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Ireland's Pre-Draft Press Conference

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by ckparrothead, Apr 11, 2013.

  1. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    it sounds like a bunch of back handed compliments and contradictions about Austin..."just a slot receiver"...doesn't he represent your dream skillset, a player that can literally line up at every offensive skill position besides tight end?.

    Describing him as as a "fun player to watch tells me you don't think this is a real, viable, schematic friendly lethal weapon..

    Tavon Austin is not the best receiver in the draft because he's fun, he passed all the other players because the more games and reps one watched, the more possibilities a creative offensive coordinator could imagine scheming up, this is not fun time, his skillset is serious because he can line up at every position including the backfield, including in and in all decoy possibilities, it's because he can stretch and reinvent all vertical and horizontals principles...basically he should be your starting core player to design offense around.
     
    Da 'Fins likes this.
  2. NUGap

    NUGap Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I didn't mean for it to come off that way, he's certainly a fun player to watch. I get a smile on my face when I watch him play, it's enjoyable. That's not an insult. I've done quite a bit of work on him (see: http://secondroundstats.com/2013/02/14/breakdown-austin/), including watching about 10/13 of his games. So I'm pretty confident in my evaluation. My evaluation isn't that he's a bad player. I'd enjoy the threat he poses to defenses immensely. I don't think he's god though. I think he's built up a bit of a cult of personality. I am concerned about his size a bit and the fact that so many of his receptions were screens and within the 1-5 yard range. He hardly gained any YAC in zones other than the 1-5 yard range. Is he going to be shut down by faster safeties or CBs covering him in the slot, who may limit his YAC. It's possible. He's still a superb player, I think he'll do well in the NFL.

    Regardless, none of that changes the fact that the Dolphins literally have no one to man an OT spot, nor any long-term CBs. I'm a whore for CBs, if I ran a team I'd have like 4 pro-bowlers at the CB spot and they'd probably eat up 75% of my salary cap. Thus, if I'm playing GM, I want a CB early and maybe two more throughout the draft. That's where I don't see the value in Austin for the Dolphins at this minute. It's unfortunate but true.

    The offense I mentioned briefly is more just a thought experiment. It's a random concept. The concept being, you have 4 WRs/RBs like a Reggie Bush who have the skills to play both positions. You can have them set up with motion and different formations. Any one could run at any time or split out into a 4 or 5 wide set. Can I think of 18 reasons it would fail spectacularly, sure. If the Dolphins were going to implement my crazy offense, I'd welcome the pick. However, if they do draft him, the utilization wouldn't be what I'm thinking of. Hope that clears things up for you (this idea is a mix of a joke/ a Madden strategy/ something I want to see an NFL team do)
     
    azfinfanmang likes this.
  3. KB21

    KB21 Almost Never Wrong Club Member

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    Have you done a statistical breakdown on Ryan Swope yet? I'd be curious to see the difference between his splits from 2011 to 2012 with the difference in quarterbacks. Based on film, Swope is a guy that consistently got open down the field only to have Johnny Manziel run around and completely miss him. Swope works back to the QB better than any receiver in this draft.
     
    pocoloco likes this.
  4. NUGap

    NUGap Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I'm 95% sure I'll be doing a post in the next few days with underrated prospects that'll just highlight a few important stats for each. I'm thinking now that's going to include Swope, Devin Taylor, (Cornelius Washington?), and a few others to be determined later. I'll post a link to that here when I'm done with it.
     
  5. azfinfanmang

    azfinfanmang Premium Member Luxury Box

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    I don't get it, and I understand the difference in position and style, but you say this kid is going to take a pounding, but Austin isn't? Contradictory my friend.

    Also, I can tell you first hand, if Atrophy is the kids problem, that is no problem. Muscle has great memory, and one thing these kids, and programs understand is how to put on muscle. That is the easiest part of re-hab....by far.
     
  6. azfinfanmang

    azfinfanmang Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Kenny Stills?
     
  7. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    When it comes to certain prospects I don't look at stat metrics, I will use them to confirm some things..I can see how the talent will translate without reading that he did certain things in certain zones...Space doesn't need metrics to project, it requires creative offensive coordinating that can use the skillset, almost like a robot, you know what your gonna get if you can get x player in this amount of space, on top of that, there isn't a better player in the draft that can create his own space better than Austin, his running skills and vision are exceptional and metrics would never deter me from thinking anything but.

    I don't think he's god, nor do I think he has some cult personality, that would imply that the hype isn't justified, imo, whatever hype he is getting, is deserved, ( it just took a while for people to watch all the reps) after all, can we name another 5'8 175 receiver who separated himself from the entire pack to be the first wide receiver taken in a draft..I believe he's in unprecedented territory aka, deserves the hype.

    As far as concerns about his size...I believe that with his proportions and symmetry, his quick twitch and musculature development and ratio, is as safe as any other player dimensions..the fact that the kid has yet to miss a practice or game at the high school and college level confirms my projection.
     
  8. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    There is no contradiction on my part, two players can take a pounding differently based on genetics and the ability to avoid direct contact..Just because someone is 5'8 1/2 175/180 doesn't mean he is susceptible to more danger, once again, genetics and ability to consciously manipulate space plays a major role.

    When it comes to Lattimore, My point was that he was already slim below the knees, this is a genetic concern that I have..and taking into account the traffic that comes with the position, makes me more concerned considering the kid has already had a torn acl and a dislocated/ruptured knee with all three ligaments being severed..my concerns from a genetic perspective came before his injuries.
     
    azfinfanmang likes this.
  9. Celticwar17

    Celticwar17 New Member

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    This is a very good analysis... I am impressed. Are you CIA?
     
  10. Celticwar17

    Celticwar17 New Member

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    I am impressed with your analysis... are you CIA?
     
  11. TooGoodForDez

    TooGoodForDez Deion Sanders for GM

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    1. He is leaning towards OL.
    2. It's unlikely he will trade up very high because he values his picks, but he may trade up a little if he loses one pick. He is very aware of the ammo and needs.
    3. I liked that he is aware that college game talent pool drives the options in the NFL. (speaking of TE as an example.)
    4. He was unwilling to say why he brings players down for visit. The "no rhyme or reason" line was weak. He basically said I'm stupid and I don't know what I'm doing, I just do it with no rhyme or reason.
    5. I don't like that he wants to have "a bunch of good player" still. he should aim for a bunch of great players. He still does not get it.
     
  12. Rhody Phins Fan

    Rhody Phins Fan Well-Known Member

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    I think #4 is clearly him not wanting to reveal important information. I assume that he doesn't want teams to get a good read on which players he is actually interested in.
     
  13. azfinfanmang

    azfinfanmang Premium Member Luxury Box

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    His build does make sense to me Deej. I said the exact samething about McFadden...and I was right. He has sat in IR as much as he has played.


    I honestly wouldn't mind Austin. I watched I believe 4 of his games this last season including the Oklahoma WHOOPING in its entirety, but there is something in the back of my head (Probably the fact that I study collisions ad naseum for a living) that just tells me that less mass means he is going to get more of a licking whenever it happens. Maybe not, but there is a good reason they have weight limits in Pop Warner football. A very good reason.
     

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