Long, who can play end in a 4-3 defense and linebacker in a 3-4, has emerged as the best option if the Dolphins think Beck -- drafted in the second round last year -- is their guy.
A number of early mock drafts had LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey going to Miami with the No. 1 pick. Now, the general consensus is the 6-foot-1, 310-pound Dorsey would not fit in the 3-4 defensive scheme the Dolphins are expected to eventually run.
"He's what they call a three-technique in a 4-3, where he plays over the guard,' Mayock said. "That's where he is, I believe, at his best. I would compare him to a Warren Sapp -- very quick, great explosion. In a 3-4, he's not going to be a defensive end. They play over the tackles and he's not long enough and big enough for that.
"I think he could play nose tackle, but you're probably not taking advantage of what he does best. He's not a 330-pound Vince Wilfork."
Parcells is known to favor big linemen on both sides of the ball, which would likely eliminate Dorsey, or even USC's Sedrick Ellis.
Ryan is the only quarterback who will enter the combine with a first-round grade. Of course, logic and draft history aren't exactly on Miami's side given that Miami doesn't have a player on its roster who was drafted between 1998-2003. This is also a team that went 23 years without picking a quarterback in the first three rounds.
A new regime, though, could bring a new philosophy. And there have some who have compared Ryan favorably with the only other quarterback Parcells has drafted No. 1 overall -- Drew Bledsoe.
"I know Matt Ryan as well as probably anybody does," Mayock said. "I've seen the kid play since high school. From an on-the-field perspective, he's got an above-average arm. He can make all the throws. He can make the throws with accuracy. He has a classic release. He's 6-5, 230 pounds and he's what I call sneaky athletic."
Ryan, who played half of his junior year on a broken foot, won't win any 40-yard dashes. But he knows how to slide and buy time in the pocket.
However, particularly when talking about the No. 1 pick, it's not enough to know how far, fast and accurate a quarterback can deliver the ball.
"Off the field, he has a passion for the game of football," Mayock said of Ryan. "He's got a tremendous work ethic. He's tough. And he's a true leader. When I look at the first pick in the draft, where you're going to spend $30-$35 million guaranteed on a player, you'd better not miss. One of the things I'd be looking at is how important is the game of football to this kid I'm about to hand more money to than he's ever imagined in his life. Certain kids will react certain ways to it.
"I think Matt's the kind of kid that would say, 'OK, that's pretty cool. But wouldn't it be more cool to go win a Super Bowl.' I really believe he'll be the face of somebody's franchise and down the road, he'll be an All-Pro type of quarterback."
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/SPORTS/802190329/1002/SPORTS
A number of early mock drafts had LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey going to Miami with the No. 1 pick. Now, the general consensus is the 6-foot-1, 310-pound Dorsey would not fit in the 3-4 defensive scheme the Dolphins are expected to eventually run.
"He's what they call a three-technique in a 4-3, where he plays over the guard,' Mayock said. "That's where he is, I believe, at his best. I would compare him to a Warren Sapp -- very quick, great explosion. In a 3-4, he's not going to be a defensive end. They play over the tackles and he's not long enough and big enough for that.
"I think he could play nose tackle, but you're probably not taking advantage of what he does best. He's not a 330-pound Vince Wilfork."
Parcells is known to favor big linemen on both sides of the ball, which would likely eliminate Dorsey, or even USC's Sedrick Ellis.
Ryan is the only quarterback who will enter the combine with a first-round grade. Of course, logic and draft history aren't exactly on Miami's side given that Miami doesn't have a player on its roster who was drafted between 1998-2003. This is also a team that went 23 years without picking a quarterback in the first three rounds.
A new regime, though, could bring a new philosophy. And there have some who have compared Ryan favorably with the only other quarterback Parcells has drafted No. 1 overall -- Drew Bledsoe.
"I know Matt Ryan as well as probably anybody does," Mayock said. "I've seen the kid play since high school. From an on-the-field perspective, he's got an above-average arm. He can make all the throws. He can make the throws with accuracy. He has a classic release. He's 6-5, 230 pounds and he's what I call sneaky athletic."
Ryan, who played half of his junior year on a broken foot, won't win any 40-yard dashes. But he knows how to slide and buy time in the pocket.
However, particularly when talking about the No. 1 pick, it's not enough to know how far, fast and accurate a quarterback can deliver the ball.
"Off the field, he has a passion for the game of football," Mayock said of Ryan. "He's got a tremendous work ethic. He's tough. And he's a true leader. When I look at the first pick in the draft, where you're going to spend $30-$35 million guaranteed on a player, you'd better not miss. One of the things I'd be looking at is how important is the game of football to this kid I'm about to hand more money to than he's ever imagined in his life. Certain kids will react certain ways to it.
"I think Matt's the kind of kid that would say, 'OK, that's pretty cool. But wouldn't it be more cool to go win a Super Bowl.' I really believe he'll be the face of somebody's franchise and down the road, he'll be an All-Pro type of quarterback."
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/SPORTS/802190329/1002/SPORTS
