xXwarXx
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#QBwinz
10 Targets in Round 1 (Plus a Wildcard)
- Thread starter SF Dolphin Fan
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#QBwinz
Which explains even more since that is all you write about and focus on in your articles.
Just popping in to show Malik Hooker some more love.
xXwarXx
☠️ Banned ☠️
Taco really shined in that game. I haven't seen his name pop up much as far as draft is concerned but I think that's about to change.
ckparrothead
Premium Member
The more I watch Taco Charlton the better he looks. It's hard to know if he's better than a Kony Ealy, Kareem Martin or Tank Carradine, but I see some Chandler Jones there as well.
If the Dolphins end up with a late round 1 pick I would love to add Demarcus Walker to the conversation. The guy won't necessarily be a combine hero, but he is one of the unquestioned leader at FSU, he has really good tape, fully understands what he should be doing at his position. I feel like he is a great fit for Miami and the rest fo the d-line and would benefit hugely from playing with guys like Wake and Suh.
I like Walker and think he's underrated. In Miami, his value would be a DE that kicks inside to DT for passing downs, where he's most disruptive.
I keep coming back to him, but Harold Landry now has 15 sacks, 20.5 TFL, and 7 FF on the season. I think he has the agility to thrive at SLB in a 4-3, but even if you just use him as a pass-rush specialist as a rookie, he's worth a 1st. At this point, if he declares, I don't think he'll be on the board when Miami drafts.
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I guess it's a pipe dream to think Miami could get Charlton in the 2nd.
If Miami goes linebacker in round 1, what defensive lineman do you think will be available around pick 50?
---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------
I need to check in on Harold Landry. I'm trying to get a feel for what linebackers and defensive linemen will be available in R2 when Miami picks.
ckparrothead
Premium Member
If Charles Harris is available at our pick it would be difficult to pass him up. We're having some trouble right now with our rotation on the DL.
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I would like that pick. As of now, Foster would be my #1 guy but I doubt he makes it that far.
My fear if that the complete linebackers, especially those who can cover, will be gone by the time Miami picks in round 2.
ckparrothead
Premium Member
I don't want to downplay our need at linebacker but Kiko Alonso has played to a level where you can say that he's going to be the guy that stays in 100% of the time, and some defenses don't even have two of those.
There are just all kinds of ways to structure your defense. I mean look at the Lions as an example here, since their defense is so structurally similar to our own. They have Tahir Whitehead who is "the man" there, nearly 100% of the snaps. But their second guy, whether it's Josh Bynes or (before they traded him) Kyle Van Noy, maybe takes about 50-60% of the snaps. A situation that is similar, in a defense that is also related to our own, you see in Cincinnati they've got Vontaze Burfict as that 100% player when healthy and when he is healthy then Karlos Dansby becomes more like a 60-70% player while Vincent Rey becomes a 30-40% guy. There are different ways to structure it and that's without even getting into hybrid LB/DE players and hybrid S/LB players.
So yes, you can be opportunistic about a complete linebacker in this draft, a guy that is just so good you've got to have him. But you don't need to force anything. You don't need to worry about a run on linebackers, when you have Kiko Alonso about to get a contract extension to be that Tahir Whitehead 100% player whereas the other guys are going to naturally sub in and out.
I like Reuben Foster but I don't know that I'm forcing anything there. And if I "lose out" so to speak on the complete linebackers (Zach Cunningham, Anthony Walker, Reuben Foster, maybe Jarrad David though I haven't looked at him yet)...that's fine. I mean I'd like to have ALL good players on my roster but you've still got plenty of really interesting guys you could take.
Look at Tak McKinley, Ryan Anderson, Haason Reddick, Tyus Bowser and Ejuan Price as examples of guys you could take that could play Sam and may actually be able to rush the passer 6 to 10 times a game or more, depending on which guy. You'd probably for example be a lot more comfortable with a Tyus Bowser in coverage than an Ejuan Price, whom you'd like to see put his hand down some more because he's such a blazing fast pass rusher.
I also look at guys like Kendall Beckwith and Matt Milano and I think they're just so good at what they do that I can find roles for them as well. They would probably fit pretty well into a situation where Kiko Alonso is "the man". And to be quite honest, so may Mike Hull. We need to see on him a little bit.
Summarizing, we need bodies at linebacker. I agree there. But we may not need to reach for stars. It would be tough for the Dolphins to continue as a team though if they weren't able to keep things rolling with its defensive line. And right now (outside of the hybrids mentioned) the only guys I see that seem like they could legitimately help us there would be Myles Garrett (pipe dream), Derek Barnett, Charles Harris, Tim Williams, or Carl Lawson, and then maybe guys like Taco Charlton, DeMarkus Walker, Daeshon Hall, or Jordan Willis. If you miss on that crowd you've probably not done anything meaningful at DE. I don't know that there's a place at DE for guys like Jonathan Allen or Chris Wormley in this defense. Good players, both of them, particularly Wormley reminds me of Richard Seymour which is a player you'd always love to have. But right now the attention may need to be on the ends considering Branch is a free agent and may have designs on getting paid, Wake is really old, and it's become clear we're having an issue with lack of rotation and inability to keep guys fresh.
These are solid points, CK, but I'd point to Minnesota as another comp, and I think it's telling that under Zimmer Minnesota drafted Barr and Kendricks in the 1st and 2nd Rounds. Overall, I agree with you, and Miami should not force LB in the 1st RD. DE will be just as pressing (maybe more), and looking at this group, there will be quality LB's available after the 1st. If I'm Miami, I hope I'm looking at a top-flight DE or Edge/SLB in the 1st; if not, I'm looking for the same at LB; if not, I'm looking for the same at S; if not, I hope, somehow, Cam Robinson fell. Adams and Peppers figure to be off the board by the time Miami drafts, but you never know. I'm also willing to double up at DE if the rest of the NFL lets one fall through the cracks. Danielle Hunter at 88 (six picks after Lorenzo Mauldin) stands out.
If the FO has the correct focus, this draft should present plenty of talent at need areas for Miami. I don't think they should have to force anything. I've seen you mention him, and Ejuan Price has my attention. It will be interesting to see what the NFL does with him, but I think he has the tools to stay on the field (maybe not in his 1st year) for three downs. Even if that isn't the case, he looks like someone who can cause problems for OT's - in the mold of Elvis Dumervil. Price may be a better athlete than Dumervil, though. He looks like a guy who would go in the top-10 if he were longer and taller. That's a big if, so his exclusion from that group makes perfect sense, but unless he goes higher than I expect or tests much poorer than I expect, I'd target him as an inexpensive boost for the pass rush. To be clear, he would not be the DE/Pass rusher that I would rely on. I'm targeting one of those in the 1st, and Price looks more 3rd/4th to me. Dumervil was the 126th pick. I hope Miami attacks the pass-rush need with DE's and LB's who can put their hand down and get after the QB. I'd be good if they drafted two of each. I think you increase your chances of success in multiple areas. Hypothetically, you could draft DeMarcus Walker in the 2nd and Ejuan Price in the 4th, and kick Walker inside (where he's most dominant) for passing scenarios, with Price taking his spot. I saw someone recently compare him to Bullard, and I like that comparison, but I think Walker is better. He won't dominate NFL OG's as easily as he does the ones he faces in college, but he should still have a lot of success. There are a lot of other interesting players (Harris is definitely one of them) and combinations, but even if Miami didn't have these needs, this looks like a good year to target pass rushers and LB's.
I also really like this group of S's. Miami likely needs to squeeze and OG in there somewhere (relatively early), but I've been despairing over Miami's neglect of the Defense for years, and this is a good draft to atone for those sins - for Miami, not me
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NFL Draft Scout recently (today, I believe) moved Harold Landry up to their 5th ranked UC DE. If he declares, I expect him to continue rising. This is a strong year for DE/Edge, but outside of Garrett and Landry, there aren't many speed rushers of any quality - guys that can pressure an OT's outside shoulder. Landry shouldn't declare if he won't excel at the Combine, but watching him play, I think he will.
ckparrothead
Premium Member
These are solid points, CK, but I'd point to Minnesota as another comp, and I think it's telling that under Zimmer Minnesota drafted Barr and Kendricks in the 1st and 2nd Rounds. Overall, I agree with you, and Miami should not force LB in the 1st RD. DE will be just as pressing (maybe more), and looking at this group, there will be quality LB's available after the 1st. If I'm Miami, I hope I'm looking at a top-flight DE or Edge/SLB in the 1st; if not, I'm looking for the same at LB; if not, I'm looking for the same at S; if not, I hope, somehow, Cam Robinson fell. Adams and Peppers figure to be off the board by the time Miami drafts, but you never know. I'm also willing to double up at DE if the rest of the NFL lets one fall through the cracks. Danielle Hunter at 88 (six picks after Lorenzo Mauldin) stands out.
If the FO has the correct focus, this draft should present plenty of talent at need areas for Miami. I don't think they should have to force anything. I've seen you mention him, and Ejuan Price has my attention. It will be interesting to see what the NFL does with him, but I think he has the tools to stay on the field (maybe not in his 1st year) for three downs. Even if that isn't the case, he looks like someone who can cause problems for OT's - in the mold of Elvis Dumervil. Price may be a better athlete than Dumervil, though. He looks like a guy who would go in the top-10 if he were longer and taller. That's a big if, so his exclusion from that group makes perfect sense, but unless he goes higher than I expect or tests much poorer than I expect, I'd target him as an inexpensive boost for the pass rush. To be clear, he would not be the DE/Pass rusher that I would rely on. I'm targeting one of those in the 1st, and Price looks more 3rd/4th to me. Dumervil was the 126th pick. I hope Miami attacks the pass-rush need with DE's and LB's who can put their hand down and get after the QB. I'd be good if they drafted two of each. I think you increase your chances of success in multiple areas. Hypothetically, you could draft DeMarcus Walker in the 2nd and Ejuan Price in the 4th, and kick Walker inside (where he's most dominant) for passing scenarios, with Price taking his spot. I saw someone recently compare him to Bullard, and I like that comparison, but I think Walker is better. He won't dominate NFL OG's as easily as he does the ones he faces in college, but he should still have a lot of success. There are a lot of other interesting players (Harris is definitely one of them) and combinations, but even if Miami didn't have these needs, this looks like a good year to target pass rushers and LB's.
I also really like this group of S's. Miami likely needs to squeeze and OG in there somewhere (relatively early), but I've been despairing over Miami's neglect of the Defense for years, and this is a good draft to atone for those sins - for Miami, not me
Honestly when I watch Ejuan Price I'm reminded of Myles Jack. When I saw him the first thing I thought is how the hell does Pitt always get hold of these players whose talent and size are completely mismatched, the other being Aaron Donald.
I would not hesitate really to go after someone like Charles Harris in the 1st round to be a true RDE. You could still sign back Andre Branch or go after Mario Addison in free agency as a replacement for Branch, and there would be plenty room for a Charles Harris. Then on top of that you could target a guy like Ejuan Price much later.