The Man In The Middle: What the Phins missed in this year’s draft
The Man In The Middle: What the Phins missed in this year’s draft
Free Agency is over and now the 2015 Draft is complete. The final third of the off-season repair is underway with cast-offs, roster trims, cap casualties and undrafted gems scooped up in free agency filling in the remaining holes – only time will tell how that goes. Free agency was a winner. Suh type talent is only acquired with a terrible season and a high pick or as an overpriced free agent acquisition: with Miami, it was the latter. So where are we after the draft? With seven picks, four of them in the 5th round, not just this season, but the success of this regime will hinge on this draft.
After free agency, we needed secondary depth and starters, LB starter– notably MLB, a starter at OG, RB depth, and a WR starter: we drafted two WR’s, DT, RB, OG, and two DB’s. It was in the second round when Miami traded back with the Eagles and passed on the last viable inside backers to get a DT that this regime entered the gutsy but risky territory. You can’t fault them on Parker in the 1st round – his injury puts some risk on this top tier talent, but they marked him as their man and he landed in their lap. The back end, 4th – 5th rounds, they grabbed needs and filled holes. But it’s the 2nd round decision that rests the biggest weight (no pun intended about the size the man) in determining how this draft will be judged. Jordan Phillips is a freak at 6’5” 329. He can do a backflip in uniform! The story is well known by now- top ten talent, rarest of size, strength, and athletic ability – yet his production reads the opposite. For all his potential and talent, he can’t play linebacker.
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Koa Misi spent most of the season last year hurt or ineffective. Jenkins is a stud but is coming off a serious injury. The rest of the squad is rounded out with journeymen or the unproductive in Tripp, Sheppard, Knott, and McCain. Prospects Mckinney, Kendricks, and Perryman went 11th 12th and 16th in the 2nd respectively, all talented MLB’s and all within the grasp of the Fins. But, they were passed on for Phillips.
Let me say this: our front office has done some really good things – the best FO Miami has had in a long time. They have outpaced the coaching staff as far as production so they have cred in my book. This could be their hallmark or swansong. IF Phillips is good or better yet a stud and they can find someone to man the middle, they will have gone a long way to cementing their legacy and the success of this season. The best pay per head reviews. The Fins need to either pull an ace out of the hole from their squad or pluck some savvy, hard-nosed victim of cuts to fill a crucial and large void on the Defense. Interior D-line is crucial to a defense – but even more so is the man making the calls and the true heart of a 4-3 defense: the middle linebacker. Wherever he is, whether on the squad or not, he must be found. But, for the first time in a long time, I believe the men running this ship are the men to find him. Go Fins!
Dunner: I agree with you. The front office looked at all the players specially cornerbacks and inside linebackers. They determined that those that were available to us when we draft it in the second round were not as good a talent as the defense tackle Jordan Phillips that they picked. By picking Phillips they certainly improve our run stopping capability tremendously. it also gives us the capability to have a three-man rotation in the defensive tackle position which we did not have before had Sue gone down we had no one to replace him. We do now. Not only that but the middle linebacker is not as important now since we have a solid defensive front. Additionally maybe the draft unfolded in a way that prevented them from getting a MLB with the 4th pick and had to go to guard. The guard we got in the 4th round will be an immediate starter and better than the 2 guards we would have started otherwise. He is a great pulling guard as well as a solid above average run blocking guard. It is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and criticize the picks and maybe offer another option, but the FO had a lot more info to work with and a different evaluation than you do I trust this FO a lot more than any of our last FO personnel in the last 10 years Time will tell if they are right Of course I feel good about the picks and the route selected Defensive tackle was a need for our team Then there are 4 pretty good un drafted free agent LB’s and who knows maybe one or two will make the team plus the FO only had 6 picks in this draft to work with. They had to decide what position is not as critical or maybe they also have their eye on possible LB’s that will be cut. As teams trim down to 53 players there will be some Alan’s available if I remember correctly I read an article that said some teams have 7 and 8 LB’s in their rosters and will have to make some hard choices and let some good ones go. So we are certainly not thru adding talent to this team. Plus there are still 5 or 6 Alan’s available in free agency. Some are good against the run others against the pass others too expensive . As we get closer to mini camp we will probably re evaluate where we stand So bottom line is too many variables that you and I are not aware off, we must trust Hickey. I believe we really are much better off with him than Ireland As for Gurley we would have passed on Parker to get Gurley. Not sure that would have been that smart. As is we got a top 4 running back maybe even the third best in this draft. He fills our needs entirely. Again a tough decision but a reasonable one. I also agree we have to really go after Collins – we would have the best front line in the NFL plus he could eventually replace Albert if he is hurt again Pull all the tricks in the bag but sign Collins
Well said Ralph, There is going to be more tweaking of the roster, but it is oh so close to being complete. Boy how tunes would change if we were fortunate enough to land La’el Collins. All of the sudden we could have a top 3 offensive and defensive lines in the league, and not for just one year, but for several years to come. Stay tuned because fireworks may happen in South Florida soon!!!
Ralph and Dunner, I’m on the same page…except I think Collins will go to Rexy & the Bills and that MLB is crucial even with our interior D Line. Line calls, leadership, play recognition and sure tackling from the middle man makes or breaks a D. Our line will put alot of makeup on poor ILB play, but ultimately it will be exposed. BUT, I agree our MLB is out there , even if its just a productive stop-gap. GO FINS.
MLB, G and RCB were huge holes that needed to be filled. None of those have been. The draft did get some good talent in Parker and Ajayi – a total steal in the 5th round – but I am dissapointed that the team’s major weaknesses were not addressed. And if anyone thinks the players taken from the 4th round up to PFA are the answers at those positions they are sadly mistaken.
Mass, Again, let the process play out. Something tells me that we will end up with Evan Mathis, which would take care of one guard spot. Who is to say that we don’t end up with La’el Collins. This staff has done a remarkable job in transforming this roster, a younger, more athletic, cheaper and coach-able roster than the one we finished the 2014 season with. A good Defensive front makes average corners look good, a great defensive front makes good corners look great. You have to look beyond the fact that there was no immediate answer at OG or CB on paper, but the personal chosen makes sense. Patience, as I feel that there is more to come, some way some how. Bottom line is have we closed the gap on the Patriots, you better believe we have, and with another signing or someone like Jenkins (2014) steps up we are in position to take the East back.
I actually have a really good feeling that Miami will end up with Collins. Expected to meet with the Dolphins today, 3 former LSU players on the team (Landry, Anthony Johnson, and Sheppard) are reported to have close personal connections, heard Johnson being called one of his good friends, and him and Sheppard have begun a recruiting effort for him, which given his current situation, is probably exactly where he would feel the most comfortable as, and projects as a Day 1 starter at LG. Close to home, but not too close, nice weather, more money because of the lower taxes. It makes sense. It seems to be resting on the hands of our 3rd string DT and our backup LB to bring yet another huge piece of the puzzle. Oh, and obviously his name being cleared of a double murder.
As far as the LB goes, I can’t say I wan’t intrigued when Perryman was still on the board at 2 and we traded down. Maybe he was one of those players who had he still been there would’ve gotten picked up at 52, but maybe not. I am exctied about two UDFA prospescts, not only your above mentioned Mike Hull, but I am actually more excited about Jeff Luc. 6’0 250+ pounds, bigger than Perryman, and with a passion for football. The knock on him was that he was too slow for coverage, but his coaches say he plays fast and his combine speed was 4.6, faster than Perryman who was closer to 4.8. I like the competition building at the ILB position with supposedly a beefed up Jordie Tripp and a second year for Koa Misi.
I agree with the process being played out. I am a bit of a doubting Thomas for a time now with my Fins, but this FO so far has done very well – of course this draft and FA will be a telling blow either way. But yeah, we need to see how players on the squad flesh out and what additions are coming Jordan’s suspension give us some unexpected cap flexibility. For now I am just saying …GO FINS!!!
Let the process play out. Miami did sign 4 LBers after the draft. Are they the answer, no one knows at this point, but we will sure find out sooner than later. Don’t be surprised if Mike Hull is the diamond in the rough, he is a football player, period! The cherry on top of the whole off season and draft could be La’el Collins, could you imagine if Miami ends up with this guy. The entire draft goes from a B+ to a A++. Hey, hes available for anyone, why not here in Miami with this young ascending team?
We should take a chance on the middle-line backer the Dallas Cowboys and the Ram’s let go. What have we got to lose now??We will have to do damage control before the season starts and sign some one from the practice squad from a team who is deep at linebackers. .
I’m just hoping some older vet gets cut do to a rook or salary and we can then address the future next yr. With our line and a healthy Jenkins maybe we can get by with a steady eddy?!
Did our whining receiver that went to the Vikings give us any production last year? The answer is obvious. Did our run game have any effect after NM went down? Did our QB get sacked again in 2014? Our draft choices were terrible11 Not because we didn’t need WO , but we got two people in free agency. Our first pick should have been the man we let go to the Chargers……. Then we could have picked up a middle-linebacker, a offensive guard, and the defensive lineman and a safety. along with a corner. In that order, other than the last two picks. We should have never traded down! We should have picked the best at each position. We should have signed Crabtree and never signed the receiver from the Vikings. Then we wouldn’t have the need use our number one pick for a wide-out. We are inconsistent in our choices!! I love the Dolphins but our coaching staff did not do there do diligence!! I am not taking away that they got some good people in the draft, but we could have done much better!!!! That’s the bottom-line. Suh was there best decision!! Then they went down-hill in the draft.
Dan, Do you really think that Crabtree is a true #1? Do we really need another Diva (Wallace) in our locker room? NO and NO! Don’t grab a true #1 so opposing defenses can stack the box against us without worries. So it wouldn’t have mattered who was carrying the ball, or who at the guard spots. When you can stack the box, you can stop any teams running game. The WR for Minnesota (Jennings) is a perfect fir for our scheme and more importantly our locker room and film room. The advantage this staff has put this team in because of the roster allows them to pick the best player on their board and when you as a franchise can do that, good things are to follow soon after.
I was surprised at WR with the first even though it was floated pre draft and I was more shocked w/ a DT in the 2nd – but as I reflect on it this notion came to me. First, we need to beat the Pats and right now the Pats are “seemingly” depleted in the secondary, so maybe the idea is too attack it full press with talented and deep WR core. Second, the only way to beat the Pats O is pressure. And with the short drops they run and Brady’s ability to climb the ladder the only consistent pressure is that which comes up the middle. IF Phillips really blossoms then we would have a true “fearsome foursome” with ferocious interior rush. Now, don’t get me wrong MLB to stop TE over the middle and plying short stop is HUGE and so is the big blank spot at guard…but Parker’s 20ypc at near 6’3” allowing underneath lanes for Landry and Jordan COULD be sweet. Of course I know this is all theoretical.
If the Phins can somehow get Collins this draft grade would immediately become an A.
Dunner:
I agree with you. The front office looked at all the players specially cornerbacks and inside linebackers. They determined that those that were available to us when we draft it in the second round were not as good a talent as the defense tackle Jordan Phillips that they picked. By picking Phillips they certainly improve our run stopping capability tremendously. it also gives us the capability to have a three-man rotation in the defensive tackle position which we did not have before had Sue gone down we had no one to replace him. We do now. Not only that but the middle linebacker is not as important now since we have a solid defensive front. Additionally maybe the draft unfolded in a way that prevented them from getting a MLB with the 4th pick and had to go to guard. The guard we got in the 4th round will be an immediate starter and better than the 2 guards we would have started otherwise. He is a great pulling guard as well as a solid above average run blocking guard.
It is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and criticize the picks and maybe offer another option, but the FO had a lot more info to work with and a different evaluation than you do
I trust this FO a lot more than any of our last FO personnel in the last 10 years
Time will tell if they are right
Of course I feel good about the picks and the route selected
Defensive tackle was a need for our team
Then there are 4 pretty good un drafted free agent LB’s and who knows maybe one or two will make the team plus the FO only had 6 picks in this draft to work with. They had to decide what position is not as critical or maybe they also have their eye on possible LB’s that will be cut. As teams trim down to 53 players there will be some Alan’s available if I remember correctly I read an article that said some teams have 7 and 8 LB’s in their rosters and will have to make some hard choices and let some good ones go. So we are certainly not thru adding talent to this team. Plus there are still 5 or 6 Alan’s available in free agency. Some are good against the run others against the pass others too expensive . As we get closer to mini camp we will probably re evaluate where we stand
So bottom line is too many variables that you and I are not aware off, we must trust Hickey. I believe we really are much better off with him than Ireland
As for Gurley we would have passed on Parker to get Gurley. Not sure that would have been that smart. As is we got a top 4 running back maybe even the third best in this draft. He fills our needs entirely. Again a tough decision but a reasonable one.
I also agree we have to really go after Collins – we would have the best front line in the NFL plus he could eventually replace Albert if he is hurt again
Pull all the tricks in the bag but sign Collins
Well said Ralph, There is going to be more tweaking of the roster, but it is oh so close to being complete.
Boy how tunes would change if we were fortunate enough to land La’el Collins. All of the sudden we could have a top 3 offensive and defensive lines in the league, and not for just one year, but for several years to come.
Stay tuned because fireworks may happen in South Florida soon!!!
Ralph and Dunner, I’m on the same page…except I think Collins will go to Rexy & the Bills and that MLB is crucial even with our interior D Line. Line calls, leadership, play recognition and sure tackling from the middle man makes or breaks a D. Our line will put alot of makeup on poor ILB play, but ultimately it will be exposed. BUT, I agree our MLB is out there , even if its just a productive stop-gap. GO FINS.
MLB, G and RCB were huge holes that needed to be filled. None of those have been. The draft did get some good talent in Parker and Ajayi – a total steal in the 5th round – but I am dissapointed that the team’s major weaknesses were not addressed. And if anyone thinks the players taken from the 4th round up to PFA are the answers at those positions they are sadly mistaken.
Mass,
Again, let the process play out. Something tells me that we will end up with Evan Mathis, which would take care of one guard spot. Who is to say that we don’t end up with La’el Collins. This staff has done a remarkable job in transforming this roster, a younger, more athletic, cheaper and coach-able roster than the one we finished the 2014 season with. A good Defensive front makes average corners look good, a great defensive front makes good corners look great. You have to look beyond the fact that there was no immediate answer at OG or CB on paper, but the personal chosen makes sense. Patience, as I feel that there is more to come, some way some how. Bottom line is have we closed the gap on the Patriots, you better believe we have, and with another signing or someone like Jenkins (2014) steps up we are in position to take the East back.
I actually have a really good feeling that Miami will end up with Collins. Expected to meet with the Dolphins today, 3 former LSU players on the team (Landry, Anthony Johnson, and Sheppard) are reported to have close personal connections, heard Johnson being called one of his good friends, and him and Sheppard have begun a recruiting effort for him, which given his current situation, is probably exactly where he would feel the most comfortable as, and projects as a Day 1 starter at LG. Close to home, but not too close, nice weather, more money because of the lower taxes. It makes sense. It seems to be resting on the hands of our 3rd string DT and our backup LB to bring yet another huge piece of the puzzle. Oh, and obviously his name being cleared of a double murder.
As far as the LB goes, I can’t say I wan’t intrigued when Perryman was still on the board at 2 and we traded down. Maybe he was one of those players who had he still been there would’ve gotten picked up at 52, but maybe not. I am exctied about two UDFA prospescts, not only your above mentioned Mike Hull, but I am actually more excited about Jeff Luc. 6’0 250+ pounds, bigger than Perryman, and with a passion for football. The knock on him was that he was too slow for coverage, but his coaches say he plays fast and his combine speed was 4.6, faster than Perryman who was closer to 4.8. I like the competition building at the ILB position with supposedly a beefed up Jordie Tripp and a second year for Koa Misi.
I agree with the process being played out. I am a bit of a doubting Thomas for a time now with my Fins, but this FO so far has done very well – of course this draft and FA will be a telling blow either way. But yeah, we need to see how players on the squad flesh out and what additions are coming Jordan’s suspension give us some unexpected cap flexibility. For now I am just saying …GO FINS!!!
Let the process play out. Miami did sign 4 LBers after the draft. Are they the answer, no one knows at this point, but we will sure find out sooner than later. Don’t be surprised if Mike Hull is the diamond in the rough, he is a football player, period!
The cherry on top of the whole off season and draft could be La’el Collins, could you imagine if Miami ends up with this guy. The entire draft goes from a B+ to a A++. Hey, hes available for anyone, why not here in Miami with this young ascending team?
We should take a chance on the middle-line backer the Dallas Cowboys and the Ram’s let go. What have we got to lose now??We will have to do damage control before the season starts and sign some one from the practice squad from a team who is deep at linebackers. .
I’m just hoping some older vet gets cut do to a rook or salary and we can then address the future next yr. With our line and a healthy Jenkins maybe we can get by with a steady eddy?!
Did our whining receiver that went to the Vikings give us any production last year? The answer is obvious. Did our run game have any effect after NM went down? Did our QB get sacked again in 2014? Our draft choices were terrible11 Not because we didn’t need WO , but we got two people in free agency. Our first pick should have been the man we let go to the Chargers……. Then we could have picked up a middle-linebacker, a offensive guard, and the defensive lineman and a safety. along with a corner. In that order, other than the last two picks. We should have never traded down! We should have picked the best at each position. We should have signed Crabtree and never signed the receiver from the Vikings. Then we wouldn’t have the need use our number one pick for a wide-out. We are inconsistent in our choices!! I love the Dolphins but our coaching staff did not do there do diligence!! I am not taking away that they got some good people in the draft, but we could have done much better!!!! That’s the bottom-line. Suh was there best decision!! Then they went down-hill in the draft.
Dan, Do you really think that Crabtree is a true #1? Do we really need another Diva (Wallace) in our locker room? NO and NO! Don’t grab a true #1 so opposing defenses can stack the box against us without worries. So it wouldn’t have mattered who was carrying the ball, or who at the guard spots. When you can stack the box, you can stop any teams running game. The WR for Minnesota (Jennings) is a perfect fir for our scheme and more importantly our locker room and film room.
The advantage this staff has put this team in because of the roster allows them to pick the best player on their board and when you as a franchise can do that, good things are to follow soon after.
I was surprised at WR with the first even though it was floated pre draft and I was more shocked w/ a DT in the 2nd – but as I reflect on it this notion came to me. First, we need to beat the Pats and right now the Pats are “seemingly” depleted in the secondary, so maybe the idea is too attack it full press with talented and deep WR core. Second, the only way to beat the Pats O is pressure. And with the short drops they run and Brady’s ability to climb the ladder the only consistent pressure is that which comes up the middle. IF Phillips really blossoms then we would have a true “fearsome foursome” with ferocious interior rush. Now, don’t get me wrong MLB to stop TE over the middle and plying short stop is HUGE and so is the big blank spot at guard…but Parker’s 20ypc at near 6’3” allowing underneath lanes for Landry and Jordan COULD be sweet. Of course I know this is all theoretical.