HERALD: Where do the Dolphins stand at each position?

[Perfect72]

The Dolphins will have ample cap space and also are poised to add at least two draft picks, even though they’re also losing two picks because of a trade last May. We detail all of that here.

In the meantime, here’s a position-by-position look at where Miami stands:
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▪ Quarterback: The Dolphins are set, with Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore under contract. Tannehill’s salary rises to $17.9 million and his cap hit to $20.3 million. Moore is scheduled to make $1.75 million, reasonable for a quality backup.

Brandon Doughty, who spent most of the season on the practice squad, will have another chance to stick as a No. 3.

▪ Running back: The Dolphins are set here, with Jay Ajayi under contract at $615,000 for 2017, and Kenyan Drake at $595,000. The Dolphins are expected to keep Damien Williams, a restricted free agent who had six touchdowns this season.

▪ Wide receiver: The Dolphins are expected to make every effort to keep free-agent Kenny Stills, who caught nine touchdowns and finished third in the league in average yards per catch (17.3). But if the bidding goes too high, Miami could move on.

The Dolphins likely will offer an extension to Jarvis Landry, who’s entering the last year of his contract. DeVante Parker is back on a reasonable rookie contract ($1.4 million next season).
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Carroo and Jakeem Grant must earn jobs in training camp, with Carroo a mild disappointment and Grant at risk if he cannot curtail his fumbling issues on returns.

▪ Offensive line: Branden Albert, Laremy Tunsil, Mike Pouncey and Ja’Wuan James are under contract, but the question is whether Miami might ask Albert to take a pay cut from $8.9 million to lower his $10.6 million cap hit. Though Tunsil is the team’s left tackle of the future and Albert has done terrific work mentoring him, Albert said earlier this season that the notion of shifting to guard at this point of his career is unappealing.

Sam Young, who was inactive Sunday, recently was signed to a 2017 contract. Bushrod is a free agent and seems unlikely to return. Kraig Urbik, who started the final four games at center, is under contract for next season and due $1.2 million.

Pouncey, one of the most critical players on offense, said he expects to be fully healed from his hip injury well before the offseason program.

More at LINK: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article125397634.html

Your thoughts?

 

[Sherif]

There's not enough there especially with Albert and Pouncey. Not sure if either has evers started a full season with the Dolphins in the past 3-4 years. Add that we don't have any natural Guards, and that makes the unit overall a big mess.

 

[montequi]

What about Steen? He could end up replacing Bushrod at RG.

 

[Nawledge]

I think both Carroo and Grant make the team...i dont think either of them get axed after one season. I wouldnt mind keeping the same WR group together. Carroo wasnt gonna see the field much ahead of the top 3 so to say he was a disappointment is kind of a stretch...he did make a play and scored a td when Parker went out that one game late with a back injury i think it was...Grant, well he needs to work on catching the ball but you cant teach that kind of speed. Now if he continues to drop balls at the same rate next year then you consider moving on if it doesnt get corrected. I think after that one game where he missed the punt on our 4 yard line it got in his head after that. He was visibily upset and he had a bunch of drops right after that. I cant deny the drops are a concern but he is the kind of guy who has a chip on his shoulder and i feel like he will put in the extra work to try to fix it, if he can...

 

[Sons Of Shula]

What about Steen? He could end up replacing Bushrod at RG.

His only chance for starter was at Center. Too much mobility and athleticism required at Guard for him to be successful there. I was rooting for the kid, but even at Center he couldn't cut it for what is asked of the position to get to the second level on time. And at Center you're main target is typically directly in front of you at MLB. He can't reach the edge fast enough on pulls, etc. to be effective at Guard.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Sam Young, who was inactive Sunday,

Still do not understand that decision. I feel like we deserve some sort of explanation or apology.

You can create a lot of defensive alignment issues with an overload line. Especially vs 3 man fronts like Pitt.

It causes the DL to shift and most importantly takes the NT directly off the Center forcing him to shade or play a 2i, which is on the inside shoulder of the Guard. That in itself is a standalone benefit, especially since we had a backup in Urbik there.

The other problem it creates is gap play.

No matter how the 3 man front aligns there will always be a lineman with a free release into the 2nd level, as an overload gives you numbers in the run game b/c vs a 3-4 it also creates an open gap on their weakside which must be defended by an 8th man.

Now if they stuck a LB or walked up a Safety to take away that short/weak edge, that usually led to an advantage on the strong side or an empty gap in the middle somewhere.

Also great for the screen game and obviously gives extra protection in the passing game.

Overall I didn't understand that decision one bit being that we were playing with a backup QB, backup Center, and an injury riddled defense that would have greatly benefited from an increased TOP by the offense and it's further ability to establish the run game.

 

[TheWozz]

On O, I expect we'll spend some $$$ on a starting right guard in FA and add some FA depth at LG along with a late round development pick or 2 for O line. TE is a wild card...Id really like to know how much, if at all, Gase would like to add to Sims and Gray.

I expect us to keep Albert. His health is a concern, but he played well enough (I think really well, actually) for most of the year. Tunsil will continue to be groomed as his replacement the following season or in the unfortunate event of an injury. Which relates to something I think we overlook with Albert. By all accounts he has been a fantastic mentor to Tunsil. We should remember why Tunsil fell to us...yeah the drug incident was when he was younger, but having a mature, stabilizing, focused mentor lining up next to him aint a bad thing.

We do need to tweak the oline, but we need to devote a lot of those resources....$$$ and draft...to the D!