I like nearly every thing the Dolphins have executed on this early a part of the offseason.

The blockbuster acquisitions of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and All Professional cornerback Jalen Ramsey are seismic actions. The Dolphins, led by common supervisor Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel, scored in a serious approach with each of these strikes.

I’m not, nonetheless, an enormous fan of a few the Dolphins’ different offseason actions by this primary week of free company, particularly at backup quarterback and operating again.

Nonetheless, proper now, you’d should say the Dolphins’ offseason has been a rousing success.

Far more work stays, most notably at offensive line.

However the beginning lineups on either side of the ball are almost full save for maybe left guard, proper sort out and one of many two security positions.

On Friday, Miami grabbed former All-Professional Patriots punter Jake Bailey whereas seeing Thomas Morstead head to the New York Jets.

For probably the most half, the remainder of the offseason is about accumulating high quality depth.

And that brings us to quarterback.

I like Mike White, the backup quarterback and native child (he attended College College). White is a gutty man who performed with damaged ribs final season for the New York Jets.

I don’t like the very fact the Dolphins’ quarterback room has little or no expertise, particularly on the subject of December victories.

Beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stays comparatively inexperienced. And now there’s no important expertise in that quarterback room with White and Skylar Thompson, final yr’s seventh-round decide, serving as backups. It’s robust to assume both is ready to information a crew with Tremendous Bowl expectations.

OK, now that we’re off and operating, right here’s my view of the Dolphins’ offseason by the primary few days of free company.

OVERALL

Dolphins followers needs to be pumped about 2023. The outlook is vivid. The Dolphins made the playoffs final yr, they usually’re aiming increased this yr. Getting Fangio and Ramsey is sufficient to excite the fanbase, locker room, entrance workplace and training employees whereas placing all the league on alert that the Dolphins plan to win now.

However let’s be goal and acknowledge extra work should be executed earlier than the Dolphins can take into account themselves Tremendous Bowl contenders. Don’t freeze the season at 8-3 when evaluating the 2022 Dolphins. Take a look at all the image.

Sure, they made the playoffs. However they had been 9-8, misplaced six of their final seven video games, had been winless in December, struggled to attain late within the season, and had a 2-5 report towards playoff groups. Additionally recall each Tagovailoa and McDaniel struggled in December. And recall the Dolphins relied an excessive amount of on massive performs final season whereas failing to do the required down-to-down grunt work. They had been twenty fourth on third-down conversions on offense and protection. Preserve that in thoughts.

The protection seems as if it’ll be extra workmanlike and probably in a position to get off the sphere on third down. The offense, properly, we’ll see.

Additionally understand that historically solely about half of free agent acquisitions prove as hoped.

However, once more, the outlook for 2023 is vivid.

The Dolphins had a profitable season in 2022. Little question. This offseason is about taking massive steps, massive and small, towards constructing on that success, and to date that appears to be taking place.

OFFENSE

Offensively, the Dolphins would possibly ultimately find yourself being higher on paper, however at this early level of the offseason there’s an equal probability they’ve taken a step backward. However don’t fear. There’s nonetheless time for additions.

The Dolphins re-signed operating backs Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Jr., Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed, signed White, re-signed reserve tackles Kendall Lamm and Geron Christian, signed tight finish Eric Saubert, signed guard/heart Dan Feeney, had been awarded broad receiver Freddie Swain, re-signed broad receiver River Cracraft, and signed broad receiver/return man Braxton Berrios, the previous New York Jets and College of Miami participant.

However the offense misplaced expertise with the departure of reserve quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and misplaced expertise and expertise with the departure of tight finish Mike Gesicki. And the offensive line has the identical issues as final season, and you could possibly say the considerations are barely extra dire as a result of Professional Bowl left sort out Terron Armstead, who has missed a mean of 5.5 video games on account of varied accidents the final six seasons, is a yr older.

I’d have most well-liked an improve at operating again. Granted, the market was costly however the quarterbacks and the offense may each use the assistance. With the highest 4 operating backs from final season returning, enchancment largely rests with scheme and play-calling.

Offensive line wants beginning competitors for proper sort out Austin Jackson, who protects Tagovailoa’s blind aspect, and beginning competitors for left guard Liam Eichenberg. The road additionally wants a dependable backup left sort out.

A lot of the enchancment on this aspect of the ball rests with McDaniel and Tagovailoa as a result of the Dolphins are bringing again lots of the identical high gamers.

DEFENSE

Fangio and Ramsey are title-contending acquisitions.

At this level it seems the Dolphins have made caring for the protection their high precedence. They acquired Ramsey, inside linebacker David Lengthy, security DeShon Elliott, re-signed reserve linebacker Duke Riley, re-signed cornerback Nik Needham, and launched cornerback Byron Jones.

Defensively, the Dolphins are higher. Whether or not it’s including starters or reserves, this protection has improved to date.

Shedding linebacker Elandon Roberts, a crew captain and the main tackler, will damage. Releasing Jones received’t damage as a result of he didn’t play final season.

However the Fangio addition is the most important transfer. Even with out Ramsey, the protection could be considerably improved as a result of it added Fangio.

It ought to now be able to attacking from the entrance or the again. It needs to be able to getting sacks, stopping the run, shutting down broad receivers and getting off the sphere on third down. And with Fangio, you could possibly argue the protection has higher teaching than the offense.

The truth is, the protection has a lot expertise amongst its coordinator, starters and high reserves you could possibly argue it could possibly be higher than the offense. Take into consideration that for a second.

That’ll let you know the way a lot success the Dolphins have had at this level of the offseason.

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