Dolphin's priorities via Armando

[j-off-her-doll]

Absolutely. Look no further than baseball. Every always complains about the Yankees and other big market teams spending a lot of money, but really the bigger issue is that teams like the Pirates and other perennial crap teams refuse to spend any money. That has far more to do with the disparity than big markets overspending. The Yankees have won one WS since their 2000 win, so you obviously can't count on them winning it all every year. What you CAN count on is that the Royals, Pirates, Nationals and Padres will not make the playoffs. Without any salary floor, those teams just line their pockets. Get this: most of those teams get paid more money by the big market teams than what their payroll ends up being. They simply take the money and do not even attempt to lock up their young stars. Its a sad situation

I just fear that once the cap goes away this offseason we will never see it again in football. Gene Upshaw guaranteed that if the cap went away he would never allow it back. We will have to see what this new head of the Player's Union does.

But, then you have teams like the Marlins and A's. Either way, I pray that the cap is back come 2011.

 

[ONole1]

yeah...i don't think moving down to around pick 20 or more and counting on everson griffen being on the board is a chance i'd take...

maybe 15 but not any further than that...i actually think that once the combine and his pro day workouts are complete we'll be nervous about having a shot at griffen at #12...let alone any trade down scenario...

3-4 teams are gonna have to love what they see there on tape...

the only thing i can see hurting him is if he doesn't interview well (which we'll likely not know) or has some skeletons in the closet yet to be revealed...

My problem with Griffen is production. In his three years he played 37 games and only had 84 tackles. In 2008 he only had 18 tackles and in 2007 only 21. He scares the heck out of me and has Vernon Gholston written all over him to me. He may look good in the gym and in a workout, but it's about production, and I just haven't seen it from him.

 

[ckparrothead]

The whole Rolando McClain is a genius thing is being overblown, IMO. People are acting like he's the next Zach Thomas. He's not.

 

[tylerdolphin]

But, then you have teams like the Marlins and A's. Either way, I pray that the cap is back come 2011.

Yea, I edited my post to include the Marlins example a right after i posted. Its pretty incredible how they keep losing their key core players and stay competitive. I think they are more of the exception than the rule to the payroll thing though. You have to draft exceptionally well and have a great FO to pull it off. Im not even sure how long the Marlins can sustain what they are doing. They are a few bad drafts away from being the Pirates. Hopefully the new stadium will help them keep guys like Hanley Ramirez around.

Point is, teams are going to try and be cheap about things without the salary floor and it will not be pretty.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

CK...I understand your logic. However, Armando even mentions that the depth at OLB in this draft goes quite far. We could still get excellent value later on.

My argument is that when you are staring at a potential perennial pro bowl ILB (the nucleus of a defense) you have to take him. Rolando has one attribute that cannot go unnoticed, he is SMART. Hes also a product that was harbored by Nick Saban. Love or hate him, the man is a genius for the defensive side of the ball. I don't know how you can pass on Mcclain at 12.

Based on value alone, OLB is a "want" at #12, because the value of the pick (graham for example) does not coincide with the pick. If we want to take OLB, we MUST trade back in the draft with a team that conveys Mcclain. That is the only way I will accept an OLB pick in the first round.

I don't understand Mondo's point there....depth at OLB how? As in 4-3 OLB? Sure..

But the type of OLB Miami is looking for is going to be a conversion guy...a guy that played DE in college and will make the transition to stand-up linebacker....there's only a handfull of those in any draft...and we still don't know exactly who all they are yet until after combine drills...

However, you're making the point for McClain that I've made all along....

How many players in this draft are going to come in and start for their teams from day 1? How many of those are going to be captaining the defense soon? How many of them are 3-year All-American starters in the SEC....and quarterback one of the most complex, and best defenses that college football has ever seen?

Would anyone say that a guy like that is worth a top 12 pick? I don't see how he wouldn't be...

 

[ckparrothead]

My problem with Griffen is production. In his three years he played 37 games and only had 84 tackles. In 2008 he only had 18 tackles and in 2007 only 21. He scares the heck out of me and has Vernon Gholston written all over him to me. He may look good in the gym and in a workout, but it's about production, and I just haven't seen it from him.

You have to view Griffen as a one-year starter because basically, he is. Remember, he's a junior...not a senior.

He started a few games as a freshman but was then a backup because on USC you generally don't play for the DL much if you're just a freshman, even if you're a freak. His sophomore year he got benched...in favor of Clay Matthews, who oh by the way was drafted in the 1st round and had 10 sacks, a touchdown and 7 passes defensed this year as a mere rookie.

Griffen renewed his dedication to hard work and accepting coaching under Jethro Franklin, started this year and was on a tear. We're talking 35 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 8 Sacks in the first 8 games...with at least 1 sack in 6 straight games before taking a toe injury against Oregon that put him out of commission against Arizona State and hampered him against Stanford, UCLA and Arizona. Then he gets to the Emerald Bowl and his ankle got rolled on in the first quarter, didn't play most of the game because of it.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

You have to view Griffen as a one-year starter because basically, he is. Remember, he's a junior...not a senior.

He started a few games as a freshman but was then a backup because on USC you generally don't play for the DL much if you're just a freshman, even if you're a freak. His sophomore year he got benched...in favor of Clay Matthews, who oh by the way was drafted in the 1st round and had 10 sacks, a touchdown and 7 passes defensed this year as a mere rookie.

Griffen renewed his dedication to hard work and accepting coaching under Jethro Franklin, started this year and was on a tear. We're talking 35 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 8 Sacks in the first 8 games...with at least 1 sack in 6 straight games before taking a toe injury against Oregon that put him out of commission against Arizona State and hampered him against Stanford, UCLA and Arizona. Then he gets to the Emerald Bowl and his ankle got rolled on in the first quarter, didn't play most of the game because of it.

Plus, you don't typically measure OLB/DE production via tackles. You measure them by sacks, pressures, tackles for loss, etc.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

The whole Rolando McClain is a genius thing is being overblown, IMO. People are acting like he's the next Zach Thomas. He's not.

What's this....he's not a borderline Hall of Famer? Well not yet..

You can bet that the NFL has a place for guys that are always in the right spot and can do the things McClain can do....it's called the Pro Bowl...

Miami can't keep counting on teams like the 49ers to keep taking these stud linebackers and keep them away from teams in the AFC East so we don't have to face them twice a year...

At least we get to watch scrubs like Crowder and Ayodele get worked over to a pulp every week, right?

 

[ONole1]

You have to view Griffen as a one-year starter because basically, he is. Remember, he's a junior...not a senior.

He started a few games as a freshman but was then a backup because on USC you generally don't play for the DL much if you're just a freshman, even if you're a freak. His sophomore year he got benched...in favor of Clay Matthews, who oh by the way was drafted in the 1st round and had 10 sacks, a touchdown and 7 passes defensed this year as a mere rookie.

Griffen renewed his dedication to hard work and accepting coaching under Jethro Franklin, started this year and was on a tear. We're talking 35 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 8 Sacks in the first 8 games...with at least 1 sack in 6 straight games before taking a toe injury against Oregon that put him out of commission against Arizona State and hampered him against Stanford, UCLA and Arizona. Then he gets to the Emerald Bowl and his ankle got rolled on in the first quarter, didn't play most of the game because of it.

Valid points, but still scares me a bit. I like to see production and just like JPP he may have all the tools, but just scares me.

 

[Tunaphish429]

You have to view Griffen as a one-year starter because basically, he is. Remember, he's a junior...not a senior.

He started a few games as a freshman but was then a backup because on USC you generally don't play for the DL much if you're just a freshman, even if you're a freak. His sophomore year he got benched...in favor of Clay Matthews, who oh by the way was drafted in the 1st round and had 10 sacks, a touchdown and 7 passes defensed this year as a mere rookie.

Griffen renewed his dedication to hard work and accepting coaching under Jethro Franklin, started this year and was on a tear. We're talking 35 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 8 Sacks in the first 8 games...with at least 1 sack in 6 straight games before taking a toe injury against Oregon that put him out of commission against Arizona State and hampered him against Stanford, UCLA and Arizona. Then he gets to the Emerald Bowl and his ankle got rolled on in the first quarter, didn't play most of the game because of it.

Hey Ck thanks for answering the comment on Merling...

Why do you think Nolan being there now kinda makes Merling obsolete as far as being moved linebacker?

Do you think he is not starting Caliber..I know Roth was able to make the transiton..But i do also know he had some experience and Merling did not..

But I do feel Merling is alot more athletic than Roth..

Anyway where do you see Merling playing next postion wise?

 

[RobertHorry]

What's this....he's not a borderline Hall of Famer? Well not yet..

You can bet that the NFL has a place for guys that are always in the right spot and can do the things McClain can do....it's called the Pro Bowl...

Miami can't keep counting on teams like the 49ers to keep taking these stud linebackers and keep them away from teams in the AFC East so we don't have to face them twice a year...

At least we get to watch scrubs like Crowder and Ayodele get worked over to a pulp every week, right?

I would go as far to say that McClain is not that much smarter, if at all then Crowder.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

I would go as far to say that McClain is not that much smarter, if at all then Crowder.

Well that depends on what you're talking about here.....football smart or academics?

McClain has more football instincts in his left ear cartilage than Crowder has ever had.....and he's also an honor roll student at Bama...

Have you ever talked to the guy? Met his parents? Watched him run practice?

I've been around him since he was 16 years old.....trust me there's not much I'm going to find out about Rolando McClain from anybody here...

 

[twg76]

This is a no-brainer.

Priority #1: ILB
Priority #2: OLB
Priority #3: NT or DT
Priority #4: WR

 

[RobertHorry]

Well that depends on what you're talking about here.....football smart or academics?

McClain has more football instincts in his left ear cartilage than Crowder has ever had.....and he's also an honor roll student at Bama...

Have you ever talked to the guy? Met his parents? Watched him run practice?

I've been around him since he was 16 years old.....trust me there's not much I'm going to find out about Rolando McClain from anybody here...

No, but I have met Crowder 7-8 times and have had dinner with him as well. I've known him for a while.

Rolando Mcclain was a honor rull student a Bama. Thats great, but Crowder was a National Honor Society Member, had a 3.5 GPA(which is higher than Rolando's) and scored a 30 on the wonderlic. Which is funny because that is extremely high for a linebacker and any individual in general.

Crowder is very smart, don't use his childish humor to evaluate his intelligence.

 

[hoops]

The difference is in the hips for me....the looseness and COD skills....Griffen can play stand-up OLB and man-up on the strongside....Gholston is miscast in a 3-4 from day one...he's too stiff hipped and not instinctive enough....Griffen has what I would call "football" instincts...

yep