My thoughts in the draft is that the team is following the plan to tear down, build a base to compete in the future. The future is not 2020.
Without getting into the individual picks the common thread with most of them is that they are young guys (by that I mean younger than the average draftee) that have strong competitiveness and strong physical talent. These are guys who aren’t going to slot straight into an NFL starting line up and play NFL ball. These are guys who need coaching and development to get to their best.
I’m not saying these guys won’t contribute as rookies. More that they are further away from their ceilings than many highly drafted players. Obviously this is a vote of confidence in Flores and the coaching staff’s ability to develop players.
Importantly it appears Grier is drafting with the question of who will be long term starters as his paramount concern. Drafting NFL ready players with lower ceilings is will help us get to 8-8 or 9-7 sooner, but if we want to get to the regular 12-4 seasons type team we don’t get there in one draft after what we went through in 2019.
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You're probably right. But he'd better not think too far beyond 2021-22, because nothing in life is guaranteed.
Surfs Up 99 likes this. -
I agree this looks like a solid depth / Year 2 kinda draft. I’m looking at this as Flores real first year of coaching. Last year was just a fire sale and him learning to be a coach. This year he should have command of everything.
2022 is what we’re setting up for IMHO. 2 years from nowTin Indian, Surfs Up 99 and Pauly like this. -
I'm totally with you, and I think that its for the best. 2020 doesn't really matter, beyond teaching the players, getting them into the system and getting them working together as groups and a team. Wins and losses can be thrown out the window. This about building a sustainable group who can develop into a good team down the road. Hopefully, that means that they're competitive in 2021, and in the playoff hunt at the end of the season. And than again hopefully, in 2022, they can be a team that's looked at as a solid bet to make it to the Divisional Round. For me, what happens after that is always unpredictible.
Dorfdad, Surfs Up 99 and Pauly like this. -
I'm not against another building year as long as we see progress and some of these linemen developing. I wouldn't be shocked if that 7th round pick takes more snaps at QB this season than Tua, that's 100% okay in my book. As long as we see that fire that we closed the season out with, I think we'll be fine playing these rookies and grinding out a handful of wins- I'm thinking in the 6 to 8 range? It really depends on how much training camp we're able to get in.
I am excited though to get this season underway since we've finally set an actual path. I think the defense is going to be much improved and it's exciting seeing an offense come together from the ground up. We still need some pass rushers and I'm guessing that's the 2021 draft like Pauly said...I'm good with that though! Maybe we knock it out of the park tomorrow with UFDA's though.Surfs Up 99 likes this. -
I would be. Tua is going to be starting by about week 8 IMHO. -
While him getting onto the field around then wouldn't shock me, it also wouldn't be a surprise if he sat nearly the whole season out. -
The draft is about picking players with an understanding of their ceiling.
That’s why I think this was a very effective draft..
Tua, what a special prospect, 21 years old..does things that can’t be taught, full HD vision of the field at all times, super accurate, innately super accurate, fast in all aspects of the game, including the fastest release ive seen since Marino, confident, leader, and wants to be coached..the Qb talent level is off the charts, off script availability is there at a high level while being a precision pocket passer..
Been saying it for years, Steve Young reincarnated.
Jackson’s upside is ridiculous, he’s 20, all he’s missing is technique in pass protection, he is a plus athlete for the position who is already good as a run blocker, aggressive, can center his opponent at the 2nd level, and has a bit of a nasty streak to him.
Look at Igbe..only played the position for two years..sticky icky corner who has the best hips in the draft, projects to the slot with Cod skills, speed, and a physical presence as press corner, will be our slot corner..very important position.Last edited: Apr 26, 2020danmarino, Phin McCool, The Guy and 2 others like this. -
You know, I need to quit being so selfish. I mean, if down the road, I look back on this draft and all I can say is this is where we got Tua, our franchise QB, and built a decent OL to protect him, I should be happy, right? Hasn't this been what I (and most of the rest of us) have been asking for all these years? Let that sink in. We might just have our franchise QB! Man, that alone is huge! Now, if we add in the rest of our off-season (courtesy of CK from yesterday, minus our 7th rounders), we haven't done that bad, right? Look at that list! We got some ballers on there. It's a good start. Rome wasn't built in a day. I am happy as hell! We may just have our franchise QB!
danmarino, Pauly and Dol-Fan Dupree like this. -
Remember this is RyNs fitzpatricks team this year, we have lot of assets to continue this build next year too, the roster was so depleted we needed foundation players..
Really like Solomon Kindley too.Tin Indian, danmarino and Surfs Up 99 like this. -
For once, the Dolphins are actually doing EXACTLY what I would have done. I will show you what I think the blue print is and where we are.
This all began when Gase was fired, and Ross decided to tear it down.
2019 - Tear it down. Get rid of bad contracts, aging vets, and guys who do not want to be here. This was the most painful part, but we acquired the cap space and draft picks that you saw us use this offseason.
2020 - Get a franchise QB. Build the trenches/culture. If you notice the common denominator with all these guys, they are all family oriented high character guys. For the first time in ages, we took the offensive line very, very seriously. Some say we overdrafted. I think we properly invested.
2021 -
Phase I - I really hope that this part exists in the Grier's plan. But we really need to fix our mistakes. Now some of you are saying, "We already did that." No, I am talking about the mistakes we made in the draft and free agency. Again, you guys are probably wondering what I am talking about. My plan focuses on the imperfections. I PROMISE you guys that some of our free agents/draft picks are not gonna pan out. Ross's biggest problem is that he is overly loyal, and it trickles down to the front office, coaches, and fans. There is no better example than Dion Jordan. Even on this board, people wanted to just give him one more chance, and would point at a clip of him covering Gronk. Honestly, we should have cut bait much earlier. People got caught up on highlights and draft position/capital spent to get him. Now hopefully, the high character helps us avoid some of the off the field concerns of Jordan. Take our offensive line. Arguably, we overinvested. Let's just say our offensive line plays terribly next season, and guys do not even appear to be improving. We need to be fully willing to draft/sign new guys. Hoping they get better is not a plan.
Don Shula warned that players with potential will get coaches fired.
Phase II - Hopefully, the mistakes we made this offseason were minimal. But this should be the most fun part of our rebuild. This is the final phase of the rebuild. We should be targeting weapons preferably on the offensive side of the ball. Luxury picks at RB or big time receivers should be coming in. Perhaps we snag a freak defensive player. But the big takeaway here is that the these skill guys are placed in a positoiPauly likes this. -
The Draft Network has a nice recap of our draft. If interested, please follow the link below to read more about each category.
Best pick: Tua
Biggest Surprise: A well-balanced draft
Day 3 Sleeper: Curtis Weaver
X-Factor: Player development
Summary: In all, the Dolphins did exactly what they set out to do...
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/miami-dolphins-nfl-draft-recap-2020Tin Indian, danmarino, KeyFin and 1 other person like this. -
Tin Indian and Surfs Up 99 like this.
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Linemen executing blocks properly
Receivers running precise routes and making catches
Running backs making effective runs and picking up blocks
You could see Fitzpatrick starting the majority of the season for continuity in the offensive development.
If the offensive unit is developing and getting better and better, but the Dolphins overall record doesn’t reflect a much improved team, you could see Tagovailoa starting around week 10/11 to give him the opportunity to begin his development in an efficient offensive unit.
However, if the stupidity of screaming fans, marketing, etc takes precedence and Tagovailoa is thrown to the wolves behind and ineffective offensive unit, you’re going to see an overall repeat of Tannehill’s time in Miami. He make individual good plays but the win/loss record will result in public cries for Tagovailoa’s head on a pike.
Make no mistake, Miami’s record this season will be sub 500. Don’t judge the Dolphins this year on wins and losses. Judge them on week to week improvement. As long as the team consistently improves, 2021 will be the season to expect wins over losses -
If the picks work out in 2021 yes. Otherwise "Oh no we suck again"
BEST OF LUCK DRAFT PICKS, ESPECIALLY TUA TAGAVAILOA