Miami Dolphins: Building like Broncos under Adam Gase
The obvious link is head coach Adam Gase, but the Miami Dolphins are looking more and more like the Broncos’ teams he was a part of in Denver.
There is something going on with the Miami Dolphins that people aren’t really taking notice of. The casual fan in enamored by big names and splash moves. They equate that with winning and being successful in the offseason. However, the Dolphins have fallen victim to this time and time again in the past.
The truly successful teams add parts that fit what they are trying to do and patch holes with proven veterans that no longer command a massive contract. We saw Denver do this with guys like Demarcus Ware and the Dolphins with Josh Sitton.
The similarities to Gase’s Broncos and Dolphins are becoming glaring. It’s more clear on defense, but we will start on offense. His line in Miami is now looking a lot more like his line in Denver and that will show up in a major way when you watch the rushing attack. He’s also placing talented backs that are well-rounded and, most importantly, can catch passes behind that line.
The receivers are set up to exhaust defenses with a dink-and-dunk attack with players that can take the top of a defense after pulling in the safeties and lulling them to sleep with short passes and runs. Rookie tight end Mike Gesicki will immediately step into the Julius Thomas role as an athletic seam threat and big time option in the red zone.
Just like in Denver, Ryan Tannehill won’t be asked to do a lot which was exactly how the Broncos won. It sounds strange to say, but by every metric, the Peyton Manning that won a ring in Denver was the worst starting quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl. We will watch Kenyan Drake and Albert Wilson become household names this season and the Dolphins will win football games by limiting mistakes on offense and picking teams apart with short passes.
The defense is clearly being built like Denver’s vaunted “No Fly Zone.” Xavien Howard is their top corner and there are a handful of players that will have an opportunity to be a strong No. 2 opposite him. I believe it will be Tony Lippett.
Bobby McCain has been extended to be the stopper in the slot teams desperately need in today’s NFL. Behind the defense Miami has two proven Pro-Bowl caliber safeties in Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald, in addition first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick, who may be the best of the three.
One of the key pieces to the Broncos defense was Brandon Marshall, who was burdened with the task of covering elite pass-catching backs and tight ends. We have seen Miami add Jerome Baker for this same job and potentially even McDonald can be moved down from his safety position. Raekwon McMillan will be the run stopper up the middle and as of now Kiko Alonso should be much better this season when not being asked to do things he simply can’t do. It’s a make-or-break year for him.
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The defensive line is stocked with pass rushers and versatile weapons that can play all over the line and rotate in and out. This actually reminds me more of the Seattle Seahawks inside but outside Cameron Wake will play the still talented veteran role who makes key plays with Charles Harris stepping in as the young up-and-comer. Andre Branch, Robert Quinn and William Hayes will also be in that mix.
The key cog the Dolphins are still missing is the Von Miller role. The standup pass-rushing disruptor who can just ruin a game. Quinn may fill that role this year and we’ve seen him be great with the Rams. With that said, I’m willing to bet we see them draft that guy in the first round next season assuming they aren’t in the market for a quarterback.