Not crazy about this one, think we could have done better.

 

We don't even know what his role is going to be... I don't see any point of getting excited or upset over this signing.

 

Carl Nicks would've been more expensive...but if you want to go to the playoffs you have to go all in.

I can't believe how much cap space the Bucs had compared to us going into FA...and we're not a better team.

 

If he's simply a backup swing tackle that's cheaper than say, Nate Garner, it makes sense. It probably bumps someone like Will Barker off the roster.

 

Depth/competition move.

The reactionary tones are hilarious.

 

We had Mathis in 2008, and in true Dolphins fashion, waived him.

Artis Hicks, no Hutchinson, we passed on Waters, yep.

 

Hutchinson would of been worse.

 

I would only be upset if we gave him a really rich contract, which I doubt is the case.

It's getting old when people on here wine and complain after we sign non-QB, non-WRs, and non-Pro Bowlers. A NFL team only has 11 starters on offense and 11 starters on defense, yet there are 53 roster slots. We need to have some back-ups.

 

I'm going to complain now in advance of the end of the draft. I bet when the draft is over we'll sign a bunch of losers who weren't drafted and did nothing in nfl so far. Wtf we gonna sign those and not better starters. Sign Drew Brees or something. Ireland every time you sign someone who isn't mario Williams a puppy dies, you know that? Loser Ireland. I bet Merino could come out retirement and play better than these bums like Marshall. Potato.

 

God help us if Reiff gets hurt.

 

The last 3 seasons, playing for the Vikes, Skins and Browns, he's played 1009 snaps, with 644 being pass blocking snaps. He's played both guard and tackle spots, but by far the most snaps have been at RG, followed by RT. During that time he has allowed 2 sacks.

Take it for what it's worth.

I hope he wasn't signed as Cheap Charley option that precludes getting Winston now.

 

Oh we are a better team. Believe you me, that Bucs team was absolutely awful last year. Awful and completely dysfunctional.

Don't be fooled. This wasn't some masterful case of cap management. This was the league's cheapest ownership group taking advantage of a 2-year period where there was no salary floor.

The Bucs alienated their fan base, put them thru three straight seasons of blackouts and ended last season with 10 straight losses. The final 5 of which were blowouts.

They're making it rain in free agency this week because they have to. They had to start spending this year to reach the salary floor next.

 

We absolutely needed another scrub OL!!!!!

Sigh.

 

Um... One sack allowed every 322 pass-blocking snaps? There are 60-70 offensive snaps in an nfl game. On MC's numbers, at 1009 snaps, he's played the equivalent of 5 games a season. During those 3 seasons, he allowed an average of 2/3 of a sack per 5-game season. Extend that over 16 games and he's allowed a little over 2 sacks per season. Carey allowed 4.5 over 15 games last season; more than double.

Of course, that's not how you evaluate a right guard. Can he pull? Move? Drive block? Carey couldn't move to save his life. This guy may be an upgrade.

 

Last season in 476 pass block snaps, Carey allowed 3 sacks.

 

Meh . . .

 

Which means Carey allowed .0063 sacks per pass-blocking snap, while this guy allowed .0031 sacks per pass blocking snap. Still half of what Carey allowed.

 

Told my dad the Dolphins signed Artis Hicks.


I kid you not, His reaction:

 

Carey also played guard last season and had help on both the inside and outside. Not sure if he was shifted to tackle when all the injuries happened though.

 

Your dad is Al Bundy?

 

I wish my dad were a living legend such as Al Bundy. My dad wishes he could 4 touchdowns in one game (at the highschool level).


Alas, is it only the level of misery these men are subjected to that is shared.

 

I watched Artis Hicks in 2011 play RIGHT TACKLE for the Cleveland Browns and did not like it. Way too susceptible to giving up the inside post leg. Just not meant to be out on the island like that. Based on THAT, I did not like the signing when I heard about it.

But then I thought about it more and realized that Hicks has played most of his time in the NFL at GUARD and thought I should give him a more fair evaluation at that position. So that's why I went back and looked at his Washington Redskins tape from 2010. I looked at his worse game, according to PFF's ratings. I also looked at two partial games where he played better, according to the gradings by PFF. Here's what I found.

Artis Hicks at RIGHT GUARD...not Right Tackle...

Very active laterally in zone protection with his head on a swivel and a good punch. He finds work. Has that look of a grizzled veteran lineman made of stone.

Knows how to get you moving, especially in the zone. Knows how to let guys' own momentum work against them on cutback plays. Kind of savvy that way.

A little bit of struggling at the second level. He has the mobility to get out there, minimal lumbering around, but lacks the horsepower to drive through contact in space. Just not a great athlete, IMO. Has to resort to waist bending when you push his range. I am not sure I would trust this guy from the back side of a stretch play to get out to a linebacker for a back side cut-off block. He can interfere, but not really block. This is one of your more difficult blocks so I'm not saying he's bad at the second level. Back side cut-offs on defensive linemen, different story. He can do that no problem.

For that matter, he's a questionable puller. Not very smooth at it, doesn't cut his angles like a technician. Certainly not a David DeCastro type puller. He can pull better from back side to play side but from play side kicking further out is highly questionable.

Biggest problem I have with him so far is his habit of dropping his hands after a blow in pass protection, and this leaves him open for counters to the inside. This is one of the maddening aspects of his game I hated at Right Tackle. He's got some tenacity to him and with his ability to move laterally he is able to recover at times but it can still get ugly. Other times he's not able to recover. Thing is, at Right Guard he will often have the Center there on the inside shoulder to help cover for him. At Right Tackle he is on more of an island and even though sometimes the Right Guard is there to help you with that stuff, a lot of times he's not and the spacing is bad anyway. Back to dropping his hands, it's a consistency issue. He'll go through stretches where I love how he's locking on in pass pro. But then he'll go through stretches where I feel like he's dropping his hands a lot.

He never really locks and steers in run blocking, either. He's more of a puncher and a hugger. This keeps him from being an elite run blocker even though he has very, very good strength and a fair amount of burst off the football.

Also if you attack him with a high caliber Defensive End lining up as a 3-Technique like you see Chris Long or Jason Pierre-Paul doing sometimes, watch that outside shoulder. He can have trouble there. That's probably true of most Right Guards, though.

I like him in short yardage situations. He's got a good burst off the ball and gets nice and low, gets his helmet in the right spot, his shoulder pads right on the thigh and actually causes movement which is hard to do.

Overall I watched him in what PFF graded as his worst game of the 2010 season, as well as his best game of the 2010 season (both at Right Guard) and he's not a bad player. The worst game wasn't really bad at all. I've seen much worse. I've also seen a lot better. Not sure I see him as a guy to do your heavy lifting. More of an experienced zone blocker that can be a bridge to whatever young guy you're grooming for your system.

Awareness: 8 of 10
Lateral Mobility: 6 of 10
Strength: 8 of 10
Anchor: 8 of 10
Hand Technique: 4 of 10
Demeanor: 6 of 10
Pulling: 3 of 10
Second Level: 5 of 10
Short Yardage: 7 of 10
Cut Blocks: 5 of 10

I'm not sure if he's a $2.5 million player but he's a starter as a Right Guard. If the Dolphins play him anywhere else, he's not as good a player. One issue I take with him is his inability to stay healthy which has been a big problem in his career.

 

Nice write up, thanks

 

Hmmm so Hicks at RG, Murtha at RT as it stands right now. With the possibility that Jerry/Garner or draft picks beat them out.

 

dispense with this "logic" please...levelheadedness must be eliminated

 

Backup written all over him. Once an average to good guard, now 33 and having health issues. I hope that he is not being considered as the solution at right guard.

 

Cdz I think he is insurance. They will give Jerry and draft picks opportunity to pass him. However if they don't it gives them a year to groom or figure it out next year. This offense is probably going to be heavily worked on this offseason and next.

 

What health issues does he have? He has to pass a physical, so I'd presume that meant he is healthy.

 

Yes.. just go out and sign Brees... he'll gladly sign for nothing just to play for the team that spurned him twice.

And... who is Merino?

 

RFOLCOPTOR YOU DON'T KNO MERINO!

Ok I cant do it anymore. That post was satire, you can tell how successful it was by all the people who aren't laughing. My apologies, but sometimes silly threads bring out the obnoxious kid in me.

 

not a bad move IMO

 

hmmm... I remember a Dan Marino... but never heard of this Merino fella...