Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Who are the rest of the players we picked up in the draft?

Now that that the draft is over, a lot of people have taken the time to look at every team’s picks and in some cases, assign them grades for their efforts. Let me start off by saying that I think assigning teams a grade for their picks immediately after the draft is a ridiculous idea. What exactly are these grades based on? Well, that answer depends on who you are asking, since everyone seems to have a different criterion. If you are going to assign a team’s draft class a grade, wouldn’t it be smarter to do so after at least one season? That way you have a chance to see what impact, if any, the players drafted made not only on the team, but on the league as well. Undrafted picks could be a part of that evaluation as well, considering that last season, more undrafted players played in at least one game than players who were chosen in the second round of the draft or later.
I personally think the Dolphins did a pretty good job of addressing the team’s needs in this draft; sure they passed up on some big name players, but the draft is about getting the player you want, not the big names, and the Dolphins were able to do just that. They moved back early in the draft in order to get that second round pick and they moved up later on when they thought another team might get the guy they were after. They went in there with a plan and from the looks of it they were able to achieve everything they set forth to.
Multiple sources have revealed that the one player the Dolphins were really after was Koa Misi, who was selected in the second round with the pick obtained from the Chargers. Depending on whom you ask, Misi was drafted to be a starter or a backup. I think Misi will start and replace Porter. This guy is strong and fast, and has all the qualities needed to be a sack machine. He will need help making the transition into the NFL, but I think he should be ready by the time the season starts, since he comes from a program in Utah that is a very high caliber program.
Koa Misi was drafted to fill one of the holes we have on defense, and he should be able to do it very well. I personally was very pleased with this pick; we will find out by the end of the season, whether or not Sergio Kindle would’ve been a better option based on the impact each one of them makes on the defensive side of things in their respective teams.
John Jerry, out of Ole Miss, was drafted to be a potential replacement for Justin Smiley who the team was actively trying to trade during the draft, so I expect him to be a starter next season at some point as well if we face injuries in the offensive line. He is a versatile player who can play both tackle and guard, although he is better suited to play guard. The criticism on Jerry is that he is a little slow and relies more on his power than on his speed, which could be beneficial to the team in certain plays. With an offensive line made up of players like Jake Long and Richie Incognito, I believe this is a player who will become proficient in the next couple of seasons. Our offensive line is by no means weak at the moment after all but it did see some injuries this past season and adding depth to it is a smart move.
AJ Edds, a linebacker out of Iowa was a smart addition to the team, with him, we add depth to that linebacker position which we needed to do; but most importantly, he will make a contribution to our special teams. I know sometimes special teams and any needs in that area get over looked, but we have to remember that special teams are also a part of the game and they can indeed cost you a win sometimes. Remember last year’s game against the Jets in the Meadowlands?
Nolan Carroll, a cornerback out of Maryland, is expected to compete at the cornerback position. Some people were wondering if this might be our answer as far as safeties go but that doesn’t seem to be the case. This pick of course had many wondering about the possibility of moving Sean Smith to safety since he did play that position at college. Although that is a possibility if there was ever a need for it, Smith is better suited to play at CB than at safety and he is a better prospect at that position than Carroll is, still, Carroll could prove to be a good option in some nickel or dime plays.
Reshad Jones, the safety out of Georgia, is considered to be a top pick by many and in my opinion, was the best deal the Dolphins got this whole draft. I expect Jones will compete for the position with Culver and Clemons and wouldn’t be surprised to see him as our starter next season. I know a lot of people were interested in acquiring Taylor Mays, but apparently the front office didn’t think he would be a good fit and had actually been thinking of picking up Jones before the draft came around.
The two guys we picked in the sixth (Chris McCoy) and seventh round (Austin Spitler) are not guys that I know too much about, at this point in the draft teams go after who they consider to be the best available players, and if there is anything this front office has proven they can do is pick up good rough and undrafted talent so I think it would be interesting to see what these guys bring to the table, as well as all those undrafted guys that we have picked up so far. Those undrafted players include safety Jonathin Amaya out of Nevada, nose tackle Travis Ivey out of Maryland, guard Andy Leavine out ofFIU, wide receiver Marlon Moore out of Fresno State, nose tackle Vince Oghobaase out of Duke, cornerback A. J. Wallace out of Penn State, wide receiver Roberto Wallace out of San Diego State, and cornerback Ross Weaver out of Michigan State.
One thing the Dolphins made clear this draft was their interest in strengthening the defense, seven of the eight players drafted and even five out of the eight undrafted agents signed are defensive players. They also added players with leadership qualities, a lot of the drafted players played in teams which had winning records and were captains in those teams and that’s definitely not something you can ever have too much of in the locker room.
As I stated before, I don’t believe in grading drafts but I know a lot of people out there pay attention to these grades and that there are still some fans that have their doubts about this draft class. So our draft class wasn’t all that “flashy” not too many big names picked up, right? How much more flash do you want during the offseason? Don’t forget that we did pick up Dansby and Marshall after all and considering Marshall came at a price of a second round pick, that names deserves more points than any other name in my book.
Sunday, April 25, 2010

An interview with Kory Sheets

Kory Sheets is one of the young running backs who plays for the Miami Dolphins; he was signed this past October after being released from the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad. Prior to being signed, he played in all four pre-season games with the 49ers, where he rushed for 177 yards in 39 carries which resulted in three touchdowns. With the Dolphins he played two games in a reserve role and was inactive for nine.

Frederick Crisante, founder of Dolfans United had the opportunity to interview Kory this past weekend, here’s what he had to say:
Dolfans United (DU): What does it feel to play for this organization?
Kory Sheets (KS): It feels good I've always wanted to be down here to play for the Fins. I feel like it's a great opportunity for me and what I'm able to do

DU: What have you learned from Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown?
KS: A lil’ they tell me to just play my game. There ain't to much to change at this level, they do help me with my blitz pick ups.

DU: How do you stay motivated being behind four talented running backs?
KS: I don't see myself behind four. I'm behind an icon and a probowl rb learning the game and then it's me that's how I look at it

DU: How did you like growing up in Connecticut?
KS: It was all I knew so it was cool

DU: Do you play Madden and if you do, do you use yourself?
KS: Naw, I'm an action adventure man or games like Call of Duty and Gears of War

DU: What is the feeling in the locker room with the team right now during the off-season workouts?
KS: Nothing changed everyone works, We are all men and we are here to play

DU: How have your off-season workouts gone and how do you feel?
KS: Great I've gained 10 pounds and I've gotten stronger

DU: Besides playing video games and using Twitter; What else do you like to do in your free time?
KS: Shopping like I'm doing now lol
Friday, April 23, 2010

Was our first round pick a mistake or just part of a bigger plan?

The Dolphins went into the draft last night with the overall # 12 pick, yet when it came time for them to pick, they traded down with the Chargers, even though names such as Sergio Kindle, Jerry Hughes and Earl Thomas were still up on the board. This move wasn’t exactly unexpected, the Dolphins gave up their second round pick this year to the Broncos to get Brandon Marshall and rumors of the trade down abounded. In exchange for the trade, the Dolphins moved back to #28 and received a second round pick (#40 overall), a fourth round pick (#126 overall) and inside linebacker Tim Dobbins; they also gave up a fourth round pick (#110 overall), and a sixth round pick (#173 overall).
When their turn finally did come at #28, the Dolphins drafted DE Jared Odrick out of Penn State. When the pick was announced, a lot of people thought it was a mistake, some didn’t understand, and there were a handful who thought it was a great move. This morning however, it seems as though more and more people are warming up to the pick.
Jared Odrick was an All-American, as well as a the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in college, and he is projected to be one of the best players in the NFL, the problem according to some people is that no matter how good he is, he won’t fill one of the needs we have. The thing is apparently the Dolphins and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have reportedly been working on a different defensive scheme which shies away slightly from a true 3-4 defense, yet is not actually a 4-3 defensive scheme either. Apparently the idea is to improve our defense, not only through the draft but also make it better suited to fit the players that we currently have. From what I understand, the idea is to have a stronger inside core, and have more penetration from the linemen. This will play to Crowder strengths as a tackler and will allow Dansby to be more forceful and effective; it would also allow Starks, Langford and Merlin to be used more effectively.
We won’t really know what the plans are as of right now, but I have to believe that Nolan is playing a big part in the decision making process. The front office knows adjustments needed to be made to our defense; they made that clear when they fired Pasqualoni at the end of the season and brought Nolan along. I trust that they have a strategy in mind, and although it might not be clear to us now, it will become clear at the start of the season. The one thing I believe has been made clear thus far with the moves we have made in free agency is they have every intention of turning this team into a winning team, I mean, when was the last time we saw the Dolphins go after a big playmaker?
Thursday, April 22, 2010

Jason Taylor: Traitor or Unappreciated?

As you all know, Jason Taylor signed a two year contract with the New York Jets on Tuesday (if you didn’t know I’m sorry to be the one to break the news to you), and fans have been debating over that fact ever since. At this point, there are basically two sides to that debate. One on side you have fans who are angry at Taylor for his decision, a lot of people have called him a traitor and many have even burned the jersey’s they owned bearing Taylor’s name. On the other side you have the people who understand his decision, that’s not to say that they like it, but they understand it. I am one of those people. The people that know me will tell you that Jason Taylor is my favorite football player. I like Taylor not only because of how good he is but also because of how much he loves the game and the team, he leaves everything on the field every time he plays and he is a great leader in the locker room, and I feel that’s were losing him will hurt the most.
At the end of the 2009 season, Taylor made very clear he had no intention to retire, furthermore, by taking a huge paycut during the 2009 season to come play for Miami he made even clearer that the Dolphins are were his heart is. I still don’t understand why the Dolphins didn’t offer Taylor a deal; he produced on the field, despite having a shoulder injury and playing opposite Porter who was wreaking havoc on the defense at the time. They offered him a contract extension in November under those circumstances, yet now that Porter is gone and JT got his shoulder fixed, no offer was made. I know some of you may say it’s his fault then because he didn’t take that deal, but the truth of the matter is no player takes the first deal offered to them, they all sit down and negotiate. Taylor was being underpayed at the time and this is his job so he was doing what all players do. There are also reports surfacing today from sources who claim the Dolphins did make an offer, personally I don’t believe this. If an offer had been made I’m sure these same sources would’ve said so in the two weeks it took Taylor to actually sign a contract after visiting New York.
So why go play for the Jets? Because they are the only team that made him an offer! Sure Taylor could’ve sat there and waited until after the draft to see if the Dolphins called then, but what if the Dolphins filled their need at that position and didn’t call? What if the Jets did the same? Then he would have to sit and wait to see if there’s an injury in training camp or something of the sort, and that’s not fair to him. Other people said he should’ve retired then, but the truth of the matter is the players make the decision on when to retire not the teams, and it is not fair to force the guy into retirement when he wants to play and is still able to.
No one other than the team and Taylor will ever know what really happened, but I am really disappointed with how it all turned out in the end. I understand that football is a business, but I feel there had to have been a way to handle the situation better. I hate the Jets as much as any true Dolphins fan does, if not more, but they made him a good offer and they showed him a lot of respect. The Jets could only pursue one free agent this season and Taylor is the guy they wanted, he will play in the position he is best at and with the #1 ranked defense in the NFL, still I honestly believe that he would’ve played for the Dolphins instead if he had the chance.
Honestly if I was a Jets fan (I feel sick just typing that) I wouldn’t want JT on the team. Put aside everything he has ever said about them throughout the years; in every interview he has done he has expressed he would rather be playing for the Dolphins; just two weeks ago he said he is going to play for the Jets because they are the only team that made him an offer. Would you really want a guy that feels that way to play for your team? I feel for Taylor because I know it will be hard for him, especially having to face us twice in the season, I can’t imagine EVER wearing a Jets jersey so I wouldn’t want to think about putting one on every week.
At the end of the day though, we can all sit here and argue our point and it won’t make a difference, come football season JT will be in a green and white uniform. I won’t be rooting for him while he is there, but I also won’t boo him when he comes to the stadium. Taylor did a lot, not only for our team, but also for our community through his Jason Taylor Foundation and for that he will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope the Dolphins will honor him when he does decide to retire and I hope they give him the opportunity to retire as a Dolphin because he has earned it. When that day comes I will cheer for him again, until then I have no choice but to root against him.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Still Worried About Parcells and Company?

Free agency is not about making a lot of moves, it’s about making the right ones at the right time, and in my opinion the Dolphins have done just that. A lot of fans have been worried about all the moves the Jets have been making, but the truth of the matter is, our team has holes that only we can fill and if we do that the right way, whatever moves other teams have made won’t matter. I also know that when it comes to Brandon Marshall, the fans have been split on whether to bring him on board or not, but the truth of the matter is, we have now picked up the best ILB available and the best WR available and we are going into the draft with a plan, because make no mistake about it, this front office has a plan and they have been following it all along.
The Karlos Dansby move on opening day of the draft had all of us fans excited and hopeful that this would be the offseason were we would finally see some changes, but as the days kept passing and news kept getting slower and slower, some people started to panic and feel that maybe not enough have been done, Boldin had been traded to Arizona, A. Rolle to the Giants and the Jets have picked up a number of players, including Cromartie and most recently Santonio Holmes. But Parcells and company have been doing this for a long time, and I believe that the Marshall deal was something they were planning to do all along, they were just waiting for the right time. Remember Marshall had visited with the Seahawks and they were still interested, yet the Dolphins went for the trade straight away and managed to come out on top.
The Broncos will trade Brandon Marshall later today in exchange for a second round pick in 2010 and a yet undisclosed pick in 2011, rumored to also be a second round pick. This means that not only did we manage to get the wide receiver that we desperately needed, but we also have kept that first round pick which allows us to fill one of the holes we have left. At # 12 Eric Berry still seems to be a possibility as far as a safety, the issue is whether he will fall that far down; another possibility is Dan Williams at nose tackle, which can be done even if we trade down.
Brandon Marshall is still a young player, but he brings a lot to Miami, sure he has had problems in the past, but I think if anyone can deal with that it’s Bill Parcells, if not they wouldn’t have brought him. The addition of Marshall to the roster will make a significant impact in our offense, among other things, Henne now has a solid reliable target to throw to deep down, giving the Dolphins those chunk yards we have been missing, he also opens up the field which provides a lot more space for our other wide receivers, and the sheer number of good WRs that we have allows for some innovative 3+ WR schemes like the Colts run at times, which would provide a definite edge over teams like the Jets who we will surely have something in store for.
Marshall also benefits enormously from this deal, and, in my opinion these benefits will be enough to keep him in check. Now, I’m not providing excuses because there are none, everyone is responsible for their own actions, but I am also a firm believer in second chances. I do believe though, that the work environment in Denver and McDaniel’s attitude have played a part in all the drama surrounding Marshall, remember he also had problems with Jay Cutler who ended up going to the Bears. Whatever the situation might have been, Marshall now has the opportunity to come to a team and make an impact that will be appreciated, he can win the fans over because as a whole we are suckers for guys who play their hearts out and he has the opportunity to develop and grow along a young QB who is a star in the making. Marshall has a clear opportunity to leave a mark on the sport and the team if he indeed comes in with a different mentality; because there is no doubt that he has the natural ability.
I am now more excited than ever for the draft to come, the front office has proven that the offseason is really like a game of chess, and it is best to keep your quite and not give out your next move, and as I said before, I believe there is a next move, just turn to the draft next week and be surprised as the plan unfolds… Next season is promising to be one we can’t miss a minute of!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Jason Taylor To Wear Jets’ Green Next Season?

Jason Taylor is scheduled to meet with the Jets today and although sources on that side claim it is highly unlikely that he will leave New York without signing a contract, I personally believe that he will do just that. Taylor has been nothing but vocal when it comes to his disdain for the Jets organization, but more so the Jets fans. Not long ago, in a radio interview he said that Giants fans and Jets fans are different kinds of fans, and that Jets fans take the “cl” out of “class”. In another opportunity he claimed that he would sooner retire than suit up for the Jets. With such strong feelings having evolved over the years, and given the situation he has found himself in with Miami, is it possible for Taylor to “swallow his pride” and play for the gang green? I think not!
I am with that group that believes that Taylor is using that leverage to get the attention of both the Dolphins and the Patriots, and I still believe that the Dolphins’ made him an offer he would take it regardless of what the Jets or even the Patriots offered as long as it was fair, because he loves playing for this team and he has demonstrated it time and time again.
Dolphins’ fans love JT, we love how he performs on the field and we love his natural ability to lead even when the times get rough, but more importantly we love his passion for being a Dolphin.
Taylor started his NFL career in a Dolphins’ uniform after being drafted by the team in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft, and became a starter his rookie year. He has played twelve seasons as a pro, eleven of them in a Dolphins uniform, even taking a huge pay cut last season to come back and play closer to home; and although his original position is not that of linebacker, her still managed to perform and was even one of the team’s captains. Taylor is a six time Pro Bowler, was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 and is the NFL’s all time leader in fumble return touchdowns, a record which he beat last season on November 1st in the game against the Jets.
Jason Taylor is and will always be a Dolphins player in his heart and all the fans, so I think it’s only fair for him to retire as a Dolphins fan, doing so in a Jets uniform would be not only a disgrace but an insult to a player that has left his heart on the field year after year for our team. I hope this visit does serve to nudge our front office in the direction of working out a new deal with Taylor, because the only thing worse than seeing him go play for that awful New York team will be knowing that we have to face him two times a year.

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