A good reason we are rebuilding!

[OriginalFin]

Below is a listing of the last 12 drafts as it relates to each position on our team. Twelve years was the magic number as it seems to be a concievable number of years for a player to play on the same team and also was the first draft post-Shula. (FYI: Shula's last draft in '95 was no prize either, seven players picked with exactly ZERO starts between them! In fact the best player from this draft, Pete Mitchell, was traded to the Jags for a special teams WR that Miami had cut the year before!)

While I'm sure this information is nothing new, it is very interesting to see why we have not been very good over the last five or so years. A couple of things I noticed...

Some of these players were servicable for a few years which is probably the NFL average. Some went on to play for other teams and do very well. Some were cut due to coaching changes and changes in offensive/defensive philosophy... most were just not very good!


Only three QB's over the last 12 years!!!! Granted we gave up enough picks to other teams for their castoffs but still...

Eleven Offensive Tackles and the only one still on the team is a converted Guard!

Very few safeties either... a major weakness of ours on defense

Note: Order is from 2007 back to 1996 for each position; After each player's name is the round and year he was drafted. Players in Bold are still with the team

QB – J Beck (2-07); J Heupel (6-01); J Dutton (6-98)
WR – T Ginn (1-07); JR Tolver (5-03); Y Green (1-97); B Hunter (7-96)
WR – D Hagan (3-06); D Aromashodu (7-06); B Manning (6-97)
WR – S Simmons (5-02); C Chambers (2-01); L Shannon (3-98)
TE – D Lee (5-03); R McMichael (4-02); E Perry (6-97)
RB – L Booker (3-07); R Brown (1-05); L Henry (7-02); T Minor (3-01); JJ Johnson (2-99); C Collins (5-99); J Avery (1-98); J McPhail (5-96)
FB – R Mauia (6-07); D Dyer (4-07); R Konrad (2-99); S Pritchett (4-96)
OT – J Toledo (4-06); T Pape (7-04); W Smith (3-03); S Draper (5-01); T Wade (2-00); J Buckey (7-96)
OT – A Alabi (5-05); V Carey (1-04); T Provost (6-03); B Winey (6-01); B Smith (3-97)
OG – D Mormino (6-07); T Whitney (3-03); S Shaw (5-98); J Daniels (4-97)
OG – R Hadnot (6-04); J Wong (7-99); J Bundren (7-98)
C – S Satele (2-07); S McKinney (3-02); G Ruegamer (3-99); N Strikwerda (6-98)

P – B Fields (7-07); B Bartholomew (6-99)
K – No Picks

DT/NT – P Soliai (4-07); F Evans (7-06); D Williams (7-03); E Grant (6-00); B Tanner (5-97)
DT – M Wright (5-06 SD); R Wright (7-06); K Vickerson (7-05); J Haley (7-99); D Gardner (1-96); S Burton (5-96)
DE/OLB – A Wright (7-07); O Leverette (6-01); L Brommell (4-98); J Taylor (3-97)
DE/OLB – M Roth (2-05); K Mixon (2-98); N Lopez (5-97)
LB – K Smith (7-07); M Greenwood (3-01); B Jones (5-99); B Jackson (3-98); R Ward (3-97)
LB – C Crowder (3-05); D Pope (7-04); T Bua (5-04); M Crawford (6-97); L Jones (4-96)
LB – E Moore (2-03); C Jenkens (6-03); R Crowell (6-01); J Fiala (6-97); D Rodgers (3-97); Z Thomas (5-96)
S – J Allen (1-06); S Wooden (6-96)
S – Y Bell (6-03); A Freeman (5-00)
CB – T Daniels (4-05); O Lowe (5-02); J Fletcher (1-01); P Surtain (2-98); S Madison (2-97); D Brew (3-96)
CB – W Poole (4-04); J Harris (7-00); B Kelly (3-00); H Ismaeli (7-97); K Pointer (4-96)

 

[dolphinfn3454]

Thanks for the list. Our drafting has been bad for a while now and thats why were in the situation we're in. You forgot our current punter B. Fields.

 

[burger13]

recent history is a little better though....which is reason to be encouraged.

We've had 10 first day picks (rounds 1-3) over the last 4 drafts. All 10 are still with the team. All 10 figure to contribute this year: Ginn, J.Allen, R.Brown, Carey, Beck, Satele, Roth, L.Booker, D.Hagan and C.Crowder.

Not great (no Pro Bowlers), but not too shabby.

 

[ZILLA]

too me it shows jimmy johnson was by far our best coach since shula... and its all been downhill from there

he drafted zach thomas jason taylor sam madison and pat surtain

really those are the only GOOD players on that list

 

[NyPhan23]

whatever happened to lorenzo brommell? is he still around somewhere?

 

[OriginalFin]

whatever happened to lorenzo brommell? is he still around somewhere?

Lo Bro was awesome at Clemson and considered a steal when he came out. I think he had 8 sacks as a back up one year. He joined Kenny Mixon with the Vikings as a FA and they both faded into obscurity.

Seems the Fins roster history is filled with those four and out types!

 

[SpaceMountain16]

too me it shows jimmy johnson was by far our best coach since shula... and its all been downhill from there

he drafted zach thomas jason taylor sam madison and pat surtain

really those are the only GOOD players on that list

obviously....

Jimmy's success in Dallas gave him a non-deserving swagger when he got here in Miami. I think he got too full of himself, and so did we, almost EXPECTING a Super Bowl victory. He really didn't understand the tradition and history of this organization, and he really wasn't ready for the pressure of the reputation he had.

 

[Deof Movestofca]

Jimmy's success in Dallas gave him a non-deserving swagger when he got here in Miami. I think he got too full of himself, and so did we, almost EXPECTING a Super Bowl victory. He really didn't understand the tradition and history of this organization, and he really wasn't ready for the pressure of the reputation he had.

While I agree with what you say, I don't think it goes far enough. Few people realize how much of JJ's success in Dallas was tied to the Walker trade, which not only allowed JJ to rebuild quickly, but stock the team with players that fit his system. Without a similar blockbuster trade in Miami, he was unable (or unwilling) to adapt his precious system to fit Miami's personnel. Classic square peg, round hole scenario. I'm not sure how much Miami's tradition played in his downfall, though, as he had no problems replacing a legendary coach in Dallas, although that, coupled with his desire to prove Jerry Jones wrong about how anybody could have coached the 'Pokes to the SB, led to an almost fanatical adherence to his system regardless of the realities of the situation.
Oh, and JJ was practically the last person I wanted coaching the 'Phins. Then again, I'm not a UMiami fan, so that he coached there didn't influence me.

 

[Deof Movestofca]

too me it shows jimmy johnson was by far our best coach since shula... and its all been downhill from there

he drafted zach thomas jason taylor sam madison and pat surtain

really those are the only GOOD players on that list

At best, that would only make him the best talent evaluator. As a coach, though, he stunk up the joint. Trying to turn the team into a run-first offense when the 'Phins had Dan Marino and were unwilling to invest in a top-notch RB was beyond stupid. Also, this might be subject to future revision, because, first, he had a lot more years at the helm than anyone else except Wanny, and, second, because it might be a few years before one can accurately evaluate Cam's draft choices.

 

[OriginalFin]

While I agree with what you say, I don't think it goes far enough. Few people realize how much of JJ's success in Dallas was tied to the Walker trade, which not only allowed JJ to rebuild quickly, but stock the team with players that fit his system. Without a similar blockbuster trade in Miami, he was unable (or unwilling) to adapt his precious system to fit Miami's personnel. Classic square peg, round hole scenario. I'm not sure how much Miami's tradition played in his downfall, though, as he had no problems replacing a legendary coach in Dallas, although that, coupled with his desire to prove Jerry Jones wrong about how anybody could have coached the 'Pokes to the SB, led to an almost fanatical adherence to his system regardless of the realities of the situation.
Oh, and JJ was practically the last person I wanted coaching the 'Phins. Then again, I'm not a UMiami fan, so that he coached there didn't influence me.

Not to turn this into a Jimmy Johnson thread (looks to me that they all played a part in turning this team into a mess over the last decade)


Granted he picked Surtain, Madison (perennial pro-bowlers) and Thomas and Taylor (possible HOF'ers) in his three years but does that give him a pass over the other guys?

He had (2) third round picks, (3) fourth round picks, (2) fifth round picks, (3) sixth round picks, and (3) seventh round picks that didn't even make the team... in three years of drafts!

Not to mention the (2) first rounders, Green and Avery who never started a game. Go back through and you'll also see a number of his picks who made the team were hardly noteworthy (L Shannon, R Ward, B Tanner, M Crawford etc)