The defense has been covered, and finally, we’re going to look at some offensive players. The first installment is the running backs. We recently signed long time all pro running back Frank Gore to a 1 YR contract. We found out we have a very talented ballcarrier in 2nd YR player Kenyan Drake after we traded away Jay Ajayi. Drake surpassed Ajayi’s production last year, finishing the season with 644 yards rushing on 133 carries with a nice 4.8 YPC and 3 rushing TD’s. In addition, Drake caught 32 passes for 239 yards and 1 receiving TD. The thing that worries me about Drake is durability. I’m not convinced Drake is a 300+ carry back, but going by the way Gase has used his RB’s at each stop, he seems to prefer a stable of backs, with staggered use. One back will get more carries, but it’s not a big ratio, maybe less than 2:1. I’m pretty sure we will be drafting a RB in this draft, and it might even be as early as the 2nd or 3rd RD. DEN recently released RB C.J. Anderson, who played for Gase while he was the OC in Denver. If we sign Anderson, that would really push RB to the back burner in this draft, but at this point, it hasn’t happened, and it may not happen at all. So let’s see who is out there in this draft! This is in no particular order by the way . . .
Sony Michel 5’11 220 Georgia
Considered by some as this year’s Alvin Kamara. Smooth runner who catches the ball very well out of the backfield. Played in 8 games as a true Freshman, he became a starter his Sophomore year at Georgia. His Senior season was his best, finishing with 1227 yards and 16 TD’s facing the best competition in the SEC. After watching kamar last year, I would swear he must have ran a 4.3 at the combine, but like Sony Michel, he ran a 4.54. Michel is not the “power back” type some are looking for, in fact, his skill set isn’t all that different than Kenyan Drake’s. He runs with good vision and find open spaces and has the patience to let blocks develop (Unlike Ajayi!) Michel is rated at 5.91 by NFL.com and is expected to go around RD 2. He’s probably either the 3rd or 4th back taken, behind Barkley, Guice and maybe Ronald Jones.
**********************************************************************************
Rashaad Penny 5’11 220 San Diego State
Talk about production! No running back was more productive than Rashaad Penny in 2017. 2248 yards on a very NFL like workload of 289 carries and 23 TD’s. Plus, he added another 135 yards receiving on 19 receptions and another 2 TD’s, for a total of 25 offensive TD’s. Unbelievable! Penny ran a quick 4.46 at the combine, but the vertical jump and the bench press were a little disappointing. The biggest knock on Penny, fair or unfair, is the level of competition he faced at SD State in the Mountain West Conference. Penny is also expected to be a taken around the 2nd RD, and in my mind, I’ve reserved RD 2 for a TE. Penny was rated at 5.85 by NFL.com
***********************************************************************************
Bo Scarbrough 6’1 232 Alabama
Here’s a big boy for ya! Scarbrough is eerily similar to Derrick Henry, who also played for Alabama, but mostly because of the size. While Scarbrough is a couple of inches shorter, he’s still a tall back at 6’1, and weighs just about 10 lbs less than the larger Henry. Unlike Henry though, Scarbrough was just a part of the stable at Alabama, while Henry was the workhorse.Bo’s best season was actually his Sophomore year, where he tallied 812 on and 11 TD’s on 125 carries. Scarbrough is a good short yardage specialist who can push the pile for a big first down, and has great explosion and leaping ability to get that TD, Scarbrough ran a 4.52 at the combine, along with a very impressive 40″ vertical and 129″ broad jump. Scarborough will be a mid to late RD pick, somewhere between RD 4-6. At the moment, we don’t have a 5th RD pick, but we do have two 4th RD picks, so it’s feasible.
*************************************************************************************
Kalen Ballage 6’1 227 Arizona State
Another big back, and also, another part time player. You could look at the fact that these guys are part time players 2 ways, one that they are talented enough to warrant a workhorse role, or two, that they have fresh legs and plenty of mileage left for whatever NFL team drafts them. Ballage is a talented back who moves very well for a big back, and has excellent hands and can play on all 3 downs in the NFL. He’s also a kick returner, so that versatility is definitely a plus. Just to illustrate how good a receiver he is, his Junior season he had 126 carries for 536 yards and 14 TD’s and 44 receptions for 469 yards and 1 TD. Ballage ran a 4.46 at the combine, and this Swiss army knife is expected to be drafted around the 3rd or 4th RD. Ballage is rated at 5.46 on NFL.com
**********************************************************************************
Nick Chubb 5’11 228 Georgia
Did someone ask for a power back??? You know who you are, and this guy may be the back you’re looking for. Chubb is a powerful north south runner who can break tackles to get more yardage and move a pile. Chubb was the thunder while Michel was the lightning. Chubb finished his Senior year with 1345 yards on 223 carries with 15 TD’s. he has been the bellcow at Georgia since his Freshman year. Chubb performed very well at the combine, running a 4.52, putting up 29 reps of 225, an impressive 38.5″ vertical and 128″ broad jump. He has tremendous lower body power, an important factor for being a power runner, and he has the upper body strength to push off would be tacklers. Chubb is expected to go around RD 2, which is a tough RD for us, because I have that round reserved for our new TE, thank you! Chubb is rated at 5.79 on NFL.com
***************************************************************************************
So that’s my 5, and there were some tough cuts to be sure, like Royce Freeman, Kerryon Johnson, Ronald Jones and a few others. I didn’t include Saquon Barkley or Derrius Guice, because I think both will be 1st RD picks. Next up is TE’s, and I may actually have to do a combo article of TE’s and WR’s, we’re running out of time with the draft being next Thursday! OMG, that’s only a week away!
Finsmob Unleashed 
sb7,
I disagree, but it’s cool that people feel differently. To me, it matters, but it’s far from the only factor or maybe even the most important. I don’t believe the talent level in the NFL is as homogenous as you do, but that’s cool too. You are what your record says you are doesn’t relate to talent. It relates to the fact that in a competition like the NFL your win/loss record is really all that matters. You may have the shittiest talent in the league, but if you win the championship, you are the best team. They are two different conversations. Now, does it ever actually work that way? Probably not, but they are still two different things. I do agree that the NFL has gotten more level in talent, but there’s still a difference. How much is anybody’s guess. I do think when you play the worst STS in the league one year, it had an impact. Most years not as much.
Edmonds = Dion Jordan?
Not even close!
My first mock:
All Oklahoma and UCF
Baker – QB
Orlando – T
Andrews – TE (trade back into 2nd)
Shaquem – LB
Akins – TE
Flowers – FB/TE
son,
On KFAN up here, Ben Leiber is an ex NFL player who does commentary on different shows. He says he thinks Mayfield is the best pro prospect at QB in the draft, and he thinks he fits how the NFL is evolving. He’s all in on the kid.
Baker studies a lot more than most of them do.
Orlando Brown is bigger than most of them too, lol
son,
I can’t say i’m sold on Mayfield, but I do see the potential. It wouldn’t surprise me if he does well.
^^^
Now, Brown? No thanks. He has all the measurables but his play is just very average. The size is there, but he just looks soft. Maybe his dad just told him to cruise thru college on his size and then play for dough in the NFL. Lol
We’d be able to red shirt him (Brown) this year, Give him some time working out like a pro.
I don’t have the conviction with Mayfield as I’ve had with some others but I certainly wouldn’t bet against him. He’ll be alright.
EVERYTHING matters at the professional level of ANYTHING, and the NFL is no different (this, as it pertains to our 2018 schedule). Yes… everything from SoS, home vs away, time of day/night, climate/weather, travel time cross-country between consecutive games (jet-lag), and the time between consecutive games (short weeks).
But that stated… the best teams find a way to win, regardless. No excuses, just execute.
That stuff only matters if you can’t walk onto the field and whoop anyone’s ass that shows up.
Essentially… HELL YEAH!!!
If the stej get Mayfield he’ll be dead to me, I’ll wish like hell for him to bust.
Son — Doggy is in for the Fest with his normal three (and maybe two more). You in with your far better half and a +1 guitar?
Oh yeah, I’m in. Mrs’ Son is too. Guitar will travel.
You guys are making it too easy this year…..schedule out for less than than a day and already up to the group seat minimum.
Hope you noticed that Mike E said his boy was a good drinker. Intended or not….took that as a challenge for you. We ain’t that old yet. 🙂
That youngin isn’t ready for me. He might think he is…
That’s awesome 🎸🎼 I’m not out to challenge anyone at drinking.. I get pretty Shit faced at my own pace 🥃🥃
I don’t think I said he’s good at drinking, I just said said he does an awful lot of drinking. I’m sure he ends up blacked out enough times too, but it hasn’t stopped him from drinking yet. lol
Can he sing as well as his dad?
He’s OK, I think he likes to sing, and we sang karaoke together on vacation, we sang “Touch me” by The Doors. He was on a Doors kick
“he’s a pretty damn good drinker.”…..in my book that is like “Yo Mama is ugly” to Son. 🙂
Lol
LOL Stanger – So I guess I did say he’s a good drinker. He’s enthusiastic about it, I’ll give him that. 🙂
I have a Fest question. One of my best friends is a lions fan. Is it ok to offer him the ability to join us at the Fest? (If it is the Lions game)
Absolutely. He can be a sacrifice if necessary
Omar corrected that tweet about Lynch being better than the top 6 QBs. He meant he’s better than the rest of the QBs in the draft outside of the top 6.
Did he correct it to say” I’m dumb ass and nobody listens” ?
Sounds like a guy that’s not out Clubbing!
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!
Forget Luck, Brissett is as good as or better than Tannehill and look at the year Keenum is coming off of.
We have Tannehill, Oswieller and Fales let that sink in.
Tannehill
Oswieller
Fales
That’s about as set back at a position as you could get
5-11
Son – How is Brisset as good as or better than Tannehill?
He easily is.
C’mon dude, that’s just irrational. You don’t like Tannehill…everyone gets that…but delusional comparisons to 2nd string QB who have statistically shown themselves to be not as good? That’s just goofy and indefensible as a viewpoint. Which is why your support argument is “He easily is.” Don’t make no sense.
I mean, I know yesterday was 4/20, but you need to put down the pipe now.
Lol, I’m heading off to work. I’ll defend Brissett later.
Son’s probably thinking about brisket.
Lol…Must be.
ok haven’t read anything yet today but
just heading out and thought I’d enflame the board and then leave the chaos to ensue:
Tail up or tail down and why?
I prefer tail up.
Looks more sleek and athletic and aggressively moving forward.
I would go tail down???????????
Son
Luck hasn’t played longer than Tanny! And it’s his throwing shoulder not his knee!
Who is Brisset?
The Case for Case is going to Jury!
And Tanny is just Tanny!
We will all see soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like it’s time to change my avi yet again! I thought this one would be safe for a while! I am officially done buying jerseys.
LOL — maybe you and Piggy should just by Marinos.
My dream first round pick:
Saquon Barkley
My probably not going to happen first round pick:
Baker Mayfield
Realistic first round pick:
Roquon Smith
If we got Smith in the first and Mike Gesicki in the second I’d be ecstatic. Anything after that would be icing on the cake for me.
Wouldn’t be anything wrong with that
At this point, I have no idea how the draft is going to go. And as long as they don’t trade up and pick a kicker, I’ll be happy.
I’m with you on that except if they don’t take a TE in the first three rounds will be unhappy. And whether the players they got to get in the position pay off or not….respect the moves in terms of leaving us wide open in the draft.
Yes, I would like to see them draft a high end TE or two as well.
If we can get through this year with a decent kicker, I would spend a draft pick next year on Roderigo Blankenship out of Georgia. That kid has a big leg and is clutch
The kid out of UF looks pretty good. With the devaluation of the position, I don’t know if I would ever spend a pick on a kicker, though.
I hear you, but you have to watch some highlights on Blankenship. I’m not saying I’d spend a high pick? But I’d take a shot in the 5th or later. Those picks rarely work out anyway.
11: R1P11 LB TREMAINE EDMUNDS, VIRGINIA TECH
42: R2P10 TE MIKE GESICKI, PENN STATE
73: R3P9 C FRANK RAGNOW, ARKANSAS
123: R4P23 QB MIKE WHITE, WESTERN KENTUCKY
131: R4P31 FB DIMITRI FLOWERS, OKLAHOMA
209: R6P35 RB JUSTIN JACKSON, NORTHWESTERN
227: R7P9 DL POONA FORD, TEXAS
229: R7P11 S TRAY MATTHEWS, AUBURN
Nice! Was Smith there or do you favor Edmunds?
Smith was gone!
If they were both there I would take Smith. but that’s just who would fit our LB needs better this year.
If we didn’t have Raekwon McMillan I would take Edmunds first
Wyoming, I really Dig that draft above. You nailed my value/need/round estimate. I prefer a few different names (GOEDERT!) Falk and Smith as you explained above, but I agree it comes down to taste or opinion at this point. Nice draft.
I wish we knew what was up with Anthony Fasano. I’m HOPING that he’s going to be a tier-3 FA signing by us, but he may retire… or we might not re-sign him after all.
It’s forcing me to draft 2 TEs this year…
Never mind… after quick deliberation in my head, Fasano is going to be gone sooner or shortly later. We’d better draft a blocking TE at some point this Draft.
And I like taking Poona because like someone else said weeks ago, I think it would be cool to have a jersey with Poona on it.
MF13, hear to say that this is a deep TE draft this year. I hope, and think it will happen, that we take one of the top guys in the draft, but I also believe that after everyone else takes their new TE that there will be vet T-3 guys available. heck we have some other T-3 guys signed.
I WANT A STUD
we NEED a stud to replace Landry’s fiirst downs.
I hear ya, Bro!
I think Amendola, Wilson and the backs replace Landry’s production easily. Take his 160 targets and spread them around. Landry’s production was due to the amount of targets he got, not yards per touch.
wyoming85 says:
April 21, 2018 at 11:17 am
11: R1P11 LB TREMAINE EDMUNDS, VIRGINIA TECH
42: R2P10 TE MIKE GESICKI, PENN STATE
73: R3P9 C FRANK RAGNOW, ARKANSAS
123: R4P23 QB MIKE WHITE, WESTERN KENTUCKY
131: R4P31 FB DIMITRI FLOWERS, OKLAHOMA
209: R6P35 RB JUSTIN JACKSON, NORTHWESTERN
227: R7P9 DL POONA FORD, TEXAS
229: R7P11 S TRAY MATTHEWS, AUBURN
—————
VERY close to my Draft, Wyoming!!! I DIG IT!!!
You know how a kid gets his shiny new skate board and his bike will sit in the garage? There will be pretty cool used bikes in round three of FA
What UP Brian!
There might be only ONE guy on this blog who like MIKE GESICKI more than I… and his name is BRIAN!
Greetings, Brian!!!
I liked Gesicki from the first time you posted his video back in January. He’s going to be a weapon.
M13 — one of my old rugby buddies got married at State College (where he and his wife met) during the summer. Night before was at the Rathskeller….and oh yes Dan insisted the wedding colors were blue and white.
Good to see you Brian, hope all is well.
This is KILLING ME!!!
I can’t decide on our 3rd round selection. I WANT Rashaad Penny (Gase keeps talking about a tandem, and Frank Gore isn’t getting any younger), but I predict he’ll be long gone. Thus, I WANT Frank Ragnow, but I don’t think our FO is smart enough to take him (or any other O-Lineman early), being they actually think they’ve finally FIXED our O-Line… with aged vets on the interior.
So then I think we MIGHT go QB in the 3rd round (Kyle Lauletta), but my so-called “Cracker Jack Jr. GM Decoder Ring” is telling me that the Patsies* are ALL OVER Lauletta before our 3rd round pick.
I’ve got to get out of my own head!!! It’s making me MENTAL!!! LOL 😆
One thing about RB, you don’t have to get them a year early. I’m sure we’ll draft a RB this year, not sure who and when. As of now Drake and Gore will be the main tandem. But we do need depth because injuries happen. So if both stay healthy, you won’t see the rookie get much playing time unless he’s just so good we have to get him the ball more.
I love penny!
But there are some decent RB’s in the later rounds. Which is why I don’t pick him anymore.
I’ve found a couple of sleeper OL Later. But I like OL in the 3rd.
But we will leave a good DL and S on the board for that OL.
Lauletta????? I think I’d rather have White. and Benkert would be a toss up?
Interestingly enough I’ve seen Rudolph slip into the 3rd lately. Not that I think that will happen.
I like Luke Falk as a QB we could develop.
Our roster has really been decimated.
Has there ever been an off-season with more starters exiting?
Can anybody add to the list here?
From last year’s team we lost:
Offense
Starting* QB Cutler and back-up QB Moore
Starting TE Thomas and back-up TE Fasano
Starting RB Ajayi and back-up RB Williams**
Starting C Pouncey and back-up C Urbik
Starting RG Bushrod
Starting LG Steen
#1* WR Landry
Our only K Parkey
OC, OL coach, RB coach, TE coach, Head Trainer, back-up strength coach
Defense
Starting DT Suh
Back-up DE Fede**
Starting LB Timmons and back-up LB Hewitt**
Starting FS Allen
Starting CB Maxwell
Our best ST ace MThomas (also our 3rd 4th and 5th best ST guys, see ** above)
LB coach, DL coach, DB coach (that’s all 3 levels)
*LOLOLOLOL well he was.
Decimated? You use the word lost, we moved on from 90% of them.
Suh is the only guy we have to make sure we can be productive at DT without. Many of the guys you mentioned weren’t any good. Remember we were 6-10.
Kilgore has been a quality starting center in this league so the loss of Pouncey probably won’t be noticed. Everyone loves Landry but his production will not be difficult to replace – 7 receps 61.7 yards and .57 TD per game. Drake outperformed what Ajayi was doing last year.
As for the coaches we didn’t lose any of them, they were fired, and we didn’t replace the LB or TE coach.
I agree we do need to find someone who can step up in Michael Thomas’ role.
Gesicki is my fave TE
although my man Hayden Hurst (USC) says whoever gets him
will be getting “a warrior.”
There is still an excellent pack of RBs in this draft. I’d be thrilled to get any one of these:
Saquon
Guice
Michel
Penny
NChubb
Kerryon Johnson
Royce Freeman
Kalen Ballage
Jones II
and 7 more guys would not be a waste of a pick with a better than average chance at a NFL career.
If ____ (insert your favorite here) is gone in the first, i think you should look really hard at getting Da’Ron Payne at R1P11. He is compared to Suh in destructive force and we really do need another stud DT.
He is my sneaky first round choice. (Or take Hayden Hurst at 11 and Maurice Hurst in the second.)
Payne could bench 400 in high school! And he’s vicious.
I like Payne but he’s no Suh.
Tim Knight says:
April 21, 2018 at 12:09 pm
One thing about RB, you don’t have to get them a year early…
———-
That’s a VERY good point, man.
My man-crush on Rashaad Penny is CLOSE to a Dri Archer level, but RB is probably not going to be a TOP priority for us in this Draft, with Drake and Gore in-house.
No and it doesn’t have to be. But it might be a situation where if one we really like is still there in the 3rd or 4th rd, we’ll take him. I like Penny and he could also help on KRs even though that job is becoming more and more diminished.
RB JORDAN WILKINS – OLE MISS
RB ROC THOMAS – JACKSONVILLE STATE
RB MARTEZ CARTER – GRAMBLING
RB JUSTIN JACKSON – NORTHWESTERN
RB CHASE EDMONDS – FORDHAM
Whoops!
All late rounders or URFA’a with pretty good tape!
The only key FAs who played significant roles or started that we lost were Thomas, Bushrod and Parkey. But we didn’t seem to make them priorities. The other losses were traded and released.
By this time next week, we will all be talking about what a great draft we had
Right oinkeroos?
😆
You’ll have this…
1) The COMPANY man (those can’t think for themselves): even if we trade up to R1P5 for a Kicker, IT WAS A GREAT MOVE!!! HOW DARE ANYONE QUESTION WHAT WE DO!!! And those individuals will actually say that… with a STRAIGHT FACE! LMAO!
2) The HATER: it doesn’t matter what we do, these people will find fault with EVERYTHING!
3) The MEDIUM: “Well, it wasn’t so bad after all. Could have done better, could have done worse”.
4) The HEARTBROKEN: some have their favorites, and they won’t be drafted by our beloved team (*raises hand*). We’ll get over it in about a week, just give us some time to heal our wounds!
5) The TROLL: they’ll attack ANYONE for their personal viewpoints and takes on the Draft, just trying to stay relevant. See items #1 and #2 above.
Absapigginlutely
Or another trade down
Hey guys. Hope everyone is doing well! My disappointment if we don’t get Gesicki May be a a level that exceeds that if when Allen Robinson was selected one sport ahead of us in 2014.
Spot
Decimated.
That is well over a third of the 53 already gone and not coming back.
Half of the starters are gone: 12 of 22.
STs gutted.
OC gone and half the position coaches.
That’s a lot of turnover to process.
New rooms, new voices, new guys to teach the lingo to.
For several positions, we are left with third stringers at best.
The entire interior OL is wiped out.
Decimated has such negative connotations.
Decimated refers to the mathematical 10 %. Historically.
In the instance of large-scale mutiny, commanders executed one in every ten deserters as an example and to convince them their odds of survival were better in the war.
So this is an apt term for the purging of mutinous Dolphins players.
although our FO took out 3 and a half times the recommended ratio.
I guess they REALLY needed to make a strong point to the mutineers.
Great draft Wyoming!
Tim:
I got news for you Landry’s production will not be so easily replaced. Amendola can’t stay healthy. Wilson is fast but that doesn’t in and of itself mean he will do what Landry did for our offense. There was a reason why Landry was targeted so much because he is good at getting open. He was very physical, he would go over the middle, he didn’t shy from contact and he didn’t miss games from injuries like glass jaw Amendola does
We’ll see. I think his production is highly overrated. He played tough and fiery and was durable, and made some great catches, but his production per touch was pretty sub par. He didn’t make the offense better, he was just one of the guys who got the ball the most.
Amendola has played in 57 of 64 games the last 4 years. That’s not so bad. Guys get banged up.
Drugs are a terrible thing. Click on this link and type in “NIX” for last name and “JAMIE” for first name then click “submit”. Click on “Enlarge Photo”. Close that photo (you won’t want to look at it very long). Then go back to where you typed her name in and below her name where it says “Search for:”, change that to “Both Current And Released” and click on “submit”. Scroll to her mugshot where she was 29 and booked in on 06/21/2009. Nine years of drug abuse has sucked the life out of this once beautiful woman. Her boyfriend wanted me to do her bond. I said no.
http://inmatelookup.myescambia.com/smartwebclient/jail.aspx
I think Amendola’s true worth is that he can come in and teach everyone how they ran all those rubs and picks in NE. If that is what we’re supposedly shifting to offensively, Amendola could be a major key to teaching everyone else.
Wilson ran a lot of that stuff in KC as well. Amendola also has a knack for getting wide open in space in the medium range. To me we need to add that TE to this offense to make it well-rounded.
I also don’t think we’re shifting to that offensively, we ran that stuff too, just not very good.
Naples, changes had to be made. Most of those players have already been replaced. A lot of the guys we moved on from besides Suh, Landry and Pouncey (all contract releases) were borderline players or guys who didn’t pan out. Your list is filled with those guys that make it look more dire than it is. The only position we really need to upgrade on offense to go play this year is at TE. On defense, we need another DT in the rotation, more competition at LB and the same at S. On STs we need a K and someone who can at least adequately replace Thomas on STs. We re-signed Aikens who is also a STs ace.
Other than that I don’t get the “we have so many needs” thing. Finding upgrades = special players is what every team looks for. So you hope to land a couple of them and a couple better depth players. But we don’t have many what I call voids.
As I’ve said before we’ve gone 6-10 twice in the last 3 seasons with many of the players no longer here. We also went 10-6 without Pouncey for most of the 2016 season.
Gase has changed the makeup of this team that he felt had to happen. It’s on him and he knows that. But he wasn’t going into 2018 doing the same thing with all of the same guys, he made that clear. Armando said this was going to happen at the end of last season because he does have some good connections within the org and they told him it won’t be staying the same.
That said, I have no idea how this team will perform this year because we haven’t seen this current group play much together. We have a lot of young players expected to take the next step too.
Go Phins!!!
Nelson, Smith, and Edmonds were gone at 11 so I traded down. Arizona traded up with us and took Rosen. I felt the need to double down on TE. Hurst is going to be a beast on the field and Smythe is solid in all phases of the game as well.
Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 15 (ARI): Payne, DaRon, DT, Alabama (A)
Round 2 Pick 10: Guice, Derrius, RB, LSU (A)
Round 2 Pick 15 (ARI): Hurst, Hayden, TE, South Carolina (A)
Round 3 Pick 9: Ragnow, Frank, C/OG, Arkansas (A-)
Round 4 Pick 23: Leonard, Darius, OLB/ILB, South Carolina State (A)
Round 4 Pick 30: Smythe, Durham, TE, Notre Dame (A+)
Round 6 Pick 35: Ferguson, Riley, QB, Memphis (A+)
Round 7 Pick 5: Facyson, Brandon, CB, Virginia Tech (A+)
Round 7 Pick 11: Pineiro, Eddy, K, Florida (A+)
NICE DRAFT!!!
excellent … i hope it goes just like that.
Thanks and me too!
All Amendola and Wilson have to do to replace Landry’s production is to average 3.5 receps, 31 yards and .28 TDs a piece per game. My gut tells me they surpass that easy. And let’s say that’s all they do, we still have Stills, Parker, Grant, a TE (please) and the backs in the passing game. I don’t think we’ll even notice Landry’s absence.
This is getting close to MY final Draft for our Phins…
R1P11: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
R2P10: Mike Gesicki, TE, PSU
R3P9: Frank Ragnow, C/G, Arkansas
R4P23: Mike White, QB, Western Kentucky
R4P31: Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame
R6P35: Poona Ford, DT, Texas
R7P9: Godwin Igwebuike, FS, Northwestern
R7P11: Matthew Thomas, LB, Florida State
And yes… I think CJ Anderson is going to see a reunion with Adam Gase.
All depends on if we drafted a RB.
Like this!!! Would like the combo of Gesicki and Smythe as well. Don’t see that much difference between Mike White, Faulk and Ferguson so that is why I waited on QB and went with OLB in the 4th since I couldn’t get one in the 1st. If Nelson, Smith, or Edmonds are there at 11 I’m pulling the trigger on one of them and taking a DT later like you did. Great armchair GM minds think alike. LOL
😀
Did y’all check out the chick in the link I posted above? Very sad and that is just one case of many I have seen.
I did.
omg
That sequence should be made into a national ad campaign.
I can see us running some of those pick/bubble screens with a package of Amendola/Wilson/Grant. It’s like releasing flies in all directions with really good quickness and speed. LOL
Hey the Pats have been using the smaller players in the short passing game for over a decade. Many of us talked about us trying to replicate that the last couple of years. Maybe we have that now. I think Grant is a sleeper weapon for us this year. He finished last year strong and showed improvement. The guy is also determined to be better than people think he is. Can’t teach that speed and jumping ability. 🙂
releasing a pesky swarm of guys too quick to keep track of sounds like a nightmare for DC’s especially if we’ve got Drake trailing the first wave cuz he’s not some little gnat; he’s bigger than DBs and just as fast.
We just really need the Big Guy punishing the middle though to make it all work.
There are several really high quality TEs in this draft. We must get one of those.
Drake is one the faster backs I’ve seen in pads in quite some time – meaning forget 40’s in shorts which he was fast there to at 4.45. If you don’t have an angle on him when he gets to the 2nd level, he’s gone.
Set the bar LOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does this mean if we win 7 games it was a successful season?
The sad thing is I don’t think they are that far off
I like being underrated as opposed to being overrated. LOL
That is just wrong. I doubt the bookies every year on their number, but….worst yet.
I don’t think Landry’s production will be easily replaced, and actually we wont be able to replace what he does completely. That said, I’m not paying a slot receiver $15 million a year, I don’t care how good he is. I honestly thought last summer that he would be gone this offseason simply for that reason.
While i agree with you guys saying Landry can’t easily be replaced, the difference (and this is true about Ajayi as well) is you can catch him from behind. With Wilson and Drake, if you don’t have extreme leverage on those guys, you cannot catch them. They are “fastest man on the field” guys.
I like having guys who can score from any distance.
And that is not even mentioning Grant and Stills, who are also like that.
I think Gase agrees with you. And might be part of why Stills is on the team and Landry not. Think there was a choice btwn the two….and was surprised when we kept Stills.
We was one tough choice…..but not blaming the guy for getting the bucks (and three years guaranteed) that would have thrown a hissy fit if it was on our book.
If you’re looking for one guy to get targeted 160 times and catch 100+ balls, no. If you’re looking for a mix of guys to catch his type of passes behind, at or just beyond the LOS, easy. His average for his career over 4 seasons is 6.25 receps, 63.1 yards per game and 5.5 TDs per season. What is so insurmountable about that? I really don’t get it. He is not a game breaking elite WR but like you said he’s surely being paid like one.
I think you seriously under value how good Landry is. When it takes multiple people to replace Landry then you are really not replacing him. You want Tannehill to continue to develop but they took away his safety blanket. They talk about wanting to draft a QB but let our most reliable WR go. Everyone says his contract is too expensive but for someone who handles the ball as much as he does I don’t think it was. I do think for somebody like Suh the contract was too rich because a DT doesn’t impact the game enough
What’s the best new car to buy in the next month or so?
Ferrari
I’ve never had one, but i hear they are in the shop a lot.
They look ok … some of them, but i want to get better gas mileage.
Thanks for the suggestion.
PS: Barbara Bush went to high school a few blocks from where my dad went.
Although she’s older by a few years.
it’s an all girls boarding school in Charleston called Ashley Hall.
I lived on the banks of the Ashley River when I graduated from HS.
When I was in high school, they wouldn’t even let us local guys
slow down in the vicinity of Ashley Hall.
The girls weren’t allowed outside the walls.
They had a Limo entrance and a guard gate even back then.
Naples was a shady character even back then lol
never been a shady character, but always out and about living it large
Gore will give us some of that sneaky zone running where you can’t find him as he powers his way for positive yardage. Drake will then add what he showed us last year as he gets those chunk yards. We have a lot of firepower on offense, we need the TE weapon.
It’s not about replacing Landry. It’s about this whole offense getting much better.
Right with you on that Randy. And while he was as reliable an option as there was and ran RB hard…….Landry did not offer much in terms of breakaway or red zone.
Same here which is what I’ve been talking about all day. 🙂
Hard to get better when you lose your best player
I don’t think he was.
The think we will win 14 maybe 15 games in ‘18
Thad’s one loss is going to be a rough week
🤪🐷
Correction!
That’s 3 / 4 losses in the regular season!
Ken,
I hear you, but Landry didn’t make us that much better. Part of it was the position he played, part of it was the OL and poor QB play. He was easily one of my favorite players, but he was expendable, partly because of his temper. He put us in some bad spots last season. I didn’t like losing him, but I’m not paying him $15 million per year. Not a chance. I wouldn’t pay a WR even close to that in today’s NFL. We had to let him walk.
His temper and personality issues maybe one thing but his play imo is worth a contract at or near what he got. Imo our team is not better off than it was and I have very little expectations for this team this year. I just don’t see playmakers on this team and Landry was one of those.
Ken, I’ve been calling for more balance and distribution on offense even before Gase got here. Part of the problem on our offense was we went to Landry too often.
Like Steve has posted a few times, if you need 5 yards Landry will give you 7. If you need 10 he’ll will give you 7. That’s why we punted a lot and part of that was on the protection we talked about a couple of days ago. But that doesn’t mean Landry can break a game open because he rarely did. He had a handful of plays over the years, but geez see the guy for who he is.
This idea that Landry only caught short stuff because that’s what we asked him to do is a defense mechanism for him. If he was able to be more than that he would have been used that way.
Distribution and balance poppycock. If you have a guy who is good and better than the others then give him the ball
And I said poppycock. I just wanted to write that again
We’ll see. To me we need that TE and you won’t care about Landry anymore.
Ken,
That’s why I won’t be surprised if they draft a guy in the 1st who they think can come in and contribute on offense right away. We don’t really have any proven playmakers on the roster now that Landry’s gone. Gase, tannenbaum, et al can’t afford a bad season or they could be gone.
If we do that I think the FO should be summarily executed. It is not a good year for WRs. Ridley is the only one who maybe worthy of pick11. So if that’s the FO’s plan they may have just signed their death warrant
Here’s a HUGE question: will Tannehill be able to produce better WITHOUT Jarvis?
Don’t read into the question too much… for maybe he’ll just find another ‘Linus safety blanket’, or maybe… MAYBE, at age 30, he’ll finally learn to spread the ball around by scanning the field.
This isn’t anti-Tannehill nor pro-Tannehill… it’s an honest question that only Tannehill can answer by his play this season.
He had a 4000 yard season before Landry was on the team
Factually incorrect, but he did have a 3,913 yard passing season the year before Jarvis arrived. And in that year (2013), he relied HEAVILY on Mike Wallace.
You play with who you have. He will practice with who he has. So instead of one guy we spread it around in that 0-5 yard range stuff. This isn’t trying to replace what Odell Beckham has been.
Tim,
Landry wasn’t a stretch the field player. He wasn’t asked to average 12 yards a catch. I don’t see how you can blame him for doing what he was asked to do….and doing it extremely well. It’s not his fault that the other guys on offense couldn’t do their jobs better.
***
Also, teams have been defending us to give up the short, quick pass for years because they figured we couldn’t beat them by putting together 15 play drives. We’ve simply been too easy to defend but that’s not Landry’s fault. He won individual battles and caught the balls thrown his way. It’s on the QB to distribute the ball around. Landry can’t determine where the ball goes. He can only get open and catch it when it comes his way.
***
I have no problem with the FO deciding not to give him a huge contract, but this offense isn’t better without him. We could have easily decided to spread the ball around more WITH him on the team too. Lol
He rarely got open down the field. Most of his incomplete’s were trying to do that. That’s not who he is. Landry is O.J. McDuffie except Juice 1.0 for the Dolphins was a better perimeter WR. Why can’t we see him for who he is like we see other players for who they are?
Brian, the one thing that is ironic to me is that many people talk about Landry’s greatness and production, then attack poor QB play. That doesn’t add up. How did he do all those amazing things when nobody could get him the ball? LOL
Guys, we’re NOT talking about replacing Jarvis’ YPC or yardage… we’re talking about others’ targets and production via those new targets.
Really, I never thought of that. WTF have I been talking about all day? LOL
I hear ya! LOL
But you’ve ALSO got to look at the other side of coin… and that is Tannehill.
Ken,
I’m just speculating, of course. But, do you think Gase and/or the FO survives another 6 win season…or even an 8-8 season? I’m not sure Ross is willing to go through another season or two of mediocrity or worse. It’s been reported that he has been pretty open in that he expects us to win…and win now. It just doesn’t seem like they have a long leash in year 3. They need a positive, winning season now.
What Landry reminds me of from a hockey example is having a good two-way forward who scores 28 goals and has 45 assists playing scrappy and doing well on face-offs etc. But you’re facing other teams in the league with forwards who score 40-50 goals and have 60-70 assists.
M13, I don’t think Landry is the key to Tannehill. Landry was the guy on the field running the safety valve routes. Now it will be more than one focus. Not concerned about it at all.
Then why did Tannehill (and after, Cutler) ALWAYS target the safety-valve option in Jarvis?
Because he was “the only slot guy” on the field all the time. It’s not like Tannehill only has 10 players on the field now. LOL
Simple example, instead of it being Landry 90% of the time, it will be split 40/30/20. Make sense?
Teams force Tannehill to make quick reads and short passes. That’s how teams have played us since he got here. They know he will dump it off quickly and isn’t mobile enough inside the pocket to extend the play and get to his tertiary receivers. They also know our OL struggles to hold the pocket. They don’t have to defend the whole field because we rarely threaten the middle or deep middle of the field. This is part of the reason why I think we really need a playmaking TE. It could hopefully open up the whole field.
Tim,
You make it seem like Landry MADE Tannehill throw him the ball! Lol
***
It’s on the QB to spread the ball around. So, if it doesn’t happen…and one guy gets most of the targets….that’s on the QB….not on the receiver. It might also be on the guy calling the plays.
^
I explained this already. Not sure why you’re totally missing my point but I get you want to make it about Tannehill.
Let’s forget the OL struggles and a lack of a weapon at TE and running game and keep going in circles. This isn’t all since Gase has been here. This started in 2014.
Do you guys not understand Gase wants to change that shit? I’m excited he saw it too. If you rely on a guy like Bess or Landry as your main target for less than 10 yards your offense is going nowhere.
I think Mason Rudolph is going to go WAY higher than most think… and I think the same applies to Lamar Jackson.
I’m projecting that 6 (SIX) QBs go in the 1st round this year.
I hope so! That will put a better player @R2P10!!!!!!!!!
How our TEs have felt the last few years by both our QBs and opposing defenses…..but most of that is cause of who they were.
on the other hand …
all those changes we made might’ve actually made us a better team.
Who are the replacement players?
Sitton, Kilgore, Amendola, Wilson, Gore, Quinn and relying on acquisitions the last couple of years to step it up. It’s like we forget young and prime players getting better isn’t a thing. If you don’t believe in development and improvement, the draft should mean nothing to you.
We have 8 draft picks, but what’s the point? LOL
I would like us to turn that into 5 targeted prospects instead of more bottom end and PS material. We’ll see.
Naples, look at the roster and do the starting lineups and think about some sub packages. We have enough to compete. It’s up to the them to live up to their talents to take it to another level.
I think Gase and his staff along with the new asst. coaches are going to challenge all players to earn their keep. No more “well he has to play”. That to me is going to be the biggest change. Do your job will be paramount.
From last year’s team we lost: Is the new guy better?
Offense
Starting* QB Cutler and back-up QB Moore Tannehill>Cutler, Osweiler=Moore
Starting TE Thomas and back-up TE Fasano StudRookie>Thomas, ?? = Fasano
Starting RB Ajayi and back-up RB Williams** Drake > Ajayi, Gore> Williams
Starting C Pouncey and back-up C Urbik Kilgore=Pouncey (recent level), Brendel=Urbik
Starting RG Bushrod Larsen/Davis>Bushrod
Starting LG Steen Sitton>Steen
#1* WR Landry Amendol/Wilson=Landry
Our only K Parkey ??=Parkey
OC, OL coach, RB coach, TE coach, Head Trainer, back-up strength coach
OC^ OL ^ RB ^ TE = HT ^ Str =
Defense
Starting DT Suh nobody=Suh
Back-up DE Fede** anybody=Fede
Starting LB Timmons and back-up LB Hewitt** Raekwon >Timmons, new UDFA = Hewitt
Starting FS Allen McDonald > Allen
Starting CB Maxwell Tankersley/Lippett > Maxwell
Our best ST ace MThomas (also our 3rd 4th and 5th best ST guys see ** above)
ST < MThomas
LB coach, DL coach, DB coach (that’s all 3 levels)
LB = DL ^ DB ^
*LOLOLOLOL well he was.
So by my reckoning, we improved 9 spots, stayed the same at 8 spots, and got worse on only 2 (although they are big ones)
of the coaches, 6 better, 3 same, none worse
RIP Verne Troyer (first one didn’t pop up for some reason).
Naples, to me it’s all about the 2016/17 draft class getting ever better and we have quite a few of them. Then the vets and prime guys we have doing their jobs, and then the new draft class. We won’t know until we get to the 53 and see them play. But it’s not like we don’t have any talent. It comes down to how do they mesh as a team, from the coaches to the personnel to the performance. It really is unknown right now.
My view on Landry, see what Tim said the day we traded him, and every day since😁
So our QB throws 30 passes each week, 10 have been going to Landry, with 7 caught for about 56 yards, and 20 caught overall for 250 yards. 1/3 of the passes go his way for 1/5 of the yards, and we’re talking about needing to replace this why? I just don’t get the Logic behind this type of thinking.
I say don’t let the door hit you…and don’t look back.
We need one more thing on O and D this year before this team is complete. On O we of course must get a TE by the 2nd round, or get lucky with a later round guy like Fumagali. On D we either need to draft one of Derwin, Minkah, Smith, Edmunds, or get a FS in FA.
Getting the FS would allow us to use him and/or TJ/Jones all over the field. I believe this is Gase’s #1 wish.
People talk about replacing Suh, and I agree we need to, but in other ways, like shifting the talent from DT to the secondary where it matters more.
I’m going to break down each catch Landry had the last 2 years, like I did with runs for Miller 2 years ago, and put some meaning behind his stats. I expect a good % of his catches to be less than non replaceable.
Oh boy!
We don’t know how the changes will affect 2018 season yet, but we do know without the changes we were going no where fast, and we had to make some changes to get under the cap, so…
A friend of mine is coming over on Thursday night for the draft and I’m psyched. He’s a Giants fan so what do they do at #2 and us at #11? Fun stuff! Looking forward to it. 🙂
Between 2 and 11 you guys have about a 12 hour break…lol
Ha! It will take maybe an hour or so. 🙂
Steve, fans have been bitching about Suh and Pouncey’s contracts for years so the FO says enough is enough and now it’s a big void. Most of us did not see paying Landry $15M+ per and now he’s a void. What did we win with them? We should all just move on. We can go 6-10 without them. That’s the conclusion I came to. 10-6 was not all about Suh and Landry, it was a collective run and Pouncey missed 11 games. Yes Ajayi was huge in like 4-5 games, but it wasn’t just that either. It was the easy schedule. LOL
Tom,
That’s really what it is with those contracts- we weren’t much better with Suh and Pouncey on the team. We are going to tie all that money up for a few more years, knowing we are years away from possibly contending in an annual basis? Dumping those contracts and not paying Landry was the most intelligent move this team has made financially in a long time.
*Tim- my auto correct has been going rogue lately
Well being that my name isn’t really Tim it’s all good. I would prefer to be just Knight but that fucks up sign-ins etc. LOL
GOT BACK from a board meeting in Orlando just in time for the 3rd period of the New Jersey-Tampa Bay game. How in the devil the Devils withstood 5 straight power plays is beyond me!!–Schneider was spectacular, according to the Lightning’s radio team as I listened to them call periods one and two. After losing all 3 regular season games to New Jersey, Tampa Bay won the Playoff series 4 games to 1, proving, again, that the playoffs are a different brand of hockey than the regular season!
—————-
Caught a good look at the Fins new unis for 2018. Like ’em a lot better than the prior ones. Keeping the predominantly dark aqua ’80’s style jerseys for “throwback games” also a solid move. –NOW if we could just get rid of Ross’s “minnow” and bring back the full-sized Dolphin Logo of the 60’s I’d be even HAPPIER!! The Jacksonville style unis were a disgrace!!!!!
—————
GOTTA AGREE with Ken’s view on Landry and his $15 M salary. If the man who holds the all-time NFL record for most receptions DOESN’T deserve this salary, then who does??? Now, as to the criticism that Landry caught too many short passes and Miami’s QB’s THREW too many short passes, I’d ask two questions:
Q#1 Who called these short pass plays??? HINT: It wasn’t Landry nor Tannehill.
Q#2 WHY was it necessary to call all these short pass plays??
——
ANSWER TO Q#1: The coaching staff, primarily the HC, the OC and, perhaps, the QC on occasion. Blaming Tanny and, especially, Landry, for these short passes is coyote stupid!! AJAYI allegedly ran in directions and in a manner that the coaches did NOT approve of. And we saw what happened to him. The fact that AJAYI won a Super Bowl once he “escaped” from Miami certainly brought him a measure of vindication. And the fact that the Fins went 2-7 after they “dumped” AJAYI speaks for itself. Those who DON’T LIKE MIAMI’s offense should learn to blame those who called the plays.
ANSWER to Q#2: It was necessary to call quick, short, pass plays because our putrid offensive line could NOT PROVIDE adequate pass protection no matter WHO the QB was. Tanny, Cutler, and MATT MOORE all miss several games this past season, thanks to the DOOFUS BRIGADE’s inability to draft or acquire a decent O-Line. But blame Tanny, Moore, Landry, Ajayi if you want. It’s not against the law to be wrong or coyote stupid. LOL!
———–
Before the word DOESN’T, I left out the words “during his first four seasons .”
Ajayi won the SB? He was the #2 back. LOL
http://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400999173
When you want to rail against your team I guess you can find ways. Go for it! LOL
I suppose being an apologist for a 2-7 record is your life’s goal?
GO FOR IT!!! LOL!!!
Oh right, the apologist thing. I still don’t even know what that means.
I’ve noticed that Jeff Ireland is getting credit for the Saints resurgence by the Miami media, not their actual GM Mickey Loomis. You can spin it however you want. LOL
YOU’RE RIGHT TIM. Ireland must have had a GREAT CAREER in Miami! LOL!!
That’s not what I was saying. The Miami media keeps acting like Ireland is the GM of the Saints and he’s not.
I don’t think you ever want your offense to be centered around one player….maybe a really good QB….but your offense is usually kind of centered around your QB anyway. You want to be able to beat teams multiple ways. Again, you could keep Landry AND change how you run your offense. We didn’t have to get rid of Landry to make changes. I don’t understand why the two issues keep getting combined.
^^^
I have no problem not paying Landry $15M/year, but we DID lose our best offensive player and a homegrown guy you have invested in for years and would hope you’d try to keep. That’s “building through the draft”. Why not figure out a way to keep him 2 years ago? Oh right, he was another of those uncoachable problem children! Lol
***
It’s not that we chose not to pay him $15M/year. It’s that we got to that point in the first place, and we lost a really good, home grown player regardless of what we do on offense. That’s the part I don’t like. Landry made us better. But, ya move on and root for the guys on the team. Best of luck to Landry, but I don’t give a shit how he performs anymore. Lol
Landry who?
So the idiot ESPN guy picks us to go 8-8 while beating NE and at GB, but losing twice to Buffalo without a QB, WTF
Just got back from watching Mike’s 3A Mets, they got nothing 4-13.
VGK
Coyotes may be ugly,
but they’re not stupid.
Tim
If you would examine my assessment of the replacements for who we lost,
you’ll see that I am cautiously optimistic.
I believe that our offense had become way too predictable.
Just resetting the personnel and focus should get us more production.
It was something we needed to do for fan interest as well.
We were stale to watch and stuck in a 8-8 rut.
(Now watch us go 8-8 this year LOL.)
Actually, our defense is (was) also stuck in a similar rut. OCs knew what they had to do to neutralize Suh and Wake and Reshad. We need more playmakers, more “suddenness” in our D, more takeaways, and more TFL.
The above observations are why I think our glaring needs must be filled.
I love the BPA thing, but I think we are a year away from that in its pure form.
Which is not to say that we are ok to over draft by 2-3 rounds based on position.
But if we don’t get a stud TE, a starting level DT, and a dependable PK
we could easily lose 2-3 games each based just on those missing parts.
I also think we should add stud RB to that list as Gore is ancient yet still a great example.
We should draft a real starting quality RB while he is still there to teach the rook
how to do things right and before his body falls apart and we have no back-up.
New blog up