Interesting stuff from Grier

[fansinceGWilson]

pieces below The Miami Dolphins' decision-makers have dropped plenty of hints that changes to the offensive line might be coming. "It's important that we can keep those guys together," Grier said. "But at the end of the day, we know that they may not all be here, and we just have to make sure that whoever the next five guys are next season that we do our best to keep them on the field together." Mike Tannenbaum, the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, said the team is working off a two-year blueprint. That means any player they feel won't be part of the franchise's future in 2018 will probably get cast aside in the coming weeks. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-0127-20170126-story.html

 

[Kdawg954]

At the end of the day, you have your future LT on the roster. If you June 1st Branden Albert you lose a leader in the lockerroom and have a dire need for 2 guard positions . . . not to mention you weaken your depth at tackle.

It's not an easy decision when you have the needs that you have on defense.

Plus you really aren't 100% on Pouncey's health . . . they absolutely love him but they need availability over anything else. The interior of this offensive line needs so much work. If Bushrod is down for 2017, I expect him resigned just to keep a leader on this team and keep some depth there as well.

Also there is a 5th year option decision worth about 9 million on Juwan James due before the draft. My guess is Miami does it and works out an eventual decision, but its not a given.

Dolphins have so many issues ahead of them. Need one hell of an offseason.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

At the end of the day, you have your future LT on the roster. If you June 1st Branden Albert you lose a leader in the lockerroom and have a dire need for 2 guard positions . . . not to mention you weaken your depth at tackle. It's not an easy decision when you have the needs that you have on defense. Plus you really aren't 100% on Pouncey's health . . . they absolutely love him but they need availability over anything else. The interior of this offensive line needs so much work. If Bushrod is down for 2017, I expect him resigned just to keep a leader on this team and keep some depth there as well. Also there is a 5th year option decision worth about 9 million on Juwan James due before the draft. My guess is Miami does it and works out an eventual decision, but its not a given. Dolphins have so many issues ahead of them. Need one hell of an offseason.

Aside from the OL comments, this one should make for an entertaining few weeks . . "any player they feel won't be part of the franchise's future in 2018 will probably get cast aside in the coming weeks."

 

[fishfanmiami]

They should try to keep all those guys together at least for another year. When they were all healthy that was a solid O line.

 

[Kdawg954]

They should try to keep all those guys together at least for another year. When they were all healthy that was a solid O line.

Not good when Bushrod is the guy that played the most snaps out of everybody on your offensive line.

I'm leaning with your thought process though. Bring back the gang for one more shot to kick this health bug that has derailed them for now 3 seasons. Find you the best fit at RG that you can get, draft another guard/center, bring back Bushrod for depth and just keep your fingers crossed.

 

[fishfanmiami]

All those guys healthy would have solved our OL problems but they never are.

I guess the plan is cut Albert , move Tunsil , resign James and add a couple guards.
Keeping Bushrod as a backup for both positions would be my preference.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

Not good when Bushrod is the guy that played the most snaps out of everybody on your offensive line. I'm leaning with your thought process though. Bring back the gang for one more shot to kick this health bug that has derailed them for now 3 seasons. Find you the best fit at RG that you can get, draft another guard/center, bring back Bushrod for depth and just keep your fingers crossed.

Agreed, depending on FAs. signing two average OG FAs could mean the end for Albert. And I think everyone expects a FA OG to replace Bushrod. Personally, I expect signing 3-5 FA OLmen. One definite OG and the remaining for depth or "see what we have."

 

[Kdawg954]

Agreed, depending on FAs. signing two average OG FAs could mean the end for Albert. And I think everyone expects a FA OG to replace Bushrod. Personally, I expect signing 3-5 FA OLmen. One definite OG and the remaining for depth or "see what we have."

Urbik was fairly ok in a depth role center/guard and he is under contract for cheap. Sam Young showed where he can be thrown into a game at tackle and not be a turnstile. Nothing great but decent tackle depth. Bushrod showed where he can start 16 games and not be the liability that the trio that cut early in the season were, even if he wasn't very great as a starter.

Miami is in place to "buy" another year with the current group they have, just need that RG upgrade and thats it. But what Miami absolutely HAS to do is bring in several late round picks and UDFAs on the offensive line in hopes of developing something for the future and who knows maybe even luck out with a diamond in the rough in 2017. How they did with LB in 2015 . . . the same needs to happen with the offensive line in 2017.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

Urbik was fairly ok in a depth role center/guard and he is under contract for cheap. Sam Young showed where he can be thrown into a game at tackle and not be a turnstile. Nothing great but decent tackle depth. Bushrod showed where he can start 16 games and not be the liability that the trio that cut early in the season were, even if he wasn't very great as a starter. Miami is in place to "buy" another year with the current group they have, just need that RG upgrade and thats it. But what Miami absolutely HAS to do is bring in several late round picks and UDFAs on the offensive line in hopes of developing something for the future and who knows maybe even luck out with a diamond in the rough in 2017. How they did with LB in 2015 . . . the same needs to happen with the offensive line in 2017.

I suspect we agree on this. I just think, if Miami can find some potential FA depth, they'll bring in 2-3 to compare to Urbik, Young, and others. Yeah, draft some (including UDFAs), but upgrading depth should be a focus.

 

[hoops]

sounds like pouncey and albert could walk the plank

2/5ths of our starting o line

should be interesting

 

[datruth55]

sounds like pouncey and albert could walk the plank

2/5ths of our starting o line

should be interesting

I'm thinking Jermon Bushrod for sure...still not sure Albert and Pouncey are gone...especially Pouncey given that contract he never should have got.

 

[hoops]

I'm thinking Jermon Bushrod for sure...still not sure Albert and Pouncey are gone...especially Pouncey given that contract he never should have got.

well if all it ends up being is bushrod who isn't signed for next year they sure talk a good game...id have to think 2 years would at least mean no albert and urbik

and the medical staff needs to make the decision on pounce and be held accountable for it...enough with this hip stuff already

 

[Austin Tatious]

I like Albert's character, but I am going on the record, that I would axe him, and use his savings to the cap as a hell of a start on a new guard from free agency.

Either that or restructure him heavily to our advantage. Even if he restructures, the problem is the odds of him playing 16 games are slim to nil, and slim just left the building.

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

Bushrod blows. Rated the worst run blocking guard in the league. He needs to be cut.

 

[matt11390]

At the end of the day, you have your future LT on the roster. If you June 1st Branden Albert you lose a leader in the lockerroom and have a dire need for 2 guard positions . . . not to mention you weaken your depth at tackle.

It's not an easy decision when you have the needs that you have on defense.

Plus you really aren't 100% on Pouncey's health . . . they absolutely love him but they need availability over anything else. The interior of this offensive line needs so much work. If Bushrod is down for 2017, I expect him resigned just to keep a leader on this team and keep some depth there as well.

Also there is a 5th year option decision worth about 9 million on Juwan James due before the draft. My guess is Miami does it and works out an eventual decision, but its not a given.

Dolphins have so many issues ahead of them. Need one hell of an offseason.

Miami really doesn't have a better option other than keeping Albert one more season at least and hoping his health holds. This draft class isn't strong at LT. Plus there are greater needs for Miami. Same goes for Pouncey. Albert, Tunsil, Pouncey, and James need to be set. Miami needs to find a starting RG in the draft or FA and then build strong enough depth in case a starter goes down. The defense has to take priority this offseason and next the OL