Sooo how you feeling about your 2023 Miami Dolphins now??

"KeyFin wrote:

Side note- am I the only one rooting for the Jets to be decent this year?

Yes

Man, have you all seen the schedule next year and the QBs they are going to face? Going to be a crazy battle.
Bring it on, biotches?

Sorry, Key - I can’t bring myself to root for any AFC East team, especially the Jets.

"Fishhead wrote:

Sorry, Key - I can’t bring myself to root for any AFC East team, especially the Jets.

LMAO, I want them to be decent so when we beat them, it actually means something like in years past. Maybe I am the only one that thinks that way though, LOL.

Why would we want any of our rivals to be good? When was the last time that the Fins had a good team and there wasn't at least one other really good team within the division? You probably have to go all the way back to 1984.

I dream of a year where we have one of those seasons where we just coast to the divisional title with a few weeks left in the regular season. It seems almost every franchise gets one, but we're pretty overdue.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

Why would we want any of our rivals to be good? When was the last time that the Fins had a good team and there wasn't at least one other really good team within the division? You probably have to go all the way back to 1984.

I dream of a year where we have one of those seasons where we just coast to the divisional title with a few weeks left in the regular season. It seems almost every franchise gets one, but we're pretty overdue.

Based on the three games with the Bills last year, I'd say we're neck and neck with them for the division crown if Tua is on the field. The Pats have been a decent team but we've clearly outclassed them for the past several years. Then there's the Jets, who can't buy a win if their franchise depended on it.

I'm happy with a two-horse race and some competition from NE, but I miss getting excited for Jets week and one of those all-out battles against a hated rival. LOL, I just can't hate a 3-win team that can't compete...it's no fun anymore. Jets week has been like a bye-week for far too long, even though they beat us last year with Tua out.

"OwesOwn614 wrote:

That's their objective opinion. I can't imagine any reason why they'd purposefully rank us low. :turned:

Well you know what they say about opinions. Honestly I can't see how you can rank NE above us, let alone that much above us.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

The team is clearly among the very best in the league at creating big plays through the passing game, and barring massive injuries in that area of the roster, they'll almost certainly continue to do that this year too. But I often felt that last year, they were a one-trick pony who often scored points and won games in spite of being poor to mediocre at most other things on offense, and many on defense. Tua would launch the big pass to Hill or Waddle, they'd barely make the clutch catch, and we'd survive. But to me the luck with that is bound to even out and unless we improve a lot in the ability to scheme and just take what's there with shorter runs and passes each week, its going to come back to bite us in the rear end, and hard.

And so I came into this offseason believing that we needed to bring in not one, but two new offensive linemen who were at least capable of strongly contending for a starting job, and we brought in none. I believed that we needed to bring in a RB who wasn't a slim, speed guy, but who could truck through the middle of the line and overpower the other team for important yards, and we didn't seem to even try. And I believed that we needed to get a big upgrade at TE who could be a security blanket in the middle of the field and the Red Zone for Tua, and we whiffed on that as well.

So I'm just as anxious about the offense this season as I was last year, and then you add in the aspects of Tua's health on top of that. I just don't have any reasons beyond development and maturation that we're going to be much different this time around. Fingers crossed I guess, but I'm expecting McDaniel and Grier to learn some hard lessons and then hope that fix it in 2024.

I don't think there was anything wrong with our scheme as this was the first time in a long time that we saw WRs getting open on a consistent basis. However, I do agree that we need a counterpunch for when teams take away the fast strike or when its advantageous to just grind out some time on the clock.

"VManis wrote:

I don't think there was anything wrong with our scheme as this was the first time in a long time that we saw WRs getting open on a consistent basis. However, I do agree that we need a counterpunch for when teams take away the fast strike or when its advantageous to just grind out some time on the clock.

There were just so many times that we were in 3rd and short or 3rd and manageable, and either McDaniel would call something that went way further downfield than was necessary, or took far longer to develop, and it blew up and we had to punt, or worse go for it on 4th down. How much of that was the coaches and how much was Tua, we can't know, but its on all of them to step it up and do a far better job from here on out.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

There were just so many times that we were in 3rd and short or 3rd and manageable, and either McDaniel would call something that went way further downfield than was necessary, or took far longer to develop, and it blew up and we had to punt, or worse go for it on 4th down. How much of that was the coaches and how much was Tua, we can't know, but its on all of them to step it up and do a far better job from here on out.

I'm not sure I'd put that on Tua's shoulders. I think it had more to due with the lack of a consistent short yardage rushing attack and reliable outlet receiver. I think that's why everyone was hoping we'd pick a well rounded TE who could help with both of those aspects.

"VManis wrote:

I'm not sure I'd put that on Tua's shoulders. I think it had more to due with the lack of a consistent short yardage rushing attack and reliable outlet receiver. I think that's why everyone was hoping we'd pick a well rounded TE who could help with both of those aspects.

I agree. It doesn't need to be a Pro Bowl guy, but a consistent weapon to get those 7 or 8 yards in the middle of the field would be so huge. Everyone we have on offense is so tiny, I just don't know who's going to be able to get tough yardage. Last year, the answer was no one.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

I do not understand the offense thing. Last season was the first time since like 1996 that Miami had a top 10 offense in yards. The only lost Gesicki who wasn't a good fit for the offense and Trent, who I don't care to look up how to spell his last name correctly because he is mid at best.

Yes, I would love to have 5 really good offensive linemen like the rest of us, but, I still think the offense is going to be really good. Especially since it is the second year a lot of these players have been in it.

I’m the passing game, you bet. We had one of if not the best explosive offenses in the league. The problem though is the ground game. Our OL is weak at run blocking hence the Dolphins being rated near the bottom of the league in rushing. There are going to be times we’re going to have to be able to hand the ball off on a 3rd and 4 for a first down and KNOW we’re going to be able to get it.

Until our offense is dominant in the trenches when it counts, all of those passing stats are mox nix.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

We'll have to agree to disagree, I suppose. What I saw over and over last year was the Miami offense stubbornly trying to force their will on the opposition, no matter whether it was there to be taken or not. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it failed.

I personally want to see a lot more games like we had vs Cleveland last season, where it was much more balanced, and when we threw the ball it was spread around to a lot more players for easier catches. That's my blueprint, given our personell.

I do agree that's what we needed - more balance when defense has Waddle/Hill covered. But, I disagree we haven't significantly improved (on paper).
- TE's - addition by subtraction. Gesicki was one of the worst short yardage TEs we've had in a long time. Hunter Long was a complete nothing.
- WRs - Berrios is an instant upgrade for running short routes when defense is pulled by our two star WRs. Not saying he's a great WR. But he's a good WR that's being put into a very favorable situation.
- R Mostert is still our starting RB, Wilson is good change of pace, stronger back. same as last year. But Achane is a big upgrade over Ahmed and Gaskin and will compete for carries with first two. He's also a big upgrade at kick returns and potentially at receiving back. We do not need a bellcow back. you are trying to force your 90's/2000's version of offense into MMD's system. square peg, round hole. We have a very good RBBC.
- OLine is arguably the same as last season, which stinks. But signing Shell or kid from Denver can stabilize mediocre RT for another year. Like I said before, if we can develop one of these UDFA to backup T. Armstead so we don't have to rely on G Little like last season, we can reach sub-average levels (above average when Armstead is playing)

"KeyFin wrote:

Gut shot reaction- this is an 12-14 win team with Tua healthy all year. For every game he's hurt, subtract .75 per game since we'll only win about 1 in 4 without him on the field. Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe this backup QB from the Jets with a great personality could actually be a competent QB2. We'll see.

I think offense will be slightly better, the D will be A LOT better (as in, top 5 overall), and the special teams will have their moments too. We'll lose a few to other dominant teams, but at this point I think we're the dominant force in the AFC East and the AFC in general.

Side note- am I the only one rooting for the Jets to be decent this year? I'm so tired of them stinking that I don't even hate them anymore. This should be a super competitive division and it's really anyone's game. I do have a feeling we win the East this season though (with a healthy Tua).

Regarding your side-note question-
No, there are a few posters here that would love nothing more than for the Jets to be highly competitive.

"VManis wrote:

Well you know what they say about opinions. Honestly I can't see how you can rank NE above us, let alone that much above us.

You can't? Really?! It's the New York Post. Here's a small hint why they have us as the fourth place team in their preseason projections:

Why do we need a tight end option when Hill and Waddles are open by 20 yards on every play?

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

Why do we need a tight end option when Hill and Waddles are open by 20 yards on every play?

Sarcasm?

I think Cam Smith is going to be a critical part of this team being successful this year. If he can hang on the outside then you can leave him and X out there and deploy Ramsay in that role that Flores wanted to deploy Minkah in, "Defensive Weapon". Give him no real position and just let him line up depending on what is most impactful on any game week.

"OwesOwn614 wrote:

You can't? Really?! It's the New York Post. Here's a small hint why they have us as the fourth place team in their preseason projections:

I can see why they would be biased in favor of the Jets, its NE I don't understand.

I'm not as high on the defence as many here but I expect them to be top 15 which would be a massive improvement. The offence is going to be top 5 while Tua is healthy, the whole season hangs on that. We just need to be a bit "luckier" with injuries this year, we can't have the same happen when you are missing 5 OL and 7 DB's.

They clearly believe in AJ for some reason but I've no idea why. Their insistence that AJ and Liam are good enough starters could be the downfall again this year. You can cover up 1 bad player on the line usually but not 2. If they fail again we will need one of the backups to step in and be productive and I'm not sure we have them on the roster right now.

With a healthy Tua, a better defence giving the offence more chances (and hopefully better field position, we had a really low number of take aways last year) I can see us winning 12 or 13 games even with the schedule which looks brutal just now. I expect us to make the playoffs and go deep as I honestly think this team can beat anyone in the league.

"hitman8 wrote:

As it always has been. Grier couldnt build a goodt oline if his life depended on it.

What are you talking about, hit?

Watch the clip he posts at the 4:36 mark and tell me Grier can’t draft OLinemen.

….and he also pretty much summed up my feelings on the teams’ entire draft and, keep in mind, this comes from one of the biggest Tuanonners on the internet.

"Springveldt wrote:

I'm not as high on the defence as many here but I expect them to be top 15 which would be a massive improvement. The offence is going to be top 5 while Tua is healthy, the whole season hangs on that. We just need to be a bit "luckier" with injuries this year, we can't have the same happen when you are missing 5 OL and 7 DB's.

They clearly believe in AJ for some reason but I've no idea why. Their insistence that AJ and Liam are good enough starters could be the downfall again this year. You can cover up 1 bad player on the line usually but not 2. If they fail again we will need one of the backups to step in and be productive and I'm not sure we have them on the roster right now.

With a healthy Tua, a better defence giving the offence more chances (and hopefully better field position, we had a really low number of take aways last year) I can see us winning 12 or 13 games even with the schedule which looks brutal just now. I expect us to make the playoffs and go deep as I honestly think this team can beat anyone in the league.

What baffles me (and seemingly everyone not in the building) is WHY they think they are good at RT with Jackson. If he had shown flashes before his injury, or steady improvement, or anything, really, you could see why they are optimistic. So far, to my admittedly untrained eye, he has shown and done nothing to warrant such faith.

The only thing I can think of is that they are holding on to him and Noah to justify their first round selection status, which I pray is not the case. (If the rest of the DB room is healthy, I don’t see any way Noah makes this team, Grier or no Grier)

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

There were just so many times that we were in 3rd and short or 3rd and manageable, and either McDaniel would call something that went way further downfield than was necessary, or took far longer to develop, and it blew up and we had to punt, or worse go for it on 4th down. How much of that was the coaches and how much was Tua, we can't know, but its on all of them to step it up and do a far better job from here on out.

some terrible play calling for sure. I would have run and run again if needed.

"Unlucky 13 wrote:

I agree. It doesn't need to be a Pro Bowl guy, but a consistent weapon to get those 7 or 8 yards in the middle of the field would be so huge. Everyone we have on offense is so tiny, I just don't know who's going to be able to get tough yardage. Last year, the answer was no one.

The TE they drafted is supposed to be that guy. Well the WR they plan to convert to TE