You're the GM in 2014: How do you fix this team?

[ONole1]

How would you approach this offseason as a GM: Trades? Draft. Free Agency. How do you fix this team?

(for the purposes of this, pretend Philbin/Sherman/Coyle return)

Sorry, if this coaching staff returns you don't fix it in 2014.

 

[mrbunglez]

Sign a McDonalds franchise and eat all the chicken mcnuggets i want.

 

[HoneyB]

The most important thing to be corrected in 2014 is the running game. It's been lackluster for years, and this year it's completely collapsed. Whoever is responsible for THAT, should be fired.

If I'm the GM, I fire Sherman, his relative the QB coach, and Turner. If Philbin balks at that and doesn't see the mistakes and feels Sherman did everything exactly as he'd have done, then he goes too.

As far as the QB, it's true QB's can be game changers, but they don't grow on trees. So take that one day at a time. But it was plain to me, that on Sunday Newton won the game for his team and Tannehill didn't. It was Cam Newton posing with pictures with Shula, not Ryan. It was Newton dancing after a TD, not Ryan. It was Newton with a "W" on the board, not Ryan. If that didn't leave a bitter taste in your mouth, then you're in a coma.

 

[SMadison29]

Pre-Draft
1 - make LT Branden Albert the top priority
2 - resign Paul Soliai, our run defense is not the same without him & the Randy Starks type DT is much easier to replace
3 - resign CB Brent Grimes
4 - release OT Jonathan Martin; get rid of a poor offensive lineman & distraction
5 - resign FS Chris Clemons
6 - notify CBs Jamar Taylor & Will Davis that they are on notice & expected to beat out Carroll for the nickel spot & push Patterson for a starting spot
7 - reside to the fact you have to resign G John Jerry. There aren't any free agent guards worth anything other than Jon Asamoah & Matt Slausen which aren't all that great & we don't want to enter 2014 with two rookies starting at guard & one at RT. Plus Dallas will overpay for one of them.
8 - avoid spending big money on a RB because they don't last long
9 - have Philbin avoid the temptation of going after a 30 year old WR James Jones
10 - cap permitting, sign DT Odrick to an extension before he hits free agency in 2015

Draft
11 - draft an OT early that will start at RT but has the ability to play LT (preference would be Taylor Lewan, Cyrus Kouandjio, Brandon Scherff)
12 - draft a run blocking guard capable of starting at LG week one in the 2nd or 3rd round
13 - draft a balanced DT to replace Randy Starks in the 2nd or 3rd round
14 - draft a true big back in the middle rounds to go with Lamar (Carlos Hyde, Andre Williams)
15 - draft a speedy slot receiver to guard against Brandon Gibson not returning in time for the season; with the great depth expected in the WR class the speedy slot receviers should be pushed down to the later rounds so target Robert Herron, Josh Huff, or Tevin Reese

 

[Hayden Fox]

I am not married to the 4-3. Changing to a 3-4 might be a way to utilize more talent currently on the roster IF Soliai can be re-signed.

 

[Xbrett82us]

If I were the GM I'd start myself at MLB and fullback....so you don't want me as GM i don't think.

 

[SMadison29]

I am not married to the 4-3. Changing to a 3-4 might be a way to utilize more talent currently on the roster IF Soliai can be re-signed.

But Vernon doesn't fit the 3-4. Ireland made a mistake this offseason, no surprise, by resigning Misi to an extension who is okay at best. Dion Jordan should be learning to play SLB & be used similar to Von Miller. Having three good pass rushers on the field at all times is a better proposition than yo-yoing back & forth between defenses.

 

[Hayden Fox]

But Vernon doesn't fit the 3-4. Ireland made a mistake this offseason, no surprise, by resigning Misi to an extension who is okay at best. Dion Jordan should be learning to play SLB & be used similar to Von Miller. Having three good pass rushers on the field at all times is a better proposition than yo-yoing back & forth between defenses.

I disagree about O.V., but if you are right in your assessment, I would not make O.V.'s skill set stop me from moving to a 3-4.

I would re-sign Soliai as a NT. Odrick is a great fit for 3-4 DE. Wake and Jordan would be my OLB's. Ellerbe and Misi would be moved inside. I would attempt to trade O.V. player for player and cut Wheeler.

I love O.V. He is improving, but the team might be better off with a 3-4. Just a VERY early thought.

I can be sold on 4-3 or 3-4. Teams spend more time in the Nickel anyway.

 

[matt11390]

First I would resign Grimes, Carroll, Soliai, and Clemons. Second I would trade Wake for picks. I would trade him to a contender so he had a chance to win. He deserves that. The goal is to move Jordan into Wake's spot. Defense is set. Third I would focus my draft on the OL and a seem TE.

 

[matt11390]

By the way my thoughts on the defense is based on moving back to a 3-4 scheme with Vernon and Jordan as OLB and Misi and Ellerbe as MLB.

 

[normaniii]

Fire Coyle. I dont think he a poor coach, but he has underacheived with the talent available and our players are best suited to a 3-4 IMO.

I would go against the grain and keep Sherman. We forget that we have the worst tackles in football, no O'line depth, no blocking TE, FB or RB and this has to be addressed and IMO him staying would be best for RT.

I would re-sign, Starks, Nolan Carroll, Chris Clemons, Brent Grimes, John Jerry, Paul Soliai, Will Yeatman.

Release Dimitri Patterson, Daniel Thomas, Jonathan Martin, Michael Egnew.

I wouldn't sign any Free Agent for more than a 1 year contract. I would pick up players with a point to prove, much like Grimes & Keller this year and then re-assess at end of season. Pick up players released after the initial flurry of throwing money away.

With the players re-signed, it would keep our Defensive side of the ball in tact. A 3-4 front 5 of Starks, Soliai, Odrick, Wake & Jordan should cause havoc. This would be massively enticing for any 3-4 DC. Can you imagine a Wade Phillips or a Rex Ryan with this front and a secondary of Grimes, Jones, Clemons & Carroll.

I would finally build through draft. With my defense in place, I would concentrate only on offense. Next years draft his high on OT in 1st round. I would love Kouandijio and plug him in at RT. I would have in mind an O'line next year of McKinnie, Garner, Pouncey, Jerry, 1st rnd pick. Dallas Thomas, Brenner, Will Yeatman, plus any OT willing to compete on a 1 year contract, would back up.

I would move Clay to H back and aim to draft a TE in round 2. I would love Austin Seferian-Jenkins. With Dion Sims they would provide a nice pairing.

I would then draft a RB, G, legitimate FB and another WR. I would also consider QB with this years class. Someone to backup and in future push RT. I want much like Pete Carroll said, competition in every position.

 

[Phins89]

Considering this team spends double on defense than it does on offense, you go ALL OFFENSE in FA/ Early draft.

--Get Starks or Soliai.
--Resign Grimes for 2 more years. Also resign Clemons. Keep him and Jones together.
--We still got McKinnie, Pouncey, Jerry. Gonna need a LG and a RT. Get one FA and one early in the draft (go Round 1).
--Incognito isn't coming back most likely. Even if he does come back for the rest of the year. Gonna miss him.
--As for RB...I have no idea. Try and get MJD or draft a RB in round 2.
--Resign Keller.

 

[Dmarino110]

Getting rid of Sherman is a must.

But as far as personnel goes, I'd sign an OT, draft an OT, sign a G, draft a G, and make sure to keep Soliai. I'd keep Grimes unless there is any elite corner on the market we can get for similar money (I don't know of any hitting the market this year). Draft a DT in in the middle rounds, and find a RB to work with Miller.

wouldnt it be better to have pouncy move to guard where his pulling ability could be much better used and pick up a center?

 

[MexDolfan]

1) My first action without doubt would be to sign Brent Grimes until 2017.
2) Install Dolphins' Culture Commission leaded by players and a pair of assessors. This commission would serve to avoid future cases like Martin and create a better environment.
3) Assuming Gary Kubiak's days as Houston HC are numbered, then replace Jim Turner with current Texans' OL coach John Benton.
4) Move Mike Sherman to HC Assistant; bring Gary Kubiak as Offensive Coordinator. Mike Sherman would focus on helping Joe Philbin and follow up Ryan Tannehill's development.
5) Add better medical staff for the team, focused on rehab & conditioning.
6) Bring back some of my own free agents: Paul Soliai, Pat Devlin, Chris Clemons, Nolan Carroll.
7) Inquire for Jimmy Graham's price and bring Dustin Keller back after double-checking knee.
8) Hire OL free agents: Ryan Harris, Eugene Monroe & Charles Brown. In order to distract negotiations, inquire for Jordan Gross & keep talks with Tyson Clabo's agent.
9) Hire RB free agent: Darren McFadden.
10) Hire KR/PR specialist free agent: Ted Ginn Jr.
11) Trade a late round pick for Justin Blackmon.
12) Upgrade the staff of scouts/headhunters to explore every potential draft gem.
13) Draft plan: BPA in each round, trading down a pair of times during draft and focusing on filling: RB, OL(2), DL(2), LB (2).
14) Add enough quality UDFA to compete for backup spots at RB, OL, LB & CB(2).
15) Hire an agent in New Zealand to find within rugby league a K/P with superior quality than ours.
16) Explore options to move some training camps to a high city in South America, in order to promote the NFL and get additional conditioning.

 

[MexDolfan]

Fire Coyle. I dont think he a poor coach, but he has underacheived with the talent available and our players are best suited to a 3-4 IMO.

I would go against the grain and keep Sherman. We forget that we have the worst tackles in football, no O'line depth, no blocking TE, FB or RB and this has to be addressed and IMO him staying would be best for RT.

I would re-sign, Starks, Nolan Carroll, Chris Clemons, Brent Grimes, John Jerry, Paul Soliai, Will Yeatman.

Release Dimitri Patterson, Daniel Thomas, Jonathan Martin, Michael Egnew.

I wouldn't sign any Free Agent for more than a 1 year contract. I would pick up players with a point to prove, much like Grimes & Keller this year and then re-assess at end of season. Pick up players released after the initial flurry of throwing money away.

With the players re-signed, it would keep our Defensive side of the ball in tact. A 3-4 front 5 of Starks, Soliai, Odrick, Wake & Jordan should cause havoc. This would be massively enticing for any 3-4 DC. Can you imagine a Wade Phillips or a Rex Ryan with this front and a secondary of Grimes, Jones, Clemons & Carroll.

I would finally build through draft. With my defense in place, I would concentrate only on offense. Next years draft his high on OT in 1st round. I would love Kouandijio and plug him in at RT. I would have in mind an O'line next year of McKinnie, Garner, Pouncey, Jerry, 1st rnd pick. Dallas Thomas, Brenner, Will Yeatman, plus any OT willing to compete on a 1 year contract, would back up.

I would move Clay to H back and aim to draft a TE in round 2. I would love Austin Seferian-Jenkins. With Dion Sims they would provide a nice pairing.

I would then draft a RB, G, legitimate FB and another WR. I would also consider QB with this years class. Someone to backup and in future push RT. I want much like Pete Carroll said, competition in every position.

I understand your point, but unless you know something that I ignore, it's almost impossible to get both Soliai and Starks back. Explain this please.