Some small proof that FO knows what they are doing.

[Cloudy]

Decided to go with 2008 draft because this is the first draft that our current FO was assembled.

NFL 2008 Draft

1st Pick: Miami Dolphins - Jake Long (Gave up 2.5 Sacks)
2nd Pick: St. Louis - Chris Long 40 Tackles (4 Sacks)
3rd Pick: Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan 3440 yards (16 TDs 11 INT)
4th Pick: Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden 499 yards (4 TD)
5th Pick: Kansas City - Glenn Dorsey 46 Tackles (1 Sack)

Records of these teams in 2008
Miami Dolphins 11-5
St. Louis Rams 2-14
Atlanta Falcons 11-5
Oakland Raiders 5-11

Current records of these teams
Miami Dolphins 2-3
St. Louis Rams 0-5
Atlanta Falcons 3-1
Oakland Raiders 1-4

Looking at those stats it's clear to say that the FO took one of the worst teams in the NFL and made them respectable. Out of the worst teams in 2008 we've had huge amount of success compared to half of the teams in our category. Atlanta Falcons have done a little better than us but they are also in a weaker division. Just an interesting thought...

 

[Chubby]

Falcons also had a huge whole at LT and got very lucky that Sam Baker ended up being able to make a transition from Guard to LT. Cheers to both teams.
Chubbs

 

[miamiron]

You lost me with your stats and the Long pick at #1 vs the other top 5 picks.Is that showing how successful we were by one draft pick?If anything the schedule played a bigger part in our 11-5 record than anything.Our schedule was one of the easiest in the league.Now if we were to go 11-5 with this seasons schedule...that would mean something.

 

[Tunaphish429]

Yea Long was a great pick...

But the real guys find starters in mid to late rounds..

Donald Thomas....Langford

 

[WISfinfan13]

I agree its easy to make the right decisions when you draft high. Good draft(ers) find gems in the middle rounds. And our regime has done very well.

 

[GoonBoss]

I am really happy about hte Long pick. I was at the time and still am. Ryan also would've been a good choice, though. I'm just glad we didn't pick Dorsey, C Long, or Gholston though. Dorsey was really the only one of the crew that I even remotely liked.

 

[Vaark]

and on the FA and trading side of the coin, the FO's savvy shines through with Pennington, Carpenter, Bess, Smiley, Fasano, Ferguson and maybe most of all Grove (I'm sure I missed a few obvious ones and have high hopes of soon adding Wake to that list).

 

[PorrotheDolfan]

2008- Jake Long, Chad Henne, Kendall Langford,Phillip Merling, Lex Hilliard, Donald Thomas. These players will all be great on our team, beefing up our line on both sides while also addressing our need for a QB
Nate Garner has been used as a 6th lineman on the goal line and has been doin a good job at it

2009- Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Chris Clemons Should turn into a great secondary for years to come
Pat White, once he grows comfortable passing the ball in the NFL it'll be huge, it would be great to have 2 good QBs come in and out of the game, keep defenses on there feet, especially if our run game remains strong
Patrick Turner, Brian Hartline, Hartlines already lookin good, but IMO Turners got the potential to be our #1 once the Tuna and Sparano believes he's ready to see the field.

If they continue to draft this succesfully we will be a great team for years to come, we are a #1 reciever away from being a great all around offense, and our secondary needs to develop, but right now we're #1 at running and run stopping, we got the power, now it's time to get the finesse.