This franchise has tried just about everything since the departure of Don Shula and then Dan Marino to be successful. The list includes:

Big name former coach - Jimmy Johnson
Big name college coach - Nick Saban
Big time coordinator - Cam Cameron
Hire a Football Guru to run things - Bill Parcells
Focus on the running game / offensive line - Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown, Jake Long, Mike Pouncey
Focus on defense - J.T. Zach Thomas, Madison, Surtain, the entire 2010 draft
Free agent QBs - Jay Fiedler, Brian Griese, Trent Green, Matt Moore
Trade for QB - A.J. Feely, Daunte Culpepper
Other big name free agents/ trades: Joey Porter, Brandon Marshall
Draft QBs - John Beck, Chad Henne, Pat White

I could go on and on. Huizenga before him and now Stephen Ross are trying to put a winning product on the field. And they've tried just about everything. What are the things they haven't tried? I can think of one big one - Make the QB position a priority by drafting a quarterback in the first round.

We can argue all day about the opportunities that have been missed, blown, etc. but the mistake this franchise continues to make year after year after year is to not make the position the priority it deserves to be. The biggest missing piece since Dan Marino has always been QB, and not once have we spent a first round pick on the position. Does that seem strange to any of you? Every year as fans we conjure up reasons why it's not a good idea - too risky, not a good draft class, no QBs worth a first round pick at our draft spot, next year's class is better, we have other needs, etc. As fans we tell ourselves it's ok because of the busts we've seen at the position. Jamarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf to name the biggest. Not worth the risk. Even though we've seen that risk pay off for so many other teams not named the Dolphins.

Still in the dozen + years since Marino and Shula, not one first round pick on the QB position. The Colts still have Manning on the roster and they're going to spend their pick on Andrew Luck. Meanwhile we've seen other teams have tremendous success with their QBs taken in the first round. Steelers, Giants, Packers, Colts, Lions, and to a lesser extent Ravens, and Falcons (Vick / Ryan). And for those teams having success that didn't draft a QB in the first round, we see how critical the QB is to their success: Patriots, Saints, Bears (traded first round picks), etc. And 4 of the past 5 superbowl winning QBs were quarterbacked by QBs drafted in the 1st round.

What does this mean for this year's draft? Well, we hear the same excuses we've heard in the past 12 years. The top QBs will be gone. The draft class isn't any good now that Barkely isn't coming out. It would be a reach to take any QBs left at our spot. Next year's class will be better (not including Luck).

What should Ireland do, in my humble opinion? If he feels RGIII is a franchise QB he should do what it takes to trade up. If the price is OUTLANDISH, he needs to identify the QB that might be perceived to be a reach, but still have definite first round talent and draft him. Whether that means "reaching" at 8 or 9, or trading down and taking him then. Who might this QB be? I don't watch enough college ball to wager a guess. I'll let the draft gurus field that.

It's time to make the position a priority. So while we all sit here and wait for word on head coach, let's hope that this is the year Ireland and company get the memo on how valuable the QB position is and let's hope we finally get our guy in the first round. We've tried just about everything else.

 

Then don't bother responding. Seriously, is that necessary? Whether you agree or not, you can see I put some time into the thread. If you don't like it, don't respond or add something to the discussion.

 

Thank you. Good to see we don't disagree on everything... :shifty:

Anyway, it's not just about drafting a QB in the first round. Although I do think it's necessary to get a franchise caliber player.

IF a player could be nabbed in the 2nd, 3rd, or hell even an UDFA that could be a franchise QB, great! I'd be thrilled. Problem is, every other GM in the league knows the value of the QB. And plenty of teams need one. So, if you wait till the later rounds odds are the QBs that have the best chances to be successful in this league are already gone. So I'm not saying we should draft a QB in the first just to draft a QB in the first. I'm just saying that's probably where we need to draft a QB to have the best odds of landing someone who can be successful in this league.

 

Or, you know, you could just keep your snarky comments to yourself.

I wasn't screaming. It's a rational debate. Not 1 first round pick on QB since Marino bears discussion whether you agree or not.

 

yeah, good luck to you too. Sorry my one thread a week can't be as good as the dozens you post weekly. I'll try to do better.

/sarcasm.

Let me know when you're ready to post your next "rha rha" thread so I can make sure and piss all over it like you've done here.

 

I don't have the luxury of calculating the percentage at work. But I can guarantee you it's higher than the percentage of 2nd round QBs. Or any other round.

And you provide a perfect example of "it's risky so we shouldn't do it." Reward never comes without risk. This applies to anything in life.

 

I can guarantee it because I know others have done the work before me. A piece from Peter King's Monday Morning QB back in October -

3 out of 26. Now by all means, if you want to do the legwork to calculate the same ratio for first round QBs, be my guest. Spoiler: It will be a much better rate.

 

John Beck, Chad Henne, Pat White...

And those are just the 2nd rounders the Dolphins have spent on QB. There are QB busts in every round. The bust ratio in the first round is much less.

Are you really suggesting it's foolish to try because a QB might be a bust?

 

http://www.vincentvalour.com/nfl-draft-quarterbacks-success-rate-by-each-round/html

Just one example of a guy who has already done the work using starting QBs as a barometer of success.

 

A great question. One I'd like to see the Gurus tackle.