This offseason's most overlooked need...

[BennySwella]

We have been sitting here all offseason long focusing on rectifying the LB situation in free agency, and rightfully so. And I still feel that we have at least 2 more LB's coming in this offseason via the draft and late free agency pick ups. That being said we have yet to bring in pieces to improve the rest of the defense, which are undoubtedly coming in the draft and afterward. The only problem now is choosing which position should be our main focus of fixing first.

We arguably have several holes to fill yet and they are mostly on the defense. The only pressing need on offense is the offensive line... We are deficient at both Guard spots but we do have journeymen depth available at both positions to spell in case of injuries.
On the defense we need a run clogging DT, a decent nickle cornerback, starters and depth at LB, and the most barren and pressing need in my opinion... Free Safety.

I know some of you will mention our new signing Nate Allen, but as some of you have seen he is not an elite safety and is on the downturn of his career, and further so he is coming into a new system he will need to learn. For these reasons, along with Reshad Jones' injury history, we need a young athletic safety to come in to learn the playbook and compete with Nate Allen, who could sit or compete to start this year, while simultaneously spelling the starting safeties, or replacing them due to injury.

Am I wrong?

 

[Kdawg954]

I actually don't think they overlooked it at all. They addressed it rather quickly when free agency opened.

Of course the draft probably will be another avenue where they add to the safety group but considering they just gave Reshad an "elite" contract, they weren't going to find much better in FA. They actually did pretty well considering they lost a quality guy in IAQ prior to free agency opening up.

Allen got starter money at FS, and guaranteed at that . . . they feel comfortable about him and his injury past.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

We have been sitting here all offseason long focusing on rectifying the LB situation in free agency, and rightfully so. And I still feel that we have at least 2 more LB's coming in this offseason via the draft and late free agency pick ups. That being said we have yet to bring in pieces to improve the rest of the defense, which are undoubtedly coming in the draft and afterward. The only problem now is choosing which position should be our main focus of fixing first.

We arguably have several holes to fill yet and they are mostly on the defense. The only pressing need on offense is the offensive line... We are deficient at both Guard spots but we do have journeymen depth available at both positions to spell in case of injuries.
On the defense we need a run clogging DT, a decent nickle cornerback, starters and depth at LB, and the most barren and pressing need in my opinion... Free Safety.

I know some of you will mention our new signing Nate Allen, but as some of you have seen he is not an elite safety and is on the downturn of his career, and further so he is coming into a new system he will need to learn. For these reasons, along with Reshad Jones' injury history, we need a young athletic safety to come in to learn the playbook and compete with Nate Allen, who could sit or compete to start this year, while simultaneously spelling the starting safeties, or replacing them due to injury.

Am I wrong?

First, assuming "overlooked" means 'no one noticed a need," I see none. With that as preface, it appears OG and LB weren't given the emphasis they should have gotten. Yes, they tried, but either the "upgrades" don't make me enthusiastic or the effort seems less than I'd expect.

 

[JakeemThe Dream]

We have been sitting here all offseason long focusing on rectifying the LB situation in free agency, and rightfully so. And I still feel that we have at least 2 more LB's coming in this offseason via the draft and late free agency pick ups. That being said we have yet to bring in pieces to improve the rest of the defense, which are undoubtedly coming in the draft and afterward. The only problem now is choosing which position should be our main focus of fixing first.

We arguably have several holes to fill yet and they are mostly on the defense. The only pressing need on offense is the offensive line... We are deficient at both Guard spots but we do have journeymen depth available at both positions to spell in case of injuries.
On the defense we need a run clogging DT, a decent nickle cornerback, starters and depth at LB, and the most barren and pressing need in my opinion... Free Safety.

I know some of you will mention our new signing Nate Allen, but as some of you have seen he is not an elite safety and is on the downturn of his career, and further so he is coming into a new system he will need to learn. For these reasons, along with Reshad Jones' injury history, we need a young athletic safety to come in to learn the playbook and compete with Nate Allen, who could sit or compete to start this year, while simultaneously spelling the starting safeties, or replacing them due to injury.

Am I wrong?

NO!!! DBs and DEs are what make a dominant D in today's passing league. Nate Allen scares the hell out of me lol and Phillips needs to just act like he's the great wall of china like his body is as big as. Amazes me we cannot stop the run while having Suh lol Timmons should and will change that. I think we looked into those positions but obviously didn't address them. I think they like that Allen and Reshad can both switch safety positions. Allen is a big due just not that talented. I'm from Tampa and remember all the Nate the great Allen buzz at USF. I remember when Pierre Paul would come to practice and just dominate lol Awesome to watch

 

[joenhre]

Nate Allen is not a starting caliber FS anymore. He wasn't even very good before the knee injury in '15. Allen has always been better at SS than FS either way. Getting Reshad Jones back will help immensely, but lets not pretend that Nate Allen is going to all of a sudden turn into a quality FS. He is definitely a downgrade to IAQ.

 

[joenhre]

I am not sure if we can say they neglected those positions since they did sign some players. Lack of cap room hurt who they could sign. I agree though that they still need starters at FS, LB, OG & Nickle CB. They need a young stud DE and more depth at DT, LB & FS. IMO Nate Allen should be Reshad Jones' backup but the team most likely sees him as the starter opposite Jones. That scares me too.

 

[jazz015]

They couldn't possibly fill every single need in one offseason. It was one of those down the list priorities. IAQ unexpectedly forced to retire was the real killer.

 

[dtjp17]

I've bee preaching this for 3 weeks SIGN HANKINS 24 phenomenal against the run And wait he's 24. We have the money that instantly makes our D better. Forget brown draft a LB

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I think it's close between safety and pass rusher. Keep in mind that Wake had about 1/3 of Miami's sacks and, unfortunately, he can't play forever.

The good news is that the team should be able to fill both of those needs in the draft. This draft is loaded at safety to the point where I don't think I've seen a better group.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Nate Allen is not a starting caliber FS anymore. He wasn't even very good before the knee injury in '15. Allen has always been better at SS than FS either way. Getting Reshad Jones back will help immensely, but lets not pretend that Nate Allen is going to all of a sudden turn into a quality FS. He is definitely a downgrade to IAQ.

Agree. Miami has gone on the cheap too often to fill that safety spot. I think with the talent in this draft that's where it's at.

 

[Snoop]

Most overlooked need has been DT...since Softy Phillips was a 2nd round pick, Tannenbaum has been low balling better players like Poe and Hankins.

 

[Danny]

Speaking of FS and LB.....man would I rather have Earl Thomas at FS instead of Koa Misi.......most of you know what I mean

Ozzy rules!!

 

[NRA]

CORNER!!!


It's a Major need and why people think we have talent falling out of the secondary tree is baffling as our group rarely makes a huge plays, defenses his man, gets a pic unless ALL of our front 7 is piled on the QB and even then many completions happen on the qb's journey to the stadium floor. Dolphin fans have been so starved for real talent over the last decade that when ANY player makes a play he is labeled "a stud", or a "beast" and is untouchable, we are now set.

And that's happening now with the secondary (sans Jones). Nobody, at this point at the cb position shows enough for the front office to ignore corner EARLY in this draft. Even just decent qb's feast on our corners. We have seen bench warmers take us apart. The way to stop this? Draft big time corners early, even if we must trade. Start taking advantage of the quality corners when one is available in f/a and stop settling for used up, never have's and expecting pro bowl talent to sign at journeyman wages.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I agree with FS, but those clamoring for CBs . . . yes, it's a need but even the best ones can only cover for so long if the pass rush isn't getting home.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

I agree with FS, but those clamoring for CBs . . . yes, it's a need but even the best ones can only cover for so long if the pass rush isn't getting home.

Agreed. I think everyone here would like a CB upgrade, but it's not a top two need. By almost all reasonable accounts, Maxwell and Lippett improved late in the season as injuries reduced the pass rush. Yeah, upgrade, but not on day 1. In either case, not signing a CB FA doesn't mean upgrades were "overlooked."