What We’ve learned So Far About The Offense
The offense is usually the slowest to come around in training camp.
The Miami Offense has it’s the strongest unit in WR’s – they should be able to pass, right?!
Okay, the Miami Dolphins offense has completed 7 days of training camp, and the picture is slowly getting clearer as to what this “O” will be like. Luckily, there is still five more weeks or so to get things sharper.
This team is incomplete…that’s a fact, but what team isn’t?
Look at the Patriots, Seattle, Steelers, and Cardinals, they all have holes, but they coach and scheme around them and drive opposing teams into dealing with their strengths and not their weaknesses.
So what has training camp revealed so far about the 2016 Dolphins’ strengths, and can the power of their strength past their weaknesses to have a good offensive season?
First: Ryan Tannehill has been a training camp star the last 2 years. Unfortunately, that has not translated into him being a star in the regular season. But, with a new staff, scheme and the addition of a full compliment of audibles (can’t believe it took this long) for this training camp, he has not looked that sharp. This can easily be attributed to the former rationals. So, it’s understandable the passing game is still a bit raw and out of sync. At this point, it shouldn’t be much of a concern, because reps should work out their timing and make for a crisper passing game.
As an addendum, a lot of the passing game will hinge on DeVante Parker‘s healthy – he makes the receiver core far more dynamic. So, the passing game, which is expected to be a strength, should be considered a “push” at this point.
On a final, positive note on the passing game, Jarvis Landry has been truly outstanding and he looks to have an even better season this year. Just gotta’ love that guy!!!
In terms of the tight ends, they have been eerily quiet this entire camp so far. Considering that Adam Gase likes to run a lot of two tight-end sets and get them active in the passing game, this is a bit concerning. Jordan Cameron struggled last season to develop a chemistry with Tannehill, and it looks like things have not changed since. Dion Sims excels at blocking, but he is inconsistent, and Duarte has only surfaced a few times. The TE’s so far have appeared to be the weakest group and also have the double whammy of bad history to compound the dour prognostication. So, the outlook doesn’t appear bright.
The run game completely hinges on health, so with both Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake having each suffered minor injuries, there is more onus on Arian Foster – who has had his own health issues. The bigger concern is the fact that this is not the first time these players have suffered injuries, which makes the best pay per head website seriously question their durability. Bottom line: if Foster can carry for 220-250 this season, this run game will be a strength. So, at this point with a big asterisk next to it, *Miami appears to have the ability to support the passing game with an above-average – good rushing attack.
The 2016 offense will be made or broken by O-Line play.
This leaves the O-line…
…THE MOST important factor!
The offensive line has been getting dominated by our defensive line on a daily basis. I’m not sure if this is a testament to how great our defensive line is, or offensive line struggles, but I would imagine its a little bit of both. Brandon Albert has been a stud – maybe he’s a glass stud, but he’s a stud, nonetheless. Tunsil is a fine back-up LT at this point, and he is gaining traction at Left Guard. Dallas Thomas has had a good camp – so far, and looks to be a decent back-up LG. The Center position with Pouncy is solid – although, a back-up still hasn’t claimed the spot. Right Guard has had Turner really step it up and Bushrod finding his way. Right Tackle has Ju’Waun James who is good, but his camp has only been above-average, so far. RT back-up is still unanswered. They tried Turner, but so far that isn’t going well. RT depth is a question mark. A surprise for me is how quiet the presence of Kraig Urbik has been – literally, I don’t think I have heard his name mentioned once!
The O-Line doesn’t seem to be a top 5 or top 10 line at this point. But, chemistry is so crucial and without a consistent starting group, it’s impossible to say what their heights could be. But, reality is, this is a much better unit than last year. Yes, that’s not saying much. But, I see this squad without-a-doubt cracking into the teens. You might say that’s it?! If they had that good of line last year, even with the dysfunction, they would have crept close to 9 wins.
So, offensively, beyond the obvious of Tannehill going down, the output depends on the health of Parker, Albert and Foster. All the areas outside of TE appear to be at least solid with solid depth and the opportunity to be even better than that. The problem is, if any other these three player go down, the dynamics of the offense change drastically. But, if these three remain healthy, this will be a good offense given it’s ability to attack all areas of the field and being powered by a competent play caller. Go Fins!!!
…putting jones on gronk frees a wr …that’s a problem, not a solution …finding a lb that can cover him well is the answer …and jordan has proven he can do that
…ergo, jordan is the answer …IF he can play SLB well in all other ways as well …which he should be able to …but the coaches are fascinated with his speed and want to use him as a de …but he needs more weight to play de well overall …and that led to repeated peds violations and suspensions …its a closed loop …move him to slb and he will be a pro-bowler for years to come …imnsho
…hoping the new staff can figure that out
We’ll, I’ll disagree with you here, sir. SS in man covers mostly backs and TE’s. If offense runs a nickle, then so does the D, and the slot is picked up by the 3rd CB. Very rarely does a FS or more rarely does a SS cover a WR. Now, we are running a zone-press, so no one will cover anyone (unless their are man assignments and it’s a hybrid zone), but the SLB would line over the TE in most cases on the strongside, jam, drop and read. I can’t remember what it was, zone or man, that Jones or Jordan were in when they covered Gronk…but, if they come out two TE’s, it will likely be one LB and SS that does the covering in man and the zone will be the zone with jam assignments.
…well if gronk was just a te, i’d agree
…but if they put jones on gronk, the pats will send a wr deep to jones side on virtually every play …gronk breaks the normal coverage rules because hes a talented fast wr in a big te body
…jordan covered him in man and took him out of the pats game for the most part …if they play pure zone, brady will audible to the mismatch with gronk wherever it is …and find it more often than not
Lemmus to bad our offense cannot create the same problem/threat?
…gronk’s best cover is jordan, he did a damn good job on him every time he was covering …major reason i’m praying he sticks and earns a starting lb slot …they keep talking him up as a de but that was phibust’s mistake as well …and a major reason he got suspended in the first place, trying to bulk up beyond his natural form to play de …lb is where he should be but either way, he covers gronk when we play pats
You’re the one who got me thinking about him for the future and seeing him as a serious SLB candidate. I thing Jones can cover him as he did a good job a couple of times in the last game last year, if I’m not mistaken. Thing is now they have two good TE’s and that puts even more pressure. With Gronk is getting him off timing at the line and Jones can’t do that. Jordan seems like he might be able to get him at the line as the SLB and then cover him into the next zone. Don’t think man will be used much, at least not total man…maybe some hybrid stuff. That’s why a cover SLB is so important, that jam and drop means alot. Not sure about this new SLB we brought in, but Misi sure can’t do it. After last nights scrimmage it appears Maxwell might be right – this is a defensive team. BTW – a few If’s on defense seem to be becoming !!!! Hope a few on the O-Line can go that route as well.
Hello FinFans
* Realistic View about this season: It will come down to who do we have healthy and that healthy player Best step up when
their number is call.
Back up Players that will have to carry the Dolphins when their number is called!
Tony Lippett It appears that the Dolphins are rushing their second round pick Howard back to early.
Damien Williams: Foster, Ajaji and Drake have huge durability concerns (So don’t be surprise if its D. Williams)
Billy Turner: Will need to Play the way he did in South Dakota college
Matt Moore: Need to tossed the clip board and be ready to carry the Dolphins. (Without a solid blocking tightened
R/B or fullback its a matter of time before Tannehill gets lights out?
Kenny Stills: Devante Parker yet to see Parker go a complete season hope that I’m wrong.
We are only as good as our back ups? Who do we have to cover Kronk for the PAT’s who will have that task?
Hey, Steve. Don’t don’t if you say the post scrimmage with Gase, but he had some of the same thoughts on Williams as you and I have. He received some good praise and in a terrible night for O he had the best and maybe only compliments of all three squads…
Jimmy or Admin
Just to sum up our Dolphins offense by dissecting what we have learned above.
Cons:
But so far that isn’t going well
This team is incomplete
and it looks like things have not changed since
Unfortunately, that has not translated into him have a star in the regular season.
have not heard his name mentioned once!
Yes, that’s not saying much
is still a bit raw and out of sync
and looks to be a decent back-up
Pros:
has been a stud – maybe he’s a glass stud, but he’s a stud, nonetheless
Center position is solid
has been truly outstanding and he looks to have an even better season this year
1. Gase wants an every down running back: Foster is the man unfortunately that every down back will not come off of sick
call.
2. Our offensive line is very good this we can bank on, Once the guards are in place.
…Thomas has always looked good in camp, then stinks badly in actual games …look at last year’s tape …functional turnstile …if Tannehill wasn’t an iron-man, Thomas would have gotten him killed last year
yea, Lemmus – love the nickname you’ve dubbed him. Thing with Thomas he was always late on switches and wasn’t patient and a step behind with stunts and delayed blitzes. At the very least, at 600k or so, if he can be a back-up for this season and improve a bit, it’s not a bad thing that last years starter is now your back -up. Tunsil seems to thrive with contact and looks, at least for this year, to be a solid guard and big improvement of Thomas. Hey, you hear anything on Urbik? I think they have him as back up center and 3rd string G…and Jamil for that matter. They both have been invisible so far.