After further review, it looks like JAKE LONG is MIA's target at #1

[fishypete]

Calvin Pace was a clandestine operation conducted to bankrupt the NY Jets, our intention was to never sign him, so do we really have a need at OLB? LOL

Revenge is a dish best served cold. :D

Take that Jets!!!

 

[Pinkboy]

I think that the dropoff in talent from Jake Long to a guy such as Williams, Cherilus, Collins, Baker, one of which we could probably get at 32 is a lot smaller than the dropoff from going Chris Long to a later prospect such as Lawrence Jackson, or Cliff Avril.

That's nice.. But our need is alot greater for OT than our need for OLB as well.

As it stands now-- who would you rather have? Julius freakin Wilson as our starting OT? Or Jason Taylor and Joey Porter as our OLB's?

It's easy to see we are in WORLD's better shape at the OLB spots.

And if you don't think Jake Long is a heck of alot better than Baker I don't know what to tell you. Make no mistake about it, alot of OT's will be taken before we pick at 32.. ALOT of teams need O-Line help..

Go to NFL.com and over 20 teams in the first round have O-Line as one of their top 3 need positions.. Alot of OT's are going to be taken, and the best ones at that.. There may be 6 taken before we pick at 32.. Why pick someone else's leftovers when we can have the sure fire best guy available?

 

[rafael]

If that's the case then Darren Mcfadden would probably be our pick.

No he wouldn't, no more than Reggie Bush was the top pick for Houston. DM is not even as good as AP was last year (#7 overall, I think). He's more of a specialty pick.

 

[Kyndig]

You completely missed the dead giveaway "clue":

"BP and company were trying hard to trade down"...what does that mean?

That they were "willing to lose out on Chris Long, Vernon Ghoulston, Matt Ryan, and Jake Long". Did u see it?

Why would they be willing on passing on all four players? "Because one of the players plays a position that the draft was deep enough to still fill"!!! Did u get it??? His name is JAKE LONG.

U said it yourself. OT is the "deepest" position in this year's draft. Meaning that of the 4 players they were trying to lose out on..."one" of them plays the position that they can still fill with a top notch player in even though they trade down! JAKE LONG.

If they traded down(which they "tried hard to do")...they would lose out on Matt Ryan(who by a consensus was the "only" top five worthy QB.
If they traded down.....they would lose out on Chris Long and Vernon Ghoulston(who are considered top five worthy.
If they traded down...they would lose out on Jake Long(who is considered a top five pick)...."BUT" played the position that they can still fill "outside of the top five".

I had to be a little bit repetitive in order for u to see it. The clues and the handwriting on the wall.

This clue "plus" the fact that they tried (just as hard as they did to trade down) to sign Calvin Pace. This showed us "plain as day" that they didn't "want" to replace JT with Chris Long/Vernon Ghoulston...they "wanted" to replace JT with Calvin Pace. Did u see it??? This pursuit was proof of what they "actually wanted and tried to do": replace Jason Taylor with a "FREE AGENT" rather than via the draft of Chris Long/Vernon Ghoulston. So that they've had their eyes set on the position that they "never even tried to fix via FA"....LT!!!

I'm sorry for having to be this repetitive.....by you guys "have" to see the OBVIOUS. Cool? Cool! :up:

Dude, they want to trade down for two reasons: 1. To accumulate more picks as this team has more holes than swiss cheese. And 2. To get out of paying $30m Guaranteed money to a player that hasn't played a single down in the NFL. So, don't get too carried away with that.

Jake long is a possibility for sure, and I wouldn't be surprised considering how much of a position of need LT is on this team, but that's not neccessarily something that can be known for certain on the outside just because the team is interested in trading out of that very unfavorable draft slot that is the number one pick this year.

 

[Pinkboy]

(And to add to my last post)-

The last time our offense was any good was when we had Richmond Webb and Keith Sims on the left side. And they were drafted 1 and 2.. That is no coincidence.

We need to do something similar in this draft. Draft J Long at #1 and draft a very good guard at 2a or 2b.. Maybe Greco at 2b to move to guard.

Do that, and our offense all of a sudden is substantially better.. We can run the ball which takes the time off the clock keeping the defense off the field and rested.. And we have pass protection sustaining drives and 3rd down conversions keeping the D rested as well.

One of the main problems was our D was ALWAYS on the field.. Because our offense had so many 3 and outs and 5 and outs. Get that line fixed ASAP with very good marquee linemen, and all of a sudden the look of our team changes DRASTICALLY. Just look how Clevelands' left side of that line was revamped last year.. They made Derek freakin Anderson look like a Pro Bowler, and made that worn down old running back look alive again.

 

[fishypete]

I still think that Chris Long will be the pick. It is no secret that Parcells likes to go defense early, and I think a lot of people would agree that Long is the safest pick in the draft. The fact that Parcells and Al Groh are close also speaks volumes. Groh called Long the best player he has ever coached, so you can bet that he has put in a good word to our front office about him.

The fact that offensive tackle is the deepest position in this class should do more to help Chris Long than Jake. I think it is safe to say that a very good tackle prospect will be available at pick 32...and possibly even 57. You can't really say that about the hybrid 3-4 End/OLBs in this draft. The top guys at the position after Chris Long all figure to be first rounders as well (Gholston, Merling, Harvey, Groves). Maybe one of those guys slips to round two, but I wouldn't count on it.

I think that the dropoff in talent from Jake Long to a guy such as Williams, Cherilus, Collins, Baker, one of which we could probably get at 32 is a lot smaller than the dropoff from going Chris Long to a later prospect such as Lawrence Jackson, or Cliff Avril.

While some believe there's not much drop off at Tackle after Long...I have to disagree. Long is rated the top pick for a reason...and that reason is not only the fact he played for 4 years...2 at RT and 2 at LT...But he proved it on the field...he has the highest rating at tackle. He proved it at the combine....and again at his proday. Where there isn't much of a drop off is at Linebacker...there's no difference between C. Long and Gholston...the only difference is what flavor do you like...and neither C. Long or Gholston played OLB...they would have to convert. Looking at the real linebackers in this draft...there's plenty of them that can rush the passer...in fact a few that have more speed than C. Long...yet they only weigh appx 10 pounds less.

Surely there has to be a reason why in recent history that no linebacker has been taken with the top pick in the draft...look at the teams that have used the 3-4 over the years...most of them have players that range from the mid-first round to the 7th round on their rosters. The Steelers are the best example of the 3-4...they have used the 3-4 for decades...they don't over spend for linebackers either by the draft...or in free agency...but yet they are always a top defensive team each season.

Right now...the way I see it...the best value if the Dolphins have to pick at number one, is either Dorsey or J. Long.

 

[MrEd]

This is a good first logical step then the rest of it goes to hell. Logically if we were going after Pace with that much money it shows that our current staff hold a premium on that position that they don't believe was/is filled yet on our roster. After losing out on Pace, their attention does an immediate 180 and goes back to Chris Long or Vernon Ghoulston.

With Parcells loving high motor, high intensity big hybrid LBs and having inside info so to speak will Al G. that would make Chris Long the perfect choice.

With them knowing they are going to take a hybrid 3/4 player immediately after they knew they lost out on Pace, they turned their attention away from Ryan because he was no longer on their radar as the number one pick. They then had to scout QBs they knew they could get their hands on in the second round and later.

As for the OT position, no one stands way out above the rest in this class and there is no way in heck that we couldn't get one with our first pick in the second round that doesn't match up fairly closely with the top of the board with as deep as this class is. There isn't a huge drop off between the 1st and 2nd tier OT this year as years before. Our staff knows this so that eliminates OT as #1 pick.

that is how logic works

Wow! It is almost unbelievable how u can't get it! as clear as it is?...im dumbfounded!

 

[MrEd]

Why when have the 1st pick in a rich deep OT class this draft some really good OT will be there at 32. Now use it on a a need spot DE C Long. BP and Co very well may deal JT for Mckinney and we may not need an OT at 32.

But no need to get an OT at #1 when we can get a good starter at 32.

Need?????????????? How the heck do u figure that DE is a "need" spot and then u come up with C Long???? C Long would have to play OLB. And we have Jason Taylor and Joey Porter there for starters??? Hello?

 

[rafael]

You completely missed the dead giveaway "clue":

"BP and company were trying hard to trade down"...what does that mean?

That they were "willing to lose out on Chris Long, Vernon Ghoulston, Matt Ryan, and Jake Long". Did u see it?

Why would they be willing on passing on all four players? "Because one of the players plays a position that the draft was deep enough to still fill"!!! Did u get it??? His name is JAKE LONG.

U said it yourself. OT is the "deepest" position in this year's draft. Meaning that of the 4 players they were trying to lose out on..."one" of them plays the position that they can still fill with a top notch player in even though they trade down! JAKE LONG.

If they traded down(which they "tried hard to do")...they would lose out on Matt Ryan(who by a consensus was the "only" top five worthy QB.
If they traded down.....they would lose out on Chris Long and Vernon Ghoulston(who are considered top five worthy.
If they traded down...they would lose out on Jake Long(who is considered a top five pick)...."BUT" played the position that they can still fill "outside of the top five".

I had to be a little bit repetitive in order for u to see it. The clues and the handwriting on the wall.

This clue "plus" the fact that they tried (just as hard as they did to trade down) to sign Calvin Pace. This showed us "plain as day" that they didn't "want" to replace JT with Chris Long/Vernon Ghoulston...they "wanted" to replace JT with Calvin Pace. Did u see it??? This pursuit was proof of what they "actually wanted and tried to do": replace Jason Taylor with a "FREE AGENT" rather than via the draft of Chris Long/Vernon Ghoulston. So that they've had their eyes set on the position that they "never even tried to fix via FA"....LT!!!

I'm sorry for having to be this repetitive.....by you guys "have" to see the OBVIOUS. Cool? Cool! :up:

It would be far more OBVIOUS to conclude that they see OLB/DE as a need. They failed to fill it in FA and had not yet completed their draft board. Once they completed their board they felt that the best player was Chris Long, fortunately he's at a need position but that wasn't as important as him being the highest rated player. When they looked at the team they realized they needed help in many areas. It is going to take a couple of drafts and off-seasons to raise the talent level on this team. If they could trade down and get multiple picks that would accelerate the process and be better than any one player they could get at #1 overall. Therefore they will try to trade down, but if they can't they'll take Chris Long.

Obviously that's not the only possible conclusion but based the info you cited it is far more logical assuming you understand how teams generally go about their off-season decision making.

 

[slipperysoap]

Yes! U heard it right! I am upset, but feel that the signs have pointed to the fact that MIA "is" going to take JAKE LONG at #1. @#!#?!

http://dolphinsindepth.blogspot.com/2008/03/things-i-know-before-todays-start-of.html

Things I know before today\'s start of the NFL meetings
Clearing out the notebook before I refill at the NFL\'s Annual Meeting starting today in Palm Beach:

1. The Dolphins definitely have plans for John Beck. When coach Tony Sparano talks with his coaches and confidants about Miami\'s need to get leadership from younger players, he mentions the second-year quarterback. Sparano thinks great teams are ones with leaders that are in their third, fourth and fifth seasons -- guys in their prime. Sparano has been mentioning Ronnie Brown, Ted Ginn Jr. and Beck as guys that will be the nucleus of the team in the next couple of years. So don\'t write the QB off.

2. The Dolphins draft board is set. It was set last week. That means the Dolphins already know who they are going to draft if they cannot trade out of that No. 1 overall pick. They desperately want to trade out of that pick. By the way, don\'t ask me who they would pick because I\'ve asked and the person I asked laughed at me.

3. New GM Jeff Ireland is a big believer in production. Like everyone else, he appreciates when an athlete runs a great time at the combine or at his pro day, but he appreciates more when a player performs and produces on the field. Given the choice of one or the other, Ireland will lean toward the player.

4. Ireland also isn\'t inclined to draft for need early in the selection process. He\'s more likely going to want the player with the best grade on the board. He does believe, however, that you can begin addressing specific needs later in the draft to fill out the roster.

5. The rumored trade that would send the Cowboys\' two first-round picks to Miami for the right to pick Darren McFadden is dead, according to Dallas owner Jerry Jones (pictured with wife Gene and daughter Charlotte). Speaking to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Jones said "I have no intent at all of moving into the top five. A team can get crippled, and I mean seriously crippled, from a financial standpoint by being up there in the top five or six. It\'s a real negative."

6. Read the last quote and understand two things: Jerry Jones can be saying this as a way to lower the price of getting into the top of the first round. So take it with a proverbial grain of salt. But also understand the rising cost of drafting a player so high -- at least $30 million guaranteed for the first pick -- is becoming something of a negative considering that player has never played in an NFL game. It is the reason there have been no trades involving the top five selections in years.

Anyway, I\'m off to the Owners\' meetings now. I\'ll keep you updated if stuff happens so check back here throughout the day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I took a look outside the box once more and realized something else....

First, the Calvin Pace pursuit showed me that BP was targeting someone else than "Chris Long" or "Vernon Ghoulston".

Secondly, when they began to scout out "extensively", "Henne" and "Brohm"...they showed signs that they were trying to find ways to "weed out": Chris Long, Vernon Ghoulston, and "Matt Ryan".

They were zeroing down on Ryan and both Longs. So with the Pace thing and the Henne/Brohm/Flacco thing...signs began to point out that they had JAKE LONG as the guy.

I realized that the article states that they finally picked their guy "last week"...which was when they brought in JAKE LONG.

This, plus the fact that they were trying to trade down. Meaning that they were willing to lose out on Ryan and both Longs by doing so. Well, the fact that OT is the deepest position in the draft and that MIA completely ignored that "both" LT and LG via FA....showed me that they had their sights set on OT with their 1st round pick.

Seems to me that a mock draft of the following is the likely scenario come draft Saturday:

#1: Jake Long(should they stay put)...or Brandon Albert should they trade down.

#32: Sam Baker/Gosder Cherilus(which could move Carey to RT if they start at LG, or move Carey to LG if they start at RT/LT)....or Chad Henne/Brian Brohm/Joe Flacco should they feel that LG/RT can still be filled at #57.

#57: Anthony Collins/Carl Nicks( to play LG/RT should they pick Henne, Brohm, or Flacco at #32) or the QB that drops out of Henne, Brohm, Flacco, or Woodson should they select Sam Baker/Gosder Cherilus at #32.


Well, there u have it. Mr Ed has made his final conclusion. I hope I\'m wrong and that MIA selects Matt Ryan...but it just doesn\'t seem likely.

It looks like it may be too high a risk to &quot;hope&quot; that our starting LT and LG will still be available at #32 and #57. @!#?$!<img src=\"images/smilies/shakeno.gif\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" title=\"shake no\" smilieid=\"490\" class=\"inlineimg\" />

Your post makes absouletly no sense. Everyone Knows that Chris Long is the safest pick at No1. and people on this board have allready concluded that Jake Long cannot play left tackle in the NFL. Also people on this board of completely debunked Matt Ryan for the fraud that he is. John Beck is the true hall of famer and he is allready on the team. There is no need to waste a pick on a QB. The Left tackle position can be addressed later in the draft. Medical experts who post on Finheaven have allready presented medical evidence that the knee injury of Glenn Dorsey will cause him to miss part of the season. Chris Long is a lock.

 

[umpalu]

Your post makes absouletly no sense. Everyone Knows that Chris Long is the safest pick at No1. and people on this board have allready concluded that Jake Long cannot play left tackle in the NFL. Also people on this board of completely debunked Matt Ryan for the fraud that he is. John Beck is the true hall of famer and he is allready on the team. There is no need to waste a pick on a QB. The Left tackle position can be addressed later in the draft. Medical experts who post on Finheaven have allready presented medical evidence that the knee injury of Glenn Dorsey will cause him to miss part of the season. Chris Long is a lock.

i can already see the next ban coming lol.

 

[3rdandinches]

If the drop off to the next best OT is nothing then why would anyone rate J.Long top five, shouldn't he be mid round at best. Also if that means the others are close in talent to J.Long then I guess 7 maybe more OT's might go in the first. Miami, Atl, St.Lou, NYJ, KC, Cara, Det, Cinci, Philly, and Oak to name a few all need OT's so how long do we wait?

Lol look at some mock drafts more then 1/2 of those teams are selecting other players then OT's. Nice spinn move but it didn't work.

If you want to make references off of mock drafts then this will be pointless, you can find a different player taken at every spot if you look hard enough.

 

[finfan54]

If going after Pace shows that we didn't want to draft a DE/OLB then what does not landing Pace mean? Doesn't that just validate that we're looking at an edge rusher?

ahhh, common sense strikes again.

I would be happy with Jake Long as the pick. Two guys who would be overpaid but dead on starters and productive right from the get go-->>>C Long and Jake Long. Finally, a big brute of a LT! I would be happy. Now just find his blocking partner and we would be set! Front 5 set.

 

[Digital]

I'm not into arguing, so I'm simply going to post my thoughts, and if people disagree, well that's great; because I'm interested in a nice informative and civil discussion. :)

For the sake of argument let's say that Jake Long is not a potentially all-pro run blocking LT, and simply call him "good at run blocking." Let's not debate whether he is truly an elite pass pro LT (a much more interesting debate though), and let's say he's "good enough to be an LT." All of the scouts and TV guys like Mayock and Kiper recognize Long would be a better RT than LT, but they all agree Jake Long can play LT, so I think we can all agree that those are fairly safe comments.

Now, I'm going to assume something here ... and we all know what happens when you (I) assume. I assume that Parcells/Ireland/Sparano/Henning/Dolphins are going to build the offense around power running ... I think that's a safe bet, but I'll concede that it is an assumption.

Let's look at what players actually have the ability to play LT and are good at run blocking, then those that have the potential to do so. I'm doing this off the top of my head, so if I miss a guy or two, sorry, please correct me, but no need to flame me because it's not intentional, lol. The point of this is to see just what kind of dropoff we're looking at should we not draft Jake Long, and my belief is that the dropoff is quite substantial. Anyway, here's my humble opinion. I'm not necessarily ranking guys, just putting them into those categories.

Currently able to play LT and be a good run blocker:
1. Jake Long
2. Jeff Otah

Potential to be a LT and a good run blocker:
1. Branden Albert
2. Chris Williams
3. Ryan Clady
4. Carl Nicks
5. Sam Baker

OK, that's about it. Here's my comments on those guys:
1. Jake Long - best run blocker, best consistency, great college production, good pass pro.

2. Jeff Otah - good run blocker, good pass pro, raw, inconsistent.

3. Branden Albert - excellent run blocker, potentially very good pass pro, inexperienced, projection position change, superior potential in every facet, 2 years to be ready.

4. Chris Williams - mediocre run blocker, good pass pro, raw, inconsistent, mental lapses, excellent potential in pass pro, 2 years to be ready but probably never dominant run blocker.

5. Ryan Clady - superior pass pro, good potential run blocking but currently poor, inconsistent, needs to become a lot more consistent and refine his technique, but can play LT today because he's an exceptional pass pro LT. Has mental lapses and needs coaching. He's my 2nd rated LT prospect behind Long, and if he develops as expected he'll be a pro-bowler many times.

6. Carl Nicks - very good run blocker, decent pass pro, tremendous athlete with all the natural ability to be an adequate LT but great RT. Far too many issues, red flags for character, attitude, inexperience, and in the end he'll never be a top LT, but he could be an LT if he responds to coaching much better than he has thus far. Biggest bust potential. I wouldn't draft him.

7. Sam Baker - mediocre run blocker, good pass pro, solid all-around ability, inconsistent technique, major medical concerns much like McNeil of the Chargers had, best position is LT for a zone blocking team like the Broncos. He is one of those guys that doesn't appeal to teams like the Dolphins that much, and his injuries are a major question mark, but in the right system he can be a pro-bowler. I think he's going to be one of these linemen that arrives with much less fanfare than the workout warriors yet outperforms them on the grid iron. If he stays healthy, he's a very good player. He's so far down this list because that's a big "if."

 

[adamprez2003]

great job mr ed. great job