My Dolphins' first mock draft (mid-combine)

The defense did not play well for the first 10 games, statistics be damned. They were bad on third down, and bad in the third/fourth quarters all season long. The shutout of San Diego caused a lot of people to overrate our defense.

 

One stat matters: we gave up 18 pts/gm on average the first 10 games, and if you leave out the SD win, we gave up 20 pts/gm on average for the other 9. With that kind of defense, you can win games, and you can be more selective in deciding where to improve, including at WR.

 

Maybe, but the defense didn't get stops on third down, nor could they stop teams in the third/fourth quarters. There is a reason I was calling the defense fraudulent and overrated on here almost the entire season.

Let's be honest: in the first 10 games, we only held Chi, Jax, Oakland, and SD to under 20. That leaves 5 scoring 20 or more: NE, Buf, KC, GB, Detroit. Also, factor in defensive collapses against GB and Detroit, and you have they makings of a very fraudulent defense.

 

NE scored 20 pts, 0 in the 2nd half, while facing a defense that was missing all 3 starting LBs, plus Jones and Jordan. IIRC Bufallo had TDs after a blocked punt and a KO return, Detroit reached 20 points with less than a minute to go, GB reached 27 with 6 seconds to go, KC was the only team that over performed their norm, primarily bc we could not stop their run game. That's not great but I don't think it's fair to say they played poorly.

 

Going into the Denver game the D was ranked 2nd in yards allowed, 1st in yards per play, 4th in PPG, 3rd in TDs allowed. Stats can lie, but if you're top 4 in the major categories theres really no way to say you're playing poorly.

 

Our defense played poorly when Delmas went down.

Our offense played poorly when Albert went down.

While Ireland was good at talent evaluation, he was poor at team building and left some major holes. Those holes needed to be filled. There's only so many people you can bring in an offseason. We fielded a starter squad that was playoff bound. Problem is, we had no depth. That was our demise last season....lack of depth. We could not sustain all the injuries.

I know people are gonna ***** and moan that injuries happen to all teams, and that whole units shouldn't fall apart when one guy goes down...blah, blah, blah. That's all true. However, it also means we are close, because when you're talking about improving your depth, that means you're on the right track with your starters.

 

Dolphins may cut Hartline and Gibson. Along with that Wallace may be out too. Tannehill needs weapons. WR may be a bigger need than you think. Soon Landry may be one of the only receivers on the team. Plenty of good MLBs in the 2nd round. There aren't many 1st round MLBs if any. Besides word is Dolphins are looking to free agency to get a veteran MLB. Either way with the Dolphins having so many needs you really can't go wrong no matter what position they draft in the 1st round.

 

Truth. When you got a young developmentally quarterback ideally you want young playmakers around him so they can grow together. I would love Cooper, Parker, or White to go with him and Landry. Wallace, Hartline, and Gibson need to be cut. Free agency, 2nd, and 3rd round picks can be used for defense.

 

Unfortunately this is not a strong CB class. They were SLOW at the combine.

 

Yes but at the same time did you know the Dolphins lead the league in red zone attempts but were maybe the worst team in converting those trips for TDs? The offense needs work too. The need a RZ target. With the possibility of Wallace, Hartline, and Gibson all being gone WR will be more of a need than you think. Truth is this team has so many needs I won't be upset no matter which position out of WR, CB, DT, MLB, OG they pick in the 1st round. You really can't go wrong with the Dolphins. So many needs. Just pick best player available out of those positions and depending on who they get in free agency. But if they have an opportunity to get Cooper, Parker, or White I don't see how you can pass that up when you got a pretty good young quarterback in a pass heavy league.