Philosophical Shift In 2016 NFL Draft
The Philosophical Shift In 2016 NFL Draft was speed and matchups.
Miami was as aggressive in the 2016 NFL Draft as the offense they look to install.
Speed, spread, match-ups, attacking offense was present in the Dolphins philosophical shift in the 2016 NFL Draft.
I assumed they would add a running-back, linemen, or two, maybe a tightened late, but the rest would be a defensive bolstering draft built through patience and trade backs.
It was nothing like I expected.
The precipitous and bizarre drop of Laremy Tunsil should have prepared me – it didn’t.
My high was broke when Miami missed out on Jack by inches. The loss of the 4th round pick to move up a couple of spots sent me into a drunken rock. When the farm was sold to get wide receiver Leonte Carroo my eyes began to snap open and shut spasmodically. When the second wide-out, Jakeem Grant, was taken, and I saw he was a midget, I began to laugh uncontrollably and smack myself in the face to wake up. I didn’t awake.
Over the course of a couple of hours of muttering to myself and my wife rapping me in the back of the head a couple of times in an attempt to snap me out of my stupor, I accepted and understood the massive philosophical shift the Dolphins made in round 2 of the draft.
Now, I am surely not saying this vision will be easy to attain and even will happen. But, it is a coherent one and one they stuck to their guns to achieve.
This Miami Dolphins regime, and Ryan Tannehill, will either hang themselves or pull themselves to redemption through this course of action.
The 2016 NFL Draft has infused a lot of talent into the Miami offense.
Pro Bowl Albert at Left tackle, Elite talent Tunsil at Left Guard, Pro Bowler (although more on name than production) Mike Pouncy at Center, and talented first-rounder James at Right Tackle, to go along with a utility backfield, a full stable of very talented wideouts lead by Landry, and finally Cameron and a drafted speed threat at tight end in which (at least in theory) to produce a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses supported by an excellent offensive line.
Will this actually happen? It will take the best pay per head bookie sites to set the odds on that.
To make this a reality and not just a dream of theory, it will take very good coaching and half time adjustments, Tannehill to assume a leadership role in personality and in production, and that the evaluation of these rookies ends up being far more on target than off.
Again, will it happen? I don’t know.
But, the real question at this juncture is, can it happen? Given the events of Thursday night and watching the insane event of Tunsil’s arrival to Miami – anything is possible! I will be very anxious and excited to see, that much is absolutely certain.
The one main thing I take away from this regime that is positive and keeps chin-up is at least they are walking with a set between their legs and not queasy like the last group – hopefully, they will prove that they have brains to match. Go Fins!!!
Thank You Steve! I agree, we must win our home games and the AFC East games. Each every season starts and ends there. For the first time since Orange Bowl Stadium days, we will have a real home field advantage with the visitors side being the only area with direct sunlight for the 1pm games. Think that was intentionally, or by accident? Either way, that could make a difference on those steamy hot Sept./Oct. games.
How does everyone feel about the non-practice rookie camp this weekend? Is this something that will be copied in the future? I like the idea, especially in South Florida’s heat/humidity.
DolpFans
I have a questioned!
Can the Dolphins win all of the 8 home games and can we Win 3 of the away games? That would put us in the play offs with 11 Wins?
Hello DolFans
I’m beginning to come to grips that the DolFans will take the BIG S OFF OF THERE CHEST FOR SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCES. Dolphins at best should be able to keep our Defense off the field? and improved their Red Zone Performances.
…I hope Carroo is everything you think he is …and could become
…but I still see him as competing as the return man first and foremost to take that off Landry’s shoulders …if he can out compete Stills, all the better
…the midget receiver with all the speed is said to have cold hands and a rep for losing track of the ball …I don’t think he’s our return man …rather an ST gunner who can give us better field position by getting to the opponent returner faster than anyone else
…I’ll be mildly surprised if Landry/Parker/Stills are not the starting WR set out of camp
…and just for the record, I don’t think Tannenbaum is done as yet …I’m thinking there are still some holes on defense that are yet in play
They have cap flexibility due to their cheap…ahem frugal use of the cap in FA. I expect them to look for some good value FA’s.
Yes Lemmus, I agree that Laundry should be relieved of his return duties, by whoever. I’m thinking Jakeem Grant is the player they are hoping to take over there, but very well could be Carroo. Jakeem ran a 4.37 in combine, and word has it that he ran a 4.15 at his pro day. Thats fast.
I know I’m touting Carroo, even though I don’t go out of my way to watch college football, I just happened to watch most/parts of 4-5 of his games this year (I live in upstate NY). He just looked like a man playing amongst boys in those games, and a few of those games were against Big10 competition. The guy is jacked, can run, and has tremendous hands. He is coming into the strongest position on the team, we’ll see. I loved him, but there was no way I thought Miami would have a chance or even take a WR that early, similar to Tunsil. Tide is turning!!!
Lemmus, are for real about Tunsil’s password? Boy, I can see it now, Deon Jordan and Tunsil meeting daily at 4:20 🙁 . Loved the way Tunsil handled himself drat night though, told the truth, denied nothing. That alone told me a little bit about him.
I just listened to a piece via Sirius NFL Radio. The discussion was the AFC East, the topic; closing the gap on the Pats. Both commentators agreed that the Miami Dolphins were the only team that closed that gap on the Patriots. Explained, “defense, defense, defense; you have to score to beat the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins are the only team in this division that has a chance to do so”.
Side note: Mike Tannebaum on trading up and drafting Leonte Carroo, “selecting Carroo, when they saw how they could go down and get Carroo, who we had as a No. 2. We thought he was the second-best receiver in the draft.”
I happen to watch 3-4 of his games this year, he is the real deal. Stills will be back at the 4th WR spot shortly after camp/preseason starts.
Admin, you called it…. Gase did say he was going to focus on the offense in year 1 and the draft proved that to be the case. Considering we focused on the offense, the draft was one of our better drafts in 10 years. I give it an “A” (for me this grade includes the 2 starters we received from the 8 spot). I know it may seem as a homer grade, but the “professional” critics are giving high grades also, the lowest I’ve seen is a B+, that speaks volume when its across the board.
We got 2 steals in this draft the first is obvious the second is in a area of strength:
1) Laremy Tunsil: This is self explanatory (STEAL #1). To trade your 8 spot and get 2 starters, then to get the BEST player in the draft at 13. Nothing short of a miracle (I STILL FEEL THAT LEMMUS WS THE HACKER = GREAT MOVE KID!!!)….. A+++
2) Xavien Howard: I thought it would be a defensive heavy draft due to needs and draft’s strength. No, but we did land a starting corner opposite Maxwell (evidence; trade of Taylor). Howard is a in your face press type corner, very very aggressive (sometimes to aggressive). He fits exactly how Joseph teaches, a good player I thought we were targeting all along, thought it would be in the 3rd, but they really coveted him and they were prepared to take him as early as they did = 2nd round. For me the grade reflects the player as well as the need and the players strength’s….. B
3) Kenyan Drake: Drake gets my lowest grade. Not just for the player, but for the draft spot and RBs that were still left on the board at the time. Having said that, Drake is and can be a weapon, a match-up nightmare. A player that should get 10-12 touches/game with some return capabilities as well. Drake is the type of player Gase covets and he can be a game changer. The exciting variable here is that Gase knows how to incorporate Drake into his offense and he will, unlike our previous staff….. C+
4) Leonte Carroo: (STEAL #2 IN OUR DRAFT). The position here was a bit puzzling, especially because we moved up to get him, but not the player. This player is explosive, when he has the ball in his hands he runs angry. He can play inside or outside, match-up nightmare (kinda like Drake) and an outstanding runner w ball in his hands. If you don’t know much about him, watch the Michigan St., Indiana games last year (15) and that is all you will have to know. He can take over a game by himself. Only reason he is there in the third was due to off field issues. This player is as good as any WR drafted this past weekend, AS GOOD AS ANY, including Treadwell, Fuller doesn’t matter…. B+
5) Jakeem Grant: He is what Laundry needed. Laundry’s days off returning kicks and ounts should come to an end, and should just because of injury concerns. Plenty of speed; 4.3, wow! Not to familiar with the player, but as a returner for now, able to relieve Laundry of that, good move for the sixth round….. B-
6) Jordan Lucas: A versitle player that can and has played both CB and safety. Best suited as a safety. Excels in run support with above average ball skills. Lacks ideal athleticism. Quality special teams player and depth provider…. C+
7) Brandon Doughty: here is our QB. Not sure if he will beat out Logan Thomas. Not a very strong arm, then again the last time we made the playoffs was with a similar guy = Pennington. Work in progress, very intelligent player, Gase will probably get the most out of him…… C+
8) Thomas Duarte:(SLEEPER PICK): Duarte was rated as the 4th best TE in this draft (Per CBS). A bit undersized who can line up all over. A nightmare match-up. There is that word again “match-up”. With the 2 top TEs up for free agency next year, Duarte has a chance to stick, at the very least on the practice squad….. B
1) A+++
2) B
3) C+
4) B+
5) B-
6) C+
7) C+
8) B
Other than the fact that we only draft 1 defensive player in the first 2 days and 1 more the rest of the way, offensive heavy Miami really did well throughout. Thought that there we a few reaches. But, if you like the guy, get the guy, and that is what they did. I thought they showed that they had a plan and executed said plan. They targeted a few players and when they had the chance to get said players they did what was necessary to do so. I also thought that they knew that they were going to forfeit a few picks in next years draft to allow them to get the players they targeted, also knowing that they will be receiving 3-4 compensatory picks next year that for the first time are tradable picks. My favorite pick (other than Tunsil) is Leonte Carroo, he is the real deal, a faster Anquan Booldin (no nickle CB will be able to stop him). Miami is a better, more versatile, dangerous team today than they were last Wednesday. Theme of the draft “MISMATCH”, Miami can create mismatches everywhere on offense at any time and they now have a coach that knows how to do so. Not going to able to stop/match-up when Miami’s big 3 are on the field = Laudry, Parker, Carroo. It should also be fun watching the defense this year with a more attacking, press concept.
Overall Grade; A
A few steals in Tunsil, Carroo. A starting CB in Howard. Complimentary RB with skills in Drake (I believe that Arian Foster will be on the roster once medically cleared). Sleeper TE in Duarte. MAKE OR BREAK year for Tanny!
…I’m not coppin to nuttin, ya hear …but man o man when a dude uses ILOVEWEED as his password, sometimes the temptation is a mite bit overwhemin’, ya know! 🙂
Are you serious!! That simply can’t be true that his password was ILOVEWEED … please tell me you are pulling my leg!!!! Please.
I got it right?!!! Whhooaa Nelly, I’m going to write this date down!!!! Thanks, Steve.
Nice job Dunner on the Break down of our draft picks.
One of the Dolphins 7th Round Picked!
Duarte said the NFL player whose style most resembles his is Washington tight end Jordan Reed.
“I got a lot of comparisons to him and I definitely watched a lot of his games this year and tried to implement his quickness with his speed,” Duarte said. “The key awareness in route running transfers over to the same thing that I can do.”
Duarte said he made a pre-draft visit to the Dolphins and loved it, adding, “It just felt like home.”
Scenarios that the Dolphins could use TE Duarte
Considering he’s a bit undersized for a tight end, he was asked whether it would be more accurate to describe him as an H-back.
“Really, (I am) just trying to be an NFL tight end,” Duarte said. “Whatever these coaches want to use me as, that’s what I plan on coming in and doing and contributing in any way.”
Unlike the spread, which makes use of players that tend to be smaller than traditional tight ends, the Cardinal have legit, full-sized tight ends playing the H-back spot in various formations. Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo, in the last few seasons in Palo Alto, have lined up on the line, off the line and split out wide, in the same fashion as their spread counterparts.
Whether you’re looking at the monsters out at Stanford, or the likes of Orson Charles who was at Georgia, Tyler Eifert at Notre Dame and Eric Ebron at UNC, the athletes at the tight end position, today, are top flight guys. There are more of these elite athletes playing the position than ever before, and because of the options they present, the H-back spot has grown in prominence.
Non-drafted college free agents:
Akil Blount, ILB, 6-2, 245, Florida A&M
James Burgess, ILB, 6-1, 210, Louisville
Ruben Carter, C, 6-3, 305, Toledo
Ryan DiSalvo, LS, 6-3, 247, San Jose State
Tyler Gray, OLB, 6-3, 238, Boise State
Gabe Hughes, TE, 6-3 240, Florida Tech
Farrington Huguenin, DE, 6-4, 271, Kentucky
Marshall Koehn, K, 6-1, 197, Iowa
Lafayette Pitts, CB, 5-11, 190, Pittsburgh
Rashawn Scott, WR, 6-2, 203, Miami
Brandon Shippen, WR, 5-11, 195, Temple
Dolphins also signed a linemen.
(Ruben Carter)
Miami, FL (Miami Jackson)
Offensive Guard
•Ht 6-4
•Wt 306
•Exp 2015
2013 OUTLOOK:Versatile lineman who can play inside or outside and enters fall looking to contribute more in the rotation at either guard or tackle.
2012: Reserve lineman who played in five games (Murray State, Savannah State, Boston College, Duke and Maryland)…played 10 snaps in wins over Boston College and Duke and posted a season-high grade of 70 percent against the Eagles.
2011: Redshirt season
PERSONAL: Three-star offensive lineman who split time between guard and center.
It appears that we have signed 3 undrafted free agents ILB should be interesting?
Akil Blount, ILB
Florida A&M
Akil Blount returned an interception 75 yards for a score and Florida A&M beat Delaware State 41-13 on Saturday for its first win of the season.
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Tyler Gray OLB 66 Boise State Sr. 6-3 238lbs
BOISE STATE CAREER
SENIOR (2015): Appeared in 12 games, starting seven…finished fifth on the team with 53 tackles (30 solo), including 3.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles-for-loss…shared team lead with two fumble recoveries…made three tackles (two solo) against Washington (Sept. 4)…had two solo tackles at BYU (Sept. 12)…led the team with seven tackles (four solo) and a sack, also broke up two passes and forced a fumble against Idaho State (Sept. 18)…shared a TFL at Virginia (Sept. 25)…made four tackles (two solo) against Hawai’i (Oct. 3)…made a sack among his three tackles (two solo) at Colorado State (Oct. 10)…had a sack among his two tackles against Wyoming (Oct. 24)…shared a tackle-for-loss among his five tackles (two solo) at UNLV (Oct. 31)…had six tackles (four solo) including 1.5 tackles-for-loss against New Mexico (Nov. 14)…made eight tackles (five solo), including one for loss, against Air Force (Nov. 20)…recovered two fumbles, forced one, led team with seven tackles (five solo) including a tackle-for-loss at Poinsettia Bowl against Northern Illinois (Dec. 23).
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James Burgess Fr. ILB Louisville, KY
Bottom Line
Three-year starter lacking the size and toughness to win against the run, but above average production and man cover talent against the pass. The tape shows a player who is too often confused and out of position to be relied upon as a starter, but his pursuit speed and ability in the passing game gives him a shot at making a roster as an outside linebacker if he can prove to be a special teams winner
We here at Phinsnews like to slum once in awhile with the lesser reporters…so we don’t look so hoity toity. 🙂
“Salquero says”
…sigh …’tis a sad thing it is when admin lowers his standards to that of the Miami Herald 🙂
…James was ranked as a 2nd rounder, a real reach at 19 …think about that
…Tunsil was ranked #1/2 OVERALL on almost every board …as an OT
…and “Salquero says” they’re going to make Tunsil a guard
…uh huh
…I’m funnin’ with ya admin …but quotin’ Salquero as a rational, logical, objective source was beggin’ me to do it, eh 🙂
Albert I don’t believe can be moved this season due to cap hit…not exactly sure…but that’s what me brain says…it’s wrong now and then, so don’t quote me!!!
…well he does have a serious cap hit …that’s true …but that kind of hit didn’t stop us from taking Maxwell in a trade now did it?
double down on dumb, huh?! I don’t remember the clear figures, I’m going go look at them…but, I believe next year is much less. I do hope Maxwell pans out…I;m tired of being a laughing stock, I”d like to do the laughing once in awhile.
…me, I’ve been laughing since Thursday night …plan to keep right on doing so …I mean, Tunsil at #13 …PLUS 2 STARTERS 🙂
I sure do hope this trend continues!!!
…one more comment …I don’t see Tunsil at OG under any circumstance …James will move to OG, Tunsil is just too damn good at OT to use him otherwise
…and despite the valid criticisms of it, I still see Albert as trade bait for any team needing a LT post draft …Tunsil makes that possible …if the right offer comes along, I think we’d give it a lot of thought.
Lemmus
You may have the best scenario with James! Where is Tunsil’s strongest at? Don’t fixed something that’s not Broke! Go get a Guard to play Guard Folks? If Tunsil Strong Suit is Tackle keep him there? Even if their Just Rotated in and out the game.
Several “real” writers haves said, best players will play and Tunsil will begin at LG. Albert won’t be unseated and Tunsil isn’t as good a RB as James. Tunsil will get left side feel while play LG…not saying it’s absolute, but from what I am hearing and my meager estimation, LG would be a great start for Tunsil as his RB needs work so RT or RG would not be as conducive and he would have to use a different kick foot at RT…not impossible, but just my reasoning. I see Gase as a match up spread get the ball in space…we actually have an H back now…so I think it will be ALOT of spacing and pressure on CB depths as mode of attack…
“On one hand, they thought they acquired the best player in the draft. On the other, the Dolphins think the best player in the draft is a guard, at least for now”
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/29/dolphins-got-best-player-in-draft-tunsil-think-hes-a-guard/
Hey, lemmus, Steve do you know anything about the center Miami picked up UFA?
…all I’ve seen was a long-snapper, not a center
both…is our old man getting replaced!!! Say it ain’t so!!! The C is Ruben Carter
Admin
Ryan DiSalvo Long Snapper
AT SAN JOSÉ STATE: Four seasons with the Spartans … 50 games played… The Spartans’ long snapper the last four seasons… 249 for 249 “true” snaps his first two seasons… First joined the team for 2012 Fall preseason drills.
2015: Responsible for all long snapping acitivites… Spartans set a single-season team record for net punting at 42.4 with his center snaps… Was in on one unassisted tackle on special teams coverage.
…I’m still holding to the opinion that the WR moves were targeted at doubling down on finding a real KR/PR threat more than anything else …thought Landry was used in that role far to often last year, an all too injury prone spot for one of your top WRs
…I do think that the totality of picks put them on the page that its essential to evaluate Tannehill this year because of the way his contract is structured …and assuming (I know) that injuries don’t kill them, I think they are now set to do just that …as Dunner said, four first round picks on the OL that can both pass protect and run block …not only should that stop the sack riot but give T-hill time to find his targets and get deeper more often, as well as make the run component much more effective
…there is a lot riding on the status of several players, Jordan among them …if the injuries heal and don’t reoccur, we could be a mean team on both sides of the ball …even if only 50% break our way, we should still be far more effective than last year
…that of course assumes Gase lives up to even 50% of his hype …but given his comparison point now is Philbin …how could he not?