I started not to write this since I thought most everyone knew my Dolphins story because a lot of you were around as it happened. I like to say I was acquired in 2008 as part of the Chad Pennington deal. But what you might not know is how unlikely it is that I’m a fan of football in the first place.
My high school was so small we didn’t have a football team. Then it was on to Marshall and there wasn’t much of a team there either. It was 10 years out from the crash and even though the team was still struggling everyone went to games to support the team. Football is special at Marshall and always will be. In the 4 years I was there they won a total of 8 games and honestly there wasn’t a lot to cheer about. We cheered for a nearly completed pass or an almost interception. At the end of each season it was the same thought; Maybe next year.
Being a fan of a good team is easy. Being a fan of a horrible team is hard. During that time at Marshall, as improbable as it was that a horrible team could make me a fan of a game, that’s exactly what happened. I didn’t just become a fan. I became a die-hard football fan.
One fun fact. I remember pulling for Miami to win the 1983 Superbowl against the Redskins. It was my senior year at Marshall and the guys upstairs from me had a Superbowl party. Everyone was for the Redskins and not to be one to follow the crowd, I was for the Dolphins. I really didn’t get into NFL games then. I was still just a fan of the Herd.
After I graduated from Marshall I continued to follow the team. Little by little they improved and that horrible team started winning and became the winningest team in the 1990s in any division of college football. The players that helped them become winners moved on to the NFL;
Troy Brown, Chad Pennington, Randy Moss and later Bryon Leftwich to name a few. I watched NFL games to see how they were all doing but I was still a college football fan.
Then Pennington was kicked to the curb by the Jets in favor of that dick pic texting ass Favre and I was pissed off. To put it in relatable terms, Pennington is to Marshall fans what Marino is to the Dolphins. Legend. How dare they? So I began watching Miami games and reading some articles online in the Miami news. I don’t know what it was but there was something about that team in 2008. Maybe part of it was the excitement of the Wildcat game in New England or ending the regular season with a victory over those idiots who had dropped Pennington.
I think part of it was watching a team turn things around, very similar to what I had watched the Herd do and with the same quarterback. It was so improbable they should be winning, yet they did. I was hooked. That season was so much fun to watch and I have to admit the blog was part of that. Even living where I do in an area without a professional team, I was still part of a group of fans. Even if some of those fans called Pennington 
noodle arm, I ignored it. Even if some of those fans were clamoring to start the rookie with the rocket arm. “Let’s see what we’ve got with Henne!! He can throw the ball through a wall!” I ignored that too. I won’t mention names. But you know who you are. 🙂
Another VIVID memory I have is either during the 2008 season or maybe 2009. I clicked on NFL network and they were showing an old Dolphins/Jets game and it was the start of the second half. A Monday night game. We were KILLING them. So I watched. And when it was over I wanted to know one thing: Why did no one warn me about that? Thanks, guys.
So there you have it. I envy all of you who remember winning seasons, playoffs and superbowls. Maybe next year.
Since this is running on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, I thought I’d finish with this.
Finsmob Unleashed 
Dave Hyde @davehydesports
Could Dolphins get a Hurricane reunion of G Orlando Franklin, RB Frank Gore and WR Andre Johnson? Just a thought.
Then add Perryman
Herd, did you say something? 😉
Also just for the record since Randy’s not here, playing NT in the 3/4 isn’t always the same. Different 3/4 schemes call for single gapping vs multi gaping. I don’t think that guy is wired to play true NT. That’s not a knock on him, just saying what I see. He’ll make more money as a single gap penetrator anyway (that’s a football specific statement FFR). QB pressure is well paid these days.
Jahn
You aren’t going to see run stuffing in a highlight clip
Shelton’s is pretty full of sacks too
Point me to a game or something? I can do some legwork, I just like to do my own evaluation knowing I had no preconceived ideas on this kid before tonight.
Jahn, that clip showed highlights of Brown being an impact player, not so much as a stout guy. He’s both. I think he might end up being the best DT in this class. Let’s not act like the draft order always determines that. I happen to like this kid and he’s one of my preferences at #14. I think he’s a bigger, more powerful version of Mitchell and the two of them could be a nice combination. They both play with non-stop motors and can play with power.
Fair enough. If you run across some clips showing him 2 gapping I’d love to see it. Because I personally think that’s what we need at DT, and not having that was part of the defensive meltdown last year. Just because a guy might be a great prospect doesn’t mean he’s necessarily a good fit for this team.
Oh the irony of Herd’s last post being the last post on the page. LOL!!!!!
I think what it proves Herd, is, everyone here can remember shit. Probably, age, drugs, alcohol, or just sheer stubbornness.
*…..Can’t remember shit….
Of course, the page turned. lol
LOL….I can just picture you hitting the refresh button wondering where the replies were. 🙂
Jahn, you see him moved around a lot. He’s versatile. Can penetrate, but other times you see him getting doubled teamed on the blocks.
Hope this helps.
That does help. He played 3/4 End more than NT is seemed like, but for sure I saw him occupy double teams. I still think what we’re missing is a guy who can do that 30-40 times a game rather than as spot duty. I think Soliai is what we’ve missed late in games and season as of late.
Her yo go Jahn
And you can each Jordan hicks too
Who would make a good OLB for us IMO
http://draftbreakdown.com/video/malcom-brown-vs-oklahoma-2014/
http://draftbreakdown.com/video/malcom-brown-vs-arkansas-2014/
Jahn, like I said, you can find anchors who have been in the league 3-7 years who can play the run in key situations with pure strength and girth at a decent cost. In today’s game offenses pass on any down, you want your starting DTs to be able to both stop the run and provide pressure inside on passing downs. I don’t think Shelton will do that.
I’m not looking at college stats because that’s not an accurate barometer of what they’ll be at the next level. If it was, Tim Tebow would have been the next Steve Young. LOL
Shelton is not going to be a pass rusher at the next level. Brown could be that and more.
But as we say, IMO, lol. If I’m a GM I take Brown over every other DT except Williams who has some J.J. Watt ability.
I think it’s funny how we forget why we need to draft a DT. Odrick was juts OK, and Earl Mitchell was just OK, and BOTH of them, and Randy Starks GOT RUN OVER! RUN OVER! We need a big, powerful DT that will stop that from happening.
You mentioned that Brown ran a 5.05. OK, he also only put up 26 reps, while Shelton put up 34. Shelton is also 20+ lbs heavier than Brown, so he’s harder to move. Did you guys watch the combine? Shelton has friggin’ tree trunks for legs, carries a lot of his weight lower down.
Oh, and I’d rather have a guy they compare to Vince Wilfork than Sylvester Williams. lol
Shelton is a tree and runs just as fast. LOL
I betcha he’d catch your ass and eat you for lunch with a lil BBQ sauce. lol
Mike E, if I got myself in shape for a month or so, I think I could run backwards while eating a taco faster than Shelton. He’d want that taco though, probably more than one. LOL
If we draft Shelton
I hope when he sees Tom Brady he sees this
He’s gonna eat his own leg? LOL
I guess everyone is skipping over my idea of drafting a proven NFL run stopping DT in FA who isn’t a world beater but does his job, and then add a guy like Malcom Brown who can also run like a human instead of a sea elephant rolling around on ice. LOL
Look at the size of these legs . . .
https://cbswashington.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/gettyimages_464129260.jpg?w=620&h=349&crop=1
Do you see the roots? Right there. 🙂
http://lfp-cdn.im0.co/Image/gr2EDIaaSEme5eA-wgXrrQ/0/0
The man boobs scared me.
Goodnight everyone – Long day tomorrow, gotta be as ready as possible.
Silly Tim says:
March 2, 2015 at 10:15 pm
I guess everyone is skipping over my idea of drafting a proven NFL run stopping DT in FA who isn’t a world beater but does his job, and then add a guy like Malcom Brown who can also run like a human instead of a sea elephant rolling around on ice. LOL
Reply
I guess you don’t read all my posts while looking for male ballerinas…lol
I mentioned Stephen Paea, he’s played NT, he’s 26, he’d be even less than Knighton & Dan Williams.
Okay cool, so I have one who paid attention. LOL
I still like the potential for Carl Davis the big Iowa DT. Keep his ass motivated, make him mean, and he’ll be a good player for years.
I guess everyone is skipping over my idea of drafting a proven NFL run stopping DT in FA who isn’t a world beater but does his job, and then add a guy like Malcom Brown who can also run like a human instead of a sea elephant rolling around on ice. LOL
I don’t know how you draft someone in FA, but I did get a chuckle out of the idea that you have a masterplan and we’re supposed to remember it. LOL…anyone seen my keys?
Way to surf the typo there. LOL
OD, in case you pop in before bed or before the new morning blog. This is for you. Warning, foul language in the song.
This is the infamous Dead Schembechler’s. Enjoy 🙂
That’s what college rivalries are made of right there. Sheer unabridled, unjustifiable, disdain.
LOL…I see the idea that big uglies are supposed to be speed demon adonis bodies is back again. Jenny Craig Brigade at attention!
I said Soliai moves much better than Shelton there muffin cakes. LOL
Soliai ran like a 5.0 or even better. I’m sorry, 5.0 and 5.6 is extreme. That’s really slow moving your body at an elite level. Shelton doesn’t just get to stand there and say block me, the offense can make him run all day.
We’ll see. I’d like more of an impact player. I think the run defense that went from 8th to 24th in 6 games scared everyone. It was more than just a dominant big man.
Stephen Paea in his rookie year vs. Vikings. Listen to Collingsworth talk about his strength starting at 0:55 after Paea got the safety.
He reminds me of a smaller, yet as strong & quicker Soliai.
As for Shelton vs. Brown, I’m just having some fun and I think I pissed Mike E off. LOL
They are both highly rated DT prospects for a reason. I just happen to like Brown more and I think he’s a perfect 4-3/4-down line whatever. I think Shelton is a 3-4 NT.
If we wanted a guy like Shelton why not just re-sign Soliai last year? But Hickey in his first season here as GM let him walk and signed a 6-3 300 DT Mitchell to add to Starks and Odrick etc. Mitchell played well, Starks faded late and Odrick played too many downs. I know, blame Coyle, who should he have played instead? All the depth went on IR. We played guys like Shelby and Fede at DT when we didn’t want too.
Fans asked why Jordan played DT a few times on passing downs? When guys get banged up even for a few plays, someone has to play the position. Why not see what Jordan can do? 😉
Because you’d need a time travel machine to know what we know, which is, the defense suffered without that guy in the middle.
In response to: “If we wanted a guy like Shelton why not just re-sign Soliai last year?”
I got mini-Soliai above, Paea is the best of both worlds. 😉
Don’t trust the “mini” part though. 🙂
Bc soliai was not very good
Shelton might be ngata good
You have no idea how many stupid plays on “Ndamukong” I’ve typed and erased. LOL…
First it was they are after Suh, now Williams, then probably Knighton. The big boys will get paid and eat good now.
ESPN 980 Washington reports the Redskins are interested in free agent NT Dan Williams.
Williams, the No. 26 overall pick in the 2010 draft, played close to 500 snaps for Arizona last season, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 overall 3-4 nose tackle. He finished third among nose tackles in run defense. After cutting NT Barry Cofield, the Redskins are in the market for a new space-eater up front.
Ha. Mine and ORobs finest moment.
Stephen Paea benched a combine record 49 reps in 2011, has anyone broke that since?
Jahn, in a 4-3 I’m not spending big money or draft investment in a space eater who doesn’t rush the passer.
Why not target both skills?
You got to have some versatile players or one deep ass rotation.
LDE Wake/Fede
DT Mitchell/FA/Draft-Brown/Johnson/Francis
RDE Vernon/Jordan/McCain
SOLB Misi/McCain/Tripp
MLB Misi/UFA/Draft/Jenkins/Tripp
WOLB Jenkins/UFA/Draft/Tripp
Looks solid, providing several of the 2nd & 3rd year type players can produce.
Go Coaching! 😉
GD, if previous drafts fail and we don’t land special in the draft this year, we’re likely still at .500.
We have to get better, not just hold the course.
GD, I also have Tripp at the bottom because I think he’s in the mix, but I want to see him have to earn it and jump a few guys to get it. I don’t want to settle for him because he was simply next best up without really knowing what he is.
We can add competition at LB without going bonkers spending.