Pff: Dolphins bleed talent in offseason, earn b- in pff grades

[Perfect72]

Financial concerns forced the new front office to tighten the purse-strings and get creative this offseason. How did they do?

New Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier didn’t exactly walk into the healthiest cap situation this offseason. With a handful of impending free agents, Grier had to make some difficult decisions on who to let walk and who to try and re-sign. The result was extensive roster turnover. Some players were obviously long shots to come back (Lamar Miller, Greg Jennings, Olivier Vernon) while others could have been made to work yet Miami still decided to part ways (Derrick Shelby, Rishard Matthews, Brent Grimes).

After bleeding that much talent, it’s difficult to be too excited about what the Dolphins did this offseason, even if many of the moves were necessary. They had one of our favorite draft classes, but Miami still only ekes out a B- for an overall grade.

"...Outside of the unnecessary extension for the 34-year-old Cameron Wake and head-scratching signing of Williams, Miami had a decidedly impressive offseason. They couldn’t throw around as much dough as they did a year ago, so they executed a trade with the Eagles to infuse the roster with talent and also targeted a number of budget offensive linemen to plug holes. The defensive line might not have the same punch it did a season ago, but their offensive line figures to be among the most improved units in the NFL.

Unfortunately, even if the offense takes a step forward from its 2015 form, the defense as a whole still figures to be a problem. Swapping out Grimes for Maxwell is a wash, and Abdul-Quddus is a solid addition, but the front seven will still have issues against the run. If their season ends in a playoff appearance, it will be because Tannehill finally took the next step with a talented line and group of receivers."

More at LINK: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/05/17/pro-pff-offseason-grades-miami-dolphins/

 

[insomnia411]

The signing of Mario Williams was "head scratching"? Uhhh ok.

 

[Hayden Fox]

The team signed and drafted fits to their philosophy. That is what was smart. We shall see how it works.

 

[FSU Truth]

The signing of Mario Williams was "head scratching"? Uhhh ok.

Yeah, the signing saves the team close to 6 million (compared to resigning Vernon) and the difference between the two (at least for the upcoming season) should be insignificant.

 

[Eesti]

The signing of Mario Williams was "head scratching"? Uhhh ok.

The guy loses all credibility when he makes a statement like that. We got a better pass rusher and run defender for half the price and the problem is ????

I fully expect Williams to get 10+ sacks next year while I expect OV to get around 8 once again. It's so funny how Williams got 5 sacks in a down year where he was used in coverage more (in 15 games) and OV gets only 2.5 more in a contract year and he is so much better? LOL

Grimes and Maxwell is a wash? Why is he even mentioning Chris Grier? He had to make difficult decisions? That's funny. He made NO decisions.

 

[Digital]

Thanks for the link Perfect72.

IMHO, the author showed his lack of knowledge of our situation when he started from the belief that Chris Grier was in charge. While Grier's voice my be heard more in our war room and his opinions given more value ... we all know that our decision maker has been Tannenbaum since the day he arrived. The author of this piece clearly didn't understand that, and shouldn't try to write a piece about every team, because he's not qualified to discuss the Dolphins.

If he were, he would have mentioned how Grimes' play dropped off a cliff last year, and that is likely due to age, so he's probably not going to get back to the player he was a couple of seasons ago. He would have noted that Maxwell played very well two years ago in a scheme similar to the one Vance Joseph will be implementing. In fact, it could be argued that at that time Maxwell outplayed Grimes 2 years ago ... and Maxwell is entering his prime whereas Grimes is clearly at the end of his career. But alas, that requires knowing the players. Where the arrow is pointing down for Grimes, it seems the arrow is pointing up for Maxwell.

Similarlly, Mario Williams being used as a LB ... that's about as square peg in a round hole as one can get. Anyone who thought last year was an indication of Mario Williams' talent level is very naïve. So, while the loss of Vernon was expected, the acquisition of Williams was a nice recovery.

Likewise, anyone familiar with the Dolphins situation would recognize that Gase's track record got the best out of Tebow, Peyton and Cutler. That's just about as different of a trio as QB's can be. And Gase got the best out of all three. So, it's going to be a surprise if Tannehill doesn't have a good year. Add the fact that we lost most of DeVante Parker's rookie season to a known injury issue ... that's not new talent, but it is a major piece we didn't have available last year.

There are other points (e.g the addition of Isa Abdul-Quddus) that would be important to a meaningful analysis of the Dolphins off season grade, but I think that shows a base cursory analysis that should have been mentioned in any review of our offseason. This one just sounds like a review from someone who probably never watched the Dolphins in a single game last year.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

Financial concerns forced the new front office to tighten the purse-strings and get creative this offseason. How did they do? New Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier didn’t exactly walk into the healthiest cap situation this offseason. With a handful of impending free agents, Grier had to make some difficult decisions on who to let walk and who to try and re-sign. The result was extensive roster turnover. Some players were obviously long shots to come back (Lamar Miller, Greg Jennings, Olivier Vernon) while others could have been made to work yet Miami still decided to part ways (Derrick Shelby, Rishard Matthews, Brent Grimes). After bleeding that much talent, it’s difficult to be too excited about what the Dolphins did this offseason, even if many of the moves were necessary. They had one of our favorite draft classes, but Miami still only ekes out a B- for an overall grade. "...Outside of the unnecessary extension for the 34-year-old Cameron Wake and head-scratching signing of Williams, Miami had a decidedly impressive offseason. They couldn’t throw around as much dough as they did a year ago, so they executed a trade with the Eagles to infuse the roster with talent and also targeted a number of budget offensive linemen to plug holes. The defensive line might not have the same punch it did a season ago, but their offensive line figures to be among the most improved units in the NFL. Unfortunately, even if the offense takes a step forward from its 2015 form, the defense as a whole still figures to be a problem. Swapping out Grimes for Maxwell is a wash, and Abdul-Quddus is a solid addition, but the front seven will still have issues against the run. If their season ends in a playoff appearance, it will be because Tannehill finally took the next step with a talented line and group of receivers." More at LINK: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/05/17/pro-pff-offseason-grades-miami-dolphins/

So many head scrathers, not counting Williams. >> "others could have been made to work yet Miami still decided to part ways (Derrick Shelby, Rishard Matthews, Brent Grimes." Matthews was gone regardless and Shelby left to be a starter - something Miami couldn't promise. I see no way those "could have been made to work." >> "The defensive line might not have the same punch it did a season ago" I STRONGLY disagree with that. I don't see how they can state Miami bled talent that will hurt this season and then call Maxwell for Grimes a wash. Williams for OV isn't bleeding. KA for Sheppard isn't bleeding. Howard for Taylor isn't bleeding. Losing Shelby didn't hurt significantly (maybe not at all). Focusing on "bleeding" without mentioning "infusions" is an inaccurate description of the patient.

 

[hoops]

nothing we lost was mission critical

 

[BigNastyFish]

Results are yet to be determined. But the loss of LaMarvelous and OV should have been avoided by proactive and preventative FO action!

It's "too late" when you let the boys hit the FA market.

Serious F for not getting new contracts done when we had the chance.

 

[biggrouper]

Were we a "PLAYOFF TEAM" last year... how about the year before? I just dont understand these people that feel the need to bash the fins for letting players go that didn't win. We need wins in the regular season I don't give a flying **** about winning the off season!!! We did that last year and that really didn't impress me in November.

 

[SCLSU Mud Dogs]

Roster turnover is expected with an almost entirely new coaching staff, new systems, etc.

 

[psfign]

Thanks for the link Perfect72.

IMHO, the author showed his lack of knowledge of our situation when he started from the belief that Chris Grier was in charge. While Grier's voice my be heard more in our war room and his opinions given more value ... we all know that our decision maker has been Tannenbaum since the day he arrived. The author of this piece clearly didn't understand that, and shouldn't try to write a piece about every team, because he's not qualified to discuss the Dolphins.

If he were, he would have mentioned how Grimes' play dropped off a cliff last year, and that is likely due to age, so he's probably not going to get back to the player he was a couple of seasons ago. He would have noted that Maxwell played very well two years ago in a scheme similar to the one Vance Joseph will be implementing. In fact, it could be argued that at that time Maxwell outplayed Grimes 2 years ago ... and Maxwell is entering his prime whereas Grimes is clearly at the end of his career. But alas, that requires knowing the players. Where the arrow is pointing down for Grimes, it seems the arrow is pointing up for Maxwell.

Similarlly, Mario Williams being used as a LB ... that's about as square peg in a round hole as one can get. Anyone who thought last year was an indication of Mario Williams' talent level is very naïve. So, while the loss of Vernon was expected, the acquisition of Williams was a nice recovery.

Likewise, anyone familiar with the Dolphins situation would recognize that Gase's track record got the best out of Tebow, Peyton and Cutler. That's just about as different of a trio as QB's can be. And Gase got the best out of all three. So, it's going to be a surprise if Tannehill doesn't have a good year. Add the fact that we lost most of DeVante Parker's rookie season to a known injury issue ... that's not new talent, but it is a major piece we didn't have available last year.

There are other points (e.g the addition of Isa Abdul-Quddus) that would be important to a meaningful analysis of the Dolphins off season grade, but I think that shows a base cursory analysis that should have been mentioned in any review of our offseason. This one just sounds like a review from someone who probably never watched the Dolphins in a single game last year.

And I feel like that statement is mostly the assumption of FH just because everyone hates him.

---------- Post added at 07:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 AM ----------

Results are yet to be determined. But the loss of LaMarvelous and OV should have been avoided by proactive and preventative FO action!

It's "too late" when you let the boys hit the FA market.

Serious F for not getting new contracts done when we had the chance.

Miller wasn't worth the effort and OV I wanted gone.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

Results are yet to be determined. But the loss of LaMarvelous and OV should have been avoided by proactive and preventative FO action! It's "too late" when you let the boys hit the FA market. Serious F for not getting new contracts done when we had the chance.

Not starting an argument - I honestly don't know the answer. Did Miami NOT try to sign OV and Miller a year earlier, did they try and fail, did they try but the agents refused to negotiate? I see this argued in a number of settings but no one seems to have the slightest proof one way or another.

 

[Eesti]

OV was drafted in 2012. That means the soonest a new deal could be worked out was after the 2014 season. That's the off-season they signed Ndamukong Suh. Once they did that, a new deal for OV was not going to happen. They took a gamble that they could re-sign him the following year and it didn't work out.

How many of us expected him to get $17M mil and $52.5M guaranteed? Who thought the FA market was going to explode like it did in 2015? Was he worth $15M on a franchise tag?

Who would have had a bigger impact? Suh and Mario Williams or OV and any other DT we have on the roster or that we could have signed as a 2nd tier FA?

 

[Vaark]

Am I the only one who thinks that egotist Tannenbum with a lot to prove to the league and himself consciously just might have decided to replace the several good Ireland draft picks like OV, Miller and Matthews to rid himself of players who reflect well on his predecessor instead of on him?