I think we have looked at tons of fullbacks over the last 24 hours for two reasons:

1) To make sure there is no cheaper option than Leach
2) To give us some leverage in the Leach negotiation. "Hey, we know you are the best, but we are looking at a couple other FB options too."

 

Honest question: is there a caveat emptor with Leach or is he still playing at a top level?

 

They just signed a FB cut from the the Bears .The interest shown in FBs would lead you to believe they are not satisfied with Lane.There is no mention of him in any of the mini camp reports.Perhaps he showed up overweight or has disappointed in some way.

 

I have a feeling the Dolphins put in a waiver claim and couldn't rescind it on Evan Rodriguez.

Not in a position to watch NFL Rewind much but PFF had him as their #1 rated fullback the last two years, and then their #3 before that.

 

Or they could keep Lane and have him learn the blocking game from Leach. Just an idea. Though the interest in other FB's may point other ways it could be competition.

 

Miami bringing back the T formation with all these FBs? In all seriousness, I would love Vonta Leach singing with Miami.

 

In Mike Sherman's interview today on the team website http://www.miamidolphins.com/media/videos/Inside-The-Offense-With-Mike-Sherman/d968870c-8ab6-49c5-bff8-ae9caf88ef06 Sherman speaks glowingly about Lane. Wouldn't be the first time a coach talks up a player only to see that player gone soon thereafter.

 

I think they're probably honing in an offensive identity for the team, and it seems like it's going to be less spread-oriented than anticipated, and more along the lines of what the Texans do than what the Packers do.

 

I agree. I would love Leach here. Evan Rodriguez is a head-scratching move to me. Hasn't he been arrested twice in like 4 or 5 months?

 

I'm not so sure. With Miller and Thigpen you have two guys who can catch passes IMO. If you go two back shotgun or PA, you have a competent blocker in the back and an RB who can get into passing routes.

 

or 3) rattle Lane's cage to get him to elevate his game. I think they are frustrated with Lane but still high on his potential.

 

i think there are better options out there if it comes to singing, but if we really want to upgrade the blocking position, leach is our man :up:

 

Adam Beasley ‏@AdamHBeasley 1m
For what it's worth, Herald confirms Leach's visit tomorrow. Hearing Dolphins are one of several suitors, but deal could happen tmw.

 

i don't think he cares about 2) anymore, he has his reputation build over the last few years, if you wanna have that on your team, it will probably cost around 3 million to get it

 

When I first heard reports that Baltimore will be releasing him, I posted on here if we should go after him. I think he could be a golden nugget for us. We have a young rb and this guy can help him more than Lane can. I think we shouldn't allow him to leave Miami without a contract.

 

I think we may be seeing part of the reason why Ireland didn't spend all his cap space signing free agent offensive linemen.

 

You gonna greet him at the airport?

 

The Dolphins most likely put the waiver claim on Evan Rodriguez before Vonta Leach was cut by the Ravens, however it should be noted that the Baltimore Sun reported on Monday that Vonta would be traded or cut after failing to come to agreement with the Ravens on a new contract. It's very possible the Dolphins knew of that brewing situation before claiming Rodriguez.

 

He was on the Packers in 2004 and 2005. I think the connection with Mike Sherman is more significant. Those were Mike Sherman's teams that he was on with Green Bay. At that time Joe Philbin was just the TE Coach and Assistant OL Coach. I don't think Philbin would have directly coached Vonta Leach. What is interesting is that when Sherman was fired in 2006 and went off to Houston to be the Assistant Head Coach (and then OC in 2007), Vonta Leach came with him. That's where Leach began to establish himself, over those two years with Mike Sherman directing the offense.

 

Am I missing something? I listened to that interview and didn't hear a word about Jorvorskie Lane.

 

Actually, in Leach's rookie year 2004, and his second year 2005, Mike Sherman was the Packers head coach. Philbin was the TE coach (and OL assistant coach). In 2006 Sherman was gone and Philbin became FT OL coach.

 

Too fast for me, LOL.

 

I think he meant to link Philbin's presser from yesterday. There wasn't much in that either. Someone I believe asked him about Lane and he said something along the lines of, "Yeah, we picked him up about this time last year. He's got a good amount of knowledge in the offense, he's familiar with it...". Purely coachspeak.

 

OK that makes more sense. Between signing Ina Liaina and Rupert Bryan immediately after the draft, putting a waiver claim on Evan Rodriguez while simultaneously having Ryan D'Imperio in for a tryout, then having Vonta Leach in for a visit, the coaches and front office people are practically putting their displeasure with Jorvorskie Lane on a neon billboard. So it would surprise me if the coaches did anything but damn Lane with faint praise when/if asked about him, and I certainly doubt they'd bring him up to praise him unbidden.

You go back to Hard Knocks last year when Jorvorskie Lane was late for that meeting, and the story Mike Sherman told where he had promised Jorvorskie that if he lost weight then he would get him a shot with an NFL team...I think we sort of have some ideas of how Lane could have run afoul of the team.

 

Can't argue any of that. I certainly think weight would be Lane's biggest issue. If anything, I think if they are able to sign Vonta Leach it gives them another solid vet. Aside from Richie Incognito, who has been around the NFL the longest? Dustin Keller? Matt Moore?

 

Sorry, wrong interview. It was actually the Philbin interview. Here's a link to the video and transcript.

http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Philbin-We-Are-All-Happy-Starks-Is-Here/505def0a-9c3b-4ccd-90cc-40f05b34b1d0

He said this about Lane:

 

It may very well be the weight. I don't recall seeing him in any of the photos out of OTA's or Mini camp. Based on what Philbin said, he may have awareness of the blocking schemes, but based on last year, it may be that he just can't execute them very well.

 

Knowing Philbin from the past year of his being the coach, that wasn't even praise. That was a very strict letter-for-letter answer to the question asked. The question asked him how Jorvorskie has progressed since being picked up a year ago and Philbin answered it by detailing that over the one year period since they got him, he's learned the offense. And that's it. He knows the playbook. Swell?

 

How much moe obvious could they make their displeasure with Lane? Pretty darn certainty to me (IMHO anyway), Lane doesn't make the roster this year.

 

At this time of year it almost seems like we are reduced to discussing the most mundane of positions, the FB. However, since Kyle Juszczyk was being talked about prior to the draft, I thought that a very good pure FB would really help this team. We didn't go that route in the draft, but now that one or more is available, I find the discussions about the position very interesting.

 

I think many believe that pure lead blockers don't need to be drafted. The Ravens didn't grab Juszczyk as a pure lead blocker. He's a lot like Rodriguez, or James Casey.

 

In keeping with your post, Leach was indeed an undrafted free agent. Rodriguez, who is more of an H-Back was a 4th round pick. As I said, a fullback that is a good lead blocker, can pass protect, and can occasionally catch the ball, someone like Leach, can really help this team a lot, IMO. I hope his ties with our coaches encourage him to sign with Miami.

 

With the questions we still have at OL, the FB position (especially if we bag Leach) will be anything but mundane. On the contrary, it could be vital to our living up to increased expectations.

 

Totally agree. Signing Leach would be a really big move IMO. He could help the run game and the pass protection a lot.