Where do these Players Stand?

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Before moving forward in the offseason, there are some tough questions to answer about players on the roster. Specifically, where do these players stand?

Tony Lippett --- I like how Lippett has developed and he obviously can make plays on the ball in the air. He is valuable. But, he also has limitations (change of direction). Is he a starter or a valuable guy off the bench? That is a big question with quality corners available in the draft.

Jordan Phillips --- "Flash Jordan" is another tough evaluation. There are times when it looks like he could become a pro bowl player. At other times he is almost non-existent. I know this is a position that takes time for players, but does he have the chops to work at it and reach his potential?

Brandon Albert/Mike Pouncey --- The offense really took off when both of these guys were healthy. Therein lies the problem. Realistic expectations are about eight starts each and with their salaries that becomes problematic. It's tough to add quality depth in the NFL, which makes durable guys even more valuable. In the short-term, I expect both to be Miami Dolphins in 2017. Long-term, though, the team needs to be prepared with guys who can step into their roles.

 

[jazz015]

Lippett- I expected him to struggle and he did. But he vastly improved and their is a bright future if he continues to develop and become more rounded. We need a slot corner more than anything (McCain was the real disappointment. Didn't develop like we thought)

Jordan Phillips - C O N S I S T E N C Y. We need too add a quality run stuffer because I don't want to rely on a guy who needs to plug the middle every play. Needs competition to push him.

BA/Pouncey - Albert has gotten old and injuries have caught up with him. He may be a liability if we don't end up cutting him. I hope for Pouncey to return healthy and to form. But they need to identify some players in FA who can come in and play well so the offense doesn't lose a step. I would draft a center in the mid to late rounds as a developmental project.

 

[oasis]

Lippett was torched regularly (by torched I don't mean on long balls...just giving too much of a cushion and allowing completions). He also made some great plays. Can he continue to develop? Of course. I see him as a guy who's going to blossom into a pretty decent corner 5 years into his career, kind of like Sean Smith or a Nolan Carroll. It's unlikely that he will be a shutdown guy for us next season. For the near future, I'd say the secondary was doing really really well if he was your 3rd best corner (or rather, 4th since he doesn't play in the slot). A healthy and motivated Maxwell and a further experienced Howard are both going to be better than him.

I don't think Phillips will reach his full potential. Just doesn't have the drive. You will see a flash right before he's due his first big contract though. I'm not counting on him to truly anchor the D-line in the future, but he can be a major contributor in a rotation.

BA provides leadership on the line. He's a good, hard-working player. The problem is it's time for him to move to G and finish out his career there. Will he take a paycut and be willing to do so? Or will be continue to want to play LT? I think the Dolphins will be ready to put Tunsil at LT. If Albert is unwilling to play G and take the corresponding paycut, they will try to trade him.

 

[tay0365]

Tony Lippett - Lippett is still growing into his new position, but has shown what kind of Corner he could be in time if he can reach that potential, but if not he will be paid as a quality backup, nickle corner.

Jordan Phillips - Yet another young player with loads of potential, but is inconsistent. When/If Phillips does hit that peak in his skills, he will be a dominating player, against the runs, as well as against the pass from the middle. Either way, Miami should still invest in another DT that can play the run just in case it never clicks for him.

Brandon Albert - Albert is getting up there in age, it might be best for the team to allow the young linemen in Tunsil to start growing into the LT position, and ask Albert if he would be willing to move over to Guard, if he doesn't go along with moving to guard, then replace him, if he does, bring in a guard anyway to groom when Albert retires.

Mike Pouncey - Everyone want to get rid of Pouncey, but he is one of the best at his position...not a coincidence that Ajayi was almost unstoppable when Pouncey was healthy, and playing, but the salary is too high for an always injured player. Ask him to restructure, or start trying to find a more reliable option at center.

 

[Danny]

People needs to stop talking about BA moving to guard. Bad idea. He faces mostly speed guys on the outside and yet the guy can't stay healthy. If he moves to guard he'll be facing 320lb DT's all day long and he'll get hurt even quicker, not to mention the guy wouldn't be able to pull like a guard needs to. Either he's our LT or he's gone but they're not moving him to guard. What is there to gain by him moving to guard anyway? Do people think that switching BA and Tunsil will make the line better? It wouldn't. What we need is two real guards playing guard and move Tunsil to LT and say bye to BA. Pouncey you can't count on him but we can't cut him this year due to the cap hit so he's back for 2017 and probably gone after that.

Ozzy rules!!

 

[phintim]

Move Albert inside to protect him and keep him hopefully healthy. I have a hard time cutting any offensive linemen because they have been very difficult for us to find.
With the issues at linebackers, guard, safety and Defensive end.
We cleaned house last year and can't afford to keep doing that as we neither have talent level or enough draft picks to get where we need to be next year.
Really need Tannabaum to make it work.

 

[warren4prez]

Lippett was torched regularly (by torched I don't mean on long balls...just giving too much of a cushion and allowing completions). He also made some great plays. Can he continue to develop? Of course. I see him as a guy who's going to blossom into a pretty decent corner 5 years into his career, kind of like Sean Smith or a Nolan Carroll. It's unlikely that he will be a shutdown guy for us next season. For the near future, I'd say the secondary was doing really really well if he was your 3rd best corner (or rather, 4th since he doesn't play in the slot). A healthy and motivated Maxwell and a further experienced Howard are both going to be better than him.

I don't think Phillips will reach his full potential. Just doesn't have the drive. You will see a flash right before he's due his first big contract though. I'm not counting on him to truly anchor the D-line in the future, but he can be a major contributor in a rotation.

BA provides leadership on the line. He's a good, hard-working player. The problem is it's time for him to move to G and finish out his career there. Will he take a paycut and be willing to do so? Or will be continue to want to play LT? I think the Dolphins will be ready to put Tunsil at LT. If Albert is unwilling to play G and take the corresponding paycut, they will try to trade him.

The cushion is because he's a poor tackler! Same thing with Rambo poor tackler. We need to hold a tackling school for our defense.

 

[artdnj]

Yes to above or cut and get some boys who want to play football like football players.

 

[oasis]

The cushion is because he's a poor tackler! Same thing with Rambo poor tackler. We need to hold a tackling school for our defense.

Right, I know. How good of a tackler is he going to be when he's been a receiver most of his playing career? That was the knock on Smith while he was here...soft and a poor tackler. Not sure if he changed that while he had success in KC.

 

[Danny]

Move Albert inside to protect him and keep him hopefully healthy. I have a hard time cutting any offensive linemen because they have been very difficult for us to find.
With the issues at linebackers, guard, safety and Defensive end.
We cleaned house last year and can't afford to keep doing that as we neither have talent level or enough draft picks to get where we need to be next year.
Really need Tannabaum to make it work.

Read my post above yours? Moving him inside to keep him healthy? He'll be banging with 320lb Dt's inside. That's not protecting him, that's hoping he gets hurt faster. Every guy he faces now is way smaller than him as they're most 260 or 270 speed guys that are just trying to go around him. Inside he won't last 2 games

Ozzy rules!!

 

[Dajesus]

BA is not moving inside. If it were an option it would have been done last year, as we wouldn't want the same growing pains as we had this year at G. Bushrod did it as there was no interest from teams for him to start at T. The only change BA could do is move to RT to compensate for him slowing down. I'm curious if Gase sticks with James as he was benched early on, and consistently hurt us with penalties. BA will probably have to take a pay cut or could be moved in a trade if we acquire an expensive G.

Lippett was a thought of to be a 3 year project who got forced to start early, and was out playing Howard the last few weeks. His Achilles heal is tackling, and rum support. I would expect the same battle as last year between him and Howard for the 2nd CB spot. He is a 5th round pick with a very manageable cap number if he is outplayed by Howard, as we saw this year we need the depth as Howard and Maxwell missed a bunch of games.

McCain is the CB I think has the most to worry about. He doesnt fir the mold of the CB VJ started to build, as he is undersized, and his play was inconsistent and he was a liability in run support.

Every LB on the roster should be weary on making long term plans in South Beach. VJ talked crap about Jenkins every chance he got, so if he stays it's depth only. Kiko is probably safe but will probably be moved weakside Olb. Everyone else better have good special teams tape.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

As I've emphasized, we seem to lead the league in bodies misfitted for the position. This thread contains some examples.

I really wish we had a true enforcer defensive tackle opposite Suh. The defense would take a significant leap forward and I wouldn't have to read so many positive reviews of Jordan Phillips and to lesser extent Earl Mitchell.

Let's take Mitchell first. He is a hard trying squirmer. He has a round build and rolls all over the place while battling to break free. But since he's not particularly talented or instinctive he can be taken for a dance quite often, and he loses sight of the line of scrimmage an absurd percentage of the time. At least he improved from 2015, which was virtually a guarantee.

I was frustrated with Paul Soliai early. I might have dumped him if in charge. That was obviously a mistake. I finally realized he simply wasn't trying very hard. Once he provided more effort, the results followed. What a concept.

Hopefully the same applies to Jordan Phillips. Too damn bad he's too damn tall. Two inches too tall, as I posted when we drafted him. This is my favorite position to watch. That height and rangy build enables the occasional splash play but it also means he is at a disadvantage in interior trench struggles. So often he's immediately high and thwarted. Like Mitchell he doesn't keep the line of scrimmage or backfield in sight, as great defensive tackles are able to do. Phillips is frequently peering straight down while suffocated in traffic. No kidding the back dashes past you.

I think he should be used outside, at least in experimentation in some packages. The height and range is an advantage there, not hindrance. We're so functionally tiny on the outside in several sets.

Soliai always had that barrel chested build more than Phillips does, plus he was slightly tall for a defensive tackle but not outside the ideal range, as Phillips is. Soliai was also a junior college guy, and they are prone to getting away with lesser effort at that level while taking time to realize what full sustained intensity really means, along with ideal conditioning. Phillips has the resume that I'm never thrilled with. He was a high pick who redshirted in college. I don't like redshirts. Sure there are outliers. But high picks should be someone who was a prize from the outset, someone the college coach wanted on the field. I always pay attention to background as opposed to solely the tape. If you know the background you understand where the tape may lie, or not tell the full story.

Lippett is a tenacious player with bird legs and frame. He has surprised me somewhat and I expect he'll be here for some time.

The problem in a playoff setting is we've often kidded ourselves toward the true level of our own players. They are potential stars. No, they're being pushed around. They are being pushed around on merit. It will happen again unless the premium picks connect and the roster is legitimately fortified. Right now I'd much rather be Denver at 9 wins or Cincinnati at 6 wins and a tie, than Miami at 10. Those teams have ability.

 

[13Dolfan87]

Tony Lippett - Showed good progress but obviously isn't all the way there. As has been mentioned, he should be our #4 next year that fills in as a starter when there are injuries. We need to find a veteran slot corner.

Jordan Phillips - We need a run stuffer to go along with Suh so that Phillips is a rotational player. Agree with your takes that he'll just be one of those types of guys who flashes big play ability once in a while. Mitchell needs to go.

Branden Albert - Bring him back one more year for his leadership and veteran presence and move Tunsil over to LT when he inevitably gets injured during the year.

Mike Pouncey - Finding a backup is crucial. I liked the Urbik signing this offseason - a low key veteran signing that actually worked out for us for once.

 

[claytonduper]

The problem in a playoff setting is we've often kidded ourselves toward the true level of our own players. They are potential stars. No, they're being pushed around. They are being pushed around on merit. It will happen again unless the premium picks connect and the roster is legitimately fortified. Right now I'd much rather be Denver at 9 wins or Cincinnati at 6 wins and a tie, than Miami at 10. Those teams have ability.

If we win 6 games or even 9 and miss the playoffs we miss out some very important ancillary benefits to a winning playoff season. We wouldn't have that "positive" vive running through the organization. We would be questioning our starting QB, our coaches and even more doubt with the front office. Winning has brought confidence with our players, they want to be here, other players will see that this destination is no longer a retirement place but a place to advance their careers. We will attract free agents. This positive spin will hopefully create an ongoing energy that we can build on. As Gase indicated he hopes the loss to Pittsburgh burns a hole in the players in the off-season and increase desire next year.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

As I've emphasized, we seem to lead the league in bodies misfitted for the position. This thread contains some examples.

I really wish we had a true enforcer defensive tackle opposite Suh. The defense would take a significant leap forward and I wouldn't have to read so many positive reviews of Jordan Phillips and to lesser extent Earl Mitchell.

Let's take Mitchell first. He is a hard trying squirmer. He has a round build and rolls all over the place while battling to break free. But since he's not particularly talented or instinctive he can be taken for a dance quite often, and he loses sight of the line of scrimmage an absurd percentage of the time. At least he improved from 2015, which was virtually a guarantee.

I was frustrated with Paul Soliai early. I might have dumped him if in charge. That was obviously a mistake. I finally realized he simply wasn't trying very hard. Once he provided more effort, the results followed. What a concept.

Hopefully the same applies to Jordan Phillips. Too damn bad he's too damn tall. Two inches too tall, as I posted when we drafted him. This is my favorite position to watch. That height and rangy build enables the occasional splash play but it also means he is at a disadvantage in interior trench struggles. So often he's immediately high and thwarted. Like Mitchell he doesn't keep the line of scrimmage or backfield in sight, as great defensive tackles are able to do. Phillips is frequently peering straight down while suffocated in traffic. No kidding the back dashes past you.

I think he should be used outside, at least in experimentation in some packages. The height and range is an advantage there, not hindrance. We're so functionally tiny on the outside in several sets.

Soliai always had that barrel chested build more than Phillips does, plus he was slightly tall for a defensive tackle but not outside the ideal range, as Phillips is. Soliai was also a junior college guy, and they are prone to getting away with lesser effort at that level while taking time to realize what full sustained intensity really means, along with ideal conditioning. Phillips has the resume that I'm never thrilled with. He was a high pick who redshirted in college. I don't like redshirts. Sure there are outliers. But high picks should be someone who was a prize from the outset, someone the college coach wanted on the field. I always pay attention to background as opposed to solely the tape. If you know the background you understand where the tape may lie, or not tell the full story.

Lippett is a tenacious player with bird legs and frame. He has surprised me somewhat and I expect he'll be here for some time.

The problem in a playoff setting is we've often kidded ourselves toward the true level of our own players. They are potential stars. No, they're being pushed around. They are being pushed around on merit. It will happen again unless the premium picks connect and the roster is legitimately fortified. Right now I'd much rather be Denver at 9 wins or Cincinnati at 6 wins and a tie, than Miami at 10. Those teams have ability.

I get what you're saying. Amazing, really, that Miami won 10 games with the attrition due to injuries.

For me, I'm not sold on Phillips. Maybe he ends up like Soliai, who took awhile to develop. Just never like players who don't show consistent effort. If he does, I do think there's a good player there. I'd look for a run stopper DT in the draft or cheaply in free agency.

I'm on the fence with Lippett. Effort is not the issue with him and I like his ability with the ball in the air. But....I look at the corners coming out in the draft and think Miami could get a really good player in round 1 or 2 and matchup better with teams like New England.

I think with all the issues on defense, the Dolphins need to keep Albert and Pouncey. The draft should be almost exclusively defense.