Following last weekend’s Super Bowl, I asked the following question:
What did you, as a Miami Dolphins fan, see from last evening’s game and victory by the Seahawks that you hope the new front office and coaching staff employ in their own plan to rebuild this team to something that looks respectable? On the other side of things, what did you see Seattle do that you hope the Dolphins do not grasp onto in their own rebuild?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
cyberflea says that building up those lines is the way to go.
The key is a dominant defensive line. Football games are won and lost on the line of scrimmage. This is where Sully as he mentioned will build the Dolphins from the inside – out. Offensive and defensive lines.
JUK, in a reply to cyberflea, just pointed out a couple of things about how the Seahawks were built.
Not disagreeing about line play but worth noting Seattle didn’t build inside out as such. They just got good players in. Their o line isn’t a strength of the team and is one of the cheapest in the league (albeit before giving cross a new contract). Interestingly they drafted all their o line but not on the d line.
Dave G says that it proves that you can still win a Super Bowl without a top-notch quarterback.
We could win a SB without a great QB. We have Achane, and with another big back giving us a thunder and lightening backfield it can be achieved. We need to draft some defensive studs though.
FlyerFinFan says that it shows that you need to be able to stop the run and pressure the quarterback.
Need solid run D and a crazy pass rush that seems to be a key component with bowl winners. Seahawks, Eagles, Chiefs….they’ve all received this in victory. I’d take either a CB or DE 1st round even if you trade back do it. 2nd round take the other position. After that get your OT/OG, WR or TE BPA.
One thing I didn’t understand from Kubiak was throwing a 5 yard out short of a first down that could have been a pick six. They were already in FG range and calls like that aren’t needed. When you have the lead and the other team can’t do squat why take the risk???
JUK again responded, this time to FlyerFinFan. He believes you should draft based on the level of talent available, not just a specific roster need.
The lesson from the Seahawks is you draft good players not positions. Going into the first two rounds saying we must draft these positions is a recipe for reaching and failure. Note I’m not saying we shouldn’t take an edge and a corner in the first two rounds, but if the best player there on your board in round 2 is (as a random example) is McNeil-Warren and you think he’s this year’s Nick Emmanwori, you should pick him not force yourself to get a CB
Cutie0716 says it shows we need a fast, angry front 7 and a secondary full of guys who know how to tackle. Also wants the team to go out and find players who are “hungry.”
We need a hungry defense. We need a quicker and angrier front 7, and a secondary that tackles the opposition by wrapping them up, NOT trying to knock them down with their shoulders. I saw that all year and that falls on the coach.
Defense in 2026, with maybe one of the top 3 OL as our 1st pick. Then DL, secondary and LB.
We will also have the UDFA to find the rest. And no less than 15 UDFA. Hungry. No more prima donnas.
Dolphster says it’s a reminder that defense wins championships.
I’ve said as much in other threads and James mentions the same in his article. Defense wins championships.
PhinsTifosi, in agreement with Dolphster, says it’s a yes about defense winning it all!
“O sells tickets. D wins championships,” -Bear Bryant
“Winning championships sells tickets”. -PhinsTifosi
SuperG!, in response to PhinsTifosi, said it‘s smoke and mirrors from the ownership.
“If you can’t sell tickets, buy out the remaining unsold tickets so it appears as if you are selling tickets.” – Stephen Ross
finfanfromsiam says build the defense, stop throwing stupid money at free agents, and manage the cap properly!
The smothering defense is the blueprint. Don’t drop stupid money on free agents. Proper cap control.
sdphinsfan says play solid D and run it down their throats.
Play good Defense and run the ball. Works every time…
The Seahawks under Schneider have put a focus on acquiring good players that fit what they do. They don’t overpay…and it doesn’t seem like they miss on alot, either in FA or the Draft. That tells me their scouting department knows what they are doing…hint, hint Sully. Get that part right and you and Haf will have a chance to turn this around.
JUK also has a comment of his own, pointing out that a coach who calls the D can win it all and that the team needs to stop forcing picks to just fill a position and instead draft the best players possible.
A first time play calling defensive coach just won the superbowl. We have one of those (who is very well respected) for those that thought that can’t work.
You don’t have to have a top 10 QB on a rookie contract to be competitive and win a Super Bowl (in fact Mahomes’ first title is the only one since Flacco in 2012 to fulfil that criteria). Schneider has drafted 3 QBs in 14 years with the highest being Wilson/Milroe in the 3rd round.
To expand on the point above, drafting good players matters more than drafting specific positions. Only two of the Seahawks starters in the front 7 were draftees but 4 of their 5 secondary starters were. They added other key pieces by trade or free agency.
A great example – In the Seahawks 2023 draft (which they absolutely smashed) they picked Witherspoon and JSN with their two first round picks, even though Jalen Carter was on the board for the first pick. They then traded for Leonard Williams later that year. They got 5 key players in the top 108 of that draft but went CB, WR, Edge, RB, G. In 2024 their best draft picks were an interior D Lineman and a tight end, and in 2025 they hit on their top 2 picks with a guard and a safety.
TL:DR. Just draft good players rather than trying to force positional value. You can than add key pieces via free agency and trade… even at QB if that’s how your roster building falls.
Well, that’s our selection of comments this evening. It seems the fanbase is in agreement on the need to build a solid defense, and for some, a top-of-the-first-round quarterback isn’t necessary to win it all. Some of you also want to see the team learn to draft more in the best player available mode than in the reach-for-positional-need mode. I would also like to see them stop drafting the project guys, unless it’s a possible steal on day three. As always, thank you to each of you who takes the time to answer our PQOTD.