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Lethal Speed - A Theory for the 2021 Dolphins Offense

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Galant, May 15, 2021.

  1. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    There are more and more commentators talking about what they believe is the central concept behind the current build of the Miami offense.

    So I thought it would be worth having a thread to discuss it, understand it, and see what we think.

    I'll kick it off a recent short piece by ESPN's Cameron Wolfe and responses from Travis W. And TDN's Kyle Crabbs.




     
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  2. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    One thing that concerns me, being frank, is that I've never seen speed as a valid primary focus for an offense. The benefits of speed are obvious and if you've got it, use it. However, making speed a foundational feature of am offense is risky. Speed isn't taught or schemes. It's a trait that some players have. You can't just plug in different guys and get the same results. That means that injuries might have a more drastic impact than normal.

    Good offense is good offense. I don't necessarily think speed is good offense. It's a nice feature but no substitute for good football.
     
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  3. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    The "weapon" is not speed. Defenses can cover speed and keep it contained, which is exactly what we want them to do. If your safeties are splitting out to double on Fuller/Waddle, then Gisecki is covered by a LB over the middle and he's going to win that match-up almost 100% of the time.

    So a team gets tired of that, they bring their LB's away from the LOS or maybe rotates in an extra corner for Gisecki. Now he's covered, so we start running up the middle and burning clock. Crap, that didn't work for the D, so the LB's go back in the box, the slot corner is still on Gisecki and they move the safety up to help on that intermediate route.

    Now Fuller or Waddle has man coverage, they blow past it and get an easy score. Their D says, "Well, we can't do that again....." And they go back to doubling the speed guys and playing off the LOS, which resets the offense. Those comeback routes are wide open because everyone's playing off the ball, Gisecki and Parker are having a field day with mismatched coverage and the run game is a heck of a lot more successful because you can't cover everything at once.

    So no, speed is not the weapon on most plays in the way you're describing. It's simply a catalyst to change coverages and keep defenses guessing.
     
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  4. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Thanks for the detailed response but it doesn't address the problem I have. The weapon is speed, even in your scenarios - and I understand that's the idea. However, what is it that makes it work? The threat of speed. If you don't have those fast players then it all falls apart. That's my point. If a speedster gets injured you can't necessarily just go with 'next man up', if the next man isn't fast enough. And if the threat of speed disappears then defenses won't be occupied with it.

    That's why I said to use speed if you have it but don't build your whole offense on it.
     
  5. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    But it's not building the whole offense on it. Parker is very tough to cover 1:1 and so is Gisecki. Last year, those were the guys seeing doubles. Adding two elite speedsters shifts that focus some and also opens up the run game.

    If Waddle is out, you still have Fuller demanding some extra attention over the top. If they're both out, the offense still works with Wilson or Grant. If all four of them are out....well, you don't plan for those scenarios because you don't have that much depth, which is where we ended up late last season.

    Each receiver/back is a unique standalone weapon so you can't look at this as "we're building just for blazing speed and nothing else." That's 100% untrue. You can just do certain things with certain players- Parker or Williams can haul in 50/50 jump balls, for example, while Grant can't. That doesn't mean our entire offense is built around jump balls...you just play to each receiver's strengths and put together a WR room where you have lots of different types of weapons.

    In this case, those skill-sets compliment each other because they all demand different types of coverage- you can't double everyone and speed commands a little extra attention. That's all the earlier quotes mean; speed adds a different element that we haven't had in recent years. But that does not mean that we don't have other advantages that we'll also game-plan for.
     
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  6. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Again, thanks for the thoughtful response.

    Just to clarify, I don't necessarily think the offense will be a disaster and I hear what you're saying about the variety and depth in the offense. My concern was and is primarily a reaction to the heavy focus on the speed aspect. If Fuller goes down that's one. If we release Grant and/or Wilson that's more depth lost etc.

    Right now the talk is that there is a big focus on speed, that the run game will be greatly improved by it etc. - essentially, speed will be a major component of this offense. And I'm just not a fan of viewing speed like that. I hope and trust that the O will be well conceived, and that execution will be improved and that should our speedsters not be available for some reason, it will still be deep enough to be effective.

    That's my reaction, my concern.
     
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  7. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    And I'd say that's a fair concern, as nothing we've seen from our OC(s) proves either way. Uncharted territory we're headed into...and its exciting! Hopefully not also tragically disappointing.
     
  8. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

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    I’ve made my peace with this draft and can get behind their off-season plan. If this works, gonna be a fun ride.
     
  9. Puka-head

    Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member

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    Slightly left of center
    I think worrying about too much speed on offense is one of them 1st World problems. The kind we ain't had in a while.
     
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  10. Hooligan

    Hooligan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    No matter how fast they are a robust defense will always have the advantage. While the players on defense get to play facing and watching the QB, the fast guys on offense play largely with their backs to the QB so, timing and precision route running are far more crucial than raw speed. Aggressive Corners can jam smallish WRs at the line and negate much of that speed advantage. Communication between Tua and the WRs will be key.
     
  11. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    Speed, in regards to how fast a player runs is a great thing to have. If you can literally outrun your opponent, it does create opportunities for big plays but for me, I look at speed in a different context.

    As many of you know, although I do love the passing game, I am a big proponent of a strong running game. A Derrick Henry…a Jerome Bettis…a big strong running back that you can hand the ball off to 25 times a game and average 5 yards a carry; to wear down a defense, keep them off balance and open up that play action pass for big gains. But if your offensive philosophy is not going to go that route and you are going to rely on speed, then the speed you need to rely on is not so much individual player speed, but the speed of the offensive tempo.

    During the Bills heyday back in the 90’s when they went to 4 straight Super Bowls (it still astounds me they couldn’t win ONE of them), they relied on tempo. Speed speed speed. Not individually, but running a high speed, up tempo no huddle offense that physically wore out defenses and opened up those big high scoring plays. Let’s face it, the Bills literally ran their opposing defenses into the ground. Many of the Bills offensive possessions were 2 minute drills. They were going to force you to keep up with them, and many of them faltered.

    The Dolphins elected not to draft that big power back in Najee Harris. So be it, but if we’re going to rely on speed, then the offense needs to adopt that high offensive tempo to wear those defenses out. The heat and humidity in Miami is brutal. Use those elements along with the individual speed these players possess to run that up tempo offense to run those defenses to death.
     
  12. tirty8

    tirty8 Well-Known Member

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    I think that this is pretty obviously the plan.

    I gotta say, as Dolphins fans, I think we should be fairly critical of this approach. This seems to be a reoccurring vision for the top brass. We have acquired Teddy Ginn, Mike Wallace, Clyde Gates, Michael Egnew, Jakeem Grant, Albert Wilson, Lynn Bowden, Albert Wilson, Mike Gesicki, Will Fuller, and now Jaylen Waddle. These are just the burners that I can remember.

    As you can see, this group has a wide range of NFL success. I think that the game has changed immensely since the 80s. Right now, I think all of the corners in the NFL are fast. I just don't think that Waddle, who I suspect would run a low 4.3/40, is gonna blow past NFL corners. We are starting to see the LB of the future who are also running corner speeds.

    On a positive note, I do think that this is by far the most talented WR group that I can recall.

    Parker sorta is what he is. He is our best WR but he needs to be more consistent, and I think Tua needs to trust him.

    Fuller is the evolution of Chris Grier. WRs got crazy money, and I promise you guys that years ago, we woulda been one of those teams paying crazy money. The WRs that paid were no better than Fuller. Fuller is kinda like Parker where he gets hurt a lot, but has those moments where he looks fantastic. I think that this could wind up being the best signing of the offseason.

    Waddle is the one that scares me the most. I liked Ruggs more than Waddle, and Ruggs disappointed last season. The one thing that is very different is their situations entering the league. Ruggs needed to be the #1 in Vegas; whereas, we need Waddle to emerge as the third best WR on the squad.

    Bowden - He is a guy that just got better and better after being acquired late in the preseason. When injuries hit us, Bowden seemed to step up. One thing that could really suck is if we elect to keep a vet like Wilson or Hurns, it probably will be difficult for Bowden to see the field.

    Wilson - I do think he is an interesting guy. I think he is a good player, but the problem is that he is not the future. It is gonna be interesting to see if the staff would rather have a younger, developmental guy or him.

    Williams - He is sorta iffy. He has big moments, but his hands have annoyed me. He is cheap and developmental. Tua seemed to like to look his way on crossing routes.

    Grant - I hope this guy is gone. We don't need him.

    TEs - We have them in all shapes and sizes. I think the writing is on the wall that they are gonna be a big part of our new system.
     

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