Half 3 of the newest SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag:

From Bob Lumbard (by way of electronic mail):

Hello Alain, as a lifelong Dolphins fan I totally take pleasure in your questions/solutions column. You present nice perception and more often than not are proper on course. My query is that this: If Miami had been capable of beat Buffalo and superior to the divisional spherical, would Tua have been cleared to play? Additionally, would Teddy Bridgewater have been able to play this previous weekend? I consider that he had a damaged pinkie finger on his throwing hand however didn’t Aaron Rogers have the identical harm this season and he performed with it? Sustain the nice work.

Hey Bob, I’m proper “more often than not”?!?!??! What the hell? JK. The truth that Tua stays in concussion protocol and gained’t take part within the Professional Bowl tells us that, no, he wouldn’t have performed within the divisional spherical. I’m undecided about Bridgewater, however perceive his harm was to his pinkie, whereas Rodgers had a thumb harm and (as bizarre as this will likely sound), there’s extra stress on the pinkie when throwing the ball.

From Brady Meadows (by way of electronic mail):

Hey Alain, I learn your put up each week. Query, is it me or concussions extra frequent now within the NFL? The outdated helmets appeared tremendous with the chook cage facemask; it might be groups did not report them like they do now.

Hey Brady, yeah, you answered your query proper there. There’s much more consideration paid to concussions these days and so they’re being monitored in a means that didn’t occur “within the outdated days.” I feel we may be flabbergasted if we had an correct depend of concussions from the Nineteen Seventies, for instance.

From Thomas Hudson (by way of electronic mail):

Here’s a query pushed by my frustration with individuals on boards. Do you suppose Tua can proceed to become a greater QB? He’s nonetheless solely 24. He has thrown fewer passes within the NFL than every other prime AFC QB, together with Lawrence. Can he be taught to go to the bottom higher? Can he proceed to construct arm power? I see a QB who has improved annually within the league. Why accomplish that many individuals simply wish to hand over on him?

Hey Thomas, right here’s my reply and I’m getting the sensation you gained’t prefer it: Certain, Tua can get higher in sure areas, like extra constant decision-making, however he is already been within the league three years and sooner or later we have to perceive that is who he’s, good and dangerous. No, his arm power isn’t going to enhance, nor did it enhance in 2022 from 2021 (regardless of what some may inform you). He was quite a bit higher in 2022 than his earlier two seasons as a result of he performed in a greater scheme and he additionally had the quickest broad receiver tandem within the NFL. Having stated that, he had an excellent season total, however I’m undecided how a lot greater his ceiling is, to be very blunt. And that’s not addressing the sturdiness issues, which sadly all the time can be there.

From Mike (by way of electronic mail):

Whats up Alain: Concerning Chris Grier’s assertion on Tua not being concussion-prone: Do you consider this was based mostly on a medical knowledgeable’s opinion or Grier’s wishful considering?

Hey Mike, I can’t consider that Chris Grier would make that type of assertion based mostly on wishful considering. That will be grossly irresponsible, and that’s not who Chris Grier is. Now, the difficulty may be that not each medical knowledgeable agrees with the assertion that Tua isn’t at any extra danger than anyone else, nevertheless it wasn’t stated frivolously.

From Marvin Woods (by way of electronic mail):

Do you suppose Mike McDaniel nonetheless believes giving veterans so many days off throughout coaching camp will assist restrict accidents?

Hey Marvin, I don’t essentially see a correlation between giving veterans days off and the harm points the place we’re speaking a couple of torn ACL, an Achilles harm, torn triceps or issues of that nature. So, sure, I might anticipate veterans to get days off once more subsequent season.

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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 Jeff (by way of electronic mail):

Whats up Alain, I loved studying by means of your trio of articles about a number of Dolphins gamers, particularly once we get to speak about X. One in all my greatest hangups when individuals bash on him this yr is that he has been beat up, how badly none of us know. On his interview previous to the bye week the media had requested him about restoration and he laughed and stated one thing alongside the strains of “Yeah, I would like that.” This was following the week when his coach had stated he is all healed up. For me, I feel X, Holland, and a few gamers had been taking part in handcuffed, that means that they weren’t free to concentrate on simply their position, however needed to mentor, information, maintain one eye in one other course. I additionally do not suppose the play-calling from Boyer helped at instances. What’s your view with how the scheme and play-calling helped or harmed a participant like X this yr, particularly given a few of these limitations on protection at the back of the sector?

Hey Jeff, you make an attention-grabbing argument, however I’m not huge on blaming scheme for a participant not performing as much as par on protection. With X, I feel his drop in efficiency was much more associated to his accidents than the scheme or defensive play-calling. With Jevon Holland, he was fairly strong, however not fairly as dynamic as I might have anticipated in his second season.

From Gary (by way of electronic mail):

Undecided in case your mailbag segments have completed now that the season is over, however right here goes. Simply watched the Grier/McDaniel presser the place Grier says he is not apprehensive about concussions. If that did not set my alarm off, he then stated Tua already wears the most secure helmet obtainable!! Now I am actually wanting ahead to who the backup QB can be as that to me can be telling.. Your ideas. Thanks for all of your work and insights this season. Look ahead to studying extra in ’23.

Hey Gary, the backup QB must be any person with no sturdiness questions, interval. I additionally suppose you’re searching for any person comfy with being a backup if Tua, as Grier said, clearly is the starter.

From Craig M (@Dolfan2334):

Largest want on the group this offseason? Primary “should do” this offseason?

The most important want could be a toss-up between a stud TE, cornerback, or off-the-ball linebacker. As to the #1 “should do,” it’s gotta be getting a dependable backup QB to keep away from the problems of 2022.

From Wade Tripp (@WadeTripp1):

Which DC candidate’s scheme works finest with the gamers we have already got on the roster?

Hey Wade, I feel I’d need to remove Anthony Campanile from the equation as a result of he’s by no means been a defensive coordinator in school or the NFL, so we don’t know his scheme. I do suppose Fangio’s scheme would match with the personnel or Desai believes in the identical rules, in order that works too.

From Chris Harne, CFA, MBA (@mindlesstrades):

What space ought to Mike McDaniel’s concentrate on bettering as a coach that will have the most important impression to the group?

Hey Chris, I feel clock administration needs to be the reply right here, proper? And it might be that he has to sacrifice among the pre-snap movement to get issues going faster on the line of scrimmage.

From 30h5Gamecock (@305Gamecock):

Desai or Campanile if Fangio says no?

Between these two, I feel the selection must be Desai as a result of whereas Campanile clearly is held in excessive regard, he simply doesn’t have expertise main a protection in school or the NFL.

From Della Monte (@DellaMonte4):

Is Teddy Bridgewater completed right here?

Quite simple reply right here is greater than possible. If the Dolphins are rolling with Tua as their starter in 2023, it simply doesn’t make sense to deliver again Bridgewater when he couldn’t end both of the 2 video games he began.