SBNation.com User Blog: Keith Beebe

Dolphins sign third-round CB Will Davis

Keith Beebe — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:40:02 -0000

He wears No. 29, and he's officially a Miami Dolphin as of today.

The Dolphins and Will Davis, their third-round selection out of Utah State, this afternoon reached an agreement on four-year deal worth somewhere in the vicinity of $2.7 million. The deal will include a signing bonus of about $520,000.

Davis, at 5-foot-11, 186, is an aggressive cornerback prospect with the agility and sharp instincts to handle the perimeter in Kevin Coyle's defensive scheme. Davis may be a work in progress in terms of man-coverage ability and overall ball skills, but he has the heavy hands and closing burst to project as an excellent zone-based defender in the NFL.

Davis was one of two cornerbacks selected by the Dolphins in the 2013 NFL Draft (the team selected Boise State's Jamar Taylor in the second round). Miami's two remaining unsigned rookies are defensive end Dion Jordan, the No. 3 overall selection in 2013, and guard Dallas Thomas, a third-round selection out of Tennessee.

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Chad Johnson heading to jail for butt slap

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Report: Tim Tebow to sign with Patriots

Dolphins Minicamp starting tomorrow

You can redesign NFL Playoffs. What would you do?

2014 Big Board

Keith Beebe — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:11:32 -0000

Below is a preliminary ranking of 10 draft-eligible prospects who are best suited to put on the aqua and orange come draft night 2014. Is this a super-early big board? Of course it is. But we're officially in the grasp of the offseason doldrums, so anything goes. Enjoy, and keep in mind that, as of right now, the Dolphins' biggest needs next offseason should be defensive tackle, safety, offensive line depth (you can never have enough of it) and maybe tight end. Scratch the final item off that list if Dion Sims gets nasty this season.

Without further ado ...

1. Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M

Those of you who are saying, "Hey, offensive tackle wasn't on the potential needs list" are correct. However, Matthews is a slam-dunk prospect in the zone-blocking scheme, so he'll have a place on this list until we know for certain that Jonathan Martin is the wave of the future as Miami's left tackle (for what it's worth, I believe he's the real deal).

2. Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame

Nix would be an ideal replacement for defensive tackle Paul Soliai, as he pairs two-gap-clogger size with underrated ability as a pass-rusher. Very quick off the line, too.

3. Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State

Jernigan will have Miami's attention next offseason if Randy Starks flies the coop. The Seminole product is a classic 3-technique with a lightning first step, and he tends to get very comfortable in opposing backfields. Surprisingly effective as a pursuit defender, too.

4. Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, S Alabama

I am far more comfortable drafting safeties than corners out of Alabama, and Clinton-Dix is a young ballhawk who reads the game well and flashes outstanding instincts for the position.

5. Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson

The Dolphins' didn't land their initial man in Tavon Austin, but they can certainly make up for that with a big-play talent like Watkins. Questions about character and durability remain, but there's no debating that Watkins is a rare offensive sparkplug with loads of upside.

6. Daniel McCullers, DT Tennessee

Why? Because he's a 6-foot-8, 380-pound defensive tackle, and I want to watch him eat Steven Ridley and Tom Brady on the same play.

7. De'Anthony Thomas, RB Oregon

Why not make it consecutive years in which the Dolphins tap the University of Oregon in the first round? Thomas is a more explosive version of Watkins, with rare speed and rarer wiggle ability. Give him an inch and he'll take it to the house--just ask the Wisconsin Badgers, who Thomas vaporized in the 2012 Rose Bowl.

8. David Yankey, OT/G Stanford

A do-it-all offensive lineman makes tons of sense for a Dolphins coaching staff that clearly covets do-it-all players. Yankey projects as a guard in the NFL, but he's strong and nimble enough to work the right edge, too.

9. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE Washington

A man among boys when it comes to the tight end position, but can he behave himself on a consistent basis? We'll see. Still, Seferian-Jenkins is built like a tank and has elite-level ball skills. Not a burner in the open field, but extremely difficult to bring down nonetheless.

10. Anthony Johnson, DT LSU

One of the most nimble defensive tackle prospects in next year's class.

Beebe 2014 NFL mock draft

Keith Beebe — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:32:11 -0000

How about that 2013 NFL Draft, huh? Just when you thought Jeff Ireland had traded up for a left tackle, he goes all Network on the Dolphins fanbase and selects Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan. NFL Network loved the pick. I loved the pick. Jon Gruden didn't love the pick, and reacted to it as if a Nazi propaganda film had just been thrown up on the Radio City big screen. Like Gruden's opinion matters, though. He's the CEO of the Fired Football Coaches of America for a reason.

I don't think it's hyperbole to say that the Jordan selection was among the most epic draft picks in Dolphins history. Few people (myself included) actually thought Miami had a prayer of drafting Jordan. And if not for the Raiders' decision to say, "Screw it, let's take what we can get and allow the Dolphins to pants us," the Oregon speed-rush extraordinaire wouldn't be a Dolphin; he'd be playing for his college coach in Philadelphia, or gutting it out with the Utah Lions, or serving as the centerpiece of Cleveland's infantile 3-4 defensive scheme. When Jordan says he feels like he was drafted by the right team, he means it. No team drafting in the top 11 this year could've provided him with the kind of potential success and longevity that Miami currently offers. In fact, you can make the case that Kevin Coyle's goal to mold this defense into a premier attacking, speed-oriented unit was realized when the team turned in its No. 3 overall card on Thursday night. The Dolphins are now a team that can get after you with anyone in their front seven ... and they will get after you.

Which brings us to the 2014 NFL Draft, just 360 days from now. Believe it or not, the Dolphins do not have a glaring need or weakness when April 2014 rolls around; rather, the team can draft BPA throughout, while adding depth in the trenches. This is all great news if you're trying to line up a few Super Bowl runs, and I believe the Dolphins will be poised to do just that within the next two years.

In the meantime, here's a super-early look at how the first round of 2014's NFL Draft could shake out:

1	Oakland Raiders	Jadaveon Clowney	DE	South Carolina
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Teddy Bridgewater	QB	Louisville
3	New York Jets	David Fales	QB	San Jose State
4	San Diego Chargers	Taylor Lewan	OT	Michigan
5	Dallas Cowboys	Johnny Manziel	QB	Texas A&M
6	Carolina Panthers	Marqise Lee	WR	USC
7	Buffalo Bills	Stephon Tuitt	DE	Notre Dame
8	Cleveland Browns	Anthony Barr	DE/OLB	UCLA
9	Detroit Lions	Jake Matthews	OT	Texas A&M
10	Arizona Cardinals	Cassius Marsh	DT	UCLA
11	Philadelphia Eagles	Bradley Roby	CB	Ohio State
12	Tennessee Titans	Tajh Boyd	QB	Clemson
13	Minnesota Vikings	C.J. Mosley	ILB	Alabama
14	Kansas City Chiefs	Loucheiz Purifoy	CB	Florida
15	Baltimore Ravens	Sammy Watkins	WR	Clemson
16	New Orleans Saints	Cyrus Kouandijo	OT	Alabama
17	Washington Redskins	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TE	Washington
18	Indianapolis Colts	Kyle Van Noy	DE/OLB	BYU
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Trent Murphy	DE	Stanford
20	St. Louis Rams	David Yankey	OT/G	Stanford
21	Pittsburgh Steelers	Deshazor Everett	CB	Texas A&M
22	Chicago Bears	Aaron Lynch	DE	South Florida
23	Cincinnati Bengals	Marcus Roberson	CB	Florida
24	New York Giants	Scott Crichton	DE	Oregon State
25	Miami Dolphins	Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix	S	Alabama
26	Atlanta Falcons	Ryan Shazier	ILB/OLB	Ohio State
27	Houston Texans	Logan Thomas	QB	Virginia Tech
28	Green Bay Packers	Chaz Green	OT	Florida
29	New England Patriots	Louis Nix	DT	Notre Dame
30	San Francisco 49ers	Anthony Johnson	DT	LSU
31	Denver Broncos	Ifo Ekpre-Olomu	CB	Oregon
32	Seattle Seahawks	Cyril Richardson	OT/G	Baylor

Davone Bess to Browns

Keith Beebe — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:09:12 -0000

Davone Bess to Browns

It's official--Davone Bess to Cleveland. Compensation terms not yet disclosed.

The Day After: 2013 Big Board redux

Keith Beebe — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:36:15 -0000

Before we take a look at the top prospects available in rounds two and three of tonight's NFL Draft, I'd like to take a second and point this out. Oh, and this. Unfortunately, Jordan's berzerk Combine performance last February left many--myself included--with the feeling that the Oregon pass-rush extraordinaire wouldn't get out of the draft's first three picks. Turns out we were right--we just didn't know it would be the Dolphins taking Jordan at No. 3 overall.

Hindsight's 20/20, and Jeff Ireland's decision to trade up looks even better considering the way the top 11 shook out. Six offensive linemen, two pass-rushers (not including Jordan), the top cornerback prospect (Dee Milliner) and top wide receiver prospect (Tavon Austin) were all off the board by the 12th selection, and Miami would've sat in virtual no man's land had they stayed put at its initial draft spot. Rather, Ireland traded up nine spots via trading Oakland the No. 42 selection, and, well, here we are--a 6-foot-6 speed-rush juggernaut in tow for the Dolphins.

That was some craziness last night, no doubt, but I get the impression Ireland and Co. aren't through with the high-flying draft moves. Here's my list of the top seven targets for Miami in rounds two and three:

1. Menelik Watson, OT Florida State

A Great Britain-born tackle blessed with outstanding size, 34-inch arms and considerable upper-body strength. Watson is extremely raw (he has just two years of football experience--one at JUCO; one at FSU) and will need some technical refinement in the pros, but he's an incredible athlete and a fierce competitor who fits best at right tackle. Watson may also have the best initial punch of any tackle in this year's class. Think his boxing background has something to do with that?

2. Terron Armstead, OT Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Armstead sure turned a lot of heads when he blazed an official 4.71 40-yard dash at the Combine, but the really cool thing is that Armstead's timed speed didn't simply prop up his draft stock. Rather, it put the spotlight on an offensive tackle who put together some damn good tape while at Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Armstead's upper-body strength, arm length (34 inches) and footwork are all very good, and qualify him as candidate to play the right side in a zone-blocking scheme. He's not without some warts, however, and will need to reinforce his lower base and develop more of an initial punch if he wants to thrive at the NFL level. Still, his athleticism is undeniable, and if you thought Jonathan Cooper and Lane Johnson were quick to reach second-level defenders, wait till you see Armstead get out and run. He's like a truck with a 427 block under the hood.

3. Darius Slay, CB Mississippi State

Oddly enough, the prospect who best fits what the Dolphins are looking for at the cornerback position is currently viewed as a late-second-round pick: Darius Slay, whose semi-ambiguous draft stock is likely due to the fact that he played under the shadow of fellow corner Johnathan Banks at Mississippi State. It's been a case of role reversal for the two this spring, however, as Slay has dominated pre-draft workouts while Banks' testing has been mediocre at best. Slay is a big, aggressive corner with very good awareness and rare timed speed (4.36 40-yard dash at the Combine), and he's displayed improved footwork and change-of-direction skills this spring. Arguably the best zone-corner prospect available next weekend, and he's still developing as a ball hawk and run defender.

4. John Cyprien, S Florida International

This year's race for top overall safety was supposed to be between Texas' Kenny Vaccaro and LSU's Eric Reid. And then Florida International's John Cyprien showed up to the Senior Bowl in January and put up a phenomenal week of practice that landed him in the conversation to be the first safety selected this spring. Cyprien, simply put, is a hammer on legs--a bullish in-the-box defender who can blitz effectively and smash the run. He's still developing his man coverage skills, but Cyprien's ultra-physical style of play bears a strong resemblance to Troy Polamalu in his prime.

5. Gavin Escobar TE San Diego State

The former Aztec is a fantastic red zone threat, and displays the ability to box out lengthy defenders in jump-ball situations. Where Escobar loses points, though, is in the blocking game. In-line work shouldn't be much of a struggle for a player of Escobar's size, but he often lets assignments get outside of his frame, and he doesn't consistently sustain blocks, either. There is upside in the in-line department, however, but blocking is currently one of the chief hang-ups separating Escobar from the top names in this year's tight end class.

6. Robert Alford, CB Southeastern Louisiana

We keep hearing that the Dolphins might address cornerback in the second round of this draft, and it's players like Alford who are fueling such rumors. A perimeter defender who pairs balance and fluidity with great speed and strength, Alford has been one of the biggest risers during this pre-draft season. He's an aware, explosive defender who flashes plenty of grit and tenacity despite his average frame, and he has some of the best closing speed and ball skills of any corner in this year's class. A natural zone defender, but he has the loose hips to match-up well in man coverage.

7. Brennan Williams, OT North Carolina

Perhaps the great undiscovered talent in this year's offensive tackle class, Williams is a burly right-side prospect with long arms (34 inches) and quick feet, and he'll be a valid option for the Dolphins if they A) don't trade for Albert, and B) decide that Jonathan Martin is their guy at left tackle. Williams could use some refining in terms of hand placement and riding speed rushers past the pocket, but he sets quickly, has the base to nullify power rush moves, and will flatten any second-level defender in his path. He doesn't have near the athleticism of Johnson, Armstead or even Watson, but Williams is nimble enough to make it work, and he's also one of the more devastating run blockers available this spring.

Beebe final 2013 NFL mock draft

Keith Beebe — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 03:27:57 -0000

To say that the month of March was a thrilling one for Dolphins fans would be a severe understatement, but to suggest that the team's work is done would be missing the big picture. Miami still requires further talent in the secondary, on the offensive line and at tight end and receiver (maybe), but it's clear that this is a squad ready to strike fast and strike hard next season. If you're a fan, you like what you see going on in Miami, but you also need the Dolphins to put a nice, tidy bow on the offseason by bringing in multiple contributors via the draft.

Speaking of the draft, the Dolphins are poised to select seven times within the first five rounds (one 1, two 2s, two 3s, a 4 and two 5s). And given that the offensive line and cornerback classes are arguably the two strongest groups available this spring, Miami can afford to get aggressive and swing for the fences with its No. 12 overall selection. Will that happen, though? Maybe. Let's take a look at how the first round of this year's draft could shape up.

Round 1:

1	Kansas City Chiefs	Eric Fisher	OT	6'7"	306	Central Michigan
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Ezekiel Ansah	DE	6'5"	271	BYU
3	Oakland Raiders	Sharrif Floyd	DT	6'2"	297	Florida
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Lane Johnson	OT	6'6"	303	Oklahoma
5	Detroit Lions	Luke Joeckel	OT	6'6"	306	Texas A&M
6	Cleveland Browns	Dion Jordan	DE	6'6"	248	Oregon
7	Arizona Cardinals	Jonathan Cooper	G	6'2"	311	North Carolina
8	Buffalo Bills	Ryan Nassib	QB	6'2"	227	Syracuse
9	New York Jets	Barkevious Mingo	DE	6'4"	242	LSU
10	Tennessee Titans	DeMarcus Milliner	CB	6'0"	201	Alabama
11	San Diego Chargers	Chance Warmack	G	6'2"	314	Alabama
12	Miami Dolphins	Tyler Eifert	TE	6'5"	251	Notre Dame
13	New York Jets(from Tampa Bay Buccaneers)	Tavon Austin	WR	5'8"	174	West Virginia
14	Carolina Panthers	Star Lotulelei	DT	6'2"	311	Utah
15	New Orleans Saints	D.J. Fluker	OT	6'5"	339	Alabama
16	St. Louis Rams	Kenny Vaccaro	FS	6'0"	214	Texas
17	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jarvis Jones	OLB	6'2"	245	Georgia
18	Dallas Cowboys	Sylvester Williams	DT	6'3"	313	North Carolina
19	New York Giants	Desmond Trufant	CB	5'11"	190	Washington
20	Chicago Bears	Arthur Brown	ILB	6'0"	241	Kansas State
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Eric Reid	FS	6'1"	213	LSU
22	St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins)	Justin Hunter	WR	6'4"	196	Tennessee
23	Minnesota Vikings	Manti Te'o	ILB	6'2"	241	Notre Dame
24	Indianapolis Colts	Xavier Rhodes	CB	6'1"	210	Florida State
25	Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle Seahawks)	Cordarrelle Patterson	WR	6'1"	216	Tennessee
26	Green Bay Packers	Justin Pugh	OT/G	6'4"	307	Syracuse
27	Houston Texans	DeAndre Hopkins	WR	6'1"	214	Clemson
28	Denver Broncos	Jamar Taylor	CB	5'11"	192	Boise State
29	New England Patriots	D.J. Hayden	CB	5'11"	192	Houston
30	Atlanta Falcons	Bjoern Werner	DE	6'3"	265	Florida State
31	San Francisco 49ers	Jonathan Cyprien	S	6'0"	217	Florida International
32	Baltimore Ravens	Matt Elam	S	5'10"	208	Florida

Best/worst draft selections in Miami Dolphins history

Keith Beebe — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:33:04 -0000

We're about a day and a half away from the 2013 NFL Draft, which means we're in the midst of thick smokescreens, rampant over-analysis from the football media, and the sheer madness that comes with trying to suss out and identify the prospects the Dolphins will target beginning Thursday night. Why do we look forward to this time of year again? Oh, right--it's thrilling; perhaps even intoxicating to some of you. That's all well and good, but I like to temper my draft analysis with an occasional look at past Dolphins selections--sometimes for encouragement, other times because I just want to feel something ... even if it's pain.

Simply put, referencing past drafts allows me to get away from the draft crazy, even for a short time. And it also helps me keep everything in perspective. You think this year's draft class lacks star power and is essentially a crap shoot? Go look up how the first round of the 2006 draft played out. If the sight of Vince Young, A.J. Hawk, Michael Huff, Ernie Sims and Matt Leinart in the top 10 picks of a single draft doesn't make you feel better about this year's class, seek medical attention immediately. Your heart has stopped.

Of course, ruminating past drafts is far from a painless endeavor, especially if your favorite team happens to wear aqua and orange. For every great draft selection the Dolphins have made during their 47-year history, there are two draft picks we, as fans, wish they hadn't made. Honestly, if given the choice to either watch the team's selection of Ted Ginn Jr. in 2007, or witness the clubbing of a baby seal, I might choose the seal (and I love animals).

Nevertheless, when it comes to analyzing NFL draft history, no pain, no gain. That's why the following list will include the best and draft selections in team history. And no, I won't be gentle.

Also, why a list of seven best and worst picks? Why not 10? Glad you asked. I originally wanted to do five each, but soon discovered that I needed seven spots to include all of the players who I felt belonged on the best-of list. Got it?

Let's kick things off with a little bit of the obvious ...

The seven greatest draft selections in Miami Dolphins history

1) Dan Marino, QB Pittsburgh (first round, 27th overall, 1983)

There's an old adage that says a truly great quarterback selection will change the entire course of a franchise. Peyton Manning did it for the Colts in 1998. Dan Marino did it for the Dolphins 15 years earlier. But while Manning was a No. 1 overall pick, Marino was selected by the Dolphins with the second-to-last pick in the first round of the 1983 draft. Discussion about why Marino fell to No. 27 overall continues to this day, and the theories are wide-ranging: some think the allegation that Marino used cocaine at Pitt fueled his draft slide; others believe there was significant doubt that Marino had the mind to play quarterback at the NFL level. Regardless of what cause Marino's draft stock to tumble, one thing is certain: he made the rest of the league pay, and in a hurry. Suddenly, the once-plodding Dolphins were an offensive juggernaut, capable of smoking the scoreboard every time they stepped on the field. And it was No. 13 leading the way, rifling throws downfield with uncanny accuracy, and boasting a quick release that simply put the rest of the NFL world on its ear.

Marino was like the Steven Spielberg of quarterbacks--anything that was thought to be impossible, he did. And in 1984, Marino existed on a different plane from the rest of the NFL, blasting the record book to bits with a 48 touchdown, 5,084 yards passing performance that, when compared to today's league rules, should stand as the greatest season a quarterback has ever played. To this day, no quarterback has matched Marino's release speed or his ability to throw downfield with the perfect mix of ferocity and grace. He remains the greatest Dolphin of all time, and that's why he's tops on this list. Any questions?

2) Larry Csonka, FB Syracuse (first round, eighth overall, 1968)

Csonka was the quintessential battering ram for an offense that prided itself on stamina, physicality and sheer power, and it's impossible to imagine the Dolphins winning (or even getting to) Super Bowl VII and VIII without his vast contributions. Boasting incredible size (6-foot-3, 237) and a degree of toughness that was, by the account of several former Miami players, incredibly infectious, Csonka was the engine that made the Dolphins' offense go. Quarterback Bob Griese threw the ball just seven times in Miami's victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII. Csonka's stat line that afternoon? Thirty-three carries, 145 yards rushing. Minnesota simply had no answer for No. 39 in aqua during that game. Come to think of it, few teams had an answer for Csonka during the peak of his career.

A no-nonsense bulldozer who was arguably the toughest player during what many consider to be the league's most brutal era, Csonka is perhaps the best pure fullback to ever play the game.

3) Dwight Stephenson, C Alabama (second round, 48th overall, 1980)

When Bear Bryant calls you the best player he's ever coached, regardless of position, you are something special. That was the case with Dwight Stephenson, and he absolutely lived up to the hype during his all-too-brief stay in Miami (thanks to a knee injury he suffered during his eight season). Stephenson was a prototype talent at the center position--tough and nasty, yet incredibly skilled and graceful. And he anchored a Dolphins offensive line that was as a dominant a pass-protection unit as there was in the 1980s. We always hear about defensive linemen who can absorb multiple blocks. Well, Stephenson routinely absorbed multiple defenders and kept the pocket in spotless shape. Others may argue, but I believe Stephenson was, pound for pound, the best center to ever play the game.

4) Jason Taylor, DE Akron (third round, 73rd overall, 1997)

Who knew that a lanky, underweight pass-rusher from Akron would become the best defensive end in Dolphins history? Taylor was an animal from the word "go," and terrorized quarterbacks with his blend of speed, bend and vastly underrated upper-body strength. JT was equally adept at going through or around opposing tackles, and he was a master of the stripping the quarterback of the ball while bringing him down with one arm. How good was Taylor? Tom Brady and his five layers of Visa protection in 2008 reportedly "cracked beers" after learning that Bill Parcells traded Taylor to the Washington Redskins. Now that's respect ... and another reason to hate Parcells. Moving along ...

5) Richmond Webb, OT Texas A&M (first round, ninth overall, 1990)

By the late 1980s, the great pass protection Dan Marino enjoyed through the early part of his career had begun to fall apart. A fix was needed, and the Dolphins found it in the form of long-limbed Texas A&M tackle Richmond Webb via the ninth pick of the 1990 draft. Webb was a powerhouse from the word "go," and he flat-out frustrated and nullified Bills all-world defensive end Bruce Smith during a game late in the '90 season. Webb would go on to become not only Marino's on-field bodyguard, but also the greatest left tackle in Dolphins history. And his initial punch and ability to ride pass-rushers past the pocket remain the stuff of legend in Miami.

6) Zach Thomas, MLB Texas Tech (fifth round, 154th overall, 1996)

To say that Thomas' professional football career started with a bang would be a gross understatement—all he did in his 1996 Dolphins debut was post nine tackles and a sack, single-handedly dismantling a New England Patriots offense that went on to make a Super Bowl appearance that season. Undersized and undervalued as a middle linebacker coming out Texas Tech, Thomas proved to be a pure wrecking ball in the NFL, combining top-notch instincts with an almost unheard-of level of tenacity and grit. He was a ferocious hitter, as well, and finished off ballcarriers with ease. Yet it was his leadership, drive and consistency that made him such a great, beloved player for the Dolphins. Living proof that you don't have to be athletically gifted to be a great football player.

7) Bob Griese, QB Purdue (first round, 4th overall, 1967)

Bob Griese might not have had to carry the Dolphins' offense the way Joe Namath carried the Jets', but no one will debate the fact that Griese was a prototypical leader and signal-caller when he was selected out of Purdue 46 years ago. Big, strong, smart and tough as nails, Griese's pocket presence was phenomenal, and he had the arm strength to take advantage of wide receiver Paul Warfield's ability to stretch the field. Griese's long absence during the '72 season (due to a lower leg injury), and the fact that he threw a combined 13 passes during the '73 AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl VIII, are why he's just No. 7 on this list. However, make no mistake that, while the running game and offensive line were the heart of Miami's offense, Griese was its brain.

And now for the not-so-pleasant material ...

The seven worst draft selections in Miami Dolphins history

1) Eric Kumerow, DE/OLB Ohio State (first round, 16th overall, 1988)

NFL.com recently published a Dolphins best/worst draft selection, and had Kumerow and John Bosa tied for the top spot. I get that line of thinking, but while Bosa was indeed a colossal waste of a pick, Kumerow was the more fatal selection. Why? Because the Dolphins drafted him over Oklahoma State running back Thurman Thomas. Can you even imagine what it would've been like for the Dolphins to have Thomas in its backfield during the '90s? Marino would be sporting more rings than Lil' Wayne. Alas, Miami did what they were really good at doing during the mid-to-late 1980s—they selected a player who played longer in college than in the pros. Kumerow was a mammoth (6-foot-7, 265) prospect in 1988, and he certainly looked the part of a bullish pass-rusher. Still, Thurman Thomas ...

The Kumerow selection was, of course, the second of consecutive No. 16 picks the Dolphins blew on a less-than-marginal talent ...

2) John Bosa, DT Boston College (first round, 16th overall, 1987)

... And here's the first of those No. 16 picks. Unlike Kumerow, Bosa's draft class was nothing to write home about. Still, that doesn't excuse the Dolphins for wasting the No. 16 pick on a guy who was out of the league after two seasons. On the field, Bosa was a hot mess from the start, and it got progressively worse for the former Boston College defensive tackle. He did accumulate seven sacks over three years, but that's about it.

(Side note: In my hometown of St. Charles, Ill. is a donut shop called "BoSa Donuts." As a child, I wondered if BoSA Donuts was anywhere near as bad as John Bosa. According to my father, it's worse.)

3) Jamar Fletcher, CB Wisconsin (first round, 26th overall, 2001)

Dolphins fans really haven't done enough to point out the sheer idiocy and ineptitude that went into the Fletcher selection. Everyone knows that the Dolphins took the Wisconsin corner over Purdue quarterback Drew Brees, but what really sets this botched selection apart from others is the fact that several draft analysts came out at the time and said Fletcher wasn't worth a first-round pick. Interestingly, the Dolphins' second-round pick that year was also from the University of Wisconsin: wide receiver Chris Chambers.

4) Yatil Green, WR Miami (first round, 15th overall, 1997)

Oh boy, where to begin with this one ... On one hand, it's difficult to call Green an outright bust—the guy had so much talent, but couldn't even show up to training camp without tearing an ACL or quadricep (or both). On the other hand, Green was drafted because Marino, already in the twilight of his career in 1997, desperately needed a big-play guy on the perimeter. It's the latter fact that qualifies Green as a certifiable bust, though he's not alone when it comes to the list of Jimmy Johnson's failed first-round picks in Miami ...

5) John Avery, RB Ole Miss (first round, 29th overall, 1998)

Would someone please remind me why the Dolphins even bothered with Avery, an undersized, underskilled back out of Ole Miss? Avery had as many lost fumbles as rushing touchdowns (two) in his rookie season, and ran for 503 yards in his two years with the Dolphins. Several analysts have suggested that Johnson thought he could get Emmitt Smith production out of Avery. Smith in 2013 would be a more ideal prospect than Avery was 15 years ago.

Thankfully, the Dolphins followed up this selection with Southern Mississippi cornerback Patrick Surtain.

6) Ted Ginn Jr., WR Ohio State (first round, ninth overall, 2007)

No need to rehash this selection—you were all there, and you all probably felt the same "I am going to hurl until I can hurl no more!" feeling when Roger Goodell uttered Ginn's name while announcing the Dolphins' first-round selection. To this day, I compare how I felt upon hearing this selection to how Gary felt at the end of The Last American Virgin (minus the crying, of course).

In hindsight, it was probably a good thing Miami's idiot front office (headed up by the extremely oafish Randy Mueller) passed on Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. However, it was most certainly not a good thing that the Dolphins A), took a freaking punt returner with the No. 9 overall selection, and B) took said punt returner over players such as Patrick Willis and Darrelle Revis.

The rest of Miami's 2007 draft wasn't much better. And people wondered why the team went 1-15 that year ...

7) The entire 1984 Dolphins draft class

Curious as to why Marino couldn't get back to the Super Bowl after Miami's shoot-'em-up 1984 season? A glimpse at what the team accomplished in the draft that year might give you a few hints. The Dolphins' first-round selection, Oklahoma linebacker Jackie Shipp, started 44 games over four seasons, and racked up a whopping stat line of one sack, one interception. The Dolphins took another linebacker, the University of Miami's Jay Brophy, in the second round. He lasted just two years with the team before playing a single campaign with the Jets in 1987. The Dolphins later drafted Bernard Carvalho, who turned out to be a much better politician than football player.

Here's my question: How can a team go from drafting Roy Foster, David Overstreet (a fantastic player who died in a freak accident during the summer of '84) and Dan Marino to guys like Shipp, Lorenzo Hampton (the Dolphins' '85 first-round selection), Bosa, Kumerow and Sammie Smith (the team's first-round choice in 1989)? Want to know why the Dolphins never got back to the big game following Super Bowl XIX? It's probably because they didn't hit right on a first-round selection during the remainder of the 1980s.

Oh look. someone leaked pics of the Dolphins' new uniform

Keith Beebe — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:14:08 -0000

Remember when Dolphins fans thought they'd have to wait until draft night to see their team's new logo and uniform?

Yeah, that's not really the case anymore.

Leaked photos of the Dolphins' home and away uniforms surfaced early Tuesday afternoon, and circulated quickly thanks to several retweets from local beat writers. Surprisingly, the new look has been well received by the Twittersphere, with comments ranging from "clean and professional" to "f'n legit!"

F'n legit, indeed.

The leaked photos were taken during the unveiling of the Jaguars' garish, gold-laden get-ups. The Minnesota Vikings' new uniform was also visible in several of the photos.

Twittersphere may approve of the Dolphins' new-yet-classic look, but what do you folks think of the rebrand? Will you buy one, or are you sticking to your "throwback" Ronnie Brown jersey? Personally, I think the new uniform looks fantastic, and I see a Lamar Miller jersey in my immediate future.

Ben Volin to cover Pats, NFL for Boston Globe

Keith Beebe — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:00:28 -0000

Ben Volin to cover Pats, NFL for Boston Globe

The latest Dolphins beat writer to sprout wings and take a big-wig job elsewhere. First Darlington, now Volin. Why won't anyone take Armando!?

Bucky Brooks' 'perfect draft' for the Miami Dolphins

Keith Beebe — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:26:58 -0000

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks is typically a real gunslinger when it comes to analyzing and prognosticating the NFL Draft. "Reach" clearly isn't in this man's vocabulary, and he often informs his mock drafts with a freewheeling, aggressive approach that teeters between logical and absurd. Brooks is rarely dead-on with his picks, but they're thought-provoking nonetheless.

Well, it looks like the daring, bold version of Bucky has left the building.

Brooks yesterday afternoon posted his latest 2013 draft analysis, but instead of rolling with his usual short-winded mock draft, Brooks published his "perfect" draft strategy for all 32 teams. Inexplicably, "riverboat gambler" Bucky is nowhere to be found in the article. Instead, he plays it waaaaaay too safe while attempting to explain what most of us already know:

He thinks we're considering a trade for Branden Albert or a move up the draft board to find a franchise left tackle.

"The loss of Jake Long in free agency made finding an offensive tackle a priority," Brooks wrote. "The Dolphins could do that by prying Branden Albert away from the Chiefs via trade or by moving up the board to land one of the top prospects at the position. Though it would undoubtedly mean losing valuable picks, working out a deal is worth considering for a team brimming with offensive potential on the perimeter."

Riveting stuff. But what about all of the mock drafts in which Brooks has given us Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes? Ah, glad you asked. Apparently Rhodes qualifies Mr. Brooks backup strategy.

"If the Dolphins stand pat at No. 12, the team could address their cornerback problem by picking Xavier Rhodes," Brooks wrote. "The big, athletic corner is a Sean Smith clone--except speedier and tougher."

Notice he didn't mention Rhodes being more "instinctive" or "technically refined" than Smith. Also, there's no faster way to turn this site off on a draft prospect than by saying he's Sean Smith reincarnate.

Either way, what happened to risk-taking Bucky Brooks? I figured he'd roll with a prospect like Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert or West Virginia receiver Tavon Austin at the No. 12 selection. Hell, North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper is more interesting than Rhodes at this point!

What do you guys think? Is this a perfect draft strategy, or does Bucky Brooks just really, really hate the Miami Dolphins?

Regardless of your answer, you can check out the full Brooks article here.

Albert wants money; Bolts reportedly want to pay him lots of it

Keith Beebe — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:58:56 -0000

Albert wants money; Bolts reportedly want to pay him lots of it

Frankly, it makes more sense for the Chargers to pursue Branden Albert than the Dolphins. Miami has an unproven left tackle. The Chargers don't have a tackle ... on either side of the line. There's literally no one standing between Philip Rivers and the pass-rushers who want to disembowel him.

Keith Beebe's final Dolphins 2013 Big Board

Keith Beebe — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:11:50 -0000

The 2013 NFL Draft will begin three days from tonight. And with it will come all of the excitement and doubt, jubilation and disgust, enlightenment and befuddlement, that is sure to follow the announcement of the Dolphins' No. 12 overall selection. Seriously, book it. Death, taxes and Dolphins fans overreacting to their team's draft pick. All are inevitable ... and equally inescapable.

Of course, those same fans must also know that this year's festivities will have a much different feel than past drafts. That's because there won't be any questions about if and when the Dolphins will draft quarterback. There will be no outcries or jeers, pouting or tantrums, from fans when the team passes on a trumped-up, marginally promising signal-caller prospect. Nope. Not this year. Miami has its long-term guy at quarterback, and like any true field general or leader, he'll model in the Dolphins' logo and uniform fashion show on Thursday night while his coach and general manager are busy making decisions that could potentially determine just how far their young quarterback goes in his pro football career. Now that's a franchise guy, mixing Joe Namath's fashion sense with Troy Aikman's professionalism.

Some members of this site are bound to be elated or disappointed with the direction the Dolphins take with the No. 12 pick (if they don't trade down, of course). I can't soften the blow some of you will feel if Miami selects University of North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper, Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert or West Virginia receiver (and apparent bookworm) Tavon Austin. What I can do, however, is at least attempt to explain why the Dolphins' first-round selection fits what Joe Philbin and the Dolphins want to do in Miami.

Hopefully you find the commentary of some use. And if not, you'll let me hear it in the comment section. Challenge accepted.

Final Miami Dolphins 2013 Draft Big Board

1. DeMarcus Milliner, CB Alabama (6'0", 201)

I've avoided mention of Milliner on most of my draft lists this offseason, as his top-corner standing and ridiculous 40 time (4.37) at the Combine in February placed him in the "unattainable" category for Miami. However, reports suggest that Milliner isn't necessarily a top 10 lock, so I'll pay due diligence and slot him into my big board accordingly. Milliner has the potential to be a devastating perimeter defender at the next level, and he's as physical a prospect as you'll find at the cornerback position. Questions persist about his footwork, man-to-man capability and overall ball skills, but Milliner qualifies as a well-rounded, dynamic and hard-working corner. That's why he's the head shred on this list. Think of him as a smarter, instinctive and humble version of Vontae Davis.

2. Lane Johnson, OT Oklahoma (6'6", 310)

It's difficult to find a "wow" factor in a college offensive tackle, but Oklahoma's Lane Johnson has it. A former quarterback and tight end, Johnson is one of the more athletic offensive lineman to hit the draft in recent memory, and he's just getting started. His footwork is top notch, his arm length (35.25 inches) is outrageous, and he's got a mean streak for days. He's also savvy, boasts very light and quick footwork for the position, and has the lower-base strength to bulldoze on the right side, if necessary. Make no mistake, though, Johnson's a prototypical left tackle at the next level, and he could very well be the best prospect in a class loaded with premier blindside talent. The only way this guy comes to Miami is if the Dolphins trade into the draft's top five selections. The furthest Johnson will fall is Detroit at No. 5.

3. Tyler Eifert, TE Notre Dame (6'5", 255)

Dolphins fans bemoaned the departure of tight end Anthony Fasano in free agency, but what if the team could replace him with another Notre Dame product who is light years ahead as a seam buster and downfield threat? I'd take that deal, and I have feeling so will Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin on draft night. Tyler Eifert is the rare tight end worthy of a first-round pick, and his size, speed and ever-developing skill set will make him a match-up nightmare in the NFL. Eifert's an excellent route-runner, possesses sure, natural hands, and has the lift (35-inch vertical) to qualify as a premier jump-ball candidate. And while he's far from a finished product as a blocker, he greatly improved his in-line ability last season, and should continue to do so in the pros. Far and away the best prospect in a considerably strong tight end class, Eifert's worth the No. 12 selection, and if the Dolphins can trade down and still land him, even better.

4. Jonathan Cooper, G North Carolina (6'2", 311)

Alabama guard Chance Warmack has attracted more attention from scouts this pre-draft season, but Jonathan Cooper is, for my money, the better talent at the position--and he has considerably higher upside, as well. The former North Carolina standout is a super-agile, technically refined prospect who will become a top five left guard the moment he hits the NFL, and the balance and quickness he displays in pulling situations is a sight to behold. Cooper's an absolute terror for second-level defenders, and he's quite possibly the quintessential zone-blocking guard. Add in Cooper's excellent standing as a pass protector, and you have an interior lineman who is worth a top 10 pick (am I selling this guy enough?). Regardless, Cooper will have to make it past Arizona, Buffalo, NYJ, Tennessee and San Diego before the Dolphins can turn in his card, so you OL haters can rest easy.

5. Desmond Trufant, CB Washington (5'11", 190)

What can you say about Trufant that hasn't already been uttered on this site? He's an explosive, scheme-diverse corner prospect with very good instincts, footwork and speed for the position. Trufant's ball skills aren't overly impressive, and he is indeed a big tight-hipped, but his short-area burst, awareness and upper-body strength should allow him to do quality work in both man and zone coverage. An outstanding corner prospect in a strong draft class. Trufant's an immediate candidate for the Dolphins if they trade down (with Minnesota, perhaps?).

6. D.J. Hayden, CB Houston (5'11", 191)

Hayden may be the crown jewel of this year's cornerback class ... and few people knew it prior to last month, when he floored scouts with a strong pro day showing. The Houston cover man missed most of last season with a torn inferior vena cava vein he suffered after colliding with a teammate during practice, but there's no time like the present, and Hayden has plenty of momentum heading into Thursday's draft. Fast, fluid, wiry and balanced, Hayden is the definition of a premier zone corner prospect, and he has the short-area burst to get up on his man in a hurry, and the strength to reroute and funnel assignments. Best part: Hayden hasn't even scratched the surface of his talent, and should become a premier perimeter defender in the NFL. I want this guy in Miami.

7. John Cyprien, S Florida International (6'0", 217)

8. Menelik Watson, OT Florida State (6'5" 310)

Should Miami choose not to trade for Branden Albert, it will have to find a considerable upgrade at offensive tackle somewhere within the draft's first three rounds. And if the Dolphins choose to find their guy in round two, it'll likely be Florida State's Menelik Watson, a Great Britain-born tackle blessed with outstanding size, 34-inch arms and considerable upper-body strength. Watson is extremely raw (he has just two years of football experience--one at JUCO; one at FSU) and will need some technical refinement in the pros, but he's an incredible athlete and a fierce competitor who fits best at right tackle. Watson may also have the best initial punch of any tackle in this year's class. Think his boxing background has something to do with that?

9. Matt Elam, S Florida (5'10", 208)

Like Cyprien, Matt Elam is a Polamalu-type safety who does his best work at or near the line of scrimmage. Unlike Cyprien, the former Gator is comfortable playing single-deep coverage, with the ball skills and burst to moonlight as a playmaker. Overall coverage instincts remain a question with Elam, but there's no debating that he's a compact, explosive striker with outstanding range. Elam lacks Cyprien's sure-tackling ability, but he's considerably more explosive and dynamic. Reshad Jones likes!

10. Robert Alford, CB Southeastern Louisiana (5'10", 188)

11. Terron Armstead, OT Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6'5", 306)

12. Alex Okafor, DE Texas (6'4", 264)

It's strange to feature just one pass-rusher on this list, but I subscribe to the theory that Olivier Vernon will be a bigger contributor in year two of his career. Nevertheless, Okafor's one of the few natural 4-3 ends in this draft, boasting a quick first step, great bend and a phenomenal bull rush maneuver. He doesn't have the freakish athleticism of Oregon's Dion Jordan or BYU's Ezekiel Ansah, but Okafor is superior as a run defender, and has arguably the most violent hands of any pass-rusher available in 2013. A quality power-end prospect despite marginal upside, and he could represent solid value late in round two.

13. Darius Slay, CB Mississippi State (6'0", 192)

Oddly enough, the prospect who best fits what the Dolphins are looking for at the cornerback position is currently viewed as a late-second-round pick. Of course I am talking about Darius Slay, and the semi-ambiguous nature of his draft stock is likely due to the fact that he played under the shadow of fellow corner Johnathan Banks at Mississippi State. It's been a case of role reversal for the two this spring, however, as Slay has dominated pre-draft workouts while Banks' testing has been mediocre at best. Slay is a big, aggressive corner with very good awareness and rare timed speed (4.36 40-yard dash at the Combine), and he's displayed improved footwork and change-of-direction skills this spring. Arguably the best zone-corner prospect available next weekend, and he's still developing as a ball hawk and run defender.

14. Gavin Escobar, TE San Diego State (6'6", 254)

Should the Dolphins pass on Eifert in the first round, they'll have a chance to find a semi-comparable talent in San Diego State's Gavin Escobar. Like Eifert, Escobar is a sure-handed tight end with the size and strength to bust up just about any seam he encounters. Unlike Eifert, Escobar is a virtual bulldozer after the catch. The former Aztec is a fantastic red zone threat, and displays the ability to box out lengthy defenders in jump-ball situations. Where Escobar loses points, though, is in the blocking game. In-line work shouldn't be much of a struggle for a player of Escobar's size, but he often lets assignments get outside of his frame, and he doesn't consistently sustain blocks, either. There is upside in the in-line department, however, but blocking is currently one of the chief hang-ups separating Escobar from the top names in this year's tight end class.

15. Brennan Williams, OT North Carolina (6'6", 318)

NFL Network's Mayock comments on Dolphins' draft needs

Keith Beebe — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:07:52 -0000

You know late April has arrived when Mike Mayock is giving his two cents on your team's needs and options in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Mayock during a recent conference call addressed the Miami Dolphins' top needs in this draft, whether it makes sense for the team to pursue a trade for Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert, and who the Dolphins should target with the No. 12 selection in Thursday's NFL Draft

"Miami's got a big hole at left tackle, and that's got to be a priority. If they sign Branden Albert, that's fine. But from my perspective, I like the fact that, outside of the tackle situation, you can sit back and go, 'OK, I need a corner, I need an edge-rusher, I might even look at safety,'" Mayock said during the podcast. "But as much as I like Grimes, the pickup in Atlanta, you've got to be concerned about his durability. So, I think they've got to target a corner fairly early, whether it's at 12, whether it's at 42. It could even be at 54. But they've got to get themselves a corner, from my perspective."

I like the fact that, outside of the tackle situation, you can sit back and go, 'OK, I need a corner, I need an edge-rusher, I might even look at safety.' -Mike Mayock

Couldn't agree more, but this is why so many people are pushing the idea of Miami trading down in this draft. If the Dolphins like D.J. Hayden or Desmond Trufant, it's possible they can move back as far as the No. 25 pick and still get their man. Ditto with Xavier Rhodes, although Tampa at No. 13 could take him.

How about trading up for Lane Johnson? Is that only a realistic option for those who reside in fantasy land?

"The big pressure point in the top 10 this year is the offensive tackle position, and I think you're going to see a run on tackles in general. And depending on how quickly Joeckel and Fisher go, Lane Johnson is the next big commodity. And I think there's a couple of different pressure points," Mayock said. "I think the first pressure point could be if Joeckel and Fisher are gone in the first three picks--Philadelphia is sitting at four, and Detroit desperately needs a tackle, so I think Philadelphia is the first pressure point for Lane Johnson. And then beyond that, Cleveland's sitting there in front of Arizona, depending on whether or not Johnson gets through that gauntlet. I have trouble seeing Lane Johnson getting to Arizona cleanly."

Well, that was sobering analysis. But wait, it gets better.

"If you are San Diego or Miami at 11 and 12, you've got to make some decisions," Mayock said. "Do we make a trade for a Branden Albert, or do we look at a free agent to get us through the next year? Or, are we going to move up? Miami's got ammunition to move up. Or do we decide that we can wait and take D.J. Fluker at 11 or 12?"

Mayock later stated his belief that the Chargers will snare Fluker at No. 11. Yikes.

So ... does Albert make sense for the Dolphins?

"For most teams in the league, I would have reservations about (trading for Albert). I would sit there and say, 'OK, maybe I'll get through this year with a right tackle like Eric Winston, pay him a lot less money and figure it out next year," Mayock said. "For the Dolphins, who kind of went out and spent a lot of money and expect to compete this year, I think the fact that those first three tackles are pretty much going to be gone--I don't have any scenario where they get to 12; not even to 11, probably not to seven. If that's the case and you're able to sign Albert and it costs you your second second-round pick at 54, and you're willing to pay the guy, I'm in. I wouldn't say that for most teams. If you're playing poker, I think Miami's already kind of pushed the chips out there. They've signed a lot of vets and they've said, 'We're going to compete.' But you can't compete without a left tackle in this league, so Miami's one of the few teams that's got to stand up and say, 'Yeah, we've gotta go get him.'"

Heyah. And Miami's best option at No. 12?

Follow @KMB8488

"I think you're looking at corners or edge guys. I think the conversation is D.J. (Hayden) from Houston. I think it's who's left of the edge guys. Milliner, the corner. Is Mingo still out there? You've gotta have that kind of conversation," Mayock said. "Even though your defense was No. 7, I think, in points allowed, they were, like, 20 or 21 in yards. Bottom line is they've gotta get better against the pass. So whether you're affecting the pass with a rush or with a corner, I think that's the next place."

You can listen to the Dolphins portion of Mayock's conference call here.

More Dolphins Coverage:

Official pic of the new white facemask

Keith Beebe — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:16:49 -0000

Much like Dracula in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, the Miami Dolphins are offering their new brand to the public one piece at a time.

First it was the leak and subsequent confirmation of the new logo last month, and now it's a glance at the team's new white facemask, which will cage Miami's helmets from this point forward.

The Dolphins this morning tweeted a pic of quarterback Ryan Tannehill sporting the new white facemask. The photo offers little insight regarding what the rest of the helmet looks like, but the white facemask does look clean and snazzy, and should pair well with the Dolphins' reborn aqua and orange color scheme.

Next up: the new uniform, which will be unveiled by the team at a release party on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m. I can't help but feel like there's another important event scheduled for that evening. Wonder what it could be.

ESPN: Albert granted permission to visit Dolphins

Keith Beebe — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:37:47 -0000

Time to say goodbye to one of the Dolphins' two second-round picks? Maybe.

ESPN's John Clayton this morning reported that the Chiefs have given left tackle Branden Albert permission to meet with the Miami Dolphins. The news comes just one day after several media outlets reported that the Dolphins were in serious talks to acquire Albert from the Chiefs in exchange for a 2013 second-round pick.

Albert, a Miami resident, is expected to visit the Dolphins' facility and complete a physical sometime within the next few days, according to Clayton's report.

"Even though he signed his franchise tender, worth $9.82 million for 2013, Albert has skipped the Chiefs' voluntary offseason program," Clayton wrote. "Albert has said he wants a long-term deal, and then took to Twitter to express his disapproval with the notion he might move to the right side."

Buckle up. This situation could get interesting in a hurry.

You can read Clayton's article here.

Update: There are now conflicting reports regarding whether the Chiefs have granted Albert permission to speak with Miami. As several beat writers have pointed out on Twitter, the Chiefs might not have granted said permission to Albert, but that doesn't mean they've cut off talks between the Dolphins and Albert's agent representation. We'll keep you posted.

NFL.com: Lamar Miller among 2012 draft prospects poised for bigger role in '13

Keith Beebe — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:38:40 -0000

NFL.com's Chris Wesseling (really, who else?) on Thursday posted an article listing 10 players from the 2012 NFL Draft whom he believes are poised to take the next step in 2013. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the No. 2 spot on the list belongs to Dolphins running back Lamar Miller.

"We point out in early February that Reggie Bush became persona non grata in Miami because the team's brass believes Miller can be a "bigger, faster, better" version of Bush," Wesseling wrote in the article. "The fourth-rounder showed impressive burst with the ability to succeed between the tackles and in space. The addition of deep threat wide receiver Mike Wallace should leave Miller poised for success against few stacked boxes."

Wesseling isn't far off with that analysis, and the fact that he has just one player--Giants running back David Wilson--ranked higher than Miller on the list speaks volumes. However, Wesseling should have added that it made little sense to re-sign the wiggle-happy Bush to play in a zone-blocking scheme, especially when Miller's one-cut-and-go style of running totally fits what the Dolphins want to do up front.

Nevertheless, Miller is indeed poised to turn some heads in 2013.

You can read the NFL.com article here.

A true football legend has passed away

Keith Beebe — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:51:56 -0000

A true football legend has passed away

R.I.P. Mr. Summerall. Your voice will forever be an integral part of the game of football.

Here comes the pain

Keith Beebe — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:28:01 -0000

Here comes the pain

Looks like someone wants to start at defensive end across from Cameron Wake.

ESPN.com publishes Miami Dolphins 2013 NFL Draft guide

Keith Beebe — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:25:25 -0000

ESPN.com rarely gets it right when it comes to the Dolphins, so consider the site's 2013 NFL Draft guide for Miami as a glaring exception.

ESPN Insider yesterday afternoon posted 2013 draft guides for all 16 AFC squads (the NFC batch is scheduled for release later today). Members of ThePhinsider are normally unable to access Insider content unless they subscribe to the service, so give props to ESPN for making the Dolphins draft guide available free of charge. And it gets better: the guide is actually a quality read, with comprehensive analysis and some last-minute thoughts and commentary from draft analysts Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Chris Sprow and Field Yates.

Post a couple of excerpts from the article? Sure, why not.

In regard to the Dolphins' major need in this draft:

"After losing Jake Long in free agency, the Dolphins need to fill a hole at offensive tackle. They have some flexibility because 2012 second-round pick Jonathan Martin can swing to either side of the line; if the Dolphins add a right tackle, he'd anchor the left side, and vice versa. He needs to improve his strength and pass-set anchor, but Martin has substantial long-term value."

Looks like ESPN's signing off on Martin as a franchise guy in Miami. I've only been saying the same thing since last September! Martin obviously needs to reinforce and strengthen his lower base, and if he can do so, he'll be a major player for the Dolphins moving forward. He's superb as a technician, and possesses elite-level intelligence.

The article goes on to suggest that tight end is a quiet need in Miami, as recent free agent addition Dustin Keller adds next to nothing in the blocking game. Could the lack of a do-everything tight end convince Ireland to roll with Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert at the No. 12 pick? No one's about to confuse Eifert with Mark Bavaro or even Anthony Fasano when it comes to in-line ability, but the Fighting Irish product was much improved as a blocker in 2012, and should continue to develop in that area as a pro.

Here's an interesting tidbit from the Insider draft guide:

"While the Dolphins have expressed interest in adding a veteran pass-rusher this offseason (John Abraham visited the team), the defensive line is a strength of this team. Cameron Wake is an imposing rusher from the left side, and look for Olivier Vernon to progress as a second-year player in 2013. Jared Odrick has elite run defense traits, and Randy Starks and Paul Soliai are a load to push on the interior."

I think most Phinsider members would like to see a knockout pass-rusher added to the spot opposite Wake, but there's also the possibility that Vernon turns into an absolute menace for quarterbacks next season. So unless someone like Ezekiel Ansah drops into the Dolphins' lap at No. 12, it's hard to see the team taking a pass-rusher early.

What will it take for Miami's 2013 draft to be considered a successful venture? Mel Kiper weighs in ...

"They need to get better at tackle. Martin has talent, but the Dolphins are taking a pretty big leap of faith in assuming he can effectively fill in as the guy protecting Tannehill's blind side," Kiper said. "I agree with Todd that a tackle such as Fisher would make sense, but if Lane Johnson is around at No. 12 I might be happy to get him; his upside is higher than Martin's."

ESPN's definition of additional goals for Miami is intriguing ...

"Wake is 31 years old, and if he gets hurt the Dolphins will have a tough time generating consistent pressure. The problem is the draft doesn't set up well to get a 4-3 DE at No. 12 overall; Ezekiel Ansah is likely long gone," Kiper said. "In my last mock I had the Dolphins with Tank Carradine in Round 2. Cornerback is obviously an area of need, but again, I'm not sure the value is great with a player such as Rhodes at No. 12. Miami could be a team looking to move down the board if you consider how its needs line up with possible board value."

You can read the Dolphins 2013 NFL Draft guide here.

McShay unleashes 2013 NFL mock draft 5.0 on the masses

Keith Beebe — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:27:04 -0000

Gee, is it easy to tell we're just two weeks away from the NFL Draft?

One week after Mel Kiper put out the fourth edition of his 2013 NFL mock draft, Todd McShay yesterday followed suit with the fifth installment of his 2013 first-round projection. And this week's mock was a special one: the multiple scenario mock draft.

Simply put, McShay accompanies each of the 32 first-round selections with two additional scenarios that could come into play as a result of a trade or altered sense of need. For instance, Big Head Todd has the Chiefs using the No. 1 overall pick on Texas A&M Luke Joeckel. No surprise there--we've seen him in the top slot for several months now. However, McShay includes the following scenarios:

Kansas City eschews Joeckel in favor of Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher (the better player of the two, in my opinion)
Kansas City trades down and either gets a comparable talent in Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson, or a scheme-diverse defensive tackle like Utah's Star Lotulelei

Makes sense, yes? Excellent. Here are McShay's options for the Miami Dolphins at No. 12:

Xavier Rhodes*

Miami Dolphins (7-9)

COLLEGE: Florida State

AGE: 22

HT: 6-1½

WT: 210

POS: CB

Scenario 1: "With the loss of OT Jake Long, the Dolphins would surely like to package picks and trade up to get ahead of Arizona and lock down their left tackle spot," McShay wrote.
Scenario 2: "Should Warmack or Cooper fall here due to positional-value concerns, they would offer good value and help solidify the offensive front."
Scenario 3: "If Miami opts to stay home, Rhodes' length and top-end speed would make him a fit in the Dolphins' press-man coverage schemes."
Stats and Info: "With Long on the field in the past five seasons, the Dolphins allowed a sack every 16.2 drop backs, compared to every 9.6 drop backs with him off field."

(Insider subscribers can check out the full version of McShay's mock draft 5.0 here.)

Count me as a fan of the third option. And I absolutely love McShay's begrudging acceptance of Rhodes as a first-round pick. Scouts, Inc. pretty much hates Rhodes, and had him rated as a third-round prospect throughout last season. Not sure what Rhodes did to upset the McShay crew, but they just plain dislike him.

Here's the kicker, though: Rhodes is the No. 12 pick in this mock draft, yet he hasn't come remotely close to sniffing Scouts' top 32 board this spring. When was the last a non-top 32 lister went within the top 12 picks of the NFL Draft? Tyson Alualu? Please tell me it's not Ted Ginn Jr.

As for McShay's alternative scenarios, I think I'll pass. No. 12 (or higher) is far too high for a tackle when Miami might already have its guy on the left side, and the Dolphins can find plenty of primo guard talent on day three of this year's draft. Take the corner, Dolphins. Take the corner.

What do you guys think? Xavier Rhodes at No. 12? How about a trade into the top 10?

NFL.com looks at Miami Dolphins' five best, worst draft picks

Keith Beebe — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:31:53 -0000

Signs that we're getting agonizingly close to the NFL Draft:

Numerous "best of, worst of" draft lists start popping up on the Internet
Numerous draft busts are exhumed on this site, leading to angry fanposts about the Dolphins' decision to draft Jamar Fletcher over Drew Brees
The names "John Bosa" and "Eric Kumerow" actually come up in conversation

Leave it to NFL.com to sweep the above criteria with its current "best and worst draft picks" series. Yesterday, NFL.com writer Harry Hodgson took on the dubious task of identifying the Miami Dolphins five best and five worst draft selections in the team's 47-year history.

Actually, check that. The task to identify the greatest draft selections in Dolphins history doesn't become an unenviable one until you get to No. 2 on the list.

1. Dan Marino - 1983 (No. 27 overall)

(Duh. Of course Marino's No. 1 on the list. He'd be No. 1 on just about any team's list.)

"It's a story that we all know—Marino slid to the Dolphins at the end of the first round of the much-heralded 1983 draft, behind the likes of John Elway, Jim Kelly, Ken O'Brien, Tony Eason and Todd Blackledge," Hodgson wrote. "Over the next 17 seasons, Marino emerged as one of the best QBs to ever play the game, cemented a Hall of Fame spot, but never won a Super Bowl ... more about that later. Marino jerseys still outnumber any other at Dolphins games, even 14 years after his retirement."

2. Larry Csonka - 1968 (No. 8 overall)

3. Zach Thomas - 1996 (No. 154 overall)

4. Jason Taylor - 1997 (No. 73 overall)

5. Dwight Stephenson - 1980 (No. 48 overall)

First off, I want to disclose something: I've been planning on writing a similar best-of list, and will probably publish it sometime later this week. That said, I can't argue with a single pick on the above list. If anything, it's just too difficult to narrow the Dolphins' greatest draft selections down to a list of five. I mean, where do you fit in greats like Bob Griese and Richmond Webb? In hindsight, a 10-item list would've been an easier path—I think I'll go that route with my best-of ranking. Yes ...

(Also, the thought of the Jets taking O'Brien over Marino still delights me to no end.)

Ah, and now for the yucky stuff. Barf bags are located in the seat pocket directly in front of you.

John Bosa - 1987 (No. 16 overall); Eric Kumerow - 1988 (No. 16 overall)

Damn you, Hodgson, for stealing my leading candidates for worst-ever Dolphins draft pick. Also, good move slotting both of these turkeys into the top two slots. Whenever the "Marino never won a Super Bowl" conversations, I almost immediately point the Bosa/Kumerow selections as where the Dolphins truly and utterly blew it in their attempt to get Marino back to the Super Bowl. The Bosa pick was a bad one, but the fact that Miami selected Kumerow—a positively giant linebacker-defensive end at 6-foot-7, 264 pounds—over Oklahoma State running back Thurman Thomas puts him at No. 1 on my "no bueno" board.

3. John Avery - 1998 (No. 29 overall)

4. Jamar Fletcher - 2001 (No. 26 overall)

5. Ted Ginn Jr. - 2007 (No. 9 overall)

Oh lord, the John Avery pick. It's no wonder why Miami started giving away its first-round selections after '98. What's interesting is that the Dolphins put together important drafts in 1997 (Sam Madison, Taylor) and '98 (Patrick Surtain) despite completely whiffing on their first-round selections both years (yes, the '97 first rounder is high up on my list).

"Jimmy Johnson's reputation for being a draft guru produced the likes of Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith from first-round picks in Dallas. His in Miami was less successful," Hodgson wrote. "The poster boy for his failure on this front has to be running back John Avery, an undersized back who lasted just two years before being tossed out with the trash into the XFL. Avery joins Cecil Collins and Karim Abdul-Jabbar as running backs who Johnson drafted—and whiffed on—to play the Emmitt Smith role in Miami."

The line for eye bleach begins to the left.

You can read Hodgson's article here.

Armando bats for Miami in NFL Network's 2013 On the Beat

Keith Beebe — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:27:28 -0000

When it comes to the 2013 NFL Draft, Miami Herald writer Armando Salguero smells what The Duke is cookin'.

Salguero recently called in to NFL Network's On the Beat mock draft segment to make the Miami Dolphins' selection at No. 12 overall.

His pick? That would be Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant.

"The fact of the matter is the Dolphins in 2009 take two cornerbacks. Sean Smith left in free agency this year; you know, they had Vontae Davis (who) Miami traded before the beginning of last year," Salguero said during the On the Beat segment. "They don't have a starting cornerback on the roster. It's time to get some starting cornerbacks on the roster. Trufant is the pick."

Eloquently said ... I think. Nevertheless, The Phinsider's very own Chris Early (known to many of you as "Duke") has been singing Trufant's praises since last fall, and stated in January that he believed the Washington cornerback would be the Dolphins' first-round selection in 2013. Makes sense, too, as Trufant is a high-upside, scheme-diverse talent who possesses the blazing speed (official 4.38 in the 40-yard dash) and instinct to thrive at the NFL level. I don't often agree with Armando Salguero, but when I do, it's in regard to Desmond Trufant.

Salguero's spot on NFL Network will hopefully open the door for Sun Sentinel writer Omar Kelly to appear on a future edition of the station's On the Beat series--a segment in which Kelly will surely call network analyst Akbar Gbaja-Biamila a "fake gangsta" while directing studio personality Steve Wyche to "go to the corner" for trying to initiate quarterback talk before 8:15 a.m.

You can check out Salguero's spot on NFL Network's On the Beat mock draft here.

Armando: Dolphins' 'horizontal approach' should fill needs through draft

Keith Beebe — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:48:17 -0000

Apparently the passing game isn't the only horizontal-based strategy employed by the Miami Dolphins.

Miami Herald writer Armando Salguero yesterday published an article explaining general manager Jeff Ireland's "horizontal" approach to the NFL draft--a strategy that is stupid-simple and efficient.

According to Salguero, a horizontal approach, in simple terms, factors in team need as well as a prospect's overall value. As a result, horizontal-based drafting is considered a sort of alternative to pure BPA (best player available) strategy.

"Teams using (the horizontal) approach stretch every position group horizontally across a board--left ends, nose tackles, right ends, weak linebackers, strong linebackers, inside linebackers, wide receivers, quarterbacks and so on (teams with 4-3 defenses use different position groups than teams running 3-4 looks)," Salguero wrote. "The Dolphins would then take a small number of players--between 120 and 180, depending on the year--and plug them into their board according to their position."

According to Salguero, the club places the name of players that have a first-round grade along the first line under every position. Thus, first-round cornerbacks are placed on the same horizontal line as first-round talents at other positions. The process continues on the second horizontal line, where second-round-graded talents are placed.

The result? On draft day, Jeffy can check the first-round line and see the players whose grades agree with the pick.

"It shouldn't surprise that the player selected often plays a position of need, because logic and human nature will dictate that picking a quarterback ahead of a cornerback won't help the team as much in 2012, even if the quarterback is rated higher," Salguero wrote. "That's how drafting horizontally makes greater concessions to picking need positions."

Armando notes in the article that the horizontal draft approach was used by former Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf to construct the mid-'90s Packers roster that won Super Bowl XXXI and competed in Super Bowl XXXII.

"All this suggests the Dolphins will definitely fill needs this month," Salguero wrote of the horizontal approach. "And as the player at a need position will be on the same horizontal line as perhaps a higher-graded player who doesn't fill a need, the Dolphins can hypothetically and honestly contend they didn't reach for anyone.

"Even if they did--hypothetically. "

The full version of Armando's article can be viewed here.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/07/v-fullstory/3327505/armando-salguero-horizontal-approach.html#storylink=cp

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/07/v-fullstory/3327505/armando-salguero-horizontal-approach.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/07/3327505/armando-salguero-horizontal-approach.html#storylink=cpy

CBSSports' Rob Rang: five prospects the Dolphins should consider in the 2013 draft

Keith Beebe — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:12:27 -0000

CBSSports' Rob Rang on Saturday published an article examining five prospects he thinks the Miami Dolphins should consider in the 2013 NFL Draft. The list is an odd one, and it's bound to upset some people on this site.

Here are a few helpful hints for those of you trying to guess the prospects on Rang's list:

A front-seven defensive player tops the five-man ranking
A fast-rising corner is included
Yes, there is a tackle in the mix, but he's not of the first-round variety
Interested in a running back? Too bad if you're not--Rang thinks a Pac 12 back should be in the Dolphins' future
Rang lists one of the few safeties we haven't talked about on this site

And ... time's up. Here's the direction Rang sees the Dolphins steering toward in a little over two weeks:

Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE BYU
Jamar Taylor, CB Boise State
Terron Armstead, OT Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Stepfan Taylor, RB Stanford
D.J. Swearinger, FS South Carolina

Can't argue with the first three players on Rang's list. Ansah, while raw, is an absolute animal in the pass-rush department, and would benefit from Cameron Wake's presence while also opening things up for the Dolphins' veteran defensive end. Jamar Taylor is a semi-popular name among fans who think Miami will address the cornerback position on day two. The Boise State corner, along with Houston's D.J. Hayden and Mississippi State's Darius Slay, is a premier zone-coverage piece, and he brings considerable upside and excellent wheels to the table.

Rang wisely points out that Armstead was recruited by bigger schools (including one in the Big Ten conference, historically the home of the best offensive line talent in the country), but chose Arkansas Pine-Bluff because the school allowed him to participate in both football and track and field. If the Dolphins are indeed going with Jonathan Martin at left tackle, Armstead would be a knockout complement on the right side. And yes, he has the measurables and feet to man the blindside.

Rang's inclusion of Stepfan Taylor is interesting, and I agree that he'd pair nicely with Lamar Miller in Miami's backfield. Stepfan is a chain-moving machine, and an ideal one-cut zone runner at the next level. He consistently breaks tackles, falls forward and plays faster than his 4.70 40-yard-dash time suggests.

Here's what Rang had to say about the Swearinger mention:

"With the number of picks Miami possesses, as well as the unique talent at safety available in this draft, it is a solid bet the club will add some competition," Rang wrote. "Swearinger was used throughout the secondary by South Carolina. This versatility, not to mention his ferocious hitting, could make him an intriguing fit for a Miami defense lacking playmakers in the secondary."

Looks like Swearinger could be a decent value pick in the fifth round or so. Curiously, Dolphins safeties Chris Clemons and Reshad Jones were both fifth-round selections (Clemons in 2009; Jones in 2010).

Well, what do you think of the five prospects on Rang's list. Who are the five prospects on your list? Feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

You can read the complete version of Rang's article here.

Phinsider Hangout - 2013 Offseason (4/5/13) is back on the air

Keith Beebe — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 02:45:45 -0000

The weekly Google+ Hangout series continues tonight.

This is a 30 minute (or so) interactive show, where we will answer your questions about theDolphins, the NFL, and, anything else.

So, ask your questions in the comments below, and we will answer them on the air.

You can also find the show by heading over to our Phinsider Google+ page.

If you miss the show, you can watch the archived video here in this thread, or over on thePhinsider's YouTube Channel. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube Channel to get all of the updated shows as I load them, as well as our news and analysis videos for all the offseason action surrounding the Miami Dolphins.

Now, get to asking your questions, and the show will go live at 11:30 pm Eastern! Post your questions now, and the live streaming video for the show will be available right here when it starts.

Hold your applause for Omar Kelly's 2013 NFL mock draft

Keith Beebe — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:09:07 -0000

It's an age-old question: who is the greatest NFL draft analyst in all of the land? And while you'll rarely see two football fans agree on the answer, they can all agree on one thing: no quarterback talk before 9:30 a.m.

Sun Sentinel writer Omar Kelly unveiled his 2013 NFL mock draft yesterday, and the result was, well, it was pretty good. Brief, but good. Omar's mock has a stripped-down feel (really, it's a slideshow), which is a refreshing sight considering we're 20 days away from the draft. At this point, the mere thought of reading "reach" or "value pick" will get me dry heaving.

Here's a short rundown of Omar's first-round projection. Slap the hand if you don't like it:

Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel is a near-unanimous choice to go No. 1 overall to the Chiefs, and that's where he is in Omar's mock.
Kiper's latest mock has Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher falling to the Cardinals at No. 7. Omar disagrees, and has the big man landing in Oakland.
It's becoming a mock-draft trend to drop Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner out of the top 10. That kind of thinking will get you banned. Milliner to the Eagles at No. 4 in Omar's mock.
Omar loves him some Dion Jordan, and has the Oregon pass-rusher going to the Lions at No. 5.
Omar's tweets over the past few weeks led me to believe that he isn't much of a Bjoern Werner fan. Silly me. Omar has the Florida State pass-rusher going to Cleveland at No. 6. Vroom, vroom, party starter.
We have our first surprise pick at No. 7, with the Cardinals selecting Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones. Hey, the Combine and pro day are overrated anyway.
I hope West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith likes winter. Omar has him going to Buffalo at No. 8. IS THAT QUARTERBACK TALK!?
Surprise pick No. 2 (sort of)--Alabama guard Chance Warmack to the New York Jets at No. 9. Hopefully Warmack gets Rex Ryan to start eating again.
As you probably guessed (especially if you follow Omar on Twitter), Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes is the Dolphins' selection at No. 12. "Dolphins need a young, athletic, rangy CB, and Rhodes fits Jeff Ireland's prototype," Omar wrote of the pick.
Here's a terrible thought: Omar has site favorite Desmond Trufant going to the Steelers at No. 17. Yecch!
Surprise No. 3--BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah to the Green Bay Packers at No. 26. Let's hope this doesn't happen.

You can check out the full version of Omar's 2013 mock draft here. Deuces.

ESPN's Mel Kiper goes for the golden sombrero

Keith Beebe — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:06:50 -0000

Mel Kiper's 2013 pre-draft season hasn't been one of his better efforts. Not through the eyes of Dolphins fans anyway.

As ESPN's resident draft "mad scientist" (or whatever in the hell the network calls him these days), Kiper's previous three mocks this winter/spring have closely mirrored the approach he took with the Dolphins two years ago, when he all but refused to send anyone not named "Mark Ingram" to Miami with the No. 15 overall pick.

(To be fair, Mel that spring was far from the only person harping on the idea of the Dolphins reinventing their backfield with Ingram. But given that Kiper's draft nemesis Todd McShay had Florida center Mike Pouncey pegged to Miami as early as mid-January, the widow's-peaked one deserves all the razzing we can muster. Fire away.)

Just like two years ago, Kiper has spent much of this pre-draft season staying in lockstep with the majority of "analysts" who think they know what's best for the Dolphins. This time around, it's Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who Kiper has mocked to Miami with absurd consistency the past three months. Prior to free agency, the Dolphins certainly could've used Patterson in what was arguably the league's most anemic receiver group. In late April, however, the Vol speedster makes far less sense for an offense that has Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson, Brian Hartline and Dustin Keller in town. If the Dolphins go with a receiver, it should be on day two or even day three.

Like any overpaid draft analyst worth his salt, Kiper has taken the Dolphins' free agency moves into account, as evidenced in the 2013 NFL mock draft he posted this morning on ESPN.com. Problem is, his new selection for the Dolphins at No. 12 makes me wish we could have Patterson back.

12) D.J. Fluker, OT Alabama (6'5", 339) Age: 21

Analysis: "The Dolphins will shift second-year man Jonathan Martin to left tackle in the absence of Jake Long, but it leaves a pretty big talent deficiency at right tackle, and in Fluker they get a player who is ready to step in immediately," Kiper wrote. "The Dolphins have made personnel upgrades in their passing game, but they don't want the problem to become protection or an inability to run the ball and create short-yardage situations where they can open up the playbook. They do need another pass-rusher, but Fluker makes sense."

... Whaaaaaaaat?

Have I missed something here? Did D.J. Fluker do something super-special within the past few weeks to warrant a jump all the way to No. 12 overall? No? OK, then all I can figure is that Kiper is officially trolling Dolphins fans.

I can understand drafting a tackle like Central Michigan's Eric Fisher or Oklahoma's Lane Johnson early in the first round, but not a gargantuan, slow-footed prospect like Fluker. The Dolphins are trying to acquire ideal zone-blocking offensive personnel, yet here comes Mel Kiper with a right tackle prospect who practically outweighs the entire left side of Miami's offensive line. I like Fluker, and he played very well during his time at Alabama. That said, he doesn't make much sense in a blocking scheme that emphasizes quickness and overall agility. Not even close.

(Rant mode switched to "off")

Outside of the dump Kiper takes on the Dolphins at No. 12, his fourth-edition mock is actually pretty decent, and includes a second round (we'll get to that in a second). Here are some of his noteworthy first-round selections:

Kiper calls the Eagles' bluff and has them using the No. 4 pick on West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. His reasoning for the selection makes sense, too: "In Smith, the Eagles are in a good position to develop an athletic, talented thrower to succeed specifically in (Chip) Kelly's offense, but without the requirement that he must start from day one." Works for me.
Kiper thinks Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel is headed to Kansas City at No. 1 overall, but he doesn't have another tackle coming off the board until the No. 7 pick. That would be Fisher going to the Arizona Cardinals.
North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper coming off the board before Alabama's Chance Warmack? Kiper thinks it'll happen, and has the former landing in Buffalo at No. 8, and the latter heading to Tennessee at No. 10.
My Bears-fan friends will be thrilled to know that Kiper has their team selecting Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o with the No. 20 overall pick.

Those of you still fuming over the Fluker pick might feel a little better after a look at what Kiper has in store for the Dolphins in round two of his mock.

42) Cornelius "Tank" Carradine, DE Florida State

"They fill the void at tackle in round one and target a needed pass-rusher in round two," Kiper wrote. Some genius-level analysis there.

54) Robert Alford, CB Southeastern Louisiana

"One of the top sleepers on my board, Alford hits an area of need at cornerback," Kiper wrote.

If Carradine checks out medically (he tore his ACL last November), he would be an incredible pass-rush weapon to pair with Cameron Wake. As for Alford, he's one of my top three corners in this draft, so no need to sell me on that selection. I like it.

Those of you who subscribe to ESPN Insider can check out the full version of Kiper's mock draft 4.0 here.

NFL.com: 'Ireland, Dolphins done spending in free agency?'

Keith Beebe — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:43:37 -0000

Wait, you mean the Dolphins' free agency mega-splurge is about to come to an end?

NFL.com Around the League writer Chris Wesseling this afternoon published an article suggesting that Jeff Ireland and the Miami Dolphins may indeed be finished with a free agency period in which the team spent $175 million on nine players (yes, that includes both signings and re-signings).

Wesseling states in the article that, while no team has been more active (in free agency), the Dolphins still have needs at tackle, cornerback and pass-rusher. He cautions fans against expecting the team to make any more moves prior to the 2013 NFL Draft, as general manager Jeff Ireland reportedly is" putting his checkbook away."

"Asked by the Miami Herald if the Dolphins might be done shopping for a while," Wesseling wrote, "one team official responded, 'That's probably accurate, although we never say never.'"

According to Wesseling, an additional team source quipped "What's left signing anyway?" Free agent tackle Eric Winston will certainly love that quote.

Well, Dolfans, 2013 Free Agency was a hell of a ride, but it's now time to hunker down and focus on acquiring some franchise-caliber contributors via the draft, which will begin three weeks from tonight. Get excited.

You can read Wesseling's article here.

NFL.com looks at the Dolphins' draft questions

Keith Beebe — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:29:59 -0000

NFL.com Around the League (ATL) writer Chris Wesseling this afternoon published an article analyzing the Miami Dolphins' top needs following their free agency shopping spree, and the team's best options in the upcoming NFL Draft.

"Before Ireland's spending spree (in free agency), early mock drafts often had Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson or West Virginia's penciled in to Miami with the 12th overall pick," Wesseling wrote in the article. "Even if slot receiver Davone Bess is traded or released, the depth chart at wideout doesn't necessitate early-round attention.

Instead, Wesseling believes the Dolphins will look to find a pass rusher or cornerback with their first-round pick, namely a prospect such as Alabama's Dee Milliner or Florida State's Xavier Rhodes.

"Don't be surprised, however, if the scouting department can't pass up Alabama's Chance Warmack or North Carolina's Jonathan Cooper—two elite guard prospects," Wesseling wrote. "The top three offensive tackles likely will be off the board at No. 12."

Wesseling notes that Ireland is "positioned well" on the day two of the draft, with extra second- and third-round picks, and writes that finding a right tackle in the second round is a priority because the team plans to flip second-year tackle Jonathan Martin to the blindside on a permanent basis.

"I would look for the Dolphins to come away with two cornerbacks, two offensive linemen and a pass rusher with their draft largesse," Wesseling said. "Successful NFL franchises aren't built through free agency, so this will be the most important draft of Ireland's six-year run as general manager."

Be sure to check out the related NFL Network video posted above Wesseling's article.

Happy Easter from the golden arm of Dan Marino

Keith Beebe — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:06:02 -0000

As a way to ring in the Easter holiday, I thought you guys would enjoy a compilation of Dan Marino's record-setting 1984 season.

SBNation.com User Blog: Keith Beebe

Dolphins sign third-round CB Will Davis

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Will Davis

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Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Nate Garner Chad Johnson heading to jail for butt slap Don Shula named No. 3 all-time coach by ESPN Report: Tim Tebow to sign with Patriots Dolphins Minicamp starting tomorrow You can redesign NFL Playoffs. What would you do?

2014 Big Board

1. Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M

2. Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame

3. Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State

4. Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, S Alabama

5. Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson

6. Daniel McCullers, DT Tennessee

7. De'Anthony Thomas, RB Oregon

8. David Yankey, OT/G Stanford

9. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE Washington

10. Anthony Johnson, DT LSU

Beebe 2014 NFL mock draft

Davone Bess to Browns

Davone Bess to Browns

The Day After: 2013 Big Board redux

1. Menelik Watson, OT Florida State

2. Terron Armstead, OT Arkansas Pine-Bluff

3. Darius Slay, CB Mississippi State

4. John Cyprien, S Florida International

5. Gavin Escobar TE San Diego State

6. Robert Alford, CB Southeastern Louisiana

7. Brennan Williams, OT North Carolina

Beebe final 2013 NFL mock draft

Round 1:

Best/worst draft selections in Miami Dolphins history

1) Dan Marino, QB Pittsburgh (first round, 27th overall, 1983)

2) Larry Csonka, FB Syracuse (first round, eighth overall, 1968)

3) Dwight Stephenson, C Alabama (second round, 48th overall, 1980)

4) Jason Taylor, DE Akron (third round, 73rd overall, 1997)

5) Richmond Webb, OT Texas A&M (first round, ninth overall, 1990)

6) Zach Thomas, MLB Texas Tech (fifth round, 154th overall, 1996)

7) Bob Griese, QB Purdue (first round, 4th overall, 1967)

1) Eric Kumerow, DE/OLB Ohio State (first round, 16th overall, 1988)

2) John Bosa, DT Boston College (first round, 16th overall, 1987)

3) Jamar Fletcher, CB Wisconsin (first round, 26th overall, 2001)

4) Yatil Green, WR Miami (first round, 15th overall, 1997)

5) John Avery, RB Ole Miss (first round, 29th overall, 1998)

6) Ted Ginn Jr., WR Ohio State (first round, ninth overall, 2007)

7) The entire 1984 Dolphins draft class

Oh look. someone leaked pics of the Dolphins' new uniform

Ben Volin to cover Pats, NFL for Boston Globe

Ben Volin to cover Pats, NFL for Boston Globe

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Albert wants money; Bolts reportedly want to pay him lots of it

Albert wants money; Bolts reportedly want to pay him lots of it

Keith Beebe's final Dolphins 2013 Big Board

Final Miami Dolphins 2013 Draft Big Board

1. DeMarcus Milliner, CB Alabama (6'0", 201)

2. Lane Johnson, OT Oklahoma (6'6", 310)

3. Tyler Eifert, TE Notre Dame (6'5", 255)

4. Jonathan Cooper, G North Carolina (6'2", 311)

5. Desmond Trufant, CB Washington (5'11", 190)

6. D.J. Hayden, CB Houston (5'11", 191)

7. John Cyprien, S Florida International (6'0", 217)

8. Menelik Watson, OT Florida State (6'5" 310)

9. Matt Elam, S Florida (5'10", 208)

10. Robert Alford, CB Southeastern Louisiana (5'10", 188)

11. Terron Armstead, OT Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6'5", 306)

12. Alex Okafor, DE Texas (6'4", 264)

13. Darius Slay, CB Mississippi State (6'0", 192)

14. Gavin Escobar, TE San Diego State (6'6", 254)

15. Brennan Williams, OT North Carolina (6'6", 318)

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