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What was a bigger offseason mistake??

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Dorfdad, Nov 12, 2013.

  1. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

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    Simple question multiple answers are probably right but in my opinion the inexcusable act of Jeff Ireland to address the offensive line when we had ample opportunity to is toe to toe with the signing of Mike Wallace both are going to haunt us for years after Jeff's gone.

    I mean we could have easily traded with Kansas City a mid rounder and gotten a proven left tackle and signed a free agent to fill the right side. Or we could have spent 30 million and gotten a mid level wideout to drop balls and refuse to go for it 24/7 like mike does and filled other positions with the cash. Now we're looking at a major overhaul of the oline and having to pay Wallace to drop balls to the tune of 30 million guaranteed I believe it was? Anyway what do you think the biggest offseason blunder was?? And how can we address it next year?
     
  2. rtl1334

    rtl1334 New Member

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    Wallace will eventually come around. FA WRs generally have poor track records their first year with their new team. Next year will be very telling.

    The gross mismanagement of the o-line has to be the biggest mistake. Letting go of a solid LT with no tangible replacement. Relying on Martin when it was apparently clear he wasn't cut out for pro ball. Never attempting to upgrade from the perpetually inept John Jerry.

    Oh and finding a RB that can actually block.
     
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  3. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Wallace. Not even close.

    Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
     
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  4. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I would say thinking that Jon Martin and tyson Clabo could play tackle in this league in 2013.

    Greg Jennings was my first choice, didn't want to spend more than 8 mill a year, but I misjudged the synergy between style of Qb relative to receiver production..
     
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  5. CitizenSnips

    CitizenSnips hmm.

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    Knowing now that jamar Taylor is never going to play, I'd say the biggest mistake was not trading for Albert. At the time I agreed with not trading the 2nd for him...cause I thought the 2nd rounder would, you know, play
     
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  6. Phoenician Fan

    Phoenician Fan Well-Known Member

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    Well, seeing as how I got banned from another site for railing against the Mike Wallace deal and Jonathan Martin all last winter and spring, I'll just say that Ireland is now, and always has been, himself, the biggest mistake.
     
  7. Onehondo

    Onehondo Senior Member Club Member

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    I admit that Wallace has dropped some passes he should have caught. The hail Mary pass Monday night to Wallace didn't appear to be catchable but he didn't make much of an effort to keep the defender from catching it. I honestly think Wallace is not making a good effort at catching passes that would be tough catches. IMHO the coaching staff are not making the most out of Wallace's playing time.
    I don't think Wallace is the biggest problem. The offensive linemen takes that title hands down. This offensive line may be the worst Miami Dolphin offensive line in history.
     
  8. mroz

    mroz Fix the OL Club Member

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    1. Not addressing the OL was the biggest mistake (especially when you consider that Martin talked to the staff in the spring and told them he was having motivation problems, if reports are to be believed).
    2. Was trading up to draft Dion Jordan (if you are looking short term). Take Justin Pugh in the 1st and Warford in the 2nd and you have a totally different team…. add Thornton in there (who I wanted) and you really have the makings of a very good young OL.
    3. Was thinking that Tannehill could throw an accurate long ball. Wallace has his warts but he gets open deep at least once a game only to have Tannehill under throw him by 10 yards… and have Tannehill apologist making excuses for his inability to get the ball to him.
     
  9. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    keeping Jim Turner around who is incapable of training good linemen

    or

    Not adjusting his offensive system to best take advantage of his pieces (and letting Reggie Bush go) (They are related)
     
  10. rtl1334

    rtl1334 New Member

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    I've seen Manning, Brady and Rodgers all miss deep passes. Tanny too has had some good deep balls this year (Hartline vs Cleveland, Wallace vs the Ravens come to mind).

    The problem is the offence lacks talent up front and our scheme is too simplistic and archaic. We simply do not get enough deep chances thus making the few we get more critical.
     
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  11. fins4o8

    fins4o8 Mac FTW!

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    Long isn't a solid LT anymore (his injuries got to him) & letting him go was the right thing to do but not finding a tangible replacement is true though.
     
  12. rtl1334

    rtl1334 New Member

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    I would put him in the solid category but if the reports from April are true, relying on Martin was downright criminal.
     
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  13. mroz

    mroz Fix the OL Club Member

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    every QB misses throws… short, medium and long routes… Problem is Tannehill never (ok being dramatic here) hit long throws. It is probably the worst part of his game… closely followed by his inability to sense the pass rush…. dont even want to get into why he is not running with the ball more… I mean it is not like he is not taking a ton of hits anyways...
     
  14. rtl1334

    rtl1334 New Member

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    Like I said, I'm not seeing a critical issue with the deep ball. It's the weakest part of his game but it's not as if we see him misfiring all over the deep part of the field.

    As well, I'm not as critical on the sensing pressure issue. I think his timing is a bit off but the pressure is getting to him so quick but with so few rushers. If he'd been rushing his throws in those situations, with the 6 or 7 defenders covering the first 10 yards, assuredly his Int. numbers would be off the charts.
     
  15. Griese's Glasses

    Griese's Glasses Well-Known Member

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    Wallace by a mile...losing Jake.....and Reggie Bush...
     
  16. PhinsRDbest

    PhinsRDbest Transform and Transcend

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    the next dimension
    Spending on the lber core instead of the oline
     
  17. UCF FINatic

    UCF FINatic The Miami Dolphins select

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    Wallace is gone after next year... He will count nothing against our cap after the 2014 season, so outright cutting him won't hurt us one bit (unless he gets hurt, in which he has a $3 million guarantee).


    That being said, Ross will end up paying Wallace $30 million for 2 years of service (if you want to call it that).
     
  18. Deus ex dolphin

    Deus ex dolphin Well-Known Member

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    In order of magnitude of disaster?

    1. The OL is a horrible mess. With even an average OL, we are 6-3 at this point. We are looking at needing four new starters for 2014.
    2. The LB corp rebuild is a failure. At the very least, Wheeler needs to be gone.
    3. Wallace was a very expensive mistake. He has shown a lack of desire and effort on the field.
    4. Coaching. You hoped the Buffalo loss was a fluke, but losing to the Bucs sets a pattern we have seen time and again over the years. Poor gameplans, poor play-calling, players not being used to best effect (Wallace will never be worth that contract but he could be used better and Jordan should be on the field a lot more).
     
  19. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Vincent Jackson caught passes from a guy not good enough to play for Greg Schiano and had the best year of his career in 2012.
     
  20. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    He's one of the top OLmen this season.
     
  21. unifiedtheory

    unifiedtheory Sub Pending Luxury Box

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    Retaining Jeff Ireland, giving him the blank cheque, the cap space and all those picks. He **** the bed on basically everything. The most important offseason in team history and he royally ****ed it up.

    And it all could have been so much different if he had addressed the offensive line. We have talent. He has assembled good pieces. We'd be 6-3 right now if we had a mediocre offensive line.

    For that and that alone, he should be fired.
     
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  22. vt_dolfan

    vt_dolfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    When you field a historically bad OL...Im not sure its possible to have a bigger offseason mistake.

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
     
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  23. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Not getting Albert. Our oline hasn't been our only problem this year, but its been 80% of our problem.

    If we had Albert, we'd probably be the 5th or 6th seed right now.
     
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  24. Zounds

    Zounds New Member

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    The only mistake about Wallace was the money. If money weren't a factor, its a good signing because he does give us value when we line up for a play (not so much during the play).

    The biggest mistakes were the signings of Philip Wheeler, Tyson Clabo, and Reshad Jones. These guys are grossly overpaid, had bad seasons last year imo, and there wasn't much competition for their services. I know people will disagree about Reshad Jones because he makes the occasional play, but he makes just as many mistakes that result in allowing big plays.
     
  25. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    1) The O-line, however you want to spin it (i.e., not resigning Long, relying too much on an inferior tackle like Martin to play LT, signing Clabo, etc.).

    2) Wallace. Signing big dollar FA's rarely translates to high production on the field. He got his guaranteed money, where's his motivation?

    3) More and more I think trading up for Jordan was a mistake. There was a LOT of talent there at #11 that wouldn't have cost us a 2nd rounder.
     
  26. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    To me, it's not adequately addressing the OL. Wallace being here, I believe is still creating opportunities that woudln't likely be present otherwise for Hartline, Clay, Gibson and now Matthews that Gibson is out. So while he's not having an effect on the stat sheet, I still to believe he's helping the offense.

    The OL however, after Jake left for the Rams for whatever reasons, we didn't do enough. Thinking Martin would be a better player at LT, after struggling at RT, and LT last year, was just not a good plan. Signing Clabo in theory wasnt a bad idea, but of course it's turned out horrific. Keeping Jerry and not attempting to replace him is a very bad idea. I won't even get in to Richie, because its kind of unfair given whats happened, however based on the type of player/personality he is, and his transgressions in the past, one could say it was only a matter of time. We had a chance to sign McKinnie, but instead end up having to trade for him when things go from bad to worse, we could have traded for a much better player in Albert from KC, or we could have tried for Monroe from the Jags. Sure it was reported that Jacksonville didnt make it widely known he was available, but I'd like to think any GM with even a pea for a brain would think... "hey, they drafted a LT early in the draft, maybe they'll want to move this guy Monroe, I should at least give them a ring and let them know I'm at least interested if they do decide to take offers."

    The OL has this team in the mess its in. There's other weaknesses, absolutely, I just think if you want to compare "mistakes" the failure to provide a good OL, is far worse than signing Mike Wallace who's not putting up huge numbers, while other guys in his unit at least are, keep in mind... those other guys, Hartline, Clay, Gibson/Matthews (now) are having big years, and big games that they hadn't had the opportunity to in the past, IMO, that's because of Wallace.
     
  27. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Mike Wallace was the biggest mistake, because trying to utilize him correctly feeds into some of the other huge issues in our offense.

    This offensive line is absolutely and totally viable under better coaching and management.
     
  28. Deerless Dice

    Deerless Dice Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Agree with 1, somewhat agree with 2 because Miami had money to spend, and Miami needed a legit WR badly. Miami overpaid and it's clear his motivation is lacking, but I believe once the protection issue is cleared up, Wallace will perform better.

    Disagree on 3, Cameron Wake isn't going to be around forever and getting a prospect like Jordan was the right move. In 2-3 years when Jordan is terrorizing the league I think everyone will be happy Miami traded up to get him.

    The biggest issue to me is a tie between what Miami did at Tackle and the Linebacker overhaul. I think Jake Long was overpaid by the Rams, plus he wasn't a good fit for what Miami was trying to do scheme wise. Trading a 2nd for Brandon Albert plus giving a guy who turns 30 this season a huge contract is not a recipe for long term success. I probably would have resigned Long if those were my 2 options. Other options would be trade up for Lane Johnson (he's played poorly this year), or stayed put and drafted DL at 11 (Werner, Lotulelei, Richardson, or Floyd) and picked up Menelik Watson(who has played in 2 games this year) in round 2

    The linebacker overhaul has been a failure. Wheeler and Ellerbe's run defense is so poor that it overshadow any positive gain they bring from blitzing and pass defense. The worst part is it will probably get worse when both Soliai and Starks leave at the end of the season.
     
  29. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

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    I don;t see how better coaching and management would make Clabo and Martin anything better than the terrible linemen they were this year.

    That's without getting into Jerry and Incognito being terrible as well.
     
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  30. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    Does extending Ireland count as off-season mistake? or in-season?
     
  31. P h i N s A N i T y

    P h i N s A N i T y My Porpoise in Life

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    At this point any amount of money on Wallace was a mistake. If he expects every ball to drop into his lousy *** grandma basket, he's almost worthless. We said chambers didn't attack the football, but Wallace just gives the advantage to the dbs who really want to catch it.
     
  32. 72 Dolphins

    72 Dolphins New Member

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    1. I've been saying it with no tact whatsoever since before this season began, mostly because I was so disgusted with it, but not addressing the Offensive Line, when that is all you needed to do, to be a playoff team. If he gives the 2nd for Albert, instead of thinking he "had" Kansas City, addresses the line in the first round, instead of making that stupid trade up for Dion Jordan.... Sigh. I have said it over and over and over, and have been bashed since training camp for saying it, this team was one decent offensive line from making the playoffs and with what Ireland did (Nothing), we would lead the league in sacks allowed and be lucky to finish 7-9. (BING!) If I could see that, Ireland needed to be able to see that. (He's supposed to be the professional)

    2. The 2013 Draft - GOD AWFUL. Dion Jordan - Jamar Taylor - Dallas Thomas Bust - Bust - Bust. Nice 1-2-3 punch Jeff the Kicker.

    3. The Martin/Incognito ordeal...this is probably his biggest mistake because it will cost him his job, but how unprofesssional can you be? There were always rumors that Jeff the kicker was a tool, and I believe when this report comes out, those rumors will be confirmed.

    GOOD RIDDANCE...
     
  33. NorFlaFin

    NorFlaFin Active Member

    The biggest mistake was allowing nepotism to happen.
     
  34. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

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    Funny to see all this piling on Wallace, could he be better? Yes, but just how much?

    We have seen him open by 3-4 steps a handful of times including against Revis Monday, and what happened? Throw OB. Go back to week 1 he had another top CB in Joe Haden toasted, and what happened? Under throw.

    To execute a BIG PLAY you need an OL that can block, and a QB who can get you the ball.

    Now I love Tanny and he throws great 15 yards and in, but his deep ball isn't very good at all. Folks Mike Wallace is the same guy he has always been, he just doesn't have the recipe around him to execute his biggest asset.
     
  35. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    Its one of 3 big ones for sure; certainly from NFLPA, and now should be from Ross. To force an inadequate LT, and put together in general the worst OL in the NFL, on your head coach, who, himself identified the issues with the OL, is shameful dereliction of duty as a GM. Its a fire-able offense.

    Strike 1: His "prostitute" statement to Dez Bryant during interview
    Strike 2: His cursing at a fan
    Strike 3: His "punch him in the face" statement over the Incognito/Martin incident
     
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  36. Phinatic74

    Phinatic74 New Member

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    No disagreement on Brady, he's not the best deep ball thrower either but I think people who spend 10 years watching Brady will explain how the other areas where he excels mask any long ball accuracy issues. People who've been saying Wallace's inability to make big plays is due to Tannehill's inability to throw an accurate deep ball might be on to something, I was in denial most of the time just by the mere fact Tannehill is a huge quarterback, how does he not have arm strength? His 47% on 11-20 and 32% on 20-30 I wish was a "bit higher" in both categories. The most upsetting stat with Mike Wallace and Tannehill playing together is the big plays, only 1 TD over 20+ yards passing. I took a quick look at another 2nd year QB, Nick Foles, who is 60% on 11-20 yards and has 7 TD on 20+ yards and he has been hitting Riley Cooper who on his fastest day isn't faster than even Randy Starks. It's baffling that Tannehill can't have that efficiency now you have to ask the question, is it coaching?
     
  37. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    the skillset of Big Ben.
     
  38. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    The biggest mistake, and I have been stating this on this forum for the past two years, was not getting rid of Ireland after the 2012 season. This allowed him to once again select all the players in the 2013 draft and use much of the cap money to sign players which just haven't been upgrades for the most part. Other than Grimes, and Gibson before his injury, I just don't see any other free agent who has come in and upgraded the team.

    Ellerbe and Wheeler have turned out to be downgrades from Dansby and Burnett. Clabo has been a total bust and Wallace is now probably the most overpaid player in the NFL. Not a very good free agency period for the Dolphins considering how much money was spent to sign these players.
     
  39. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    If we have Jake Long and Reggie Bush right now, we're probably winning more games. If they had to come back at the cost of not signing Mike Wallace, that's all the better.

    You know, hindsight is 20/20 obviously. So if you want to say that none of all this is valid, so be it. But if you were NOT going to sign a Mike Wallace, then three of the guys who were legit vertical players in this draft were available in the 3rd round in Terrance Williams, Marquise Goodwin and Markus Wheaton.

    I'm not saying those guys would be playing as well as Wallace right now (although you can make a case Williams is playing better, maybe Goodwin as well). But the bottom line is these guys in particular were vertical guys, and if you're going to use Mike Wallace as a vertical guy in this offense then these guys could have fit the bill as well.

    If you think about this offense with for example a lower tier value free agent at receiver like Domenik Hixon, drafting someone like a Terrance Williams and with Jake Long guarding Tannehill's blind side, and Reggie Bush to help with the ground game...I think several of these games that came down to close margins would have swung in favor of Miami. There's a possibility the Colts game, during which Wallace was instrumental, might have swung against Miami.
     
  40. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    Hindsight 20/20 just makes me shed more tears!! :cry:
     

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