One of this team's greatest failures is not being able to identify any free agents who can help the team. For every Brock Marion we sign there's an Eric Green, Dannell Ellerbe and Gene Atkins
I think they're going to almost have to treat next offseason like an expansion team and gut the team of high cost busts like Dion Jordan, Jordan Cameron, and Greg Jennings, Bryce McCain and Jason Fox and injured/aging players like Wake and even Koa Misi and young players like D Thomas, Jamar Taylor and replace them with a volume of lower cost players at LB, G and DB.
I think the LB unit needs 3 new faces and 1 or 2 of those should be free agents. I think first or second rounder has to be a LB but we also need some veteran help and real depth. Its a parade of injuries and inexperience and lack of talent at this spot that has hurt the defense, DE also becomes a free agent need if Vernon and or Shelby walk.
A veteran free safety would help solidify things in the back seven but so would a reliable corner. Hard to find and expensive in free agency but if there's a good vet available this may be the one spot to spend decent dollars to get one as Grimes is declining, FA signing of McCain was awful last year. Jamar Taylor hasn't developed, rookie McCain looks like a slot guy at best and Tony lippett is hard to count on
I think the OL needs a real offensive mind at HC most of all. The Failbin admin could never construct a decent plan or develop young OL but a FA guard and swing tackle could help us all forget about Fox and Thomas. I don't know what Omar Kelly is talking about- I see NO reason to keep Dallas Thomas around at all next year. He's not getting better Omar. The offseason talk about his maturity and your recent column about his good play is laughable. He was a Failbin pick and project but at this point his lack of development is on himself and nobody else. He's the poster boy to me for why this offense has failed. The coaches and FO stubborn refusal to bring real players in at guard when it was clear that Thomas and Turner were not and may not ever be ready is one of the main reasons this team is floundering. Get a FA guard, DO NOT draft one before round 5. that would be another mistake. Maybe the new HC can develop Douglas or Turner but a veteran guard would help solidify a perennial weakness.
I'd throw in TE as a FA need,too. Gotta let Cameron and that bloated salary go and Dion Sims has had a bad year. Not all his fault but he has not made any impact plays and I don't see him as a dominant blocker or dynamic red zone threat
Here's what's disturbing, our recent batch of free agents- Jennings, Cameron, McCain, and Fox have all played poorly, imo. Cameron is the only one who should still be on the roster. Miami's FO has to identify some FA players who can make a difference in 2016. I think this team has to be ruthless with both the free agent busts and recent draft picks like Walt Aikens who can not play and cut them and start to build up depth with new players.
I think they're going to almost have to treat next offseason like an expansion team and gut the team of high cost busts like Dion Jordan, Jordan Cameron, and Greg Jennings, Bryce McCain and Jason Fox and injured/aging players like Wake and even Koa Misi and young players like D Thomas, Jamar Taylor and replace them with a volume of lower cost players at LB, G and DB.
I think the LB unit needs 3 new faces and 1 or 2 of those should be free agents. I think first or second rounder has to be a LB but we also need some veteran help and real depth. Its a parade of injuries and inexperience and lack of talent at this spot that has hurt the defense, DE also becomes a free agent need if Vernon and or Shelby walk.
A veteran free safety would help solidify things in the back seven but so would a reliable corner. Hard to find and expensive in free agency but if there's a good vet available this may be the one spot to spend decent dollars to get one as Grimes is declining, FA signing of McCain was awful last year. Jamar Taylor hasn't developed, rookie McCain looks like a slot guy at best and Tony lippett is hard to count on
I think the OL needs a real offensive mind at HC most of all. The Failbin admin could never construct a decent plan or develop young OL but a FA guard and swing tackle could help us all forget about Fox and Thomas. I don't know what Omar Kelly is talking about- I see NO reason to keep Dallas Thomas around at all next year. He's not getting better Omar. The offseason talk about his maturity and your recent column about his good play is laughable. He was a Failbin pick and project but at this point his lack of development is on himself and nobody else. He's the poster boy to me for why this offense has failed. The coaches and FO stubborn refusal to bring real players in at guard when it was clear that Thomas and Turner were not and may not ever be ready is one of the main reasons this team is floundering. Get a FA guard, DO NOT draft one before round 5. that would be another mistake. Maybe the new HC can develop Douglas or Turner but a veteran guard would help solidify a perennial weakness.
I'd throw in TE as a FA need,too. Gotta let Cameron and that bloated salary go and Dion Sims has had a bad year. Not all his fault but he has not made any impact plays and I don't see him as a dominant blocker or dynamic red zone threat
Here's what's disturbing, our recent batch of free agents- Jennings, Cameron, McCain, and Fox have all played poorly, imo. Cameron is the only one who should still be on the roster. Miami's FO has to identify some FA players who can make a difference in 2016. I think this team has to be ruthless with both the free agent busts and recent draft picks like Walt Aikens who can not play and cut them and start to build up depth with new players.
