Awesome Dolfan Pride by R & R express! Good times ahead Dolfan... For a long time Dolfans took pride in the fact that we are one of the winningest organizations in all professional sports. It was widely known, widely discussed, and often a topic of pride when Dolfans spoke about our team. In terms of our franchise, even other teams fans understood that Dolfans knew who they were and where we came from. That was typical in fact of Dolfan Culture. Domination in the 70's Back to Back Super Bowl Champions Three straight Super Bowl Appearances "The perfect season" "The Don" Griese and Warfield Czonka (Butch and Sundance) The No Name Defense" "Kutch", Langer, Little" "The Killer Bee's" "Dan the Man" The Marks Bro's" "Dwight Stephenson" "Orange Bowl" I could go on and on like I know many of you could. Talking Dolphins football brings a passion out of me that few other things in life manage to do. It's like when I talk about my love of my family, friends, or other relationships I hold dear. I'm optimistic, hope for the best, and believe "Why Not Us". We have the base of a great roster heading into the draft and the second half of the offseason. We have one of the best front office staffs and coaching staffs in the NFL. Even those in the profession say as much over and over. We are fortunate to have some talented individuals running our team. They know the business. They have put the time in professionally to understand what it takes to be successful in the NFL. Two seasons ago they transformed this franchise from a 1-15 franchise to an Division winning 11-5 franchise. Then this past season with a tougher schedule, an injured starting RB and QB (Two of the best players in the franchise) they still competed every week and were in the running for another division title right up to the final weeks of the season. Moreover they beat the Jets twice during that same season and played extremely well against the Colts and Saints, who both happened to reach the Super Bowl. So what are our expectations Dolfans? Part of the problem with losing, or underachieving expectations is it brings a culture of doubt and low expectations. This franchise has had some tough years recently. In particular, our younger fanbase really hasn't got to experience the culture of winning that was a part of this organization for such a long time. So here's my pitch: This team is ready, and we'll compete with anyone this year if we stay healthy. I'm saying it now, before the draft and the second half of the offseason. We'll be better than the Jets, Patriots, and Bills. We'll win those games next year like the Colts, Saints, and Texans games that we lost this year. We'll win 12 games. Mark it down - Count me as a believer. "Why Not Us" is right and I'm not talking about just competing as a top end team. This team is close to filling those roster weaknesses that have held us down, and our superior offseason training, better coaching, dedicated and skilled Front office are all coming together this year. If we have a strong draft (and we will), we could have a significant improvement at some need positions in a similar way that Marshall has upgraded us at WR. Last week the WR position was discussed in just about every draft thread on these boards as possibly the biggest need we had. Today not one Dolfan seems to have any concerns with the WR positon. Thats how fast things can change. We added the best defensive player in Free Agency in Dansby at a moderate need position - Inside LB and he can help out in nickel and Dime sets. We added a physical, power run scheme blocker known for toughness and strength as a player in Icognito. We added one of the best WR's in the game, and the best avilable player this offseason in WR Brandon Marshall. He's going to be our best player quite possibly... We solidified our QB situation by resigning Penny... We resigned Bess... etc.... This team can win now. The Saints are a perfect example of how things can change when a team makes the right moves. Roster Breakdown: Offense: QB - We are set. Henne, Penny, White or Thigpen RB - A moderate concern, depnding on Ronnie's health. We may see an addition here. Spiller at 12, or Gerhart or Mattews after a trade back could happen. Plenty of RB's in this draft if we move Brown. WR - We are Set. How good does it feel to say that and know it's true! Marshall, Bess, Ginn, Camarillo, and Hartline TE - We are set. Sorry to you that see a need to upgrade. I have a hunch that the staff is high on Fasano and he'll be our guy. Maybe a TE in next year's draft. Fasano has a high blocking precentage and is pretty good on his routes. He made enough plays to get another look. OL - We are Set. We may bring in a depth guy, but we have our starters already. One of the best LT in the NFL, Jake Long, OG's Thomas, Incognito, Berger, RT Carey, Center Grove. Big physical unit. Smiley may still end up with us. Kicking game - We are set. Two fine young kickers, and Carpenter is a rising star. Defense DL - We Need a Rotating NT. This draft doesn't offer anytone we can get at 12 that could come in and start at NT for us, but we'll get our rotating NT in rounds 3-4. If we trade back from the 12th pick, I think Oldrick or Williams could be the selection in rounds 1 or 2. *Edit: Oldrick would allow us to move a player inside. OLB - We Need an OLB or two. We have Wake, Anderson, and may resign Taylor, but no doubt this is one of those legitmate concerns that we all know they are going to focus on in this defense. Fortuantely for us the draft is very deep at OLB. Two of our firt four picks may go to OLB. ILB - We are set. Sorry, I know we may add a depth guy, but Dansby was a huge addition and we are going to go with Crowder at ILB for at least another year. This is not a priority at this point. CB - We are set. Smith, Davis, Allen, and Allen give us a great CB unit. Culver will play moe in Nickel and Dime this year too. Safety - We Need a Safety. IMO this is our single biggest need. Our poor pass defense pushes this need beyond even our deep need at OLB. Culver, Clemmons, and Bell are solid, but an elite player here greatly impacts our defense. So back to my optimisim about who this team is now, and why I have high expectations for the Miami Dolphins... We need a Safety, OLB or two, and a NT as priorities and the draft is deep at all the above. We will use the later draft to fill those depth positions and use the second half of the offseason to make and final tweeks to our roster, just like we always do. An Earl Thomas or even better Eric Berry could fall to this defense. As could a number of NT and OLB's. The Draft is full of the positions we need Dolfans to make this defense one of the best young defenses in the league. Add to that a very talented Mike Nolan and a team another year into our strength and conditioning program. Dolfans - the holes are about to be filled, and there really are not many of them left to give us a very competitive roster. Remember too what this staff have done with much less on the roster over the past two seasons. The additions of Marshall and Dansby are a dream, enjoy them! The draft will provide just one more reason to be excited to be a Dolfan!
Oh, I know that. I just believe we're high on him and in our 3-4 defense you can never have enough DE's. They could always move someone else to NT or draft one later. There will be plenty around in this draft later on.
While I think Odrick will turn out to be a good player, if we were to take him while say a Brandon Graham or Earl Thomas were still on the board I would be pretty upset. DE is probably our most stacked position.
Ya I get that, I just think if we were to trade back we could pick up a player at a need position. The way the browns are talking up Odrick though, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him go at #7.
Well, so far I've hit on one of my draft scenerios. We traded back from 12 and Drafted Odrick. He'll allow us to move someone inside and will fit nicely into our DL rotation. I hope today we add Gerhart, Golden Tate, a FS, NT, or OLB.... There are some OLB and FS at the top of round 2, so hopefully we'll fill those last few positions. News also came out that we are moving Jason Allen to FS to compete with Clemmons. That may free us up to make a luxery pick on a guy like Gerhart or Golden Tate.
Nice insight Mike! I dont read all of the mock draft crap that goes on around the internet, but it's nice to see someone nail it! +1
Just posted this evening from Mando. I can't imagine where he got this. "Also, the Dolphins are likely moving away form the classic 3-4 to a hybrid version where the nose tackle is often offset to one side or the other of the center. In the past, Miami's nose tackle was seemingly always over the center's helmet. Most importantly, the move puts the draft in a different light. Before this announcement, everyone believed the Dolphins needed to address the nose tackle and free safety position on Saturday." http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...et-dolphins-new-starting-nt-randy-starks.html My post from 2 pm today...on this same thread in our Club forums
