Four Dolphins Signings I Wanna Talk About

 Robert Foster gets wide open like few receivers I’ve seen in the NFL. He’s tall and slim and ran a 4.41 coming out of college.

I’ve been watching as much of his college and Buffalo Bills tape as I can find. I’m not exactly the best at that. (Yet?)

He’s only going to be 27. This will be his fourth season.

Robert Foster is exactly the kind of free agent signing I’m looking for Miami to make. You want to go into the Draft with no glaring holes. The addition of Robert Foster means that the Wide Receiver room has a variety of dudes with upside. Now they don’t have to get either Ja’Marr Chase or Devonta Smith in the Draft.

You can get Kyle Pitts - and with everyone lauding New England for having two very good Tight Ends to bang the middle and supplement the run game, it won’t be a difficult sell.

More importantly, I think, is that Robert Foster has good special teams tape. If he can contribute on Teams, he can find his way to the field. The story about him is, I guess, he has some For Love of the Game issues. Maybe being reunited with Tua will spark something. Maybe being on a roster he can actually impact because there aren’t other dudes with his specific skillset tempting his passer will increase his targets.

Cus this dude gets separation like you don’t often see in the NFL.

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I think today’s Adam Butler and Justin Coleman signings are signs of what I’ve been saying about the offense - Chris Grier et al think this team is ready to compete. They just need depth.

Justin Coleman has potential to be the best slot corner in the league. But I don’t want to talk about him first.

In an interview posted to YouTube three years ago, Adam Butler talks about why he chose the Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent. He said he could tell they wanted him. When pushed about it, he said, “You can tell when someone’s blowing smoke.” He didn't come to Miami chasing dollar bills. He didn't come here because they sold him some spin.

He came to Miami to compete and to be a key piece of the defense.

2019 was Adam Butler’s most productive year as a pro. He excelled, you might say, when they deployed the now-famous Ameoba front. A front a certain Brian Flores, defensive playcaller of the 2019 New England Patriots, enjoys using - and which clearly my guy Davon Godchaux wasn’t getting enough pressure from.

I’m not usually a stats guy. Stats can be instructive for a conversation, but they can also be deceiving. Statistics can make you think you know what you’re talking about - which is the most dangerous thing you can think.

Justin Coleman has allowed exactly 50% of the passes that come his way to be completed. It’s not many - I can’t find it again to source it, but if I remember correctly, he’s 39/78. Look, this is more of a journal than it is journalism. You’re not paying me to be good at this. He's allowed somethings like am 85 passersby rating. 

He played for the Patriots, the Seahawks, and the Lions. To me, that says the guy has a coveted and specific skillset.

I just fell down a well, looking at Miami’s cornerbacks as athletic specimens. Height-weight-speed freaks. Except Noah Igbinoghene. Womp womp.

Justin Coleman, while a smaller dude, has freaky tight-space agility. And he was on the Patriots with Flores. Need another reason to think this guy will play significant snaps and plug a legitimate hole in the defense?

I hope not, cus I’ve got nothin else til I can afford Game Pass.

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I didn’t talk about Jacoby Brisset yesterday. Probably should have. I wanted some time to think about it, even though my thinking hasn’t changed from my initial reaction.

what a great choice of backup quarterback.

Seriously. What a great choice.

NFL Network personality and former NFL executive, Charley Casserly is quoted as (often) saying, “The most important person in your building is the quarterback. The second most important person is your backup quarterback. The third most important person is your third string quarterback!” You get the idea.

Jacoby Brisset is not a starter in the League. He isn’t a Journeyman. But he has starter experience. And he’s held a clipboard now for a Hall of Famer. You want to make your Quarterback better in his second year? Surround him with coaches and a backup whom he can trust.

The Offensive Coordinators are in place to create a dynamic gameplan that evolves from week to week. Two minds mean twice as many tendencies - and if handled correctly half as much reliance on them. They’re also guys Tua has a comfort with. All that’s really missing now is for Jacoby and Tua to meet, to work together, and to see how that relationship is going to gel.

Brisset has familiarity with Flores from New England. I can’t imagine they’d bring someone with character concerns into the locker room. Also can’t imagine they hired him under any impression other than that he’s the backup.

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Overall, I’d say I’m very pleased with this Dolphins Free Agency period. The guys they’ve signed have all addressed last year’s weaknesses without mortgaging the future. Flores and Grier continue to prefer sustainable success to a flash in the pan.

Gase got a second gig after a flash in the pan, but was the humiliation of his Jets tenure worth it?

I would say no.

Kenny Golladay is hanging out there right now, reportedly close to a deal with the Giants.

Feeling pretty good about my evaluation of the receivers in this crop, right now. Thinking Miami is playing it smart.

I think I’d like to turn my attention to the rest of the League. Maybe next I’ll do a little AFC East Introspective.

Thanks for reading!