Season Summary:
The Miami Dolphins headed into the 2013 season with a lot of enthusiasm. After splurging in free agency by handing out over $120 million to Mike Wallace, Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler, the Dolphins believed they had improved enough to make their first playoff appearance since 2008.
They went on to win their first three games, two against playoff teams from the year prior, and all the desperation moves Jeff Ireland made seemed like they were finally paying off. The Dolphins won five of their next eleven games, and needed only one more win in their final two games to make the playoffs.
They were outscored 39-7 and lost both games, finishing the season 8-8. Jeff Ireland and Mike Sherman where subsequently fired and replaced by Dennis Hickey and Bill Lazor. The Dolphins finished the season ranked 27th in total offense and 21st in total defense, and have the 19th pick in the NFL draft.
Needs:
1) Offensive tackle: Bryant McKinnie, Tyson Clabo and Will Yeatman are all set to become free agents. Jonathan Martin is also not expected back after the bullying incident with Richie Incognito. With Ryan Tannehill getting sacked a league-leading 58 times in 2013, the Dolphins have to make protecting their young QB a priority.
2) Guard: The Dolphins are in need of two new starting guards. Neither Richie Incognito nor John Jerry is expected back next year. According to the Ted Wells report, both were responsible for the harassment of teammate Jonathan Martin. After finishing the season as only the 26th ranked rushing offense, introducing two new starters might be just what the Dolphins need.
3) Defensive Tackle: Starters Paul Soliai and Randy Starks are set to become free agents, and only one of them is expected to be re-signed. The Dolphins could turn to former first-round pick Jared Odrick and draft a developmental guy later, or spend a high pick on a new starter.
4) Running Back: As a team, the Dolphins ran for 1,440 yards with a 4.1-yard per carry average in 2013. Ryan Tannehill, Mike Wallace and Charles Clay ran for 286 yards and a 5.7 avg - that means that all of the Dolphins running backs ran for only 1,154 yards with a pitiful 3.8 average. A lot of the blame could be put on the offensive line play, but neither Lamar Miller nor Daniel Thomas is the running back of the future for the Dolphins.
5) Linebacker: Koa Misi, Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler are all returning and are going to start for the Dolphins at least for another year. Ellerbe and Wheeler were supposed to be an improvement from Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett; instead they were extremely disappointing in their first year in Miami. The Dolphins dropped from 13th against the run in 2012 to 24th last year. They should spend a late-round draft pick on a developmental guy to groom behind the starters.
Targets:
Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: Lewan entered the 2013 season as a projected top-10 pick. He was a four-year starter at LT and was supposed to be the next great Michigan lineman. He is not yet at the same level as former Miami Dolphin and first overall pick Jake Long, but he has all the tools to be just as good. He can come in from day one and be a dominant run blocker capable of plowing defenders out of the way. He needs to improve his technique as a pass blocker, but has all the tools to be a ten-year starter at LT.
Zach Martin, OT, Notre Dame: Martin started 52 straight games for Notre Dame, a school record for offensive linemen. He also was the MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers, and a two-time team captain. He is a high-character, highly-respected individual and has all the intangibles you want in a player. The only thing keeping him from being considered with the top offensive tackles is his height – he’s only 6-4. After the Richie Incognito incident, Zach Martin can be the perfect player for the Dolphins.
Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA: Su’a-Filo began his college career as a 13-game starter at LT. He then ventured off on a two year Mormon mission. Upon his return to school, head coach Jim Mora moved him to guard, where his strength as a dominant run blocker helped him flourish into one of the best guards in the country. He can come in and single-handedly improve the Dolphins’ running game.
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David Yankey, OG, Stanford: Yankey is a solid all-around player. He’s just as good in pass protection as he is as a run blocker. He’s at his best when he’s on the move pulling and plowing defenders, as evidenced by the game against Oregon where Tyler Gaffney ran for 157 yards - mostly behind Yankey.
Da’Quan Jones, DT, Penn State: Jones could be the perfect replacement for Paul Soliai if the Dolphins opt against re-signing him. Like Soliai, Jones is a huge, run-stuffing DT, standing 6’4 and 322 lbs. He is a big man who can help the Dolphins struggling rushing defense and could be available in the second or third round.
Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton: Reid ended his college career with 20.5 sacks and was selected to the all-Ivy League first team three times. He is a ferocious pass rusher who helped his draft stock with a dominant week at the Senior Bowl. He capped off an excellent week of practice with a great game where he sacked Logan Thomas on back-to-back plays. Reid is someone the Dolphins could target with their third round pick.
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Andre Williams, RB, Boston College: Williams was fourth in Heisman voting in 2013, and finished the season on the AP All-American first team. He ran for 2,177 yards and 18 touchdowns, and even with all this production, he could be available when the Dolphins’ fourth or fifth round picks come around. Williams isn’t exceptionally great at anything, but he’s a strong one-cut running back who can do better than the the disappointing Daniel Thomas.
Terrence West, RB, Towson: West finished his junior season running for an FCS single-season record 2,509 yards and 42 total touchdowns. Even if it was against weaker competition, West was able to dominate every game for the Towson Tigers. He is thickly built, standing 5’9 225 lbs, and doesn’t come down easy after first contact. He has a nose for the end zone, with 86 career touchdowns, and could help the Dolphins in that regard. He should be available for the Dolphins in the fourth round.
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Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin: Borland has been compared to former Miami Dolphin Zach Thomas for most of his career. Just like Thomas, Borland, at 5’11 and 248 lbs, is an undersized linebacker with a nose for the ball. Borland isn’t the fastest or most agile LB, but he has great instincts and is a confident tackler. His height and speed may lead him to fall down the board come draft day, which could create a perfect opportunity for the Dolphins to snatch him up in the late second or third round.
Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford: Skov is another run-stuffing, instinctual LB that could help the Dolphins’ regressing rush defense. He has a nose for the ball and was a big reason why Stanford was able to shut down Oregon’s highly explosive offense. He has the prototypical body for a linebacker, standing at 6’2, 245 lbs, but he doesn’t have the athleticism to go in the first round or two. He struggles covering running backs out of the backfield and projects more as a two-down, run-stopping LB. Skov should be available in the third or fourth round.
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