Russ Lande is a former NFL Scout and current draft expert for The Sporting News. He graciously agreed to answer questions about the 2009 Dolphins' draft for Phins.com contributer Marc Dell'Erba:
On the draft and Pat White: "I thought they did a good, solid job
overall. I will say from what I heard the Pats were very impressed with Pat
White because of his versatility, and with their three second round picks, I
think that was probably what led to Miami taking him at #44. I think Miami
felt they weren't going to risk waiting until the third round to take him.
I think he can be a very, very productive player for Miami in a variety of
roles. His versatility is what makes him valuable for any team that was
interested in him. Now you have a lot more options throwing the ball out of
the Wildcat. You're no longer stuck in a situation where the defense can
just anticipate a trick pass. You can legitimately play fake and throw on a
dig or out pattern;a this kid can make those throws.
"White's going to be one of those tough ones to judge based on his
production alone because just having him in the backfield is going to
increase everybody else's production. People that are going to run the
ball, they're going to get a lot more space or the defense's reactions are
going to be a step slow because he's that good of an athlete that everybody
is going to hold off for at least a split second to make sure he doesn't
have the ball. That makes a huge difference."
"It's amazing in that he's not a big kid, he's a sort of a skinny,
slight-framed kid. He's a really tough kid, and he doesn't get enough
credit for his toughness. He'll play through pain, he'll do whatever needs
to be done. I don't know how much additional weight he can put on because
of his frame, but he's a solidly built athlete already. Maybe a little bit
but not ten to fifteen pounds."
On the new cornerbacks: "Vontae Davis is an immensely talented kid, more
so than any cornerback in this draft. When you watch Sean Smith on film,
he's a very good football player but he's not a blazer and if you're not
considered a blazer at corner, you're just going to slide on Draft Day. I
think he's going to be a very good starter. I actually think in the end
he'll be better than Davis. He's a physical kid, long arms, tough, he's a
good player. I like him."
On the new wideouts: "I think Patrick Turner is a better player than
Ramses Barden. It seems to me Davone Bess is their best receiver, and he's
a munchkin. If you want to throw in Ted Ginn Jr., they're still your
shorter receivers. Here's a guy who's 6'5" and can get a little bit of
dimension in the red zone, he can make plays in traffic that those guys
aren't going to be able to. I think he's a great, great pick by them."
"The issue that people have with Brian Hartline is whether he has the innate
toughness and heart to battle through when you begin as a backup receiver
before becoming a starter. He's a smooth fluid athlete, who shows better
toughness when he does get on the field."
On the remainder of the draft picks: "I spoke to a few people about John
Nalbone. He's a big, great looking kid, looks like he should be a dominant
blocker but he's actually a below average blocker but he's a much better
athlete than you'd think for his size. Quick feet, runs nice routes, has
soft hands. He's a good late-round receiving prospect you try to develop as
a blocker so he's not a liability. He's a good gamble. It wouldn't shock
me if Bill Parcells knew some of the coaches at Monmouth who may have been
telling him to keep an eye on his guy. They were probably aiming for him as
a free-agent until he had a blowup Pro Day. The Pro Day is what got him
drafted. He had an unbelievable workout."
"I re-did Chris Clemons' report after he started flying up the draft board
this spring. As a junior, I didn't even grade him because I didn't notice
him. Off this past year's film, he's all over the place and around the ball
all the time. In the games I charted, he missed more tackles then he made.
When he gets close, he's going to take off like a rocket and try to blow
somebody up and he just wasn't consistent enough. He's athletic, he can
run, he's got a chance to cover well in man-to-man coverage. It's all there
for him physically. He needs a ton of technique work to become more than
just a run around the field backup type guy."
"Andrew Gardner is the type with great intangibles that allows him to make a
team. He's a great kid whose just missing a high level of athleticism.
Some scout must've seen a good workout of J.D. Folsom because I talked to
five scouts who covered Weber State and none of him knew who he was."
Comments on some of the undrafted rookies: "Orion Martin, to get him
undrafted, I mean I thought he'd be drafted, especially on a team using the
34 scheme. He's a pass-rusher out of the edge who has a good chance to make
the team as a developmental pass-rusher because guys like him are hard to
find. He can defeat blocks and has the speed to chase down plays. Brennan
Marion is that tough fundamentally sound guy you want on your team but you
just don't know if he has the physical tools to stick around. Someone may
give Mark Lewis a chance to stick around on a practice squad because of his
work ethic and he may end up making it a year or two down the road. Jared
Bronson is not really explosive but he's smooth and fluid who can adjust to
make tough catches. SirVincent Rogers is worth a gamble. Before his severe
knee injuries a couple of years ago, people really thought he had a chance
to be a very high pick. It's a worthwhile gamble. If he can get back to
what he was, he's probably going to make the team. Louis Ellis, his name
came up with a few people. He has the strength and athletic ability of an
NFL player but he got by on his physical tools at Shaw and didn't have the
fundamentals down pat yet. He needs a long way to go to develop his
techniques."
Finally, a couple of quotes about Cameron Wake: "I'm still amazed that he
dominated at the Combine and he still didn't get drafted. I think his
contract is a home run on both sides. I'm hoping he makes it. I gave that
kid a big grade to when he first came out. It would make me look good. I
should go find my old report on him so I can put it on my website."
The website for Russ Lande's guide, GM Jr is http://gmjrnfldraft.com/.