Miami Dolphins need a playmaker, but that could be hard to find

Discussion in 'NFL Draft Forum' started by jim1, Nov 22, 2012.

  1. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    The Dolphins don’t have an offensive play of 20-plus yards in their last two games and haven’t forced a turnover on defense during their three-game losing streak.

    “That clearly is the issue,” ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said after breaking down the Dolphins’ game film. “There’s not much separation from their receivers, so I think the windows are always tight that Ryan is throwing into.

    http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/s...ns-need-a-playmaker-but-that-could-be-/nTDH3/
     
  2. ToddPhin

    ToddPhin Premium Member Luxury Box Club Member

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    No way. Not with Hitman's great speed and genuine vertical threat ability. :whistling:
     
  3. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Paid "Expert"=Dolphins need playmakers

    Dolphins fan=No **** Sherlock, thank you for stating the obvious.

    Plus side is, our coaching is quite good, we do have some pieces

    Down side, to many slubs taking snaps

    Upside, half those bums are leaving this offseason

    Downside, 6 games to go and then months upon months of nothingness until anything can be done.

    BTW, Uhm Thigpen did have that return Td, this is half of the BS that is NFL stats, somehow that does not count.
     
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  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It would help if Tannehill would hit the receivers that were open. He's struggling with accuracy lately.
     
  5. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    I don't think that it was that bad of an article. It's addressing a major issue, laying out some draft and FA options. The Thigpen TD return was nice, but that doesn't change the putrid lack of play making on offense and defense. I hope that the FO spends every one of the first six picks on playmakers- WR/CB/FS/OLB/DE. Hopefully they can pick up some Guard help later in the draft and in FA- so far their success in drafting for o-line has come mainly from the 1st round, and that's pretty sad.

    1. Xavier Rhodes
    2. Brandon Jenkins
    2. Matt Elam
    3. Da'Rick Rogers
    3. Sean Porter
    4. Ryan Swope

    FA Dwayne Bowe or Greg Jennings

    There's any number of possibilities. I still like Cory Lemonier and D'Andre Hopkins. I'm not as concerned as to whether they go offense or defense early (assuming that they land Bowe or Jennings in FA), just get play makers.
     
  6. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Thing is, a play is a play is a play

    Why is it, if Thill hits Hartline for an 80 yd Td it is so hyped, if Thigpen houses one, it doesn't matter?

    This is one of the ways the NFL is offbase and imo, the CFL does things better.
     
  7. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Obviously, but he's also not watching every game like you are on every Sunday.
     
  8. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Brandon Jenkins is an interesting name. He's going to slide a bit most likely and will have questions over his dimensionality. He offers great explosiveness however and an ability to dip and bend. My grand concern, and admittedly it bugs me quite a bit, is his lack of balance. He's also been rather poor at times with gap discipline vs. the run.

    Is Porter going to be there in three?
     
  9. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    The irony of that argument is I agree with you lol.
     
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  10. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    I don't know if Porter will be there in three or not. But I look at him and I see at LB that can get after the QB and is an impressive coverage LB, I really like his movement skills. The kind of LB that I'd like to have to cover Hernandez, Gronkowski, Keller, etc.

    It will be interesting to see where he goes in the draft, he does seem to be a bit underrated to me. I would have to see some more film of him to get a feel as to how good he is in run defense, but at minimum I think that he would be a very good passing down rush/coverage defender.

    As to Brandon Jenkins, my feeling is this- given that we have the investment in a good player in Jared Odrick, I'd rather take a very good pass rusher like Jenkins or Corey Lemonier in the 2nd round and a top CB in the 1st rd. My focus is not on replacing Odrick, but rather finding the right guy opposite Wake on passing downs to bring some heat with Odrick moving inside to DT on passing downs. Compliment him more than outright replace him- I'd rather keep Starks at DT anyway. I argued earlier in the year that Odrick would provide enough pass rush as a big DE, and so far I'm wrong on that one. That complimentary pass rusher could be a DE, could be an OLB that puts his hand down on passing downs. Kevin Burnett isn't exactly a top pass rushing threat from his OLB position, nor is Misi.

    It's a question of opportunity cost- I'd rather get a top CB like Milliner, Banks or Rhodes in the 1st. I think that I'd be happy with Rhodes in the 1st and Jenkins in the 2nd, as long as this ongoing nightmare at WR is solved in FA and a bit later in the draft. That would be Bowe or Jennings, picking up at least one quality WR in the draft and we'll see what Rishard Matthews is all about now that Gafney is gone.
     
  11. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Draft Julio Bunkley. Next question.
     
  12. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    If he has the speed of Julio Jones and the strength of Broderick Bunkley, then you could be on to something there.
     
  13. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Ellington as a weapon should be considered, as well as the other top backs, Taylor, Ball..

    I think you have to add three weapons in the first three rounds, I'd like to trade down and add another..

    Eifert, Ellington, Bailey/Austin could be gotten in the first two rounds.
     
  14. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think that depends on what you can get in free agency prior to the draft. I think it's unlikely Miami really addresses the RB spot via free agency, but there's some options out there at WR and TE. I think with pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball, you've got to address one of them in the first three rounds as well. My mock right now would look like this, assuming perhaps I've added Greg Jennings, Dashon Goldson, and Andy Levitre in free agency and I've let Hartline walk:

    1. Alex Okafor - DE/OLB - Texas - I think someone like Werner will be gone before Miami picks, so Okafor gets my call. He's played a hybrid like position for Texas as a stand-up backer and as a true DE. I think you can plug him in opposite Cameron Wake on the line, or you could use him as a SAM backer in more of a 3-4 look.

    2. Desmond Trufant - CB - Washington - I think the need for a CB is obvious, and Trufant's one of the better guys you could land at this juncture.

    2. Quinton Patton - WR - Louisiana Tech - I think he's a nice replacement to Hartline and allows you to play him opposite Jennings with Bess in the slot. You can mix in Rishard Matthews as well giving you a nice 1-4.

    3. Nico Johnson - ILB - Alabama - Perhaps this is overkill here, but if someone like Dansby or Burnett ends up a cap casualty Miami's going to need someone. They need depth anyways as I don't think you could entrust Trusnki, Spitler, Freeny, or Kaddu to fill in for any lengthy period of time should someone go down. If anything, Johnson could replace Dansby in the middle once his contract is up.

    3. Open - I think you could stand to add a guard, another cornerback, a tight end, or another receiver here.
     
  15. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    So am I the only one who, at the moment, isn't entirely fascinated by Trufant?
     
  16. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    I don't know if you're the only one, but I'm fascinated with him. His movement skills and burst are exactly what you'd want in a corner and he's got some innate chippiness to him. Obviously the size isn't ideal but it's not a big weakness, either.
     
  17. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Well if the staff is high on Egnew and Miller, then I can see us splitting the weapons between offense and defense thru the first three rounds, I can't see making 3 out of the first four defensive players.

    I like this draft in the first three rounds as it relates to our needs, I think we should trade down and get another pick, we have holes and I'd like to fill them with talented rookies, and that can be done in this draft.
     
  18. ToddPhin

    ToddPhin Premium Member Luxury Box Club Member

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    Feels good to be right. You should agree with me more often. :tongue2:

    Wait, are you agreeing with the sarcastic me or the post as if there was no sarcasm? lol
     
  19. PhinsRDbest

    PhinsRDbest Transform and Transcend

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    the next dimension
    Latest mock I've been toying with:
    1. Bjoern Werner DE
    2a. Jordan Poyer CB
    2b. Andre Ellington RB
    3a. Stedman Bailey WR
    3b. Levine Toilolo TE
    4. Jonathan Bostic LB
    5. Darius Slay CB
    6. Jordan Rodgers QB
    7a. Vaughn Telemaque S
    7b. Brad Madison DE
     
  20. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    I mean that the argument we had on Brian Hartline's negotiating leverage is ironic because I ultimately agree with you that Hartline is a marginal starter who's limitations are being pretty well expounded upon when all these people come out of the woodwork talking about how Miami's got a "short stick" at WR (Bill Polian), or they're not creating big windows (Ron Jaworskie) or how "everyone in the building" knows they've got to add a dynamic player...etc.

    But it's funny how these things work out. I remember when everyone wanted to CUT Brian Hartline, and/or put him as the #5 WR on the depth chart, and I was the one arguing just how talented he is and how he'll be a useful asset once he gets over this mysterious "calf strain" that ailed him.
     
  21. ToddPhin

    ToddPhin Premium Member Luxury Box Club Member

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    Haven't watched many Washington games so I was waiting for Senior Bowl.


    Am I the only one who's fascinated by Poyer [ATM]? I think this is a kid who could really shine Senior Bowl week. I know you question his ability vs the run, but at least he doesn't seem like a passive tackler from what I remember. If we move Marshall to FS, I wouldn't be upset over drafting Poyer as our nickel corner.
     
  22. ToddPhin

    ToddPhin Premium Member Luxury Box Club Member

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    Ok, that's what I thought. Yeah, I knew you were just taking the side of the agent and running with it for fun. ;)


    Share the same sentiments fully, and you're right, it is funny how that works---- that we're arguing against 2 polar opposite beliefs despite both sharing one thing in common---- irrationality IMO. (no offense to anyone who had/has those beliefs). What made it weirder is how on one hand we can be criticized for liking him and saying he has value but on the other hand be equally criticized for supposedly being against Hartline despite our beliefs not changing a bit. The guy is a great asset to the offense, but as you, he just needs a improved surrounding cast capable of putting him in favorable matchups/mismatches rather than being the primary receiver where he, himself, is the mismatch, only in the defense's favor. I just think it goes understated his ability to play all 3 receiver positions and what that will mean for the offense when there's more talent around him.
     
  23. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I can see 3 of the first 4 being defensive players depending on what Miami does in free agency. I think there's more out there offensively than defensively in that regard.
     
  24. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    As long as the FO looks for playmakers and value- and also picks up a quality WR in FA- it's all good with me.

    The Parcells/Ireland template: first build up the trenches, the build the perimeter. Well, the perimeter is calling, asking for help.
    WR/CB/S/OLB/. Playmakers. Speed.
     

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