With No. 1 pick Jake Long and second pick Chris Long meeting Sunday -- contingent on Jake Long's ankle -- here's a quick progress report on Miami's draft class:
• Jake Long: Former Browns personnel director Jeremy Green, of ESPN's Scouts Inc., said Matt Ryan ``is turning out to the best player in the draft, but Jake is second-best. And Miami probably would still take Long.''
Justin Smiley said Long (2.5 sacks allowed) has graded out ''consistently great'' and the best of Miami's offensive linemen. And ESPN.com's K.C. Joyner said through mid-November, Long had a 96.6 percent success rate on blocks on running plays, ``the highest I've seen in three years doing metrics.''
• Phillip Merling (drafted 32nd) and Kendall Langford (66th): ''Everybody is talking about them,'' former NFL personnel man Mike Lombardi raved.
Merling -- sharing time with starter Vonnie Holliday -- said he hasn't met his expectations (18 tackles, one sack). His sack totals at Clemson (11.5 in 38 games) weren't overwhelming.
''I thought maybe Merling would do a little more, but it's a complicated defense,'' Green said. ``They needed a player like that, and there's not anyone making a ton of plays among rookie defensive linemen. Jacksonville traded up for Derrick Harvey [at No. 8], and he's had little impact.''
Among players taken within 10 picks after Merling, Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton (67 tackles) and Broncos receiver Eddie Royal (58 catches) have been very good, but ''Lofton wouldn't be a great fit for Miami's defense, and Miami doesn't like small receivers like Royal,'' Green said.
Langford had sacks in the first two games, none since. Of the two, Langford ''maybe has a nose to make bigger plays,'' ex-Dolphin/WFOR's Kim Bokamper said. ``Merling is steady. Either could be a Vonnie Holliday longterm.''
Among the 22 rookie defensive ends drafted, Langford's 20 tackles rank fourth behind Chris Long, Lawrence Jackson (picked 28th) and Jason Jones (54th). Merling is tied for fifth with No. 50 pick Calais Campbell.
• Chad Henne (57th): Miami's future QB will be ''a great leader, a clutch player,'' Lombardi said. ``To get him [at 57] was incredible. It puts Miami ahead of the Jets when Brett Favre retires.''
• Injured Donald Thomas (195th): A rival personnel director said Thomas ''has a toughness to him. He's like Jeno James was, a mauler.'' Tony Sparano said the right guard is sorely missed.
• The Dolphins don't believe disappointing guard Shawn Murphy (110th) is ready. . . . Practice squad running backs Jalen Parmele (176th) and Lex Hilliard (204th) face murky futures. . . . The Dolphins like the pass-rushing skills of defensive end Lionel Dotson (245). . . . Green said Miami's best move was trading its fourth-rounder for Anthony Fasano and Akin Ayodele.
