....which one would you pick to build a team around? Long? Dansby? Henne? Marshall? Vontae? I know it all started with Long, but with the new additions since, would there be any other players you would rather build a team around?
Long, no question. Thats what our FO did and its looking good so far considering we were comming from 1-15.
long, no question he is young and already proven. pro bowl in his first two seasons. and by going this route, the team got henne, vontae, dansby and marshall as additional pieces.
This a difficult question because unlike some other sports, football has 11 guys playing per play for you and if one of those dudes fails, regardless of how well the other 10 are playing, the play can get busted and you lose. You need to build around a set of values so to speak, not players. (ie. a powerful running game or powerful passing game - a powerful run defense or great pass defense...maybe a jack of all trades yet master of none as you try and keep everything balanced but dont excel at one thing too much) Dont mean to derail the thread or anything- just my 2 cents.
Long is the best player on the team, and happens to play one of the core positions in football. He is elite in every facet of the game. But if I may nominate a player who we all like but doesn't get a lot of play in these types of discussions, it would be Randy Starks. If there are five better 3-4 defensive lineman in the game, I'd like to see them. Powerful, athletic, consistent, versatile. Great against the run, a terror inside on passing downs (7.0 sacks in '09). Moved to nose tackle and seems to be handling his business. It all starts up front. And teams invest heavily in defensive lineman. Especially this regime. This dude is a monster in his seventh season and still only 26 years old. Starks is the best player on our defense.
I would have to say Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams, which is sort of what we actually did with the Wildcat anyways. Both were producing long before Jake was signed, and although they definitely have it 10,000% easier with a strong offensive line they are the heart and soul of the offense. Of course, with Williams nearing retirement and Brown possibly not back in true form, if I had to choose someone today to build a roster around it would be Dansby or Long. That's a tough question to answer really...if we were rebuilding as a passing team then maybe Marshall would be the way to go.
Starks is a great player for sure and fits our scheme so well. It was great seeing Starks,Wake and Misi all getting to the QB yesterday. When they hit Favre simultaneously yesterday that was a thing of beauty. I have to give love to Langford too. The guy has really stepped up his game and is very under rated. Building this team around Jake was a great place to start and the build is still on. We have some real good young football players on this team. The FO has done things the right way.
you dont build your team around a 28 year old RB (Ronnie)... thats impossible. Its jake long... and the is what our franchise did when our new FO made him there first selection in building THEIR franchise
Drew Brees...... oh wait was the question not "what should have been Dolphins player twice over would you choose to build a team around"?
But can he part a Green sea on Sunday night? To the original question I'd have to go with Long. It all starts up front and we don't have a rare franchise QB on the roster as of yet to choose.
When your plan is to change the game in the modern era of football, you pick Big Jake to become your identity...
It would have to be Long, you have a franchise LT and those guys are hard to come by. My 2nd choice would be Davis, the guy is playing lights out and he is a kid. Shut down CB's are hard to find.... And Davis is building his own island.
You build around the LT. The LT is your cornerstone position. You don't have a top LT, you don't have a QB (because he is getting pounded) and you lack a quality running game. You must have the high end LT to get anything done on the O side of the ball. Defense might win championships, but the O gets the glory and the points on the board. I take Jake Long.