The Miami Dolphins will be, for the umpteenth time, watching the Patriots in the AFC Championship once again this weekend.
It's unacceptable. It's pathetic. It's growing very, very old.
However, it's fixable.
In-fact, IF this team was ever to be fixed, this offseason will be the one to do it in. This could potentially be the offseason that Fins fans will look back at ten years down the road and say "that's when this franchise turned it around."
"That's when we became relevant again."
"That's when the Miami Dolphins were put back on the football map."
IF GM Jeff Ireland was ever going to win fans over in South Florida, the next four months will be the time to do it.
Think that's pressure? Not only will it be his chance to win over a fanbase that has about as much love for him as they do for Fidel Castro, but it will be his LAST chance.
Because if he doesn't deliver this year, he won't see a next year.
And nor should he!
He's got nearly $46 million to spend, give or take a couple millon, and he's got nearly as many draft picks in the first three rounds, five, that his team had wins this year, seven.
Not to mention that, for the first time since the 2010 offseason, Ireland will NOT be focusing on the QB position.
He'll be focusing on how to SURROUND the QB!
Now the fun part: How does he pull it off?
In this segment, I'll look at who's potentially leaving, and who Ireland should resign.
Big names, important names, on this Dolphins roster are up for free agency this March. Names including Brian Hartline, Anthony Fasano, Jake Long, Reggie Bush, Sean Smith, Chris Clemons, and Randy Starks.
In other words, your number one receiver, former number one overall pick, number one playmaker, starting cornerback, starting defensive tackle, and starting safety.
Yikes.
If I'm Ireland, I'd realistically target three of those seven.
Hartline is a MUST. The Fins are already thin at receiver, and losing Hartline would be devastating to an already inept offense. Not to mention that the Evil Empire in New England would most likely scoop up Hartline quicker than they march down the field, thus creating a Welker 2.0 situation in Miami.
After Hartline, I'd target Reggie. HOWEVER, I'd target him at my price, and my price only. Ireland's got some leverage here with Lamar Miller in his back pocket, so if the star running back wants an absurd contract then you let him walk, because Miller will be a cheaper, younger, bigger yet quicker, option. Does he have the playmaking ability Bush does? NO way, not yet at least. But, as he showed us this season, he's more than capable of taking over in the backfield.
The Fins can go a couple different ways for their third resigning, and possibly create room for a fourth.
Lets start with Jake Long. If I'm Ireland, I let the big guy go. He simply just doesn't play enough to get the money needed to keep him around. He missed the final quarter of this season with a triceps injury.
This marks the second consecutive season Long has ended the season on injured reserve.
He missed the finale last season with an injury to his right arm. He also has had knee and back issues in 2010 and 2011, and missed one game because of a back injury.
Some speculate the Fins will use their franchise tag on Long. That, folks, would be a disaster. According to the Miami Herald, if the Dolphins use the franchise tag on Long, their salary-cap space would diminish from $40 million, once again, give or take a couple, to about $25 million.
Not gonna happen, especially with Jonathan Martin showing he could handle duties at Long's LT position. Martin is cheaper, younger, and, to be honest, not that big of a drop off from Long. Unless the pro bowler gives Miami a gigantic hometown discount, I think his career in aqua and orange is over.
Personally, I think Ireland should go after Randy Starks. Not only did he have yet another solid season, but he plays a HUGE role in that elite run defense, and I believe losing him will seriously weaken it.
If Ireland lets Starks walk, he will go after Sean Smith. Smith had an up and down season, and has a clear strength and weakness. He is a very solid CB in man-to-man coverage, and a very, very weak CB when the Fins play him in zone coverage. However, I think he's worth keeping around, because Ireland already has one CB spot to fill this offseason- that'll be hard enough- and filling two will only create more problems for the Fins GM.
As for Chris Clemons and Anthony Fasano, I believe Ireland only brings them back at his own price. Clemons disappointed me this season. He played conservative football and failed to take that leap forward that his counterpart, Reshad Jones, took. As a safety you need to be a ball hawk, and I just don't think Clemons has that in him.
Fasano, much like Clemons, is a disappointment to me. He'll catch passes (most of the time), and once in a while make a spectacular grab (Week 14 in San Francisco), but he's just not a playmaker. He's not somebody you have to game plan for, he's not going to make guys miss and make big plays on his own. Tight End is a serious need on this team, and I don't see Fasano making the cut.
So, in a perfect world, I'd resign Hartline, Bush, and Starks/Smith. Is there a possibiity Ireland brings all four of those guys back? Sure. But it's unlikely, and may take some hometown discounts to do it, something I doubt he'll get.
IF Ireland can bring at least three of these guys back, and do it at a reasonable price (with the only exception possibly being Hartline), then it will be a good start to this "make it or break it" offseason for the maligned GM.
On my next post, I'll examine the second step to the Miami Dolphins offseason plan:
Free Agency.
That's when things get interesting.
Don't miss it.
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