With Starks returning and Soliai on a one year deal, how does it affect our draft? - Does Odrick definitely stay as the starting DE, and thus lower the chances of drafting a DE high? - Do we still look at a DT who could take either Soliai or Starks place in a year? - If DE is less likely at 12, and we have less money to keep Long (who is reportedly seeking $11m/yr) or Sean Smith, does it raise the odds of us looking at CB and OT at 12? How does this affect your thoughts on the draft plan?
I'd guess it's still likely they take a DT but just not in the 1st couple of rounds. Heck we may resign McDaniel too. I'm sure Ireland likes him after carrying him injured most of the season, when he could have IR'd him and signed someone else who wasn't banged up. Lots of solid DTs in this draft are going to be on the board in the 3-5 area I think.
There were rumors awhile back that Odrick was being shopped. IMO it does not effect the likelihood of a DE being drafted. And it shouldn't.
I don't think he was being shopped, that was Mando's opinion and a bad one at that. The D-line has been the strength of this team so why weaken it? He's a good, not great player, has a reasonable salary and wouldn't bring back a big return. Makes no sense to unload him.
My overall point is that this team needs more pass rush. Even if we have every player back we would still need more. So if they see a pass rusher in the draft they will still bring him in. The rumors about Odrick were related to the belief that the team did not get enough pass rush out of the DE position. So to answer the OP's question, I do not believe that Starks being franchised or being brought back has any implication on whether we draft a DE. If they felt they would end up with too many bodies, I think they would trade Odrick. There might be an implication at DT. I don't think they're likely to draft a DT high. They might have if Starks left.
I think you keep the periscope up on a potential replacement for Paul Soliai. He's a free agent after this year, and his play hasn't matched his pay.
To me Dion Jordan and Sheldon Richardon still make the most sense for their versatility, Richardson can play multiple def tackle techniques and play outside at end, Dion can play outside linebacker or put his hand in the dirt..I'm gonna stick with those two boys being the most valuable for what we need and could evolve into.. Jordan coming down and standing up next to wake or Odrick with that hoovering wingspan and low crouch just gets me all kinds of hyped....oops, it's a screen, that boy will read it, and stuff it in the flat in the blink of an eye, fake the blitz, cover the slot, confuse the Qb at 6'7..what a talent..I believe Misi and Burnetts contract will be up after next year, we could use a future bad *** outside linebacker, haven't really ever had one that I can recall..not like that dude. Richardson is more athletic than Floyd, Richardsons motor does not stop at 295 lbs, Richardson is ultra confident in his abilities, Richardson is a great all around football payer..and btw, the boy can drop into coverage,and play with his hand off the dirt. From the get, imo those were the two that would make me skip offense at 12, all the studies on other def players hasn't made me change my mind.
I agree with Disgustipate in that Miami should be on the lookout for a potential replacement at NT for Paul Soliai. I also agree that bringing back Starks shouldn't preclude them from drafting a DE/OLB that can rush the passer. If it is true that Michael Johnson was their top free agent target, I suspect they'd have an eye on guys like Alex Okafor, Tank Carradine, Cornelius Washington, and maybe even Lavar Edwards. All of those guys are bigger, rangy prospects. I think Jarvis Jones fits that bill too, though he's not as long as the other guys. Johnson is a pretty decent run-stopper and gets after the passer, and I think all of those 4 have shown a propensity to do both. I'm hesitant to put Dion Jordan in that group as I'm not sure he plays the run as well as the other guys, if in fact that's what they're looking for. And to me, right now Dion Jordan isn't so great a pass-rusher that I'd take him simply to be a third-down pass-rusher. He'd need to bulk up and get a lot stronger IMO if they're going to play him on the line as Cincinnati does with Michael Johnson. That'd be the caveat with Jones as well, he'd be more Koa Misi in this defense than Jared Odrick where as I think Okafor, Carradine, Washington, and Edwards could play on the line from the get go. If Miami did move Odrick via trade or some such, then Sheldon Richardson would be ideal for his spot if Miami's looking at a 1st round option that's bigger like Odrick that can also reduce inside in nickel and dime situations. But, I don't think Richardson's lasting until the 12th pick. Jordan probably won't either IMO.
I don't have them reaching 12 either, that's why my focus has gone to the offensive side of the ball. I believe you underrate Jordan..I actually like the way he plays the run, uses his leverage by anchoring with a low center of gravity, uses his hands very well ripping off blocks, and always has his eyes beyond his defender while engaged.
I'll have to watch more of him, but from the games I've seen, to borrow from Joe Philbin, "He's got a long way to go." He's a great athlete, but he's a one-trick pony in terms of pass-rush. He strikes me as someone who will end up being closer to Manny Lawson than Aldon Smith. Not that there's anything wrong with being Manny Lawson as he's turned out to be more than serviceable, but I just wouldn't be comfortable spending the 12th pick on him. I think the top of the draft is just not as strong as it has been in past years, especially with the quarterbacks being pretty weak as a group, so I think Jordan's being a potential top 5 pick is warranted this year. But, if he were coming out with Aldon Smith in 2011, or in last year's class, I don't think he's being talked about as a potential top 5 pick.
when I watch his games I don't ever think I'm just watching an athlete play football, I see a hell of a lot of instincts and versatility to go along with that incredible size/athleticism ratio, he's also at 250lbs.
The defense wasn't broken last year so I don't think Odrick is going anywhere just yet. IMO we tagged Starks to maintain defensive continuity up front which likely includes Odrick remaining at right end. I think we'll be looking more at tweaking the secondary personnel while adding a few more defensive complimentary pieces (pass rusher, another DT or DE/DT hybrid type, or perhaps a linebacker to replace Burnett next year).
I think finding the rush linebacker/DE hybrid allows you to groom Olivier Vernon as Burnett's replacement. It also puts Jarvis Jones and Corey Lemonier types in our crosshairs. Ireland seems more likely to draft a third down guy in the third round, like Vernon, than in the 1st so probably not Jarvis.
I want to know if Starks will move back to DE, like during Jason Ferguson era, which is what we brought him here for in the first place, or will he stay at DT?
Well that's the thing, it's a 1-technique position mostly. You can get guys with a lot of different body types to do it and not pay a premium for one of the few who can play a 2-gap 0-technique position. I don't think it's all that crazy to expect them to find someone who is at least two out of three on cheaper, better, or versatile.
O tech NT means 2 gapping. Head up on the center. That would be used mainly in a 3-4 with the ends playing 4 technique. Been a long time since I've seen Miami use that as a base defense. It's a read and react front IMO, not an attacking one. Anytime you have a 4-3 but one tackle playing nose it's usually a 1 gap shading the center's shoulder opposite the side the other DT is playing 3 technique.
Trade Soliai...pick up a DT more suited for this D? Soliai's got to be valuable to a 3-4 team somewhere.
He's a space eater who can take on double teams and allow others to make plays in base D just as big Domata Peko did under Koyle (and still does in Cincy). Plus we run somewhat of a hybrid defense so he's not actually unsuited for the role IMO.
I think he fits this front. It's not an even front. They play him at 1 tech to the strong side and Starks at 3 tech. Usually Starks is next to Odrick and Soliai next to Wake. I think Soliai needing double teams helps Wake for inline run defense because that is his least redeeming quality.
With Ireland there is no telling what the implications are. Drafting Odrick was a WTF moment. You never know what he might do, but it's likely to be illogical.
I think he falls in the middle of that. I think the right mix of scheme and whoever is opposite him will make better.
I highly disagree. If anything Ireland is too logical. Drafting Odrick made a lot of sense. Vontae made sense. Long made sense. Pouncy made sense. Tannehill made sense. There isn't one first round pick that is close to a WTF moment.
Wow, there are still people defending that draft. Now, I can agree with Tannehill draft, that made sense. Of course, it took fan riots and picketing in Davie to get it done and empty seats. That one made a lot sense, but whatever.
What didn't make sense? What was illogical about taking a Defensive End at that time? Fan riots and picketing Davie did nothing. That was illogical and stupid.
You didn't know that fans picketing Davie in January of 2012 had an effect on Jeff Ireland when he was attending Ryan Tannehill's games in 2011? As far as Jared Odrick goes, at the time he was drafted, there were those of us on this board telling you that he was a likely pick. Simon and Chris discussed it in their Draft Winds series with the Sun Sentinel, and I was mentioning Odrick as a logical pick for Miami on this board. At that time, Phillip Merling was a disappointment, and Paul Soliai was just an overweight guy who had not played up to his ability at that point. Miami's plan with Odrick was to kick Randy Starks inside to nose tackle and perhaps get more push out of that position. When Odrick broke his leg in his rookie season, Starks got moved back out to DE, and Soliai played like a man possessed that season. There was nothing illogical about that pick. The guy was the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year going into that draft and the consensus 3rd best DT on the board who happened to have the athleticism to play DE as well.
