Many have already lost hope in the 2012 season, and,IMO, for good reason; but I am an eternal optimist and believe there is always a way.
Looking at the Dolphins bizarre(Artis Hicks) and anemic(Garrard,Westerman) off season activity, it would now appear impossible to actually improve the team enough to compete for the playoffs.
I think it could still be done with some extremely aggressive, out of the box thinking.
Fact: Dolphins need an NFL ready elite QB prospect to start day one and lead Philbin and Sherman's new offense. Weeden is the only answer.
Fact: The pieces are there for a dominant defense, but The Dolphins desperately need a true pass rusher opposite Wake, and a player who could truly backup and contribute as a situational pass rusher.
Fact: Philbin himself has said that one of the keys to his offense is having a prolific receiving TE.
So what could yet be done.
The Dolphins need to trade down from the number 8 and add picks even if isn't particularly a good value trade. Example: Trade down with the Chargers for a 3rd and 4th round pick.
Trade up from the 2nd round into the 1st in order to get the essential pass rusher. Some positions can realistically be dealt with later in the draft, but almost all great pass rushers are drafted high these days.
I have a much stronger belief in the Jerome Messam acquisition than most. I think his blocking and receiving abilities translate perfectly for the new offense. I see Daniel Thomas as expendable.
Trade Daniel Thomas to move up from the 2nd to the 1st round. Who would be interested?? Bengals,Steelers,Giants,etc.
Assuming Richardson goes early to the Browns or Rams. But Thomas is a good young RB who shows good potential?? Ya, that's why he has value. How much?? He was drafted with the 62nd pick which has a 286 point value. Send Daniel Thomas and John Jerry to the Bengals and the value heavily favors the Bengals, but the Dolphins get a real DE/OLB prospect in Whitney Mercilus or Nick Perry.
Trade Sean Smith and the picks from the Chargers and trade up with the Bucs and draft Weeden in the 2nd.
Dolphins trade their 2013 2nd rounder and the 2013 3rd round pick from the Bears and Tyrone Culver to the Colts for the first pick in the 3rd round.
This is what it looks like:
1st.............................Coby Fleener.........TE....Dolphins get their big play TE threat.
1st.............................Whitney Mercilus.....DE/OLB.....The integral piece this defense really needs
2nd.............................Weeden................QB......Ya, he is old, no doubt, but the talent and skill are just undeniable.
3rd............................Bruce Irvin.......OLB/DE....Many think he will be gone by this time but he is what he is; a ST's,situational pass rushing,backup. IMO, that is an integral position, but not something drafted in the 1st or 2nd round,even if the guy is a freak. Example, Dontay Mock went in the 3rd round last year.
3rd..................... Markelle Martin.......SS.......I love this kid, a real achiever.
3rd........................Tony Bergstrom....OG....Another older prospect? Yes but his transition from OT to OG is expected to be seemless and he can start at RG day one.
4th......................Tom Compton.......RT.....Yes, he will be drafted at least this high. He could win the RT job from the get go.
5th.........................Eddie Whitley....DB....A Richard Marshall clone. Can play FS or any CB spot.
6th.........................Bobby Rainey....RB....Darren Sproles??? Kendall Hunter??
7th/FA.....................Chandler Harnish...QB
7th/FA..........................Blake DeChristopher.....OL....Versatile OT/OG could surprise
7th/FA.....................Scott Wedige......OC
Roster:
QB...............Weeden,Garrard,Harnish
RB................Bush,Messam,Rainey,Slaton
FB.................Clay
WR.................Hartline,Bess,Wallace,Gates,Moore,Carter
TE..................Fleener,Fasano
OT...................Long,Compton,Murtha,Hicks
C/OG.............Pouncey,Incognito,Bergstrom,DeChristopher,Wedige
DT................Soliai,Starks,Odrick,McDaniel
DE................Wake,Mercilus,Merling,Irvin
LB.................Dansby,Misi,Burnett,Westerman,Trusnik
S..................Martin,Whitley,Jones,Clemons
CB................Davis,Martin,Agnew,Carroll,Wilson
Yes, there are still some FA's on the market that could really,really help the Dolphins a lot, but, they seem intent on just going with the draft.
Looking at the Dolphins bizarre(Artis Hicks) and anemic(Garrard,Westerman) off season activity, it would now appear impossible to actually improve the team enough to compete for the playoffs.
I think it could still be done with some extremely aggressive, out of the box thinking.
Fact: Dolphins need an NFL ready elite QB prospect to start day one and lead Philbin and Sherman's new offense. Weeden is the only answer.
Fact: The pieces are there for a dominant defense, but The Dolphins desperately need a true pass rusher opposite Wake, and a player who could truly backup and contribute as a situational pass rusher.
Fact: Philbin himself has said that one of the keys to his offense is having a prolific receiving TE.
So what could yet be done.
The Dolphins need to trade down from the number 8 and add picks even if isn't particularly a good value trade. Example: Trade down with the Chargers for a 3rd and 4th round pick.
Trade up from the 2nd round into the 1st in order to get the essential pass rusher. Some positions can realistically be dealt with later in the draft, but almost all great pass rushers are drafted high these days.
I have a much stronger belief in the Jerome Messam acquisition than most. I think his blocking and receiving abilities translate perfectly for the new offense. I see Daniel Thomas as expendable.
Trade Daniel Thomas to move up from the 2nd to the 1st round. Who would be interested?? Bengals,Steelers,Giants,etc.
Assuming Richardson goes early to the Browns or Rams. But Thomas is a good young RB who shows good potential?? Ya, that's why he has value. How much?? He was drafted with the 62nd pick which has a 286 point value. Send Daniel Thomas and John Jerry to the Bengals and the value heavily favors the Bengals, but the Dolphins get a real DE/OLB prospect in Whitney Mercilus or Nick Perry.
Trade Sean Smith and the picks from the Chargers and trade up with the Bucs and draft Weeden in the 2nd.
Dolphins trade their 2013 2nd rounder and the 2013 3rd round pick from the Bears and Tyrone Culver to the Colts for the first pick in the 3rd round.
This is what it looks like:
1st.............................Coby Fleener.........TE....Dolphins get their big play TE threat.
1st.............................Whitney Mercilus.....DE/OLB.....The integral piece this defense really needs
2nd.............................Weeden................QB......Ya, he is old, no doubt, but the talent and skill are just undeniable.
3rd............................Bruce Irvin.......OLB/DE....Many think he will be gone by this time but he is what he is; a ST's,situational pass rushing,backup. IMO, that is an integral position, but not something drafted in the 1st or 2nd round,even if the guy is a freak. Example, Dontay Mock went in the 3rd round last year.
3rd..................... Markelle Martin.......SS.......I love this kid, a real achiever.
3rd........................Tony Bergstrom....OG....Another older prospect? Yes but his transition from OT to OG is expected to be seemless and he can start at RG day one.
4th......................Tom Compton.......RT.....Yes, he will be drafted at least this high. He could win the RT job from the get go.
5th.........................Eddie Whitley....DB....A Richard Marshall clone. Can play FS or any CB spot.
6th.........................Bobby Rainey....RB....Darren Sproles??? Kendall Hunter??
7th/FA.....................Chandler Harnish...QB
7th/FA..........................Blake DeChristopher.....OL....Versatile OT/OG could surprise
7th/FA.....................Scott Wedige......OC
Roster:
QB...............Weeden,Garrard,Harnish
RB................Bush,Messam,Rainey,Slaton
FB.................Clay
WR.................Hartline,Bess,Wallace,Gates,Moore,Carter
TE..................Fleener,Fasano
OT...................Long,Compton,Murtha,Hicks
C/OG.............Pouncey,Incognito,Bergstrom,DeChristopher,Wedige
DT................Soliai,Starks,Odrick,McDaniel
DE................Wake,Mercilus,Merling,Irvin
LB.................Dansby,Misi,Burnett,Westerman,Trusnik
S..................Martin,Whitley,Jones,Clemons
CB................Davis,Martin,Agnew,Carroll,Wilson
Yes, there are still some FA's on the market that could really,really help the Dolphins a lot, but, they seem intent on just going with the draft.
