If you look at our defense from 2015, one thing is very clear, our LB’s were sub par, and that’s a pretty across the board statement. I think Jenkins is still young and worth developing, but a high ankle sprain hampered him all season, until either he, or the coaches decided to rest him for the last 3 games. Jelani Jenkins appeared and started in 13 games last season, and finished with 71 total tackles (50 solo), which is down big time from last season (120 total/83 solo). Last season, Jenkins had 1 FF, and 1 FR, while 2 seasons ago, Jenkins forced 2 fumbles, had 1 fumble recovery, but also had 3.5 sacks. Definitely a step backwards for our young LB.
As far as the other 2 LB spots, who were previously filled by Koa Misi (MLB, SLB), Kelvin Sheppard (MLB), and then at the end of the season when almost the entire roster was on IR, Zach Vigil (MLB) and Neville Hewitt (SLB). It was hard to really evaluate either Hewit or Vigil with the limited amount of playing time they received, but both showed they have some promise, but weren’t necessarily ready for prime time. In case you’ve been kidnapped, in a deep freeze, or just saving yourself from frustration, and haven’t been following the Dolphins the last couple of months, we traded with the Philadelphia Eagles, acquiring ILB Kiko Alonso and CB Byron Maxwell and the #13 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, in exchange for our #8 pick in this year’s draft.
So where does that leave us? It appears as if Kiko Alonso in line to be our starting MLB, and Koa Misi is set to start at SOLB, leaving the WOLB to Jelani Jenkins. If y’all remember last season, and you’re a cynical SOB like me, yeah, that just doesn’t cut it for me. Too much of the same MO of relying on oft injured players (Alonso, Misi) and also expecting the same guys to do better. How often does that actually happen? Is it possible Alonso reverts back to the player he was in his rookie season in BUF., in 2013, Alonso was a beast, totaling 154 tackles (87 solo), 2 sacks, 5 passes defensed, 4 INT’s, and 2 FR’s. In 2014, Alonso tore his ACL and missed the entire ’14 season. He was then traded before the ’15 season to the Eagles, mostly because he was too small to play in Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense, and fit much better in PHI.
I know everyone wants to draft a CB, DE, OLB or even a RB at #13, but I want to go in a different direction. When we were picking at #8, I resigned myself to the fact that it was an unrealistic pick for that spot, but now that we’re selecting 5 spots later, i feel this pick is right in line, and although most mocks don’t have this player quite this early, NFL.com does have him rated as the 11th best player in the draft, so again, not unrealistic. Who is it?
Alabama MLB Reggie Ragland 6’1″ 247
Yes, Reggie Ragland. All the guy does is tackle, and not 5 yards downfield, and not on the second try, he hits the right gap and BOOM – Down goes the ball carrier! I know a lot of people fear that Ragland is a 2-down MLB, and will have to be subbed for in nickel and dime packages, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. UNless you’re 100% convinced that Kiko Alonso still the same guy he was before the 2 knee injuries (1 major, 1 minor), although the 2nd injury wasa non-contact injury, and that scares me. In game 2 of the ’15 season, Alonso was running to make a play, and felt his knee give out. He played in a reserve role much of the ’15 season.
OK, back to Reggie! Of course, college stats aren’t pro stats, that much is a given, but I think Reggie Ragland is as pro-ready an NFL prospect can be. He has the size, the instincts, the physicality to play MLB in the NFL, and play it well. He’s a day 1 starter for sure, and I believe he will be a 3 down LB that can and will drop into coverage in the NFL and do it well. I know our secondary was likely our biggest weakness last year, we were torched through the air, but I believe that Reggie Ragland makes more of an impact this year and probably next season too than say Vernon Hargreaves, Mackensie Alexander, Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd. Oddly enough, I think the one player that could make as much as of an impact the next 2 years is not on the defensive side, but it’s Ohio St. RB Ezekiel Elliott. It’s obvious we wanted a RB, and we missed out on CJ Anderson when super genius Wile. Coyote, er John Elway matched our offer. I think “Zeke” would likely share carries with incumbent RB Jay Ajayi, but would really solidify the position, which is now real thin with the heavily used and potentially “bone on bone” knee of Ajay, and then Damien Williams as depth. It’s definitely a position of need, and one where a top RB like Zeke would make a huge impact immediately.
SO , if we do draft Regggie Ragland, what do we do with newly acquired Kiko Alonso? I say give him a shot at WOLB, where Jelani Jenkins resides, and we can actually have some competition at LB, with some quality players for a change. At SOLB, let Koa Misi and 2nd year LB Neville Hewitt fight it out, or as I suggested on the blog often, throw Jenkins in the mix at SLB too if Alonso wins that battle. I don’t want to hear that we’d have too many LB’s, that’s silly talk. We’d have some depth for a change, and make that quality depth. If Vigil, Hewitt and Alonso and/or Jenkins are the backups, doesn’t that mean we have some real good players ahead of them? That’s how i feel, and as many have mentioned on our blog, we’re kind of in a 1-2 year window with Suh and Tannehill, and that means a win now mentality. If our LB’s aren’t tackling, we aren’t winning. Much like if our O-line is protecting Tannehill, we aren’t winning, but I’ll save that for another day and another article.
C’mon, think of the upside of drafting Ragland . . . We can have an aqua and orange Reggie bar! The stands can chant “Reggie!, Reggie!, Reggie!” every time he stops a 3rd and short conversion attempt, or blows up a TE over the middle trying to convert a 3rd and 7.
DRAFT REGGIE! Just do it!
Finsmob Unleashed 
The Human Herpe on the left side of that picture is Fidel Castro (I’m told)
I don’t know why he is dressed like a Keebler Elf
Rob…Does the land you sold Tim have a sofa with NLCs on it as well?
https://twitter.com/MDCheer/status/712079175058857984
Here is a trip to insanity in the deflategate appeal story
Becker is a professor at NY law School
He has nothing to do with the appeal (a 3rd party)
Paul Clement is the NFLs attorney
Clement is somewhat of a powerhouse attorney
He’s a conservative
If McCain or Romney would have won either of the last 3 elections it is suggested that Clement would have been on the US Sup court by now
Which is no small feat
So alleging an ethical violation is a little bit
Well ….its not very nice
Especially coming from a 3rd party who has nothing to do with the case
‘its one thing to re-evaluate policy
its another to prop some of the people up’
piggy, i just thought that was worth repeating. you nailed that one
that’s good
its usually the other way around
uwant
dont you know tim is a eunuch. he isnt interested in NLC’s
I guess I’ll quit posting the clothed ones then Rob?
Piggy’s getting violent! LOL
That was a Zoolander reference btw the way
Thanks for voting in Round 2 of the Aqua and White brackets in the Cheerleader Showdown.
Your welcome ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob….the things one learns on here. I thought he was gay with all his male dancing clips or is he the dark one in them?
Watching Hargreaves game tape against Kentucky, he makes some plays, gives up some catches, but tackles like Dion Sandcastle.
CB’s are involved in about 7-10 plays a game while LB may be involved in 25-35 plays a game where they can make more of a impact.
Piggy, WOW, kudos on a great reply post. I was hoping I’d come back and later find you had chimed in with your own personal story / family history of that Che’ BS that so many are fooled by.
Another friend of Obama’s is Bill Ayers, another wanna be revolutionary that was part of bombing that killed innocent law enforcement people. He’s rich, and got away with it.
So much about this world is so far gone upside down, that well meaning people get confused and think right is wrong & wrong is right. It’s the narrative of evil. I refuse to follow it! Is why I’ve become a follower of a different truth, and man it’s turning into a great journey of discovery, it really is.
Keep seeking, and ye shall find the truth!
Good stuff brother & keep your head up.
here’s a good article concerning S.Arabia’s world power diminishing in the world due to our oil production exporting capabilities and our consumption down to less than 24 percent and will go below 14% when oil companies get geared up 6-8 months.OPEC isn’t going to survive.
http://www.worldsrichestcountries.com/top_us_imports.html
8.4 % of our imports are oil. Obama wants 10 dollar barrel tax of oil imports in addition he lifted the export ban so our oil companies in US can export oil now to the world market. The trade deficit will go down with each barrel we export and the 10 dollar tax on imported oil will keep our oil exports competitive with OPEC for our US oil workers. The additional 10 dollars per barrel can used for deficit reduction, new efficient roads, renewable energy projects, free trade or tax zones for depressed ghetto’s, and more.
Oh I forgot 8.4 percent of our imports are oil. If we reduce oil imports by 1/2 to 4 percent then we will reduce imports to reduce our trade deficit which will _______
Bad shit going on in Brussels. My heart goes out to the Belgian people. SMH
There’s so much confidence in Miami, Tannehill is confident knowing that Gase has his back, Tannehill and Pouncey are both confident in Ajayi that he can do the job. I’m pretty sure it will be a tandem set up at RB anyway, no way we have Ajayi as our feature back, although he may be able to handle it.
He may be the feature back but that doesn’t mean he’ll get 20+ touches.
I think Ajayi can be the feature back, but as Gase said he wants a stable of backs….sounds like they plan on hitting teams with waves of RBs on O and pass rushers on D.
Why no way Ajayi is the feature back? I think he has the ability to be that. He is actually one of the aspects of the team I am most comfortable with. Now our OL, LBs and DBs are another story.
I agree with both of you.
Ajayi has plenty of talent. The only real concern with him is his longevity with his knee issue. We got him in the 5th rd but he’s more like a 2nd rd talent.
That’s how I felt all along.
Ken
I thought I made it clear that he wants a tandem attack, so that would mean there is no feature back.
Your statement was easy to misconstrue, but the clarification makes it easy to see we’re all on the same page
I think every HC and OC wants a tandem so as to avoid over taxing the feature back but with every tandem usually somebody is the feature and the 2nd guy is just that the no. 2 back. I think Ajayi moves into the no. 1 role and gets the bulk of the carries. Probably 15 a game while no. 2 gets around 7 per game. Also Ajayi will get his share of receptions.
I posted a blurb yesterday what Tannehill said he’s learned about Gase’s offense.
““You look at the subbing patterns from the last few years in Gase’s offense — he doesn’t run guys in and out through a series. A guy goes in and he plays a series. I think that’s going to be huge for guys like Jay who needs to get in to a rhythm and develop other parts of his game. You really saw him come on strong at the end of last year, the second half of last year. I think he’s going to come back and be even better this year.”
Also looking at Gase’s offense last year he rode Forte hard. So he is not opposed to featuring 1 back.
Really sounds wrong in so many “Brokeback Mountain” ways.
He did get Langford involved quite a bit as well.
Forte 262 touches
Langford 170 touches
There’s your two back system.
Brokeback Running Back
Ken
The fact that we tried hard to get CJ Anderson makes me feel like he wants someone at least as good as Ajayi to be the 2nd back.
He probably wants two backs that can do the same things so the offense doesn’t have to change because of a different skill set.
Possibly, Langford and Forte were pretty similar, both very good receivers out of the backfield, although Forte really does everything well, run, catch and block
The Cowboys signed Alfred Morris. Good signing for them.
That might enable Zeke to make it to 13, and I do think there’s a shot we take him.
Mike:
I am sure Gase wants another back to lighten the load but I think Ajayi is the feature guy and I am glad we didn’t waste money on C.J. Anderson. That would have been a wasteful signing imo.
Mike, Forte is one of the elite backs in the league though he’s getting up there at 30. Not that it’s just him being 30, but he’s been a workhorse for 8 seasons – 2,522 touches averaging 315 per season.
Hopefully Chicago wore him down to the point of decline.
🙂
There is number of touches that has been looked at by people in the league that when a back hits it decline is 90%.
IMO we draft that 2nd back.Plenty to choose from.
Agreed. Who is the most experienced prospect with a versatile skill set that’s say a 3rd or 4th rd guy?
Kenneth Dixon between rounds 2-3 is a guy that really fits what you’re saying.
Piggy, there are 2 government buildings in the back of that square, they both have giant Che murals on them fwiw. The opposite side has nothing that any photographer would consider interesting. It was pre-meditated, yes. By the Cuban government. The same way we have pictures of Putin and Obama in front of the White house.
I see you said there’s a statue of Fidel on the other side. As you noted, that wouldn’t have gone over too well either. As another DC analogy I don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of our President with another foreign dignitary in front of the Lincoln memorial.
I can understand how some are offended. And when it comes to the conspiracy theorists a backlash was inevitable, but I’m sorry, I’m not offended by Che any more than I’m offended by Reagan for the Iran/Contra affair. Or maybe I should say: I’m equally offended.
I tend to agree there was nothing intentional about the photo. I doubt it was any political message. The political message was going to Cuba which was probably long since time to try open relations. Fidel has one foot in the grave and Raul won’t be there forever so why not make overtures to the government now so as to establish more open relationship with the next generation of possible leaders and all while open trade to the mutual benefit of both countries.
Dbolt, yeah I’ve looked into Dixon and I like him because he’s a compact back which I prefer. But do you think we go RB in the 2nd rd?
BTW – I don’t want to take Zeke in the 1st RD, but I could see it happening. I want REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE!
Not a fan of drafting Zeke in round 1. He is a talent but he is not Gurley or AP for that matter imo. Plenty of good talent to be had on day 2 if we want a RB.
Hey Jahn – What’s good man? How’s life?
He’s a pinko! LOL
So you think the M in MSpecial Beer stands for Marx? lol
Well Marx was German after all so he probably loved beer.
Ken
Not that NFL.com is the end all, but they have Zeke rated higher than Gurley was rated. That could definitely be because of Gurley’s injury, but even so, Elliott is rated very high by them.
Probably because of the injury history but having watched both of them to me Gurley is significantly more talented. Gurley is the best back I have seen coming out since AP. Zeke is real good but not as good as Gurley imo. He is probably healthier but I also hear he is something of a head case.
He’ll likely still go top 10.
From Adam Gase at the NFL Owner’s Meetings.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2016/03/adam-gase-goes-in-depth-on-his-rbs-wrs-tes-and-tannehill-from-owners-meetings-.html
he seems overwhelmed a bit but can talk the talk just like philbin, sparano, cameron etc…
I’ll wait till jan 2017 to decide if he can walk the walk
It’s just some info. not a declaration of how we’ll do this year.
Mike, yes the M is for Marx and the e is for Engels. LOL
Tim,
I really have no clue what direction they will go in regards to RB in the draft.
Honestly……I’ve got no clue how this draft will play out. You know will probably go corner & DE within the 1st three rounds, but not sure on the priority. First time in a while that I haven’t had a decent feel of how’d they attack the draft.
don’t forget the oline.
tim,
I’m a bit surprised he hasn’t had a chance to look at more film of tanny. Only against AFC east teams?
I think he meant to study Tannehill specifically. He had to put a staff together, watch film of the entire team getting ready for the combine, FA and soon the draft. He knows RT is the QB. He has a lot of time after the draft to go back to watching him closely before minicamps. Christensen probably has already being that his focus is just offense.
Between Gurley and Elliot
I like Gurley more
Elliot looks very good though
I think he will be a weapon for some one
I’m not opposed to taking a RB in the 1st
But I think maybe going OL in the 1st and RB in the 2nd round works better
There will probably be only 1 RB to go in the 1st round
Teams find very good RBs in the 2nd round
Hurley is a guy you saw who was a monster running from under center with no gimmicks, i.e. Read option. Elliot did his work based out of shotgun w/ a huge amount of read option playing a key role to his success. Zeke is very talented in his own right, but think it’s crazy to compare to a healthy Gurley.
@JesseReSimonton: #Gators Vernon Hargreaves III says he’s the best CB in the draft and Fins have shown heavy interest. He has a meeting w/ Miami later today.
The guys is a good football player. He may not become elite but he’s going to be a very competitive kid every week.
I think RB by tandem is the way to go in the NFL
That position is just so physical
I would like to see Ajayi paired with another talented back essentially splitting carries
Same here now that Miller left. You can do that with a rookie.
Traditionally rookie RBs contribute right away
I think that hole is somewhat easy to fill and easy to hit on in the draft
But it will probably take an earlier pick that we would have liked to have spent somewhere else
But I think maybe going OL in the 1st and RB in the 2nd round works better
________________________________
That’s a bingo or a LB in the 1st
If they went OL, then I hope it’s Conklin.
LB or CB
I don’t think we set up the draft so well for us this offseason
I don’t really see the big picture
In the FOs defense it looks like the decisions were all made unintentionally
The bottom line is I see 4 positions we need to upgrade
OL, RB, LB and CB
Intentionally I mean…lol
There’s a plan in place
I just don’t get it
@RapSheet: These proposals have been adopted just now by the clubs — chips blocks are illegal, PATs permanently all at the 15 https://t.co/rkMRrZ0nlM
Oline issues still continue to be overblown. I wouldn’t feel comfortable going oline in the first. There should be some solid defensive talent there at 13. Weak olines are a league wide problem and we multiplied ours with terrible playcalling. Get some common sense in there and most of the problems go away. Gase seems to have that, hopefully it translates on the field.
We also magnified our OL issues by regularly abandoning the running game
And doing so much from the shotgun sets
I think it’s a little overblown too
But I think adding a top notch interior OL and adding a RB to pair with Ajayi then having a really strong running game might be a good way to get better fast
The bottom line is I see 4 positions we need to upgrade
OL, RB, LB and CB
___________________
Sadly that’s a bingo. You can probably add DE to that list as well.
I don’t see DE like that
But I can see adding a DE high
To me that is more of a luxury
We have question marks at DE. Wake is a question in his comeback, Williams is coming off an off season and we lost Vernon. So I see DE as an area of need but I could also see us being alright especially if Williams rebounds.
Piggy, I think the plan is pretty simple. Fill some holes so you don’t have glaring needs and have to reach. I see that. Having some needs and wanting some upgrades does not equate to holes. A hole is you have nobody to play at a position, a void.
so far I still see holes
Everyone see it different.
Ken
Questions marks don’t equal need to me
I don’t really see Mario Williams as a question mark
I’ve heard that Wake will be used in a reduced role
But I’m not sure what to think of that
You can add a DE early in the draft and he might start opposite Willims
But I don’t really see that as a make or break decision
We can be average and possibly very good with the DL personel we have
Picking DE early is kind of a luxury pick
I was a lot more eager to add a DE before free agency
But after we didn’t really add too much OL and we lost Miller – i think it’s a little less of a priority to focus on
And I also think it’s notable that Wake was NOT cut even though he is a big $
Don’t forget we also lost Shelby who was a regular rotational player so I do think we have a need at DE. In terms of priority of needs I do think it is probably behind LB, CB and tied with OL. I think the plan now is with a number of needs that we will see how the draft breaks and take the best player available between LB, CB, DE,OL and RB. We can go several different directions. I just think we are going to see how the draft breaks. If a Shaq Lawson is still on the board at 13 I would not be shocked if we went DE.
@AbramsonPBP: Stephen Ross: Everyone knows what Miko represented and I think it was best the Dolphins moved on from Brent and Miko
Wow
That is a lot bolder than usual from Ross
I’m sure he was disgusted by some of the stuff she said and he still said his peace respectfully.
Spoken like a team about to draft Scooby Wright😜🐷
Or draft 2 press CB’s
LOL, sounds like press corners.
@ArmandoSalguero: Ross says he won’t get “down to the level” of Miko. “Everyone knew what she represented and that’s why I thought it was best to move on..”
So I guess her antics was a factor in Brent’s departure.
Don’t forget she went out of her way to blame Ross also for Brent’s failures in London.
WY
In scoobys case since he won’t be a 1st round pick
You aren’t choosing between Scooby and a top notch press corner
You can still draft a Hargreaves, Alexander or Jackson and draft a LB like Jones or Wroght a little later
I don’t th k we need 2 Press CBs though
What did Scooby have to do with what Gase said about the 4-3 attack style and press on the outside?
nothing
I just thought I would mention it
LOL
Keep in mind we signed Super Mario, and Andre Branch, and Chris McCain is moving back to DE, and we have Wake, Fede and Dion FF too. DE is not a huge need for this season.
Keep in mind also that Branch was really good rushing the passer from a wide formation in college opposed to condensed areas….good chance of him thriving in this system.
Hey! I said keep in mind first! Copycat!
We have 4 other DEs on the roster as well. It’s starting to look like CB at #13.
REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE!
LOL @ Mike
We have more LBs than CBs.
Ken, Branch was signed to basically replace Shelby.
Ken says:
March 22, 2016 at 1:17 pm
So I guess her antics was a factor in Brent’s departure.
wow, who ever would have thought it came into the decision process
I still think DE is a position you always consider taking him in the draft. It’s a premium position in the NFL and only getting more so with more passing. We have a lot of bodies, but we don’t have much high end quality in terms of young guys.
s a premium position, no doubt
not everyone agrees – but I think CB is a premium position too
and given our needs, the talent expected to be on the board for us
it would seem that CB would cancel DE if push came to shove and we were choosing between the 2
and I think after you get out of the 1st round, unless one of the prospects you really like drops to you in the 2nd round, it seems less and less likely we select a DE
We have a collection of questions marks at DE
I think we have 2 elite players in Williams and Wake
but given there current situations – it hard to say we have 2 high quality DEs
but it wouldn’t surprise if we look back at 2016 and describe Willaims and Wake as dominant bookend DEs.
I think its a little more that a “lot of bodies”
but just as we can look back at 2016 favorably in 2016
I think the risk of there that we look back at 2016 as a lot of bodies at DE
I agree Mike
and add Demontre Moore to that group
I really liked Moore coming out of TAMU
he had some issues with the Giants in terms of personal problems
but Moore was a big part of their rotation before thet cut ties with him
He had 5.5 sacks co ing off the bench for them in 2014
Oops…consider taking “high in the draft” not him
I kind of think its between
Ragland
Lee
Heargraves
Alexander
Jackson
Elliot
and Conklin
if we stay at 13
unless some one drops
speaking of shitface grimes. one of the local radio talk shows i listen too was yacking yesterday how great she is for speaking her mind. and they contacted her to get her on their show. they were just loving on her and couldnt wait to get her on. shows how ignorant some people are and i bet the bucs are just going to love hearing her all over the radio once the shit hits the fan and we all know it is going too
LOL…when the Bucs have problems they’ll ask her opinion on the Dolphins instead😂
The Flying Pig says:
March 22, 2016 at 12:57 pm
so far I still see holes
yeah, but sometimes that can be a really good thing
Ken says:
March 22, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Don’t forget we also lost Shelby who was a regular rotational player so I do think we have a need at DE.
—–
Alan Branch is basically the same type of player IMO so the Shelby loss has been covered for at the moment. Longer term, a drafted DE (either side) is needed.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team take Leonard Floyd in RD 1 then CB in RD 2.
I don’t think William Jackson III will make it to where Miami drafts in RD 2 at the moment but I believe perhaps Artie Burns has a better chance to be there. I’m more comfortable with RD 2 CB options than I am of RD 2 DE options. I don’t think Ogbah lasts until RD 2 where Miami picks but if the internal discussions in Miami FO is that he may then go CB in RD 1 and DE in RD 2 (or another DL option like Dodd if he lasts).
We can go a lot of ways in the draft but we could get a solid DE prospect in the 2nd or even 3rd rd to develop because he won’t have to be the guy this year.
Moore is also the same kind of player as Shelby
We really have Branch/Moore in place of Shelby
We have a lot of good rotational type players when you figure in those 2 players, Dion FF, Fede, McCain and Wake
Some one has to start opposite Williams
but looking at our current roster – I expect heavy rotation of DE
Shelby carried about 30 more lbs. at 3 inches shorter. Moore is built more like McCain.
I have posted this before in the past but here is Bill Walsh’s idea of what the premium positions are based on how he would build a team from scratch. Times have changed since he was around but for the most part I still think they hold true especially S position which seems to be undervalued often. People like Ed Reed & Troy Polamalu put fear into QB (they are usually the first guys the QB look at in their reads).
http://www.sportsxchange.com/DS97/WALSH/walsh5.htm
Piggy,
I think there may be really good value at CB at #13, so I can see them going that way too. I think this draft is wide open for this team.
***
Wake and Williams may be really good this year…but what about 2 years from now? I don’t think any of the other guys on the roster are 12-15 sack guys…and they’re all somewhat unproven or question marks, so I think you always keep an eye out for top-end edge rushers.
We can go a lot of ways in the draft but we could get a solid DE prospect in the 2nd or even 3rd rd to develop because he won’t have to be the guy this year.
I find it hard to believe Mikey T was able to keep a straight face when he was talking about how athletic the team’s lb’s are. The lb’s on this team, as a group, has more question marks then even the db’s have. You’ve got Misi, who is my whipping boy and has been for years, and Alonso, whom you hope returns to ’13 form. Other than that it’s a pretty thin group.
Jenkins is okay at WLB but he’s nothing great. Then you’ve go a huge group of backups with Vigil, Hewitt and some others but you wouldn’t want to put this group to the test as starters. Face it. As a group, the lb’s on this team are probably as troublesome as the o-line.
If T’baum is serious about the lb’s we’re in big trouble but I don’t think he is. IMO, the team is looking to get smaller, faster and better at tackling at the position and will revamp this group with guys who can stay on the field no matter what the package is. THAT puts Ragand out of the mix. It’s JMO but I think guys like Lee, Deion Jones and Jatavis Brown are the type of lb’s this team will focus on in the upcoming draft. Guys who can play all three downs, have the speed, ability to cover and can tackle “like the dickens”.
Piggy,
I don’t think CB is a premium position and I’ll tell you why. Any team can keep a #1 busy by running the receiver he’s lined up with downfield deep keeping him away (much in the way in the NBA people move an offensive center out above the FT line to clear up space if there’s a strong C defender around). A defense can counter by playing zone schemes of course and that takes away that but that means the individual matchup is taken away and other options exist. You have to play the % when you are up against elite players and stay away from them in the aerial game IMO. Test them deep every once and a while because an INT deep is not the same as a short range INT in the grand scheme of field position battles.
I’m not a believer in a #1 CB, I prefer having two quality corners who play on a side or can move around as you see fit for matchups. That eliminates what you’re talking about.
Branch from what I understand has been a disappointment as was Moore. Not sure how much to make of those signings.
Branch hasn’t been the pass rusher he was expected to be as a 2nd rd pick but he plays the run well and 14 sacks, 5 FF and 3 FR as mainly a backup is pretty good. We told him he’s part of our rotation as of now. Moore has even more to prove to even make the team.
ProfessorLou @UolRosseforp · now
Don’t forget. Beginning in ’17 NFL teams will be able to trade compensatory picks.
Reply
Welcome back Lou
Tim
We have LB’s, but our LB corps was underwhelming, and it’s still all the same characters, except for Alonso. I’d like to add another guy significant enough to compete for one of those jobs.
It’s why I think they’ll target one of the UGA boys as SOLB.
Agreed, just saying corner may be more of a priority 1st rd
The team took a few UDFA while keeping the status quo last year and it’s expected, universally, that the development of UDFA players take longer than guys taken in RD 1-3 or even 4-5. I thought Hewitt looked good in spots and definitely was showing ‘game’ in every subsequent game he played. Vigil had his moments as well (on the outside IMO in place of the injured Jenkins). I saw him get fooled bad on the outside one play vs the Cowboys that got the RB some big yards but then later in the game on another sweep he didn’t do the same mistake and he made the tackle for a minimal game (those are the things I like to see and give me hope going forward in development; not fucking up twice in a row when you see the same type of play coming again). Those two guys will probably keep developing and one may as a starter (Hewitt looks to be on track faster than Vigil who might need to gain more weight). More guys are needed (2 more at the moment) to create more realistic competition at all 3 LB positions so the draft strategy should be to address one of the positions earlier than later and then take another guy later and throw in some for camp via the UDFA pool again.
The draft will get other vets cut as well post June 1 so the team could be on the wait and see approach to get another vet at the positions.
Lou
You could very well be right. I hope not, but I could see them going for Lee, Jones or Brown. Definitely.
with it being a passing league it’s necessary to have lb’s who can stay on the field without having to sub in and out for different packages and, although we have a new staff, it WAS something that was discussed last yr and I don’t think that mentality has changed. It’s something we really need to adapt to. When you look at other teams that have had success with it there’s no reason not to make that change.
I’d love to see Lawson in the first rd but I still think, if he’s there, Lee is the guy they go with.
Ken says:
March 22, 2016 at 1:17 pm
So I guess her antics was a factor in Brent’s departure.
Reply
I hate to be that guy that says I told you so. but, I told you so! 😆
Professor Lou:
Welcome back and please set everyone straight here on Misi
Oh please don’t. He’s been there done that. It also doesn’t matter what we think now does it? LOL
I always think what I think matters. Now think about that. LOL.
Tim thinks Misi is “solid” while I think he’s soft and chewy in the middle. lol
LOL
Great so see Gase has a vision & is speaking confidently as is Tanny.
Hope it’s realized on Sunday’s starting this season. Miami Dolphins are due a good run for awhile. I want back at the top of the division SOON!
Misis gets a lot of flack here, and rightly so, even from me some on his frequent injuries. But Matt Burke is a coach that is said to be great at getting his LB corp to stop the run. So Misi should fit right in his wheelhouse for now until we see who we draft & how the 2rd & 3rd year talent develops in camp this year.
Burke was hired for that expertise. Remember when the Phins were 30th is stopping the run last year, and well into the season was giving up an avg of 135 yds per game??? That bleeding is a must STOP! Misi can help there. it’s his best attribute as a LB.
yep, he’s very good at limiting opposing backs to just 5 yds a carry.
LOL, yep under the old flawed Coyle system.
Misi always seems to in perfect position after the back has run past him
Misi had 8 TFL last season. Not too bad.
It’s all the other 200+ plays that he sucked on.
unfortunately, his other 51 tackles were well beyond the L.O.S. LOL!!!!
He definitely wasn’t pro bowl caliber, but the defense as a whole was rotten. Misis is probably in his last year here, & his replacement will be drafted or Alonso will supplant him, but he can contribute on a better ran defense this season, even if it’s in rotation on early downs..
getterdone says:
March 22, 2016 at 2:17 pm
Ken says:
March 22, 2016 at 1:17 pm
So I guess her antics was a factor in Brent’s departure.
Reply
I hate to be that guy that says I told you so. but, I told you so! 😆
Reply
———
*middle finger*
lol. 🙂
Anyway, the Grimes are gone so I won’t bother spending time talking about them.
I wonder what kind of birthday cake Brent will get this year?
WTF Ken, that’s a Miko salute…lol
Anyways, yes, glad the Grimey’s are gone. Sick of reading about them as Dolphins.
Lou owes me a beer
I’m old. what can I say?
Never too old for beer either buying or receiving.
Tim,
Baylor’s Xavier Howard is another interesting corner.
He reminds me a bit of Devin McCourty.
He flashes good CB skills but lets guys slip past him from time to time.
I can see his career going similarly as a CB moved to FS eventually where his skills will be more effective.
My thoughts on Misi is that he just always gets hurt.
He’s not terrible at SOLB; he’s good at covering the edge and is very solid.
He probably should have been moved to MLB earlier but the coaching staff in the past really screwed the pooch many times. THey had the right instincts but moved him back to OLB instead of letting him improve his instincts as a MLB.
Misi is a microcosm of what’s wrong with the LB position. He’s still here and he shouldn’t be and what it shows is the lack of emphasis the team has put on the LB position since he’s been here b/c they haven’t upgraded the position and, if anything, have downgraded it.
Now I get that Ireland may have thought Ellerbe and Wheeler were the answers when he brought them in but the mistakes BEGAN when we took Misi in the 2nd rd in 2010. Since then, it’s just been one bad decision at LB after another.
That’s cause they’re too busy neglecting the OL unit & the DB’s too…who’s got time for addressing the LB corp….lol
He lacks the athleticism to be a MLB. He may have the instincts but he is just a step too slow to be a MLB. I remember so many times watching a back run by him where Misi is just out of range. It happened more than I can count.
correct. how many times have you also seen Misi in the trailing position covering a TE? For Misi to be an effective part of the defense, the others around him at LB need to be exceptional so they can cover more ground. Otherwise, it doesn’t work. Misi is average.
in 2014 on that high ankle sprain he suffered week 1.
How do you explain all the other years other than 2014 where he was always a step late?
he’s had that high ankle sprain for 6 yrs.
@Rand_Getlin: I’m told OL Kraig Urbik has agreed to terms with the #Dolphins.
Our OL problems are solved. Who TF is Kraig Urbik?
he’s the guy who puts the big, round, white mints in the urinals.
He’s started 57 games for BUF over the years. He’ll be 31 in Sept.
Sounds like an ok pick up. Definitely fits a need.
Urbik is a average OG who graded out last year better than both of our current OG’s. Nothing amazing, but OL depth is much better today than it has been in years. He graded out as the 48th best qualifying OG per PFF.
In other words, he’ll be looking to retire in Miami.
He’s Ulrick’s inbred cousin.
Urbik also can play center.
Dbolt, if PFF says so. LOL
dbolt48 says:
March 22, 2016 at 3:09 pm (Edit)
Urbik is a average OG who graded out last year better than both of our current OG’s.
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I am pretty sure not only the guy who put the big, round, white mints in the urinals but the urinals themselves graded out better than our current OGs.
this graded out better than our OG’s:
I think it has quicker feet than Douglas
That is correct & as you saw Sunday via my Twitter post the 📪 Also had a higher grade.
and it bulked up more than Thomas by adding the two drawers at the top during the offseason.
Woohoo, Prof Lou now owes me two beers.
Ken, Misi only played MLB in 2014. He doesn’t miss anywhere near the amount of tackles you say he does. If he did he wouldn’t be here because he’s not a playmaker. So the fact that he’s still here basically debunks your views on him. Wheeler and Sheppard fits what you’re saying and where are they?
the fact that Misi is considered a good LB on this team is a HUGE part of the problem. He’s the best we’ve got and people wonder why our LB’s are so bad.
Bring in someone to beat him out. I’ve said that the last 2 years.
Pro Lou
You are speaking to the choir in terms of LBs as far as I am concerned
I just look at that group of LBs and think….
well…I just think a lot has to go right for it to work out
I think going into the season with that group of LBs is really risky
Do you have any recommended targets at LB?
Curious to know if you have any favorites you would like the Dolphins to draft
My FAV pick in the first rd is Lawson but I keep saying I think Lee is the guy they go with. One of my favorite LB’s in this draft has been Jatavis Brown and has been for awhile. When I first took a look at him CBSSports.com had him projected as 7th/udfa and then he moved up to 4th/5th rd. Now they have him in the 5th and that’s even after the pro day he had. Lee, Deion Jones and Brown. I think they could pick up at least one of them in the draft.
LOL Tim….I’m not a big PFF guy, just mentioning what Barry posted.
Tim,
I took a quick look at what the Pats/Seahawks/Broncos have done for their secondary units.
Seahawks starters are a 5th RDer (Sherman) and a UDFA (Deshawn Shead). Shead filled in for Jeremey Lane (6th RDer) & Tharold Simon (5th RDer) last year when both were injured later in the year. Carey Williams started there last season earlier but was benched and released later (he himself was an original 7th RDer of Tennessee). Kam Chancellor was a 5th RDer for Seattle at S position with Earl Thomas being a 1st RDer at FS.
NE has a similar scenario on their team in the secondary with the starter group.
Malcolm Butler was a UDFA CB, Logan Ryan a 3rd RD CB, but Pat Chung was a high 2nd RD pick and Devin McCourty was a 1st RDer (taken as a CB, but later moved to FS).
Seems both teams put a secondary premium at the S positions.
Denver has slapped together their secondary via the FA market but one of their starting CB (Chris Harris) is a UDFA they developed.
I know what you’re saying and I’ve made this case in the past, I’m just saying I could see CB being the pick this year.
It’s funny how fans view players and prospects. Many here like Darren Lee yet Dbolt will tell you he’s more like Wheeler so why would we draft a LB like that? LOL
ProLou,
I can say the same thing about the S position.
They got Reshad one year in the 5th and he developed nicely..
WTF has been done about FS? Average FA options and shit draft attempts.
you don’t like Michael Ole’ Thomas? lol
I firmly believe that before the addition of Alonzo we had the worst group of LBs in the NFL. The addition of Alonzo helps but I am not sure how much.
LOL @ the M in M special!
Things are great Mike. Mad busy, but great. I keep running out of beer. I have a partner who’s at least as good at selling it as I am at making it. Makes for problems…even if it’s the good kind of problems.
I’m sure my partners don’t want to be associated with Marxism, so lets keep my personal opinions on politics associated with me personally. Lets just say I tend to believe that democracy is the worst form of government, except for every other form of government. 🙂
Communism doesn’t scare me though. Nor does any other form of government…Human beings on the other hand, the implementers of said governments…now they scare the shit out of me.
(credit: Churchill)
LOL
Tim Knight says:
March 22, 2016 at 3:19 pm (Edit)
Ken, Misi only played MLB in 2014. He doesn’t miss anywhere near the amount of tackles you say he does.
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I never said Misi misses tackles, especially in the context of the missed tackle stat. He is a very sure tackler. However, there are many tackles he never makes because he is too slow to catch the back or TE so it does not count as a missed tackle but rather just a play that goes for too many yards against us.
Fair enough.
Lou
I think Ragland IS a 3 down LB. Having 4.3 speed doesn’t make you great at doing anything but running, and you could be running to the wrong spot, or wrong direction. Ragland is usually in the right place, and actually makes the tackle. He can cover too, and he can rush the passer as well. Still, I think you’re probably right that we end up with one of those 4.3, 4.4 guys. I just hope they play well enough to stay here a while.
I keep saying the same thing all the time when it comes to Misi. Tim says we can’t get rid of him because we haven’t replaced him on the roster yet. But, when I say we should try to trade him all I ever get from everyone is we won’t get much for him. So, how is it that a guy can be so irreplaceable on our roster yet not be very valuable when it comes to a trade?
Have you ever heard that the team has tried to trade him? Your ideas don’t mean they happen. LOL
face it Tim. having guys like Misi around has done more to hold this team back than anything and it would be a different story if Misi was the worst lb we had on the roster. the fact that he’s the best we’ve got says a lot.
Jahn
Glad to hear man! Keep up the good work brother! Hope you still have time for the fam, although that I’m pretty sure you make time for. 🙂
Damn straight Tim. Lee is a guy I’d be comfortable in the late second to third, based purely on his athletic ability, but as I said his MSU game scares the shit out of me.
Lee isn’t going late 1st let alone late 2nd to third.
Mike, I wouldn’t be so sure the Phins go strictly for the lighter speedy LB.
Cincy’s bas 4-3 D LB’s were all over 250 lbs, Burfict – Maualuga – Rey. Misi is 255.
Bengals gave up an avg of 92 yds per gm. Guess it depends on how much input Burke & VJ has in the draft.
That quote from Gase today about an attacking style of defense reads to me as is attacking LBs, who tend to be lighter, are on our radar
I like Lee a lot
and I understand the Wheeler comparisons
Lee doesn’t show, IMO, great tackling technique
Going back to Wheeler
I remember watching Wheeler and seeing him as an attacking LB who was all over the field
but he never finished a play
next thing you know he was he was missing more tackles than making them
But although Lee’s unrefined and attacking style reminds me of Wheeler
the level between those 2 things is very dramatic to me
Lee is a far superior athlete
and albeit I’m hesitant to call him a good tackler, he’s probably much better than Wheeler too
I think its 2 players with similar styles
but one (Lee) is MUCH better than the other (Wheeler)
I think it a good comparison in a lot of ways – but in order for it to be accurate Wheeler would have had to be MUCH better than he was…..lol
Lee is an attacking LB who sometimes throws his body around the filed
Wheeler was too – but he was horrible at it.
Wheeler was very aggressive and flew around but would launch right past the ball carrier. LOL
That’s exactly what I mean
The style of play is comparable between Lee and Wheeler IMO
but how effective they are is not
I expect Lee to be a much better football player than Wheeler
He’s a much better prospect at least
Lee was one of the best athletes in drills that I saw at the combine. Not just for LBs, anyone.
He really a good athlete and has a chance to be special
He’s only a sophomore
and he was converted to LB when he went to OSU
so his technique should grow in time
I think we can get Lee in Deon Jones later instead of using a #13 on Lee.
I like Deon Jones too
He might end up being a better football player than Lee
and its worth mentioning Scooby Wright too…..lol
but there are so many different approach the draft
if Lee is the BPA available at 13
then take him and look at other positions later even if a Dion Jones might be there in the draft either
I also think Dion Jones has the making of a player who shoots up draft boards the closer we get to the draft
So I’m not so confident he is going to be there in the 3rd or 4th round where you see him predicted to be drafted lately
think about this. look at the record this team has had over the past few years and then think about the players we’ve had who have come and gone and then think about the talent level of the team. It’s NOT good and when you say a guy like Misi is good just go back and look at our record. The team lacked and still lacks talent at certain positions and one of the most glaring areas is that of LB. We know what we got there and it ain’t much. We’ve been gashed time and again by running backs because of how back our lb’s have been and it’s not going to get any better by keeping around average players as starters. Defend them if you want but when Misi is FINALLY gone you’ll be saying, “why the hell didn’t we do this a long time ago?”
Misee you really hate Misi
Wheeler was a horrible tackler. Put Wheeler’s athleticism together with Misi’s instincts and then you might have a LB.
Huh?
I don’t think Misi has great instincts
I think he’s okay in that capacity
BTW speaking about Lee – he is not known for his instincts
I just posted that he was only a sophomore
and was coverted to LB when he went to Ohio State
He is somewhat raw
that doesn’t mean he is a project – I think he can start day 1
but it probably affects filed awareness
I think Misi’s instincts and technique are fine. It is lack of athleticism – in particular quickness that holds him back. He is always around the ball – usually a step away
Lou likes to sit in his comfy chair on a cold rainy night with a nice glass of warm milk and quietly yell “Damn you Misi you friggin SOB, get the fuck off my team, you suck… you suck… you suck… Uggghhhhhhh… Uggghhhhhhh… Uggghhhhhhh!!!!! LOL
Piggy, a lot of people think Lee will be put his game together eventually he just needs polishing. If you feel he could become an elite WOLB in time you could put him on STs and get him in the defense to do some specific things and learn as he goes.
He can probably start out of the gate
he’s going to be a 1st rounder
so I think there will be an expectation he start very early in his career
I think to say he needs polishing sounds right
but its not “project” territory