Addressing the Dolphins #1 pick in the 2008 Draft, both fitting the current personnel and the pick's role:
A.) Chris Long- UVA: Long seems like a great pick (comes from a great pedigree, hard worker, relentless motor, team leader, etc.) but when you grade on the roles of a presumed 3-4 defense, he ranks somewhat lower. 3-4 DE do no have as great of a role as 4-3 DE and seem to be more concerned with filling their gaps and taking blocker off of the linebackers than penetrating the line and causing havoc on the QB. It is still a very important position, and he is a great 3-4 DE prospect (adding maybe 10 lb.), but not worth pick #1.
B.) Glenn Dorsey- LSU: I really, really like everything about Dorsey. He is a disruptive force, relentless, and the definition of a team player. He will put his body through anything to better his teammates. If the Dolphins choose to play in a 4-3 I would pick Dorsey #1 with no problem. But assuming they go the 3-4 route, he is not worth the #1 pick. I actually think he would be a much better 3-4 NT than most people but not so much so that he is worth the pick.
C.) Matt Ryan- BC: Ryan is definitely the #1 QB coming out in 2008 and would have been the #1 pick for the Dolphins last year, but I have not seen enough of last year's #2 Beck to fully judge the position. I know everyone says you take a franchise QB no matter what if you don't have one but I'm not convinced Beck isn't. Ryan will probably be a good QB, but I believe Beck will too. Therefore, I have to pass.
D.) Darren McFadden- Ark: McFadden is a special talent. He's big, he's fast, and he's multi-dimensional. If we're picking #2 in 2005, he would be a Dolphin over Brown. And seeing the impact Peterson had last year (given that I don't think DM is as good as a true RB as AP, but a better all-around threat) one would have to take a very long look at him with pick #1. But given that we have Brown and the rest of the stable, and the fact that it would be too much guarunteed money for a one-play-disaster-waiting-to-happen, I would pass with caution.
Given all the circumstances, the personnel and their roles, my #1 pick would be:
Jake Long- Mich: The prototypical LT prospect. He has great size (6'7 315), great speed (reportedly keeps up with the skill positions in conditioning), great production (a top 10 pick last year), great strength (supposed to contend with the bench press record this combine), and plays a position that would be worth the #1 pick. I like Vernon Carey a lot, but he seems a better RT than true LT. Long would give you an instant starter at LT, doesn't have many injury concerns, and would be worth the long-term money invested in the #1 pick. I know there are other very good LT prospects in '08, but Long is definitely a franchise LT. He could protect Beck's or whoever's blindsize for many, many years.
Now given all that, I do have a sleeper pick:
Vernon Gholston- OSU: Hear me out. He would be an ideal OLB candidate for Bill Parcells. He's big (6'4 265), he's extremely fast, and he's productive. But more important, I feel he would have a greater impact than Chris Long's 3-4 DE position, Glenn Dorsey at 3-4 NT, and I don't know if Ryan is that much better than Beck. He would be up there with McFadden in impact rating. I can really see Parcells falling in love with him and his abilities
A.) Chris Long- UVA: Long seems like a great pick (comes from a great pedigree, hard worker, relentless motor, team leader, etc.) but when you grade on the roles of a presumed 3-4 defense, he ranks somewhat lower. 3-4 DE do no have as great of a role as 4-3 DE and seem to be more concerned with filling their gaps and taking blocker off of the linebackers than penetrating the line and causing havoc on the QB. It is still a very important position, and he is a great 3-4 DE prospect (adding maybe 10 lb.), but not worth pick #1.
B.) Glenn Dorsey- LSU: I really, really like everything about Dorsey. He is a disruptive force, relentless, and the definition of a team player. He will put his body through anything to better his teammates. If the Dolphins choose to play in a 4-3 I would pick Dorsey #1 with no problem. But assuming they go the 3-4 route, he is not worth the #1 pick. I actually think he would be a much better 3-4 NT than most people but not so much so that he is worth the pick.
C.) Matt Ryan- BC: Ryan is definitely the #1 QB coming out in 2008 and would have been the #1 pick for the Dolphins last year, but I have not seen enough of last year's #2 Beck to fully judge the position. I know everyone says you take a franchise QB no matter what if you don't have one but I'm not convinced Beck isn't. Ryan will probably be a good QB, but I believe Beck will too. Therefore, I have to pass.
D.) Darren McFadden- Ark: McFadden is a special talent. He's big, he's fast, and he's multi-dimensional. If we're picking #2 in 2005, he would be a Dolphin over Brown. And seeing the impact Peterson had last year (given that I don't think DM is as good as a true RB as AP, but a better all-around threat) one would have to take a very long look at him with pick #1. But given that we have Brown and the rest of the stable, and the fact that it would be too much guarunteed money for a one-play-disaster-waiting-to-happen, I would pass with caution.
Given all the circumstances, the personnel and their roles, my #1 pick would be:
Jake Long- Mich: The prototypical LT prospect. He has great size (6'7 315), great speed (reportedly keeps up with the skill positions in conditioning), great production (a top 10 pick last year), great strength (supposed to contend with the bench press record this combine), and plays a position that would be worth the #1 pick. I like Vernon Carey a lot, but he seems a better RT than true LT. Long would give you an instant starter at LT, doesn't have many injury concerns, and would be worth the long-term money invested in the #1 pick. I know there are other very good LT prospects in '08, but Long is definitely a franchise LT. He could protect Beck's or whoever's blindsize for many, many years.
Now given all that, I do have a sleeper pick:
Vernon Gholston- OSU: Hear me out. He would be an ideal OLB candidate for Bill Parcells. He's big (6'4 265), he's extremely fast, and he's productive. But more important, I feel he would have a greater impact than Chris Long's 3-4 DE position, Glenn Dorsey at 3-4 NT, and I don't know if Ryan is that much better than Beck. He would be up there with McFadden in impact rating. I can really see Parcells falling in love with him and his abilities
