Our Miami Dolphins have finally admitted to the accusations from fans and the media alike that they have been too soft. Chris Grier then followed up the admission by spending their first two draft picks on big and hopefully mean players to man the trenches. With that, I asked the following question this past week:
So, with the knowledge that the team has finally, at the very least, attempted to address the lack of being a “tougher” team or “nasty” enough in the trenches during this years draft, do you believe that the team is finally headed in the right direction, or do you think that this is a little too little a little too late in an attempt by Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel to keep their jobs beyond this season? Has your confidence in those two gone up if you were out on them? Are you still out on them and believe it’s time for a refresh in the front office and with the coaching staff? Are you a fan who has believed all along, and does this only further instill confidence that they are finally going to figure this out?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers to the PQOTD-
dolphinfan1323 says it’s a little too late and that the whole thing is going to hell.
It’s a little to late Mike has lost the team and skill position players are gone or aging sould have been done years ago the oline still has major question marks from health and unproven players and a complete lack of depth they drafted 1 offensive linemen and signed one coming off major injury and lost their best offensive lineman Armstead to retirement no guarantee this offensive line will even be better than last year
Bill Moody says it reads well, but let’s see how it works in the real world.
I like what they are trying to do on paper, but until we see it translate to results, the narrative remains. And while I love what they did in the 2nd round to move up and get a beast of a Guard, I don’t think we can just add one guy via FA and one guy via Draft and say we’ve fixed it. More needs to be done, and I think more will be done before kick-off in September. So yeah, I like the direction on both sides of the ball in respect to building the trenches, now we need to see it work when the cleats meet the turf (my rubber meets the road analogy).
Alley Gator believes the problem lies more in the team not doing a good enough job of keeping their own players, rather than always having to replace them a few years later when their departures leave glaring holes in the roster.
Christian Wilkins was drafted #13 overall in 2019.
Robert Hunt was drafted in the second round (39th overall.) the following year.
So did drafting a DT in round one and a OG in the second begin an era of building the trenches?
Nope. They should have extended their contracts before they reached Free Agency and could not longer afford them, because they bought expensive toys like Tyreek Hill and Chubb instead. (They extended Chubb’s contract, remember? Don’t give me that “but they only spent a third rounder on him!” excuse.)
So say goodbye to DT Kenneth Grant and OG Jonah Jonah Savaiinaea in four years. The circle remains unbroken, by and by Lord, by and bye.
The Earl believes that being on the road vs at home is a factor in how they have played against the top teams around the league over the last few years.
That will be determined on the field. However…
“Their record against the top playoff teams is horrible. The Dolphins, except for their incredible comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, have generally been pushed around fairly easily by those teams, earning them their well-deserved label of being soft”.
I have been saying that one factor that hasn’t been taken into account is venue. Looking at non-divisional opponents, Miami has faced team’s with winning records on the road now than at home. Look at 2023. KC, Philly, & Baltimore were all road games. IIRC, every game against a team that finished with a winning record was a road game.
In 2025, the only team they play that finished with a winning record in 2024 is Pittsburgh. All the “good teams” they face: LA, Cincy, Baltimore, Washington, & Tampa Bay are home games. I think that plays a factor. The road games this season are softer. As such, I think they can go at least 5-4 at home. If they can go 5-3 at worst on the road, they’ll be a playoff team.
I do think they’ll be tougher and more physical. With the home schedule as it is, I believe they’ll change that narrative.
Luvs2drnk2.0 says that if the team and players want the narrative changed, then get out there and change it!
Narratives remain until the team or the players change it. Like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson can’t win the AFC Championship. Unless the narrative is about Tua, then it will never change regardless of what he does.
Dolfanjoe doesn’t believe the team will reach the Super Bowl, but they can make the playoffs if they follow the right path and maintain their health.
Vegas has us rated still at 8.5. Above that we might even make the playoffs. Below that and skirting with average at best. Super Bowl team ? Yea right . Health could certainly factor on the over under as it did last year. Can this draft and free agency help ? Of course if they picked the right players and the coaches put them in a position to succeed. Football 101, run the ball and stop the run. In this they look headed in the right direction. But of course time is the only thing that proves any of us, right or wrong……………………
Miami1966 says all the problems begin and end with the head coach and general manager.
I would like to be proven wrong but the only 2 things standing between the phins and the playoffs is CG and MM
wolfpack1 wants some better blocking from the tight end position and for the team to focus more on a solid run offense.
This is quite the hot topic judging by all the comments. It’s no secret that this team has been soft for many years. Aside for a few key players, both lines get tossed around like rag dolls. The team needed some big, young, nasty players up front to stay competitive. The best way for Miami to win games is with a strong running attack and it was quite awful last season. The offensive line has been a revolving door of mediocrity for over 20 years and not having any tight ends that can block has been particularly painful to watch and handcuffs the play-calling. I would like to see some depth at TE and particularly some players that can block!
Alpha6 believes that things are heading in the right direction and that the team needs to consistently convert on those third-and-ones and fourth-and-ones.
The team got better, & is headed in the right direction.
To win many games a team must be able to get a yard anywhere on the field when they need to.
That’s been the Achilles heel forever on them.
This year they will get that yard.
The defense couldn’t defend the scores
Teams, to keep the offense off the field would run on them, & they couldn’t stop that.
They’ve got players now that will.
Those two corrections will win them games in past years they couldn’t.
MiMiami sees the HC and GM being shown the door with a month left in the season.
I’m still predicting Miami kicks off the firing season by week 13. Both Grier and McDaniel will be gone in the same week.
At the very least, Miami has attempted to start this inevitable rebuild with Patrick Paul, Chop Robinson, Ken Grant, and Jonah Savaiinaea.
Well, that’s our random ten comments for this evening. Some of us seem to believe that the team is heading in the right direction, while others think they are at least holding their own and possibly improving. Still, some believe the end is near for both McDaniel and Grier. I hope the more positive take is the direction it goes, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a bit pessimistic about things as a whole. I will, of course, as always, continue to root for the team every game, even when they disappoint me. Thus is the way of the Miami Dolphins fan!
Thank you, as always, to each of you who takes the time every evening or morning to read our Phinsider Question of the Day and add your answers and thoughts on the subject. Please join us again tomorrow evening for another answers post, and then on Friday evening when the VOTW post will return after taking a week off to make way for the draft.
