Monday Dolphins Mailbag: Running Backs, Hill, Van Ginkel, and More

From Ricardo Hernandez (@Ricardo96451182):

Hello, Alain. You’ve mentioned the Dolphins’ need for an impact off-the-ball linebacker. This appears to apply to what previously was referred as a middle or inside linebacker. What is the significance of the new term and what has driven the change in nomenclature?

Hey Ricardo, that is an interesting question and this was done to linebackers (inside, middle or even outside linebackers in a 4-3) to differentiate them from stand-up linebackers who line up at the line of scrimmage and usually go straight after the quarterback, players now referred to as edge defenders.

From Hebert Gutierrez Morales (via email):

Hi Alain, I hope everything is fine with you. When I read the DC of the Chargers rescind his contract to become pass defense assistant, that seems to me strange, because is some kind of downgrade, am I right? You already are a DC for an NFL team, why take an assistant position? I understand it when you are fired and maybe you take a lower position in order to get back some relevance, but he wasn't fired. This is the first time I see a movement like that. Have you seen one before?

Hey Hebert, I can’t recall another situation like that, but I’m sure it’s not the first time it’s happened. It is indeed unusual, and it probably came down to Hill preferring to work with Vic Fangio than with Brandon Staley and Staley not standing in his way (particularly if Hill expressed that opinion).

From AGRIGATOR (AGRIGATOR1):

If drafting a RB is in the cards, how early do you think the Dolphins would go? Do you know of any negatives on RB Chris Brooks from BYU? Seems very talented but not ranked very high by the pundits.

The Dolphins’ history with drafting running backs and the various needs throughout the roster likely will combine for a late-round selection at best for a running back, if even that. As for Brooks, I’m not very familiar with him, but I can tell you he was not invited to the combine.

From Angelo Ray (@angelogriego):

Do you think Vic Fangio can ignite Igbinoghene’s career?

Hey Angelo, I’m not sure that Fangio’s arrival alone will turn Igbinoghene around, but I absolutely do believe he’ll greatly benefit from a scheme with more zone coverage and one that emphasizes tackling ability from the cornerbacks.

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FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM

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From Stuart (via email):

Hi Alan, thank you for responding to my previous email as well as all the others you do. Your mailbag is a favorite of mine. I was really hoping that the Dolphins would have traded for Roquan Smith instead of Bradley Chubb. He would have cost less in trade, filled a bigger need in my opinion, and likely would have made a bigger impact. Hopefully, Chubb will prove me wrong, stay healthy and meet his potential. However, we still need a MLB. I’ve always liked Andrew Van Ginkel with his high effort, and I don’t recall any bad plays. We know he can rush the passer, but I don’t think I’ve noticed him in coverage. Does Van Ginkel have coverage skills, and is there any reason why he couldn’t play MLB in Fangio’s defense? It seems like he would be cheaper to sign and be a better long-term investment than someone like Bobby Wagner or Lavonte David. If it didn’t work out, he could always go back to work on the edge, where we know he would make for excellent depth.

Hey Stuart, I’ve long been a fan of Van Ginkel’s game, but perhaps more in a complementary role. He’s not really a coverage linebacker, even going back to his days at Wisconsin. So while I would advocate for the Dolphins to re-sign him, he doesn’t solve the issue of needing a playmaker at inside linebacker.

From Off Season… #FinsUp (@Finsfan1399):

Your first gut thoughts on where the Dolphins will go with remaining draft capital?

My first instinct is to go defense, and it could be at any level of the defense, or tight end.

From Mick (@Mrac317):

If the Fins go into next season with essentially the same defensive players, no major additions, how does Fangio make the defense better compared to Josh Boyer's defense?

Hey Mick, I’m of the opinion that the biggest factor in the Dolphins defense making a jump in 2023 will be health more than scheme. Injuries were the major problem this past season, not the scheme.

From Cubanater (@JohnSan61696128):

If both Campbell (LB-Ia.) & Washington (TE-Ga.) are there at 52, which one do you think we SHOULD take, or WILL take? TY

Hey there, I think my answer might be the same for both “should” and “will” and that would be Washington at that spot. From where I sit, he’s just got a higher ceiling.

From Mike (via email):

Hi Alain, in a recent mailbag you mentioned Will Fuller has retired. Now that some time has passed, do you have any more info regarding that whole fiasco? Did he just lose the desire to play and decide to take the paycheck and call it a career? Was there something else to it? Flores seemed to cover for him to a large extent.

Hey Mike, there’s never been any definitive answers when it comes to Fuller, but there were rumblings that his desire to play just wasn’t there. And as it was, he never signed with another team in 2022 and his NFL.com player page shows him as retired.

From Richard grosso (@rjgro):

What's needed to make the running game a factor? More talent at RB [I kinda like Mostert & Wilson]? Better talent on the OL? Or can internal improvement and health bring better play? The OL coaching change?

Hey Richard, I actually think the running game was pretty good last season outside of some short-yardage issues, but the focus on offense clearly was on the passing game, which makes sense when the two biggest playmakers are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dolphins run it back (pun intended) with Mostert and Wilson, but maybe stick with the running game a little more when it’s working well.

From Mike Mangaras (@mangaras_mike):

Hey buddy, thanks for always taking my questions. I haven’t been this optimistic in years, Alain, I really believe this franchise is gonna be relevant again, so seeing that salary cap is a fallacy, do you believe Ross opens up his checkbook again? I think Ramsey and Wagner, thoughts?

Hey Mike, I absolutely believe that Ross is in go-for-it mode and he’s never been afraid to spend. But it’s not as simple as “see player, want player, get player.” And while there are ways to maneuver around the cap, it might be tough to swing enough cap space to land both Ramsey and Wagner. But I definitely could see one of them end up in Miami.

From steve , (@jujusimba7777):

If there is one position the Dolphins "double dip" in FA and draft in your opinion, it would be what? I have a feeling it be linebacker. I love a vet in FA like a Wagner, David, and draft a guy like Campbell, Henley.

Hey Steve, based on the current roster composition with the pending free agents, you make a solid case for linebacker being the double-dip position. Sold!

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Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Dolphins news and analysis year-round. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at @PoupartNFL, and that's where you can ask questions for the regular All Dolphins mailbags. You also can ask questions via email at fnalldolphins@yahoo.com.