This Is How The Dolphins Plan To Tank This Year

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article225285760.html

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There have been doubts among fans the Dolphins — or any NFL team — could actually plan to tank. Don’t doubt it.

Multiple sources have confirmed that the words “tank,” or “tanking” were used during Miami’s recent round of head coach interviews. It did not come up in every interview. But it came up.

It was discussed.

About that tanking ... It needs to be defined.


Many Dolphins fans believe “tanking” to mean that the coaching staff, players, and everyone in the organization will do what is necessary to lose. That is an artificial approach the Dolphins are definitely not going to take.

The Dolphins aren’t going to throw games on purpose.

Miami’s approach to tanking will be organic.

The club will not dive into the deep end of the free agency pool in 2019, as I reported inartfully in my column Tuesday morning.

So every significant roster need the Dolphins have now — offensive line, defensive line, cornerback, quarterback — will not be filled with the best (highest-priced) player available at the position.

That is a departure for Miami.

That might mean trading down in multiple rounds of the coming draft to add extra picks either this year or next year.

That means filling needs now with the best players available in the draft so they can form a foundation for a great team in the future.

So offensive linemen.

Defensive linemen.

Foundation pieces.

And what about the quarterback position?

A source within the team said this week that Ross loves the idea of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being on the Dolphins if he’s available in the 2020 draft. The source said he heard Ross say so.”


Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/...-salguero/article225285760.html#storylink=cpy

Seems kind of like what we would expect. Hopefully we just don't hover around mediocre. If we don't want to win anything in 19 - dont draft Murray (or any other qb high) and roll with Falk or whoever else we may want to develop as a back up qb. Build up the rest of the time like the article suggests

Duh.

I do think, however, with some of the firepower at WR (Wilson, Grant, Drake), if you have basic competence at QB, we might win a few more games than expected. Especially if the o-line is infused with some young talent.

oasis said:

Duh.

I do think, however, with some of the firepower at WR (Wilson, Grant, Drake), if you have basic competence at QB, we might win a few more games than expected. Especially if the o-line is infused with some young talent.

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We haven't had a competent QB in a really long time at least not consistently competent. If we're waiting until 2020 to draft a QB I don't see us acquiring one prior to that.

We only won 6 games this year while we were trying hard to win and with a team that had plenty of veteran players. Take away most of those vets and start a very young QB and we'll be hard pressed to win more than 2 games. It's not really losing on purposed but just a fact that when you go with mostly young players and no real QB then you're just going to lose a lot.

Travis34 said:

Seems kind of like what we would expect. Hopefully we just don't hover around mediocre. If we don't want to win anything in 19 - dont draft Murray (or any other qb high) and roll with Falk or whoever else we may want to develop as a back up qb. Build up the rest of the time like the article suggests

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That's how I see it. That's what I'm in favor of. D-line, O-line this draft (maybe a corner if that's BPA).

Competent lines, on both sides of the ball are a young QBs best buds. Let's give our next "chosen one" a fighting chance when we throw him out there, because you know fans' are not going to listen to any more excuses.

Travis34 said:

Seems kind of like what we would expect. Hopefully we just don't hover around mediocre. If we don't want to win anything in 19 - dont draft Murray (or any other qb high) and roll with Falk or whoever else we may want to develop as a back up qb. Build up the rest of the time like the article suggests

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It's our Fins, they'll screw up losing. We'll finish 7-9 trying not to hard to win!

Imagine the look on Ross' face next season if we are pulling out games we are not supposed to win.

Similarly on this site

I hate the idea of trading down. More likely than not, that's going to lead to additional mediocre pieces going forward. One great player won't kill the tank. Trade up but just make sure you are trading toward positions that make sensible for a trade up, and not something like offensive line.

Which is why it makes more sense to use this year's draft capital to put yourselves in a position next year to be more flexible. Given the depth of DL and the general value of interior OL, we should be looking to move from 13 to 28-34 range.

The Saints gave GB the 27th pick in 2018, a 5th rounder and what turned into the 30th pick this year to move to 14. That's a worst case scenario for GB and still appears to be favorable on the asset scale.

The more likely route would be for Miami to move multiple times and acquire multiple picks. An extra 3 and 4 this year and extra 2 and 3 next year is possible should go a long way to helping us rebuild the roster.

Goff, Mahomes, Wentz, Trubisky, L.Jackson, Darnold and Allen were all acquired in trade ups.

It's more likely we have to go that route and if we do, I'd rather have already given up the picks then be giving up future picks

You want to win the super bowl, win the draft.

Let's pretend like having the 13th pick is a magical omen for the franchise and let's use it to rebuild this thing.

Danny said:

Take away most of those vets and start a very young QB and we'll be hard pressed to win more than 2 games

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NFL talent level is so balanced it's very difficult to win 2 games or thereabouts. The Cardinals this season won 3 games yet had a worse point differential than the 0-16 Browns of 2017. Cleveland managed to lose all the very tight games, especially early in the season before demoralization sets in. But that is not normal to fall on the wrong side of each field goal type game.

For the Dolphins to truly execute a tank, a good reference point is to score only half as many points as you allow. That is the definition of a miserable team. We need to be scoring basically 14 per game while allowing 28. That will put our offense a full touchdown below league norm, and the defense nearly a touchdown above norm. Do that type of thing all season and the tank has a chance to be successful. But if we have a season with only a modest point differential like this season -- roughly -100 range as opposed to the necessary --225 area -- then we'll stumble upon some demoralizing wins.

Kyndig said:

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article225285760.html

“
There have been doubts among fans the Dolphins — or any NFL team — could actually plan to tank. Don’t doubt it.

Multiple sources have confirmed that the words “tank,” or “tanking” were used during Miami’s recent round of head coach interviews. It did not come up in every interview. But it came up.

It was discussed.

About that tanking ... It needs to be defined.


Many Dolphins fans believe “tanking” to mean that the coaching staff, players, and everyone in the organization will do what is necessary to lose. That is an artificial approach the Dolphins are definitely not going to take.

The Dolphins aren’t going to throw games on purpose.

Miami’s approach to tanking will be organic.

The club will not dive into the deep end of the free agency pool in 2019, as I reported inartfully in my column Tuesday morning.

So every significant roster need the Dolphins have now — offensive line, defensive line, cornerback, quarterback — will not be filled with the best (highest-priced) player available at the position.

That is a departure for Miami.

That might mean trading down in multiple rounds of the coming draft to add extra picks either this year or next year.

That means filling needs now with the best players available in the draft so they can form a foundation for a great team in the future.

So offensive linemen.

Defensive linemen.

Foundation pieces.

And what about the quarterback position?

A source within the team said this week that Ross loves the idea of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being on the Dolphins if he’s available in the 2020 draft. The source said he heard Ross say so.”


Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/...-salguero/article225285760.html#storylink=cpy

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Skipping elite FAs is a strategy many have advocated for years. Many of us were against the Wallace/Suh signings because Miami was not one elite player away. Even in a 'typical' year, I want no elite FAs. Nonetheless, I expect some FA signings during OS.

Notable by it's absence is a reference to purging the roster. The closet I can find is " veterans with higher priced contracts that have not exceeded the value of their deals." That needs to be done by every team, tank or not. And even Tannehill's defenders know 'average' is about his best. Regardless of what some believe, no one has ever considered him elite. If the goal is "tank," the article doesn't give evidence of it.

Some have already said Miami has talent at skill positions, whether some admit it or not. If the next QB is 'average' and the new coaching staff is better than Gase's, 6 wins isn't unreasonable. And if 1-2 of the '19 draft end up being above average, that increases the odds. I still don't see 'tank' in the generally accepted definition and this article doesn't change that. Now, if someone want to argue Miami's goal is to increase the odds of 7 wins or less and be close enough to the top 5 to be able to move up easily, I'll accept that. Even then, advertising Tua is THE target increases his price.

But, Miami doesn't have many tradeable assets. When we consider accounts like this article mention Tannehill, Branch, and others as contracts to jettison, trade value plummets. I'll be surprised if guys like Tunsil and Fitz are traded. Who is left that can generate a 2nd or 3rd? Not enough to generate multiple high draft picks. And remember, the targets are 'veterans with higher priced contracts that have not exceeded the value of their deals."

Fans will know soon. Trading X will be a clear indication. An excessive number of cuts will be an indication. Gutting entire position groups (e.g., Jones, TJM ) will be an indication. All I see is Tannehill, excessive contracts, and no overspending on FAs.

The Ghost said:

Which is why it makes more sense to use this year's draft capital to put yourselves in a position next year to be more flexible. Given the depth of DL and the general value of interior OL, we should be looking to move from 13 to 28-34 range.

The Saints gave GB the 27th pick in 2018, a 5th rounder and what turned into the 30th pick this year to move to 14. That's a worst case scenario for GB and still appears to be favorable on the asset scale.

The more likely route would be for Miami to move multiple times and acquire multiple picks. An extra 3 and 4 this year and extra 2 and 3 next year is possible should go a long way to helping us rebuild the roster.

Goff, Mahomes, Wentz, Trubisky, L.Jackson, Darnold and Allen were all acquired in trade ups.

It's more likely we have to go that route and if we do, I'd rather have already given up the picks then be giving up future picks

You want to win the super bowl, win the draft.

Let's pretend like having the 13th pick is a magical omen for the franchise and let's use it rebuild this thing.

Click to expand...

I think trading up, or down (or staying put for that matter) can all be useful tools when employed at the right time.

I don't mind trading back a few picks in the first, for a good price this year, but if BPA fits a need, don't get cute either.

How do you coach players to TANK.
I think you would have players demanding trades.

allsilverdreams said:

How do you coach players to TANK.
I think you would have players demanding trades.

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Which is was the "We're Tanking" crowd will be sadly disappointed.

Anyone in the Miami Dolphins organization who used the words "Tank" or "Tanking" while interviewing HC Candidates has to be one of the dumbest mother $%$%# on planet earth. How in the world could someone inside a professional sports team, discuss that with people outside the organization? That has to be one hell of A STUPID pie hole and should be FIRED IMMEDIATELY!!!