After watching this week’s Miami Dolphins loss to the New York Giants in Week 15, Dolphins fans have every right to lament the product on the field. Eli Manning even threw three interceptions and New York still dominated the second half, scoring 29 points after halftime en route to a 36-20 victory. The Dolphins offensive line is among the worst in the league, injuries have impacted the receiver corps and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick — who hasn’t even started every game this season — currently leads the team in rushing for 2019. It was an ugly day all around.
As disappointing as the offense has been as of late, the Dolphins do have Mike Gesicki emerging as a serviceable option at tight end and have extended the contract wide receiver Devante Parker for four more years. But compared to the defense, these two assets are drops in the bucket versus all that ails the Dolphins.
On the defensive line, the Dolphins lost defensive ends Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn in the offseason courtesy of their expensive contracts. But regardless, there are glimmers of hope in two of the newer acquisitions, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and edge rusher Taco Charlton. Wilkins as a rookie is making an impact in the middle of the defensive line while Charlton leads the squad in sacks from the edge as a waiver addition from the Dallas Cowboys in September.
With support from linebackers like Jerome Baker, Sam Eguavoen, and Vince Beigel, perhaps Miami is the selection of Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Draft away from putting together a foundation for a dominant defensive front seven.
This should give cornerback Xavien Howard a bit easier time in coverage when he returns next season. Pair Howard with a viable starter on the other side? Some feel that is 2019 rookie Nik Needham, who had a rough go today against the Giants, and Miami’s defense is suddenly looking much more complete.
It’s possible that many fans will be livid with the fact that the blueprint to success zoomed right past “Tanking for Tua” or “Bailing for Burrow”. But honestly, how can any young quarterback be successful without any of the necessary elements they typically need to succeed? That’s the looming problem in Miami and it has never been more apparent than today against the Giants.
The offensive line woes will put any non-mobile quarterback on their back and there’s a reason why the top rusher so far in 2019 is a 37-year old Ryan Fitzpatrick. Sure, the Dolphins traded away Kenyan Drake and parted with Mark Walton, but no ball carrier in a designed run can be successful without holes being open and the Dolphins can’t seem to move anyone off the line of scrimmage at all. At any position. The argument could be made that Miami needs five new starting offensive linemen.
To put it another way, a selection of a quarterback in the first round is likely a selection toward more mediocrity in Miami unless the team locates a pathway to drastically overhauling the support system this offseason.
The alternative? Catching a little luck in the draft order, drafting Chase Young (who we will believe is returning to Ohio State when we see it, no matter what he told TMZ this weekend) and some offensive linemen with a pick for a running back along the way and the Dolphins can “get clever for Trevor” in 2021 if Josh Rosen somehow fails to develop further.
This could be enough to return to the postseason for Miami.
Can a defense-first team with a less-than-elite quarterback be effective? The 2018 Chicago Bears made the playoffs with this model and the 2019 Tennessee Titans rose from the dead with Ryan Tannehill under center to challenge for the playoffs with a similar build. The 49ers and Seahawks made it to Super Bowls with a similar philosophy, to boot.
In short, seal up the defense and concentrate on a supporting cast.
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