Analyzing This Class Of 53

[DKphin]

• The center of attention: This was one of the toughest decisions of the summer. What do you do with Mike Pouncey? The Dolphins chose to keep the veteran center on the active roster instead of risking a six-game stint on the Physically Unable to Perform List (PUP). This is good news. It means that Pouncey is closer to returning than originally anticipated. It means the Dolphins believe he could be back in the first month of the season. That’s encouraging for a player who is so important to this offense.

• Youth prevails: As of Sunday afternoon, there were 12 rookies on this roster: Six drafted, six undrafted. The six drafted players are understandable; the six undrafted are a surprise. You usually see maybe two or three undrafted players, but six is not the norm. It further underlines two things in my mind: That the draft is an inexact science and that this regime does not care about pedigree. When Dennis Hickey told me early this summer that “once you come through our doors, it doesn’t matter how you got here” he obviously meant it. Still, it took some guts to be so bold.
• From four to five: A year ago, the Dolphins kept four wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster. This year they kept six and narrowed it to five on Sunday with the release of Damian Williams. This isn’t by design as much as it is just common sense. This is among the strengths of this team. You’ve got five players with clear, undeniable NFL talent. Why, I can remember a few years ago when the Dolphins didn’t have half that many quality receivers. No, there aren’t any five wide receiver formations as far as I know. But if they are five of the best athletes on your team – and they are – then it only increases your options to keep them all on the roster.
• A few words about Jordan Kovacs: I know, I shouldn’t be partial to some players over others. But I got to know Jordan Kovacs as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan a year ago. I so admired his story, how he literally begged his way on to the Wolverines football team, never slowed by a couple of knee injuries, and went on to become the team captain and leading tackler. Probably a few inches too short and a few tenths too slow, I knew it would be tough to make this team a second time because of the upgrades at safety. Why, he knew how tough it would be. But he never stopped battling, never stopped dreaming, until he was released late Saturday afternoon. Got to admire that young man.
• Toughest veteran decisions: Probably the two biggest names to be released were running Daniel Thomas and kick returner Marcus Thigpen. Both had been on this team for a while. Both had shown us some promising signs. But in Thomas’ case, he battled too many injuries and just never played to the level expected of a second-round pick. Thigpen gave us some thrills as a kick returner, but was simply not valuable enough in other areas. He also could not match the diversity and big-play potential of second-round pick Jarvis Landry.
• A new look for the running game: The Dolphins kept four running backs; two of them – Damien Williams and Orleans Darkwa – weren’t drafted and have never carried the ball in an NFL game. That leaves Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller as the only experienced backs. Miller was the only back among this group who was even on the roster last season. Interesting thinking here. Is it risky? Sure it is. But I like both Williams and Darkwa. I like their speed. I’m impressed with their ability to return kicks. Each clearly showed enough in the preseason to justify being one of 53.
• Just for kicks: Despite a summer of uncertainty due to a groin injury, Caleb Sturgis is the only placekicker on the roster, which means he’s ready to go all out against the Patriots. Now healthy, his next challenge is showing us a little more consistency than he did as a rookie. This team will play a lot of close games; Sturgis therefore becomes a crucial part of the big picture.
• So what now? With suspended players Dion Jordan and Reshad Jones not counted on the 53 until their four-week punishment ends, that opened up two additional spots. But what happens when they return? The point here is that whether it’s upgrading the back end of the roster or figuring out who goes when Jordan and Jones returns, this is an ongoing process. In this league, the only real certainty is uncertainty.

http://www.thefinsiders.com/blog/2014/andy-cohen-analyzing-this-class-of-53

 

[Dolphin North]

I think I read too much Dolphins stuff. I was sure it was Andy Cohen before I clicked the link, just by the writing style.:)

We have a lot of uncertainties and we will have some questions answered very soon.

 

[spiketex]

• A few words about Jordan Kovacs: I know, I shouldn’t be partial to some players over others. But I got to know Jordan Kovacs as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan a year ago. I so admired his story, how he literally begged his way on to the Wolverines football team, never slowed by a couple of knee injuries, and went on to become the team captain and leading tackler. Probably a few inches too short and a few tenths too slow, I knew it would be tough to make this team a second time because of the upgrades at safety. Why, he knew how tough it would be. But he never stopped battling, never stopped dreaming, until he was released late Saturday afternoon. Got to admire that young man.

I'm sorry to see Jordan Kovacs cut, as well. If you look up the word persistence in the dictionary, there is a picture of Jordan Kovacs.
His departure also means that owner Stephen Ross is honest with his commitment not to meddle with the independence of Joe Philbin and Dennis Hickey to make the football decisions. Mr Ross's enthusiastic support for the University of Michigan is well known and he has donated over $200 million to the university in recent times. The Business School is even named after him. It is also well known that Mr Ross was a big fan of Kovacs and actually made the call to offer him an opportunity as an Undrafted Free Agent at the Dolphins (it was on TV). When the owner has everyone on the payroll, it can be a difficult decision not to try to keep him happy. In this case, whether to keep Jordan Kovacs, Don Jones or Michael Thomas. However, the decision was made that Thomas is the player they kept and the commitment of Mr Ross to be a hands off owner is preserved. (This isn't Dallas, Cincinatti, Cleveland or Washington DC, where the owner is an actively participant in the player personnel decisions).
Unfortunately, Jordan Kovacs wasn't quite good enough to make it as a Miami Dolphin, but don't be surprised if he makes it as a great success in life. He is our very own Rudy, who defied all the odds to get an opportunity. I wish him well.

 

[roy_miami]

You usually see maybe two or three undrafted players, but six is not the norm. It further underlines two things in my mind: That the draft is an inexact science and that this regime does not care about pedigree. When Dennis Hickey told me early this summer that “once you come through our doors, it doesn’t matter how you got here” he obviously meant it. Still, it took some guts to be so bold.

This is refreshing and I believe he's on the exact same page as Philbin in this regard. And its the exact opposite of what Ireland believed. I heard Ireland do a radio interview after joining the Seahawks as a consultant and I'm paraphrasing here but he said something like 'if you have 50% of your draft picks starting you are probably a hall of fame GM.' Whats stupid about that thinking is, as the GM, you have the power to manipulate the roster to ensure your players start. Ireland cared more about looking like the smartest guy in the room than he did about building a winning team.