Nuggets from Breakfast with Sparano | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Nuggets from Breakfast with Sparano

fishypete

FinHeaven Elite
Joined
Dec 26, 2004
Messages
14,907
Reaction score
21
Age
73
Location
N.P.R. Florida
Nuggets from breakfast with Sparano [UPDATED]


Tony Sparano talked with the media for 64 minutes today. Interestingly, the Dolphins rookie coach had a small mob of reporters around him even as established coaches like Mike Tomlin and Jack Del Rio had only a couple of guys around them.

Some nuggets:

Sparano admitted the team has no starting RT right now. He said the team has Vernon Carey penciled in at LT and Drew Mormino at LG. Yikes!

His front seven on defense were LE Matt Roth, NT Jason Ferguson, RE Randy Starks, OLBS Jason Taylor and Joey Porter and ILBS Channing Crowder and Reggie Torbor. When asked about Vonnie Holliday, Sparano corrected himself and put the vet in the starting lineup.

Starks is having a bad day, having been benched in favor of Holliday in the span of one hour.

Sparano said he still isn't certain whether the team will run a 3-4 or 4-3, although its obvious they want to run a 3-4.

He said no one other than Jason Taylor has missed the conditioning program that began last week.

He said Lorenzo Booker "jumps off the film," when he studies the player. He said Ted Ginn and Derek Hagan are having a great offseason and added that Ginn "has great ability," and is improving his route-running.

And he insisted the Dolphins want to keep Jason Taylor rather than trade him because he's a good player.

On specific players:

Nate Jones -- “Honestly, one of the things that we did when we came here and watched all this film is we saw a lot of young players back there that we were really excited about. When we watched them, that they had a lot of upside and they got us curious. So we thought when we were watching these guys, that maybe there were a few more pieces back there than we thought. So we’re interested and excited to get them out on the field. Now Nate is a guy that has played for us and again, he’s one of those that people think you signed a special teams player but for us, he’s a guy who’s going to compete to be a corner. And one thing I know about Nate Jones is that he competes and he competes hard every single day.â€

S Keith Davis and S Chris Crocker -- “Keith Davis honestly is one of the toughest players that we’ve had the opportunity to coach. This is tough and he brings toughness to your team. And Crocker is a guy I’ve played against several times in our league and we think he’s outstanding safety, cover guy. He always gets some hands on some balls and it’s no secret there’s guys hurt in our secondary right now. And that can’t be an area where we have guys hurt and have success in our league.â€

On LB Charlie Anderson -- “Charlie Anderson we’ve had the opportunity in Dallas to play against an awful lot. We played him in the preseason, we played him once or twice in the regular season. And we get out on the field and he just jumps out at you because he’s this big, good looking guy that can run and he presents some problems that way. He’s a young player, like a few of these guys we’ve signed that’s looking for an opportunity. But he gives you that big linebacker we need in our league to be durable that maybe can help in some pass rush but can still play in coverage and do some things that way.â€

Is he outside or inside?
“Charlie has the ability to play in two spots for us and we’re not sure where we’re going to be with him, but we’re going to start him outside.â€

On WR Ernest Wilford -- “Our history has been that we have those kind of receivers – Keyshawn, Terrell – those big physical receivers. But Ernest, honestly, he’s a guy that jumped out at us as a guy that could really make a difference for us and complement some of the players we have right now. So he’s coming in and he knows he has a great opportunity to compete as well.â€

Is Travis Daniels a CB or S -- “Right now we’re going to look at him as a corner, with the safeties we brought in. We know he has the ability to play two positions back there and on game day that’s important. On game day you’re looking for guys that can do more and Travis is a young player we feel can do a few things back there. He’s one of those young guys we’re excited about watching, but we’re going to start him right now at corner.â€

Where to play Jason Allen -- “He’s played both and that’s a luxury for us. Right now as the process goes on we’ll look at hm at a safety spot and then we’ll see where we go from there. But the more things you can do back there, the better off we’re going to be.â€on Jason Allen --
 
Interesting, I think we all assumed Charlie was going to start INSIDE. To me, ILB is starting to look like a bigger need than outside, if in fact we do keep JT. Also, dont sleep on Quentin Moses and Rob Ninkovich as potential reserve 3-4 OLBs. Meanwhile, at ILB, not sure Ed Miles or Kelvin Smith really have a chance, mostly due to their smaller frames, though you never know, they have lasted this long, they may get an opportunity to make the roster if they show they can be standout special teamers.

IMO a guy like Connor or Lofton at #32 is a priority. That would create some nice competition at ILB, which I think would benefit Channing. He seems to have been handed everything since he got here. He has the talent, just needs to be motivated somewhat.

The comment about the secondary is both surprising and a little disturbing. Curious as to who these "young guys" are; probably Jason Allen, apparently Travis Daniels, but who else? I wouldnt classify Goodman, Lehan or Allen as "young". Courtney Bryan? Tuff Harris? They are mostly safeties. IMO Tony did a pretty bad job there of disguising our lack of activity at CB in FA (in the Nate Jones response), due to an interest in drafting one relatively high.

Right now, Im thinking
1- OT (Jake Long)
2a- ILB or CB
2b- ILB or CB
 
So in other words the only position we need to draft is offensive line. we draft seven offensive linemen and we're set
 
Interesting, I think we all assumed Charlie was going to start INSIDE. To me, ILB is starting to look like a bigger need than outside, if in fact we do keep JT. Also, dont sleep on Quentin Moses and Rob Ninkovich as potential reserve 3-4 OLBs. Meanwhile, at ILB, not sure Ed Miles or Kelvin Smith really have a chance, mostly due to their smaller frames, though you never know, they have lasted this long, they may get an opportunity to make the roster if they show they can be standout special teamers.

IMO a guy like Connor or Lofton at #32 is a priority. That would create some nice competition at ILB, which I think would benefit Channing. He seems to have been handed everything since he got here. He has the talent, just needs to be motivated somewhat.

The comment about the secondary is both surprising and a little disturbing. Curious as to who these "young guys" are; probably Jason Allen, apparently Travis Daniels, but who else? I wouldnt classify Goodman, Lehan or Allen as "young". Courtney Bryan? Tuff Harris? They are mostly safeties. IMO Tony did a pretty bad job there of disguising our lack of activity at CB in FA (in the Nate Jones response), due to an interest in drafting one relatively high.

Right now, Im thinking
1- OT (Jake Long)
2a- ILB or CB
2b- ILB or CB

Your forgetting Torbor. ILBS Channing Crowder and Reggie Torbor
 
Now you got it....:lol: :up:
Maybe its just me but I'm starting to get the sense Sparano isnt actually consulted on personnell matters. Everyone is better than expected. Man we shouldve been in the Super Bowl last year :lol:
 
No, when I say competition, I meant with Crowder, draft pick and Torbor.

Torbor also brings some versatility, I think he could also play outside in a pinch. Just saying, if we draft a LB, dont be surprised if we go inside before outside. Now of course this all becomes moot should we trade JT ...
 
No, when I say competition, I meant with Crowder, draft pick and Torbor.

Torbor also brings some versatility, I think he could also play outside in a pinch. Just saying, if we draft a LB, dont be surprised if we go inside before outside. Now of course this all becomes moot should we trade JT ...
I agree with getting another ILB especially if you believe Taylor isnt going to be traded. Curtis Lofton in the 2nd round maybe, bryan kehl in the 4th
 
i dont see matt roth starting at DE if we run a 3-4 defense..too small...holliday and starks should start. we do need OL help though..luckily our OT class is the deepest it has ever been. Taking Cherilus in the 2nd would be nice. after drafting Chris Long first of course
 
Maybe its just me but I'm starting to get the sense Sparano isnt actually consulted on personnell matters. Everyone is better than expected. Man we shouldve been in the Super Bowl last year :lol:
Maybe we would have been if we had all those ex-Cowboys coaches and players Sparano was talking about. :d-day:
 
I agree with getting another ILB especially if you believe Taylor isnt going to be traded. Curtis Lofton in the 2nd round maybe, bryan kehl in the 4th

I wouldn't look any earlier than the 3rd round...thats where I fully expect the Dolphins do some wheeling and dealing. The Dolphins have the first pick on the second draft day...thats when teams will look to trade up after looking at their draft boards.
 
I wouldn't look any earlier than the 3rd round...thats where I fully expect the Dolphins do some wheeling and dealing. The Dolphins have the first pick on the second draft day...thats when teams will look to trade up after looking at their draft boards.
I'm actually hoping we start earlier than that and deal our 2nd rounders. People will be looking to move up to get first round talent that slipped a bit
 
Very true. First pick of the 2nd (and this year of the 3rd) are PRIME trade down spots.

I fully expect to.
 
I'm actually hoping we start earlier than that and deal our 2nd rounders. People will be looking to move up to get first round talent that slipped a bit

The second 2nd rounder maybe...but the 32nd will be used for a player....and don't be surprised if the Dolphins move back into the first round...if the right player is there.
 
Back
Top Bottom