Day 1,868, Quasi-Quarantine: Miami Makes A Short-Sighted Trade To Bolster The Offensive Front

Looking to fortify the offensive trenches after the retirement of Terron Armstead and other turnover, Miami traded up 11 spots in the second round to secure Arizona guard/tackle Jonah Savaiinaea with the 37th overall pick. The 6-4, 324-pounder was considered the No. 4 offensive guard and No. 55 overall player by draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic, and he actually attended the same high school as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Pairing Savaiinaea with first-rounder Kenneth Grant means the 'Fins added some 700 pounds of human to their lines in the draft's first couple of days.

The pluses: Described as powerful and competitive (and "alert," which, well, yeah, I would hope so) by Brugler, Savaiinaea has position flexibility, playing guard as a freshman and tackle the past two seasons. The three-year starter is also durable, starting 36 straight games across three positions, with a high ceiling based on the fact that he's only 21 years old. He's considered an elite athlete for his size, recording the best 10-yard split (1.72 seconds) at the combine among prospects weighing 315 pounds or more and boasting high percentiles among guards in speed (90th), agility and explosiveness (80th), and weight (85th). Savaiinaea is credited with strong hands, good play balance, positional thickness, leadership qualities, a mean streak, and a desire to always find the next block. Importantly, he's also disciplined, being whistled for just a single penalty last season.

The minuses: The Tafuna, American Samoa, native struggled as a pass protector, one of the reasons why he is not seen as a natural tackle and will be moved to guard. It's suboptimal to spend so much draft collateral on a position switch, especially one for a prospect that was widely considered a reach by observers. Savaiinaea has been described as playing too upright and stiff, spending too much time on the ground at the second level, and experiencing some struggles against inside leverage. He played in the Senior Bowl, but he left school a year early and may have benefited from a bit more experience -- especially at his pro position of guard.

The bottom line: Though Miami sees Savaiinaea as a tone-setter for the offense and the team could always use quality offensive linemen, it certainly felt as if the Dolphins surrendered entirely too much draft capital. To move up 11 spots, the 'Fins gave up its third-round pick and swapped its fourth for a fifth, a steep price for a non-premium position. Compounding matters, it ended the team's involvement on Day 2, which was widely considered the heart of this year's draft value, and also left Miami without a viable secondary addition (a glaring need) in the meaningful rounds.

The best case for Savaiinaea? He immediately grabs one of the two starting guard spots, bringing needed physicality to the unit. Savaiinaea shows an ability to both get to the second level and the perimeter while also anchoring short-yardage improvement.

The worst case for Savaiinaea? He struggles to adapt to a relatively new position and gets relegated to backup status due to technique issues.

Savaiinaea could end up being a terrific add, and there is very little issue with the player himself. The issue is with the price, the position, and the moment. Looking to beef up the offensive line, especially when you're a franchise that often has a unit that ranks at the very bottom of the NFL, is never a bad idea. However, general manager Chris Grier -- as has become a pattern -- has ignored draft context and overall roster need to reach for a player at too dear of a cost.

Day 1,867, Quasi-Quarantine: "Rogues" Showcases The Finest Work Of A Meticulous, Dogged Researcher

Patrick Radden Keefe has compiled some of his finest work in "Rogues," putting his gifts as an investigator and interviewer on full display in this collection of memorable pieces about the worst of the worst.

Subtitled "True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks," the book leaves the reader wondering just how Keefe got close enough to secure the details and minutiae of these tales. Some of the stories are harrowing in retrospect (Mark Burnett and Donald Trump, Steve Cohen, and Anthony Bourdain), but the author's meticulous nature overcomes the occasional sense that the subject's voice is missing.

As an aside, I'm an unabashed Mets fan, so I was disappointed but not surprised to see just how awful Cohen -- the team's owner -- is. You can bet that anyone with his amount of money is a massive cheat and crook, but the extent to which this is revealed is pretty staggering.

Keefe can by wry and sardonic, making "Rogue" a fascinating and revealing read -- while serving as a timely reminder that he is one of our nation's very finest journalists.

Day 1,866, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins Bypasses Playmakers To Go Behemoth On The First Day Of The NFL Draft

Defensive coordinator has been something of a revolving door for the Dolphins, as the franchise has had seven DCs in the last decade. Anthony Weaver somewhat surprisingly returns for a second season in the post, and Miami made a significant investment in his scheme with massive tackle Kenneth Grant.

The 6-4, 330-pounder from Michigan was pegged as the draft's No. 3 defensive tackle and No. 25 overall player by The Athletic's draft guru, Dane Brugler. The 'Fins drafted him at No. 13 overall with designs on shoring up the run defense and providing up-the-middle pocket push.

The pluses: Grant possesses tremendous athleticism for his size (he was rated No. 3 on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List"), with clips showing him chasing down ball-carriers deep down the field, revealing dogged effort. He can be dominant against the run, batted down 10 passes in the past two seasons, and has played both nose tackle and three technique. The Gary, Indiana, native is just 21 years old, but has shown leadership ability and room for growth.

The minuses: According to Brugler and others, Grant is unrefined as a pass rusher and struggles at times with leverage, playing too high. Scouts point out issues diagnosing plays and that he has ballooned over 350 pounds at times, so conditioning is something that will need close monitoring. His production has not always matched his ability (just 69 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 17 career starts), which is why many analysts regarded him as a reach at 13th overall. Depending on how you feel about the trend, it's worth noting that Grant also opted out of Michigan's bowl game and declined an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The bottom line: The way the draft fell, there were value picks to be had at No. 13 at positions of larger need for the Dolphins: cornerback, offensive tackle, and tight end. Texas corner Jahdae Barron and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren are likely game-changers who could have slotted nicely into Miami's schemes. The guess here is that the 'Fins wanted to trade back, but couldn't find any takers (a common issue in a draft that did not have many sure-fire players) and went with a player they rated higher than some others.

And look, Grant looks the part and has the tools to develop into a polished pro. Some of his issues sound like they can be attributed to inexperience -- he played just two full years of college football -- but the question is whether it's wise to use a top-15 pick on a player who requires a significant amount of tutelage.

The best-case scenario for Grant? He becomes Zach Sieler's running mate by taking quickly to individual coaching, playing significant, impactful snaps as a three-down tackle in Weaver's scheme.

The worst-case scenario for Grant? His lack of pass-rush skills and overall conditioning render him a role player on Miami's interior, further impacting a depleted secondary with a lack of pressure in the quarterback's face.

There's a lot to really like about Grant and what he could bring to the franchise. However, a significant amount of that requires giving the Dolphins' braintrust the benefit of the doubt -- something that has gone unearned for a quarter-century.

Check out Miami's Day 2 selection.

Day 1,860, Quasi-Quarantine: Miami Dolphins Pre-Draft Position Outlook: The Secondary

 

So with Jalen Ramsey the latest Dolphin to signal his desire to leave South Beach, Miami is staring at the prospect of having to replace four of the five starters from last year's secondary. 

Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver returns for a second season and is reported to have more sway in some of the personnel decisions on that side of the ball, an important development considering the sheer number of needs at a position group with the most question marks on the roster.

Here's a look at the pre-draft roster landscape:

THE RETURNING STARTER:

Kader Kohou

Kohou has focused on the slot but may need to take on a boundary role. Perhaps the dominant UFA success story in recent franchise history, he has had uneven moments but is certainly a solid starter.

THE HOLDOVERS:

Ethan Bonner, Elijah Campbell, Storm Duck, Cam Smith

Bonner was undrafted out of Stanford, but has gotten some internal praise the past two seasons. At the end of the day, however, he has seven appearances, two tackles, and one pass breakup in his career.

Another undrafted player, Duck was forced into action a season ago and ended up recording 35 tackles and four pass breakups in three starts as a rookie. 

Campbell is considered a core special-teams player entering his fifth season in Miami. He has started three games at safety and does not have an interception in his career.

Despite being a second-rounder, Smith has not started a game in his first two seasons. He has 18 tackles and no interceptions in 21 contests.

The Dolphins seem invested in this quartet to varying degrees, but I think -- even at his most optimistic -- Weaver (notwithstanding a difficult-to-imagine scenario that sees the light suddenly come on for Smith) would agree that things have gone horribly wrong if any of the four have to start consistently in 2025.

THE NEWCOMERS:

Artie Burns, Ashtyn Davis, Ifeatu Melifonwu

A local product, Burns had some good early moments with the Steelers, but his career has meandered of late and he started just one game over the past three season for the Seahawks. Burns, who hasn't had an interception since 2017, needs to be considered purely a depth piece at cornerback.

Davis has spent the past five seasons with the Jets, starting 22 games and grabbing eight picks in that time. I suspect Miami sees him as a rotational safety under the best circumstances.

The most highly regarded newcomer, Melifonwu has good size (6-3, 210 pounds), but had just 14 starts and two interceptions in his four years with the Lions. Based on sheer numbers, the 'Fins have to be projecting him into a starting safety role.

THE FRINGE GUYS:

Jordan Colbert, Ryan Cooper, Isaiah Johnson, Jason Maitre, Patrick McMorris

McMorris -- a sixth-rounder a season ago -- is perhaps the most intriguing of this group, but all five face uphill battles to make the squad in 2025.

THE DRAFT PLAN:

In the likely scenario that Ramsey is jettisoned for a Day 2 pick, Melifonwu is penciled in as one starter, and Kohou is consider another, the 'Fins face the unappealing prospect of entering the draft with three open starting positions in the secondary. Yes, there are street free agents poised to get snapped up following the draft, but that's also not an attractive approach.

That's the bad news. But -- believe it or not if you're a Dolphins fan -- there is good news.

Miami currently has 10 picks and is likely to pick up more when Ramsey and/or Tyreek Hill are traded. This draft is also widely considered to be an extremely strong one for safeties, so the 'Fins seem well positioned to grab a starting safety relatively early in the draft.

Cornerback is considered to be top heavy, which could lead Miami to prioritize the position with the No. 13 overall selection. The top two corners are widely considered to be Colorado's Travis Hunter (also a wideout) and Michigan's Will Johnson, both of whom are likely to be gone by the time the Dolphins are on the clock. 

However, Jahdae Barron (Texas) may be in play at the spot, and Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Trey Amos (Ole Miss), Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State), and Shavon Revel (EZU) could be trade-back options. 

Or Miami could also go in the direction of South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, who many feel has strong coverage skills and is capable of playing in a hybrid role in Weaver's defensive backfield. Georgia's Malaki Starks is another safety who may have too high a grade for the 'Fins to pass on when it's time for them to pick.

THE PREDICTION:

The Dolphins get lucky by sitting tight and landing Johnson, who unexpectedly gets out of the top 10. Miami gets a fourth-rounder for Ramsey and a conditional third for Hill, then fortifies the secondary with a safety on Day 2 and multiple Day 3 corners.

Day 1,859, Quasi-Quarantine: Sprawling "1Q84" Undercut by Repetition And Distracting Fetishizing

 

“But don’t let appearances fool you. There’s always only one reality.”

“Even cats and dogs need names. A newly changed world must need one, too.

“1Q84–that’s what I’ll call this new world, Aomame decided.”

This novel is certainly ambitious, meticulously constructed, and vividly realized. However, its sheer weight (1,200 pages!), volume of plotlines, and tortured sexuality ultimately feel like too much for Haruki Murakami to balance.

"1Q84" is compelling, dealing with religious cults, portals between worlds, mortality, supernatural leprachauns, and the pursuit of love. Some sneaky humor appears, and a challenging scene of a long-set-up reunion is rendered in a pretty way.

“Our memory is made up of our individual memories and our collective memories. The two are intimately linked. And history is our collective memory. If our collective memory is taken from us – is rewritten – we lose the ability to sustain our true selves.”

However, the author's focus on breasts and underage girls becomes overwhelming, making the effort to track and organize competing narratives extremely difficult. Every character has a borderline disturbing relationship with sex, and that extends to Murakami, leading to eight references to ejaculate, 16 to semen, and 71 to breasts. 

“Now he realized that he was inside Fuka-Eri, ejaculating toward her uterus. This was not something that he wanted to be doing.”

“Still, her lower body retained a trace of that special feeling that was always there the morning after an intense night of sex – the sweet lassitude that comes from having your insides powerfully churned. She seemed to notice, too, an unfamiliar sensation between her buttocks.”

Too often, the book felt like a middle-aged Asian man’s fever dream of nubile young Asian women having sex together and with others.

“Lopsided breasts, pubic hair like a poorly tended soccer field.”

“Tengo had to caution himself not to look down there, but he couldn’t help it. His eyes moved to her chest as if toward the center of a great whirlpool.”

To be fair, I also struggled mightily with Murakami's "Novelist as a Vocation" for different reasons.

"1Q84" relies heavily on coincidences and cognitive leaps, and the English translation leads to some shaky transitions and bizarre similes and metaphors.

“Charles looked less like a prince than a high school physics teacher with stomach trouble.”

“ … His voice as hard and cold as a metal ruler left for a long time in a fridge.”

“It was not just that he had terrible style: he also gave the impression that he was deliberately desecrating the very idea of wearing clothes.”

The overall impression is of a meticulously arranged work that loses some of its vitality through repetition and length, leading one to speculate whether Murakami would have done well to pare "1Q84" down severely -- and to tone down the off-putting sexual obsessions.

“Most people are not looking for provable truths. As you said, truth is often accompanied by intense pain, and almost no one is looking for painful truths. What people need is beautiful, comforting stories that make them feel as if their lives have some meaning. Which is where religion comes from.”

Limerick Friday #633: Escapism To The Rescue In Florida, Of All Places -- Day 1,856

Through all the parks we swirled

On so many rides we twirled

Plus beers and dishes

Against my fervent wishes

Left part of my heart at Disney World

The local no-talent hacks

With an absence of facts

Ignoring UNC drama

With Belicheat's sugar mama

Paying off that fanboy tax

As the works did plummet

They found more ways to gum it

Morale was bad enough

'Til they caved on DEI stuff

But hey, at least there's Summit

With a fragile MAGA QB

And a checked-out Ramsey

Plus a psycho receiver

I can't find a believer

In what the 'Fins are trying to be

His at bats like a yo-yo

What to make of Juan Soto

He's even lost his swag

And yes, it's early, but dag

Not sure that contract is for so-so

Last time ...

Day 1,855, Quasi-Quarantine: Up Here, I'm Still On Space Mountain

 

It's been almost two weeks since we returned from another stellar trip to Disney World, notwithstanding a 10-hour drive back punctuated by projectile vomiting on a gas-station median in Nowheresville, North Carolina.

The moments when the kids agree to be seen with me are shrinking by the day, so knowing that we'll always have Space Mountain -- and especially Space Mountain while wearing a "Yoda Best Dad" T-shirt -- gives me exactly the feeling below.

Day 1,854, Quasi-Quarantine: Many-Genred "The Intuitionist" Serves As Compelling Introduction To Colson Whitehead

 

“Inside the late-night denizens, the midnight refuse, slouched over java and racing forms, tuna on stale rye and their doomed itineraries. No one look at anyone else in this crumbling sanctuary: that would risk the perfection of their isolation, their one last comfort in this concrete city.”

The debut of one of America's finest novelists, "The Intuitionist" features the strong, subtle writing that would come to be the hallmark of Colson Whitehead's career.

“Time to sift the facts through her fingers and shake out the fine silt until what is left in her hand is what happened.”

Using the pursuit of the ideal elevator as a racial allegory, the author weaves a compelling story that spans noir, suspense, humor, and drama. 

“They can turn rabid at any second; this is the true result of gathering integration; the replacement of sure violence with deferred sure violence.”

Whitehead's rendering of a moment in a dime-a-dance club makes for a truly beautiful scene, offsetting a rather odd one-night stand midway through the book.

“The men think, this is the last night on earth and I am spending it in the arms of a beautiful woman. The women are not necessarily beautiful, but anything is possible. The women count dimes, ponder the bills waiting on top of the icebox. The bills are gratified a dime at a time, steadily.”

His wide cast of characters can be challenging to sort and place, but the result is an original tale that reveals a unique take on issues of identity and belonging.

“Anyone can start a religion. They just need the need of others.”

Day 1,846, Quasi-Quarantine: Disparate Themes Clash In The Caribbean In Short, Challenging "Tentacle"

 

“As he listened to Giorgio give Malagueta Nenuco’s number and instructions about what kinds of tea Linda liked, Argensi caught sight of the canvases he hadn’t touched in days, the paint dried on the used brushes which he’d neglected to clean because he’d been busy giving sips of water to a one-armed buccaneer who was shitting all over himself in the infernal swamp in his continuous and exhausting other life.”

Often reading like a fever dream, "Tentacle" features a frenetic pace and manic jumps across three different timelines and many characters, making following along a true challenge. However, Rita Indiana's fresh, boundary-pushing writing and imagination make the effort worthwhile.

“Katherine sounded like a woman beaten down by piles of dirty dishes and a construction worker husband who showed his affection by not spitting on the rug.”

The themes are nearly all-encompassing (pick your -ism), as the book documents environmentalism, racism, sexism, classism, eco-tourism, gender, immigration, and capitalistic issues. Indiana is incredibly explicit, but her words are poignant, timely, and brave, overcoming a translation that can feel balky on occasion.

“Lies, thought Acilde, are like beans, they have to be well seasoned or no one will swallow them.”

"Tentacle" is a wild ride, packing weighty topics in a short amount of space -- and challenging the reader in unexpected and confusing ways.

“You’re going to do fine: in this country being white is a profession.”