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- Apr 29, 2003
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The Dolphins have really had a lot of tough luck through the last couple of decades.
The one year the Dolphins do really bad and draft #2 - had to be one of the weakest top of the drafts in years. Nothing against Ronnie Brown, but he's not proven to be an LT type player. Nor was he expected to be one that year.
This year, there are a number of potential hall-of-fame type players who will be at the top. Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, as well as two QB's who are certainly rated higher than the ones when Miami was at #2. Even last year, there were 3 QB's better than any of the top five picks in the previous draft. Forget all the strategy and intelligence - there's nothing you can do about the talent pool. And, of course, add that to the fact that Wannspiel traded away the 2nd round pick before that year - which was equivalent to a late 1st - what a waste!
The Dolphins free agent signings have also not worked out great. How many top signings have really become stars? We were fortunate along the DL two years ago - with some cap casualty vets who did a good job (Holliday, Carter, Traylor). But, Jeno James is probably one of the top FA's signed in the last several years (in terms of age and having played exceptionally well for Carolina the previous season) - yet, he's been a shell of the player he was at Carolina. The WR position signings haven't worked out in years. The last guy I can recall who really came in and tore it up there was Irving Fryer.
Hopefully we will have some good fortune this year. I also think Wayne needs to get Meuller under a long term deal and develop some stability. He really is the first legit GM who seems to know what he is doing (and has the experience to back it up) in the draft. JJ was pretty good at that but I think he needed a bit more help and his drafting skills seemed limited to defense (though, in his defense, he also had some bad luck in the WR from Miami - can't recall his name - who's injuries did him in).
Thoughts on turning around the fortune? Is having a true GM for the first time in ... forever ... just the "luck" we need?
The one year the Dolphins do really bad and draft #2 - had to be one of the weakest top of the drafts in years. Nothing against Ronnie Brown, but he's not proven to be an LT type player. Nor was he expected to be one that year.
This year, there are a number of potential hall-of-fame type players who will be at the top. Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, as well as two QB's who are certainly rated higher than the ones when Miami was at #2. Even last year, there were 3 QB's better than any of the top five picks in the previous draft. Forget all the strategy and intelligence - there's nothing you can do about the talent pool. And, of course, add that to the fact that Wannspiel traded away the 2nd round pick before that year - which was equivalent to a late 1st - what a waste!
The Dolphins free agent signings have also not worked out great. How many top signings have really become stars? We were fortunate along the DL two years ago - with some cap casualty vets who did a good job (Holliday, Carter, Traylor). But, Jeno James is probably one of the top FA's signed in the last several years (in terms of age and having played exceptionally well for Carolina the previous season) - yet, he's been a shell of the player he was at Carolina. The WR position signings haven't worked out in years. The last guy I can recall who really came in and tore it up there was Irving Fryer.
Hopefully we will have some good fortune this year. I also think Wayne needs to get Meuller under a long term deal and develop some stability. He really is the first legit GM who seems to know what he is doing (and has the experience to back it up) in the draft. JJ was pretty good at that but I think he needed a bit more help and his drafting skills seemed limited to defense (though, in his defense, he also had some bad luck in the WR from Miami - can't recall his name - who's injuries did him in).
Thoughts on turning around the fortune? Is having a true GM for the first time in ... forever ... just the "luck" we need?
