Wow I had a great year!
67 species eliminated! 15 Planets obliterated! Over 2000 different weapons used!
Do you mind if I brag a little. Of course you don’t! Just consider yourself lucky its not you I am destroying!
And why would I? With schools like LSU putting so much talent into the NFL.
Even when LSU has a bad year they are stacked! Year after year. Even the Dolphins have benefited from the wealth of talent at LSU by bringing in Jarvis Landry a few years ago.
This year you will probably see a few LSU defensive backs in Jamal Adams and Tre ‘Davious White go off the board very early. But there are a few LSU Linebackers worth looking at. Kendell Beckwith and Duke Riley are both expected to be drafted in 2017 as well. Its not like LSU hasn’t put good Linebackers int he NFL. Kwon Alexander and Deion Jones are both recent examples of LSU linebackers drafted in the last couple of years.
This year I have my eye on Duke Riley to be the next impact linebacker from LSU.
Duke Riley is known as “Little Duke” to some. Well he was as young kid, suffering from spinal meningitis and wearing thick glasses after be nearly blinded by the disorder he was said to be a bit of a runt.
As a matter of fact “Little Duke” sat on the bench watching those aforementioned linebackers for the last three years before finally getting his chance to start in 2016.
And now…
Riley finished with 93 tackles this season, nine tackles for losses. He was a weekly playmaker for the Tigers all season.
Since Riley’s first three years at LSU used him primarily on special teams and as a reserve, he will probably help whatever NFL drafts him right away on special teams.
That long wait on the depth chart is not so unusual for LSU Linebackers. Deion Jones followed a similar track to the NFL.
Its always great to find defensive players who actually played on dominant defenses in college. And LSU fits that bill. Only 2 teams scored more than 21 points against LSU in 2016 and Riley was one of the primary reasons for that.
When you watch Riley on tape what jumps out is the fact that he always seems to be in the right place. He has a real knack for that. And he seems very well rounded, able to cover Tight Ends and Running Backs, stopping the run and putting pressure on the QB. He is a disciplined Linebacker who knows how to make an impact.
In fact, one things Riley has a knack for is clutch plays. Riley has a tendency to make big plays in the 4th Qtr when his teams needs his most. Think the Dolphins can use that kind of player?
If I was going to compare Duke Riley to an Alien Weapon of Destruction, I would be inclined to compare him to one of my favorites:
The Obliterating Photon Kannon!
BOOM
Check out Riley vs Alabama in this video:
Finsmob Unleashed 
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 22, 2017 at 11:29 pm
So, knowing what we know after we witnessed what we witnessed today what do you feel is the best way to approach FA and the draft?
_______________________________________________
I would like to see us go heavy Pass D.
But I think it is just as important to “finally” shore up the Oline.
Maybe get a little bigger on the Oline.
ZBS – Gap? What the hell ever.
The only way to beat Brady is to put him on the ground!
To do that you have to cover! Because if not he will only hold the ball 2 sec and the best pass rusher in the world won’t get there!
We need more options than Billycheat has! because he is going to scheme away your #1 and maybe your #2.
I want to get stout up the middle on both sides of the ball.
and get some folks that fly to the edges!
We need the players that can play an aggressive press, and move the receivers off the routes.
And make a fucking tackle!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I’d also like a Red Rider BB gun! 😉
I think there’s numerous ways we may be able to go in this draft. We may be able to acquire a LB of need in the first rd, go offensive line in the 2nd and go pass rusher in the 3rd if we get that comp pick.
So,
1st Cunningham
2nd Elflein
3rd Passagnon
Or, we could double down on pass rush. All I know is I agree with Grier that you take the best player for your team when you’re on the board. You panic like Ireland used to and try to get players to fill all the holes you have and that’s when you take players that aren’t going to work for you.
So, we could look at the situation and say we’ve got Albert, Tunsil, Pouncey, Bushrod and James but they may look at it and say Albert doesn’t represent the future at LT; Tunsil does and Bushrod doesn’t represent the future at guard and decide to draft two guys who do represent the future at both guard positions if they feel the talent is there; and it is.
They may look at the opportunity to get the future at both DE positions in this draft and that opportunity is there.
One thing is for sure and that is we are not going to solve the LB issues in this draft because the players just aren’t there. Edge rushers converted to 4-3 OLB’s is no guarantee.
I think when we look at the first 2 or 3 rounds they are going to be guys who are the future at their positions and not guys we reach for just out of need. Like I said, we’ve got a definite need at LB but I still wouldn’t be surprised to see them go after offensive linemen because the talent is there at o-line and it’s not there at LB.
Tim Knight says:
January 23, 2017 at 1:14 am
Lou, Belichick doesn’t always hit on his acquisitions but he knows what he’s looking for and finds them anywhere. If we have a style we’re looking for now keep adding them and filter out who doesn’t fit.
Reply
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 23, 2017 at 9:22 am
Yeah, he doesn’t but when he doesn’t he won’t keep them around for four years trying to make them work out. If they aren’t getting it he sends them packing. He doesn’t give a shit. That’s the attitude I’d like to see from this team.
someone said the other day either on here or the other blog they are tired of taking tackles and making guards out of them. sometimes though the tackle is the much better prospect even when you convert him.
Forrest Lamp of Western Kentucky is one such guy and he’s one I mentioned the other day. He played LT for his team and he was projected late 2nd as an OT. Now, they project him to play inside at guard and he’s moved up to #30 overall. Someone agrees with me.
That’s why I generally argue with Tim about the importance of pass rush vs coverage. He feels more that pass rush leads to interceptions and I’m more coverage leads to sacks and it’s not that either if us is wrong it’s just we look at it from different viewpoints.
Mine is that the NFL as it is and in particular the NE Pats are a quick hit, get the ball in the hands of your playmaker fast as possible and then see what happens. This nullifies pass rush, it is deliberately in the face of all that the NFL tells you as far as what you need to spend on and what you need to do to have a great defense. It also allows you to have average players across the OL, and non typical, overlooked talent that us almost completely interchangeable for receiving.
Why is Bilicheck always able to get those guys people keep asking. Answer is simple. While others are jerkin off to 40 times and 6’4 heights, etc, he is picking from his own little stash of players who defy those numbers but yet used appropriately, maximise their abilities. He get players that ball out ever play and give the best effort the have. A full team of those little midget fucks and it’s a pick your poison scenario. Shut down Edelman and Edelman.2 (Amendola) is right there. Shutdown Edelman and Edelman.2 and then Edelman.3 (Hogan) steps up. They also have a mind fucking 50 plays they can run out of 5 formations, so even the best LBs and S really have no fucking clue what’s coming. Hate Belichick for what he is, who he us or whatever but you have to give credit to the guy for what he does. I mean it’s all right there, no hiding it, still, no one is stopping it.
You can ask how we can take a guy like Naneeu or whatever his name is over Hogan as a hindsight question, but the answer is easy, we look at the wro g qualities for our offense. Hogan wasn’t attractive to us. Granted he might not have fit our strategy, maybe for us he wasn’t the best, but again I think that goes back to short sightedness of our coaching staff as to what can make a successful offense.
They also have Brady, and it might not be a pill that us easy to swallow, but the guy is really fucking good.
Not many teams can line up 3 CBs and/or a combination of CBs safeties and LBs that can match up with those midgets and Gronk and Bennett and Lewis. You have to have press-man CBs who can knock the midgets off their routes without getting flagged for PI or holding, be able to run with them after the I ritual press contact. You have to have LBs physical and yet athletic enough to mirror their TEs, and you have to have safeties capable of not letting a RB or TE escape man assignments of any of those guy’s and make sure the outlet receiver gets shut down as soon as he catches it, because you can’t afford to play him you just have to try and contain him, unless you want to commit a pass rusher to covering someone.. You have to do all this in the span of less than 3 seconds because Brady has got the ball out by then as long as there is even a small so Dow to throw it too.
It’s no small taks to do all this but if we are going to compete with them we need to be able to do 90% of it on any given play to win.
Window not Dow
lucky bastard!
Pig really well done by Wedge (and you….assuming you helped translate). Even if sorta of scary that one of our top 3 posters can go on a rampage after any given bad play and the other destroy the whole planet if the Phins don’t pick the right guy. 🙂
Sounds like you got the “O-crush” on Riley. Where do you see him lining up and going in the draft at this point? Based on the playmaker and right spot comments….you got me thinking Zach-like.
WOLB
Sorta thought where I though Alonso would be after we take that pure MLB…..but who knows? Not like that is set in stone (even if hoping the SLB is).
I think he is pretty versatilite
I think he can even play inside
I think when it comes down to it
You just want to boring on some talent in the unit
Then find spots for them
I don’t think it’s real rigid
There are a couple of prospects like Foster and Beckwith that I would prefer to see inside
Riley and Cunningham jump out to me as being pretty versatile
Matter of fact I’ve done a few mock drafts taken them both
D, I agree with what you said. Watching the Pats and even the Falcons made me think you need not only talent in the secondary but a lot of it. You need matchup guys and if you get injuries your 2nd level can’t be weak. Although pass rush is always important, you need DBs who are tough and can contest plays or you’re not stopping the top offenses.
Herd thank for your concern; I told it 1000 times before, Yes we where blown away as well in a really bad one in Alabama back in 94 or 95 so I wont get into that again.
Been through dozens of severe weather events here in Florida and they are nowhere close, yesterday included. We had one pass right over my portion of Marion County last night and it was nothing but a thing. The wind hours out ahead of that mess was way worse than the actual system.
Everything seemed to be in the upper levels. I stood in the garage and watched it all go by at 60mph but the rotation or straight line wind never reached the ground, even the lightning was all cloud to cloud. It did pour for about 20 minutes but my rain gauge wasnt standing straight up so I didnt even bother to check it
Good job Wedge/Piggy!
We definitely need talent in the secondary, that’s one definite way to compete with the Patriots and their myriad of receivers. That’s why it’s laughable to me that people want to just cut Maxwell. He’s either our best, or 2nd best cover guy, so why create a hole for no reason?
As far as the pass rush vs secondary argument, it’s always a combination of both. A good jam and then good coverage on the receiver will slow the passing game down, but it’s hard to find guys that can execute. The Patriots can always switch to the heavy run game with Blount, so you never what they’re coming at you with. Put a bunch of big heavy and slow LB’s in there, and they go back to the passing game with the short quick routes to the little guys and the quick backs like Lewis and White out of the backfield. You have to also hit Brady, but that’s a lot of talent needed to be able to accomplish hitting Brady, and covering all those guys too, and it takes good great coaching to be ready for any combination of those attacks. Then next year, Gronks is back, and they probably get more talent that fits their system in the draft. Ugh!
Let’s sign Eric Berry
🐷Dreams
Mike, Ideally its both, but financially you really cant afford both elite CB’s and DE’s. unless you are constantly hitting with your draft picks in those spots. It also is a lot about who you are playing.
For NE, the Giants, and a few others its about CB’s and specifically the kind that keep separation at a minimum in the short game. You work backwards for that scenario, CB’s make the DE’s shine, against other teams like San Diego, Pittsburgh to some extent, New Orleans, Atlanta, they try to stretch the field make big plays and take a little longer on their route developments, which means you have to have the DE’s be pimp to limit ability to get open deep. Pittsburgh and Atlanta are somewhat balanced right now, but traditionally they are those kind of teams.
There really isnt a one size fits all for teams, there will be teams you dont match up with well, and in those games you gotta hope someone steps up and you can get help from other areas, like playing a cleaner game than the opposing team (ie less penalties, create turnovers) and get some help from ST’s.
Tim for some teams for sure its the other way around, they like to load up on their passes and take big shots so speed rushers dont give them the time to do that or at least do that with a higher level of inaccuracy because they have to rush the thros, this brings picks as turnovers, but teams like NE, you have to start by shutting down that quick pass so that the rush has a chance to get to them. They are really friggin good at what they do, thats obvious so its not easy task and you have to have just the right people to combat that system. Downside is, maybe those same guys arent so good against other systems, so do you plan for those two games or the other 14….
No I think you have to be able to match up against any offense. The only way to do that is to acquire as much talent as you can so you can contest as many passes as possible. It’s not easy, if it was every team would do it. I think we have a solid nucleus in the secondary to build on. But a couple more guys would help.
BTW when i look at Duke Riley i see Deion Jones, i also see MLB. I think if we stick to a system of athletic sideline to sideline guys who can cover pretty well, he is a great choice. If we want our MLB to be a downhill thumper, closes the A gaps, just completely stops inside rushing, he really isnt the guy. I dont think he sucks at it, but he is not really that kinda dude. Say what ya will about Beckwith, he is more of that kinda guy. As long as our defensive strategy is what it seemed to be they were trying to do last year, then i think we do better with a Cunningham, or Ragland, or Riley, hell even Davis manning the middle over a guy like Beckwith or Boulware, Richie Brown, Ben Gedeon kind of player.
I think he is similar to Dion Jones too
a lot of people make that comparison
It should be interesting to see if Dion Jones helps the Falcons stop that short passing game of the Cheats int he Super Bolw
Piggy
I would like to upgrade over Isa, but Berry ain’t happenin’!
Peppers maybe?
I think Peppers is an OLB in the NFL
I’m not serious about Berry
but is the sort of thing worth pursuing in free agency
not over proceed guys that are above average
Not happy but then not surprised that Jarvis put out on instagram: “I feed my family with this don’t play with my money this year I’m serious.”
At the same time — call me cold — but seems that feeling is an offer for a long-term “set for life” signing at a discount over if he hits FA in 2018. And Landry has been making like $800 grand a year. So guessing he is hungry.
James has been getting $2 mil plus.
You want to go the extreme? — Jordan’s original contract was for $5 mil a year.
I think he’s referring to the fines he was hit with.
I like your answer much better, even if the quote was from two days ago and the fine a good while before that……maybe he had just signed the check?
D says:
January 23, 2017 at 4:00 pm
Mike, Ideally its both, but financially you really cant afford both elite CB’s and DE’s. unless you are constantly hitting with your draft picks in those spots. It also is a lot about who you are playing.
For NE, the Giants, and a few others its about CB’s and specifically the kind that keep separation at a minimum in the short game. You work backwards for that scenario, CB’s make the DE’s shine, against other teams like San Diego, Pittsburgh to some extent, New Orleans, Atlanta, they try to stretch the field make big plays and take a little longer on their route developments, which means you have to have the DE’s be pimp to limit ability to get open deep. Pittsburgh and Atlanta are somewhat balanced right now, but traditionally they are those kind of teams.
There really isnt a one size fits all for teams, there will be teams you dont match up with well, and in those games you gotta hope someone steps up and you can get help from other areas, like playing a cleaner game than the opposing team (ie less penalties, create turnovers) and get some help from ST’s.
Eric Berry would be a nice add for sure, but yeah i don’t think they can afford to tie that much up in safety, and signing Berry would either do one of two things with Jones, make him start really thinking about being elsewhere next year (ie he takes it as a preparing to move on/low ball him on contract) or it would solidify his value. Im sure he considers himself every bit as good as Berry and so what we paid for Berry would now be the bottom run of his negotiations.
If we signed Berry we would, I expect, be moving on from Jones, and i think Jones would see it that way too.
Jonathan Cyprien or Tony Jefferson would also be a good pickups but they are going to get paid too, not Berry money but not too far off. There are also some guys who might be more box safety than hybrid, like Church, or Swearinger (who most of us probably still hate after that flagrant low hit that ended Keller’s career. There are still others that are pretty solid to think of after that if we just feel Isa isnt as good as them.
I dont think Isa is complete poop so its likely it wouldnt be worth it to us to try to upgrade S through FA, S is also one of the more expensive positions to get a true starter. We got Isa at a bargain last time because he didnt have a lot of starter experience, so we were able to pay him as a guy who would likely be our other starter, and not stud money, for a guy who was expected to star in the secondary.
I think people are souring on Peppers, i think that he is quickly becoming a guy where people are looking past the flashy and getting to sustance and there are pure athletic traits but not enough core football traits that put him anywhere but jack of all trades master of none kind of discussions. I think he could be an excellent nickel LB, but do you draft a nickle LB in the first? I wouldnt.
he’s a sensational athlete
but a hard prospect to project
I think he’s a LB
but one used like a DB….lol
Peppers is 6′ 205 lbs. If he’s a LB I’m a SB winning QB. I’ve said about him in the past that the athletic ability to play multiple positions in college served him well while in college but weren’t going to serve him well at the next level.
He is, like D states above, a jack of all trades and a master of none and while he was said to be a LB prospect early on it has now changed to db and the problem that many are having with him is his run support may be strong but they are questioning his coverage skills.
I think sometimes we become too enamored with these Swiss Army Knife types in college and put them up there a bit too high.
Yeah pretty sure Landry is talking about the fines, i think i read somewhere that his almost 50k fine for the crotch grab and helmet slam combo, was roughly a full games pay
Souths talent pool this year for Senior Bowl is sick. North has some good players but outside of their QB group and RB group, South has the better of each of the rest of the groupings. Rosters are set BTW, have been since the 18th if you want to see the final list of players who are there. Weigh ins started today, ill post some of the more shocing ones in a minute.
22: R1P22 EDGE DEREK BARNETT TENNESSEE
54: R2P22 C ETHAN POCIC LSU
98: R3P34 EDGE DUKE RILEY LSU
167: R5P22 TE JEREMY SPRINKLE ARKANSAS
177: R5P32 S OBI MELIFONWU CONNECTICUT
185: R5P40 EDGE BRYAN COX FLORIDA
207: R6P22 WR TRAVIN DURAL LSU
243: R7P22 LB BEN BOULWARE CLEMSON
.
22: R1P22
EDGE TAKKARIST MCKINLEY
UCLA
54: R2P22
LB ANTHONY WALKER
NORTHWESTERN
98: R3P34
TE JAKE BUTT
MICHIGAN
167: R5P22
LB KEITH KELSEY
LOUISVILLE
177: R5P32
G GREG PYKE
GEORGIA
185: R5P40
LB HARDY NICKERSON
ILLINOIS
207: R6P22
S JOSH JONES
NC STATE
243: R7P22
EDGE DEATRICH WISE JR.
ARKANSAS
I don’t care for those computerized mocks but here’s mine on my own:
RD 1 Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
RD 2 Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
RD 3 Tanoh Kpassognon, DE, Villanova
RD 5 Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
RD 5 Jeremy Cutrer, CB, MTSU
RD 5 De’Veon Smith, RB, Michigan
RD 6 Calvin Munson, OLB, SDSU
RD 7 Randall Goforth, FS, UCLA
As of right now these are the guys I’d target in those respective rounds. I know we need LB help but I’m not picking a LB just for the sake of picking one after the first rd. IMO we won’t be upgrading the position with what’s there; just replacing what we’ve got with younger, healthier talent.
But, we’ve got our two DE’s for the future, Witherspoon is a press corner who contests everything, Goforth is a S that is a GREAT tackler but is also very good in coverage and is EXTREMLY underrated right now and will shoot up draft boards before the draft so he probably won’t be there in the 7th anyway and Cutrer is going to be another special talent at CB.
Lamp is going to be a beast on the offensive line and Munson is just a football player. Another guy who seems to be undervalued right now.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet 47m47 minutes ago
More
The contract extension for #Browns LB Jamie Collins: 4 years, $50M, source said. $26M in guarantees. Large.
That’s a lot. Not sure if he’s worth that but we’ll see.
Piggy: NICE work on this column. But your mock draft at 5:48 “won’t fly” for me. WAYYY too weak on the O-Line (unless we get 2 O-Line studs in F/A).
Pro Lou; Your 6:07 Mock has the kid from Western Kentucky. I think I’d lean instead toward Elflein or Pocic because both of them can step in and play C or G at a very high level. But your boy Lamp sure isn’t a BAD pick (ala IRELAND).
———————–
FINALLY, I wish Mike E, Brian and Piggy safe travels in the face of the coming Nor’easter. I hope ALL you northern Fin fans remain safe. But if things get rough, maybe the HULK can quell the vicious storm!
BTW, Ken, the “Original” HULK, HULK HOGAN, lives in Clearwater and is popular, especially with 40-ish women looking for a good time!!!
Let me just say that when I look at the number of outstanding tackles in this draft and the guys you just mentioned if we could get a 2nd and 3rd or 2nd and 4th for Pouncey I’d probably take it and run.
Am I late on this but I just saw on inside edition about the Patriots…
They started with convicts against us, did plenty of cheating on their own and now they have Fans joining the cause.
WTF!
Pull the fire alarm at 3:30am in the steelers hotel
Now I am Mad
OD
Hulk Hogan was just on The Love Boat last night along with Bruce Jenner
HOPE “BRUCIE” didn’t have the hots for Hulk.
Phins staff actually interviewing wr’s and db’s at Senior Bowl today.
Interesting
I would be surprised if we took a WR
Team wr interviews today:
Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
db’s
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
22: R1P22 TE O.J. HOWARD 6-6 250, ALABAMA
54: R2P22 C ETHAN POCIC 6-6 310, LSU
98: R3P34 CB CHIDOBE AWUZIE 5-11 205, COLORADO
167: R5P22 EDGE EJUAN PRICE 5-11 245, PITTSBURGH (4-3 WOLB attack LB)
177: R5P32 LB MARQUEL LEE 6-3 230, WAKE FOREST
185: R5P40 CB JALEN MYRICK 5-10 200, MINNESOTA
207: R6P22 S XAVIER WOODS, LOUISIANA TECH (hybrid S/Nickel LB)
243: R7P22 CB ASHTON LAMPKIN 6-0 190, OKLAHOMA STATE
You say WTF is this and I say it’s because we addressed defense in FA with experienced players as first time FAs or prime guys – DL and LB will be the focus. Probably another OL. We’re not looking to win in 2-3 years. We want to make that jump in 2017 and get to an AFC Championship game at the least.
This draft at the top adds a dimension we don’t have at TE in Howard, and Pocic gives us security if Pouncey can’t go. Make the offense better and it guards against falling to a sub par level if we have some injuries.
The next 6 picks is about the backend of the defense. Let them compete to start, play a major role or be depth.
Again just for fun. But we better get quicker and tackle. 🙂
Cooper Kupp is one of those guys who is maximum effort kind of players. He is smaller school talent but he made the absolute most of his college career. Switzer is similar, though I think he has had a little more spotlight on him. Maybe we interviewed him just to make NE think we might take him so they feel they have to move up to get him lol. Who knows, it’s all a cat and mouse game leading up to the draft.
it looks like we actually interviewed about half of each squad by the end of the day. not a bad thing.
Piggy,
Nice job on the write up but I don’t mind telling you Reilly scares me a bit because he’s only got one year of production even if it is in the SEC.
plus I think you’re exaggerating about the 67 species and 15 planets. fess up.
or wedge is.
Btw McKinley has a torn labrum. He is having surgery on it.
That contract for Collins was essentially a 10mil per deal. With extensions you have to count the current year as part of the contract, so 4 year extension spreads that 50 mil over this year and 4 more. It’s about what he was rumored to get in FA.
HOPE all of you have a terrific day today. For me, almost every day in Florida is a terrific day. But, soon, the Old Dolfan will hit the road for another 7-day work week which ends this Sunday evening when I return from Georgia.
Y’all be good, now.
be safe
RosterWatch @RosterWatch 14h14 hours ago
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#Dolphins continue to burn this thing up, meeting w/ monstrous 6’5″ center- Kyle Fuller out of #Baylor
22: R1P22
LB JABRILL PEPPERS
MICHIGAN
54: R2P22
C ETHAN POCIC
LSU
98: R3P34
LB KENDELL BECKWITH
LSU
167: R5P22
TE JEREMY SPRINKLE
ARKANSAS
177: R5P32
EDGE JOSH CARRAWAY
TCU
185: R5P40
OT J.J. DIELMAN
UTAH
207: R6P22
OT STORM NORTON
TOLEDO
243: R7P22
CB JALEN MYRICK
MINNESOTA
May as well do a mock draft on a snow day!
I like it
RosterWatch @RosterWatch 10h10 hours ago
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7. Whole new level of effort and intensity out of #Dolphins scouting staff this season. Same way Ozzie, Ted Thompson and Reggie run the shop
Great! Now stop trading all our f—ing picks away!!!
RosterWatch @RosterWatch 21h21 hours ago
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Travin Dural #LSU WR just met w/ #Dolphins scouts. We were just saying he has some Kenny Stills to his game…
Wyo
Glad they’re looking at Fuller, who can play C or G. Definitely an area of concern with Pouncey, and G if Tunsil has to move to LT
one of the 3 tweeners, Pocic, The Elf, and Fuller would be a nice add to our Oline depth!
RosterWatch @RosterWatch Jan 18
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Savage says the TE, CB and EDGE /pass rush are the deepest groups at 2017 Senior Bowl.
That’s good, because we need ALL of those
the edge guys, unfortunately, are your 3-4 OLB types.
In any case it appears we are going to have a shot at improving our offensive line this year. Guys we could have a shot at include:
Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah
Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
Ethan Pocic, C, LSU
Pat Elflein, C, Ohio St
Taylor Moton, RT, Western Michigan
Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy
Any one of these guys could improve our offensive line. My personal favs are Lamp, Moton and Garcia. Although tackles in college I think they could all slide inside and be Pro Bowl guards.
Pocic us at senior bowl as well
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) gave us a 3rd RD comp pick. He has us taking TE OJ Howard, ILB Raekwon McMillan and OG Danny Isidora
Could live with that but I think McMillan is more thumper than rangy. I could see us shifting the philosophy to the MLB being more a between the tackles gap stopper and then having rangy guys on the outside to contain. In that case McMillan wouldn’t be awful. I think though if that’s our idea for the MLB there are tons of guys in this draft that wouldn’t cost a 2nd and could fill that role. Boulware would be an amazing 2diwn guy as keeping Jenkins then at a cost effective re-sign paired with him woukd make us pretty strong against the pass as well. Boulware on downs boulware was in we would just have to have Jones read react pass run so if they passed while he was in he would have Safety help. We draft a coverage safety we could easily pull off a defense like that.
January 24, 2017 at 9:55 am
Senior Bowl live weigh ins:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RpWQMVIk9QophJvzp_p2H6kWc8gAW1Se-ilqAMqOZlY/edit#gid=1282671493
Interesting that RB Matt Dayes has the biggest hands at 10.5″ and he’s only 5’8″ compared to these big monsters out there.
Not the biggest overall, but bigger than most
Usually your OTs are the biggest hands group, sometimes a QB or WR will have monstrousl disproportionate hands.
Exactly, it’s odd to have such big hands at 5’8″. You’re probably right, he probably doesn’t fumble much.
Damn, doubt that dude fumbles much if any. That’s retarded for a RB.
D
I think a thumper may be something we need. Is he really that slow and not athletic McMillan?
He is more athletic than done of the thumper types but I don’t think he us going to hold up in coverage. I don’t think his instincts are very good either, so he would be like Alonzo minus the elite speed. Alonzo is perfectly able to cover, he just doesn’t recognize pass soon enough to not be a step behind, and that’s all it takes for NFL QBs
Gotcha – Thanks!
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 23, 2017 at 10:40 pm (Edit)
Piggy,
Nice job on the write up but I don’t mind telling you Reilly scares me a bit because he’s only got one year of production even if it is in the SEC.
*****
So did Dion Jones
And he is doing great in the NFL
LSU is so loaded with talent it’s hard for guys to get in the field
But the transition from LSU’s defense as opposed to other smaller schools seems smoother
Reily gets a lot of comparisons to Deion Jones because he has a similar trek to where he is, and what school he comes from. They are pretty scary identical, both also are very high mortor/effort guys and really play with passion. Cant ever say they will have the same outcome when they get to the pro’s but its very normal to draw those conclusions and many times that’s exactly what scouts do as long as the players seem to reflect one another closely.
Not that Devante Parker and Davante Adams are the same player, but I would like to see the same jump in improvement from year 2 to year 3 that Adams had this season from Parker next season. He should be able to come close, maybe not 12 TD’s, but I’d really hope he’s more involved in the offense, and can play a full season healthy.
In terms of raw talent I think Parker surpasses Adams by a pretty large margin
Honestly I think Parker’s production is okay
I don’t think his numbers are very high bc of the players around him – meaning Stills and Landry are getting a lot of the targets and Ajayi is getting a lot of carries
He’s not putting up alpha receiver numbers, and he should be starting every game.
Dural is a guy i keep mocking in my draft as a mid to later round guy because he is scary talented. He is a bigger version of Landry and Stills, a bit of a blend of each. He’s really fast, so he has the stretch the field ability of Stills, but he has some of the toughness for the crossing routes of Landry. I dont think he has Landry’s hands, but not many receivers do, and he might not have the very top of the top end speed that Stills does but its really really close. He would be a better fit than Stills, but as an argument for keeping Stills if the price is right, he is a more proven product. I dont see us keeping Stills, not with Landry and Parker upcoming for their contracts, and Dural developed right might be ridiculous in this offense. Both he and Dupree really got their ships sunk because of really poor QB play, both are WAY better than their stats indicate.
I don’t think we’re going to pay a lot of money, and by a lot of money, I mean over $7M per. He may get more, but it won’t be from us.
I don’t think we’re going to pay Stills a lot of money, and by a lot, I mean no more than $7M per. He may get paid more than that, but it won’t be by us. Too much money will be tied up at that position once we have to pay Landry, and then of course Parker.
Damn that QB from Colorado, Sefo Liufau, 10 and 7/8ths in hands… thats a big friggin mitt.
Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola are both a little above $4M per
Niche receivers, again, they dont work in all offenses, but are perfect for that one. Its why they can draft these little stud kind of receivers, and keep them, because they are pass over by other teams at the draft and they arent valuable to other teams in FA. Really complex but simple at the same time system they run over there in NE from personnel to game plan, just very simple but hard to scheme against.
Another set of mid to lower round “value” receivers i wouldnt mind us looking before draft just to have our options for replacing Stills. Damoreaa Stringfellow from Ole Miss, Josh Reynolds from Texas A&M, Josh Malone from Tennessee, Fred Ross from Miss State.
Lou
I know you are big on Forest Lamp
and it seems like some scouts agree
CBS actually has him as the 30th best prospect and a possible 1st rounder
but I have reservations about selecting a guy from Western Kentucky that high
I do think at 22
if the top LBs or pass rushers are off the board
maybe a trade back to acquire another 2nd is in the cards
and we can take OL early (late first)
and maybe focus on 2nd tier prospects at LB: guys like Anthony Walker, Jarrad Davis and Duke Riley or Beigel from Wisconsin, Hardy Nickerson, Anzalone from Florida
I do think there are good 2nd round and 3rd round LBs available that can be starters
and guys like DeMarcus Walker or Carl Lawson as DE
it is possible to build defense with 2nd and 3rd round picks
but I would not pass a chance on Foster or Cunningham at 22 if it was there
if we picked a starting OG and then went all defense for a few rounds – it might work well
I am less inclined to think that way about TE though, unless we lose SImms
https://twitter.com/MDCheer/status/823940191798882304
Is there any information available on Amanda’s desire for pork?
I’m asking for a friend…
She heard you weren’t interested in a Tight End and moved on to the other side of the ranch! 😉
What i have been saying about the combine stuff for years, is while others are jerkin it to the 40 times, the Pats are looking at other stats, things that dont get a ton of people excited about a player. Shuttle time for example, especially the short shuttle is a perfect indicator of a guy who is going to lose a defender off the line after couple of steps and a very crisp and quick cut and then acceleration. Short shuttle is hardly EVER discussed, but for their offense its a big deal. While others are going ZOMG look ath how BIG that receiver is, big target, me likey…Pats are going, this little midget wont even be seen slicing behind the front 7.
I really dont care to try to emulate their system, but i think we need to start finding out what our guys are, not what stats look attractive, but look at our team what works, what players run our system well and look for mirror images of those players and draft those guys. Likewise we need to find out what doesnt work, and what player traits we need to make those parts work and draft replacement players with those skills. Its a more simple process that way, i just dont know that anytime in our recent past even our coaches have know what the team was, what identity we were trying to give it so that we could do that, maybe this year will be the first in a while that we actually go into a draft with a somewhat sorta idea of that.
We just need to get a “System”, whatever it may be, and stick with it. That’s our biggest roster issue is the constant turnover from one regime or coach to another. Hopefully Gase is here a long time, and we find players that fit what he wants to accomplish. It’s one reason I won’t be shocked if we take a TE early, because I think the system he wants to run features a TE.
Demarcus Walker i think is going to be a better 3-4 DE, maybe even a Aaron Donald type of DT, more so than a 4-3 DE. I would rather have Lawson than Walker, but id rather have Barnett or Charlton over them, and i think if those guy aren’t 1st rounders (Lawson and Walker) they will be early 2nds, so we would either take them in the first or have to find alternatives.
I think he is an ideal 4-3 DE
once of the few guys you don’t have to say – he needs to gain 10 pounds….lol
Barnett is a no brainer over Walker and I agree
Charlton is not my favorite but I’m in the minority on that so must people would agree
I view Lawson and walker as 2nd rounders
and I happen to like both players a lot
they might get pushed into the 1st round based on pass rusher priorities of the NFL
but if we landed either in the 2nd round I would be a very happy pig
I think they would be upgrades to Branch and/or Vernon
Walker has had a few games where he looks unstoppable
I watch a lot of FSU and he jumps out
Lawson, is a guy I have been a fan of for a long time
I think I did his scouting report 2 years ago (expecting him to come out)
People really say great things about his motor and work ethic
I think he would be very good on a DL with Wake and Suh
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#Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger says on @937thefan that he’s not ready to commit to playing in 2017. Will consider his options then decide.
He might retire?
The Steelers will be crushed by that
so far some of my favorite players that might be available are
Zach Cunningham
Reuben Foster (of course)
Duke Riley
Carl Lawson
and DeMarcus Walker
I know Lou doesn’t see Davis as a quality player, but i see a much different player than he does and it seems consistently, other scouts are seeing things closer to my perspective than his. Again, not saying Lou doesn’t have a point, i just think maybe the sample size is smaller, with me having watched all his games for all the years he has been there. Or maybe its a vantage point that im not seeing, but whatever, i think he is a top guy and i think the draft will have him late first or early second, unless his combine is just not great.
Anzalone though i think is a sleeper candidate. He is really solid and i think the broken arm has him lower on some poeples boards, so i think he might wind up being a value pick. Nickerson is all over the board in what people think of him, so kinda hard to decide what i think on him, he looks really good at times and bad at time, highly athletic but extremely raw, i cant really decide on my own if i would want to take him on as a project, and only thing i know for sure i like about him is his pedigree and his potential, guys with dad’s who were pros generally reach at least close to their potential but he is going to be a project, not a start right off guy.
WY
there are some tight ends that even I can’t say no to
I see Lawson take some plays off, its plays away from him and he is likely setting the edge, but most DE’s still fly off the ball and get their inside hand on outside shoulder of the OT/TE and come over the LOS by a little, he more plays paddycakes with the OT and just stands up, he is not maximum effort when the play goes away from him. He does come full out on plays he has an assignment or its a passrush play, but otherwsie he doesnt put a full effort or give good pursuit. Plays away from you can still be plays you make, as long as you keep at it and i have seen times he doesnt, more times than im comfortable with, and i was also one of his biggest fans prior to this year.
don’t piss in my cereal
Kim Bokamper on Jarvis Landry- “To me Jarvis is the heartbeat of the football team, he’s the emotional leader. Look at DeVante Parker, you can see him taking on some of Jarvis’s characteristics. Now is the time to give him the long term contract and lock him down.”
And on Stills — “Give Stills a contract, I don’t want to see that group break up.”
Guess the big guy likes our wideout trio as is as willing for the Phins to pony up for the same three this year till Parker is in contract year.
I want to see the three stay together too and build on it.
I do as well, but like with anything else the Q is at what price? Comes a time when it is too high. Big Q in that for me is what Stills will cost and how Carroo is looking. We gave up as much for his trade as we did to get Stills. And even if happy with Stills, he has played about as well as his trade was worth IMO.
22: R1P22 LB REUBEN FOSTER, ALABAMA
54: R2P22 G PAT ELFLEIN, OHIO STATE
98: R3P34 EDGE DAESHON HALL, TEXAS A&M
167: R5P22 TE MICHAEL ROBERTS, TOLEDO
177: R5P32 CB JEREMY CUTRER, MIDDLE TENNESSEE
185: R5P40 EDGE BRYAN COX JR., FLORIDA
207: R6P22 S TEDRIC THOMPSON, COLORADO
243: R7P22 S WESTON STEELHAMMER, AIR FORCE
I know we don’t need 2 safety’s
but how frickin stoked would you be to wear a Steelhammer jersey!
That is a cool name, no doubt.
That is a great draft
But I want one more LB…lol
Conor Orr of NFL.com’s choice for us on his “hidden gems” list surprised me. He got played plenty……I would have gone with another guy from the same trade — Alonso.
————————-
Miami Dolphins: Byron Maxwell, cornerback. Last month, Maxwell claimed he was the No. 1 corner in the NFL. It was the launching pad for plenty of cheap jokes, but the truth is that executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum got a solid deal for a player that many believed was busted.
He’s very underappreciated by many Dolphins fans, but he might be our best CB. It makes me laugh when people say they want to cut him
He started off poorly than began to play really well before he got hurt.
The whole team as a whole started off poorly.
definately very under appreciated
I hated the trade and pickup
turns out he can play
All CBs get beat
they should put that on my tombstone
people always judge them harshly
Maybe it was him as a “hidden gem” that got me. He walked in with a big old ring, his name and a fat salary. Not saying am unhappy with his play and know he won’t get cut but even at CB Lippett was more that for me. Talking 5th round and showing it and potential.
I think we will get a real sense of how good Lippett will be in 2017
I viewed it as a 3 year project when we drafted him
That is why he is a 5th rounder – bc he was a project
Mike, but remember Maxwell looked like he wasn’t really even into playing early on. He looked stiff and lackadaisical. Then all of a sudden he looked good. It was strange.
I guess, it’s funny, I don’t remember the early season that much, it was painful.
I’m guessing it had to do with learning the defense
or being pushed by the piglets
Stanger
Philly basically dumped Alonso and Maxwell. I think that’s why he’s classifying that way.
I think Philly was looking to dump Maxwell’s salary and we said we want Alonzo too if we’re going to take that on. The the swap of 1st rd picks finalized the deal.
it was definately a salary dump
and we definitely got the better end of the deal
we probably would have taken Tunsil at 8…lol
No question, but for just a swap of 1st RD positioning, it was a dump. You don’t let go 2 good players for nothing like that.
I’m saying Philly wanted to dump Maxwell’s salary, not necessarily dumb Alonso. I believe we said we want Alonso too.
Guess we’ll never know who was worth what in the trade, but the swap was still worth like a 2nd rounder and was pretty clear they wanted Maxwell and all his guaranteed money out of town the season after signing a very large contract. In 2018, Maxwell is on the books for ten mill absolutely free and clear versus the cap. Heck — lets hope after next season we think that is a steal.
And great point by the Pig — we would have won the grass mask lotto either way. 🙂
Piggy, yeah it worked out pretty damn well for us still getting Tunsil at #14. 🙂
LOL @ dumb Alonso
I prefer smart Alonso
It wasn’t nice the first time you called him that, but now you have to come back and laugh at him for being stupid again? Thought you were a nice guy. 🙂
I’m told he also eats bacon occasionally…..the jerk!
If you think only occasional bacon, guess you haven’t been checking out his facebook page from last weekend…..will spare you the bragging caption.
Lippett, McCain and Howard should all progress next year. The we have vets Maxwell, Jones and Isa. I’d like to see us add some competition for Thomas, Aiken, Rambo, Lucas etc. Although Aiken showed he’s a pretty damn good STs player and so is Thomas.
Yeah — lots of young and hopefully growing talent at CB. You could always bring in a special talent there (or anywhere) and are always looking for depth, but figure only big splash we make in the DBs would come at safety…..maybe the stud of the FA class that Pig dreams about but instead say a second to fourth-rounder or some fairly serious FA to compete with Isa.
I don’t know why everyone is looking to replace Isa. He was 2nd on the team in tackles and missed the last game. I don’t think he played poorly.
As for going after a big time safety in FA I don’t see the need or why. Wouldn’t we just give Jones an extension instead which would be cheaper than a guy like Berry?
Wasn’t so much saying to replace Isa as to say if we were going to go big for a db he would be the most obvious place to go. But yes think we can upgrade from Isa, even if we could at CB too. Would be different if we weren’t four-deep with fairly solid CBs.
But regardless, two LBs and a young DE come first on D for me. And G before that too.
Before we got hit with a lot of injuries in the secondary our pass defense was top 10 most of the season and even then we didn’t always have all of our guys healthy. Add some DBs to compete with the rest of the group and I think we’ll be pretty damn good. I don’t see a need to do much replacing. Keeping them healthy would be good though. 🙂
I posted this last night and nobody replied, lol. It was an approach where we targeted defense in FA for proven players and then went offense early in the draft, then a bunch of competition at multiple positions on defense.
22: R1P22 TE O.J. HOWARD 6-6 250, ALABAMA
54: R2P22 C ETHAN POCIC 6-6 310, LSU
98: R3P34 CB CHIDOBE AWUZIE 5-11 205, COLORADO
167: R5P22 EDGE EJUAN PRICE 5-11 245, PITTSBURGH (4-3 WOLB attack LB)
177: R5P32 LB MARQUEL LEE 6-3 230, WAKE FOREST
185: R5P40 CB JALEN MYRICK 5-10 200, MINNESOTA
207: R6P22 S XAVIER WOODS, LOUISIANA TECH (hybrid S/Nickel LB)
243: R7P22 CB ASHTON LAMPKIN 6-0 190, OKLAHOMA STATE
You say WTF is this and I say it’s because we addressed defense in FA with experienced players as first time FAs or prime guys – DL and LB will be the focus. Probably another OL. We’re not looking to win in 2-3 years. We want to make that jump in 2017 and get to an AFC Championship game at the least.
This draft at the top adds a dimension we don’t have at TE in Howard, and Pocic gives us security if Pouncey can’t go. Make the offense better and it guards against falling to a sub par level if we have some injuries.
The next 6 picks is about the backend of the defense. Let them compete to start, play a major role or be depth.
Again just for fun. But we better get quicker and tackle. 🙂
Xavier Woods is 5-11 205 by the way. I left his size out on the list.
Tim — but seems our pass D was good in large part cause our rush D was so bad, but heck all the more reason to bring in some LBs to both take down RBs and bring mid-level coverage.
As far as your your mock, read Howard and go (yeah a good TE) and the rest is lost on me other than position. I am the draft talent idiot of the board. Can’t argue with the positions though…..even if hoping your draft would mean we got at least one starter LB as FA.
Tim,
I think Isa was a one year deal, if so he’s a FA
3 years $12,750,000.
I see that now. They can cut him after this upcoming season. Less than a million in dead cap money if they do that.
And with Jones a FA after next season….all the more reason to go safety,
I think the idea is hoping he helps us be a better team, not just look to cut him at some point. LOL
I thought he was solid, not great but definitely not bad. He’s actually one of our better tacklers.
Most of us are drafting Pocic or Eifen in the 2nd. That’s a lock both will be off the board by the time we pick there.
Especially if Piggy is drafting him. 😉
Stanger, we’ll have Jones’ money to sign a safety if we don’t re-sign him and he leaves in 2018.
For sure we would, but still a positive to bring talent in at a position with a guy going into a contract year at it. Free agency is a crap shoot. Would be different if we had Berry as our other safety. And guess comes down to just see Isa as an average starter and nothing else. Combine with don’t see a young charger at safety either. Aikens and Thomas are at best question marks.
No need to do it a year in advance unless we can find a good one in the draft.
No need at all, but that is what is nice about our position. Good amount of cap room and only true need is at LB.
Tim Knight says:
January 24, 2017 at 3:14 pm
Xavier Woods is 5-11 205 by the way. I left his size out on the list.
I’d rather have Big E Langston or Kofi Kingston…
Concerning the OL I would build on it by drafting a center or guard/center and move Pouncey to his HS and college days position of Guard. He can still play center if needed. He will last longer since center requires one to crouch down which is not good for hips long term plus he has proven he can play guard in NFL several years ago by making the pro bowl at guard. Drafting the best or second best guard or best center is possible in the 2nd and 3rd round depending how the draft unfolds. With the drafting of guard/center we will have the versatility of players being able to play multiple positions and we will finally be able to replace the big contracts with rookie 5 yr contracts that are spaced to come up yearly starting next year. The team will finally have a OL for the long haul after 10 years of bad luck but with player development we can again become active in other FA players. This years draft can solidify the OL team with a 2nd or 3rd round player.
I could see that. Pouncey would be good at either position, even if see him more suited to LG where he could pull more but schemes could be changed.
And how you been doing JS? Long time no see….and glad you are back.
I’ve been good and busy with relatives visiting during our tourist season which seems to be every winter. Half the people I don’t know. I wouldn’t say I’m back I read articles every once in while but I’m mostly busy with family and projects.
PS-Mike E the article on coffee was good. I don’t drink the stuff since my military days but it reminded me of my college days of a friend. He drank Cuban coffee not by the small little cup but by the big cup itself—4-5 cups a day. I always saw him at the library at 3-4am during finals week.
Yeah — ain’t it funny when you live down here that you have better friends when it gets cold up north? That has died down for us a bit, but when we first came down it was an avalanche of visitors. Everybody had to kick the tires.
Good to see you again Jetssuck
Stanger, I’m not a qualified college prospect guy either. I do that Fanspeak Draft, go by the BPA on the board each rd and what position I’d like unless there is a prospect too good to pass on, and then I look them up on CBS to see if I like their skillset. LOL
Like I said just for fun. I have no idea who we’ll target.
Hope all is well jetssuck.
Hey jetssuck! Good to see you back here! Thanks for the thumbs up on the coffee article
D-Fence!
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article128497694.html
Totally possible but it’s still too early to project. 😉
I won’t cry if we take a TE, I promise!
LOL, I wouldn’t either but he better be that guy.
I really feel you need to get through the combine and pro days and then FA before you can really start to hone in on the draft.
Tim
No question. It changes the whole complexion of what your needs are. Unless we’re not active at all in FA, meaning even depth players, a lot can change after FA.
I think we’re going to be very active in FA. Maybe not the top guys but that 2nd tier solid level like I’ve said before in that 4 year $25M range.
Say we re-sign Branch, don’t see him getting more than what Mitchell got a few years ago 4 years $16M, put the 1st rd tender with a chance to match on Alonso, then sign two LBs and probably another DE and OL, that opens up our draft. I think you always want to be open in the draft and not in dire need of anything. We’re going to have the cap room to do it. Instead of signing guys in their twilight like we did this past season to make a playoff run, go for the guys in their prime now who can maybe take us to that next game in the playoffs.
That’s almost exactly what I hope we do. That would be ideal.
Almost? LOL
Ah shoot, did I say almost? I meant EXACTLY! lol
That Barry Jackson article suggesting the Dolphins will use an early pick on front 7 defense
is the best article ever written!
lol
That said – I think Solomon Thomas is a top 5 maybe top 10 at the latest pick
I don’t know why they mentioned him and not Reuben Foster
I bet Thomas is selected before Foster
I kind of like the McKinley comparison with Cunnigham
I do think Cunningham is better than McKinly though
if Cunningham is there at 22
there is no question in my mind – he should be the pick (unless Foster or some other highly rated guy falls)
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Ryan Tannehill To Have Second MRI, Surgery Still A Possibility « CBS Miami http://gettopical.com/miami-dolphins/fd6727fe30c1ec8dfa2457cdfcbce57a?src=twitter … via @560WQAM
The rise of Solomon Thomas in this draft is both incredible and ridiculous at the same time. A top five pick? Not for a guy who’s ceiling is OV.
When I read the comments about not wanting to pay Stills I’ll just repeat that I’m glad nobody on here is running the Phins organization.
Give me Calvin Munson of San Diego State over Alex Anzalone every day and twice on Sunday.
Can’t believe what I’m reading. Dural, Stringfellow, Malone and Ross as players who can replace Stills. I can’t believe anyone would be serious about this and ppl think I’m crazy w/my qb comments.
Ain’t happenin’ gentlemen. Stills isn’t going anywhere. You think we’re going to let Stills walk so we can hear fans cry for another year that Tannehill has to start over and develop chemistry with another new wr.
And who, might I ask, will replace Stills in the lineup while one of these prodigal ball hawks is developing.
If you take a guy later in the draft to replace stills
He you better not expect him to contribute in 2017
Why mess with the China try we’ve built
This is a time to re-sign guys like still who produced
It will cost us
But I prefer it to bringing in Ufa
It’s worth spending $ to keep guys IMO
Lou
Thomas has shot up charts like CBS for whatever that is worth
Last month I believed he was a 2nd rounder
Now he is the number 3 overall prospect on CBS
It’s incredible
But it’s January
The dramatic movement will slow down after the combine
But right now at he movement
He is on fire
Yep. He’ll drop like a steaming hot turd before the draft. Anzalone is another one I just don’t get. A one year wonder with injury concerns. I guess this team likes injured LB’s like Misi. IDK. I thought the days of Trusniks and Tripps left with Philbin.
I haven’t watched Thomas yet
So i can’t comment
I’m watching Anzalone
But FLA LBs have injury concerns but I think they have to be considered
He’s missed 20 games over his four years at Florida. I don’t think he needs to be considered.
Piggy,
I think the thing that I see with a lot of the comments about LB’s in this draft is names are just being thrown out haphazardly due to their being a need at LB but I’d rather they take a player at another position who makes the team better than reach for a guy at the LB position just to fill the spot.
This is what Ireland did when he drafted and we see/saw how well that worked out.
There’s players who are much better at other positions and will be able to help us more than taking most of these linebacker prospects from the 2nd rd on.
I go back to 2013 when we took Taylor in the 2nd and Ireland panicked and moved up to get Will Davis. Neither playing for the team anymore shows that picking for need doesn’t always work out the way you would hope it would.
This is another year we shouldn’t be picking for need but be picking the best player for the team as the mantra goes.
We need linebackers but I’d rather get one solid one in the first rd than take 3 in this draft and waste 2 of those picks on guys who don’t pan out.
Taylor was actually ranked fairly highly from what I recall
It was probably a reach in hindsight
The draft can be a crapshoot
I would not force a player in a spot based on need
But I’m do think there are LBs in this draft that can help us
Anzalone injury concerns do really scare me
Davis too
It’s a long time until April
We will see what happens
I keep finding new ones to look at
But they all have prose and cons
I like the top 2 (Foster and Cunningham) a lot
If one is there at 22
I think you have to take him
I remember Tim really liked Jamar Taylor before the draft, and if I’m not mistaken, he called that we would pick him, although we got him in the 2nd RD, not the 1st. He had a great combine, had good size, ran a 4.39 40, put up 22 reps of 225, and had a great short shuttle run of 4.06. He also had a good career at Boise St. He didn’t work out here, as too many didn’t, but in his first year in CLE, Taylor played OK, starting 14 games with 13 passes defensed, 3 INT’s and 57 total tackles. Not too bad. He just didn’t get it done here, he would flash, and then regress.
He was a good prospect
Expected to go in the 2nd
It wasn’t a reach
I think Tim thought we would take him late 1st, not positive, but that went out the window once we traded up for Dion FF
The point is we took two players at a major position of need and we missed on both. That is why you don’t take players just because you have a need at a position; especially if the talent is there. Maybe Taylor was expected to go in the 2nd rd. Who cares?
He’s not with the team anymore and his one year of playing well in Cleveland doesn’t make him worth that 2nd rd pick. Davis was a complete and total waste of time.
But my comments aren’t about those two players as much as it is about the linebacker position this year. People are just throwing out names of linebacker prospects like these guys are going to come in here and change things and that’s just not the case.
If the team has a chance at a legitimate prospect it’s one thing but a lot of these guys are overprojected at this time and some will fall. With this class of linebackers we’re not finding the guy to man the middle in the 3rd or 4th rd this year. It’ not happening.
Most of these guys were edge rushers in college and nothing more.
Tim Williams is dropping now because of that fact. he was a pass rush specialist with Alabama and that’s ALL he did. You need to be able to project what these guys are capable of at the next level and when you do you better be right because, if you’re not, you’ve wasted time and picks on guys you shouldn’t have taken.
I don’t believe this team would do that anymore because they pick the best player for the team. So, in that vein, I’m not expecting them to go full out after linebackers. If they have a shot at Foster or Cunningham in the first I could see that. McKinley, if his injury is looking okay too. Possibly Anderson in the 2nd. MAYBE Davis in the 3rd. But, I doubt too many others are on their radar.
I don’t remember Mike
I do remember Tim liked him
I think Taylor went where he was projected
When you look at the LB prospects in this draft the first question to be asked is “are they an upgrade over Misi and Jenkins”?
The majority of them aren’t. Maybe a handful of them can play as well and not have the injuries of either of those two players but, other than that, they really aren’t upgrades.
My advice would be take Cunningham if he’s there at #22 and be done with the position but for depth purposes.
I actually think the vast majority of guys who have been mentioned here on blog as possibilities in the first 3 rounds are upgrades over Misi and Jenkins
Jenkins is horrible
Misi only avoids being called horrible because I can’t remember seeing him on the filed.
no doubt Foster and Cunningham are upgrades and if they decided to go with McKinley on the outside rather than at DE he most likely is too. Other than that I don’t see McMillan, Davis, Beckwith, Walker, Jr., Reilly or any of those others being upgrades over what we already have.
Anderson may be the only guy that’s there in the 2nd who can man the SOLB spot for us and, again, that’s because I’m giving our new LB coach the benefit of the doubt.
But, when you look at the list:
Anzalone
Reilly
Walker, Jr
Elijah Lee
Beckwith
Fields
Beigel
Phillips
Price
Marquel Lee
None of these guys stand out as a player who can come in and man the spots vacated by Jenkins or Misi and be an upgrade over what we’ve already got.
I actually think most of those guys are upgrades over Misi and Jenkins
some of them might need a little more time
But I think you are selling this class way short at LB
Anzalone concerns me early bc of the injury concerns
but with a the 5th rounder I have no problem with him or a Bpulware
I don’t love Marquel Lee
I can barely find anything on Elijah Lee and I’ve been looking for a few days now
I know nothing about Phillips or Proce at the moment
but Riley, Beckwith, Walker (and Davis provide he is there in the 2nd) all have more natural athletic ability than either Misi or Jenkins
from day 1 those guys are the most athletic LBs we have
Think about what you are talking about with Misi
He was rafted for a 3-4 defense and was a “high motor” guy
he has always been a liability in coverage and he doesn’t cover much ground
If we would have taken a LB in the first 3 rounds of the last 2 drafts – any LB, Misi probably would not have been on the roster in 2016
Misi isn’t a Miami Dolphin bc he is hard to replace, he is on the roster bc we haven’t even tried to replace him.
If you don’t draft a LB (or sign or trade for one this offseason) you can expect Misi to be on the roster once again in 2017
Misi is not a tough upgrade – the Dolphins actually just have to try to upgrade him
Mine and Lou’s boy getting some love!
Reese’s Senior Bowl @seniorbowl 9h9 hours ago
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Fastest player on field in first practice > CB @montaviouskazee (Damontae Kazee) from @Aztec_Football (21.2 mph), courtesy @CatapultSports
Misi and jenkins can’t be relied on. Both are injury prone and should be shown the door turner and thomas style.
Saints have the #11 pick and if they feel they can get Foster in the draft I want Anthony playing in MIA if they are looking to trade him. Reports from Saints beat reporters had him on the trade block early last season but nothing came of it. It’s possible that happens before the draft or during the draft this year.
I don’t know what they would want but I’m taking him off their hands if they don’t want him. Especially with our new LB coach.
I agree we need new starting caliber LBs. All I meant to say was we can’t count on misi or jenkins as starters going forward. They can be backups.
I agree and maybe I’m selling the team and it’s coaches short, especially now that we’ve got our new LB coach in place.
Maybe he’s THAT good and he can take any number of LB prospects from this draft and make them impact players.
I’m just looking at what’s out there from the 3rd rd on and it doesn’t look like any of those guys give us anything above and beyond what we’ve already got but for the health aspect. Maybe just being healthy vs the injuries will help by itself but from a talent point of view it’s going to be tough to find guys at LB in this draft that are better at playing the position than what we already have.
They aren’t even very good when healthy