http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/04/size-is-not-neg.html Good read While a player that doesn't have their size requirements (which are different for each position) might still remain on the Dolphins draft board - which is shorter than most teams, I'm told typically 100 or so players, eliminating prospects with character concerns, prolonged injury history, and Johnny Come Lately types (no one-year wonders, they want annual productivity) - the smallish player is usually slotted below comparable players that meets their size criteria, no matter how much of a stud he is. Why is this important you may ask, because that's certainly the question I've asked? I'm told players get slower as they age. They become less agile as injuries set in due to the physical nature of this violent sport. But the one thing they don't do is shrink. It's the one known quantity the Trifecta can account for longterm. So if you take a linebacker with size, strength and speed, the one think you're guaranteed he'll still have in five years is his size. Strength depends on the players work ethic, and speed rarely ever gets better than it is now for these 21 and 22-year olds. The three positions I'm told they generally put a premium on size for are linebackers, offensive linemen, and receivers. Expect the Dolphins to eventually become TOWERING in all three units, which is why it'll be important for John Beck, who is generously listed at 6-foot-2, to raise that release point on his throwing motion, and why any quarterback the Dolphins pursue from this point out will be 6-foot-4 or better.
thanks again atvz, you are a master at reporting any article of dolphin interest. Thanks for the work
I'm tempted to believe this blog from Omar on it's face - it's well known that Parcells and company are big proponents of "planet theory". The defense in Dallas that was installed under Parcells was well known for it's priority on smashmouth, grind them down kind of football. The problem with the D in Dallas was that it was figured out and was being exploited towards the end of Parcells run. They had a lot of personnel in place that fit the scheme, but the scheme was in and of itself a weakness. I'm positive that offensive coordinators will be scouring a lot of game tape from that era when facing the Dolphins in the future. Why is that a problem? Because when you're looking at guys to draft, you're looking for guys that fit the scheme. If the scheme itself is somewhat inflexible and rigid, you run the risk of drafting guys that aren't the best fit in the long run. I've got my fingers crossed hoping that there are enough wrinkles that will keep our version of the 3-4 fresh enough.
