- Joined
- Sep 7, 2004
- Messages
- 8,247
- Reaction score
- 8,969
The personnel on the Dolphins is an utter mess. Let's not sugar coat the disaster moron number one (Wannstedt) and moron number two (Saban) have left in Miami.
The roster obviously is nowhere near capable of being a contender. It is possible that some of the aging stars (i.e., Taylor, Thomas) and some stopgap veterans (e.g., Culpepper, Chambers, McMike, Shelton, Will Allen, Carter et al.) could help win some games over the next couple of years. But these guys are not going to be a part of a championship team in Miami, and that is what we all want.
This team is likely 3-4 years from developing a solid core. I hope we can develop an all around nucleus like San Diego, Indpls, and Chicago have built. To do that we will need to build through the draft. Now that we have a general manager bifurcated from the coaching staff, hopefully the coach's conflict of interest (immediate gratification) will now be supersceded by the best interests of the organization.
So, who on the current roster will be part of what we hope is a championship core in say 3-4 years? I don't see many. On offense there are Ronnie Brown and Vernon Carey. Maybe Hadnot if he develops further. Perhaps Hagan will develop into a number 2 receiver although that seems unlikely. We've all heard about Alabi's promise but I think we'll all believe it when we see it. Don't say Chambers and McMike. Those two simply do not have the intestinal fortitude to make plays to win games. We need them purged as soon as possible from the roster. I don't think anyone here would seriously argue that Chambers and McMike could start as key components on a super bowl team; maybe as supporting afterthoughts where other guys do the heavy lifting, but surely not as team leaders as they are currently supposed to be and have failed with all precincts in now.
Defensively, there is more hope. Channing Crowder has shown every sign of being a mainstay. If he can finally deliver some big plays, who knows, he may even make it to Honolulu some day. Matt Roth probably qualifies. Between Rod and Manny Wright and Fred Evans, there is some good potential at DT and NT, respectively. Yeremiah Bell, Jason Allen, and Travis Daniels all should be part of a long term secondary. I think Donnie Jones is a very good young punter too. I love JT and Thomas, but man we've got too far to go for them. If JT stays in shape he may still be a decent situational pass rusher even in 3-4 years from now; I'd like to see that. But you hear what I am saying.
The bottom line is, as Randy Mueller surveys this downtrodden roster, he pretty much needs everything, and it isn't going to happen overnight. More than anything he needs to uncover playmakers on both sides of the ball and some speed. He also needs to find some mental toughness in the receiving core.
I think you are looking at 3 drafts. In the first 4 rounds, Mueller is going to have to hit big. If he has 12 picks in the first 4 rounds in the next 3 years, he better hit on at least 75%; that would be 9 players that should help form a core. So, keeping the long range plan in mind, he has the luxury of picking kids who he has conviction on. He doesn't need to reach, because we need everything. Just get the best player. That's what the winners like New England, San Diego, Chicago, and Indianapolis have done.
It could unfold something like this if you look at the next 3 drafts collectively. First round: quarterback, left tackle, and pass rusher. Second round: wide receiver, outside 'backer, and corner. Third round: TE, inside backer, kick returner. Fourth round: interior O line, corner, wide receiver. Rounds 5-7: hit on some nuggets such as some smaller school guys with raw potential for more depth such as another rb and other spots. In addition to some solid drafting in the top rounds, we will need steals and surprises. And we'll even need a kicker.
Personally, I would trade down as much as possible especially further down the draft. If you have more picks, you have a better shot at finding a Jeff Cross, Mark Clayton, Zach Thomas type later. Just play the odds.
But that is looking at a longer range approach. Add players that add long term value to the roster. If you think this sounds obvious; think again. We have failed to take this approach for years and that is how we've found ourselves in this mess. We've drafted myopically for years because the last two coaches were trying to win immediately, not looking at the long term health of the franchise.
In addition to drafting consistently well in the first 4 rounds, Mueller will need to hit big on a guy or two in rounds 5-7 and a guy or two in the undrafted ranks every year.
Veteran free agency should only be used to fill in gaps where Mueller whiffs in the draft, simply to supplement the roster.
We need everything, guys. I'd start the process with Brady Quinn and start building. In the meantime, maybe we can win some games with the Culpepper, McMike, Carter, Taylor, Thomas, Chambers group.
The roster obviously is nowhere near capable of being a contender. It is possible that some of the aging stars (i.e., Taylor, Thomas) and some stopgap veterans (e.g., Culpepper, Chambers, McMike, Shelton, Will Allen, Carter et al.) could help win some games over the next couple of years. But these guys are not going to be a part of a championship team in Miami, and that is what we all want.
This team is likely 3-4 years from developing a solid core. I hope we can develop an all around nucleus like San Diego, Indpls, and Chicago have built. To do that we will need to build through the draft. Now that we have a general manager bifurcated from the coaching staff, hopefully the coach's conflict of interest (immediate gratification) will now be supersceded by the best interests of the organization.
So, who on the current roster will be part of what we hope is a championship core in say 3-4 years? I don't see many. On offense there are Ronnie Brown and Vernon Carey. Maybe Hadnot if he develops further. Perhaps Hagan will develop into a number 2 receiver although that seems unlikely. We've all heard about Alabi's promise but I think we'll all believe it when we see it. Don't say Chambers and McMike. Those two simply do not have the intestinal fortitude to make plays to win games. We need them purged as soon as possible from the roster. I don't think anyone here would seriously argue that Chambers and McMike could start as key components on a super bowl team; maybe as supporting afterthoughts where other guys do the heavy lifting, but surely not as team leaders as they are currently supposed to be and have failed with all precincts in now.
Defensively, there is more hope. Channing Crowder has shown every sign of being a mainstay. If he can finally deliver some big plays, who knows, he may even make it to Honolulu some day. Matt Roth probably qualifies. Between Rod and Manny Wright and Fred Evans, there is some good potential at DT and NT, respectively. Yeremiah Bell, Jason Allen, and Travis Daniels all should be part of a long term secondary. I think Donnie Jones is a very good young punter too. I love JT and Thomas, but man we've got too far to go for them. If JT stays in shape he may still be a decent situational pass rusher even in 3-4 years from now; I'd like to see that. But you hear what I am saying.
The bottom line is, as Randy Mueller surveys this downtrodden roster, he pretty much needs everything, and it isn't going to happen overnight. More than anything he needs to uncover playmakers on both sides of the ball and some speed. He also needs to find some mental toughness in the receiving core.
I think you are looking at 3 drafts. In the first 4 rounds, Mueller is going to have to hit big. If he has 12 picks in the first 4 rounds in the next 3 years, he better hit on at least 75%; that would be 9 players that should help form a core. So, keeping the long range plan in mind, he has the luxury of picking kids who he has conviction on. He doesn't need to reach, because we need everything. Just get the best player. That's what the winners like New England, San Diego, Chicago, and Indianapolis have done.
It could unfold something like this if you look at the next 3 drafts collectively. First round: quarterback, left tackle, and pass rusher. Second round: wide receiver, outside 'backer, and corner. Third round: TE, inside backer, kick returner. Fourth round: interior O line, corner, wide receiver. Rounds 5-7: hit on some nuggets such as some smaller school guys with raw potential for more depth such as another rb and other spots. In addition to some solid drafting in the top rounds, we will need steals and surprises. And we'll even need a kicker.
Personally, I would trade down as much as possible especially further down the draft. If you have more picks, you have a better shot at finding a Jeff Cross, Mark Clayton, Zach Thomas type later. Just play the odds.
But that is looking at a longer range approach. Add players that add long term value to the roster. If you think this sounds obvious; think again. We have failed to take this approach for years and that is how we've found ourselves in this mess. We've drafted myopically for years because the last two coaches were trying to win immediately, not looking at the long term health of the franchise.
In addition to drafting consistently well in the first 4 rounds, Mueller will need to hit big on a guy or two in rounds 5-7 and a guy or two in the undrafted ranks every year.
Veteran free agency should only be used to fill in gaps where Mueller whiffs in the draft, simply to supplement the roster.
We need everything, guys. I'd start the process with Brady Quinn and start building. In the meantime, maybe we can win some games with the Culpepper, McMike, Carter, Taylor, Thomas, Chambers group.
