With OTA's Set to Begin, a Look Back, and Ahead

Tomorrow signals the beginning of the 2014 campaign.... For the media that is (the team has been together for about a month now, but practice is open to the media for the first time this year tomorrow).  Yes, I know rookie camp was last week, but that's nothing more than a bunch of wide-eyed 22 year old's running around aimlessly for a couple hours a day.

So no, that doesn't count.  But tomorrow?  Now that's a different story.

Tomorrow will be the first time the entire 2014 Miami Dolphins take the field as a unit (again, to the public).  All the major players will be there.  All of the coaching staff will be there.  All of the new guys, young and old, will be there.

For the first time since December 30 of last year the Miami Dolphins will take the field.  So, with that in mind, now would be a good time to regroup and reflect on this past offseason.  As well as look ahead to what to watch for in the coming months.  After all, this squad will look a lot different tomorrow than it did five months ago.


KEY LOSSES:

LT Jonathan Martin

OL Richie Incognito

FS Chris Clemons

DT Paul Soliai



FREE AGENT ADDITIONS:

RB Knowshon Moreno

LT Brandon Albert

S Louis Delmas

CB Cortland Finnegan

DT Earl Mitchell

OG Shelly Smith



2014 DRAFT CLASS:

Ja'Wuan James, OT, Tennessee

Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU

Billy Turner, OT/OG, North Dakota State

Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty

Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia

Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana

Matt Hazel, WR, Coastal Carolina

Terrence Fede, DE, Marist



WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Now, while this is a big first step towards the NFL fully returning, lets remember, this still isn't training camp.  There will be no pads.  There will be no hitting.  But, with that being said, there is still plenty to watch for.  Like..

- Ryan Tannehill and Mike Wallace.  We all know the issues these two had last season.  How do they look now, five months later, with a full offseason under their belts?  How does the deep ball look?  How does the chemistry look?

- New OC Bill Lazor's offense.  What are the noticeable differences in the offense?  In Ryan Tannehill?  In the overall pace, look, and feel?  Expect up tempo, fast, and a lot of movement.

- The WR's.  Remember, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson and Armon Binns all ended last season with injuries.  How many of those three are practicing?  How many are with the trainers?  And, let's not forget new WR Jarvis Landry.  Where does he fit in?  How does he look?

- What does the offensive line look like?  There are A LOT of new additions on this line, and it may take some time for Joe Philbin to put together the right recipe.  We know Branden Albert will be at LT, and Mike Pouncey will be at C, but beyond that it's a bit of guess.  Where does first round pick Ja'Wuan James play?  What unit does he come out on?  Where does rookie Billy Turner fit in?

- The OTHER CB.  We know you'll have Brent Grimes manning the left side of the field.  But the right side?  That spot is WIDE open.  One has to assume that Cortland Finnegan will be the favorite out of the gate, but remember, you've got two second year players in Will Davis and Jamar Taylor right behind him.

- What do the LB's look like?  This group was easily the weakest link on Miami's defense last year.  Dannell Ellerbe was hurt for much of the year, and Philip Wheeler was a huge problem.  Does second year LB Jelani Jenkins make a push for somebody's spot?  Does Ellerbe become more of a leader the team desperately needs him to be?

- DT will be a fun position to watch.  Jared Odrick, Earl Mitchell, and Randy Starks are all above average starters in this league, and all will get ample playing time at the position.  But who is the front runner?  Who comes out with the first unit?

- How does Dion Jordan look?  His shoulder issues stunted his growth last season, but rumor has it he's ready to be a serious competitor this season.  Does he give Olivier Vernon a run at his job starting tomorrow?


So many questions, and, surely, so many more that will pop up after tomorrow.  Make sure to keep checking back throughout the day for any updates.

We're almost there!  Just a few more months.

Hang in there.  

BREAKING: With the 19th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft...

The Miami Dolphins select Tennessee tackle Ja’Wuan James.

James will be a starter day one.  He, in theory, solves the Dolphins RT problem.  This pick is a stretch, but to defend Dennis Hickey, there was really not much he could do.

Zach Martin was gone.  C.J. Mosley was gone.  Robinson, Lewan, and Matthews were all long gone.

The only option here was to trade down or reach for a tackle.  My guess is Hickey couldn't trade down or he would have.

The bottom line is, Miami desperately needed a RT.  And now the have one.  James is a plug and play tackle.  That's what the Dolphins needed.  It's not flashy, it's not sexy, but it was, again, a DESPERATE need.

And now it's been filled.

More to come.

OT Zack Martin OFF Dolphins Draft Board

Well, it was looking good.  Really good, actually, for the Miami Dolphins.

Zach Martin was seemingly slipping right into their hands.  The Notre Dame OT was still on the board with just the Cowboys, Ravens, and Jets left to pick before Miami.

And then, in a surprise move to say the least, Dallas PASSED on QB Johnny Manziel and stole Martin right from Miami's grasp.

My guess right now?  ILB C.J. Mosley.

Stay tuned.


[UPDATE: Mosley has just been taken by the Ravens at 17.  Johnny Manziel is still available.  I'll leave it right there.]

Dolphins Draft Board (UPDATED)

We're 10 picks into the 2014 NFL Draft.  The Miami Dolphins have, so far, stood firm at pick 19.

Here are the players Miami had targeted that have been drafted:

OT Greg Robinson (2nd overall to St. Louis)

OT Jake Matthews (6th overall to Atlanta)

TE Eric Ebron (10th overall to Detroit)


The good news: OT Taylor Lewan STILL remains on the board.  Many thought he would be long gone by now, but the pipe dream is still alive, for now, for a possible Lewan-Miami marriage.

Along with Lewan, Zach Martin, who I believe to be Miami's most realistic possibility, is also still available.

The bad news:  WR Sammy Watkins, arguably the best receiver in the draft, has gone to the Buffalo Bills.  That's scary for the Miami Dolphins.

Stay tuned.


[UPDATE:  Taylor Lewan has just been selected by Tennessee 11th overall]

For New GM Dennis Hickey, the Possibilities are Endless

After six months of build up, and two extra weeks of pointless media speculation, the grandest NFL event since February's Super Bowl has arrived:

Draft day (night).

This will be GM Dennis Hickey's first draft, and he holds the 19th overall pick (for now).

So what does he do?

I have absolutely no idea, and neither does anybody else. 

Does he go BPA? Does he reach? Does he move up? Down? Nobody knows, except, well, Hickey (we hope..).

The area of need for the Dolphins is crystal clear: Offensive line. 

Some think they go after Zach Martin, the versatile lineman from Notre Dame.

Others speculate it'll be Virginia's Morgan Moses.

You also have Cyrus Koundjio, with his biggest knock being his health. 

In a dream scenario, either Taylor Lewan or Jake Matthews will fall into Miami's lap at 19. Im not even going to talk about those two, however, because I don't see them dropping much past 5.

Scenarios beyond offensive line include linebackers Ryan Shazier and C.J. Mosley, and wide receivers Marqise Lee and Odell Beckham Jr.  I don't expect Beckham Jr. to be there at 19, and I'd be shocked to see Hickey take Shazier, which would be a reach.  Next to Martin, I'd say Mosley is the likeliest choice if Hickey stays put at 19.

Then, of course, there's always the chance that Hickey trades either up or down.  If he chooses to trade up, something I don't see happening, then expect him to try and move around the top 10 and draft either a WR or lineman.  Another name to watch in this scenario is TE Eric Ebron, who many have Buffalo taking at 10.  I can imagine new offensive coordinater Bill Lazor licking his lips at the possibility of Charles Clay and Eric Ebron on the field at the same time.

Personally, I think the likeliest off all scenarios is for Hickey to trade down.  Why?  I don't expect Martin to be there at 19, and, if that's the case, then moving down may be the best move. This is an extremely deep draft at WR and OL, so gaining an extra second round pick may be crucial if lineman start flying off the board in day two.

So, what should you make of all of this?

Nothing.  I don't know what Hickey's going to do, and I don't even dare try and guess.

All you need to know is Miami needs to address the offensive line, linebacker, and cornerback positions.  Who, when, and how Hickey addresses these needs are beyond me.

Just sit back and enjoy, folks.  The NFL draft has arrived.

Updates to come by the minute.

Stay tuned.

Pouncey Gets a 5th Year; Preseason Times/Dates Announced

The Dolphins have exercised the 5th year option on C Mike Pouncey's rookie year contract, the team announced earlier today.  This means that Pouncey will earn roughly $7 million this season, a salary that's guaranteed in case of injury.

Pouncey was a pro-bowler in 2013, and has routinely been the best lineman on the Dolphin's O-line since his rookie year.  However, some have disputed whether or not the Dolphins would exercise this option after Pouncey's involvement in the Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito scandal that took place last November.

The league still has not announced whether or not Pouncey would receive any punishment, including a fine and possible suspension.


PRESEASON SCHEDULE

The order of the opponents have been set for a few weeks now, but today the official dates and times were announced for the full preseason schedule:

@ Atlanta, August 8th (Fri), 7 pm

@ Tampa Bay, August 16th (Sat), 7:30 pm

Home vs. Dallas, August 23rd (Sat), 7 pm

Home vs. St. Louis, August 28th (Thu), 7 pm


Miami will play Dallas in their third game of the preseason, otherwise known as the most important game before the regular season begins.  This should be a good test for the Dolphins ahead of their season opener, at home, against New England.


As many of you know, the draft begins (finally) next Thursday.  Expect the blog to come out of offseason mode in the coming days in preparation for round one.

Until then..

Dolphins 2014 schedule right here

And the leak continues, this time with the entire 2014 schedule. Enjoy:

The instant takeaway is week 1, where the Fins will host the Patriots. Heck of a way to begin the season, huh?

It doesn't get any easier the next two weeks, as the team will travel to Buffalo (remember week 16?), then come home to host Kansas City.

Following the bye, Miami has back to back games against Green Bay and in Chicago, again, no easy feat.

The "easy" part of the schedule, if there is such a thing, seems to come between weeks 8-11, where they'll go to Jacksonville, host San Diego, go to Detroit, then host the Bills on Thursday night.

The only other prime time game of the year comes December 1st in New York against the Jets.

The Fins end the season the same as last year: hosting the Jets.

Enjoy.