Not buying the Misi to ILB argument. He's just fine at SOLB. Wake isn't a SOLB; he just gets moved to that side in pass-rush situations.
Or Wake is a Harrison type of Sam and his passrushing performance proves it? That is why Misi to replace Crowder and a new Will would have made sense, but instead Ireland went "safe" in a division that does not reward "safe". He forgot the lessons of 2008.
But James Harrison isn't a SOLB for the Steelers. LaMarr Woodley is, and from what I know of Dick LeBeau's defense, they play left and right sides as opposed to strong and weak. Bills - Marcel Dareus, a DT. Patriots - Nate Solder, a T. Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson, a DE. Dangerous. I thought you liked Jeff Ireland padre...not anymore?
Yawn, and I'm fairly certain Harrison is the Sam in pittsburgh. Either way though, as it sits Wake is our only passrusher and he wore down late in the season he needs a partner on the other side across from him. Still do like Ireland, as the draft rolls along his value to the franchise will become more apparent, his expertise is in finding UDFA's and later rd picks who can contribute quickly, his problem is that bargain shopping mentality carries through his entire draft he does not seem to know how to be both expensive and cheap.
As I said, Woodley is the Sam or LOLB as Pittsburgh calls it. http://www.steelers.com/team/depth-chart.html As for a pass-rusher, yeah, a 3rd guy is needed...but you don't take a part-time player at 15. Did we not learn anything from Pat White? Dontay Moch, Chris Carter, Mario Addison, Monte Simmons, Keith Darbut. I think it'll be one of those guys later on that can come in and pass-rush right away and learn the rest of playing 3-4 OLB as they go.
I was incorrect. Pat White was a throwaway #2 pick, if we learned anything from 2010 it is you need guys who can score from anywhere on the field, Pouncey doesn't score from anywhere on the field, he does not make plays, he does not gain yards, Ireland went full on Eunuch and we are that much further behind the patriots now with the Bills catching up to us. That is why the NFL does not award being risk adverse those behind you catch up to you Ireland should know that much.
Agreed...there's still the rest of the Draft and Free Agency, so I'll reserve my judgement until we know all the pieces to the 2011 Miami Dolphins. I just think a bunch of people are upset at nothing. G/C was a big need and they filled it.
I'm not "upset" per se, there are much larger things in life than whom the Dolphins drafted, what bothers me is the approach they take to high draft picks and how the AFCE works, if we continue to take boring, safe, picks we shall never pass the Patriots and we will be caught by the Bills. Unless Ireland really hits on some more UDFA's that is to say, that is one of the reasons why I like Ireland as our GM, but it is a very hard road to take as UDFa's are far from sure things, it is far better to rely on high draft choices.
I think that's spot-on. But looking at who every other team picked, 2 DL, 1 OT, I think they all know this division starts in the trenches as well. I just don't think there was a skill position player (RB, WR, TE) or a an OLB available at 15 (Von Miller or Aldon Smith), that is going to come in and give us more at that position than Pouncey is at G. Ideally I'd have liked to move down, recoup a 2nd rounder and still get Pouncey...but that was a pipedream and I know it. Ryan Mallett was sort of a danged if we do and danged if we don't for me. 30 other teams besides Miami passed on him (Raiders didn't have a 1st round pick), so I think it's safe to assume there was more truth to the drug allegations or what have you. And considering Locker and Ponder were 1 and 2 on their board...I'm guessing someone like Mallett probably carries a 2nd or 3rd round grade from them if he's on their board. Just my two cents, but I think for the position they were stuck in at 15, they got the best player they could get, regardless of position.
Does anyone watch football? Do you people not see what type of teams win? Teams with a GREAT O-Line and Good to Great Defense Pats Steelers Jets (I want to puke writing that) Ravens Giants Falcons Packers and on and on... Our line sucked last season. Why do you think Henne looked worse last season than he did the season before? Well, partly because the line couldn't run or pass block.
I am a happy Dolfan this evening, if Thomas was their guy then they did what it took to land him. Day #3 is sort of my day DFD, along with the UDFA process, that is where Ireland's Scouting background really shines.
