A Phins Question of Age & Timing?

[So Be]

Miami is a very young team with a lot of young talent. On O, the only player who will be 30 next year are More and Watkins, who may not even be here. On special teams, we have the "Old Man" in 36 year old Denny, who is otplaying guys almost half his age in coverage.

However, D is somewhat different. Wake is 31 but locked into a good contract, and no problem at all. We also have OV, Jordan, and some more depth there. Starks will be 31, and Soliai 30 next year. Both should be around the same for another year/two but, are FA's and will be costly to keep. There is no young talent at DT/NT.

LB is fine age wise but with no depth at all. Trusnick and Wheeler will be 30.

Grimes will be 31, and has been Great but, for how much longer? Patterson will be 31 as well, and with injury problems. Not comfortable with two 31 year old CB's. We have some options here, depending on how Taylor and Davis pan out, and Carroll has played pretty well.

The biggest question here is if we can be legit contenders in the next few years. If so, I believe we should do everything possible to keep the D together. IF Ellerbe and Wheeler improve, as I expect them to, this D can dominate. Add that into the O catching up, and we should be in very good shape.

 

[MiZFiT]

No young talent at DT? Odrick is stout and im sure Ireland can find another DT in the draft. Thats a position he knows how to draft well for, not worried there.

 

[So Be]

No young talent at DT? Odrick is stout and im sure Ireland can find another DT in the draft. Thats a position he knows how to draft well for, not worried there.

We need a 3 man rotation, and I know of no DT/NT drafted by Ireland who was anything more than average depth. Pee Wee was drafted as a 3-4 DE, who could play some DT.

Other that top picks, DT/NT's need at least a year to be able to play meaningful minutes.

 

[XxFiN FaNxX]

IF Ellerbe and Wheeler improve, as I expect them to, this D can dominate.

I sure hope youre right oh this one....they're painful to watch in coverage sometimes. Wheeler especially.

 

[MiZFiT]

We need a 3 man rotation, and I know of no DT/NT drafted by Ireland who was anything more than average depth. Pee Wee was drafted as a 3-4 DE, who could play some DT.

Other that top picks, DT/NT's need at least a year to be able to play meaningful minutes.

Which is why you re-sign Soliai, slide Odrick in for Starks and let a rookie or sign a cheap back-up to take over Odrick's role. Quit stressing over the D-line. That is near the bottom of the list on upgrades the Dolphins need to make in the off-season.

 

[So Be]

Which is why you re-sign Soliai, slide Odrick in for Starks and let a rookie or sign a cheap back-up to take over Odrick's role. Quit stressing over the D-line. That is near the bottom of the list on upgrades the Dolphins need to make in the off-season.

Soliai only plays half the snaps, and has done so for years. IF we choose to replace Starks production with a rookie or a cheap back-up, it will be disaster more than stress. Guaranteed.

 

[MiZFiT]

Soliai only plays half the snaps, and has done so for years. IF we choose to replace Starks production with a rookie or a cheap back-up, it will be disaster more than stress. Guaranteed.

Re-read what I originally wrote. I said Odrick slides in for Starks - not much, if any, of a drop in a production there.

A rookie and/or a cheaper FA than Starks can more than make up for Odrick moving up on the depth chart.

 

[So Be]

Re-read what I originally wrote. I said Odrick slides in for Starks - not much, if any, of a drop in a production there.

A rookie and/or a cheaper FA than Starks can more than make up for Odrick moving up on the depth chart.

I did read it, and there is no way in hell that you are even remotely right. In all due respect. :)

 

[So Be]

This year, Solia has played 433 snaps, Starks 588, and Odrick 677. Impossible for any rookie or back-up to replace those snaps, and still be good.