F. I. N. S. WIN, WIN, WIN 📢 🚒

 Miami's Dolphins perservered through the seasons opener last Sunday with a resiliant home field victory of 27 - 20 over the Titans in the NFL's longest game in history of (7 hours, 8 minutes).

On the following Monday they were informed that their 2018 FA prize LG Josh Sitton would be lost for the season to a shoulder injury. On Tuesday, their 2017 FA prize Guard Ted Larsen became the starting left guard. Miami (against two run stuffing DL's) rushed the ball (via Sitton) 29 times for 120 vs the Titans, and for 135 yards (via Larsen) on 31 attempts at the Jets.


The Dolphins flew in from Miami to visit NYC on week two of the 2018 season to take a (team vs team yardage simularity) 20 - 0 halftime lead. They headed home with a 2 - 0 record for the first time since 2013 while also (as the divisions only undefeated team) being in sole possession of the division lead for the first time in at least those same five years.

Ryan Tannehill on a designed QB run scampered for 20 yards on the games opening play. He was sacked four times for the game. On one occassion he was running for his life as the DE climbed on to his back to take him down akwardly with the entirety of #17's own weight as well as the defenders girth (to total 500-plus pounds) all being supported by THills repaired left knee. With a knock, knock on the forehead, that knee is as stable as any in the league. 

Miami started the scoring after Safety TJ McDonald (lined up as Sam LB) baited the Jets (second series) rookie QB sensation Sam DARNold into an ill-advised pass that TMc returned 31 yards to the home teams 15 yard line. Rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick lined up tight vs the slot receiver, sprinted to the safety zone upon the snap, and TJ jumped in front of the slot guy for the pick. Sam Darnold never saw the Sam LB McDonald or such a defense.

After two runs that led to a 3rd & 1. Kenyan Drake ran untouched up the gut for the 6 yard TOUCHDOWN and 7 - 0 visiting teams advantage.

Two NY & Miami punts later on a Jets first down play for another first down, LB Kiko Alonso popped a receiver between the shoulder blades that forced a fumble that MLB Raquon McMillan fell on for the recovery at the home teams 49.

On the second play from that moment Ryan Tannehill hit Albert Wilson at the 24 on a 5 yard crossing pattern between the hash marks, Wilson streaked west for 26 yards to avoid the LB, and then North 24 yards for the Dolphins 14 - 0 TOUCHDOWN score.

A Jets three & out for minus 7 yards that included a Robert Quinn sack followed.

Miami took over with 2:29 first half ticks remaining at their own 38 for their longest drive of the day yardage wise. Four passes, and three runs took the Dolphins to the NY 19 yard line. From there Tannehill threw an endzone TOUCHDOWN dart to TE AJ Derby for the 20 - 0 halftime lead, (Sanders missed the EP kick).

NY marched 74 yards in the halfs remaining 49 seconds, but Miami stopped them at the one at as time expired.

The Jets scored a TD on the third quarters opening series and missed their own Extra Point attempt for a 20 - 6 defecit. NY scored two Field Goals in the second half also for the 20 - 12 final score loss.

The Dolphins didn't do much in the second half to risk their first half 20 - 0 lead, but Xavian Howard had a EndZone pick.

For the game.
Miami's DL had 9 TFL (tackles for loss), 5 via the interior with 4 from the ends. The 3 DL sacks came via DE Robert Quinn, & DT William Hayes along with a vicious sack from DT Jordan Phillips.

LB Kiko Alonso led the team while accruing 13 solo tackles (with most being of the face to face, big hit variety), and he forced a fumble that McMillan recovered.

CB X had his pick as did S/Sam LB TJ McDonald.

The Dolphin D allowed just 17 first half rush yards, and 42 over the games entirety. 149 first half pass yards and 171 in the second half for one TD & two FG's to total 12 points.


On Offense.
Drake led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 53 yards with a TD while THill had 8 attempts for 44 yards, and Gore with 9 for 25. PS. Miami Homey Frank Gore moved into the All-Time rushing leaders fourth spot ahead of long time Jet/Patriot Curtis Martin, and behind only Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, and Barry Sanders.

Albert Wilson topped the receivers with 3 catches for just 37 yards with the TD.
Amendola had 4 for 32, Grant 2 for 27, and TE Derby had the one for 19 and the TD.

Tannehill completed 17 of 23 for 122 yards with two TD passes and the 44 rush yards. The run game produced 135 yards with a TD on 31 attempts

T'wasn't an offensive field day, but the D made it so it didn't need to be. Miami played on a short field while the opposition didn't. The Offense scored 14 points off of NY's first two turnovers and toyed with a two to three score lead for the days most part. Even when the Dolphins couldn't sustain a drive, they still turned the field over with great punts and coverage on all kicks.

Miami's Dolphins went 6 of 13 on 3rd down, and committed just TWO PENALTIES for a grand total of 10 yards.

The J.E.T.S. pulled within 8 points with just under six game minutes remaining,
and never again touched the ball.

Miami's final possession (that included a 3rd/18 short dumpoff to Gore for a 19 yard first down run) was their most extensive drive of the day. They ran 12 plays for 58 yards to the NY 13 in 5:56 before going into 20 - 12 VICTORY FORMATION for the games final four plays rather than taking the additional bonus points of a TD or easy chipshot FG.


Yo Fireman Ed,
The Miami Dolphins are walkin'ear so STFU!!!

The F. I. N. S. WIN, WIN, WIN  📢 🚒


GOFINS!!!

Miami Defensive Backs Poised for a Great Season

It took three preseason games, but the Miami Dolphins finally showed some life and gave fans a preview of what could be a special 2018 season. There are still holes in this team, but the good is starting to displace the bad. In a world full of negativity, it's time for the Dolphins to lean on their strengths and cover up the ugly. The offense will come later as the focus falls squarely on the Miami defense.

The team is prepping for some serious leaning on what may become a spectacular unit, the defensive backfield. Only last season, media and fans alike berated the defensive back's obvious ineptitude. All of that has changed with the drafting of Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitz is one of the most unique players ever to don a Miami Dolphin uniform.

While metaphors spring from the keyboard with relative ease when writing about Fitzpartick, it's best to explain him in Dolphin terms. Minkah has the instincts and study habits of Zach Thomas, the body of Reshad Jones and the coverage ability of Sam Madison. Fitzpatrick may go down as one of the best draft picks in Miami Dolphin history.

Since the retirement of Zach Thomas, a continuous gaping hole has resided in the middle of the Dolphins defense. Zach had the ability to sniff out the offense's intention and place himself in the right place at the right time. By combining great instincts with insatiable study habits, Zach knew the play, many times before the snap. Placing Minkah Fitzpatrick in that hallowed stratosphere is very high praise indeed.

Since Thomas retired, offenses have morphed into a high tempo, run pass option (RPO) style that Miami has never adjusted to, until now. Safeties Reshad Jones and TJ MacDonald are both excellent players, Jones is pro bowl caliber and MacDonald can add a legitimate eighth body to the box.

Xavien Howard and Bobby McCain are both very good corners. Howard is rounding into form as the best cover guy on the Miami Dolphins, and he is not afraid to stick his nose in on run support. McCain is a small feisty corner in the vein of a young Brent Grimes, who can make plays in spite of his diminutive stature.

This represents the best defensive backfield the Miami Dolphins have presented to opposing offenses in many years. It will become the backbone of this team in an interesting philosophical shift from big money defensive tackles to a well-paid complete defensive backfield unit.

For all of his greatness, Ndamukong Suh could not stop dinky passes throw right behind him. He carried three players into the path of least resistance, while the ball was going the other direction. From the vantage point behind the line of scrimmage, savvy play makers like the Miami DBs can root out these plays without getting caught in the wash.

Moving from the spectacular to the good, Miami's defensive line is going to benefit greatly from the improvement in the DBs behind them. The term "coverage sack" will take on a whole new meaning. Cam Wake and Robert Quinn present two very accomplished and polished pass rushers with some interesting options to spell them. Those near misses by Wake we have come to lament over the years will turn into game changing sacks when coverage adds an extra second to the pass rush.

The defensive tackles will be okay and really, they don't need to be much better. As briefly mention earlier, the philosophy of having a monster in the middle of the defense proved a flawed tenant. It's foolish to dismiss the greatness of Ndamukong Suh, but clearly his impact was not worth the huge chunk of the salary cap he represented. The entire starting defensive backfield is cheaper than Suh...

Akeem Spence, Jordan Phillips, Devon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor are a hardy bunch of O-line eaters that can rotate continuously. None of them is in the Suh category, but they don't need to be, they only need to be good for the players beside and behind them to thrive. If the defensive tackles can hold their own, the entire defense will shine around them. It's a dirty job, but the pay is good.

Bringing us once again to the weak-link of the Miami Dolphin defense, the linebackers. To this point, the only linebacker with any historical data is the notoriously inconsistent Kiko Alonso. The tale of Raekwon McMillan's lost rookie season is not worth rehashing, leaving the question of whether he can actually play in the NFL. The pre-season has not been an indicator of greatness. Jerome Baker is a rookie 3rd round pick who has shown signs of being a decent draft pick, but again there is no historical data.

The linebacker corps is very thin behind these players with only Chase Allen playing to NFL standards. Here lies the Miami Dolphin defense's wild card, will the LBs round into form sooner rather than later? Will they round into form at all? The center of the defense has looked soft in the preseason with yards coming in huge chunks. Two runs have already eclipsed 60 yards. As Adam Gase is fond of saying, "we need to clean this up,” or another agonizing season awaits the Miami linebackers.

Health will play a big role in Miami's resurgence as a dominant defense. The depth in all units behind the defensive line is thin at best. The Dolphins have a chance to be great, if the rookie linebackers (McMillan is a rookie) round into form, the defensive backs gel as a unit and those two gifted pass rushers can defy age by having monster seasons.

From this point of view, losing Suh will have a greater positive impact than many suspect. The philosophical switch from inside-out to outside-in, will begin paying dividends in the name of Minkah Fitzpatrick.

As an outlying thought, if the Miami Dolphins played the NFL draft with the intention of making sure Fitzpatrick fell to them, it was magnificent!

Miami Dolphins Projected 53/65 Man Roster, (Pre-Training-Camp 2018)

"""ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL"""??

The NFL and Miami Dolphins 2018 season has finally arrived. Much has taken place over the last seven-plus months. It appears as though that The Dolphins will start 13 different players, and have a bunch more depth throughout the season than that of o17's game one/season.

Presently, Miami has 99 player prospects.
Upon regular season gamedays 46 players are permitted to dress/play. Not sure about these days, but there was a time that 47 could dress, (if the 47th was a third QB). Either-way. 53 players make the final roster, and will put themselves in position to be named one of those 46 game day players each week. Players 54 - 65 become part of the team as Practice and/or Developmental Squad prospects. The #'s included below are Jersey numbers for TC/Pre/Reg & Post Season game viewing identification, and ""Civil, Un-Biased, Reasonable Observations""!!

Training Camp begins this Thursday 7-26, and just two measly weeks later, Your Miami Dolphins will be playing their first preseason football game of 2018.

So here are some (personally projected) names & numbers to watch over the next 6 weeks to six months.


Special Teams (3)
K #7 Jason Sanders (Rookie)
P #2 Matt Hack
LS #92 John Denney
____________________________

OFFENSE (24)

Offensive-Line (10)

LT #78 Laremy Tunsil

LG #71 Josh Sitton (FA Newcomer)

C #67 Daniel Kilgore (FA Newcomer)

RG/T #77 Jesse Davis

RT #70 Ju'Waun James

OL Reserves
T/G #79 Sam Young
T/G #72 Eric Smith
G/C #62 Ted Larsen
C/G #64 Jake Brendel
G    #68 Isaac Asiata (?)


Tight-End (3)
#86 Mike Gesicki (Rookie)
#46 Durham Smythe (Rookie)
#48 MarQueis Gray


Wide-Receiver (5)
#11 DeVante Parker
#10 Kenny Stills
#19 Jakeem Grant
#80 Danny Amendola (FA Newcomer)
#15 Albert Wilson (FA Newcomer)


Running-Back (3)
#32 Kenyan Drake
#21 Frank Gore (FA Newcomer)
#33 Kalen Ballage (Rookie)


Quarterback (3)
#17 Ryan Tannehill
#8  Brock Osweiler
#9 David Fales

_________________________________

DEFENSE (25)

Safety (4)
#29 Minkah Fitzpatrick (Rookie S/CB/LB)
#20 Rashad Jones
#22 TJ McDonald
#35 Walt Aikens


Corner-Back (5)
#25 Xavien Howard
#30 Cordrea Tankersley
#28 Bobby McCain
#36 Tony Lippett
#31 Cornell Armstrong (Rookie)


Line-Backer (6)
#47 Kiko Alonso
#52 Raekwon McMillan
#44 Stephone Anthony
#59 Chase Allen
#55 Jerome Baker (Rookie)
#45 Mike Hull


Defensive-Tackle-Rotation (5)
#93 Akeem Spence (FA Newcomer)
#97 Jordan Phillips (contract year)
#56 Davon Godchaux
#96 Vincent Taylor
#98 Gabe Wright


Defensive-End-Rotation (5)
#94 Robert Quinn (FA Newcomer)
#91 Cam Wake
#50 Andre Branch
#90 Charles Harris
#95 William Hayes DE/DT

TOTAL 52
________________________________

Roster Spot 53 is a toss-up between several possibilities for various reasons at various positions, be it a safety-net, an immediate desire, and/or a long-term resolution.

The 53rd roster position as well as (in most cases) practice squad spots 54 - 65 could go to a 6th WR.
#82 Francis Owusu (stature clone to DeVante Parker)
#88 Leonte Carroo

A 4th TE.
#89 Gavin Escobar (FA Newcomer, not PS eligible)
#85 AJ Derby
#83 Thomas Duarte

A 4th RB
#34 Sinorice Perry

An 11th OL
#74 Zach Sterup

A 5th Safety/10th DB.
#23 Jordan Lucas
#26 Maurice Smith

A 6th CB/10th DB
#24 Torry McTyer
#1 Jalen Davis (Rookie)

A 7th LB.
#51 Quentin Poling (Rookie)

Or, A 6th DE due to (CWake turning 37, Hayes 34, while 30 year old Branch is scheduled to make 10-plus million come 2019). The Two biggest, most youthful by far DE's on the present squad are
#75 Cameron Malveaux (23, 6-5, 265)
#76 Jonathan Woodard (24, 6-6, 271)

TOTAL 66 of 65 available spots.
________________________________


Others (to name a few) working for an opportunity into the top 65 include.

QB Bryce Petty (FA Newcomer)
OL Mike Matthews (Rookie)
T David Stienmentz (Rookie)
T Roubbens Joseph (Rookie)
RB Brandon Radcliff (Rookie)
WR Isiah Ford
WR Drew Morgan
WR Malcolm Lewis
WR Rashawn Scott
LB Cayson Collins (Rookie)
LB Mike McCray (Rookie)
DT Jamiyus Pittman (Rookie)
DT Anthony Moten (Rookie)
Along with 20 others not mentioned.


And of course.
The entire league will be cutting some 1000 players over the next 6 weeks for The Miami Dolphins to sift through!!


What would you suggest differently for spots 1 - 52 ??

Who would you suggest for the 53rd spot ??

Who would be your 54 - 65 practice squad players ??

Who below 65 makes the leap into 65 ??


Rookies reported on 7-18.
Veterans report on 7-25.
Training Camp begins 7-26.
The HOF game is Thursday 8-2.
Miami's first preseason game is 8-9.


GOFINS!!!

2018 Miami Dolphins Starting Roster MakeOver!!

The 2017 Miami Dolphins waded their way through an unparalleled chain of events that began upon the final preseason game and continued on a weekly basis through week 11!

It started with a catastrophe, was followed by uncontrolable disasters which precedded a number of rediculous off the field calamities. An inside of doors snow blizzard, in Miami? A proven LB of high character goes AWOL, and another gets the drunk & disorderly handcuffs? A cancelled week one & Bye Week 11? The Dolphins were done before even getting started, and they were most definitely worn beyond worn over the season's final 6 games! And after the week one disaster, tropical storms continued to soak Miami into the seasons final third!!

You remember the field conditions in Miami for their first six or so of eight home games? DISGUSTINGLY EMBARRASING!! As was the final tally of 6 - 10..

Our team was not only challenged via all the above and then some.. They were severely lacking (due to injuries for the most part) at the CB, LB, TE & OL positions from beginning to end, and ohh yea at QB too !!

The Miami Dolphins can't control what's beyond their control !!

So they went above and beyond in taking command of what they can control with fresh, proven, Highly qualified personnel throughout the coaching staff and on the roster/field !!

They went so drastically deep into changing what takes place on the field of 6 - 10 team, that (compared to game one starters of 2017).. The probability is extremely high for THIRTEEN (if not 14) different starters taking the field in week one of 2018! Lucky 13, thats more than one half of a 25 man starting roster!

So here's how some of it is visualized from one Miami Dolphins Fans Perspective..

2017 Miami Dolphins Game One Starters,
and ( The Replacements ) Projected for 2018.

OFFENSE

QB Jay Cutler,      ( Ryan Tannehill )
LT Laremy Tunsil
LG Anthony Steen, (Josh Sitton)
C   Mike Pouncey,  (Danial Kilgore)
RG Jermon Bushrod, (Jesse Davis)
RT JuWaun James
RB Jay Ajayi,    (Frank Gore/Kenyan Drake, and rookie Kalen Ballage)
WR DeVante Parker
SR  Jarvis Landry, (Danny Amendola/Albert Wilson/Jakeem Grant)
WR Kenny Stills
TE Julius Thomas, (Rookies Mike Gesicki/Durham Smythe)

Miami's 2018 offense would be very likely to stomp 2017's TEAM into lost & forgotten obliteration!


DEFENSE

FS Nate Allen, (TJ McDonald/Minkah Fitzpatrick)
SS Rashad Jones
DE Andre Branch, (Robert Quinn/Charles Harris)
DT Jordan Phillips
DT Ndamukong Suh, (Davon Godchaux, William Hayes, Akeem Spence, Vincent Taylor)
DE Cameron Wake
OLB Kiko Alonso
MLB Mike Hull,  ( Raekwon McMillan )
OLB  Chase Allen, (Stephone Anthony/rookie Jerome Baker/CAllen/MHull, and another rookie Quinton Poling) etc.
CB  Xavien Howard
CB  Byron Maxwell, ( Minkah Fitzpatrick/Cordrea Tankersley/Tony Lippett)

Minus the third LB Base Defense
Slot = Bobby McCain/Tank/Fitz/Lipp, and rookie Cornell Armstrong etc..


SPECIAL TEAMS

LS John Denney
P   Matt Haack
K  Cody Parkey,  ( Jason Sanders )


I have Minkah Fitzpatrick (over the seasons duration) starting at any one of seven different Defensive positions via ( S X 2, CB X 3, LB X 2 ). For game one, play one, if they start in base 4-3, I see him starting over Cordrea Tankersley opposite of Xavian Howard..

Anyone remember the name Byron Maxwell?? Man he went from the one, to the two, to being inactive in o17’s first 3 weeks which was when rookie Tankersley took over and did pretty well..

Maxwell never played another down and was released a month later..

I think that Tank is pretty damn good, but Fitz teamed up with X makes for a total shutdown tandem at CB!!!

As far as who ended-up as o17 DB starters. Tankersley (last witnessed) would appear to be the weakest link, (though he’s not weak in any sense). It's just that it's quite apparent that Fitzpatrick offers farr more proven talents, and skills..

That would be my basic Defensive lineup for getting the best 7 on the back-end, play one..

But of course. There is also the possibility that Minkah Fitzpatrick may very well start at one of the other 6 positions he excels at? Shoot Saban suggest that #29 Fitz could even play MLB in certain situations, (which makes 8 different positions he can morph into) while Butterfly-Bellied-Brady is at the LOS attempting to dissect !!

The other positional player that Minkah may likely be a better option to start for would be the third LB (whoever that may endup being among numerous previously mentioned qualified candidates)..

While (if not a true OLB starting at that spot)? One of either Fitzpatrick or TJ McDonald could start/play/lineup at an OLB's vicinity with the other at FS..

An order to get the 7 best of the back-end on the field, game one, play one, and throughout the season.. Should make for quite the confusing puzzle for offensive opponents!!

TJ McDonald an established/proven/productive/deserving player & First Round Pick Minkah Fitzpatrick should both start somewhere !!

So in the 4-3 base game one, play one,
I have TJ'Mc at FS, & Minkah in place of Tankersley at CB.



Or.
(My Goodness, Fitzpatrick brings with him soooo many alternative options)..
It's mind boggling!!



Fitz at FS & TMc at OLB?

But (in that moment) who knows? Perhaps one of them true OLB’s (Jerome Baker etc) blows the doors off TMc at OLB for the game one, play one start?

Of course a lot will depend on how the Titans lineup.. In o17 Miami started in the base 4-3 against them..

With get this at LB
Kiko, Maualuga, Timmons

Hmmm..
Think The Dolphins are a little better off at LB, DB, overall defense, TE, OL, and ohh yea QB ??

Not a headscratcher, DATTS’FER'SURE!!

I BELIEVE that The Swiss Army Knife, Jack & Master of All Football Trades, and true leader Minkah Fitzpatrick will be farrr more valuable than the one dimensional Suh as the Future Franchise Face of the Defense!!

And we’ll have him for 5 years for the cost of one year with what we were scheduled to pay Suh!!!

Loved Suh (zero disrepect intended), but Minkah Fitzpatrick (from Anywhere and Everywhere) will be farrr more impactful and indecipherable !!

The Miami Dolphins 2018 Defense could very well become the class of the AFC East!


What Are Your Thought's 3 months before kickoff ??


GOFINS!!!