Why Im So Optimistic About the Offense

[gofins60]

Specifically, here's why I'm optimistic.

Potential in Short Yardage
Last year, the Dolphins were 11-20 on 3rd and one and 0-3 on 4th and one. No surprise, that was last in the NFL. How many promising drives ended because Miami couldn't pick up a measley yard? It was the Achilles heel of this team and maybe the biggest reason the Dolphins missed the playoffs. Along with Tua missing six games.

The free agent acquisition of Daniels, and drafting Savaiinaea dramatically improves the guards. Gordon is exactly the type of running back Grier needed to add, as he can win the stalemates and get a yard or two on his own.

Conventional wisdom and successful GMs say that you win in the trenches, and a strong running game is an extension of that. So, why was it that during the previous 9 years with Grier as the GM, the o-line was an issue every single year? Not only couldn't he draft a competent o-line, but he couldn't even buy one in Free Agency because he was attracted to average or worse JAGS and injury-prone players. Sure, on the rare occasion he drafted or signed a decent lineman, but the rest of the line and its depth was poor.

And now, heading into the 4th year of the McDaniel regime, why don't they already have a solid o-line and a good running game, especially since McDaniel was called a "running game guru"? IMO, the fact that they sucked in short yardage situations last season wasn't solely due to injuries, it was mostly due to the fact that neither Grier nor McDaniel believe that you win in the trenches and that a strong o-line and running game is a necessity.

IOW, I can understand your optimism this season due to some of the moves they've made which should hopefully help the line and running game. However, I see it as Grier getting tired of hearing about the o-line and finally doing something to make it look like he's "fixing" it. IMO, the problem is that there is no "fixing", as that assumes that you had something that was good but became broken and needed to be repaired. Grier has never built a strong o-line with decent depth, so the way I see it, he's still in the process of "building" the o-line, and it's taking him more than 10 years to do it, which just proves that he doesn't believe that the trenches are extremely important.

 

[Ikema]

IF Tua stays healthy the offense should be fine
The question marks are going to be on defense this year, specifically interior D-line, LBs, and DBs

Wow you pretty much named the whole defense. I darn hope it's going to be better

 

[Ikema]

Conventional wisdom and successful GMs say that you win in the trenches, and a strong running game is an extension of that. So, why was it that during the previous 9 years with Grier as the GM, the o-line was an issue every single year? Not only couldn't he draft a competent o-line, but he couldn't even buy one in Free Agency because he was attracted to average or worse JAGS and injury-prone players. Sure, on the rare occasion he drafted or signed a decent lineman, but the rest of the line and its depth was poor.

And now, heading into the 4th year of the McDaniel regime, why don't they already have a solid o-line and a good running game, especially since McDaniel was called a "running game guru"? IMO, the fact that they sucked in short yardage situations last season wasn't solely due to injuries, it was mostly due to the fact that neither Grier nor McDaniel believe that you win in the trenches and that a strong o-line and running game is a necessity.

IOW, I can understand your optimism this season due to some of the moves they've made which should hopefully help the line and running game. However, I see it as Grier getting tired of hearing about the o-line and finally doing something to make it look like he's "fixing" it. IMO, the problem is that there is no "fixing", as that assumes that you had something that was good but became broken and needed to be repaired. Grier has never built a strong o-line with decent depth, so the way I see it, he's still in the process of "building" the o-line, and it's taking him more than 10 years to do it, which just proves that he doesn't believe that the trenches are extremely important.

wow, the guy tries to obviously change his tendencies and you cut him to ribbons...

 

[Atila]

The offense is going to be as good as it’s been since MM got here largely because the interior OL *should hopefully* be better… but as @eMCee85 stated, it is still a question mark.

Still, our starting WR unit will be coming off a down year so hopefully they’ll have a chip on their shoulder + a good 3rd option this year… while our RB and TE rooms look tougher and improved. And Tua just needs to stay healthy.

With the OL, Ajax stays healthy and PP can be at least slightly below average, we should be decent on the OL and a good offense overall.

But big question is how is our OL depth? Outside of Kion Smith at LT, do we have anyone slotted who is a good backup?

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Conventional wisdom and successful GMs say that you win in the trenches, and a strong running game is an extension of that. So, why was it that during the previous 9 years with Grier as the GM, the o-line was an issue every single year? Not only couldn't he draft a competent o-line, but he couldn't even buy one in Free Agency because he was attracted to average or worse JAGS and injury-prone players. Sure, on the rare occasion he drafted or signed a decent lineman, but the rest of the line and its depth was poor.

And now, heading into the 4th year of the McDaniel regime, why don't they already have a solid o-line and a good running game, especially since McDaniel was called a "running game guru"? IMO, the fact that they sucked in short yardage situations last season wasn't solely due to injuries, it was mostly due to the fact that neither Grier nor McDaniel believe that you win in the trenches and that a strong o-line and running game is a necessity.

IOW, I can understand your optimism this season due to some of the moves they've made which should hopefully help the line and running game. However, I see it as Grier getting tired of hearing about the o-line and finally doing something to make it look like he's "fixing" it. IMO, the problem is that there is no "fixing", as that assumes that you had something that was good but became broken and needed to be repaired. Grier has never built a strong o-line with decent depth, so the way I see it, he's still in the process of "building" the o-line, and it's taking him more than 10 years to do it, which just proves that he doesn't believe that the trenches are extremely important.

Right. The offensive line has been a frustration for way too long. I think part of it is coaching, but Barry has so far seemed like a good hire.

I guess better late than never. At least on paper this looks like a competitive group.

 

[MrChadRico]

I think Gilmore and Justin Simmons are still available.

To be honest, part of me wants to see the young players get a chance and grow with the defense. That probably could mean fewer wins, but not sure this is a playoff team anyway.

It could be of Tua stays healthy, but feels like a transition year.

Ohh I'm sure! It's Not a playoff team!

 

[gofins60]

wow, the guy tries to obviously change his tendencies and you cut him to ribbons...

I get it, it's possible that he's trying to do something right for a change. My point is that if you're still trying to build a decent o-line in Year 10, then you're obviously not fit for the job.

 

[gofins60]

Right. The offensive line has been a frustration for way too long. I think part of it is coaching, but Barry has so far seemed like a good hire.

I guess better late than never. At least on paper this looks like a competitive group.

IMO, it's part Grier not caring or being able to build a strong, solid o-line, and McDaniel's finesse philosophy that emphasizes speedy little WRs over a tough, physical o-line and running game.

 

[circumstances]

Conyares

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

IMO, it's part Grier not caring or being able to build a strong, solid o-line, and McDaniel's finesse philosophy that emphasizes speedy little WRs over a tough, physical o-line and running game.

They got ahead of themselves when Tyreek Hill became available IMO. They spent a lot of draft capital that should have been used to build the trenches. Eichenberg was also a 2nd round miss.

To be fair, McDaniel's vision of what Hill could add did work. Tremendously at first, until teams starting getting more physical with both Hill and Waddle. As an aside, the amount of holding penalties that opponents get away with on Hill is especially irritating.

 

[Rick Cartman]

I'm thinking the Dline will be fine. Do have questions about the DBs.

Pass rush is critical. Are Chubb and Phillips the same as pre injuries?

Truthfully we only need one of them healthy with the emergence of Chop last season.
Phillips is in a contract year but he's coming back from an ACL tear after previously tearing his Achilles.

 

[eMCee85]

My Gosh you optimists guys are in for a treat this year!

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Ohh I'm sure! It's Not a playoff team!

Outside shot IMO if Miami beats the injury bug and things fall their way.

But with Vrabel in New England that's no longer a team McDaniel will likely dominate.

There's probably an equal chance of playoffs, or that the Dolphins end in last place.

 

[cullenbigcstill]

I'd like to see a veteran iOL signed for depth. Isaiah Wynn for example only, I know he's been hurt the entire time here, but when he did play it was night and day difference on how the offense performed, regardless what PFF rated him as.

Going into the season with Eich, Myer, and Borom transitioning inside, which should suit him, isn't enough to fix iOL issues. As some have stated, Daniels is a very good guard and we're happy to have him as he's a great scheme fit...

But....

He's coming back from an Achilles tear, and most guys don't come back well after those injuries...we saw it back in the day with Dan the Man, and recently with Nik Needham who was slowww to begin with. I'm happy to have Daniels, but it's foolish to not go into training camp with out a plan B.

We have been decimated with injuries for what seems like forever, but especially during the McD era.

Drafting 1 guy early in Savi, whom I really am excited about and looking forward to his toughness and physicality, just wasn't enough to fix the line. A transitioning Borom, Eich and Myer need legit competition not just some udfa hoping to make the practice squad.