Is our O-Line improved?

[fin007]

How you spend your money directly shows your values.

Spending on exotic cars says a lot about you.

Spending on education similarly says something about you.

Investing in yourself and the market. Etc.

Miami has not prioritized spending on the Oline and it shows.

 

[DANTODUPER]

People keep saying Daniels is coming off an ACL....that's wrong.

It's a torn Achilles. which happened in late-September last year.

A player rushing back after an Achilles leaves a ton of questions.
- When will James Daniels truly be ready to start less than 1-yr removed from his injury?
- How rough might his introduction be having had little to no full participation in physical practices?
- How much will his normal strength & conditioning be limited in '25 due to his having had to focus on rehab?
- Will there be lasting impacts on him as a player resulting from such a devastating injury?

What we saw from Jaelan Phillips in his return last year leads me to be very cautious with my expectations for James Daniels.

I wouldn't be surprised if it takes all year for James Daniels to get back to form and get comfortable in this new McDaniel system. He's a good player but he's not starting from a good place.

The fact he signed a 3-yr deal gives me hope that Miami's front office felt comfortable with his recovery but that doesn't make me think he's going to be 100% come September.

Im with you on this one. We should be prepared by adding a pair of average OLs, because with Jackson, Daniels and a light OL in Brewer, chances are VERY high we will at least need one starting OL replacement early in the season.

 

[djphinfan]

People keep saying Daniels is coming off an ACL....that's wrong.

It's a torn Achilles. which happened in late-September last year.

A player rushing back after an Achilles leaves a ton of questions.
- When will James Daniels truly be ready to start less than 1-yr removed from his injury?
- How rough might his introduction be having had little to no full participation in physical practices?
- How much will his normal strength & conditioning be limited in '25 due to his having had to focus on rehab?
- Will there be lasting impacts on him as a player resulting from such a devastating injury?

What we saw from Jaelan Phillips in his return last year leads me to be very cautious with my expectations for James Daniels.

I wouldn't be surprised if it takes all year for James Daniels to get back to form and get comfortable in this new McDaniel system. He's a good player but he's not starting from a good place.

The fact he signed a 3-yr deal gives me hope that Miami's front office felt comfortable with his recovery but that doesn't make me think he's going to be 100% come September.

Also keep in mind it might have been a partial or more of a mild tear

 

[The Captain]

Im with you on this one. We should be prepared by adding a pair of average OLs,

While I'm in agreement with you here, the situation reminds me of that Aesop's fable about 'Belling the Cat.'

Where are these two average O-linemen going to come from, at this point in the NFL offseason?

 

[BrowardDolfan]

Ask me again toward the end of September.

 

[Ray R]

No, you're right that if they were 17, that is not a point for celebration, what I mean is if it happen to be the 17 best line, the offense might be more explosive then last year. Like I said, I hope for 7 if the line fell between 7-17.

I would not be jumping up for joy if that was the best they could achieve with finally looking as if they fixed the interior of the line.

We just can't have nice things! - LOL

 

[Ray R]

We only had one first round pick to get 3 players to fix the lines and anything else we needed. I get it, but due to the past (I know) the OL is not where it needs to be. I think they went into last year with an idea to address it but the draft didn't fall right and McGoob believed his elite scheme could make the two orange cones we had a G playable. The glass is either ... I choose half full.

Full of what? - LOL

 

[The Captain]

Yea, hands down. If everyone stays healthy, I see this line being above average by mid season, at a minimum...

With decent health on the Dolphins' O-line this year, I'm figuring it to be Top Fifteen by mid-November.

Of course, avoiding those crippling injures is the critical issue, isn't it?

 

[McDolphins]

Perfect world, no injuries, absolutely. But we don't get nice things and we have an Eichenberg.

And last year we saw just how fast an unaddressed Eichenberg can move across a line. It spread from backup LG to RG to C. That’s like a stage 4 Eichenberg!

 

[Highzenga]

The guard spots are a significant improvement. Yes we don’t have a blue chipper like Armstead but Paul is bigger. I like Eich off the bench as a 6th man. It should be better

 

[HeyJayOh]

I'll never figure out why we've been content to have a line that's barely good enough. Every season somebody gets hurt and the two legitimate starters, four average players, and two complete scrubs that we keep wind up being woefully insufficient. We should be shooting for two legitimate all stars, four legitimate starters, and two better-than-average swing players to provide competition. How is it possible for a team to ignore either trench and expect success?

 

[GRYPHONK]

The guard spots are a significant improvement. Yes we don’t have a blue chipper like Armstead but Paul is bigger. I like Eich off the bench as a 6th man. It should be better

Eichenberg was the 6th man in 2023. Didn't turn out well when he was inserted. When you're bad, it doesnt really matter the experience, leadership etc. he's just bad.

What makes it worse is he ranked so low and so bad as a Guard and linemen in general over the last 4 years in a system that only requires him to block for 2.1 seconds. That's just how bad he is.

However, the Guard spots are drastically improved. I have been on record stating that the Guard play is more valuable in this offense then the Tackle play. So I don't mind a drop off at LT if the G play has drastically improved.

 

[derek]

Eichenberg was the 6th man in 2023. Didn't turn out well when he was inserted. When you're bad, it doesnt really matter the experience, leadership etc. he's just bad.

What makes it worse is he ranked so low and so bad as a Guard and linemen in general over the last 4 years in a system that only requires him to block for 2.1 seconds. That's just how bad he is.

However, the Guard spots are drastically improved. I have been on record stating that the Guard play is more valuable in this offense then the Tackle play. So I don't mind a drop off at LT if the G play has drastically improved.

I agree with you for the most part, but for my sanity, I'm calling Eich OL 7 or 8, and hopefully 9 before the season starts. Surely at Borom's size, he could hold up for 2.1 seconds on the inside. They also like Meyer and Smith, so it's not out of the question, especially if they add another vet later.

 

[Ray R]

I agree with you for the most part, but for my sanity, I'm calling Eich OL 7 or 8, and hopefully 9 before the season starts. Surely at Borom's size, he could hold up for 2.1 seconds on the inside. They also like Meyer and Smith, so it's not out of the question, especially if they add another vet later.

Where does "sanity" become "insanity"?
On Fin Heaven! - LOL

 

[djphinfan]

If Daniels can suit up and get real reps and conditioning in camp and if the rookie can play left guard then yes with Jackson back at full time and Patrick Paulbeibg consistently available it will be much better

Jones, Liam, Lamm for most of last year sucked