Whilst we wait for the NFL version of "the Decision" from Coach Fisher, thought it would be entertaining to look at some Free Agents who could have an impact for us in 2012.
I like Peyton Hillis for the Dolphins, he put up 11 Td's in 2010, beasted the Patriots, and is still quite low mileage in terms of carries, I think a back field of Hillis/Bush/Thomas would be the best in the NFL and coming off of a down yr in Cleveland would come at a good price.
When I say down yr, I mean a REAL down yr:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-silver_peyton_hillis_hamstring_contract_browns110411
-missed a game on advice of his agent due to strep throat
-wouldn't practice due to a hammy, but did participate in tossing ball at th goal post
-moped all yr about his contract situation.
A healthy and focused Peyton Hillis though, would harken to the days of Larry Csonka, or young Ricky Williams, if we wind up trading picks to move up in the draft, landing Hillis would offset those losses.
This would allow Reggie B to have less carries, remove a huge reliance on Daniel Thomas, though Hillis has been known to be nicked this past yr, think of it as adding Brandon Jacobs from 4 yrs ago.
Thoughts?
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Still say go in on Flynn or Finley depending on who they choose to franchise as either would be a welcome addition. I agree Padre, Hillus would be great for us. Regardless of if Daboll is still around or not he would still be a great change of pace plus a big body to help chip the pass rush would be greatly appreciated no matter who is at QB. Hard to say on the defensive side as we could go 4-3 or may stay 3-4.
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So oh football guru you, do tell, where has the Falcons running game ranked the last 4 yrs, every yr Matt Ryan has been there?
Half the problem with the dolphins fans are so many people are convinced about things, that just ain't so, you won't find a young Qb who developed into a franchise Qb who did not have a running game he can lean on while he learned the job, smarten up.MrClean likes this. -
Finley would be great, but finley+flynn would be more then we could add, that is a 80 million in contracts and 20 millimn in signing bonus money (imo bonuses of 10 million for a Qb and 10 million for an all pro Te sounds reasonable). -
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I'd have to think a team like Detroit would love to move up, if not, if we pick at #8, I don't see anyone who would offer us instant production without being a reach, we could go OL, again..but if we did so, adding Hillis would add the production we need to offset making that pick. -
How did the bigger slower work out for parcells?If you want a running back you get one with speed not a slow footed 1980s type of back.If we get flynn I would love to draft trent richardson because i think he might be the next AP and pick up a speed wr in free agency. -
He's a difference maker, if we do add a young Qb, would you prefer they rely on Hillis, or Daniel Thomas? -
I'd be happy to add Hillis. At the very least it would put an end to a goal line problems, or at least help it.
I still want to take a run at Matt Flynn.
Dwayne Bowe would look good opposite Marshall, plus I just want to be able to use the Fantasy Football name Somewhere Over the Dwayne Bowe.
On the defensive side of the ball, Antonio Garay could be a good replace ment for Soliai if we let him walk.
And if we think Cliff Avril can play in 3-4 (assuming that's what we play next season) he would be a good addition opposite Cam Wake.
Also, I think Tyvon Branch would be an asset at safety. My first choice would be LaRon Landry, but I assume Washington wont let him walk.
Note I got the from this list, http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html so I don't how many, if any have already resigned. -
If I were to rank the offensive priorities I would say:
WR- stretching the field truly makes a difference, and other than Marshall, who is there?
TE- again helps in both the passing and running game if it is the right guy
OL-gotta keep whoever is taking snaps clean and healthy, and also get some push on the run
RB- just drafted a RB, you can say that Thomas is a project, but he is a knee or hammy away from making this a need
QB-Moore is serviceable, but the other positions need addressed first, there are decent rookie QBs to draft at a lower cost than a guy like Flynn. -
There is a good crop of FA Qb's this yr, but with so many Qb's pulling out of the draft, or rather, not declaring, the pool doesn't look like we will have the pick of the litter. -
Too early to talk Free Agency. Every year fans get all excited putting these lists together....and then 80% of the players re-sign, get franchised etc. Usually don't have a real good idea of whose making it to FA until a couple weeks prior.
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Besides it either that or we go back to the Fisher talk or the "Ireland sucks! No Ireland is awesome!" threads.Tin Indian and padre31 like this. -
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The priority is that young QB. Sure you want to help him with a running game and defense, but if you don't have that QB then all you're using is that Wanny, 'we'll never contend for a SB' blueprint. I'm surprised I haven't heard Padre say "what can Luck do that Moore can't". :no: Or it could be Tannehill or Flynn or Weedon, so the thread doesn't get sidetracked into a discussion about whether you should believe what teams say.
My primary list includes a QB, S, 2nd pass rusher, RT. My secondary needs are for a 2nd TE and RG. RBs and 2nd WRs are an 'only if I see a great upgrade' category. But this will be a combination of the draft and FA. Once you figure out which direction you're going on the QB, then you can have some idea of how to fill the rest.texanphinatic likes this. -
I've got mine in two different scenarios, the 1st assuming Miami sits tight at 8/9 and targets Courtney Upshaw or Quinton Coples depending on the style of defense.
I think my top 3 targets would be:
1. Ben Grubbs - LG - Baltimore Ravens
2. Dashon Goldson - FS - San Francisco 49ers
3. Robert Meachem - WR - New Orleans Saints
The second scenario, would be assuming move either sits tight at 8/9 and drafts Ryan Tannehill, or they try to move up or back for someone like Robert Griffin III (up) or Brandon Weeden (back).
1. Ben Grubbs - G - Baltimore Ravens
2. Cliff Avril - DE - Lions/Ahmad Brooks - OLB - San Francisco 49ers/Anthony Spencer - OLB - Dallas Cowboys
3. Dashon Goldson - FS - 49ers or Reggie Nelson - FS - Cincinnati Bengals
In this scenario, I think Miami would have to pay more of a premium price for a guy like Avril, Brooks, or Spencer and you might not want to pay someone like Dashon Goldson as much, so Reggie Nelson would get my next look. He's had a renaissance year in Cincinnati and only signed a 1-year deal, much like Goldson did in San Francisco last year.
Of course, if Miami does land Jeff Fisher, I can see Miami making hard runs at Stephen Tulloch, Jacob Bell, Cortland Finnegan, and Jason Jones (i.e. all former Titans at one point or another who played for Fisher). Maybe you see some cheaper pass-rushing DEs like Frostee Rucker, Jonathan Fanene, Kroy Biermann, and Juqua Parker to bolster Miami's DE depth. As Miami sits right now, I think they have Cameron Wake, Phillip Merling (who has done little to this point in his career) and maybe Jared Odrick as guys you'd actually want playing 4-3 DE. Personally, I think Odrick fits better as a DT, like he was at Penn State, along with guys like Starks, Soliai, Langford, McDaniel, and Baker. Of course Miami would have to re-sign Soliai and/or Langford.
Those are my estimations as things sit today with the Dolphins still coach-less. -
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I agree that if Greenbay for some reason let Jermichael walk they should be all over him. Anthony Spencer and Peyton Hillis sound interesting. We have to see if they are gonna resign Langford and Soliai.
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I mean, if you're going to target a free agent RB, give me Marshawn Lynch over Peyton Hillis all day and twice on Sunday. I don't think there's any way the Bears and Ravens let Matt Forte and Ray Rice go anywhere, and after those two, I think Lynch is the best of the bunch. Granted, Miami is probably thinking Daniel Thomas CAN be their Marshawn Lynch already.
djphinfan likes this. -
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If Thomas could just stay healthy we wouldn't need to worry about RB. Bush/Thomas/Slaton is fine.
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One thing I might consider is going with the multiple TE thing like GB did. Last I saw they have five TEs on their roster. They can all run and catch and are mismatch nightmares for the defense. I've been pushing that approach for the last couple of years (although I was thinking 3 or maybe 4 TEs max) b/c it allows you to spread the field or have bigger blockers for a run-centric tight formation with the same personnel. That was one of the reasons I wanted Harbaugh. I liked how his Stanford offense could bludgeon you with the run. In the NFL, it's a passing league so those TEs have to be good/great receivers, but the basic concept is the same.
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If we do land Jeff Fisher, and he does like a ground pounding game, the right side of the OL needs to be shored up. Marc Columbo? Puh-lease, he's GOT to go. Need to try and make a run at Marshal Yanda from Baltimore or Tyson Clabo from Atlanta. From center - left, I think our OL is pretty solid, it's just the right side was the OL's achilles heel.
As much as I like Hartline and Bess, they don't command as much respect and cause nightmares for defensive coordinators as Brandon Marshal does. With that being said, Sydney Rice from Minnesota or Braylon Edwards from the *cough* Jets could be a great compliment to Marshall and cause those nightmares for DC's while giving Matt Moore (or whomever our NEXT QB is going to be) options to go deep with positive results.
Next year is going to be yet again ANOTHER rebuilding year offensively regarding the coaching staff. The chances of Brian Dabol being retained inho are slim to none. This means we're going to 3 different offenses in 3 years (Henning, Dabol, presumptive new OC next year). Growing pains will ensue I'm sure. I say we should trade Henne to possibly Chicago. That could be a GOOD fit to the Bears who use a ground pounding game that would set him up for potential success. Keep Matt Moore, sign an old veteran like Mark Brunell and draft one of the number of QB's that will be available in this year's draft....OR....surrender the thought at drafting a QB this draft and depending on Matt Moore's performance, plan for that QB draft next year.
While Im excited with the potential for the Dolphins to begin their trek back to greatness next year, I'm not unrealistic to know that we'll have some growing pains and patience will be needed to allow Fisher's (or other successor) plan to develop. Worst to first is an anamoly and not the norm, Our '08 season and San Francisco's season this year are freaks of nature.
Patience will be our watch wordpadre31 likes this. -
Thats an interesting draft if your sold on Moore..Me personally, Iam gonna go hard for RG3 first, if not turn my attention to Tannehill, Wilson. -
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I like where your head is at with Dwayne Allen, and I really don't know enough about Carder. It all depends on who the DC will be...I personally would let my homerism reign and draft Lavonte David(super fluid 2x AA in a pro level D without the benefits of a really good set of DTs in front of him). And with the second 2nd pick, perhaps pick up OL, one of the Wisconsin OL will do just fine for me. Then keep the fingers crossed for Wilson to still be there around late 4, early 5th round. -
If you truly believe that, I don't think we can have rational conversation about DeSean Jackson....LOL. -
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Right now I would have to say that Flynn would probably be the Dolphins best option in free agency. Since the Dolphins have really very little chance of of getting Luck or RG3, Flynn certainly appears to be a better option than any of the other QB's in the 2012 draft. He could come in and start immediately and Moore could go back to the backup QB position for which he is best suited.
If the Dolphins do make a play for Hillis, it will only show that they have given up on Thomas as the big power back they drafted him to be. Since I think Thomas was a wasted pick in the second round, I would have no problem with the Dolphins going after Hillis in free agency. -
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