Phins Finally Beefed Up the Trenches!
Phins use six quality picks on the trenches
In the 2020 Draft, Miami Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier turned fourteen draft picks into eleven rookies and veteran RB Matt Breida through a trade with the 49ers. That’s an army of new players that will be coming to Training Camp. The good news is that six of these picks were used to build the trenches. While not the most glamorous draft, Miami has finally done what Phins News fans have been asking for many years: Solidify the trenches.
Will the three linemen Miami brought in turn into starters?
Chris Grier selected a trio of O-linemen (2 tackles and 1 guard) in the first 4 rounds. According to the best bookie software providers, all three will have a chance to compete for a starting job next year.
The top four OTs off the board and Miami had to choose from among the 2nd tier tackles. But Miami was desperate for a tackle and selected offensive tackle Austin Jackson 18th Overall. Despite having a few options, Jackson was the one Grier wanted. Many draft gurus think Jackson was a reach because he’s very young and his game is incomplete. Out of the other side of their mouth though, they say he also has a ton of promise and potential. The hope is with good coaching and extra time in the weight room, he can become a quality starting Left Tackle.
Then in the 2nd and 4th Round the Dolphins went big and drafted two huge men in Robert Hunt (6’5”, 323 pounds) and Solomon Kindley (6’3”, 337 pounds). I love both of these picks! Both interior linemen are known as maulers with a nasty side. This is what you want from your interior lineman. Both men should give the Dolphins a lot of size up front to help us be more successful in the running game.
Could Curtis Weaver be a steal for the Phins?!
On the D-Line, the Phins selected Raekwon Davis, Jason Strowbridge, and Curtis Weaver. Davis and Stowbridge along with Wilkins and Godchaux should provide a quality run defense for the Phins in 2020. Miami was terrible last year in stopping the rush. This should be just what the doctor ordered.
Weaver could be a steal in the 5th Round if he provides half as much production as he did at Boise State. Weaver had 34 sacks in his 3-year college career and a total of 47.5 tackles for a loss! While not great in run defense, he could be a pass-rush specialist. If Flores can focus on his strengths in obvious passing downs, he could Miami’s anemic pass rush. And maybe if he can improve his run defense Weaver can become something special.
The trenches must be a clear strength now!
Miami used more than half of their picks on offensive and defensive linemen. Since football is won in the trenches, if even half of these 6 picks are productive players for Miami next year, the Phins should finally win at the line of scrimmage. They had better with this much ammo spent to get the job done!
That’s the thing, this draft has Chris Grier and Brian Flores’s mark all over it. All these players were higher on their board compared to others because high character, hardworking, team-first type of players have extra value to this regime. This is the theme that Flores and Grier have focused on in this draft. Whatever happens, they will deserve all the blame and all the credit. And I’m sure that’s just the way they wanted it.
I’m excited to see them all out on the field competing against each other and growing together!
What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans’ thoughts about the Beef that Miami added during this 2020 draft?
I was happy with the draft. Grier did a very good job. I will predict now that our 6-foot QB must play like Russell Wilson to be really good. I don’t believe his injuries and his injury prone status. will allow him to do this very long. He will be injured again and again.
The offensive line picks were solid. If Jackson can get stronger he probably will play left tackle effectively in a couple of years. We traded an All-pro left tackle for a maybe. Robert Hunt is coming of a groin injury. Another solid pick if you give him time to heal and develop. Solomon Kindley looks to be a road grader in time. Don’t count on freshman linemen to be your starters. The free agents will still be ahead of them in skill for a while. Better play Fitzmagic until the O-line gels.
On defense – Raekwon Davis is the real thing. Hell, he has even been shot! One tough guy! Pairing him with Wilkins will be a very good thing! Getting Strowbridge in the 5th round gave him value.
I think the defense line will look much better more quickly than the O-line. Grier is to be complimented.
I got a great idea… Before trashing the team. Let’s see what they do first…
I think the draft went well too! Did it go perfectly? No. Has it ever for any team? No. Tua does concern me… but, maybe the Phins can mitigate it to help out the situation. He tendency to overextend plays, better work out regime, and a quick rhythm passing attack as well. This might help him out. I love the kid as a person. I really like his potential as a QB, but something is wrong with all those injuries. It could be less structural and more about his playstyle… we’ll see. If they can get two Ol and two DL’s and the CB to be quality starters that would be a big win… with or without Tua. It was too big a chance to not swing on… as I’ve said I’m more conservative in my approach… We’ll see. Nothing is written in stone not even the injury situation.
Yes it’s been many years since Miami had a good offences line”!! If they could have protected marino,”! We could have won a Superbowl or two no DOUBT”!! It doesn’t matter how good a corderback is if you can’t protect him “! He can’t work”!!!
They protected Marino from pass rush… at least until jimmy arrived, but couldn’t run block worth a damn, William. Even an excellent defense would have made a world of difference. But, a run game would have freed Marino up so much… such a shame. Yeah, as a kid I remembered being devastated by those two Sb losses in three years… the one thing though, after the Marino one was I thought was we’d be back… such a shame!
My biggest concern is if all of our new faces (FA and Draft) arrive at camp in Football Shape. It may be a benefit that all our new big guys played in the deep south, so they know the humidity. With the modified off season the trench guys may flatten the “learning” curve with installing the playbook.
It’s a valid point, Jim. I think though if they are real self-starters they’ll get themselves very near where they need to be. I’m sure Flores will keep an eye on who is doing it right and who isn’t. Really, if they get everything up and running by June (which I believe and hope for) I think they’ll be fine. Week 1 is the key. You might see more dragging longer into camp and Preseason, but I think the US will be back and running sooner than later. I hope at least.
Great job with draft and free agency. Love the direction we are headed. Phins Up!
I think if we had a coach who couldn’t teach and improve players and scheme them right, it wouldn’t be. But I think Flores is smarter than the average bear, Jeff!