ESPN Mock 4.0

Don Banks new one.

12 NT Dan Williams Tennessee Sr. 6-2 329
The Dolphins could be tempted by Texas outside linebacker Sergio Kindle (it seems everyone's getting a Kindle these days), but the run-stuffing Williams allows Miami to contemplate life beyond Jason Ferguson.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/04/07/mock.draft.2/index.html

I like Morgan at 12.

Down with moving back a bit and getting Williams

Man is no one worried about our inability to pass effectively :/ I still think we need a good threat wideout to spread the coverage better for Henne.

Williams sounds good to me.

"hazed819 wrote:

Man is no one worried about our inability to pass effectively :/ I still think we need a good threat wideout to spread the coverage better for Henne.

People shouldn't be worried about Miami's passing offense, which is good enough, when Miami's defense is the reason they lost 9 games last year. From week 5 till the end of the season, Miami gave up an average of 136 yards rushing per game. They also gave up 26 points per game over that time span. They averaged 218 yards passing in those games and scored 23.3 PPG over that time span. Over the last 5 games of the season, Miami's passing offense averaged 278 yards passing per game. So, exactly why do they need to ignore the defense and draft a wide receiver.

I'm okay going Defense with the 12, but far from being okay with Williams or Kindle.

Already got my pills on deck for suicide in case we go Dan Williams...

"hazed819 wrote:

Man is no one worried about our inability to pass effectively :/ I still think we need a good threat wideout to spread the coverage better for Henne.

I'm sure the F.O. is. There are some that seem to forget it is a passing league, but I doubt Parcells and company are among them.

When our defense was good, and our offense was horrible, everyone made the excuse that our offense goes 3 and out so the defense is on the field longer.

Now when its the other way around...we still blame the offense. Everything you need to know about the Dolphins, you can get from watching the Colts and Saints games. You come out of those games thinking our offense sucks and our defense will do, then I question your sobriety level.

"Finascious D wrote:

When our defense was good, and our offense was horrible, everyone made the excuse that our offense goes 3 and out so the defense is on the field longer.

Now when its the other way around...we still blame the offense. Everything you need to know about the Dolphins, you can get from watching the Colts and Saints games. You come out of those games thinking our offense sucks and our defense will do, then I question your sobriety level.

We lost the Colts game because of our secondary and the inability of our LB's to cover the TE. Williams is neither a LB or a backfield player so what exactly is that gunna do for us. Yes we will need him considering Ferg is over the hill but to fix the defense we need a good secondary and some good coverage LBs which i think Dansby will fill out just fine. we need a good safety and a bad ass corner.

"Finascious D wrote:

When our defense was good, and our offense was horrible, everyone made the excuse that our offense goes 3 and out so the defense is on the field longer.

Now when its the other way around...we still blame the offense. Everything you need to know about the Dolphins, you can get from watching the Colts and Saints games. You come out of those games thinking our offense sucks and our defense will do, then I question your sobriety level.

Colts game I agree. But you might want to watch/rewatch the Saints game again or check your um, sobriety level.

The defense is the reason we ALMOST won the Nawlins game. Culver had a INT return to the 5 yd line to setup a TD, Wilson had a pass defl that Torbor picked inside the 20 for another score. Defense held Nawlins to a FG after Roby had an 80 yd KO return. In the 3rd the D forced a fumble at the NO 15 to setup another score (FG) The offense capitalized with scores sure, but the defense put them in great spots the whole first half and into the 3rd qtr. The only time the O scored on its own was the Ricky toss sweep that went for 60+ yds, and the Hartline slant/Ricky WC run. But the O never sustained a drive the whole game, which is what you need when youre protecting a lead vs. an explosive team.

And it was the offense that turned the ball over before half time, leading to a score, and the offense that turned it over again to start the third qtr, leading to another score. It was the offense that couldnt stay on the field and give the D rest. The offense couldnt run and slow the pace of the game down. First 6 drives of the 2nd half, 3 plays INT, 3 plays punt, 3 plays FG (off turnover), 3 plays TD, 3 plays punt, 3 plays punt. The defense got tired, predictably.

The wildcat was shut down. Nawlins blitzed on 90% of the snaps in the second half, 6-7 guys half the time. Offense knew it was coming and still couldnt take advantage. Hartline got loose once but that was it. Last 2 drives, Teddy, Ricky and Fasano had big drops, Camarillo throws the ball out of bounds. Henning goes play action on 3rd and 4th and 14? C'mon man. Of all the games you could pin on the defense, the Nawlins game should be DEAD LAST.

"KB21 wrote:

People shouldn't be worried about Miami's passing offense, which is good enough, when Miami's defense is the reason they lost 9 games last year. From week 5 till the end of the season, Miami gave up an average of 136 yards rushing per game. They also gave up 26 points per game over that time span. They averaged 218 yards passing in those games and scored 23.3 PPG over that time span. Over the last 5 games of the season, Miami's passing offense averaged 278 yards passing per game. So, exactly why do they need to ignore the defense and draft a wide receiver.

Because you help your defense by helping your offense. Just look at the Saints.

If you focus only on defense, you are expending resources that will only marginally improve a side of the football that will be handicapped by NFL rules that significantly favor the passing game.

And Miami's passing game wasn't good enough. They couldn't get those big explosive plays when they needed them.

So we can stick with the old rule of thought and try to build a dominant defense that will still get torched by teams like the Saints and Colts, or we can get with the program and help our offense first, which in turn helps our defense by taking pressure off, and making play calling easier with bigger leads.

im getting the vibe that a lot of you will only agree with our first pick if it's Dez Bryant and no one else...

Prepare to be unhappy.

UGH, Dan Williams and Sergio Kindle are bad choices @ 12. Its Bryant or Thomas, outside chance of Spiller or E Griffen. Williams would be a decent pick only if Berry, Thomas, Spiller and Bryant are all gone, which is highly unlikely. But Im just waitin for the 22nd at this point. For this many people to be stuck on what is obviously a bad choice, they have to be getting inside info from a team source, a source that is apparently lying. I swear, some of these draftniks shouldnt even have jobs...

"MonstBlitz wrote:

Because you help your defense by helping your offense. Just look at the Saints.

If you focus only on defense, you are expending resources that will only marginally improve a side of the football that will be handicapped by NFL rules that significantly favor the passing game.

And Miami's passing game wasn't good enough. They couldn't get those big explosive plays when they needed them.

So we can stick with the old rule of thought and try to build a dominant defense that will still get torched by teams like the Saints and Colts, or we can get with the program and help our offense first, which in turn helps our defense by taking pressure off, and making play calling easier with bigger leads.

Exactly. :knucks:

"CitizenSnips wrote:

im getting the vibe that a lot of you will only agree with our first pick if it's Dez Bryant and no one else...

Prepare to be unhappy.

Earl Thomas would be just as good, and safer. If I had to guess I'd say him over Bryant, but personally I'd take Dez and look for a S later.

"KB21 wrote:

People shouldn't be worried about Miami's passing offense, which is good enough, when Miami's defense is the reason they lost 9 games last year. From week 5 till the end of the season, Miami gave up an average of 136 yards rushing per game. They also gave up 26 points per game over that time span. They averaged 218 yards passing in those games and scored 23.3 PPG over that time span. Over the last 5 games of the season, Miami's passing offense averaged 278 yards passing per game. So, exactly why do they need to ignore the defense and draft a wide receiver.

I agree defense first, but we need offense as well, and that includes finding a big, strong, tall wideout that likely isn't on our roster.

"MonstBlitz wrote:

Because you help your defense by helping your offense. Just look at the Saints.

If you focus only on defense, you are expending resources that will only marginally improve a side of the football that will be handicapped by NFL rules that significantly favor the passing game.

And Miami's passing game wasn't good enough. They couldn't get those big explosive plays when they needed them.

So we can stick with the old rule of thought and try to build a dominant defense that will still get torched by teams like the Saints and Colts, or we can get with the program and help our offense first, which in turn helps our defense by taking pressure off, and making play calling easier with bigger leads.

I think our defense needs more help than our offense, but you're right about us needing to allocate some resources to the passing game. I think KB21's arguing, however, that the most precious resource (e.g. 1st round pick) be used to improve defense. And he's right.

"GMJohnson wrote:

Earl Thomas would be just as good, and safer. If I had to guess I'd say him over Bryant, but personally I'd take Dez and look for a S later.

i'm not against any pick really. I could even justify Mike Iupati, as crazy as that'd be.

I think Derrick Morgan or Dan Williams is the way to go but I'm all for Bryant or Thomas too if we so choose.

Truth be told, with all these teams likely to reach on Tackles and Both QBs going much higher than they deserve, our #12 pick is a perfect place to be.

"hazed819 wrote:

We lost the Colts game because of our secondary and the inability of our LB's to cover the TE. Williams is neither a LB or a backfield player so what exactly is that gunna do for us. Yes we will need him considering Ferg is over the hill but to fix the defense we need a good secondary and some good coverage LBs which i think Dansby will fill out just fine. we need a good safety and a bad ass corner.

You're calling for a Cornerback?
Seriously? :pity:

i can think of about 8 players that are in the 'mix' in rd ... but none of them are named Williams ....

I can't remember the last time the "experts" picked our 1st round pick correctly. Maybe Jake Long, although he signed before the draft anyhow.

"OCDolfan wrote:

I think our defense needs more help than our offense, but you're right about us needing to allocate some resources to the passing game. I think KB21's arguing, however, that the most precious resource (e.g. 1st round pick) be used to improve defense. And he's right.

Football is a team game, you take whichever player will help the team win games. IMO you dont break it down into this side of the ball or that one. Dez Bryant helps the defense b/c he will keep them off of the field and give them better field position and more points to work with when they do get on the field. Earl Thomas helps the offense b/c he will get them more possessions vis INT's, and prevent demoralizing big plays. Its all a team concept.

But just to play along, I agree the defense has more holes, but I would argue that the offense is closer to being elite and should get the resources first. IMO you dont need to be good on both sides of the ball as much you need to be great on one of them. No matter what we do this offseason, our defense wont be great, we need too many pieces. On offense its a different story. We are a #1 WR (Bryant), a pass catching TE (Pitta), and some OG/OL depth away from having an offense that is just as hard to stop as the Colts, Saints, Packers etc. Sure we'll do it with more of a smashmouth style, but we wont be any easier to stop than those other elite offenses. Teddy on one side, Dez on the other. Pick your poison. Ronnie and Ricky behind our O-line, no one can handle it w/ 7 guys. A pass catching TE leaking past those run support safeties. Ginn blowing the top off the defense, Dez singled up, catching short-intermediate routes, breaking tackles and making big plays. Bess in the slot, Hartline giving Teddy breathers and Dez time to get coached up on the sideline. Fasano is good when healthy, he came on strong at the end of last year. The O-line is one of the best in the business. Seriously, its pick your poison. All we need is a couple more pieces.

With an offense like that, your defense can afford to be average. As long as they can play pass coverage, get after the QB, and force the odd turnover. Sound familiar (Colts-Saints)?.