http://mia.scout.com/2/742623.html http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=5726 LT Veron Carey LG Drew Mormino C Samson Satele RG Justin Smiley RT (Is it me or would drafting Jake Long with our first pick finish this offensive line?) Weakside DE Vonnie Holliday Nose Tackle Jason Ferguson Strongside DE Matt Roth With Randy Starks working in at NT and DE. (and Rod Wright also I expect) Weakside OLB Jason Taylor Inside LB Channing Crowder Inside LB Reggie Torbor Strongside OLB Joey Porter "Sparano described the "dilemma" of having a healthy Ronnie Brown and a healthy Ricky Williams as "a good problem to have," and used the Cowboys last year with Marion Barber and Julius Jones as an example of a two-back system working out. (I always wanted Ricky and Ronnie in the same backfield) The quarterback situation is another one the first-year head coach said is shaping up as a good problem, with Beck throwing as many as 1,000 balls last week and studying film while anxious to get his hands on the playbook. Sparano indicated the playbook should be completed by the end of this week, so that will just be another thing Beck and McCown can dive into and work at as they try to make each other better".
Doesn't look too bad. Though I think we downgraded a bit at MLB and there's still questions on the QB position in my mind.
Jake Long looks like the pick more and more. I think it's more of a tacit to get someone to try to trade up for him.
Yeah there's no doubt in my mind that we downgraded at MLB. But maybe we'll find out that it was an upgrade health wise.
Downgrade because we lost Zach, which stinks, but if you look at it by playing time, if Torbor can stay healthy, at least our first choice at the position is playing
The main thing that prevents me from thinking the same thing is that I keep reading that a significant number of people are projecting him as a RT in the NFL. So I guess it all hinges on what Ireland and Parcells see. If they see him as a RT then would they still draft him at #1 ? I would think they would pass on him if that's the case. The other thing in my mind is that there are so many quality OTs in this draft that we ought to be able to still select one of them at #32. We can draft either Chris Long (or Gholston) at #1 and we still can get an impact O-lineman at #2. But the reverse wouldn't be the case. If we go OT at #1 then we won't get the same type of impact pass rusher at #32.
I couldn't agree more. The draft is deep at OL, but not so with DL. Then again if we take long in the 1st, we may get lucky like with JT
I think it's telling that our secondary wasn't mentioned in this at all ... This is the area that causes me the greatest concern. I'm also not convinced that Roth can hold up as a 3-4 DE ... All that said, I would fully expect to see the starters change again, probably sometime during training camp.
I don't get it. It's the same as last season except he is swapping Traylor for Ferguson. We got ran over all last season. Do they really think one substitution will make that much of a difference? Surely Randy Starks must feature in the starting line up instead of Roth.
we got ran on last season, but with the exact same lineup (minus Kevin Carter) it was one of the best the year before. chalk it up to the coaching. soft offseason makes for a soft lineup.
I prefer Chris Long in the 1st and a 2nd or 3rd pick for the LT, but I don't care how we do it as long as we fix it. I'm tired of talking about the O line every year, let's finally fix it once and for all, and I really think we've got the coach who'll do it, so if it happens in the 1st I can't be disappointed. I just have to know Sparano and Ireland saw something that sold them on that player.
This is all speculation...the draft isn't even here and you think this will actually be our lineup ?? He didn't make it sound like anything was etched in stone...it's early April. We were 1-15 last year, no one is safe until after training camp. Also, I don't see how this means we'll be drafting Jake Long at #1...you don't draft a RT and pay him #1 overall money...Aside from that, RTs can be found later in the draft, especially this draft...
I have two problems with that line. #1. Mormino has yet to play an NFL game. Even though he was doing well before the injury, we still don't know what we have. #2. Vernon Carey will never be the kind of player on the left side that he can be on the right side. Period.
The secondary is mentioned as a need in another article, as well as, LBs, WRs, and linemen. http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/479555.html
Actually, I didn't feel Mormino was doing well at all before he got injured, I didn't think he was strong enough. But what I really like about him is his feisty attitude, and I'm fully expecting him to be competitive this year. Agree about Carey. Hoping for his replacement on the left side in this draft.
I think our D-line is looking pretty good and I think Torbor will surprise a few people. Schefter doesn't think we will be trading Taylor: http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story;jsessionid=39B06E0DE541C705CC9E008157FC3A04?id=09000d5d80786530&template=with-video&confirm=true If we draft Chris Long and a corner our defense is looking good to me. DE - Holliday / Wright NT - Ferguson / Soliai / Starks? DE - Roth / Starks OLB - JT / C. Long ILB - Torbor ILB - Crowder OLB - Porter / Long CB - W. Allen S - J. Allen S - Bell CB - Cason?
I was for drafting Chris Long all along, but after reading everything the past few weeks i think going Jake Long is the right decision. Its obvious we need to draft a OT within the first 2 rounds of the draft. OLB is a need, but isnt the biggest need, we don't need to draft a OLB on the first day. I think by drafting Jake Long and spending our 2 first round picks on any combo of QB/DL/WR/CB is the best way to go. Chris Long isn't a big need as we have 2 great OLB in JT and Porter, plus some young guys behind them that could develop, and if they don't well then theres always a draft next year
I completely agree that with JT and Porter, OLB is not a need position, but at #1 overall, you don't draft for need...you draft for absolute BP...There are questions about whether Jake is a LT or a RT at this level...do you spend #1 money on a RT ?? There are questions about Dorsey's injury situation, there are questions about Ryan and whether he is a franchise QB or not...there are questions about Gholsten and how many plays he'll take off...the guy with the fewest questions is still Chris Long...no matter how you look at it, he has the fewest questions...
#1. We know more about Mormino than we do about anyone we would be drafting, as he has already been through one TC with us. He had even been forecast as a starter before he was injured. #2. Vernon Carey actually graded out better than some of the Pro-Bowl OT's, according to research done by Hugo Guzman in an article he published. What makes you think a rookie will be better? VC has done an above average job for us at LT, maybe he'll be even better this year with more experience.
Since his rehab after surgery, all accounts, that I have heard, have said that DM is working out to get stronger and to improve his technique. I fully expect him to give a good accounting of himself in TC. I really think VC will be even better at LT this year than he was last year. Last year he was as good or better than some PB LT's, according to at least 1 report that was available.
To be honest, I'd be happy with either of the Long's...but, I also like the idea of drafting Gholston, and grabbing o-line with #32. By the way, just a little tidbit, on SC last night (2 am EST) they had Mel Kiper's board, and he had Miami taking Jake Long, but, the interesting thing, I only saw the top 5, but, Matty Ice was nowhere in the top five...
That's exactly it. Above average is not good enough. What makes me think a rookie will do better is watching guys like Marcus Mcneil get drafted in the 2nd round and play lights out his rookie year. Same thing with Joe Thomas with the exeption he was drafted in the top 5. It's not about the rookie year. It's about the future of this team and having a franchise LT instead of a good at best LT. Vernon Carey is a RT. Maybe even RG. He has the ability to make multiple Pro-Bowls on that side. He's playing out of position and he did it very well. That's comendable but it's not where he belongs. We know more about Mormino. That is true. But he's a late round prospect who has yet to start a game. If he was a early round guy, I would be much more comfortable with him.
I have no problem with Carey at LT, but if we can get a LT that's better, then we've got the makings of a very good line; Besides, I had the impression from a comment he made a while ago that he wouldn't mind going back to the right side. Also, I believe it's the last year of his contract, so he'll be a cheaper resign/extension as a RT than as a LT.
That's what I keep reading and hearing, too. Another poster mentioned Taylor being traded. At this point I don't see it happening. I can see C. Long being drafted and gaining some weight to play DE and JT lining up at OLB. Long's weak spot is the pass rush. It makes more sense to line him up at DE in the 3-4. And like you I can't see the FO drafting a guy #1 overall who may be best suited at RT.
But it wouldn't really be just one substitution. Someone else already mentioned losing Kevin Carter. But we also lost Zach pretty early and then Crowder went down, too. Another thing that I think about. Our offense was so pitiful teams didn't really need to worry about outscoring us, so they could afford to just pound away with their running game. If we can generate some consistent offense they'll have to mix it up.
You know if you listen to the whole Q and A period (about 40 minutes) there is alot that the reporters leave out. Of course Sparano has been trained by Bill but listening to Tony I got the feeling that Bill and Jeff will pay more than just lip service to the o-line and just maybe Jake Long is a real possibility. Tony said that he was going to have VC move around to see just what was the best fit and I didn't see that reported anywhere in the papers. He also down played getting a QB early, if I understood him right. Only saying that somewhere in this draft if the right guy was there that we would have to take a hard look at him. Which may just be nothing but smoke; I just didn't get the feeling that is what it was though.
Seems more and more likely we take Jake Long with the #1 pick. I disagree that he can't play LT, he played 24 games there in the Big 10 and gave up only 1 or 2 sacks. As for the notion he can't block the big guys in the NFL, he will become one of the big guys in the NFL. Its all relative, those big guys were college guys in college, just as Jake was.
I hope we do. Looking back at Parcells and Ireland's past, I see that they haven't drafted an OL in the first round, but, that strategy hasn't exactly worked very well. Parcells as Jets GM: 1997: 5th round Lamont Burns - 2 yrs in NFL. 1998: 4th Jason Fabini - On third team, cut by Dallas 5th Doug Karczewski - cut 5th Eric Bateman - I can't find that he even played in NFL 1999: Traded out of 1st round 2nd Randy Thomas - Left as FA, best of the bunch 3rd David Loverne - On 5th team 6th JP Machado - Played 5 yrs in NFL 7th Ryan Young - Good, but retired after 5 yrs, probably due to injuries. With Cowboys as coach with draft input, also with Ireland's input in 2005-2007. 2003: 2nd Al Johnson - Allowed to leave as FA 7th Justin Bates - cut 2004: Traded out of 1st round 2b Jacob Rogers - cut 3rd Stephen Peterman - cut 2005: 6th Rob Petitti - cut 2006: 7th Pat McQuistan - played in 16 games, started none. 2007: Traded out of 2nd round 3rd James Marten - did not play in a game 4h Doug Free - played in one game. Overview: For the most part, these players are/were average to down-right failures. '06 and '07 picks, I consider average since they aren't starters yet. So far. the drafts with Parcells/Ireland input in Dallas have produced no starters, and out of the Cowboys OL starters, 3 were FAs, and the other 2 were drafted before Parcells showed up.
I heard from another thread in on this site that we have not talked to Jake Long at all since the interview. I think it was said on Jim Rome to day he was on the show so I dont know if we do pick him
