THINK IN LEVERAGE 👀

By now you've made up your mind about the 2025 Miami Dolphins roster. You've carefully established your opinion based on past years. You've evaluated the pre-draft roster and gone through the feels. But are you right?

The 2024 season was a disappointment for all of us. We expected a better product and got an injured Jevon Holland, Tua for 6 games, and worse offensive line than we thought possible (stop reading PFF general stats 🤦‍♂️). Our defense once again took time to get it right and was wish washy at best. Our high inspiring (the term high is subjective 👀) head coach seemed to be lost with his play calling and adjustments. Our running game from the outside disappeared and we didn't have a leg to stand on from the inside rush either. We've lost Calais Campbell (who was an incredible DT addition) along with Terron Armstead (hard to replace a 5 time pro-bowler LT... Though he played only a few games healthy). So are you correct in your 2025 speculation?

Let's think of it from a LEVERAGE perspective...

Right off the bat I'm thinking about Phillips and Chubb injuries. So we lost Calais. The leverage from the pass rush came from the interior of Seiler, Calais and Chop ate on the outside. Add in another stud Edge like Phillips or Chubb and that pass rush leverage recalibrates back similarly to 2023. Imagine Chop, Phillips, Seiler on the field plus I'm sure they will add a high quality DT in the draft (Think anywhere from Walter Nolan to Shemar Turner). Calais was a nice surprise considering the switch to a 3-4 base and how it's primarily a run stuff. It countered the loss at edge. We will be getting back to business, expect the offensive line to be just as dangerous and possibly more consistent against the run.

Let's look at the offensive line and run leverages. The Fins OL was abysmal in 24'. Austin Jackson out, Armstead only played 5 games mildly healthy, Robert Jones and Liam Eichenburg starting inside has me talking to my wife like she's a therapist. You might as well compare this line to the UFL... The Fins outside run leverage was awesome in 23' yet in 24' it was bottom of the league. The inside run was flag football level. You just didn't see it called and when it was, the attempt was futile. Adding Alexander Mattison(RB) and James Daniels(IOL) is a telling sign that they plan on establishing an inside run leverage in 25'. Expect a Left Guard addition in the Draft or free agency post draft.

Establishing an inside run leverage is key to opening up the field!

The secondary is an easy one. CB2 needs to be replaced. Safety is easily replaced since our starting safeties played putrid last year. Asante Samuel Jr. (CB) could be nice in free agency. We've added some decent safeties however I'd be looking for Lathen Ransom or someone of the sort anywhere from 135 to 155 in the draft. Safety has become an easier job in most cases because the revolution to play mostly 2 high all around the league. Still, it's vital to establish an over-pressuring leverage in the secondary to give your pass rush time to hit home. 🏡

This brings us to the point that everyone wants to talk about. The one that has X posts in flames being ratiod. 🔥 Can Tua deliver the pass?

Let's bring it all together. There was no inside and outside run leverage. The vertical was stripped because of an insane 2.03 seconds time in pocket (worse than 23' which was the worst in the NFL). This forced Tua into predominant quick read and the offense was so terrible and terribly injured that sending 4 defenders while dropping multiple in coverage was mandatory. Long story short, Tua had less time, no run game to leverage the defense backwards, and more coverage to read through than T-Mobile... 📱

So to answer your question, can Tua make the pass? Yes...yes he can. He's shown you this for 3 years despite a terrible situation that has progressively gotten worse. Inarguably the Fins offense was the least Quarterback friendly offense in the NFL. Unless you'd like to argue that being forced into screens is the only thing Tua is good at. If so I'd encourage you to go watch 22' and 23' tape then go sit in the corner of the room with a dunce hat. 💀

The Dolphins will break the Vegas odds in 2025. It's simple, you are looking at a team that had no run leverage, no deep passing yards, and a difficulty with stopping the run for half of the year. I'm willing to bet that this is the target of change in 2025 and the recent team moves seem to suggest that. Now on to the Draft!

Thanks for reading!

TDR (That Dolphins Realtor)

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