- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 30,987
- Reaction score
- 1,249
Positives
· Dennis Hickey was correct to take Ju’wuan James at 19. Yes, it may have been possible to trade down some. However, a RT starved team may have been able to jump Miami and snag James if Hickey had bailed. To me there was a significant drop off from James to Morgan Moses, Joel Bitonio and Cyrus Kouandijo. Hickey must also be given credit for also taking James before the run occurred on the next group of linemen.
· I am pleased that the team drafted a “natural” RT. There are no conversions going on during training camp with James. He can step right in and adjust to the speed of the game.
· I like the current OT situation with Albert and James.
· Some people on this site think that RT is not that important of position. However, when we discuss the idea of blocking a Mario Williams perhaps the position is a tad more important than people are making it. With better RT play last year, Miami would have been in the playoffs. The position is essential.
· Calling it now Jarvis Landry > Odell Beckham Jr.
· I liked that Miami drafted a CB in Walt Aikens to compete with Will Davis. Davis was over-drafted last year and is over his head in the NFL.
· I love that Hickey traded back for a 4[SUP]th[/SUP] rounder in this year’s draft as opposed into the 2015 draft. Some in the media suggested the team should shoot for a pick in the ’15 draft. The Fins need help for this year’s team and I am not convinced that the 2015 draft is as well stocked as this years.
· I am intrigued by the undrafted free agent class.
· Greg Likens worked it big time this past week. He was on the air for 20 plus hours. While I enjoyed Jesse Agler, Likens has picked up the slack and will do a nice job for the fans. The Finsiders work their tails off during the draft.
Negatives
· I am concerned about the LB group. With very few offseason moves, the team has essentially doubled down on Misi, Ellerbe and Wheeler. Perhaps another year in the system will allow them to take additional steps. I am still interested to see if Jelani Jenkins can make a jump in year two and Jordan Tripp seems determined to make a name for himself. With all that said, the LB play last year was well below average and must improve.
The DB’s on the roster are still a question mark for me. I love that Brent Grimes was re-signed. Courtland Finnegan interests me, but the team banking on him returning to his prior level of play from three years ago is very risky. They supposedly love Jamar Taylor, but he has not done much on the field for us to verify what he can do. Will Davis is going to have trouble competing. Walt Aikens is an interesting prospect, but he is a rookie after all. Jimmy Wilson did a nice job as the nickel last year and should be counted on again. At safety, it seems they have decided to roll with two SS-like players. Louis Delmas is also very injury proned. Who are the back ups at Safety? The 2013 DB’s played well for the most part. Is this new group an improvement?
· I am surprised that no RB was drafted that might have been able to push “power back” Daniel Thomas. I would have guessed that a physical presence would have been added by now.
· I would have liked to see a big bodied DT added to the mix. Whether it was UFA or the draft, I wonder if the D-line is too light up front. I think there is a ton of talent that can disrupt with early penetration. I just wonder if Miami can get in a “street fight” with a smash mouth team and win.
Overall Observations
· Hickey and Philbin had to address the Offensive Line. Between yielding 50 plus sacks and the Martin Fiasco, the line needed an upgrade in talent and simply new faces. With Branden Albert, Shelley Smith, Ju’wuan James and Billy Turner, the line has been upgraded and fits the objectives of the offense. The line is now more athletic fitting a ZBS. However, make no mistake, this line was put together to pass block. I expect the team to sling the ball around a ton this year. With the addition of Knowshon Moreno, a tremendous pass blocker, I expect the Dolphins to “pitch and catch” even more than we have seen…and that is a lot.
· If anyone has an issue with the O-line being addressed early in the draft, they must acknowledge that Hickey was simply correcting “mistakes” of Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland. Efforts to improve the line had to happen this offseason.
· People that killed Hickey for going RT at 19 and wanted another player such as Brandin Cooks or Marquise Lee, have to acknowledge that drafting one of those players was not going the difference between 7-9 and 11-5. It is fine to demand the skill player, but just exactly how many wins do you feel a rookie draft pick is worth?
· With that said, this draft was about the development of Ryan Tannehill. Getting him an elite LT in FA, a first round RT and upgrading the Guard positions, the team has given Tannehill a line to give him more time to throw. Moreno will be a major help in blitz pickups that consistently broke down around the young QB last year. Finally, the addition of Jarvis Landry will push the other receivers on the roster. Landry very well could find himself being called upon to make plays for the Dolphins. Tannehill must take another step in becoming a franchise QB and the FO did what they could this offseason to have that improvement become a reality.
· Joe Philbin and his staff must develop players. Kacy Rodgers and Dan Campbell (two holdovers from the previous staff) have done great work improving their units. However, more is needed from this coaching staff helping get players to the next level or two.
It was interesting to listen to the Finsiders interviews of each of the draftees. It was noticeable how intelligent and articulate each pick is. Philbin and · Hickey not only put a value on their college leadership experience, but the intellectual ability of each player. Walt Aikens took some heat on our site and Twitter about his run in with the law at Illinois. However, if anyone listens to his interview with the team run radio program, he seems to understand his mishap and described how he has changed over the years. I was very impressed by Aikens maturity.
· I wonder if Dion Sims is in trouble. Between the drafting of Arthur Lynch and signing of UDFA Harold Hoskin, Sims is going to have to make a jump in order to make the team. I like Sims and think he as some potential. However, with a new GM, Sims might be on the outs.
· How terrible is Adam Beasley? Each offseason he makes outlandish claims. Once again, he was at it this year. “The Dolphins are looking to move up in the draft”. “Zach Martin will be looked at guard first.” Both pre-draft claims prove to be wrong. Beasley is incompetent writer.
· People must remember…and get excited about… that there are in a sense two draft classes coming. With the 2014 class and 2013 kids returning from injury and developing, Miami has an influx of prospects available to them. Dion Jordan and Jamar Taylor are especially going to be looked upon to contribute in big ways. It will be a fun part of training camp to observe.
· Dennis Hickey was correct to take Ju’wuan James at 19. Yes, it may have been possible to trade down some. However, a RT starved team may have been able to jump Miami and snag James if Hickey had bailed. To me there was a significant drop off from James to Morgan Moses, Joel Bitonio and Cyrus Kouandijo. Hickey must also be given credit for also taking James before the run occurred on the next group of linemen.
· I am pleased that the team drafted a “natural” RT. There are no conversions going on during training camp with James. He can step right in and adjust to the speed of the game.
· I like the current OT situation with Albert and James.
· Some people on this site think that RT is not that important of position. However, when we discuss the idea of blocking a Mario Williams perhaps the position is a tad more important than people are making it. With better RT play last year, Miami would have been in the playoffs. The position is essential.
· Calling it now Jarvis Landry > Odell Beckham Jr.
· I liked that Miami drafted a CB in Walt Aikens to compete with Will Davis. Davis was over-drafted last year and is over his head in the NFL.
· I love that Hickey traded back for a 4[SUP]th[/SUP] rounder in this year’s draft as opposed into the 2015 draft. Some in the media suggested the team should shoot for a pick in the ’15 draft. The Fins need help for this year’s team and I am not convinced that the 2015 draft is as well stocked as this years.
· I am intrigued by the undrafted free agent class.
· Greg Likens worked it big time this past week. He was on the air for 20 plus hours. While I enjoyed Jesse Agler, Likens has picked up the slack and will do a nice job for the fans. The Finsiders work their tails off during the draft.
Negatives
· I am concerned about the LB group. With very few offseason moves, the team has essentially doubled down on Misi, Ellerbe and Wheeler. Perhaps another year in the system will allow them to take additional steps. I am still interested to see if Jelani Jenkins can make a jump in year two and Jordan Tripp seems determined to make a name for himself. With all that said, the LB play last year was well below average and must improve.
The DB’s on the roster are still a question mark for me. I love that Brent Grimes was re-signed. Courtland Finnegan interests me, but the team banking on him returning to his prior level of play from three years ago is very risky. They supposedly love Jamar Taylor, but he has not done much on the field for us to verify what he can do. Will Davis is going to have trouble competing. Walt Aikens is an interesting prospect, but he is a rookie after all. Jimmy Wilson did a nice job as the nickel last year and should be counted on again. At safety, it seems they have decided to roll with two SS-like players. Louis Delmas is also very injury proned. Who are the back ups at Safety? The 2013 DB’s played well for the most part. Is this new group an improvement?
· I am surprised that no RB was drafted that might have been able to push “power back” Daniel Thomas. I would have guessed that a physical presence would have been added by now.
· I would have liked to see a big bodied DT added to the mix. Whether it was UFA or the draft, I wonder if the D-line is too light up front. I think there is a ton of talent that can disrupt with early penetration. I just wonder if Miami can get in a “street fight” with a smash mouth team and win.
Overall Observations
· Hickey and Philbin had to address the Offensive Line. Between yielding 50 plus sacks and the Martin Fiasco, the line needed an upgrade in talent and simply new faces. With Branden Albert, Shelley Smith, Ju’wuan James and Billy Turner, the line has been upgraded and fits the objectives of the offense. The line is now more athletic fitting a ZBS. However, make no mistake, this line was put together to pass block. I expect the team to sling the ball around a ton this year. With the addition of Knowshon Moreno, a tremendous pass blocker, I expect the Dolphins to “pitch and catch” even more than we have seen…and that is a lot.
· If anyone has an issue with the O-line being addressed early in the draft, they must acknowledge that Hickey was simply correcting “mistakes” of Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland. Efforts to improve the line had to happen this offseason.
· People that killed Hickey for going RT at 19 and wanted another player such as Brandin Cooks or Marquise Lee, have to acknowledge that drafting one of those players was not going the difference between 7-9 and 11-5. It is fine to demand the skill player, but just exactly how many wins do you feel a rookie draft pick is worth?
· With that said, this draft was about the development of Ryan Tannehill. Getting him an elite LT in FA, a first round RT and upgrading the Guard positions, the team has given Tannehill a line to give him more time to throw. Moreno will be a major help in blitz pickups that consistently broke down around the young QB last year. Finally, the addition of Jarvis Landry will push the other receivers on the roster. Landry very well could find himself being called upon to make plays for the Dolphins. Tannehill must take another step in becoming a franchise QB and the FO did what they could this offseason to have that improvement become a reality.
· Joe Philbin and his staff must develop players. Kacy Rodgers and Dan Campbell (two holdovers from the previous staff) have done great work improving their units. However, more is needed from this coaching staff helping get players to the next level or two.
It was interesting to listen to the Finsiders interviews of each of the draftees. It was noticeable how intelligent and articulate each pick is. Philbin and · Hickey not only put a value on their college leadership experience, but the intellectual ability of each player. Walt Aikens took some heat on our site and Twitter about his run in with the law at Illinois. However, if anyone listens to his interview with the team run radio program, he seems to understand his mishap and described how he has changed over the years. I was very impressed by Aikens maturity.
· I wonder if Dion Sims is in trouble. Between the drafting of Arthur Lynch and signing of UDFA Harold Hoskin, Sims is going to have to make a jump in order to make the team. I like Sims and think he as some potential. However, with a new GM, Sims might be on the outs.
· How terrible is Adam Beasley? Each offseason he makes outlandish claims. Once again, he was at it this year. “The Dolphins are looking to move up in the draft”. “Zach Martin will be looked at guard first.” Both pre-draft claims prove to be wrong. Beasley is incompetent writer.
· People must remember…and get excited about… that there are in a sense two draft classes coming. With the 2014 class and 2013 kids returning from injury and developing, Miami has an influx of prospects available to them. Dion Jordan and Jamar Taylor are especially going to be looked upon to contribute in big ways. It will be a fun part of training camp to observe.
