[Rumor] Dolphins sending trade offers to teams; MJD is a target...

Probably just a coincidence even though it was reported as non-injury, but MJD missed practice yesterday...

http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=876234-jaguars---maurice-jones-drew-misses-practice

only thing about MJD (besides the old age) is would we just be renting him for 3/4 of a season. The guy is like that douche Revis in that he holds out all the time for more contract money.

IMO When the line has created holes for Miller he has been everything you could hope for. Minus struggles in the passing game of course. No-one is running behind this line if they continue to play this way, and if they turn it around Miller will be just fine.

OT: Reading the predictions from the post above me. How can the Bills go 3-3 in division while splitting one game with us and NY (2 games) and being swept by NE?

"Alex44 wrote:

IMO When the line has created holes for Miller he has been everything you could hope for. Minus struggles in the passing game of course. No-one is running behind this line if they continue to play this way, and if they turn it around Miller will be just fine.

I've actually been pretty disappointed in him even with blocking. He runs with zero power. He does not push defenders back at all.

"Rhody Phins Fan wrote:

I've actually been pretty disappointed in him even with blocking. He runs with zero power. He does not push defenders back at all.

I agree. hes not been great at anything. not teroble but not gret

Miller has also missed open holes and opportunities to gain additional yardage. When people in fantasy leagues predicted he would gain 1500+ combined yards, I laughed. What the hell has Miller shown on the field to prove that he is a legitimate, starting RB in the this league? Nothing. If you can take a flier on MJD for a 5th or 6th round pick, you jump all over it. No question about it.

I think we'd see more to this than there has been if it's true, especially for MJD.

"Disgustipate wrote:

I think we'd see more to this than there has been if it's true, especially for MJD.

Not following you.. Explain.

"Bumrush wrote:

Not following you.. Explain.

MJD is a superstar in this league....if there where whispers or even feelers out there for his services, with this "we got it first" media day we live in, SOMEONE would jump on it, you'd think.

"SICK wrote:

MJD is a superstar in this league....if there where whispers or even feelers out there for his services, with this "we got it first" media day we live in, SOMEONE would jump on it, you'd think.

no one saw the Trent Richardson trade coming before it happened, did they?

I will say this, if Jacksonville has little to no leverage, why hasn't this trade already happened? If the Dolphins were truly interested, wouldn't they sweeten the deal with perhaps a 4th round pick to make it happen, especially if they are convinced that Miller is not an option and that we need to shake up our running game?

"Ohio Fanatic wrote:

no one saw the Trent Richardson trade coming before it happened, did they?

No, they didnt, but thats the exception, not the rule.

Although, the Brandon Marshall trade slapped us in the face without any warning. I remember having sports center on getting ready for work when Schefter was reporting it and I almost masturbated right then and there.......

"djphinfan wrote:

Jones-Drew is a young 28...

Amazing lately how an RB's been around for a few years and it seems like he's about to join the AARP. I would have guessed 31 at least

"Bumrush wrote:

Miller has also missed open holes and opportunities to gain additional yardage.

That's one of the things that's disappointed me most about him too. Even when he's got to the second level he's often made the wrong decision and been tackled when he could have gone for a TD or a bigger gain, his speed is his biggest weapon but sometimes it's like he doesn't trust it himself. And the two drops he had that should have gone for TD's (one in preseason and one against the Ravens) don't help either. I hope he gets better with experience, but at the moment even when he gets the chance to make a play he almost seems to be like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

I don't have a lot of respect for Jeff Ireland, but I'd be shocked if he made a move to give up draft picks for an aging, tread mostly gone from the wheels RB in MJD rather than a move to fix the offensive line. I don't think MJD does much to improve Miami's offense at all. As mediocre/really ****ty as Lamar Miller/Daniel Thomas (respectively) have been, they (at least Miller) could be serviceable if the line was playing better. An aging MJD won't find many running lanes behind this line either.

"Ohio Fanatic wrote:

no one saw the Trent Richardson trade coming before it happened, did they?

No but Trent Richardson isnt in a contract year and is still young (by running back standards) so there would have been no reason to expect it. MJD is older (again by RB standards) and has way more NFL miles on those knees.

The whole idea of trading for a rb is purely from a scheme stand point... Miller is the runner and can't block, Thomas can't run but can block, Thigpen can't block but is a passing target.. I think they are looking for a more balanced rb so they aren't telegraphing their plays and at the same time keeping Gibson on the field and not relying on two tightend sets for pass protect... A balanced rb can do a lot to help the line and confuse defensive coordinators.. Maybe opening up some running lanes and giving the threat of play action... Let's face it Gibson is one of our best weapons and if we don't have a rb that can block and give the threat to run then we have to use two te's leaving Gibson on the bench, so a trading for a rb is an upgrade to the line if you think about it...

Miller is young though... he has time to develop blocking. I hope they've been working with him in the BYE. Part of his problem would appear concentration to me, whether running, blocking or catching.

"MonstBlitz wrote:

I don't have a lot of respect for Jeff Ireland, but I'd be shocked if he made a move to give up draft picks for an aging, tread mostly gone from the wheels RB in MJD rather than a move to fix the offensive line. I don't think MJD does much to improve Miami's offense at all. As mediocre/really ****ty as Lamar Miller/Daniel Thomas (respectively) have been, they (at least Miller) could be serviceable if the line was playing better. An aging MJD won't find many running lanes behind this line either.

I agree with this almost too much... LOL.

I am not a big fan of even talking a trade during the season. Typically you do not see trades that work out well happen mid season. If the team is dumping the player, there is a reason. OR you are over paying.

Next, I really like MJD. I thought he'd have a big year. Even drafted him in one Fantasy league... However, he looks slow and old. Just not the same player. Trading ANYTHING for him would be a mistake.

Miller had minimal playing time last season. Now he's the featured RB. Big jump. That could not have helped with his development.

"Bumrush wrote:

I will say this, if Jacksonville has little to no leverage, why hasn't this trade already happened? If the Dolphins were truly interested, wouldn't they sweeten the deal with perhaps a 4th round pick to make it happen, especially if they are convinced that Miller is not an option and that we need to shake up our running game?

Part of the leverage they do have is that they can wait until the deadline to get the best possible offer. There's no real reason that they'd need to deal him now.

As for sweetening the pot, given the devaluation of RB's and the whispers that MJD is not what he once was, Ireland would be a fool to panic and sweeten the deal with a 4th.

Again... the problem is the offensive line. If there is a chance of getting a good, or even an adequate replacement for the two people on the right - without breaking the draft bank or the salary cap - go for it! There is not a running back likely available who could effectively run much better than Miller and Brown have been doing. They both have had runs which showed the possibilities, BUT..... this offensive line has not jelled, or is not capable of becoming a cohesive unit because the entire right side seems to have lapsed into complete incompetency - and if a running back is not sure whether he will have a glimpse of the hint of an opening to run toward or whether he will see a wrong colored jersey right in the middle of where the play is supposed to go there is just a mild possibility that he will not be at full speed when he gets the ball, and might have just a bit of hesitancy about direction - or-
when you have to start broken field running to get out of your own backfield the odds of having a successful run are miniscule - and -
when it looks as if the entire defense is converging on the gap you are supposed to run through as soon as you get the ball - the odds decrease.

CK - you are much more adept at finding the facts - but how many times has the running back in our last several games been hit behind the line of scrimmage?

The other reason I don't see a trade for MJD happening is it would be such a non-verbal admission of failure on Jeff Ireland's part. Failure in the 2 RBs he's drafted (Thomas/Miller) and failure in the free agent RB he let walk (Bush).

FWIW, I don't blame Ireland for letting Reggie Bush walk. It's really a shame the offensive line is so bad, as I think nobody would have really noticed Bush's departure all that much if the offensive line wasn't handicapping the running game in such a spectacular fashion. But now it's probably just one more thing Ireland will be judged harshly on by fans and the media, maybe even ownership. Personally, I think RB is not really where he deserves the criticism. It was a shrewd decision (IMHO) to let Bush walk but it's buried by the failure (so far) of the O-line.

Ireland will not, and should not get any heat for letting Reggie Bush go. EVERYONE thought Miller was ready. He may be ready, but the OL is holding the team back.

"gunn34 wrote:

Ireland will not, and should not get any heat for letting Reggie Bush go. EVERYONE thought Miller was ready. He may be ready, but the OL is holding the team back.

Maybe Ross won't, but fans / media will, and already have. Even before the season started. But I agree with you that for this one thing, he shouldn't. Fans and even the media so often look at the performances of individual players in a vacuum without accounting for the performance of the rest of the team.

Unfortunately for Ireland, the thing holding the running game back - the OL, is also something he's responsible for.