SB Nation User Blog: DolphDallas

My thoughts on Kendall Langford

DolphDallas — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:28:25 -0000

I rewatched his nfl combine video. The guy moves like a linebacker.

He may be slow footed, but he seems like he has alot of athleticism.

draft analysis says he is really raw in terms of technique and I didn't hear

him tearing it up against rookies in the mini-camps and OTAs.

Maybe its his lack of technique and maybe the lack of pads.

I'm looking forward to hearing about him at training camp.

He can really fill up a stat sheet most notably in terms of blocked kicks

and returns for touchdowns.

Here are his stats at Hampton against admittedly low level competition, but it is nice to know that he did dominate at his level:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/kendall-langford?id=270

2004 4-3 DT/DE

44 tackles (15 solo), 4.5 sacks, 11.5 TFL, 7 QBP, 2 FF, 1 PD, 1 blocked kick,

1 fumble return TD (30 yd)

2005 4-3 LDE

65 tackles (31 solo), 4.5 sacks, 15.5 TFL, 12 QBP, 3 FF, 2 PD, 2 blocked kicks

2006 3-4 RDE

55 tackles (32 solo), 8 sacks, 15.5 TFL, 8 QBP, 2 FF, 1 PD, 1 blocked kick

2007 3-4 RDE

72 tackles (32 solo), 6 sacks, 13.5 TFL, 12 QBP, 2 FF, 1 PD, 1 blocked kick, 1 INT return TD

What are your thoughts on Kendall Langford?

Poll

Kendall Langford will become...

Thoughts on Phillip Merling...

DolphDallas — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:07:27 -0000

He finished 2007 with a flourish, registering 6 sacks in the final 6 games, including the bowl game against Auburn and including 2 sacks of $72 million Matt Ryan and BC. The only sack that he got in the first six games was a safety: tackling Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech in the end zone. Not sure why he couldn't get more sacks in the first 6 games (although when Georgia Tech attempts only 16 passes, not much you can do), especially against some smaller schools. Made a lot of clutch plays and plays behind the line of scrimmage.

If he stayed in school, most assuredly could have been drafted higher next year, the Clemson pass rush is much improved for 2008. Perhaps the Dolphins are fortunate to get him this year.

Poll

I see Phillip Merling as...

Way to Early Pre-Training Camp Final Roster Projection

DolphDallas — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:34:57 -0000

Way to Early Pre-Training Camp Final Roster Projection

Defense: 24
LDE Randy Starks; Kendall Langford; Matt Roth (Makes the roster, traded before Deadline)
NT Jason Ferguson; Paul Soliai; [Lionel Dotson (up from PS if Roth traded)]
RDE Vonnie Holliday; Phillip Merling
LOLB Joey Porter; Charlie Anderson;
LILB Reggie Torbor;
RILB Akin Ayodele; Channing Crowder
ROLB Jason Taylor; Quentin Moses
LC Will Allen; Michael Lehan;
RC Andre Goodman; Nate Jones; Will Billingsley;
SS Yeremiah Bell; Keith Davis;
FS Jason Allen; Renaldo Hill; Chris Crocker;

Offense: 26
LT Jake Long; Trey Darilek
LG Justin Smiley; Donald Thomas
C Samson Satele; Steve McKinney
RG Ike Ndukwe; Shawn Murphy;
RT Vernon Carey; Julius Wilson
TE Anthony Fasano; Sean Ryan
QB Josh McCown; John Beck; Chad Henne
RB Ricky Williams; Ronnie Brown; Jalen Parmele
FB Lex Hilliard; Boomer Grigsby
SE Ted Ginn; Jayson Foster; Davone Bess;
FL Ernest Wilford; Greg Camarillo; Derek Hagan

Specialists: 3
K Dan Carpenter
P Brandon Fields
LS John Denney

Thoughts anyone?

Poll

This projection is...

About Jalen Parmele...

DolphDallas — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:19:51 -0000

Jalen Parmele Stat Analysis

276-1511 5.5 14 TD

Parmele racked up his stats against weak competition. Ohio (38-241 2 TD), Buffalo (29-171 1 TD), Liberty (30-169 3 TD). The bigger schools that Toledo faced tended to load up against the run. Apparently, Toledo had a bad defense (especially against the run) and poor play from the Quarterback/Passing Offense, hey… sounds familiar.

Here’s how he did against the big boys and a comparison of another running back against the same team.

Purdue 24-93 1 TD (compare Mike Hart UM 21-102 2 TD)

Central Michigan 22-66 0 TD (Compare Brandon McAnderson [5-10 240 4.91] Kansas 16-110 0 TD)

Kansas 16-88 0 TD (Compare to Dantrell Savage Oklahoma St [5-8 187 4.53] 18-106 0 TD)

Iowa State 16-74 1 TD (Compare Jamal Charles Texas 7-44 1 TD, Brandon McAnderson 9-70 0TD)

Western Michigan 20-130 1 TD (Compare Steve Slaton WVU 16-109 3 TD)

Eastern Michigan 22-168 3 TD (Compare Mike Hart 22-215 3 TD)

His performances are rather comparable with more well known running backs whose teams had better O-Lines and/or more balanced attacks.

Conclusions: If Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown can stay healthy, the running game with an improved offensive line will be dominant, especially with a more efficient passing attack. If this is the case, then you will never hear from Jalen Parmele except on kickoffs and running out the clock when the game is in hand (I'm assuming he doesn't get cut like the second week of training camp). If he is called into heavier duty, I see a running back who could have a 1000 yard season, yet may never crack the 100 yard mark in any one game. Someone who will get you at least third and five after two carries even against teams with stout run defenses. Someone who will seldom get caught behind the line of scrimmage for a loss, yet will rarely have a run longer than 20 yards. I also see him winning one of the Kickoff Returner spots on the team. I think he'll have a long productive career as Ronnie Brown's backup.

Poll

What do you think of Jalen Parmele?

Possible JT trades

DolphDallas — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:24:30 -0000

Assuming JT survives the DTWS competition without injury, there are the following possible suitors and the reasons they would want him. Given the following offers, would you take the trade or just keep JT?

Philadelphia: Jason Taylor for Lito Shepherd CB 5-10 194. Dolphins need secondary help. Eagles pair JT with Trent Cole.

Jacksonville: Jason Taylor for (#52) Quentin Groves 6-3 254 OLB and (#159) Trae Williams 5-9 190 CB, Dolphins get a young pass rusher and secondary depth. Jacksonville pairs JT with Derrick Harvey.

Indianapolis: Jason Taylor for Robert Mathis DE/OLB 6-2 245 Colts can rely on JT while Freeney gets healthy. The combo of Freeney and Taylor would be worth the wait. Mathis gets overwhelmed size-wise as a 4-3 end. He might reach new heights as a 3-4 OLB

Dallas: Jason Taylor for Greg Ellis 6-6 255 and Marc Colombo 6-8 325 RT. Dallas has depth to allow JT time to transition to OLB. In the meantime, he terrorizes QB’s with Ware in the nickel defense 4-man front. Ellis is a better run-stopper and Colombo makes the OL veteran and dominant.

Green Bay: Jason Taylor for Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila 6-4 247 DE/OLB and Daryn Colledge 6-4 305 LG. KGB could flourish as a 3-4 OLB, Kampman and Taylor could kick butt together.

Poll

The best option is:

My Tentative 53 man Roster

DolphDallas — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:28:53 -0000

My Tentative 53 man Roster

DEFENSE (25)

LDE Phillip Merling; Rodrique Wright

NT Jason Ferguson; Randy Starks; Anthony Toribio

RDE Kendall Langford; Lionel Dotson

LOLB Joey Porter; Titus Brown

LILB Reggie Torbor; Channing Crowder

RILB Akin Ayodele; Charlie Anderson

ROLB Jason Taylor; Quentin Moses

LCB Will Allen; Nate Jones; Wil Billingsley

RCB Michael Lehan; Travis Daniels; Scorpio Babers

SS Yeremiah Bell; Keith Davis

FS Chris Crocker; Jason Allen

OFFENSE (25)

LT Jake Long; (veteran Tackle-training-camp-cut pick up)

LG Justin Smiley; Donald Thomas

C Samson Satele; Drew Mormino

RG Shawn Murphy; Julius Wilson RG/RT

RT Vernon Carey;

TE Anthony Fasano; Sean Ryan

QB Josh McCown; John Beck; Chad Henne

RB Ronnie Brown; Ricky Williams; Jalen Parmele

FB Lex Hilliard; Boomer Grigsby

SE Ted Ginn; Jayson Foster; Davone Bess

FL Ernest Wilford; Tab Perry; Greg Camarillo

SPECIALISTS (3)

K Dan Carpenter

P Brandon Fields

LS John Denny

PRACTICE SQUAD

Mike Byrne C

Ike Ndukwe G

Dan Gore T

Brady Poppinga LB

Matt Mulligan TE

Selwyn Lymon WR

Kory Robertson DT

Poll

Feeback:

Fun With Foster (Jayson)

DolphDallas — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:28:32 -0000

Fun with Jayson Foster stats

I really like everything I read and hear about this kid.

He is going to make his living in the NFL with his hands and his legs, but it is fun to look at his college QB stats (as well as watch his highlight reels).

He played WR as a freshman, catching 10-217 2 TDs, but also rushed for 164 yards on 26 carries & 4 TD including an 80-yarder. He threw one pass all year, a 54 yard TD.

He went back to WR as a Junior, catching 33-368 3 TD (including an 85 yard TD) and rushed for 364 yards on 43 carries.

He played QB as a Senior, but still managed to catch 6-65 with no TDs.

Even as a receiver, he had more rushes than receptions. Moral of the story: try to get the ball into Foster’s hands any way possible.

Rushing Stats to whet your appetite for what he can do with the ball in his hands:

First three games of 2007: 11-231 and 3 TD (including a 74 yarder), 28-253 6 TDs (yes that’s right, 6 TD including a 55 yarder), 26-210 3 TDs (including a 60 yarder). The second game corresponds to his worst passing stats 6-15 2 Ints, 0 TDs. If you are going to run for 253 and 6 TDs, you might as well just tuck and run.

After the first three games, there was a stretch of 3 games that were merely average:

Against Western Carolina, South Dakota State, and Elon College: 17-96 1 TD, 20-92 1 TD, 30-74 1 TD;

Observation: he definitely demonstrates some toughness running the ball, carrying 30 times in a game. It also looks like he is starting to develop as a Quarterback (remember he is switched back from WR)

Passing stats in those same three games: 17-20 120 1 Int, 0 TD, 10-10 147 1 TD, 23-31 225 1 TD 1 Int

He throws 3 TD and no interceptions in the remaining 6 games of the year.

Against a bad (2-9) Division I Colorado State team, he rushes for 27-295 3 TDs, so he can do it against the big boys albeit the mediocre ones.

One last interesting note: He rushed for 20-175 1 TD and threw 3-3 14 no TD in leading Georgia Southern to a 38-35 victory over Appalachian State, so although I hear that he doesn’t talk trash, he could tease Jake Long and Chad Henne that in 2007 he did what they couldn’t do.

IF I were Sparano, I would write beaucoup trick plays for Foster, practice them diligently (beware those pesky Patriot camcorders), and after intentionally making Foster a non-factor in the first two games, unleash Foster on the Patriots and go for broke in order to pull an upset in Foxboro in the third week. He just might be the difference maker against an aging defense.

2008 Schedule Analysis

DolphDallas — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:21:30 -0000

2008 Schedule Analysis:

The Trifecta has made it a point in acquisitions to stregthen the run defense and the offensive line (and running backs).

Running the Ball and Stopping the Run is a great strategy for any team in any year, but it is particularly effective against teams with weak QB play and/or inconsistent WR talent.

IF the Dolphins can consistently run the ball and stop the run, they can force the other team to have to rely on a shaky QB or a shaky passing attack.

Looking at our 2008 schedule:

San Francisco, Oakland, Baltimore, Kansas City, New York Jets (2), St Louis, Houston, Arizona:

(Lots of shaky QB's here, especially if Bulger, Shaub, and Leinhart are hurt AGAIN by then)

I see us maybe going 7-2 here.

Buffalo (2), Seattle, Denver, San Diego, New England (2):

Hopefully improved special teams can give us an edge we will desperately need.

I see maybe 2 wins here. 2-5

Lo and behold: 9-7 IF we improve enough to run effectively and stop the run.

How do you think we will do in 2008?

Poll

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K Dan Carpenter Stat Breakdown

DolphDallas — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:43:40 -0000

Carpenter had a pretty impressive 2007:

44-45 PAT 97.8%

19-23 FG 82.6%

5-5 from 20-29 yards (100%)

3-4 from 30-39 (75%)

8-11 from 40-49 (72.7%) Not bad for 40-49

3-3 from 50+ with a long of 54 (100%!)

Parcells/Sparano will not keep a Kick Off Specialist on the Roster.

My money says He beats out Jay Feeley.

Does anybody here remember the reasons why Feeley was brought in, other than the previous kicker was terrible?

Poll

Who wins the Kicker job?

Would you do this trade?

DolphDallas — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:42:37 -0000

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is looking for an elite receiver to team with Terrell Owens.

Would you trade Ted Ginn Jr., Jason Taylor, and Andre Goodman

to the Cowboys for

Terry Glenn, Isaiah Stanback (6-2 208 WR), Miles Austin (6-3 216 WR), Marc Colombo (6-8 325 RT), Greg Ellis (OLB), and Anthony Henry (CB 6-1 208)???

I believe that there is a considerable cap hit for trading Teddy Ginn, but there is some room under the cap for Miami if this is worth it.

At first, I think most would say,

"why trade away a young ultra fast elite receiver for old veterans from the Cowboys?",

but take a closer look and keep this in mind

RUN OFFENSE - RUN DEFENSE

The trade would give the Dolphins this OL:

LT Long, LG Smiley, C Satele, RG Carey (moved inside to guard), RT Colombo

Shawn Murphy has potential, but may need time to develop. This upgraded line on paper is already playoff caliber. Carey could develop into a Leonard Davis type mauler on the inside. Sparano is very familiar with this concept.

Greg Ellis is not the dynamic pass rusher that Taylor is, but he is a better run defender and a better fit than JT for the Parcells/Pasqualoni Hold Your Ground Read-React 3-4 defense.

Anthony Henry and Will Allen would give the team a tandem of solid run defending corners and buy time to develop any drafted or developmental CB's.

Terry Glenn is coming off a serious injury and has an unknown future, but he is a veteran receiver that Parcells trusts (and likes alot). He alone is not worth a Ted Ginn trade, but Stanback is an Ireland 4th round project (QB turned WR) who is big, fast, elusive, and flashes a good set of hands. He is also a kick returner with size, which Parcells prefers. Miles Austin would just be a special teams throw-in who has size and speed (along with unproven hands) and no character concerns like Kircus.

In Summary, lose a dynamic elite (but skinny) WR/PR and an underweight pass rusher extraordinaire and a backup veteran corner and gain a playoff caliber O-Line, a very physical run stuffing tandem of corners, and BIGGER Wide Receivers (who are not as fast as Ginn, but maybe more elusive/polished). I think Jerry Jones is desperate enough to make this trade to get a player like Ginn. They question is, would we be giving up too much?

Would you do this deal? Would Parcells?

Poll

SB Nation User Blog: DolphDallas

My thoughts on Kendall Langford

Kendall Langford will become...

Thoughts on Phillip Merling...

I see Phillip Merling as...

Way to Early Pre-Training Camp Final Roster Projection

This projection is...

About Jalen Parmele...

What do you think of Jalen Parmele?

Possible JT trades

The best option is:

My Tentative 53 man Roster

Feeback:

Fun With Foster (Jayson)

2008 Schedule Analysis

Rate this post:

K Dan Carpenter Stat Breakdown

Who wins the Kicker job?

Would you do this trade?

This trade is...