My conversation with Gil Brandt

interesting. its not really a good year for speed guys so I wonder what he means by WR with some speed. 4.5? 4.4? Too bad he didnt elaborate on the WR position. Would have loved to known what he thought of our linebacker positions

 

I don't understand why they would resign Bell when they already had Wilson to play strong safety. I don't care if they could get Bell cheap. Getting something cheap that you don't need is not a deal. They should have just moved on.

 

So are you saying that Bell gets cut in the offseason?

Because one of them has to go. That's for sure. We cannot go into next season with one of them at FS.

Most here knew that Wilson was out of position and much of the blame lies on the FO for assuming that Wilson could play FS, but then the next question is who goes?

 

You raise a very good point.

Regardless of the fact that Wilson is 3+ years younger than Bell, I had only considered signing bonuses to this point. I guess as time goes on you forget, or I simply disregarded it as "oh he played there down the stretch with the Giants". But the timing of that move would suggest just what you said; Wilson was the guy they wanted more.

And other than what I thought was a mistype a couple of weeks ago, I'd never heard about the $14 million roster bonus. That spells it out. And Brandt put the exclamation on it.

I think a lot is hinging on Chris Clemons. Ideally he's the guy going forward and you don't have to make it a top priority, unless somebody like Eric Berry fell into your lap.

Good post.

 

This contradicts what a lot of people here have said, that Parcells wouldn't be interested in using a high draft pick on a WR.

 

This all makes sense, but it would concern me to let Bell, who is a good SS in my eyes, go for a guy with some major question marks. Wilson is a guy the Giants let get away (albeit because the Raiders were offering insane money), the Raiders cut ties with after only a year, and played poorly for us (out of position).

Our FO sees Wilson in practice, etc. so they presumably know whether he is more fit than Bell to move over to FS, but I just have a bad feeling about depending on a guy who seems to have lost his way in the secondary. Wilson is not a sure tackler, and he is terrible in coverage. Even strong safeties have coverage responsiblities. If not, Roy Wiliams would still be an all-pro Cowboys safety. This all may be true, but it concerns me.

 

our 2010 defensive backfield:
wilson/jason allen @ SS w/ clemons/culver @ FS, davis, smith, jones & w. allen @ cb
(Bell @ SS will be traded, along w/ Joey Porter @ OLB)

 

Um, he was a 1-time all-pro and 5-time pro bowler.

I also don't know what gives the impression that Bell isn't as bad as Wilson in coverage.

 

in relation to a LB, OL, DL. Once you get past the core Parcells positions, every position is draftable. Our OL and DL are arguably set, but LB isnt so I still say the bias will be LB

 

What I take away from it all;
Dez Bryant is going to look REALLY nice in Aqua and Orange

 

Wilson has looked bad on a number of plays this past year. MANY have called him a bust, and want him gone.

IMO, he was between a rock and a hard place. Wilson needed to help our rookies in coverage, cover for LB's who could not, offer run support, while playing out of position, and learning a new D.

I don't know of any S who can do that, including All Pro's, which Wilson is not.

Sparano had said, after the signings, that Bell and Wilson gave a number of options vs the run. True story but, teams also throw.

The CB's should not need Wilson's help in 2010. Surround him with some more talent at LB, and he may even be able to play with Bell.

 

Give me Wilfork and a couple of headhunters (Spikes for 1) at LB, and we will kick some donkey.

 

Who...Jacoby Ford???

 

Interesting. I get the impression that Gil Brandt, who arguably knows Parcells' football mind better than anyone, would laugh at those here who claim they know what Parcells wants and that he wouldn't draft a WR early.

And it's hard to tell b/c we don't have an exact transcript, but it seemed that Brandt went out of his way to mention that Parcells wanted a WR even though the question was about defense. It also sounded like WR was the only position he specifically mentioned. Maybe Zod can clarify that for us?

As Wilson/Bell, I think that Bell's huge salary jump next season (and age) guarantee he'll be gone. It was essentially a one year deal. The large back end numbers allowed the agent to say "look what a big deal I got for my client", but it was never going to be paid.

 

As much as I wish that our 1st round pick to be McClain or Spikes, I'm really starting to warm up to the notion that Dez Bryant very well, and hopefully could be a Miami Dolphin come late April.

As CK and many others have pointed out, I think LB is at the top of our "grocery" list when free agency starts.

 

Yeah, who exactly I wonder!

Also, if Clemons was signed as FS future, why do we list him as SS on depth chart? (We list Culver as FS).

 

Tuna asked him to say that, maybe even paid him. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT that Tuna would tell his wife, Sparano, or anyone else what he was thinking. LOL

I'll bet anyone here a bottle of your choice that our #1 pick is a LB.

 

Not to mention there will still be NUMEROUS starting calibur linebackers available after the first round.

 

Chris Clemons is from Clemson, hence the kid from Clemson.

 

Thanks Zod, I appreciate the effort, information, and the analysis..

Right now Iam at the point where i wanna see some major competition at both positions next year in training camp...Personally I dont buy into the regression talk when it comes to Bell, I think he is a good football player with speed, who was playing with a completely different cast from last year. 3 new players in his starting secondary made him account for a lot, taking away iam sure some of his instictual skills..On several occassions I saw the player flash excellent game speed thruought the year, so I know the regression does'nt come from losing a step..Idk man, I heard that he's due for some ridiculous signing bonus, but I just can't see him being cut, we'll see..Belicek will snatch his *** in a heart beat.

I need to see more out of Gebril, His frame for the position concerns me a little for in the box play, and from what ive seen, he loves to throw his body around, but his tackling fundamentals were piss poor this year on too many occassions..Its really hard to judge this player based on all the new variables he had to deal wiith as well.

Like what we've seen from clemons, He's built better then I originally thought, and has the frame to add some size..When I project that additional size that with the best speed by a safety coming out of the Draft last year, and with his willingness to seek contact?,Iam intrigued as hell for that dude...We have'nt had a kid with those measurables, at that position,...ever.

Right now, that unit is not on my priority list this offseason, unless Eric berry majically drops to us.

 

Um, I said he would STILL be an all-pro safety. Um, ok?

My eyes give me the impression that Bell isn't as bad as Wilson in coverage. Wilson takes bad angles and blows coverage routinely.

 

Good find. I personally thought Bell was going to be around at least due to his contract, but the nature of the deal is noteworthy.

 

You can doubt it all you want, but it is a fact that Gil Brandt and Parcells talk about football all the time.

It's incredible to me how much people will disregard facts that don't jive with their beliefs.

BTW does anybody remember last year when most people here "knew" we would take a LB at #1 b/c Maualuga, (along with Matthews and Cushing) was such a Parcells' guy. IIRC it was Brandt (although it may have been Lombardi) who when asked about Maualuga said that "he may not want a guy who's not going to play on third down b/c they don't impact the game as much in critical situations", or words to that effect.

 

Parcells has selected a WR with his top pick.......precedent has been set! Ireland calls the ball on the draft, and it wouldn't surprise me if he takes WR (Dez B.) if available...if not, then any other need moves up....would think if no WR in FA, then WR is top 3 rounds and could be 1st.

 

Thanks.

I can't imagine they want to field the same unit again back there under any circumstances. It just doesn't work no matter what the intention was.

Going back and looking at some of the things I'd written, I see things maybe a little better now.

Here's a timeline:

Feb. 19 - Rams franchise O.J. Otogwe
Feb. 26 - Dolphins sign Gibril Wilson
Feb. 26 - Dolphins sign Yeremiah Bell
Mar. 18 - Saints sign Darren Sharper
April 26 - Dolphins draft Chris Clemons
Jun. 22 - Dolphins extend Tyrone Culver thru 2011

I'd forgotten that Bell signed only hours later. So it would appear the Dolphins were fully prepared to go into the season with that starting duo. Once Otogwe was off the table, it looks like they didn't want to wait for the slim pickins of free agency. And they had little interest in a 33-year old Sharper.

Obviously they intended for something to happen with Bell after this year, assuming there's indeed a $14 million roster bonus due. Wilson's deal is a bit more traditional in that his base salary this year was low, then jumps starting in 2010. Bell's actually goes down next year, then back up. I think there may also be some incentives in Bell's deal as well that I don't know about. I haven't been able to get that magic $10 million guaranteed number nailed down. IMO, that total figure of $20 million has to be wrong. And it's at least $12-15 million short if you take into account a $14 million roster bonus.

At any rate, Assuming there's a salary cap next year, cutting Bell and/or Wilson would have about the same result: Bell = $2.65 million hit, Wilson $2.55 hit.

Incidentally, Otogwe (who's on IR) would be a restricted free agent should there be no new CBA, though I think that has almost no chance of happening.

Hoping for Clemons.

 

That's not true. Matthews had inexperience, which is not something Parcells likes. Cushing was said to have struggled as a cover man at USC, which relates to your quote in the following sentence and Maualuga had several issues.

 

well the quote from Brandt does give you some fuel to being correct on your position......damn it...lol..

Strong words about Bell, a guarantee even?..I dont believe his age is a factor, this regime does'nt mind that age range {28 to 34}, and the dude has not lost a step, has he fallen that much in your eyes? or do you think the roster bonus of double digit millions is non negotiable? or can't be reworked?

Promoting Gibril, and cutting ties with Ybell, are 2 risky decisions that iam not willing to make at this point...

 

I just wonder why you keep saying this? I am definitely one of the proponents that says Parcells has a formula and his core positions are OL, DL and LB. And given a choice he will draft those positions over others contingent (and that is the main point) that the talent level is equal between two prospects and the positional need is equal. Noone as far as I'm aware has ever posted that Parcells he would "never" draft a WR early. Now you didnt say "never" in your statement so I'm just wondering if thats what you're implying people are saying. Because, people like me, are arguing that given the fact that I believe that LB is a greater need and the fact that it falls into Parcells core positions means that Parcells will draft linebackers over a WR "THIS YEAR". In fact, my thinking on the subject, is that if we go full out for linebackers this year, we will have soldified all of the core positions and will be poised to draft a WR or some other secondary position in the 2011 draft where I doubt there is any debate that the WR is loaded with players like AJ Greene,Julio Jones, Jonathan Baldwin, Terrence Tolliver, Carlton Mitchell, Greg Little, etc. So my thinking is we will be drafting a WR in the first round but its going to happen in 2011 and not 2010. This year is about having several needs and the core position will win out over a second tier position IMO. Having said that I and others who are linebacker advocates have said that Dez Bryant is the one WR who we could see being drafted over a LB. Dont think it will be the case even if he is available but it wouldnt surprise us. The reason is Dez Bryant might be seen as BPA. I was stating that we would draft Vontae Davis last year even though we needed linebackers. Why would I do that if CB isnt a core position? Because Vontae was BPA. We will know who is right in April.

 

Yeah, you're right. I recall Mort, a friend of Tuna's, saying how much he liked DC at QB a year ago. That was special.

GODDAMNIT!!!! Tuna just talks too much. LMAO!

 

Gibril is starting, how would moving him to SS be considered a promotion?

 

I live in New York and have a few Raiders fans as friends who know their football. I can say categorically that Gibril Wilson has never had trouble tackling the way he has this year. This leads me to believe that his troubles stem from playing out of position and thinking too much rather than just moving and hitting. If we do jettison Bell, I am confident that Wilson will return to the form he displayed in New York and Oakland if he's allowed to play a pure SS role

 

So that was you Zod! I heard the whole conversation and was thinking to myself.."Finally a Fin Fan with a good question"

I love when Brandt gets into Parcells mind! He definitely knows the guy well.

Also liked what was said about Parcells liking that kid from Clemson.

Great Stuff!

 

Addition by subtraction. Well, Bell's contract and age seem to point in that direction. I would like to see what Wilson could bring to the table playing his natural position.