We’ve talked about it for a long time, in fact, some of us started talking about it before we drafted last year, in the 2015 NFL draft. It never stops. The NFL Draft, the place where dreams are either realized, or crushed. There is always hope, always, because where else can you bring in new, young talent, and the potential to bring in 8 or more new faces to your team in one weekend. This only happens with the NFL, and then after the draft, even more excitement is generated by the signing of players who went undrafted. Sometimes, a player who was expected to be a mid round pick falls completely off the draft board, or in last year’s case, a possible top 10 pick, like La’el Collins, who due to bizarre circumstances with a murder case he had no part in yet was being questioned by police, had all 32 teams wipe him right off their draft boards.
Tomorrow will begin the madness that is the 2016 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins currently hold 8 picks, starting from the #13 pick, #42, #73, #107, #147, #186, #227, and finally #231. There is no guarantee that the Dolphins will use all those picks to get 8 players, they may trade up early in the 1st RD and use 2 or 3 picks to accomplish that. They may trade back later in the into the 1st RD, and gain a couple of picks. There are so many angles from which to look at either strategy, and a case can be made for both, without either of them being necessarily wrong or right. For instance, supposedly, this draft plateaus from approximately pick #15 to pick #50, meaning the talent at #50 is nearly equal to the talent at #15. We pick at #13, right around that imaginary line, so would trading back to pick up a couple of extra players in that range be smart? Sure. If all the supposed blue chippers are in the top 10, does it not make sense to trade up and get a superior talent and a player with a greater chance of making a big impact on our team right now? Sure.
Whatever we do tomorrow, partly because of past failures, such as the Dion Jordan trade up to #3 in 2013, or just because of personal preferences, some of us will be angry at some of the selections we make, and yet others will be ecstatic. That’s how it is. I have to give all you guys/girls lots of credit for your dedication to the sport, and especially the entire draft process. I know many of you tirelessly watch college football to find potential for the Miami Dolphins, and others, like myself, who don’t watch college ball, scour as many scouting reports, watch highlight reels, record and watch the entire week of Senior Bowl practices and the game itself, the same with the NFL combine. The funny thing is, even the best of the best here, who really put in max effort, most likely don’t put in a fraction of the time our scouting staff put in, and our coaches and our GM put in. Granted, that’s their job, we do it for (fun?). Still, we should all probably just chill out with the negative feelings (I know I will have them), because these guys really did put in the effort to make the team better, and hopefully, it actually works.
I’m going to give you my picks for each round, without trade ups or trade downs, because those are just too hard to predict, it requires a lot of cooperation and desire from another team or two, and therefore, I’ll just do it straight up. This draft is not who I want for our team, it’s how I expect it to happen.
RD 1 – Pick #13 RB Ohio State – Ezekiel Elliott
First of all, let’s put that myth that if he’s elite, he’ll be gone by pick #10 nonsense, and if he’s not, he’ll be there. Great NFL players are chosen all over the place, and these selections are made by a few parameters, GRADE, NEED (at a certain position) and VALUE. Every team will have different metrics on those, and many teams obviously have different needs for both position, and the type of players they want to fill those positions. For example, while Vernon Hargreaves may be rated very high on most boards, a team that prefers bigger CB’s may not have him on their board early at all. So back to Elliott. He would most definitely be our best RB if he were to join our team.
Much has been made of Adam Gase’s use of a “running back by committee”. I think it’s only fair to look at each situation, and why that may have been. In Denver 2013, first off, Gase had Peyton Manning., who threw the ball 659 times for nearly 5500 yards. The Broncos drafted Montee Ball, and added him to a stable with Knowshown Moreno, Ronnie Hillman, and and CJ Anderson. Moreno carried the ball 241 times, more than double the carries Montee Ball got at 120 carries. Is that really a RB by committee? In 2014, again, Manning put up astronomical numbers, 597 pass attempts, over 4700 yards. With Knowshown Moreno out of the picture, and Montee ball fat and out of shape, and fumbling often, Gase had little choice to try and find the hot hand. CJ Anderson rushed 179 times, for 849 yards, and Ronnie Hillman 106 times, for 434. Keep in mind, Ronnie Hillman was the better 3rd down back, and most of his action was on 3rd down, but again, the RB by committee aspect doesn’t necessarily show up, because the talent just simply wasn’t there to earn the bulk of the carries.
In Chicago, 2015, Adam Gase had 30 YO Matt Forte, rookie Jeremy Langford, and 2nd YR RB Ka’Deem Carey. Just for some background, Forte has never really been a bellcow RB, the most carries he had in his career was his rookie season when had a high of 316 carries. He never broke 300 again, and has been slowly diminishing in carries the last few years, from 289 in ’13, to 266 in ’14, and last year 218. Langford carried 148 times, and Carey 43. Clearly, Forte was his best guy, but at 30 YO, he didn’t overwork him, and for the most part, Chicago’s offense was a disappointment, despite Jay Cutler playing at his most efficient, with 21 TD’s and only 11 INT’s. They sorely missed Brandon Marshall last season, and when Alshon Jeffery got hurt, that was it for this offense.
My point is, I don’t believe that Gase has a strategy to use his running backs nearly equally. I think he had to in Denver, out of necessity, and in Chicago, he didn’t want to burn out his 30 year old star in Matt Forte. Gase did say he wants a stable of RB’s, and I think that’s the responsible thing to do, considering what can happen if there’s a severe drop off in talent from your starter to your reserves. make no mistake, if we draft Ezekiel Elliott, he will clearly be our best RB, and we will use him as such. He will make a huge impact in our offense.
RD 2 – Pick #42 CB Houston – William Jackson III
We have a definite need at CB, no question about it, and we get the best we can in the 2nd RD. Jackson gives another 6 foot CB who can play both press and zone coverage. A good fit for what we’re looking for, Jackson will certainly be given every opportunity to start opposite Byron Maxwell.
RD 3 – Pick #73 OG Stanford – Joshua Garnett
As much as we need a CB, we need to shore up the interior OL. We get the powerful OG Garnett from Stanford. Garnett also will be given every opportunity to start somewhere on the OL, most likely LG, to compete with vet Jermon Bushrod. That will leave a battle royale at RG, with Billy Turner, Jamil Douglas, and Kraig Urbik .
RD 4 – Pick #107 OLB Akron – Jatavis Brown
Excellent athletic player, with wheels (4.47 40). Driven, team oriented player, lunch pail type of guy. A little undersized at 5’11” 227, but a great guy to bring into the mix at OLB.
RD 5 – Pick #147 S Miami – Deon Bush
Bush is a physical player who likes to hit, and when he does, forces fumbles. Bush forced 5 fumbles in 2014. He can also go up and get the ball with his 39 1/2″vertical. Bush has only 4 INT’s in 4 years, along with 13 passes defensed. Could be a good player down the line.
RD 6 – Pick #186 CB Virginia – Maurice Canady
Canady brings another CB with size to the team. Not a physical player, but a player with talent that perhaps VJ can bring out.
RD 7 – Pick #227 DE Baylor – Shawn Oakman
Oakman is probably worth a flier in the 7th RD. he could easily end up off the team before the season, but maybe, the light goes on, and he becomes a player. I’d take tht chance this late in the game.
RD 7 – Pick #231 WR Illinois – Geronimo Allison
OK, so I really just want to scream Genonimo!!!!!! Do I take a chance and try to sign him after the draft? No way!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
There goes to green
Now there’s a run at DBS
…see
We traded in front of these teams
(Piggy ducks)
This TJ Green is a HUGE CB if Howard wasn’t there at 42 they could have had this guy, he’s even faster and bigger
Cody Whitehair is an even bigger CB. Not faster though
I don’t know if panic is the right word, maybe a sense of urgency was felt and they wanted to get the guy they think they need to run what they want to do on defense. Maybe Howard will be really good. If he sucks we fucked up.
So who’s the pick gonna be in the 3rd.
I’d rather have Prosise over Dixon if it’s RB. But who knows, there may be a “run” on punt returners or long snappers that we have to make a move.
Retired Taxi drivers!
It’s happened before!
Dixon would be a good pick in the 3rd
Jordan Howard too
Proise as well
Or…Jeremy cash
I am in no way saying you guys shouldn’t bitch. Nor am I saying how you should be a fan. I was just pointing out that SOME people like to bitch about everything Dolphin. I didn’t point YOU out D or YOU Mike. Critique away.
The stadium sucks, the colors suck the logo sucks, the Owner sucks, the veteran player suck, the rookies suck, the coaches suck the GM sucks, the beer carts at the stadium suck, the price of a $9 12oz beer sucks,(that one is most definitely true) the parking sucks, the scouts suck, the equipment manager sucks, and the fans suck. Did I cover everything?
You missed the security @ the stadium!
The stadium should be really nice when finished. The logo kinda sucks. The colors are a little too pastel and feminine. The Owner is willing to do anything to win. No comment on the rest.
maybe they think DT3 can fill the RB position we have tried to fill all off season afterall he was a second rounder.
Tim,
If they felt that the 75th ranked player in this year’s draft was the key to running their defense….god help us! Lol
Teams always show they have different rankings than the mocksters and media. Performance on the field will settle the debate, not looking at a screen. LOL
Son
Don’t worry about your kicker fears
FFRob will love the Bucs next pick
Steelers building that defense
Those young LBs now with Burns and Davis as DBs
TB Bucs.. making a move
2nd round kicker!!!!
LMAO
Davis off the board.
LMMFAO.
14 picks to go
Cheats oick twice
I bet they take a RB we like
😦
Somewhere, jetssuck and Lee are dancing . . . lol
did we get him.
I’d LOVE to play fantasy football against the Bucs GM lol
The Bucks traded up for a kicker?
Is there a run on?
Lol
Here comes the kicker run
Grier just yelled:
Now what the fuck do I do?
I just spit up my drink. LOL
LMAO!!!
Hope them dumb ass Mass-holes don’t take our RB
Aguayo still ranked higher than Howard. lol
Grier saw something in the highlights of the TCU and Baylor game 56-54 that made him like the defensive potential. 🙂
Wow, kicker in the 2nd.
Son
I really got a really good laugh out of that one
🙂
Nope NE reached farther than we (supposedly) did!
Get some Shalique Calhoun dammit
We’ve all just seen the draft equivalent of a unicorn. Lol
Booooooooooooo
Booooooooooo
Patriots suck
Booooooo
lmmfao GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BBBUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCSSSSSSSSSSS
Mike is gonna love that pick
He’ll be guarding Landry.
Landry will eat him alive
13 picks away
13 is our lucky number
Told you unbelieving F****. JS and I have our shit together. LMAO
I like Cyrus. At least if he sucks as a CB, he’s a pretty good return man
Charlie Campbell @DraftCampbell 36s37 seconds ago
Big reach by the #Patriots with Cyrus Jones. He has some terrible tape. Others teams had him late on day three.
I think k I’m looking at Jelani Jenkins right now
Don’t we already have him?
Oops
I mean Jordan Jenkins
Lol
Would be a wasted pick to select a guy under contract
the thing i dont get about ross is why does he pay all those front office people all that money when he could just come to this blog and get all the expert advice he needs for free.
You can lead a horse to water…
Tim’s mad at all of us
Piggy,
Let’s hope so!
If Spence had stayed at Ohio State, they’d have had 8 drafted already for a new record in first two rounds
What did everyone break out laughing at? Is it a post I can’t see? LOL
The Bucks picked a kicker
The pats picked a lower rated CB than we did!
Xavien’s Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.41 seconds
Vertical: 38 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches
3-cone: 6.94 seconds
Analysis
Strengths Has feet to impede and crowd receivers from press. Short-area accelerator to chase and close on slants and crossers. Has hips that swivel open for easy turn-and-run ability. Asked to be an island corner all game long. Confidence level soared in 2015. Instinctive with ball skills that are undeniable. Uses well-timed head turn to find ball and react. Scrapes, claws, scratches, clubs and tears and the catch point to disrupt. Has 32 passes defensed, including nine interceptions, over last two years. Big and physical in coverage.
Weaknesses Quicker than fast with questionable long speed. Handsy and panics when he thinks he might get beat. Mauls like a bear downfield rather than trusting his technique. Has 14 pass interference and 5 holding penalties against him over last two seasons. Speed tends to diminish when turning to find the ball. Will lose feel for receivers at break point. Allowed seven touchdowns in 2014. Not a “get downhill and attack” run defender and stays glued to blocked.
panics or panicks?
Watched some highlights… Feeling better about the player, but still not the trade to get him
Here’s the DB run!
CB – LB Grier got a little confused
Tim
After the Bucs drafted the PK Aguayo . . . Son posted this
son of a son of a shula says:
April 29, 2016 at 9:22 pm (Edit)
Grier just yelled:
Now what the fuck do I do?
LOL, oh wait I’m suppose to be mad. 😉
No, you’re supposed to laugh. That was funny as hell, especially in the moment
And of course ESPN orgasms over the pats pick
Son, I’m not mad at all I just find it funny how we say if you have conviction about a prospect you go an get him and then when we do it gets criticized. LOL
we beat the DB run by a good 20 picks. woo hoo.
11 picks away
Come on already….I got fat girls to go chase.
LOL
LOL
now here is a bad ass Steve Attwater
Steve Atwater is huge, looks he could still play
Steve Atwater would be ejected weekly from games if he played now.
He was awesome to watch
Howard used his NFL-sized frame to make 93 tackles as well as led the team in interceptions (four in 2014, five in 2015) and pass breakups (13, 10) in both years,
Rhino says:
April 29, 2016 at 7:39 pm
commercial…. ok y’all. put your pick in… you got one minute.:)
dude, they are fat chicks. it wont take that long
Tim… conviction is positive unless you make a pick that is a crime! 🙂
Naples,
A high 2nd and 4th round picks for Howard? That’s my issue with it. He’s an okay player…but that’s a lot for him.
rhino
sorry that was meant for randy’s fat chick comment.
plus, it said PICK, not prick. lol
ffr,
I don’t have the wind I used to. Besides, they are usually all sweaty and slippery by 2 AM.
the picks are coming fast. (again, that’s ‘picks’ not ‘pricks’).
Randy says:
April 29, 2016 at 9:41 pm
ffr,
I don’t have the wind I used to. Besides, they are usually all sweaty and slippery by 2 AM.
randy, i find if you just sneak up carefully and throw some talcum powder on them they cant slip away so easily
CB… as was said before we have gone from midget CBs to CBs with decent size. 6′, 6’1″&6’3″. Those WRs in our division are not getting smaller. I couldn’t care less about trading up to get the player you want. There has been a heap of trades done this year.
That’s the thing with Howard and the style he plays, when you play man press on an island all the time you’re going to have bad plays. He needs to clean up some things in his game but he’s a natural ballhawk with good size to contest bigger WRs.
Kenyan Drake?
Got it!
Damn. I was hoping Nassib was going to be around for us in the 3rd.
I love drafting a big tough tackling machine for a CB with hands to make INTs.
Getting close
I think it might be a RB
BUT which RB do you think it will be?
ffr,
True, but I need to save some of that powder for later in the night when I roll them in it and look for the wet spot. I can only carry so many bags of white powder in my pockets.
I don’t understand why everyone thinks the league is gonna just let us get away with playing physical with receivers. Have any of you been watching the NFL lately? Lol
You can do it early, not late. Howard will have to clean up his game. But I prefer press over always allowing the catch underneath time after time. It also keeps the QB in the pocket longer.
My buddy says the fins made a jamal mashburn mistake moment when they by passed D.Henry.Mashburn passed up a wide open shot against the Knicks that led to sprewell making the basket that bounced on the rim 4 times before going in to win game 7.
We could go DE Shilique Calhoun, or RB. Maybe Jordan Howard
take prosise at rb or kenyan drake
So not my favorite choice of CBs in round 2 but I won’t kill them for the pick. The Tunsil pick has built up some good will imo. Bummed we passed on Henry but other good RBs out there
Good pick…kinda thought he may be there for us.
At least we didn’t draft a K in round 2
Good pick Bears
The ravens took Tim’s favorite player
Fuck
Dixon would be a great pick IMO
Mayock is a moron. He is a tough tackler.
Not bad pick. Let’s hope we can start getting BPA later than round 1 next year.
can’t give FO credit for “getting” Tunsil. That was a no-brainer. Al Bundy could have gotten that right without even taking his right hand out of his pants. LOL
I’m hoping for Prosise. Won’t be much there in the 5th.
That’s the safety I thought we might get in the third or fourth. Missed him by 2 picks!
i hope ross is making the front office read this blog before they make their pick
dang. Bullard lasted a long time
It was reported that we liked Kenyan Drake a lot. We’ll see.
Good pick by the Bears
God damn it!!!
Unbelievable!!!
Here we go
here we go
I’m going to bed.
Booker Booker Booker
Nice!!!
Nice we got Drake
Brian in NY says:
April 29, 2016 at 10:06 pm
It was reported that we liked Kenyan Drake a lot. We’ll see.
ok what are you doing in the fins war room and is lauren there
Drake?
ok. Prosise was ND’s special teams player of the year … a great pass catcher… but we got an RB
Well
A lot of you will be happy with drake
called it and love it