The Dolphins placed McChesney on injured reserve with a knee injury, the team announced. Miami signed linebacker Ron Ninkovich off the practice squad to replace him The injury leaves the Dolphins with only three guards who have played this season, Smiley, Ikechuku Ndukwe and Andy Alleman. Rookie Shawn Murphy, a fourth-round pick who has been inactive every game, is the team’s fourth guard. Ninkovich was a member of the 53-man roster last season, who primarily played special teams during the four games he was on the active roster. Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach & Treasure Coast news, sports, entertainment, jobs, cars, homes
Dang. McChesney was talked about like he might make a little noise. Naturally he lands on IR. That RG position sure is a trouble spot for us. I liked Ninkovich. Guy made some noise in preseason rushing the passer. Wasn't bad last year either. Hopefully he can help on special teams.
Starting to look that way indeed. And they traded up to get him. Three picks before the Jets snagged Dwight Lowery. I remember a coach of one of the previous regimes saying privately that you can generally tell within the first 30 minutes whether or not a guy has it. The topic of conversation was Taylor Whitley. Said he knew the guy was a stiff from Day 1. Regardless of how Murphy turns out, it wasn't a good draft pick. They traded up to get him. He was beaten out by a sixth rounder (granted, an absolute gem) and despite all the problems we're having at the position, he doesn't even dress on gameday. You hope that when you move up for a 4th rounder, he can be better than 7th man at a 2-man position his first year. The fact that they moved up Ninkovich rather than sign another lineman says one of two things IMO: either Murphy has taken good steps recently or there's absolutely nothing on the street. I'm thinking the latter. Plus Ninkovich should help in two areas we're struggling mightily right now: pass rush and special teams.
And Lord knows we need it. One thing this coaching staff knows how to do is fix a trouble spot and I hope Ninkovich can be that spark on special teams that we need.
if murphy would really suck so bad they wouldnt have him on the 53 man roster for 11 weeks now, they still must feel that he is coachable to fix him up
Have always liked Ninkovich. I really do think we need more defenders on special teams and he fits the bill. Hopefully he can help raise the level of play on the coverage teams.
Sure they would. They spent a 4th and 7th round picks. They won't be cutting him this year no matter how badly he might stink.
Boy that paper thin depth on the Oline is coming back on us right now... I loved Ninkovich, and Sparano and Muser have not gotten totally desparate on the Oline as of yet, no Carey to G and "whomever" at tackle.. Mathis stunk, Alleman stunk, McChesney is on IR...typical Dolphins... Do we still have Pedro Sosa on the Practice unit?
The only thing that takes the sting out of the 4th round selection of Murphy, is that we got two starters in Ayodele and Fasano for Lorenzo Booker basically. Cobbs has become what Booker essential would've been if he stayed, plus he's been the only real noticeable player on special teams. As for Murphy, I too was puzzled as most had him graded out as a 6-7th rounder, but I do remember Ireland saying he was a developmental player; IMO as an insurance policy to Justin Smiley's shoulder not holding up over the 5 year's he's signed for.
If for nothing else, this is good news as our Special teams unit probably just got better....of course, when you are an NFL squad playing at a High School level, it cant get any worse. I suggested this in the game thread last week. How long till Sparano informs Car-Painter to just kick the damn ball out of bounds on Kick-offs.
I think that would be the plan if the kickoffs were to start at the 35 like they used to . . . 40 is just tooo ugh . . .but you are right, if things don't get better, that may be tossed around in meetings lol
I read one theroy that McChesney was picked up because another team had intrest in him and they played him one game then he mysteriously gets hurt in practice to give them the ability keep him from being signed by placing him on IR and bringing in Ninkovich to assist special teams out. Kind of a shady theroy but hopefully they making some belicheat type manuvers, after all you gotta figure he very well of learned alot of his tricks from big bill himself.
Curiously, the article I read (Dolphins sign LB Rob Ninkovich -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com) said that we've moved him to ILB. Doesn't make sense to me.