As the Dolphins’ offseason shifts into gear it’s a very good time to keep in mind that though Miami made the playoffs, it was a 9-8 staff and desires plenty of work to get the place it desires to go throughout the two- or three-year window it has opened.
Allow me to recap the open window factor: When the Dolphins acquired huge receiver Tyreek Hill and left deal with Terron Armstead final offseason they confirmed they need to win, however after they gave up a first-round decide to get edge rusher Bradley Chubb on the Nov. 1 commerce deadline, they confirmed they need to win now. After all, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who battled concussion points final season, is within the fourth and ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal if the Dolphins don’t decide up the fifth-year possibility on his contract so his present wage makes it simpler to construct round him.
However, with no first-round decide on this 12 months’s NFL draft or subsequent 12 months’s the Dolphins are at a little bit of an obstacle when it some to including extra key items.
For now, listed here are three fast offseason ideas:
Bevell, Tua, and educating Tua the way to fall
The Dolphins need to spend a part of the offseason working with Tagovailoa on the way to fall correctly to keep away from hitting the again of his head on the bottom, which, in his case, has induced his concussions. That job probably received’t fall solely on quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, who’s a scorching commodity across the league. By the best way, Dolphins followers must be pleased Bevell reportedly turned down offensive coordinator interviews with the New York Jets and Washington Commanders to stay right here and work with Tagovailoa.
It’s not recognized whether or not the Dolphins will get a martial arts knowledgeable, former quarterback, or another person to instruct Tagovailoa on the way to fall correctly, however coach Mike McDaniel stated it’s on the offseason to-do listing.
“Our plan is to kind of approach it like you do a young quarterback who’s not used to sliding,” McDaniel stated. “We have ideas and thoughts of how to help him because that is a consistency that we’ve noticed as well, is that they’re ground-induced. So like everything else, we’ll do everything in our power to help coach them and that’s a new way to attempt to coach.”
As for Bevell, the Tagovailoa-Bevell mixture did good issues collectively final season and Bevell, who has labored with future Hall of Fame quarterbacks akin to Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, could be extra vital to Tagovailoa’s improvement than McDaniel.
Many years in the past I used to be speaking to gamers within the Dolphins locker room for a narrative I wished to write down on the hyperlink between head coaches and beginning quarterbacks. It would have been Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill at the moment.
Wide receiver Brian Hartline objected to the premise, saying the story can be extra correct if it linked the quarterback coach to the quarterback, as a result of these two spend extra time collectively than the top coach and the quarterback. Hartline was appropriate.
Tagovailoa, in fact, had his finest season whereas working with Bevell, totaling 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a league-leading 105.5 passer ranking. But he was twentieth in completion % (64.1%) and had a 2-4 file in opposition to groups that made the playoffs. Tagovailoa nonetheless must learn to use his toes, and the way to make one thing out of nothing on damaged performs.
However, his arrow is pointed upward aside from these concussions points, which will get again to educating Tagovailoa the way to fall correctly. If this technique doesn’t work, the Dolphins must seek for a brand new quarterback.
Backup QB dilemma
Speaking of quarterback, the Dolphins should resolve what they need to do for Tagovailoa’s backup.
If a backup quarterback led the Dolphins to, say, a 3-0 mark, would that trigger a QB controversy, and would that injury Tagovailoa’s psyche? Both are issues the Dolphins should think about.
Veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater would in all probability be pleased to return, however along with his damage historical past and points final season along with his knee and finger, it’s robust to say whether or not the Dolphins may rely on him if wanted. Bridgewater has a number of issues working in his favor, nonetheless, and the primary factor is he’s not a distraction.
Rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson may additionally function backup, if the Dolphins assume he’s prepared for a promotion from third-team QB.
The Dolphins won’t desire a backup quarterback who has designs on being a starter. McDaniel has clearly made it his mission to construct Tagovailoa’s mindset after the beating he took underneath the earlier teaching employees, and that mission continued all season. A problem from a backup may jeopardize that work.
Defensive change coming?
You assume the Dolphins are planning on altering their defensive philosophy, going away from former defensive coordinator Josh Boyer’s model of continuously blitzing.
But right here’s a query: Can this Dolphins protection begin with an attacking model up entrance that’s led by defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler, and aided by a move rush led by Chubb and Jaelan Phillips? And can the secondary, led by cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou, slot cornerback Nik Needham, and safeties Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones, play each man and zone, in attacking and normal types?
Previously, the protection’s power was its cornerbacks, Howard and Byron Jones. But that modified final season as Jones missed all the season with a decrease leg damage. The Dolphins will probably look to discover a new defensive power, one they’ll use to manage video games.
My finest guess, with out understanding how Needham (Achilles) and Brandon Jones (knee) will recuperate from their accidents, is the Dolphins shift methods and attempt to management video games utilizing the defensive position.
If the Dolphins can stay someplace round their No. 4 league rating in run protection, and add to their 40 sacks, which had been tied for 14th within the league, they could possibly be onto one thing. Of course, they need to enhance on permitting 234.8 passing yards per recreation, which was twenty seventh within the league, however an improved move rush ought to assist.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
