1. Indy - Andrew Luck QB Stanford

2. Wash - RG 3

3. Minn - Matt Kalil OT USC

4. Clev - Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St

5. TB - Trent Richardson RB Alabama

6. St L - Morris Claiborne CB LSU

7. Jax - Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame

8. Miami - to Phi - Dontari Poe DT Memphis

9. Caro - Fletcher Cox DT Miss St

10. Buff - Mark Barron S Alabama

11. KC - Luke Kuechly ILB Boston College

12. Sea - Chandler Jones DE Syracuse

13. Ariz - Riley Reiff OT Iowa

14. Dall - Michael Brockers DL LSU

15. Phi - to Mia - Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M

16. NYJ - Melvin Ingram DE/LB South Carolina

17. Cinci - Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina

18. SD - David DeCastro OG Stanford

19. Chic - Quentin Coples DE North Carolina

20. Ten - Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois

21. Cinci - Cordy Glenn OG Georgia

22. Clev - Lamar Miller RB Miami

23. Det - Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama

24. Pitts - Donta Hightower ILB Alabama

25. Denv - Jerel Worthy DT Michigan St

26. Hou - Colby Fleener TE Stanford

27. NE - Courtney Upshaw DE/LB Alabama

28. GB - Harrison Smith S Notre Dame

29. Balt - Amini Solatilu OG Midwestern St

30. SF - Kendall Wright WR Baylor

31. NE - Shea McClellin DE/LB Boise St

32. NYG - Mike Adams OT Ohio St

Obviously, a lot will depend on which team a player goes to. The same player might be successful with one team, but not another, depending on scheme fit, coaching changes, etc. That being said, here's mine:

1st round busts:

Jonathan Harris, OT Stanford

Quinton Coples DE North Carolina

Micahael Floyd WR Notre Dame

Riley Reiff OT Iowa

Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina

Dontari Poe DT Memphis

Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin

Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama

Chandler Jones DE Syracuse

Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech

Matt Kallil OT USC

Michael Brockers DT LSU

1st round hits:

Andrew Luck QB Stanford

Robert Griffith QB Baylor

Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M

Morris Claiborne CB LSU

Trent Richardson RB Alabama

Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St

Fletcher Cox DT Miss St

Luke Kuechly LB Boston College

David DeCastro OG Stanford

Mark Barron S Alabama

Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama

Mike Adams OT Ohio St

Rueben Randle WR LSU

Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina

Jerel Worthy DT Michigan St

Doug Martin RB Boise St

Nick Perry DE/LB USC

Whitney Mercilus DE/LB Illinois

Harrison Smith S Notre Dame

2nd round busts:

Peter Konz C Wisconsin (Phillip Blake waaay better)

Kendall Wright WR Baylor

Brian Quick WR Appalachian St

Trumaine Johnson CB Montana

Andre Branch DE/LB Clemson

Brandon Thompson DT Clemson

Kirk Cousins QB Michigan ST

Brandon Weeden QB Oklahoma ST

Alshon Jeffrey WR South Carolina

Zach Brown LB North Carolina

Jeff Allen OT Illinois

Devon Still DT Penn St

Cordy Glenn OL Georgia

Janoris Jenkins CB N Alabama

2nd round hits

Amini Silatolu OG Midwestern St

Colby Fleener TE Stanford

David Wilson RB VT

Kendall Reyes DL U conn

Lavonte David LB Nebreska

Ronnell Lewis LB/DE Oklahoma

Mychal Kendricks LB Cal

Bobby Wagner LB Utah St

AJ Jenkins WR Illinois

Josh Robinson CB UCF

Brandon Brooks OG Miami OH

Mohammed Sanu WR Rutgers

Vinny Curry DE/LB Marshall

Orson Charles TE Georgia

Lamar Miller RB Miami

Donta Hightower LB Alabama

Here is the link to last year's edition:

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/1/13/1932572/miami-dolphins-team-needs

Continue reading this post »

By this time, we've already heard through the grapevine about the players that have failed the drug test.  How has this annual caveat of information come and gone without notice?  I remember in the past that player's have been mistakingly identified, so maybe journalists are not trusting their sources as much?  Or not willing to go out on a limb to call anybody out?  Anyone have an opinion?  How has this come and gone (we're two days from the draft) without notice???

Dolphin fans can expectantly claim ownership as a legitimate team need after this fiasco with Ross and Sparano.  Huizanga had no problem pulling the trigger in these situations and one can only hope Ross acquires this trait over time.  The real problem is Ireland.  He's shown no loyalty to his 'boy' Sparano and along with embarassing moments such as the Dez Bryant and Sylvester Stevenson / Koa Misi incidents, Ireland has done nothing but shown he does not belong in his current capacity.  And therein lies the problem.  Will Ireland/Sparano pass on a QB for more immediate help?  Sureley their main priority is to save their own jobs so a position player appears more likely, rather than doing what's best for the franchise long term.  And that's if they recognize QB being the problem.  Many contend the problem was Dan Henning.  Was he impeding Henne's progress?  Personally, I believe Henne has an incomplete grade, and the Dolphin decision makers will bring in a veteran to compete with Henne.  So assuming they bypass a QB with the 15th pick, and they give Henne another year, what direction will this Dolphin draft go?

 

1.  Offensive skill player. 

A)  Whether it be a WR or a RB, this area is severely lacking an explosive playmaker on the Dolphin roster.  With the Rams picking in front of Miami and also needing WR help, coupled with the news that Blackmon and Floyd are returning for their sr yrs, WR seems highly unlikely for Miami at 15.  Miami needs one more piece to the WR puzzle.  Brandon Marshall looks like a more expensive Orande Gadsden, and Davone Bess has a nice role in the slot.  Hartline has deceptive speed but did not progress much in his second year.  Dolphin fans can't believe it but Tedd Ginn actually was missed.  Miami had nothing in the return game this year and no deep threat (not that Henning/Henne actually could've gotten Ginn the ball deep).  Parcells/Ireland make personnel decisions that sometimes seem are made based on non-football reasons.  (see Matt Roth).  Getting rid of Ginn seems like one of those (my guy / not my guy).

B)  Ricky Williams looks like he's out the door and giving Ronnie Brown the type of money he thinks he's getting seems unlikely.  How much blame is put on the RB's or OL because of a lack of a running game?  It seemed like last year the Dolphins ran the ball more effectively with an interior that included Smiley/Grove/Thomas.  This year they were replaced with Incognito/Berger/Jerry.  It seemed like the OL underperformed, with Ricky and Ronnie looking very ordinary.  Miami will look to upgrade in both areas.  With the Dolphins intending to re-sign Incognito, and Jerry only in his second year, look for the Dolphins to upgrade the RB position early with another interior OL added to the mix.

2.  CB.  Sean Smith took a step backward this year.  Jason Allen was actually given the starting job out of training camp before being released (tells you what they think about Sean Smith).  Nolan Carroll and Benny Sapp are #3/4 cb's and not starting material although Carroll could further develop.  As much as teams are in nickel/dime defenses, CB is an early possibility.

 3.  Interior OL.  (see #1, B above).  If the Dolphins pass on a RB in rd 1, they could go here with their first pick to help improve their run game

4.  DE/OLB.  Look, I know they won't go here early with Cameron Wake (their only bonafide pass rush threat) and last yrs 2nd rd pick Koa Misi.  But Misi looks like nothing but a solid run defender with limited pass rushing ability and Miami could add another pass rush specialist to pair opposite Wake.

5.  TE.  If the Dolphins take Kyle Rudolph #1 , I think I'm going to puke.  Ireland/Sparano are stuck in the 80's with their fascination of slow lumbering TE's.  They already have one in Fassano, and the philosophical move to more athletic TE's with inferior run blocking skills will only come with a regime change.  So the longer the Dolphins wait to draft a TE the better, because we all know the type of athlete these guys would bring in for the position.  I would put TE as a higher draft need (they do need an athletic/stretch the field type) but Miami just isn't going to go after that type of guy.

other positions:  they could look for a backup to Soliai in the later rounds.  He was their best DL this year.  After drafting Langford/Merling and Odrick, Miami has enough 5 techniques.  With this draft deep in DL, one could fall to them in the later rounds that can help in the rotation....Channing Crowder is overrated, but with Dobbs and AJ Edds coming off IR, ILB is not a draft focus for Miami...Miami found some nice depth with Rashad Jones of Georgia (last yrs 5th rd pick), but Miami could add depth in later rds.

One of the writers from the Sun-Sentinel relays a comment made by Jeff 'go back to' Ireland regarding the 'Fins selection of Koa Misi from Utah.  When 'talking up the selection' of Misi, Ireland mentions getting a look at Misi vs Alabama (i guess emphasizing their scouting of him versus a higher level of level of competition from WAC to SEC) and in justifying Misi he raves about his performance that game and credited him with multiple sacks versus Alabama.  Problem is, Misi had no sacks versus Alabama.  The player he was referring to was Sylvester (taken by Pittsburgh) who had multiple sacks.  Two other Samoan-Islander defensive players got sacks.  Even current Dolphin Sean Smith a db had a sack.  But no Misi. 

Continue reading this post »

1.  St Louis -  Ndamukong Suh DT Nebreska

2.  Detroit - Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma

3.  Tamp Bay - Eric Berry S Tennesse

4.  Washington - Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma

5.  Kansas City - Rolando McClain ILB Alabama

6.  Seattle - Russell Okung OT Oklahoma St

7.  Cleveland - Joe Haden CB Florida

8.  Oakland - Anthony Davis OT Rutgers

9.  Buffalo - Jimmy Clausen QB Notre Dame

10.  Jacksonville - Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech

11.  Denver - Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma St

12.  Miami - Jason Paul-Pierre DE/OLB South Florida

13.  San Francisco - Trent Williams OT Oklahoma

14.  Seattle - CJ Spiller RB Clemson

15.  NY Giants - Sean Witherspoon OLB Missouri

16.  San Francisco - Taylor Mays S USC

17.  Tennesse - Carlos Dunlap DE Florida

18.  Pittsburgh - Earl Thomas S Texas

19.  Atlanta - Patrick Robinson CB FSU

20.  Houston - Kyle Wilson CB Boise St

21.  Cincinnati - Chad Jones S LSU

22.  New England - Sergio Kindle DE/OLB Texas

23.  Green Bay - Bryan Bulaga OT Iowa

24.  Philadelphia - Terrance Cody DT Alabama (he can play the 1 tech in a 4 man front)

25.  Baltimore - Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma

26.  Arizona - Bruce Campbell OT Maryland

27.  Dallas - Mike Iupati OT/OG ...gets tried at LOT first

28.  San Diego - Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech

29.  NY Jets - Devin McCourtey CB Rutgers

30.  Minnesota - Dan Williams DT Tennesse...couldn't resist

31.  Indianapolis - Jason Fox OT Miami

32.  New Orleans - Navarro Bowman OLB Penn St

Round 2

33.  St. Louis - Colt McCoy QB Texas

34.  Detroit - Everson Griffen DE USC

35.  Tampa Bay - Jared Odrick DT Penn St

36.  Kansas City - Maurkice Pouncey OL Florida

37.  Washington - Charles Brown OT USC

38.  Cleveland - Brandon Graham DE/OLB Michigan

39.  Oakland - Brian Price DT UCLA

40.  Seattle - Brandon Lafell WR LSU

41.  Buffalo - Corey Wooten DL Northwestern

 42.  New England (Jax) - Tim Tebow QB Florida:

in my opinion, if used correctly (Wildcat; UF's identical offense - which wont happen); Tebow could be one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL.  Forget about his motion.  Others have suceeded with similiar hitches.  He gets the ball from point A to point B relatively effiecient.  He's a good enough passer with enough passing skill to suceed.  His arm strength is underated.  The guy has a cannon.  Through Senior Bowl critcisms I noticed a lot of highlites of other players from the South squad...Tebow deep to Gresham...Tebow deep to McCluster - he has enough arm strength / touch....the guy has IT...His value comes from being a legitimate inbetween the tackles type of runner.  You have to account for him with an extra guy in the box - opens up the passing game.  And why not run the option more frequently?  It's what Miami thought Pat White was going to be but Miami's best play was faking the speed sweep and keeping it between the tackles- something Pat White does some of but Pat is more of a perimeter type of Wildcat QB.  I still give Pat White a chance but I wish the Dolphins hadn't taken him, because now there's no chance they'll get Tebow. 

43.  Miami - Donald Butler ILB Washington

44.  Tampa Bay (Chic) - Jahvid Bess RB Cal

45.  Denver -   Brandon Spikes ILB Florida

46.  NY Giants - Nate Allen S South Florida

47.  Carolina - Golden Tate WR Notre Dame

48.  New England (Ten) - Alex Carrington DL Arkansas St

49.  San Francisco - Ricky Sapp DE/OLB Clemson

50.  Kansas City (Atl) - Damian Williams WR USc

51.  Houston - Geno Atkins DT Georgia

52.  Pittsburgh - Rodger Stafford OG Indiana

53.  New England - Darryl Washington ILB TCU

54.  Cincinnati - Aaron Hernandez TE Florida

55.  Philadelphia - Morgan Burnett S Georgia Tech

56.  Green Bay - Donavan Warren CB Michigan

57.  Baltimore - Kareem Jackson CB Alabama

58.  Arizona - Jerry Hughes DE/OLB TCU

59.  Dallas - Major Wright S Florida

60.  San Diego - Arthur Jones DL Syracuse

61.  NY Jets - Demaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech

62.  Minnesota - Perrish Cox CB Oklahoma St

63.  Indianapolis - Cam Thomas DT North Carolina

64.  New Orleans - Greg Hardy DE Mississippi

Round 3

65.  St. Louis - Mardy Gilyard WR Cincinnati

66.  Detroit - Jared Veldheer OT Hillsdale

67.  Tamp Bay - Jason Worlids DE Virginia Tech

68.  Kansas City - Reshad Jones S Georgia

69.  Washington - Vladimir Ducasse OT Massachusetts

70.  Seattle - Larry Asante S Nebreska

71.  Cleveland - Ryan Matthews RB Fresno St

72.  Oakland - Sean Lee MLB Penn St

73.  Buffalo - Arrelious Benn WR Illinois

74.  Jacksonville - Myron Rolle S FSU

75.  Chicago - Eric Norwood DE South Carolina

76.  Miami - Matt Tennant C Boston College

77.  Tennesse - Amari Spivey CB Iowa

78.  Carolina - D'Anthony Smith DT Louisiana Tech

79.  San Francisco - Dominique Franks CB Oklahoma

80.  Denver - Brandon Ghee CB Wake Forest

81.  NY Giants - Pat Angerer MLB Iowa

82.  Pittsburgh - Mike Neal DL Purdue

83.  Atlanta - Jermaine Cunningham DE Atlanta

84.  Houston - Kam Chancellor S Virginia Tech

85.  New England - Ben Tate RB Auburn

86.  Cincinnati - Mike Williams WR Syracuse  Ocho Stinko, TO, and this guy...and Matt Jones...wow

87.  Philadelphia - Ed Dickson TE Oregon

88.  Green Bay - Dexter McCluster RB Mississippi

89.  Baltimore - Jordan Shipley WR Texas

90.  Arizona - Matt Tennant C Boston College

91.  Dallas - Linval Joseph DL East Carolina

92.  San Diego - Micah Johnson ILB Kentucky

93.  Philadelphia - Joe McNight RB USC

94.  Minnesota - Jevan Snead QB Mississippi

95.  Indianapolis - Jon Asamoah OG Illinois

96.  New Orleans - Rob Gronkowski TE Arizona

Round 4

97.  St. Louis - Thaddeus Gibson OLB Ohio St.

98.  Detroit - Jerome Murphy CB South Florida

99.  Tampa Bay - Jeremy Williams WR Tulane

100.  Kansas City - Anthony Dixon RB Mississippi St

101.  Washington - Montario Hardesty RB Tennesse

102.  Seattle - Mike Johnson OG Alabama

103.  Cleveland - Anthony McCoy TE USC

104.  Oakland - Taylor Price WR Ohio

105.  Buffalo - Jamar Chaney ILB Mississippi St

106.  Jacksonville - Toby Gerhart RB Stanford

107.  Chicago - John Jerry OL Mississippi

108.  Miami - Carlton Mitchell WR South Florida

109.  Tennesse - Dezmon Briscoe WR Kansas

110.  Carolina - Chris Cook CB Virginia

111.  San Francisco - Tyson Alualu DL Cal

112.  Denver - Torrell Troup DL UCF

113.  NY Giants - Lamar Houston DT Texas

114.  Pittsburgh - Michael Hoowanawani TE Illinois

115.  Atlanta - Shay Hodge WR Mississippi

116.  Houston - Zane Beadles OL Utah

117.  New England - Javier Arenas CB Alabama

118.  Cincinnati - Ronnie Curran OLB Georgia

119.  Philadelphia - Freddie Barnes WR Bowling Green

120.  Green Bay - O' Brien Schofield DE/OLB  Wisconsin

121.  Baltimore - Kion Wilson LB South Florida

122.  Arizona - Akwasi Owusu-Ansah CB Indiana (Pa)

123.  Dallas - Kyle Calloway OT Iowa

124.  San Diego - TJ Ward S Oregon

125.  Philadelphia - Mitch Petrus OG Arkansas

126.  Minnesota - Ciron Black OG/OT LSU

127.  Indianapolis - Kurt Coleman S Ohio St

128.  New Orleans - George Selvie DE South Florida

 

have at it...

1.  ILB.  Channing Crowder got his contract last year.  He follows that up with 53 tackles.  Not solo.  Combined.  He looked like a real LB this year for one game versus the Jets because he had to back up all that trash talking he was doing to Rex Ryan.  He exploded on their first running play into the backfield and it makes you wonder why he can't play like that every snap.  Torbor and Ayodele are backup types.  In a 3-4, you need more impact play from your linebackers.

2.  WR.  Ted Ginn is complimentary receiver right now.  He's not very good fighting for the ball in traffic and rarely comes up with the spectacular catch.  People need to stop expecting him to do things he will never do like being physical or getting tough yards after the catch.  He's best running vertical routes, then setting up DB's for the deep comeback.  Chad Henne should make Ginn a more productive WR but he's a #3 or a #2 at best.  Next year will be crucial for him.  Hartline, Camarillo and Bess seem like the same type of posession WR though Hartline gets underestimated and can find himself behind the secondary.  Bess is solid in the slot.  Last years 3rd round pick Patrick Turner never got on the field for a team needing receiver help and will need a good showing in OTA's and training camp and a willingness to play special teams (unlike Hartline).

3.  S.  I don't know what Parcells saw in Gibril Wilson.  The guy cannot make a play on the ball when it's in the air.  Yeremiah Bell is a better run defender than a pass defender, so when those two are your starting safeties you know you're in trouble as far as defending the pass.  Chris Clemmons got some playing time mid-season but the coaching staff went back to Wilson.  They should've just let the rookie play to see what they had in him.  He couldn't have performed much worse than Wilson. 

3B.  DE/OLB.  Joey Porter is washed up.  He only gets sacks versus the Buffalo Bills backup OT's or when a RB/TE is assigned to block him.  He gets shut down by everyone else.  His fire and determination are respected but the dropoff in production is noticeable.  Jason Taylor is a better overall player and a team leader willing to do anything to help the team but he has also lost a step when getting after the QB.  These two took significant playing time away from promising Cameron Wake who looked like the only pass rusher with any kind of explosion off the snap.  If Wake can improve other areas of his game, he's a lock to start at one spot next year.  I expect Taylor to return, but not Porter.

4.  NT.  We hear a lot how after Jason Ferguson went down, so did Miami's run defense.  I contend that had more to do with Miami's opponents and continued poor LB play.  Paul Soliai actually showed some flashes but needs to develop more consistency.  Soliai will definately return, though Ferguson's return has a lot to do with who they bring in via the draft/free agency. 

 

I could see Miami addressing any of these positions with their 1st round pick with the exception of WR.  I can't see Parcells passing on top defensive talent to pick a WR.  Rolando McClain has to be Miami's #1 target.   If he's there, I see Miami snagging him up.  Denver with the pick before Miami, or the Giants possibly trading in front of Miami are a concern.  Miami with so many holes to fill, are a longshot to trade away additional draft choices to move up to take McClain.  If he's gone, they could possibly target the top available pass rusher (ie: Sergio Kindle, Texas) or a NT (Cody, Alabama or Williams, Tennesse).  I don't see them taking Texas' Earl Thomas, as Miami seems to have size criteria for the safety position (they should make an exception with Thomas) and taking Taylor Mays would give them the same type of player they already have in Bell / Wilson though Mays is an exceptional talent.