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Current State: Bright Spots

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by zwave21, Dec 15, 2014.

  1. zwave21

    zwave21 New Member

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    Rather than beating this dead horse to death with another call for firing of Philbin. The taste in our mouth is the same as last year and for some may be worse, for me it's about even. Last year we were 8-6 walking into two must-wins and didn't show but the ball was in our court and ours alone. This year we let some wins slip by us GB, DET, DEN, etc. But, we had a chacne at 7-5 to beat a 7-5 and take care of business and we didn't. Regardless this season is what it was but yesterday couldn't have been a better result if we were going to lose. Why? Because I truthfully believe if we lost by 10 or less Ross may consider that a salvageable situation. We didn't we got destroyed when we coulda been right in it and the way we came out at halftime with the season on the line shows what type of leader we have at HC....None.

    Still i look at this season through a lens of clarity and growth. What positives from a roster/personnel standpoint and if/when this HC job becomes available this is an attractive job.

    Let's start on offense:

    RT17 - My assessment of Tannehill is he showed the growth necessary this year to warrant his option be picked up. Still, TBD on a long-term extension. From a production standpoint he still has two games to go but he stands at 22 TD's, 11 Int's, 3300 yards, 6.73 ypa, and a 66.3% completion. That leaves him at 90.8 passer rating and 57.7 QBR. If they play with a purpose these next two weeks he should surpass TD totals, YPA, Completion, QBR, Passer Rating. Yards he needs 600 which is possible but not likely by this year's track record. Also he should have less INT's than previous years as long as he doesnt meltdown these next two games. Still, from a non stats standpoint I saw some toughness this year and especially yesterday as at times he looked like the only one who gave a s***. He is good enough to make playoffs with if we can improve this team and coaching. Improvement on deep ball, 4th quarter play, accuracy, and tenacity are the areas I want biggest improvement.

    Lamar Miller - Last year was labeled a bust due to lack of stats and inneffiecient line. I'd rate OL as a small improvement from last year but not much. What helped is the zone read and Miller's added toughness while running. When Moreno went out people were saying that was end of run game. Considering he has a 4.7 ypc, and 829 yards should tell you that 1. He doesn't get enough carries 2. We are playing catch up. Our offensive gameplan this year has been confusing and frustrating to say the least. Lazor for some reason shows no reliance on the run or comfort with Miller being the workhorse. Miller should be close to 1100 yards with a good play caller. Regardless, RB is not a dire need going into 2015 we could use a power element which would be nice.

    Juice Landry - love this kid, the type of draft pick we've needed. He is a hard worker, loves football, and comes to work everyday. Three qualities I want in players on my team and most important is that he has made a significant impact for the offense and special teams. He leads the NFL in rookie receptions for WR tied with Beckham his teammate from LSU. Now Landry is going to be a key piece moving forward but compared to his classmates like Beckham, Evans, Watkins, and Benjamin, he isn't the #1 type of guy like them. He doesn't possess elite size like Evans/Benjamin and he doesn't posess game breaking speed like Beckham/Watkins. But, he brings a spark to the offense, a tenacity and toughness, and some stellar hands. He is a slot/possession type and has already taken place of Hartline as RT17's go to. Having Landry's ability to work middle of field, Wallace's speed, and getting a big target would be the next step to make this a complete WR trio.

    Dion Sims - Stats may not show it but he has been a key piece this season. Biggest thing is he has improved overall as a player. He is a solid #2 TE, but noone should confuse him with a #1 receiving threat at the position. He is a big body who does a solid job blocking at POA. He also has shown some improvement in route running and hands. I'd like to see us use more 2 TE sets going forward but we need to be healthy on OL to do so. Either way Sims has given us needed improvement to keep him on 53 going forward.

    Juwan James - our #1 pick has played pretty well this year considering all he has had to deal with. A day one start at RT he handled the job better than anyone could've expected. In my mind he is the #1 Tackle from this year's class. MAtthews got injured and wasn't doing well before, Robinson has played more at guard, Lewan has played ok. But James had to switch from RT to LT and that may end up being his spot going forward. Either way we know at least one tackle position is set going into 2015.

    Branden Albert - he was a brigh spot this eyar and since he got injured you see how important to this roster he was as a palyer and leader. I hope he can come back healthy next year for the start of season but that is a big question. One thing I could see happening is a possible shift to LG if coaching staff wants to roll with James to start at LT next year. Either way I hope he comes back in a big way.

    Defense:

    Olivier Vernon - all this kid does is improve year to year. Year one he made an impact when many thought he was foolish to come out early. Last year he started at DE and had 10.5 sacks but needed to improve against the run. This year he is our best all around DE, yes he is better than Wake just look at Wake's snap count the last four weeks. Vernon is 23 and a key part to the future of this defense. A shift to a 3-4 may only increase his ability.

    Earl Mitchell - the one signing from FA that has lasted and made a positive impact. Starks has declined considerably and Odrick is a Free Agent which should scare some people. DT may be a major need in 2015. I hope we can resign Odrick but Mitchell has played well and may improve with less rotation in 2015. He is 26 as well so should continue to improve.

    Jelani Jenkins - LB unit with the OL was biggest question mark coming into the year. Jenkins stepped in and up for Ellerbe adding a solid OLB to this unit. One that at 22 years old we can build around. Jenkins a 4th round pick played little last year mainly in coverage situations. This year he has amassed close to 100 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He has picked up slack for a inneffiecient Wheeler and oft-injured Misi.

    Brent Grimes - Grimes is still a top 10 corner in the NFL top 5 in some circles. His age is concerning but his play is still a high level. With a good amount of needs going into 2015 and CB being one of them no sense in making it even bigger by letting Grimes go.

    Reshad Jones - Jones played better this year than last despite the suspension. Having a running mate in place at Safety who can last the season and play at high level could make difference between good and elite label for Jones.

    Looking at that list, it may seem bare but those are my brightest spots. Looking at the roster you have a center in Pouncey who is pro-bowl level player when on his game, Billy Turner is a 3rd round pick who should have potential. Dion Jordan is a physical freak who just needs to be put in right position.

    We do have players who we should try to resign: Charles Clay, and Jared Odrick being the main on each side of the ball.

    Again a young roster that is capable of playing with top teams just need the right coach and right pieces to make it work.
     
  2. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    Excellent write-up Z.

    How do you feel about keeping, versus changing the offensive and defensive schemes?
     
    zwave21 likes this.
  3. VManis

    VManis Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Funny, I was going to start a similar thread but I think you nailed it.

    You could add Finnegan to the list of players who surpassed their expectations. Most had written him off and thought the signing was a waste but he's proved to be a solid starting CB who was sorely missed when he was out.
     
  4. Onehondo

    Onehondo Senior Member Club Member

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    There are some bight spots but there are some glaring issues too. Dion Jordan is one huge question mark. He may be a physical freak but with what we gave up to get him and his being drafted #3 he should be making an impact not doing spot duty. He should be a player, not a project.
     
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  5. emocomputerjock

    emocomputerjock Senior Member

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    I have hope that the next staff aren't complete idiots and will have him drop the weight and get back to training to be the best LB he can be. Between Jenkins, Jordan, McCain and yes even Misi there's the possibility that someone can get it straightened out.
     
  6. vizi0n

    vizi0n Boom.. Club Member

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    Someome like Harbaugh or Rex Ryan would put him in a position to succeed... Count on it.
     
    zwave21 likes this.
  7. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    What is Dion Jordan supposed to do while Vernon and Wake are the starters?

    If he's not on the field, his impact will be limited. What's hard to understand about that?

    It's a simple story. The guy is not getting snaps because he was drafted by a team with 2 good starting DEs.

    Dion Jordan is a non-issue in my book.

    Worry all you want, but he's making as much impact as you'd expect out of a rotational and special teams player.
     
  8. BayAreaFinFan

    BayAreaFinFan D'oh Club Member

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    This. Harbaugh didn't bring the talent to the 49ers. Most of it was already in place, he used it properly.
     
  9. zwave21

    zwave21 New Member

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    BPK, thanks bud I appreciate it.

    In terms of Offense, I don't really disapprove of our scheme currently. More or less I have an issue with playcalling, game planning, and personnel usage. My issue with Lazor is he has proven to be superior to Sherman in increasing passing game output but limits the opportunity for the deep ball due to the struggle on connections we have. In the running game it's obvious we are superior to last year in performance but consistently rotate out Miller which stunts his rhythm and additionally we are playing catch up in the 2nd half and have to abandon it for the pass.

    Personnel wise there is zero reason to give Hartline majority of snaps at the X receiver (Matthews should've been used more). Darryn College has no business starting when Smith is a superior player especially in run game. Miller needed to get 18+ touches a game regardless. Tannehill needed to be called upon to stretch the field earlier in the game especially.

    Defense I have had a big problem with our scheme since this regime came in. The old saying if it ain't broke don't fix it. I liked Mike Nolan, rather I loved Mike Nolan as a DC. He implemented a 3-4 that was dominant against the run and stingy against the pass. We switched to 4-3 and took a nose dive against the run and in overall defense. One thing that is long gone is the clutch defense with diverse schemes. Coyle is a simpleton when it comes to defensive ingenuity. This unit needs a character makeover and fast. Regardless of head coach I want and aggressive DC who will bring with him a diverse scheme. I am fine with 4-3 if we get the right players, but I see that taking more time. A switch to a 3-4 I don't think would require much makeover, after hiring staff.

    Step 1: Resign Jared Odrick to play 3-4 end, familiar with position and would excel with more pass rush opportunity.

    Step 2: Make Cameron Wake available for the right price.... No, I am not crazy to think that his overall game has declined. I see him as more of a Elvis Dumervil going forward which isn't a problem but with the youth we have for potential 3-4's OLB I would make him available for right price. Anything in 2-4 round range would be intriguing.

    Step 3: Identify where to address NT. Earl Mitchell played it in Houston and did well, but think he offers more as pass rusher than most people think. I also would like someone in the 320lb+ range to eat up two blockers. Free Agency has some options and the draft usually produces 2-3 solid prospects. Finding a run stuffing body in the middle might be the most important step to make this switch work.

    Step 4: Get Jelani Jenkins on a strength regime. Jenkins has excelled in a 4-3 OLB this year. At times he's played in the 5-2 which wouldn't be much different from the 3-4 switch we would be enduring. Jenkins is known for his quickness, instincts and fluidity in coverage. While he is no slouch against the run evident by his 99 tackles so far this year size and strength may be his two weakest points. Watching Chris Borland excel in SF makes me believe a smaller guy can do the same here. But, he'll need to add some weight and strength to absorb more head on blocking in this scheme. By adding a NT who can absorb the block will only help his transition.

    Step 5: Draft a ILB. Round 1-3 a ILB should be addressed, even with what we have on current roster. Ellerbe? Cut. Wheeler? Cut. Misi? Can't stay healthy and not overly impressive. Cutting all three is unrealistic given what we will have as needs going into the offeseason. But Jenkins made Ellerbe even more expendable. Wheeler is still god awful (broken record) and Misi can't stay on the field. I miss having a ILB who makes a difference, which is funny cause for so many years we had that. Guess you never truly appreciate it until its gone. Despite the feeling on Dansby he was a far superior LB than anything we've had since he left. Two years ago we signed 3 LB's all 3 I aforementioned to significant contracts and all have been busts. Thanks Ireland. Since that time I have want to address LB's through the draft and build that group that way. Fortunately we picked a good year to find one. McKinney, Perryman, Kendricks, Frost, Thompson, and Anthony are all names to keep in mind come draft time.

    Step 6: Sign a FA corner under the age of 30. I do think that CB is a position of need and to improve. I do not believe it is dire to address with a 1st round pick although. Jamar Taylor has shown signs of improvement to warrant he can be relied upon as a Top 3 Corner. Brent Grimes is our aging #1 but still playing high level. Finnegan needs to be cut. Davis/Thomas are coming off injury but out of those two I like Thomas the best. The draft has some good options but none are elite. I'd much rather sign a guy like Perrish Cox/Chris Culliver/Kareem Jackson to come in and compete with Taylor for #2 role and who will play Nickel.

    Step 7: Figure out how to address FS. Louis Delmas can't stay healthy and is FA. Jimmy Wilson is not good enough plain and simple at FS or CB. I'd like to see them play Walt Aikens at FS or CB the rest of the year to see what potential is there. If he proves adamant I may sign a veteran as insurance and let the kid learn. He certainly has the size and ball skills we desire in the back end. If not I'd look at round 2-4 to find a Safety, only Gerrod Holliman from Louisville should warrant 1st round potential.

    Step 8: Train Olivier Vernon/Dion Jordan/Chris McCain for a youth movement of pass rushers. Vernon has proved to be a very good DE. His strength is his motor, pass rushing, and speed. His weaknesses are strength, and setting the edge. Well in the new 3-4 he'll take on less blocking on the edge, and will have an opportunity to pass rush against the RT, he has been asked to rush only the LT for 3 years could increase his production. Currently you can notice that Vernon plays in a 2 point stance and coming out of college was figure to have most success as 3-4 OLB. I believe this transition will benefit him just as much as any player. Dion Jordan played in a similar defense in Oregon. He was projected to be a 3-4 OLB. He has struggled as 4-3 with hand in the dirt. He is superior athlete who can do variety of things. Great in this 3-4 it would allo Vernon to rush passer prominently while Jordan would drop in coverage more. Regardless both possess the ability to do both which is key. Chris McCain is another player who has shown flashes and built like Jordan. McCain would offer another key rotational piece who could spell both of them. If Wake cannot be moved I would use him as a pass rush specialist similar to what the Ravens do with Upshaw/Dumervil.

    Step 9: Play Smart, Play Fast, Play Diverse, Play Angry, and Wreak Havoc. Simple formula with the right pieces in place.

    Using that we would have a defense that would comprise of Odrick/Mitchell/Fede as 3-4 DE. Sign NT and draft developmental NT to stuff the middle. Jenkins/Rookie at ILB with Misi as rotation at ILB and remember he has played OLB in 3-4 his first years in league. 3 headed monster at OLB. Grimes/Taylor/FA. Jones/Rookie.
     
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  10. zwave21

    zwave21 New Member

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    Agreed, I'd posted some of the issues and improvements I'd like to make but today I figured that show some ray of sunshine. Jordan is a question mark but I don't think it should be in his ability to make an impact of some sort. He may never live up to the #3 draft billing and that is ok, as long as his offers production. In his limited chances he has had glimpses. But, anyone who watches sunday, has seen his NFL film, and his college film should know that her is playing out of position as a 4-3 DE. He is 6'6" with arms as long as tree trunks and he can keep up with the best TE in the game in Gronkowski. Yet, we don't have him cover him. We have a OLB in Phillip Wheeler who might be the worst starter at that position in the league yet we don't give Jordan the opportunity to play their full time. To be noted not only is the staff keeping him at 4-3 DE he isn't even starting there and not even the first backup off the bench who would be Derrick Shelby.

    He should be a player, but how can one become a true player if he is not put in the proper place to succeed. Even if we don't change scheme I'd get him on a regime to lose some weight and get ready to play SLB in a 4-3.
     
  11. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Dude, you and I think alike! I like your ideas a lot.

    My only issue with all of what you presented was the notion of returning to a 3-4. I think there's some danger there but I'm starting to come around to the idea again. Still, while it's a fun scheme, it's very tough to find players that excel in those roles, namely the OLB and NT. While we might have the OLB prospects for that, it would bring up several questions that are in my mind pretty big things.

    (1) We'd have trade Wake, no question about it. While I'm actually for that regardless of scheme, I'm not sure the franchise has the vision to do it.

    (2) I think putting Vernon in that role of OLB is a stretch. Vernon's best attribute might be his ability to set the edge and tackle. That spells "average" in the 3-4 scheme.

    (3) Placing Mitchell at NT is dubious. I think he's the Shelby of our DTs. While he's a solid addition and good rotational player, I don't see big upside. If we went to a 3-4, the NT would become a critical position and we'd need something more than just Mitchell.
     
  12. zwave21

    zwave21 New Member

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    Hahaha great to hear Greg so you must be as frustrated as I am with the current state of this roster.....

    The scheme would be an adjustment and might not be a one offseason fix....ehhhh. But, I just think looking at our roster our issues and the future that may be the smartest fix. Agreed that NT is essential and not the easiest to find. OLB prospects I have zero fear especially with what we currently have on roster.

    The 3-4/4-3 is not a whole lot different in how our ends will match up. Wake plays with his hand in the dirt and 3-4 OLB can do that if needed. Vernon plays alot with his hands up as well as Dion and even McCain.

    1. Yes, that would put more pressure to trade him. Never a bad thing to have too many pass rushers but if he isn't going to be a 3 down player and for his cap $$$, yeah trading may be best thing. Getting a deal in place for a 3rd rounder for him would be a nice get.

    2. See I don't think those two things are his best attributes. Problem is I don't think any of our DE are that good against the run or setting the edge that's why I think a switch to 3-4 may be best. When I think of Vernon I think of speed and hustle. He has power don't get me wrong but I think his speed and tenacity are what would set him apart. This scheme and having no Wake would also allow him to rush the RT something he has never done...

    3. Agreed it's not ideal but he did do it in Houston and they have had a pretty decent defense for the past several years. Either way I agree having him penciled in as starter isn't ideal.
     
  13. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yeah, there at a lot of questions.

    Recall that the 3-4 originally emerged as a scheme that was designed around dominant player(s). I think installing a 3-4 scheme with the hope of finding certain personnel is a bit like putting the cart before the horse. Very few college programs produce NT prospects which makes the position very hard to draft. The whole situation promotes boom or bust candidates and puts a ton of unnecessary pressure on the front office.

    Let's remember that it was only a few short years ago that we had a 3-4 in place and were complaining about the personnel not being good enough to execute the scheme. Fans were calling for Wake to keep his hand in the dirt as a 43 DE, for Odrick to go back to being a 43 DT as he was in college and for us to get away from the whole idea of drafting for a 34.

    It's too easy to look at the 34 on paper and think it'd be wonderful. Then 3 years down the road you realize that it's not sustainable without having access to the league's most exceptional players.
     
  14. VanDolPhan

    VanDolPhan Club member Club Member

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    Just a couple things. Earl Mitchell played as a 1 gap NT in Houston. It really depends on what type of 3-4 scheme your looking to run here. Odrick wasn't really effective in the 3-4 either and worked mostly in 4 down linemen during that time. We'd have to invest a lot into converting to a 3-4...we really don't have the Ends/NT for it anymore.

    Albert would not do a move to LG. That was a contentious issue even in his final year in K.C. He's highly against such a move.
     
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  15. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    Was he against the move because it would hurt his FA contract though? In my eyes that is a legitimate question to ask.
     
  16. VanDolPhan

    VanDolPhan Club member Club Member

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    It was an on going thing since the day he was drafted. Teams saw him as a LG and he was adamant he's a LT.
     
  17. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent Fighter of the Nightman

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    Oliver Vernon is not a bright spot. He sack total is almost halved from a season ago for a reason. He doesn't pressure the QB with any consistency. He's not getting coverage sacks or clean up sacks like he did last year. QB's have no fear of their blindside when they play Miami. All teams do is scheme for Wake. He's getting doubled or chipped constantly, and Vernon fails to capitalize on his 1-1 match ups. Vernon is a good role player, nothing more. This is why we tried to convert Jordan to DE.
     
  18. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Damn it, Charlie.
     

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