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Opinion: The problem with drafting Jake Long...

rayfinkle5

rayfinkle5

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Opinion: the problem with drafting Jake Long...


The problem I have with drafting Jake Long with our first pick has more to do with Jason Taylor than it does with Long. In my opinion, if we do not draft JT’s replacement with our first pick it signals we are sticking with Taylor until he retires. I feel this is a mistake. Taylor is a great player but if he plans on retiring within the next couple years his value is limited for a team that is very clearly rebuilding. The value Taylor does have would better benefit a team who is one defensive player away from the Super Bowl (example: JAC). A team who is one player away would rather bank on a proven talent to help them win now verse drafting youth and developing for the future. I would much rather trade Taylor, collect draft picks and draft his replacement with our first pick.

I understand our O-line is not complete and we have gaps to fill. I also understand the importance of drafting a quality OT and how it often (always a “Gallery†risk) equates to good value and improved offensive performance. I will go even further and say with a young QB (Beck), a young and physical RB (Brown), and a right tackle/guard (Carey) playing left tackle it is imperative the Dolphins select an OT high in this years draft. Luckily for us this draft is loaded with OT talent. Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Jeff Otah, Chris Williams, Gosder Cherilus, Carl Nicks, Anthony Collins and Sam Baker are all impressive talents and at least one of these guys will reach us at the top of the second round. Jake Long is clearly the top prospect of the group but I feel the Dolphins would be better off with Chris Long or Vernon Gholston, the best OT left on the board at 33, and the picks gained from trading Taylor than we would be by keeping Taylor and drafting Jake Long. Consider the CB and LB help we could draft with the picks collected in a Taylor trade. Talented youth is the answer for turning this team around.
 
rayfinkle5 said:
Opinion: the problem with drafting Jake Long...


The problem I have with drafting Jake Long with our first pick has more to do with Jason Taylor than it does with Long. In my opinion, if we do not draft JT’s replacement with our first pick it signals we are sticking with Taylor until he retires. I feel this is a mistake. Taylor is a great player but if he plans on retiring within the next couple years his value is limited for a team that is very clearly rebuilding. The value Taylor does have would better benefit a team who is one defensive player away from the Super Bowl (example: JAC). A team who is one player away would rather bank on a proven talent to help them win now verse drafting youth and developing for the future. I would much rather trade Taylor, collect draft picks and draft his replacement with our first pick.

I understand our O-line is not complete and we have gaps to fill. I also understand the importance of drafting a quality OT and how it often (always a “Gallery†risk) equates to good value and improved offensive performance. I will go even further and say with a young QB (Beck), a young and physical RB (Brown), and a right tackle/guard (Carey) playing left tackle it is imperative the Dolphins select an OT high in this years draft. Luckily for us this draft is loaded with OT talent. Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Jeff Otah, Chris Williams, Gosder Cherilus, Carl Nicks, Anthony Collins and Sam Baker are all impressive talents and at least one of these guys will reach us at the top of the second round. Jake Long is clearly the top prospect of the group but I feel the Dolphins would be better off with Chris Long or Vernon Gholston, the best OT left on the board at 33, and the picks gained from trading Taylor than we would be by keeping Taylor and drafting Jake Long. Consider the CB and LB help we could draft with the picks collected in a Taylor trade. Talented youth is the answer for turning around this team.
Click to expand...


There wont be any LT's available when we pick at 32!
 
No LT @ 32?

This draft is stacked at OT as it is at DE especially edge pass rushing DEs/LBS

so we could easily take either Long with the #1 and then address the other position (DE if we pick Jake, OT if we pick Chris)

Those two positions will be addressed this draft...

I'd really like us to take DEs, good ones are a premium in this league...

but
Jake
Groves
Justin King would be a good first day of drafting...
 
Captain Lou said:
There wont be any LT's available when we pick at 32!
Click to expand...

"Furthermore, the offensive tackle position is quite possibly the deepest in the draft and the drop-off from Long to those available in the next two rounds is not that big. Why take Long in Round 1 when you could go elsewhere with the pick and still land Sam Baker (Southern California) or Carl Nicks (Nebraska) in Round 2, or even Anthony Collins (Kansas) or Barry Richardson (Clemson) in Round 3? With the depth at the position, Long would be only the third-best choice for Miami at No. 1." KFFL

http://www.kffl.com/article.php/86760/512
 
Phin Phanatic said:
No LT @ 32?

This draft is stacked at OT as it is at DE especially edge pass rushing DEs/LBS
Click to expand...

I agree but by keeping Taylor the need for a DE moves down the list for us. Certainly if we do not trade him we will not be selecting a DE with the 33rd pick. There will still be a need for a LB however.
 
Phin Phanatic said:
but
Jake
Groves
Justin King would be a good first day of drafting...
Click to expand...

I would cry tears of Joy if that happened. Also to the thread starter..... I have said this many times in differen't threads but Miami has "Settled" for lesser talent along the OL for WAY too long now, I say get the very best one there is and do not look back!!! It is far and away easier to find a pro bowl sack machine later in the draft than it is to find an Anchor on your OL.
 
This is exactly the way I feel, and I think this is absolutely right. If we plan on trading JT then Chris Long is the pick. If we plan on keeping JT then Jake Long is the pick. We arent going to win a Super Bowl in the next 2 to 3 years so it is not worth it to keep JT instead of acquiring a 2nd and a 4th for him. So I completely agree with your analysis of whats going on with contract negotiations.

Here's the curveball..

Jason Taylor underacheived last year, and although he is going to be one year older next year is trade value might not diminish if his production improves. So, if Sparano and Parcells think that Jake Long is more "can't miss" then Chris Long then they might be taking Jake with plans to replace JT maybe next year or the year after. Parcells might see that there will be other OLB pass rushers that will be available but there isn't someone that can solidify our line. Plus, it will take a 1 to 2 years for OUR line to develop while you can plug in a young pass rusher and feel the impact immediately in the 2009 or 2010 draft.

I've personally have been rooting for Chris Long over Jake Long because he is an actual face to the franchise, and I think you need to have that with the number ONE pick. But, I'm coming around to Jake Long because of the fact that we need to build our offense up together and we have our RB's WR's and O-line all right around the same age and Jake Long would fit with that idea.
 
Sparano said that he wants to add our tackle and guard through the draft. We really have nobody worthy of starting either spot now. Yes we need to prepare for JT's departure but we've had glaring holes on the oline for years. It's too risky hoping a top OT will drop to #32, because it probably won't happen. Even if a guy like Nicks drops to us, hes nowhere near as good as Long and may not be a week one starter.
I don't get why people are so down on picking Jake Long. This is the best draft group of OT's in over a decade and we have a chance to get the best one in the crop. It also fills the biggest need on the team. What's the problem?
 
rayfinkle5 said:
Opinion: the problem with drafting Jake Long...


The problem I have with drafting Jake Long with our first pick has more to do with Jason Taylor than it does with Long. In my opinion, if we do not draft JT’s replacement with our first pick it signals we are sticking with Taylor until he retires. I feel this is a mistake. Taylor is a great player but if he plans on retiring within the next couple years his value is limited for a team that is very clearly rebuilding. The value Taylor does have would better benefit a team who is one defensive player away from the Super Bowl (example: JAC). A team who is one player away would rather bank on a proven talent to help them win now verse drafting youth and developing for the future. I would much rather trade Taylor, collect draft picks and draft his replacement with our first pick.

I understand our O-line is not complete and we have gaps to fill. I also understand the importance of drafting a quality OT and how it often (always a “Gallery†risk) equates to good value and improved offensive performance. I will go even further and say with a young QB (Beck), a young and physical RB (Brown), and a right tackle/guard (Carey) playing left tackle it is imperative the Dolphins select an OT high in this years draft. Luckily for us this draft is loaded with OT talent. Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Jeff Otah, Chris Williams, Gosder Cherilus, Carl Nicks, Anthony Collins and Sam Baker are all impressive talents and at least one of these guys will reach us at the top of the second round. Jake Long is clearly the top prospect of the group but I feel the Dolphins would be better off with Chris Long or Vernon Gholston, the best OT left on the board at 33, and the picks gained from trading Taylor than we would be by keeping Taylor and drafting Jake Long. Consider the CB and LB help we could draft with the picks collected in a Taylor trade. Talented youth is the answer for turning this team around.
Click to expand...
We also kind of need to look at what type of position needs and prospects that will be coming out of the next draft class. We will probably be in a decent drafting position next year, and the front office may be more inclined to draft a particular player from the 2009 draft class that they feel is better than any prospects from this draft class
 
Yes, but keeping Taylor would enable us to get the best LT in this draft. Or for the sake of argument, the best tackle in this draft and enable us to go get a DE or OLB'er next year.

Plus, IMO, Taylors value will rise between weeks 1-4 of the season, then it will before the draft. JAX/Philly/Cinncy would pony up more then their 3rds next year IMO.

The question for me is this. Will Chris Long be be better at the OLB'ER position for this team then Long would be at LT. My answer is no which is why I would, without hesitation take Long. I could care less who we could get at 32. They're at 32 because they are not theoretically as good or as talented as Jake Long.

If Baker/Nicks or these guys are such good "VALUE" then why are they available at 32? I am not saying they won't be better. We just don;t know who will be great and better then the other.

However, I keep saying this. There is a reason Long is a top 3 prospect and not one other tackle in this draft is considered a top prospect.

Atleast with Chris Long you still have doubt as to whether Gholston would be a better long term guy then Long.

When I am investing money and time into a player I would much rather take the Guy (Jake Long) who is hands down the #1 prospect at his position then gamble on an OLB'ER who depending on which GM you talk to, isn't a clear cut #1 in Gholston or ong. I would take Gholston between the 2.
 
chris long is great. he will be an excellent 4-3 DE or 3-4 LB, the former being where he will excel at the most. but, as of right now, JT is still on the roster, and w/JP, our OLB's are set. if we trade him, then c long would not be a bad pick and i would be fine with that. but j long gives us the best chance for beck to develop and succeed, period. so not only do we get that franchise LT that we have been waiting for since webb - which he is - but we get someone that will let beck have time to throw the ball. there really shouldn't be much of an argument here, it just makes the most sense.
 
rayfinkle5 said:
Opinion: the problem with drafting Jake Long...


The problem I have with drafting Jake Long with our first pick has more to do with Jason Taylor than it does with Long. In my opinion, if we do not draft JT’s replacement with our first pick it signals we are sticking with Taylor until he retires. I feel this is a mistake. Taylor is a great player but if he plans on retiring within the next couple years his value is limited for a team that is very clearly rebuilding. The value Taylor does have would better benefit a team who is one defensive player away from the Super Bowl (example: JAC). A team who is one player away would rather bank on a proven talent to help them win now verse drafting youth and developing for the future. I would much rather trade Taylor, collect draft picks and draft his replacement with our first pick.

I understand our O-line is not complete and we have gaps to fill. I also understand the importance of drafting a quality OT and how it often (always a “Gallery†risk) equates to good value and improved offensive performance. I will go even further and say with a young QB (Beck), a young and physical RB (Brown), and a right tackle/guard (Carey) playing left tackle it is imperative the Dolphins select an OT high in this years draft. Luckily for us this draft is loaded with OT talent. Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Jeff Otah, Chris Williams, Gosder Cherilus, Carl Nicks, Anthony Collins and Sam Baker are all impressive talents and at least one of these guys will reach us at the top of the second round. Jake Long is clearly the top prospect of the group but I feel the Dolphins would be better off with Chris Long or Vernon Gholston, the best OT left on the board at 33, and the picks gained from trading Taylor than we would be by keeping Taylor and drafting Jake Long. Consider the CB and LB help we could draft with the picks collected in a Taylor trade. Talented youth is the answer for turning this team around.
Click to expand...

Not taking Chris Long doesn't mean we won't find a replacement for JT. Groves could definately fill that spot nicely if he falls to 32.

However, I don't think JT is as close to retirement as we're making it out to be. It's not like his body takes a severe pounding every year, he's still in great shape, and very healthy (except for his nagging foot problems but he pretty much plays through it).

Strahan is 3 years older than JT, and may still play another season. It's not out of the realm of possibility that JT can play for 4 or 5 more years before even considering retirement. It's all about how well he maintains his body and his desire to play football.

I think JT will be very motivated this year, between playing in a favorable system for him and playing under tough, no excuse coaches. If we keep him, look for big things from him.
 
Just imagine Beck having time to throw the ball before he gets hit and fumbles.
 
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