A looming Dolphins issue: With so many needs elsewhere, should they invest the first pick of the second round on a quarterback? Or should they instead wait to take one much later or sign Chris Simms if Tampa Bay cuts him, as some expect? ''If you don't take Matt Ryan [No. 1], don't take another quarterback,'' ESPN's Mel Kiper implored. 'It would make very little sense to say, `Let's draft Chad Henne or Joe Flacco.' If you [have serious doubts] about John Beck, you should draft Matt Ryan.'' Kiper projects Henne, Flacco and Louisville's Brian Brohm to go in the first 13 picks of Round 2. Miami's recent approach with those three: • The Dolphins sent key offensive staffers to work out Henne in Michigan on March 25 (a day after a Dolphins contingent met with Ryan) and have told at least two people they like Henne and don't see a huge difference between Henne and Ryan. • The Dolphins have made no contact with Delaware's Flacco or his agent since interviewing Flacco at February's NFL Combine. One person in contact with the Dolphins said they've implied they aren't high on him. • A representative for Brohm spoke to the Dolphins about scheduling a private workout and meeting, but Miami never did it. So why the Dolphins' apparent interest in Henne? ''He can make all the throws, has nice mechanics, is accurate, tough, smart,'' said draftnik Frank Coyle, who consults for NFL teams. But Sporting News analyst Russ Lande, a former Browns scout, said Henne struggles when forced to scramble. ESPN's Ron Jaworski rates Henne fourth among that quartet. Though many have reported the Dolphins likely won't draft Ryan, Jaworski said Miami should consider it because ``he's a franchise player.'' Jaworski predicts all four will be NFL starters ''but then you fall off'' to prospects including USC's John David Booty, Tennessee's Erik Ainge, Kentucky's Andre' Woodson, Oregon's Dennis Dixon, LSU's Matt Flynn, San Diego's Josh Johnson and San Diego State's Kevin O'Connell. CHATTER • Bill Parcells knows how to push the right buttons with Ricky Williams. One example: Parcells told Williams that former UM running back Ottis Anderson was a Super Bowl MVP for his Giants at age 34. That story inspired Williams, who turns 31 next month. • Kiper, on possible Dolphins No. 1 pick Jake Long: ``Run-blocking is Jake's strength. Pass blocking is a work in progress. He has to figure out the tricks of the trade of how to be a great left tackle.'' Good Read link http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/502707.html
• Bill Parcells knows how to push the right buttons with Ricky Williams. One example: Parcells told Williams that former UM running back Ottis Anderson was a Super Bowl MVP for his Giants at age 34. That story inspired Williams, who turns 31 next month. very nice Bill
Ah, the sun is out, the coffee is hot and I got my first Matt Ryan post of the day to respond to. Life is good. These two statements are important in my opinion. First Kiper actually makes a good point (as amazing as that sounds to me) Are we really sold on Beck? With all the holes we have, why would we waste a high pick on a QB that our front office has rated below Ryan? Is our front office going to spend a 2nd rounder on a slower, less mobile version of Beck with far worse pocket presence? Do they consider Henne an upgrade? Because if they do I would love to know what it is in Henne that they see that makes them believe he could be better than Beck. Is deep accuracy more important to Parcells then being able to function when the pocket breaks down? Beck has a few faults but he can move in the pocket and avoid a rush. Has anyone seen Henne when he is in the midst of a pocket collapsing? Basically the play is over, once someone misses an assignment. Beck may not be as accurate on the deep stuff but how many times are you going to wing the ball down the field? 2, 3, 4? How many times is the QB going to be forced to make a defender miss and buy an extra second or two by needing to move in the pocket? Its definitely going to be more than 3 or 4 times. Now the more important thing here is if they are intrigued by Henne, what does that say aout Beck? I have argued here that Beck's main flaws are twofold. One is his deep accuracy and the other is how his accuracy disappeared when he had to throw on the run. Many people have responded by saying that in college he didnt have that problem. If the front office is considering Henne how are they evaluating Beck's deep accuracy and ability to throw on the move? Because if he is showing them that he is accurate on the deep stuff in his practices with QB coach Lee, why would you even waste your time considering a QB who wont be an upgrade in any other area and will in fact be a downgrade in mobility. This is telling me that Beck is still having trouble with his deep accuracy. The last point is that the front office is admitting that Ryan is better though they are couching it in terms of saying that there isnt that much of a difference. OK, taken at face value that may be saying that the difference is small enough that the difference in contracts and the ability to draft Long or Gholston makes Henne a better investment dollar for dollar, pick for pick. But you have to ask a few questions here. One, small differences can be the difference between success and failure in the NFL. Are you really going to take a lesser prospect at the most important position when quality QBs are about as easy to come by as getting an intelligent statement from Paris Hilton? And is Henne guaranteed to be there at 32? There's an awful lot of teams that need a QB that will have to pass on Henne for us to have a shot at him. I can't believe this front office would trade up into the first round to secure his services. And are we going to skip getting a Curtis Lofton, Mario Manningham, Calais Campbell, Lawrence Jackson, Tracy Porter just to draft a 6'2" statue? What all of this tells me is that the trust simply isnt there in Beck. He's got great spirit and all but he hasnt been able to sell himself to the front office yet. And if that's the case, there is only one option to guarantee ourselves an upgrade. Ryan will end up being the pick Saturday. The flirtation with Henne wont make it past the consideration stage and if Beck cant make the front office stop considering Henne in the first place, he hasnt done enough to derail Matt Ryan. It seems to me the front office wanted to consider Jake Long and Gholston but when the cold reality of the situation is decided upon, we are drafting a franchise QB with our first. If I am right about this take, sometime this week you are going to read a rumor that Ryan may be back in consideration. If you hear that rumor, its a done deal Now back to our regularly scheduled bashing of Ryan
No. Again we took a QB last year that was hailed as our QB of the future. Yes that was under CamRam or whatever the hell they are called now but Ireland stated that he was very high on Beck in last years draft. Also, since John Beck has been working his *** off this off season and apparently has impressed the staff, why take a QB early? I think if they take a QB, it should be in the sixth or seventh round. IMO.
No, we don't need to take a QB high...We have too many needs this year to worry about a qb until later in the rounds day two or not at all...UDFA for camp arms...
