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The Pass-First Miami Dolphins - Hickey's Vision

JakeMcAwful

JakeMcAwful

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When you look over this Dolphins roster, and most evidently this past offseason, you'll see a clear trend emerging in the players added to it. This team and its new offense under the guidance of Bill Lazor & Dennis Hickey is now in full-blown pass attack mode. That's what this entire offseason has been about - give Tannehill the tools and build with a vision. And I must say I'm impressed with Hickeys dedication to it in his short time here..

Beginning with Free Agency, we have the marquee signing of LT Branden Albert. We overpaid, sure. There was arguably better talent out there, sure. But Albert is fantastic at one thing in particular.. Pass protection. His run-blocking leaves much to be desired, but he's a known accomplished quantity in the pass game vs. Veldheer or Collins. So we took the option that best contributes to the vision.. Target 2 was a pass-blocking RB - and we got that in Moreno. Not only is he skilled in protection, but he is extremely productive in the screen game. Who really looked at Moreno last year and thought he could be the solution to our running woes? He's here for the passing game.

Moving onto the draft.. Ju'Wuan James in round 1 may sound like a reach, and it may well be one. But while James is average in the run-game, his pass protection is immaculate. He rarely gets beat (1 sack given up last year). Billy Turner gave up 0 sacks at LT (albeit at a lower level) and now may see his transition to LG.. But also provides invaluable depth behind Albert if his injuries return.

We draft two receivers, one in the second round - despite our good stable of talent there. Why? It might appear that Philbin isn't happy with certain pieces (recent Matthews rumour that happened to emerge with the Dolphins clear interest in drafting WRs, cough easy story cough) but I would suggest that in a pass happy offense you need more than 5 decent receivers available to you.. And the competition bred here should pay dividends. I predict we enter the season with 6 WRs - Wallace, Hartline, Gibson, Matthews, Landry, Hazel - and we see increased use of 4 WR sets throughout the year. The pass game is going to be used to open up the run game - essentially the opposite of what's being done over in Philly, despite what people wanted Lazor to bring. This isn't the same offense, its designed with a top-tier quarterback in mind.

I know this offseason would have been about fixing the OL regardless, but the particular skillset of players brought in is no coincidence - it's all part of a plan. This offense is meant to be something great this year, and I believe Tannehill & Lazor's playcalling can bring us there. We have incredible talent at the most important positions, all geared towards one goal.. Explode out of the gate, passing our way to the postseason. It'll be exciting to watch for those that love a strong passing game, and with the clear vision with which the pieces have been installed.. I believe it'll get us there.
 
Great write-up. I agree on all fronts that we are finally building to look like the rest of the league and be more of a "pass happy" team. Last year it seemed like that same idea was used, but it also was a little forced since the oline and running game was so awful. Hopefully these picks work out, but after getting disappointed time and time again, I think we will finish 7-9. Schedule is just too tough.
 
twofactor23 said:
Great write-up. I agree on all fronts that we are finally building to look like the rest of the league and be more of a "pass happy" team. Last year it seemed like that same idea was used, but it also was a little forced since the oline and running game was so awful. Hopefully these picks work out, but after getting disappointed time and time again, I think we will finish 7-9. Schedule is just too tough.
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I totally agree with that.. It may have appeared that we were a pass-first team last year - but it felt we had to lean on the passing game just because there was zero run game, not because passing was a particular strength. It in fact resulted in our demise, and franchise record number of sacks.. I think we're building to be better prepared to face that situation, and make it a strength of the team.

It is a tough schedule, it must be said.. but we've seen this team play at a high level against good teams last year - San Diego, Cincinnati, NE, Pittsburgh.. If we can try avoiding ****ting the bed against Thad Lewis again, I can see a 9 or 10 win season for us.
 
I tend to agree with this. Im not saying we dont need to run the football...because it is ESSENTIAL that we can run the ball. But the way they are building the line to me implies this team wants to set up the run via the pass. They tried it last year and it failed because we couldnt protect...couldnt run block either for that matter. This line is going to be athletic...much more athletic...with two OTs who are better at pass blocking than run blocking.

Its going to be interesting. Its a finesse style. Its not the seahawks, seattle, San Fran punch you in the mouth type offense. It can work...it works for many teams now...The only thing that concerns me is that the Jets and Bills both have extremely physical defensive fronts and although I think we are more talented I think those two teams arent great matchups. NE is NE and until Brady proves otherwise they are running this division...and their D went all in with Revis, Browner, and they get Mayo back. We always play them tough though
 
Great OP Jake, thanks!

I have a lot of faith in Lazor and Benton. While I'm not as sold on our draftee OL, I think you nailed it. We are being built for heavy pass dominance first and foremost.

Shelley is a situational substitution for running downs and a project for Benton to develop long term.

I hope and expect Lazor to run a lot of screens and delayed handoffs after establishing the pass. Then utilize Tannehill's excellent play action ability once we generate some run yardage.

Once teams drop into dime coverage, even our OL should be able to open holes.

I'm not confident about our OL to run block generally. So, I'm hoping that this all pans out. Fingers crossed.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 
MiamiDolphin618 said:
I tend to agree with this. Im not saying we dont need to run the football...because it is ESSENTIAL that we can run the ball. But the way they are building the line to me implies this team wants to set up the run via the pass. They tried it last year and it failed because we couldnt protect...couldnt run block either for that matter. This line is going to be athletic...much more athletic...with two OTs who are better at pass blocking than run blocking.

Its going to be interesting. Its a finesse style. Its not the seahawks, seattle, San Fran punch you in the mouth type offense. It can work...it works for many teams now...The only thing that concerns me is that the Jets and Bills both have extremely physical defensive fronts and although I think we are more talented I think those two teams arent great matchups. NE is NE and until Brady proves otherwise they are running this division...and their D went all in with Revis, Browner, and they get Mayo back. We always play them tough though
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This is one reason I think Ireland is gone.. He could never really stick to a plan. It all felt scattershot. Like you said, we tried it last year but the pieces weren't in place to sustain it and it cost us a playoff berth.. Hickey at first glance seems to have the right idea and sticks to a plan. But the pressure's off him right now - he's a first year GM. I hope he can stick to it if the seat gets hot.

Bills matchups always make me uneasy.. They seem to hand us a loss every year at least - and that line is still terrifying. Add Watkins into the mix.. The AFC East has tough defenses in general.. You're right with us having potential difficulty playing finesse against these guys, but it can be done. Green Bay is the prototype.. Model that successfully and results should follow.
 
Digital said:
Great OP Jake, thanks!

I have a lot of faith in Lazor and Benton. While I'm not as sold on our draftee OL, I think you nailed it. We are being built for heavy pass dominance first and foremost.

Shelley is a situational substitution for running downs and a project for Benton to develop long term.

I hope and expect Lazor to run a lot of screens and delayed handoffs after establishing the pass. Then utilize Tannehill's excellent play action ability once we generate some run yardage.

Once teams drop into dime coverage, even our OL should be able to open holes.

I'm not confident about our OL to run block generally. So, I'm hoping that this all pans out. Fingers crossed.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
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I strongly agree with the plan of screens & delayed handoffs.. I think draws will become a significant part of our 1st down yardage. Moreno becomes pretty handy with his versatility here, giving us an option for screen, run and pass-protect with one back. I think that signing is more important than people give credit for. Honestly, it all sounds good on paper and for once we have most of the pieces in place to make it happen.
 
That's clear you got 2 good pass protection tackles who are so so at run blocking. You have a pass blocking RB. You add WRs. Its definitely pass first. I didn't see a huge commitment to getting bEtter at running
 
Our vision is we pass to set up the run and run to set up the pass -- in the mold of the New England Patriots. Or to put it another way always take what the defense gives you, if they stack the box you pass and if they play nickel or 2 deep safeties you run. Our problem was we weren't able to take advantage in the passing game when the defense was set up for it, the Panthers game was a perfect example, they completely sold out to stop the run and we couldn't take advantage of Wallace running wide open behind the defense. That game should have been a blowout and over by the half and if that happened defensive coordinators might have started playing us a bit more honestly.

We need to start hitting on those big plays and the moves made this offseason should help. Its all up to Tannehill now.
 
JakeMcAwful - I agree this is a systematic plan that is quietly and efficiently being implemented. I still think that we need a TE who is a seam threat, but don't be surprised if the Arthur Lynch draft pick was a flat out upgrade in blocking over Egnew.
We finished last season with a fair number of holes but we appear to have a Head Coach and GM on the same page and working together - something we didn't have last year.
The replacement of Sherman with Lazor is the big one to help improve the team. Some of the play calling last season was terrible. If Lazor has any flair for creativity in this area, the team could be much better.
 
I do see a better running game. Turner seems like somebody who can make holes in the run game.
Juwan James went up against sec defensive ends giving up only 1 sack all year. The rt position alone last year gave up more than 12 sacks.
Lynch was one of the top blocking tight ends in college.
Landry was mentioned as one of the toughest players pound for pound and you can't jam Landry off the line of scrimmage.
Seems like Landry will help slow down the pass rush and enjoys blocking.
Tannehill won't be rattled as much to complete more paasses down the field.
I predict Tannehill will pick teams apart with Landry and hit twice the amount of completed deep bombs to Wallace.
Moreno will help the team utilize screen passes better. Should be fun to watch!
 
JakeMcAwful said:
We have incredible talent at the most important positions, all geared towards one goal.. Explode out of the gate, passing our way to the postseason.
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Yikes. The second sentence reminds me of Bill Peterson's famous clip when he described the Oilers' game plan.

The first sentence has to be a joke.

Our first round picks didn't pan out for years, a remarkable stretch of failure. Recently we've been a mediocre team that drafts only once before late second round.

That's all you need to know about our talent level. We haven't broken any barriers. We aren't immune from logic. It's merely the identical trend as the one that amazed me when I first joined this site...mediocre or above average players touted in sigs as somehow remarkable.

When we finally have great talent it will jump off the screen. There won't be marathon threads debating the caliber of the quarterback.

Tannehill underachieved last season, IMO. His default level should be significantly above 6.7 YPA, regardless of the caliber of the offensive line. So there's room for a logical upward bump.

Nothing in his background or skill set suggests elite. That's why he was so stunned when we defeated the Patriots. Russell Wilson is accustomed to success like that. To Tannehill it was borderline unbelievable, after so many mediocre seasons in college and pro marked by blowing leads and heading to the podium explaining that it's all a process, that we've got to get better.
 
I agree with OP and great write up. People pencilling in Turner to start LG are forgetting about Dallas Thomas. I think he will start, along with Shelley Smith. Thomas came in with injury and is now a year experienced in the NFL. I think he has the head start on Turner. Smith has worked under Benton previously and is very underrated.
 
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