I ran across this mock draft today (the first I have seen) and thought I would share it with you guys. I was hoping that someone could help make sense of it as well. http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=749667 The projected first round pick is as follows: 1. Miami (0-13) The Pick: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU The Buzz: The Dolphins are a wreck, and the team obviously has holes everywhere. Dorsey is a dominant inside force. 2. New England (from San Francisco (3-10)) The Pick: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas* The Buzz: Patriots strike it rich and get the premier feature back and best player in this class. 3. St. Louis (3-10) The Pick: Chris Long, DE, Virginia The Buzz: The Rams defense must improve along the front four. 4. NY Jets (3-10) The Pick: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State* The Buzz: The Jets are looking for another impact defender for their front seven. 5. Atlanta (3-9) The Pick: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville The Buzz: The Falcons are a total disaster this season and the quarterback spot is their highest priority. 6. Oakland (4-9) The Pick: Jake Long, OT, Michigan The Buzz: The Raiders are in the top 10 again and must protect franchise QB JaMarcus Russell. 7. Kansas City (4-9) The Pick: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss* The Buzz: The Chiefs' line must improve for this offense to return to the upper echelon in the league. 8. Baltimore (4-9) The Pick: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona The Buzz: The Ravens defense needs younger talent on the corner, and Cason is a top-flight cover man. 9. Cincinnati (5-8) The Pick: Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia* The Buzz: The Bengals are looking for an impact playmaker out of the backfield for this offense. 10. Carolina (5-8) The Pick: Dan Connor, LB, Penn State The Buzz: The Panthers are looking to solidify their struggling defense. 11. Chicago (5-8) The Pick: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College The Buzz: The Bears will jump at a chance for a future leader on offense. 12. Philadelphia (5-8) The Pick: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma The Buzz: The Eagles are looking to stretch the field with a blue-chip receiver. 13. Arizona (6-7) The Pick: Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern Cal The Buzz: The Cardinals defense gives up too many big plays and needs a leader and anchor in the middle. 14. Houston (6-7) The Pick: Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami* The Buzz: The Texans are looking to continue to build a playoff-caliber defense, especially in the secondary. 15. Denver (6-7) The Pick: Early Doucet, WR, LSU The Buzz: Mike Shanahan wants more playmakers to help Jay Cutler develop. 16. Washington (6-7) The Pick: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami The Buzz: Joe Gibbs wants a big-time pass rusher for the Redskins' front four. 17. Detroit (6-7) The Pick: Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky The Buzz: The Lions are in search of a future leader on offense and may take a chance on Woodson. 18. New Orleans (5-7) The Pick: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State* The Buzz: The defense continues to be the Achilles' heel for the Saints. 19. Buffalo (7-6) The Pick: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State* The Buzz: The Bills may draft into the deep offensive tackle class this spring. 20. Minnesota (7-6) The Pick: Reggie Smith, CB, Oklahoma* The Buzz: The Vikings may not be able to pass on a highly regarded defensive back for this emerging unit. 21. Tennessee (7-6) The Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State* The Buzz: Gholston could certainly help the Titans improve their pass rush. 22. Dallas (from Cleveland (8-5)) The Pick: DeSean Jackson, WR, California * The Buzz: The Cowboys are looking to add a young playmaker on the outside. 23. San Diego (8-5) The Pick: Keith Rivers, LB, USC The Buzz: The Chargers' front seven would benefit from another strong defender. 24. Tampa Bay (8-5) The Pick: Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan* The Buzz: The Bucs are lacking playmakers in the passing game. 25. Seattle (9-4) The Pick: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College The Buzz: The Seahawks hope to address their offensive line early in the draft. 26. NY Giants (9-4) The Pick: Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech* The Buzz: The Giants have major problems in the secondary that need to be addressed. 27. Jacksonville (9-4) The Pick: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida* The Buzz: The Jaguars love those Gators defenders, and Harvey is a good one. 28. Pittsburgh (9-4) The Pick: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU* The Buzz: The Steelers are looking to fortify their front three, and Jackson has the potential fill a role. 29. Green Bay (11-2) The Pick: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois* The Buzz: The Packers want a well-developed feature back to balance this offense. 30. San Francisco (from Indianapolis (11-2)) The Pick: James Hardy, WR, Indiana* The Buzz: The 49ers offense needs another playmaker to open up the passing game. 31. Dallas (12-1) The Pick: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas* The Buzz: The Cowboys defense needs a top-flight cover man opposite Terence Newman. 32. New England (13-0) The Pick: no pick The Buzz: Pick forfeited. Now, with the first pick in the second round (33rd) and 54th (from SD) they have us drafting as follows: 33. Miami The Pick: Alex Boone*, OT, Ohio State The Buzz: The Dolphins offensive line has been a total mess for a decade. 54. Miami (San Diego) The Pick: Ray Rice*, RB, Rutgers The Buzz: The Dolphins may not have Ronnie Brown ready for next fall. Now, I guess I am a bit confused because I believe that we have more pressing needs than spending the first overall pick on a DT. Sure, with the possibility that Traylor may be sent packing, we could use some depth.....but a DT #1 overall? If they are expecting us to pick a RB in the second round, would it not make sense to take McFadden with the #1 overall (especially since we don't know if Brown will be ready or even back to his old self)? I know that many here are in favor of moving down and picking up more picks so this may not even be a topic for discussion for you. I, however, am trying to see the logic behind these guys mock. Any ideas? Comments? Suggestions? BTW, how do you like the fact that not only does NE have the possibility to go undefeated this season BUT ALSO have the chance of picking #2 overall in the next draft? Talk about kicking us when we are down.
Other than maybe cornerback I cannot think of a bigger need on Miami than a DT. Solai hasn't shown anything and Traylor is going to be gone. Wright looks decent and Fifta looks to just be good enough at this point to not be dumped. Miami needs a big strong front line. Just look at the Patriots who have ridiculous strength on their defensive front line to show how a good defense can be. A runningback in the second round isn't ideal. However if they were concerned about Ronnie and wanted to create a more of a two runningback system then Rice would be a better choice than McFadden for one thing a 2nd round pick isn't a first round pick and two top 5 picks for runningbacks just doesn't seem to make much sense. You can justify using a low 2nd round pick on a runningback for a two back system, however a number 1 pick in the draft runningback? That is just silly. Ever since Ronnie Brown has been hurt Miami's offense has been horrible. They went from an offense scoring over 20 points a game to an offense who has yet to score 20 points. The line has A LOT more pressure on it to perform and really teams have zero fear of Chatman and other. Myself I would hope there is a cornerback who can come in and help the team at #54 or maybe another wide reciever since Hagan hasn't exactly stepped up this year.
I see what you are saying about the pick being wasted simply to have a 2-back system. The problem still remains whether or not Brown comes back from his injury and if he does, will he be ready for next season? If we knew that we would have a healthy Brown then I would agree with you 100%, but I guess I am a bit worried that we will go into next season with a stud that still needs rehab and a stable of marginal back-ups.
Well then it makes sense to pick Ray Rice or another 2nd or third round back. From what i read about Brown's injury and from the nature of the medical industry as it is, he is going to come back and should be at full strength. Braylon Edwards has been looking pretty sweet lately. To me it would be like drafting a replacement for Jason Taylor in his prime because he got hurt. Or if Tom Brady hurts his knee during the last game, the Patriots selecting Brohm. Also the fact that I feel there is a very small percent chance that Miami is decent next year, waiting an extra year for Brown to be 100% isn't that big of a deal. He was doing really well as the ONLY consistant threat once he got started. Even the Amazing defense of the Patriots couldn't stop him when all they really wanted to do was stop him. All they needed to do was stop him and he was still having a good game.
