This is what teams have taken over the last 19 year....

2014 Kyle Fuller Bears 1 14 14 DB Virginia Tech
2013 Star Lotulelei Panthers 1 14 14 DT Utah
2012 Michael Brockers Rams 1 14 14 DT Louisiana State
2011 Robert Quinn Rams 1 14 14 DE North Carolina
2010 Earl Thomas Seahawks 1 14 14 DB Texas
2009 Malcolm Jenkins Saints 1 14 14 DB Ohio State
2008 Chris Williams Bears 1 14 14 T Vanderbilt
2007 Darrelle Revis Jets 1 14 14 DB Pittsburgh
2006 Brodrick Bunkley Eagles 1 14 14 DT Florida State
2005 Thomas Davis Panthers 1 14 14 DB Georgia
2004 Tommie Harris Bears 1 14 14 DT Oklahoma
2003 Michael Haynes Bears 1 14 14 DE Penn State
2002 Jeremy Shockey Giants 1 14 14 TE Miami (FL)
2001 Kenyatta Walker Buccaneers 1 14 14 T Florida
2000 Bubba Franks Packers 1 14 14 TE Miami (FL)
1999 John Tait Chiefs 1 14 14 T Brigham Young
1998 Jason Peter Panthers 1 14 14 DT Nebraska
1997 Reinard Wilson Bengals 1 14 14 DE Florida State
1996 Eddie George Oilers 1 14 14 RB Ohio State

Looks like about 13 Pro Bowl type players....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2015 08:11AM by JoeFootball.

It's an excellent track record. Of course, the concern is that the Dolphins are picking and they do not have a good track record in the first round regardless of the position.

We say this every year, Dolphins must draft a beast, a player that impacts the game, and every year we overddraft a decent player with minor impact in the first round, a player whose comparable we could've gotten much later in the draft or in UDFA.

The Dolphins track record matters about as much as who somebody else picked at 14 since we have a new GM.

I can't and won't complain about James. If we hadn't taken him, we would have been even worse off on the o-line than we are now.

This year it will be either OT, DT or CB. Like you said, hopefully a PB player. I'd take a Kyle Fuller or Star Lotulelei in a heartbeat.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2015 09:07AM by JoeFootball.

The Dolphins track record hasn't been that bad in the 1st rnd, now the 2nd round...........

Jake was a pro bowler. I never agreed with the "Matty-Ball" craze. I don't see anything he's done to change my opinion.

I think you have 2010 in reverse order because you say we SHOULD HAVE drafted Odrick and DID draft 14 other pro bowl players.

Thats a very good bunch of players.

I would have grabbed Kuechly over Tanne in 2012 and Foles in the third. Would have still screwed up the 2nd rnd pick w/ Adams who has not panned out in PIT & for some reason I thought Jake Bequett was up there w/ Chandler Jones. I would have grabbed him w/ the second pick in rnd 3. I really thought he was a helluve lot better than Vernon. The guy has been a bust.

If they don't draft a QB in the first round (Tanny), Miami fans would have gone ape$#@%. A first round QB pick had to be made

SCPhinsFan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they don't draft a QB in the first round
> (Tanny), Miami fans would have gone ape$#@%. A
> first round QB pick had to be made


I agree. No way they WOULD NOT have gone QB thst year. When a great QB class, U don't pass.

toko34 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe Hickey is a drafter who will choose the
> best player available..but that's not fun for us
> fans-so lets see who is out there as an available
> free agent before we make our pick...
>
> Our needs:
> OG, DT, LB, CB, S
>
> Available Guards:
> we don't want to draft a guard in the first round
> with a high pick...so next....

I don't think they will be looking at guards in the first round but they will be looking at college tackles who can play guard in the NFL. They want athletes who can move and they are usually tackles in college, not guards. We need a guy who can START at either spot like Zach Martin. It would make complete sense to draft an o-lineman in the first, IMO.. since we need two and possibly three to start the year.

>
> Possible Available Defensive Tackles (2):
> Ndamukong Suh(DET)-very expensive, Lions want to
> keep him of course.
> Ahtyba Rubin(CLE)-maybe for depth
> Nick Fairley(DET)-Difficult to gauge. Injury
> prone?
> Jared Odrick -(MIA) re-sign? not if its going to
> cost too much.
> Terrance Knighton (DEN)seems ok, lets watch him in
> the playoffs

I like Knighton as a NT. He is better than ok. Fairley scares me because of who he played next to. Suh makes any DT look good because he draws double and triple teams. Dan Williams is another run stuffer that's available.

>
> Possible Available Inside Linebackers(under age
> 31) (1):
> David Harris (NYJ) Rumors say he is bad at pass
> coverage.
> Rey Maualuga (CIN) injury prone-avoid.
> Brandon Spikes (BUF) -No, can't cover pass
> Mason Foster (T No, shoulder injury this
> season.
> Colin McCarthy (TEN) backup only
> Rolando McClain (DAL) observe through the
> playoffs

McClain may have finally figure it out. I'm not sure Dallas Can afford to keep him. Played great in all facets of the position. Has red flags. Will probably only leave Dallas for a huge contract.

I think we will need to draft a LB in the 2-4 range.

> Possible Available Outside Linebackers(under age
> 31) (0):
> Brian Orakpo (WAS) Extremely Injury prone- great
> if he plays though.
> Jason Worilds (PIT) So average.
> Sean Weatherspoon (ATL) Injury Prone
> Kroy Biermann (ATL) Backup only
> Brandon Graham (Phi) Another Backup


Orakpo is a 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. And will cost a lot.

Worilds is a 3-4 OLB

Kroy Biermann was a starting 4-3 Defensive End.

Graham played 3-4 OLB. I would say he is a starter for most teams. Played 524 snaps this year and had 6 sacks. Great vs the run and pass rusher. Not so great in coverage. Could also be a 4-3 DE. We could have had him (and a 2nd rounder) in the trade for Jordan.

I only see one true 4-3 OLB in that list.

>
> Possible Available Corners(under age 31) (4):
> Darrelle Revis (NE) Doubt the pats let him go.
> Kareem Jackson (HOU) Yeah, maybe
> Bradley Fletcher (Phi) Should be considered.
> Brandon Flowers (SD) He's small..another Grimes?
> Darius Butler (IND) Average at best.
> Kyle Wilson (NYJ) would be ok at nickel.

We NEVER should have gotten rid of Vontae. Another hatchet job by Ireland.

>
> Possible Available Safeties(under age 31) (3):
> Louis Delmas (MIA) Good player when not injured.
> Nate Allen (PHI) reputation is terrible.
> Stevie Brown (NYG) might be a diamond in the
> rough
> Da'Norris Searcy (BUF) ok
> Jimmy Wilson (MIA) only average

I think Searcy is a solid player. Pass on the rest. Devin McCourty is the best available FS out there.

>
>
> With this limited inventory of players- I'd shoot
> for a DT or LB.
>
> Which leads me to the following candidate:
>
> Eddie Goldman-DT (Florida State University)

I could live with that but lots will be learned in the coming months.

Daniel Jeremiah (former scout) says Danny Shelton, NT, Washington, reminds him a lot of Haloti Ngata (out of Oregon). Speed, size and quickness.

If that's the case, sign him up at 14.

You pick Wilson.

JoeFootball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> I don't think they will be looking at guards in
> the first round but they will be looking at
> college tackles who can play guard in the NFL.
> They want athletes who can move and they are
> usually tackles in college, not guards. We need a
> guy who can START at either spot like Zach Martin.
> It would make complete sense to draft an o-lineman
> in the first, IMO.. since we need two and possibly
> three to start the year.


I agree Joe. If we go online in the first it will be an OT who can kick inside. That way we have insurance if Albert is slow to recover.


>
> I like Knighton as a NT. He is better than ok.
> Fairley scares me because of who he played next
> to. Suh makes any DT look good because he draws
> double and triple teams. Dan Williams is another
> run stuffer that's available.


I like knighton and Williams for soliai's role.

I'd take a shot on fairley for the right price. Kid was a beast at Auburn.


I'd have no issues drafting Danny Sheldon from Washington. That kid is a beast.



>
> McClain may have finally figure it out. I'm not
> sure Dallas Can afford to keep him. Played great
> in all facets of the position. Has red flags. Will
> probably only leave Dallas for a huge contract.
>
> I think we will need to draft a LB in the 2-4
> range.
>


Sounds about right.


>
>
>
> Orakpo is a 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. And will cost a
> lot.
>
> Worilds is a 3-4 OLB
>
> Kroy Biermann was a starting 4-3 Defensive End.
>
> Graham played 3-4 OLB. I would say he is a starter
> for most teams. Played 524 snaps this year and had
> 6 sacks. Great vs the run and pass rusher. Not so
> great in coverage. Could also be a 4-3 DE. We
> could have had him (and a 2nd rounder) in the
> trade for Jordan.
>
> I only see one true 4-3 OLB in that list.
>

I'd take any of those guys as a DE and move Jordan to lb.





>
> I could live with that but lots will be learned in
> the coming months.

Very true.

Things could change a lot before the draft.

But of the players I've looked at so far my wish list, in no particular order, is: Danny Shelton, DT.... Melvin Gordon, RB... Kevin white, Wr.

Melvin Gordon looks like he 's got the potential to be a superstar, but I think our team is actually set at RB.

I wonder who will scoop him up.

#11 Minnesota Vikings.

Actually as I look at it, every team in the top 16 could use a RB, except maybe STL.

toko34 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Melvin Gordon looks like he 's got the potential
> to be a superstar, but I think our team is
> actually set at RB.
>
> I wonder who will scoop him up.

other than QB I don't think that should deter us from picking someone at a position of strength.

If Gordon is there he you take a chance on him. He's the type of dynamic prospect we've passed over because of need. If he works out Lamar becomes trade bait.

Same goes for WR. Just because we have a lot of money tied up at WR make us look elsewhere.

jsm08 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> toko34 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Melvin Gordon looks like he 's got the
> potential
> > to be a superstar, but I think our team is
> > actually set at RB.
> >
> > I wonder who will scoop him up.
>
> other than QB I don't think that should deter us
> from picking someone at a position of strength.
>
> If Gordon is there he you take a chance on him.
> He's the type of dynamic prospect we've passed
> over because of need. If he works out Lamar
> becomes trade bait.
>
> Same goes for WR. Just because we have a lot of
> money tied up at WR make us look elsewhere.


IMO we can win with the players we have at the skill position wr te rb etc.

Its the trenches that need to be reinforced. You win in the trenches and you win the game.

I havent studied the Draft yet as I am still trying to bang out my final season-in-review column. Looking at the Draft purely from a needs perspective, the roster is still very shallow and I feel the Dolphins could go in any direction; there are legitimate arguments to made for each position, even QB (trade bait).

That being said, I would rate linebacker as the biggest need area. They could cut every single LB on the roster right now and not miss any of them (though I do like Jenkins' upside and Trusnik's work on STs).

LB is the weakest position on this team.

jsm08 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> toko34 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Melvin Gordon looks like he 's got the
> potential
> > to be a superstar, but I think our team is
> > actually set at RB.
> >
> > I wonder who will scoop him up.
>
> other than QB I don't think that should deter us
> from picking someone at a position of strength.
>
> If Gordon is there he you take a chance on him.
> He's the type of dynamic prospect we've passed
> over because of need. If he works out Lamar
> becomes trade bait.
>
> Same goes for WR. Just because we have a lot of
> money tied up at WR make us look elsewhere.


The question with lamar miller is whether or not you think he's worth what he's going to want in his second contract.

I don't think he's worth investing starter money in. He's brittle. He's not a very instinctive runner, he doesn't make defenders miss or run over them, and he's a below average pass blocker.

If people think he's worth 5-6mill a year then re-sign him and look for a complimentary RB later in the draft if the value is there.

If people (like me) don't believe he's worth #1 back money, then it's time to draft his replacement.

I really don't know how anyone could look at our DT's and O-line and say that. We currently only have two, 3 technique DT's starting and need 3 starting lineman to start the year.

32 year old Randy Starks
Underwhelming Earl Mitchell
Anthony Johnson (IR)

That's it!

You think the LB's were bad this year. Put them behind those two all year and see how they do.

Even with Odrick, (another 3-technique) we were terrible.

The only way I take a LB'er at 14 is if he is better than CJ Mosley was last year. He was taken at 17. That means a 3 down, never leave the field, play maker.

...And BTW, he plays behind some of the best DT's in the NFL.

We have some talent to work with at LB but they were young and from all reports, did not get to play because of Coyles complex schemes as well as injuries that set them back. I am speaking of McCain and Tripp. McC may end up being a DE but who knows. We also have Jordan to play SLB.

We just need to find a DC who can implement him in a better 4-3 system like Denver (Jack Del Rio) and Seattle...as well as Gus Bradley in Jax.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2015 07:25AM by JoeFootball.

DG-B to enter the draft.

LOVE this kids game. Has major character red flags.


“@OU_Football: Stoops indicates that WR Dorial Green-Beckham intends to declare for the NFL Draft.” Shocker.

The VERY good news for Miami (for once) regarding the talent at the top, is that 4 or 5 DE/pass rushers should go in the top 13 picks. At least one pick will be a QB, possibly two. One DT will for sure be off the board as well as one or two WR's and maybe a safety.

That wraps up 11 players. One of those could also be an OT like Scherff. There is also a good chance that he drops due to needs of other teams ahead of us.

That means other positions like DT, CB and OT will be there for the taking and a blue chipper could be dropping to us at one of those positions. I don't know that Melvin Gordon will drop that far but I would have to think long and hard about landing the next AP.

If he does drop, we would have to be prepared to take him. By that, I mean by signing a free agent DT and OT/OG beforehand. If we could land DT, Knighton and OT, Franklin, we would be in a much better position to take BPA and go after a premier runner like MG.

I would just hope that the "powers that be" have figured out we need to run the ball more than 14 times a game. We were just slightly lop-sided this season. 399 rushing attempts to 595 passing. 200 more passing attempts? WTH?

JoeFootball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really don't know how anyone could look at our
> DT's and O-line and say that. We currently only
> have two, 3 technique DT's starting and need 3
> starting lineman to start the year.
>
> 32 year old Randy Starks
> Underwhelming Earl Mitchell
> Anthony Johnson (IR)
>
> That's it!
>
> > We have some talent to work with at LB but they
> were young and from all reports, did not get to
> play because of Coyles complex schemes as well as
> injuries that set them back. I am speaking of
> McCain and Tripp. McC may end up being a DE but
> who knows. We also have Jordan to play SLB.
>
> We just need to find a DC who can implement him in
> a better 4-3 system like Denver (Jack Del Rio) and
> Seattle...as well as Gus Bradley in Jax.


The problem with the Dolphins 4-3 scheme is that they don't have the LBs to make it work. All of them are big and slow, except for Jenkins and Tripp, and maybe McCain. Two of those three were Hickey signings. The others, not counting Sheppard who probably won't be back, were inherited from Ireland. Guys like Ellerbe came from 3-4 schemes which require bigger LBs.

Koa Misi is not a 4-3 linebacker. Zach Thomas was a 4-3 linebacker.

They need to get faster LBs if they remain committed to the 4-3.

Koa can be an average to above average LB'er in either scheme. You're comparing him to a future HOF'er. He will never be a star. He just doesn't have the intangibles.

Speed and size is only part of it. Zach was not fast or big. He had other intangibles but he played well in a 4-3.

You say we don't have the LB's to make it work and you are partially correct. The starting LB's we had this are not good enough. We still have younger guys behind them. Jordan has speed. Jenkins has speed. Tripp ran a 4.67 40. Not fast but fairly average for a MLB and faster than Misi's 4.75. Can these guys be adequate replacements? I don't know.

The problem with 3-4 LB's is you need more of them. Two in the middle as opposed to one. That means we keep 4 instead of 2 at ILB.

We have a shortage. We also have a shortage of 3-4 DE's and a NT.

If we went 3-4 , we could possibly use Ellerbe and Misi at ILB but that's going to cost us $$$....and we are still short one 3-4 DE and a NT. Wheeler has never played 3-4.

...and we then would put Jordan at OLB but then what do we do with Wake and Vernon?

What do we do with Wheeler? His contract prohibits cutting him.

Right now we have 3 linebackers taking up almost 19 mil in cap space and none are very good and we are stuck with Wheeler.

As long as the Dolphins keep DC Kevin Coyle they are committed to a 4-3. If this holds, then Hickey needs to continue to re-tool that unit.

Otherwise we should switch to a 3-4 and find a true NT to anchor it. Our DEs are a better fit for that scheme IMO. Ellerbe, Misi, and Wheeler are as well. Wake is really too small to play a 4-3 DE. So is Vernon. I thought they both wore down as the season went on.

So you are going to pay two "starting" ILB's and a backup ILB 19 million dollars? They almost have to cut Ellerbe this year. We need cap space. Keep him and we cannot afford to get a NT, DE.

What about Shelby and Fede? Not big enough to be 5 techniques.

Starks is a part time player and has been for two years. Now he's going to start full time at 3-4DE?

Odricks a FA.

Mitchell has been a 3-4 NT but not a good one. Not great at 4-3 either.

I think we need a true NT no matter what scheme we run.

Players complained to Philbin that his practice schedule was terrible and cause them to wear down. Did not like the day off on Monday.

3-4 OLB's often have to drop into coverage more than a 43 DE. Not good for Wake or Vernon.

I guess there are issues either way we go.

JoeFootball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess there are issues either way we go.

Yep. They are half pregnant with this transition of the roster to support the 4-3 scheme.