Second Guessing Hickey?

[So Be]

maybe , maybe not.
I don't think he is an upgrade to either guard we had last year, I wonder if people would be this excited if we had signed Harvey Dahl who started over him, I doubt that very much

I think Shelly will work out as a starter. He is a HUGE upgrade in run blocking over anyone we had, including Pouncey. He is a downgrade over Cog and Jerry in pass protect but, for most of his limited play was just a little below average. IF Benton can get him around average, he will be a good overall addition.

 

[So Be]

I'm not assuming Shelly starts....I'm hoping who ever wins the position is at least serviceable...and for one of the line positions serviceable should be fine....the problem last season is McKinnie was the serviceable player and everyone else was below that. I also don't see this "excitement", but I do believe that solid camp competition (something the Phins lacked last year) will turnout at least one more starter.

I think we will know more when Dallas and Brenner come in for voluntary workouts next week as to thier improvement in strength, and go from there.

 

[dlockz]

I'm not assuming Shelly starts....I'm hoping who ever wins the position is at least serviceable...and for one of the line positions serviceable should be fine....the problem last season is McKinnie was the serviceable player and everyone else was below that. I also don't see this "excitement", but I do believe that solid camp competition (something the Phins lacked last year) will turnout at least one more starter.

Soldi camp completion maybe but hell Garner, Brenner, Thomas, Jerry, Garner completion for guard last year doesn't seem lesser than what we have lined up so far.
Im not asking for greatness, I would just like average guard play something that Smith to this point has never produced. Im leaving it there I mean some people are excited about a former 4th round pick that gets injured getting dressed as a possible RT and somehow see it as an upgrade.
Albert is an upgrade there is no doubt, the rest is basically some dumpster diving

 

[FSU Truth]

Soldi camp completion maybe but hell Garner, Brenner, Thomas, Jerry, Garner completion for guard last year doesn't seem lesser than what we have lined up so far.
Im not asking for greatness, I would just like average guard play something that Smith to this point has never produced. Im leaving it there I mean some people are excited about a former 4th round pick that gets injured getting dressed as a possible RT and somehow see it as an upgrade.
Albert is an upgrade there is no doubt, the rest is basically some dumpster diving

I'll add one more piece....John Benton....having a respectable o-line coach could be the X factor...

I'm not satisfied with the current state, but I do believe after the draft and other signing the team should be improved across the front...it shouldn't be hard to improve on McKinnie---Brennen----Garner---Jerry----Clabo (that group did start a game last season)....My real concern it the lack of a RT and missing out on one in the draft....

 

[Atila]

There will be a lot of veterans available after cuts, and there are a lot out there "left over" like Clabo who will get picked up by Miami or someone else if cuts/draft don't work out. Thing is, it's settling again with lower tier guys.

Total tangent here, but I'd much rather having elite production from the guards and center than from the tackle. I'm a big believer in building inside out. Looks like our strength is LT and C and nothing else. I'd rather be elite LG-C-RG and just average on the tackles. Just one mans philosophy, ah well.

 

[So Be]

There will be a lot of veterans available after cuts, and there are a lot out there "left over" like Clabo who will get picked up by Miami or someone else if cuts/draft don't work out. Thing is, it's settling again with lower tier guys.

Total tangent here, but I'd much rather having elite production from the guards and center than from the tackle. I'm a big believer in building inside out. Looks like our strength is LT and C and nothing else. I'd rather be elite LG-C-RG and just average on the tackles. Just one mans philosophy, ah well.

While not elite, we had VG pass blocking from our interior three last year, while sucking on the run. Clabo ended up average after the last 9 games but, LT was horrible all year.

 

[nick1]

Our RB can make a living running behind Smith and Pounce. That's a very strong running tandem

 

[Atila]

While not elite, we had VG pass blocking from our interior three last year, while sucking on the run. Clabo ended up average after the last 9 games but, LT was horrible all year.

We had VERY GOOD pass blocking from our interior line? Is this a joke? Brenner and whoever else lined up at RG got blown up a lot, pass or run blocking. John Jerry's play shouldn't have to be addressed.

 

[So Be]

We had VERY GOOD pass blocking from our interior line? Is this a joke? Brenner and whoever else lined up at RG got blown up a lot, pass or run blocking. John Jerry's play shouldn't have to be addressed.

I was referring to Pouncey, Cog, and Jerry in pass block only the last two years.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

Just wait and see how it plays out before being disappointed.

WHY?? No body was willing to do that with the last GM. I was not a huge Ireland fan but thought he got a bad wrap. Every move he made was hated as soon as he made it. No one was willing to wait and see what happened. His drafts were HORRIBLE and that can't be argued, but he wasn't as bad as most around here made him out to be. Now we get a new GM and he is walking on water by default. He can't make a bad move in the eyes of the Ireland haters. Like the OP stated, if these same moves would have been made by Ireland they would be hiring another fleet of planes to circle the Dolphins HQ like a flock of buzzards.

We started free agency needing 3 starters on the OL, we are nearing the draft and still need 2. Shelly Smith was rated worse than either of our starting guards from last year, but people are acting like he is going to come in and be a starter. To be honest I have more faith in Dallas Thomas than I do Smith. I am willing to wait and see what happens before I rush to judgement, but on paper the moves we have made thus far are very risky and that is being optimistic.

I said to those wanting Ireland gone, that change for the sake of change is not always a good thing. Ireland didn't set the bar very high, but so far I don't see Hickey doing anything better. But if he knocks it out of the park on draft day, he will be my hero. Ireland on draft day gave ya the feeling he was closing his eyes and throwing darts at the draft board.

 

[roy_miami]

WHY?? No body was willing to do that with the last GM. I was not a huge Ireland fan but thought he got a bad wrap. Every move he made was hated as soon as he made it. No one was willing to wait and see what happened. His drafts were HORRIBLE and that can't be argued, but he wasn't as bad as most around here made him out to be. Now we get a new GM and he is walking on water by default. He can't make a bad move in the eyes of the Ireland haters. Like the OP stated, if these same moves would have been made by Ireland they would be hiring another fleet of planes to circle the Dolphins HQ like a flock of buzzards.

We started free agency needing 3 starters on the OL, we are nearing the draft and still need 2. Shelly Smith was rated worse than either of our starting guards from last year, but people are acting like he is going to come in and be a starter. To be honest I have more faith in Dallas Thomas than I do Smith. I am willing to wait and see what happens before I rush to judgement, but on paper the moves we have made thus far are very risky and that is being optimistic.

I said to those wanting Ireland gone, that change for the sake of change is not always a good thing. Ireland didn't set the bar very high, but so far I don't see Hickey doing anything better. But if he knocks it out of the park on draft day, he will be my hero. Ireland on draft day gave ya the feeling he was closing his eyes and throwing darts at the draft board.

My god, if you got paid for contradictions you would be a rich man.

'Ireland was horrible but he wasn't really that bad and should not have been fired.'

'People shouldn't too hasty in judging a GM but Hickey is not very good.'

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

Why do you care if the Phins "overpaid"?....they have the cap room, he was one of the 3 best LT available and he wanted to play in Miami and he filled a position of need.

You do understand that every player's salary works against the cap right?? I mean the cheaper you can get a good player the more good players you can put on the team. You can pay your QB $120,000,000 per year and then put 21 guys off the street around him and he isn't going to be very good. Keep your team's player's salaries down and you can put more good players on your team and keep better players longer.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

Didn't say to love or accept what they write and say, did I? Just thought it was funny that almost everyone outside of Dolfans like what the team did this free agency period. Listen to the fans and you would think we absolutely blew free agency and set ourselves back for years. Just pointing out something that amuses me.

I heard a "knock knock" joke the other day....

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

My god, if you got paid for contradictions you would be a rich man.

'Ireland was horrible but he wasn't really that bad and should not have been fired.'

'People shouldn't too hasty in judging a GM but Hickey is not very good.'

Have you been drinking or is reading comprehension just not your strong suit.

Never said Ireland was horrible, I said his drafts were horrible.

Never said Jeff shouldn't have been fired, I said that if I had a choice between Ireland and Philibin I would have taken Ireland.

Never said Hickey is not very good, I said to this point he hasn't proven to me to be any better than Ireland.

And while we're at it I didn't say the new team plane is gonna be a buzzard, or the new mascot is going to be the Miami Buzzards, nor did I say Ireland was a professional dart player, or that Hard KNOCKS was gonna cover baseball this year since I used the term "knock it out of the park". If there are any other ways you can twist my words into saying something other than what I really said I will cover them at a later time.

 

[PHINSfan]

The Albert signing is debatable and the results will be what happens the next couple years.

I love the Earl Mitchell replacement of Soliai as I see him as an emerging player that helps with pressure up the middle.

I like the gambles on Finnegan and Delmas for the attitude they will bring and potential if they stay healthy.

I believe Hickey must have been looking at the depth of O-lineman in this draft and the lack of depth at NT in the signings made on the lines.

Overall...I'm going to reserve judgement until I see the final picture....its too early to rush to judgement.

My thoughts also...but I would have liked one more starter quality OL player. I know that some quality players may be available after the draft, but the way our OL was..I wish we didn't have to make this gamble.