Well with no FA prior to the Draft this yr placing draft choices at a premium, I'm projecting no trade back for a #2 pick, the market is to tight. #15 Mark Ingram/alternate pick Gabe Carimi #78 John Moffit #110 Kris O'Dowd #152 Chris Carter #184 Da'rel Scott #226 Lee Smith #248 Charles Clay #252 Tori Gurley 2 running backs 1 center who can probably play guard 1 guard 1 passrushing specialist 1 blocking specialist Te 1 jack of all trades Te 1 project Wr Clay could become a fullback as well, nice athleticism out of him.
Mor believe it or not, #15 is overdrafting Ingram, our only real competition for him would be the Redskins or maybe the Lions. This will be a defense heavy Top 15 so much so we can take a Tackle at #15, and still pick up a quality running back in the third round as every defensive player drafted pushes one more offensive player further down the board.
No more project WRs please. I've had enough of guys like Roberto Wallace, Marlon Moore, and Julius Pruitt. I'm fine with keeping 1 of those receivers, as long as we address the #2 WR position. We need players that will help benefit Chad Henne.
Brian Hartline will be the #2 wr for a long time, look at it this way, if he had finished the season he would have come very close to 1k yds. And let me point out, they have a good eye for scrap heap Wr's, Anthony Armstrong had 850 yds and 5 td's and 20ypc in Washington this season, give those cats some time and one of them is going to bust out.
I could live with that except there's no QB and IMO at some point there HAS to be a QB. I also doubt they go O line back to back like that. I think they stick with Incognito at either LG or C and give Jerry another shot at RG.
Qb is a victim of no second rd pick 24/7, doubled up on key positions G and Running Back, added two specialist type of Te's and I think they won't overpay for Incognito which is the hold up on retaining him. "If' Richie is retained that would free a draft pick for something like maybe a fullback. As for Jerry, imho Nate Garner will play Guard this yr, either RG or LG, he will see the field, Jerry is going to have to earn his role otherwise he becomes the swing guard/backup sort of like McQ this yr.
I just don't think they can afford to let QB be a victim of anything really. At the very least they have to draft someone. IMO they need to draft someone and sign a vet to compete with Henne right away.
No offense but I HATE that draft from every last aspect. I dont even know where to begin but that would have me on the ledge.
Well, maybe you are not seeing explosive playmakers? The idea behind this was to fix the running game as I'm fairly certain Hartline is cemented in as the #2 Wr, and Bess is the slot, BM the #1, that does not leave very much room for a newb to break in, add in Te and Oline and Running Back all need help and that is why there are no Titus Young's in there, it is meat and potatoes by design. The slotting was done using NFLdraftscout grading every player is in their appropriate slot with no "oh I hope we get lucky" or "we can trade down and pick up" stuff.
He mauled Von Miller in the Sr Bowl, as in blocked out the sun on Miller in the run game, Miller is quick and has good balance so I was impressed.
Its not the meat and potatoes aspect, its the players, aside from Ingram that you selected. For starters, we dont need a C, we need a LG. Incognito was a C in college and needs to play in shorter areas of space where he can use his power. He is similar to Grove in his style of play and the drop off from Grove to Berger cause us to struggle with power NT/DT's. Those were matches we won last year and Incognito can win again for us. Secondly we need someone who is going to challenge Fasano for the starting TE role not just depth players behind him. We need a playmaker from the TE spot and Fasano is not and never will be that. He is an excellent blocker and decent receiver but not a position we shouldnt look harder to improve upon. Third, Ingram, while I like him, I am just not sure about him at 15. Having an elite RB is not a requirement for winning a SB. I would much rather look at building an elite defense and the idea of finding more picks in a trade down with that 15 overall. And even elite RB's do not have a long shelf life so is it worth it to select Ingram with the idea he could be an elite RB for 5-6 years and then experience a rapid decline instead of building an elite defense with another pass rusher? I dont believe in doing things the way you have them done bro. I respect your opinion but like I said, I hate this mock.
Well the problem is with no #2, Stocker is off the board, or should be, so is Randolph, so instead of challenging Fasano we have a patriots style Te rotation, Fasano the starter, Marshall the blocker, Clay/Epps/Shuler for the #3 Te slash deep threat. This is particularly thin yr at Te. As for Richie, my premise is he will not resign with us, meaning we need someone who at least can challenge Berger from Day 1, that is O'Dowd, who can then also compete at either G slot assuming Berger holds him off, Moffit is the sure thing imho, either guard slot and the Double up on a need position is protected in case we also lose Nate Garner via Free Agency. As for Ingram, to me he fits what Sparano likes to do, Scott is the protection if we let Brown and Williams walk and backs such as Williams have not shown enough to merit the #15, however I also think Carimi is in their wheelhouse as Ireland spoke highly of "the kid" in an interview. Besides, it is early, but it would not surprise me if it plays out like this. Carter is the nickel rushing prospect.
I meant in that mock draft. I feel the Dolphins need to take a QB at some point. My preference is early although I know you see it differently.
I think either they take a Qb at #15 or not at all, the problem being anyone they select, save for a 6th or 7th rd pick, is effectively "dead money", they won't play, and we have enough need for speed that sinking a pick into a Qb to hold a clipboard, when a 7th rd guy could be this yr's Mike Mariani, a all pro returner that they liked last yr but just did not pull the trigger on, just doesn't seem like a move they would make. Could be wrong of course, do expect job #1 this offseason is fixing the running game. A name that is sticking with me is Kelvin Sheppard from LSU, 6'4 mid 4.7's ILB, later rd grade, with these guys when in doubt, go with the largest player with the fastest 40 time.
I agree with your view on QB. I think some people are going for the idea of competition for the sake of competition, when in reality we probably wont see a non first round pick play for at least a year or two. We have to many needs and not enough picks to take that kind of player - its premium talent (Mallet, Newton, Gabbert maybe Locker depending on your view) or wait for next year. If Free Agency doesn't happen before the draft, it will have some interesting ramifications. As for the draft itself, don't hate it, don't love it. It addresses a few needs, brings in some good people, but as you admit it doesn't add explosive players.
Well the explosivenss will have to come from the running backs as to me, we have so many Wr's to sift through looking for that next Tony Armstrong, coupled to a really good Wr corps, means taking a Titus Young in say the 3rd rd doesn't make football sense, that said those late rd picks are interesting because there is a slew of undersized Dexter McCluster type of players. A draft with say Ingram at #15 then Dion Lewis in the 6th rd, would rejevunate the running game. Or Carimi at RT, Carey at RG, Delone Carter in Rd #3 and Lewis in rd #5-6. Really like Lewis, to me I see some Joe Morris in him, put him behind a mammoth offensive line.
That draft will get this regime fired, so in a way it would be fine with me, lol. In all seriousness, the problems on the OL are overstated. I know your premise is that Incognito won't resign, but why? Is there a line already forming for his services? If Richie is back, we're talking about one guard. And even that could be solved by Jerry improving (as he should or chalk up another bust for Irish) and Garner returning to health. A replacement for Carey can wait. I have no problem with Ingram the player, as I think he's good, but I don't think he's special and I'm just against 1st round RB's in general. Especailly a pounder like him.
I'm generally against RBs in the top 20. However, Julio Jones and Mark Ingram are the top two offensive skill players who may be available at #15. The only other offensive players worth that spot would be OL. Personally I'd rather trade back some and wind up getting LeShoure (or maybe even him at 15). It'll just be tough to get someone most everyone wants at 15 I think.
How do you know I hadn't thought of that as well... Rotten Richie wants real starter money, the front office is only offering discounted contracts, the two are wide apart. As for Garner, he has had foot injuries every yr in the NFL and there is the Donald Thomas lesson, you cannot wait on an unproven Olineman. There has been a hole at left guard for 3 yrs now, they should go about nailing it down before Big Jake hits FA. Well for us, we need a Mike Turner or we will not develop a Qb Henne or otherwise every young Qb needs a running game while they take the slow boat to learning how to play in the NFL. For better or worse, the paradigm is Matt Ryan and there would be no Matt Ryan without Mike Turner toating the ball. The real issue in all of this is the dirth of tight ends in this draft class, if one could be acquired via FA or off of the scrap heap, that would make life much better on offense, the guy he fits that mold is Donald Lee in Green Bay.
Julio Jones is the guy I'd like to have at #15 but I doubt it will happen, and the only sound way to acquire him would be to trade Hartline, so I doubt it will happen, but do agree the "trade back and pick up a #2" stuff is likely not to happen. Which means we have to accomplish something tangiable in this draft ie..fix the running game.
why are we not giving a shot to lex hilliard who is an absolute monster? watch his college highlights kid is explosive and runs people over. when we gave him his like 6 chances to go he does well. we saw this year thats its not the top 5 drafted rb's that always dominate. we can start lex give him a shot and claim a better pick at #15. i know most will disagree but some will see my logic
I don't think that is the case. We need playmakers. I don't think we can be picky as to what position (offense, defense, wr, OL, RB, etc) they play.
I like Hartline and all, but isn't everyone's focus this off season getting playmakers? Hartline is a good WR, but is not a playmaker. I rather not sit around for a few years and wait on someone to hopefully develop, when we can spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick this year and pick up a playmaker that can impact our offense from day 1. Plus, what happens if one of our top 3 WRs go down again in the near future? I'd rather not go through the same thing we went through last year. Also, why not get Henne an extra playmaker/target? Look at how many weapons Aaron Rodgers has to work with: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jermichael Finley, Donald Lee, Jordy Nelson, and a solid group of RBs. Now let's look at Henne's weapons: Marshall, Hartline, Bess. I'm not comparing Henne to Rodgers, but I think it is clear that QBs need good players around them to succeed.
I like Sheppard. Not sure about him in a 3-4, but at least he seems to be bigger (weight-wise) than many recent LSU LBers. I remember a bunch always coming in under 230 lbs when the media guide would say they were close to 250.
With that in mind it might be a good year for us to trade up! That's a fine draft. However we don't have a 6th round pick and we only have two 7th round picks not three. I prefer Jake Kirkpatrick to O'Dowd, and Kris Adams to Gurley. Aside from QB, we seem to be in agreement on team needs. Personally I would go in a different direction with the Moffit pick because Garner will be returning from injury. Chris Carter is too short. Da'rel Scott looks promising. Not sold on Clay. Chad Spann is an explosive little mighty mite that is under the radar right now but he will make a roster in 2011. Mark my words. Don't know much about Lee Smith but if you're looking for a blocking TE in the 7th round I have got two names for you: Konrad Reuland from Stanford and Cameron Graham from Louisville. Bottom line: If we don't draft a QB in the 1st round we will continue to wallow in mediocrity. There is one caveat. Colin Kaepernick in the 2nd round. He could be the real deal. Anybody that saw the Boise State/Nevada games knows what I am talking about.
I do, to me we need a focused approach on fixing what ills the running game, a Wr does not really fit into that effort. Though I do believe that Julio Jones is a 2k all purpose yardage type of player which is very difficult to find these days, it is just he doesn't particularly fit what we need.
We do have a 6th rd pick, at worst the McQuistan trade was just a swap of positions in the draft, and we won't have to payoff the Cowboys anyone as we "won" that bet. And it is doubtful we acquire a #2 pick, to few teams have one, add in the labor issues and what maniac is going to short themselves a #2 pick to move to #15? And they have to give up their #1, so to me, not happening. Thusly no Kaepernick in rd #2, though I doubt he goes that highly. Gurley has a nice size and speed combination, and Clay is the sort of multirole player they tend to like as he offers insurance at several positions./
You sure? That would really surprise me. In a good way! Just you watch. Kaepernick is on the rise. It only takes one team as witnessed by Tim Tebow. Some GM is going to grab Kaepernick in the 2nd. And he could very well end up looking like a genius. Did you see Kris Adams' bowl game? This guy is a vertical threat play-making machine who never gives up no matter what the scoreboard says. Hands, speed, size. He has it all. I don't understand why he doesn't have a 1st or 2nd round grade. Maybe Boomer, ck, KB21, or Alen has more info on him. Jack of all trades. Master of none. Clay is a bit lumbering for me. But don't get me wrong. You are correct about this regime loving his versatility. And he would be a fine pick. But give me Spann. Quick, explosive, and a nose for the endzone. He would be the perfect change of pace back to compliment Ronnie.
Yeah but if you watch him in that LSU bowl game, he didn't do so hot shedding blocks. You can protect him though and he is an interesting prospect, I would agree.
I actually think Sheppard is a great fit for the 3-4 thumper. Attack in the running game and take on blockers. We need someone like that so Dansby has more freedom to roam
Hey Alen what do you know about Kris Adams? Why isn't he graded higher? And where do you see him going?