Miami Dolphins 2023 Season Preview & Predictions: Defense

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The Josh Boyer era as defensive coordinator came to a close at the end of a disappointing injury-filled season. That unit, considered one of the most promising up-and-coming defenses in the league the past couple of years, is now commanded by the highly distinguished Vic Fangio. Having spent over thirty-five years coaching in the NFL, including three years as head coach, Fangio’s innovative schemes are heavily incorporated throughout the league. Having the creator himself running the Dolphins defense, brings a renewed optimism and energy to a unit that seems on the brink of taking off.

 

What exactly Fangio brings to the Dolphins, and the methods he uses to push his players to meet the high expectations people have placed on them will be a major early storyline throughout this season.

 

Identifying the players who have critical roles in ensuring this defense can become one of the league’s best, and what they must accomplish, is a great place to start.

 

Jaelan Phillips is very good, but can he be special? – Two things that have never lacked for Phillips are his incredible athleticism and physique, and a motor that never quits. Maxing out his work ethic and athletic gifts, got him to the very-good mark. Last season he was seventh in the league in total pressures (70) and hurries (44), but only twenty-first in sacks (7).

 

In order to max out the rest of his potential, he needs to become a finisher. Aside from instincts and athletic superiority, what makes players like Micah Parsons, TJ Watt, and Myles Garrett elite, are their diverse and refined pass-rush move-sets and technique. Phillips too often relies on his power and bull-rush to try and beat his defenders. Growing his bag of tricks with rips, chops, swims and spins will play a significant factor in whether or not Phillips reaches his ceiling.

 

Steady is the pace for Jevon Holland – Stats and numbers are a great tool for evaluating players, but they can sometimes be misleading. For instance, the numbers would show that Holland suffered a bit of regression in his second season. He allowed the sixth highest completion percentage amongst safeties (80%), however the secondary lost two significant starters at cornerback (Byron Jones, Nik Needham), and the safety who plays opposite him (Brandon Jones). The scheme was designed to run heavy-blitzes with the cornerbacks playing press-man. Being down such important personnel forced Holland to try and pick up a lot of slack.

 

This year should result in significant growth for Holland, as long as he maintains the trajectory he’s already shown. Fangio’s scheme is dependent on high-level play from the free safety, and he has a knack for bringing the most out of them. Over the years Fangio has developed All-Pros like Justin Simmons, Eddie Jackson and Dashon Goodson, Pro Bowlers Eric Reid, Donte Whitner, and Antoine Bethea, and others like Adrian Amos and Kareem Jackson.

 

While Jalen Ramsey is out for at least half of the season, and there are questions surrounding who will man the other safety position, Holland should have every opportunity to become the next notch on Fangio’s long list of star safeties.

 

Cam Smith needs to be a quick study, and Kader Kohou can’t have a sophomore slump – With Ramsey out until sometime in November, at the very least, the Dolphins can’t afford to see the injuries or struggles of last season become an issue again. There’s hope that Nik Needham will come off the PUP (physically unable to perform) list at some point this year, and you can’t control injuries, but in order for the secondary to play at a high level Kader Kohou needs to show last season’s surprise breakout wasn’t a fluke.

 

Second-round pick Cam Smith flashed early and often in training camp before suffering a shoulder injury. Luckily, he wasn’t sidelined long. He showed a penchant for making big plays at the University of South Carolina and has a hungry mentality. With Xavien Howard now at the ripe-age of thirty, Smith has a lot of expectations on his shoulders to help the cornerback position stay at a high level for years to come.

—-

 

Beyond the growth of the young players on the roster, there’s specific things the defense must do this season to become a top-ten unit.

 

The Dolphins must prove they can finally sack the quarterback, especially in the absence of a high blitz rate – Fangio’s system is not known for running many blitzes, something the Dolphins did at one of the highest rates in the league under Brian Flores and Josh Boyer.

 

When the team hasn’t sent the extra bodies, rushers have struggled to bring the quarterback down.  Part of the reason for that last year was the aforementioned struggles in the secondary. Despite having the third highest pass rush win rate in 2022, they only finished fifteenth in sacks. The year prior, with Howard and Byron Jones healthy, Miami had the fifth most sack in the league.

 

The new scheme will move the defense away from the man-to-man coverages they were used to, and will feature predominantly zone concepts. What makes Fangio one of the best is his ability to keep the quarterback guessing by continuously switching up the zone assignments post snap. This diminishes the passer’s ability to identify weaknesses pre-snap.

 

If the secondary and linebackers can maintain their zone assignments, it could force opposing quarterbacks to hold onto the ball longer while they make their reads, and give rushers opportunities at coverage sacks. They key will be Phillips, and Bradley Chubb showing they can manipulate the pocket and bring quarterbacks down, as well as Christian Wilkins proving he’s not just an elite run-stopper on the interior.

 

Speaking of a significant reduction in blitz plays, can the Dolphins continue to prove their run defense is stout – After finishing with the fifth highest run-block grade (78.2), thanks in large part to Wilkins (best run stop win rate in the NFL in 2022) and the newly re-signed Zach Seiler (4th highest run-defense grade, PFF), can they maintain a high-level without the help of the disguised blitz?

 

This scheme runs with light boxes that try and entice offenses to run the ball. The defensive lineman play gap-and-a-half, while trying to force the runner outside where the safeties have the responsibility of forcing stops. Both Brandon Jones and DeShon Elliott are known for playing in the box and stopping the run. Elliott finished with the tenth most stops (15) among safeties in 2022 (Lions). Jones, who suffered a torn-acl last season, is still working his way back. Holland can also defend the run, but will likely be tasked to defend the deep part of the field.

 

It’s time to shine for Jerome Baker and David Long Jr. – Both linebackers will play a significant coverage role in Fangio’s defense. For Baker, this will be an adjustment as he had a heavy role in the pass rush, and far fewer coverage snaps than most linebackers the past few years. That’s not to say he can’t do it however, as he has the necessary athletic requirements and has been sufficient in coverage throughout his career.

 

The addition of David Long has the potential to pay huge dividends for the Dolphins. He’s tailor-made for this scheme, and could help elevate the run defense even further. The biggest concern for him is health, as he’s missed eleven games over the past two seasons and has struggled with soft-tissue injuries.

 

For this defense to be successful, both Baker and Long need to play at the level they.re capable of, and stay on the field. While Duke Riley has proven to be a decent role-player at times, he nor last year’s third-round pick Channing Tindall have shown enough to inspire confidence in elevated roles.

 

Predicting the season…

 

-Reuniting Bradley Chubb with Vic Fangio will allow both Chubb and Phillips to become the players everyone thinks they can be. With a talented secondary, those two should have the time to get to the quarterback. Having a pass-rusher with the talent to be a 10+ sack per year player has resulted in Fangio’s defenses allowing five fewer points per game averages. With those two on the edge manipulating the pocket, and the return of Emmanuel Ogbah on passing downs, the Dolphins have no excuse for not turning potential into reality.

Jaelan Phillips: 11.5 sacks

Bradley Chubb: 7.5 sacks

Christian Wilkins: 6 sacks

Zach Seiler: 4 sacks

 

-Miami will see the return of impact plays from their role players. Having a healthy Ogbah could be a surprise x-factor to the defense. Another could come from a player who has made impact plays in the past, and that’s Andrew Van Ginkel. Both players should benefit from being in this scheme, assuming the secondary stays relatively healthy and can perform in coverage. It’s tough to predict specific stats for role players, but you can predict that they’ll make a significant mark throughout the season

 

-Xavien Howard will have his return to glory. Taking away the physical stress of having to play on an island against every team’s best receiver, should help keep ‘X’ healthy after suffering two nagging hamstring injuries in 2022. Putting him in the position to read, anticipate, and react to the quarterback will be a gift for a player who is special in large part because he’s among the best at doing those things. I wouldn’t be surprised if Howard manages a 4-6 interception season, and likely another trip to the Pro Bowl

 

-The Dolphins will see a couple of defensive All-Pros in 2023…

Jevon Holland

Christian Wilkins

…and a few Pro Bowlers as well

Xavien Howard

Jaelan Phillips

Wilkins

Hollan

 

-Miami will finish the season with a top twelve defense in yards, and top five in points with an average of under 20 ppg allowed.

 

Miami Hurricanes

The End of the Beginning

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As the ball nestled harmlessly onto the Brazos Valley turf, carrying with it the Canes’ ill-fated comeback attempt, a calm settled over the Hurricanes.

Amidst the cultish cheering of the maroon clad zealots those of us resplendently dressed in ostentatious orange filed out of Kyle Field beaten but not defeated. The result was disappointing, but the effort was there. And the Canes looked the part under the premise that Texas A&M was a talented, high quality opponent that Miami had outplayed on the road.

The reality was far different. Both teams were headed to disappointing 5-7 seasons and a tumultuous offseason of change.

What we saw that day in Aggieland was two programs that were headed in the wrong direction. When two teams fight to the last play, the cliche that is often uttered is “it’s a shame there has to be a loser.” Last year, when these two teams met, it was a shame there had to be a winner.

Mario Cristobal 2.0

When Mario Cristobal constructed the 2022 Miami Hurricanes coaching staff, he did so in a very un-Miami way.

For all the glitz and glamour of Miami, for the misappropriation of the term “South Beach,” for the stereotype of sunshine and palm trees, Miami itself is a self-made, hard scrabble town built on the backs of immigrants. What people from outside of Miami don’t realize is that those from the neighboring counties of Broward and Palm Beach are much more Miami than the glitterati you see on TV and social media. And the University of Miami football program mirrors that reality as the school for all of South Florida.

And so it was with great excitement with which we greeted our new money overlords that showed up over the last 18 months. Finally, Miami could spend money rivaling traditional college powers. The all everything staff was assembled. The Offensive Coordinator? Stolen from Michigan. The QB Coach? Was an Offensive Coordinator in his previous role. The LB coach? Was previously the Head Coach of 3 FBS schools and a National Championship Defensive Coordinator.

As John Hammond famously said in Jurassic Park, we “spared no expense.” And this worked out as well as that did.

By the end of the Canes’ season, the only thing left of the rotting carcass of that season was the undeniable truth surrounding the failure of that approach.

The Canes finally flush with cash had the ability to not only attract top coaches but to also place them in positions beneath their station. And while the administration, and Mario, finally had that money to spend on these coaches, they “were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

And so the reboot started this offseason. Slowly coaches that were celebrated upon their arrival left out the back door. Their replacements? Unheralded assistants looking for their big break.

Replacing those that felt Miami was lucky to have them with hungry assistants viewing Miami as the stage from which they can ascend up the coaching ranks is a return to the roots of the program.

And of the city.

Culture Clash

Miami is not an easy place to play or win. In a crowded sports landscape, expectations abound. Despite 20 years of futility, there is still a championship or bust mentality.

This week’s opponent is the polar opposite. Texas A&M is tradition rich. While the Canes are often mocked for attendance (usually unjustifiably and with out-of-context images), the Aggies fill their stadium. The whole town (if you want to flatter it by calling it that) is centrally focused on the school’s football team.

So obsessive are the Aggies’ fans that they hold cheering practice called “Midnight Yell” the night before home games. The tradition of Yell Practice started in 1913, 12 years before the University of Miami even existed.

They have a chant for everything, with the crowd participation often detached from whatever is transpiring on the field. Their band is massive, spanning the entire field, executing maneuvers with military precision.

Famously friendly, they’ll greet you with a “howdy” and talk your ear off about traditions. Evangelists, the whole of them.

The Aggies mascot is a well-manicured, pampered female Rough Collie named Reveille.

They are everything Miami is not. And for that, I’m thankful.

The Miami Way

Cause amidst the pomp and pageantry, for all the traditions and revelry, do you know what’s missing? Winning.

Give me the half empty stadium, the searing humidity, the small private campus, the poor student in the bird costume trying not to pass out from heat exhaustion…part of Miami’s greatness is that the tradition doesn’t matter. The outlier school shall always remain the outlier school.

To the extent there are traditions: Running through the smoke, holding up 4 fingers at the start of the 4th quarter, and yes, the now defunct Turnover Chain, they are quickly co-opted by other schools.

Schools can copy those things, but they can’t copy what makes Miami unique, which is a local school where kids from the community go to make it big, lifting themselves and by extension the school and community.

The one tradition forged in the 80s, carried forward through to the early 2000s, that has been dormant for 20 years is the winning. And with it, the program has lost its swagger.

As the Canes enter this week, with the invaders from Texas coming to South Florida, it’s time to rediscover the famous Miami Pride. A program built on doing what it is repeatedly told is not possible has been overrun by a lack of self belief.

But I reject that premise. It’s time to be Miami again. When you go to College Station, they greet you with a “Howdy” in the parking lot and a warm welcome. And that’s fine for them.

In Miami? Win on the field, and if you want to fight in the parking lot (or in the stands, or in Publix), we’ll do that too. This is not about a resurrection, but a restoration.

We’re not to be intimidated, we’re the ones that are supposed to do the intimidating

First we deal with Jimbo, then Mack, then Dabo, then Mike. This year we start to settle all Family business.

And it is a Family. For all the differences between Miami and Texas A&M, Miami is a cult of its own. But the beliefs are not in centuries-old traditions, passed down from generation to generation, from back when Old Tex told his bull to skedaddle.

The only core belief for the Miami Family is a belief in Miami itself. We believe in each other. There is magic in the Magic City. Miami is simultaneously a noun, a verb, and an adjective.

It’s that belief in Miami’s otherworldliness that has brought it this far, and it is that belief that will carry it forward.

This program was built fighting and winning the battles that are categorized as impossible, often motivated by the mere statement that winning was not achievable. 

And that needs to begin anew on Saturday. There will still be trials and tribulations, times when the team struggles, bad losses. Such is the nature of sport, such is the nature of a rebuild.

Saturday is not the end of the rebuild. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Vishnu Parasuraman is a show host and writer for @FiveReasonsSports. He covers the Miami Hurricanes for Sixth Ring Canes and Formula 1 for Hitting the Apex. He also co-hosts Buckets, which covers Miami Hurricanes Basketball. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003

Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins 2023 season predictions: Offense

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After finishing sixth in total yards in 2022, the Dolphins enter year two under Mike McDaniel with high expectations. Tua Tagovailoa is healthy after missing five and half games (including their playoff wildcard loss to the Bills) due to concussions. The offense in general, managed to elude any significant training camp or preseason injuries. There’s even some new faces, like free-agent additions WR Braxton Berrios, OL Isaiah Wynn, TE Tyler Kroft, QB Mike White, and a promising rookie with third round pick RB De’Von Achane.

The start of a new campaign usually comes with some excitement, a ton of hot-takes and predictions, but also some concern-driven narratives that can come from the nearly nine-months of a way-too-long offseason. A couple of these narratives should be addressed, and the subsequent anxiety calmed, before making any concerted projections for the 2023 season.

Debunking the narrative:

After seeing Tua suffer multiple concussions last year, the Dolphins again chose to ignore the offensive line

There’s a reason Chris Grier has stated that he’s much less concerned about the offensive line, than the fans and media. It’s a message that the organization has tried to drive home in consecutive offseasons now, and it’s time for people to understand (and accept) why.

The Dolphins scheme is built on defensive manipulation. They utilize shifts and motions, to misdirect the defenses and leave them vulnerable (the tight ends, and fullback play a huge role in getting defenders to bite). Most offensive play-calls also give Tua the option to run or pass, based off of his pre-snap reads, which he is among the NFL’s best at.

Aside from the scheme philosophy, Miami’s offense is built heavily on quick timing routes. That ensures that Tua, who has one of the fastest releases in the NFL (2.3 seconds), isn’t a target of pass-rushers for very long.

In regard to Tua’s injury concerns, none of his concussions were a direct result of bad offensive line play. Each time he was trying to extend a play, rather than simply throwing the ball away (the hit Tua took from Matt Milano against the Bills was flagged for roughing-the-passer).

Overall, the Dolphins have done a good job at identifying run-blockers that fit the heavier personnel that Miami requires for their disguise scheme. Isaiah Wynn and Lester Cotton are considered better run-blockers than pass, and Connor Williams was elite (85.1 run blocking grade, ProFootballFocus) in the same regard last season. Tight ends Durham Smythe and Tyler Kroft, and fullback Alec Ingold are all positive value blockers with critical roles in both pass protection, and the running game.

Debunking the narrative: Miami’s unsuccessful flirtation with top-level running backs this offseason shows a lack of confidence (despite stating they’re comfortable) with their current group,and that could foreshadow a disappointing end result for them

Chris Grier’s pursuit of names like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift, Dalvin Cook, and most recently Jonathan Taylor, is likely more about identifying a player that may put you over the top, rather than a lack of belief in what they currently have.

Raheem Mostert (4.9 yards per carry) and Jeff Wilson (4.7) had few problems picking up yards on the ground last season. While the team was ranked near the bottom in the league in rushing yards, they were also ranked 31st in rushing attempts. This offseason Mike McDaniel stressed that he plans to incorporate the run game more than he did last season.

Jeff Wilson will start the season on the injured-reserve list, but Salvon Ahmed and rookies De’Von Achane and Chris Brooks have shown promise throughout training camp and the preseason games. This is also the Dolphins most diversified group they’ve had in a long time, as each player brings their own skill-set to the running back room.

Points of emphasis for the 2023 season

Spread the love – Forcing the ball to one of, if not the most dynamic wide receivers in history, isn’t something people are going to question…if it’s working. The Dolphins have one of the most talented receiving duo’s in the NFL, yet Hill had 53 more targets last year. In game’s where Hill’s target share significantly outpaced Waddle’s, Miami had a 2-4 record. Now with the addition of Braxton Berrios, a healthy and prepared Cedrick Wilson, and potential development of Erik Ezukanma, there’s no reason the team doesn’t balance out their passing attack.

Tua must be smarter in adverse situations – He admittedly has always been the type of quarterback to try and make something happen, even when a play breaks down. Aside from the concussions (that’s plural) he sustained trying to do exactly that, creating off-script has never been a strength for Tua (and that’s okay). Instead of focusing on what’s downfield beyond the time the imaginary alarm goes off in his head that says it’s time to get rid of the ball, learn to embrace the check-down.

For the first time in his professional career, Tua has a very promising and dynamic pass-catcher at running back in rookie De’Von Achane. Durham Smythe and Tyler Kroft have proven throughout their careers that they’re capable safety-nets at tight end, and WRs Berrios and Wilson are accomplished in the slot with yards-after-catch (YAC) ability.

If all else fails, throw the ball away. The result of an incomplete pass out of bounds is likely better than forcing something on a broken play.

It’s time to see if McDaniel can make the correct in-game adjustments and play-calls – Whether it’s hubris, nerves, or over-thinking, McDaniel seemed too stubborn to the game plan last season. It was obvious (painstakingly at times), that the identity of the offense was going to be attacking the middle of the field in the passing game. Most of the time it worked beautifully, particularly in the five-game stretch against the league’s worst passing defenses, but like with any offense teams began to show successful counters. Instead of pivoting to a plan b or c, McDaniel continued to try and force the issue.

As stated, McDaniel has made it clear that he is looking to make more of a commitment to the run, an area of the offense that was successful yet heavily underutilized last season. While there’s no doubt that he’ll stay true to that, what will he do in the midst of adversity in-game. Miami’s week fifteen loss against Buffalo was a prime example of not utilizing the run-game in obvious situations. Despite rushing for 188 yards at a 7.8 yards-per-carry clip, McDaniel made the decision to pass on three third-and-short situations. All three times the pass went incomplete and the drive ended.

The Dolphins had a monster passing attack with Tua on the field last year, as he led the entire league in yards per pass. There’s no reason for the offense to go away from that success this year, but can Mike McDaniel show that when the situation is calling for the obvious choice, he won’t backslide and try and force a big play.

There will be a very big early indicator of how this offense has progressed in year two – Miami was one the most penalized teams in the NFL in 2022, especially pre-snap where they finished with the third highest amount (46). Along with penalties, other self-inflicted wounds like drops and play-calling caused the offense to leave too many points on the field. Despite ranking 7th in EPA (Expected Points Added), the Dolphins finished 17th in drive success rate (44.6%).

Heading into the second year in this scheme, while returning the majority of last year’s personnel, the team should look prepared, efficient, and be operating on all cylinders.

Now, on to some measured (and objective) predictions…

Cedrick Wilson Jr. will have a larger role in the offense then people may think.

After dealing with some nagging injuries last season, which may have stunted his ability to work in and grasp a complicated offense, Wilson managed a healthy and productive preseason. In his final year with the Cowboys, he did manage to accumulate 602 yards and 6 touchdowns, on 45 receptions. On top of that, he managed an impressive 5.6 yards after the catch, which played a factor in why Miami signed him last offseason.

Wilson did end up earning playing time late last season, and displayed some dependability as he finished the season with zero drops.

If he can manage to stay healthy, there’s no reason he can’t contend with Braxton Berrios for the third wide receiver spot. Unless McDaniel has plans to work Erik Ezukanma into the passing game, Wilson is currently the only proven bigger-bodied pass catcher in the receiver room.

De’Von Achane will see a limited role to start the season, but will flash a Darren Sproles/Danny Woodhead like receiving ability as the season goes on.

From all indications, Achane didn’t do much to stand out in his first training camp. He also sustained a shoulder injury in the Dolphins’ second preseason game against the Texans, which kept him limited for the remainder of camp. It’s likely safe to assume that McDaniel will take a calculated approach to working him into regular season snaps, especially with Ahmed possessing many similar qualities and having impressed throughout the exhibition season.

While many fans may be excited to see his potential in the backfield, Achane brings an element to the passing game that Miami hasn’t had since Kenyon Drake was on the roster. In a similar mold to what role Darren Sproles played for the Chargers, Saints, and Eagles, or Danny Woodhead for the Patriots, Achane can be a dangerous weapon in the screen game. With the threat that Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle bring downfield, having an explosive home-run threat catching dump-offs and screens can really move a defense out of balance.

I expect Achane to dazzle with at least a handful of chunk plays in the passing game before the season is over. A prediction of 250-300 yards receiving shouldn’t be considered overzealous.

Tyreek Hill falls well-short of his 2,000 yard goal, and that’s a good thing.

Again, every indication is that the Dolphins will strive for a much more balanced offense in 2023, and that doesn’t just extend to the running game.

The target gap between Hill and Waddle should narrow, and with the addition of Berrios in the slot, and an improved Wilson, it seems far-fetched for Hill to even replicate the 1,710 yard season he had a year ago. That’s also taking into account that Miami should see an increase in targets to their backfield.

While it would be fascinating to see Tyreek hit that benchmark, doing so would likely mean that the offense didn’t hit the mark in other areas, or they suffered significant enough injuries. The best thing for the offense is to become multi-dimensional and make it even harder for defenses to overly focus on one specific facet.

Quick hit hot-takes (that I actually believe in)…

-Tua plays all seventeen games, and with a new safety-net in Berrios, and an added dynamic in Achane, he puts together the season Dolfans have been waiting for. 4,500 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions is the floor for ‘Uce’, and would likely result in the long-term contract extension he, the team, and fans are hoping for.

-Jaylen Waddle officially hits superstardom, as the young surpasses the old-ish. The third-year pro is too talented, and too dynamic to not continue growing. With defenses continuing to emphasize Hill, I’d expect Waddle adds quite a few more plays like the 84-yard touchdown sprint against the Packers, to his highlight reel. Waddle: 95 rec, 1520 yds, 8 tds
Hill: 101 rec, 1410 yds, 9 tds
Berrios: 41 rec, 465 yds, 3 tds
Wilson: 30 rec, 345 yds, 4 tds

-Don’t forget the tight ends, even if the Dolphins might have! Smythe has proven to be a reliable player, not only as a blocker but as a possession receiver as well. While i wouldn’t expect him to see a significant increase in usage in the passing game, even with Mike Gesicki now in New England, the tight end is just too far down the target share list in this offense. Aside from Smythe, Kroft has had a very similar role over his career, but may be a tad more favorable redzone threat.
Smythe: 28 rec, 257 yds, 2 tds
Kroft: 23 rec, 230 yds, 3 tds

-The running back room is the toughest to predict, especialluy with Jeff Wilson on the IR to start the season, and Mostert now 31 years young and three years removed from playing a full season (he only missed one game last year). How McDaniel splits the carries is one of the more intriguing questions entering week one. Mostert should lead the team if he stays healthy, but he shouldn’t be expected to carry too heavy of a load. Will the undrafted rookie and training camp surprise Chris Brooks pick up Wilson’s slack? Ahmed has flashed as a runner in limited opportunities, but he’s not a pass-blocker and doesn’t offer anything different than what Mostert gives (who is a significantly better blocker). Plus, there’s Achane.
Mostert: 170 att, 799 yds, 4 tds
Brooks: 149 att, 700 yds, 6 tds
Achane: 83 att, 423 yds, 1 td
Ahmed: 30 att, 138 yds

The Floundering Fish: How did the Marlins get here?

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As a team that came into the All-Star break being 14 games over .500, and added three necessary and major additions to their team in Josh Bell, Jake Burger, and David Robertson, the Marlins were poised for success and a playoff run for the first time, outside of a 2020 COVID season, since 2003. However, with 28 games left, the story is much different for a now .500 ballclub. What happened? What caused such an unprecedented downfall to be nearly out of the playoff race? Let’s talk about it.

 

Arraez and Shine

 

Prior to the All-Star break, Luis Arraez was well on his way to have one of the highest batting averages since Tony Gwynn hit .394 in 1994, as he entered the second half with an average of .383. Many expected Arraez to continue hitting non-stop, as it seemed as though there was nothing nor no man that could stop him. However, the second half has been an entirely different story for La Regadera. In the second half, Luis Arraez has been hitting for an average of .285, which caused his season average to dip below .350 for the first time all season. Yes, that’s a real stat. 

 

Now, a .285 average still isn’t anything to sneeze at. In fact, he’d still be 17th in the league in batting average with that. But, for a team who’s offense was dependent on Luis Arraez to be that constant bat in the lineup that would move guys over or start the inning off with getting on base, it’s less than ideal in a Wild Card race. Moreover, in August, Arraez only had 4 multi-hit games, which breaks his previous season low of 10 multi-hit games in May. If the Marlins are going to make that push for the playoffs and hope for sustained success, they need their All-Star to revert to his former self.

 

Bullpen Blows and Woes

 

The Marlins saw that, for some reason, AJ Puk had lost his ability to close out games. With Puk’s 20 ER on the season, 11 came from July. The Fish knew they had to act fast to get someone to close out the games in Miami as Puk’s blown save total began growing. So Kim Ng acted fast and grabbed the best reliever on the market in David Robertson. Robertson has a ton of sustained success throughout his career, and this season was no different, allowing 10 ER in his 42 IP in Queens. However, since arriving in Miami, he has been quite the opposite of any version of himself, allowing 10 ER in his 11 IP. Miami has since removed Robertson, whom they paid a hefty price for, out of the closer role and have inputted Tanner Scott there. It has yet to be seen if that choice will pay off. 

 

Are the Fish Fried?

 

Through all of these struggles, there’s still time for the Marlins to make that final push and run to the playoffs. They’re only 3 games back in the Wild Card hunt and are an incredibly streaky team who can get hot at a moment’s notice. The only issue is that moment hasn’t arrived post All-Star break. Miami has struggled with giving run support to their pitching, and when they give the run support, the bullpen throws away the game. It’s a seemingly consistent struggle lately that the team needs to overcome. With 28 games remaining in the season, the Marlins statistically aren’t out of the hunt and can come back for the playoffs. The only question is, can they do it?

Most impactful Miami Heat players of all-time

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The Miami Heat has been operational since the 1988-89 season.  Through its halls have passed some of the league’s greatest players.   The names below are staples of the culture and the most impactful competitors to represent the Heat.  

 

Honorable Mention- Mario Chalmers:

 

Chalmers was a great activator. His versatility as a combo guard made him an excellent catch-and-shoot option and cutter next to Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.  In the corners, Rio converted 44.6% of his tries, and those shots were 30% of his field goal attempts.  His marksmanship helped gape driving lanes in the half court, and he was good for a couple of paint baskets too.

 

Defensively, he was solid, reading the passing lanes and staying in front of ball handlers. 

 

During the Heat’s 2012 and 2013 Playoff runs, The Superintendent (Chalmers) averaged 10.4 points nightly while splashing 35.6% of his 3-point shots.   

 

One of his finest moments in White Hot was Game 4 of the 2012 Finals in Miami, dueling Russell Westbrook.  He recorded 25 points to Westbrook’s 43, but both couldn’t stop each other.  Chalmers relocated on the perimeter for catch-and-shoot bombs supplied by James and feasted on drive and cuts, finishing layups through traffic.  He tied with Wade for the second-leading scorer on the Heat. 

 

In the 2013 Finals, Chalmers got his licks in (19 points) on the Spurs as they were routed in Game 2. He dropped six quick points at the end of the third quarter that ignited a 32-6 run for Miami for the next eight minutes.  In Game 6, with the Heat facing elimination, Chalmers scored 20 points, making 63.6% of his field goals and four of five triples in 42 minutes.

 

If only coach Erik Spoelstra trusted him more in 2011. 

 

  1. Udonis Haslem

 

The Captain recently retired after 20 years of service, becoming the only guy alongside Dirk Nowitzki (21) and Kobe Bryant (20) to play at least two decades for one team.  

 

In his younger days, he was the perfect four next to Wade, capable of hitting the midrange shot, extending + denying possessions and playing fierce defense. As a third-year forward, Haslem was first in offensive rebounds during the 2006 Finals, where he averaged over six boards and over a steal.  

 

UD was one of the toughest men in the league.  He averaged at least eight rebounds in six seasons, one coming alongside the Big Three (2011).  

 

UD is a role model who gave up minutes so others could have opportunity and develop their skills.  He didn’t play much after 2016, but he could have if he wanted to go elsewhere.  In his career finale, Haslem scored 24 points on nine of 17 shots. 

 

9.Goran Dragić:

 

Steve Nash’s understudy, who later turned into an All-Star for the Heat, was the good soldier through multiple builds. He was elevated to team co-captain in October 2017 after leading the club in scoring the first year of Dwyane Wade’s departure.  He kept the title until he was included in the sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry.  

 

In seven years with Miami, Dragić played in 431 games, regular season and Playoffs combined. In 2018, he was like a wrecking ball attached to a crane for destruction when entering the lane.  He converted 57% of his layup attempts that year, and only 27.3% of his two-point shots were assisted. 

 

In the Orlando bubble, Dragić was Miami’s leading scorer, sweeping the Indiana Pacers and its second leader in the stat against the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics.  While balling in Game 1 of the Finals, he tore his left plantar fascia, benching him until the last match, but he was still wounded.  

 

He was more than a gateway player between builds. Dragić was a star when Miami needed him to be one.  In his tenure, he recorded 13,394 minutes in a Heat uniform and finished 10th in Playoff scoring for the outfit (712). The Dragon will never be forgotten.

 

8.Bam Adebayo:

 

Bam Adebayo has become the Heat’s second-best draft pick, selected at 14th in the 2017 Draft.  In six seasons, he developed into a top-five defender and playmaking big with range up to 16 feet from the cup. 

 

Adebayo just turned 26 in July, and he’s already been a starter on two teams that made the NBA Finals while making the All-Star Game in both campaigns.  In NBA history, there are only 17 Center/Power Forwards who, at 26 or younger, had started for more conference champions than Adebayo, per Stathead.  He is also one of 37 players to do it twice by his age.  

 

Against the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Finals, #13 was Miami’s strongest performer. He logged 21.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on 41.7 minutes a night through five matches, primarily guarding Nikola Jokić too.  For the regular season (2023), Adebayo scored 1,098 points in the paint, second of all players, just behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. In 2020, he finished fourth. 

 

Since “Paint Points” have been recorded by the NBA since the 1996/1997 season, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, and Hassan Whiteside are the only other Heatles who have been top 10 in the stat. 

 

7.Chris Bosh:

 

CB sacrificed the most during the Big Three’s four-year dominion of the East.  He was a hybrid big with an inside-out game on both sides. His screening and deep jumper opened avenues for his partners, and he missed just 25 regular season games during that stretch. On nights when James or Wade, or both rested, Bosh would take over.

 

In road trips against the Hawks and Spurs without Wade and James and versus the Trail Blazers without #6, Bosh delivered a dub each night in style. First, on Jan. 5, 2012, in Hotlanta, he splashed a right-wing triple when Chalmers got doubled at the top of the key. 

 

Next season in San Antonio, on March 31, 2013, he buried another catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from straight away as Danny Green and Tiago Splitter followed Ray Allen to the left side. 

 

 In Portland on Dec. 28, 2013, off a poor feed from Wade, who was iced on the roll, Bosh canned a right-wing bomb over two defenders to close the curtains.  

 

His finest moment came in the last seconds of regulation during Game 6 of the 2013 Finals when James missed a left-wing triple.

 

“Rebound to Bosh, kicks it to Allen…,”  ABC broadcaster Mike Breen exclaimed live. Then Allen’s 3-pointer swished, forcing five more minutes.  At the end of overtime, Bosh tracked Green curling to the corner off a sideline inbound, met him 24 feet out, and denied the tie.  

 

When James left for Cleveland, Bosh shifted back to the first option. As the go-to guy, he earned two more All-Star selections until blood clots ended his career.  

 

6.Shaquille O’Neal:

 

O’Neal arrived in Miami at 32 but had three-and-a-half years of Diesel left in the tank.  In his first season in White Hot, he was second in field goal percentage (60.1) and #2 in MVP voting. Despite lower production than his season averages, he still logged a double-double in the 2006 Finals. Additionally, during that Playoff run, he was the league leader in offensive rebounds (75) and blocks (34).

 

Heat president Pat Riley said in 2016 O’Neal was the biggest whale he ever caught, giving him the most credit for “changing everything” for the Heat.

 

O’Neal could float in the air, power through and around defenders, and at times, devour double teams and glide down the court like a runaway train. 

 

In Game 6 of the 2006 ECF, O’Neal took charge, dropping 28 points, 16 boards and five blocks to push the Heat into its first championship series. In the next series, he assisted the squad in defeating the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

 

In three Playoff runs with Miami, Shaq Fu averaged 18.8 points, nine rebounds and one-and-a-half blocks. 

 

  1. Tim Hardaway: 

 

It’s been 25 years since Hardaway last suited up for the Heat, and he still holds the two best passing seasons for the club. In 1998, he logged 672 dimes, and in 1997, 695.  The only other Heat player to crack 600 assists in a year is Sherman Douglas, doing so twice.

 

In 1997, Hardaway was the decision maker for Miami’s first 60-win (61) season, and with Alonzo Mourning, led it to the ECF, losing in five games to Michael Jordan’s Bulls.

 

His crossover was one of the most lethal moves defenders have ever seen, creating separation for a jumper or dive to the hole.  Between 1997 and 2001, only 20.2% of his two-point shots were helped on by teammates.  

 

  1. Alonzo Mourning:

 

Zo was the Heat’s first superstar. When he was traded to the Heat in 1995, it went from being a cute expansion group to a team on the rise.  The face of the team wasn’t just Pat Riley anymore, but a ruthless, two-way big with a dazzling smile shared that honor.

 

In 1997, he and Hardaway led Miami to the ECF, losing in five to the champions, who would repeat.  Then, the Heat fell three years straight to the Knicks. 

 

After helping Team USA win gold in the Sydney Olympics, Zo was gearing up for the next season (2000/2001) when a physical exam returned problematic.  He was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which robbed him of his gifts. Although, his health improved shortly, and he was able to play in the last 13 games of that year. But the condition persisted after the 2001/2002 season, where he played in 75 games.  He missed all of the following year.

 

Eventually, after a kidney transplant in December 2002, a short stint with the New Jersey Nets, and getting traded to the Toronto Raptors, who bought him out, Zo was back in black.  He would go on to play a reduced but highly impactful role in Miami’s win in the 2006 Finals.  In his brief 14 minutes in Game 6, Zo swatted five of Dallas’ attempts.  He led the series in blocks (9), playing just 66 minutes.

 

Heat lineups

 3.Jimmy Butler:

 

 In four years, the Jimmy Butler experience has resulted in two Finals trips, three tours to the Conference Finals, the most Playoff wins for any team since 2019/2020 (38) and a handful of personal awards. 

 

Butler led the Heat, as the fifth seed, past the East’s first-ranked Bucks in round two and the third-positioned Celtics in the ECF in 2020. In the Finals, he recorded two triple-doubles in Miami’s wins over the Los Angeles Lakers. 

 

After he missed the pull-up 3-pointer to tie in Game 7 at home against the Celtics in 2022, he vowed to come back the next season, and he fulfilled his promise. Under his leadership, the Heat became the second eighth seed to make the Finals and first Play-In group to do so. 

 

On the way to the 2023 championship series, Butler and Co. took out the top squads in the East, Milwaukee and Boston.  The Bucks were no match as he laid waste to their defenses.  The latter lost Game 7 at TD Garden, a night Butler had 28 points, seven rebounds, six dimes, and three steals, and also held The Larry Bird Trophy, in the home of the Green.

 

While hobbled, facing the Denver Nuggets in round four, JB averaged 41.1 minutes a night and was Miami’s leading playmaker (6.4) and second in scoring (21.6).

 

2.LeBron James:

 

He is the most talented player to put on the uniform.  James’ four years in Miami was him at his apex, winning back-to-back MVPs and consecutive championships as option one.

 

Defensively, he was the most versatile player in the league during these years.  In the 2011 ECF, he had moments neutralizing the reigning MVP Derrick Rose and also guarded Tony Parker at times two years later in the Finals.  He made an All-Defensive team in each season.

 

Offensively, he was an unstoppable bulldozer with better finishing numbers than most centers, while he took shots from everywhere.  He made jumping over John Lucas and slamming a one-handed lob look effortless.  Bodies would bounce off him, and he wasn’t phased, like when he pulverized Jason Terry, converting an alley-oop pass in Boston.  And he was a killer. At the old Oracle Arena, he isolated Andre Iguodala, stepped to his left and buried a well-contested left-wing triple for the win. Wade didn’t play that night.

 

In Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, before Ray Allen’s equalizer, the Heat was down 10 points at the start of the fourth quarter. To hold off a hostile championship celebration, King James scored 16 points on seven of 11 shots and set up Chalmers and a shoeless Mike Miller for 3-point shots.  

 

In Game 7,  James scored 37 points and made the go-ahead basket in front of Kawhi Leonard, which put the game out of reach.

 

He missed 18 games in four years with the Heat, none coming in the Playoffs.

1.Dwyane Wade:

 

Wade is one of the greatest slashers the NBA ever saw.  In his Playoff debut, he broke down Baron Davis with his dribble up top and dashed into the lane for a game-winning floater.  By sophomore year, he was a star worthy of Second Team All-NBA, leading the Heat with O’Neal to Game 7 of the East Finals but losing to the Detroit Pistons.  He missed the previous match after warmups didn’t go smoothly, and the Heat lost by 25 points that night. 

 

Next season, Wade took over the Finals, overcoming a two-game deficit and winning the next four over the Mavericks.  In that series, he logged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists.  He earned Finals MVP.

 

In the post-Shaq, pre-Big Three era, Wade distinguished himself as a certified top-three player, even finishing third behind James and Kobe Bryant for MVP in 2009, despite logging a higher point, assist and minute average.

 

That season, in March (9), Wade had 48 points in a double-overtime win at home, outplaying Chicago’s Ben Gordon and a young Rose.  At the end of the second overtime, Flash stole the ball from John Salmons attempting a behind-the-back dribble in front of Haslem. Then he raced to the opposite key and took off for a one-legged triple to call the game. 

 

In year two of the Big Three experiment, Wade willingly deferred touches to James to ensure the Heat had the highest chance of winning. He instantly became the most overqualified side piece in the NBA, but it helped earn back-to-back championships and push his ring count to three.

 

When James left, Wade put forth two strong seasons, getting to one Game 7 of the East semis with a battered unit versus the Toronto Raptors.  In round one of that Playoffs, Wade saved his team from a road elimination, dropping 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter in Charlotte in Game 6.

 

When he returned from tours in Chicago and Cleveland, he helped Miami get back to the Playoffs in 2018 after missing it in its first season without him.  In 2019, his farewell tour was the highlight of a frustrating year as the team didn’t have enough to carry him into the sunset.  He went out the only way he could, emptying the clip and recording a triple-double with his closest pals at Barclays Center in attendance.  

 

Wade holds the team record in points, assists, steals, starts, minutes, made free throws and converted field goals. He has a 12,097-point lead over #2 in scoring, Mourning, per Stathead.  

 

At the start of his Hall of Fame speech, Wade was interrupted by supporters chanting, “Let’s go Heat.”  There’s no finer way to sum up how Wade’s career went, with the honors he achieved and the hearts he touched.  

Five Reasons

Terence Crawford stakes claim, outduels Errol Spence Jr

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Errol Spence Jr. had nothing for Terence Crawford but his pride. From early on, he futilely searched for openings below the neck but paid a price for each lunge. At the end of the ordeal, Spence looked like a victim of the grim reaper, who seized the crown of first male undisputed champion with four belts in two divisions. Bud also improved to a 40-0 professional record.

 

Spence took the first round, establishing brief real estate in the middle and using the jab. But his aggression betrayed him when he went after Bud, catching a hard counter to the head.

 

After three minutes, Crawford had figured Spence out in similar fashion to the Terminator downloading information on his targets. He pressed toward his rival but, again, was stung by two retaliatory blows that knocked him down for the first time in his career. 

 

Spence kept jabbing and hammering at the body, but the few strikes that broke the guard wouldn’t phase Crawford. Instead, Bud kept exposing his rival’s defenses with the accuracy of an infrared missile.

 

Before round five started, the ring physician checked out Spence as his face swelled. Crawford had brutally uppercut him in the previous interval.  When the next frame began, each knock cranked Spence’s neck. 

 

When replenished by the corner crew, Spence looked wasted as Crawford was fresh and patiently stalked his prey.

 

In the seventh round, Crawford dropped Spence two additional times. The first was caused by an uppercut followed by a right hook to the ear. On the second knockdown of the round, Crawford double-hooked Spence’s ear seconds before time expired. 

 

In the ninth, Bud struck his opponent with a piercing right hand and then a left-to-right combination leaving his challenger’s legs shaking. The referee Harvey Dock allowed two more uncontested smacks before stopping the slaughter. Spence was initially angry, approaching  Dock’s space over it, but he was saved from getting laid out unconscious. 

 

It wasn’t just death by a thousand jabs. Although, Mike Tyson said it was like a battering ram. Crawford landed thunderous punches that no other man has in volume on Spence. When Dock stopped the fight, Spence’s eyes were barely open. 

 

After the bout, Crawford said, “ I only dreamed of being a world champion. I’m an overachiever. Nobody believed in me when I was coming up, but I made everybody a believer. I want to thank Spence and his team because without him none of this would have been possible.”

 

Spence said, “We gotta do it again. I’m going to be a lot better. It’ll be a lot closer. It’ll probably be in December and the end of the year. I say we gotta do it again. Hopefully, it will happen at 154 [pounds].”

 

No doubt there will be a rematch, but there’s no reason to believe history won’t repeat itself. Bud capitalized on Spence’s mistakes and proved he is in a singular class of welterweight.  He was measured as the smaller guy (despite the reach advantage), but in the ring, he was the more monstrous man.

 

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder offered his input on Spence being “drained” as he left T- Mobile Arena.  

 

“I think Errol over-dehydrated himself; you could see it in his skin and in his eyes,” Wilder said. 

 

But Spence didn’t make any excuses.  He said the better man won.  

Tyler Herro’s time in Miami has mattered

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The Heat capturing the White Whale, Damian Lillard, likely means the end for Tyler Herro in Miami. There is a path to trading for Sub Zero (Lillard) that doesn’t include #14, but pulling off such a swap should get Portland’s Joe Cronin sent to the gulag. 

 

In four seasons, Herro logged 8,830 minutes in a Miami Heat uniform in the Playoffs and regular season. Of players who have spent their first four years with the team, only three have scored more: Dwyane Wade, Glen Rice and Rony Seikaly.  In the Playoffs, Wade is the lone name ahead of Herro.  

 

From the supernatural run the Heat went on in the bubble to the moment he dove for a loose ball that broke two bones in his hand, Herro was always a good soldier.  He earned the league’s reserve crown in 2022 while averaging 20.7 points nightly.  The following campaign, as a starter, he still recorded 20 points per game, but on a higher 3-point attempt rate and True Shooting percentage. 

 

Without Herro, the Heat went on another improbable run to the Finals but fell three wins short of the championship.  This gave his critics/detractors ammo to go on record, stating the squad was better without him. They’re wrong.  

 

Assuredly, the group plays differently if he doesn’t go down, but he was balling in Game 1 in Milwaukee before the injury.  Secondly, Herro’s availability doesn’t stop Jimmy Butler from incinerating defenders and schemes.  Had he been healthy, Bam Adebayo would’ve had one of his most-trusted playmakers feeding him lobs through the middle too. Herro only converted 37.8% of his attempted triples in the regular season, but somehow he wouldn’t be useful. Riddle me that.  

 

Before Game 2 of the Finals, Denver’s coach Michael Malone was asked about Herro’s potential impact on the series. He said, “We know what kind of talent he is” and elaborated on all his skills.  

 

Unfortunately for Herro, he couldn’t get back in time to help his team. In the previous Playoff run, he hurt his groin and played poorly before that. Sometimes players are unlucky until they aren’t.

 

At 23, Herro is far from his peak as a shot creator and is underestimated as a distributor. In 2023, he assisted on 19.1% of his teammates’ baskets, putting him in the 93rd percentile for his position.

 

On the attack, he is a drop coverage killer and finishes well within 3-10 feet of the basket (48.3%). 

 

Defensively, Herro spent 61.1% of the season matched up with guards. He held them to 44.7% shooting from the field.  In 2022, his Defensive Field Goal Percentage was 40.8%. 

 

 As a sixth man, a lot of his time came against other reserves, but it was balanced by playing 9.8 minutes in fourth quarters, good enough for eighth in the league that season.  As a starter, he was used just as much in the last intervals.

 

As of today, Herro is sixth in made 3-pointers (601) and 17th in points logged (4,272)  for the Heat.  He turned into one of the top five draft picks in franchise history because of his dedication to the lab.

 

His 37-point eruption in Game 4 of the 2020 East Finals, which came as a rookie, should always be remembered fondly in Heat lore.  That night, he was the best player on the court that Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown stood on to push the Heat to a 3-1 lead over the Boston Celtics.   

 

In 2022/2023, Herro logged the second-most minutes of all Heatles while being fifth in games played.  If this is the end, his time in White Hot mattered.  Wherever he ends up, his new outfit is getting a future All-Star.

Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Draymond Green can’t stop talking about Jordan Poole

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As a guest on the Pat Bev Podcast with Rone, Draymond Green tried to convince the public he has self-control when probed about the teammate he abused. Disturbingly, Beverly and co-host Adam Ferrone soaked up every syllable of psychobabble, confusing it for wisdom.  

 

Green’s defense, “We know stuff you don’t say amongst men,” sounds awfully close to the excuse pulled by domestic abusers everywhere. It also waters down his public October apology. 

 

Gag.

 

Aside from insulting Jordan Poole, now a Wizard, the episode included Chris Paul getting reminded that affection is not felt by Green, plus some obsequious praise towards LeBron James. 

 

Green might get asked about KOing Poole in every interview for the rest of his life.  If only Draymond, as a former teammate, had the decency this time to keep things quiet. Rone asked him about rapper Cam’ron stating on his show, It Is What it is, if Poole disrespected him as was reported.  Green said no, then offered his manipulatively vague justification.  

 

“I’ve been in this league 11 years, and I haven’t injured anybody,” Green said.  “Dialogue happens, and dialogue happens over a course of time.  You usually ain’t just triggered by something that fast to that degree. This is a team.  [Nobody] on my team is triggering me in an instant…”

 

Not counting Poole? He hurt Steven Adams, then with OKC, with a fierce strike to the testicles, and he stomped on Domantas Sabonis’ ribs after his leg was grabbed.

 

Beverly approved of his guest’s explanation, saying when “young guys coming in who don’t know the motion with things” cross the line with players like Green, it’s disrespectful to the team. I wonder if his interpretation of Green leaving Poole unconscious qualifies as dignified.

 

It didn’t take long after the release of the episode for Poole’s father, Anthony, to see it because sound bites were circulating like whiskey after the repeal of the 18th Amendment. A brief verbal dispute ensued between him and Green that’s as sad as it is embarrassing for the Warriors. JP is gone, yet Green is quick on the draw to shield himself from blame by trying to persuade the audience to believe the punch was deserved over what was said. 

 

Had Draymond assaulted Poole in a workplace unrelated to sports, he would have left the building in cuffs had he not escaped before authorities arrived.  

 

Poole was traded because the team wanted to shed salary, but it should have seriously altered its DNA before the last exchange deadline.  The Warriors were doomed as soon as those in charge thought the team could go into the season and defend its crown with a poisonous locker room. Green should have been the first to go. 

 

Now that Paul is a Warrior, the team is farther away from championship contention because it needed to get younger and faster, not older and slower. It shouldn’t get ignored either that Rone condescendingly asked if anyone liked the new Warrior, and Green said nothing. 

 

Hopefully, Green’s offensive play next year isn’t as pathetic as his welcoming of CP and treatment of Poole.

 

Marlins series Braves

Five Things That Will Define the Marlins’ Future in 2023

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The Marlins are treading into unfamiliar waters. 

 

Entering the second half, they were 14 games over .500, good for the second-best record in the NL and the fourth-best record in all of baseball.

 

With a 53-39 record, the Fish topped perennial title contenders such as the Dodgers, Astros and Yankees at the unofficial midway point of the season.

 

The first 92 games of 2023 provided a plethora of memorable moments, ranging from the franchise’s first cycle (Luis Arráez) , to the most anticipated Marlins debut in over a decade (Eury Pérez).

 

This season has been a whirlwind so far, and it’s bound to get even more interesting.

 

Arráez Chasing History

 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past three-plus months, you are undoubtedly aware of the hitting enigma that is Luis Arráez. 

 

The second baseman leads the league in batting average, on-base percentage and hits. Hitting .383, Arráez is 52 points ahead of Ronald Acuña Jr., who has the second highest average in baseball (.331). 

 

Simply put, this is the best hitter on the planet.

 

Flirting with .400 all season, Arráez remains in striking distance of the elusive feat. Ted Williams was the last player to eclipse the threshold, hitting .406 in 1941. 

 

The chase for .400 will be a compelling storyline to follow, as the baseball world is starting to take notice of just how special the Marlins’ leadoff hitter truly is.

 

Starting Pitchers Return

 

The starting rotation looks quite different from Opening Day, as only Sandy Alcántara and Jesús Luzardo remain. However, two pitchers who started the year in the rotation look to return from injury in the coming weeks. Edward Cabrera and Trevor Rogers have both missed extended time this season, and should make an impact down the stretch.

 

Cabrera hasn’t pitched since June 17, and is on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. The righty is expected to be back in the rotation before the end of July.

 

The 25-year-old has shown flashes of dominance over his 14 starts this season, but needs to be more consistent. The talent is certainly there, and the Marlins hope he can tap into that talent more often than not.

 

Rogers has been on the shelf since April 19, originally due to a left biceps  strain. The lefty was only supposed to miss a few weeks, but a June 13 MRI revealed a partial tear in his right lat. Rogers was subsequently placed on the 60-day IL, and there is currently no definite return date.

 

Whenever Rogers does return, he will have a chance to significantly help a Marlins rotation that is thin on arms. Like Cabrera, the southpaw has been up and down this season, and will need to be more dependable for the final stretch of the season.

 

Can Jazz Stay Healthy?

 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has made his presence felt every time he stepped foot on the diamond. However, there’s one problem — he can’t stay on the field. The Bahamian star has only played in 45 of 92 games this season, taking multiple trips to the IL.

 

After missing six weeks with an injury, Chisholm returned to the team on June 27 and instantly produced. The center fielder had five hits, two of which were homers, and four RBIs in his first series back. Chisholm was scorching, which made it even more unfortunate that his second IL stint would start after just six games.

 

On July 2, Chisholm left the game after an awkward swing and was diagnosed with a mild left oblique strain. He has not played since, and it is unknown when the 25-year-old will be back.

 

Chisholm’s return can’t come soon enough, as his mere presence takes this team’s confidence and swagger to another level. His combination of speed and power is also something sorely lacking for the Marlins with his absence. 

 

The former All-Star will be back on the field soon, but when he gets healthy, he needs to stay healthy.

 

Trade Deadline Looming

 

The Marlins are soon likely to find themselves a position that they have very rarely been in.

 

Buy mode.

 

The trade deadline is Aug. 1, still a few weeks away, but the Fish are almost certainly going to look to make a splash (pun slightly intended).

 

Right now, it is still too early to look at specific names, as teams around the league have yet to publicly portray themselves as buyers or sellers. But we should learn more in the coming weeks.

 

The Marlins have been playing as well as they could’ve hoped so far this season, but improvements  are necessary if they want to make some noise in October. 

 

General Manager Kim Ng could seemingly upgrade anywhere on the diamond, but a few obvious positional needs include: 3B, SP, RP (right-handed) and C.

 

August Gauntlet

 

The Fish have gotten off to a terrific start, and while a great deal of that has to do with their play on the field, the relatively soft schedule up to this point has certainly played a role. 

 

That’s about to change.

 

Starting July 31 through Aug. 20, the Marlins’ schedule is minefield of explosive offenses: 

 

4 vs Phillies

3 at Rangers

3 at Reds

3 vs Yankees

3 vs Astros

3 at Dodgers

 

Sheesh.

 

With 19 consecutive games against teams over .500, Skip Schumaker’s club will need to be sharp night in and night out in order to survive this stretch. The Marlins will be in sink-or-swim territory (that’s my final pun) over these three weeks, and will have a chance to show national-media skeptics they are for real.

Five Panthers prospects to keep on your radar after Development Camp

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After five days of on and off-ice activities, the Florida Panthers  wrapped up their Development Camp Friday in Coral Springs.

 

As the guys go their separate ways for the summer, here are six players who stood out at camp and should be on your radar.

 

Mackie Samoskevich — Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)/Charlotte Checkers (AHL) — FORWARD (20)

It was no surprise to see Florida’s top prospect Mackie Samoskevich turn heads at development camp.

 

The 2021 first-round pick of the Panthers had an impressive sophomore season at the University of Michigan, putting up 43 points in 39 games on route to a second consecutive Frozen Four appearance with the Wolverines. 


Samoskevich turned pro at the end of the college season, joining Florida’s AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers for their playoff run.

 

The 20-year-old was undoubtedly the most NHL ready player at development camp this week — pulling out all the tools in both the on-ice drills and Friday’s intrasquad scrimmage.

 

Samoskevich is probably the only player from development camp that has a chance to crack the Panthers’ roster out of camp — which is a goal Samoskevich set out for this season. 

 

“I’d love to play down here [in Florida]. I think that’s the main goal,” Samoskevich said. “I don’t think it’s a far-fetched goal, I know I can do it, I think I can play up in the big leagues.”

 

Samoskevich’s tool bag is impressive — between his skating, shooting, hands and hockey IQ, he has the skill to play in the NHL now. 

 

Jack Devine — Denver Pioneers (NCAA) — FORWARD (19)

Florida’s seventh-round pick in 2022, Jack Devine caught my eye early on during camp. 

 

The University of Denver forward was great on his feet in close-quarter situations like the 3-on-3 and board battles drills. 


Coming in at 5-foot-11, Devine had no problem getting around bigger players — mostly because of his explosive first step.

 

He has an extremely quick shot release that stood out all week and he pairs it well with his skating. 

 

Devine will return to Denver for his junior season as he tries to win his second National Championship with the Pioneers. 

 

The 19-year-old looked a lot better than many guys at camp who already had pro experience under their belt — he’s a hidden gem in Florida’s prospect pool.

 

Evan Nause — Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) — DEFENSEMAN (20)

While I don’t think Evan Nause will be NHL ready this season, I do think he is one of the best blueline prospects Florida has. Geordie Kinnear and his staff in Charlotte should be excited to get Nause for his first professional season in the AHL.

 

Nause is a 6-foot-2 smooth skating defenseman who isn’t afraid to jump up in the rush but understands his role as a 200-foot blueliner. 

 

The former Quebec Rempart won the Memorial Cup just one month before the start of development camp. 

 

Nause has a big frame, but he’s surprisingly mobile for someone of his size. 

 

His edge work and puck handling reminded me slightly of a younger Aaron Ekblad — who even now is still crafty with the puck for someone that is 6-foot-4. 

 

Defensemen traditionally take longer to develop than forwards and with the amount of NHL blueliners the Panthers signed this offseason plus the bodies they already have in Charlotte, Nause will have plenty of time in the AHL to learn the pro game.

 

Kai Schwindt — Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) — FORWARD (19)

Mississauga’s Kai Schwindt is Florida’s most intriguing prospect for me. 

 

The first thing that immediately stands out for Schwindt is his size, the kid is 6-foot-4. But while there’s a lot of tall guys in hockey whose calling is being big, this isn’t why I have Schwindt on this list.  

 

I say Schwindt is an interesting case because at times during camp he looked like a guy that should absolutely tear up junior hockey.

 

He isn’t the fastest guy but he moves well for a guy that big. The lack of elite speed is offset by him using his size effectively to carry the puck. He can shoot — during development camp I saw him go top shelf four to five times off the rush in about 15 minutes. 

 

He had an impressive camp that ended off with a snipe in the intrasquad scrimmage. Rookie camp should be another good week to evaluate his game.

 

Saying this, his offensive production in the OHL the last two seasons doesn’t translate to what he’s capable of. Last season in the OHL, Schwindt had 25 points in 67 games with the Steelheads.

 

“Schwindt needs to drive the play more,” Intermission Sports Steelheads beat reporter Mitchell Fox said. “He has the speed and energy to be an effective, gritty winger, but he needs to put it all together.”

 

Schwindt has the upside needed for a professional and if he can put it all together, I could see him in a fourth-line to bottom-six role on an NHL team one day. But he’ll need to have a better year in the OHL next season as one of the more experienced players on a young Steelheads team before anything.

 

Josh Davies — Swift Current Broncos (WHL) — FORWARD (19)

Ryan Lomberg is a fan favorite in Florida with his gritty play and sneaky offensive skill.

 

If you want a Ryan Lomberg 2.0, bring in Swift Current forward Josh Davies.

 

A sixth-round pick of the Panthers in 2022, Davies is a 5-foot-9 forward who hits hard and plays  in the dirty areas. Does that ring a bell? That’s Ryan Lomberg.

 

Davies had 34 points and 131 penalty minutes in 62 games with the Broncos last WHL season. When the WHL season was over, Davies signed an Amature Tryout Agreement with the Checkers — getting in one game with the team before their playoffs started.

 

The 19-year-old is hard to bounce off the puck and has a pair of wheels on him that will be crucial to his game as he eventually makes it to the pros.

 

He will return to Swift Current next season for his final year of junior hockey.

 

BONUS: Matteo Giampa — Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)/Canisius College (NCAA) — FORWARD (19)

I went a little off the board here with this ‘bonus’ pick and took Matteo Giampa, an undrafted, unsigned player who was a camp invite by the Panthers.

 

Giampa tore up the Alberta Junior Hockey League last season with 92 points in 54 games with the Bonnyville Pontiacs,  while leading the AJHL in playoff scoring with 22 points in 16 games.

 

He’s going to play Division 1 hockey next season with Canisius College and will be 20 by the time the season rolls around. Playing D-1 hockey for the next few years should be a good indicator of how much Giampa can develop his game.

Giampa stood out the most during the 3-on-3 drills, where he was weaving in and out of tight spaces while getting quality looks on goal. He seemed to be really strong on his lower half, which is a good trait to have for a guy that clocks in right at 6-foot. 

 

In the scrimmage, he pulled out a trick from his hat, flipping the puck to himself and batting it in midair during the shootout — capping off an impressive week in style. 

 

Giampa going undrafted means no team owns his NHL rights and with him going to college, he can’t sign a deal with the Panthers or any team for that matter without losing his NCAA eligibility.

 

He had a really good camp so I decided to still include him in this list despite him not being a Panthers’ prospect.

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Sandis Vilmanis — Sarnia Sting (OHL) — FORWARD (19)

Kasper Puutio — Lahden Pelicans (Liiga) — DEFENSEMAN (21)

Ludvig Jansson — Lulea HF (SHL) — DEFENSEMAN (19)