COMMENTARY: Dolphins Need to Take Direction

[RWhitney014]

Hey everyone, commentary system still down, but Doc and I proving that your friendly FH columnists are above technology! Enjoy!





You can not have it both ways, but Cam Cameron, Randy Mueller, and the Dolphins are sure trying.
In the same week they jettisoned Randy McMichael, Wes Welker, Dan Wilkinson, Joey Harrington, Kevin Carter, Sammy Morris, Damion McIntosh, and Jeno James to save cap room, open up competition, and infuse youth into the active roster, Miami signed vets Joey Porter and Vonnie Holliday to expensive long-term deals.

Nothing is wrong with opening up cap room and then using it. The Marlins and Panthers should take note. But the difference is that the Dolphins’ core is two 30-something stars in Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, who, though amazingly awesome in every way, simply are part of the past and current Miami legacy. Not the future. Ronnie Brown has not yet turned into the workhorse stud upon whose shoulders the offense can be rested. Same goes for Chris Chambers.

Again, nothing is particularly wrong with any of the individual personnel moves. Holliday’s four-year, $20 million contract looks like a bargain with the crazy spending spree NFL front offices have created. Porter’s contract, though exorbitant with $20 more million guaranteed, lands a player who makes Miami’s front seven one of the best in the entire league.

As for the players cut or traded, we all love Welker, but New England is paying him a ton of money for a long time, and the draft picks Miami receives in return will finally give the Fins flexibility in the draft. McMichael never truly built on his impressive rookie campaign, Harrington is not the vaunted QB of the future, and Carter gave everything he had for two years. Cameron simply decided to give the young guns a shot instead. The rest are inconsequential.

But this is a case in which the parts are greater (lesser?) than the whole. Playoff dreams for 2007 are, this point, either overly optimistic or delusional. Miami still has major questions at QB, top and slot WR, OL, all of special teams except for Donnie Jones, and secondary. The Dolphins need to go for it or not at all. The last half-decade has been a confusion of the two, and though Cameron and Mueller seem to at least have the plan to stockpile the picks and create flexibility, they have suddenly limited themselves again with the Porter addition.

Questions are still plentiful, of course, and the answers will decide if Miami is rebuilding or competing in 2007. If someone offers Yeremiah Bell a big contract, do you let him go and grab another second-rounder (yes, if the deal resembles Welker’s; Bell, believe it or not, will be 30 next year)? How about Jones (no, no, no)? Who replaces Darian Barnes? Does Ricky come back (do we really want another ride on that merry-go-round?)? Who do you draft in the first round? A QB? A left tackle? A wide receiver? Trade down and get more picks?

This writer won’t pretend to know the answer to these questions. What is more important is that they exist. Miami’s strategy so far this offseason has been refreshingly aggressive, both in players targeted and decisiveness on who needs to go. But if the team continues to run in divergent directions, it will stay for a long time exactly where it is: on the outside looking in.

 

[jlfin]

Hey everyone, commentary system still down, but Doc and I proving that your friendly FH columnists are above technology! Enjoy!





You can not have it both ways, but Cam Cameron, Randy Mueller, and the Dolphins are sure trying.
In the same week they jettisoned Randy McMichael, Wes Welker, Dan Wilkinson, Joey Harrington, Kevin Carter, Sammy Morris, Damion McIntosh, and Jeno James to save cap room, open up competition, and infuse youth into the active roster, Miami signed vets Joey Porter and Vonnie Holliday to expensive long-term deals.

Nothing is wrong with opening up cap room and then using it. The Marlins and Panthers should take note. But the difference is that the Dolphins’ core is two 30-something stars in Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, who, though amazingly awesome in every way, simply are part of the past and current Miami legacy. Not the future. Ronnie Brown has not yet turned into the workhorse stud upon whose shoulders the offense can be rested. Same goes for Chris Chambers.

Again, nothing is particularly wrong with any of the individual personnel moves. Holliday’s four-year, $20 million contract looks like a bargain with the crazy spending spree NFL front offices have created. Porter’s contract, though exorbitant with $20 more million guaranteed, lands a player who makes Miami’s front seven one of the best in the entire league.

As for the players cut or traded, we all love Welker, but New England is paying him a ton of money for a long time, and the draft picks Miami receives in return will finally give the Fins flexibility in the draft. McMichael never truly built on his impressive rookie campaign, Harrington is not the vaunted QB of the future, and Carter gave everything he had for two years. Cameron simply decided to give the young guns a shot instead. The rest are inconsequential.

But this is a case in which the parts are greater (lesser?) than the whole. Playoff dreams for 2007 are, this point, either overly optimistic or delusional. Miami still has major questions at QB, top and slot WR, OL, all of special teams except for Donnie Jones, and secondary. The Dolphins need to go for it or not at all. The last half-decade has been a confusion of the two, and though Cameron and Mueller seem to at least have the plan to stockpile the picks and create flexibility, they have suddenly limited themselves again with the Porter addition.

This writer won’t pretend to know the answer to these questions. What is more important is that they exist. Miami’s strategy so far this offseason has been refreshingly aggressive, both in players targeted and decisiveness on who needs to go. But if the team continues to run in divergent directions, it will stay for a long time exactly where it is: on the outside looking in.

Mueller and Cameron have a direction. It has more to do with player productivity than simply chronological age. They are not rebuilding from scratch as some have stated.
The players you mentioned were all cut/released simply because their productivity (or lack thereof) was not comensurate with their salaries.
Holliday was productive last season, therefore, he was rewarded. Porter is still an intimidating presence on defense and is productive, hence his salary.
Most of the cuts have come on the offensive side of the ball for the offense in 2006 was truly offensive :D . This offense has no where to go but up. I expect most of the early draft picks to go towards offense with the latter picks used for ST's and depth on defense.

 

[Geforce]

From the moves made I would say the Dolphins have taken direction. Keep the defense formidable while rebuilding/retooling the offense. This will keep us in a lot of games and maybe with an improved offense we can win a couple of those close games we lost last year.

I think it's still too early to make a true evaluation of what is going on because we are still in the first week of free agency and we haven't had our first mini camp or even been through the draft.

 

[maverick50]

Rwhitney great article dude . i am thinking we are in full rebuilding mode. i tried to tell some of these yo-yos that these 8-8 9-7 seasons didnt do much in building a super bowl contender . if one is wanting super bowl one must get the best talent in the draft that a team can get. of you have to say wanny and dimwit saban really wasnt very good when it came to good drafts.
let me offer two cinerios here. would a person want to have

cinerio #1 would you rather go 3- 13 then 10 -6 and then go to the super bowl ?

cinerio #2 would the fans rather go 8-8 then 9-7 then 8-8 and be stuck in this rut for ten years ?

cenerio #3 would you rather go 10-6 10- 10-6 and not get better and stay in this rut.


personaly i would rather go 5-12 5-12 and then make the big jump to a 15 win season followed by wining it all . this is what it may take . some yardburds are expecting 8- 8 every year and then they wonder why we ar not in the playoffs .

 

[PHINSfan]

Agree with the 2 posters above.. There is direction, and that is: If you dont produce, in acordance as how much you are getting paid..then you will not be here!
I like this approach!!!

 

[Scout72]

I think now, it would be nice to sign Trent Green for insurance in case Daunte goes down.

 

[Rich22]

Mueller and Cameron have a direction. It has more to do with player productivity than simply chronological age. They are not rebuilding from scratch as some have stated.
The players you mentioned were all cut/released simply because their productivity (or lack thereof) was not comensurate with their salaries.
Holliday was productive last season, therefore, he was rewarded. Porter is still an intimidating presence on defense and is productive, hence his salary.
Most of the cuts have come on the offensive side of the ball for the offense in 2006 was truly offensive :D . This offense has no where to go but up. I expect most of the early draft picks to go towards offense with the latter picks used for ST's and depth on defense.

Great response! I'd add that rebuilding is not done nor needed anymore. Retooling is more like it. The Saints proved like some team does every year - that if you bring in the right system with the right mix of players you can be very competitive while you change out your roster. This is not a oh no we are going to stink for 3 years while we overhaul the roster situation. Our defense will be one of the tops in football and that alone will make us competitive. Add to that a new offensive system and we should be competing for the playoffs. Anyone who does not think that is a possibility is crazy at this point. Why not? Top 5 D only getting more talent. Offense which has lost what - Wes - c'mon - a 5' 8" #3 - #4 WR. If he can't be replaced then the whole front office should be fired. A slow footed TE that can't block and drops alot of key passes. If he was so good why didn't someone offer at least a 7th rd pick? C'MON! C-Pep should be healthy, Lemon will be playing in a very familiar offense under a very familiar coach and we will bring in another QB. Guys the OL will be BETTER! LJ gets a whole off season to practice next to Carey. We have complained about the left side for 5 years - it will now change and you have to belive given Houck and Cam's track record it will be much better than last year. Our whole offense needs an influx of speed. One guy at WR to help keep defenses honest. Give it time - FA or draft - one guy and Chambers and Booker and even Hagan become much better.

 

[Geforce]

Rwhitney great article dude . i am thinking we are in full rebuilding mode. i tried to tell some of these yo-yos that these 8-8 9-7 seasons didnt do much in building a super bowl contender . if one is wanting super bowl one must get the best talent in the draft that a team can get. of you have to say wanny and dimwit saban really wasnt very good when it came to good drafts.
let me offer two cinerios here. would a person want to have

cinerio #1 would you rather go 3- 13 then 10 -6 and then go to the super bowl ?

cinerio #2 would the fans rather go 8-8 then 9-7 then 8-8 and be stuck in this rut for ten years ?

cenerio #3 would you rather go 10-6 10- 10-6 and not get better and stay in this rut.


personaly i would rather go 5-12 5-12 and then make the big jump to a 15 win season followed by wining it all . this is what it may take . some yardburds are expecting 8- 8 every year and then they wonder why we ar not in the playoffs .

The only thing that can be considered in full rebuilding mode is the offense. The offensive line needs some toughness and nastiness and the WRs needs more speed.

The resigning of Vonnie Holliday, the signing of Joey Porter and possibly Ken Hamlin would suggest the defense is just retooling.

 

[Rich22]

Rwhitney great article dude . i am thinking we are in full rebuilding mode. i tried to tell some of these yo-yos that these 8-8 9-7 seasons didnt do much in building a super bowl contender . if one is wanting super bowl one must get the best talent in the draft that a team can get. of you have to say wanny and dimwit saban really wasnt very good when it came to good drafts.
let me offer two cinerios here. would a person want to have

cinerio #1 would you rather go 3- 13 then 10 -6 and then go to the super bowl ?

cinerio #2 would the fans rather go 8-8 then 9-7 then 8-8 and be stuck in this rut for ten years ?

cenerio #3 would you rather go 10-6 10- 10-6 and not get better and stay in this rut.


personaly i would rather go 5-12 5-12 and then make the big jump to a 15 win season followed by wining it all . this is what it may take . some yardburds are expecting 8- 8 every year and then they wonder why we ar not in the playoffs .

Why do you have to suck one or two years before you all of a suuden get good? Because you need those high draft picks? Wasn't Colston a 7th rd pick for NO? Why can't you retool instead? WHy should a team EVER be less than 8-8? If you have a good system and can keep a solid core (like NE - I hate saying that) then why should you ever have a down turn? We have a great D and have alot of youth being infused. IF We use Evans or Wright or a rook at DT and bring in Roth our DL just got ALOT younger. Our secondary is pretty young and we are building depth behind the starters. Offense is the biggie - we need a yound QB to develop and a young WR. There should never be a need to have a 3 win season. I don't believe Randy or Cam believe this as evidenced by their moves. You try and win every year and still keep your eye on how the roster will shape up the following year.

 

[Aquanator B1000]

I love what they are doing.

Did they give up picks for Porter? NO!!!!!!

What should we do with the money, put it in WH's fat pockets? Come'on man.

We're stockpiling picks and getting good players in FA. What else do you want? As long as we don't trade picks away, we are rebuilding AND getting better now.

 

[finfan54]

Why all the negativity? We've only just begun!!!!


Onward and upward!

 

[tay0365]

I love what they are doing.

Did they give up picks for Porter? NO!!!!!!

What should we do with the money, put it in WH's fat pockets? Come'on man.

We're stockpiling picks and getting good players in FA. What else do you want? As long as we don't trade picks away, we are rebuilding AND getting better now.

Exactly, there is no reason why we cannot be a good team right now.

This team had one of the longest winning streaks two years ago, and just missed the playoffs, where with as hot as they were, could have done some damage. Last years if not for inconsistency at QB and O-coordinator, this team win wins way more games.

If this team gets better play from the QB position, and Cam shows us how to call plays for the offense the right way, there is no reason this team does not become competitive from day one with the type of Defense we have.

This team is not rebuilding, it's retooling for next year.

 

[MrEd]

Great response! I'd add that rebuilding is not done nor needed anymore. Retooling is more like it. The Saints proved like some team does every year - that if you bring in the right system with the right mix of players you can be very competitive while you change out your roster. This is not a oh no we are going to stink for 3 years while we overhaul the roster situation. Our defense will be one of the tops in football and that alone will make us competitive. Add to that a new offensive system and we should be competing for the playoffs. Anyone who does not think that is a possibility is crazy at this point. Why not? Top 5 D only getting more talent. Offense which has lost what - Wes - c'mon - a 5' 8" #3 - #4 WR. If he can't be replaced then the whole front office should be fired. A slow footed TE that can't block and drops alot of key passes. If he was so good why didn't someone offer at least a 7th rd pick? C'MON! C-Pep should be healthy, Lemon will be playing in a very familiar offense under a very familiar coach and we will bring in another QB. Guys the OL will be BETTER! LJ gets a whole off season to practice next to Carey. We have complained about the left side for 5 years - it will now change and you have to belive given Houck and Cam's track record it will be much better than last year. Our whole offense needs an influx of speed. One guy at WR to help keep defenses honest. Give it time - FA or draft - one guy and Chambers and Booker and even Hagan become much better.

This sounds just about right. The Dolphins decided to rebuild the left side of the OL.

With Carey, Shelton, and Hadnot...the right side of the OL was solid.

I expect MIA to use two of our four first day picks on OL.

I expect MIA to do one of these two scenarios:

#1) MIA will draft Branch/Okoye at #9, a LG at #40, a C/G at #60, and use #71 on a FB. In this scenario MIA starts either Alabi or Shelton at LT.

or

#2) MIA will draft Levi Brown at #9, a LG at #40, a C/G at #60, and a FB at #71. In this scenario MIA re-signs Keith Traylor.

I dont see MIA drafting a WR in the first day because of their interest in signing a WR via FA. Same thing with FS. They are looking to sign a S via FA.

MIA has not shown real interest in signing any NT, OL, or FB. Thus why I think that they are looking at these positions via the draft.

The second day of the draft will be for BPA and team depth. :cooldude: