The show must go on without Terron as Bosa & Mack will face Lamm & Jackson
The news came Friday that the Miami Dolphins will have to kick off the 2023 against the Los Angeles Chargers without their best offensive lineman Terron Armstead. Considering the Bolts have stud pass rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, this isn’t great news at all. But, the Phins must overcome the loss of one of their best players and leaders and find a way to win…
… In the same way that the Chargers beat us last season without their top offensive lineman Rashawn Slater.
NFL is about adapting to adversity and overcoming
It is time for the Dolphins to rise to the occasion and deliver the win shorthanded.
The talk about town has been the run game and the improvement of Kendall Lamm, Austin Jackson, and Isaiah Wynn. So, if this is true and everything has been built right, this offensive line shouldn’t crumble with the loss of one player.
Now, I’m not saying this is the case, but it could be.
Yes, I’ve said over and over how critical Armstead is, but Lamm was our primary backup throughout camp, he’s got to be able to handle the job for one game! No?
Miami didn’t have Armstead for one meaningful snap over Training Camp. The offensive line trotting out on Sunday is the unit that’s worked together throughout camp. They should be expected to make good for one game. Combined with Vic Fangio and his ultra-talented defense along with McDaniel leading Tua, Waddle, and Hill in their second year together in this offense, there has to be enough here to beat the Bolts!
The Dolphins MUST prove they aren’t hype
Dolphins GM Chris Grier has made tons of moves to get this team to where they are at and should be able to overcome the short-term loss of Armstead. Considering Armstead is coming off surgery and has a history of injuries, the Dolphins had to have planned for him missing time and really believed in Lamm.
Lamm has to have been a well-thought-out backup plan!
The Dolphins signed veteran Guard Dan Feeney to a decent contract in Free Agency, but then oddly traded him to the Bears for a 2024 6th-round pick, which was smart business on Miami’s part by most of the best football software providers considering they planned to move off him. But, now Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton are the backup centers… even though they’ve never taken meaningful snaps at center. Considering Connor Williams is nicked with a knee issue this must have been a well-thought-out plan–however curious.
The Phins clearly have their plans, unfortunately, not all plans go according to plan.
Miami finally gave up on the Noah Igbinoghene experiment and traded him to the Cowboys for their failed high draft pick cornerback Kelvin Joseph. Despite the talk in training camp this year that Igbinoghene was finally turning the corner, he was shipped to the Cowboys. Kelvin Joseph a former 2nd-round pick from the 2021 draft, who has yet to pan out, replaces him. But, the hope is this was more than just a million dollars in cap savings. It would be huge if Fangio could turn a player who is a special teamer into a guy who can at least compete in spot duty until Ramsey can return and Cam Smith can get up to speed.
Sometimes plans don’t work out. That’s life and the reality of the NFL. But the best teams with the right leadership find a way to turn a negative into a positive, so this Week 1 contest vs. the Chargers is a great test to see how the Phins respond… and have planned. If we can beat the Bolt without Terron, imagine what we can do without him! Go Phins!!!