NFL Team Previews: Miami Dolphins | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

NFL Team Previews: Miami Dolphins

DKphin

DKphin

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DRAFT RECAP: If first round pick Laremy Tunsil is serious about not getting drug suspensions anymore, then it is a very good pick for the Dolphins, who got the arguable top pick in the draft prior to the infamous video, 13th. But, we also need to remember he is in Miami, and well, we all know about how Miami is. It's also unclear where on the line he will be, but the upside is there and the Dolphins have a potential steal. In the second round, CB Xavien Howard has a bit of Byron Maxwell in him, which is the other starting corner on the team. They probably didn't need to trade up to get him though, and if they didn't they still had Mackensie Alexander and Kendall Fuller on the board. RB Kenyan Drake is a weird pick to me, mainly because he never started and has durability concerns, and is also not projected to start over incumbent Jay Ajayi. They then took two receivers, which isn't a big position of need for the Dolphins. Overall, a very puzzling draft.

FREE AGENCY: Like usual, the Dolphins went after it in free agency and the trade market. To start, the Dolphins acquired ILB Kiko Alonso and CB Byron Maxwell from the Eagles in exchange for moving back 5 spots in the first round (and still might have received a better talent than the Eagles). Alonso, who has had an unusual career so far, battled injury last season (after being traded from the Bills the year prior) and Maxwell took a step back after coming into Philly from the Seahawks. The other huge move the Dolphins made was bringing in DE Mario Williams from the Bills, who didn't have a great season last year, but should be capable of helping to replace Olivier Vernon. He's definitely a fit with Cameron Wake and Ndamakung Suh on the line. Along with that, FS Isa Abdul-Quddus and DE Jason Jones were brought in from the Detroit Lions, and Abdul-Quddus is in line to start, where Jason Jones should get plenty of snaps as well. DE Andre Branch was also brought in, and he had 4 sacks last season in limited time. Finally, the Dolphins brought in linemen Kraig Urbik (Bills) and Jermon Bushrod (Bears) for line depth.

PLAYERS LOST: When you have to bring in that much talent, it usually means you lost quite a bit. DE Olivier Vernon signed a huge deal with the NY Giants, and may have been overpaid just a bit since he was not outstanding last season. DE Derrick Shelby also left for the Falcons, and he had a year comparable to what new DE Jason Jones had with the Lions. Longtime CB Brent Grimes left for Tampa leaving a leadership void at CB, and WR Rishard Matthews left for a payday in Tennessee after having a breakout season. The biggest loss of them all, however, seems to be RB Lamar Miller. I know the Dolphins drafted Kenyan Drake, but I think he was taken way to high, and the Dolphins did nothing else to address the RB position. They tried to pry CJ Anderson from Denver, but Denver matched his offer sheet.

STRONGEST POSITION: Honestly, when you try to win football games, you have to have solid line play. Provided the question marks on the offensive line are answered, the Dolphins are set there with Bryan Albert, Mike Pouncey, and Tunsil leading the way. But, I'll go with the line with less questions, the defensive line. It is anchored by a beast, yet sometimes unnecessarily violent, player in Ndamakung Suh. On the edge, Pro-Bowler Cameron Wake looks to come back from injury strong (although he had 7 sacks in 9 games last season), and his partner on the other side Mario Williams looks to regain his Pro Bowl form (and it should be easier with all the talent). Jason Jones and Andre Branch can start on many teams, and they back up these Pro Bowlers. The tackle spot next to Suh, occupied currently by Earl Mitchell, is not as strong as the other 3, but Mitchell is a solid player as well.

WEAKEST POSITION: Running back. No question. Operating under the assumption everything goes well, the Dolphins look to be in a good spot at every other position. You already know how I feel about Kenyan Drake, and he may be worth the pick, but he's not an elite running back, especially this season. Jay Ajayi is the projected starter, and in his rookie year just ran for 187 yards and a touchdown. Damien Williams, the third string back, is another Dolphin running back who had high hopes but underachieved.

FIVE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS TO THE DOLPHINS SUCCESS: QB Ryan Tannehill, DE Cameron Wake, G/T Laremy Tunsil, ILB Kiko Alonso, DT Ndamakung Suh. Obviously, with such a weak running game, Tannehill should be throwing almost every play. The entire offense depends on his relationship with Adam Gase, and his ability to hit his large group of receivers and not throw interceptions. Cameron Wake needs to stay healthy all season, and Suh needs to keep playing at an elite level. If Laremy Tunsil gets a full season in without getting suspended or in trouble, then he finally fixes the Dolphins offensive line that had the whole Martin-Incognito scandal a few years ago. And, Kiko Alonso is needed to come back from injury and show why the Eagles thought it was a good idea to trade LeSean McCoy for him prior to his arrival in Miami. He will be the man in the middle of the defense, and he needs to play like a Pro-Bowler for it all to come together.

PREDICTION: The Dolphins, yet again, have the appearance of being stacked, but I don't think they can make the playoffs in the AFC. That said, the Dolphins do actually look better than in years past, but with the coaching turnover and front office shakeup, I don't think they can make the playoffs in a crowded AFC filled with parody. I think they will get second to New England in the division, with 10-6 as their best possible outcome, but 9-7 or 8-8 as the realistic possibility.
Click to expand...

http://jmlowe.sportsblog.com/posts/20729211/nfl-team-previews--miami-dolphins.html
 
but with the coaching turnover and front office shakeup, I don't think they can make the playoffs in a crowded AFC filled with parody

Yeah, way too much parody in this league. They need to get serious!!!!!!
 
Who can say this guy isn't right? I mean we try to stack it up every offseason and then it goes kaplooey. The coaching staff, healthy players and new players can all add up to a great season, but like many of the recently past seasons, we have to see how it all works together. I'll never be overly optimistic again until we have another Marino, but I can see us eek out a 10-6 year, more likely a 8-8, 9-7 though.
 
Miami was very cheap in the off-season, so not sure what the author is talking about. And you can't talk a writer seriously if he doesn't understand parody vs parity
 
"Damien Williams, the third string back, is another Dolphin running back who had high hopes but underachieved."


Who had high hopes for this UDFA, other than maybe this writer?
 
Coaching, coaching , coaching.
The team has plenty of talent. If Gase is the real deal, this is a playoff team.
 
Also, he said Tannehill should be throwing nearly every play because of the weak running game? The backs are unknown, but who the heck said they're weak? If our oline holds up, we could have a very balanced attack.
 
Wake didn't play 9 games. A lot of errors in this article. That said, his record prediction is probably in line.
 
I agree with him that the Kenyan Drake pick was a mistake. There were plenty of good everydown bellcow RBs on the board that we could have taken. Now we have to pray that Jay Ajayi never gets injured.
 
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FIVE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS TO THE DOLPHINS SUCCESS:
Click to expand...

1 Jordan Phillips
2 Xavien Howard (or Lippett)
3 Laremy Tunsil
4 Jay Ajayi
5 DeVante Parker

...and I would throw in Kiko Alonso.

Those guys play well and we don't have much else to doubt. We should have a pretty good idea of what the rest will do.
 
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