Looking at our depth chart to see what we need

[JT-forpresident]

Here's an interesting (i think) concept i came up with last night...

I'm going to take the depth chart and identify all the guys that were brought here or resigned by Parcells/Ireland/Sparano. That way, we might see what are the players still on board that aren't here because of them (which might translate to trying to upgrade the position in the draft)

Here's how i categorized them:
Player in a good situation
Player in a effy situation (questionable durability, no extension given, etc)
Player in trouble (he has a year left and probably won't be resigned, or a simple journeymen)

ok here we go:

Offence

QBs:
-Chad pennington: signed in FA
-Chad Henne: drafted in 2008's 2nd round
-John Beck: Drafted by cam cameron in 2007 -> sitting, waiting, wishing

RBs:
-Ronnie Brown: drafted awhile ago by saban
-Ricky Williams: was given a contract by parcells and co
-Patrick Cobbs: got a new deal by parcells and co this year
-Lex Hilliard: drafted in 2008's 6th round by parcells -> nothing spectacular here
-Lousaka Polite (FB): signed in the middle of the 2008 season by parcells No fullback should feel comfortable here after we fired our 2 starters by mid season last year lol but lousaka did very well for us

TEs:
-Anthony fasano: aquired by parcells and co via a trade
-Joey Haynos: signed by parcells and co in 2008 ->wasn't that good but he's young, he had his moments, and boy he's got size
-David martin: signed by cameron in 2007 -> i don't think we'll resign him

WRs:
-Ted Ginn: drafted by cameron -> wether they like him or not, he's here for a few years so he's safe (and he's progressed a lot)
-Davone Bess: signed by parcells -> nice slot receiver
-Greg camarillo: just got a fat contract -> torn ACL i believe... not good
-Brandon london: signed in 2008 by parcells -> tremendous work ethic and size, project player who's doing good, but is nowhere safe
-Todd Lowber: signed by parcells -> project with crazy speed, but i see him as a TC player that will lose out his spot because of a rookie, might be asigned to the PS
-ernest Wilford: signed by parcells -> worst signing of 2008
-Anthony armstrong: signed by parcells - project who might lose his spot to a rookie WR

OT:
-Jake long: 1st overrall pick by parcells
-Vernon carey: resigned recently by parcells
-Brandon frye: signed by parcells in 2008 -> desesparation move because of injuries ?
-Nate garner:signed by parcells in 2008 -> same thing here ?

OG:
-justin smiley: signed by parcells in 2008 -> injury concerns, but he's a starter without a doubt
-Ikechuke Ndukwe: signed by parcells in 2008 -> good season, underrated player
-donald thomas: drafted by parcells in 2008 -> injury concerns
-shawn murphy: drafted by parcells in 2008 -> did nothing

C:
-Jake grove: signed by parcells recently, big money
-joe berger: just got signed also probably for competition and depth
-andy alleman: Signed in 2008 by parcells to compete with satele ->with the recent veteran signings, i don't think there's a place for him, except maybe at guard

Defence

NT:
-Jason ferguson: aquired by parcells in a trade
-Paul Soliai: cameron draft pick -> behavior problems ?
-Joe Cohen: signed by parcells ->project player

DE:
-Randy Starks: Acquired by parcells, big money
-Phil merling: parcells drafted him
-Kendall Langford: same here
-Lionel Dotson: same here -> 7th rounder with upside, jury still out
-Tony McDaniels: Acquire by parcells this year ->underachiever with by physical tools, might be a project
-Rodrique Wright: aquired by saban -> big underachiever with major injury concerns

OLB:
-Joey porter: aquired by cameron ->veteran leader and still productive
-Charlie Anderson: signed by parcells in 2008 -> alive because of his upside and contract
-Cameron Wake: signed by parcells this year -> CFL standout who's a project
-Tearrius George: Signed by parcells in 2008 -> project with amazing measurables
-Erik Walden: Signed by parcells in 2008 -> project
-Quentin Moses: signed by cameron -> project player who did nothing spectatular here
-Matt roth: drafted by saban -> can't pass rush to save his life

ILB:
-Channing Crowder: just been given a fat contract by parcells
-Reggie Torbor: aquired by parcells in 2008
-Akin Ayodele: aquired by a trade by parcells -> reliable starter who is replaceable
-William Kershaw: signed by parcells -> probably for depth when channing was out

CB:
-Eric Green: signed recently by parcells
-Nathan jones: signed by parcells -> nice nickel back
-Will allen: signed by cameron in 2007 -> reliable corner with only one yaer left
-Jason allen: drafted by saban -> he's got one more year to prove he's worth something
-Joey thomas: signed by parcells -> isn't doing good at corner
-Will billingsley: signed by parcells -> part time CB, part time hamburger flipper
-Scorpio Babers: signed by parcells ->journeyman

S:
-Yeremiah Bell: resigned recently by Parcells
-Gibril wilson: just got a fat contract by Parcells
-Tyrone culver: signed by parcells -> had his moments and has upside
-Courtney Bryan: signed by parcells -> depth purposes
-Ethan kilmer: signed by parcells -> move along, nothing to see here


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So there you have it. I didn't recalculate the whole thing to see how many good players we have at each position, but by looking quickly at this list, some things jump out:

1- We need a cornerback in day 1, we have little talent, our only reliable starter is a 31 year old veteran with a year left on his contract
2- OLB is also a need, for the same reasons as stated above (almost). We have cameron wake but we can't count on him to be a pro bowler just yet
3- we need depth at all OL positions (mostly guard)
4- WR is not a GLARING need, but if the right player falls at the right spot, the fins will pull the trigger
5- ILB, RB, QB, DE is set, S needs some youth/depth maybe...
6- We need a NT if soliai is not our guy. If he is, the need is filled, but only tony/jeff/bill could answer that question


So if i look at the big picture, i think the big positions of need like OLB, CB, will be adressed in round 1 and 2, the middle rounds will be positions where we are comfortable with our starter, but we have thin depth (think TE, S, WR) ... the later rounds will be used to fill our depth needs on the OL and maybe we'll get a FB in round 7 to compete with Polite in TC (CK mentionned a guy from louisville who has great upside/toughness... )

well... this is my opinion... of course, if there's a great value for the guards in round 3, the fins might pick one and wait to the 4th or 5th round to get the position they were suposed to adress in round 3... but that's the whole concept of the draft isnt it

go to your mock drafts people, and fill the needs you just saw here ! :hi5: (BTW, feel free to tell me if you disagree with the "evaluation" i have of a player, this list is moreso a result of me trying to steer clear of my preferences on the roster and make an unbiased report of our depth chart, but i might have failed on some player(s) lol you never know )

 

[MexDolfan]

Let me clear a few points.
A) NT is the most critical position at this point.
Jason Ferguson got as much as four injuries last season and some reports pointed into knee problems that surely will reappear.
Paul Solai had three different issues last season, on training indiscipline, extreme overweighting (last report says he's over 355) and low performance at training.
Also Joe Cohen is a project player that may work well next season.
So having to face almost every serious contender in 2009, this will be a nightmare after losing Ferguson.
That and the fact that this is the most requested position, as Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly points this week.

If the Miami Dolphins plan to draft a young nose tackle this year they must use one of its earlier picks to do so because I'm told those players will be in great demand this year considering 14 teams are now running some version of a 3-4 defense, which is built around the nose tackle position.

B) This draft is deep on WR & CB.

 

[ticophin]

Damn, aside from QB, we need help everywhere!!! As of today, Im more lost than ever on who we will draft...

 

[Xeticus]

Let me clear a few points.
A) NT is the most critical position at this point.
Jason Ferguson got as much as four injuries last season and some reports pointed into knee problems that surely will reappear.
Paul Solai had three different issues last season, on training indiscipline, extreme overweighting (last report says he's over 355) and low performance at training.
Also Joe Cohen is a project player that may work well next season.
So having to face almost every serious contender in 2009, this will be a nightmare after losing Ferguson.
That and the fact that this is the most requested position, as Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly points this week.

B) This draft is deep on WR & CB.

A. We have a starter and a backup at NT. We have an open starter spot at CB and the other starting CB is 31 and only has 1 year left on the contract. CB is a much more immediate need than NT. In fact at LB we actually have at least one spot where we can upgrade and this draft is loaded with linebacker talent. We might easily get someone who can push Matt Roth or Akin Ayodele in this draft. Much more need than NT. We also have Langford who probably could take over at NT for awhile.

B. CB and WR talent is pretty decent in this draft and we don't have a huge need at WR anyway. But we really could stand to use at least 2 first day picks on CB's i think. We need CB's, LB's and then depth on both lines and at WR. But we have spots that could use new starters now. And I think starters would have to take priority over Jason Ferguson's backup.

 

[SCLSU Mud Dogs]

Not to take away your thunder or anything, but take the c's out of offense and defense and put in an S and you'll be gravy:up:

We still have a bunch of holes. Even though we won 11 games last year we are still in heavy rebuilding mode and again, I don't expect to win a lot of games this year

 

[MexDolfan]

A. We have a starter and a backup at NT. We have an open starter spot at CB and the other starting CB is 31 and only has 1 year left on the contract. CB is a much more immediate need than NT. In fact at LB we actually have at least one spot where we can upgrade and this draft is loaded with linebacker talent. We might easily get someone who can push Matt Roth or Akin Ayodele in this draft. Much more need than NT. We also have Langford who probably could take over at NT for awhile.

B. CB and WR talent is pretty decent in this draft and we don't have a huge need at WR anyway. But we really could stand to use at least 2 first day picks on CB's i think. We need CB's, LB's and then depth on both lines and at WR. But we have spots that could use new starters now. And I think starters would have to take priority over Jason Ferguson's backup.

I can't imagine what kind of defense are we forging without backing up Ferguson.
Unlike CB, where you can see the starter on 75% of plays, NT needs lo rest a little longer.
Also unless Vontae Davis or Malcom Jenkins fall to us, there will be as good CB in 25th as in 44th pick.

 

[JT-forpresident]

I can't imagine what kind of defense are we forging without backing up Ferguson.
Unlike CB, where you can see the starter on 75% of plays, NT needs lo rest a little longer.
Also unless Vontae Davis or Malcom Jenkins fall to us, there will be as good CB in 25th as in 44th pick.

my main problem with drafting a NT early is that there's no one really intriguing me in the draft... Ron brace, yeah, he's big... but how much did he benefit from playing aside Raji ? can he play some two gap ? with all that extra weight he's got, how will he acclimate to a 16+ games season?
i'd rather have a workout warrior who's between 6'2 and 6'4, weights a respectable 300 to 315 (clean weight, not fat, or popcorn muscles)

but i think jeff did his homework in small schools and guys under the radar to draft that needy position later in the draft.

quickly, i really like guys like sammie lee hill, dorrell scott ( some guys like terrance taylor from michigan... he doesn't exite me as much but he's got the size and he is well prepared for the NFL, coming from michigan)