This is why Willis should be the Dolphins selection in the first round
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chillyphins
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If this phins picked Willis in the first round I wouldn't be upset at all. He quite possibly could be the BPA when they pick at 9.
fishypete
FinHeaven Elite
Lions would love to get Willis
Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News
This is part of The Detroit News series previewing the NFL draft.
Today: linebackers.
You almost can feel teeth clenching and jaw muscles getting tighter by the hour in the Lions' draft room, and they won't relax until Patrick Willis goes off the board sometime early Saturday afternoon.
One way or another, there is sure to be a reaction from the Lions when Willis is drafted -- joy if he is picked by the Lions, disappointment if they can't make the moves necessary to get him and he goes to another team.
Willis had a stellar career for Mississippi at middle linebacker. He fits coach Rod Marinelli's Tampa Two defensive scheme.
Willis is projected to be drafted around the middle of the first round. If the Lions are going to draft Willis, they'll have to trade down deep into the first round, or trade up from the second round, where they have the 34th pick overall.
"Oh, boy -- he's a good player," Marinelli said at the league meetings last month. "He's fast, explosive, bright, good guy. He's done it over a period of time.
"He's a lot like Ernie (Sims). That's an explosive player. I like speed on defense."
The Lions drafted Sims in the first round last year, and he started every game at weak-side linebacker.
In 2005, Willis became the first Mississippi player to lead the Southeastern Conference in tackles, with 128. He did it again in 2006, with 137 on an Ole Miss team that went 4-8.
At the NFL combine earlier this year, Willis said he'd feel at home immediately in the Tampa Two.
"It would be great to be a Lion," Willis said. "Just to play anywhere out there would be great. The Tampa Two is sort of like what I played in the last three years."
This is considered an ordinary crop of linebackers. Two were drafted in the top 10 last year -- A.J. Hawk of Ohio State by Green Bay, and Sims by the Lions.
Most draft projections have Willis being the first linebacker drafted. David Harris of Michigan and Brandon Siler of Florida rank behind Willis in the middle. Harris had impressive workouts for the scouts, who loved his attitude and desire.
At outside linebacker, Lawrence Timmons of Florida State, Paul Posluszny of Penn State and Jon Beason of Miami (Fla.) rank in the top three. Tim Shaw (Livonia Clarenceville) of Penn State is a solid first-day pick.
Willis played outside linebacker his first two years at Mississippi and moved to the middle the last two.
"I guess I'll just let the facts speak for themselves," he said. "The last two years, injured or not injured, I've been out there every down. This season, I didn't come off for one snap. For the most part I'm good enough at my pass defense."
Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News
This is part of The Detroit News series previewing the NFL draft.
Today: linebackers.
You almost can feel teeth clenching and jaw muscles getting tighter by the hour in the Lions' draft room, and they won't relax until Patrick Willis goes off the board sometime early Saturday afternoon.
One way or another, there is sure to be a reaction from the Lions when Willis is drafted -- joy if he is picked by the Lions, disappointment if they can't make the moves necessary to get him and he goes to another team.
Willis had a stellar career for Mississippi at middle linebacker. He fits coach Rod Marinelli's Tampa Two defensive scheme.
Willis is projected to be drafted around the middle of the first round. If the Lions are going to draft Willis, they'll have to trade down deep into the first round, or trade up from the second round, where they have the 34th pick overall.
"Oh, boy -- he's a good player," Marinelli said at the league meetings last month. "He's fast, explosive, bright, good guy. He's done it over a period of time.
"He's a lot like Ernie (Sims). That's an explosive player. I like speed on defense."
The Lions drafted Sims in the first round last year, and he started every game at weak-side linebacker.
In 2005, Willis became the first Mississippi player to lead the Southeastern Conference in tackles, with 128. He did it again in 2006, with 137 on an Ole Miss team that went 4-8.
At the NFL combine earlier this year, Willis said he'd feel at home immediately in the Tampa Two.
"It would be great to be a Lion," Willis said. "Just to play anywhere out there would be great. The Tampa Two is sort of like what I played in the last three years."
This is considered an ordinary crop of linebackers. Two were drafted in the top 10 last year -- A.J. Hawk of Ohio State by Green Bay, and Sims by the Lions.
Most draft projections have Willis being the first linebacker drafted. David Harris of Michigan and Brandon Siler of Florida rank behind Willis in the middle. Harris had impressive workouts for the scouts, who loved his attitude and desire.
At outside linebacker, Lawrence Timmons of Florida State, Paul Posluszny of Penn State and Jon Beason of Miami (Fla.) rank in the top three. Tim Shaw (Livonia Clarenceville) of Penn State is a solid first-day pick.
Willis played outside linebacker his first two years at Mississippi and moved to the middle the last two.
"I guess I'll just let the facts speak for themselves," he said. "The last two years, injured or not injured, I've been out there every down. This season, I didn't come off for one snap. For the most part I'm good enough at my pass defense."
FinsFanLuke
Injured Reserve
Patrick Willis is downright unbelieveable (can you say this year's Shawne Merriman?). If Quinn isn't available at 9, which he probably won't, Willis is the BPA. We can pick up a QB with one of our two 2nd Rounders and even if we do get Quinn, he won't be starting this year. Sure, LB might not be our biggest need, but he is the best talent that will probably be available when we pick, and he is a TACKLING MACHINE! That being said, I know Cam loves offense and probably wants to address the offensive side of the ball ASAP in the draft. That will be Ginn Jr most likely if Quinn isn't there since, although Levi Brown seems to be a Vogue pick, we need speed on offense and Ginn would provide that.
So in order of preference for the first pick based on what Cam and Randy wants is probably:
Quinn, Ginn Jr, Levi Brown
How I think it should go:
Quinn, Willis, Ginn Jr.
We'll see what happens, if we get any of my three options for the 1st Rnd. pick, I'd be thrilled.
FinsFan4Life
Luka
So in order of preference for the first pick based on what Cam and Randy wants is probably:
Quinn, Ginn Jr, Levi Brown
How I think it should go:
Quinn, Willis, Ginn Jr.
We'll see what happens, if we get any of my three options for the 1st Rnd. pick, I'd be thrilled.
FinsFan4Life
Luka
Phishstix
Finheaven's Fattest Pimp
even if willis is the bpa, imo it would not be a good choice for us. if there was ever a position where we don't need help, it's linebacker. OL, QB, and DL are our most immediate needs, so it would make no sense at all to take a LB at #9, maybe pick 209, but not #9.
fishypete
FinHeaven Elite
Zack can't play forever...and the Dolphins don't have anyone worth a hoot to replace him.
Phishstix
Finheaven's Fattest Pimp
gotta cross that bridge when we get there. our starters are set at LB, where would willis fit in for the immediate future? imo mueller is looking for someone who will make an impact at a need area this year. (unless it's a qb, different rules apply)
fishypete
FinHeaven Elite
Willis can play special teams, he could give Zack a breather...he could be used as a 4th linebacker. That bridge could be there anytime...Zack has had a lucky
career...hasn't been injured that much...but all the years take a toll. With Cam...you just don't know if Zack will even be on the team...he could just as well trade him...I hope not...but nothing is a given.
cnc66
wiley veteran bad spelur
cmon Pete... you know damned well Crowder is here for that, he's a ML playing out of position and doing well... don't predicate "your" wanting Willis on the concept that we don't have a replacement for Zach...
fishypete
FinHeaven Elite
They won't move Crowder if they select Willis.
colmax
Seasoned Veteran
As long as Willis does not go to an AFC East team, I will be OK. I know that he is probably not on Miami's radar, but he will be BPA and about as close to a "sure thing" as you can get in this year's draft (esp. if Miami stays at 9).
With that said, Willis is a player of accountability and character. He will not give a team the "TO syndrome" that many players seem to follow. He is blue collar, will get in there and do his job to the best of his ability EVERY SNAP, and will be an asset to the team that drafts him and the community in which he will reside. Very heavily involved in the community. Has been given all of the chances in the world to 'give up' but has taken those adversities in stride. Does not point the finger like when Adam Jones blamed the media for "bending the facts" in his interview with Deion Sanders. I understand that Jones has had a rough life, but Willis has been through worse. Willis is the epitome of character.
He also said that wherever a team needs him, even if on special teams (which he played early in his college career) he will give his all. Here is a quote by him in an interview with Tom Deinhart of Sportingnews:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=draftsnapshotilbpatrickw&prov=tsn&type=lgns
With that said, Willis is a player of accountability and character. He will not give a team the "TO syndrome" that many players seem to follow. He is blue collar, will get in there and do his job to the best of his ability EVERY SNAP, and will be an asset to the team that drafts him and the community in which he will reside. Very heavily involved in the community. Has been given all of the chances in the world to 'give up' but has taken those adversities in stride. Does not point the finger like when Adam Jones blamed the media for "bending the facts" in his interview with Deion Sanders. I understand that Jones has had a rough life, but Willis has been through worse. Willis is the epitome of character.
He also said that wherever a team needs him, even if on special teams (which he played early in his college career) he will give his all. Here is a quote by him in an interview with Tom Deinhart of Sportingnews:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=draftsnapshotilbpatrickw&prov=tsn&type=lgns
colmax
Seasoned Veteran
Who says Crowder will be Zach's replacement? I understand that he is doing OK where he is playing, and is 'out-of-position,' but no one of worth has come out and said, "Yep, ole Crowder is definitely Zach's replacement once Zach hangs up his cleats."
In other words, who knows?? He is Zach's understudy, persay, but why not get a guy who is better than Crowder at MLB, and is athletic enough (and has had the experience) to play OLB for a little bit while waiting in the wings to take over? People keep saying that LB is not a need and I say BS! Joey is old. Zach is old. Crowder isn't exactly lighting it up out there, out-of-position or not. Did Miami even re-sign Spragan? Oh yeah, he's old, too!
fishypete
FinHeaven Elite
Couldn't have said it any better...and at 9...would he be the best value IF the other players we would expect to fall to us don't...hell yea.
Phishstix
Finheaven's Fattest Pimp
orgs. don't draft a player at #9 for 20 snaps/game. nobody is saying that willis isn't a fine player b/c he is, but he's not the player for this team in this situation imo.
WISfinfan13
Enter at your own risk...
everyone is talking about how we need on of these "ok" DT in Okoye, Anderson or Branch...How about Pat Willis...Zach is getting older...And Willis is a huge stud...Who ever ends up with him is getting one hella football player...