Release candidates: Sort of like McGahee as well. http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/37931/59/the-2011-running-back-market?pg=4 3rd to 5th yr FA's (ie, waiting on the lockout to end): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/37931/59/the-2011-running-back-market?pg=1 Trade Candidates: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/37931/59/the-2011-running-back-market?pg=3
My feeling is that Sproles will be our #1 RB target. I think all things being equal they like Deangelo Williams over Brown but would prefer Brown if DW requires a trade.
One would think, do not know what they think of Sheets or where his rehab is as names such as Smith and Slaton would make some sense for us as well. Also the way they cut players to sign new ones has me a bit curious as to what their plan is this offseason, do they sign a big named FA or do they fish for a Portis or McGahee?
can't go so far as to say that RBs are a dime a dozen ... but it shouldn't very difficult to bring in another RB with starting potential to round out the position. the question is what are we looking for ? do we want the 3d down specialist, do we want a bruising alternative, or just an alter ego to Thomas .... there still are some UDFAs such as Fanin that we worked out -- but who knows whats going to happen with UDFAs given the CBA .... i have always thought that Ronnie would do well in open space ... but we have never put him there ... additionally, the worst thing that happened to Ronnie - was learning along side Ricky. Ronnie became too much of a 'patient' runner -- a la Ricky .... which has its role -- but not on every down. i do not want Ricky back .... but would take Ronnie, if we could keep him cheaply - and improve his playmaking. what i DON'T want is for him to school Thomas on the whole patience thing .....
I think Sproles is an experienced, but expensive version of two UDFA Rookie RB's. Noel Devine and Derrick Locke.
Reggie Bush would be my choice. We drafted a between the tackles guy, we still need homerun hitters on this team. Only Bush and Sproles really qualify. I could see a trade for Choice somewhere depending on how things go. I would guess Merling is trade bait, maybe one of Hartline/Bess, and a late pick
I'd prefer to go the bargain route concerning running back and use any FA resources we have to continue to bolster the Offensive line.... Not just starters but quality depth as well.....we're better off than we were last year but I still believe we need more talent on that unit and I don't see any area that would pay more dividends.
A part of me would really like to see a Vet Rb added ala OJ Anderson JS, just a guy we know we can hand the ball off to and let him pound away who won't turn it over. That's why McGahee interests me, same with Portis maybe add a G in FA and call it done. Could also use a pure blocking TE, more or less an extra tackle who can run a couple of routes.
I'd be interested to see what the cowboys want for Choice. He would be my next choice after Williams.
IDK, for me I'd like a #2 running back who knows how to avoid negative runs, thinking being if DThomas goes down we will need someone who can be plugged in and at least contribute, that maybe more valuable then long plays. That is a part of the reason why I like Portis a bit, he knows how to pick up yds when he needs to, no dancing in the hole.
Problem with Choice is he is just like Ronnie in the sense that he lacks that second gear. As far as an inside tough nosed runner no complaints from me. I'm not sure I would trade for him unless like someone said we could send Merling packing. That is one trade I would make for Choice.
Ronnie has a lot more problems than just lacking a 2nd gear. Choice is a very interesting prospect as a 3-down back. I have no idea why DAL would want to trade him though. Makes no sense since all they have behind Felix Jones is Marion Barber (who's toast).
I don't think Portis would do us any good at this point in his career. He just is to injury prone. Maybe he would do alright in a running back by committee but I'd rather take a chance on a younger guy like Choice. The guy had two good years before this past year.
Personally, I think Sproles is probably the most reasonable pickup for the Dolphins. I don't know they'll go hog wild to spend big starter money on guys like Deangelo Williams or Ahmad Bradshaw, and I think there's a potential that Sproles can break out of the mold that Reggie Bush for example is stuck in. I think there's a chance he might be pigeonholed into a passing down specialist there. He gets out there in the shotgun, runs some draws, and runs routes. When he seemingly does get a chance for a heavier workload, it's frequently inside, man blocking run plays. I'd like to see the Dolphins take a chance and let him be say, an outside zone specialist, and let him work with his cutback ability and speed. I don't think there are any out there. All the quality blockers in free agency are some of the top receivers too... Kevin Boss and Marcedes Lewis, specifically. There's no Brandon Manumaleuna or Jim Kleinsasser out there this year. I think it would be nice to see, though, especially in an offense due to use some zone blocking. You've already got a dominant blocking tight end in Anthony Fasano, and you've got another gap and another mismatch for cutback lanes.
Thing is, I've read about Portis's burst being gone for 3 yrs now, and he still got it done when he was healthy, which to me is a sign that if DT went down he can fill in just fine, I think maybe Vet backs are being jettisoned to quickly. Realistically, not much of a chance they sign the guy, K smith seems more up there alley, but a back who knows how to pick up those yds kept NE's running game going for yrs, they just went to far on a limb with Fred Taylor.
I can't see any way short of in-game HGH use that Portis could carry even a 50% workload for an entire season. He's got a ton of nagging injuries that will only increase.
I suspect they would prefer to spend the money on a Olineman tbh, 4 or 5 millie for Sproiles? Agree also think blocking will be a higher criteria for that back then one would think which to me says "veteran". Would not surprise me if we see the Tackle/Te emerge, they sort of used Feinga for that last yr.
Eh, he ahd a groin injury that he tried to come back from to quickly and made it worse, upside is no ACL types of injuries. If not Portis then McGahee just a experienced running back who knows how to pound down between the tackles as to me that is Ronnie B's biggest problem that hesitation on inside runs. Another name on that list that would be interesting is Steve Slaton, knows zone blocking, nose for the EZ, should have a huge chip on his shoulder as well, did well in TX as a rook, had a down 2nd yr with a neck problem, came back to Tate and Foster and Ward, he won't be in Houston for long.
Portis has some neck problems too, iirc. McGahee is good for one thing, and that is running it straight up the gut. To be fair he can catch it and do that too. Wouldn't mind him as a cheap 3rd option. Steve Slaton is a *****. Idk where you get the nose for the endzone thing. I remember him fumbling it on the GL more than punching it in. I feel bad for the guy bc of his injuries, but his running style and inability to break tackles kills him as a prospect, imo.
He had a bad groin tear, and he missed 65 days with a concussion: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/5937/injuries.html Hmm still managed 4.2 behind a poor DC Oline and just a knee sprain, which is a huge plus to me in a vet running back. Coin toss between he and portis then, I prefer portis. Weird, 08 he went for 1,200 and 9 Td's in the texans zone blocking system? Which BTW shows how quickly a Rook Rb can contribute to a team,
i see no reason not to pursue a guy like Portis if hes willing to play for cheap. I wouldn't spend good money on him but he could get us through a couple games if needed. And its almost always needed these days.
All about the knees to me, a guy can be banged up a bit, but as long as there are no structural problems he can be ready day #1.
Until we are a legitimate threat passing the ball our run game will suffer. The box is always stacked and our line and backs get the **** beat out of them all season hence the injuries. If this offense can actually gain some respect throwing the ball, the run would open up and we would see more than ****ing field goals. Name the last big name feature back New England used to run down our throat? They take every castoff and use a comitee backfield and if one goes down the others pick up the slack and the machine rolls on. If we ever fix the passing game then just about any of these backs could contribute effectively. JMO.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis is pretty damn good and a TD machine. Yeah he wasn't drafted of course but a back BB has been developing.
Big Name? NE won SB's handing the ball off to Antwan Smith and Corey Dillon carrying the ball over 300 times per season. Since they took your advice and went pass heavy they have won nothing..a couple of AFCE titles, but 2 losses at home in the playoffs. It is a statistical fact, when a Dolphins Rb has 300 carries, we have winning seasons and make the playoffs 95% of the time.
Sheets was on the radio day before yesterday and said his injured leg is now stronger than the other. He starts running hard next week according to him.
You know how that goes though, no player is going to say "no, my injury is not responding to rehab" though OzMan. To me that is one more reason why they should bring in a Vet guy who they have no questions about whether they can play or not.
If you got a Brady, Peyton, or Rodgers, yeah you can get by with mediocre runners and use the pass to set up the run. Most teams do not have that luxury. Even the much revered (around here) Matt Ryan isn't able to pick up the slack when the Falcons cannot run the ball well. You put Ryan with the 2010 Dolphins ground game and you got a 77 QB rating passer IMO.
JS, I wouldn't mind this approach---- maybe grab Harvey Dahl and rookie COP back, Nic Grigsby. One way or another I believe Sparano gets his speedy playmaking back that sparks him a chubby. Maybe 2011 can be upgraded to the year of the boner pump where Tony gives an upward hip thrust instead.
For what we traded to get Daniel Thomas, he had better be a 250+ carry RB. I would think RB would be low on our radar right now, unless it is re-signing Ronnie Brown.
bad example as they haven't won a super bowl since corey dillon and every year since their running game has been exploited. Hence why they took two backs in the 2nd round this year. (very high picks for the same position) Yes, they've been incredibly successful but they've lost in the postseason multiple times now because they have no running game to rely on. Teams weren't stacking the box on us all that much this season. Im as big of a fan of Ricky and Ronnie as theres ever been but they both lost it last it year. there were bigger plays to be made and neither really made them. DT and a new back should bring new life to our offense IMO.
Ronnie was the weakest link to our offense last season IMO. I don't want him anywhere near our 2011 season, unless it's to invite Ronnie back during his bye week to celebrate him not playing for Miami in 2011. With DT and Lex, we need an explosive speedy compliment, and Tony wants one too.
I think DT should be a 250 carry back, but I'd not bet a whole season on a Rook handling that large a workload without good insurance. Ronnie B is supposed to be on the radar, he is a good all around back and he is healthy, but then again that is a bet on RB staying healthy. Terrible situation, an unknown Rook backed up by a Vet of questionable health, both go down..just bad things man.