i find it interesting that you think OLB would be adressed after the first, and it would seem as so from who they are visiting with and such. but again, this could all be smoke screens. who knows at draft time. my whole problem with the scenario is, what ILB outside or Rey Rey would be worth the 25th pick?(i just cant picture him being there)
I think once you get beyond trying to plug either of them in at OLB...both Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing would make good ILB prospects in the 3-4. The Dolphins could go with either of those two or Maualuga, if they're there. And my point with the ILBs was it's just more likely than the OLBs. I didn't even mention in the blog that Robert Ayers believes that a lot of 3-4 teams out there want him as an OLB. That's another one to toss into the potential second round heap. And he's a damn good player, too...though I think I'd personally rather keep him at DE than OLB.
I like Matthews too... He has the size we like and plays really fast (not to be confused with his 4.8 40) .. his only knock, from my understanding is his ability to shed blocks
If the Phins draft an ILB in the 1st round that would make me so very happy. IMO the key to making the 3-4 work is the interior spine, even if its the OLBs that get the sacks and interceptions.
Devil's advocate that the Dolphins are using these visits to try to prevent some teams from jumping ahead to steal the offensive player they want.
Possible, but you have a limited amount of visits and we weren't very tricky with any of our picks last year. We have a shorter draft board then most teams and the players you've seen interviewed are the ones on them.
I would love us to get Rey in the first round... I dont know what the chances of that are, but i think he'd be a real bigtime player for us.
Personally ive said i thought Cushing fit really well inside of the 3-4 from day one, but it seemed like the general consencious was he wasnt going to make it to our pick. I hadnt thought about Matthews inside, though from watching film on him, he does look quicker then his times. I think that would be a pretty big adjustment for him, im just not sure that is something you want to risk in the first round(personally im not a fan of Matthews in round 1 at all, much less ILB). Problem is if Cushing is there, his health history hasnt been good. and we know how the FO thinks about injuries. I like Ayers as a OLB in the 3-4 personally. i just dont think hes worth a first round selection as some believe(not you i see you say second round) who knows, its the draft. i said a couple years ago, i wanted Brady Quinn if he was there, but he wouldnt be. and look what happened. If Rey Rey is there, hes my pick 100%.
I just had this vision. We get Clay Matthews in the first round and Connor Barwin in the 2nd round. We field Joey Porter, Clay Matthews, Connor Barwin and Cameron Wake. That's a sick linebacking corps. Huge sack machine. Maybe we don't get Matthews and Barwin but there's enough talent in the first 2 rounds that we could easily have one of the most dominating line ups in the league.
I don't see why one of the three LB's from USC would not be there when we pick at 25. Now that CK has secured my thoughts that Matthews could project to ILB I would have them ranked in this order at the 25 pick: Maualuga, Matthews then Cushing. Then we nab Stintim at our 2a spot and we are on our way to a nice LB corps with great depth. Porter, Crowder, Roth, Wake, Mauluga, Stintim and Ayodele.
