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Front Office

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Redwine4all, Mar 16, 2018.

  1. Redwine4all

    Redwine4all Well-Known Member

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    We can and have debated the intelligence and efficacy of our FO...some like them, more hate them, all want them to be successful.

    But whatever we think of them, they are not sitting around accepting the status quo. I know Landry, Suh, Pouncey, et al, has been and will continue to be debated and argued until we're blue in the face...But the current FO (Tannenbaum, Grier, Gase) have been together 2 years. They are exactly .500--and they are making bold changes to change that.

    Whether or not the changes will be the right ones, and whether or not it will result the Fins being a stronger position going forward, and be in position to make the playoffs and win a SB, who knows? But they cannot be accused of just accepting the status quo.

    I pay close attention and I have to admit, I can barely keep up. Thanks to you guys on here, esp some of you with a scouting eye (Boomer, Travis) for providing the insights that "normal fans" (I am very passionate fan, but I just don't have the technical knowledge of these guys) lack. It helps.

    This is going to be the most exciting draft in years. This team is going to be way way way different from last years. Let's hope its different in a good way.
     
  2. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    People keep saying how did so and so team turn it around so quickly. Well, they made bold moves and didn’t sit with the status quo. This is what the front office has done IMO and you better watch out what you ask for as you might just get it.
     
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  3. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    Well, I am in show me mode with these guys and have been for a couple of years. We shall see how it will all pan out, but they have definitely made some big changes the last couple of days. How it all pans out is yet to be seen. I just know that I am tired of spending capital in the draft to not resign guys then spending extra money on hit or miss guys in Free Agency. That has to stop. It is expensive and inefficient.

    At least this year they weren't out chasing the latest "shiny thing". So that's a positive.
     
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  4. Wilkimania

    Wilkimania Well-Known Member

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    I wonder if there's been a philosophy trend in the FO because this year they seem to be working from a different play sheet to normal. I know it's quite popular to hate on the front office, but I think everyone has to admit that they're at least intrigued to see how these changes have an impact even if you're not excited.

    As for me, I've long left excited and am already mentally at the draft to see what positions the team looks at strengthening. Only a month and a half to go! Let's draft someone interesting so I can replace my Landry shirt that's died a death in my washing machine.
     
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  5. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    In my opinion, the only player we've parted ways with that can't be replaced is Suh....yet his savings can bring in at least three quality players at other positions. On paper it was completely the right move, but in reality we still need to find a quality DL to take Suh's slot plus shore up the LBers, etc. The good news is that it feels like we have more pieces of the puzzle than we had a week ago, plus we're building some depth as well.

    What does it mean in terms of wins and losses? That's the million dollar question. Two seasons ago, it was the offensive line that absolutely destroyed the first half of the season while we went 1-5. Last year, it was a combination of things- selfish players, revolving doors at line, a tough early travel schedule, a struggling front 7 on defense and Jay Cutler.

    A good bit of those issues have been fixed over the past 6 months (many of them this week), but we now have a big gaping hole in the defensive front. With McMillian healthy and McDonald playing a hybrid LB role, I have confidence in that unit...but it all comes back to Suh. The move many of us wanted for years now is suddenly pretty scary- could it possibly mean abandoning the wide-9? No Suh changes everything and it's hard to foresee anyone in free agency filling that role. Is there a true stud DT in the draft we could be eyeing at #11? That would make the most sense to me at this point.

    Folks have been in a panic over Landry and I think that will pass quickly- one receiver cannot make a team unless he's maximizing Parker-like abilities on a regular basis. And we already have that guy with our fingers crossed that he develops. I think Amendola was brought in purely for leadership to mentor Stills and company the right way, which is infinitely more valuable than a talented guy who catches screen passes and celebrates himself too often. So I have a lot of confidence that the receiver corp works itself out and actually comes out of this better than last season.

    At the end of the day though, it all comes back to Tannehill- is he the man that can light up this offense and take us to the promised land? If we see the 2016 version who was lethal down the stretch with 80-yard last minute comeback drives at will, then I really don't think the loss of Suh is as impactful as it feels like today. If RT is going to be that average hit or miss QB from 2015, then there's still a ton of work to do on the D's side of the ball. Remember, we're putting a lot of faith in some young corners to handle business and Walt Aikens is certainly not elite either. So just like every other year, it all comes down to Tannehill and Mr. Drake to a lesser extent.

    Don't be fooled people- we still have a number of important holes to fill. The only difference is that we are now cash-positive and we can make moves all the way up to the trade deadline mid-season. I do think the draft is a lot more exciting as well because we will be looking for impact players that can contribute today- it really feels like the Dolphins are getting ready to make a run at AFC East superiority.

    Have we caught up with New England though? I'd say yes and no. We have the roster in place to handle business against NE (as we showed last season)- it's those other AFC teams that still scare me. Pittsburgh. Baltimore. Kansas City. That's the real challenge. And it all comes back to our roster being unproven- a lot of folks will need to step up. I think it will be an exciting year though!
     
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  6. Wilkimania

    Wilkimania Well-Known Member

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    On this point in particular I don't think we have to end up with either extreme, the simple fact that we've got Gase instead of Philbin already makes me confident that Tan will be better than 2015, but that doesn't mean he turns into the lethal destroyer that took teams apart in the 4th that we saw in 2016. I think we end up with something in the middle, especially as Tan gets used to playing full contact and everything again and gets more confident that his body will hold up if he takes a big hit.
     
  7. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Two things- I only went to one extreme. Let's go with your "Tanny the Lethal Destroyer" since it's so catchy- if he plays lights out, then we're not in big trouble on defense since we can compete in those shootout games. That would be a 95+ QBR type of average that would rank him in the top 5-10 in the league, and I don't think that's being too optimistic. He has the tools...it's just a matter of shaking off that rust and using what he learned on the bench the past 15+ months to put everything together.

    Tanny the Lethal Destroyer- do you think that would fit on the back of a jersey? I swear I'm thinking about ordering it.

    The other way I went though is an average RT that gives you 83 QBR games on average- that QB probably earns 4-6 wins on his own but needs the defense or the run game to come through on most occasions. That's definitely not to an extreme and it's probably what most nay-sayers here expect him to deliver...a fairly good performance, but just enough bone-headed mistakes to keep the opposition in the game. And while we can certainly win with this type of play, we're not taking the division without an elite defense.

    I personally think we'll be closer to the Lethal Destroyer but not quite at that level- the shake up in the line and receiver corp alone will keep us at bay for a little while. The real question here is can we see the destroyer by late December when football matters the most? I honestly think we can.
     
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  8. Wilkimania

    Wilkimania Well-Known Member

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    I think the first few weeks are of the regular season are going to be interesting for Tan because there's nothing quite like playing proper snaps when it matters and I think you can't help but worry about it in the back of your mind if you're him even if it's subconsciously. So it wouldn't shock me if until 3 or 4 weeks into the season we see him play within himself out of fear of getting injured again, then once he regains the confidence in his body you'll see the progression of his game. Wouldn't shock me if for the first few weeks we lean heavily on Drake and quick release plays.
     
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  9. Redwine4all

    Redwine4all Well-Known Member

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    I am with you....I think Suh's absence is a real thing. I wouldn't object to us drafting Da'Ron Payne. He would give us an active presence at the POA...hes a tough assignment. He lines up in the A gap and he can also collapse a pocket. I think he'll be there at 11, and I think he is going to be a very good player.
     
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  10. Deus ex dolphin

    Deus ex dolphin Well-Known Member

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    Seems like we'd probably have a choice between Payne and Vita Vea? Vea looks like a real physical monster at 6'5" and 340 lbs (if those numbers are accurate) but is he more of a run stuffer? I'd like to see good pressure up the middle to keep the QB from being able to step up to avoid the pressure off the edges.

    Frankly, being being able to yell, "Bringing the Payne!" after a Da'Ron sack is almost reason enough to grab him at #11. :)

    I think the top two LBs are gone by #11, so I'd rather the front office took the best player at another position instead of reaching. Grab a TE in the second round (even jumping up into the very late first if necessary) and then BPA in the third and fourth.
     
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2018
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  11. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

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    They are only considered bold moves if they work out otherwise they are called stupid movies. What we have done time will tell.

    I’m all for the moves what we had just wasn’t working. The only move I would have kept was suh but if Gase saw an issue with him in the locker room than that’s his decision.

    What I can say is that as it stands Gase gets 2 years to turn it around or he’s on the hot seat. This is his team now his players and his vision what that gets us? We are going to find out
     

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