Scouting the 2016 Miami Dolphins: Offense

[DKphin]

(Photo: Andrew Innerarity, USA TODAY Sports)

Ryan Tannehill should improve with new coach Gase

That eight-figure extension proved the Dolphins have faith in Tannehill’s ability to take the team where they expect to go. He compiled 24 touchdowns last season on 4,208 total yards, but only threw for over 300 yards in six games. Under Gase, though, the quarterback should enjoy a larger degree of freedom at the line of scrimmage he didn’t have previously. That leadership to call and change plays could be the step forward he needs in his development.

(Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

What do the Dolphins have at running back?

Former tailback Lamar Miller bolted for Houston in the free agency, taking his 872 yards and eight touchdowns with him. Now, the Dolphins will start second year man Jay Ajayi, who averaged 3.8 yards per attempt for a single touchdown, in his place. But the team has some interesting depth behind Ajayi in Damien Williams and rookie Kenyan Drake, who impressed during his career at Alabama, if not achieving a No. 1 role.

(Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

Dolphins enjoy depth, promise at wide receiver

The Dolphins have some impressive talent at the wide receiver position. They fielded one of the quickest, most promising pass catchers last season in Jarvis Landry, whose 110 receptions were the best on the team and the fourth-best in the NFL, to go with 1,157 yards and four touchdowns. Rookie DeVante Parker was slowed somewhat by a foot problem, but still had some notable plays, bringing down three touchdowns on 494 yards. Kenny Stills added three touchdowns, and his 16.3 yards per reception average count him as a quality deep threat.
Griff Whalen is another name who can earn a spot on the depth chart and Leonte Carroo, the Dolphins’ third round selection this year, has a nose for the end zone.

(Photo: Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports)

Fins have experience, youth at tight end this season

The Dolphins tagged Jordan Cameron to be their pass catching tight end after a career year with Cleveland, but he would only bring down three touchdowns on 386 yards. Under Gase’s system, though, Cameron could find himself a more searched out target. Behind him is Dion Sims, who added a touchdown on 18 receptions.
But in rookie Thomas Duarte, a UCLA product, the Dolphins have someone they’re interested in developing for the future. He had a team-high 10 touchdowns last season as a wide receiver on 872 total yards. Known as a player with good hands, he’ll have to improve more as a blocker in order to take on the eventual role as No. 1 tight end.

(Photo: Brad Barr, USA TODAY Sports)

Dolphins insist their offensive line is stronger and deeper

Mike Pouncey is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl and left tackle Branden Albert just went to his first, and the Dolphins picked Mississippi’s Laremy Tunsil with the No. 13 overall pick this year. The rookie probably won’t take the left tackle slot yet, with Albert insisting the job is still his. But this unit is in need of some cohesion, in 2015 falling to a number of maladies over the course of the season.
One of the reasons the Dolphins would allow 45 sacks, the sixth-most permitted in football.
“We have a lot of depth. Last year showed that we didn’t have depth. Guys forced to be put in bad situations and put in tough spots and try to make the best out of it,” Albert said.
“Some guys, at the time, were not equipped because they weren’t raised to be in a different position. They were rotating through certain positions and then, all of a sudden, you need to play right tackle. Well, the whole year they didn’t practice right tackle. So this year we have a lot of depth in a lot of areas, a lot of veteran players, so it’s going to be good for us.”

http://mia.247sports.com/ContentGallery/Scouting-the-2016-Miami-Dolphins-Offense-46117036/7

 

[Tannchise]

I agree with everything, and will add this:
I believe if the line plays well, that we can get away with the current talent at RB. If we had this line last year, with health and personnel, we would have ran the ball much better. The run feeds off the pass and the pass feeds off the run. If the line stays healthy, they will have more time to throw and the talent is good enough to keep defenses off balance and be able to run. I do not like the personnel at TE, but it seems the Gase offense is not discriminatory against TE's. Julius Thomas and Bennett come to mind. But Cameron is injury prone and Sims was never the same after the concussion last year.
As for qb, if this freedom is true we will see soon if Tannehill can play from the shoulders up in this league. Like I have been saying, the onion is almost peeled, RT has no more excuses.

Good article

 

[fansinceGWilson]

The biggest change in Miami this year is the absence of Philbin and his troupe of clowns. Putting people in "bad situations?" No apparent thought of backups until the injury happens? The entire O knows a play is doomed but the QB is prohibited from calling a different play? What kind of coach is that?

As for the OL, Albert's comments say plenty. RBs will be OK only if they are injury free. I have no concerns about WR/TE.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

Is there any doubt how screwed up that coaching staff and front office was?

Want more proof? Look into the handling of Sam Brenner.

2013

He was regarded as a late-round or undrafted prospect. After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, Brenner signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.

Brenner entered his first pro training camp as the lone backup at center behind Mike Pouncey, facing competition from second-year guard Josh Samuda.

He was released by the team during final cuts before the regular season and was re-signed to the practice squad on September 2. After 10 weeks on the practice squad, Brenner was promoted to the active roster, providing depth at center with starter Mike Pouncey listed as questionable for the team's Week 11 contest with an illness.

He went on to start 4 games at center in 2013.

How the hell does a team have it's only backup at center on the practice squad for 10 weeks? WTF was the plan if Pouncey got hurt in a game? Brenner got moved from the practice squad to starting center.

2015

This is even better.....

On September 5, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.[10] On the following day, he was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad.[11] On September 11, 2015, he was promoted to the Dolphins' active roster.[12] On September 14, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.[13] On September 16, 2015, he was re-signed to the Dolphins' practice squad.[14] On September 26, 2015, Brenner was promoted to the Dolphins active roster.[15] On November 7, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins. On November 10, 2015, he was re-signed by the Dolphins. On November 17, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.


WHO THE F**K DOES THAT????????

 

[Fintastic2124]

Is there any doubt how screwed up that coaching staff and front office was?

Want more proof? Look into the handling of Sam Brenner.

2013

He was regarded as a late-round or undrafted prospect. After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, Brenner signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.

Brenner entered his first pro training camp as the lone backup at center behind Mike Pouncey, facing competition from second-year guard Josh Samuda.

He was released by the team during final cuts before the regular season and was re-signed to the practice squad on September 2. After 10 weeks on the practice squad, Brenner was promoted to the active roster, providing depth at center with starter Mike Pouncey listed as questionable for the team's Week 11 contest with an illness.

He went on to start 4 games at center in 2013.

How the hell does a team have it's only backup at center on the practice squad for 10 weeks? WTF was the plan if Pouncey got hurt in a game? Brenner got moved from the practice squad to starting center.

2015

This is even better.....

On September 5, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.[10] On the following day, he was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad.[11] On September 11, 2015, he was promoted to the Dolphins' active roster.[12] On September 14, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.[13] On September 16, 2015, he was re-signed to the Dolphins' practice squad.[14] On September 26, 2015, Brenner was promoted to the Dolphins active roster.[15] On November 7, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins. On November 10, 2015, he was re-signed by the Dolphins. On November 17, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.


WHO THE F**K DOES THAT????????

Smh.....just......smh

 

[Tannchise]

sucks to be him

 

[Aqua Shadow]

The Brenner situation was pretty bad but if I recall correctly, the first time he got waived in 2015 was more about the final cuts between week four of the pre season and game one of the regular season. That really doesn't excuse giving the guy the run around the rest of the season though

 

[VBCheeseGrater]

On the subject of Parker, I like how they deem missing half the season "slowed a bit". I didn't realize he almost had 500 yards receiving, not bad given the circumstances.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

The Brenner situation was pretty bad but if I recall correctly, the first time he got waived in 2015 was more about the final cuts between week four of the pre season and game one of the regular season. That really doesn't excuse giving the guy the run around the rest of the season though

He was their only backup center. He was their first choice to replace Pouncey. Why risk losing him? It made no sense. Idiots running the show.

 

[The Finster]

Is there any doubt how screwed up that coaching staff and front office was?

Want more proof? Look into the handling of Sam Brenner.

2013

He was regarded as a late-round or undrafted prospect. After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, Brenner signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.

Brenner entered his first pro training camp as the lone backup at center behind Mike Pouncey, facing competition from second-year guard Josh Samuda.

He was released by the team during final cuts before the regular season and was re-signed to the practice squad on September 2. After 10 weeks on the practice squad, Brenner was promoted to the active roster, providing depth at center with starter Mike Pouncey listed as questionable for the team's Week 11 contest with an illness.

He went on to start 4 games at center in 2013.

How the hell does a team have it's only backup at center on the practice squad for 10 weeks? WTF was the plan if Pouncey got hurt in a game? Brenner got moved from the practice squad to starting center.

2015

This is even better.....

On September 5, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.[10] On the following day, he was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad.[11] On September 11, 2015, he was promoted to the Dolphins' active roster.[12] On September 14, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.[13] On September 16, 2015, he was re-signed to the Dolphins' practice squad.[14] On September 26, 2015, Brenner was promoted to the Dolphins active roster.[15] On November 7, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins. On November 10, 2015, he was re-signed by the Dolphins. On November 17, 2015, Brenner was waived by the Dolphins.


WHO THE F**K DOES THAT????????

It's not uncommon for a fringe player to get bounced around like that, and he is a fringe player.

 

[Tannchise]

any news on Leary or Monroe?
With camp approaching, those guys should be traded for or picked up

 

[NY8123]

See the "only threw for over 300 yards six time" is a bit misleading. The guy in New England only threw for over 300 yards seven times last season.

A better criticism would have been red zone production since Miami has been horride in the red zone.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

It's not uncommon for a fringe player to get bounced around like that, and he is a fringe player.

It is not common to be bounced around that much. Multiple times per week? From waived to practice squad to active roster and back again? No.

Also, exposing your only backup center in 2013 is stupid.

 

[The Finster]

It is not common to be bounced around that much. Multiple times per week? From waived to practice squad to active roster and back again? No.

Also, exposing your only backup center in 2013 is stupid.

He wasn't bounced around all that much, I think you're looking at each transaction as separate things, when 2 transactions are really just one transaction = waive to signed to practice squad is really one transaction, he was brought up twice from the practice squad, again, that is not uncommon for a fringe player.

At the end of the season, when they had decided he wasn't worth keeping, they waived him without putting him back on the practice squad and then Pouncey got dinged up, so they signed him again, for emergency purposes before letting him go a final time, business as usual in the NFL for a fringe player.