Riding the Train: the 2013 Miami Dolphins

Clears Cleaver · Mar 12, 2013

I hope I am wrong, but....
signing Ellerbee is not a need, its an upgrade over Dansby. It also means they probably are not getting Cook, a NEED since Fasano is now a Chief.

So, basically the offseason so far:
lost Long, Smith, Fasano, Dansby (maybe), Bush
got wallace, Ellerbee

Still have $20M to spend or so, but team is not better today than it was in December yet

Clears Cleaver · Mar 12, 2013

Cook going to Rams...damn.

mcaqua · Mar 12, 2013

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolinPBP RT @AdamSchefter: Dolphins releasing LB Karlos Dansby.

#Dolphins will carry $4.65 million in dead money by cutting Karlos Dansby, but save $3.925 million against the cap

Clears Cleaver · Mar 12, 2013

teh entire "leadership council" from Hard Knocks is now gone: Bush/Long/Dansby

so now have $24M to spend....still need a TE, two CBs, an OLineman and a safety

mcaqua · Mar 12, 2013

Obviously this needs to be taken with a massive grain of salt, but:

Jeff Darlington ‏@JeffDarlington You
know what's wild about Dolphins? I've heard some chatter about
preliminary draft plans from team sources -- and it's equally
intriguing.

Tavon Austin, perhaps?

Clears Cleaver · Mar 12, 2013

Philip Wheeler agreed to terms with the Fish. I think that means they'll release Burnett now. Again, upgrade but doesn't fill needs at TE, S, OL and CB

Edit: I know they resigned Clemons but I don't think he's a good starter.

Clears Cleaver · Mar 12, 2013

Five years, $26m for wheeler. $13m guaranteed. Volin is saying he may take Misi spot and Misi may move to DE in 4-3. Didn't Misi move from de after his rookie year?

Clears Cleaver · Mar 12, 2013

i know nothing about Wheeler. anyone?

I would have rather signed Goldson and gotten one of the old pash rushers than this LB move. The one thing that broke right for Ireland is that the CB market is wide open and they should be able to get a couple players cheap

Super Nomario · Mar 12, 2013

So are the Dolphins fine with Jonathan Martin at LT next season? 'Cause he was kind of extremely shitty last year.

Clears Cleaver · Mar 12, 2013

mcaqua said:
Obviously this needs to be taken with a massive grain of salt, but:

Tavon Austin, perhaps?

the Fins have a 1st, two seconds, tow 3rds and two 4ths (with compensation pick). I doubt they trade up, but wtihout getting a TE in FA, they could go TE early or OT or Tayvon.

I have a feeling they sign one or two more name FAs though.

sodenj5 · Mar 12, 2013

Wow, Dansby and Burnett out; Wheeler and Ellerbe in. Miami dumps aging vets and goes with young up and comers. This is really out of left field, but I can't say I hate it. Ireland has clearly had a plan in place and is in full on assault mode to get it done.

If Miami can't get a TE in the free agency period, it wouldn't shock me to see them target Eifert or Ertz in the draft. A guy I like is Fred Davis, who would likely come cheap coming off injury.

Also, the CB market is suddenly flooded. Wouldn't surprise me to see Miami snatch one or two up.

Clears Cleaver · Mar 13, 2013

The two LB moves actually net net saved cap space this year and next. So doing these deals didn't impact cap. Driven by desire to get younger and perhaps more aggressive on D.

Still feel like this is second inning for team. TE, oline, CB and maybe another WR??

smastroyin · Mar 13, 2013

The NFL is pretty amazing with the cap restrictions driving so much of a players value. It's amazing to me that players of the caliber of Dansby and Burnett have to be outright cut - you can't even get a 6th round draft pick in trade because teams don't want to take their cap hit.

What worries me is that Ireland has tried this kind of reset button before, and the Dolphins have 4 years of losing to show for it. It's always a gamble to try to make big improvements with FA. I guess they think they have the core they need right now and want to get guys together for a couple of years. I honestly probably would have waited another year and draft cycle (which is also another year closer to Brady retirement, which honestly is the biggest hurdle the Dolphins face)

Clears Cleaver · Mar 13, 2013

They have the draft picks this year to imporve as well. Ireland knows this is his last chance. he's going for it. I think we'd all do the same thing. Whether he is right or wrong is TBD. The draft will be more important to the future of the Fish than the FA moves.

Today is CB and WR day, me thinks. Gibson or Welker perhaps? Bess gone? no idea where they go for the CBs, however. Or TE for that matter

Shelterdog · Mar 13, 2013

smastroyin said:
The NFL is pretty amazing with the cap restrictions driving so much of a players value. It's amazing to me that players of the caliber of Dansby and Burnett have to be outright cut - you can't even get a 6th round draft pick in trade because teams don't want to take their cap hit.

What worries me is that Ireland has tried this kind of reset button before, and the Dolphins have 4 years of losing to show for it. It's always a gamble to try to make big improvements with FA. I guess they think they have the core they need right now and want to get guys together for a couple of years. I honestly probably would have waited another year and draft cycle (which is also another year closer to Brady retirement, which honestly is the biggest hurdle the Dolphins face)

It's not so much the cap hit as it is the fact that once a team starts shopping a veteran guy like Dansby you are 98% sure the player is about to get cut.

Clears Cleaver · Mar 13, 2013

i'm on board with Keller instead of Finley. Keller can get down the field. They would still need to draft a blocking TE, though. I wonder if this means the end of Charles Clay?

Dansby and Burnett were good, but not great players. steady but never big playmakers. NFL defense now is about making big plays to stop drives, not make tackles effectively five yards down the field.

sodenj5 · Mar 13, 2013

I'd take Keller as well. Guy constantly killed us even with Sanchez throwing the ball to him. He'd be a great seam threat. They have Mastrud and Yeatman that they can use as their "blocking TE" so to speak.

mcaqua · Mar 13, 2013

The Dolphins are interested in a trio of free agent cornerbacks: Antoine
Cason, Captain Munnerlyn, and Chris Houston. They could be searching
for two starters.

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/42754/310/nfl-hot-stove-day-2?pg=2

Expect to see a lot of quarters coverage this year. They added speed at the LB position to ensure those guys could get out to cover the flats, meanwhile these three names all fit schematically. Also explains why they seemingly had no interest in bringing back Sean Smith, considering his immense struggles in zone defenses.

dwainw · Mar 13, 2013

Clears Cleaver said:
They have the draft picks this year to imporve as well. Ireland knows this is his last chance. he's going for it. I think we'd all do the same thing. Whether he is right or wrong is TBD. The draft will be more important to the future of the Fish than the FA moves.

Today is CB and WR day, me thinks. Gibson or Welker perhaps? Bess gone? no idea where they go for the CBs, however. Or TE for that matter

This offseason suddenly reminds me of the Red Sox hot stove of '03-'04, but with a greater eye toward years beyond next. One of my big concerns going in was that the high risk of a go for broke/win now mentality might sabotage the future, especially if they burned up some of those extra draft picks in trades. But as someone mentioned, give Ireland credit--he's executing a clear plan, part of which is to get younger, without sacrificing picks. I don't have near enough knowledge to pretend to know how things will turn out, but so far, it's been fascinating.

Also, I don't remember ever looking forward to an upcoming Dolphins draft as much as I am now.

mcaqua · Mar 13, 2013

@ProFootballTalk: OL Daniel Thomas signs four-year, $14 million deal with Dolphins, per league source.

I assume he means Donald.

In which case, full circle.

EDIT: Disregard report as per SN's post below.

Super Nomario · Mar 13, 2013

mcaqua said:
I assume he means Donald.

In which case, full circle.

I thought he signed with the Colts yesterday?

mcaqua · Mar 13, 2013

Super Nomario said:
I thought he signed with the Colts yesterday?

Tweet got taken down. And I see you are correct about his signing with the Colts. Florio clearly made a mistake.

My bad.

Clears Cleaver · Mar 13, 2013

WTF?/? its been like 18 hours since the Dolphins did something! c'mon Ireland! :colbert:

Clears Cleaver · Mar 13, 2013

Armando saying McKinnie lives in SoFL and is not going to Dolphins HQ. I think Keller gets done. then two CBs and an OL and WR?

sodenj5 · Mar 14, 2013

The more I think about Miami's skill set, the more I think they'll draft Austin.

Wallace: speed for days. Deep threat/home run hitter that can stretch the field and also be dangerous taking a slant route 50 yards.

Hartline: very good #2. Good route runner. Works the sideline really well. Big and faster than you would think. Good possession receiver.

Bess: Black Welker. Ideal in the slot. Can consistently move the chains. Really good route runner and good hands.

If Miami were to fill their other big needs (CB, OT, TE (Keller)) they could draft Austin and still have 2 2's and 2 3's to address their other needs.

Austin would bring game changing ability underneath. While Hartline and Bess are very nice pieces, neither one of them are on the level of Austin once the ball is in their hands. While his size could be a concern, he could easily be Percy Harvin 2.0.

Morgan's Magic Snowplow · Mar 14, 2013

I would think OT would be a bigger priority. Austin seems like a luxury, especially if you sign Keller.

sodenj5 · Mar 14, 2013

Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
I would think OT would be a bigger priority. Austin seems like a luxury, especially if you sign Keller.

Winston is reportedly coming in for a visit today. If they sign him, they'd obviously be committed to Martin at LT.

I think Martin will do better with a full camp and offseason getting reacquainted with his former position.

mcaqua · Mar 14, 2013

@ProFootballTalk: DE Michael Bennett is visiting the Dolphins today, per league source

And this is precisely why I didn't like the Starks tag. I like Bennett a lot, but now you have a former first rounder (Odrick) with pass rushing talent on the inside who is currently the odd man out. Conversely, if you let Starks test the market Odrick slides inside and suddenly you have even more room under the cap to address the OL and secondary.

Either way, that's a potentially devastating front seven if Bennett is added to the mix.

Clears Cleaver · Mar 14, 2013

Odrick and Bennett on pasing downs is awesome with Wake. I like it

Seems like things are cooling on Keller?

sodenj5 · Mar 14, 2013

https://twitter.com/BenVolinPBP/status/312293285207089152

Ben Volin says all of the new contract's guaranteed money is in the first two seasons.

sodenj5 · Mar 15, 2013

pdaj said:
Did the Dolphins think Bennett's asking price was too high? A 1-year, 5-million dollar contract seems ideal.

He doesn't really play RDE. They're bargain hunting right now, which sounds strange after all the spending they did.

It sounds like they didn't want to commit to a multi year deal for Keller. I find that interesting. Could they be targeting a TE in the draft?

I think two things are holding them up. Jake Long is #1. Ben Volin tweeted that they've submitted a "final offer" to Long. If he walks away, they move on, if he takes it, they employ a different strategy and likely go after a CB or two.

The other thing is the CB market is super depressed. I think they're waiting for a few guys to sign, then they'll try and snap up a vet or two on the cheap. Smith pretty much set the bar, so now guys will start to fall into place.

mcaqua · Mar 15, 2013

pdaj said:
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4721/dustin-keller

Big move if this goes down. Offense was the largest concern heading into FA, and as it stands now, only Wallace has been added. Keller's play-making ability in the middle of the field is exceptional.

Edit:

And now it's official.

Love the one-year commitment.

Ed Hillel · Mar 15, 2013

One year? Seems like player's are recognizing this market sucks, so they're playing for a nice deal now with an eye towards next year. Keller is a quality player, I wonder what the price is.

Ed Hillel · Mar 15, 2013

mcaqua said:
Love the one-year commitment.

Why, though? He's young, and Miami is building towards the future. Wouldn't you prefer a 4-5 year contract at a reasonable price?

mcaqua · Mar 15, 2013

Ed Hillel said:
Why, though? He's young, and Miami is building towards the future. Wouldn't you prefer a 4-5 year contract at a reasonable price?

Injury concerns for one. Also, as rough of a year as he had, I'm not ready to give up on Egnew. He has the ability to be a seam threat.

Keller is a fine stopgap though.

mcaqua · Mar 15, 2013

$4.25M for Keller per Schefter.

mcaqua · Mar 15, 2013

Albert Breer‏@AlbertBreer

Both the Dolphins and Rams are negotiating with Jake Long. Miami had a
price in mind all along. And it seems like market hasn't bared more.

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolinPBP

RT @jthom1: After spending parts of 3 days in St. Louis league sources say Jake Long scheduled to leave town his afternoon. Still no deal

This would give us a ton of flexibility on draft day.

Stitch01 · Mar 15, 2013

mcaqua said:
Injury concerns for one. Also, as rough of a year as he had, I'm not ready to give up on Egnew. He has the ability to be a seam threat.

Keller is a fine stopgap though.

I thought there were rumblings Egnew was a likely camp cut?

Riding the Train: the 2013 Miami Dolphins

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