miamirw
Pro Bowler
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2004
- Messages
- 2,664
- Reaction score
- 274
Okay, we've just finished our draft and now we can step back and analyze exactly where our biggest question marks are on the team right now. Here's the way I see it to date, in order of urgency:
1. QB
- Right now, we've got Feely, Fiedler and Rosenfels. DW says the team is happy with that combo. I am not happy with it. I think we can do better and the position right now, as it stands, could present problems down the road should Feely get hurt or end up not panning out.
Solution: Sign Kerry Collins to a one year deal. Unlike many out there, I believe Collins is an excellent QB. He had one of the worst lines in football last year and took a beating without complaining. If you look the year before, when he had petigout and Leiberthal and a few other good blocker in front of him, he was a top-tier QB. The guy has a cannon. I'm not sure if he'll take a one year deal. Maybe someone else knows of a better situation for Collins than ours, but it seems to me that if we said to Collins, "come in for one year, you'll compete with AJ Feely and Jay Fiedler for the #1 QB spot", we could convince Collins to come to Miami. With those three guys fighting it out, I'd feel a lot better about our chances. As it stands right now, and in the words of our head coach "from a QB standpoint", we're in a very tenuous situation. If we don't get Collins, we need to explore brining in another QB regardless - a journeyman QB who can serve as a capable back up should Feely or Fiedler go down. Rosenfels has yet to prove himself in a big game situation (granted he's not been given the chance but still).
2. RG
-So we addressed the offensive line situation in the draft. We have effectively replaced the small hole Todd Wade left behind when he went to the Texans. Based on potential and pure effort, Todd "hands on hips" Wade was IMO one of our worst linemen last year, so upgrading his spot shouldn't be difficult. It's the right guard spot that now looms large on the darkening horizon of high expectation. Right now it looks like Taylor Whitley and Greg Jerman will battle it out for that spot. I'm not too thrilled with this prospect to tell you the truth. Whitley didn't strike me as a tough guy last year. He's more of a finesse guy and at that spot you need toughness. Jerman, while a tough guy, may not have the quickness to survive there.
Solution: Sign a free agent after June 1. Personally, I'd sign Jamie Nails today and let him compete for the starting job right now. Achilles injuries typically take two years to heal (ask Dan and Trace) and Nails should be rounding into top form about now. Nails is also a savvy vet and has played successfully in our offense. Plug him in there next to Carey and I really like that line. Other than Nails (I know they have questions about his knees), I thought we blew it not getting Welbourn. That guy would have fit in perfectly. I know it was a contract issue, but you make the trade and deal with the consequences. He is after all signed for another six years. You could meet his agent half way and get him into camp. Anyway, there will be some quality let go post June 1 and I expect us to land another guard. NO way I believe the team will go into next season with Whitley or Jerman penciled in as the starter.
3. Back Up MLB
Right now, provided Zach stays healthy, our defense is set. However Zach has started to break down the last couple of years and when he goes out we're not the same team defensively (read Tennessee game last year). We NEED a good back up MLB. A veteran who can make every tackle. There's a good one still out there in free agency and his name is Mo Lewis. We must get a veteran this summer to back up Zach. Last year Hendricks was woefully inadequate at that spot. No fault of Hendricks, he's just no Zach Thomas when it comes to playing MLB.
That's it from my vantage point. I'm not as worried about the 3rd WR position as many of you are. Considering we'll only be playing about 10 percent in 3 receiver formation, we should be okay with the combo of Thompson, Tolver, Minnis, Newsome, Simmons and Wilkins. OUt of that group, someone will emerge. I would not be opposed to bringing back McKnight to compete for that spot either, but it would be at the league minimum. :goof:
1. QB
- Right now, we've got Feely, Fiedler and Rosenfels. DW says the team is happy with that combo. I am not happy with it. I think we can do better and the position right now, as it stands, could present problems down the road should Feely get hurt or end up not panning out.
Solution: Sign Kerry Collins to a one year deal. Unlike many out there, I believe Collins is an excellent QB. He had one of the worst lines in football last year and took a beating without complaining. If you look the year before, when he had petigout and Leiberthal and a few other good blocker in front of him, he was a top-tier QB. The guy has a cannon. I'm not sure if he'll take a one year deal. Maybe someone else knows of a better situation for Collins than ours, but it seems to me that if we said to Collins, "come in for one year, you'll compete with AJ Feely and Jay Fiedler for the #1 QB spot", we could convince Collins to come to Miami. With those three guys fighting it out, I'd feel a lot better about our chances. As it stands right now, and in the words of our head coach "from a QB standpoint", we're in a very tenuous situation. If we don't get Collins, we need to explore brining in another QB regardless - a journeyman QB who can serve as a capable back up should Feely or Fiedler go down. Rosenfels has yet to prove himself in a big game situation (granted he's not been given the chance but still).
2. RG
-So we addressed the offensive line situation in the draft. We have effectively replaced the small hole Todd Wade left behind when he went to the Texans. Based on potential and pure effort, Todd "hands on hips" Wade was IMO one of our worst linemen last year, so upgrading his spot shouldn't be difficult. It's the right guard spot that now looms large on the darkening horizon of high expectation. Right now it looks like Taylor Whitley and Greg Jerman will battle it out for that spot. I'm not too thrilled with this prospect to tell you the truth. Whitley didn't strike me as a tough guy last year. He's more of a finesse guy and at that spot you need toughness. Jerman, while a tough guy, may not have the quickness to survive there.
Solution: Sign a free agent after June 1. Personally, I'd sign Jamie Nails today and let him compete for the starting job right now. Achilles injuries typically take two years to heal (ask Dan and Trace) and Nails should be rounding into top form about now. Nails is also a savvy vet and has played successfully in our offense. Plug him in there next to Carey and I really like that line. Other than Nails (I know they have questions about his knees), I thought we blew it not getting Welbourn. That guy would have fit in perfectly. I know it was a contract issue, but you make the trade and deal with the consequences. He is after all signed for another six years. You could meet his agent half way and get him into camp. Anyway, there will be some quality let go post June 1 and I expect us to land another guard. NO way I believe the team will go into next season with Whitley or Jerman penciled in as the starter.
3. Back Up MLB
Right now, provided Zach stays healthy, our defense is set. However Zach has started to break down the last couple of years and when he goes out we're not the same team defensively (read Tennessee game last year). We NEED a good back up MLB. A veteran who can make every tackle. There's a good one still out there in free agency and his name is Mo Lewis. We must get a veteran this summer to back up Zach. Last year Hendricks was woefully inadequate at that spot. No fault of Hendricks, he's just no Zach Thomas when it comes to playing MLB.
That's it from my vantage point. I'm not as worried about the 3rd WR position as many of you are. Considering we'll only be playing about 10 percent in 3 receiver formation, we should be okay with the combo of Thompson, Tolver, Minnis, Newsome, Simmons and Wilkins. OUt of that group, someone will emerge. I would not be opposed to bringing back McKnight to compete for that spot either, but it would be at the league minimum. :goof:
