I agree. The first day was outstanding...I finally felt like we had a competent front office. Then they really dropped the ball the second day. It wasn't so much that the picks they made were bad players, but they were poor value for the pick. They made a trade that made no sense and got little in return for it, and they ignored several positions that NEED to be addressed, mostly defensive back, to draft project linemen. I would give the draft a B.

 

I feel great. I think they built on what was a good draft last year. We completely solidfied our OL with Jake Long and Murphy / Thomas. I also think betwen the trades and draft that our front 7 on Defense is rock solid.

I also think our QB situation is finally solved. Regardless of if its Beck or Henne, the one that doesnt start will be a wuality backup and has time to grow with McCown around.

I also like our RB situation and special teams.

My concerns right now are WR, TE, and our DB's

WE ARE TURNING INTO A BIG - PHYSICAL TEAM

 

Fasano, Peele and yes, David Martin, are a solid TE corps, not worried about that. WR similarly, though not spectacular, will be ok. DBs we need some help with, but we needed OL/DL help more than anything. Having good lines makes the rest of your team better moreso than any other positions.
I thought day 1 was good, though the Henne pick im a little wary about. Day 2 we made some reaches (according to the media), but in general drafted big bodies to fit our system. Everyone just needs to realize the obvious. BP and his protege Ireland build via the meat, the big trench warriors. Thats what we mostly went after, why people might be surprised by that Im not sure.

 

I think this is a great brief assessment :yes:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-draftgrades427,0,1302911.story

 

I like it I to would give it a "B" I think we could have done some damage keeping our first 3rd round pick and taking a CB or WR there.

I really don't understand why we kept traiding down, we didn't get any additional picks however.

 

Here is the break down on trade ups and trade downs. What picks we gave and what we got in return.

http://www.miamidolphins.com/draftcentral.asp

 

We strengthened the trenches on both sides of the ball. That is exactly what a team needs to do to build a successful team. It all starts up front. Our defense should be improved vastly as far as stopping the run. And our offensive line should improve A LOT with the pick of Jake Long. Moving Vernon Carey back to the right side (possibly even guard) Justin Smiley, Samson Satele, Jake Long...it's looking really good. And with the cram it down your throat style offense we will run, and a defense that can stop the run, we will stay in, and win, more games than some might think. There is no question that we will be able to run the ball and that will set up some nice play action passes to Ginn and Co. I think we've really improved ourselves a lot.

I am puzzled with the back to back RBs taken on the second day. I thought one would suffice, but these guys (at least one of them) could really help out our special teams.

 

I'd give em a B. I'm fine with the Long pick and though I'd rather have a CB at 32 and Brohm with the later 2nd rounder, Merling was a bargain and Brohm was just taken. I wanted Connor in the 3rd instead of Langford since we already got a pass-rush specialist OLB in Merling and sorely need a heady run-stuffer at MLB with Zach's absence and Torbor's questionable production. Murphy was an ok pick but I really wanted us to get a good receiving TE like Rucker. And I really question the RB picks when players like Ahtyba Rubin, Paul Hubbard were available. Overall, an ok draft but not drafting a CB, WR, TE, MLB, really irks me.

 

B+
they fortified the front 7 and also built a very good oline, added what could be a franchise qb
also added some depth where there hasnt been any

i know people wanted a cb and wr but you cannot fill every hole on one draft especially when the phins had holes everywhere you could think of

 

Overall I'd give it a "B." I think this draft will be judged by the success of Jake Long, specifically. Also, the Merling and Henne picks carry weight. Some of the later round picks were questionable, but I wasn't upset with the majority of the picks, as opposed to previous years.

 

I think he will eventually have to play OLB. If he really can only play DE in the 3-4, then that makes the Langford over Conner pick a little worse IMO.

 

Merlin ran a 4.80 with a sports hernia, my goodnesss, C Long ran a 4.76 and he was deemed fast enough even when he weighed 10 pds less...

 

great great point
merling was hampered big time with the hernia injury he is fast enough to play OLB

 

I can live with the Jake Long pick, it stings a little less each and every day.

I think the Merling and Langford picks were great. Langford has the bulk to play end and Merling will get a chance to play on the outside in JT's role at some point. I wonder if JT is still on the block or if they intend to keep him until the trade deadline. I don't buy into the spin coming from Miami HQ about Taylor not being shopped, both the player and the team are trying to save face after the potential trades fell through.

The Henne pick still doesn't sit well with me. I know that Miami couldn't pass up 1st round value at that spot, but taking BPA at that point wasn't a good idea IMO. On a team with so many holes to fill, why take a QB so high before we know what we have in Beck?

Murphy is solid and could battle for a starting job if he can develop quickly, we still have a LG spot that needs to be filled. Unless of course Miami moves Smiley to LG and Mormino/Murphy to RG to avoid 2 young inexperienced players on Beck's (Yes, I said Beck's) blindside.

Lex Hilliard is an intriguing pick, a Grizz fan I know from another board seems really high on the kid. After reading up on him, I'm pretty jazzed too. He's an excellent blocker and one tough SOB. I wonder how much time Mauia has left.

Don't know much about the rest, but would have prefered to keep Booker. He was fun to watch late last year in the passing game. So Parcells and Co. did exactly what they said they were going to do, build from the inside out. Our OL is stronger and so is the DL, gotta love it.

First impression after the draft is that this draft was rated a B. Could have been a B+ or higher if we actually used the Henne pick on someone else.

 

I had the same questions about Merling. I would guess we're going to attempt to have him at LB though since we didnt draft another.

 

How big is Shawn Merriman? He's 6' 4" 272

How big is DeMarcus Ware? He's 6' 4" 257

Adalius Thomas? 6' 2" 270

Terrell Suggs? 6'3 260

Merling wasn't able to participate at the combine (where he measured in at 6-5 272)because of his injury. He put on a bit of weight because of it, but once he's back in shape he should be just fine and his 40 time (which are overrated anyway) should improve as well.

Is he Chris Long?

No

Does that mean he can't be good?

Absolutely not. Move him to the outside where he can use his quickness and ability to rush the QB, then judge him. I think we made out like bandits with Merling and Langford. :yes:

 

I dunno about that. I think he can be a decent pass-rushing OLB but he'll have issues against the run, which could continue being our Achilles heel in the LB position since Torbor's a question mark and we passed on Dan Connor.

 

Does anyone know anything about Langford? Cause I sure dont.

 

Big strong guy. Good against the run but not so much against the pass. Not a lotta competition in college.

 

Thats an interesting take, cause USATODAY says the opposite of Merling :wink2:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-04-27-draft-grades_N.htm

 

Pretty much a VERY watered down version of Merling :up:

 

Hater! :lol:

 

Well, just of our draft this year..that all :up:

 

It didn't go exactly the way I had hoped either, but I'm pretty happy with the overall final outcome. The only pick that I really disliked was the Henne pick and the selection of Jake Long is actually growing on me. Parcells and Co. wanted a bunch of "big uglies" and they got 'em.

 

I am in the same camp on Long. Not really what I wanted, but I do usderstand and can live with it...depending on how he turns out of course.

After that, not really happy about any of it. Merling is a nice pickup, and the Fasano Ayodele trade is nice...

Aside from that, not so good..

 

Jake Long - eh ok i'll be cool with that
Merling - yay
Henne - eh
Langford - who?
2 RBs - stupid
Booker trade - Stupid and booooo
Ayodele and Fasano trade - YAAAAY
Taylor not being traded - BOOOOOOO

Overall I'm feeling aright about the weekend. The whole RB situation pisses me off tho, so does JT.

 

Well, hopefully these players can change your mind. :wink2:

 

Of course we wont know how this pans out for a couple of years :wink2:

I am not as upset at the guys we got as much I am the ones that were still available and we should have gotten

Shawn Crable
Manningham
Dan Connor
Kenny Phillips
John Greco
Charles Godrey
Early Doucett
Beau Bell
Zach Bowman
Roy Shuening
Jonathan Goff
Ahtaybe Rubin
DeJaun Tribble
Bo Ruud
Mike Hart
Caleb Campbell
Josh Barrett


Are ALL players we should have and every single one could have very easily taken.

I got very tired and frustrated watching all this go down today..

 

I agree with most of that but Manningham? lol why???

 

Considereing he didnt go till VERY late in the 3rd, I would consider that somebody we shouldve couldve gotten. Considering we have a walk-on from Hawaii some are already considering making the roster at WR, Manningham wouldve been a huge step up IMO.

 

That dude has more flags then the U.N. The whole weed thing and his monsterous 6 on the wonderlic was enough for me.

 

Connor fits better in 3-4 D than 4-3 IMHO.

I would give us a b+ on this Draft.

 

Damn, he would be a huge LB even if he loses like 20lbs. If this guys speed is decent then he could really be a monster.

 

I can't argue with what we did at all. We now have some of the holes plugged and can see where the ship is still leaking. By no means do I think the draft fixed all our issues but it's definately a good base foundation for years to come. I am elated that we spent as many picks on the Oline and Dline as we did. As far as Henne, I abslutely can't blame them for taking him when they did. We went years without drafting QBs and we all pissed and moaned about it. Now that we've taken QBs in consecutive years people are all upset? We will draft and develop a QB and no longer trade for washed up castoffs, how can anyone be upset with that? JMO Great Draft:up: