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Dolphins may focus on drafting db's

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by DOLFANMIKE, Apr 16, 2009.

  1. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    CB Sean Smith with our 2a selection would go a long way to getting us deep into the playoffs

    I just had a discussion yesterday in the Draft Forums that I believe we'll be surprised on draft day by how many DB's we select. There are a bunch of indicators that I see pointing towards a DB heavy draft, including the good old "value" for the player at that time of selection. I just see some quality DB's on the board when we select between rounds 1-5. Here's an interesting article about the possible DB influence in todays fishwrap.

    http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/1002233.html

    "Here's why: Will Allen, Thomas and Jones all will be unrestricted free agents next year if their contracts aren't extended before then. Although Allen might be the only starter of the bunch, such an exodus at the position would be tough to manage.

    ''When you have three [future unrestricted free agents] going into a position, you have to look at the draft and free agency,'' general manager Jeff Ireland said. ``We have Eric, but we didn't get some of the other guys we looked at.''

    That, of course, leaves only the draft.

    For the sake of developing those players in Miami's system this year, the Dolphins are expected to make the position a high priority on draft day, perhaps devoting several of their nine picks toward cornerbacks."

    [​IMG]
    Byrd is the type of DB that brings versitility as a CB or Safety in Quarters.

    I won't be shocked if Miami selects 3-4 DB's this draft. Perhaps 2 Safeties and 2 CB's. I think our Free Agent signings and discussion of who might start on our roster is a bit of a smoke screen. Why? Because with the age of our Starting 3 (We only have 3 for sure starters - Will Allen, Y. Bell, and Wilson) and so many contracts coming up, we simply have to get younger and cheaper contracts in our secondary.

    This idea, although a bit crazy at first glance, especially when you consider the Parcells philosophy of draft big and draft front 7 people (OL, DL, TE, LB, etc) fits into the model for how the Parcells philosophy builds a team. The DB player value (Best players on the draft board) when we select I suspect will have an impressive DB sitting there at 1,2a,2b, 3, and 4 if the draft values go where they look like they are headed. While there may be some surprises, I just think there are alot of signs that point to a DB focus this time around.


    [​IMG]
    Safety Michael Hamlin of Clemson has ran Quarters throughout College and could step right in and play in Miami


    Another article in todays paper points to how important quality DB play will be in our start in 2009. We see QB Matt Ryan (Ok AdamforPrez - He's good you were right), QB Peyton Manning, etc right off the bat. Our DB play will be vital in how successful we are in those early matches in terms of limiting points.


    http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...s-pass-defense-holds-the-key-to-avoiding-0-3/

    "The Dolphins are going to find out right away next season if they’ve answered two of the major question marks on defense this off-season.

    If Miami’s secondary isn’t improved and linebacker Joey Porter doesn’t have some help rushing the passer, the Dolphins are looking at a rough start to the season.

    In the first three games next season, Miami will face three playoff teams featuring some of the game’s top quarterbacks – the Falcons’ Matt Ryan, the 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year; the Colts’ Peyton Manning, the 2008 NFL MVP; and the Chargers’ Philip Rivers, the AFC’s highest-rated passer last year.

    Miami will face Ryan and Rivers on the road."

    "Miami returns two solid starters, strong safety Yeremiah Bell and cornerback Will Allen, but also could be working a rookie into the mix, especially if the team uses the No. 25 pick on a cornerback like UConn’s Darius Butler or Illinois’ Vontae Davis."

    [​IMG]
    Norfolk State CB Don Carey has seen alot of attention from Dolfans. He could be this year's Donald Thomas



    My Miami DB Mock for 2009 NFL Draft

    2a. SEAN SMITH CB - UTAH
    3. JAIRIS BYRD CB/S - OREGON
    4. MICHAEL HAMLIN SS - CLEMSON
    7b. DON CAREY CB - NORFOLK STATE
     
  2. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Sean Smith could be huge in our defense, add in Jason Allen and we have a athletic set of large athletes who can run well.

    I really like Ryan Mouton BTW, his measurables are similar to Darius Butler but is not as highly rated. What sank him is he pulled a hammy running the 40, but still ended up with a 4.46, he pulled up at the 30yd mark and still ran that time.

    He's rated as a 7th /udfa but the only corner that had a better long jump was...Darius Butler..

    http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=71068&draftyear=2009&genpos=CB

    D Butler:

    http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=32940&draftyear=2009&genpos=CB
     
  3. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    I actually think our CB situation is in dire need. This season as long as we have Will Allen healthy we'll be ok but next year he's a contract situation and getting up there in age. I think this may be Will Allen's last year or two with Miami. We have to draft CB's.
     
  4. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I agree, depending on Jason Allen we may see 3 cornerbacks taken this draft.

    Smith/Byrd/Mouton would be one heck of a draft class, two could conceivably play in the nickel and dime packages and maybe even return kicks.
     
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  5. Skeet84

    Skeet84 New Member

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    CB should be at the top of the list for the Dolphins. Hopefully we can nab one or two pretty early in the NFL draft. I really like DJ Moore!!!
     
  6. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=75530&draftyear=2009&genpos=CB

    Apparently his 4.56 40 will knock him down the draft board, but I'd like to have him as well, he was a top notch punt returner at Vandie.

    BTW D-Mike:

    What makes those players suited to our new coverage scheme? Are they all good tacklers or have short space quickness?
     
  7. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    I don't know much about Carey's tackling, but he has great feet and coverage. He is a great value anywhere after the 4th round IMO.

    Smith is a big CB with great hands. All signs point to him being a 1st or 2nd pick and he seems to have the whole package.

    Byrd is a CB or Safety in my mind, and has a reputation for being a ball hawk and ferocious hitter. I like him at Safety, and think he could be a Bob Sanders type player in the right system.

    Hamlin has been running Quarters at Clemson and could step in for Wilson or Bell and we'd be fine. I think Hamlin in a Quarters system is ideal for him as he has fantastic angles and tackles well. He could push Wilson.

    Tackling in Quarters is vital for the Safeties, not so much for the CB's.
     
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  8. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    I'm not sold on Jason Allen or on the FA Green. I hope for the best, but I think a rookie in round 2 could get the nod.
     
  9. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I'm not either, even if Allen wins the job, his margin for error will be one that is unworkable, if he gives up a long pass, which can happen, he will be pulled.

    I like the quicker corners if I understand quarters coverage correctly, their job is to jump the shorter routes?

    Smith is so tall, trying to run Curls or comebacks on him would be like trying to run them against a octupus, he has nice reach.
     
  10. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    The primary job for a CB in Quarters is to deny the deep ball on fade, post, etc. He has a deep quarter of the field to cover. The flats can be covered by an LB, or the flats can be a reaction area that we give up and react to. Sounds much worse than reality because a true Quarters team practices that very reaction up into the flats every single day and gets very good at it.

    Remember, if the Flats are open that means the play life is short because the blitz is coming from the OLB. The CB and S won't be far away. If no blitz is on, the flats are the OLB responsibility.

    I like Sean Smith alot for our scheme. Sean Smith, Jairis Byrd, and Don Carey. I also like what I've seen of Michael Hamlin and Moore SS.
     
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  11. PHINANALYST

    PHINANALYST Well-Known Member

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    i think there is no doubt that we will select 2 DBs in this draft (likely between rounds 1-4) and potentially another in 7. the other point is that they are likely to be all CBs, as Parcells history shows he doesn't draft S very often, unless it was a need -- and it isn't one for us this year. i see it much like he did in '95 with the PATS (thanks Boomer for the history) ... with a 1, 3, 7 -- or in our case 1/2, 3/4, 7
     
  12. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    Fitting into that idea for me is the strong possibility of players like Macho Harris, Jairis Byrd, and Sean Smith because they could all play S or CB in Quarters. Of course Malcolm Jenkins fits that bill too, but he'll be long gone by pick 25 IMO.

    I really like Byrd as the ultimate hybrid CB / S guy in this draft.
     
  13. PHINANALYST

    PHINANALYST Well-Known Member

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    Actually, i like some combination of:

    Davis, Butler, Byrd, Hughes and Carey ... with a wildcard of Harris thrown in there because of the VaTech connection -- or more refined:

    Davis / Butler / Byrd, Harris / Hughes, and then Carey (3 CBs) ..... the only way i see this change is if they go Delmas / Moore instead of Harris / Hughes (2 CBs - 1 S)
     
  14. #1dolphinsfan

    #1dolphinsfan New Member

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    Vontae Davis with our first pick
     
  15. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    YUCK! He's the one guy I'd like to pass on if he's anything like his brother.
     
  16. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Mouton I like, very very quick but really needs to work on his open field tackling from what I've seen.
     
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  17. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    There are two Smith's that I like a lot in this draft. Some of you already know I like Sean Smith of Utah quite a bit as he's my top cornerback in the class. He's got good footwork - sometimes will get choppy though - has good ball skills, is a player in run support as he will get off the block & turn back into the play to make the stop and despite his 6'3 1/2 frame, he can stay in the hip pocket of wide receivers as well as recover if he is beaten.

    The other Smith is Cincinnati's DeAngelo Smith. I think he makes a lot of sense in the mid-rounds. He's one of the better zone cornerbacks IMO. He's got great timing of the pass and ability to break up passes very well. He's a player in run support as he's aggressive and has good ball skills. He gets no pub because Mike Mickens plays on the opposite side of him but he's a better player IMO.
     
  18. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    D Butler is not a great tackler either though, the real difference between the two is Butler has started 42+ games Mouton was a two year JUCO transfer.

    I still think he'd be a steal in rd 5, maybe rd 4 depending on who is on the board at the time, he runs 4.3's when healthy, returns kicks and had the #2 long jump for Corners at the combine at 11 feet right behind...D Butler.
     
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  19. Davone Bess

    Davone Bess New Member

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    All great points and solid picks, I actually first read about the possibility of the Dolphins taking 3+ DB's in the draft from Boomer a couple of weeks ago.

    Boomer wrote an amazing article and threw out Byrd, Asher Allen, and Carey as three possible picks.
     
  20. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    I completely agree with you.
     
  21. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Nice, I'm a Mouton fan along with Herm Johnson to me they have tons of upside and will be in our wheelhouse slotting wise.
     
  22. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I like the DBs in your mock. I do agree that we should take a few in this draft. I just don't agree that we should take one with our 1st as many are hoping. IMO that position would be a reach in the first. But in the 2nd round and later there will be some great value with DBs every bit as good as anybody we could get at #25.
     
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  23. Puka-head

    Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member

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    I would be happy to see Mouton on the team, he is a lot faster than his 40 times, and he's quick. The only thing that has kept me from really thinking he has a chance at being drafted by us is his size. We have some big WR in our conference

    He also got to practice for a couple of years against one of the most prolific spread offenses in NCAA history and against TWO NCAA record setting passers. Just sayin.
     
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  24. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Mouton is actually slightly larger then Butler, and he could return kicks and play special teams if we draft him he would have an edge because of his special teams time at HI.
     
  25. Philter25

    Philter25 New Member

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    I absolutely agree on taking 2 CBs, and maybe even 3 if we think Jason Allen has no future here, but Im not quite so sure on needing a safety. We just signed Bell and Wilson, who were both UFAs for decent paying contracts. I dont think we need to draft a safety who can come in and start immediately when we have Bell and Wilson..... for at least a few years.

    I think if a guy slides in the later rounds and is good value we could definately take a safety, but I wouldnt put safety as a priority on my board. We definately could use some depth at safety, but I dont think we need to get a safety who could come in and start immediately.
     
  26. truedus

    truedus Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Mike, do you see Sean Smith being there at our 44? I was thinking we might take him at 25, then Kruger at 44, then Byrd/Brace whichever is still available at 56.

    Lee
     
  27. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    Well, after taking our first 3 picks, 2 of them have been DB's. So far the hunch seems to be correct.
    1 - CB V. Davis
    2a - QB / WR P. White
    2b - CB S. Smith

    [​IMG]
    I'm thrilled about Smith at 2b, thats the pick I had on my wish list at that slot. White was a complete surprise, but really makes sense if we are expanding the wildcat.

    Davis is physical and the top rated CB in the draft, so how can you complain at getting him at 25 overall. Boy has our secondary gotten big and physical.

    [​IMG]
     
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  28. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    BTW - I still think we draft CB Don Carey late in the draft
     
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  29. Dolphin1184

    Dolphin1184 Member

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    Mike you are right on the money. What did you think of the Pat White pick?
     
  30. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    I love him as a Wildcat player, but it's painful to see us spend a 2nd rounder on a QB for 3 straight seasons (drafts) Beck, Henne, White.

    He has great movement and may be a dangerous WR, but he has no experience there. I think some of our new Wildcat will have ricky out, Ronnie in Ricky's old spot and White in Ronnie's old QB position running and throwing. It's going to be a pain in the butt preparing for our Wildcat now. White will be electrifying like Ginn - He can score from anywhere.
     
  31. Dolphin1184

    Dolphin1184 Member

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    The bold part was what I was thinking. Pat White will not necessarily replace Ronnie Brown on the wildcat, but will be in the field with him in some form... whether behind center or lined as a wideout.
     
  32. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Well DMike...I still think we need that smaller, quicker Cb who can just mirror people down the field, atheltic but not neccessarily the largest Cb we have, a sort of "pest" corner if you get my meaning?

    That is why I like Mouton, maybe he cannot tackle, but he also cannot be run away from, guys like Welker would be the ones his job is to mirror.

    Everyone else in the AFC East went large Wr or Qb, we broke tradition and took 2 Cb's...but we need a third.
     
  33. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    LOL. I'm hoping for Mouton or Carey, and S Michael Hamlin.

    I'd love Hamlin's value rounds 4-5. I'm getting pretty pumped about our CB's

    Down the road, I wouldnt be shocked to see Davis at Safety for us
     
  34. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I see Smith more of the safety type.

    Not sure about one's recollection...the Eagles used to have a corner by the name of McMillian...5'8...170 or so, and he was just a pest, tough as nails and could never start, but he could coverlike no one's business.
     
  35. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    What do you see in Sean Smith?
    Ireland: “His skill set is rare for his size. We’ve just got to do a good job to develop that skill set. He’s got a little ways to go, but I think he’ll play pretty early.”
     
  36. Rocky Raccoon

    Rocky Raccoon Greasepaint Ghost Staff Member

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    Yep, I also hear Smith is versatile and could play both corner and safety. It's good to have options.
     
  37. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Ed Reed type maybe? I'm glad we have Todd Bowles running things in the secondary, but Smith is a gem, or hopefully is one.
     
  38. RalphX19X

    RalphX19X >:)

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    I think Smith is going to cover the slot CB's right from the get go.
     
  39. DOLFANMIKE

    DOLFANMIKE FOOTBALL COACH 32 YEARS Luxury Box

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    Today Ireland came out and said He thinks Both CB's may play early for us. I'm thrilled!
     
  40. cnc66

    cnc66 wiley veteran, bad spelur Luxury Box

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    first four games will be trial by fire
     

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