We are all understandably excited about the Suh signing and hopeful that this is the move that gets us over the hump to that coveted 9-7 finish. But this offseason has me very concerned and it's not Suh's contract or the uncertainty surrounding Wallace and other positions. This team is getting ready to make replacements at two spots that traditionally are the most important positions for a Dolphins team. I'm talking of course about kicker and punter. Fields is gone and Sturgis isn't cutting it which means we will be looking for replacements for both in free agency and the 3rd day of the draft.
These two positions are vital to a Dolphins team for these reasons: This is a team that historically does a lot of punting and kicking FGs. When that is such an important part of your game, you will always need a punter who will give your defense a chance to get the ball back for your kicker in FG range. And that kicker needs to be able to not only make those kicks, but kick touchbacks (Sturgis has trouble with this even though the NFL has made it suhper easy) to once again put your defense in position to get him the ball in FG range. Everything is tied to those positions which is what makes them that much more important to us.
This is concerning and that's why it should be addressed with a fury. It's no coincidence that the last time this team ever won any playoff games it was with Olindo Mare in his prime leading the way. It's also no coincidence that Sebastian Janikowski was taken in the 1st round just a few years before kicking the Raiders all the way to the Suhper Bowl. While we're all here talking about what offensive playmakers we could take in the first round, we should be discussing which kickers and punters will be available in the first two rounds. I would like to see either one of those picks traded for someone like Stephen Gostkowski or we should be very active in pursuing viable replacements in free agency. If there's one organization that should have both the highest paid kicker and punter in the league, it should be the Dolphins. Luckily, our LS is still under contract.
Hope you enjoyed my thoughts. Feel free to kick me some replies on how much you like them.
These two positions are vital to a Dolphins team for these reasons: This is a team that historically does a lot of punting and kicking FGs. When that is such an important part of your game, you will always need a punter who will give your defense a chance to get the ball back for your kicker in FG range. And that kicker needs to be able to not only make those kicks, but kick touchbacks (Sturgis has trouble with this even though the NFL has made it suhper easy) to once again put your defense in position to get him the ball in FG range. Everything is tied to those positions which is what makes them that much more important to us.
This is concerning and that's why it should be addressed with a fury. It's no coincidence that the last time this team ever won any playoff games it was with Olindo Mare in his prime leading the way. It's also no coincidence that Sebastian Janikowski was taken in the 1st round just a few years before kicking the Raiders all the way to the Suhper Bowl. While we're all here talking about what offensive playmakers we could take in the first round, we should be discussing which kickers and punters will be available in the first two rounds. I would like to see either one of those picks traded for someone like Stephen Gostkowski or we should be very active in pursuing viable replacements in free agency. If there's one organization that should have both the highest paid kicker and punter in the league, it should be the Dolphins. Luckily, our LS is still under contract.
Hope you enjoyed my thoughts. Feel free to kick me some replies on how much you like them.
