Last week, I posted the following question:
Do you think this new focus on finally getting the offensive line right is enough to get the Dolphins back to where they want to be and, in turn, save Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier’s jobs, or do you think it’s too little too late, and why?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
Jptapt no longer believes, and it’s hard to blame him or anyone else who has lost faith.
For the last what, 24 years, they have managed to find a path out of the playoffs. It was too little, too late, a long, long time ago. Do I expect a change? Why should I?
Thomas23059 says they have been investing the entire time. Either way, they have not figured it out and will try to do so again this offseason. Maybe my question should have been more of whether they finally PROPERLY address the OL and its lack of quality depth.
“one of their main focuses this offseason is rebuilding the offensive line or, at the very least, finally making a serious effort to invest in it”
A big part of the problem is fans keep reading stuff like this and think it is true. There is no doubt that coming out of the Tannenbaum era the offensive line cupboard was pretty bare. Tunsil was the only decent player on the line, and Grier traded him away. But to say they have not been investing in it since then is just plain ignoring reality.
2020 – 1st round pick on Jackson, 2nd round on Hunt, 4th round on Kindley, signed Ted Karras and gave Erik Flowers a 3 year, $30 million contract
2021 – 2nd round pick on Eichenberg, also added Greg Little
2022 – Not many draft picks, but spent big money on Armstead and Connor Williams
2023 – Signed Wynn and Dan Feeney
2024 – 2nd round pick on Paul, big contract for Brewer
That is a lot of investment. The return was not what anyone would have liked, but can we please stop it with the whole “they have been ignoring the line” crap. It simply is not true.
Which brings us to this year. The big difference between this year and prior years is that so far McDaniel and Grier have not been dumb enough to downplay concerns about the line in public. That is it.
Dolphster agrees with Thomas, and maybe it’s both. I feel they have thrown money at it but not taken it as seriously as they should have, highlighted by Grier believing that only our fans were concerned when it should have clearly been them.
I’m seconding Thomas’s comment. The Fins have in fact put an effort into the OL with draft selections in the top 3 rounds since 2020 and brought in vets via free agency. The problem is that few of them have gotten the job done. So is the problem that they aren’t investing in the OL or are they are poor talent evaluators of OL dudes? Or both?
SlayerNation1 sees the issues as more about the team’s lack of a good culture and scheme and possibly a quarterback who is more of a threat to run with the ball.
Yes, is the easy answer. However, it is a deceivingly complex question.
It is more “too late” to create a diametrically opposite football culture (we acknowledge the best in class player culture).
They could insert 3 All Pro O-Line additions, but if they don’t play like bad-asses, they will also get pushed around for three hours every Sunday.
Compounding that is the overall scheme of prioritizing mercurial, petite RBs to use their vision and speed to make their own lanes from 5 yards behind the LOS + QB play based on throwing quickly to predetermined “spots” leaves little incentive for O-Line to be bad-asses imposing their will.
It also helps an O-Line if you have a QB who needs a dedicated Spy on 3rd/4th down, that is just Math.
That is a lot to overcome in one offseason. There is no shortage of other issues to be addressed as well.
Grier was so flippant about it in 2024, so rubbing His nose in the mess was inevitable.
FinsRegard points out the issue with Armstead’s ability to stay healthy.
James, Any compare and contrast to number of snaps played between Richmond Webb and Armstead per season? Bill Parcells said the best ability is availability.
Yarganaught thinks that they knew it was an issue. Somehow, they still overlooked quality depth.
I’m sure they knew last year that the O-line was a major weak spot, one injury away from falling like a house of cards. But who goes into the year admitting that? I do think they finally got the memo that it needs to be addressed and actually started that process last year when they drafted Paul to learn under, and eventually take over for TA.
I fear that the notion of signing 2xFA G’s will be relatively easy… will not be so easy.
MIAMI235 asks why?
Sadly, and I repeat asdly, there were so many articles, stories, fan posts, podcasts, expert opinions, etc. that addressed the OFFENSIVE LINE issues, over the past seasons, that you would have to live on a desert island, not to know about it !!!
Yet, the powers that be, declined to acknowledge the real problems that existed and now we are still having the same concern over and over. WHY ?
Lefty55555 believes it comes down to a lack of toughness on this roster because the coaching staff does not emphasize it.
Have they been great talent evaluators of offensive linemen in the past? Toughness is a mindset and it requires everyone to practice. This teams toughness is lacking because we have a coach who does not believe in holding every single player to the same standard. Until this changes who we pick up is irrelevant. If they continue to pick guys who are always hurt then forget about it.
Dolfanjoe believes it comes down to the draft and the front office’s ability to draft the correct talent level at the proper positions.
Its all about 25 ! Are we that bad ? Some dam good young players. Obvious needs ! And what can fix 25 ? The Draft. Grier and McD will live or die by what happens in this draft. Choose Wiseley Grasshopper ! Needs ? At least 3 O lineman and two D lineman ! Need to hit on 7th rounders, depth if nothing else. But the players are there, but the choices have to be dead on. If not two careers could come to an end. Free agency ? They will find enough money to spend on some replacements for positions. But its the draft that will replenish the lines. Too late ! No but it is a razor and one slip and the head will be removed !
I’m not sure there was a consensus here, but we can all agree that the offensive line has struggled and needs to be addressed one way or another. I doubt this will happen under Grier, but I still hope he starts to get it right. Who knows if that will be enough to save his job? Thank you, as always, to everyone who chimed in on the Phinsider Question Of The Day. Please join us tomorrow evening to share your Victory Of The Week!
