Pachyderm_Wave
Hartselle Tigers (15-0) 5-A State Champ
Maybe I should clarify. I see drafting interior OL and RB both as mistakes in our current situation. RB in the top 15 or even the 1st round is a mistake, IMO, unless you have the luxury of being able to focus on that position, as most perennial SB contenders are (not us, obviously). The Saints may fall in that category, but I think they still have holes on D that need to be addressed, which is the only reason I see it as a mistake, albeit a minor one.
When it comes to QB, on the other hand, I don't see how a team focuses on anything else until they have a legitimate starter at the position. I'm not talking the next Marino, I'm talking a good starter, at the very least; which is something we haven't had since Marino left. When you are in that situation, you draft QB in the first round, period.
In hindsight, it's easy for people to say, "Mallett went in the 3rd, so it would have been a reach." So, if we drafted him in the first, people would have been saying it was a reach? **** no. They would be saying, "finally, Miami takes a shot at a legitimate QB prospect." Yeah, a lot of teams passed on him and all of them are QB-retarded teams, such as the Miami Dolphins.
Absolutely. I agree that having a legitimate quarterback already in place, and having in general a roster that's capable of competing for championships is a more ideal situation for drafting a RB in the 1st round. However, I disagree with the blanket statement that drafting a RB in the 1st round is a mistake.
REACHING in the 1st round is a mistake.... doesn't matter what position it is.
Running back was one of Miami's primary needs this off-season... and if they already knew that they were going to let Ronnie and Ricky go, and had to draft a RB anyway... they would've been much better off to just go ahead and take the best one in the draft at #15, rather than trade up for Daniel Thomas.
The quarterback situation and philosophy is one I've subscribed to for the better part of 30 years... there's no excuses for any of this effort Miami puts forth to repeatedly avoid quality prospects at the position.
Fact is, once you hit on that franchise quarterback, it allows you so much more room for error with every other decision you make. Your franchise will still have stability until you get all the other pieces in place.
You do NOT have stability within your franchise when you're searching for a quarterback... all the Jake Longs, Mike Pounceys, Brandon Marshalls, and Cam Wakes a roster can possibly hold won't change it.
The OP is dead on here... but it's not a revelation. Miami had the chance to address BOTH the quarterback position, and come away with the best RB in the draft in the SAME draft... we talked about it at length over and over again before any of this even transpired for months leading up the draft.
Miami's front office just doesn't get it. I have absolutely nothing for 'em as a result.