Draft choices have been made and the Undrafted College Free Agents have now been pilfered, so it's back to the veteran scrap heap if any more holes need to be addressed. Today PFT released their All-Unemployed team: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/14/pfts-2014-all-unemployed-team/ Former Fins McKinnie, Clabo and Ronnie Brown get mention. I still think McKinnie would be a good insurance policy and hope we haven't closed the door on that possibility. Don't remember Cribbs doing much with the Jets last year, but he might be worth bringing in for a workout to see if he has anything left in the tank. Vontae Leach is taking his time in free agency again this year. We could probably use a depth safety, but those are thin pickings!
Wharton is leaning toward retirement. I'd definitely grab one of those guards. We can't have that much faith in two rookies on one side of the line with one playing a new position.
Funny thing was, our oline was so bad last year that when Bryan Mckinnie came in, he made it look better, like almost half way decent.
From that list I would consider Cook as the backup C, take a wait and see with Finley, would gamble on Angerer & Bishop and bring in Anderson.
Other than lacking a decent QB, I actually think one could field an entire team from that list and, with a pretty good QB, go 6-10 or even 8-8. I'd like to have either of those Centers.
I would prefer Ronnie Brown over Thomas and some of the other RBs we have.At least he is a better blocker and he can be effective in short yard situations. Ireland and Sparano are now gone TG .There should not be any bad blood left. [video=youtube;7YlbdUhZDbs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YlbdUhZDbs[/video] [video=youtube;HdZGyuf21Qg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdZGyuf21Qg[/video]
I know Williams was visiting with the Giants and was looking for a decent payday. Thats why hes still out there. Id take him and McKinnie. Id love to have Ronnie back here over Daniel Thomas.
Brian Leonard still doesn't get any love... and some of those linebackers would be upgrades, particularly at MLB (Angerer if he's healthy).
Bryant McKinnie's play last year was poor even for a back-up, and he's only going to get worse. There's no place on the roster for him. I'd tend to think that some of those linebackers may be upgrades over the performance we got from Wheeler/Ellerbe last year. Without anyone being taken in the draft, it might be worth trying to find that kind of signing.
And yet besides Pouncey he was the best we had for that time frame, he actually allowed Ryan to set up a bit, just a total indictment on the overall line.
No, I don't think that's true at all. John Jerry was much better. Richie Incognito was much better. Tyson Clabo at his worst was comparable, and at his best he was much better. McKinnie was really awful last year, and I'm not sure why he was regarded as such a boon. He didn't really substantially upgrade Jonathan Martin, even.
I disagree On some level, I realize he wasn't good, I'm trying to give it some perspective, my point was during the time frame he came aboard, incognito wasn't here so he's not part of it, so really john Jerry is the only argument because Clabo was not as good as Mckinnie..at least Mckinnie could wall off the edge rushers better than Clabo..I do think there was improved play by the oline when Bryant came aboard, I think most would agree, improved from pathetic to somewhat pathetic..lol I guess it doesn't matter anyway
Over the second half of the season, which is pretty much when McKinnie was here, I think Clabo was a lot better than McKinnie. In fact, I think Clabo was above-average the second half of the season.
I don't know that it's certain they'll play the same side. It is as likely that Turner will play LG, because Smith can play and has played both sides at about the same level of competence. I question their All Unemployed Team anyway, in some aspects. Travelle Wharton and Daryn Colledge would be better guard options than any they list at that position.
The McKinnie/Garner-Brenner/Pouncey/Jerry/Clabo line as a whole was more effective than the Martin/Incognito/Pouncey/Jerry/Clabo line IMO. Clabo was stinking up the joint until his one game benching that ended after Martin took off. He was more effective post Martin/Incognito. Could be a coincidence, but maybe he was more relaxed not being around that circus sideshow off the field too. As for McKinnie vs Martin straight up, the former did substantially upgrade over the latter, at least protecting RT17, and I don't know how that could even be debated. Martin allowed 7 sacks in 298 snaps pass blocking, and McKinnie allowed 7 in 418. That said, I don't think McKinnie can move well enough anymore to be effective in a zone blocking scheme in the run game. Too often last year I'd see him get to the 2nd level and just kind of be standing there and not really blocking anyone. He cannot break down in space and get good fits on backers anymore. I really don't think we need him back. As a veteran reserve, I'd strongly prefer Clabo if we went that direction, though I don't expect we will.
If the Dolphins go in a different direction than Thomas as the third RB, I hope they look to a younger player with more future upside then Leonard.
Well, anyone who is likely going to end up a starter. The blocking overall got better, but there's loads of reasons why. The difference in Clabo's play was much more dramatic than the difference between Martin and McKinnie, for example. I don't think sacks are a very good grounds for comparison. The classic example is Ryan Clady as a rookie, he was lauded for giving up none that year but wasn't anywhere close to a dominant pass protector- He gave up loads of pressures and there were a lot of mitigating circumstances for why that was. It's the same thing in these circumstances, when you factor in hits and pressures Martin and McKinnie were basically the same ****ty pass protection- It's just McKinnie gave up sacks at a lower rate.
I wouldn't be surprised if McKinnie was choosing to wait until camps were almost done before he'd be willing to sign anywhere anyways (not that there's a big line up). Strikes me as the "I don't wanna workout or practice this summer" kind of vet.
After the way he ran over us last year, we might want to give him a look. That game was so embarrassing.