SB Nation User Blog: k2oconnor

Mel Keipers Re-Grade

k2oconnor — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:51:32 -0000

Can some one post Mel Keipers draft re-grades. It is being featured right now on ESPN.com NFL main page. You need insider to look at it, which I don't have. If you don't want to post the whole thing, can you at least post the Dolphins re-grade I would appreciate that. I am interested to see what he as an "expert" says even though he is re-grading himself... As much as I hate Mayock, McShay and Keiper, they give good laughs.

Ginn odd man out?

k2oconnor — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:10:13 -0000

As many of us have come to realize, Chad Henne looks like he is going to be the QB of the future. And his performance in the last two games have been great and something to write home about! What makes the feet even more impressive is the fact that there is not a true number One WR on the field.

Which brings me to the point that others probably discussed breifly and I know the Sun-Sentinel has quickly addressed. If in deed the FO drafts a WR in the first round of the 2010 draft who would be the odd man out?

Bess: I hope does not go anywhere, he is turning into a solid slot WR and a safety valve. He has been pretty solid since his first game last year and would hope the FO feels the same.

Greg Camarillo: I was nervous for him after the ACL, I thought that the younger WR would pass him on the depth chart as he struggled to recover. However this did not happen, and I don't think it has anything to do with Bess or Hartline not developing, but with GC holding his own determined not to slip in the depth chart

Hartline: 4th round pick this year, and he has come on strong. He has some height, 6'2 and shown some great hands and work ethic. He and GC are very similar players and being a draft pick and only one year in next year I do not see him being cut or traded.

Ginn: As pure WR we have seen his play deminish, although since the decrease in snaps he as come up with a few great graps on the sideline (especially last two weeks) hes the veteran of the group and can only blame himself for not embracing his chances to be the starting/ go to WR. His speed and return ability adds value as well, but is it enough to keep him.

Turner: Has huge hands, great size and decent speed. Looking at him you have to say he looks like the true #1 that the Fins need. But being inactive for all but two games this season is difficult to feel any confident in. Maybe hes a player that needs this time to develop and in order for him to catch up to the speed of the pro game. Really there is not much to gauge him on, and being a 3rd draft pick I find it hard to see him not on the roster next year.

My thoughts, the FO can't get rid of Camarillo, Hartline or Bess. They have shown a lot and proven to be a compliment to any true #1 that arrives in Miami. Turner was a 3rd pick I do not see them giving up on him yet, and still hold out hope that it clicks, and he becomes the 6'5 monster that we all want here in Miami. With all that said, Ginn seems to be a casualty. Unless something happens contract wise or off the field with the others mentioned above Ginn seems gone. Its tough for me to say this, because his speed is difficult to find as is a KR, but the hopes of him being a consistent 1000 yd WR is almost gone. I just would hate him land with another team and the Fins regret letting his speed go.

So I fully hope, and would expect the FO to address this WR need in the off season. There are a few players in the draft who fit the mold of true WR, tall with decent speed and good hands that can separate that I hope fall to the Fins. If these players do not I expect a trade or FA move to bring one in. If this happens I believe Ginns days are numbered.

Just a quick note, drafting Golden Tate or Shipley, does not help the needs of the Dolphins, granted they both could be upgrades over the current WR corp, but I feel a big WR #1 is needed.

Your thoughts.

Dolphins May need a Time Management Coach

k2oconnor — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:12:06 -0000

In no way shape or form am I displeased or anything short of thankful and impressed at what Coach Sparano has done with the Phins. He seems to have a great future as a coach and with the Dolphins, however his time management is a little lacking at times. Watching the games this year you can point out many instances when time should be conserved or run off more, and the Fins fail to chose the correct outcome quite a bit. Ultimately this comes down to the Head Coach.

Being a coach myself, for Semi Pro, I understand how much you have to be aware with on the field during the game that it is easy to get caught up in things. Even at the level of Football I coach it is tough to think of the next play to call based on the down and distance, the momentum, time left in the quarter, and all other factors, I can only imagine the pressure on an NFL coach.

My points can be really highlighted in 2 instances this season. The Saints game, when Sparano calls a time out with seconds left in the 2nd half to collect the defense, and the Saints sneak it in for a TD instead of FG, which I think was the turning point of the game.

Another time was this past Sunday, after Bell's INT Sparano runs down the sideline signaling for a Time Out until I believe Akin Aydodele, stopped him and allowed Sparano to rethink the situation. Lucky the T.O was not granted to the Fins. (For you that don't know clock stops on a turnover)

In the second case, I believe an honest mistake, but I think Tony Sparano should have an assistant, just dedicated to time management, in his ear all game calculating things like this. Sounds a little over the top, and possibly could take more time to pass the message to Sparano then to the officials, but in games like this it could be a game changer.

Thoughts???

NFL Sunday Ticket

k2oconnor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:13:06 -0000

Ok, my parents in NJ have the Sunday Ticket; in turn they have the Super Cast package, which I use up in NH. This allows me to go on the internet to watch the games. However I am not sure if the Super Cast package gets the NFL Network games. I should have checked for CHI-SFO but did not. If anyone knows whether or not I can get this game please let me know.

Sorry to waist a Post on this, but it involves the Fins v Panther game

Ted Ginn Jr

k2oconnor — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:25:00 -0000

Ok ok... are we beating this one to death yet? Sorry for adding to it, but the Sun Sentinel adds a very good blurb from Dan Marino about Teddy. Marino talks about Teddy

Basically with Ginn's speed, whether he can catch the ball or not, he needs to be out there more than 22 snaps a game (which he was against the Jets). The Jets stacked the box, 8 sometime 9 players to stop the run, making the Fins have to pass against them, knowing they couldn't. What Ginn does, he demands coverage over the top, or he will just fly by the defense.

If I am the Defensive Coach, I don't care if he catches the ball 1 out of 3 times, I am bumping coverage to him so I don't look like an idiot when he catches it that 1 time. Doing this takes one more man out of the box, and limites the frequency of the blitz. Of course you can say putting him on the field takes away from another more sure hander WR to get open and catch a ball where Ginn might drop it...

Yes thats a valid arguement, but the team is trying to be an offense based on the Run, and I think this options gives you the best bet to run the ball! I agree that Ginn is not a true number one and deserved to see limited action this past week, but going forward, even if he is not being thrown too I think he helps open up the run.

Wilford Released!!! Costing the Fins 4.5 Million in cap. A long time coming.

k2oconnor — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:29:04 -0000

Wilford Released!!!

Costing the Fins 4.5 Million in cap. A long time coming.

Pat White and Chad Henne

k2oconnor — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:58:47 -0000

Both QB's looked good in the preseason debut, and give me confidents that they will progress as they go through the season.

Chad Henne:
He throws balls on ropes to WR. He is mechanically sound and don't think there is a throw the guy can not make. He has poise back in the pocket, which he needs with the 2nd team OL in there. He made two beautiful throws that stick out to me, both in the Red Zone on the same drive that lead to FG. One was to Polite, outside shoulder into the flats, where the defender could not get it. Only for a few yards, but he took what he could get and that showed a lot. The second was the incomplete to Ricky on a swing out of the back field. Ricky was in the endzone, the ball dropped right over the finger tips of the defender but Ricky dropped it.
My only negative is he rushed his throw on his pick, threw to a horrible area, while under pressure and it ended up as a sack. But it preseason he will learn.

Pat White:
The kid has an arm as well! If you look at his number 2-7 INT you say thats not to great. But as I stated in another comment. He hit P. Turner, Armstrong and another WR right in the hands and they could not hold on. The one went off the WR hands for an INT. White is quick and agile, and can throw on the run.
What Pat White needs to work on is his back pedal from center as the announcers pointed out last night. He looks a little slow out of the gate. And he needs to realize he is fast, but so is the NFL, don't be afraid to go down or slide on occasions so you don't get banged up.

Thats what I got.

Rutgers Alum Shine in First Pre-Season Game

k2oconnor — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:53:23 -0000

So the Titans and Bills squared off in last nights Hall of Fame Game. Even though the anticipation of seeing Kenny Britt play was haulted when he was ruled inactive nursing his hamstring, Rutger Loyales we able to watch another Rutger Rookie play on the big stage.

Jason Mccourty, played almost the second half at CB and KR for the Titans. He got his first chance at a Kick Return that was kicked poorly and basically squibbed to the five. Mccourty bobled it, but was able to recover for a few yards. He also shut down the left side of the Titans defense, covering WR well enough that the QB would look the other way. He didn't make to many tackles, but his coverage skills were not allowing the ball to come his way.

He got another chance at a KR, which was much better than the first and he brought the ball past the 25 maybe even the 30. But it was until he was on Defense again where he shined. The Bills were trying to rally for a 4th quarter comeback, when Mccourty jumbed a ten yard button hook to pick off the pass. He did an excellent job of tip toeing the side line to keep two feet in bounds. This play prompted a 3 minute discussion by the announcers on Mccourty and Rutgers, and made me proud to see that RU was getting so air time!

Did this quick at work, please excuse any mistakes

NFL Draft Moving to May?!?!?

k2oconnor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:18:37 -0000

I tried posting this in a Fanshot, apparently I can't figure it out...

The NFL is toying with the idea, and says it is a strong possibility the NFL Draft moves to a weekend in May! As a fan I think this a horrible idea, and the months of March and April are the longest months of they year!

Looking at from the NFL stand point the only thing I can see is playes like Hartline who could not attend OTA's because of Ohio States graduation rule...

I hope this does not happen

Rank your NFL Teams

k2oconnor — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:58:03 -0000

Ok so as many have realized this off season is really going slow. And fan post are to be kept on the topic of Football. So I thought why not Rank the NFL Teams from 1-32 in order from Love to Hate. I understand, like myself, that many don't root for more than one team, the Fins, but as a fan of football I find myself watching as many games as I can. And I always pick a team to root for in every game. I though about why I pick certain teams over another, is it cause I don't like one team that I want them to lose, in the case of every Pats and Jets game or do I root for one team cause it helps the Fins chances in the rankings better? Here are mine, I listed mine vertical, but to save space in the thread list them in a sentence structue. I also put a little blurb of why I like them.

1.) Dolphins .... I like their Mascot... haha do I really need to explain
2.) PHL- Grew up near PHL and enjoyed McNabb since day one
3.) MIN-Best friends family from MIN, and it was pushed on me at an early age.
4.) CLE-Paul Brown, Jim Brown, Otto Grahm, love the history
5.) NYG- My grandfather could not be a bigger fan
6.) IND- Peyton Manning, and they are a huge threat to the Pats
7.) PIT- Traditions and History
8.) SEA- I am fan of Hasselbeck, route for Seneca, now Mike Teel, and was a fan of Holmgren
9.) ARI- Ricky Proehl played there, he lived in my town, went to my schools and I met him a few times
10.) SD- Not sure- its got to be the players
11.) DEN- Was higher up until the coaching change. Elway really put them close to the top before 2009
12.) SF-History, Bill Walsh...need I say more
13.) JAX-Just a solid program like Garrad
14.) NO- Brees and the offense
15.) CIN-Paul Brown started the Bengals after he was wrongly fired from CLE
16.) TEN-Would be lower but Chris Johnson and now Kenny Britt
17.) HOU-Like them more then the lower tear teams
18.) GB-Enjoy their tradition, but just don't see to much of them. The middle group from CIN-GB could be swapped
19.) CAR-Ricky Proehl played here, LOL but Steve Smith is fun to watch
20.) BUF-Couldn't rank a division rival higher than this.
21.) CHI-They have a lot of history, but I have an annoying neighbor who I associate them with
22.) KC-Just don't see a lot of them
23.) TB-Never liked them, I think it was some players back in the 90's but they have over hauled so they could rise
24.) BAL-Can't stand Ray Lewis, and their defense is imposible... jealous? But I love Ray Rice RU Baby!
25.) STL-Greatest Show on Turf had them way higher, with Proehl, but they have fallen.
26.) OAK-Al Davis pisses me off
27.) ATL-Like Matt Ryan, but thats it, never really like the Falcons ever for some reason.
28.) DET-Such an old team with so much history never amounts to anything.
29.) DAL-Jerry Jones, and their the Cowboys
30.) WAS- Dan Snyder seems to run his team like a Madden Franchise
31.) NYJ-Need I say more!
32.) NE-BeliCHICK, great coach can't stand his morals and don't think Bledsoe was treated well. Could tolerate them in 1996, but now the Fan Band Wagon really makes my head pound....

Lets see it!