### This is a change: Thanks largely to Ryan Tannehill’s development, the Dolphins enter an offseason with more pressing needs on defense than offense. But Miami must address guard, and other decisions loom on Tannehill’s side of the ball.
We addressed how Miami can fill its defensive needs in a Dec. 21 post and examined first-round draft options in a post three days ago. Here's a look at where Miami stands offensively heading into the offseason:
### Offensive line: The Dolphins must acquire at least one starting guard, because Mike Pouncey said moving from guard back to center next season is “the only option.”
One of the 2015 starting guards might come from a group including Shelley Smith, rookie Billy Turner and guard/tackle Dallas Thomas. It would be very surprising if Daryn Colledge returns.
But the Dolphins need to invest in a proven starter at one of the guard spots, and impending Broncos free agent and former UM standout Orlando Franklin would make sense. He thrived after moving from tackle to guard this season, and Pro Football Focus ranks him 13th among 79 guards.
The 49ers’ Mike Iupati might be the most prominent free agent guard but his good work in run blocking was offset somewhat by deficiencies in pass blocking (seven sacks).
There are other decent options, including free agents Clint Boling(Cincinnati) and James Carpenter (Seattle) and a draft class headed up, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper, by FSU’s Josue Matias, South Carolina’s AJ Cann, FSU’s Tre’ Jackson, LSU’s Vadal Alexander and Texas A&M’s Jarvis Harrison. UM’s Jon Feliciano is seventh on Kiper’s list of guards.
The Dolphins stopped their left guard rotation against Minnesota and the Jets, opting to play Colledge the entirety of both games and not using Smith at all, unlike the two previous games. PFF ranked Smith 54th and Colledge 74[SUP]th[/SUP] among guards and Smith’s $3 million cap number puts him at risk.
Finding a No. 3 tackle better than Thomas and free agent Jason Fox is essential because even though doctors are optimistic Branden Albert will be ready for the start of next season, that isn’t certain.
### Quarterback: The Dolphins are expected to pick up the fifth-year option on Ryan Tannehill, which would pay him in the $16 million range for 2016. (The deadline is in four months.) The Dolphins could escape paying that if Tannehill bombs next season, but the money is guaranteed if he suffers a major injury that would sideline him in 2016.
The question is whether the Dolphins offer him a long-term contract before the 2016 option deadline. Expect that to at least be considered.
Tannehill’s career is projecting on an arc similar to Atlanta’s Matt Ryan. Their second-year numbers were virtually identical.
And look at how their third-year numbers compare: Ryan’s third year: 28 TDs, 9 interceptions, 3705 yards passing, 62.5 completion percentage, 91 rating. Tannehill’s third year: 27 TDs, 12 picks, 4045 yards, 66.4 completion percentage, 92.9 rating.
So the Dolphins passed on Ryan in the 2008 draft but may have drafted someone ultimately comparable to him.
Matt Moore had the team’s fifth-highest cap number this season ($5.5 million) and said he doesn’t yet know whether it would be more appealing to return here as a backup or compete for a starting job elsewhere.
### Running back: With Miller establishing himself as a starter, there’s no need to pursue a pricey starting back from a free agent group include DeMarco Murray, Frank Gore, Ryan Matthews, Justin Forsett, Mark Ingram and Stevan Ridley.
Though they like the upside of Damien Williams as a receiver and third-down back, he averaged only 3.4 yards per carry and the Dolphins will explore adding another No. 2-type back, either through free agency (Shane Vereen, Ahmad Bradshaw and Bilal Powell are among options) or through the draft.
Kiper’s top eight backs: Georgia’s Todd Gurley, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah, Alabama’s TJ Yeldon, UM’s Duke Johnson, Southern California’s Javorius Allen, South Carolina’s Mike Davis and FSU’s Karlos Williams.
### Tight end: If the Dolphins can re-sign Charles Clay --- who wants to be here --- they’ll have a solid tandem with Clay and emerging Dion Sims. “We feel good about our tight ends,” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said. But the Dolphins haven't yet made an offer to Clay.
Clay could be the third or fourth-best tight end in this free agent class, behind Denver’s Julius Thomas, Cleveland’s Jordan Cameron and arguably Cincinnati’s Jermaine Gresham.
Others set to become free agents: ex-FAU standpoint Rob Housler, Washington’s Niles Paul, Carolina’s Ed Dickson, Baltimore’s Owen Daniels and St. Louis’ Lance Kendricks.
The draft’s top tight ends, per Kiper: Michigan’s Devin Funchess, Notre Dame’s Ben Koyack, FSU’s Nick O’Leary, Ohio State’s Jeff Heuermanand Rutgers’ Tyler Kroft. UM’s Clive Walford is 10th on Kiper’s list.
### Receiver: With Jarvis Landry’s emergence, the expectation is the Dolphins will purge at least one veteran receiver for cap reasons, with Brandon Gibson very much at risk, and Brian Hartline now also is in jeopardy.
And Mike Wallace is also in jeopardy now because of his sideline antics, including last Sunday's tantrum that resulted in him not playing in the second half.
Before closing strong Sunday with five catches for 94 yards, Hartline was marginalized for much of the season for reasons beyond his control. He was targeted just seven times in the first four games in December --- compared with 36 throws to Landry --- and he has just three catches for 20 yards in those games.
He finished with 39 catches for 474 yards and two touchdowns and his $7.4 million 2015 cap number is awfully high if he remains an afterthought in Lazor’s offense.
Rishard Matthews remains good value ($673,000 cap hit next season) but has been disciplined by the team several times over the past three seasons, including a benching against Minnesota.
As noted in Tuesday's post, free agent options will include Torrey Smith, Kenny Britt, Randall Cobb, Reggie Wayne (who said he will play only for the Colts), Hakeem Nicks, Eddie Royal, Michael Crabtree, Nate Washington and Wes Welker.
With franchise tags at their disposal, it's difficult to imagine Dallas losing free agent Dez Bryant, Philadephia losing Jeremy Maclin or Denver losing Demaryius Thomas.
Three 6-3 receivers are considered potential first-rounders: Louisville’s 6-3 Devante Parker, West Virginia’s Kevin White and Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...ins-1.html#.VKdQax6OVwE.twitter#storylink=cpy
We addressed how Miami can fill its defensive needs in a Dec. 21 post and examined first-round draft options in a post three days ago. Here's a look at where Miami stands offensively heading into the offseason:
### Offensive line: The Dolphins must acquire at least one starting guard, because Mike Pouncey said moving from guard back to center next season is “the only option.”
One of the 2015 starting guards might come from a group including Shelley Smith, rookie Billy Turner and guard/tackle Dallas Thomas. It would be very surprising if Daryn Colledge returns.
But the Dolphins need to invest in a proven starter at one of the guard spots, and impending Broncos free agent and former UM standout Orlando Franklin would make sense. He thrived after moving from tackle to guard this season, and Pro Football Focus ranks him 13th among 79 guards.
The 49ers’ Mike Iupati might be the most prominent free agent guard but his good work in run blocking was offset somewhat by deficiencies in pass blocking (seven sacks).
There are other decent options, including free agents Clint Boling(Cincinnati) and James Carpenter (Seattle) and a draft class headed up, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper, by FSU’s Josue Matias, South Carolina’s AJ Cann, FSU’s Tre’ Jackson, LSU’s Vadal Alexander and Texas A&M’s Jarvis Harrison. UM’s Jon Feliciano is seventh on Kiper’s list of guards.
The Dolphins stopped their left guard rotation against Minnesota and the Jets, opting to play Colledge the entirety of both games and not using Smith at all, unlike the two previous games. PFF ranked Smith 54th and Colledge 74[SUP]th[/SUP] among guards and Smith’s $3 million cap number puts him at risk.
Finding a No. 3 tackle better than Thomas and free agent Jason Fox is essential because even though doctors are optimistic Branden Albert will be ready for the start of next season, that isn’t certain.
### Quarterback: The Dolphins are expected to pick up the fifth-year option on Ryan Tannehill, which would pay him in the $16 million range for 2016. (The deadline is in four months.) The Dolphins could escape paying that if Tannehill bombs next season, but the money is guaranteed if he suffers a major injury that would sideline him in 2016.
The question is whether the Dolphins offer him a long-term contract before the 2016 option deadline. Expect that to at least be considered.
Tannehill’s career is projecting on an arc similar to Atlanta’s Matt Ryan. Their second-year numbers were virtually identical.
And look at how their third-year numbers compare: Ryan’s third year: 28 TDs, 9 interceptions, 3705 yards passing, 62.5 completion percentage, 91 rating. Tannehill’s third year: 27 TDs, 12 picks, 4045 yards, 66.4 completion percentage, 92.9 rating.
So the Dolphins passed on Ryan in the 2008 draft but may have drafted someone ultimately comparable to him.
Matt Moore had the team’s fifth-highest cap number this season ($5.5 million) and said he doesn’t yet know whether it would be more appealing to return here as a backup or compete for a starting job elsewhere.
### Running back: With Miller establishing himself as a starter, there’s no need to pursue a pricey starting back from a free agent group include DeMarco Murray, Frank Gore, Ryan Matthews, Justin Forsett, Mark Ingram and Stevan Ridley.
Though they like the upside of Damien Williams as a receiver and third-down back, he averaged only 3.4 yards per carry and the Dolphins will explore adding another No. 2-type back, either through free agency (Shane Vereen, Ahmad Bradshaw and Bilal Powell are among options) or through the draft.
Kiper’s top eight backs: Georgia’s Todd Gurley, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah, Alabama’s TJ Yeldon, UM’s Duke Johnson, Southern California’s Javorius Allen, South Carolina’s Mike Davis and FSU’s Karlos Williams.
### Tight end: If the Dolphins can re-sign Charles Clay --- who wants to be here --- they’ll have a solid tandem with Clay and emerging Dion Sims. “We feel good about our tight ends,” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said. But the Dolphins haven't yet made an offer to Clay.
Clay could be the third or fourth-best tight end in this free agent class, behind Denver’s Julius Thomas, Cleveland’s Jordan Cameron and arguably Cincinnati’s Jermaine Gresham.
Others set to become free agents: ex-FAU standpoint Rob Housler, Washington’s Niles Paul, Carolina’s Ed Dickson, Baltimore’s Owen Daniels and St. Louis’ Lance Kendricks.
The draft’s top tight ends, per Kiper: Michigan’s Devin Funchess, Notre Dame’s Ben Koyack, FSU’s Nick O’Leary, Ohio State’s Jeff Heuermanand Rutgers’ Tyler Kroft. UM’s Clive Walford is 10th on Kiper’s list.
### Receiver: With Jarvis Landry’s emergence, the expectation is the Dolphins will purge at least one veteran receiver for cap reasons, with Brandon Gibson very much at risk, and Brian Hartline now also is in jeopardy.
And Mike Wallace is also in jeopardy now because of his sideline antics, including last Sunday's tantrum that resulted in him not playing in the second half.
Before closing strong Sunday with five catches for 94 yards, Hartline was marginalized for much of the season for reasons beyond his control. He was targeted just seven times in the first four games in December --- compared with 36 throws to Landry --- and he has just three catches for 20 yards in those games.
He finished with 39 catches for 474 yards and two touchdowns and his $7.4 million 2015 cap number is awfully high if he remains an afterthought in Lazor’s offense.
Rishard Matthews remains good value ($673,000 cap hit next season) but has been disciplined by the team several times over the past three seasons, including a benching against Minnesota.
As noted in Tuesday's post, free agent options will include Torrey Smith, Kenny Britt, Randall Cobb, Reggie Wayne (who said he will play only for the Colts), Hakeem Nicks, Eddie Royal, Michael Crabtree, Nate Washington and Wes Welker.
With franchise tags at their disposal, it's difficult to imagine Dallas losing free agent Dez Bryant, Philadephia losing Jeremy Maclin or Denver losing Demaryius Thomas.
Three 6-3 receivers are considered potential first-rounders: Louisville’s 6-3 Devante Parker, West Virginia’s Kevin White and Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...ins-1.html#.VKdQax6OVwE.twitter#storylink=cpy
ossum4286:
good ole matt ryan.
