Draft Scooby Dooby Doo?!
The Draft is still a few months away, but the combine has wrapped up, and Free Agency will be upon us – and then it’s all Draft talk wall to wall. One name that I keeps popping up is Arizona Linebacker Scooby Wright III.
Many of the best sportsbooks around the world are saying Wright is in some ways comparable to one of the Miami Dolphins all time greats, Zach Thomas. Wright has a very similar build at 6’1”, 246 pounds, the same non-stop motor, and work ethic as Thomas. But, if Miami decides to draft him, can he be the Dolphins middle linebacker for the next decade, much less an NFL great.
Wright is predicted by many to be drafted in the the 2nd or 3rd round – some even say after his combine showing even lower. One of the biggest challenges is that he played in only 3 games last season because of knee and foot injuries. However, he was medically cleared at the combine this past weekend, and his tape from his 2014 season gives alot of credence that he can lay in this league. Some point out though that his tremendous 2014 season was a product of playing down hill and not play recognition, and that many of his tackles came downfield.
Yet, it’s hard to simply dismiss a 2014 season that ranks as one of the best defensive seasons in NCAA history. He won the the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award, which are all given to the nation’s top defender, and he also finished 9th in the Heisman voting. In regards to statistics, he put up video game type numbers, with his 163 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, 14 sacks and 6 forced fumbles. And while context might be a knock, those are some amazing statistics.
Wright played extremely well against the run as a middle linebacker and was even lined up many times as a defensive end, providing excellent pass rushing ability. The question, especially in the new NFL, is his pass coverage. While his Pro Day workout will further shape his stock, it seems every year someone is equated to be the “next” Zach Thomas. Last year it was Hull. But, Scooby has defied the odds in the past and while Zach Thomas are gigantic shoes to fill – I’d take half of Zach with a 3rd or 4th round pick. What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans thoughts about drafting Scooby Wright?
Great idea, draft a midget MLB thats slow, injured, etc. to go along with our midget CB.
The best pick at #8, if not traded down, will be the best OLman on the board, period, end of story.
Buckner from Oregon DE,
@ # 7 Stanley OT has lost stock since the combine started and Ezekeil Elliot has gain in stock moving up to # 9 position.
# 7 Buckner Oregon
IN OUR VIEW: Buckner played primarily as a defensive end in Oregon’s 3-4 base, lining up as the four-, five- or six-technique, but also saw snaps inside in the A-gap or at nose tackle. He plays with explosive movements and terrific body control for his size, flashing heavy hands and initial power to be a disruptive force, although he’s still learning how to use his hands and string together rush moves.
# 8 Stanley
IN OUR VIEW: His lacks technical refinement and will struggle initially in the NFL as he learns the finer points to the game, but he has the size, length and athletic ability that few his size possess, which is why he’ll be drafted high.
–Dane Brugler & Rob Rang (11/19/15)
# 9 Elliot Ohio State
Complementing Eli Manning and Odell Beckham, Jr. with a bell cow running back might be the fastest way of getting the Giants back into playoff contention. Elliott isn’t the second-coming of Todd Gurley but he’s clearly the top running back in this class, showing the all-around game to play on all three downs immediately.
Would the Dolphins take one of the these 3 players?
The Dolphins cannot go wrong with either player
Should we trade back for more players taking the ILB or OT Decker etc.? Aquiring more picks?
The best player for the Fins at 8, is a difference making LBer, Myles Jack. Period end of story!
The Last (5)years we have STUNK in our choosing no !st round running backs I hope Lamar and the young back can do the job this year. Remember everyone we cannot get to the play-offs without a quality balanced attack. I do believe we hired the right coach this time.
Quit taking damaged players in the draft!!! We do not need to take the has been running backs from the Bears and other teams. Build for the future!!!!!The Patriots seem to have a quality
scouting…. Do your job and draft what we need. Free agency can work, if you pick young talent.
We need OT, OG, Defensive line, line-backer. and someone to back-up Grimes. If we can fill these positions, maybe in the next two years we can make the play-offs!!!!!Our needs’s are
great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two years of using free agency and the draft. Then we will see if Tannehill is our QB. Can he throw beyond 30 to 40 yards with accuracy, consistently…..??????At least 50 to 60% of the time!!!! No QB can without a offensive line. We need a balance attack
I hope our two running backs can continue to show that they are quality backs…
Steve, Did you just try to make a case for Jordan? Ouch, now you are reaching. Unless this staff has kept it close to vest, he’s gone, freeing 3.2 million.
Dunner
Dont recall vouching for Jordan. When the Dolphins drafted him clearly the management failed on his background? But If there is an comment from me clearly a mistake on my part.
I think with Jordan we screwed up…bad shoulder and asked him to bulk up. He’s a LB- SLB and maybe if he is run right he could play that role. It wasn’t for recreational drugs, but rather performance enhancers because in the real world 20lbs of muscle is real hard to add. Let him play LB and be 240…
Okay!
I will stand solo on Eezekiel Elliot in the 1st round by trading back. But when we are sitting watching the game this season just remember when you here the records that he will break. Say we could have drafted him. We will not go any where base on this 6 -10 cast of players. Would Pat Riley run this way?
Some of us dont remeber Merino the Running back from Denver ran well for us but could not stay healthy and the Dolphins could not win without him? History does not lie! This process is like carrying a water can full of holes trying to cross the desert?
I’m concern about placing a draft pick on a DE or Corner in the 1st round because we have Jordan as a reminder?
Considering Miami take care of the offensive linmen issue in FA then only if trading back for Reggie Ragland. Fins must get away from average. If Miami take Linebacker in the FA then you must go after a linmen 1st or second round. We keep saying we want the best?
16 Reggie Ragland ILB 1 Alabama Sr 6-1 247 1
55 Kentrell Brothers ILB 2 Missouri Sr 6-0 245 2
82 *Dominique Alexander ILB 3 Oklahoma Jr 6-0 232 2-3
100 Tyler Matakevich ILB 4 Temple Sr 6-0 238 3-4
114 *Scooby Wright III ILB 5 Arizona Jr 6-0 239 3-4
135 Antonio Morrison ILB 6 Florida Sr 6-1 232 4
If the staff feels as everyone else in South Florida does, Scooby Doo will be a steal in the third. Highly doubt they take him in the second, at 42 overall??? That is where we hope Whitehair slides to. I would hope that Scooby slides and they steal him in the forth, in the third should be a day 1 starting guard where Miami sits.
All will be much clearer in a week. The Mario opportunity is interesting, only if he takes 8/9 million/season for me. We can always get at least one of the top 2 DE’s if not the top one (Bosa) via the draft. Could use said $ on a CB and Guard, OLBer. I could see Williams having a decent 2/3 year rebound though, playing in a 4-3, his strength.
I don’t see us taking a O-Lineman in the first round. That means it will be a defensive player, especially since it looks as though Miller may be resigned. I don’t see us taking a CB at 8, Grimes isn’t going anywhere, he would only clear up 6.5 million w release. More it starts to shape up, looks to be a DE or LBer at 8.
Stay tuned!!!
Lemmus
I agree with you that we definitely have to fix the offense of line once and for all.
I got a feeling that we will get at least one guard if not two in free agency.
We also need to start thinking about grafting a future left tackle who can proximally be a back up for now but ready to jump in should we have another injury the Albert.
Additionally if we do draft a left tackle what our first pic we can probably release Albert next year and save lots of CAP money
If we did not have so many colds and this team we would be drafting best available player and planning our future instead of trying to plug in players to fill the holes we have right now. The 2013 Ireland draft really set us back and we will need great Free Agent pickups and a great draft to build a contender again
I just hope our front office can do just that even though I don’t have a lot of confidence in Tannebaum because of his handling of the guard situation last year – I hope that was an aberration and that we do have a great off season this year between free agents and draft
We will know very soon this coming week starts the free agent signings
Please get 2 good guards we need 2 not one and we do need a backup tackle who can take over eventually and become our starting left tackle maybe he could also be our backup guard
…sigh …defense this, defense that …one or more of us just doesn’t get it …like ex-miami coaches, the constant refrain seems to be that “we can fix the OL later” …”we need an impact player” etc etc etc
…go ask Tannehill what he thinks an “impact” player would be …as in ANYBODY that can give him more than a couple seconds to find an open receiver before he’s smacked into the ground again and again and again and again and again …ask Miller what he thinks an impact player would be …as in ANYBODY that can open a lane for him to run through …much less give him a 2nd level block
…if Stanley is there at 8, take him …else find a partner and trade down to get the next best OL …but until our OL problems are fixed, f defense …we have a LOT of 2nd and 3rd year talent on defence that could step up …we have almost NOTHING on the OL …a LT that gets hurt every year, a center that looks like he’s going downhill, zilch at either guard …and zilch backups at all of them
…I still think that we can get Osemele as a FA which would mean we could go defense with our 2nd pick …but the OL HAS to be the #1 priority …else we’ll be setting right here NEXT year wondering if Tannehill is the man
…imnsho of course
Lemmus, I do like Stanley and /or Whitehair ( trade up late 1st / early second). BUT, Scooby would be a 3rd -4th rounder and D spots need to be filled in FA and draft. Also, in your opinion, if Stanley was gone at #8, where would you go with the pick?
Admin
I like Scooby but I would stick with my selection for ILB and Maybe we should focus on an OT in FA in case Albert goes down again then what?
1. 8th pick: Reggie Ragland ILB 1 Alabama (Trade back for more picks 2nd round 55 Shilique Calhoun DE)
(3rd rounder extra pick
2. 42nd Pick: Vadal Alexander OG 2 LSU
3. 73rd Pick: Artic Burns: CornerBack Miami Fl
4. 104th Pick: Spencer Drango OG 7 Baylor
5. 135th Pick: Cardale Jones QB Ohio State
6. 168th Pick: KJ Dillon SS 6 West Virginia
7. 195th Pick: Nile Lawrence -Stample DT 18 Florida State
7. Miami has another pick
…I think Stanley will be available and we should take him and immediately trade Albert for picks or a starting guard …a LOT of teams need starting LTs and Albert is that despite his injury history
…else it would depend on who is till on the board and who is on the roster …I think if not Stanley, then we try to find a trade partner to go down ~10 slots and get at least an xtra 2nd round pick …if no trade works, it would depend on what the holes are after the coaches eval FA acquisitions and current roster …now that Suh has restructured (which I still think is a long term mistake) and Jennings is gone, where do the coaches stand on Jordan, Lippett, and Wake …if they believe they can start, then we could possibly go bpa …if one of them can’t, then we draft for need
…but the simple truth is, as Dunner alluded to, that the picture will be much clearer by late April because of FA and the Jordan situation resolution
I’ll state it again that the draft isn’t my area of expertise, but from my laymen point if view, I keep hearing the Raven are moving on from their LT and with Osemele leaving he or Bosa seems their pick. He does look good, but they also say he’ll need a little development. If Miami does draft him, I don’t see them moving Albert because they need vet leadership there for T-Hill to get evaluated properly. BUT, LT must be solved and I am warming up the an LT pick.
Not at 8. Defensive player. No Elliot either Steve, as it looks like Miller will remain here.
Jimmy
I would agree with you Protype Tackles & Guards are what we need. Albert is that when Healhty he has proven that. We have options.
1. Miami takes the best Interior linemen out of FA such as:
Most-Likely Top Free-Agent Offensive Tackle: Trent Williams
Williams has officially become a “perennial Pro Bowl left tackle,” having gone there in each of the last three seasons. But will the Redskins be able to afford him? He’s the highest-paid player on the team for 2015, and they have to figure out what to do with Morris, Ryan Kerrigan and a potential situation with Cousins if he becomes the starter at quarterback.
Others available: Anthony Castonzo, Nate Solder, Russell Okung, Donald Penn, Kelvin Beachum, Cordy Glenn, Andre Smith, Bobby Massie, Mitchell Schwartz, Chris Clark.
Most-Likely Top Free-Agent Interior Lineman: Marshal Yanda
Another example of how elite this upcoming free agent class could be, Yanda is considered by most to be the best guard in the NFL, if not the best overall lineman. He’s been to each of the last four Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro last season, also having landed on the NFL Top 100 in 2014 and 2015. But the Ravens may not be able to afford to keep him and Kelechi Osemele, the guard on the left side who is also a free agent, also considered to be great, but five years younger than Yanda.
Others available: Alex Boone, Manny Ramirez, Ryan Wendell, Ramon Foster, Todd Herremans, Amini Silatolu, J.R. Sweezy, Richie Incognito, Stefen Wisniewski.
This is an Options to prevent Mediocre.
Jimmy
Defensively We could also view FA. Who would object to these players?
Von Miller, outside linebacker, Denver Broncos
•2015 Salary: $9,754,000
Miller may just be the best pure pass rusher the NFL has seen since the late Derrick Thomas, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. The 26-year-old Miller is likely going to land the richest contract among all free agents around the league this offseason (assuming he does not receive the franchise tag from the Broncos), and let’s face it, after his amazing performance in the AFC Championship Game, there is virtually no chance that Denver let’s the four-time All-Pro hit the open market. If the Broncos and Miller can avoid using the franchise tag for 2016 and reach an agreement on a long-term deal, expect it to be more lucrative than the contract that Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston signed last offseason.
. Muhammad Wilkerson, defensive end, New York Jets
•2015 Salary: $6,969,000
Wilkerson may ultimately end up being the best player in the league to change teams this offseason. The 26-year-old is hands down one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the league, and is coming off a season in which he posted a career-high 12 sacks. We know for a fact that the Jets really want to keep Wilkerson around for the long term, but seeing as how the five-year veteran will command a contract with an average annual value well north of $10 million, they may run into salary cap issues during the negotiation process.
Being realistic the Dolphins I dont think can afford either one of the two?
Lemmus
I would not trade Albert! Albert is the real deal he really was rush into battle from his ACL rehab. I knew was to too early but when the team surrounds itself with Mediocre players A coach have to rushed his players back onto the field. Albert is a warrior why trade him?
Lemmus
2016 Draft Miami Dolphins (Top two OT Tunsil Ole Mis and Standley Notre Dame will be gone off the board maybe by pick 6 or 7.
But Miami Dolphins could trade that spot for more picks. Maybe a second this year, a 1st next year and a 2nd the 3rd year? I dont know I’m not the expert?
Say the dolphins drop back as far as 23rd pick in the 1st (wounding up with Offensive Tackle Taylor Decker Ohio State.
Second round selecting Cody WhiteHair Offensive Guard from Kansas State or Vada Alexander LSA OG.
With extra picks could select OLB Jushua Perry Ohio State or Southern CAl Ju’a Cravens. Bottom line our management must acheived trade out the 1st ( the more pick is the answer to filling so many holes? Right now the Dolphins have an extra pick in the 7th round. Giving us 8 picks.
My personal conclusion is that we will draft one of three positions with our first pick
Either a linebacker or corner or defensive end
I don’t think we will draft a running back or safety with the first pick
Depending on whether we loose Vernon or not defensive end might not be as great a need if after free agency we keep Vernon and of course Wake and maybe add a free agent like Mario Willians if the price is right so if that happens our first pick might be down to a corner or linebacker
If our FO thinks that Scooby can fit then we might take our corner and Scooby in the second round and end up with 2 day one starters in positions of need
But if we sign a middle linebacker in free agency we will probably draft a safety or guard in the second round
I still hope we move back and pick up extra draft picks we sure need them
Who we sign in Fee agency will obviously affect who we draft
I can also see the FO drafting a Tackle in the first round if the right player is there and again depending if we fill some of our glaring holes in free agency
This is a deep defensive draft and most of our needs are in defense – we could end up with 4 to 5 starters out of this draft
totally agree in two parts: FA will determine our direction in the draft – Mario Williams signing would change the draft board for instance, and that S & RB won’t be the pick as I feel Miller will be signed before FA.