The 2015 regular season is over, and that means it's time for legit 2016 NFL Draft analysis and predictions for the top 20 picks, which are now set. Picking No. 8 overall will be the Miami Dolphins, and they are a curious case study. Certainly a quite talented team, the Dolphins only managed six wins in 2015. The issues were not immediately on the surface, but one thing is clear, and it's that the offensive needs help. That's why they should not hesitate to take Ohio State OT Taylor Decker.
Miami's biggest issue, in my opinion, was coaching this past season. The talent was there offensively and defensively to at least put together a competitive campaign. Instead, they were horrible for most of the season, and truthfully, a lot of it points to play-calling and direction.
Despite having a running back like Lamar Miller, the Dolphins ran the ball fewer times than almost every team in the NFL. When they did run, they did well, averaging 4.3 yards per carry for the season. The problem was that they ran it less than 400 times, while quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw it 586 times.
Tannehill put up solid numbers for the year, but could've had an even better season if the offense was more balanced, and that was a huge problem for this team. Joe Philbin was trash and consequently fired early in the season. Dan Campbell, former NFL TE, took over the as the interim and did a better job, but this team still isn't all that much. The entire staff really needs to be revamped, and perhaps Campbell would still be a good head coach, but he needs to bring in better coordinators. We shall see how that plays out, but if the next regime is smart, they'll look to offensive line in this upcoming draft.
Taylor Decker just makes sense for this group. Since Jake Long, the Dolphins haven't had a great offensive tackle. Branden Albert has been OK on the left side, but he hasn't turned this group around by himself. But that works out well for Decker and the Dolphins, because many question whether Decker can be a left tackle in the NFL -- but he can definitely be a right tackle.
You see, Decker doesn't have elite lateral movement. He can move a little bit, but not as well as top tackle prospects like Ronnie Stanley and Laremy Tunsil. What does have that's elite, however, is size; and he's an incredible run blocker.
At 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, Decker is a beast. He's a classic mauler from the tackle position, and if he can hold his own in pass protection at the next level, he'll be an outstanding lineman. Even more importantly for the Dolphins is that he's exactly what they need right now. He can play opposite Albert on the offensive line and provide balance in the offense. If the next head coach and offensive coordinator have that commitment to the run, the Dolphins' offense can turn into the well-oiled machine many thought they'd become in 2015.
