Hello all!

Been a while since I last logged on here although I do visit the site every day to check out new info on our Phins...

Anyways, I wanted to drop by and invite all you knowledgeable football fans to some fantasy football fun over at Yahoo.

I have created a league where only members of this community will be able to join. It is a division based league, with 4 divisions of 4 teams each. It has a nice, slightly different that normal set up, and the draft is live, one week before the opening game of the season. The league is free, and as of now, no prizes are being awarded.

That said, I encourage you all to sign up and try to show the bloggers on this site who the real football G's are!

The league ID is 55236

The password is football (just as it's spelled, no caps)

Everyone is invited, and if I need to expand the available spots because people have been left out, i will do so to try and include as many people as I can without depleting the availability of players.

I expect to see you all there, and I will be around a bit more...

(phinaddict exits)

Not a big deal, but Miami has signed punter Jy Bond from Australia. This means Miami is indeed looking for someone to compete with Fields, or at the very least to push him. It is somewhat relieving because it means Miami won't be using up draft picks at that position, which I thought might be a possibility with a 7th round pick or so.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25337813-19742,00.html

That's the link if you'd like to read more about it.

One last time, I'd like to ffer those who also folllow baseball on this site the opportunity to join the fantasy baseball league I created over at Yahoo.

We have 8 current openings and the Live Online Draft will be on this coming saturday at 8:30 pm Pacific, or for those who follow eastern time (most of us), it will be at 5:30 pm.

If you are interested, and are willing to accept that there is no chance in hell that you will get first place since I'm already in the league, I encourage you to sign up!

The league ID is 161782 and the password is "dolphins" (no caps or quotation marks).

I will be opening the invites to other people as of tomorrow, so join as soon as you can, I wouldn't want you all to miss out.

and for those of you who's lame excuse is "baseball's boring" or "don't have the time" I have this to say...

"Afraid of a little competition?"

Hey everyone, for those of us who follow baseball and play fantasy sports, I'd like to invite you to a league I created on yahoo sports.

It has 12 available spots, of which 3 are already taken, so 9 left.

Feel free to join if you plan to be active. If you have any questions on exactly how to join just ask.

League ID: 161782

Password: dolphins

- Please rec so everyone can see this!

Thanks!

Hey guys!

I know I know, this is a football blog... blah blah blah...

I have created a fantasy baseball league and would like those of you who actually follow baseball, and plan to be active users to sign up.

The league is in yahoo, and the information is:

League ID: 161782

Password: dolphins

- This league is a head to head and has a live draft. You guys can check it out and if the live draft isnt convenient for ya, then we can discuss a more beneficial time for everyone.

There are 13 spots as of now, if it gets full, I'm more than willing to rearrange some of the organization of the league to allow for a couple more teams or so.

Please sign up as soon as you can if you intend to participate!

Hope to see ya guys there!

According to Yahoo Sports, Miami may no longer be interested in paying top dollar for Brown. If they don't sign Brown, then it all but ensures that Miami will try to land a Center early in the draft, preferably with their first round pick. I doubt Mack will fall, but Unger is a possibility.

I guess we'll know soon enough though. Below is both the link and quote.

Free Agency Buzz

• Dolphins center search: Miami had been considered a player in the pursuit of Brown, according to one of the aforementioned agents and multiple media reports. However, that was before the market for Brown started to make him the highest paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history.

With Brown likely out of the mix, expect the Dolphins to make a run at someone else at that position. Jake Grove has been discussed, along with a handful of other centers. The priority for the Dolphins is to get someone who has the strength to handle defensive tackles such as Kris Jenkins of the Jets, Vince Wilfork and Haloti Ngata of Baltimore – guys the Dolphins face regularly in the AFC.

All the Samson Satele talk has inspired me to share some of my thoughts on the issues that Miami faces among the offensive line this offseason.

We all were very aware of the struggles that Miami had thoughout the season rushing out of its basic formation. We have two if not elite, above average backs who should be averaging a lot more than what they did this past season out of the basic formation. (I’d like to see the numbers). I’m confident that much of this had to due with Ronnie Brown beginning the season coming off of his season ending surgery the prior year, in addition to injuries within the line itself, mainly to Donald Thomas, Justin Smiley and Satele.

Miami enters the offseason with 11 offensive linemen. Although this group may be young, and may have some injuries, I believe they will develop into one of the best in the NFL given time to build chemistry and experience.

Bright Spot

There’s a lot to be excited about!! Parcells, Ireland and Sparano came into this team last year and brought in Smiley, Long, and Thomas to the offensive line, practically restructuring it in its entirety.

Jake Long, Miami’s first round pick last year, impressed all the way around this year. He was a reliable run and pass blocker, and will only get better with one year’s experience and a head coach who’s specialty is the O-line.

Smiley, when healthy, is an above average caliber Guard. Given a full offseason to get rid of haunting injuries, I believe that he will be back next year and have the best year of his career to date.

As of right now, it is reported that Donald Thomas will be ready for mini-camp, and 100% healthy for the season barring any unfortunate events… ::knock’s on wood:: … Considering what we saw production wise out of a guy who came into the league as raw as they come, I have high hopes that he will be a great guard for years to come.

Satele has a bright spot too… Say he recovers from injury, and Miami doesn’t “upgrade” the C position, I am a strong proponent of allowing Satele to play C for another year. If he’s not injured, I think his play will not only improve but become dominant. He may not have the monstrous size that Parcell looks for in a Center, but never did I see Satele get mauled. The guy played through a torn labrum all year for christ sakes..

Downside

The only downside I see with this unit is if they don’t manage to resign Vernon Carey. If Miami fails to resign Carey, the consequences will be, in a sense, catastrophic, because it will practically set back Miami’s offensive line overhaul from a year ago back to square one.

Barring any injuries, I don’t see any other downsides.

In My Opinion

I truly believe that the front office knows what they’re doing. Unlike the Saban and CamCam years, the Dolphins brass is now in control, and football knowledgeable. I trust their every move.

With that said, I’m praying to all the Gods that they resign Carey. He’s a solid, versatile lineman, and Miami has greater needs that to have to worry once and again about a weak offensive line. And I honestly believe that Parcells will resign him.

I don’t think that Miami needs to focus very much on upgrading the line during the offseason, rather, building some depth through the draft.

Albeit, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if Brown doesn’t reach an agreement with Baltimore, I’m all up for bringing that beast into Miami to anchor the line for many years to come. If this was the case, Satele would provide depth at the guard and C position, and it would give Miami a more than stable situation among the offensive line.

Brown would be the only free agent I would look at barring Carey not signing.

As for the draft, depth in the late rounds is what I look for Parcells to do. I would not mind seeing the Dolphins draft someone like Alex Boone from Ohio State (ughhh) or Xavier Fulton from Illinois in or around the 4th round, or I can see a real sleeper in Ryan Stanchek from West Virginia or Rich Ohrnberger from Penn State around the 6th or early 7th.

I think Miami’s O-line will be one of the best in the NFL in the years to come, and I see no immediate need to upgrade unless an incredible opportunity pops up.

I'm a true believer like my friend Bill "the Tuna" Parcells that the way to build a championship football team is from the inside out, so I chose to focus my first "Assessing Possibilities" article towards Miami's current possition and future possibilities along the D-Line.

First I want to say that there is potential. I don't think this line will be great within the next year, but I do think that the future is bright. Miami is focusing on running a 3-4, players will return to a 2nd year under that playbook, and the line should be more improved next year if it remains the same... but I truly hope, looking at the strength of schedule, that some things change...

Our Miami Dolphins head into the offseason with 10 defensive linemen, of which one is a free agent, and several are questionable options even as backups.

Bright Spot

Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling put together the kind of rookie seasons that gives hope for a bright future along the defensive front of Miami. They both have the speed and skill set necessary to succeed at the end position, but both remain somewhat raw, an that became evident several times during the season. These guys will be in Miami for a long time.

Randy Starks is a great backup to have for the entire line. His versatility is unmatched and he brings starter quality to the table when he gets his snaps.

Downside

First and foremost, Vonnie Holliday is having contract issues, and as mentioned on a previous post, if the franchise doesn’t keep him due to the money, it might create a sense of distrust between the front office/coaches and the players. Holliday brings leadership qualities to not only the defense but the whole team. He has taken his time to teach rooks like Merling and Langford not only the techniques and ways to approach situations on the field, and mentors them on the pressure off the field. Although his abilities are on the downhill side, the intangibles that he brings to a rebuilding squad is invaluable.

Another downside, just as big as the possibility of Holliday leaving is the hole at NT. Jason Ferguson, while a decent option when healthy, is extremely injury prone. Playing a defense that’s based on the 3-4, the NT is possibly the most important position on the field. It’s what decides whether the schemes will be successful or not.

Honestly, I don’t even consider Soliai or Wright projects anymore, the CamCam and Saban eras sucked, and we lack depth and versatility because of it.

In My Opinion

I’d like to see Miami start off by restructuring Holliday’s deal so that he can continue to mentor our future stud ends.

As far as free agency goes, I hope Miami does not spend money on Julius Peppers because we do have up and coming studs at ends, and in a 3-4 scheme, I think Peppers would be a better fit as an OLB who rushes the passer. I have read that Albert Haynesworth is a free agent, but he also wants to remain in Tennessee and I don’t see how they would not re-sign him, or at worst Franchise him. If by any distant miracle Haynesworth does not remain in Tennessee, I would rush him with a blank check.

The team needs to address the NT position by the draft, and although I would love to have Raji in Miami, I don’t see that happening because it would possibly cost Miami their 2 2nd rounders in addition to their first to move up high enough to get him, and we have too many holes to fill to throw such high picks off to another team for just one guy. I see Miami drafting Ron Brace who many of us are so high on, with one of their 2 2nd rd picks.  If we cannot pick up Brace, I'd look to draft Sammie Lee Hill (whom I've had an eye on for a bit, but gatorphan beat me to it). He has the size and strength that a 3-4 NT would require, and although quite raw, has the potential to become a successful project.

Is there anyone I missed or anyone who you think Miami would place an eye on?

Let me quickly introduce myself. I have been a long time reader of this blog and admire the way Matty runs it. Many times I have found myself wanting to express my opinion, but, not having an account made it difficult for me to do so. Now that I have created one, I intend on becoming an active member. Hopefully, I can provide some insight on situations pertaining to our treasured Dolphins.

I hope to see and speak to you all often!