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Isn't the idea of drafting a Guard at 22 a total waste?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Rickysabeast, Apr 24, 2017.

  1. Rickysabeast

    Rickysabeast Royale With Cheese

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    I keep reading articles promoting the idea of taking Lamp at #22. With DE, Outside LB, S and age/health concerns at TE, we just seem to have a lot of other concerns that need to be addressed.

    We've all seen the articles listing where the playoff team got their guards from. Very few were 1st round picks. It seems that good teams can find good guards in almost any round. That position especially seems to be a plug and play position that we've just simply botched for years. Wouldn't it be a waste of #22 to take it on a guard?

    I've voiced a couple times that the expectation for whom we select in first round. They should be starting all the games in year one and be kicking butt. In year two they should be a pro bowl player at whatever their position is. If we;re doing the right research and with our leadership team of Grier, Tanenbaum, Gase, the FedEx guy, copy guy and the other oodles of senior leadership, that should be the expectation.

    I'm hoping we take the BPA at #22 while considering our needs. With potentially Peppers, Howard, Foster and many others being there, I'd like to not be wasting a big pick on Guard.
     
  2. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think that describes the guy your advocating not to take no?
     
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  3. Rickysabeast

    Rickysabeast Royale With Cheese

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    Eh. We just have lots of other needs than G in round one. I also don't think in round one we should take a kicker, punter, deep snapper for the record as those positions LIKE GUARD are found in later rounds.
     
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  4. danmarino

    danmarino Tua is H1M! Club Member

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    I wouldn't be upset if they took Lamp at 22. I do, however, think there are good G's available in later rounds. We definitely need one from this draft.
     
  5. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    don't complain if Tannehill continues to get killed in the pocket, that's all
     
  6. Hoops

    Hoops Well-Known Member

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    it's a pretty safe pick...probably the safest actually...gives us pivot and both guard slots versatility...has right guard pop and strength and left guard feet and athlete...good to the 2nd level and in space too

    that said I don't think it's gonna happen cause I expect gase to play with more tempo offensively this year and I think as a result he's content with Larsen and bushrod his starters...larsens years terms as in 3 say as much as does the pay bump bushrod got
     
  7. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It's not a total waste, no. If he turns out to be an awful player, than yes, it's a waste. However if he comes here and improves that OL to open up the run game more, and improve the pass pro to make our offense more effective, how is that a total waste of resources?

    Ultimately, IMO your first round pick needs to be a starting caliber player. You can't miss on this pick. If the BPA, at a position of somewhat need for us is there, regardless of position, I think you have to take him. Unless of course you feel you can trade down a few spots and still get him.

    Ultimately though, if we drafted a Guard at 22, and he comes in and improves this OL and therefore both the run and pass game likely, why would we be upset? I do think there's other area's of need that maybe should get that first round pick kind of attention, such as LB, S, and an edge rusher, but ultimately whoever it is that gets selected, if they have an impact, I'm not going to be too upset. If Lamp is there at 22, it's going to come down to who else is there, and who's a better value/impact for our roster. Like I said, it's got to be someone to me that's going to come in and play starting minutes, and have an impact.

    In theory, is the idea of a Guard that early a "waste"? Possibly. Traditionally you can get effective players there later in the draft, but to me, it all depends on who else is available, and how they fit instead.
     
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  8. SF_Dolphins_Fan

    SF_Dolphins_Fan Member

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    I believe Guard is just as important a football team position as any other.
    My hope is that whomever the Dolphins draft, that player ends up as a legitimate 6 or 7 year NFL caliber starter.
    Too often teams use their first and second round picks on players who (for a variety of reasons) don't make the starting team.
     
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  9. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    "I believe Guard is just as important a football team position as any other."

    Just look at the results when we haven't had a decent one over the years.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2017
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  10. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

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    I believe Lamp would be a solid safe 1st round pick who can come in start day one. Don't forget he could also play tackle if needed.
     
  11. SF_Dolphins_Fan

    SF_Dolphins_Fan Member

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    The team I formerly rooted for, Oakland, quickly went from poor OL play to one of the League's most effective.
    Guard's Gabe Jackson (2014 3rd round) and free agent acquisition Kelechi Osemele are a primary reason for last season's OL success.
    Those two guards, together with Center Rodney Hudson, make the OL very formidable, even without especially good play from aged Tackle's Penn and Howard.
    But, the Raiders had to pay up in the FA market to get Hudson (Chiefs) and Osemele (Ravens). These guys costs the Raiders about $10 million each, yer year. In contrast, Gabe Jackson has been playing on a rookie contract which only costs the Raiders about $1.5 million per year.
    With their first draft pick, if the Dolphins select an outstanding Guard who will be a starter for 7 years, that's a smart choice.
     
  12. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent Fighter of the Nightman

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    Drafting quality lineman, especially 1st round caliber talent, isn't a waste. Ask the Dallas Cowboys if they're happy with their 1st round investments. Their oline just won their QB ROTY. And if Dak didn't win it, Elliot would have... Those two guys may have natural talent, but that offensive line is the gas that fuels their offense and allows the skill players to succeed. On the flip side, see what a bad offense line can do to players with talent (Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, etc...). Hell, you can look at Miami and see the difference. When the o-line was healthy, our offense clicked and we had success. When Miami had to plug in backups, our offense struggled.


    If you want to win in the NFL, you have to control the LOS. If you want an offense that imposes their will on a defense, then you win the battle in the trenches. Offensive lineman don't sell tickets, they don't get a fanbase hyped up, but a great offensive line allows for the skill positions to maximize their play making ability, which does sell tickets, gets fanbase hyped, and most importantly, win games.

    Right now, Miami has a solid QB, RB, and WR corp. Let's give them the best chance to succeed. I'll be very happy with Lamp in round 1.
     
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  13. Redwine4all

    Redwine4all Well-Known Member

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    I don't think it's a waste. Who knows if or for how long Pouncey can go...we have to get the Oline fixed. It gets our QB killed and destroys our playcalling...surely we need DE and LB...but if we can get an all pro OG then that's good.
     
  14. phins18

    phins18 Active Member

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    Idk a thing about Lamp, but if he can be an all pro from day one like a guy like Zack Martin a few years ago, im completely ok with it. Obviously we have huge needs defensively, but the interior of our OL has killed our offense for years now. The inconsistency you have seen from our offense is in huge part due to the fact that we cant establish a consistent run game on early downs which leads to a lot of 2nd and 3rd and longs which are also hampered by the fact that Tannehill cant step up into the pocket and is consistent faced with pressure in his face, not to mention he isnt great under pressure to begin with.

    So if we go with 4 first of our own first round picks along the OL and then a free agent guard and we have one of the best OL's in the league if we are healthy, that would go a long way. Plus i'd rather that than reach for someone on defense just because we have needs on defense. A great guard would be huge addition to our offense in a lot of ways, so im good with it.

    It's annoying how bad we have been at drafting guards in the 2nd and 3rd round and its set back the offense because we've had some of the worst guards in the league that we have wasted high picks on, but if we determine a guy like Lamp can be an all pro type guard we would have one of the best OL's in the league if Pouncey stays healthy, and that is worth it even though its not the sexy pick.
     
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  15. vmarcilfan75

    vmarcilfan75 blah...blah...blah... Club Member

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    I'm hoping they come away in this draft with a G and C/G
     
  16. Puka-head

    Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member

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    It reminds me of the old golf saying. "you drive for show and you putt for dough" Guard may not be a sexy pick, but you aint gonna win without good play from that position.
     
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  17. Mrtree

    Mrtree Juan Huron's agent

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    This sums it up. Hard to be upset with acquiring Lamp because he will be a beast. Personally I don't think it's the best use of resources but it's hard to argue he's a bad pick.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
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  18. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Guard play is very important. It is not however like every other position, in that you need the best players or even amazing play.

    The difference in the effectiveness of an offensive oline that has great guard play and average guard play isn't all that significant.
    OTOH, the difference in the effectiveness of an offensive oline that has average guard play and awful guard play is staggering.

    Just look at the difference last year pre and post Thomas/Turner. Our line went from awful to average (or even a little below) and it was like basically two different teams.
     
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  19. danmarino

    danmarino Tua is H1M! Club Member

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    I agree. I think if the Dolphins were able to get some mediocre O-Lineman to add to Tunsil (and hopefully Pouncey) , and them keep them together, the continuity would go a long ways in becoming a good O-Line...
     
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  20. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

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    we've had mediocre to bad for years at the guard position.
     
  21. danmarino

    danmarino Tua is H1M! Club Member

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    And when our "mediocre" o-lineman have all been healthy and played the Dolphins are like 10-1. It's when those mediocre to good players went down and the "bad" had to replace them that we lost games.
     
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  22. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

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    NE has shown they can negate a good pass rush.
     
  23. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

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    When and IF that is a big concern.
     
  24. Hoops

    Hoops Well-Known Member

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    lamp doesn't have Zach martins technique...I think you are looking more at a logan mankins type guard here a little more nasty a little more maul

    mankins was a stud though
     
  25. Rickysabeast

    Rickysabeast Royale With Cheese

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    Seeing Pouncey on crutches, I'm switching sides on this argument.
     
  26. finsfandan

    finsfandan Well-Known Member

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    No, it's not a waste, but I'm not convinced any guard will be BPA at 22.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  27. Base of Gase

    Base of Gase Active Member

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    PFF (Pro Football Focus) did their mock draft 7.0 a day ago, and there's quite a few surprises or picks that may raise some eyebrows, theoretically.

    https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-mock-draft-7-0-trubisky-watson-mahomes-all-top-12/

    A few bullet points:

    - 3 QB's in the top 12
    - Derek Barnett #4 overall to Jacksonville (this one really surprised me)
    - Reuben Foster still top 15, and they slated him at #11 to the Saints
    - Jordan Willis at #19 to the Bucs
    - The Dolphins take Lamp at #22
    - Leonard Fournette drops to #24 (Raiders) and David Njoku drops to #30 to the Steelers.
     
  28. Phins_to_Win

    Phins_to_Win Well-Known Member

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    There is the argument that a guard would actually see more plays then many of the other picks we would go with. A DE even an elite one, is probably going to be stuck at 30 - 40 % defensive snaps this year. A flexible LB might get the most bang for our buck on Defense in the first year. Assuming he can handle coverage and makes it into the Nickel package.

    I would probably go with DE if we think we are getting a top 10 pick DE in any other year's draft. If that isn't available look for highly flexible NFL ready LB, that is never out of place on the field. If that isn't available and Lamp is there at 22 I don't think I would hesitate to take him.
     
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  29. Rickysabeast

    Rickysabeast Royale With Cheese

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  30. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    If the best guard in the draft (Lamp) falls to us, we're crazy not to take him. It's not about prioritizing importance of positions, it's about the impact that player can have for you. IMO, no position would be upgraded more than drafting Lamp. I'd say a close second though would be safety.
     
  31. Rickysabeast

    Rickysabeast Royale With Cheese

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    Hard to imagine that we would take Lamp and pass on Obi, Taco and Zach. I'll be pretty ticked if we have a shot at Obi or Zach and we go Lamp.
     
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  32. iamtiv

    iamtiv Active Member

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    Alongside 'BPA', there's the question of 'who improves our football team the most'. Another way to look at it is, 'will the drafted player be an improvement over what's currently on the roster'. Is there a DE at 22 that's better than the guys currently on the roster? Is the DE at 22 better than Branch?
    Cuz' it sure seems like Lamp would be 'Guard 1A' or Guard 1B' at worst right now. That would make us a better football team and that's gotta be the priority for the 1st round pick.
     
  33. danmarino

    danmarino Tua is H1M! Club Member

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    Obi, Peppers, Zach, Davis, Njoku, Davis, Howard, and a few others, if available, should ALL be taken over Lamp.
     
  34. ToddPhin

    ToddPhin Premium Member Luxury Box Club Member

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    No, not a waste (this year). If Miami weren't within reach of having a really good O-line, I'd deem it a waste.... and in other drafts I might deem it an unwise use of a mid 1st, but this year's defensive class is so deep and with such little disparity between the late 1st and early 3rd that you could take a great guard prospect and still be able to fill your bucket with good defenders the rest of the way. I'd probably try to trade back though first.


    You can get a guy like Tarrell Basham in the 2nd (maybe even Jordan Willis although not likely) or Tanoh Kpassagnon in the 3rd, all of whom I have higher ceilings attached to than the 3 common 1st round guys- Harris, Takk, and Barnett (Barnett is a bust waiting to happen, and if we're to use a pick on a potential bust, I'd rather it be on one of the draft's 5 most talented players- McDowell). All that said, I'd still prefer defense in R1 this year.

    In the 2nd we could go Marcus Maye or Duke Riley and then Kpassagnon in the 3rd.
    Maye > Peppers so I doubt he lasts that long though. Might need a trade up.
     
  35. iamtiv

    iamtiv Active Member

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    "IMO, no position would be upgraded more than drafting Lamp"

    Extremely succinct manner of saying what I've been trying to say.
     

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