How did last yrs. OL affect the WR play? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

How did last yrs. OL affect the WR play?

mwestberry

mwestberry

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I know we had several injuries with WR's last season .... besides that, I wonder if our receiver group would have fared better with better pass blocking up front.

I read a lot of folks posts stating our receivers can't/don't get any separation and it makes me think if our line is inconsistent at best then whomever we draft better be able to get separation from the line of scrimmage because in about 2.5 seconds from the snap the ball better be gone...

Am I in "left field" here? If that's close to the truth then it doesn't really matter which receiver talent we draft until it's fixed.
 
Towards the end our WR talent was dismal/inexperienced. I think even having the Dallas lines from the 1990's or mid 2010's wouldn't of helped in the passing game in allowing receivers to get open.

IMO we need both talent at WR and OLine. TBD if the guys drafted last year can develop into solid starters on the line, but maybe they'll give them another year or so before reinvesting highly again.

I'd say with more experience/hopefully a real NFL offseason guys like Jackson, Kindley and Hunt should be better with a full offseason of strength training and another year of a minicamp/TC.

But sure, if the line sucks, even having great receivers won't do much if the QB is getting whacked.

Good example would be Dallas last year after they lost both tackles and Martin and their center.

Lamb, Cooper, and Gallup can't do much when the QB(Dalton at times) can't get them the ball
 
It's always a combination of factors but you don't pass on a top playmaker just because you don't have the "perfect" O-line. If we're going to wait till we have 5 all pros up front then we'll be waiting for another 100 years to win anything.
 
Our OL has guys who were rookies last year and should see big improvement in this off season and next. We really don’t have that potential at WR, and bringing in at least one of the top ones will help them develop while we have Fuller for a year. If our OL still doesn’t produce after this year then we need to figure out who can be kept. I’d love to get a C if we can.
 
One thing to keep in mind about the O-line.......you're only as good as your weakest link up front. The defense will attack your worst player up front so in a sense it's better to have all your O-line guys to be good than to have one be an all pro while your lowest two guys are real bad. it's about balance up front.
 
Kind of hard to debate seriously when one doesn't realize the vital significance of a quality and yes not necessarily "all Pros " Offensive line. Could honestly say that probably a lot in here have never even seen this team with a strong and efficient OL. Ever since Wanny back in 2000 many have been pulling there hair out for building a strong OL. thats what 20 years ago.....Maybe came close once but a single injury screwed the whole thing up ( see Pouncey ).

I've been a fan of Sewell but see also a guy like Pitts doesn't come around very often either. Surprised that I'd be ok with another pick but Pitts is special as Sewell so one of them would make it for me. Also see if Pitts at 6 the availability or a good OT at 18 like Jenkins. Also see a nice WR group of quality but maybe not with all the fan fair most in here demand.

Last years OL was poor with an * due to 3 being rookies. We are going into this season with also a lack of understanding as to what we actually have and the level of development. Fair to say we could be sufficient but just as easily a dud. Dieter ????? Flowers an over priced huge mistake, Skura whats he got left (not yet known). Hunt RT but better at RG and RT ???. I mean to be honest one should see the large possibility of another inconsistent OL that screws the pooch for the gazillionth time.
And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the effects of a poor line on not only any WR and RB with no holes to take advantage of and a QB with an average of 2.6 sec. to do his thing. MANY POSITIONS ARE GREATLY EFFECTED and dependent on a good OL. Poor OL the last 20 years have gotten us WHAT ????

Just a little old timers insight for those youngins stuck on wanting the stars. But have faith in the fins staff ( and sadly also Hope when it comes to OL ) they will make the right decisions cause its been a neglected area for far to long in which last year was the exception and we are living with 3 out of our front 5 Rookies but at least they did something beyond and didn't fill holes with more half azz hopefuls...
Sewell or Pitts would be a hell of a start IMO. And the front office using its hard earned acquisitions in its Draft approach and not depending so much on the board and what falls to them. We've worked to aguire good picks now is time to use them...... and I mean aggressively...again JMO
 
Let's only draft Oline. Carry 18 on the roster. Then anyone will be able to score right. We'll never lose! Why isn't the NFL this smart?
 
I have been rewatching a few of our games and just finished the Kansas City game yesterday, my rough take is;

#1-Injuries, injuries, injuries, wrecked both position groups. When everyone was healthy the offense was effective but then Williams went down, Parker goes down, Flowers goes down, etc. Nearly the entire second half vs KC the receiving group was Hollins, Callaway, Bowden and Shaheen, yikes!

#2-Regarding the oline, a lot of pressure came right up the middle. This seemed to be part injuries and part Davis, Kindley and to a lesser degree Flowers and Karras being turnstiles. We need to come away with a Center in this draft badly. I also now have doubts about Kindley, love his attitude but he cannot handle speed at all.

#3-Jackson was overmatched constantly. Watching live I don’t remember him being pushed back into the QB as much but rewatching and slowing it down, oh my he was bad.

#4- I’m not moving Hunt to RG. Every now and then he struggled with speed but he was overall the best lineman we have by far. In pass pro, once he drops his anchor, its game over.
 
Since his arrival as Dolphin coach, Flores, has shown more ability to develop players than most of his predecessors. It is for that reason that I am optimistic about our o-line. I think the guys we picked are outstanding draft choices. All 3 guys can play, all 3 want to be great and now they will get a full camp to get stronger and get better. For now, prioritize receiver over o-line. I would draft a Center with the 3rd or 4th pick and maybe one more o-line piece if a quality T or G falls. Draft one of the 4 top receiver at #6. See who falls and take your favorite. If we draft Sewell at #6 we'll need to go receiver at #18. Say adios to Najee Harris.
 
mwestberry said:
I know we had several injuries with WR's last season .... besides that, I wonder if our receiver group would have fared better with better pass blocking up front.

I read a lot of folks posts stating our receivers can't/don't get any separation and it makes me think if our line is inconsistent at best then whomever we draft better be able to get separation from the line of scrimmage because in about 2.5 seconds from the snap the ball better be gone...

Am I in "left field" here? If that's close to the truth then it doesn't really matter which receiver talent we draft until it's fixed.
Click to expand...
it all starts up front.. our OL needs to get better.. just look at Mahomes in the SB.. probably the best QB in football with ELITE skill position players and he was running for his life.. hopefully our 3 rooks from last year continue to get better..
 
Good or bad, a pass in the NFL is out in about 2.5 seconds. Our receivers were pathetic at getting open, especially quickly at the end of the year. I mean one of our prominent receivers at the end of the year (Ford) went from our PS, to the Patriots, to their PS, and back to us. Our receiver talent was a complete sh** show once Williams went down and Parker was gimping (again). The OL had absolutely nothing to do with that.
 
mwestberry said:
I know we had several injuries with WR's last season .... besides that, I wonder if our receiver group would have fared better with better pass blocking up front.

I read a lot of folks posts stating our receivers can't/don't get any separation and it makes me think if our line is inconsistent at best then whomever we draft better be able to get separation from the line of scrimmage because in about 2.5 seconds from the snap the ball better be gone...

Am I in "left field" here? If that's close to the truth then it doesn't really matter which receiver talent we draft until it's fixed.
Click to expand...

I'll tweak that. ' would {our WR group} have fared better with better RUN blocking up front.
I believe so. Because the D could almost ignore the run, the entire O was crippled.

That DOESN'T mean Miami's WRs were 'good enough.' There are plenty of threads (correctly) noting the lack of separation and speed. Improved run blocking is a necessity for the O to perform this fall
 
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