That's terrible news. I was low key rooting for him as a local (NH/Boston) graduate. Hope it's just for this season, at worst.Hunter Long carted off at practice today. Ugh.
Hunter Long carted off at practice today. Ugh.
Some possible good news:That's terrible news. I was low key rooting for him as a local (NH/Boston) graduate. Hope it's just for this season, at worst.
I spoke with one source who said Dolphins TE Hunter Long’s injury is not believed to be season-ending. So it does sound as if it may not be as bad as appeared when Long was carted off with a lower-body injury Sunday. - Joe Schad
Some good news on Long. Hate to say it, but a fracture or a break is better both short and long term than an ACL. Obviously we have no idea what is actually wrong, but he can come back from a break, whereas he is out for the year with an ACL.Some possible good news:
Yup. Great news. BC guy here so I got to watch him a lot and he’s just so solid and seemingly a really good kid too. Rooting for him.Some good news on Long. Hate to say it, but a fracture or a break is better both short and long term than an ACL. Obviously we have no idea what is actually wrong, but he can come back from a break, whereas he is out for the year with an ACL.
I haven’t been able to discern if Eichenberg at LG is because Kindley has been bad or if Eichenberg looked worse at RT.
I suppose a net starter in Eichenberg is a positive, but has to be a little disappointing that Jesse Davis is once again in the starting rotation regardless. Davis is a nice, flexible depth guy, but playoff teams should be phasing guys like Davis out of their starting rotation.
If it comes down to Davis at RT>Kindley at LG, Kindley must have looked pretty bad.
It was unanimous amongst the voices that I listened to heading into the draft that Eichenberg was an interior lineman.I haven’t been able to discern if Eichenberg at LG is because Kindley has been bad or if Eichenberg looked worse at RT.
Interesting. I certainly can buy him being a better fit at guard, however it’s surprising that Miami would trade up for him in round 2 and then abandon the RT experiment when they gave Robert Hunt nearly a full year there.It was unanimous amongst the voices that I listened to heading into the draft that Eichenberg was an interior lineman.
Most pointed to how short his arms are. I know the importance of such measurables Is debatable, but certain benchmarks do exist for a reason. Under 33” and being a starting tackle would have really made him an exception.
Because of that I’m not really surprised if he winds up at Guard. I did question trading up for him if he was likely to play inside, but I figured they drafted him expecting him to be a solid starting Guard with positional flexibility being a bonus.
Plus with time he still could develop into a tackle. With the whole shorter arm thing, it provides less margin for error. Technique needs to be near perfect, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s not up to that challenge as a rookie.
Edit* - Might be worth noting that having smaller arms was a trait across the board for most of the tackles in this past draft, so not sure if it was merely an oddity or a paradigm shift of sorts. See if the exceptions close in on the norm, or we see quite a few guys wind up inside.
That's great news. Hope he fully recovers soon, as long as he drops a couple against the PatsAnother Hunter Long update:
View: https://twitter.com/schadjoe/status/1425456551393955846?s=21
Not holding my breath because they said Preston Williams was day to day and he still isn’t on the field 8 months later, and Flores is intentionally obtuse about injuries. That being said, if he travelled with the team to Chicago, that’s a good sign.
Not sure if the question is whether or not he’s a better long term guard. He likely is. The question is he a better tackle than Jesse Davis in 2021/is Davis a better RT than Kindley is a LG.Eich had sub 32.5 inch arms (32.38) and lacked reactive quickness. Both showed up on his tape and made many think he needed to kick inside. I would imagine he’s a better guard than an OT but YMMV.
Honestly I’m a skeptic when it comes to the Fins OL (I also am not super high on the Fins this year in general - even though I was a huge Waddle and Phillips guy draft wise). I think the problem is 4/5 guys are relatively unproven and need to step up their play and the other guy, Davis, is a proven commodity but he has been proven to be a bottom third of the league OT.Not sure if the question is whether or not he’s a better long term guard. He likely is. The question is he a better tackle than Jesse Davis in 2021/is Davis a better RT than Kindley is a LG.
I know OL decisions aren’t made in a vacuum and it’s more about having your best 5 out there. But having Davis penciled in as the 1st team blindside protector for Tua makes me a little queasy.
Jackson-Kindley-Dieter-Hunt-DavisWho played what position on the OL? Did Robert Hunt get any time and did he look good? How did Eich fare? I love OL play and it is by far my favorite positional group. Fins are one of the teams I’d like to follow because I have a lot of skepticism about their line and reliance on younger players to make a difference.
Still can’t believe the Dolphins took Waddle over Sewell. And I’m a Bama fan.Honestly I’m a skeptic when it comes to the Fins OL (I also am not super high on the Fins this year in general - even though I was a huge Waddle and Phillips guy draft wise). I think the problem is 4/5 guys are relatively unproven and need to step up their play and the other guy, Davis, is a proven commodity but he has been proven to be a bottom third of the league OT.
LT: Jackson. I was never a fan but I won't discount his athleticism. His issues were he never played that well in college and some of that was because his final year he was recovering from surgery (he did an amazing thing as a human being). Last year he struggled as a rookie. PFF had him 71st out of 75 OTs. I use PFF as a directional tool for OL. Unlike secondary it is easier to grade OL play. He needs to step up.
Interior OL is probably going to be a combination of: Eichenberg (who could in theory play RT), Robert Hunt (he has 33.5 inch arms and played OT in college - could play there in NFL), Deiter (C or OG), and Kindley (OG only). I wasn't particularly high on Kindley or Deiter coming out and I was also lower on Eich than consensus especially at OT. You see maybe 1-2 starting OT per year with sub 33 inch arms and usually they struggle. Kindley had issues at OG last year ranking 70th out of 80 according to PFF. I liked Hunt a lot coming out but he got no snaps last year. Deiter only had 23 snaps. If the starting IOL is Eich at LG, Deiter at C, and Hunt at RG your entire IOL will have only 23 NFL snaps. That could be an issue.
RT: Davis is a below average starter but he has a floor at that. He's consistently mediocre. Eich or Hunt could challenge him.
Aside from Davis who is what he is at this point you are looking at counting on rookies or 2nd year guys to step up and that's not a great proposition. It could work out ok. If Tua handles pressure better than he did last year that would help mitigate a leaky line. Worst case scenario though is that the OL is a major issue and impedes the offense in both the run and pass game.
Edit: Forgot about Skura. He could be their OC. He isn't exactly inspiring either.
Not that crazy. They had Tunsil and won nothing of consequence. They had Jake Long and won nothing of consequence.Still can’t believe the Dolphins took Waddle over Sewell. And I’m a Bama fan.
I think Waddle was brought here, not only to stretch the field, but to be the guy that can shake his man and uncover quickly in pressure situations.If the run blocking leaves something to be desired, my hope is that Fuller and Waddle can remain healthy, and between the two OC’s there’s enough creativity between them to create a scheme that uses them to replace some of the running game, which then should help put the e defenses on their toes and help open up the actual run game.
To me the biggest difference this year is you have those guys (hopefully) on the field, and you can run jet packages, a short passing game, screen game (with Gaskin) that a defense actually has to fear and respect.
Maybe I’m simply being naive, but it’s not a stretch for me to envision such things and hold the belief that it can take some of the pressure off of a developing offensive line.
From what I gather, he’s played predominantly in the slot so far. In the Twitter clip, you see in a nutshell what makes him special. That angle doesn’t fully do it justice, but he creates a ton of separation out of his break, against physical press coverage, and is able to change direction on a dime and hit full speed in the blink of an eye.It’s hard for me not to get excited about the Patriots rivals when every team has guys on it I like. Also I am a huge fan of Flores and want him to succeed. My guys on the Fins: Waddle, Holland, and Hunt are my top 3.
Waddle would have been the Heisman trophy winner had he not gotten hurt. He was the featured receiver and not only did they scheme him touches but he regularly shook whatever coverage he was up against. He roasted one of the Georgia corners this year (I think it was Campbell) for a ~90 yard TD. That hit he took against Missouri to make a catch over the middle in double coverage was incredible. He could be just as dominant as Tyreek Hill without being (as far as we know) an awful human being. Patriots fans and I think anyone who plays against the Fins will learn to respect but fear him. I very well could be wrong. He has some risk to his profile but his best case outcome and what he could be is nothing short of a top 5 receiver in the NFL. Best RAC this year or last. The way he sees the field is extraordinary.
If you don’t mind me asking - has he gotten outside reps or mostly slot? I think he can play both. Obviously I’ll be rooting for the Pats when these teams play but I’ll still be excited to watch this young man develop.
The little of what we’ve seen from the Godsey/Studesville braintrust, I’ve really liked.We’ve reached the point where I don’t even want to do a “Miami Dolphins” Google search, as I have a good idea in regards to where everything stands, so now it’s just holding my breath and hoping for no injuries heading into Week 1.
It was nice to see Waddle on the jet sweep and getting him, Grant and the backs involved in a quick passing game, as I had thought that could help open up the running game, it questioned if the OC’s would be creative enough to employ it...so happy that the answer seems to be yes. And I’d have to imagine there will be even more creativity when the games matter and the receiving unit is at full strength.
Made funnier by the fact that this dude is also wrong.
I really wanted it to be signed "Tua's Mother" (#WelcomeBackKotter)
Would be relevant if this was Minkah related.I really wanted it to be signed "Tua's Mother" (#WelcomeBackKotter)
Ditto. Posted this in the Watson thread:Tired of hearing the Watson trade rumors.
I’m truly hoping this is essentially leaking from Watson’s agent or Houston to try and drum up a trade market. Flores and Grier have built a ton of good faith in a short amount of time, but they risk destabilizing not only the team, but a large chunk of the fan base if they trade for Watson.Lifelong Dolphins fan here, and I would stop supporting the team if they trade for Watson. Now, I know literally no one would care. And I also make a point not to go around moralizing when it comes to complicated, ambiguous stuff like this. Surely I’ve cheered on other players guilty of assault — and probably worse — over the years. But the pattern of allegations against Watson is staggering, and paints the picture of a serial sexual offender.
I just can’t comprehend how Chris Grier and Brian Flores might endorse this type of move, even if from a pure football standpoint it makes sense. We tend to forgive a lot when it comes to athletes, but is there not a line somewhere?
I’m 36 and still love the NFL. But I’m not loyal enough to laundry and fond memories of Dan Marino for this to be OK.
Unverified podcast host throws a rumor out there because he has nothing to lose and something to gain.
Plenty of room on the Patriots bandwagon after the last few seasons!Lifelong Dolphins fan here, and I would stop supporting the team if they trade for Watson. Now, I know literally no one would care. And I also make a point not to go around moralizing when it comes to complicated, ambiguous stuff like this. Surely I’ve cheered on other players guilty of assault — and probably worse — over the years. But the pattern of allegations against Watson is staggering, and paints the picture of a serial sexual offender.
I just can’t comprehend how Chris Grier and Brian Flores might endorse this type of move, even if from a pure football standpoint it makes sense. We tend to forgive a lot when it comes to athletes, but is there not a line somewhere?
I’m 36 and still love the NFL. But I’m not loyal enough to laundry and fond memories of Dan Marino for this to be OK.
The Texans haven't agreed to trade Watson to the Miami Dolphins, the primary suitor for the former Clemson star, and no deal is regarded as imminent despite a lot of conversations and speculation surrounding the three-time Pro Bowl selection, according to multiple league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
"Untrue," one source stated.
"Denied," another source stated.
While the Dolphins have talked with the Texans, there hasn't been an offer commensurate with what the AFC South franchise wants in exchange for one of the most dynamic players in the game. The Texans want at least three first-round draft picks, two second-round draft picks and players to consider parting ways with a player as talented as Watson.
Watson would waive his no-trade clause for the Dolphins, according to multiple sources, just as he would have for the Carolina Panthers. However, the Panthers, per sources, are sticking with quarterback Sam Darnold at this time after acquiring him in a trade from the New York Jets. The Denver Broncos are sticking with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
And the Philadelphia Eagles, whose general manager Howie Roseman has conducted extensive due diligence into Watson's complicated off-field situation, as have other NFL teams, aren't one of the teams Watson would waive his no-trade clause for, according to league sources.
The Dolphins haven't closed the door on potentially acquiring Watson, nor have they made a final decision on second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has made strides during the preseason. With the Dolphins not inclined to bid against themselves, any trade discussion has reached an impasse.