Around this time, every year,  people post their opinions on free agent signings right, left and center here on the Phinsider.  Which is a good thing, don't get me wrong.  But over the last two seasons since B.P. & Co. arrived, our big free agent signings have been busts, there's no other way to say it.  One might argue Pennington was our big free agent catch in 2008, and he turned out to be the greatest QB for this franchise since #13.  A true statement but Pennington didn't sign with the Dolphins at the beginning of free agency, in fact, he didn't sign until August after the Jests released him - five months after the start of free agency.  Who was our big catch that year at the beginning of free agency?  Ernest Wilford.  Yeah, the guy who ended the 2008 season with 3 catches despite not being injured.   Last years big catch?  Gibril Wilson, who was released today.  

My point?  Don't get too excited about "big" free agent signings, we're 0/2.  It would be great to have Dansby in aqua and orange, but the National Football Post thinks he depends a lot on the defensive scheme he plays in to be successful, so signing him to a contract with a lot of guaranteed money probably isn't wise.  I, for one, would be happy to see the Phins err on the side of caution when spending in free agency. 

Andrew Lawrence is the sportswriter for SI.com whose article you can find here: Dolphins in Training Camp

In the article he quotes Sparano as saying the Phins probably won't keep more than five recievers on the roster when they pare it down to 53.  That most likely is good news for Camarillo, Ginn, Bess, Hartline and Turner.  Bad news for everyone else including Phinsider favorite Brandon London.

He also notes that currently the Phins have 14 DB's on the roster and then goes on to highlight the struggles against the pass last year.  Yuk.

Have a good weekend.

It comes from SI.com; it was posted a couple of days ago but I didn't see linked here.

It's details the improvement in the  M's defense this season over last.

You can read it here.

After watching the M's toil under McLaren/Bavasi it's good to see a change for the better in leadership.

I haven't visited here since spring training, but I've gotta say I love this site.  You dudes crack me up and offer insightful analysis and opinions.  Good stuff.

Hey guys,

    I been lurking around here at the pit for a while but never contributed anything.   I found this story over at espn.com and thought I'd share with you fellow fans.

Here's the link

It's not a write up about the players or the farm system or anything like that, it's just a story about the organization helping out the fans in tough times.

Nothing Earth shattering, but a good story.

Dolphin Draft Needs by Pete Prisco

What sets this article apart from the rest?  A handy little bar graph displaying the Fins biggest draft needs.

I like Pete, I think he's a good sports writer, and he thinks the Fins will be serious competitors in 2010 if Tuna and Tuna Helpers draft well and fill biggest areas of need.

I was surprised that Pete listed TE as an area of need.  Which I disagree with because I don't think TE is a position of need at all.  I don't think Fasano is an elite TE, but he's a good one and I think our picks could be better spent in other areas.

What do you guys think?

Jets get Sheppard

Not really anything Earth shattering, but I think he's a decent player the Jets got pretty cheap.   The Jets only surrendered a mid round pick this year and a conditional next year to the Eagles.

I hate the Jets, so when they get fleeced, I'm pretty happy.  When they made a decent or good trade, I get pretty pissed.  I'm not happy at the moment. 

But on the upside, they can spend all the money they want on D, they have no one to play Quaterback.  Why?  Oh yeah, because he plays for us and he lead the Fins to victory and to the playoffs on the Jets home turf.  HA HA.

I've been looking at different draft rankings and mock drafts at various sites and it seems like there is a pretty precipitous drop off in talent/physical ability around the 16th slot.  Of course there is a lot of time between now and April and some players stock always rises and falls so the list of the best 15 players isn't going to be the same in April as it is now.  But I just don't see there being a player there at 25, that projects to be a great starter in the NFL.  Someone would have to slip or the Fins would have to find a sleeper. 

It's possible someone could slip, it seems to happen every year, but I just don't see an immediate difference maker for our team (someone like Raji) being around at 25.  I think we'd get much more value out of this draft by trading out of the first round and picking up something like an extra 2 and 4.  By doing this the Fins could still address many of the team needs like a center, none of which were projected to go in the first round anyway. 

The worst thing a team can do in the draft is reach, and I think that's what we'd be doing at 25.  I say trade down.

What do you think?

Here's the story From S.I.

I don't know what to think of this.  After playing them twice this year, the Jets had to love the way the Raven's D played against the Phins, which I'm sure was a big part of why they waited so long to name a head coach - to choose him. 

Lets hope he turns out to be the same kind of head coach as his counterpart in Baltimore (who shall go nameless) - good coordinator, lousy head coach.

Here's an article from the front page of si.com:  read it here

For those of you who have A.D.D., I'll sum up the highlights. 

Byrne says the true measure of a teams passing attack is their yards per attempt average because it takes into account things like yards lost from a sack and incompletions.  Last year the Fins averaged 5.05 yards per attempt, bad enough for 31st in the league.  This year, the Fins average 7.65 yards per attempt, good enough for third best in the NFL. 

How good is that?  Last years epic Patriots passing attack averaged 7.79 yards per attempt.  We're only a measly eighth of a yard per pass attempt off of that team.  Meanwhile the Jets average 5.88 yards per attempt and rank 20th in the league.  Funny how one teams castoff is our treasure.

The best part?  Our next two games are against the Broncos (31st in pass defense) and the Seahawks (29th in pass defense).  We also have the Rams, 49ers, and Chiefs coming, which should also be a good chance to pad the passing stats and win total.

 I really like Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback articles he writes for si.com.  In the opening paragraph of this weeks installment, he talks about a probable lockout in 2011, if a new labor agreement isn't reached with the players at the end of next year.

I hate the idea of a lockout, and I don't like the idea of not having a salary cap.  I don't think any of us want a lockout for obvious reasons, less clear is the issue of a salary cap.  I don't know how profitable the Dolphins are compared to other franchises, or even if future ownership would be willing pay a premium price for premium players.

But one thing I do know is that 2011 will be the start of the prime years for this franchise to make a deep run in the playoffs.  The draft this year and the next two drafts will be the base of this team for our best shot at a Super Bowl title.

So what do you guys think, does not having a salary cap benefit the Dolphins?  If there's a lockout in 2011, how much does it set back the development of draft picks and future draft picks? 

Cheers.

I used to do reconnaissance in the military, so here's my report from Saints v. Cardinals game.  You can't read much into the first preseason game, but here's what I saw:

The Saints 1st team dominated the Cardinals 1st team.  The Saints 2nd team dominated the Cardinals 2nd team.  The Saints 3rd team dominated the Cardinals 3rd team.

The Cardinals pass defense was terrible, Brees ripped off chunks of the field here and there like nothing.  The Saints running game could never get going against the Cardinals D-line, though.  Ricky and Ronnie will have to earn every yard the hard way, inch by inch.  That's the bad news, the good news is whomever the week 2 starter at QB is, could have a 300+ yard day passing.

The Cardinals have a good passing game, and I didn't even see Boldin or Fitzgerald in the game.  However, their running game was awful.  Our D-Line should be able to close down the running game, but they are going to have to get pressure on Leinert otherwise it'll be a long day for our defensive backs.

This team will be very beatable on week 2. 

Now my idea portion of this post.  I think we should set up a fund, and donate 2,3,4 or 5 dollars each for a thephinsider.com flag with the Dolphins logo.  We'll donate to Matty or whomever, and it will be our goal, as a collective forum, to fly this flag at every stadium in the NFL.  We'll post pictures of our flag flying along the side of the front page of the forum.  What say you all?  If we can get it together by week 2, I'll fly it at Cardinal stadium and post pics. 

P.S.  Anyone coming out here for this game?

Trivia questions about some former Dolphins.  Some of you cough*MattyI*cough might get these pretty easily.  I put them in order of easiest to most difficult.  After a few days I'll post the results if no one gets them.

Player 1
1.  I played with the Dolphins from 1983 – 1992.
2.  I was a favorite target of #13
3.  I made the Pro Bowl five times

Player 2
1.  I played for the Dolphins from 1982 -1992
2.  In 1994, I played for the Miami Hooters
3.  I played at Northwestern State University
4.  I was drafted in the 2nd round.
5.  My number was 85

Player 3
1.  I caught passes from both #12 and #13
2.  I played at the University of Florida
3.  In college I was a RB
4.  I’m famous for the “Helicopter Catch” against the Jets. 
5.  I made one Pro Bowl

Player 4
1.  I also played for the Dolphins/Hooters
2.  I played WR, RB, TE, and QB.
3.  I wore #11 because I was drafted as a QB in the 11th round
4.  My nickname is “Crash”
5.  I played 12 years from 1981 - 1992

I'm curious who you guys think in the Trifecta of Bill, Jeff and Tony played the biggest part in selecting Jake Long and why they selected him specifically.  

There is a number of good O linemen in this draft, do you believe that they think he is that much better, or maybe they want to run the ball a lot more than in the past, or another reason....

I was pumped to watch last years draft.  But after the first hour and only being on selection #5, I figured I stick around to see who the Fins picked at #9.  Another hour later, Dolphins picked Ted Ginn (and his family).  Don't lie, I know everyone here was thinking the same thing I was at that moment, we all were.  So here's my question, what are you all planning to do and how closely are you going to watch draft day?