Could The Dolphins OL Go From Bad To Worse Next Year?

[Mach2]

Jackson is fine for me at right tackle. I don’t get why folks want to replace him so much.

Im serious when I say that losing eich may be by itself just the formula this oline needs.

Ive seen one guy bring oline units down by himself but ive also seen one guy carry a oline front and Armstead did that in Miami.

Not my preference to replace him. He has developed well after being drafted so young and moved around.

I only meant if it's a "break glass in case of emergency" situation, moving him is a better option than moving Paul.

 

[newpilot82]

That’s someone I could see at 48. I thought his on field work in drills at the combine looked the part. Was nursing a hammy/quad in drills but still participated.

Full disclosure, I am an Ohio State fan. Which probably won’t sit well with the many Cane fans here..

That said, Ohio State has a lot of quality players in this draft who would fit needs for the Phins and are projected at the right areas of the draft.

R1 — Josh Simmons OT
R2 — Donavan Jackson OG/OT
R2 — Tyliek Williams DT/3T
R3 — Denzel Burke CB
R4 — Will Howard QB
R4/5 — Latham Ramson S
R4/5 — Jordan Han**** Nickel
R5/6 — Seth McLaughlin C (bonus for Grier because he’s coming off an Achilles injury)
R5/6 — Ty Hamilton DT/3T
R6/7 — Cody Simon LB

I don’t see mocks where Miami projects any of them, but there are quite a few matches from I can see.. I’m biased though

 

[FINFANFOREVER1972]

Full disclosure, I am an Ohio State fan. Which probably won’t sit well with the many Cane fans here..

That said, Ohio State has a lot of quality players in this draft who would fit needs for the Phins and are projected at the right areas of the draft.

R1 — Josh Simmons OT
R2 — Donavan Jackson OG/OT
R2 — Tyliek Williams DT/3T
R3 — Denzel Burke CB
R4 — Will Howard QB
R4/5 — Latham Ramson S
R4/5 — Jordan Han**** Nickel
R5/6 — Seth McLaughlin C (bonus for Grier because he’s coming off an Achilles injury)
R5/6 — Ty Hamilton DT/3T
R6/7 — Cody Simon LB

I don’t see mocks where Miami projects any of them, but there are quite a few matches from I can see.. I’m biased though

The "useless nuts" do have a good number of quality players.

 

[newpilot82]

The "useless nuts" do have a good number of quality players.

They had a lot of depth but nobody who is a sure-fire top 10 pick. Josh Simmons might have been had he not torn his ACL, which might entice Grier lol

 

[Mr Fan]

Despite the obvious need for the OL to get better next year, it just dawned on me it might actually get worse.

We added one guard, who seems to be pretty good, but also coming off of injury.

On the other hand, Armstead may not be back. This is still unclear. That means Pat Paul will be our starter. Pat Paul was a known project when we drafted him - great physical attributes, but a project. He lived up to his billing last year. He was not very good when he played. His run blocking was terrible. The issue was not the guards next to him. Armstead's run blocking was great, with the same guards.

We do not know what Paul is. As far as next year alone is concerned, he might be very good, he might be acceptable, and he might be terrible. There is really no way to know. Based on his performance last year, he is going to need to be a lot better.

If Armstead does not come back, we are running the risk of a sharp falloff at the LT position, which will more than offset the benefit of the upgraded single guard, as LT is a more important position with bigger ramifications.

I think this is an unacceptable risk to take. GM me is trying to get Armstead to come back, despite the injury issues (granted cap space problem and we are tapped so here comes the hamster wheel again and more future pain). It is what it is at this point. Not the perfect solution at all, but this is the bed we made for ourselves.

Failing that, I am using the first round draft pick on another OL, whether it is a guard or a tackle or a guy that might be able to play both. Even if Armstead does come back, we still might need to use that pick on the OL.

I hate being in this box too. I like being able to go BPA, because you can end up passing on a generational prospect when you are boxed in.

Patrick Paul, I don't believe is an issue, raw yes, but I saw a guy who just could pass block all day. I don't find myself having concerns about him at OLT.

 

[MrChadRico]

It's also true if most 'if's' work out, things could still improve. Some fans seem locked in pessimism and forget that.

That or we are just being honest.

25 years of not being a contender will cause the level heads fans to say it like it is. And that's the fact, that as the roster is currently constructed for 2025, we've had better rosters over the last two decades and still been shitty.

Sure a miracle could happen, but one of us could also win the Powerball lorrery or get hit by an astroid tomorrow. All three things have about the same percentage of hitting, which is far less than 1%.

There is no "being pessimistic" about the Dolphins while Grier is still employed, we've got a decade of data to use. Hes already missed out on most of the impactful free agents and his draft history outside of round one is simply awful. If you're hoping he lands 6 to 7 starters in this draft, where he was only 2 picks in the top 96 selections, you're being delusional.

 

[FINFANFOREVER1972]

Patrick Paul, I don't believe is an issue, raw yes, but I saw a guy who just could pass block all day. I don't find myself having concerns about him at OLT.

If I'm not mistaken, its his run blocking that is sub-par...and Lord know we need to run the football instead of throwing those stupid 5-yard-deep backward passes on 2nd a 3 and 3 and 1!

 

[NBP81]

If the net result from this off-season is Armstead and Eich getting replaced by average play, it's a net positive for the whole unit. In other words, upgrading Eich has more positive impact than the negative implications of downgrading Armstead to average.

 

[phinsforlife]

Did you read my post? I literally said that if they all work out we would be better.

It’s also unrealistic to EXPECT 100% of your question marks to go 100% your way… which you’re insinuating is the possibility by retorting my post.

I’m not sure if you’re calling me pessimistic but you seemingly are OVERLY optimistic with zero basis. I’m an extremely optimistic person, you can also be realistic when something doesn’t deserve such optimism.

The team has holes all over - including still on the OL we do not have a starter at RG… not to mention 3+ starters needed for the D (but let’s not get into this).

We are discussing about the realistic chance of our OL not being that good next year. So you disagree and think it’s UNREALISTIC to discuss our OL being below average?

Or are you just arguing just to argue?



Well said, I wish I saw this before I made my post!

and well said by you. thanks. i am stunned by the people that believe their optimism will make the team better or that think if you are not optimistic you are not a fan. it is all quite odd. the most interesting thing is the optimists have been nothing but wrong for 24 years, yet they continue to berate those that don't share their views. follow the data. objectivity leads to pessimism with this team. it is what it is. when the data changes, i will change with the data.

 

[phinsforlife]

Not at all. Your post was "We need to get a plug and play LG in the draft, our new RG needs to be back to 100%, and PP needs to be at least average." I'm stating, first, other 'if's' are available. E.g., Miami could find another/better LG. And ALL of those don't have to happen for the OL to be better. Two better OGs or a better OG and improvement in PP could make the OL better. So far, I'm agnostic. I can argue either side.
I agree the fewer 'if's' the better and, for now, Miami has too many. Again, I'm just arguing a few 'if's' going right would help. "ALL" is optimism beyond reality.

miami could find a better LG? where? who? and we have no money. armstead is about the only somewhat realistic option left if they don't want to gamble on paul

 

[phinsforlife]

I think Paul would have issues getting his pad level low enough. If a 330 pound DT gets under him it's over. It's all about leverage.

A few guys at his size/frame have done it, but it isn't common.

Anyway, unless one already thinks Paul was a wasted/failed pick, why would you want to do that.

Tackle is universally seen as a higher valued spot. Give the kid a fair shot to fulfill his potential. If the team wasn't planning to do that, they shouldn't have picked him in the first place.

JMO.....

maybe. but if it doesn't work? the whole question is it a risk you are willing to take based on what you saw out of him last year? i hate being in this spot.

 

[phinsforlife]

If I'm not mistaken, its his run blocking that is sub-par...and Lord know we need to run the football instead of throwing those stupid 5-yard-deep backward passes on 2nd a 3 and 3 and 1!

yes, it was his run blocking that was terrible. it is wierd too, because he is huge and normally the run blocking is easier for these guys to adapt to than the pass blocking at the nfl level. i agree the run blocking is really important too.

 

[Long suffering fan]

Grier picked Paul with an eye to start this season.
Might be the final nail in Grier's coffin if Paul doesn't work out.
Daniels is a good solid player if healthy.
The Eagles invest in their lines and are dominant.
We should be copying them.

 

[MrChadRico]

Full disclosure, I am an Ohio State fan. Which probably won’t sit well with the many Cane fans here..

That said, Ohio State has a lot of quality players in this draft who would fit needs for the Phins and are projected at the right areas of the draft.

R1 — Josh Simmons OT
R2 — Donavan Jackson OG/OT
R2 — Tyliek Williams DT/3T
R3 — Denzel Burke CB
R4 — Will Howard QB
R4/5 — Latham Ramson S
R4/5 — Jordan Han**** Nickel
R5/6 — Seth McLaughlin C (bonus for Grier because he’s coming off an Achilles injury)
R5/6 — Ty Hamilton DT/3T
R6/7 — Cody Simon LB

I don’t see mocks where Miami projects any of them, but there are quite a few matches from I can see.. I’m biased though

I think the league is sleeping on Simmons, if he falls to the 20s that's a mistake, hes gonna be a good player for a long time

 

[Mach2]

maybe. but if it doesn't work? the whole question is it a risk you are willing to take based on what you saw out of him last year? i hate being in this spot.

What if you draft a guy and it doesn't work?

I mean there are no guarantees on anything. You can't fill your roster with top tier, proven FAs as insurance policies.

You don't "hate being in this spot". There is no spot. It's the way life is.