Barry Jackson: Analyst Feedback on Dolphins day 3

[gafin]

Some notes and feedback from analysts on the Dolphins' third-day picks today:

### Liberty cornerback Walt Aikens: The first player taken in this draft who wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, Aikens will challenge Will Davis for the No. 4 cornerback job.... Has seven career picks in three seasons... Was tossed off the Illinois team, and served a 14-day jail sentence, for being found with a stolen computer. (Aikens explained today that he didn't know it was stolen property when he purchased it.)

ESPN's Todd McShay: “He was really impressive at the Senior Bowl. One of the more underrated cornerbacks in this draft. Doesn’t have exceptional speed but has good speed. Runs a 4.49 in the 40. Ball skills are average, not exceptional. I think he will pan out because he’s driven, intelligent and has good instincts.”…

ESPN's Mel Kiper: “Aikens really benefited from Senior Bowl. He didn’t look like a fish out of water.”…

Draft analyst Tony Pauline sees him as nothing more than an eighth defensive back/special teams player because he “lacks deep speed and struggles staying with receivers down the field.” But “he quickly locates the pass in the air and is a hard hitter.”

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...-third-day-draft-picks.html#storylink=addthis



Sounds like a mixed bag on most picks. They also added a running back.

10 p.m. update: The Dolphins didn't draft a running back but they added an interesting prospect at the position moments ago when they signed former Oklahoma tailback Damien Williams.

Williams ran for 946 yards (5.4 per carry) and 11 touchdowns as a junior, then ran for 553 (3.9 per carry) and seven TDs last season before being tossed from the Sooners team in late November because of multiple violations of team rules. He's fast and has good receiving skills.

Williams, 5-9, was pursued by seven teams after the draft. He will compete with Daniel Thomas and Mike Gilislee for the third and fourth running back jobs behind Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller.

 

[hoops]

point blank we should all be worried about the run...no read and dx mike backer to be ahead of the 2nd level blockers no poa strength at the position outside of misi...gap shooters and upfield dts...no de who plays the run at a above average level other than derrick shelby who's limited athletically and undersized de's to boot

that said i totally believe miami wanted to upgrade at mike backer it just didnt come to them board wise and value and it wasnt long before all the options were 2 down ones and in our scheme two down backers are hard to hide...

 

[cafinfan408]

Great more missed run blitzes

 

[phintim]

point blank we should all be worried about the run...no read and dx mike backer to be ahead of the 2nd level blockers no poa strength at the position outside of misi...gap shooters and upfield dts...no de who plays the run at a above average level other than derrick shelby who's limited athletically and undersized de's to boot

that said i totally believe miami wanted to upgrade at mike backer it just didnt come to them board wise and value and it wasnt long before all the options were 2 down ones and in our scheme two down backers are hard to hide...

Any free agent options out there?

 

[finfan54]

this draft sucked for LB's.

 

[fishbanger]

think TRIPP is more OLB and we needed a MLB. Those were gone.

 

[LANGER72]

Shazier going early tipped our board over. Ravens taking Mosely was expected.