Dolphins 2008 draft..

When you factor in Bess and Carpenter as UDFA's from the 2008 class, that makes it all the more impressive. So glad to have this front office!

Imagine this team in one year from now... adding about 9 more rookies + UDFAs + free agents. Scary...

I agree with you guys. They did an outstanding job with the draft and I know it is going to get better as the years come by.

"RoninFin4 wrote:

When you factor in Bess and Carpenter as UDFA's from the 2008 class, that makes it all the more impressive. So glad to have this front office!

Well, look at what the Lions tried to do:

1.1 Stafford, Matthew, QB, Georgia
1.20 Pettigrew, Brandon, TE, Oklahoma State
2.1 Delmas, Louis, CB, Western Michigan
3.12 Levy, DeAndre, OLB, Wisconsin
3.18 Williams, Derrick, WR, Penn State
4.15 Hill, Sammie Lee, DT, Stillman
6.19 Brown, Aaron, RB, TCU
7.19 Murtha, Lydon, OT, Nebraska
7.26 Follett, Zack, OLB, California
7.46 Gronkowski, Dan, TE, Maryland

They are all over the map, instead of Ireland's "take two" strategy, they only took 1 OT, even after giving up 50+ sacks, they took a Safety but no Cb's (Delmas is a S) they overdrafted Sammie Lee Hill, and they took two Te's, a Wr in the third in a rebuilding season?

We made do, and picked up Bess as a UDFA, GM Mayhew went for skill guys instead of trench players, Lydon Murtha was injury prone at Nebraska, but had a good combine with the best 40 time for an Olineman.

Pettigrew is a great pickup later in Rd 1, but we picked up Fasano and his 8 Td's and a starting ILB for a 4th round pick.

In a comparison, drafts from the past regimes usually suffer b/c the new regime will favor their players or players that fit their style. But any way you slice it last year's draft and UDFA crop was stellar.

"Larry Little wrote:

Imagine this team in one year from now... adding about 9 more rookies + UDFAs + free agents. Scary...

Yep, after this year's draft addressed what is typically Yr 3 needs, Wr and Cb, we are in really good shape.

Think about the "what if" with Ronnie running behind an Oline that is worth the money?

That is the other key, we jump started things by spending money on the Oline, that process normally takes 2 years just to acquire the players.

Let alone the Qb, Henne has his fans, but I'd bet every 08 Dolphin player would say "Signing Chad Pennington changed everything".

"rafael wrote:

In a comparison, drafts from the past regimes usually suffer b/c the new regime will favor their players or players that fit their style. But any way you slice it last year's draft and UDFA crop was stellar.

That's true Rafael, but I don't think our discarded players are tearing the league. :up:

"theWeasel wrote:

That's true Rafael, but I don't think our discarded players are tearing the league. :up:

WEll...sort of, granted they are in no danger of making the pro bowl, however they did land on playoff teams generally as depth type players.

MN, Philly, TN, NYG

"padre31 wrote:

acquire/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-miami-dolphins-skolnick-hilliard-082709,0,5953351.column

3 starters, one key backup in Merling, all playing within the year they were drafted with one making the pro bowl:

1 1 (1) Jake Long T Michigan
2 1 (32) Phillip Merling DE Clemson
2 26 (57) Chad Henne QB Michigan
3 3 (66) Kendall Langford DE Hampton
4 11 (110) Shawn Murphy G Utah State
6 10 (176) Jalen Parmele RB Toledo
6 29 (195) Donald Thomas G Connecticut
6* 38 (204) Lex Hilliard FB Montana
7* 38 (245) Lionel Dotson DT Arizona

Compare that to 2006:

16 1 Jason Allen 6-2 202 Safety Tennessee
82 3 Derek Hagan 6-2 209 Wide Receiver Arizona St.
114 4 Joe Toledo 6-5 337 Offensive Tackle Washingt
212 7 Fred Evans 6-5 307 Defensive Tackle Texas State
226 7 Rodrique Wright 6-5 306 Defensive Tackle Texas
233 7 Devin Aromashodu

Or 2007:

1 9 (9) Ted Ginn Jr. WR Ohio State
2 8 (40) John Beck QB Brigham Young
2 28 (60) Samson Satele C Hawaii
3 7 (71) Lorenzo Booker RB Florida State
4 9 (108) Paul Soliai DT Utah
6 7 (181) Reagan Mauia RB University of Hawaii
6 25 (199) Drew Mormino OL Central Michigan University
7 9 (219) Kelvin Smith ILB Syracuse
7 15 (225) Brandon Fields P Michigan State University
7 28 (238) Abraham Wright DE

Or 2005:

1 2(2) Ronnie Brown HB Auburn
2 14(46) Matt Roth DE Iowa
3 6(70) Channing Crowder ILB Florida
4 3(104) Travis Daniels CB LSU
5 26(162) Anthony Alabi OT TCU
7 2(216) Kevin Vickerson

Well, what stands out is, in one draft, 2008, we have more tied for more every down starters coming from it (4) than from the previous 3 drafts...combined!!!

And the really sad thing is...Evans, Vickerson and Booker and Beck, Aromashadu, are more than the number of backups thephins gleaned from those previous 3 drafts, Wright, Soliai, J Allen are the only depth we gleaned from three drafts, in other words our cast offs are not only still in the NFL, they are key backups on other teams.

But the 08 Draft as well as UDFA's have matched the number of backups we lost to other teams over 3 drafts.

INOW, Ireland and Sparano have done a masterful job of replenishing a depleted roster...in one flippin' evaluate/coach/play cycle of Feb 08 to Feb 09, that is unheard of, and one of the keys to our current and future success.

Adding JT, Bess, Carpenter, Wake, Fasano is simply freebie icing on the cake.

Wow...if we added in Wanny's drafts, literally Ireland and Sparano have erased a decade of flops, busts, and underachievers...in a single season...amazing

I would consider Henne a KEY backup

You mention the O-line Padre, and I have always thought that's where it all starts.

Look at any succesful team through the years and the one single constant is a good O-line. And I think we finally have that again

Great thread BTW Padre :up:

"Lt Dan wrote:

I would consider Henne a KEY backup

Oh sure, by "key backup" I meant "rotational player, likely to see playing time in packages".

"padre31 wrote:

Oh sure, by "key backup" I meant "rotational player, likely to see playing time in packages".

roger that. I would perhaps call that a "situational player"?

"Lt Dan wrote:

I would consider Henne a KEY backup

Well, hopefully it will be another year till we find that out. Of course, at that point he wouldn't be a backup anymore.

"azfinfanmang wrote:

You mention the O-line Padre, and I have always thought that's where it all starts.

Look at any succesful team through the years and the one single constant is a good O-line. And I think we finally have that again

Great thread BTW Padre :up:

No joke Bro, we probably have to look past Vern Carey to break the 4 starter tie:

2004:

1 19(19) Vernon Carey OT Miami (FL)
4 6(102) Will Poole CB Southern Cal
5 28(160) Tony Bua S Arkansas
6 9(174) Rex Hadnot C Houston
7 20(221) Tony Pape OT Michigan
7 21(222) Derrick Pope

2003:

2 17(49) Eddie Moore OLB Tennessee
3 14(78) Wade Smith OG Memphis
3 23(87) Taylor Whitley OG Texas A&M
5 21(156) Donald Lee TE Mississippi St.
5 34(169) J.R. Tolver WR San Diego St.
6 8(181) Corey Jenkins S South Carolina
6 36(209) Tim Provost OT San Jose St.
6 40(213) Yeremiah Bell S E. Kentucky
7 34(248) Davern Williams DT Troy St.

2002

3 90 Seth McKinney C Texas A&M
4 114 Randy McMichael TE Georgia
5 161 Omare Lowe CB Washington
5 170 Sam Simmons WR Northwestern
7 241 Leonard Henry HB East Carolina

2001:

1 26 Jamar Fletcher DB Wisconsin
2 52 Chris Chambers WR Wisconsin
3 85 Travis Minor RB Florida State
3 88 Morlon Greenwood OLB Syracuse
5 156 Shawn Draper T Alabama
6 164 Brandon Winey T Louisiana State
6 177 Josh Heupel QB Oklahoma
6 187 Otis Leverette DE Alabama-Birmingham
6 188 Rick Crowell -- Colorado State

Granted, there normally was one solid start in each draft, purely by accident no doubt, however to find a draft when we snagged 4 starters in a single draft, buckle up geezers:

1 15 Yatil Green WR Miami (Fla.)
2 44 Sam Madison CB Louisville
3 73 Jason Taylor DE Akron
3 92 Derrick Rodgers OLB Arizona State
3 93 Ronnie Ward LB Kansas
3 96 Brent Smith T Mississippi State
4 121 Jerome Daniels T Northeastern
5 149 Barron Tanner DT Oklahoma
5 157 Nicholas Lopez -- Texas Southern
6 166 John Fiala LB Washington
6 170 Brian Manning WR Stanford
6 173 Mike Crawford LB Nevada-Las Vegas
6 177 Ed Perry TE James Madison
7 203 Hudhaifa Ismaeli -- Northwestern

1997, the class of Madison, JT, Rodgers and Ed Perry....

1996 was a great class as well:

1 20 Daryl Gardener DT Baylor
3 79 Dorian Brew DB Kansas
3 80 Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar RB UCLA
4 113 Kirk Pointer DB Austin Peay State
4 118 Stanley Pritchett FB South Carolina
4 125 LaCurtis Jones LB Baylor
5 134 Jerris McPhail RB East Carolina
5 150 Shane Burton DE Tennessee
5 154 Zach Thomas MLB Texas Tech
6 189 Shawn Wooden FS Notre Dame
7 230 Jeff Buckey T Stanford
7 251 Brice Hunter WR Georgia

Gardner, Karim, Pritchett, Burton, Wooden and some guy named Zach something or another..

Italicized players still active in the NFL
Wow...look how far the drafts fell off after JJ left.

BTW I'm not saying the guys we have picked up are 10 yr+ and perennial all pro types, I am forwarding the idea that Phin fans have not had it so good in a decade.

Draft Day used to be fruitless in miami.

it is what it is
the best FrontOffice in the NFL
Parcells is the MasterBuilder of broken Franchises
he does not disappoint

You got to love how this FO finds Gems: Bess, Dan Carpenter, Lousaka, Donald Thomas and now potentially Hilliard.

"theWeasel wrote:

That's true Rafael, but I don't think our discarded players are tearing the league. :up:

There weren't many great players in those drafts but I could see a few of those guys that are gone still being here as depth. It would make the numbers less stark.

"padre31 wrote:

Think about the "what if" with Ronnie running behind an Oline that is worth the money?

That is the other key, we jump started things by spending money on the Oline, that process normally takes 2 years just to acquire the players.

If those guys can stay healthy, you're right. We're gonna have it good where winning football begins... controlling the line of scrimmage on offense. Boy, have I LOVED watching us push other teams off the ball this preseason.

Let alone the Qb, Henne has his fans, but I'd bet every 08 Dolphin player would say "Signing Chad Pennington changed everything".

I'd say the same thing. Finally we got lucky at QB.

This teams frustrations with drafts/trades/free agents in past years is incredible. How a team can be so inept is hard to believe. Bill Parcells was the saving piece for this team and whatever happened or happens after his arrival can all be credited to him. He had the foresight to wait for Sparano to become available and he made a great move in bringing over Ireland. Under the circumstances its easy to become labeled a homer with the improvements in Miami.
Yes, they have made mistakes such as Wilford but unlike past GM/Coaches they try to rectify their mistakes and don't hang onto obvious failures rather than just hang onto the players long past their usefullness.

"azfinfanmang wrote:

You mention the O-line Padre, and I have always thought that's where it all starts.

Look at any succesful team through the years and the one single constant is a good O-line. And I think we finally have that again

Great thread BTW Padre :up:

Yeah and just look at the previous drafts and the wasted picks on OL.
Mormino, Toledo, Alabi, etc.

One more year to finish the Rebuilding Project.
2009 should be an extremely exciting & successful season
however
in 2010 we will contend for the big enchilada

"Larry Little wrote:

If those guys can stay healthy, you're right. We're gonna have it good where winning football begins... controlling the line of scrimmage on offense. Boy, have I LOVED watching us push other teams off the ball this preseason.

I'd say the same thing. Finally we got lucky at QB.

A 100% Ronnie Brown was tearing up the NFL in 07, our current Oline is light years better than the 07 unit, that is one of the hidden "keys" to making fools of the experts and the Vegas odds makers.