Miami Dolphins Round 1: Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida Outside of Richie Incognito (+6.5), none of the Dolphins interior lineman had a good year. The Dolphins hope to have found a solution to that problem with the selection of Mike Pouncey. The only question is what spot will they have him play? Incognito played better as a guard than as a center, so it ultimately comes down to whether Pouncey will compete with Joe Berger or John Jerry. Round 2: Daniel Thomas, RB, Michigan State Both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are free agents, so the selection of a Daniel Thomas early wasn’t a shocker. The Dolphins are expected to try and resign Brown, but ultimately the question has to be asked if Brown is one too many injuries away from producing at levels like he did in the past. In 2010 Brown finished third to last in average yards after contact (100+ rushing attempts). The Dolphins hope the addition of the bigger Thomas (6’ 230 lbs) will result in a rushing attack that finishes better than 21st in the league like it did last year. Round 4: Edmond Gates, WR, Abilene Christian Let’s just assume that Brandon Marshall will be okay for the season opener, whenever that happens to be. The Dolphins receiving corps has a number of good to great players in Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, and Brandon Marshall. What each of those players lacked, however, is game-breaking ability. Tony Sparano might finally have that with Gates who ran the fastest receiver 40-time at the combine in 4.37 seconds. Round 6: Charles Clay, TE, Tulsa Anthony Fasano is one of the more complete tight ends in the NFL, equally adept at catching and blocking. What the Dolphins could use, however, is a player they hope Charles Clay turns out to be – a receiving-focused tight end that can exploit matchups against linebackers. Despite how complete Fasano’s game is, he would benefit immensely if Clay turns out to be the weapon they hope he is. Round 7: Frank Kearse, DT, Alabama A&M It will be a tough slog if Frank Kearse wants to make the team. Given that his 6’4” 315 lb frame will probably prevent him from playing special teams, he will have to try and work his way up a pretty deep Dolphins defensive line including Paul Soliai (+17.7) who was signed to a one-year deal after an great 2010 season. Round 7: Jimmy Wilson, DB, Montana With two outstanding young corners in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, Wilson would be competing for the nickel or dime corner spot with Benny Sapp (-1.3) and Tyrone Culver (-4.4). If he is unable to beat either of those two out, his only hope of remaining on the roster is contributing on special teams.
If Pouncey is competing w/ Jerry, then whos playing LG? I cant take another year of Incognito on the left side.
Although better on the right, Cog played well last year. Which side he plays on depends on who the other guard is, Jerry, Garner, or someone new. Their point was that Cog graded out better at G than C.
I suspect Nate Garner will play LG. To me: C: Richie I LG: Pouncey RG: Garner or C: Pouncey RG: Richie I LG: Garner With Berger/JJ/Feinga/Barbre competing for the backup G slot and the occasional package running formation duty like Feinga did last season. Barbre will compete with Murtha for the Swing Tackle role as we need someone to replace McQuistan as the #8 Olineman/utility Olineman role.
Here's how I see it: LT: Long LG: Incognito / Garner C: Pouncey RG: Jerry / Garner RT: Carey I think we'll start the 2 best of the Incognito / Jerry / Garner trio at OG Just thought I'd add too... Don't go too much on last years performance. We are running an entirly different scheme now. Some guys that might have looked great before may not be as good in this scheme, and some guys that struggled may look much better.
Richie I is miscast as anything but a phone booth player though DMike which would be fine at Center but LG? I'd love to hear more about that as it has been alluded to, but never really completely explained. I heard they are adding some zone blocking concepts to the mix.
Here's how it should be: LT: Long LG: Garner C: Pouncey RG: Richie RT: Carey Jerry was rated one of the worst guards by PFF last year
That's my preferred line as well with Berger as the floater. Jerry has potential as another phone booth type but he's not there yet. Then I'd keep Murtha or some other T that you hope you never have to use.
I don't think we are at all done addressing the O-Line ... there are some really good free agent Guards out there that could take this Line up to a whole new level if we get the right guy. I'd love to see us jump on Davin Josephs when and if Free Agency ever starts
He missed 6 games, graded out a little above average for the last 5 games, and was a rookie. We can't give up on him yet.
We're Dolphins fans. We have to give up on players after 12 games. On the real though, I love Jerry. I think he could be a mean RG after a year or two of starting. I don't understand how anyone can point him out with our OL troubles last year. Everyone was injured and everyone sucked. It's that simple. My dream is: Long-Pouncey-Incognito/Berger-Jerry-Carey.
I know a lot of Phin fans are upset about not picking up a QB, but I just can’t see how Ireland could have possibly picked a QB over Pouncey, Thomas and Gates. If Pouncey can cut the mustard at C and win the job, I like the idea of having a pulling center. Berger had to be the weakest link of the offence and a pulling C has less distance to travel. Incognito, Jerry and Gardner would just have to pound on people. It looks like Pouncey has been working on the shotgun snap thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8LaDnpGlFQ For what ever its worth, Parcells had Thomas as the 3rd back on his board and Ingram, Williams and Leshoure were already gone. With Hilliard and Sheets as the only RB options on the team it was Thomas, Murray or Hunter. BTW, the kid did find the end zone 40 times in 2 seasons. http://www.patspulpit.com/2011/4/25/2133222/nfl-draft-2011-bill-parcells-draft-board Gates may be the fastest player in the draft. Apparently had a groin injury at the combine and still threw up a 4.37 and showed some real nice athleticism and technique during the drills. http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/03/21/small-school-star-gates-could-be-big-time-in-nfl/ Clay is all over the place. He seems to be a good size football player with soft hands. http://multimedia.foxsports.com/m/video/38384016/draft-preview-charles-clay.htm?r_src=ramp When you add Odrick and Edds to the mix, it’s a nice influx of young talent. As long as Ireland brings in a QB with a legit shot at beating out Henne, I think this will be the best group of players the Dolphins have fielded in a very long time.
Thing is, I agree this is our best core group of players since 1999 or so, I so badly want them to take the next step and we have to have Qb play that is competent, maybe more than competent, or else we wind up with Fiedler and not going anywhere but having nice regular seasons, a bit like the Texans.
Did I miss something? Was Will Allen cut or is he going to be a FA once the CBA is done? Everyone keeps talking about Jimmy Wilson competing with Benny Sapp and Tyron Culver, but there's never any mention of Will Allen's return. People are seriously under estimating the impact Will Allen's return can have on the secondary
PFF also said Berger was our 2nd best interior OL last year after Incognito, according to their rating system, so they said they'd like to see those two be the guards on either side of Pouncey.
The only serious criticism I have of Henne is his brain farting TD/INT ratio when facing zone coverage. It’s just unacceptable. If you go back and watch the Titan and Raider games when he faced man-to-man coverage he was very good. I see him as a huge if at this point, but have no idea who, of the available QB, is better. There is, however, some pretty serious competition about to heat up at most of the other positions. So far, the Phins have Hartline, Gates, Moore, Wallace and Pruitt competing for 2-3 spots and Pruitt can’t go back to the PS, so it’s do or die for him. They have Thomas, Sheets, Hilliard and Cobbs vs. any of the RB they bring back or acquire. I worry about Sheets and any kind of Achilles injury. Nice group though. I can’t help but wonder if Jones is coming after Clemons’ job, while Clemons is going after Bell’s. 2 pretty good players though. If Pouncey is the best C out of camp…
Agree, Henne is like a rookie in MLB who has not shown he can hit the curveball, he can hit the fastball but Zones just give him problems at times, especially down in the red zone. A player can spend 3 yrs on the ps, but if he doesn't show something how long will they keep him around? Or are they afraid of another A Armstrong situaiton? Player to watch in that group is Lex Hilliard, lexxy is also getting near stand and deliver or leave time. I like Richie I at Center and Pouncey at LG. I seriously doubt they head into 2011 with Clemons at FS if he cannot create more turnovers in TC and in the preseason, the defense cannot have a FS with -0- int's.
Cobbs is also a UFA. IMO, Jones could challenge for Bell's job. I think they would just as soon leave Clemons where he is, rather than have both safeties be new to their positions. Then again, some say the safeties are interchangeable in our scheme anyway.
I think you can give up on that idea. Richie was our best interior OL last year, while playing mostly LG. He is the one constant we can more or less not worry about amongst the G/C spots.
I timed Richie pulling on a screen play and my microwave burrito was cooked before he got out to the edge to block.
Centers can pull on screens too. Satele used to do it. Grove tried to do it, but found trouble doing anything but getting in the way of defenders when he was in space, I think we are gonna like seeing MP in space and actually having a lineman with body control who is consistently able to find and make a block or two.
