RD 1, Pick #14
WR Devante Parker – Louisville 6’3” 209
With our first pick, the Dolphins added the big playmaking WR Devante Parker to an already impressive WR corps. Parker joins 3rd year pro Kenny Stills (Saints trade), 2nd year pro Jarvis Landry (2nd RD #63), veteran receiver Greg Jennings (FA), and 4th year pro Rishard Matthews, and a few WR’s fighting for roster spots such as Matt Hazel, LaRon Byrd, Michael Preston and Tyler McDonald.
Devante only played in 7 games as a Senior, after breaking his foot early in the season, but if there were any doubts about lingering problems with the foot, Parker squashed them quickly by having an outstanding 7 games! Parker brought in 43 receptions for 855 yards with an impressive 19.9 (CALL IT TWENTY!) YPC average, along with 5 TD’s.
So what can we look forward to with Devante Parker here in Miami? I doubt he “starts” right away, but I’m sure he will play in every game right from the start. I honestly expect Jennings and Stills to be the starters on the perimeter with Landry in the slot, but Parker will get plenty of opportunities. I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point, maybe halfway through if Parker is playing at a high level and has firmly grasped his responsibilities, that he will push Jennings and eventually replace him as the starter, possibly by mid season, or shortly afterward. Even if he doesn’t, as long as he contributes to the team, and can help our team, that works for me. Parker brings the size and catch radius we don’t have at WR. He should be a redzone threat every time he’s on the field, due to his size, and his ability to locate and snare passes at the highpoint.
I’m looking forward to seeing this exciting addition to our offense!
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RD 2, Pick #52
DT Jordan Phillips – Oklahoma 6’5” 329
The Dolphins traded back a few spots in RD 2 from #47 to #52 with the Eagles and selected the big DT from Oklahoma. Most consider Phillips a 1st RD talent, and like Danny Shelton, a true NT. Obviously, we play a 4-3 defense, but Phillips will be in as a run stuffing DT. Earl Mitchell will compete with Phillips, and will likely hold on to the starting job for a while, unless Phillip really surprises and shows up very quickly. In any case, Phillips is probably a 2 down DT, and even if that’s the case, think of how much more effective Earl Mitchell will be coming in fresh on passing downs.
This was an important pick. I’m sure the Dolphins were well aware of the uncertainty we have on the O-line with possibly 2 OG spots up for grabs, and Pro Bowl LT who is still recovering from a devastating knee injury and hasn’t even yet begun to run. I’m sure it came down to the fact that they simply had Phillips rated higher than any OT or OG on the board, even if I didn’t. Last I looked, I’m an Optician, not an NFL scout or HC or GM. Still, I thought the O-line was more of a priority, but you have to draft talent when it’s there, and I believe that’s exactly what we did, despite the fact that I believe OT Jake Fisher and Ali Marpet OG will be starting on their respective teams, the Bengals and Bucs.
Suh will be the one guy getting the Lions share (Did I just say that?) of snaps on the DL, and then depending on the team and situation, Mitchell, Phillips, Anthony Johnson and AJ Francis will share snaps, along with the speed package which might bring in an extra DE inside like Terrence Fede or Derrick Shelby.
So what can we look forward to with Jordan Phillips in Miami? Phillips, like Parker probably won’t start, but the D-line is kind of like one big rotation anyway, with the objective of keeping bodies fresh. War in the trenches is exhausting work, and Suhperman will certainly be the snaps leader, but he’s 28, so I don’t expect them to burn Suh out, so I’d bet he plays less snaps this season than he did last season, and hopefully, that’s because some of the other guys begin to emerge like A. Johnson and AJ Francis. The hope is that Phillips strengthens the run defense, and I’m sure that’s exactly what he will do. Hopefully, he makes the job of our LB’s a little easier by keeping them clean, so they can just tackle the ballcarrier, and not have to wrestle with a 320 LB OG or C.
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RD 4, Pick #114
OG Jamil Douglas – Arizona St. 6’4” 304
Jamil Douglas played LT his Senior year at Arizona St. switching from LG to LT. Douglas is a 4 year starter, playing his first 3 seasons at LG. Douglas is a first team All-Pac 12 player. An athletic OL, he moves fairly well, but the general consensus seems to be that he’s more of a finesse player, which largely fits the ZBS anyway.
Before the draft, he wasn’t considered a top 10 OG prospect, but every team and their scouts see things differently, and the Dolphins were obviously impressed with Douglas
So what can we look forward to with Jamil Douglas in Miami? At this time, he will compete for a starting OG spot, most likely LG with Dallas Thomas. There is also a possibility that we pick up a proven veteran G, or maybe even win the La’el Collins sweepstakes, but for now, he’s in the running for a starting job.
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RD 5, Pick #144
CB Bobby McCain – Memphis 5’9” 195
Bobby McCain was a 4 year starter at Memphis. In 4 years, McCain had 12 INT’s, with 6 his Junior year, and 5 his Senior year. In addition, McCain scored 4 TD’s on those INT’s, and added 16 passes defensed, 1 FF. McCain is around the football a lot, but his size makes him more likely to play nickel corner than out on the perimeter, but then again, there is Brent Grimes, so . . .
McCain also returned kick offs and averaged 25.3 yards per return in 3 years.
So what can we look forward to with Bobby McCain in Miami? Besides us singing “Me and Bobby McCain”, I expect him to compete for the nickel corner spot with recently acquired Brice McCain from the Steelers, and possibly to even compete for a starting job opposite Brent Grimes. If there’s one thing we’re sure about with our CB’s is how unsure we are.
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RD 5, Pick #149
RB Jay Ajayi – Boise St. 6’0” 221
Sometimes, strange things happen in the draft, and this was one of those strange things. Generally considered a 2nd RD talent, RB Jay Ajayi took quite a tumble in the 2015 NFL Draft, all the way to the 5th RD! With our 2nd pick in the RD, which shows even we were a little leery about selecting this stud RB, we finally could wait no longer, and pulled the trigger on what could easily be one of the biggest steals in the draft. Due to a medical red flag, Ajayi fell about 3 rounds due to a knee injury he suffered back in 2011. I’ve heard the “bone on bone” thing, and in general, the consensus medically is that there’s not a lot of cartilage left in his knee. OK, enough of WHY he slipped, and more of WHY he’s a 2nd RD talent
Ajayi was injured in 2011, 3 years ago. in 2012, after coming back slowly from injury, Ajayi rushed 82 times for 548 yards and 4 TD’s, and a 6.7 YPC avg.
In 2013, Ajayi all the way back now, rushed 249 times (33 more rushes than Lamar Miller last season) for 1425 yards, 18 TD’s. Last season, Ajayi’s Junior year, he rushed 347 times, (which is 52 less than the entire Miami Dolphins team last season) for 1823 yards, 28 TD’s. TWENTY EIGHT! Also, he added 50 receptions for 535 yards and 4 TD’s for a total of 2,358 yards from scrimmage, and 32 TD’s. BTW, Ajayi is the first college RB to rush for over 1800 yards and have 500 receiving yards in a season. Just amazing.
So what can we look forward to with Jay Ajayi in Miami? While Ajayi isn’t really Marshawn Lynch, he’s another quality back that can give us some pop in the run game. He’s not a beast mode back, but he’s a guy that can effectively go through traffic and runs with power. He’s also a shifty back, and can wiggle out of tackles too. Ajayi is a former soccer player and has great feet. He’s kind of like a swiss army knife at the RB position, he can run between the tackles hard, and can run well in open space and make defenders miss with good footwork and moves, and is a good receiver out of the backfield. I expect Ajayi to compete with Miller and possibly steal a fair amount of carries from Miller. If the reports are true on his knee, Ajayi’s shelf life in the NFL isn’t a long one, so I expect the Dolphins to try and get what they can now. I think he’s a good complement to Millertime, and I believe Miller will look more explosive next to Ajayi. Miller is the faster back, and hits the hole as quick anyone, and gets down the field fast. Ajayi may be the better between the tackles runner, who can create when there doesn’t seem to be any room. I really look forward to seeing Ajayi in our offense.
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RD 5, Pick #150
FS Cedric Thompson – Minnesota 6’0” 208
Thompson was a 3 year starter at Minnesota. He played mostly at S, but also played some CB. He was not invited to the NFL combine but ran well at his pro day. Thompson ran a 4.48 and 4.50, had a 40.5” vertical, 10.2” broad jump, ran the 3 cone drill in 6.96 and put up 21 reps of 225 lbs. He’s obviously a good athlete, it’s just a matter of putting that on the field in his game. As a Senior, Thompson had 2 INT’s and 2 FF’s. In 3 his year career, Thompson had 5 INT’s and 3 FF’s.
Scouting reports state that Thompson has below average instincts, but hopefully we can help him out some by teaching him how to be in the right position, and maybe he can improve.
So what can we look forward to from Cedric Thompson in Miami? Best case scenario for him is that he wins the starting FS spot opposite Reshad Jones, but realistically, he’s competing for a roster spot and depth at the S position with Walt Aikens, Jordan Kovacs and backing up Louis Delmas and Reshad Jones.
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RD 5, Pick #156
CB Tony Lippett – Michigan St. 6’2” 192
Two way player at Michigan St. , Lippett was used mostly as a WR. In 4 seasons, Lippett caught 149 passes for 2247 yards and 15 TD’s. As a DB, Lippett has 9 passes defensed, no INT’s.
The Dolphins intend to play Lippett exclusively as a CB, and at 6’2” 192, he gives the Dolphins defensive backfield some much needed size. He ran a pedestrian 4.61 at the combine, but improved slightly at his pr day with a 4.57 and 4.59. As a WR, it would seem that he’s able to catch the football, and actually, Lippett is described as a good hands catcher and one with good leaping ability to highpoint the football.
So what can we look forward to with Tony Lippett in Miami? I wouldn’t rule out another position change for the Amazing Mr. Lippett. I’m sure they’ll try to wring out as much as they can as a DB from Lippett, but if that fails, I think he may be given a shot at WR, where he did well for Michigan St. Lippett was his team MVP, so he’s a high character guy you want to stick around. I’m sure he’ll be a factor on ST’s, as will Cedric Thompson and Bobby McCain.
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UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
WR Damarr Aultman – Maine 5’11” 202
OT Mickey Baucus – Arizona 6’6” 298
P Matt Darr – Tennessee 6’1” 220
LB Mike Hull – Penn St. 6’0” 237
WR Christion Jones – Alabama 5’10” 182
OG Dionte Savage – Oklahoma 6’4” 347
LB Zach Vigil – Utah St. 6’2″ 240
UDFA’s are always long shots, but I think Mike Hull is one guy who may make the roster. Hull was a very productive player at Linebacker U, and although his measurables are on the small side (As most of the LB’s in this draft), I think he’ll make it.
Hull ran 4.68, put up 31 reps (top performer) of 225, 6.99 cone drill (top performer) and an 11.52 60 yard shuttle (top performer)
Hull had 140 tackles (75 solo) his Senior year and 10.5 TFL’s, along with 1 INT, 5 passes defensed and 1 INT, and 2 FF’s. He should be a good ST’s at the very least, and provide some depth at LB.
Zach Vigil was another very productive LB at Utah St. Vigil had 156 tackles (79 total) and 20.5 TFL, along with 9 sacks, 1 INT, 4 PD’s and 1 FF.
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UNDRAFTED AND UNSIGNED FREE AGENTS
While there are many, there is only one in particular that concerns me.
OT La’el Collins – LSU 6’4” 305
As many of you know, I wanted to draft Collins at #14, but bizarre and unresolved circumstances led him to go undrafted. A double murder, of Collins’ ex girlfriend and her unborn child. At this time, The police still don’t consider Collins a suspect, and he was questioned recently about the case. He has, however, not been cleared as of yet. If he’s guilty, then obviously I hope he’s punished to the fullest extent of the law, even death. I do hope he’s innocent, and if he is, I want him on our team.
I think this player, as much as any player we drafted this year, would be a huge part of our success in 2015 and beyond. I consider La’el Collins the missing piece to the puzzle of getting into the playoffs and maybe all the way. We solidified the defense with Suh and Phillips. We totally overhauled the WR corps adding Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings and subtracting Mike Wallace, and adding in the draft Devante Parker. I believe overall, a major improvement at WR. We added a very talented RB in Jay Ajayi. Maybe Jamil Douglas is the real deal and can win the starting LG spot. Maybe Dallas Thomas is ready to take that next step, and maybe Billy Turner is ready for prime time now. On the other hand, there is no question at all in my mind that if we somehow get La’el Collins, not only does he start, but I think he’s the difference maker on the offensive line. He can play G or T, but what wonderful insurance if Branden Albert isn’t healthy. If Albert IS healthy, all the better, and Collins is our starting LG, with Turner and Thomas to battle it out.
It’s a longshot, and when you bet a 32-1 horse, you don’t stand around the cashier with your ticket expecting to cash it in. If it does win, it pays big, and La’el Collins would pay us some big dividends, all the way to the playoffs baby!
A guy can dream, right?
Finsmob Unleashed 
So I went to my local watering hole last night for dinner and wound up staying four hours drinking afterward. Go myself pretty drunk. At one point I was eyeballing this pretty 30-something brunette and decided WTF I’m going to go talk to her.
SOOOOO, I’m chatting her up for about 15 -20 minutes and it seems to be going pretty well so I say to myself “I’m gonna ask her for her number” (Big step for me! I haven’t asked a girl for her number in 15 years!!) So I ask her for her number and she says “You know, I’m really flattered, BUT I prefer to date older, more established men” ………..
I didn’t skip a beat and said “Well now I’m flattered, how old do you think I am?” She says “I don’t know, maybe 34 or 35?” I laughed and said “Well, thank you that is the nicest brushoff I have ever gotten. I am 46 and very well established thank you very much. AND just so we are on the same page, I am not looking to be any chicken head’s sugar daddy” and walked away from her.
The two guys sitting next to us HOWLED laughing. IT WAS FUCKING AWESOME! LOL
I broke out of my reluctance to “put myself out there”, handled the “rejection” without any emotional scaring and turned it around so that she was the one being rejected all in one moment. That was a good time. LOL
Rock still has game.
Rock, that was a classic turn the tables…WTG Bro! Awesome! 🙂
Lol nice man. Nothing better than seeing a bitch get a bit of her own business back at her.
Very well done, sir. I salute you.
LOL, should have banged her first though.
Thanks guys. It felt REALLY good, even though I WAS rejected. I just can’t stop laughing about it today. I’ve told about 6 ppl at work the story already, called my brother in CO this morning to tell him and have now told you guys. LOL
She’s probably telling all her fellow ‘chicken head’ friends too….LOL
See, we didn’t need to draft any LB’s. Hickey had a plan to make Philbin happy after all. 🙂
“I like the group we brought in. They seem to be real serious guys. They were productive players in college,” Joe Philbin on undrafted LBers
They just need to identify one or two of them as “keepers” and develop them! Other teams can do it. Why can’t we?
We have & we will.
Most of us really like Hull & Vigil, Luc could be a nice 2 down thumper, I don’t see him in coverage as much.
Tripp we drafted, but hoping he makes the 2nd year jump like Jenkins did.
McCain was UDFA, he flashed some early, he too could be up for more in year 2. Maybe even Knott….gonna be a competitive camp in the LB corp.
what else is he gonna say? I hate the hacks we brought in. I wish we’d drafted a LB in the 1st 2 rounds?
Getterdone, I just worry about old saying, usually said about QB’s, “If you have TWO QB’s it means you really have none” ……apply that to LB’s……
Wha?
Who cares if you bring in 2-3 LB’s from UDFA. The cost is next to nothing but time in practice. Lets see who’s hungry & healthy!
It is not a waste of resources thing it is a “at the end of the day we don’t have any starter quality LB’s kind of thing…..LOL.
All that about the chicken head being said, she was pretty damn hot and if I run into her again I MAY allow her to change her tune. But I will be hard to get then of course. LOL
I would never be that quick. I also like to see people get their comeuppance, though I don’t know that she is a bad person- just didn’t express herself well.
Hell, who knows we may be laughing about it a few months from now right after she gets done polishing my knob….
LOL@Rock!!
Rock — great to see the swagger. Get yourself on the internet my friend. Don’t have to marry them.
PBF why always so negative?
***BPF not PBF
Boulder prefers the power of negative thinking: That an optimist can never be pleasantly surprised.
Ken,
Belicheat reminds me of Nixon. He has to know, he has to have the smallest of edges, he has to find a way to win no matter what. The Pats stole defensive signals around the time they won their first 3. isn’t it weird that a 6th round fresh faced QB is barely winning these games? That he somehow finds a way to win 3 SBs in 4 years?
They always are looking for the exact same edges everyone else is. They also look for any illegal edge as well. When you have a history of cheating, winning a few games after you are caught doesn’t mean it’s ok. It just means you are a very, very good team but you can’t live with that. You must eliminate chance as much as possible even if you have to cheat to do it. Cheating ruins competitive games.
Pretty good comparison between Bellicheck and Nixon. I can see that. Yes I do think cheating is wrong but no I don’t think it means the Pats would not have won the SB last year. The rule was changed in 2007, the Pats lost 2 SBs since then but finally won again last year. The previous 3 SB wins were before the rule change. The Pats were a winning team before the rule change and they were a winning team after it. So I don’t think it ultimately changed anything but like I said before on principal because they were trying to gain an unauthorized competitive advantage they should still be punished.
Boulder & Rock,
If our LB corp was that bad or desperate, then I’d think the vet FA & draft would have went different.
Remember how the WR corp got decimated? Well, look at how quickly & efficiently our FO went to town overhauling it.
Don’t you think they would have approached the offseason differently if they didn’t already have some confidence or idea of who’s already here?
After year 1, I’m willing to give Hickey & staff the benefit of doubt. They seem to really have a nice handle on things finally. Look at the secondary too, nice retooling there too.
I’m tired of crowning this team superbowl champs in may. I’m sure hickey is great but what did his greatness do for us last year? the same 8-8 as with Ireland did the year before. Actually the year before we were still in it game 16. Win and we were in. Last year we were done by week 14.
“Generally aware? More probable than not? After the story broke, Brady was texting the ball guy like he was a late-night booty call,”
— Jon Stewart
LOL
Try:
I was listening to NFL Radio on Sirius XM satellite. So not sure where you were going with a northeast bias as that was a national broadcast I was listening to.
Silliness. Like always.
I am still confused.
I think our draft and FA moves indicate our coaching staff has a pretty high opinion of the young LBs on our roster. I am little nervous in that they are untested but we completely bypassed LB in the draft and FA so we must be pretty comfortable with what we have. It seems to me that the coaching staff thinks our problems with the LBs were more to do with the DTs based on our off season so far.
Thanks Ken.
Well, we did resign Sheppard, and signed vet Paysinger, but neither were high end FA’s.
But yes, I think they like Tripp & McCain as well. Plus we may now be seeing a lot more 5-2.
Damn it, I’m addressing the LB corp and all you guys can keep talking about if friggin Brady’s balls…smh 🙄
rock,
As ken said, I’ve learned my lesson of being an optimist in may with the phins. I’d rather be a pessimist and be pleasantly surprised if we do well than be and optimist and have all of that come crash and burn once the season starts. It hurts a lot less this way. At least for me.
Hence living under a boulder? 😉
LOL yup.
Oh nooo, he took DT3’s old number. Hope Ajayi rocks the #33 now!
That # and # 19 should be banned from having any of our players wearing that.
D, also a lot of bullygate was done away from the facility when the OL group were out and about so Philbin wouldn’t know everything that went on. The deflated balls is a game thing and there is no way ball boys would do this on their own and Belichick would be oblivious.
The ne bias would have been because it’s about a team in the ne add if it’s the center of the world- not surprising ne-er’s would be the last to see it- lol 🙂
Well our 3 divisional rival are all teams in the NE so yes we tend to focus on them more and 1 team in particular has dominated not only our division but the entire NFL since the turn of the century so I don’t think it’s geographical bias but a bias based on our rivals.
Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly
Jordan Phillips openly admits that if teams didn’t have concerns about his motor & work ethic he’d have been a 1st rd pick. I agree.
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Awesome, that’s the first step to change…acknowledging your shortcomings!
We may have a steal in the draft! Suh & Phillips = OH SHIT for OL’s! 🙂
So basically he is saying “Yes I am a lazy fuck”
have you guys seen this? Pretty dumb if you ask me.
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2015/05/08/Spearfishing-Florida-man-records-great-white-shark-encounter/7911431089497/
Boulder, I hear ya and know how you feel.
But Hickey doesn’t seem to be the issue why we’re 8-8.
It’s all on Philbin & his coaching staff now. Hickey & Mr. T have bought good groceries & the kind of ingredients that Bazooka Joe truly desires.
It’s on you now JOE!
#NO MO Excues! (instead of ghey #Stronger together)
Ken, noooo. Phillips is basically saying, ‘I’m a big boy, so I can see where you scouts may have gotten the wrong impression, so I’m gonna prove you WRONG!’ 🙂
That’s one way to spin it. The other way is what I posted above.
I saw that and I object.
BoulderPhinfan says:
May 8, 2015 at 4:18 pm
rock,
As ken said, I’ve learned my lesson of being an optimist in may with the phins. I’d rather be a pessimist and be pleasantly surprised if we do well than be and optimist and have all of that come crash and burn once the season starts. It hurts a lot less this way. At least for me.
Reply
I axed for shellfish reasons…..It makes you a bummer to be around. LOL
I’ll try and keep my negativity in check. More sunshine and lollipops. 🙂
Just be yourself. I don’t want you to strain anything. LOL!
Ken STAND THE FUCK UP! (and walk back over to the light side)
LOL
Screw the NE & West! 😉
Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly
A total of 39 players from the state of Florida were taken in the 2015 NFL draft. That’s the highest. Georgia was second with 30.
Who was it that sat behind me at the last fest again? Was it Ken & Bryan?
Why were they tickling your bum? LOL
No……I don’t remember knocking anyone out that day..
I MAY HAVE been a little drunk….I had to drink all that Homeraide by myself because Piggy was too hung over and everyone else was ascairt.
Screw Collins & the Cowpokes!
La’el Collins: Cowboys will have ‘best offensive line in NFL history’
WIth Collins Sitting the bench!
my fried brain can’t remember who’s faces I was screaming “STAND THE FUCK UP” into…..
LOL. You were on fire that day.
It sounds to me like Phillips is just stating why he fell to the 2nd round. Let the guy prove himself.
Yup, time to grow up young big man!
Dave George ✔ @Dave_GeorgePBP
Jordan Phillips on what needs to improve: ‘My work ethic. Just learn how to work, have a motor like Wake, like Suh. Try to take after them.’
FUCK YEAH!! I would LOVE for him to have a motor like Wake, like Suh.
A lot of young people in college do not have great work ethics. Mike E just called his son a lazy fuck earlier today. LOL
New blog up
James Walker ✔ @JamesWalkerNFL
BTW, I forgot to tweet this earlier: Second-year WR Matt Hazel is out here getting extra work at rookie camp.
At least most of the time it was Brian, Ken and me. In case you don’t remember what we look like here is a pic from the NE Fest two years ago.