Now that Ireland is staying, his first move should be... | Page 4 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Now that Ireland is staying, his first move should be...

Just reading a post above saying we should cut Patterson. I don't agree with that. If the guy was oft-injured and a sketchy talent (like Sean Smith), then yeah, definitely cut him. But Patterson, at even less than 100% showed instinct and ability to excel at the position AND he didn't drop the INTs that came his way. Way too many CBs in this league get in good position and then drop the ball. Patterson made the plays and those turnovers change games. You don't let playmakers walk. Let Patterson get right this offseason and have Patterson, Grimes, and Carroll make Miami one of the best secondaries in football. That, coupled with the emergence of our young pass-rushers complimenting one of the best veterans in the league will make Miami's defense hell on our opponents.
 
I almost hope he use the second and third rounder to trade up for Jake Matthews. We know that he'll go OL in the first. This way it would be someone we a pretty sure won't bust out on top of not having to worry how he will botch the second and third round.

I sure hope he gets the O-line right but the Dallas Thomas pick has me worried that he can't identify ZBS lineman.
 
The obvious answer is to find a way to re-sign Grimes without having to TAG him. I believe this will be both Moore and Patterson's last year in Miami. Cutting both would free up about $9M adding to the $38M already available to spend in F/A in 2014. Grimes has been more than good and has helped solidify the secondary. Carrol has played great under the tutelage of Coyle and deserves a contract that reflects his solid play. We all know that one of both Soliai and Stacks won't be back. IMHO Soliai is the player that should be re-signed, because of his importance in the run game which, as a team, has dropped off in 2013. If Ireland and Aponte can figure out a way to Restructure Oceans 11's $17M cap hit in 2014 to free more money up could make Miami a powerhouse, IF they spend the money correctly. I believe Brenner has played himself into a starters role in 2014 which helps Miami, by not having to find four O-lineman to play along side Pouncey. The cap management over the last 3 seasons has been tremendous. The O-line is looking at an overhaul whether it be by F/A, the Draft or a combo of both. The linebackers need more instinctual players that can fill the holes around the LOS. Wheeler and Ellerbe have missed a lot of tackles and seem out of position on TOO MANY running plays. Looking strictly at the draft Miami should be looking at OL, LB and a big strong RB who can block. The TE position is evolving to the point where I think Miami won't have it as a priority in the 1st few rounds of the draft. I like the look of most of the positions especially at WR, QB, DL and Safety. The secondary COULD be a major issue if the team losses out on both Grimes and Carrol? As far as Patterson goes, I have mixed emotions about paying someone $5M that can't stay healthy for more than 5-6 games a year. Overall, Miami is in good shape IMO.
 
Just reading a post above saying we should cut Patterson. I don't agree with that. If the guy was oft-injured and a sketchy talent (like Sean Smith), then yeah, definitely cut him. But Patterson, at even less than 100% showed instinct and ability to excel at the position AND he didn't drop the INTs that came his way. Way too many CBs in this league get in good position and then drop the ball. Patterson made the plays and those turnovers change games. You don't let playmakers walk. Let Patterson get right this offseason and have Patterson, Grimes, and Carroll make Miami one of the best secondaries in football. That, coupled with the emergence of our young pass-rushers complimenting one of the best veterans in the league will make Miami's defense hell on our opponents.

He is oft-injured and he's on the wrong side of 30. One full season in 7 seasons in the NFL. In 2011 he played 14 games, 2012 he played 9 games and this season he played 6. He's getting worse.
 
Just reading a post above saying we should cut Patterson. I don't agree with that.

This is the problem with constantly whiffing in the draft. Wouldn't it be nice to have Taylor or Davis slide in there on their rookie contracts instead of having to pay someone like Patterson a ton of money.
 
I think our mismanagement of Patterson has led directly to his inability to finish out the year. But it's almost 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. If he had gotten the right rest early, then he wouldn't have played in the games he did where he made crucial, great plays. But you could say that if he had been partial IR'd so that he was out until week 9 (or however that works), then he could've have been healthy the whole rest of the season and probably played in more games overall. We don't know. We just know that when he plays, he looks awesome out there and he makes plays that a lot of guys miss.
 
I'll always over-value veterans vs college-draftees and rookies, because so many picks never become PLAYERS in the NFL. So PLAYERS have to be respected, IMO. Proven commodities that you know will, barring catastrophic injury, make plays that help you win football games.
I feel that, to some extent, both Ellerbe and Wheeler were signed almost like they were drafted. They were drafted on some estimation of their potential, even though their NFL body of work wasn't that impressive yet, if at all. I'm not sure what Ireland saw in Wheeler but he looks like an idiot there.
 
I think our mismanagement of Patterson has led directly to his inability to finish out the year. But it's almost 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. If he had gotten the right rest early, then he wouldn't have played in the games he did where he made crucial, great plays. But you could say that if he had been partial IR'd so that he was out until week 9 (or however that works), then he could've have been healthy the whole rest of the season and probably played in more games overall. We don't know. We just know that when he plays, he looks awesome out there and he makes plays that a lot of guys miss.

Yes and he was mismanaged by Kansas City, Philadelphia and Cleveland since he had injury filled seasons there too. If they had only rested him during the season he would have been able to finish the season injury free but then again...why have him if you can't play him? Who cares if 2010 was the only season he played in all 16 games? So what if he's only played in 76 of his last 128 games? I mean that's almost 60% of the games played...well worth the $5.4 million we're going to pay him. C'mon...who doesn't play only 60% of the season and call himself reliable nowadays?

---------- Post added at 01:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:35 PM ----------

I'll always over-value veterans vs college-draftees and rookies, because so many picks never become PLAYERS in the NFL. So PLAYERS have to be respected, IMO. Proven commodities that you know will, barring catastrophic injury, make plays that help you win football games.
I feel that, to some extent, both Ellerbe and Wheeler were signed almost like they were drafted. They were drafted on some estimation of their potential, even though their NFL body of work wasn't that impressive yet, if at all. I'm not sure what Ireland saw in Wheeler but he looks like an idiot there.

Ellerbe was an undrafted free agent pickup by the Ravens....just saying.
 
This is the problem with constantly whiffing in the draft. Wouldn't it be nice to have Taylor or Davis slide in there on their rookie contracts instead of having to pay someone like Patterson a ton of money.

how do you know they cant next year? Look at Clay. None of us thought he could step in and be this effective this year did we?

Most of you are too critical of Ireland without considering everything involved and considering drafts as busts in rookie seasons...ridiculous.

And those of you wanting Ireland fired are pretty much hoping we fail to accomplish that, because frankly the only way Ireland gets fired is if we fail. Awesome fans we have.
 
how do you know they cant next year? Look at Clay. None of us thought he could step in and be this effective this year did we?
Most of you are too critical of Ireland without considering everything involved and considering drafts as busts in rookie seasons...ridiculous.
And those of you wanting Ireland fired are pretty much hoping we fail to accomplish that, because frankly the only way Ireland gets fired is if we fail. Awesome fans we have.

So you are fine going into next year relying on those 2 to step up even though they have shown nothing so far? Sure they could come around, but they will defy the odds of being drafted by Ireland in rounds 2-3.

As far as Clay, he actually showed a lot of talent last year, just not consistently and Egnew looked like a 100% bust which is why Ireland was forced to spend FA dollars on Keller to plug his TE drafting failures. You are making my point for me.
 
Developing your own players means that when we draft them they are NOT stars.

Hartline, Rishard, Clay, both safeties were developed HERE.

It seems like lots of the Madden players around here watch highlight shows and just want other teams players.

I like what they are doing. I think Ireland is not getting credit because Sparano didn't really develop the rookies as well when he was here.

I'm not as high on Starks and Solia as I was before. Every team we have played has been able to run at us right up the middle.

We need to sign Grimes, and draft Olinemen & linebackers.
 
how do you know they cant next year? Look at Clay. None of us thought he could step in and be this effective this year did we?

Most of you are too critical of Ireland without considering everything involved and considering drafts as busts in rookie seasons...ridiculous.

And those of you wanting Ireland fired are pretty much hoping we fail to accomplish that, because frankly the only way Ireland gets fired is if we fail. Awesome fans we have.

Clay is in his 3rd year in the league and Taylor and Davis have gotten almost no playing experience which is pretty critical for a CB.

I'm not calling any rookies bust...I don't do that I know how the process works but I don't think you can count on these guys to start next year with the lack of playing time they've received this year. Heck Jamar Taylor barely played in the preseason he's been hurt so much. I think next year you look at Grimes (if we re-sign him) and Carroll as your starters and hopefully somewhere down the line next season...maybe mid-season...Jamar Taylor has shown enough to start. He has the skills but at this point you have to worry about durability.

As for rooting for the team to fail...that's something I've never done nor will ever do. However, fans like yourself, who are huge homers and think everyone associated with the team are perfect and can do no wrong is also a problem. Ireland's drafts are not good enough plain and simple. The first 3 rounds of the draft for him have been especially difficult over his 6 drafts. We have no players on this roster from the 2008 draft, we have one player on this roster from the 2009 draft (Hartline). How do you build a foundation like that?
 
I'm not as high on Starks and Solia as I was before. Every team we have played has been able to run at us right up the middle.

Part of that has to do with linebacker play though. Soliai's job is mainly space eater. Take up blockers and keep them off the linebackers so they're free to roam and make tackles. The latter part of that is not happening.
 
So you are fine going into next year relying on those 2 to step up even though they have shown nothing so far? Sure they could come around, but they will defy the odds of being drafted by Ireland in rounds 2-3.

As far as Clay, he actually showed a lot of talent last year, just not consistently and Egnew looked like a 100% bust which is why Ireland was forced to spend FA dollars on Keller to plug his TE drafting failures. You are making my point for me.

I'm not saying I'm fine with them stepping up next year, especially, like you said, with minimum playing time. And it's obvious with the current FA acqusitions that the coaches arent relying on them this year either. But we just dont know enough to speculate on next year, imo.
 
Back
Top Bottom