New Miami? Looks like Old Miami as Hurricanes fizzle

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New Miami, meet the Old Miami.

For the second game in a row, and for seemingly the 15th year in a row, Miami will be left to think about the plays and points left on the field. At least against Florida it was a game where both teams repeatedly tried to blow the game to each other. In this instance, it was the Canes repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot.

Some of the mistakes were a product of a first-year head coach, a freshman QB, a new offense. Maybe those are excusable.

But for an experienced Front 7 to come out flat and get pushed around, for UNC’s freshman QB to open the game on fire, to fall behind 17-3 after UNC’s first 3 drives ended in FG, TD, and TD….that’s not acceptable.

And neither are dropped passes.

We’ll probably never be able to explain exactly how the Canes managed to lose a game where Jarren Williams went 30-39 for 309 yards, and 2 TDs while DJ Dallas and Cam’Ron Harris combined for 167 yards.

A complete meltdown in the kicking game will justifiably get most of the focus. Miami missed 2 very makeable FGs (including a chip shot for the second game in a row), went for it on 4th and short inside the 20 when they would have kicked a FG if they had confidence in the kicking game, and had an extra point blocked. Those 10 points lost ultimately prevented the Canes from taking hold of the game.

But it goes beyond that when you play the what if game:

· What if Jeff Thomas comes down with that deep pass on the drive that ultimately ends up running out of downs?

· What if Will Mallory catches the 2-point conversion?

· What if Jarren Williams hits Brian Hightower when he was streaking open on the last drive?

· What if Miami had just defended a 4th and 17?

· What if either of the “call stands” reviews went the Canes’ way? The first killed a good Miami drive, but the second was particularly cruel, as Mack Brown inexplicably was lining up to punt the ball back to Miami with no timeouts left late in the 4th quarter, all but ending the game. The review afforded him the opportunity to change his mind and UNC converted the 4th and 17.

This game can simply be summed up in this sentence: Miami spotted UNC 17 easy points and spent the final 3 quarters trying to overcome that deficit and their own mistakes, running out of chances when a final FG attempt sailed wide.

Same Old Song

The problem is a flavor of that sentence has summarized most Miami losses for the last 15 years.

Were there encouraging signs? Sure. In a vacuum a freshman QB in his second start rallying the team twice (for the go-ahead TD and tying FG) while throwing for over 300 yards is a building block. Particularly with the youth of the offensive line. And a first-time head coach should learn how to manage the clock better. That Miami ended the game with 2 timeouts is downright criminal.

In theory, these things should be encouraging, even if the result is not. Except we’ve been living this for too long.

Remember when the Canes rallied at Virginia Tech only to lose on a last second TD and Al Golden famously broke down crying in the press conference? That team went 6-6 and the only thing that changed in his tenure was the close losses eventually turned into blowout losses.

Before him was Randy Shannon. Remember in his first year, at this very same place in Chapel Hill, when the Canes fell behind 27-0 at halftime, and rallied to lose by 6? They were starting to get it! That team went 5-7 and missed a bowl game, and 4 years later, the Shannon Era ended after an overtime loss to USF, when the Canes similarly came out flat.

Those 2 coaches had one 9-win season each over 9 combined years as head coach.

Ten Games is a Lifetime

The kids fought, don’t get me wrong. Boy did they ever. On the mat repeatedly, often by their own hands, and kept getting up. There was almost a nobility in their flaws, in their ability to keep going, to not collapse under the weight of the self-inflicted wounds. A pride that this flawed team, with all the issues, would not quit.

Jarren Williams, Manny Diaz, and Blake James are linked now. If Williams, who quite clearly has talent, leaves this program without Miami being “back,” then Diaz and James should leave with him. Every hire dating back to the turn of the century has resulted in a firing or early retirement, and in this instance we actually repeated a strategy (hiring a successful Defensive Coordinator off the previously failed staff) that has already not worked.

Williams has time. Diaz has time. They can grow together, they can bring Miami back. But enough talk.

#TNM? That belongs in the dustbin of history with #Renewed and all the other false dawns for a program that is now more associated with hash tags and hot air then football results. Less focus on talking about how things have changed, more focus on actually proving it.

Stop talking about the labor and show us the baby.

For a program that was built on “Big Time Players Making Big Time Plays,” this is a program bereft of players that make winning plays on a consistent basis. And that is the next step…learning how to win. It’s an assumed progression that does not always happen. That close losses are learning experiences that turn into future wins. That there is a corner to be turned, and eventually, the program will turn it.

The Canes next 5 games are at home. Win those games, be 5-2 heading into the Pitt road game, and everyone will feel a lot better. That will allow the team to refocus on the preseason goal of a trip to Charlotte and a date with Clemson. Win some games and we’ll resume our role as Charlie Brown wildly flailing around while Lucy yanks the ball away.

Dolphins vs. Ravens

Week 1: Dolphins vs. Ravens – Top 3 players to watch

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This past week has been a rocky one for the Dolphins and the NFL in general. The difference between words and actions make reading Miami’s plan difficult. Are they tanking? Their actions say yes, yet coach Flores insists they are not. In any case, whether they’re tanking intentionally or not, 2019 is going to be all about player evaluation and development. It has to be, since winning is unlikely to be something they do a lot of.

So with that in mind, here are the top three players to keep an eye on as the Dolphins face the visiting Ravens to open the 2019 season.

Jerome Baker, LB

When facing off against a running quarterback like Lamar Jackson, containing him becomes crucial to success. If he finds a hole to run through, Jackson will take it and he will make the defense pay for letting him have it. That’s where Jerome Baker comes in. More than likely, the Dolphins will have extra defensive backs on the field throughout the game. That extra speed is very reminiscent of the Bill Belichick defense that Flores comes from. But Baker will be closer to the action, and his sideline to sideline speed and ability to shoot gaps and rush the passer will be crucial.

As one of the team captains, Baker is being looked at as one of the defense’s cornerstones. It will go as he goes. If his preseason performance is anything to go by, Baker could become one of the league’s best as time passes. Keeping Jackson in check will be quite a challenge.

Albert Wilson, WR

With Wilson listed as questionable with his hip injury, it’s unclear whether or not he’ll be back to full speed against Baltimore. Nevertheless, the reason Wilson is worth keeping a close eye on is because his future with Miami may be just as questionable as his game status. Wilson is under contract through 2020, but the Dolphins have made trades that suggest they aren’t beyond subtracting talent to add draft capital and cap space.

If Wilson shows signs of being back to his old self, and a WR needy team looking to contend comes calling, Miami may pull the trigger. Trading Wilson at this time would save the Dolphins around $7 million in cap space, and another draft pick would fall right in line with what Miami wants for the rebuild.

Isaiah Prince, OT

Prince went from a preseason backup to probable starter almost instantly. The Dolphins traded Laremy Tunsil, and now have only four tackles on the active roster. Prince is the only one besides Jesse Davis – who recently signed a three-year extension – who has experience in Miami’s offense. Thus, he’s the best candidate to start at right tackle on Sunday. That makes three rookies starting on the offensive line, the other two being guards Michael Deiter and Shaq Calhoun.

Prince had his ups and downs in preseason, but that’s to be expected for a young player. Prince started at right tackle for years at Ohio State, even getting a chance to protect first-round QB Dwayne Haskins. He showed steady improvement through college, but it’s no secret that OL coach Dave DeGuglielmo got frustrated with Prince a lot throughout camp and preseason. This will be a real test of what Prince is capable of. Depending on how he develops, he could be Miami’s long term right tackle, or further proof Miami needs to invest heavily in the trenches in 2020.

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

Minkah Fitzpatrick

How do Dolphins stop Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson?

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Heading into Sunday’s Week 1 matchup vs Baltimore, a lot of Dolphin fans appear to be more optimistic than they should.  After all, the team just jettisoned their elite left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Houston and churned the roster of talent, faster than the Amish churning butter on a cool Pennsylvania night. But unlike the Baltimore teams of the past, the 2019 Ravens have one of the more unique signal-callers in all of football.

His name is Lamar Jackson.

The Pompano Beach prospect was highly-regarded as one of the top-5 QBs of the 2018 class. And whether you believed in Jackson’s potential, or you were ignorant enough to believe a switch to WR was imminent. One thing is for certain, QBs like Jackson are the future of the NFL.

Which begs the age old question, how do you stop someone with his unique skill-set?

Maybe you use a spy, which frees up another play-maker to run rampant. Maybe, you blitz the heck out of him, in hopes that the rush gets there before he’s able to throw a 30-yard dot to his tight end.  Truth is, when trying to figure out the best way to stop Jackson, you would have to look back through history.  For this study, I ventured back to the 2018 season to focus on the Baltimore Ravens’ wildcard matchup vs the Los Angeles Chargers.

Here’s what I learned

For most of the game, the Chargers countered Lamar Jackson’s speed by utilizing six defensive backs.  This allowed Los Angeles to bring Derwin James down to the line of scrimmage, to help spy the speedy Jackson.  This wasn’t exactly a groundbreaking idea by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.  But up until this point, no one was able to counter his elite speed with a quick, sure-tackling defensive back. The Chargers used James as a hybrid linebacker.  And at times he would post up on the edge, drop back in coverage, or play man-to-man vs an opposing tight end.  Lucky for the Dolphins, they have a player with similar skills in Minkah Fitzpatrick. (Don’t @ me)

Here’s a look at some of the Chargers’ defensive sets, and take notice as to where the NFL’s DPOY of the year lined up.

Now, yes, this might be more difficult for the Dolphins, who only have six cornerbacks on the roster.  And with a guy like Minkah Fitzpatrick potentially taking on the “Derwin James” type role, someone will need to step up in the secondary.  The one name that surfaced a few days ago was Jomal Wiltz, the former New England Patriots defensive back.  Wiltz, possesses elite measurables and could have a significant role in week 1.

Obviously, mimicking what the Chargers did is in Miami’s best interest.  Furthermore, using Fitzpatrick in a variety of different ways is inevitable.  Flores should allow him to line up on the edge, which should help contain Jackson inside the pocket.  And when he does eventually decide to take off, Miami will have a plethora of players waiting to make the tackle– or so we think. This game plan might make the most sense. But what if Miami feels it will be unable to contain the rest of Baltimore’s offense.

After all, we know the Ravens have a triplet of tight ends in Nick Boyle, Mark Andrews, and Hayden Hurst. And although it seems like a no brainer for the Dolphins to try to replicate what LA did, that’s easier said than done. And like we saw with James during the wildcard matchup, when a TE motioned to his side of the field, he would drop back into coverage. So what if Fitzpatrick was tasked with keeping Andrews in check?  Who might Patrick Graham and Coach Flores call upon?  My guess, stud LB Jerome Baker.

 

When asked which player should have the biggest impact for the Dolphins in 2019, many people would agree it’s the standout LB from Ohio State.  Baker has consistently improved since being drafted in third-round (73rd-overall), and could be the team’s best defensive player by season’s end. With the emergence of Sam Eguavoen this offseason, Miami has more versatility than ever at linebacker. Truth is, no one knows the extent of McMillan’s injury or why he was a ghost for much of the offseason.  But what we do know, is that he’s better suited as a thumper and should fill the void left behind by tackling-machine Kiko Alonso.

There’s also the potential that Reshad Jones could play in the box as a third linebacker, and help alleviate some of the responsibilities. What will be most interesting, is how many exotic looks Flores and his staff throw at the second year QB.  After all, he may have had a great offseason as he continued to progress as a passer. But coupled with one of Miami’s defensive playmakers shadowing the duel-threat QB, throwing ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ Jackson’s way, should be the ‘Willie Wonka’ golden ticket.

In the end, no one can sit here and tell you definitively what the plan is to counter Lamar Jackson’s unique skill-set. But based off of LA’s success in the Wildcard Game, the conclusion is quite simple. Shadow him with one of your best defensive backs and bring pressure, early and often. So whether it be Jerome Baker as a spy, Reshad Jones in the box as a third LB, or Minkah Fitzpatrick in a Derwin James-type role, the Dolphins will have their hands full in stopping the Ravens franchise QB.

But let’s not pretend that it hasn’t been done before.

Spy the raven, never more.

Josh Houtz (@houtz) is a die-hard fan of the Miami Dolphins. Tank or no tank.

Raising Your Game: A shining example at the US Open

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Winning and losing are defining terms in tennis and separate who advances and who is eliminated from the draw.  Being a competitive singles tennis player at the highest level requires more than extraordinary athletic talent; the player must show mental and emotional aggressiveness; qualities most young girls are uncomfortable expressing.  Typically, girls are raised to be social and more cooperative over being competitive whereas as typically boys are encouraged to be the best, dominate and defeat their opponent without worrying about the emotional toll it might take on their friendship away from the game.  Moreover, girls may struggle emotionally since competitiveness can lead to social isolation or losing friendships due to jealousy, envy, or rejection.

 

Yet last week at the US Open, the very opposite occurred and maybe this is a positive shift in women’s competitiveness.

Naomi Osaka defeated Coco Gauff 6-3 6-0 to reach the quarterfinals in a match that will long be remembered more for Osaka’s heart-felt and supportive comments following the match than their baseline battle.  Osaka showed displayed grace, humility, and kindness as she warmly complimented and encouraged Gauff in a rare display of camaraderie.

 

 

 

If anything, this display of female encouragement, acceptance, and equality exemplified the best of female athleticism and hopefully will build a bridge to a future in women’s tennis and beyond in women’s sports as it showcased how the best players can show respect, admiration, and appreciate each other’s extraordinary athletic prowess  without fearing it weakens their competitive edge.

 

For more examples, check out our book, Raising Your Game.

 

 

Fantasy Football 2019: Five players that will impact Miami’s Week 1 Matchup vs Baltimore

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Over the last several days, the Miami Dolphins have completely revamped their roster. Unfortunately, this has created even more doubt around some of the key players that could impact your fantasy football lineup. On the other end of the spectrum, the Ravens have made all the right moves this offseason, setting themselves up for a deep playoff run in January.  The two teams couldn’t be more polar opposite.  But with a new NFL season on the horizon, no one can comfortably predict the outcome of this game.

Let’s take a look at 5 players that could help your fantasy football team in the Miami Dolphins Week 1 matchup vs the Baltimore Ravens.

Running Back, Kenyan Drake

Early Wednesday afternoon, Coach Flores met with the South Florida media to discuss their week one opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.  And although I’ve stated all offseason to avoid Miami’s backfield like the plague, I’ve failed to listen to my own advice.

On Tuesday, we learned that Kenyan Drake was listed ahead of Kalen Ballage on the Dolphins’ depth chart.  However, there would be plenty of opportunities for both backs to succeed.

Nevertheless, I was waiting anxiously to see what Flores said, before finalizing my lineup on Sunday Morning.

When Flores was asked how ‘physically and mentally ready Kenyan Drake was for the start of the season opener?’, he replied.

“I think he’s both physically and mentally ready. This is a guy who has as much talent as we have on our team. He’s fast. He’s physical. He’s explosive. He makes a lot of plays, and we’re looking forward to getting him a lot of touches this week.”

Say no more, Coach.  Say. No. More.

ESPN’s .5 PPR Projection: 11.2

Wide Receiver, Albert Wilson

If you don’t know by now, I am a big fan of Dolphins’ WR Albert Wilson. In fact, I wrote an article about Wilson earlier in the year, where I double downed on my claim that he would finish as a top-20 WR in fantasy football this season.

Now yes, that seems very unlikely given the Dolphins recent array of moves. Unless you take into account that Miami will be playing from behind early and often in 2019.  We also saw in his limited reps this preseason, that Wilson will have an opportunity to continue where he left off in 2018.  After all, Chad O’ Shea watched as the Patriots used Cordarrelle Patterson in a similar role, and should try to do whatever he can to get the football to his play-making WR.

Baltimore’s defense is good, but Albert Wilson is better.

ESPN’s .5 PPR Projection: 7

 

Quarterback, Lamar Jackson

Like most, I’ve been high on Lamar Jackson since before the 2018 draft. And despite being a huge fan of the Raven’s signal caller, I also love the prospect of a duel-threat QB at the helm of my fantasy football team. According to FantasyData.com, Lamar Jackson recorded 157.5 fantasy points in 7 career starts.  Furthermore, he rushed for 695 yards on 147 carries. A number that many believe will increase this upcoming season.

Jackson’s small sample size was quite the feat.  And heading into a Week 1 matchup against a Dolphins defense that is relying on veteran John Jenkins and Charles Harris to put pressure on the QB, it could be a long day for Miami’s secondary and front-7 alike.  What’s worse is that no matter how you approach the duel-threat QB, it only takes one play for him to alter a game and your fantasy lineup.

No matter which team the Ravens face, Lamar Jackson should be at the top of every fantasy football roster.

ESPN’s .5 PPR Projection: 18.9

Running Back, Justice Hill

The big signing in Baltimore’s backfield this offseason was 29-year old Mark Ingram.  And in an offense that many believe will be run-oriented, there will be plenty of opportunities for the other backs to do some damage in Greg Roman’s offense.  With that said, no RB has looked more promising this preseason than rookie Justice Hill.  Hill was drafted in the 4th-round (113 overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. His abilities as a pass-catcher, in addition to his ability to run between the tackles, makes him the perfect ying to Ingram’s yang.

In fact, I think by this time next season, Hill will be Baltimore’s starting RB.

Because after all, #JusticeBetter

ESPN’s .5 PPR Projection: 3.1

 

Tight End, Mark Andrews

If there was one position that Dolphins have struggled to defend over the last decade, it’s at tight end. And despite going one on one with Rob Gronkowski for the last eight seasons, I’m still not certain they know how to contain a physical TE down the middle.  Enter, Mark Andrews.  The NFL’s top rookie TE in 2018, Andrews has developed quite the rapport with QB Lamar Jackson this offseason.  And whether Miami chooses to use DB Minkah Fitzpatrick or a LB like Sam Eguavoen, it’s going to be hard for Miami to contain the 6’5 TE.  Andrews could be a solid DFS play and should be a must start in all fantasy formats.

Here’s to hoping this New England coaching staff, has the perfect antidote to counter these big-play tight ends.

ESPN’s .5 PPR Projection: 7.1

 

And let’s not forget about the KICKERS!

Kickers can often get lost in the shuffle, especially when it comes to fantasy football. But truth is, this game has two of the NFL’s very best going head to head.  On one side, the Ravens have Justin Tucker, who remains the premier kicker in all of football.  Then there’s Jason Sanders, who led the entire NFL this preseason with 36 total points.  We know the Dolphins are going to be bad this season, so who better than to have on your fantasy football team, than Sanders?

At a quick glance, Sunday’s forecast is predicting rain, which surprises no one in South Florida.  Nevertheless, both kickers should have a significant impact.  And although they don’t play a sexy position or one that will score you a ton of fantasy points, #Kicker’sLivesMatter.

ESPN’s .5 PPR Projection: Tucker 9.3 / Sanders 7.6

 

 

Josh Houtz (@houtz) loves the Miami Dolphins, almost as much as he loves Albert Wilson

Miami bye week was a staring contest between the Hurricanes and the Hurricane

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The Miami Hurricanes has an early bye week after opening the season in Orlando against Florida, but they were not without an opponent. 

The fear of Hurricane Dorian crashing towards Florida gripped the entire state, starting with South Florida. 

Miami head coach Manny Diaz said during Wednesday’s media availability that the did “did not miss a practice,” and praised the “people on campus” for their help and communication during the week of uncertainty.

“We all know from personal experience but on Friday during a team meeting, we put up a map and this thing was heading to West Palm Beach,” said Diaz, expressing concern for the families of his players who were in danger of Dorian’s wrath. “The fact that it didn’t come here, how that’s caused devastation for the Bahamas and still may cause devastation for the coast line. We’re not happy it didn’t come here but obviously it was on everybody’s minds and all our players minds as we’re preparing for this game.”

It was certainly a challenge dealing with an unavoidable distraction.

“It was a really an up and down time for the team,” cornerback Trajan Bandy said. “We didn’t really know what was going to happen.”

“We just had to prepare,” linebacker Shaq Quarterman said, “going to get your gas, going to get your snacks, the power goes out and having to come to a meeting. We came in each day and Coach Diaz would show the most recent, most reliable information on the storm and go to practice after that.”

The Hurricanes are slated to travel to Chapel Hill to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Dorian was seen to be moving as north as the Carolinas but Diaz doesn’t see it as something that will effect the game on Saturday.

“It shouldn’t be an issue and if you look at all the projections right now, I don’t see it affecting the game. All of our routines should be the same.”

Diaz will be coaching against his former boss, Mack Brown, who won his first game as UNC head coach. Diaz was the defensive coordinator at Texas from 2011-13 before spending a year at Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State before arriving to Miami. 

The Tar Heels started their season with a comeback victory over South Carolina. Freshman quarterback Sam Howell engineered two touchdown drives of over 90 yards in the fourth quarter and finished the game completing 15-of-24 passes for 245 yards with two touchdowns.

“He’s definitely a young quarterback, plays with a lot of passion,. He’s not scared to tuck it and run. He doesn’t run away from contact either,” Quarterman said. “When you’re dealing with a guy like that, you gotta be weary of coming out of pass coverage, first response it to the scramble.”

The Tar Heels will look to lean on their strengths in the ground game. They totaled 238 yards on the ground on 39 carries against the Gamecocks. Running back Javonte Williams led the charge with 102 yards. 

“They love to run the ball,” Quarterman said. “Whoever can run the ball, defend the run the best and tackle the best will win the game. That’s always been our theory.”

ESPN computer thinks tanking Dolphins will win too much

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If there is one bet to make on the Dolphins this season, the smart money would be on them having the worst record in the NFL and earning the No. 1 draft pick they covet to land the quarterback of their choice.

That’s the consensus of Las Vegas and online sports books.

Typical is vegasinsider.com, which has Miami’s Super Bowl odds at 500-to-1. The next longest shots are the Cardinals and Redskins at 300-to-1.

But then there is the mind-boggling computer projection by the ESPN Football Power Index that foresees the Dolphins’ tank job as an abject failure with the team blundering through a typically mediocre 8-8 season.

Opinion: As Dolphins pin hopes on draft picks, expect rough ride for next two years

The immediate reaction is that fortunately that wasn’t the computer model being counted on to forecast Dorian’s turn to the north.

ESPN runs the complete NFL schedule of 267 games through its simulator 20,000 times to come up with game-by-game projections.

Notably, they revealed the outcome of just one of those 20,000 simulations. Which seems rather whimsical.

It is also ludicrous to think there is any basis to foresee how a team that has turned over nearly a fourth of its roster just since its final preseason game will perform.

Nonetheless, the ESPN soothsayer has the Dolphins coming out of the box strong in not only winning the opener over the Ravens 20-14, but the following week giving Brian Flores an emotional 38-28 conquest of the New England Belichicks.

Obviously, the computer is high on FitzMagic.

This hard-to-fathom possibility is worth pondering only because the NFL is the most unpredictable of the major sports leagues.

And to wonder, how would Dolfans react if their team were to start out as an unforeseen overachiever?

Would it be a welcome surprise? Or would having the visions of Tank For Tua plans go suddenly awry be more disconcerting than the prospect of a season of losing?

One other thing to note from the ESPN simulation, the computer has the Houston Texans winning the AFC South with a 10-6 record. Which means those draft picks obtains in the Laremy Tunsil/Kenny Stills trade would be late-rounders, which isn’t at all far-fetched.

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

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Preseason

Is there hope for Dolphins fans in 2019?

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First things first. The Miami Dolphins are tanking. Secondly, they just went plaid having gone from light speed to ludicrous speed on the tanking.

I write this, still recovering from the news that Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills were traded to the Houston Texans for a couple first round picks, a second round pick and a partridge in a pear tree. I write this as LB Kiko Alonso was then traded to the New Orleans Saints for another LB who I believe had as many tackles last year as I had attempts at intermittent fasting, which ironically was a means for me to drop some LBs of my own. Finally, I write this after having seen a tweet by Dave Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel suggesting that a recently signed Xavien Howard could be next.

In all honesty, I feel like I am losing hope on this franchise.

Look, I’m not here to dissect the trade, specifically the Tunsil and Stills moves, and pretend to forecast that these are prescient moves by Chris Grier. It could very well turn out to be the heist of the century because after speaking to some of my friends who are Texans fans, they feel that this trade gets them to a wonderful 6-10 record. So if those players aren’t going to elevate the Texans to the next level, then I’m downgrading from extremely pissed to simply annoyingly irritated.

I get it. These are moves to stockpile picks like those survivalists canning, pickling and dehydrating food in anticipation of Y2K. The horde of draft picks are currency that will be used to guarantee that the Dolphins in the 2020 draft will be able to nab the quarterback they want (Tua Tagovailoa) or one of the other heralded players that I will probably be listening to Three Yards Per Carry debate over. And don’t think that I won’t fall in love with some QB with off the chart measurables and intangibles but is unfortunately from a school so small that it is accessible only by a six dog drawn sled but should nevertheless be drafted because Chris Kouffman says we should draft him.

But there is no certainty and nothing is guaranteed! Ask Laremy Tunsil. Too soon?

My frustration in all of this is that for the nearly 40 years that I have been a Miami Dolphins fan I cannot remember a time when this franchise was devoid of hope. And I’ve suffered through a lot as a fan.

I remember the lock out year and the quarterback who had what I would guess would be the inspiration for Ray Finkle’s mustache. Never lost hope. I remember watching Dan Marino blow out his achilles and took to blaming the Cleveland Browns turf as the culprit. Never lost hope (nor did I have hope in Scott Mitchell).  I remember consistently coming up short against the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs, being embarrassingly present for one of the losses. Never lost hope. I lived through 1-15 and the nightmare of Cam Cameron. Never lost hope. I sat disaffected when Nick Saban actually followed through on his word by not becoming the University of Alabama head coach but taking Wayne Huizenga’s plane to sign the contract. Never lost hope. I lived through a lot as a Dolphins fan and did so to the soundtrack of Rick Weaver and Hank Goldberg. Kids, that was a time when the Dolphins did not sell out enough to lift the blackout on television and some of us were forced to listen on something called a radio. But I digress. Anyway, I never lost hope.

The reason I write all of the above is that the common thread amongst all of those wonderful memories is that I could at least fall back on the fact that we had talent, which resulted in hope. We had Marino. We had the defense that Jimmy Johnson built. We had Saban drafting everyone from the SEC and anyone with the letters S-E-C in their name. We had Bill Parcells applying fixes along the way. So honestly, I cannot ever recall the aqua and orange purposely making moves to–ah screw it–overtly tanking.  Yes there were periods of rebuilding. But I, and likely other Dolphins fans, saw them more as periods of re-loading because, again, we had some great talent to build around. Looking up and down the depth chart I am at a loss. So you can appreciate when I, and I’m sure many other Dolphins fans as well, fell out of my chair screaming when the ESPN alert came across my phone with the announcement.

Am I to feel a little better that we were very active in claiming a bunch of players off waivers?  Will the hope come from this group? Likely not.

So where is the hope? Chris Grier has been here for many years, outliving many key people and I honestly do not know if he’s done enough to earn my loyalty or trust to give him a pass on all of this. Hell, we lived through so many iterations of what was supposed to pass for a competent offensive line and it still hasn’t been fixed. Then we turn around and trade our one given? Are we to assume that Brian Flores, coming from the Patriots system will bring the Patriots mindset, schemes, and, hopefully, luck? I guess so. Perhaps this Vince Biegel guy who we acquired in the Alonso trade turns out to be our Rob Ninkovich? Who knows? I don’t. There are too many unknowns. And I don’t like unknowns. I like certainty. Ok, give me 90% certainty. The 90% will give me some hope.

I hope that when we fast forward past the root canal and proctological exam that will be the 2019 season, that we come out on the other side with our franchise quarterback, a new left tackle and a bevy of other players via draft or free agency. I really hope that this happens and there is nothing but success and the front office would look like geniuses.  I then wouldn’t mind looking back at the absurdity of this piece, question why I would write it in the first place and, rather than explain me away as just being a knee-jerk jerk, will look to chalk it up to cabin fever having watched Hurricane Dorian coverage on television and Twitter for two straight days.

Perhaps that is my excuse. At least, I hope.

The S Stands for Selective: How MLS Invented Modern Football

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MLS invented modern football.

While the eyes of Miami have been fixated on the birth of Inter Miami CF and their stadium situation, a growing dialogue regarding promotion and relegation in American soccer is believed to be a fix-all for fans who are disgruntled with Major League Soccer.

Many of the concerns held by fans are valid. The MLS regular season means nothing. In the grand scheme of international football, a MLS Supporter Shield is about as relevant to greatness as Netflix touting the number of accounts that streamed the latest Adam Sandler project its first weekend.

Sure, it sounds impressive. But if winning the UEFA Champions League is the soccer equivalent of Avengers: End Game’s historic global box office, then the prize for the best regular season in MLS is the Bruce Springsteen inspired film Blinded by the Light. Which coincidentally for this argument, Blinded by the Light was directed by Gurinder Chadha of Bend it Like Beckham fame.

Who much like Beckham’s determination to bring professional soccer to Miami, bet the reputation of past work on a faulty concept that historically hasn’t showed great returns.

Beckham and the MLS

With all of that said, the current single-entity business model provides Beckham a protection not afforded to his film-making counterpart. And that truly is what sets MLS apart and why it’s profitable. At this point you may be wondering what the league’s business model has to do with promotion/relegation and overall competitiveness. And the answer is everything.

 

Earlier this month when St. Louis was awarded an MLS franchise, it paid a reported $200 million to join the league. A payment that is distributed among the other franchises and the league itself. Like with expansion in other sports, the buy-in serves as an investment in the league and reserves that ownership group a franchise in the league for the foreseeable future.

Where this business model runs into trouble from the fans perspective is when owners believe their team would be better-suited playing in another city, a la Anthony Precourt and the Columbus Crew.

 

While ownership groups drum up civic enthusiasm as a means to secure public financing for their stadium, the hard truth is that an MLS club is about as representative of a community as your local fast-food franchise. Especially in a league like MLS, where portions of players salaries are still paid by the league and not the team.

Relegation in MLS?

In order to put in place a kind of promotion and relegation system, the league would need to assure owners who have paid cover charges of up to $200 million that their bottom line and fan interest would be protected.

Especially in cities like Miami, New York and LA, that would be exceedingly difficult, given all of the other entertainment options. I would have a hard time imagining a packed stadium in any of those cities to watch a side that has been relegated to Division 2 soccer on a Saturday night. So relegation of any kind appears to be off the table.

 

It would be one thing if MLS had a buy-in and then was fiscally irresponsible. But it’s conservative approach under Commissioner Don Garber’s administration to stabilize the league in the mid-2000s that has proven to be the key to unlocking a new concept for American soccer: stability.

MLS vs the international market

In a time where the international transfer market ballooned from a million to a billion-dollar business, America’s professional league chose to implement a salary cap when the league began in 1996.

 

Has this hindered the league’s short-term prospects at times? Definitely. But in an era where the ownership of football clubs internationally seems to be in revolving dollar of billionaires, MLS is growing.

 

Just this past week, English sides Bury F.C. and Bolton Wanderers both saw their past, present and future potentially go up in smoke. Of the two, only Bolton was able to reach a last-minute sale to avoid being expelled by the English Football League and liquidated. These financial downfalls came after relegation battles lost and ambitious spending to reclaim their former glory came up fruitless.

 

In an era where we hear more about $100 million transfers than struggling clubs who shutter from spending outside of their means, a conversation about the legitimacy of the salary cap in professional soccer needs to be had.

What MLS can teach international soccer

But is it possible to put a spending cap on the Real Madrid’s and Manchester City’s of the world without it appearing that a league or FIFA is punishing success and affluence?

 

And how would it be possible for an organization like FIFA to regulate a salary cap when they can’t even control their own internal corruption?

 

By the same accord, a salary cap league usually only works when owners are buying into a centralized league like the NBA or MLS. This is due largely to the fact that clubs in Europe are their own corporations rather than a subsidiary of a centralized and closed league.

 

This results in clubs that haven’t bought in, like Miami FC and the New York Cosmos, left out in the cold creating an access problem that trickles down to player development.

 

So how with all this talk of business strategy and making sure that a league maintains financial stability does MLS make a Sunday afternoon game in April between the New York Red Bulls and the Chicago Fire mean something?

 

It doesn’t. Because for the owners of the franchises and the executives of the league, they’ve already won before a ball is ever kicked.

By Deny Gallagher

Read more soccer-related articles clicking here. We’re getting ready for the arrival of Inter Miami to our city. What would you like to know about the team? Let us now! 

John Denney appeared in 224 games for the Dolphins, second-most behind Dan Marino.

Here’s why Dolphins will miss John Denney

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We won’t see the likes of John Denney again on the Dolphins.

The 14-year veteran long snapper, released Monday, was an anomaly in the NFL — cynically referred to as Not For Long.

Denney was the ultimate specialist whose name didn’t show up in the scoring summary but often had a hand in shaping outcome of games. He was so adept at one skill, as the fulcrum for decisive kicks and game-altering punts, he appeared in all 224 games since joining the team as an undrafted rookie in 2005.

Only Dan Marino played in more games for the Dolphins.

Denney, 40, was virtually anonymous until his rare longevity made him a fan favorite. Now he is one of the last familiar names to depart in the stunning turnover of the Dolphins roster since the end of last season.

“To be thinking I was going to be a long-term guy in Miami was unforeseeable,” Denney told me in a 2016 interview.

As an undrafted defensive end who could also snap, his hope was “to maybe get a couple bucks under my belt to get a down payment on a house or a new car.”

Instead, the Weston resident stuck around through the regimes of coaches Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin — plus interims Todd Bowles and Dan Campbell — and Adam Gase until the end came at the onset of the Brian Flores era.

It is indicative of the futility of the franchise this century that Denney only experienced two playoff games, both losses.

More from Maven: As Dolphins pin hopes on draft picks, expect rough ride for next two years

Denney’s wife an Internet star

It appeared Denney would continue his unforeseen run with the team when rookie Wesley Farnsworth, the latest threat to his job, was released Saturday.

It remains possible the Dolphins could re-sign Denney as the roster churn continues. But it didn’t sound likely Monday when he thanked the team for the opportunity he was given and the support of Dolphins fans over the years.

It has become rare for much to be known about the lives of players beyond their exploits on the field, except for elite quarterbacks and a few other select stars. Scan the Dolphins’ roster as it stands today and it’s a sea of faceless names.

While many players don’t last the average three seasons, Denney and wife Christy have had five kids during his time with the Dolphins.

It is a reflection of the obscurity of the position he plays, that despite being a two-time Pro Bowl selection his wife may be the most recognizable or well-known figure in his own household.

Christy is an all-star on the Internet with her food blog, The Girl Who Ate Everything, which she started in 2008 and generates several million page views a month. It has been featured in a half-dozen national publications and nine of her recipes have been “pinned” more than a million times on Pinterest. She has a cookbook that sells well on Amazon.

Denney much preferred to operate under the radar because long snappers only receive attention when they make a bad snap. He didn’t have many of those.

While the average fan may take the snapper for granted, every successful kick begins with him. His importance was evident when the Dolphins needed Andrew Franks to make a field goal on the final play to defeat the Cardinals in 2016.

It was only a 21-yarder, but the ball and the field were wet from rain throughout the afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium. Denney felt he had a decent grip on the ball and was ready to make the snap when the Cardinals called time out.

“The ref picked the ball up and had it under his towel, which was soaked, so it was serving no purpose. Then it started raining harder,” Denney said. “The second time the ball was a mess. It was a sloppy situation.”

Denney got the ball back to holder Matt Darr, who set it down and the winning kick was made. Franks got the credit, and Denney was more than happy to remain inconspicuous.

Content in obscurity

“I don’t expect anyone to know who I am. The hardcore Dolphins fan can pick me out. But it doesn’t happen often at all,” Denney said in the 2016 interview.

It wasn’t by accident that Denney stuck around so long. During this year’s training camp, Flores singled him out as one of the hardest workers on the team as far as conditioning and preparation.

At 6 feet 5 and a chiseled 242 pounds, Denney was more likely to be mistaken for a basketball player than a Dolphin.

But he didn’t just snap the ball and head for the sideline. He was credited with 49 tackles on special teams. He forced a fumble in 2012 and recovered three fumbles, including a game-changer in a 27-23 win over Atlanta in 2013.

There is no allowance made for sentiment in the NFL. Players are interchangeable parts, continuously being swapped out for a newer, sleeker model.

Denney was that reliable old lawn mower that still got the job done.

Even though we barely noticed him over the many years, he was a constant that will be missed.

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

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