A few surprise Phins veteran demotions will be a good sign for the future
Over the course of the past few regimes, the rare event of a Phins veteran getting demoted in Preseason combined with the Dolphins thin roster meant deadwood was on deck.
Sadly, that dead wood wasn’t much worse than the veteran. Poor drafting, schemes, philosophies, coaching, evaluation, and vision has been a limiter on the Dolphins success.
I can still remember my shock and smile when Jimmy demoted Jack Del Rio for teeny-tiny Zach Thomas. Still, have the issue of Dolphins Digest that reported it.
Since then, even if the vet played poorly in Training Camp, they were kept in the starting role going into the season. Unless he was hurt or his play utterly collapsed during the season, the conservative and ‘safe’ play was Miami’s formula. Occasionally a coach has rolled the dice, but for the most part, competition in Training Camp has been a cute slogan and not much more.
With the rookies reporting tomorrow, this may change and maybe, just maybe, competition will make a return…
… This is the only hope that the best bookie software gets 2019 wrong.
Now, I’m not talking about forcing rookies or under the radar Free Agents into roles they can’t fill. But, given the philosophy of this regime’s process and the roster assembled, some ‘unknowns’ must win over the ‘knowns’ for this team to have a healthy start. Yes, there will be some lumps from knocking off their ‘greenness’. The hard truth is it’s better than the lumps received from beating a dead horse.
Long-term success must be cemented in the understanding that a player’s pedigree, salary, reputation, and past successes doesn’t dictate their role is essential for this regime to thrive.
2nd Tier Phins vets who have a bullseye on their backs
- Dwayne Allen: high price tag, history of injuries, and a one-dimensional player. Smythe, O’Leary, and Gesicki need to forces him to the backend of the depth chart or cut list.
- Charles Harris: He has been injured and underperformed in a role not best suited for his talents. Time to put up or shut up.
- Daniel Kilgore: Up and down career, high price tag, and small. If Ryan Anderon can win the spot, Miami will be in a much better place.
- Raekwon McMillan: Flashed at the end of the season, but looked lost most of the time and is limited in pass coverage. Unless he dramatically improves, someone needs to take his 3rd Down role.
- Jordan Mills: Average at best and has already fallen behind Jesse Davis. If he’s the starter something went wrong.
- Jesse Davis: Solid and versatile, he’s a keeper as a depth player. Right Tackle is his best opportunity to prove he can start because others may be a better fit at Right Guard. This nice guy needs to get nasty and take the spot because Prince, Monteiro, and Smith are coming for his job.
- DeVante Parker: ‘Nuff said.
- Chris Reed: He showed solid play at Center with the Jags and could be a solid RG. Calhoun and Deiter sound like a much better combination.
- Kalen Ballage: Yes, talented and briefly flashed in 2018. But, his weakness in pas protection needs a real upgrade. Drake is better and some rooks could take snaps from him if they provide the QB with a safer environment. If he reads and blocks blitzers better its a wrap… if not it could get dicey.
1st Tier Phins vets who should be looking over their shoulders
- Kiko Alonso: He is active and plays a thousand miles an hour, but he’s expensive and isn’t the most cerebral player. This defense will live or die on their smarts.
- Reshad Jones: All the talent in the world… but discipline and character are a major concern. Could be traded or could rebel with a diminished role. He is no longer in Miami’s future.
- T.J. McDonald: Dropped weight and needs to prove a playmaker. With Bobby McCain, Minkah, Smith, and Hartage (who the coaches have shown a shine to) in the mix, McDonald and Jones with be fighting in a crowded room.
Young guns that could take vets reps
- Ryan Anderson
- Shaq Calhoun
- Chandler Cox
- Michael Deiter
- Myles Gaskin
- Montre Hartage
- Aaron Monteiro
- Isaiah Prince
- Durval Queiroz Neto
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Preston Williams
- Christian Wilkins
Young Phins vets that might surprise
Brian Flores and Chris Grier are building a squad that’s based on depth, Cap responsibility, smarts, discipline, and character. Competition is the key to all of this. Every player must fear for their job and prepare every day according. Having players capable of unseating a starter is essential. But rewarding those players who do by actually giving them the role must be an unbreakable contract.
Adam Gase showed some guts in 2016 by benching and cutting players who deserved it. Unfortunately, he followed this up in 2017 by folding like a cheap lawn chair on Cutler, Thomas, Timmons, Maualuga, and Bushrod… and the team folded with him.
Tomorrow begins the smell test to see if Flores and his regime are made of sterner stuff than flaky Gase. Go Phins!!!