Since Jeff Ireland arrived as general manager in 2008, the Dolphins have spent more money and used more picks in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft on the offensive line than any other position.
Some of those decisions have paid dividends, including drafting emerging center Mike Pouncey, but the harsh reality is this:
Five years later, the Dolphins are still left with a unit that can’t consistently dislodge defenders in the run game, has too many breakdowns in pass protection and can’t dominate an opposing defense for more than short occasional stretches.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/23/3110909/miami-dolphins-offensive-line.html#storylink=cpy
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Oh, and coincidentally, the team hasn't had a QB who can make defenses respect anything beyond the line of scrimmage during that time.
Other than the last nine games of last year, of course, when Matt Moore's QB rating was 97 and the team was 6-3. The offensive line seemed to be working fine during that period. :headscratch:
It also seemed to be working fine in 2008 when Chad Pennington had a 97 QB rating and the team was 11-5. -
End of the day, this is what cost our OL head coach his job, and ultimately will take Ireland as well. Big reason we have lost last three.
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oakelmpine and eltos_lightfoot like this.
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I'm not sure the pick on the offensive line are disproportionate by any measure except the attention deficit Madden gamer crowd.
The biggest problem with theexpenditures is the injuries to big money free agents. Jake Grove, Justin Smiley, and Vernon Carey all performed quite well after they were signed. Grove and Smiley suffered what were ultimately career ending injuries. They were previously injury prone, and I think they got a little cocky with the idea they could avoid injuries with a more rigorous weight training program when Parcells took over, but I'm also not sure you should ever expect an injury prone player to have career ending injury. Vernon Carey I don't believe you really could have predicted. -
" During Ireland’s five-year tenure as GM (Bill Parcells was in charge until September 2010")
I wonder why Jackson is throwing out quotes like that..
September was way after the 2010 draft..I wonder if he has proof of that timeline, wish someone would ask, or someone would blow the roof off this Parcells/Ireland story. -
In response to your post:
a) Long was primarily a Parcells pick (says Tuna himself).
b) You have no idea who was responsible for Smiley & Grove or Carey's big contract..... BUT we do know that after Parcells stepped down Ireland immediately cut ties with Grove and restructured Carey's 2011 contract from $4.2M to $2.5M while voiding the final 3 years.
c) What you're also ignoring is the fact we've changed blocking schemes under Philbin, but props to you for oversimplifying this aspect of the game in order to justify your pitchfork raising. :p
d) Miami using 2 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd on Oline in 5 years is nothing extreme considering how terrible the unit was entering '08.
I guess you and all the other posters whining about spending high picks on Oline must think the majority of the top NFL teams are also terrible organizations considering they allocate roughly as many high picks to Oline as we have since '08.
49ers (8 linemen since '08): 2 1st, 2nd, 2 4ths (doesn't include 1st rounder Staley)
Packers (9): 2 1st, 2 4th, 2 5th
Steelers: 2 1st rounders, 2 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Ravens: 1st, 2 2nd, 2 3rd, 3 4th
Bears: used 2 of 3 first rounders on Oline since '08.
Falcons: first 2 picks this year were Oline.... before that a 1st, 3rd, 4th (not including 2nd rounder Justin Blaylock)
Broncos: 1st, 2 2nd, 3rd, 3 4th
Seahawks: 2 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Colts: 1st, 2 2nds, 4th
Patriots: 1st, 2nd, 4th (not including 1st rounder, Mankins)
How some of you persist with this Madden Football mentality that Oline is trivial is beyond me. A great line does more to control the game than any receiver or running back. -
shula_guy Well-Known Member
Its not that we invested in the line thats the complaint it is the lack of results they have gotten from it.oakelmpine, jdang307 and ToddPhin like this. -
If we trade back our 1st, UNC's Jonathan Cooper would be a pick that the uninformed, irrational fan base as a whole would piss and moan about b/c he's a guard, but the kid is a wall in pass protection, and you only have to watch Giovani Bernard to see how much he opens up the ground game, and not just for consistent 4-5 yard gains but for exciting 20+ yarders due to his ability to create space at the 2nd level as well as get out in front of screens & pulls. If we had 3 2nds and 2 3rds we could afford a solid pick like that to help make the line special. -
unifiedtheory likes this.
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Basically the whole of the issue right now is Richie Incognito doesn't fit the blocking scheme, and Jonathan Martin is not playing well as a rookie. I'm not sure that's a damning indictment, especially when the coaching staff is going to have input on if both players should be starting(or retained in Incognito's place). -
Amazing that these writers state the obvious and get paid to do so.
How about telling us why there has not been a shakeup on the offensive line?
Or why Jake's play has fallen off?
Nah, to informative. -
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49ers - Playoffs
Packers - Playoffs
Steelers - Playoffs
Ravens - Playoffs
Bears - Playoffs
Falcons - Playoffs
Broncos - Playoffs
Seahawks - Playoffs
Colts - Playoffs (maybe)
Patriots - Playoffs
Dolphins - Losing seasons.
Not surprisingly most of those teams are at the top of their division. -
I'm not sure what you're trying to say here, but it seems like you're insinuating our Oline should be a strong cohesive unit despite changing blocking schemes (drastically) and with a rookie starting at RT. -
I must point out that although Pittsburgh has used quite a few draft picks lately, up until a couple of years ago they were noted for the lack of investment in their oline. Ben Roth ran for his life when he was winning for those superbowls. It helps to have a QB like Ben of course.
How many of those teams spent a #1 overall on a linemen? Bears have a crappy Oline. But they win. It's ugly, but they do it. -
shouright likes this. -
I must point out that although Pittsburgh has used quite a few draft picks lately, up until a couple of years ago they were noted for the lack of investment in their oline. Ben Roth ran for his life when he was winning for those superbowls. It helps to have a QB like Ben of course.
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This is beyond stupidity, yet you somehow cease to shock me. lol
Do you have a wife or daughter, any woman in your family, anyone with no football knowledge, who can take over your posting from here on out? :p -
LB, if you ran this team we'd be constantly drafting #1 b/c you'd be replacing every rookie after their rookie season for not performing at a Pro Bowl level, but then again, if you were doing the drafting that would probably be appropriate. :lol:
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But the Wildcat, and the fact nobody knew how to defend for about half the season is a huge part of the success of that season.
1. Wildcat
2. Easy schedule
3. Chad Pennington (and his ability to limit turnovers)
4. Good defensive play -
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Don't tell me Nanu Nanu and Ochoidota were supposed to be the answers. -
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We rant up a 28-6 halftime lead with 3 TDs from the WC...... and after NE countered to make it 28-13 late in the 3rd, the WC struck back with a 62 yard TD run.
We needed the WC that game to beat a Bradyless Patriots, and without it we're out of the playoffs and the Patriots are in..... and that's not taking into affect the wildcat's impact on other wins. -
If you take every one of those scores and turn it into a field goal, and then take away the 62-yard TD, they still win. That's pretending that they wouldn't have scored any touchdowns conventionally on 2nd and goal on the 2, and 1st and goal on the 5.
You're also ignoring the fact that they really made an effort not to run up the score in the 4th, Chad Pennington had 3 incomplete passes the entire game, that the Patriots offense didn't break 200 total yards, the offensive line pretty badly dominated the Patriots front-7 in any formation, etc. and so on.
It would have almost certainly still been a blowout. -
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