Phins Sign Webb, Van Ginkel To I.R., & Scheme Advantage

Days before Week 1, Phins are still tinkering with the roster

The Miami Dolphins still aren’t finished tinkering with their roster. Today, the Phins signed veteran Offensive Tackle J’Marcus Webb to offset the loss of Laremy Tunsil. Also, Miami put rookie LB/ DE Andrew Van Ginkel on Injured Reserve. He will be eligible to return midseason, so we may still get a chance to see him in action in 2019.

While many fans would be far happier if it were Richmond Webb (even at 52 years old) instead of J’Marcus Webb that was signed, this is still a solid acquisition.

Webb brings some measure of help

The good news is Webb was once an ascending player. The bad news is this ascension ended some time ago when his career was derailed by injuries in 2013. Webb has only played one full season since. For those grasping at straws or looking for a ray of sunshine, Webb’s healthy campaign in 2016 was an effective one with a PFF rating of 63.3. In comparison, Tunsil posted a PFF rating of 70.4 in 2018. Both Tunsil and Webb share a similar strength in pass blocking and weakness in run blocking. Tunsil though is better than Webb at both.

Despite the semi-good feel of these ‘similar’ numbers, Webb is just a firebreak between Isaiah Prince starting and mentor for all the young Tackles. It would be a terrible bet with the pay per head software sites like AcePerHead.com, to view Webb as a replacement for Tunsil or anything more than a spot-duty backup. Still, given the Phins situation at Tackle, this is a valuable commodity.

Phins commitment to flexibility extends all the way to scheme

Given Webb (6’7” 331lbs), Davis (6’6” 321lbs), Prince (6’7′ 305lbs), and Davenports’ (6’7′ 325lbs) comparable heights we have the prototype Flores is looking for at Tackle.

Very tall and kinda’ big is the name of the game for the Dolphins Tackles.

This rangy size at Tackle means that they aren’t a liability in any scheme. While they are all shield blockers rather than maulers, they are fast enough to get outside and big enough to wall off.

Also, their long reach can generate a second or two more for the quarterback to make their read by riding pass rusher out a few feet extra. In a quick rhythm passing style, this is a big difference… if the interior line does their job and allows the QB space to step up.

In preseason Flores has run Zone Stretch and Inside Zone running schemes (I might have noticed man-blocking as well). The Patriots run a similar diverse blocking scheme. So I expect nothing different in Miami. Most teams choose one scheme and use it as their primary blocking style. This scheme flexibility helps the offense maintain the initiative as opposing defenses have more to prepare for.

Also, as a play-by-play strength, Linebackers and D-linemen are never exactly sure what to expect. This can make the defenders tentative. Every drop of advantage helps, and this Dolphins O-line will need it.

But, this added flexibility increases the challenge to the O-linemen to execute consistently with the diversity of techniques. Can these Phins O-linemen pull it off?.

Flores says ‘it’s how they play together not as individuals’… we’ll see against a tough Ravens front

I believe coaching, scheme, and chemistry matters in determining the quality of play by the Offensive Line. But, talented O-linemen makes getting quality blocking far easier. And a lesser line going against a better Defensive Line is an extreme accelerant to failure. The Ravens have quality coaching and greater talent on their interior D-line.

Most are expecting an utter disaster in the trenches this week and beyond. If Brain Flores wants to shut the world up, successful play by this Offensive Line is the exact place to do it. If not, the attacks on his character, this team, and the regime will only grow. But at that point, they will have earned it. I’m buying extra popcorn for Week 1… and some extra booze, just in case. Go Phins!!!

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