I can’t get enough of this running back class this year. So many good ones, from the top tier which I have as Barkley, Michel and Guice to the Day 2 and Day 3 guys.
One interesting back that has caught my psychic eye is Kalen Ballage, The Arizona State Running Back.
The Positives: He’s another big back available in the 2018 draft. At 6-3, 230 pounds the Arizona State Senior is a lot to bring down. Ballage is a very good athlete, that large frame is pretty well spread out on a big body.
There were times when Ballage took over games at ASU including a 2016 game vs Texas Tech where he scored eight touchdowns. YES EIGHT! That actually tied a college football record. Seven of those touchdowns were on the ground on only 13 carries. In that game when you gave the ball to Ballage he was more than 50% likely to score.
Ballage had an impressive 44 receptions in junior season. He’s quite a versatile back. He runs well, he catches the ball well. Ballage actually had a bunch of direct snaps out of the wildcat at ASU and was very productive.
The Negatives: Despite that impressive single game vs Texas Tech, Ballage doesn’t have eye owning career stats. In his four year career he never crossed the 700 yard mark and that’s playing in at least 10 games a season.
He’s also a bit of a dancer. Albeit he is a big back who has showed the power to move defenses after contact, often times Ballage doesn’t aggressively attack the offense. Some people will cite his patient running style as a strength and it certainly can be. For what its worth, this “dancing” only occurs behind the line of scrimmage. Pray you don’t square up with Ballage in the open field. OUCH!
The Alien Dust: I think he is one of the most underrated running back prospects in the 2018 draft. He might have gone higher if he came out last year, but this year’s class is so deep, it pushed him down a bit.
What really jumps out about Ballage is his versatility. He’s not just a big North and South runner. The guy can run outside and inside and can be quite a weapon in the passing game showing the ability to run a variety of routes. He could be the next David Johnson.
Ballage would be quite an addition to the Dolphins and he might even be available on Day 3.
This versatile weapon reminds me of one of my most fundamental weapons – the Thermos Blaster!
You can watch his highlights here!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 11: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming (B+)
Round 2 Pick 10: Billy Price, C/OG, Ohio State (A+)
Round 3 Pick 9: Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State (B+)
Round 4 Pick 11: Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn (A+)
Round 4 Pick 30: J.C. Jackson, CB, Maryland (A+)
Round 6 Pick 9: B.J. Hill, DT, North Carolina State (A+)
Round 7 Pick 5: Skai Moore, OLB, South Carolina (B)
Round 7 Pick 11: Javon Wims, WR, Georgia (A+)
Wanted to see how I could rebound if I took a QB in the 1st RD.
D – Yeah man, the Lions Honolulu blue is kinda similar to the Chargers Powder blue
Lol @ Mike E and D
Lou – Entitled, yes. Doesn’t feel like he has to work hard, because his talent always got him what he wanted, except in the NFL, there’s a lot more talent, and look at work ethic compared to other teammates, like Jakeem Grant
well, that’s all speculation and it doesn’t mean anything. Carroo has the talent, he’s as talented as anyone else at wr and it’s the job of the coaching staff to get him to where he needs to be. if there’s a guy on the team at wr who looks entitled it’s Parker. but, again, that’s all speculation as well.
What would you attribute Carroo’s lack of playing time to? I know, I know, the dumbass HC who traded Ajayi?
I would just be speculating but I think the coaches, namely the HC, wanted to put the guys in there who were starters to try and give the team the best chance of winning games.
Nothing wrong with that and it’s a self-preservation kind of thing. I also think that some people are better at developing talent than others. I don’t feel we’ve had the kind of coaches who are good at developing talent in a long time.
I think if a player turns out to be good then the coaches get lucky.
thing about Carroo is every time he HAS seen the field he’s produced. Caught a td in the 1st preseason game vs ATL. Had a nice 21 yd reception vs the Jets. 6 for 48 vs BAL the following wk led the team in receptions that wk and 2nd in yds.
So, what’s the problem? I still say the coaches have as much to do with it as anyone.
Branch had knee surgery today. He played injured for a good portion of the season. If he’s healthy in ’18 I expect the “he’s overpaid” people to keep quiet.
Lou – Jakeem Grant is a starter? He leapfrogged right over Carroo for playing time. Self preservation???
Who did more with their playing time, Carroo or Grant?
didn’t say Grant was a starter. said that he penciled in the starters because they would give him the best chance at winning out of the gate. personally, with all the coaching changes I think that changes this year and we see a lot of guys battling it out for positions and the best guys are going to win.
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In his retirement announcement on @PlayersTribune, Aaron Williams says the Landry hit that ended his career was “unnecessary,” but adds “I got no ill will towards” Jarvis.
That was that peelback block that looked totally legal to me, just like I thought JuJu’s was too.
sure was. back in the ’70’s everyone would have called that a great play but these days it’s like 2 hand touch
Is it true that he joined the Dolphins?
Where are Huginn and Muninn?
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Successful surgery, appreciate everyone for the support and well wishes. I’ll be back better than ever
For all you Tanny haters — we could make a move for Cousins. Some team will take on Tanny for say a 2nd or 3rd and that means we free up $15 mil in cap. We have enough room to add in the rest and make a play for him.
Don’t think it will happen, but it could.
While I don’t think Cousins is an upgrade over Tannehill, possibly getting a 2nd round pick and more cap room is intriguing. …but I doubt it would happen.
If you don’t like Cousins, then not the move for you. That freed up cap is there even if we cut him….would need someone to play QB though.
then you’re putting the team right back in cap hell. you free up $15M by letting Tannehill go and then you would need to free up more. Cousins is looking at an avg somewhere in the range of $30M/yr. he’s going to be at Stafford-level compensation.
Stanger – As I mentioned before – I can’t see any team giving up a high pick for Tannehill until they see him playing well, and and not favoring his knee. He would probably have to go through training camp and play the preseason before a team would feel comfortable enough to surrender a high pick to get him.
Maybe Gase and I are too high on Tanny, but I think we could trade him in a second. He’s hitting the prime age window for a QB and — weird as it is to say — his contract is not that big, and if it doesn’t work out the team could just cut him.
But for the same reasons think lots of team would roll the dice on him, think we keep him.
Nobody is going to trade for a guy who hasn’t played in over a season coming off knee surgery. Not going to happen. If we’re going to unload Tannehill it’s going to be a straight cut.
Lou — then we just disagree on this. In years past I would be right with you, ACL surgery has advanced a lot….and he would have to pass an extensive physical.
you’re an NFL GM and you’re going to trade for a qb that hasn’t played in over a year and is coming off knee surgery. he blows out his knee in camp and now you’ve lost your starter for the season and maybe your job. I don’t think so.
and keep in mind that all 32 NFL GM’s were surveyed on him and the majority don’t even like him.
Yep — I would trade for him if I needed a QB. But then I am not a GM, but does seem ours is intent on keeping.
It’s going to be a QB madness offseason.
Overpaid and underpaid only accounts for the players production AFTER the contract is signed. In other words, you can call a guy overpaid if he agrees to a 10mil per contract, which is maybe 10th best in the league and then the next year plays like the 30th best in the NFL. By definition he is overpaid, but the point at which he signed that contract he was not overpaid, he was paid what the market and the two sides who made the contract agreement decided he was worth. So you cant say a player like Landry or a player like Branch are overpaid until the production shows they are. Playing while injured certainly justifies the drop off in production so that might be a point at which overpaid maybe really isnt.
You also have to take into consideration that overpaid might be a result of underpaid the year before. The first year Branch was with us he was underpaid for his production, and thats why he got the bigger contract to re-sign. So this first year really is a mix of what we hope his production will be this year plus a little carry over from the production last year.
This is why all these judgments cast on salaries and contracts and how much a player is worth or isnt worth are kinda moot coming from us. The people that write the checks and the people that get the checks are the only people that can say over or underpaid and that’s a discussion between them which may or may not result in a cut, trade, or re-negotiation of the contract.
It’s funny I was listening to WFAN yesterday and they had Cousins on and he was pretty chill about what his status is and where he might end up, even if back with Washington. Well now he knows it won’t be in Washington so he gets his first shot at testing FA.
he was paid well for his last 2 yrs there and in his 3 yrs as a starter he put up some good numbers so he’s going to continue to get paid well.
I’m sure he knows that. He came of as humble and understands the business etc. He even said being franchised wasn’t the worst thing.
You have to figure he knew or at least did not want his future to be in Washington…..otherwise he wouldn’t have made them franchise him twice instead of doing a deal. And they did trade for Smith right quick this off season.
denver is a good possiblity
doesn’t anybody work around here?
I’m at work just don’t do much work anymore
Fuck, I was thinking the same thing. I work for myself, so I have an excuse.
Historically work hours have been the busiest ones on the board, but been then evening hours have been more chatty in recent years. Maybe folks just don’t hit the party scene as much.
We are all old.
Old?!?!? We are all practically dead
But, again, despite these conversation about RT I’m staying away from qb in the first rd this year. Build a team. Build a team. And, build a team. Doesn’t do us any good to go out and draft a young qb with the situation we’ve got right now. Throw him to the wolves and for what? No thanks.
#BUILDATEAM
RT is basically on a year to year performance based contract now. The Dolphins can move on without taking much of a cap hit especially after this year. 2019 it’s $2.3M and in 2020 it’s 0. So they can see if Tannehill’s knee is right this year and if he can get back on track. If they feel it’s time to move on after this season they can very easily. But I do think they’re all in with him this season.
I agree. I also see them drafting a QB this year. But would they keep 3 QBs on roster or only 2 if they draft one.
Not sure. I guess they could keep a guy like Fales on the cheap as a backup while they develop a young QB. Or they just go with the rook if RT goes down. If Tannehill doesn’t pan out for whatever reason this season, we’re most likely not going to have a successful season with the other QBs anyway.
that’s why I’m keeping my fingers crossed we go with Benkert as the qb we take. I want to see what one of MY guys can do in that position if/when Tannehill is replaced for whatever reason.
If anything, they’re bringing in a younger guy as a backup and maybe even a guy who can compete for the starting position. I don’t see them drafting a qb in the first, at least I hope they don’t, but I think they take one early enough.
So, if Tannehill can go a full season and we can bring a guy up to speed he may be done at the end of the year. And, I think the qb is going to be a Gase player. He’s going to pick HIS guy. (no kidding) But, again, it’s probably 2nd at the earliest but could be the 3rd.
So the team has said it’s looking more for a qb to replace Moore than it is looking for a starter. Do we get that guy thru FA or the draft and if it’s in the draft, what round do you think it is?
I’m answering myself. I say if Lamar Jackson or Mason Rudolph are there when we pick in the 2nd we’re taking one of them. If not I don’t know. I want Benkert, no kidding, but I don’t know who we are targeting.
If the Eagles win the Super Bowl does Foles come into the picture for any of the qb needy teams?
I’d probably keep him around being that Wentz got hurt late in the year and may not be ready to play early on or the first half of the season. He could be on the 8 week IR.
Draft a QB…..as long as it’s not @11 I don’t care when.
yep. every year
I think Foles will want to get his chance with a team that wants him to start. Maybe that’s Jacksonville
or the browns, Cardinals or denver
He’s not a UFA.
tim,
I just don’t see them going with 2 QBs if they draft one this year. They’ll keep Fales as backup. And if they draft a QB in rounds 2,3, or 4 I don’t see them putting him practice squad. So unless the rookie really plays well, they’ll keep 3 QBs on roster IMO.
If you draft a QB early/mid rounds you have to keep him on the 53. If they don’t feel he’s ready to play, yeah you have to keep 3.
Don’t the pats usually keep 3 QBs on roster?
No just two, but sometimes they will keep three. I think they have generally kept 3 when they were coming to a point to where the backup might be able to be traded to a team looking for a starter and they will have a guy behind him the year before that so they have their backup option ready to go incase of that scenario. They are forward thinking , usually 2-3 years ahead on their team planning.
When trophy designers get fired. 🙂
I think she is eating more than Cheerios
Lol!
I dont know about the trophy designer, but the guy who published this photo should be lol. Can you imagine that somewhere out there, her friends saw this in publication and were like “uh, Amy (she is an amy in my story, i dont know her real name) have you seen the photo of you holding up your recent golfing trophy….” “No Jan (Jan is her friend in my story, i dont really know if she has a friend named Jan, but there is probably a Janet or Janie or Janison….) i havent, let me look that up real quick.” “tap tap click click tappity tap taparooo” “Ummm Amy you might want to……” “OMG, WTF, FFS”……. end of story.
Eagles are unlikely to let Foles go at this point. No guarantee Wentz will be ready for the start of the season
Agreed. He’s also on the books for $7.6M in 2018 with a $5.4M cap hit. I don’t see him going anywhere.
I thought he was a FA, my mistake
He’s actually signed through 2021 but PHI has an out in 2019 at $1.8M.
Given that Wentz is on his rookie contract
I think philly would be wise to cling to Foles until they get to the place where they have to re-sign Wentz
That’s prett much an ideal situation at QB
It’s what I’m hoping we do in terms of drafting a QB with tannehill under contract
If he is already under contract the only way he leave Philly is by trade, and i wouldn’t put it past some of the teams like the Jets, etc to make offers. Philly can probably hold out for a ridiculous offer for him too because worst case scenario they have one of the best backup plans for Wentz they could hope for.
This is how i know the situation with Garopolo pissed Belichick off. He had Brissett behind Garopolo to become the backup so that Garopolo could be traded without creating a void. Then they traded Brissett to the Colts, and Belichick was ok with that because Brissett wasnt what they wanted to replace Garopolo as a backup, and that made Garopolo no longer expendable. SF then comes along and wants to trade for Garopolo, which would leave them in an even bigger void behind Brady, so Belichick didnt want to do it without a first in compensation so that they could draft a guy capable of backing up Brady, but they only got a second for Garopolo so that kindd of messed up a lot of the planning that Belichick had for the QB position and its backup plan. I believe the tiff that Belichick had over the Garopolo trade was legit, though it might not have included or had anything to do with Brady like it was speculated to do, but i definately dont think Belichick was happy about the trade.
I don’t think he was happy either
He had a plan in place
Piggy – Did you see your email?
I think now is the perfect time to draft a QB. Because, IF Tannehill can come back fully healthy and play, it provides him with competition which, I believe, is always a good thing. It gives the team at least a year to groom the rookie QB, which I think most of the guys in this draft could use. It also gives you a year, at least, with the kid to develop him but also to find out for sure if he is a guy that you can build around once you have him in your building. I think it’s a bad idea to wait until you have to draft a QB and throw him out there when he may not be ready. Do it when you already have a guy who can start and take some time to develop your young guy. If the rookie comes in and blows away the coaches and takes the starting job, that’s gravy, and you still have a guy in Tannehill that you can trade, if you want to.
***
And i’m on lunch. Lol
Agreed and you can find good QBs in other rounds besides the 1st. Garoppolo 2nd, Foles 3rd, Cousins 4th etc.
I agree
I actually don’t like most of the 1st round prospects
But right now White, Benkert and Falk look like good options
I’m confused. Is the whole “the ground can’t cause a fumble” not part of the rules anymore?
It seems that way for WRs who need to secure the ball like holding a baby where RBs can just reach for the goal line and fumble and it’s a TD.
It depends on if the Pats are playing.
Omar Kelly @OmarKelly 6m6 minutes ago
Omar Kelly Retweeted Jason D’Ambroiso
Funny enough, I’ve been told that by every Dolphins executive last week.
Jason D’Ambroiso @unstoppableJD
Replying to @OmarKelly
Tannehill is going to wind up looking like a down right bargain after this off-season!
That tends to happen a few years into a contract
Even we he signed his extension I heard pundits talk about how his deal was not what people think it is. The Dolphins have outs after a couple of years if he doesn’t pan out. In the big scheme of things they have outs this year through 2020. So like I said earlier, he’s on a performance based deal year to year now.
I just saw your email and replied Mike
D,
My understanding of the “story” was the Belichick wanted to move on from Brady to prove his legacy in NE, that he was the reason for the winning in NE and not Brady. He and Kraft had an argument about it and Kraft told him he didn’t want to move on from Brady.
Belichick wanted to start Garoppolo instead and when he had the fallout with Kraft, Kraft told him to trade Garoppolo and he didn’t want to. The way the story is also told is that he told his assistants to start looking for positions with other teams.
Now, that’s the version I heard and even though it’s from the media I can’t say that it’s true or not. Could be all speculation.
Randy,
I believe now and every year is the time to draft a quarterback. You pick up guys at other positions every year all the time why not draft a quarterback? Everyone says it all the time. The draft is a crap shoot right? So, you take a guy in the 2nd or 3rd and who is to say you don’t strike gold.
You’ve got to be in agreement about the player and you’ve got to make a commitment to him. You can’t just draft him and say “well, we drafted him in the 3rd so we’re not expecting much”.
But, yes, draft a qb by all means. Just not in the first round. #BUILDATEAM
Am I missing something? How could Kirk Cousins and Denver be close to a deal at this time of the year? He’s not a free agent yet, correct?
He sure is, but an official signing can’t take place yet. According to the NFL calendar, contracts cannot be negotiated and signed until March 14th, 4PM. I suppose unofficial talks can take place.
MARCH
March 6 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 12-14 Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2017 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 14. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 14.
March 14 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2018 on all players who have option clauses in their 2017 contracts.
March 14 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
March 14 Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2017 contracts who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
March 14 Top 51 begins. All clubs must be under the 2018 salary cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.
March 14 All 2017 player contracts will expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
March 14 The 2018 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
The first day of the 2018 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 14. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 14.
March 14 The first day of the 2018 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 14. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 14.
March 14 Trading period for 2018 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2017 contracts.
March 25-28 Annual League Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
my understanding is clubs aren’t even permitted to start talking to players who will be unrestricted free agents until that time. I remember when Suh came to Miami there was talk the team was going to have some issues because there were claims made we were talking to him before the start of free agency.
so I don’t even think any kind of preliminary negotiations can take place right now.
Lou – If you read the first paragraph of what I posted, these talks can’t happen with the agent. I guess the player can talk to the club w/o his agent, and basically agree on parameters. It’s a gray area, so not sure what’s legal and what isn’t.
I don’t think it matters if it’s the player or the agent. There was a post on Twitter as Cowherd as the source that Cousins was close to a deal w/Denver. Player or agent, there’s a 3 day “legal tampering period” allowed just before free agency that allows for the ironing out of the details of the contract but I’m pretty sure they’d knock it down this early in the process.
QB situation…
R1P1: Browns- QB
2: Giants- QB
3: Colts- Andrew Luck
4: Browns- R1P1
5: Broncos- QB
6: Jets- QB
7: Bucs- Jameis Winston
8: Bears- Mitch Trubisky
9: 49ers- Jimmy Garoppolo
10: Raiders- Derek Carr
Top-ranked QBs: Rosen, Darnold, Mayfield, Allen
FAs: Cousins, Keenum
– Either the Browns or Jets are going to end up with Cousins (they have the cap space to afford $30M/year)
– Keenum is the wildcard. If he follows Shurmur to the Giants, Eli will likely want out. If not, they’ll draft Eli’s future replacement
Barring any trades within the top-10, I think we’ll have a shot at either Baker Mayfield or Josh Allen
and I don’t want either. Chiefs were in a position as a contender to do what they did in going after a qb; we’re not. Build the team first. Draft a qb but take one in the 3rd or 4th.
I don’t disagree, man.
Have you soured on Logan Woodside?
I haven’t soured on him as much as I’ve solidified my position on Benkert. If we have a shot at him then he’s the guy I want.
It will be mighty interesting to see what we do at that point. I won’t be sad if Nelson is there if he’s our pick. Not that we can’t fix the O-line in the 2nd with either Hernandez or Wynn, or Price, but I want that problem solved, and Nelson is the best candidate to accomplish that
I won’t be sad either. At least it means we won’t be signing any long in the tooth, stop-gap, over the hill player who’s nothing more than depth at best to be a starter on the o-line. So, if that’s the way we go then so be it. It’s all part of building the team.
You aren’t doing that when you’re bringing in Larsen, Bushrod, Hayes, Timmons, Allen and Maualuga as starters.
Players cant talk with other teams right now. My guess is its speculation on the part of some “reporter” who is scooping a rumor and not facts.
Can they text? lol
dinner and a movie but no holding hands
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 31, 2018 at 6:04 pm
I haven’t soured on him as much as I’ve solidified my position on Benkert. If we have a shot at him then he’s the guy I want.
———
All good. I’ve soured on Whiteside a bit, but not a lot. I do think we can do better than he, but he’s got excellent mechanics to work with.
Mike E. says:
January 31, 2018 at 6:03 pm
It will be mighty interesting to see what we do at that point. I won’t be sad if Nelson is there if he’s our pick. Not that we can’t fix the O-line in the 2nd with either Hernandez or Wynn, or Price, but I want that problem solved, and Nelson is the best candidate to accomplish that
————
100% with ya on Quenton Nelson… he’s still my pick @ R1P11 if he’s there. And it WILL be mighty interesting to see what we’d do in that situation.
I think if Allen or Matfield are there, Miami is taking him. If they are both there and Miami takes one, I hope they take Mayfield. This team needs a little personality.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if that’s what we do.
the first 3 rds in each of the last 2 years has been pretty straight forward. yeah, we traded down with Philly two years ago but there wasn’t really anything you either got extremely excited about or were bitching about. 2 years of boring, straight-forward drafting.
Now, if they continue along the same line, I doubt they take a quarterback in the first rd. If anything, they’re trading down and getting some compensation from a team that’s qb hungry and I couldn’t disagree with that either.
I honestly would take Allen in the first minus a couple of scenarios. 1) Saquon Barkley is still there. I cannot see passing on a guy that talented no matter need or whatever. Id draft him and find a way to use he and Drake both. 2) Minkah Fitzpatrick was still on the board. Again, tremendous talent, position flexibility (He’d be my top S or my top CB in this draft) again, just not a guy id pass on.
Im iffy on what id do if he or Rosen were both there, because one is polished but the other is way more likely to make think we got something close to being the next Dan Marino than the other. Rosen is a guy i think could easily turn out like Alex Smith, and thats not a bad thing, he might even have the potential to be a Matt Ryanish type player but i dont think he has the potential to be a super duper star. Allen does have that, he just has a good way to go before he can get there. I know i like Allen more than Darnold. My guess is though, there is 0 chance both are there so it woul be moot.
The point is, im not letting pick 11 pass by with Allen on the board, and not selecting him as long those couple guys i mentioned arent there. Id rather wait on getting an OL in the second than not take Allen with that pick. Id rather wait on TE to the third or 4th before id pass on Allen with that pick. I consider those big time needs for us, dont get me wrong, but i also think the time for QB is now and we dont need to play this one pussified (sorry OCRob i borrowed your word) we need to be agressive taking a guy who has really strong potential to push Tanny this coming year and replace him in the next two. I like some of the other guys, especially Faulk but if we get the chance to do it up big, we should do it.
Allen is a project. He needs a lot of work to even get him to the point where Tannehill is right now and if this team takes him at #11 I’m either finding another team to root for or I’ll just move on. I can’t imagine wasting any more of my time on a team that just doesn’t get it and keeps pulling foolish shit like that. Build a frickin team. JMHO.
Oh and if Mayfield and he are both there i definitely want Allen over Mayfield.
There are some out there who think Miami is going to make a push for Cousins. Move on from Tannehill and do what’s necessary to create the cap to sign him. How do you feel about that?
It’s not going to happen. PERIOD.
Makes no sense. Cousins is not really an upgrade and he wants way more money than RT’s cost.
I give that a 2% chance of happening
Prof Lou,
I’m with ya that Josh Allen is a bit of a project, but he’s GOOD. There’s a reason why he’s projected to go in the 1st round, ya know.
oh yeah, there’s a reason. hype
Tannehill was a project. You could see it. He was overdrafted. His ball placement was terrible. Where Allen is concerned, his ball placement isn’t just terrible, it’s downright horrific. The guy misses wide open receivers by A LOT. I’m not waiting around for another 4 or 5 yrs before we develop a guy at qb.
Agreed. That’s why I would take Mayfield over Allen.
sorry but I wouldn’t touch any of them in the first. Build a team
I’m a little low on allen too
I just think the accuracy issues are a real concern
If he was a 2nd rounder, I would call it a good pick though
4th
and he’s got a major issue upstairs he needs to deal with. anyone who takes a flyer on this kid in the first rd is going to regret it. going to be a completely wasted pick. hope it’s the Jets.
I’m nowhere near as low as you on him
I just think accuracy paired with getting up to nfl speed coming from a school that plays the completion WY does – it’s a lot to ask
He’s a project.
mid 50’s in comp% and it’s not dropped passes.
I agree he is a project, i just think he is a project with a really nice chance of being a amazing outcome. All these guys really are projects. I dont see one of them this year that im betting the house on, so i mean if you are going to roll the dice, why not roll them on the one that has the biggest potential payout.
Id liken it to gambling. Think of 11 as the amount of money ya got to bet, make that an amount of money you really really dont wanna lose in one hand. Now the money ya got to bet is the same no matter what table you are putting it down on, the one that pays 5 to 1 the one that pay 10 to one or the one that pays 50 to one and another that pays 100 to one. Obviously each table has an inherent risk difference, but in the case of Allen, Darnold, Mayfield, and Rosen, i see Rosen as the lesser risk table but the second lowest payout. I see Darnold as the 3rd riskiest table and the worst payout. I see Mayfield as the most risky table with the 3rd best payout and i see Allen as the second riskiest table with the best payout.
If im laying down that stack of chips making one big bet, that the table im playing. Now to me, the others with their risk/reward combination, i dont know that i wouldn’t come back on day two and make a smaller bet bet on a different table, so im really only interested in Allen and Rosen in the first, anything else and i agree, i look for Nelson or a bunch of other people.
we don’t have the ability to make that bet right now because we’re void of talent in too many areas. we need two starting offensive linemen, a starting DE, two TE’s, and a LB at a minimum.
I like Mayfield but no question he is risky
The others guys have me in full out “meh” mode
M13
If the qb field shapes up like that where we get a shot at the 3rd qb selected, I also think it opens the door for a trade down
A trade down for us, or a trade down for another team within the top-10? Either way it makes sense.
A trade down for us
I don’t want to trade up. I hate giving up picks 😤
This is the first year in a while that I’m not keen on trading down. There should be a STUD sitting there for us @ R1P11. I hope it’s Quenton Nelson.
if one of those guys are there, meaning not the qb but the others, I’d be more than happy with any of them. but, if they’re not and some team looking for a qb is going to make us a great offer then it’s a no brainer.
I’m not trying to get stuck on any one player. I’m more concerned about us taking the best players we can to build the team and become competitive on a consistent basis.
So I’m not going for anyone who’s a reach at this point. Solid guys who can get the job done more than anything. Most wouldn’t want a G that high in the first but, like I said, it eliminates the possibility or the need for us to have to sign another over the hill offensive lineman to fill the hole for a year and then have to go out and get another one next season.
So, whether it be Nelson, Fitz, Smith, Edmonds. Doesn’t matter to me as long as we’re going what we need to do to build the team and not be reaching for someone with a first rd pick. This team can’t afford to waste picks on players in the first rd.
Let’s play a game of IF and THEN…
– IF we sign Andrew Norwell via FA, THEN we’d have no need to draft Quenton Nelson
– IF we sign either of Tahir Whitehead or Nigel Bradham, THEN we’d have no need to draft Roquan Smith
I think that IF we address both LG and OLB in FA (as seen above), THEN we’ve got the ‘luxury’ of drafting a QB @ R1P11.
I’d like to see us sign a guy who’s still young and can get the job done on the o-line and then address the o-line in the draft whether it be 2nd or 3rd rd. I’d rather not try to address both of those positions in FA because this team will sign two players to fill the holes and burn valuable cap on players who can’t get it done but feel they’ve accomplished something.
Maybe that changes this season. Maybe they actually sign someone good and that is my hope. But if we can only accomplish one thing in free agency I’m good with it. Don’t want us in cap hell trying to do too much.
I can actually see the Whitehead thing happening before Norwell though. I don’t think we pursue him.
M – I’m with ya on not trading down. I think there definitely will be a very good player for us there, so no reason to miss out.
INDEED! 🙂
I cant see many scenarios where a trade down makes sense for me. Im always open to it but i think there are too many players i think would easily fit us like a glove, at 11 that there is little chance that shit could happen.
who would you take at #11 besides your boy?
I think you are burned by the Tanny selection. Yeah he was a project too, but i feel with Tanny it looked more like he was an athletic guy with skills to work with, but i in no way saw the potential in him that i see in Allen. I dont really think they are comparable. Wentz is a much better comparison. Wentz and Goff definately had people thinking bust right off. Goff, if not for a really big bounce back year was headed for bust rumors because his first year he looked awful. Wentz didn’t have a great year but he showed pretty good signs right off. I think Allen might be behind where Wentz was when he got out of college, but i think he is going to get there just the same.
This is the other thing, if we fucking miss on the pick, we are sure to live through it and move forward. It is what it is. Any of the picks could turn out bad, so you take your chances and then you move on. Im not saying i feel like Allen is a God and he is headed to the HOF, but look at what college is turning out right now. Allen and the type of QB he is and the system he comes from is disappearing very fast, so the chance to get a guy who had natural pro-style instincts and skills is not coming around too much. I think he is a rare prospect, despite his current development and you just cant pass on those. I never felt like that about Tanny and i wanted us to draft him. We needed to raft him, that wasnt a wasted pick, it was a pick that didnt turn out quite as we had hoped but neither has Andrw Luck and neither did RG3, and neither did Todd Blackledge, etc.
Shit….Todd Blackledge got drafted again!?!
Threw that one in to see if you were paying attention lol
my biggest problem besides taking Tannehill that high is we should have known we would need to build a team around him in order to compete because he would never reach the level where he would be able to win us enough games with his talent.
Allen is the same kind of qb. He’s not going to be anything special and we don’t have enough talent on the offensive side of the ball to support at guy with his level of talent. Yeah, he’s athletic and he’s got a strong arm but for every long ball that he can delivery accurately and make a highlight reel there’s 12 others where he misses the target.
He doesn’t have the mental makeup to be the guy you’re talking about.
The team needs leadership and some personality. You think Marino would have put up with the shit that went on last year?
I’m 100% with ya, Phelon. However, Gase doesn’t like that (see Ajayi and Jarvis).
Gase would have loved it. Marino didn’t argue with coaches. He fired up players when they didn’t do what they should.
it still needs a culture and it isn’t there yet.
It does. But where does it come from?
pheloniusphish says:
January 31, 2018 at 7:13 pm
It does. But where does it come from?
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YOU know where it comes from, Brother! And as do I, to a greater degree.
You can teach people to lead, but you can’t teach people to be an inspirational leader.
+100000000000
Some people have ‘it’, others don’t.
It comes from deep inside the oinks
I don’t really think Gase is some kind of control freak
I just think he didn’t really mesh with Ajayi – that doesn’t endear me to Gase BTW, but I’m not Not I buy that he would have issues with a vocal leader like Mayfield
Exactly
If Mayfield were to pull stuff like grab his crotch on the sidelines as a gesture towards another player I think he’d have an issue with that. However, it’s not the attitude of Mayfield that worries me. I just don’t think he’s as good as advertised.
You have to base evaluations on something and he has pretty much everything you look for in a QB coming out of college. Except for a couple of inches in height. Exceptional accuracy, played and won in a major conference, athletic, can make all the throws, can read defenses, low turnover ratio, can read progressions, natural leader, etc. No such thing as a sure bet, but he even hits all of Parcell’s criteria for drafting a QB.
It’s too early for me to tell whether Gase is a control freak, but I’ll say this: he certainly doesn’t seem to ‘CONTROL’ the Defensive side of the ball as a HC would/should. JMO
It almost seems that there are two totally different cultures on the team: one Offensive, one Defensive.
definitely not close to being adept at defense and that’s why he needs someone strong on that side to do the job. not sure if Burke is it. we’ll see in his 2nd yr.
also agree with the two cultures.
Thank you, Prof Lou!
We lack some talent on the defensive side of the ball but I think the defense is tired of being the scapegoat all the time and tired of having to be the unit that carries the team thru 16 games.
They also might be tired of the lack of talent on the offensive side of the ball whether it be on the o-line, TE or what not because I think players know when there’s a deficiency in an area.
FINALLY back on the board after lengthy absence (explanation later).
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TOBA; I actually wore the Jets hat you gave me during the second period of last night’s game between Winnipeg and Tampa Bay. That’s when your Jets turned the game around and defeated Tampa Bay 3-1 in a really good hockey match!! – -Congrats to you and yours. But you know my heart still belongs to Tampa Bay!!
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TIM posted “I’m waiting for a good player to wear 42 so I can replace the name CLAY and save my nice jersey.”
WELL, TIM, I’ve got EXACTLY the Dolphin for you!!! He was voted into the Hall of Fame in his FIRST YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY! In 1972 and ’73 he played in exactly 31 games for Miami. The Fins went 31-0 in those games and 1-2 when he didn’t play. He is considered the greatest blocking wide receiver in franchise history. And, most of all, he was, and remains, a totally class act AT ALL TIMES!!
TRUTH IS, this legend’s wearing of 42 should have led to the retirement of that hallowed number. But poor decisions by Dolphins’ management has, so far, delayed the permanent retirement of this jersey. But, as of now, that number remains available. Let’s all hope this over site is soon corrected. When THAT happens, all true Dolfans will have one name above the #42. And that name is WARFIELD – – Paul Warfield, one of the absolutely greatest Dolphins (and Browns) in the history of BOTH FRANCHISES!!
SO, TIM, have someone remove CLAY’s name and have them replace it with WARFIELD. Your problem is solved forever!
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My absence has been caused by working 17 of 18 days, doing, among other things, conventions in Florida and Georgia that have been CRAZY BUSY, which is good for the firm I work for.–HOWEVER, Mrs. OD’s issues with her back have not gotten better. Monday & Tuesday she’ll be busy with pre-op stuff. The 3rd surgery on her lumbar spine is set for Wednesday. We are all hoping for the best. My wife wants to know what it’s like to have a life with only a little bit of pain. Maybe this will be the key!!!
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Gdet back to you soon. HOPE to have a Super Bowl prediction by Sunday morning.
I hope your prediction is like mine:
Tom Brady explodes on field. Gronkowksi forced to clean up. Belicheat mumbles about it. Krafts hires an explanatory investigative team to produce
memo on subject
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 31, 2018 at 11:38 am
and keep in mind that all 32 NFL GM’s were surveyed on him and the majority don’t even like him.
Really? I had not heard this. What is your source?
Mike E. says:
January 31, 2018 at 6:03 pm
It will be mighty interesting to see what we do at that point. I won’t be sad if Nelson is there if he’s our pick. Not that we can’t fix the O-line in the 2nd with either Hernandez or Wynn, or Price, but I want that problem solved, and Nelson is the best candidate to accomplish that
______________________________________________________________________
I’m not saying it will happen, but there’s no guarantee Hernandez, Wynn, or Price will be there when we pick in the 2nd. Wynn is flying up the boards, along with Hernandez. As for Price, many have been projecting him in the late 1st for a month now. Not that these are set in stone, but I’ve seen mocks where all 3 are gone before pick 40. Of course we still have a ways to go, but I have a feeling that there will be a major run on OL early in this draft. What I’m saying is if we want one of the top interior guys, we are going to have to draft him very early.
That could very well be true rgs, which is why if Quenton Nelson is there, I don’t want to pass on him.
I agree. He’s my #1 and has been since October. …Fitzpatrick and Davenport would be my #2 and #3 at the 11 pick.
We have no shot at Barkley, so I didn’t list him. Lol.
I think Nelson is the smart pick at 11 too (if he’s there).
And then a RB like Guice in round 2 after I work my voodoo causing him to drop…lol
Lol @Marino being a leader
I don’t think we could get a 2nd round pick for Tannehill, as of right now. I think Lou is right, other teams would need to see him through camp and into preseason before they would take the risk. Then by that time the Dolphins would have had to make the decision and have the back up plan in place, thus showing their hands to the other clubs that they don’t value Thill that much and would need to unload his salary.
Even if the new team were to get his current contract I convinced they would have to rework it anyway. Tannehill’s agent wouldn’t allow him to be on an unguaranteed contract so the new team wouldn’t really see that benefit.
The injury is what affects his value
But the value of a QB with starting experience is generally pretty high
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 31, 2018 at 12:16 pm
yep. every year
Reply
Dilly Dilly
Paul Blart here with a fun fact. Since the launch of the Dilly Dilly ads Bud Light sales are actually down quite a bit. 6.8% in ’17
Can Mike Gesicke get dis-invited to the Combine? LOL
Jay Fiedler
Damon Huard
Ray Lucus
Brian Griese
AJ Feeley
Sage Rosefels
Gus Frerotte
Daunte Culpeper
Joey Harrington
Cleo Lemon
Trent Green
John Beck
Chad Pennington (at the end of his career)
Tyler Thigpen
Chad Henne
This is what you get when you don’t have a good plan in place
twelve years of rudderless mediocrity.
Tannehill may or may not work out.
Need to have another potential starter “cooking”
Tim Knight says:
January 31, 2018 at 2:52 pm
It seems that way for WRs who need to secure the ball like holding a baby where RBs can just reach for the goal line and fumble and it’s a TD.
Reply
QB’s too, pretty much every position (including WR) that hasn’t had to prove a completion by the F’d up rules of what is a catch.
Eagles are going to do 2 things on Sunday.
1. They are going to dominate the Pats with their 3 headed running attack and offensive line.
2. They are going to use 2 signal callers on the defense like the Giants did against them in the Super Bowl to keep the Pats from stealing their defensive signals and their defense will dominate the Pats o-line.
I heard the exact same thing regarding your second point… two signal callers on the Defense.
The so-called “Evil Genius” is nothing more than a cheater.
2 cannibals are eating a clown and one says to the other “does this taste funny to you”?
a friend of mine is addicted to drinking brake fluid. he says he can stop whenever he wants.
a guy was arrested yesterday for stabbing a box of Mini Wheats. They said he’s a cereal killer.
I accidently ingested food coloring yesterday. the doctor said I’m going to be okay but I feel iike I dyed a little inside.
Don’t quit your day job!
LOL my 9 year old niece told me two of those last week.
lol. I love them.
Paul Blart here with a fun fact. Since the launch of the Dilly Dilly ads Bud Light sales are actually down quite a bit. 6.8% in ’17
Reply
I don’t think that has anything to do with the ad. Their product tastes like piss watered down with seltzer water
well, yeah.
I’m actually not that much into beers. Don’t like the micro brews that much either. For one thing, whoever it was who decided to mix pumpkin with beer should be beheaded. But, that’s a different story.
It’s funny what people will do to get a buzz. There’s a bottle of wine at the local liquor store the clerk told me tastes like mineral water but they put it on sale at $4 a bottle and they can’t keep it on the shelves.
I feel the need to re-post my findings, regarding this QB crop vs top-20 Defenses
why?
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 31, 2018 at 9:23 pm
why?
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Because I CAN! LOL
And it shows and proves that Baker Mayfield ain’t no joke.
does it?
I believe so, yes.
Does HE make the offense what it is? I watched the TCU game and for a team that was touted as having one of the better defenses in the BIG 12 they didn’t get near him all day long. No pressure.
I watched the Georgia game and they shut him down completely in the 2nd half.
I watched the Ohio St game and saw a lot of guys on offense making big plays.
So it’s hard to get a fix
It’s a tough call. If there was a team in college that had a complete offense it was Oklahoma. Between their run game and the talent they had at the skill positions, the offensive line and then the coach calling the plays, the design of the offense.
It’s a complete offense from top to bottom. I’ve seen guys play and be the reason the offense is moving the ball but I don’t know if Mayfield is just a part of the whole or if he makes the difference.
I keep going back and looking at it and the more I do the more I’m confused. I just can’t get on the hype train.
professorloumiamidolphinsblog says:
January 31, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Does HE make the offense what it is? I watched the TCU game and for a team that was touted as having one of the better defenses in the BIG 12 they didn’t get near him all day long. No pressure.
I watched the Georgia game and they shut him down completely in the 2nd half.
I watched the Ohio St game and saw a lot of guys on offense making big plays.
So it’s hard to get a fix
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Nah, it’s NOT that hard to get a fix.
Football 101 Offense is to protect the QB and provide running lanes for the RB: we’ve got to fix our O-Line FIRST and FOREMOST. If we do that, our QB will have success.
yeah, it is because it’s easy to have a dominant team in college football due to recruiting. In the NFL you’re playing against the best every week.
I’m just not seeing what everyone else is. I think he throws a swing to a back who takes it for 29 yds and it’s “what a play by Mayfield”. the rb made the play. he threw a 4 yd pass.
The design of the offense had more to do with the success, plus the execution of the play by the guys on the offense.
So it’s not quite as cut and dry as it looks.
Welp… God help the rest of the NFL if the Patsies* draft Mayfield.
that’s assuming Billy sticks around. he’s told his assistants to seek positions elsewhere and there’s a strong possibility he leaves the Pats high and dry at the end of the season.
I remember the last big time hyped qb to come out of the Big 12 by the name of RGIII and I was at the front of that hype train.
I’ll proceed with caution on this one.
Did Tom Brady make Wes Welker? Gronk? Amendola? Or did they make him? When I watch the pats play I see sooo many different players contribute with great plays (or great cheating FTM, they are the best team in the league at hiding holds and picks. I think the coaches have them practice it) Is it Brady or Bellicheat?
It’s CHEATING that has made the Patsies*… not the other way around. And it helps that Robert Kraft is BFF with Roger Goodell.
and mails him a check every month. “thanks for being you Rodger”
well, supposedly, that’s what Belichick was trying to do when he went to Kraft and told him he wanted to move on from Brady and go with Jimmy G. He wanted to solidify his legacy in NE and be the reason for their success and not Brady. Kraft wouldn’t have any of it and ordered the trade.
Tim and I agree on one thing and that is when you see how Brady gets the ball out fast to guys on short routes and let’s them do their thing with the ball after the fact that we should stop trying to reinvent the wheel and just emulate what it is they do. You pick up 4 to 4 yds every time.
that’s right. 4 to 4 yds EVERY time!!
That’s a 4 yard average!
That’s a 4-yard average EVERY TIME! And why is that? Because the Patsies* lobbied to have NO CONTACT after 5 yards from a defender back in the early 2000s.
3rd and 2 is easier to execute than 3rd and 5. My God what have we done? LOL
The first thing necessary to start beating the Patriots is to stop thinking they win because they cheat. They win because they out-execute everyone.
Why did Waldo go to therapy?
He wanted to find himself.
NEW BLOG UP!!