Warning: Optimism - Rishard Matthews

[miamirw]

I know there's a lot of negative stuff swirling around Dolphins camp right now, but I want to point out that we are witnessing a star being born in Rishard Matthews. I know it's one game but I've noticed greatness in him ever since he's been here. Maybe it's just the way he carries himself, or the fact that all he does is make plays, but I am excited for his future. Matthews plays like Gibson plays - they SCORE TOUCHDOWNS.

And I know we might have to take a step back this season with a new head coach and new general manager, but man, this is not a rebuilding project.

Think about next year's team with a solid offensive line, protecting Tanneyhill, a consistent blocking tight end to go with Charles Clay and an offensive coordinator ala sean payton etc. who knows how to call plays. With Brandon Gibson back, our four receiver set will be formidable.

Whoever the new gm is should lock up Matthews to an extension. Secure BOTH Starks and Soliai. And for God sakes, please extend Brent Grimes, your second best defensive player after Wake. That's a great start in my opinion. Fix the Oline (get a gm who understands what a great oline is).

Players who we should build around:

1. Ryan Tannehill
2. Cameron Wake
3. Brent Grimes
4. Randy Starks
5. Rishard Matthews
6. Brandon Gibson
7. Dimitri Patterson
8. Lamar Miller
9. Mike Pouncey
10. Jared Odrick
11. Paul Soliai
12. Reshad Jones
13. Dion Jordan
14. Daniel Ellerby
15. Brandon Fields
16. Brian Hartline

There's your nucleus. Build a big strong offensive line, a blocking beast of a tight end with solid hands, two big hitting outside linebackers, a solid free safety, a reliable nickel cornerback and we can be great.

We cannot and should not rebuild from scratch.

 

[mithga13]

I love me some Cam Wake, but if I'm a new GM, I trade him. Starks moves on in FA. Unless you go to a 3-4, then you trade Vernon as well as Wake, and keep the 3 dlineman. Its not going to be a KC-level turnaround, it may be a full year before you can make the transition, and I think Wake is starting to fade a little, and honestly.....we owe him the opportunity on a contender. Use the saved money and draft pick to upgrade the Oline. Dump Wheeler. And I'm only about 60% on the Tannehill bandwagon these days, he needs to learn how to hit a spot on the field 40 yards downfield with a little more consistency.

 

[PCmor]

Pouncey strikes me (no pun intended) increasingly as a knucklehead. Not thrilled with building around a guy whose judgment seems so poor, so often, regardless of his athletic gifts. I don't think he's someone I want being a leader for younger players.

Starks and Soliai are great because they can collapse the pocket, but they haven't done it in weeks, and the Bucs and others have made running at them look horrifically easy. I think keeping them now is more a luxury than a necessity.

Patterson is terrific, but he plays one game for every three he misses. I could go for a slightly lesser player who is on the field.

Jones, nice hitter, looks lost in coverage too much.

Miller, meh.

 

[miamirw]

Dump Wheeler.

How crushing was that personal foul penalty on Wheeler? Good teams have players that don't make that mistake. Probably lost the game for us. No awareness.

 

[mahmacoat]

do we have the cap room to cut Wallace?, that would be a great start to weeding out the crap

 

[RobertHorry]

Reshad Jones should be the 2nd person to go after Wheeler.

 

[PCmor]

Here's something about Matthews. Is what we saw last night not what we've seen every time he's gotten on the field for the past two years? Every fan has been calling for him to play ... I realize we don't see what goes on in practice, but Matthews finally gets on the field and immediately looks like he belongs in every way possible.

How is it that the coaches didn't find a way to get him on the field until last night? That's mind-boggling to me.

 

[AL R]

Alot of people wanted to see Matthews play more, including me, and he finally got a chance through injury....we shall see...if he can be consistent. I don't think they will be able to keep Starks, Soliai and Grimes or that they will all want to stay here. They can franchise one of the three. Pouncey may or may not be in serious trouble, Patterson can play but only when healthy. I would maybe add Hartline to the list.

 

[dolfan91]

Matthews finally had a breakout game. Tannehill showed trust in him for what seemed like the first time ever, to throw to him with consistency. They took advantage of the coverage and Matthews size. Perhaps Matthews will start to make a case for himself moving forward and become the intrical part of the offense it so desperately needs since Gibson's injury.

 

[datruth55]

I'd take Dimitri Patterson off the list. Completely unreliable at this point. He's missed 5 games already, he's good when he plays but he obviously can't stay on the field. Can't build around oft injured players.

 

[kwask4]

It seems like they want to bring every young player along slowly which is stupid we ain't going anywhere this year lets let our young bucks play ala d Jordan r Mathews the 2 freaking corners we drafted.

 

[Finfan53]

I know there's a lot of negative stuff swirling around Dolphins camp right now, but I want to point out that we are witnessing a star being born in Rishard Matthews. I know it's one game but I've noticed greatness in him ever since he's been here. Maybe it's just the way he carries himself, or the fact that all he does is make plays, but I am excited for his future. Matthews plays like Gibson plays - they SCORE TOUCHDOWNS.

Ryan Swope in the slot at Texas A&M was terrific with Tannehill. I think A LOt of guys could accel as the slot receiver! Even Davone Bess did well and he isn't super fast, just a great route runner which you better be if you don't have alot of speed (i.e. Wallace). I think I'm one of the few that appreciates that Mike Wallace helps open up the offense so Hartline, Clay, and guys like Rishard Matthews can be more productive. Seems like some fans have expectations with Wallace & his $$$$ contract that are unrealistic for his skill set. He isn't like Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson, or Megatron in Detroit... never surprising seeing those guys getting 7-12 receptions per game and 90-140 yds receiving/game

 

[PhinSoldia]

I know there's a lot of negative stuff swirling around Dolphins camp right now, but I want to point out that we are witnessing a star being born in Rishard Matthews. I know it's one game but I've noticed greatness in him ever since he's been here. Maybe it's just the way he carries himself, or the fact that all he does is make plays, but I am excited for his future. Matthews plays like Gibson plays - they SCORE TOUCHDOWNS.

And I know we might have to take a step back this season with a new head coach and new general manager, but man, this is not a rebuilding project.

Think about next year's team with a solid offensive line, protecting Tanneyhill, a consistent blocking tight end to go with Charles Clay and an offensive coordinator ala sean payton etc. who knows how to call plays. With Brandon Gibson back, our four receiver set will be formidable.

Whoever the new gm is should lock up Matthews to an extension. Secure BOTH Starks and Soliai. And for God sakes, please extend Brent Grimes, your second best defensive player after Wake. That's a great start in my opinion. Fix the Oline (get a gm who understands what a great oline is).

Players who we should build around:

1. Ryan Tannehill
2. Cameron Wake
3. Brent Grimes
4. Randy Starks
5. Rishard Matthews
6. Brandon Gibson
7. Dimitri Patterson
8. Lamar Miller
9. Mike Pouncey
10. Jared Odrick
11. Paul Soliai
12. Reshad Jones
13. Dion Jordan
14. Daniel Ellerby
15. Brandon Fields

There's your nucleus. Build a big strong offensive line, a blocking beast of a tight end with solid hands, two big hitting outside linebackers, a solid free safety, a reliable nickel cornerback and we can be great.

We cannot and should not rebuild from scratch.

you sure the Miko Grimes is gonna let her husband play for us again?

also the WHOLE reason we moved JO to the DT is because we are letting either starks or Soliai go, i was hoping to trade one of them

The others I have no problem with,

I'm ready for Tannehill to stop saying "go go" when we run...get rid of Sherman

 

[Finfan53]

I love me some Cam Wake, but if I'm a new GM, I trade him. Starks moves on in FA. Unless you go to a 3-4, then you trade Vernon as well as Wake, and keep the 3 dlineman. Its not going to be a KC-level turnaround, it may be a full year before you can make the transition, and I think Wake is starting to fade a little, and honestly.....we owe him the opportunity on a contender.

I have never felt we "owe" players to be on whatever so called contending team? I see how we owe them paychecks/bonuses and in return they give us 100%. I think we all thought the Houston Texans would be a strong contending team this year? Did anyone else see the Chiefs being 9-0 at this point?

 

[Sirspud]

Here's something about Matthews. Is what we saw last night not what we've seen every time he's gotten on the field for the past two years? Every fan has been calling for him to play ... I realize we don't see what goes on in practice, but Matthews finally gets on the field and immediately looks like he belongs in every way possible.

How is it that the coaches didn't find a way to get him on the field until last night? That's mind-boggling to me.

Matthews has shown great hands every time he's on the field, but I'm not gonna criticize the staff for not having him out there more when our top 3 WR's all had reason to be out there. Before Gibson was hurt, he was doing comparable things at the same position.