Mike Florio believes Mike Wallace will be a Miami Dolphin

Written by Daniel Eliesen on .

 

 

PFT’S Mike Florio was on the Joe Rose show this morning and said “He will be surprised if Mike Wallace isn’t a Miami Dolphin".

While Florio’s batting average with bold predictions isn’t exactly 100% he is still obviously a very well connected source and his statement is worth listening to.

Mike Wallace obviously brings the much needed speed dimension to the Dolphins offense and finally puts a solid playmaker that can stretch the field on this roster. While Wallace is a very solid fit many are skeptical that he can be a red zone threat and that his biggest asset is as a deep threat which is an aspect of the Dolphins offense that isn’t commonly used.

Wallace is young and has had success early in his career however would obviously garner a fat contract. Something of the 50 million for 5 years variety which is not quite Larry Fitzgerald money but not exactly a team friendly contract either.

Wallace is one of the 3 big name free agent WR’s this year along with Dwayne Bowe and Greg Jennings.

Wallace's role potentially has a huge upside in this offense with his premier speed coupled with Hartline (if resigned) would be a solid match. Wallace’s impact would be different than Brandon Marshall’s so it is important to manage expectations. The addition of Wallace would be a very significant piece however not the final piece of the puzzle.

The NFL is built on playmakers and the Dolphins simply don’t have enough. The move would still require the Dolphins drafting and building a young WR talent in the draft additionally also hopefully adding a seem TE would could really open this offense up.

The objective of this off season is to get Ryan Tannehill some help, Mike Wallace certainly does that. 

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Dolphins need playmakers to solve problems in the air

Written by Daniel Monardo on .

The Miami Dolphins wrapped up their regular season finale just over a month ago and since then all the discussion surrounding the team has been about the need for playmakers on offense. While the focus of the offseason is surely to equipt Ryan Tannehill with weapons, the lack of game changers on the defensive side of the ball is also an area of weakness that must be addressed.

One of the main positives that emerged throughout the Dolphins campaign was the stellar play of their defensive front seven which on its own ensured that Miami was competitive in each of the sixteen games. As a result, the Dolphins ranked 13th in the league in run defense at 108.4 yards per game and 7th in points allowed, surrendering only 19.8 points per game. However, on many occasions the front seven was let down by a secondary that was unable to frequently make impact plays. The Dolphins secondary has been a need for several years now and last season was no different. Miami's lackluster coverage was continually picked apart by average to elite players at the quarterback position as they allowed 248.4 pass yards per game ranking them a disappointing 27th in the NFL. 

Not only did the secondary prove to be ineffective in shutting down the deep threat, the unit also failed to force turnovers as they made only 10 interceptions all season. The lack of turnovers meant that the Dolphins defense was staying on the field much longer than it should have, causing the players to be fatigued when games were on the line late in the fourth quarter. The lone bright spot was 24 year old saftety Reshad Jones who accumulated four of the team's 10 interceptions to go along with 95 tackles, two forced fumbles and one sack.

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Dolphins Draft Needs - Wide Receiver

Written by Mike Singer on .

Hello there Dolphins fans, this is Mike Singer - the newest member of the PhinsPhocus team! I hope to talk with you all via twitter (@Mike_BTN) or through the comments section! Go Phins!

Dolphins fans are completely on edge this offseason. Most of them believe that Jeff Ireland's time is well overdue, and some are more optimistic about the front office. One thing Phins fans can all agree on - we need a big time receiver!

The current receiving core of (if Hartline gets resigned) Hartline, Bess, Matthews, Binns, and company is a below average core. Elite wide receivers do await the Dolphins this offseason, but it's of most importance that the Dolphins build through the draft. GM Jeff Ireland and head coach Joe Philbin have noted that they want to build this team through the draft, so fans should expect a receiver in the first few rounds.

The Dolphins will DEFINITELY add some receivers this offseason. The obvious question is - who do they add?

Will the Dolphins sign a big free agent receiver (see hyper link above) and draft a receiver too? If so, what round would Ireland draft a receiver? There are a lot of questions surrounding the WR position this offseason.

Tannehill should get a young weapon or two via draft this offseason - here's a breakdown of a few receivers the Dolphins might look at in the 2013 draft.

Ryan Swope - Texas A&M

Swope should be an obvious target for the Dolphins in the draft. Sherman already drafted his former quarterback and signed his fullback at Texas A&M last year, so don't be surprised to see the Dolphins take Swope. Swope was terrific for Tannehill in 2011, as he snagged 89 balls for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns.

If the Dolphins go after a big FA receiver, and go elsewhere in the first round - Ireland could target Swope in rounds 2-4.

Cordarelle Patterson - Tennessee

Patterson is a very interesting prospect - a high risk, high reward type guy. He had 46 catches for 778 yards and five touchdowns in 2012. He seems to be a raw, athletic specimen at this point. Patterson is extremely athletic, tall at 6'3, and fast. Tennessee used Cordarelle in a variety of ways - he had 308 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He was very dynamic in the return game with a punt and kick return touchdown.

One CBS Sports mock draft has Patterson going to the Dolphins at 12. Hopefully the Dolphins would still sign a receiver in the offseason to go along with Patterson. He could be a new breed of receiver in the NFL with his size and versatility, but could be a bust. Tannehill and Patterson could make a dynamic duo.

DeAndre Hopkins - Clemson

Hopkins arguably is the most NFL receiver in this year's draft. Hopkins was overshadowed by Sammy Watkins last year, but shined with his incredible 2012 campaign. Hopkins 82 catches for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns is astonishing. He had a terrific game against LSU in the Chick Fil A with 13 catches 191 yards and two touchdowns.

If the Phins fall in love with Hopkins, they could trade down to take him in the late first/early second round.

Terrance Williams - Baylor

Terrance Williams will most likely suit of Kendall Wright last year - a Baylor receiver being drafted in the first round. As for statistics, Williams caught 97 bals hauled in 1,832 yards... Wow.

He's got speed, he's NFL ready, he's a great choice for the Dolphins. Williams is another late first/early second type guy.

Tavon Austin - West Virginia

Tavon Austin. The receiver every fan wants on his/her team. Austin's stats at WVU were just ridiculous. He caught 12 touchdowns, ran for three touchdowns, and had a kick and punt return touchdown. The 5'9 speedy receiver will be an absolute playmaker in the NFL. Percy Harvin 2.0?

Since the Dolphins already have Davone Bess, it is unlikely that Ireland will go after Austin. However, a lot of mock drafts have Austin going to the Patriots. Dolphin fans need to hope he goes outside the AFC East.

Keenan Allen - California

Allen had an up and down 2012 season. His quarterback Zach Maynard had a sub-par season, and Allen missed the final three games with a knee injury. Allen has a great 6'3 frame and has great speed. He is explosive after the catch and can out jump defenders. Allen seems like a Brandon Marshall type, but hopefully without the drops. Allen was also used as a punt returner at Cal.

Keenan Allen is the #1 ranked receiver by most websites, and a CBS Sports mock draft has Allen going #12 to the Dolphins. A Tannehill to Allen connection could be deadly for years to come. Allen has the most upside of all the receivers in this years draft.

 

Here is a scenario that Miami fans would like to see: sign Mike Wallace, trade down and draft Terrance Williams/DeAndre Hopkins, and draft Ryan Swope.

The most likely scenario is: sign Wallace/Bowe/Jennings, draft Patterson/Allen, and draft Swope.

Ireland knows he has to give Tannehill weapons this offseason. If not, the fans might hunt him down.

 

 

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Dan Marino falls from grace in the eyes of some

Written by Michael Serrania on .

 

On Thursday morning the NY Post published an article detailing the hidden secret that Dan Marino has had for over 10 years, he had an affair.

Normally, Phins Phocus is a site dedicated reporting about the current players for the Dolphins. However, a name like Dan Marino surely bears mention on this site.

The fact that Marino kept this hush hush by keeping his ex- lover at bay by paying her millions of dollars, is not the real issue.  In fact, Marino admitted to paying and supporting his daughter and the woman he had an affair with.  The real issue, is what Marino has stood for even after he retired.  A model of greatness on the football field and off of it.

A role model we'd see with his 4 kids in the United Way commercials.  Not to mention the model of philanthropy and his fight to make more people aware about autism and provide support to all families..

Marino has been portrayed as an iconic figure in Miami Dolphin history. Likewise, his image is plastered and posted all over Miami and the greater South Florida Community. Marino retired 13 years ago this month.

So when it was reported that he had an affair with a production assistant it was met with reaction from every direction. Since news is shared at every second, especially on Twitter, everyone in the media as well as fans had an opinion.

Here is my opinion,

All people are fallible, including the Great Dan Marino. People make mistakes. Dan Marino had an affair while working for CBS.  Things inevitably do happen in life and people are afterall, human.

Which brings me to the next point, does this affair cast a dark cloud on the records that Marino once achieved for Dolphins fans?

Perhaps forgiving Marino for his flaws is one thing, but missing out on a Super Bowl championship is another.  It's easy to let this bad news of a fallen hero lower us as fans to the depths of this type of negative thinking.  

Does the fact that Marino being outed about the affair tarnish his legacy given the fact that his records are falling because of the strict rules on defense thus allowing the offense to be pass happy?

Records are meant to be broken and truly there was only one Marino! 

Here's where we are at. This offseason waiting for the silly season and free agency to begin. Just waiting. Many of us are just changing the channel reporting news concerning our epic hero whom is flawed like any other.

However, waiting is much harder to do when it's been 13 years since the Dolphins have been any good and 13 years since the Dolphins had a quarterback all fans trusted.

If current quarterback, Ryan Tannehill leads the Dolphins to Super Bowl glory, would we feel that we can move on from Marino? This is a question that requires much pondering and reflection. At this point, it's Super Bowl or bust for some Dolfans.

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Dolphins Tony "Big Amigo" McDaniel wins Ed Block Courage award

Written by Michael Serrania on .

 

The offseason is about to begin officially in the NFL right after the Super Bowl, but for the Dolphins Tony McDaniel, his offseason includes adding an honor to his mantle piece.

Tony McDaniel was honored with the Ed Block Courage Award, for exemplifying principles of "sportsmanship and courage." In fact, all 32 clubs in the NFL have an award winner and each player is voted by his teammates to receive this award.

Past honorees include: Zach Thomas, Yeremiah Bell, David Bowens, Justin Smiley, Patrick Cobbs, and Jake Long. 

Remarkably, the Ed Block Foundation is more than the award itself in that it raises awareness about abused children.  In fact, each award winner has assisted families and abused children in crisis.

While McDaniel was known for his sportsmanship and courage, and service, he posted a pretty decent Dolphin career as a backup NT in the 3-4 scheme and backup DT in the Dolphins 4-3 scheme this season.  As a backup, he did the dirty work spelling the starter and made a name for himself on the defense.  When starters were out for the next game, McDaniel filled in admirably.

His totals as a Dolphin included 79 games played, 119 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery.

McDaniel's best two seasons were 2010 and 2011 where he had a total of 55 tackles and 5 total sacks.

It can be argued that McDaniel thrived in the Mike Nolan defense as a 3-4 Nose Tackle.  With the Dolphins switching to the 4-3 last season, his productivity dropped as did the number of games he saw playing time.  Some of his lack of playing time was due to a leg injury in early September. 

After being traded by the Jaguars to Miami McDaniel in 2009, McDaniel found his niche on the Dolphins defense with an opportunity to be a postivie contributor.

Next season, McDaniel should not have a problem finding a spot on this roster or elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent.  One of McDaniels strengths is his ability to tip passes given his height (6'7") and his wing span.  Not to mention being 308 pounds adds some power and strength to any D-line in the NFL.

The Ed Block Courage Award is a fantastic feat and one that every Dolphin fan should be proud of! Just being mentioned with the Thomas', Bell's, and Long's is great to be apart of the collective group!

Congratulations to Tony "Big Amigo" McDaniel for making Dolfans proud on the field!

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