesn’t offer many chances to show off. Perhaps there’s more to him than anyone realizes, perhaps there isn’t. If he rises up draft boards as the season progresses, that will be telling.
So with all that said, the lineup at defensive tackle would be as follows:
Davon Godchaux
Christian Wilkins
Danny Shelton
Nyles Pinckney
Jamiyus Pittman
Gerald Willis
Not everyone will stick around, obviously. But this is more than sufficient competition.
That brings us to the end of this incredibly lengthy offseason two-parter. If you’ve managed to read through all of this, then I once again applaud you for your commitment. This plan gives the Dolphins a fighting chance to win in 2020 and beyond, if they’re willing to be this aggressive. The offensive line is fixed, the WR corps is bolstered, the defense is replenished; on paper this team is far beyond anything they’ve fielded in the past few years.
But until it happens, it’s all speculative. Just like Madden, however, that doesn’t stop it from being fun. With any luck, the Dolphins have a plan similar to the one that’s been laid out, and 2019 will be the only year that fans will have to sit through a miserable tanking season like this. Winning will come, if they can execute.
Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for six years. Follow him on Twitter:@LuisDSung
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/tua.png11242000Luis Sunghttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgLuis Sung2019-09-27 03:13:492019-09-27 12:15:07How to build the 2020 Miami Dolphins: NFL Draft
The 2020 Miami Dolphins are a Madden player’s dream.
I love Madden. I don’t love Electronic Arts as a video game company, but I love playing Madden. Like many of you reading this, I enjoy playing Madden because you get to take charge of an NFL franchise. That means you get to decide how the games are played, what the stadium ticket prices are, and – most importantly – who is on the roster.
In many cases, making transactions and shaping the roster in your image is more fun than playing the actual football game. At least, that’s how it is for me. So with questions abound as to how this gutted Miami roster will find its way back to power, I offer my solution. The Miami Dolphins will not have to stay at the bottom of the league for long with this plan. There will be no decade of bottom of the barrel play ala the Cleveland Browns.
In this first story, we’ll jump right into free agency. With nearly $120 million in cap space to work with, there will be a lot of signing happening. No longer are they under the dead cap of Ndamukong Suh and Ryan Tannehill. It’s time to start fresh. With this story discussing free agency, part two will discuss the 2020 NFL draft.
2020 Miami Dolphins Free Agency
First and foremost, it’s important to decide which positions need to be invested in with established veterans. Even with all the draft picks Miami has, they can’t address all of them in the draft. So, it’s time to see what’s available for the Dolphins to add in 2020. General Manager Chris Grier has already made it clear he intends to be “very aggressive” in free agency. It stands to reason some splashes will be coming.
“We’ve talked about building this long-term with sustained success right away, and for us, we’ll be very aggressive. We’re not going to sit here on a bunch of money or anything. The plan is to build a winner here. No one likes losing. We’ve talked about building a team that’s going to win and compete for championships for a long time instead of being in this one year, and then you fall back for two or three. Again, it is a long-term vision, but we will be aggressive.”
So expect a spending spree in Miami. But where? Let’s go position by position. Keep in mind, all of this is speculative, and things can (and will) change as time goes on.
Quarterback
We will discuss this position in more depth later. All that needs to be said, is that Fitzpatrick will be released in the offseason and put the Dolphins over $120 million in cap space, saving them $4 million. This is, of course, assuming Grier doesn’t miraculously find a team desperate for a backup QB willing to trade a sixth or seventh round pick for him. Unlikely, but stranger things have happened. Never know what could happen when someone snorts some of that ol’ Fitzmagic.
Rudock will remain as a part of Miami’s camp roster. And of course, there’s Josh Rosen. He stays. Nothing else to say until later.
Running back
Let’s start with Kenyan Drake. As talented and as explosive as he can be, he won’t be with the Dolphins in 2020. He will want to find a team who intends to give him the football, rather than keeping him inexplicably benched. But that’s okay, because as the old saying goes, running backs are a dime a dozen. Miami will still have Kalen Ballage, Myles Gaskin and Patrick Laird under contract. Granted, none of them offer what Drake does, but the draft usually brings a few playmakers that can fill that void.
The Dolphins can also easily re-sign running back Mark Walton for about $1 million or two, provided he stays out of trouble. So far, he’s doing a good job of that. Walton was impressive in the preseason, and his strength and speed make him a solid back. The New England Patriots are experts at making running backs look great, and if Miami is going to follow that model, Walton is a solid choice to pair with Ballage.
Gaskin and Laird can easily be the depth players.
Wide Receiver
Now things get interesting. In 2020, the Dolphins will have only four wide receivers under contract. Albert Wilson, DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, and Preston Williams. Two speed guys in Wilson and Grant, and two big guys in Parker and Williams. But, releasing Parker saves Miami $5 million in cap space. Releasing Wilson saves them $9.5 million.
Wilson’s ability likely makes him safe, but Parker can be replaced by Williams. That leaves two slots open. The Dolphins could bring back Isaiah Ford as an exclusive restricted free agent, and they likely will. However, why settle for that when there are other options available?
When the Dolphins drafted Parker back in 2015, the hope was he would develop into a true top receiver. Miami had been looking for a long time. Now they’re still looking. The time has come to find a proven, stud player to lock it down once and for all.
Enter Amari Cooper, who just made Xavien Howard look like a pedestrian cornerback this past week.
Cooper is being “intentionally patient” regarding his impending second contract, according to ESPN. And he has every reason to. Dallas thought he was good enough to give a first round pick to Oakland for, and since his arrival in Dallas, he’s been a superstar. In just 12 career games with the Cowboys, he’s made 69 catches for 963 yards and ten touchdowns (as of 2019 week three). On top of that, the wide receiver market continues to rise, with other superstar names such as A.J. Green and Emmanuel Sanders hitting the market in 2020.
According to Spotrac, market value for Cooper would be around a 5-year, $94 million dollar contract (rounding up). That averages out to approximately $19 million a year. That’s on par with the likes of Falcons WR Julio Jones and Saints WR Michael Thomas. Since contracts tend to go up, not down, the Dolphins would likely have to pay even more than those deals to land Cooper and make him the highest paid WR in the league. For the sake of numbers, we’ll give him a 5-year, $120 million dollar contract. That averages out to $24 million a year.
It would be worth it to get a player of Cooper’s caliber under contract long term in his prime.
True, Dallas will put up a fight to keep him, and Cooper’s rapport with QB Dak Prescott is strong. But money talks, and Miami is Cooper’s hometown team growing up. The temptation to make a massive payday and play on the team that featured some of his favorite players growing up (Jason Taylor, Ricky Williams, Sam Madison), it may be too much to resist. Cooper would instantly make things easier for Williams, Grant and possibly Wilson, and give Miami’s new young QB (whoever he may be) an elite target to throw to in his first season.
Tight End
As former Dolphins tight end Troy Drayton would say, the tight end is the most important player on the field. I’m sure every coach and GM worth their salt disagrees, but that doesn’t change the fact that Miami’s been searching for an answer at tight end ever since Charles Clay left back in 2015. Free agent signings since then include Dustin Keller, Jordan Cameron, and Julius Thomas. All three were big splashes that amounted to nothing for the Dolphins.
Now, Eric Ebron and Tyler Eifert are hitting the open market. Tempting, but hopefully Miami learned their lesson about free agent tight ends and decide against such a move. They will only have two tight ends under contract in 2020 (Gesicki and Smythe), so they will need bodies. But Ebron or Eifert aren’t it. They need to focus on developing both Gesicki and Smythe rather than spend big on another veteran that will likely fail. Gesicki looks better now that he isn’t being asked to block. He hasn’t looked great, but he hasn’t been targeted much either, so he can only be judged based on what he’s given.
The Dolphins should re-sign Nick O’Leary, give him a slight pay raise for his ability to block and be a solid role player in the 2020 Miami plan. Let’s give him a 2-year, $6 million dollar deal. After that, draft another one in the upcoming draft and find some cheap bodies to compete in training camp. Maybe someone will surprise the team, but tight end, for now, doesn’t seem to be a high priority. No need to spend big.
Offensive Line
Okay, let’s get serious. The 2020 Miami Dolphins need an offensive line. They need a good one, maybe even a great one. Their ability to draft offensive linemen is seriously in question. The only good one they’ve drafted in recent years, Laremy Tunsil, is gone now so they could get a boatload of picks. Miami needs to fill up the holes with legitimately good players for once. Proven players. So, the time has come to invest big money in fixing the line.
Holdovers from the 2019 line will likely be Wisconsin standout Michael Deiter, and versatile lineman Jesse Davis. Veteran center Daniel Kilgore becomes a cap casualty, with Deiter moving over to play center. Deiter is struggling somewhat at guard, and he’s already been forced to play left tackle out of necessity. As a center, Deiter started 16 games in college, so he has some experience there. If nothing else, he should be a lateral move from Kilgore, with higher upside.
That leaves two guard spots that need filling, as well as left tackle.
Left tackle is going to be filled with a veteran stopgap, except this time the player in question is going to be solid, more along the lines of Branden Albert than Bryant McKinnie. Colts left tackle Anthony Castanzo will be 32 years old come 2020, but he’s put in solid seasons at left tackle year after year, including 2019 so far. He’d be perfect to protect a young quarterback looking to make his mark in the league. He’s already done it once for Andrew Luck, there’s no reason he can’t do it again. A 2-year, $20 million dollar deal would more than suffice.
As for one of the guard positions, time for another big splash. Brandon Scherff, who’s a two-time Pro Bowler, is looking for a huge payday. Recently, news came out that the Redskins offered him a contract that would give him $13 million per year. That would make him the third highest paid guard in the league, right behind Jaguars guard Andrew Norwell and Cowboys guard Zack Martin.
There’s no indication as of yet that Scherff is interested in accepting that offer. The Redskins have given him multiple extension offers, this being the latest. Scherff seems determined to test the free agent market, and a brand new QB with hype attached could be a good incentive to accept a high offer from Miami.
A 5-year, $82.5 million dollar deal would make him the highest paid guard in the league, averaging $16.5 a year, and the Dolphins can afford to pay it. For too long, Miami has allowed the interior offensive line to fall by the wayside, and the quarterbacks have suffered as a result. If the Dolphins want to find success after this tanking effort in 2019, they must make the offensive line top priority, or it will all be for nothing.
There’s still one guard spot left, but that will be addressed later.
Defensive Line
Once again we have an interesting situation. Miami clearly needs defensive ends and edge players. Defensive tackle is fairly taken care of. Davon Godchaux and Christian Wilkins are a solid one-two punch as starters, and no doubt the Dolphins will find some cheap role players to fill out the rotation. The likes of Danny Shelton come to mind (at around a $4 million cap hit for 2020). Miami also has Jamiyus Pittman and Gerald Willis sitting on their practice squad. They will find bodies there.
But there are a lot of excellent players who will be available in free agency in 2020 as pass rushers and edge setters. Not the least of which is rising star Yannick Ngakoue, a pass rusher for the Jaguars who was voted to a Pro Bowl in 2017 when he put up 12 sacks during the season. In 2018, he followed up with 9.5 sacks.
"The Jacksonville Jaguars select Yannick Ngakoue, defensive end, @TerpsFootball"
2 seasons later, @YannGetSacks91 has 20 sacks and 10 forced fumbles to his name. pic.twitter.com/QScPYlKti9
This is yet another huge splash signing for the 2020 Miami Dolphins. The initial plan was to not have a lot of those, but after a season like the one they’re having now, impatience will set in. Plus, the talent of this free agent class is hard to pass up. Ngakoue is entering his prime, and he’ll be looking to break the bank. Even after spending big on Cooper and Scherff, Miami has more than enough to fit in a potentially elite pass rusher if he shakes loose from Jacksonville.
A 6-year, $132 million dollar deal would make him the highest paid pass rusher in football (barring Jadeveon Clowney’s likely extension with the Seahawks). The Jaguars could also simply slap the franchise tag on him to make him stay in 2020, but with the way players seem to have more power these days, it’s a gamble Jacksonville may not want to make.
After that, Charles Harris will still be around as cheap labor and Taco Charlton will likely get an offseason to prove himself against other players. Then there’s Robert Nkemdiche, who’s sitting on Miami’s PUP list and hopefully getting in shape. He also could have something to offer. Finally there’s undrafted free agents Jonathan Ledbetter and Dewayne Hendrix, who both showed substantial promise as developmental players. Miami will comb the market for edge setters no doubt, but Ngaukoue alone makes the Dolphins pass rush far more formidable.
And there’s still the draft to go.
Adding Shaq Lawson is another option if they can’t sign Ngakoue. He wouldn’t command as much money as Ngakoue, and has the added benefit of being able to set the edge. That versatility is a big deal for Miami.
Linebacker
We’re getting close to the end of this ride. With all the huge signings Miami’s made, surely there’s not a lot of money left. However, even with all these signings, the 2020 Miami Dolphins still have over $75 million in cap space. They will need around $20 million to sign their draft class, so subtract that and you still have $55 million. That number could also go up based on how the contracts are structured. In order to assure the spending did not go overboard long term, I have attempted to make the first year of the contracts significantly higher against the cap than most contracts have them. In theory, higher first years means lower later years, which is what ultimately matters. There’s no point in signing all these free agents if you have to part ways in a year or two.
This way, there’s still money to throw around. Will they though? For the linebacker position, probably not.
As it stands, the 2020 Miami Dolphins will have Jerome Baker, Raekwon McMillan, and Sam Eguavoen under contract in 2020. All three of those players have a specific role, with Baker being the best of the three. Since the 2020 Miami Dolphins are emphasizing the secondary more than anything, that means linebackers aren’t as important. McMillan is the run stuffer (effective, too), and Baker and Eguavoen handle sideline to sideline. Andrew Van Ginkel is still there too, waiting for his chance to show what he can do. Vince Biegel is also back.
Nothing to see here, let’s go to the secondary.
Cornerback
Xavien Howard is the team’s top cornerback, and he got a huge contract that has him ranked as the most expensive corner in the NFL. There were rumors regarding Jalen Ramsey joining the team via trade, but those have died down. Ramsey also isn’t set to hit the market until 2021, meaning he’s likely to either finally get traded to a team that will give him a long term deal, or the two sides will resolve their differences. Either way, Ramsey is unlikely to become a free agent anytime soon.
So what next for the 2020 Miami Dolphins? Obviously, cornerback is a need for Miami. Howard is a great player but isn’t perfect, as evidenced by his struggles against the aforementioned Amari Cooper. He’s still worthy of being looked at as a top corner, but he needs help. Eric Rowe isn’t cutting it. So, time to splurge! Enter another Cowboys free agent, Byron Jones.
Byron Jones was voted #97 on the 2019 NFL Top 100.
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) July 23, 2019
He’s not a household name like Ramsey, but Cowboys fans (as well as the brass) desperately want to keep him around somehow. According to reports, Jones has not even been approached about contract extensions yet, as they’re putting focus on Amari Cooper first. Now, if Cooper were to sign with Miami, they would have the money to re-sign Jones or put him on the franchise tag. But again, money talks, and with Dallas needing to spend to keep their offensive line intact for Prescott and Elliott, the 2020 Miami Dolphins can afford to throw more money at Jones than the Cowboys.
Jones doesn’t make a lot of interceptions like Howard does, in fact he’s only caught two his whole career, both as a safety. But when he made the transition to cornerback in 2018, he was voted to the Pro Bowl as a true shutdown corner. He’s continuing that in 2019. That’s an impressive feat. As he lacks the impressive numbers Howard has, Miami could get away with offering a deal a little lower. Perhaps around the $14 million per year range. But if he does demand more and wants to be the highest paid corner in the league, the Dolphins can accommodate.
For the sake of argument, we’ll give Jones a record-breaking 5-year, $80 million dollar deal. That puts him above Howard in total money and average salary ($16 million), and gives the Dolphins that deadly cornerback tandem they haven’t had since the days of Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.
If they can’t get their hands on Jones, then there’s always Trae Waynes or Marcus Peters to consider adding.
Eric Rowe can easily be brought back as depth to fill out the rest of the corner spots. He’s not sufficient as a starter, but as a backup he fits. Then there’s Chris Lammons, Jomal Wiltz, and Ken Webster. Webster in particular has some chatter surrounding him due to his measurables. And, of course, there’s still the draft.
Safety
We have made it ladies and gentlemen, the last part of the team worth significant investment. What was once a loaded position is now extremely thin. T.J. McDonald was shockingly released, then Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded for a first round pick. That leaves Bobby McCain and Reshad Jones as the team’s only starting caliber safeties. So what to do?
First off, the Bobby McCain experiment comes to an end. He’s serviceable, but not exactly a star at free safety. So, McCain goes back to the slot where he made his money now that Fitzpatrick is no longer around. As for Jones, he’s made it clear he’s in it for the long haul, so he also stays as a veteran voice, for now.
So who takes over at free safety? The highest upside name would probably be HaHa Clinton-Dix, who signed a 1-year, $3 million dollar deal with the Chicago Bears this offseason. Depending on his performance, he may want to stay in Chicago if they’re willing to pay him. But the Dolphins could go in a different direction altogether.
As has been noted countless times already, head coach Brian Flores hails from New England. He knows everyone there intimately. He’s worked with them, knows what they’re capable of. This includes a veteran free safety who’s been near the top at his position for a long time now. Pro Bowl safety Devin McCourty. The 2020 Miami Dolphins will lure him away with the promise of a large paycheck, similarly to Danny Amendola, and he along with Jones will be a dangerous tandem at safety.
Even at 32 years old, some are arguing that McCourty is playing the best football of his career. Through just three games in 2019, McCourty already has three interceptions. His ability to roam the field and make plays is unprecedented. With the Dolphins, McCourty’s presence would give Miami excellent production, a veteran voice, and time to find and develop a new, long-term safety.
McCourty will be 33 in the 2020 offseason, so a long-term deal would not be in their best interest. Three years at most will do. So the Dolphins give McCourty a 3-year, $36 million dollar deal. That puts him on par with Reshad Jones’s annual salary, and it ups the price on what New England was paying him. He’s getting older, he’ll want to make as much money as he can while he can.
And that puts an end to the 2020 Miami Dolphins free agency. Obviously this doesn’t account for depth players added at bargain basement prices. But even with all the splashes, and the impending draft class, Miami still has over $25 million remaining in cap space. With the salary cap going up every year, the Dolphins should be just fine to keep all their new players.
Where to watch: Saturday, September 28th, 2019, Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. Available on FOX/PBC PPV.
In the latest example of the renaissance of the Welterweight Division in Boxing, IBF World Champion Errol Spence Jr. will take on WBC Champion Shawn Porter in a unification bout on Saturday. On the face of it the odds on BetDSI show a possibly lopsided affair as Spence is a -909 Favorite, and you can get +594 by betting on Porter.
I see it a bit different. As a fan of “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas” Podcast, I agree with something Teddy Atlas often repeats on his show, which is that the “conventional wisdom is often wrong.” Spence is the taller, longer, “rangier” guy and therefore he should just box Porter’s face off. That is simplistic thinking.
Shawn Porter has a few tricks up his sleeve that he can employ. First of all, Porter has always had a good lead right, which is a Southpaw’s kryptonite (Errol Spence is a Southpaw), and secondly, every charge of being “dirty” that Errol Spence has lobbed toward Shawn Porter, is true. Porter mysteriously likes to leave his elbows up in clinches, he tends to grab-punch, and head butts can become common in a Shawn Porter fight. These are all tools he can use to equalize this matchup.
So, Spence should keep his distance and use a Jab to defeat Porter handily at range? Not necessarily. If Porter decides to “crowd” Spence, Errol Spence would be well advised to fight on the inside, as he can always keep the range as Porter tries to backup or escape exchanges. If he fights at a distance, he is susceptible to Porter employing his movement to ruin his range and nullify his power. Spence will have to engage to win this fight.
Now, make no mistake, Spence is a clear and deserved favorite. So how can Shawn Porter win? Well, there is one sure fire way he can lose. If he tris to fight an aggressors fight and push a pace by stalking Spence, he is opening himself to a knockout or stoppage. He would be wise to choose his exchanges carefully. His best bet to win is to “pot shot” Spence from angles, and employ his Jab to dictate the pace. His activity can win this fight, but only if he is dictating when the exchanges occur. Whenever he is going to deploy a combination, he will however have to close the distance, to get into Spence’s chest to avoid return volley’s. Make no Mistake, Shawn Porter is going to have to fight a near perfect fight to win, but he is very much capable of just that.
So what does a Errol Spence Jr. win look like? I think it looks like Shawn Porter attempting to press a pace by stalking Spence, attempting roughhouse tactics inside, and Spence finding the range with his Jab, and short hooks as Porter walks right into perfect range of his power punches. If this happens, Spence can and will get rid of Porter in short order. If Porter employs a smarter style, a win for Spence is likely to look more like a pure clinic in speed, accuracy and activity. It is possible that Spence is actually worth the ample betting lines and is just too good for Porter on Saturday. Either way, this is going to be a fun one to watch.
Prediction:Errol Spence Jr. by Unanimous Decision, 12 Rounds.
Bet the Fight with BetDSI
Use the Promo Code: YARDS101 (Match Bonus on 1st Deposit)
Alfredo Arteaga (@UptownReport) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Spence-v-Porter-775x425.jpg425775Alfredo Arteagahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlfredo Arteaga2019-09-25 10:13:592019-09-25 10:13:59Errol Spence Jr. v. Shawn Porter
Dolphins’ mind-numbing mistakes, disorganized defense lead to another embarrassing defeat in Dallas.
For a brief moment, there were indications the Dolphins were ready to play a competitive game. Maybe even capable of it.
Josh Rosen, in his first start for Miami, was avoiding rushers, making some impressive throws right on target.
Inexplicably, considering they fell behind 10-0, the Dolphins were on the brink of taking the lead before halftime Sunday at Dallas.
An assortment of forehead-smacking dropped passes and a killing fumble by Kenyan Drake prevented it from happening.
Then in the second half the team that was outscored 102-10 in the first two weeks reverted to form and got steamrolled again, 31-6 by the Cowboys.
Better off watching Tua
For the @TankForTua (Tagovailoa) crowd, the objective remains on track.
If you’ve been watching Alabama’s Heavin’ Hawaiian, he is providing validity to the strategy of throwing away a season for the chance to draft him.
After back-to-back games with five touchdown passes, Tua said he’s still learning and can get better.
As for these 0-3 Dolphins, the lessons of catching the ball and tackling remain elusive.
So after it appeared there might be some positives to point to in Week 3, there really weren’t.
It was good to see the offense making better use of Drake. Then he fumbled.
DeVante Parker made a terrific one-handed grab 40 yards down field. Then he dropped a perfectly placed pass over the middle that could have gone for a touchdown prior to Drake’s gaffe.
Rookie receiver Preston Williams has his moments, but he couldn’t hold onto another would-be touchdown pass long enough for it to be ruled a catch.
The mistakes are mind-numbing even for a team that has been stripped down for a total rebuild.
That’s D for disaster
And the defense is like it’s playing on the down slope of the roller coaster, prompting safety Bobby McCain to say, “I am concerned with the defense. Run defense, pass defense, it doesn’t matter. We give up 31 points, we give up 49 points, whatever it was, that is what I am concerned about. It’s not one phase of the game. Defensively, we got our ass whooped.”
It could be pointed out that this team wasn’t assembled to win anything at all.
But you have to wonder about this coaching staff’s ability to put together a cohesive plan and muster a competent effort.
You think of coach Brian Flores’ TNT gimmick that has players doing punitive runs in practice after mistakes that “take no talent.” Then you see a successful onside kick nullified by an offside penalty.
You also wonder about the decisions to get rid of certain players who supposedly weren’t in step with the program.
Such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, who after a short week of practice with the Steelers had an interception and forced a fumble in his debut at safety with Pittsburgh.
Mixed bag for Rosen
The expression on owner Steve Ross’ face during the second half in Dallas was one of “What have I done?” Yes, he was the one who ordered the drastic measures that have this season on course for historic futility.
Rosen, getting his first start for Miami, provided an intriguing reason to watch, and he was 11 of 22 for 156 yards in the first half, even with the drops. The second half went nowhere, and he finished 18 for 39 for 200 yards. No interceptions, at least.
“Some good, some bad. I’d say right in the middle,” Rosen said in evaluating his performance.
Rosen had to go off for an obligatory concussion evaluation and was fortunate he was well enough to be able to return.
The offensive line, already subpar, had left tackle Jesse Davis and right guard Danny Isidora go out with injuries.
The bottom line, the Dolphins have one touchdown in three games.
Perhaps it is a mistake to try to assess these Dolphins in the context of real games. Because what we’re seeing every Sunday feels unreal.
Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0073-3-scaled.jpg17112560Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2019-09-23 09:43:302019-09-23 10:39:37Dolphins’ failings run deeper than stripped down roster
Now, I know you’re going to mention the turnstile of an offensive line, or the complete lack of a run game, but that’s okay. Because as we’ve seen all offseason long, Rosen appears to be the better all-around QB. He has a better sense in the pocket and appears to be capable of making throws, Fitzpatrick is not. Yes, Flores has all but announced the veteran Fitzpatrick as the team’s Week 3 starter. And if the Dolphins truly are tanking, why make the change now?
Why not wait two more weeks until the BYE?
That all sounds well and good. However, if you’re one of the 53-men on Miami’s roster, you have to realize Fitz just doesn’t have his magic anymore. And no matter how badly you’d rather not trade away young talent like Laremy Tunsil or Minkah Fitzpatrick, losing won’t help matters. The young defensive back forced his way out of Miami, and several others could too before the process is complete.
Truth is, the Harvard graduate has not looked the same since retiring in South Florida. What we can’t fully understand however, is the type of leadership he brings to this team. And for as respectable as that might be, the time is now to make a change. Josh Rosen was once a top-QB prospect and was highly coveted in college. Since joining the Dolphins in April, Rosen has done and said, all the right things. Now is his chance to prove to someone, anyone, that he can be a starting QB in this league.
If you’re Miami, best case scenario he looks like something the team could potentially build upon. Maybe he shows enough to have an open QB competition next summer. Most likely, however, is that a team completely void of talent continues to flounder. Anything less than failure would be in-humane. The Dolphins need the #1 pick and Tua Tagovailoa.
But in the here and now, it’s time for change.
Unfortunately, the book has been closed on both #FitzMagics. And unless he has a similar case to Benjamin Button, there won’t be many more highlight moments from the 36-year old QB. However, the opposite holds true for Rosen.
Each and every year, we see QBs define odds and become top-tier talent in the league. Why not Rosen?
It’s time. Start ‘The Chosen One’
Josh Houtz (@houtz) still supports Josh Rosen, even if it is #Tankovailoa SZN
An interesting aspect of the Dolphins’ radical rebuilding project that must be recognized is it seems to have significant fan support.
This isn’t a scientific assessment, but it appears that the majority commenting on social media believe Dolphins management is doing what needs to be done.
Good for them, because it will take a high level of faith to endure the atrocities this team is committing to the game of football Sunday after Sunday.
One could argue how much of it is blind faith in a franchise that hasn’t gotten much right through a revolving door of executives and coaches over the past 20 years.
But I get it, fans are fed up with the old one-step-forward-and-two-steps-back routine.
So many of them are all in on writing off this season of epic humiliation for the promise of an influx of fresh talent through a boatload of draft picks and salary cap space accumulated via an epic roster purge.
Tanking shouldn’t be rewarded
Personally, I hate the concept of tanking that has become a trend in the various team sports. The NFL should institute a lottery system so that such a blatant dive for the top pick as the Dolphins are doing isn’t rewarded.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores is correct is saying that such a strategy is disrespectful to the game, even as he participates in one of the most extreme tank jobs that has been undertaken.
It’s worse than disrespecting the game, it’s a disgrace. Smart teams don’t have to tank to stay competitive.
The Dolphins haven’t been in that category for too long, so they have taken desperate measures.
As always with desperation, it’s a tenuous undertaking.
It’s also tougher to pull off in the NFL than in other team sports, particularly the NBA.
It was good to see Dolphins GM Chris Grier speak publicly Tuesday in the wake of the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade to let fans know there is a method to what has appeared to be madness in the roster turnover of the past few weeks.
Grier explained that the Dolphins couldn’t resist when the Texans kept offering more for Laremy Tunsil, and only ceded to Fitzpatrick’s trade request only after all the top brass, including owner Steve Ross, were unable to talk him out of it.
Those deals inflated their impressive cache of high draft picks, Of course, they will have to expend some to replace those young former first-rounders.
And you see gaping holes to fill everywhere you look on the depth chart.
There is a belief pervading comments on social media that the Dolphins will be much better next year after a draft that includes three first-round picks and two in the second and with ample money to spend on free agents.
Grier somewhat fed that notion Tuesday.
“I don’t know if you really put a time frame with it. For us, we’ve positioned ourselves to where we think the organization will be in a good place shortly,” he said.
“How long that takes? Like I said, we’ll be aggressive in free agency. Again, we’re not going to sit back and not do anything. We’re going to be proactive and try and get this turned quickly.”
Maybe they will, and I hope for this long disappointed fan base will finally be rewarded.
They certainly have a wealth of draft capital to play in the next two years.
It is a stretch to think you can turn them all into winning players.
Look at the handful of draft picks from the first three rounds that remain on this stripped down roster and only Xavien Howard can be considered Pro Bowl caliber.
This year’s draft produced immediate starters in Christian Wilkins and Michael Deiter, so that’s a positive.
Looking at previous years, Kenyan Drake has potential that hasn’t been fully utilized. Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan are contributors but nothing special so far. DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki and Charles Harris have fallen well short of expectations.
All of the rest are gone.
Yes, they have mined some gems in later rounds over the years, such as Reshad Jones and Jakeem Grant, and solid players such as Davon Godchaux and Bobby McCain, as well as Lamar Miller, Jay Ajayi and Rishard Matthews, the latter three long gone from Miami.
Draft a hit-or-miss proposition
But even the overall success rate of first-rounders is only about 50-50.
They will get their pick of the quarterback litter. They’d better choose wisely.
The best choice isn’t always the first one. Keep in mind, the Dolphins could have taken the quarterback who shredded them in Week 1. Instead, Lamar Jackson was available to the Ravens at No. 32 in 2018, when the Dolphins took Fitzpatrick at No. 11.
As for filling more needs with established players, experience here has shown that you have to overpay for prime free agents and they generally underperform.
What we know for sure is that a franchise that has had more than its share of bizarre chapters has never had one quite like this.
Grier has certainly heaped a mountain of pressure on his own back. Watching how he plays out this rebuilding game will be a lot more fascinating than anything the Dolphins do on the field the rest of this sorry season.
Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns
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This story is not here to take shots at any particular player.
Anyone who follows me on social media believes me to be critical of Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. I’ve made uninformed comments regarding his skillset that I have since corrected. Nevertheless, my personal philosophy leads people to believe that I am a “non-believer” of sorts. I make comments regarding what I have coined the “Cult of Tua,” because of the relentless hype surrounding this one quarterback. Not since Andrew Luck’s final year at Stanford has there been such a fanfare about a quarterback who has yet to join the ranks of the National Football League.
My frustration, such as it is, can be summed up from one GIF that I see on a regular basis while browsing Twitter.
At this moment, it’s necessary to reiterate that my issue is not with Tua the football player. That GIF of him winking by itself is not what fills me with trepidation. It’s what it represents by those who use it. The hype machine that has surrounded Tua is where I take issue, because I can see where this could go horribly wrong for the Dolphins.
There are those who remember how things are. I applaud you if you’re one of them. But for those who are already crowning Tua as the savior of the franchise, I urge you to open your minds. Tua may very well be the next elite NFL quarterback. He may become Miami’s next Dan Marino, and maybe even surpass him. We don’t know, and that’s the entire point. Remember to temper expectations.
Tua’s Potential
Without a doubt, Tua Tagovailoa is the best QB Alabama has seen in a very, very long time. The word “transcendental” is used to describe his potential. All that is well and good. No argument here. But consider what will happen when Tua leaves his college world where he reigns supreme and enters a much bigger pond. If Miami’s plan is indeed to draft him, then the level of talent around him – resources to replenish or no – will not equate to what he had in college.
That is important.
Tua may not struggle at all, he may just be so incredibly elite that he’ll light up the NFL the moment he steps foot on a football field. If that’s the case, the Dolphins hit the jackpot. But it’s unwise to assume that will be the case or even get hopes up for that. If there’s one thing that’s been made clear, it’s that fanbases are notoriously impatient. Dolphins fans especially so. Certainly, there are those who will be disappointed when/if Tua fails to perform up to the remarkably high standards he set at Alabama. They may even turn on him, calling him a bust because he didn’t do as a rookie what he did in college.
You may now be saying to your screen that you feel you’re being talked down to. Of course you don’t believe Tua will be the same player in the NFL that he is in college. Again, I applaud you for your open-mindedness. There are growing pains to be had, adjustments to be made. Indeed, Tua may not even win the starting job to begin the 2020 season. But it is imperative that no matter what happens, patience prevails.
History says?
Consider the QB prospects that have come out in recent memory.
Sam Bradford had every tool required to be an elite NFL QB, but it never materialized due to injuries.
Cam Newton was touted as one of the most athletically gifted quarterbacks ever coming out of college. He’s made it to a Super Bowl, put up staggering numbers and highlights. But now as he begins to struggle, the Carolina fanbase is turning sour on him.
Andrew Luck, the ultimate can’t-miss prospect. He was the chosen one, chants of “Suck for Luck” rang loud and clear throughout Miami as fans desperately wanted the Dolphins to do what they’re doing now – tanking – to get their hands on him. However, he instead replaced Peyton Manning, the previous most can’t-miss prospect, in Indianapolis. No one questioned Luck’s skillset. But his most successful seasons? His first three. Indianapolis went 11-5 his first three seasons, and it went downhill from there. The Colts only ever made it as far as the Conference Championship. Luck is now retired as his body is breaking down.
Speaking of Peyton Manning, perhaps he is the most appropriate example of all. Manning’s rookie season in 1998 was a miserable experience to watch. Oh, he showed his potential to be sure, but it was not pretty to watch him go through his growing pains. Naturally, in 1998, social media was not a thing. There was no Facebook, no Twitter, no platform for fans to speak their minds like there are now. But after that season, what would fans think of their young quarterback who was supposed to be the face of their franchise? Undoubtedly, they would think he’s a bust.
Manning went on to win two Super Bowls. But it took a little time for the success to materialize.
Temper Expectations
It’s okay to get excited about a new face, especially one as supremely talented as Tua. But it is imperative that fans and media alike refrain from putting him on a pedestal he has yet to earn. That is what leads to disappointment and heartbreak. Tua’s status as an elite college QB and NFL prospect is unquestionable. What he does once he reaches the NFL is not only up to him. Even Dan Marino, arguably the greater passer in NFL history, never won a Super Bowl.
Many have said that there is no such expectation being placed on Tua, it’s all in our heads. However, there is also the simple fact that everyone said they were ready for a tanking season. Now, many of those same individuals are unhappy because they didn’t know what tanking would entail. There are many of you who read this and are nodding sagely. Then there are those of you who feel that this story didn’t need to be written. There are even some who think that all this is wrong, that Tua is the savior and nothing can or will change your mind.
That’s fine, I’m not trying to change your mind.
Go on believing that Tua is the answer to Miami’s problems. He might be. But, remember to temper your expectations and not give up on him too soon if he struggles at the beginning. Tua’s wide receivers are some of the best in Alabama’s history, and his offensive line certainly exceeds the Dolphins. That factors into his success, believe it or not. It may not be the same for him when he arrives in Miami.
Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t allow your heart to be broken again.
Right. The tank-travesty of this Dolphins season is only two games in and already pushing historical levels of ineptitude.
It would be difficult to recall a more incompetent showing, particularly on offense, than Sunday’s 43-0 drubbing by the Patriots. That is, if memory was limited to less than a week and you’d already forgotten the Ravens running it up 59-10 against an all-but-invisible Miami defense in the opener.
Two first downs through the first three quarters against the Patriots. Two pick-sixes allowed (one of them should be charged to the receiver, not the quarterback). Seven sacks allowed.
So, 102-10 in the first two weeks at home. That’s how far this once-proud franchise has retreated in a strategic rebuild that must have been masterminded by Col. Klink.
Granted, an organization stuck in the throes of mediocrity for two decades needed to try something different. But in a league in which the system is geared for parity it should never be necessary for a team to strip itself to this depth.
For those who have bought into the process of rebuilding through the draft, it’s delusional to think these threadbare Dolphins are going to rise from this mess by stockpiling a handful of extra draft picks.
The way this season is going, there’s nothing for Dolfans to look forward to until next April 23 — draft night. But this isn’t a one-draft fix.
The Dolphins have turned themselves into an expansion team.
Early in my career I covered the Tampa Bay Bucs’ 2-26 first two seasons. That is what we’re looking at here.
Many holes to fill
There are no guarantees in the draft, anyway, particularly for an organization with a subpar record of picking talent, dating to the previous century.
Now there are so many holes to fill, and they seem to have no qualms about digging more.
Yes, they need to find a stud quarterback. But if you can’t put a team around him, what do you have? You have Josh Rosen last year in Arizona. Or this year in Miami.
Trading away a young left tackle like Laremy Tunsil seems counterproductive, regardless of the return of high draft picks.
Now there are indications of willingness to trade DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, another recent first-rounder, and perhaps running back Kenyan Drake as well.
If coach Brian Flores can’t figure how to make productive use of these talented young players, I’m beginning to question his aptitude as head coach. Can only imagine what his players are thinking.
The Flores era couldn’t have gotten off to a rockier start.
Sunday’s game looked like what happens when a major college team faces an outmanned FCS opponent.
Like Bethune-Cookman did against the Hurricanes on Saturday, the Dolphins hung with the Patriots for awhile in the first half.
But even when it was still close, it felt as if the Patriots could do whatever they wanted. Especially when the Miami offense could do nothing at all.
Miami Miracle distant memory
“I thought they played hard,” Flores said of his defense. “I thought the communication was better, the tackling was better. I thought they played hard, and it’s a good [New England] offense. We got them off the field a couple times.”
Can’t knock the effort of the defensive players, especially in the first half. Later, when the runaway train gathered steam, that unit was gassed.
On New England’s final touchdown, a 10-yard screen to James White, the Fort Lauderdale native had four blockers escorting him to the end zone. None of them could find a single white jersey to block.
By then, the memory of the Miami Miracle had morphed to the South Florida Sham.
In the fourth quarter, the TV camera showed Dan Marino, who looked like he’d eaten bad fish at halftime. With good reason.
Is there any logical explanation for Kalen Ballage flubber-handing a routine swing pass into a pick six?
And what’s with a receiving corps with an aversion for the ball? Rosen, in mop-up duty, put deep balls right on the mark to Jakeem Grant and Preston Williams, and neither made the catch. Earlier, DeVante Parker was unable to outwrestle a defender for a spot-on long throw from Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Give Rosen a chance
As for the quarterback situation, there’s no question Rosen should be the starter going forward. He’s more mobile and showed the arm strength and ability to deliver the ball on target down the field.
Not to say Rosen could rescue this already lost cause — or that Fitzpatrick is necessarily to blame for the offense’s woes.
If this miserable season is going to achieve anything, why not find out what the former 10th overall draft pick (of Arizona in 2018) Miami traded a second-round pick for can do and get him some experience?
After the game, Flores said Fitzpatrick is the starter, for now. That could change before next week at Dallas.
Maybe it’s not even in Rosen’s best interest to play, considering the inability of the line to protect either passer. He nearly blew out his knee scrambling out of bounds.
But it’s madness to keep beating one’s head against the same door and expecting it to open.
How many more weeks of this?
Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/EEiN6wGXoAAmDxD.jpeg13662048Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2019-09-16 09:46:112019-09-16 10:34:32There’s no quick fix for tanking Dolphins mess
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