The Miami Dolphin's Problems Start Up Front

Sentinel reporter Omar Kelly came across an interesting stat this week. When Mike Pouncey, Ja'Wuan James, and Branden Albert have all three started and completed games, Ryan Tannehill is 6 and 1. The guard position in Miami is constantly trashed by fans and the media, but reality tells a different story. It's the big guns, the first round draft picks who cannot stay on the field and are having the greatest effect on the win/loss record.

The constant search to find answers at the guard position never works because it’s the wrong problem. The issue is the same since Jeff Ireland became the GM in Miami. Injury prone players unable to get on the field or stay on the field. In two years the three first round picks, Albert, Pouncey and James have played a total of 7 complete games together!

In those games, the Miami Dolphins played elite football.

The lone Miami lost was a last minute defensive collapse to the Green Bay Packers. Dallas Thomas and the-guard-of-the-moment on the other side are continually asked to play out of position or line up next to second and third tier players. It needs to be announced in bold letters...

THE BIG 3 CAN'T STAY ON THE FIELD.

If the Dolphins are going to start winning football games, this needs to be addressed, now.  Fix the dynamic causing losses instead of using scapegoats to disguise the inability to keep high priced talent on the field.

There are certainly other needs on this football team, a corner, a linebacker, a good RB but in the big picture, these are luxuries. GM’s make picks to check little boxes associated with a successful draft.

Starter Box - Check

Need Box – Check

BPA Box – Check

All to say they drafted well, but not fixing the problem. The truth is, the Dolphins brass either doesn’t understand the issue or is unwilling to come to terms with reality.

Pouncey had hip surgery again this off-season, Albert came off his umpteenth surgery last year and is ripe for another injury, and James is coming off a dislocated toe. These are all-pro caliber players, but they can't stay on the field.

(James gets a pass because every NFL player will get injured at some point.)

All this draft talk about CB, LB, RB & DE is missing the reality that Miami needs to finally make the right moves to fix this OL.  The problem is not at the guard position. As outlandish as it sounds, trading both Mike Pouncey and Branden Albert right now when they have 1st or 2nd round value may be the best move the Miami Dolphins could make to fix this team.

Offensive lineman in the NFL must be powerful players who can handle the grind of being pounded for sixteen games. This is the downfall of the zone blocking scheme, it requires athleticism and exposes the legs of large men to defensive linemen trying to hurt them. This was the Philbin scheme and it does not work as well as many, including this author, had thought.

The very first step in solving any problem is a clear understanding of what the problem is. The NFL has a curious dynamic, it repeatedly awards players like Pouncey with pro-bowl selections when the team he plays on underperforms at the very position he is being rewarded for. For this reason, no one is certain whether Ryan Tannehill is a franchise QB. Tannehill is 6-1 with his starting OL intact, this is not the fuzzy logic of pro-bowl selections, these wins and losses are real.

Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It’s time to stop the insanity and wash away the stench of Jeff Ireland from the Miami Dolphins. The place to start is on the offensive line, stop believing Albert and Pouncey will somehow overcome the injury bug.

Sadly, if this is not cured we may never know what Ryan Tannehill could have become and the Dolphins will remain an NFL also-ran.

Approaching the draft with a willingness to trade these two players and selecting their replacements sends the clear message, the Dolphins finally understand the true issue and are committed to fixing it. Acknowledge the simple axiom, availability is an ability and on an NFL offensive line, it may be the most important ability. Move this trait way up on the reasoning scale when selecting linemen and get a group that can grow together and stay together.

Save the EZ’s and the VH3’s for teams that can afford luxuries…

Bring in the big fella’s and stop the insanity!

And So The Ball Bounces For The 2015 Miami Dolphins

In the year 1967 a second year Miami Dolphins expansion team defense allowed 31 touchdown passes in a fourteen game season. The 2015 Miami Dolphins defense matched that 48 year old low mark in fourteen games this season, and with two games remaining they will inevitably become the worst pass defense in franchise history.

The Dolphins traveled to San Diego for their fourteenth game of the season as an uninvited guest to a Chargers fair-well party. San Diego's Chargers have resided there since 1961 and are now the leading candidate to move to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. This was quite possibly the last game that they'll ever play for their home town fans as their two remaining games are on the road, and they came to play for those that have supported them for 54 years.

They hadn't scored a touchdown in 22 offensive possessions and/or three weeks. Enter the Miami Dolphins. San Diego scores on their first 12 play possession of 86 yards with a twenty yard pass to the mini-me-esqe Danny Woodhead. They managed a field goal on their fourth possession. They had tabulated zero rushing touchdowns since week one until their 5th possession against Miami when Danny Woodhead scored from two yards out. Their team hadn't rushed for over 100 yards in eleven weeks until the 140 against the Dolphins. On their sixth possession Danny Woodhead struck again with a touchdown reception from 9 yards out for a 23 - Zipp halftime lead. Woodhead wasn't done as Miami's Dolphins allowed him a third touchdown reception in the second half to go along with his second quarter rush for 6 points.

On the Chargers third possession with a 6 - 0 lead 27 seconds into the second quarter the Dolphins defense actually made a play that a typical 2015 Miami bounce upended. San Diego ball at their own 41, 2nd down and eight to go. Phillip Rivers heaves a 52 yard bomb that the Dolphins tip-drilled into the hands of Rashad Jones for an interception at the Miami 7 yard line. Jones returns the ball 49 yards and fumbles into the hands of the quarterback who hasn't moved since releasing the ball. A Dolphin interception and return of 49 yards turns into a three yard gain and a first down for San Diego of which they managed the previously mentioned field goal. Time and again, that's just the way that the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!

Miami's offense was no better as they ran just 31 plays on their first eight possessions that resulted in 7 punts and the end of the first half. The Dolphins just this week had released reserve offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach who knows all of the Miami offensive signals as well as formations, and the Chargers picked him up. One would think that Linkenbach called all the Charger defensive plays because they somehow managed to have the right guy in the right place in every Dolphin offensive instance. But then again. That's just how the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!

The visitors entered the game with just seven active offensive lineman, and Dolphin Left Tackle Brandon Albert left the game (never to return) due to injury in the first quarter. The Dolphin guards were pressed into the tackle positions, got eaten alive, and Miami didn't score until they were inside the last two minutes of the third quarter when rookie running back Jay Ajayi scored his first NFL touchdown from 12 yards out. Miami Center Mike Pouncey left the game due to injury during that 3rd quarter Jay Ajayi touchdown drive. The Dolphins managed just their second score of the day inside the last two minutes of the game with a Ryan Tannehill one yard touchdown run as the final score ended up being 30 - 14 for the home team.


With a Detroit Lions Monday Night win. The Dolphins will move up into the 7th overall pick of the 2016 draft while they are within one game of a potential third overall pick, and two games within a potential first overall pick. The Dolphins will be going to all lengths in listening for potential draftee options.

In a whisper. Psst, Pssst, hey Dolphin can you hear me? Pssst, there's always next year!


So left tackle Brandon Albert missed 99% of the seasons first four games, and it took him a few weeks to get up to speed. At just about that same mid-season point right tackle Ju'Waun James went down and has yet to return. So in truth. The Dolphins haven't had their true starting offensive line on the field together but for just a few games of what is a 16 game season, and their offensive line depth is absolutely atrocious!

Albert is injured yet again, to what extent is not known but something drastic has to take place in order to fix this offensive line atrocity. Albert is scheduled to receive 10 plus million dollars for his 2016 services, and Miami has a minimal amount of cap space presently available towards next season. Depending on the severity of his most recent injury! Perhaps it's time to cut ties with the often injured reason for offensive line shuffling, non-cohesion, and ineptitude?

If they are to go offensive line with the first pick? It's gotta be Notre Dames Jr. tackle Ronnie Stanley who could instantly start at left tackle (minus Albert), or at left guard until Albert is truly done. He'd be a great pick for those who have zero faith in Dallas Thomas at guard because Stanley could play guard until Albert is done, and D. Thomas as well as rookie guard Jamil Douglas (who like Thomas couldn't play tackle if his life depended on it) would instantly become two with some sort of viable guard depth.

There are other early first round tackle options, but the guy ranked ahead of Stanley (Jr. Laremy Tunsel of Ole-Miss) has an injury history that most wouldn't want to hear the fans scream about, and the third likely option (Sr. Taylor Decker of Ohio St) is extremely tall and has trouble getting under the defender but is very good otherwise.

There are a couple really good linebacker options to be had with the first round, top ten pick, and Notre Dames outside linebacker Jaylon Smith is the only one to fiercely pursue as he's the most ready for the NFL! Another OLB Myles Jack of UCLA is also very special but as a Dolphin fan who's seen too many injured draft picks come our way, he is to be avoided because he's recovering from November meniscus surgery. Alabama's ILB Reggie Ragland could potentially be a first pick option for Miami, but he's not quite as special as Bama's previous first round inside linebacker CJ Mosley.

Seeing that the 2015 Miami defense will have allowed the most touchdown passes in franchise history! There are two corner backs among others that the Dolphins could surely use with their first pick in Vernon Hargreaves the third of Florida, and Jalen Ramsey out of Florida State. Meanwhile. At this present moment, Brent Grimes 2016 services will cost 9.5 million smacks in the face! As will tight end Jordan Cameron!

And of course (minus the dismissal of Brandon Albert) and/or the absolute need of a starting left tackle. The conchs absolute first choice (if available at the Dolphins pick however unlikely that is) would be Ohio States defensive end and pass rusher extraordinaire Joey Bosa who without missing a beat would be the immediate replacement of Cam Wake!

Cam Wake will be 34 come January and nearing 35 by the time he's able (if ever) to return from an torn achilles injury which will surely minimize his explosion abilities. He (like Brandon Albert) is fading into obscurity, aging quickly, often injured, and scheduled to be paid 10 million 2016 dollars for his services of which Wake's won't be available until late next season.

If Free Agent Olivier Vernon gets away? And perhaps even if he doesn't.
Miami has to do whatever in the world it takes to land Joey Bosa!
Bosa AND Vernon together (for the next decade) would be as good as o15 was supposed to be at rushing the quarterback while minimizing the possibility of breaking (in back to back seasons) the franchise record of touchdown passes allowed! Defensive Ends Quinton Coples and Dion Jordan are contracted to 7.75 and 6.2 million for 2016.


Miami should cut both Albert and Wake (if not the whole lot'of'em) in order to open up at least 20 plus million of cap space, but they can't feasibly cut both and leave themselves in dire need of both a first round left tackle and a trouble making to the oppositions quarterback defensive end! The Dolphins need multiple bodies of legitimate depth at offensive line (if Albert is kept), starters if he isn't. They're corner back play has been extremely questionable if not totally absent. They could use a stud first round linebacker, while with the current predicament of Cam Wake and free agent status of Olivier Vernon they absolutely need Joey Bosa! At quarterback despite what some might think about Ryan Tannehill, he is by far the last and/or least of their immediate concerns!


What are the Miami Dolphins to do?
Trade their first round pick for an experienced head coach?
Don't put it past owner Stephen Ross!
That's just how the balls have bounced for the 2015 Miami Dolphins!!

Thanks for your time, and as always we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!

GOFINS???


MERRY CHRISTMAS, and/or HAPPY HOLIDAY'S TO ALL !!!

Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills Contest Playoff Hopes

Thanks Tony Nicoletti for the following post...

So here we are after a tough loss in the final minute by yet, another NFC North team (The Detroit Lions). There is no time to lick our wounds because we host the Buffalo Bills in our house Thursday Night. (BTW, I hope Finnegan is not too seriously hurt after losing Branden Albert for the season).

Normally, I like to wait until after the Monday Night game so I can get the most up-to-date stats and standings information before contemplating our chances against an upcoming opponent. But I'll be away from my PC Tuesday and Wednesday of this week for health reasons, so I'm offering up this game preview, now. (That means the stats from today's games are not included). It shouldn't make much of a difference in this contest. Statistics don't always reflect the whole story in these games. This far into the season, player and team figures/rankings are not going to vary much.

Both the Dolphins and Bills are coming into this game after losing by 4 point margins to playoff caliber teams. Buffalo was leading 13 to 3 before the Chiefs scored 14 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to win the game. We, on the other hand battled back to capture the lead, in the 4th quarter, only to lose the game in the last 29 seconds. This kind of scenario makes for an intriguing match up. Neither of us are happy with losing games we could and should have won.

The statistics suggest this will be another close defensive struggle as both teams have a top 10 defense. The Bills possesses the best defensive line in the league, with the most sacks. They are a little stronger than we are at defending the run.  Our defense has given up fewer yards and points overall. We allow the fewest average passing yards per play of anyone in the league, as well. Buffalo also has some ball hawks on the back end that we have to watch out for with their 12 INT versus our 9. We both have been opportunistic in the turn over category.

Offensively, we are ranked 12th overall, while they are 24th. Without CJ Spiller, they have lost considerable ground in their running game. They favor and have a passing attack that equals our own. First, it was El Manuel, (earlier in the season) and now Kyle Orton. Orton has a 104.0 rating through 8 games and has been playing well of late. They have allowed their QB's to get sacked 23 times so that might be an area we can exploit as we too, can chase down the QB.

After facing the toughest defense we are likely going to meet this season, Buffalo"s will be almost as challenging. We were able to adjust against the Lions so that Tannehill was more effective passing from the second quarter, on. I expect Lazor will dial up a game plan that will neutralize Buffalo's stampeding front 4 and their pass rush.

These two teams know each other all too well and are fairly evenly matched. I'm personally tired of Buffalo pressing our buttons with that vaunted pass rush of theirs. They caught us earlier this season, just after we emotionally spent ourselves with that surprising New England victory. Ryan Tannehill was still deciphering and getting acclimated to Bill Lazors new playbook. Now that Ryan has a better, more comfortable understanding of his role in this offense, it could be a different story this time around.

Anticipate Tannehill moving around in the pocket with roll outs, scrambles and read option plays designed to negate the athletic, fast and formidable Buffalo rush. Quick intermediate passes, screens and slants, interspersed with strategic running plays should keep Buffalo off balanced and at bay. This will give Miami opportunities to take shots down the field on occasion to Wallace.

We need to pressure, hurry, hit and sack Kyle Orton. There seems to be a resurgence of veteran QB's getting second chances in the league these days. I would just assume see Kyle make the most of his opportunities from a prone position. Can't have him getting a reputation off of us! Tannehill is the more mobile of the two QB's. Let's see how the Bills like having their QB under duress instead of the other way around.

Essentially, I want to see Miami knock the buffalo chips out of the Bills. It won't be an easy task, though. They have had our number 4 out of the last 5 meetings. That kind of familiarity breeds contempt. Time to turn that around. This is a different Dolphins team that they will be going up against in Miami.

I said before, because of our defenses, this just might be a close game. Well, history dictates otherwise. We need to get some redemption after the squeaker in Detroit. This Buffalo Bills team has been a thorn in our side for a number of years. Wouldn't you just love for the Dolphins to demonstrate that this was a bad time for the Buffalo Bills to show up in south Florida to play football? What better team to get a little pay back against than them. Besides, we need to cover the point differential they hung on us in our previous match. (19 points, remember)?

I'd settle for a three touch down deficit.....in our favor, of course. If not, we better hope we don't end the season in a tie. Oh... and that is another reason I want to beat them so bad. They lost to Kansas City. The Bills gave the team that holds the tie breaker against us, a one game advantage, too.

Get them Miami! GO DOLPHINS!