Film Breakdown: Explaining the Miami Dolphins Offensive Line Philosophy | Is It Really That Bad?

[@mrdustydog100]

Thanks for helping us understand the OL a little better. Aloha and FinsUp.

[@c2jones]

Excellent video here, Ryder. I think your best ever. Informative details. 🏆🎯

[@rydermcconville]

Thank you I believe I had a comment yesterday saying it was my worst ever so I'm really hitting a wide spectrum here lol.

[@c2jones]

@rydermcconville I didn't see that other comment. I cannot imagine what foundation they had for it. I know it wasn't sound. You fully supported all your assessments here. Probably part of the Grier-bashing ensemble with tunnel-vision on the woes of the OL.

[@c2jones]

2023 grades: 4th sacks allowed. 1st allowed hits. 15th overall rating PFF. 8th block wins on running plays. Injuries to the OL starters are what caused problems vs stiffer competition. Blaming Grier is missing things.

[@Journeyhvac]

For a top offense, they sure haven't looked like it over the past 5 games

[@dkoda840]

Yea injuries will do that to you.

[@quikdeath100]

I think we need to understand what priority means. OL especially the guards are just not high on the list when it comes to team building. But it is on the list. We’re at the point now where most of the other areas of the team have been addressed so it sticks out now. But I fully expect it to be addressed in next year’s draft because there’s not much else that needs to be addressed. We got 4 picks in the top 120 expect one of them probably two of them to be guards.

[@nikshmenga]

good one

[@MeauxGreenMusic]

I have a solution. GET TALENTED O-LINEMAN. You shouldn’t have to run a system to hide weak play, just draw up the most effective plays. Grier just doesn’t want to pay lineman. Drafting and grooming guys like Hunt and Wilkins then letting them walk is insane and so frustrating for fans. He needs to start getting ahead of the extensions with our young core. Also, not sure I agree that the Shannahan scheme is top of the league. Sure, SF made it to the Super Bowl, but they didn’t win. Highest Overall win block % last season was: KC, Baltimore, Philly, Detroit. Lowest were: Patriots, Jets, Jags, Panthers. It’s almost like you need a solid line to do well, especially with an injury prone QB that you are paying 50 million a year to.

[@rydermcconville]

The problem is its very hard to find talented O lineman. Not many people on planet that big and also athletic. So instead of putting a bunch of resources into that area they protect it with scheme. It is a philosophy that has been proven to work. Not saying it will every time but has a bunch of success. Also, the Shannahan offenses are at the top of the league every year it even not being the highest in blocking areas.

[@CHAMPDOGZ]

Miami has drafted many many Online men even at the #1 pick they just don't work out like in 95% of teams

[@c2jones]

@MeauxGreenMusic Their system isn't designed to "hide" weaknesses. It's designed to keep defenses confused and that has worked. Just because SF lost last year doesn't mean that they couldn't have just as easily won. The Dolphins led the NFL in many offensive categories last year. Their woes were due more to breakdowns and poor execution than design. They did bring in talented OL, like Terron and Connor. Both suffered injuries last year. The OL was ranked fairly high before they went out.

[@KevinDorsi]

Most OL are better at run or pass blocking, the ones who are both get a lot of money. Miami has actually done decent at holding to a budget while not sacrificing too much functionality.

[@InFinZible]

Our true pass set has been horrible for a long time. This is reason we can’t beat good teams imo. Like you said, against the bills they’re forced to use it and get demolished.

[@quikdeath100]

Also the OL problems are a direct result of the lack of picks in 2022 and 2023. ​​⁠In 2020, they used a 1st and a 2nd on OL. In 2021, they used a 2nd on OL. In 2022 and 2023, when they only had four picks in each draft, they did not draft OL. In 2024, they had 7 picks and they used a 2nd on OL.

[@rydermcconville]

That's why I was saying its not a Grier thing. Since McDaniel has been here we have had limited picks and he knows interior OL is his least priority. They will take tackles but not guard

[@jameshughes2560]

It's totally Grier what u mean he GM. He let most of the ol go and signed a concussion qb and hoping he stays healthy. WTH. Not to mention bringing in injured and old players . Idk who else to blame. Just saying

[@rydermcconville]

People are blaming Grier for not drafting OL with premium picks. He is not doing that because of McDaniel. That's what I'm saying not to blame him for because its the philosophy of the coach.

[@danielcosta6238]

@@rydermcconvilleRespectfully, this team has historically been awful with their oline builds which predate McDaniel. Chris Grier and the two co-directors of personnel have been mangling the oline since the late 90’s. This all goes back to ownership which has had multiple chances to clean house and never did. We’re talking two decades here of grocery selctors who have no idea how to identify oline talent and when they blindly find one, they let him walk. These guys have never valued the position and it shows.

[@quikdeath100]

@@danielcosta6238no its about the draft picks they lost in 2022 and 2023. In 2020, they used a 1st and a 2nd on OL. In 2021, they used a 2nd on OL. In 2022 and 2023, when they only had four picks in each draft, they did not draft OL. In 2024, they had 7 picks and they used a 2nd on OL.

[@riftur7636]

While your video was very informative and I understand the concept better, Tua is a different type of QB and has to have an O-line that can pass block. He is the purest type of pocket passer there is and until they fix the line, it will be mostly short throws. You surround Tua with a solid o-line and he will sit back in the pocket and dissect defenses.

[@derrick211000]

I blame Grier for our old, broken down, always injured roster. That being said, he has built good teams that always leave us saying if only we were healthy. I really see the logic in the build, but it is not working out very well so far. The contracts he makes have been pretty team friendly too. I like Grier just not sure shopping at the bargain player mall is gonna work out for us. Time will tell.

[@rydermcconville]

Yeah I mean I have my criticisms of Grier and don't always agree with him but I'm not anti grier as some are. I was just saying the OL isn't really his fault because its the philosophy of the coach that is why he didn't put resources into it.

[@theshow1269]

When does Grier sign an injured prone player at a discount and the player stays healthy. It doesn’t happen, they all get hurt. Just like their past tells you.

[@danielcosta6238]

I really really appreciate the analysis, Ryder. But it’s one thing to scheme around a weak oline and another to have to ALWAYS scheme around a horrible oline, which is what we have. If we can never hold one on one blocks ever, then it makes our offense horribly predictable…which it is. At the end of the day you need some power and we have none at all at RT, RG, C, and LT is barely hanging on. Yes, they had a top offense last year, but teams that can pressure with 4 have their number, which looks to be the case this year but with a worse oline with worse depth. The oline builds have been horrific going back to Philbin. I’d like to think McD would like better personnel here which is an impossibility with Grier at the helm.

[@c2jones]

@danielcosta6238 It's untrue that they never hold one on one blocks. Instead of strictly going by those misleading stats, do the eye test on the passing plays. The pocket held up fine on most occasions vs Buffalo. The problem was that Hill and Waddle were not getting separation vs Buffalo's two-high shell coverage and Jonnu wasn't freeing himself either. That caused the ball to stick. That happened last year, too, versus better secondary schemes. Tua throws to spots. If that's disrupted, his improvising has been suspect at times. If you want to go by stats alone, then the 2023 numbers weren't so bad. 4th sacks allowed. 1st allowed hits. 15th overall rating PFF. 8th block wins on running plays. The problem is that there are members of this OL who are chronically injured and the depth hasn't always held up. But that's why they drafted Paul and brought in others. Predictable? Actually, their offensive scheme was designed to keep defenses confused and frozen presnap. Those breakdowns have much to do with poor execution, not the design. It's designed for a quicker release of the ball which coverage in the secondary limits far more than true breakdowns in pocket protection. His getting the ball out quicker often creates misleading "block time" stats. They are not a power-running team. That's not the build. If that's your only definition of a quality team, then the Dolphins aren't for you. This isn't Shula's pound game team of the early 70s. Nor even the Ricky Williams era. But if operated correctly, can be highly productive.

[@danielcosta6238]

Firstly, I was slightly exaggerating on the one on one blocks. Sure they can hold them from time to time, but not an an efficient enough rate which allows for 3rd and long conversions or obvious passing downs. The pass block win rate for this oline is atrocious and is only circumvented by the quick throws. I also don’t know what game you were watching last Thursday, but there were very few clean pockets to be found when Tua was in the game. AJ gave up 4 pressures, RJ was a turnstile and Tua ended up hurt because he ultimately got frustrated with the lack of protection. Secondly, those stats you’re picking out is a result of the quick throws and the scheme. Pass block and run block win rate is the true measure of a line and they were 31st last year and have been at the bottom of the league for years. Those stats you’re citing also do not take into consideration how many times McD left in extra blockers which limits your routes. Thirdly, you’re conflating the predictability of the play itself with the predictability of the overall scheme. Teams have learned not to get caught up in the eye candy, concede the run. and let the Phins run plays until they go off schedule. They know that McD is not going to a power run game and is going to always run outside and run a bunch of screens to confuse them. Teams aren’t confused anymore and going back to last year, teams that can pressure with 4 will drop back 7 and there goes your vaunted passing game. Teams know when they’re facing a bad oline and will have their own scheme to limit plays. Finally, there’s a HUGE difference between being a power running team and having a power running game. There are no more power running teams, but the good teams have some sort of power running game. Why? So defenses can’t do what they do to the Dolphins all the time, which is come out in the nickle and dare them to pass until they make a mistake. If you have ZERO inside running game, you become predictable no matter how many gadget plays you run and the good teams will beat you just like they consistently beat the Dolphins. When you’re whole scheme is about confusion and avoiding the obvious weaknesses of the oline, then you become predictable. If you can’t line up in an I formation and grab 1-2 yards against a nickel, you’re not getting anywhere near a Super Bowl. Football has been around a long long time and it’s absolutely not about whether I like the build or not. It’s about whether the build works. McD and Grier are trying to re-write the way the game is played while all the while forgetting that this is a contact sport. It’s clear that without baseline physicality you can stick all those fancy plays where the sun don’t shine. How are your receivers going to find separation when you need to get the ball out in under 2 seconds? Think about it! Football starts in the trenches and right now the trenches are not good.

[@c2jones]

@danielcosta6238 So when the stats support your argument, then they're relevant. When the stats don't, then they're misleading. Goodness, if there's one chronic grabbag of the naysayers, that's the one. As I've said to others with your argument about the "no time to throw" thing, I would really like to have a group watch event of these games together so that we could all watch these passing plays (vs those watching the game through postgame stats), which I am convinced would arrive with an adjusted perspective. I saw one like that last night that revealed variations as to those preconceived fixations. Hill and Waddle not getting open had nothing to do with not having enough time to get open. The time was fine. It was the coverage itself. Let's be clear, his protection is far from good, but the reality is that in 2023 Tua's time to throw was 2.36-seconds. Mahomes' average time to throw was 2.84 seconds. The NFL average was 2.65 seconds. That miniscule difference of .29th of a second cannot logically be used as the reason why Tua struggled late in games (particularly big games) down the stretch. When he was forced to hang onto the ball longer than 2.5 seconds, his QBR dropped to 43.2 and his completion percentage dipped to 58.8%. As a result, 9 of his 14 interceptions last season came on passes of that nature. He was off-target on 21.2% of his throws outside the pocket, which ranked middle-of-the-pack among NFL quarterbacks. Tagovailoa threw a career-high 14 interceptions in 2023. He threw multiple interceptions in four games, also a career-high. He threw very ill-advised two pick-sixes, to go along with 13 fumbles, five of which were lost. The other night he had three more interceptions and another pick-six. He was not necessarily under duress in all those instances. In the one that he was, the smart move was to take the sack given he couldn't even properly throw the ball out of bounds. Go back and review them. In his own words, he admits that he needs to take better care of the ball. The position dictates that one is prudent with placement, irrespective of all else. Defenses shouldn't need to be confused for this group to have success. Tua, Hill and Waddle are the highest-paid trio in the history of the NFL for heaven's sake. Buffalo was down to 3rd string defensive backs and those two couldn't get open and Tua was overthrowing Chosen or throwing to brand-new receivers who weren't looking for the ball. Jonnu wasn't nearly as relevant as he should have been. He was supposed to have been the difference-maker. He wasn't. Predictability (I don't agree, but when they are, it's mostly because Tua throws to spots) should still not stop players with this type of speed and salaries. You're saying that the build doesn't work when in fact it led the NFL in total offense. SF and others using this build are typically on top on the NFL. You may be overly confusing poor execution and chronic player error with a bad build. Nevertheless, they have who they have and they'll make the most of it if they apply themselves better to their games. McDaniel is a better play-designer than in-game manager thus far. Plays getting in late and discipline issues have plagued this team (because he'd rather be a pal than a demanding coach) and this has caused more problems than many seem to realize.

[@danielcosta6238]

@@c2jones Re your first paragraph: You’re offering an ad hominem criticism, which doesn’t support any argument. But to parry anyway, isn’t using stats to your advantage or the others disadvantage the nature of debates? Of course you think I’m juking and jiving, it’s because you already fundamentally disagree with me. But stick to the points because when you criticize the way the way someone argues and not the argument, it usually mean yours is weak. Re 2nd: I can’t help you if you think pass rush doesn’t affect how open a WR can be. If you don’t think Hill and Waddle can find an open space with the time to throw you seem to think Tua has, then you must not think much of those WRs. Now, if you watched the ALL-22 I’ll give you benefit of the doubt. Maybe they had a bad game, just like they always mysteriously seem to do when playing playoff teams who can pressure organically with 4 ;) But if you didn’t see a crumbling oline while watching the game, then we must agree to disagree. Also keep in mind the Bills only blitzed 3 times, which means they’re mostly dropping 7. You think they’re doing that because the oline is playing good? It’s only because of the amazing work of 3rd string CBs? Re 3rd: if you think there isn’t a profound difference between 2.84 seconds and 2.36, I dunno what to to tell you. Football might be a game of inches on the ground, but it’s a game of milliseconds in the pocket. And here you have an oline that can’t hold blocks at the league average 2.65 but you expect Tua to find open receivers in coverage on the regs with a team that can’t run up the middle against 7 dropping back including LBers.. Also did you know PFF doesn’t even rate PB win rate if the ball is out in under 2 seconds? So in that light the .29 difference average has even more weight. Teams aren’t exactly crowding the line, but you wanna compare Tua’s time to throw with other teams? Of course the coverage is good against 3rd stringers. No one blitzes this team anymore. The Bills blitzed 3 times and ran the nickel all game. Why? Yes, it’s because the receivers are dangerous BUT the protection is also brutal AND they can’t run up the middle against light boxes. No one schemes a defense around one strength or weakness of the other teasm. The fact that they’re not even trying hard to get Tua to throw the ball quickly should tell you A LOT about this line/philosophy. And they’re gonna face a tougher dline tomorrow! When looking at stats, context counts for a lot. It’s the same reason why a company’s balance sheet always has accompanying notes. Because the numbers only tell part of the story. It’s pretty clear we don’t see the game the same way, but I’ll tell you what. One stat I don’t need context for is 1 Playoff Win. Ask yourself how good is this “buld” really is when you’re getting smoked by the playoff bound teams?

[@c2jones]

@danielcosta6238 1st paragraph response is a bunch of gooblygook to water down chronically picking and choosing selective stats. The whole notion of the OL being so dreadful in your view surely stems from those stats. Be honest. Those stats only matter when they're deficient. Otherwise they're irrelevant. It's not all from the eye test. Or, you're allowing your preconceived ideas to color what you think you're seeing. Fundamentally disagree with you? Well, not really. I'm not selling up the OL as elite or even top shelf. They're just suited to what they're doing. It's built for outside zone or split flow action. You're also mistaken that they're not running inside as well. (See a video called Dolphins HQ.) And importantly, again, you are missing poor discipline from some players (which has been a real problem since Flores left) which is a greater problem than the build or design itself. 62% of the league is running the two-high shell now and it has slowed the production of Hill and Waddle. It's been happening over their last 5-6 games going back to last year. I never said a pass rush doesn’t affect how receivers can be connected with. It has nothing to do with how "open" they are. Only the ability to get them the ball. But that was NOT the problem vs Buffalo. The Bills played two-high shell at 75%, Dan. More than anyone has in the McDaniel era! They didn't need to blitz because they flooded the secondary to protect their 3rd string DBs and it ended up working. You talk about ad hominem (your standby term every time your reading comprehension fails you), here you are putting words in my mouth and totally misrepresenting the statements made with silly, lazy assessments. Do better than that. If 10ths of seconds are the difference between three-time SB MVP QBs and one with with a 63.9 in the playoffs and the worst passer rating among quarterbacks who faced the eventual champion Chiefs in the playoffs, as well the Dolphins had the worst scoring outcome, then yes, you're missing something. It's not just a one-game problem. They weren't getting "smoked" by the Chiefs overall. Until Wilkins had that unsportsmanlike penalty late in the game, the contest was close. The defense, despite having to sign players off the street, was holding up well, forcing KC into multiple FGs. It was that putrid offense that cannot produce big plays anymore because of the emergence of the two-high shell across the league, mastered by some to counter teams like Miami. The team should have had a playoff win at Buffalo a couple years back. The defense deserved as much. The culprit? Lousy player discipline and lousy game and clock management by McDaniel. Not the build whatsoever.

[@jihyotwice3159]

What you are saying may be true however there was absolutely no reason not to select a good to great IOL that would have shored up their OL for years to come, especially in a draft class that had so much talent and depth as this year, unless you had a need in WR. Heck, even selecting Xavier Worthy, Brian Thomas Jr, or any WR would have solved their WR3 issues and possibly open the door in developing for life after Tyreek Hill. Instead, we have a 1st Round pass rusher that is buried in the depth chart and a 2nd round LT who is raw but have to play because Armstead is injured again. Our OL rotation last year at swing tackle was sufficient in covering for that. If only we selected Graham Barton, he would be able to play at LG (his usual position) immediately, Center or LT, and possibly Christian Haynes in the second round, he would be able to play at RG for years to come. I think Chop Robinson is a great player, however selecting only Mo Kamara would have been sufficient if they were gonna sit behind Phillips and Ogbah. In this case, all our high draft selection would play and contribute immediately. It is exactly the reasons you stated, is why we need to upgrade our OL when we had the chance. We could have had an OL that can both run block and pass block when we needed to, not only when we could. This is the 3rd year where we should beat better teams and not only finesse them with play calling. Just take a look at the Chargers, they even selected another OT as the best tackle in the draft instead of selecting a playmaker even when they already have a plethora of OTs. Now, they are sitting at 2-0 and able grind through with having an injured and often mistake prone Justin Herbert.

[@jihyotwice3159]

Our poor game against the Bills is exactly why we needed to improve our OL and not settle for below average OL. What happens when you can't play call and finesse your opponent? Just look at the 49ers first game vs the Jets when they had to run the ball with a UDFA RB, they opened more holes between the tackles because they had to and not lean so heavily on Brock Purdy, who missed many open passes. Even the 49ers, who McD models after, can be flexible enough to open BIG running lanes and pass protect Purdy so he doesn't become injured. They can win the tough games by not settling for below average OL.

[@c2jones]

@jihyotwice3159 Much of this is fair. However, if the Chargers played Buffalo last week, they would probably be 1-1 just like Miami, and still have the same concerns with injury at the QB position.

[@jihyotwice3159]

@@c2jones What you say may also be true, however take a look now at GB who also invested heavily on the O-line. Last year, they basically rotated all their O-line in order to keep them fresh. Kinda like a Lineman by committee approach so that they limited nicks and long term injuries by the end of the season. Last year they basically wore down the Cowboys during their playoff win. They didn't put too much reliance on Jordan Love and instead ran the ball. This year they are basically limited by Jordan Love's ability and health. At the first game they only lost during the last drive where he was injured and will be out for a lengthy time. Kinda like one the Dolphins are in. However in the second week, with back up QB Malik Willis who didn't make it in Titans and shows severely limited ability on tape compared to Skylar Thompson, actually won vs. the Colts, another playoff hopeful team. They basically dumbed down the offense to a high school level running counters basically 75% of the plays. Now, I have brought up 2 playoff hopeful teams, both of which will probably make the playoffs and one actually did last year, with basically the same Injured QB. GB actually will be without their QB similar to Dolphins. Both teams invested heavily on the O-line and looks good to the future. Dolphins on the other hand is filled with doubt. Some question Skylar's ability to run the offense, some actually question McD's scheme and play calling. Yet, all somehow resigned with the O-line's below average ability and are willing to accept it by covering for it. I can't even see the similarities between the O-line of the 49ers and the Dolphins, who McD is a disciple of the Shanahan tree. 49ers have an O-line that can open running lanes and rely heavily on a UDFA RB.

[@c2jones]

@jihyotwice3159 Overall, I don't have major dispute with your point of what should be prioritized. I feel that Love and the GB passing game was more involved than you've indicated vs Dallas last year. But matchups elsewhere are highly subjective and venture us away from our direct premise. My point is that discipline, player and coaching in-game competency, more than scheme, design or capability of the OL is the greater factor. Chronic mistakes will doom even the best OLs. Superior execution will counter suspect OLs. The problem with Miami is far more discipline problems that doesn't do their OL performance any favors.

[@jihyotwice3159]

@@c2jones I don't know for sure what the problem is but I can respect your opinion. Also, if what you say is true then inherently it's a coaching issue. I am not laying blame or pointing fingers or anything. I am curious that Liam continues to get opportunities and starting roles all across the line. From not cutting it at LT (his drafted role) to getting backup at LG to Center, and now unbelievably at RG. They even cut Jack Driscoll who looked like he was starting at RG and backup Center. I am glad that we finally got rid of Liam's stint at Center and finally settled with Andrew Meyer. Can't wait for his development cause he looked good bullying people off the ball. However, that doesn't excuse my original point, how can you continue to not upgrade your O-lline when Dolphins continue to mask it's deficiencies (by scheme) and accept under average play. Grier continues to mock us saying fans worry more about the O-line than he does. Yet, we continue to lose and get our QB injured. Last point to ponder is the resurgence of the Vikings. Despite losing Cousins and trusting the starting QB role to Darnold, he who once saw ghosts, they continue to win. I don't care if it's due to dominating defense or the fact they have Jefferson and Aaron Jones. Defense doesn't score points but a strong O-line can help protect a PTSD QB to confidently throw dimes to Jefferson and open holes for Jones. Heck, even Skylar Thompson can score more points with Vikings than what he did against Seattle. Did you look at their game against Texans? (Everyone's presumed AFC South division winner and possible AFC Championship opponent vs Chiefs.)

[@Noeau]

They have above average RB talent but cannot run the ball effectively. 4th and 1 is a pass play. Tua was always hurried and you cannot sustain an offense with the QB always feeling pressured to complete the first read. You would think with McDaniels mind, he could scheme plays with bad OL play neutralizing the rush. After the first game and first half of second game before Tua got hurt, it seemed that the play calling didn’t change, in fact got more predictable and run heavy leading to a season that wouldn’t be successful again. Tua was the best chance they had making things work against the odds. Now they will probably not even sniff a playoff berth.

[@Terbmagic4]

In every clip tua's pocket is CLEAR.

[@cnelsonlv99]

Yes... it's really that bad. But I think it's fair to say McDaniel is the biggest problem with this offense.

[@angeldelcourt6882]

The philosophy is: Let's get the quarterback hurt. That offensive line is offensive. They flat out got manhandled during the Bills game. I was furious. If they were worth their salt, the quarterback wouldn't have to run to get some yardage.

[@c2jones]

@angeldelcourt6882 It wasn't a great day for the OL, but not nearly as bad as the narrative. This offense is designed to release the ball quickly anyway and bear in mind that Miami had key injuries on the OL that night. As far as the QB running the ball suggesting that this is an indictment of poor OL play, that is categorically false. To the contrary, QBs often run when all their targets are covered and thus there's open space in front of them. Tua slimmed down for a reason; to add more diversification to the offense. Mahomes, Allen and Lamar run the ball a lot. They're all premier QBs on top teams.

[@rustycowell7264]

I like your optimism but they are going to be exposed on Sunday, Maybe they all can stop drop and roll and hope the defense trips over them, Hahaha just amusing myself

[@rydermcconville]

I mean I'm not super optimistic for sunday. I actually believe the O line will look worst without Tua just wanted to explain the philosophy behind it.

[@rustycowell7264]

@@rydermcconville I get it and support your take on things, A squirrel finds that last nut it buried sometimes. Maybe they show up with Skylar

[@danieldavenport4211]

So far OBJ was a waste of money which could have paid a lineman in the oline , recievers running wrong routes , 2 ints should be put on the recievers , if Skylar cant get it done with the softer part of the schedule need to send him packing

[@ThatFalloutGod]

"Is it really that bad?" I've seen this shit the last five years. Yes, unequivocally, it's been the worst OL in the league over that time. The issue is that Grier's ego and smugness has created a problem, where Miami can't reliably run down defenses' throats, and his QB has no time when it's needed, while also getting hurt consistently over the years because of the poor OL. We can talk about the way the league's going and all that jazz all we want, but at the end of the day, a team's offense is only going to go so far when their OL is the weakest part of the roster (and Miami's is the weakest part by a country mile). The really, really fucked-up thing is that it didn't have to be this bad, Grier just had to make a few moves over the years and it would've been at least a middling group, instead of the worst in the league. Drafting Creed Humphrey instead of fucking Eichenberg, or at least moving back up in that Draft to get Creed would've been phenomenal. Then signing and keeping Connor Williams as a G immediately makes your IOL deadly. You probably should've moved Austin Jackson to G and signed someone like McGary to be your RT, then you could've had Patrick Paul get reps at LT when Mr Glass inevitably doesn't play for 80% of the season. I get that injuries haven't done the OL any favors, but even when they're all healthy, it's a pathetic group. When we're praying that Wynn is healthy enough to be on the field, you know the unit is fucking abysmal. Grier has to be fired after this year, it's just too goddamn pathetic how he's left this team out to dry with this debacle. If we're assuming Tua is going to come back and be himself, then they *have* to mortgage future Draft capital in order to use this upcoming Draft to get some guys on that OL. Even if, God-forbid, Tua got injured next year and couldn't play anymore, this OL has to be fixed before a new QB can be asked to function on the field. Get Brailsford at C from Alabama and Ratledge at G from Georgia, sign Trey Smith in Free Agency, sign Jedrick Wills in Free Agency, just make a commitment in this upcoming offseason to throw the fucking house at the OL and make it work for the first time in a decade. And just to be clear, I defended Grier for years, up until he was smugly laughing at fans for using their eyes. And I've been super critical of McDaniel over the last year, because last year he was atrocious at play-calling and being a gameday coach. I know it's only been two weeks, but McDaniel seems a lot better at play-calling and wanting to use the run to set-up the pass, and running in situations where he should. The problem is that too many plays in both games have been killed by the OL getting demolished, or the WRs not doing their job. I think people are singing McDaniel's praises right now if we could just go back and change half a dozen plays from these two games and turn them into what they were supposed to produce (although, I'd be lying if I didn't say McDaniel caused that with two of them, being the two "interceptions" in the Buffalo game).

[@danielmeehan1756]

Those guys may not fit system. Majority of fan base has never embraced Shanahahn system.

[@danielmeehan1756]

We just signed Brewer. He's a perfect fit for zone read.

[@ThatFalloutGod]

@@danielmeehan1756 I'll be ok with Brewer at C when he actually proves himself. He wasn't good in Tennessee, and we're two games into his tenure with Miami. If he proves himself, then fantastic, if not, then draft Brailsford. Brailsford a smart, very agile C. Ratledge has been a great G for Georgia for a bit, but there's also Booker, or whoever, but Miami has to draft OL stupid heavily the first two days of the '25 Draft. I don't care about "embracing" system, because I have eyes and I can see the problem. You can't ask Tua and McDaniel to mask the worst OL in the league every time they try to pass the ball, especially when they're not absolute maulers in the run, who can just allow for Miami to eat the clock and control the ball if they want to. Miami's OL is the worst of all worlds. Constantly injured, not great at not drawing penalties, not great at run or pass-blocking, can't pick-up stunts, can't ever be trusted one-on-one.

[@c2jones]

@ThatFalloutGod Some clarifications. Tua's injuries, particularly the worst of them, had nothing to do with the OL. I can see that you're honed in on making OL the blame for everything (though you do acknowledge that errors in the receiving game, though you've tellingly left out errors at the crucial QB position), but I could pose counters to some of this take. Tua has had injury history long before he came to the Dolphins. Let's be clear and honest. The first "concussion" came from a clear late hit after the whistle. Would you like the OL to continue blocking after the whistle? The 2nd concussion was with him being picked up and body slammed to the ground. That could generate an injury to any NFL QB. The 3rd so-called concussion (never affirmed by the NFL) came from a fluke hit on the helmet, having nothing to do with the blocking. And the one he suffered the other night came as a result of him leading with his head into defenders. The hit wasn't so violent. It's normal in the NFL. Tua is especially fragile in the head area. Nevertheless, that had zero bearing on the OL. Finally, don't look now, but Connor's current PFF score is 64.3. Aaron Brewer's is 74.6. In fact, all of the players swapped from Seattle easily outscore those who departed here and went to Seattle.

[@ThatFalloutGod]

​@@c2jones These aren't "clarifications," they're attempts to excuse Grier's malpractice in building an OL, the most important part of an offense after quarterback and coaching. And I've never said the OL shoulders every percentage of the blame when it comes to Tua's injuries in Miami (and if I have, let me amend that), my point has always been that they're the biggest cause of his major injuries (directly and indirectly), and have handicapped the offense to the nth degree. You're "counters" aren't anything you've actually thought-out, they're just mindless talking-points that're easily debunked by anyone who cares to take the ten minutes it'd take to think about and check the context of these "points." Of Tua's major injuries in Miami, because you either don't remember them at all and didn't bother to check the clips, or are lying for some reason: >I don't care about him accidentally injuring his hand by hitting someone's helmet in practice, that's not on anyone. >The rib injury against Buffalo in '21 was because Jesse Davis was atrocious and got blown past by the rusher. (Granted, Tua could've and wanted to play despite this injury, but Flores despised Tua and benched him until he literally couldn't against Baltimore, where he required him to, for the umpteenth time, bail him out of his shitty coaching.) >The first concussion of '22 was against Buffalo, where there was a free rusher off the right, Armstead getting pushed into the pocket, and a DT coming free soon enough. That's because of the OL (and Milano being shitty). >The second one against Cincy was on a bootleg where a mediocre group of four pass-rushers made the entire OL look pathetic and useless, while also having Smythe be a block and release, with Ingold also kind of doing that alongside the rollout. I don't put this entirely on the OL. Tua should've kept running for the edge, using Ingold as a blocker or waiting for the defender to bite-down on him so he can dump it off to Ingold (whatever they hopefully practiced). This was an instance of Tua either holding onto the ball too long or trying to turn nothing into something with his arm instead of just using his legs, I wholeheartedly agree. Also, the OL can't look like that abomination against a mediocre group of four guys on a bootleg, it's unacceptable garbage. >The third one against Green Bay had the OL with three block and releases/chip-blocks, *again*, getting tossed around like children against a stock, mediocre pass-rush. Tua got the ball out, like he was supposed to, but got tackled from behind and never knew the guy was behind him. >A shoulder injury against Baltimore last year that I couldn't find a clip of quickly, so I don't know who to blame. >This new concussion against Buffalo last week, which wasn't entirely on the OL, but it was. It was also on McDaniel for not having Tyreek, Waddle, and Berrios in on crucial plays that put Miami behind the eight ball. It was also on the WRs for not doing their job and allowing for "two interceptions." It was also on the defense for being pitiful all night. Fucking Eichenberg was the best guy on the line that game, and that's saying something. On that play, they all (except for Eichenberg) got shoved back five yards immediately, and the RB failed to cut-block the extra blitzer. People wanted to immediately jump to blaming Tua, because in the moment, it was, "Well, you gotta know where the marker is and just slide," even though he would've had to start sliding right at the marker, which means it'd depend on the spot the refs gave them. Also, there's no guarantee him sliding doesn't also result in Hamlin accidentally hitting him and bouncing his head off the turf. You could say, "Well, Tua should've done a sort of juke/dive to the right of Hamlin to avoid the hit and gain the first," but that's from the comfort of your own home, with hindsight, not in Tua's shoes in that moment. I'm all for critiquing players, but at some point it's just dipshits on Twitter thinking they're not basically retarded in terms of physically playing the sport, and think it's all like Madden. I don't believe in the myth of "injury-prone," it's just a bullshit talking-point morons on television made-up to sound smarter than they actually are. There's no rhyme nor reason to how injuries occur. There are plenty of times where a player borderline never gets injured playing football their whole life, and someone who played the same amount of time in the same fashion gets injured all the time. It's basically all luck (or lack thereof). Unless someone's bringing some undeniable proof about a player having an issue with their physiology, I don't want to hear about them being "injury-prone." I don't care about PFF's scores, they're never consistent and rarely make sense within the realm of reality. If you had to choose between Williams and Brewer to be on this OL right now, you'd choose Williams without hesitation because you know he's good at the job and better than Brewer, plus he's proven more. Hell, the number of errant snaps I've seen from Brewer in just two games, forcing Tua to bail him out of a majorly negative play, is vomit-inducing. PFF is the epitome of, "I use them when they favor the position I'm defending right now, but as soon as they contradict me, I hate them." You know, I know, we all know plenty of instances where PFF gives a high or low grade for a player who did the complete opposite, and yet we're supposed to act like they're the Gospel? No thanks. And just to explicitly make a point so it's not lost or misunderstood, the OL contributes to QB injuries in quasi indirect ways as well. When they're not able to do their job well enough that they kill drives and plays, or don't allow you to just take the air out of the ball, that means your QB is kind of being forced to play "Hero Ball" to make-up the difference. This also goes for coaching, because I blame McDaniel a whole of the problems last year due to his shitty play-calling, it's just this year it's been a whole lot better. But McDaniel fucking up on those crucial downs and causing those interceptions, just put more pressure on Tua to put the team on his back. It's not quantifiable, scientific way to dissect this shit, but it's something we can't deny contributing to the problem. And we can't just say, "The OL isn't to blame for Tua's worst injuries," because, despite what so many people wish to tell others, we have eyes we can fucking use them. If Miami had Detroit's OL for the last three years, do you think Tua has all of those same injuries? If you answer anything but, "No," you're either delusional or lying.

[@bryanjenkins496]

This puts a lot of pressure on the offense to be mistake free. No holding calls , no false starts ,and getting the play in on time .

[@c2jones]

@@bryanjenkins496 That's true of all teams. No?

[@juanb7708]

Second

[@vibevie6986]

first!

[@joefried6604]

Probably some of your worst work Poo Pooing bad O - Line play No actual brake down

[@rydermcconville]

I was using the film to explain the offensive line philosophy because most of the stuff I hear about the OL lacks any depth. Not sure how it's not a breakdown.

[@joefried6604]

@@rydermcconville ok makes sense

[@c2jones]

@@joefried6604 Breakdown is what you mean. But he certainly did break this down. Very illustrative as well.

[@69corona13]

R jones needs to be benched and also Eichenberg needs to be replaced