As we get closer to the draft, I am getting a feeling this kid could be our pick. Position of need, he's versatile, and he could help change the "culture" of our defense. Opposing OCs would actually have to work to get a TE open instead of "just run down the field and you won't be covered, so we'll throw you the ball"...and he can play close to the LOS. If there was a gun to my head right now... 1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Bama 2. Darius Leonard, LB, SC ST 3. BJ Hill, DT, NCST 4. (a) Chris Herndon, TE, the U 4. (b) Bo Scarbrough, RB, Bama Leonard in the second could be a bit of reach, but I think it makes sense. Having him, RaeMac, and Anthony would give us three very young and talented LBs. There will obviously be some growing pains, but at least these guys would hit you. And in a few years, we could have a very dangerous LBing corps. I like BJ Hill to give us quality snaps at DT. He can penetrate a bit a bit so he could give us a push in the pass rush. In a four man rotation, I think he is a good fit. Herndon isn't the most electric TE, but I do think we could flex him out and he could get open. In the games I saw him, he ran well after the catch. The key to the TE in Gase's system is to able to dictate the defenses coverage. I think if you put a LB on him, he can win that match-up most times. I like Scarbrough as a guy to run the ball in short yardage situations...he can catch. I don't know about him in pass protection, but we just need someone to do some of the dirty work so Drake isn't running the ball 20 plus times a game...that will get him killed.
I........... would not HATE that draft, especially if the top two LBs were already gone. Minkah seems to have a knack for making plays, which some players just have -and you can't coach that. I had thought about Gesicki in the second and grabbing Herndon in the fourth. We could have a two TE attack that would be deadly, even if we wouldn't have a dominate rushing attack with those two blocking. Herndon was injured, so how much help he would be this season is up for debate. Of course, that is why he will probably be there in the fourth round. I would like to see them grab a QB in the third round though. Maybe if they can sign some DT depth in free agency before the draft? Tough call, as Phillips might be gone if he has a great year and wants a huge contract in free agency, and it would be nice to have developed a guy for a year who would be ready to replace him. I'd rather we keep Phillips with a second contract, but you never know......
I would love that draft. Darius Leonard? I'd prefer Hill's teammate Justin Jones, as he is considered more of a run stuffer, but man, I'd love either/or.
I like Leonard as a 2018 nickel and long term weak side starter option but I’m probably trading out of 42 to like 55 or so if I’m pulling that trigger. Preferably pick 73 He ran 4.70 and pulled up late on his 40 probably would have run low 4.6s or better. Bit of a hiccup in his cod transition. Makes up for it with quick acceleration though. If I can get this kid at 73 or have to take Roquan Smith a liability schematically at the poa at 11 im going with the first option. If it’s minkah at 11 how bout: 11 minkah 42 mark Andrews (some will call it an overdraft due to athlete I call it the best scheme fit for immediate production in the draft that could drop 5 lbs gain some of the athlete back and be a go to flex option that wins in short spaces) 73 Darius Leonard 2018 nickel 2019 potential starting weak Sign 1 year rotational dt post draft
I’m the same way when it comes to constantly trying to move down if I have a player targeted and I believe it’s to rich where I’m pickin
I can't stand when people talk up Fitzpatrick as a high 1st rounder due to "versatility", which is the common theme so no offense to the OP. Minkah is NOT a good slot corner. Plenty of regular corners in this draft could be moved inside and cover better than Minkah..... and iff you're relying on him as a starting boundary corner, then you're losing. That leaves FS, but we really don't know what he's like there, and Minkah couldn't hold down the starting job there entering last year over a player who's projected to be a SS in the NFL and who wont be a day 1 pick. If Minkah were the type of player truly worthy of a #11 pick as an "elite FS", then he wouldn't have been moved away from FS last year IMO. He's not an elite athlete, and it shows up on tape. Derwin on the other hand..... What Minkah is is a smart matured kid who's been playing football for such a long time and coached so well that he has the upper hand on his peers at the moment for that very reason. Over the next 2 years though, these other more talented kids are going to start catching him. Terrell Edmunds in particular is going to surpass Minkah within a few years. Watch, he's going to be this year's Dee Milliner.
Interesting take on minkah I agree with the boundary corner thing as not gonna work. I think we have to hope for Malcolm Jenkins return. They are very similar athletes. I do think his football iq and desire is higher than dee milliner.
Not a bad draft, but Minkah gives me pause for a few reasons. I don't think Minkah could be a good slot CB. And he's not going to be a good FS, either. I initially LOVED Minkah before I really started watching tape on him. He's not a great athlete. I'd love to have James, however. I would pick James, Smith, Hurst, Edmunds, Josh Jackson over Minkah. I really like the Leonard pick in the 2nd. I'm not sure how Burke would use him, but he's a great player. I really hope they are thinking about drafting Bo.
He's always been ID'd as a quick defender, it's his lack of explosiveness that's a concern. 33" vert and 10' broad jump are very weak.
Agreed. Those are flags for sure. Mando says it’s edmunds or Smith if they get in range. Says they love vea also
In range? I am not sure I like giving up resources to move up a spot or two. It kind of makes me feel like we are being played.
Absolutely. Build a board and trust it, build some measure of quantity, don't trade it away and blow a nut, especially for a non QB.
YYYAAASSSS time for TJ to eat all the food he wants to get ready for his new role as OLB. 2 upgrades in 1 pick.
Dolphins always disappoint me. Tremaine Edmunds was on the board. Derwin James was on the board. They are both better higher impact players who fit what we need more than Minkah.
Fitzpatrick was basically a Hook/Curl/Flat defender who played a position that passed all vertical routes to the safety b/c he lacked long speed. The reason he was involved in plays was b/c of defensive design where he was schemed as the free run defender which provided him with free flow and roaming opportunities that he will NOT have in our scheme.
I said the same thing to my wife right before they called it. I said if a moose of a Hawaiian looking dude walks up there, I'll be very sad. If they call Fitzpatrick, then I'll be very happy. He was truly the BPA and I think they nailed it....our D just got a lot better. I do have to say though, it sucks that Arizona jumped up for Rosen. If he were still on the board at 11, those two extra picks would have been ours and we probably could have done better since we were "on the market" for a QB. Just look what NO paid for Davenport- #27, #147 and next year's 1st. Someone would have paid us in that same ballpark for Rosen.
I agree. This has bust written all over it. The more I watched minkah's tape and looked at his numbers the more unimpressed I was with him. More a product of the system as you said. Waste of a #11 pick. Would have been better off picking edmunds or james who were both on the board.
Jason Allen 2.0 is to be considered intelligent? Ok... My comment to you is more towards this being the 4th time or so I've read this exact post from you in various places. Dude, I love reading your posts. I just think theres some over reaction going on for a kid who hasnt stepped on an NFL field or even been given a role in our D yet. your concerns may be legit, maybe he becomes a superstar. Thing is, we have no idea what we've got yet. sorry man, meant no disrespect. Just irritating reading some of this stuff. Especially over and over again
Saban stated that he's one of the best defenders he's ever coached and hated to see him go- he obviously has feelings for the kid and thinks his potential is darn-near limitless. You're right, he won't get to roam as much next to Reshad, but I think it's a very powerful combo and it frees up McMillian to take that hybrid LB role. I really, really like the move and I think it makes us a lot more dynamic. Don't forget that not too long ago he was rated the top overall defensive player in the entire draft. And he can cover Gronk! Besides, did you see that pimpin white suit he wore? He definitely won the style draft so far and that means something! (what....I have no idea....but it may be important).
I will say this though... Saban is going to say something like that regardless of how he feels. That's part of his job. Pump his kids going into the draft up. Helps him in the recruiting game down the road to show that kind of support for his guys leaving the program to try and pump them up draft boards. Especially when NFL coaches come calling for their opinions, along with the media. And, when has Nick Saban ever really been proven to be an honest guy? Just sayin..
I thought that as I was typing what I said, but several have stated that he gets emotional talking about this guy because he believes in him so much. So yeah, part of that is definitely just "business as usual"....but I think he also legitimately thinks he's going to kill it in the NFL.
Maybe, but I dont know. It's hard to judge guys on that team. They're surrounded by so much talent. Then you got the coach who's a snake. Kind of why I'm looking at this pick as... the kid is talented. Versatile. Gives the D some options. Seems to have great intangibles, and leadership qualities, loves the game. Sure he may lack some measurables and explosiveness, but lets see how we're going to use him, and how he performs. If he's as intelligent and aware as some experts say, he can likely easily make up for that... similar to Zach back in the day. Also, kind of think we may have left a better option/fit or two on the board. Time will tell.
As a dolphins fan, nick saban is the last guy we should be taking seriously. The man is a proven liar.
Saban, like Belichick, praises just about every player with cliche, "he's a very hard worker", "smart player", etc etc. Saban even more so b/c he's sending his guys away, while Belichick sends them off to competition. McMillan is a MLB, not a hybrid defender. I dug the pick, and he can/will man the middle, but there are legit concerns of his coverage play in passing packages. Minkah played FS early on but was moved to the slot as an underneath defender because he lacks explosiveness (poor 33" vert and 10' broad) which lends to range. While some think he is versatile underneath but it's simply scheme design where the safeties always rotate to strength (Rip/Liz) and so the "Star" trades as well. Nothing more. Fitzpatrick is also not a perimeter CB because he lacks long speed (why he played the Star where quickness is preferred). We passed on a few premier players because Gase, again, is scared to move from underneath his comfort blankets in players and coaches he is familiar with.
Eww, I meant to type McDonald as the hybrid and McMillian as the middle anchor. I confuse their names a lot and it doesn't seem to be getting better with time. Maybe when McMillian gets to play this season I'll stop doing that. I hope you're wrong though- because if Fitz delivers then we are finally starting to put pieces in place. I love banging defenses so I'm always excited when we grab another bruiser that likes to punish folks in the open field.
are you really a dolphins fan though? you hate everything they do. maybe you should go cheer for the browns or the saints or something.
You really need to stop trying to be "above it" and throwing football formation buzzwords and trying to make common football fans look stupid. Let us see the kid play a damn game first. Let the common fan be excited for a potential playmaker in the defensive backfield that they have lacked for a while.
Re-post: I like Minkah a lot. Wanted him early on, but if we were going to go with a safety, it should have been a true FS and there wasn't one worthy of that pick. Can't say I'm very happy right now. Do you think the curse of Dick Satan could still be haunting us?
