Which Dolphins Have Most on the Line in Final Weeks
With the Miami Dolphins’ season nearing the end of the line and the team all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the men in the locker room must find a way to be motivated to play well in the last two games of the season.
For some, the motivation will come from personal pride. Others will be auditioning for their next coaching staff.
The Dolphins have some significant salary-cap decisions to make this offseason, so for pending free agents and veterans who could be cut to open space, the next two games could be huge.
As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported, Miami’s loss to the New England Patriots likely seals head coach Joe Philbin’s exit from the team.
We’re going to look at the seven players who can either help themselves cash in with a strong finish to the season or at least solidify their places on the roster. Not all players are likely to be back on the Dolphins’ roster next year, as turnover always occurs with coaching changes.
Can Ryan Tannehill Draw in a Big Fish?
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To make the Miami Dolphins’ head coaching position the most enticing on the market, quarterback Ryan Tannehill will need to close out the season in strong fashion. Tannehill has undoubtedly gotten better this year, cutting down on mistakes and extending plays outside of the pocket more consistently.
Unless something drastic changes for Tannehill, he seems to be an above-average quarterback compared to his peers, but not good enough to be elite. Miami can win with a top-12 quarterback, but it’s going to take a much stronger surrounding cast.
Tannehill’s contract is cheap for one more season, as he will count just over $4 million against the cap in 2015 according to Spotrac.com. After that, Miami must decide if they can upgrade, as his team option will kick in for 2016.
If Tannehill can lead Miami to a pair of wins against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets, top coaching candidates will more likely be interested in leading the Dolphins. Even if Tannehill is replaced in coming seasons, he can keep Miami competitive with little help around him, as we’ve seen in his first three years.
A Final Farewell for Randy Starks
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Randy Starks returned to the Dolphins this past offseason after failing to find any compelling free-agent offers from other teams. According to Spotrac, His two-year contract with Miami allows the team to save $5 million in cap space if they move on from the 31-year old, which right now is a good option.
Starks was once part of a fearsome three-man defensive tackle rotation, but he’s faded down the stretch and is a major reason for the Dolphins’ struggles stopping the run. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Starks has been the sixth-worst run-stopping tackle in 2014, and has only created 10 quarterback hurries, which is 30th in the league.
Since Miami needs to trim some veterans to open up cap space, its highly likely Starks will be playing for another team in 2015. If he can be the force he has been in previous seasons in these next two games, he may land a nice payday and role elsewhere.
What Can Charles Clay Provide?
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Our suspicions that Charles Clay was playing hurt were finally confirmed last month when Chris Perkins of the Sun-Sentinel reported that the tight end's knee continues to be an issue. Not only has Clay seemed to be absent in most games, but the offense hasn’t featured him as a main weapon like last season.
Clay has seen his numbers decline sharply, averaging just 37.2 yards a game and scoring twice all season. He deserves praise for playing through injury, but whether or not he’s back in Miami likely depends on the contract he seeks.
At 6’3” and 245 pounds, Clay is not the big body Miami desperately needs in the red zone. He’s already showing knee troubles at 25, and his lack of production in 2014 is a concern. That’s why the next two games could be major factors in whether the Dolphins re-sign Clay.
Having a vertical threat at tight end forces big mismatches for an offense, an area in which Clay showed his potential last year. He abused defenses on seam routes and averaged 47.4 yards a game in his first season starting in 2013.
If that’s the player that Clay will be moving forward, Miami should keep him. If his athleticism has been sapped by injuries, Clay could be looking elsewhere for a payday.
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Jared Odrick Must Be Retained
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Defensive tackle Jared Odrick could become the first former first-round pick to be re-signed since Ronnie Brown, and he’s highly deserving. In the midst of a terrible stretch for the Dolphins defense, Odrick has been the best defensive lineman for the unit.
Odrick grades as the 20th-best tackle in the NFL by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) and flirted with a top-10 grade at the end of last month. He’s played the third-most snaps of all 4-3 defensive tackles, which is likely a major reason for his slight regression over the last few weeks.
Miami has the luxury of using Odrick as a tackle and an end, and if the Dolphins don’t re-sign him, he is likely to draw significant interest elsewhere. He’s a leader in the Dolphins’ locker room and has been a consistent contributor since playing heavy snaps the last two years.
Brandon Gibson's Swan Song
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Another player likely to be on the cutting block because of his price tag in 2015, Brandon Gibson needs to have two solid games to be considered a notable free agent.
After suffering a torn ACL midway through 2013, Gibson hasn’t been able to recapture the magic he flashed a few times this season.
Miami stands to add $3.26 million by releasing Gibson, and with rookie Matt Hazel on the practice squad, Gibson will be replaced with a younger, cheaper player. Gibson has been inconsistent in 2014, dropping four passes and failing to be the red-zone playmaker he was in 2013.
He’s averaging just 18 yards a game this season.
Can Koa Misi Stay Healthy?
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In his first season at middle linebacker, Koa Misi has been a nice stopgap option as the Dolphins desperately needed to find a viable player to play the Mike role. Misi has been better than expected but also has continued to miss a lot of time due to injuries.
According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Misi has played just 473 snaps this season. Unfortunately, Misi has a history of missing time, and as he approaches 30 years old in a few years, his body is not going to just shed the wear and tear.
Considering that cutting Misi will save the Dolphins about $2.7 million this offseason, it's a move that must at least be entertained.
The Dolphins defense sorely lacks a playmaking linebacker to put next to Jelani Jenkins, and a new coaching staff may decide to move Dion Jordan to the strong-side linebacker spot. If that is the case, Miami could revamp that unit by adding a young inside linebacker in the 2015 NFL draft and be set there for the next decade.
If Misi can close out the season in a stronger fashion than the last few games, he may be spared and moved back to the strong side. He’s not a great athlete but can fulfill his responsibilities effectively.
Jamar Taylor's Time to Shine
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With Cortland Finnegan’s announcement to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald that he will likely retire after the season if Miami doesn’t retain him and his $6.5 million contract, Jamar Taylor needs to be earning the majority of reps the next two weeks.
Taylor has seen just 261 snaps this season, in part due to injury but also because Miami hasn’t tried to develop him. That needs to change with two games left.
Taylor may be the starting cornerback in 2015, and while he’s physically capable of being a good No. 2 corner, it’s hard to improve with such little time spent on the field. Now is an opportunity to get him around 100 snaps and prepare for 2015.
Facing young quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Geno Smith can also be good for Taylor. Bridgewater has looked particularly solid in his rookie season but is unlikely to challenge Taylor like Peyton Manning did.
All stats used are from Sports-Reference.com.
Ian Wharton is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, contributor for Optimum Scouting and analyst for eDraft.
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