Finsmob Unleashed

Former GM Chris Grier wasn’t kind to the Dolphins roster situation and salary cap situation, but he may have left behind a few players who could help this team from last year’s draft. Some of these players made some early contributions like defensive linemen Zeek Biggers, Jordan Phillips and 1st RD pick Kenneth Grant. Others, played in all 17 games last season but we wish they didn’t, specifically I’m pointing out 2nd year OG Jonah Savaiinaea. He gets a fresh start this season, going back to the position he played in College at Arizona which was RG. All of the players above need to be better if this season is going to be successful in the win column. You can add in a couple of other 2nd year players like CB Jason Marshall, S Dante Trader and RB Ollie Gordon.

GM Jon Eric-Sullivan did what he could to add his type of players to the existing roster and purged plenty of veteran players as well, mostly due to salary cap woes. In that regard, I think he did an excellent job. Culture change happens when you have players that buy into what you’re trying to accomplish, and bringing in 13 + players from the draft and signing some undrafted free agents is a great start. On that same token, both GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and mostly Head Coach Jeff Hafley now have to mold those 2nd year players to buy in and fight for the the right to stay on the field. All the aforementioned D-line guys like Grant, Biggers and Phillips need to up their game. I really don’t expect any veteran signings like last season such as CB Rasul Douglas. Douglas was great for us, he did what we asked and more, but now it’s about keeping the spending down and getting value from younger players.

It’s not only going to be first year and second year players that are important. Veteran DL Zach Sieler needs to keep being the solid dependable lineman he’s been. 3rd year EDGE rusher Chop Robinson needs to make an impact, or he will unfortunately go down the path of yet another failed Dolphins 1st RD pass rusher. Under Grier, he’s extraordinary successful at failing at just that, identifying the right 1st RD pass rusher. The first attempt at a an EDGE rusher was 2017 with the 22nd pick in RD 1 for Missouri DE/OLB Charles Harris. Harris only played in 8 games over 3 seasons for the Dolphins. Grier tried again RD 1 in the 2021 NFL Draft with DE/OLB Jaelan Phillips. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Phillips injury history in College followed him to the pros, and he missed tons of time with injuries and despite showing flashes of what could be, it never really materialized here in Miami over 5 + seasons here. Grier’s next swing at a 1st RD pick pass rusher was none other than Chop Robinson himself from Penn State in 2024. He’s played in 18 games over 2 seasons but has only started 4. His 10 sacks is unimpressive. While he shows excellent initial burst or get off, there’s not a lot of pass rushing skills or a repertoire of moves. Hafley has to get this kid going, find spots for him to succeed.

We’ve talked about the defensive guys, and it’s not completely clear as to when we’ll be running 3-4, 4-3 or 3-3-5. It doesn’t matter. A lot of the same guys will be on the field in a couple of them, but rookies like LB/S Kyle Louis, LB Jacob Rodriguez, DE/LB Trey Moore, DE/LB Max Llewellyn will get opportunities. While we didn’t go early for a pass rusher, Sully did double down, and then signed one of the better UDFA pass rushers in DE Mason Reiger. Add in a couple of guys we picked in Free Agency before the draft like David Ojabo from the Ravens and LB Josh Uche from the Eagles and Chop Robinson is going to have to start making plays to stay on the field or Hafley wind find someone else who will.

I know a lot you truly hate Mike Florio, he’s been hard on the Dolphins, but dammit, they have deserved it. I listen the Joe Rose show nearly every day, and Florio is a regular guest on Friday mornings in the 9 O’clock hour. He’s not killing the Dolphins now, no, in fact he believes the Dolphins have finally got it right with GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley. I love to hear him say the same things many of us here have been saying, it’s a wonderful thing to have two guys on the same page for a change. I think it’s so important, because it’s a stark contrast to what has been in place here since 2016. A little bit of Gase, a little bit of Flores, and then too much of Mike McDaniel, and all along, no clear demarcation of responsibility with any of these relationships as to who was responsible for personnel and who had the most impact on draft choices. Now, it’s crystal clear, Sully is making ALL final decisions, but they are made with Jeff Hafley’s input, but in the end, the choice is made by Sullivan and the responsibility falls on him. It’s never too late, and for us Dolphins fans, now the fun begins to watch what an organization that is built by 2 guys with a common vision can look like. It doesn’t happen in 1 season and after only one draft, but I think these guys made a nice dent in changing the team to what it should look like and will be like down the road. Enjoy!

GO DOLPHINS!!!