Jim1 Dolphins/Cowboys game thoughts

[jim1]

Ryan Tannehill is not the problem, but do you know what would be nice? To see him actually scan the field once in a while, not stare at his primary receiver, flat footed and seem frozen in time just a fraction too long. RT played well, but geez- anyone remember Marino scanning the field on the balls of his feet (especially before the achilles injury) just looking to unload on some unsuspecting DB? This isn't only an elite type Marino thing, this is a QB thing. Not hate for Tannehill, not love either, I'm ok with him. Even factoring the years of OL and WR problems, I feel the same five years later: RT will be good, but he won't be great. I can live with that, he's pretty good, just get the poor guy a functioning OL already.

Anthony Steen- he looks better going 1 on 1 with DL while playing backup Center than Thomas, Turner or Bushrod- probably Urbik too but I didn't see him playing tonight. Screw the short arms bs- if Joe Thomas can play All-Pro LT with 32.5" arms, then this kid can play inside at Guard and play it well. He's got more than enough athletic ability for OG, he's got grit, smarts, and bottom line he fights better in the trenches than the other OG clowns except for Tunsil. Backup Center- he deserves it, but from the crap I see week after week just start him and Tunsil at Guard, screw it all. Jamil Douglass must either be a goner or or destined for the practice squad, apb out on Douglas please...

Btw, did anyone notice from Billy Turner's college tape that while he was a compelling athlete he had a pretty unorthodox style in terms of his back pedal and to a lesser extent his kick slide? He kind of loped around and actually played off the balls of his feet, very unusual, reminiscent of a young D'Brickashaw Ferguson. So you take this fluid, rather unique athlete with size and strength and make him... a Guard? A Right Guard? We're in year three and my big question is whether or not he should be sent packing along with Dallas Thomas and Jamil Douglas. I just don't see it with Turner at Guard, never have. I mentioned last week that Branden Albert doesn't just seem sluggish, he seems injured and he's playing like crap. Ju'Wuan James is playing like crap. Laremy Tusnsil will have one quick year at Guard barring injuries, then it's off to LT land. Just get Turner over to Tackle already, see what he can do as a LT and RT backup, because as a Guard he's just not very good.

Cameron- if he doesn't step up soon they should just get rid of him if the team wouldn't take a big cap hit, he makes too much money to be such a lack of a factor and noticeable only when he drops an easy pass.

After watching the crappy OL play, I submit yet again- trade DE Terrence Fede for Cowboys OG Ron Leary. Just get it done. Because if Branden Albert has the lateral movement of the walking dead now in preseason, he's not long for the 2016 regualr season. I don't know what's going on, but at this point it wouldn't surprise me to see Tunsil start half of the season or more at LT. If that happens then we're back to the same crap fest at Guard. If you set aside potential, then Dallas Thomas, Billy Turner and Jamil Douglas are garbage at Guard. Something has to change, especially if Tunsil is forced to go back to LT.

 

[Austin Tatious]

A trade for Leary is a great idea, Jim. It's exactly what this offense needs.

This team unfortunately has a number of longer term holes. Rb, TE, OG, DT, olb, Ilb, safety. That's hoping Howard and Culliver figure out corner with Maxwell and McCain. But that will be an unstable group initially.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

I actually agree with you on Jordan Cameron. He's not doing anything right right now, and could be in real danger of being cut.

 

[fishfanmiami]

Thanks for posting jim :up:

I thought Tannehill , Stills and Tunsil looked good tonight. Pead broke another long one and #85 is challenging for a TE spot . The rest was garbage especially on the defensive side and must be addressed quickly or we are in trouble.

 

[jim1]

A trade for Leary is a great idea, Jim. It's exactly what this offense needs.

This team unfortunately has a number of longer term holes. Rb, TE, OG, DT, olb, Ilb, safety. That's hoping Howard and Culliver figure out corner with Maxwell and McCain. But that will be an unstable group initially.

DE has depth, I'm ok with Mike Hull at backup MLB and I'm ok with the new FS. I still think that Xavien Howard will do pretty well at CB, and barring injury he, Maxwell and McCain in the slot will be pretty good. The OL is still a big problem- how much longer will Albert and James have to stink up the joint before the focus shifts from how bad the Guards are to how bad the Tackles are? It's possible, and it's a disturbing thought.

---------- Post added at 12:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 AM ----------

Thanks for posting jim :up:

I thought Tannehill , Stills and Tunsil looked good tonight. Pead broke another long one and #85 is challenging for a TE spot . The rest was garbage especially on the defensive side and must be addressed quickly or we are in trouble.

Pead is a keeper imo, not just because he's running better than any other RB on the team but because he brings speed and quicks to the position, he deserves a roster spot.

 

[DolfanDuBbZ~]

Need natural guards. Its why I wanted Cody Whitehair in the draft. This team would have been better off this year and out years with a functional guard.

 

[jim1]

Need natural guards. Its why I wanted Cody Whitehair in the draft. This team would have been better off this year and out years with a functional guard.

Yeah, I hear you. The Patriots needed Guards and took Shaq Mason and Tre Jackson last year in round four, Joe Thuney in the 3rd round this year. We need Guards and draft John Jerry, Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner in the third round. Go figure. Imo we should have drafted a pure Guard this year, even though Tunsill fell in our laps. You know Tunsil is going to LT in 2 yrs or less, he's not a long term solution, plus he's got to learn the new position. All the talk of how easy the Guard position is to fill, less important than kickers- the Dolphins certainly have done their part to end that discussion.

 

[phishxhead]

If that is how you feel about RT then he is definitely part of the problem.

 

[jim1]

If that is how you feel about RT then he is definitely part of the problem.

Hey, if a limited Joe Flacco can win a Super Bowl with Baltimore then Tannehill can win one with Miami. I don't have to be a huge RT fan to look at this team and see the QB position as relatively settled and stable, in pretty good hands. There are so many problems on defense and OL that my quick inventory of issues doesn't even make it to Tannehill. On top of that he's gotten the s*** beaten out of him for the last four years and has done nothing but worked hard and been a positive force. If and when the time comes I'll complain about Tannehill, but that time sure isn't now, so many bigger and more problematic fish to fry.

 

[DolfanDuBbZ~]

Yeah, I hear you. The Patriots needed Guards and took Shaq Mason and Tre Jackson last year in round four, Joe Thuney in the 3rd round this year. We need Guards and draft John Jerry, Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner in the third round. Go figure. Imo we should have drafted a pure Guard this year, even though Tunsill fell in our laps. You know Tunsil is going to LT in 2 yrs or less, he's not a long term solution, plus he's got to learn the new position. All the talk of how easy the Guard position is to fill, less important than kickers- the Dolphins certainly have done their part to end that discussion.

Go back and remember New Orleans strong year of rushing the ball, they dominant between the tackles. Zach Martin of DAL solidified that Oline that is utterly dominant.

If this is a rebuild, treat it as such. Build inside out.

 

[joenhre]

Other than Tunsil who is worth keeping long term on this offensive line? Albert's career is just about done. James is an average pass blocker but can't run block to save his life. Pouncey is overrated and overpaid. Dallas Thomas still sucks. Billy Turner still hasn't solidified a starting spot and could be at best a backup. Douglas looks like he's already on his way off the team. The rest of these guys are either long in the tooth , stiffs or both. So what the heck are they going to do?

The Defense needs a complete rebuild but it looks like the offensive line may need one as well. So when will the Dolphins be in the playoff hunt again? 2025?

 

[finbully]

Person I was watching the game with noticed Tannehill staring down Landry when he dropped the ball on the left corner of the goal-line. I see it, too, but plays like that seem like an isolation call. 1v1 matchup, balls going there. I don't see different when they split Gronk wide and Brady stares down the easy touchdown every time. Another play with trips right, Tannehill looks like he progresses all the way from the right side of the field to left. Throws a ball to Ajayi that's hit at the LoS, but it appears Tannehill may have gone to his 4th or 5th option on that play. He's not Marino, but he doesn't have as much tunnel vision as you may say.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

Person I was watching the game with noticed Tannehill staring down Landry when he dropped the ball on the left corner of the goal-line. I see it, too, but plays like that seem like an isolation call. 1v1 matchup, balls going there. I don't see different when they split Gronk wide and Brady stares down the easy touchdown every time. Another play with trips right, Tannehill looks like he progresses all the way from the right side of the field to left. Throws a ball to Ajayi that's hit at the LoS, but it appears Tannehill may have gone to his 4th or 5th option on that play. He's not Marino, but he doesn't have as much tunnel vision as you may say.

I think a lot of the "staring down receivers" stuff is just that. The primary receiver is open with no need to look someone off. If Tannehill stared at receivers and telegraphed his throws as much as people say, he'd have a crap load more INTs. That argument just doesn't fit with reality. There is no way defenses would let him get away with it.

 

[miami365]

I think a lot of the "staring down receivers" stuff is just that. The primary receiver is open with no need to look someone off. If Tannehill stared at receivers and telegraphed his throws as much as people say, he'd have a crap load more INTs. That argument just doesn't fit with reality. There is no way defenses would let him get away with it.

Exactly this, especially with defenses sitting on our tendencies last year if this was true given how skewed our pass run ratio was he'd be punished to the tune of 20+ picks.

 

[MD]

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You could see him go through his progressions. The isolation throws were decisions made pre snap.