Going into this draft we knew it was going to be the first one without Parcells being in charge and we knew the regime was probably on a short leash. I was worried that the result would be a draft that reeked of desperation. The easy thing would have been to over pay for a QB to appease the fan base and the owner. That would have also probably bought the the regime more time because they would have the excuse of a young, developing QB. As long as the QB showed promise any number of losses could be excused. But in the long run that would most likely have set the franchise back and not solved any problems. This draft was the opposite of desperation. They didn't over pay to move up and take a QB that would be a second rounder most years and they didn't reach for the QB the fan base had fallen in love with. (There's really no other description for taking a QB in the first that seemingly every team had a third round grade or worse on). Instead they stuck to their draft board and took players that could contribute now but more importantly built a foundation for the future. This has been my favorite draft of this regime's in that they took good/potentially great players that filled needs while also getting a few players that could potentially be play makers.
Pouncy: I see him as a more athletic, but less powerful version of his brother. He isn't as able to muscle NTs/DTs at the line, but I do think he can develop more strength. I don't think his strength is poor mind you. I just think he has a tendency to stop his feet when engaged. I also think he is just as consistent as a snapper as his brother was. The difference was that Tebow's athleticism covered up the bad snaps while Brantley made even decent snaps look bad. The area where Mike Pouncey excels is on the second level. Last year we simply lacked athleticism on the interior line. He addresses that at either C or G. IMO a good pivot is vital for a good line and I see Pouncey as equal or better than his brother at the next level. That's a fairly high upside as his brother made the pro bowl as a rookie. At worst I see him being a very good or even elite G. I would prefer to get my guards with lower picks, but that's not a bad downside.
Thomas: They traded up to get Thomas and the way the draft broke it would seem that they were spot on with their intel on the rest of the league. The big backs taken after DT were clearly lower rated prospects. Many of the experts had DT as the third best back behind Ingram and either Williams or Leshoure. I had DT as the third back behind Ingram and Williams, although I also liked Kendall Hunter quite a bit. Boomer described DT as a a more decisive Ronnie Brown. I agree that he's more decisive, but he still shows good vision and patience. I think he just shows a bit more burst to the hole than RB. DT is a strong inside runner with quick feet and good balance. I had said earlier that he was only pedestrian as a receiver, but looking at the videos many have provided, I think I was selling him short. I would now characterize his receiving abilities as a strength. His other main strength is his durability. His weakness is as an outside runner. I think his speed (or lack of) limits his ability to get around the edge. He also struggles as a blocker. I see him as a key piece for the offense they want to be. Last year they abandoned the run and didn't use their backs as receivers often enough. DT seems well suited to fill Peyton Hillis role for Daboll.
Gates: Gates adds the speed element that this offense desperately needs to balance a back like Thomas. Most compare him to Mike Wallace as he has excellent speed, but is very raw. I like his hands and I think he catches well in traffic or after contact. I've seen that part of his game criticized, but I don't agree. Where I expect him to struggle is getting off the press and I see his route running as needing a lot of work. But I do think he can contribute immediately in a Ginn like role where he keeps the safeties back and provides some excitement as a returner. If he can show more consistent and instinctive hands than Ginn did then he can have a big impact on this offense. I wanted them to take DJ Williams here as I saw a move TE as more of a need, but I can't argue that Gate's speed on the offense and his return ability wasn't a great need.
Clay:Here is the move TE I wanted. I was hoping for Virgil Green here, but apparently he had some medical issues show up that took him off the board for many teams. The book on him is that he's a jack of all trades and a master of none. That adds versatility to what has been an incredibly predictable offense. He shows good hands, adequate speed and nice quickness. His blocking is poor, but I've always believed that blocking can be taught. I would have liked more upside as a receiver, but at this point in the draft he was clearly among the best move TEs left. The key for him (and Miami) will be his ability to be a mis-match as a receiver. If he can do that then he'll have a huge impact on Miami's offense.
Kearse: At this point in the draft you're looking at guys who probably won't make the team except on STs. Kearse is an athletic DT who seems to lack power. I expect he'll be one of those guys they'll try in different spots along the line depending on the package, but unless he shows something unexpected, will only make the team if he can contribute on STs.
Wilson: He has an interesting background due to a first degree murder charge that he was acquitted of. The upshot was that he lost a couple years in jail while that was sorted out. His reputation is as a hard hitting safety, but again the key to his sticking will be his showing on STs.
Overall, I'm very happy with this draft. I see a logical process and sound evaluation. I would have loved to get a QB, but when there isn't much available then you do more damage by reaching for a player that isn't worth it. I expect that they'll bring in a vet to compete with Henne along with a speed back like Sproles. I think that with better play calling, those pieces are easily enough to get us back to double digit wins. I think they envision an offense similar to 2008 where Grove provided a strong pivot and Brown/Williams provided consistent running. Ginn provided a deep threat and the offense had some nice balance. When you have that, you create the best situation for a QB and you can easily win a ton of games and make the playoffs. You can see how close the Jets have been while getting no better QB play than we have from Henne.
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Yep, VG had microfracture worries so Clay was the next best option on their board, I'd suspect because he did a bit more then DJ Williams stuff like running the ball out of the WC.
Do notice the board played out pretty much how they planned for it to play out, which is good and bad.
BTW, notice the similarities between this draft, and the 2009 Draft?
And the differences between this draft and the 08 and 10 drafts?
Tuna took meat and potato guys and with the high picks, the #1's, low bust potential picks, in 09 we took more risky picks (White, SS24,Turner, Hartline, Nalbone) then the usual late rd defensive back in 08 they took much safer picks like Merling and Langford, Murphy was a 3 yr starter at BYU etc. -
One thing that I think could be cool is the Dolphins going 4 wide on first down with both Thomas and Clay as wide outs. Could be a chance that could cause some confusion.
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He's got that prototype size to be that true WCQB we seem to be coveting and searching for...To be able to handle the pounding inside, with a somewhat of a legit passing skillset, he looks the part..
man, are we really gonna continue to go there?....with him and Mr. Clay and Daboll, it sure seems their conscious of it and want to continue to evolve it...
I'am all about it as long as Daboll understands how to use it.. -
Fitting Clay into the equation could add some fun. Start him at TE, move him into the backfield with Thomas with either/or being the QB. I'm already confused. LOL -
I look for them to bring in a few more decent prospects from the undrafted free agents. Next year will be a better year to get a quarterback if Henne struggles.
Ireland and company didn't make the popular picks in the draft, but all their picks fit a need and are good prospects.GMJohnson likes this. -
In looking at the rest of the teams in the AFC East. Right now I would put the Dolphins at the bottom of the list, regarding quality NFL talent on their roster compared to the Patriots, Jets, and even the Bills. Where the Dolphins are clearly at the bottom, is at the QB position and if something isn't done in free agency to upgrade the QB position. I think the Dolphins will finish last in the AFC East this season and will be lucky to win five games. Of course the one good thing that will come out of this, is that Ireland and Sparano will no longer be here and just maybe Ross will finally hire a GM and Head Coach who actually will know something about building a playoff caliber team in Miami.
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Nice point on coaching up Clay. I think it was Casserly or Lombardi or someone who was saying that TEs often come from nowhere to flourish because they have no real position coach in college. With TE you are definitely looking for more raw ability than refinement. Stick a true TE coach on them and watch them bloom. High hopes for the guy.
I think Gates is my favorite pick of the draft, boy can MOVE. Being so raw I am not sure what kind of rookie impact he can have, but if he makes a few good plays and keeps the D honest he will have been well worth the pick. You have to respect that kind of speed, and unlike Ginn, Gates is not just a straight line guy. -
I am excited about Gates because of his ability to kick return and hopefully he can do punts. I do like his quickness and speed. However watching his highlight film he is extremely limited as a wide receiver. I keep on reading on how he is more advanced than Knox, however I thought Knox was actually a decent route runner. Maybe that was because I was comparing him to Devin Hester. -
5 wins? We won 7 last year and the only thing we've done is drop dan henning (WOOOO) for someone half his age, replace Ronnie and Ricky with a younger back, and kept the defense exactly the same.
Its obvious you don't like Henne, and you're basing almost all of your opinions off that, but really, as bad as last season felt, we still won 7 games. I don't see an area of the team where we got worse. I don't see any reason to think we can't win more games next year. (ya know, as long as the refs don't steal any games like that Pitt game)GMJohnson and ToddsPhins like this. -
Totally disagree drafting a young QB would have given this regime extra time. That card got used up trying to develop Henne. They did what they had to do by drafting for the run given Rickey and Ronnie FA and weak interior OL. Ireland showed his impatience by ending up with two less draft picks than he started with at the beginning of the draft. Got some solid players (hopefully) but no steals or pro bowl type players.
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These were 4 massive needs: interior Oline, #1 RB, #2 TE, and speed WR. How you can remotely justify us not filling these needs with outstanding overall value is hard for me to comprehend. If you can tell me what players at these positions would've represented better value than what we drafted, then I'm all ears.GMJohnson likes this. -
I agree 100%
You are 100% correct. Great draft. Btw, Ireland didn't give up a 7th to draft Clay, all we Did was swap our 6th and 7th round picks for packers 6th and 7th round picks. All I would have done differently would have taken lockette and Devine with our last 2 picks. Then again we did need to take a flyer on a backup NT. I didn't want a qb out of this draft class, henne did well in 09 when we had an oline and running game. I'm convinced qb coach, henning and sparano screwed up henne last yr. Noticed henne aiming his throws instead of letting it go, I think it was because they had henna afraid to throw picks. Guess what happens when u play that way? Yep you end up throwing picks. Better yr this yr for henne, if he flops then u draft a qb next yr. -
In essence, we actually only lost a 6th rounder, because if we had the 5th back, it probably would've gone to Charles Clay. A 6th to move up for Daniel Thomas is a no brainer. -
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Or, better yet, give me who anyone would have taken, with the traded picks, who were better (combined) than Thomas?ToddsPhins likes this. -
As a fan of the Dolphins since 1966. I would love nothing more than for the Dolphins to prove me wrong in my assessment of the talent on the team at this time. I have no problem with all the fans who tell me I am wrong and that the Dolphins are better than I project them to be. But until they show me that they are more than the mediocre team they have been for the last two seasons. I will continue to believe that Ireland, Sparano, and Henne all need to be replaced and a new GM, and Head coach need to be hired to effectively rebuild this team for the future. Being a fan doesn't mean that I have to turn a blind eye to the fact that the Dolphins appear to be falling further behind the competition in the AFC East and at the rate they are falling. It appears they may be the last place team in the AFC East for many years to come. I dare Ireland, Sparano, and Henne to prove me wrong, but I sure hope they do prove me wrong. -
http://www.thephins.com/forums/showthread.php?61535-Game-5-rewind-study-of-Chad-Henne..
http://www.thephins.com/forums/showthread.php?61225-Game-4...Rewind-thoughts..
http://www.thephins.com/forums/showthread.php?61060-Week-3-Dolphins-vrs-Jets..Rewind-thoughts...angry-turns-to-happy.&highlight=rewind
http://www.thephins.com/forums/showthread.php?61048-Week-2..Dolphins-vrs-Vikings....Rewind-thoughts.&highlight=rewind
We were unbelievably physical and fighting hard in the first five games. That Jets game was a brutal fight with us coming up short. Before the blocked punts we were very much in charge of that NE game too. Its actually pretty sad how big the score difference was considering we were in it at half time. We did dominate both the bills and vikes even if the score doesn't indicate it.ToddsPhins likes this. -
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