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 Finally Play with a Lead

Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I...
 
Dolphin fans must be feeling like a Pink Floyd song… The last time Miami scored more points was over two seasons ago. It’s been 41 games, since Miami won by a larger margin. In 2016, Miami won all those close games that statistically must average out and to expect a repeat in 2017 was probably naive. This season’s previous four victories were by margins of two, six, three and three points. The formula is unsustainable and in hindsight, the five game losing crash was probably predictable.
 
Perhaps it was Vance Joseph or John Elway, all smug up in his box after yucking it up with Dan Marino before the game, “nanny, nanny poo poo, I won two Super Bowls after blowing it three times!” The mighty have fallen. It’s hard to say Jay Cutler is better than Denver quarterback Trevor Siemian, but it wouldn’t matter because this game was about the Miami defense.
 
Earlier this season, Adam Gase was roundly criticized for saying something like, “this defense is designed to play with a lead.” After a Cutler to Thomas touchdown followed closely by a Xavien Howard pick six, Miami finally had that lead.

The defense responded, Howard picked off the first two passes of his NFL career and broke up a league-leading five passes. Siemian was sacked by Andre Branch, Jordan Phillips and Bobby McCain and T.J. McDonald added a third pick.
 
This game highlighted players like Phillips who along with the sack, had two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and deflected a pass that Howard intercepted. Playing with a lead in the second half, the Dolphin defense punished Denver, with three sacks, six tackles for loss, an unheard of 12 passes defensed and hit Siemian six times. For the first time in the franchise’s 52 year history, Miami had two safeties in the same game. The absence of names like Wake and Suh are what make this game unusual.
 
Denver has now lost eight consecutive games, but maybe there is something to this playing with a lead thing. It ignited Kenyan Drake who set career highs in yards (120) and carries (23). Drake included 42-yard touchdown run all against the fourth ranked run defense in the NFL. There was the usual interception thrown near DeVante Parker, but Kenny Stills busted Denver open with 98 receiving yards, including a touchdown.
 
Special Teams did not score, but Terrence Fede blocked a punt. After the safeties, Denver was forced to kickoff (punt) from the 25 and Miami enjoyed excellent field position the entire game. Trying and converting an onside kick while up 24 points was a like jabbing a needle into the side of Elway and Joseph. Clearly Adam Gase showed a side Miami fans are not accustomed to, playing with a lead…
 
An onside kick leading by 24 points could be construed as piling on, but Miami rarely has the cut-throat mentality needed to make a statement in the NFL. The trophy-for-everyone, anthem kneeling millennials will be aghast, while long suffering Miami fans can finally smile at the Belichickian move.
 
“Designed to play with a lead.” It is a rather presumptuous statement to believe you will be leading prior to actually leading anything. It’s a vague answer to the question, “what is your identity?” Knowing the identity and achieving that identity are two distinctly different things. The game showed that aside from some linebacker issues, this Miami defense can indeed play well with a lead.
 
The real change in the offense seemed to be a split from the predictable first down “A” gap running plays to a more spread, short passing outside the tackles running game. The talk of taking advantage of a player’s skill was evident in not forcing Kenyan Drake between the tackles on early downs. When Drake did venture inside, it was when the defense was expecting pass or outside runs. The 42-yard burst came on a counter between the tackles. This offense was much better coordinated than any previous game this season.
 
The onsides kick was a product of the frustration Adam Gase undoubtedly felt coming into this game. It’s hard to conceive Gase was unhappy with Joseph for taking the Denver job, but Joseph does seem in over his head as a first year head coach.
 
Miami comes into a rematch with New England in a much better place mentally. Belichick saw how Miami played with a lead and he’ll be working on playing outside-in on defense. It is hard for Miami fans not to peak at the end of the season now that the playoffs are all but a dream, but losing is just losing. With a glimpse of what it’s actually like to play with a lead, let next season stay in the future and win now.
 
The Denver Broncos game showed there is an identity. It lies in an offense that scores points early and often. Couple that with a defense that becomes relentless once an opponent realizes it will have to throw the football. We know now where Adam Gase wants to go, he’s designed this thing to play with a lead. It’s up to the Miami Dolphins to go and get it.
 
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I...

The Miami Dolphins Welcome the Adam Gase Era

Miami Dolphin faithful sense a brighter future heading into this offseason after reaching the playoffs in 2016. Rookie coach Adam Gase brought intensity and a completely different mindset to a team that seemed destined for perpetual mediocrity. An improbable playoff run after a 1-4 start was exacerbated by a rash of injuries and yet this Miami team marched on, showcasing Gase’s ability to inspire players.  The “next-man-up” cliché carried Miami in contrast to previous squads that wilted when injuries sideline multiple starters.

Pro bowl players Reshad Jones and Mike Pouncey spent most of the season watching from the sidelines on Injured Reserve. Starting safety Isa Abdul-Quddus, tight end Jordan Cameron and outside linebacker Koa Misi, joined the pro bowlers on IR. Starting CBs, Xavien Howard and Byron Maxwell, LB Jelani Jenkins, DT Earl Mitchell missed much of the season nursing injuries. Starting OL Branden Albert and Laremy Tunsil missed multiple games and Arian Foster simply quit. In other seasons, under different leadership, this team would have folded.

Adam Gase set the tone early by leaving Jay Ajayi in Miami while the team traveled to Seattle for an opening season loss. Gase had named Arian Foster the starter, Ajayi was unhappy and felt he deserved the job. The Dolphins lost to Seattle by a mere two points and Foster rushed for only 36 yards. Ajayi had let his teammates down by making his personal ambition of starting more important than his commitment to the team. The Dolphins may have lost the game, but the message was clear, no player was larger than the sum of the whole. The teaching moment paid off as Ajayi went on to have three 200+ yard games and ran hard the entire season.

A 30-17 week five home debacle to the Tennessee Titans found the 1-4 Dolphins staring down another losing season. Branden Albert (virus) and Laremy Tunsil (ankle) did not suit up and the Titans sacked quarterback Ryan Tannehill six times, repeatedly planting him on his backside. Needing to send the message loud and clear, Adam Gase made what seemed like a rash decision. Gase cut offensive lineman Dallas Thomas, Billy Turner and Jamil Douglas along with RB Isaiah Pead.

Gase did not care about draft status or contract value, he was simply tired of players who did not have the sense of urgency to prepare themselves to play football at the highest level. The image of Dallas Thomas being pushed into the backfield and pancaked, while Tannehill ran for his life was etched so lucidly into Gase’s mind that he simply had enough. He knew not cutting these players would send the message that being unprepared and unaccountable was acceptable. It was not and Adam Gase decided he would rather coach committed journeymen than undisciplined, uninspired draft picks.

Some of the players in the stunned locker room looked on with trepidation. Gase opened the door for the players with the proper mindset to step up and begin leading his team. Their coach was one hundred percent committed to his craft and he expected the same commitment from his players. If they were not in it to win it, he would escort them out the door to place where common folk work their entire lives for less money than the yearly NFL minimum salary. Complacency does not happen overnight and resorting to drastic measures is sometimes what it takes to instill change. At that point, Gase was unsure he would win another game the entire season, but he was certain his players knew what was expected of them.

On October 16th, the mighty Pittsburg Steelers traveled to sunny Miami expecting to encounter a terrible 1-4 team that barely defeated the hapless Cleveland Browns. The Dolphins appeared from the outside as a team in complete disarray after cutting players five weeks into the season. Arian Foster had missed the previous three games after injuring his groin and hamstring in Miami's Week 2 loss at New England. Foster was set returned in Week 6, but this time Jay Ajayi would not be denied. The Steelers could not have prepared for the buzz-saw spinning in Miami.

With Branden Albert and Laremy Tunsil healthy, Mike Pouncey was finally in command of the entire starting offensive line. Leading 8-3 in the first quarter, perhaps the Steelers peeked ahead to the New England Patriots. The expected cruise to an easy victory was derailed by an all-out ground assault from the Miami Dolphins. 204 Jay Ajayi yards left no doubt in Adam Gase’s mind that Arian Foster would not return to the starting lineup. The Dolphins buried the Steelers 30-15, Arian Foster retired and Miami’s rise to the NFL playoffs had begun.

Over the next five weeks the Dolphins repeatedly found ways to win close football games. The Dolphins beat the Bills when Ajayi again eclipsed the 200 yard mark and the Dolphin offense scored 22 points in the final 15:18 winning 28-25. Following the bye week Miami defeated the Jets 27-23 when Kenyan Drake scored untouched on a 96-yard kickoff return to seal the victory. The comforts of home paid dividends for the Dolphins who slept in their own beds for five straight weeks including the bye. A 1-4 record prior to the Pittsburgh game was now suddenly 4-4 and Miami was peaking its head above water for the first time since 2008.

The five week home stand was rudely awakened with the Dolphins heading to the West Coast for consecutive weeks against the Chargers and the Rams. The Chargers seemed to be cruising until the defense intercepted four Philip Rivers’ passes in the fourth quarter. The take away barrage turned into victory when Kiko Alonso jumped in front of Tyrell Williams and outraced the Chargers 60 yards to the end zone with 1:01 left to give the Dolphins a wild 31-24 win. A late acrobatic TD pass from Tannehill to Parker gave Miami a 14-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

The 6-4 Dolphins returned home riding a 5-game winning streak. The defense slumped into cruise control leading 31-14 in the fourth quarter against the 49ers and nearly allowed San Francisco to tie the game. Ndamukong Suh and Kiko Alonso ended the contest by stopping the much maligned Colin Kaepernick at the 2 yard-line as time expired. Winners of 6 straight games, owning a 7-4 record the Dolphins had won with a devastating ground game, they won with a kickoff return, they won with an interception return, they won on a beautiful sideline throw and catch and they won on a last ditch defensive stand. This Miami team was making huge plays to win the close games that had eluded them in past seasons.

The 2016 Miami Dolphins were indeed in good hands with rookie coach Adam Gase, but they had faced 5 consecutive opponents that would not be playing in the NFL post season. With the Baltimore Ravens looming, Miami was going to face its first real test since Pittsburgh in the beginning of their miraculous rise. Needless to say, the Dolphins didn’t show up that day, the Ravens punked Miami 38-6. Multiple injuries began to take their toll and with the Arizona Cardinals coming to town, it looked like Miami’s improbably run was about to end. At this point a two game skid would leave the Dolphins outside the NFL playoff picture.

The rain in Miami did not stop the entire game slowing the desert dwelling Cardinals’ offense to a crawl, while Ryan Tannehill threw three TDs in perhaps his best performance of the season. That all changed on one devastating late and low hit when quarterback Ryan Tannehill was lost for the season to a knee injury. The injury swapped the momentum and an easy Dolphin victory was suddenly in jeopardy as Matt Moore entered the game after watching for what seemed like forever. Moore showed the true grit this team had displayed all season and marched Miami to a last second field goal and a 26-23 Dolphins win.

With 8 wins under their belt, and a losing season behind them, even with a back-up QB, the Dolphins promptly hammered the rival Jets 34-13. 34 more points the following week in Buffalo proved too much for the Bills in a 34-31 Miami win. In consecutive weeks the Dolphins had swept the rival Jets and Bills leading to the firing of Rex Ryan in Buffalo. Casting away Ryan and his brother was perhaps one of the more satisfying consequences of the entire season. Miami had grand illusions in the final week against the powerhouse Patriots, but it was not to be. The Dolphins limped out of Hard Rock Stadium on the wrong end of a lopsided 35-14 defeat.

An improbable 10-6 record and playing in the post season for the first time in eight years greeted the Miami faithful to begin 2017. With revenge on their mind a healthy Pittsburgh team trounced the ailing Miami Dolphins 30-12 ending an implausible season in the first round of the playoffs. The final two weeks against the two of the best teams in the NFL showed the fledgling Dolphins how far they have to travel to reach Steven Ross’s goal of winning a Super Bowl.

Articles will be written about how Miami can take a step closer to being a perennial NFL contender. Pundits will point out all the deficiencies of this team, but here and now, the Miami Dolphins have far surpassed expectations. Adam Gase is no longer a rookie, he showed a mental savvy and calmness that far exceeds his age and experience. Watching this coach on the sidelines during games is a case study on maintaining composure at the height of chaos. Gase’s demeanor was so steady it could not help but rub off on his players. Even the infuriatingly lopsided officiating had little effect on the coach. He knew, any outburst by him would lead to further flag tossing.

The season is over, there will be no Lombardi Trophy aborning the case 45 years after Don Shula hoisted the last one. The truth is, during the regular season Miami was actually outscored 380 to 363 points. There are many reasons to think this season was more of an anomaly than a stepping stone. The axiom, “you are what your record says you are,” is a moniker that goes both ways, because winning is the object of the game. Statistics may, in the long run, show the sustenance behind sustained success and yet winners find way to win.

Today we celebrate winning, we celebrate a successful season, we celebrate the immergence of a new coach and new era in Miami Dolphin history. Whether it takes coach Gase 3 or 5 more years to reach the pinnacle of his profession, we can smile at the prospect that the 20 year search for a successor to Don Shula has ended.  In the cyclical nature of history, we are witnessing the beginning of a new dynasty in Miami.

Welcome Adam Gase, we look forward to being part of your legacy.

9 - 5 Miami Dolphins Sweep Jets

Week nine Sunday November 6th. Miami's Dolphins beat the visiting NY Jets 27 - 23. On the following week Adam Gase' 2016 team traveled to San Diego and won! It was the first time in 31 tries that the Dolphins won versus an opponent that followed a Miami win against their New York Jets rival!

On Week fifteen the Dolphins traveled north to Metlife Stadium and not a single murmur of J E T S, Jets, Jets, Jets was prompted via the play of the visiting Miami's 34 points nor the home teams 13.

After allowing a J E T S opening 7 play, 75 yard touchdown drive. The Dolphins shoved a cork in each end of the pre-week, diarrhea spewing Brandon (Bowel-Movement) Marshall as rookie Xavien Howard and others had their way. (BM wiped one single ply catch for 16 yards), take that BITCH!!

Second year receiver turned starting corner back had two more interceptions with his team leading third and fourth on the season. Miami started the season slow via interceptions, but now with three more tonight they reside amongst the league's top three with 16 picks, and everyone is getting their hands on a share.

Even Cameron Wake had a pick in coverage tonight with a sack too, and a forced fumble while the defensive line was beastly in producing relentless backfield havoc on the Jets tarmack. Ndamukong Suh led the team in tackles and (met at the quarterback) with Wake as the quarterbacks lower body was nearly separated from his upper half.

Special teams stud Walt Aikens (for a second consecutive week) made huge plays throughout which included a Hat-Trick blocked punt, recovery, scoop and score Touchdown jog.

Miami second year running back/first year starter Jay Ajayi rushed for 50 yards while thrusting his engines beyond mach-one and/or 1000 rushing yards for the season!

For the first time in 77 games the Miami Dolphin entire roster was given a clean bill of health for a game, (other than those on IR), and five year Iron Man Ryan Tannehill.

Matt Moore started in place of the first time injured Tannehill this week. He did not disappoint! He completed 12 of 18 passes for 236 yards with a pick while a third of those completions went for (4) Touchdowns (a career high)!

Moore's first Touchdown went to tight end Dion Sims (a great pass and catch) from one yard out to get on the second quarter 6 - 7 scoreboard after an extra point miss. The wily vet hit Kenny Stills for a 52 yard score two series later for a 13 - 10 halftime lead following an NY field goal.

Matt's one pick came on the third quarters opening series with an attempted bomb to the Jets thirty.

Four plays later Walt Aikens had his Hat-Trick for a Miami advantage of 20 - 10. On the home teams next offensive play Tony Lippett got his first pick on the day. Later in the day the receiver turned corner back ended the game with his second interception, this one in the endzone on the jets last "ditch/ crash".

Matt Moore hit Dion Sims for the duo's second one yard Touchdown of brilliance five plays and 60 yards later for the 27 - 10 score.

After a jets three and out. On the first play Moore hit a short pass to Jarvis Landry who (eclipsed the 1000 yard mark for the season) on the play by taking it 66 for six final third quarter & game points. By a road winning score of 34 - 13, The Miami Dolphins Team Earned A Ninth Victory!!


Among numerous other unmentionable accomplishments that the Miami Dolphins have a great shot at producing next week.

Can Adam Gase' 2016 Dolphins (for a second time in one year) beat the opponent that follows a Miami Victory over New York's jets?

A feat not attained one single time in the teams 31 previous attempts before 2016's Adam Gase!!

It's a dirty job but somebodies gotta do it!!
Time to sweep Buffalo spewage on Christmas Eve!!


YEEE-HAAA-GIGGITTY
GOFINS!!

Pre-Season Game Four Refresh/Chat, Titans At Dolphins

Keep an eye on first time NFL reps for regular season starting corner back number 25 Xavien Howard, Running back #32 Kenyan Drake, and Hard Rock Stadiums coming out party.


Not quite a live chat though nearly as effective for Die-Hard Dolphin Fans.
Just continuously hit the refresh button to converse with others.


GO MIAMI DOLPHINS !!!

Miami Dolphins Pick Thirteen Thru 231 Draft Scenario's

The menu's most popular main courses of which you can load your plate with just one of have been brought to the table. Those delicacies from the top of the list down include.

1) RB Ezekiel Elliott

2) CB Vernon Hargreaves III

3) OL Ronnie Stanley

4) OLB Darron Lee

5) DE Shaq Lawson

Obviously.
If none of these above guys are available or taken at #13,
( or if The Dolphins trade down beyond reach of said players )?
Most all other players mentioned could still come into play at some point.
Meanwhile, there are a total of 1001 draft eligible prospects for consideration, with only 253 draft selections, and the rest will become Un-Drafted Free Agents!

A mind melding obstacle course in search of treasure is printed on the place-mats to occupy the rambunctious types. On this particular scavenger hunting maze one will enter from the easily accessible exit where the potentially attainable pot of gold is located from route 13. However. The fortune swooped-up upon entrance requires a multitude of tools gathered along the way in order to efficiently navigate the prize back to Miami as well as for the treasure to maintain it's total value.

So. In a fatherly attempt to keep the savages at bay and with the aid of a trusty invisible inked crayon, I've taken it upon myself to map out the most desirably lucrative courses toward the ultimate destiny.

Now comes the moment when one's preferred taste of delightful accompanying side dishes becomes a free for all to dig into while your pallet will crave at least a spoonful of everything offered.

Here are the various options of cheese that one might want to sniff-around the maze for, come draft dayzzz (Thursday - Saturday).


Potential Options Five;
PK.
13) DE SHAQ LAWSON ( Awesome ) Lawson as well as most of the rest

42) RB DERRICK HENRY

73) OLB SU'A CRAVENS

107) G JOE DAHL

147) CB SEAN DAVIS

186) RB KEITH MARSHALL ( See option Two emboldened explanation )

227) ILB TYLER MATAKEVICH

231) OT CALEB BENENOCH


Potential Options Four; ( Great Results )

13) OLB DARRON LEE

42) OT GERMAIN IFEDI

73) RB C.J. PROSISE

107) G CHRISTIAN WESTERMAN

147) CB JONATHAN JONES

186) ILB TYLER MATAKEVICH

227) TE JERELL ADAMS

231) QB JEFF DRISKEL ( Whats this, KV drafted a QB )? Twice?!


Potential Options Three; ( Doin Back-Flips )

13) OT RONNIE STANLEY (Took forever to get Stanley at 13). OT Jack Conklin at 13 ?

42) RB DERRICK HENRY

73) DE SHILIQUE CALHOUN

107) CB ZACK SANCHEZ

147) OLB JOE SCHOBERT

186) RB KEITH MARSHALL ( See option Two )

227) QB JEFF DRISKEL

231) G SPENCER DRANGO


Potential Options Two; ( Extremely close call versus option one ), GOODSTUFF!

13) CB VERNON HARGREAVES III ( Best Pure CB in the draft )!
CB William Jackson III, Eli Apple & Mackensie Alexander were never the top CB offered to me at 13. I'd strongly consider them in a four spots trade down scenario and still have the potential opportunity to land the other prospects in this option two layout. ( See Bottom; Trade Possibility )

42) RB DERRICK HENRY ( Second best RB option in the draft )

73) DE JONATHAN BULLARD

107) G ISAAC SEUMALO

147) S TYVIS POWELL

186) RB KEITH MARSHALL ( Miami needs a speedy complement to pick #42 Derrick Henry and/or Jay Ajayi) while the nicely sized Marshall is the drafts fastest prospect.

227) ILB TYLER MATAKEVICH ( Though I strongly doubt that he'll be available at this point of the draft, or as late as he was landed in any of these scavenger hunts, but he was available when I did these particular mocks.) Probably have to go after him quite a bit earlier. If we want him? And I do, while I'd have gladly picked him earlier in every scenario had he been listed somewhere in the 4th or 5th rounds!

231) OT CALEB BENENOCH ( Could very well surprise ).


Potential Options One; ( Though option Two is every bit as intriguing )!

13) RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT ( Best All-Around RB in the draft ), and complementary dishes.

42) OT JASON SPRIGGS

73) OLB SU'A CRAVENS

107) G CHRISTIAN WESTERMAN

147) S MILES KILLEBREW

186) CB JUSTON BURRIS

227) CB BRANDON WILLIAMS

231) DE JASON FANAIKA
( The Steal of these mocks ), he was there so I took him!
Probably have to land him quite a bit earlier.


It is just how the cheese soaked chips fell into the salsa.
All five options turned out to be quite delicious while any one of, or any variation of all the above could spell playoff dessert or even SB. Note that it wasn't spelt out here. That may come after the results and 3/4ths of the 2016 season?

After all. It is just a fantasy draft versus the computer. With the NFL geniuses making the calls for all 32 teams! The timely delivery of side dishes are highly likely to offer an entirely different type of buffet than that which was provided before the 8pm dinner bell.

The above scenarios are all straight-up picks at selection 13 and throughout.
All in all, just 34 individual names to target have been brought to this table.

With eight picks, I'd be stoked to land just three of the 34 provided!
Which individuals and/or combinations of options would most wet your appetite?

Maybe you have a taste to devise your own preferred menu, or have already done so?
Your Own Invisible Inked Crayon can be drawn with for free at Fanspeak.com
(Stick a fork in it), and tell us how it taste! Mangia! Mangia!


Thank You for an open-minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view!! : ))


GOFINS!!!


CB's William Jackson III, Eli Apple & Mackensie Alexander Potential Trade Down Scenario;

The Numbers work out accordingly ( on draft trade value chart ) in this trade down option..

Miami #13 & 5th round #147

for

Atlanta #17 & 3rd round #81 & 4th round #115

Equates to;
Dolphins four spot drop in 1st,
gain a third rounder at pick #81,
gain a forth round selection at #115,
and forfeit 5th round pick #147..

Do that and still get William Jackson III, Eli Apple or Mackensie Alexander at pick 17, works for me!!

Though I'd still take EZ if at 13!!
Unless I'm guaranteed Derrick Henry in the 2nd, or CJ Prosise in 3rd!!

If the trade down scenario was for the rights to VH3 at #13,
I'd definitely be interested in trading down to pick #17!!!