CitizenSnips
Ready for Henne.
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It started with Dave Wannstedt, that's all we know for sure. Miami Dolphins fans have never been able to trust a front office since Wanny came and went, and with good reason. Barely any of the draft picks from the Wanny era are still on the team today, and the picks Nick Saban made didn't really pan out either. So here Miami fans sit, with Bill Parcells as their VP, Jeff Ireland as their Gm, and Tony Sparano as their head coach. Three more men miami fans are forced to believe in. It's early to judge them of course, but that certainly won't stop Dolphin fans from trying. After all, this is a franchise that wants to win, and its fanbase simply doesn't understand anything else.
The dolphin fan base has been saying for years that it wants the team to rebuild and make something of itself again. But when miami fans would say that, they didn't really mean it. "Yeah, we want the team to rebuild, but anything less than 7 wins is just plain ridiculous." That's basically been the mentality around here for years. So in comes Bill Parcells, a man with enough balls to ignore what others say.
Parcells says this team is rebuilding, and whether or not Miami fans are ready for it, he means it. A staple to Wannys era was poor drafting, and for Parcells it's always been the complete opposite. Let's take a look at some of Parcells picks in this draft.
#1. Jake Long, T Michigan
No, this draft did not have any stellar #1 franchise QB's, so you go with the next best thing, a stellar franchise LT who can make whoever lines up at QB better. A lot can be said about Jake Long, he's huge, he's dedicated, he's solid, etc etc. One things for sure, Miami got an anchor for their line for many years to come.
#32 Phillip Merling, DE Clemson
Last year the Clemson Tigers Gaines Adams went 4th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many analyst believe Phillip Merling is a better prospect than him. Gaines was/is a phenomenal pass rusher, but Merling is better against the run. However, make no mistake about it, Merling can get to the QB. If not for a sports hernia, a minor one at that, Merling would not have been there at #32. However, the leagues loss is Miamis gain. Merling slipping to Miami may have given them one of the biggest steals of the draft, and Merling will be an excellent cog for the 3-4.
#57 Chad Henne, QB Michigan
This pick was amazing. Not because it's Chad Henne (personally i didn't want him) but because Parcells and Ireland played it so well. It was no secret Parcells wanted Henne, but he held off at #32 and chose Merling instead. Merling was the better value, and Henne would have been a reach. But when Henne was still there at #57, Parcells and company cheered. They got the guy they wanted almost an entire round later. Also, passing on Henne at #32 can send a positive message to QB John Beck. This team did not reach on Henne. If some other team had drafted Henne between #32 and #57, it's possible Miami would not have drafted a QB in this draft. So while Beck should be concerned about Henne was drafted, he should keep in mind that Miami prepared itself to miss out on Henne.
As a prospect, Henne is not an exciting QB. Hes started a whole lot of games and played pretty well for the most part. He's known for staring down WRs and isn't very mobile, but he is a natural born leader and is pretty tough. Taking Henne gives miami a serious QB competition, and competition is never a bad thing on a bad team.
Kendall Langford, DE Hampton
Probably the most questionable pick of Parcells draft, but when you see his measurements it probably didn't surprise you to see why Parcells liked him. At 6'6 290lbs, Langford is a real big body for the 3-4 defense. He can fit right in at the end spot and will probably be here for years. When Saban came to Miami, he wanted to implement a 3-4, but knew he never could do it without players like Langford. The only difference here is that Parcells is willing to throw draft value charts out the windows to get the right guys for his system. Langford was a reach, yes. But he makes sense.
Shawn Murphy, G Utah State
First day of free agency, Parcells signed Justin Smiley. First pick of the draft, Parcells drafted Jake Long. For those that didn't get the memo, Miamis gonna get physical on the line. Shawn Murhphy could potentially fill the LG spot. He's 25 years old, 6'4 and 320lbs. He's a very strong player and has good football smarts. The pick of Shawn Murphy started the theme for the rest of the draft, POWER FOOTBALL.
Donald Thomas, G Connecticut
Taking both Murphy and Thomas was smart IMO. These two come in and compete for the same job. Thomas was the 2nd fastest lineman at the combine, and he had the fastest 10 yard break, which is VERY important for a guard in the NFL. With Murphy and Thomas, the Dolphins could have filled the one spot left on their line. If either of these two players turns out well, then miami has its line for at least the next 5-10 years. And whoever, loses the job will be good depth.
Jalen Parmele, RB Toledo
When the Dolphins traded Booker away, fans should have known there was a reason for it. Booker had no bulk, no running abilities between the tackles and wouldn't be very affective in a power running game. This guy will be. When Parmele was picked, i said to a friend of mine, "I bet he weighs over 215." And i was right. At 5'11 225, Parmele has almost identical measurments to Ronnie Brown when miami drafted him, and then when you see he ran in the 4.4s as well, the comparisons only continue. Miamis going to be a power running team. This guy fits, Booker didn't.
When Parcells was hired, Miami fans were expecting big things, but what they should have been expecting was a process. Miami will be a good team some day, but building good teams start on the offensive and defensive lines. Last year Miami couldn't stop anyone up front, so they devoted two high picks to the front 7, and made two trades to bring in NT Jason Ferguson and LB Akin Ayodele while also signing DT Randy Starks for depth. On the offensive side of the ball, Miami traded for a TE that Parcells took in the 2nd round not too long ago in Fasano and they signed Justin Smiley on the first day of Free agency.
Miami took a big step towards respectability with these trades and especially in the draft. They set up one of the best offensive lines the franchise may have ever seen, and for once the idea of a REAL 3-4 defense in Miami actually seems possible.
The dolphin fan base has been saying for years that it wants the team to rebuild and make something of itself again. But when miami fans would say that, they didn't really mean it. "Yeah, we want the team to rebuild, but anything less than 7 wins is just plain ridiculous." That's basically been the mentality around here for years. So in comes Bill Parcells, a man with enough balls to ignore what others say.
Parcells says this team is rebuilding, and whether or not Miami fans are ready for it, he means it. A staple to Wannys era was poor drafting, and for Parcells it's always been the complete opposite. Let's take a look at some of Parcells picks in this draft.
#1. Jake Long, T Michigan
No, this draft did not have any stellar #1 franchise QB's, so you go with the next best thing, a stellar franchise LT who can make whoever lines up at QB better. A lot can be said about Jake Long, he's huge, he's dedicated, he's solid, etc etc. One things for sure, Miami got an anchor for their line for many years to come.
#32 Phillip Merling, DE Clemson
Last year the Clemson Tigers Gaines Adams went 4th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many analyst believe Phillip Merling is a better prospect than him. Gaines was/is a phenomenal pass rusher, but Merling is better against the run. However, make no mistake about it, Merling can get to the QB. If not for a sports hernia, a minor one at that, Merling would not have been there at #32. However, the leagues loss is Miamis gain. Merling slipping to Miami may have given them one of the biggest steals of the draft, and Merling will be an excellent cog for the 3-4.
#57 Chad Henne, QB Michigan
This pick was amazing. Not because it's Chad Henne (personally i didn't want him) but because Parcells and Ireland played it so well. It was no secret Parcells wanted Henne, but he held off at #32 and chose Merling instead. Merling was the better value, and Henne would have been a reach. But when Henne was still there at #57, Parcells and company cheered. They got the guy they wanted almost an entire round later. Also, passing on Henne at #32 can send a positive message to QB John Beck. This team did not reach on Henne. If some other team had drafted Henne between #32 and #57, it's possible Miami would not have drafted a QB in this draft. So while Beck should be concerned about Henne was drafted, he should keep in mind that Miami prepared itself to miss out on Henne.
As a prospect, Henne is not an exciting QB. Hes started a whole lot of games and played pretty well for the most part. He's known for staring down WRs and isn't very mobile, but he is a natural born leader and is pretty tough. Taking Henne gives miami a serious QB competition, and competition is never a bad thing on a bad team.
Kendall Langford, DE Hampton
Probably the most questionable pick of Parcells draft, but when you see his measurements it probably didn't surprise you to see why Parcells liked him. At 6'6 290lbs, Langford is a real big body for the 3-4 defense. He can fit right in at the end spot and will probably be here for years. When Saban came to Miami, he wanted to implement a 3-4, but knew he never could do it without players like Langford. The only difference here is that Parcells is willing to throw draft value charts out the windows to get the right guys for his system. Langford was a reach, yes. But he makes sense.
Shawn Murphy, G Utah State
First day of free agency, Parcells signed Justin Smiley. First pick of the draft, Parcells drafted Jake Long. For those that didn't get the memo, Miamis gonna get physical on the line. Shawn Murhphy could potentially fill the LG spot. He's 25 years old, 6'4 and 320lbs. He's a very strong player and has good football smarts. The pick of Shawn Murphy started the theme for the rest of the draft, POWER FOOTBALL.
Donald Thomas, G Connecticut
Taking both Murphy and Thomas was smart IMO. These two come in and compete for the same job. Thomas was the 2nd fastest lineman at the combine, and he had the fastest 10 yard break, which is VERY important for a guard in the NFL. With Murphy and Thomas, the Dolphins could have filled the one spot left on their line. If either of these two players turns out well, then miami has its line for at least the next 5-10 years. And whoever, loses the job will be good depth.
Jalen Parmele, RB Toledo
When the Dolphins traded Booker away, fans should have known there was a reason for it. Booker had no bulk, no running abilities between the tackles and wouldn't be very affective in a power running game. This guy will be. When Parmele was picked, i said to a friend of mine, "I bet he weighs over 215." And i was right. At 5'11 225, Parmele has almost identical measurments to Ronnie Brown when miami drafted him, and then when you see he ran in the 4.4s as well, the comparisons only continue. Miamis going to be a power running team. This guy fits, Booker didn't.
When Parcells was hired, Miami fans were expecting big things, but what they should have been expecting was a process. Miami will be a good team some day, but building good teams start on the offensive and defensive lines. Last year Miami couldn't stop anyone up front, so they devoted two high picks to the front 7, and made two trades to bring in NT Jason Ferguson and LB Akin Ayodele while also signing DT Randy Starks for depth. On the offensive side of the ball, Miami traded for a TE that Parcells took in the 2nd round not too long ago in Fasano and they signed Justin Smiley on the first day of Free agency.
Miami took a big step towards respectability with these trades and especially in the draft. They set up one of the best offensive lines the franchise may have ever seen, and for once the idea of a REAL 3-4 defense in Miami actually seems possible.
