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Inside Linebacker Talk

playeragent26

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I have read many posts that debate the point on which ILB is better suited or even is the best player in Rolando McClain and Brandon Spikes for the Miami Dolphins.

The point I would like to make is IF and a big IF is, if Rolando McClain is there at #12 he has to be our top choice; unless a Eric Berry or Dez Bryant are available (Which I highly doubt). The other option I love is C.J. Spiller-(But, that is for another post). The reasoning behind all this is we forget to remember that Brandon Spikes is not guaranteed to even be available for us at #43. Take a realisitic view on which team could nab Spikes before us in the 2nd round; picks (#26- Arizona (hey they might lose Dansby), #36 KC, #38 Browns, #41 Buffalo (now running a 3-4 defense), #42 NE (Always a risk). Do not count out the Giants at #15 (espacially if Miami nabs McClain). It would be a big risk for the Dolphins to wait for pick #43 to take the next best ILB in my mind. After McClain and Spikes I do not see a ILB worthy of starting day one for the Dolphins. Others could develop in to potential impact players down the road, but not Day 1. The draft class this year for ILB is razor thin and other players like Weatherspoon are really good LB's and good football players, I just do not see him playing in our 3-4 defense. He would get swallowed up by lineman all day in our system, he needs to be free and easy to make a play on the ballcarrier.

The potental ILB pot for developmental players:
Sean Lee, Daryl Washington, A.J. Edds, Donald Butler, Darryl Sharpton, Micah Johson. All fall in the category of developing year 1 and playing backup roles. I see players like Daryl Washington, Sean Lee, and A.J. Edds, taking place of Akin Ayodele or Reggie Torber. But again not day 1.

This philosophy gets shot to the ground of course IF Miami signs Karlos Dansby in 2 weeks. Which makes too much sense not to because Miami can have more optins in the draft. But, who is to say the signing actually happens. FA is such a hard thing to predict. I think there is way too much wishful thinking that goes in to play from other posters. To many variables to make.


I understand this whole offseaon process is one giant IF factor. But, heh thats the reason we all check out FinHeaven every day, :thanks:
 
OK, sounds good. But, then what do you do with Crowder?

The purpose of this post is to point out the options the Dolphins will face in the draft and FA in the ILB position.
 
OK, sounds good. But, then what do you do with Crowder?

The purpose of this post is to point out the options the Dolphins will face in the draft and FA in the ILB position.



depends what he is worth on the open market. I'd do everything I could to move him. IF they drafted mcclain and landed dansby, we'd really have no need for him. anybody can tackle.
 
Do you see any other scenario playing out for the ILB position?

Crowder is not going anywhere. He is stuck with us for this year.

Is there any other option that can fill in FA?
 
The huge wildcard at ILB in this draft is Joe Pawelek.

This guy has a list of accolades a mile long. He is as they say, "enormously productive."

Academic all-american, and a football genius at Zach level. He does everything extremely well.

He is a little light 237. Thats what he weighed in at the bowl game. 6'2" is OK heighth but

the big ? is his 40 time. He is expected to run a 4.8 and go in the later rounds. If he runs a 4.75, he'll probably go mid rounds. If he runs a 4.68, he will go in the 2nd round.

He would have no problem starting day 1 for an NFL team and being their defensive leader.

The question is; is he athletic enough to play in the NFL. Could be a Zach Thomas story all over again.

If he runs a mid 4.7's at the combine I would love for the Dolphins to take him with our 4th and make him the new Mike.

I also am a proponent of a radical ILB move involving drafting Sergio Kindle and making him the Will, replacing Akin Ayodele. I think Kindle would make a lot of big plays from that position, and be a terrific blitzer up the middle.
 
Wow, that is radical to say Kindle can play ILB. I am not totally against it. I do like your outside thinking approach to more solutions at ILB.

Also, Joe Pawelek is someone I honestly do not know enough about to make a legit point. I did look at his stats since you mentioned him and one thing I noticed is not the tackles, it is more the play on the ball. With his limited top speed at ILB he has made 19 plays on the ball when it is thrown (when you count PBU and INT) the last two years. Thats leads me to believe that you might be correct in your assesment that he could run a better than expected 40 time.

His TFL has dipped each of the last three years though. Might not be real strong at the point, not sure if that is something we need at ILB.
 
OK, sounds good. But, then what do you do with Crowder?

He can bring water and cold hand towels for a refreshing cleanse during timeouts. Maybe even act as team security and tackle the loopy fan that decides to jump down and run the field.
 
Or maybe he can go out on I-95 and try to tackle a semi-truck, but ends up over pursuing the tackle and land on the side of the road. That could work just as good.
 
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