A Word About the Secondary

by lancelotlink on Apr 29, 2008 12:17 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

There seems to be a lot of anxiety about the lack of secondary help during this year's draft. I completely agree that it is our greatest area of concern at this time. However, after all of our free agent signings, the trade with Dallas on Friday, and the draft, I feel that it is now our only area of concern. By saying that, I mean that it is the only area that has yet to be addressed aggressively. Whereas three months ago, the entire team (save for the running backs) needed a complete overhaul, it now appears that only the secondary still has holes to fill.

We now have a healthy, young QB competition; tons of depth along the offensive and defensive lines; a young TE with upside; speed and depth at LB; a young WR corps with speed (Ginn), size (Wilford), and intrigue (Bess and Foster, the UDFAs); the usual suspects at RB with some new big bruisers thrown in; and possibly the deepest, fastest, meanest special teams unit in the league. Obviously it's going to be a while until we truly know what we have here, but the turnover has been great and a lot of dead wood has been cast adrift. And we managed to keep JT!

Although I hope I'm wrong, odds are pretty good we'll be drafting early in the rounds next year as well. Cornerback and safety are two of the positions where a young, talented player can step in right out of college and make an immediate impact in their rookie year (see Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, Troy Vincent, Don McNeal, Ed Reed, Ronnie Lott, et al.). Quarterbacks, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and linebackers usually take more time to develop, so I think this year's approach has been great. It's exciting to finally see the entire team's needs addressed all at once. The future is ours.

Please don't make any comments that disagree with me as my feelings are hurt rather easily. Thanks, and...

Go Dolphins.

This fanpost was written by one of The Phinsider's registered users.

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Just kidding...

...with the comments about my feelings. I actually have a heart of stone (covered with a thick candy shell!). Fire away.

by lancelotlink on Apr 29, 2008 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That thick candy shell is misleading

so your like a rock flavored M&M?

As far as next year’s draft, if we have the kind of year everybody is expecting, we’ll have a 4-5 game improvement, putting us in the 5-11 6-10 range. That would put us in the top 10 in next years draft most likely. The first name that comes to mind in the secondary is Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio St. He would’ve been a first rounder had he come out this year. We’ll be able to improve the secondary next year in FA and the draft, and what we have should be able to get us about 5 wins, especially with our (should be) improved pass rush

http://canemutiny.blogspot.com A fans view of Miami Hurricanes Football and Basketball

by Little Nicky 21 on Apr 29, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I like Jenkins as well. I’d imagine NT would be a top priority as well.

Matt

by Matt27 on Apr 29, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right

as well as OLB. Defense will be a top priority next season I would imagine, since the offense is already young. and NT could be a bit of a wildcard depending on what happens with Randy Starks and Dotson (our final draft pick).

http://canemutiny.blogspot.com A fans view of Miami Hurricanes Football and Basketball

by Little Nicky 21 on Apr 29, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point

QB Playoffs this season… Win or Go Home
-by Little Nicky 21

by NeverSellout on Apr 29, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not meant to hurt your feelings but

~ I feel that it is now our only area of concern. ~

wow – that is looking through some pretty rose colored glasses…. just a few clouds on your parade of goodness…

QB – we’ll walk right by this one, since we all hope they will find a solution here

RB – well Brown is coming off major surgery that takes 12-18 months to really recover from and Ricky can go up in smoke at any time, and they traded maybe the best play maker on the team for a 4th rounder – hardly oozes rocks of confidence

OL – right now they are likely starting 2 rookies, 1 guy coming off of major surgery, 1 guy who may be grumpy cause he’s being moved from a cash position in his contract season… this may be a area of great hope, but i’m not sure i’d say it isn’t an area of concern

WR – do they have any that can play?

TE – Granted they played all of last season without a professional one on the roster, so what me worry?

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 29, 2008 8:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oops

I forgot to add….

the secondary looks pretty good to me compared to some of the above areas. they may not be flashy but they can play provided someone can locate the qb in under 6 seconds…. they would have looked a whole lot better had capers figured out before game 12 that he might need to blitz on occasion.

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 29, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree...

...that I am a pie-eyed optimist this time of year. 100% correct. Guilty as charged. My point is simply that the Dolphins have taken care of business in these first 3 months by loading the team up with good depth at the positions that require the most seasoning and development. I think it’s a good plan. This enables them to concentrate on the immediate-impact players next year. You can look ahead and see everything coming together at the same time. You have to look very hard, squint a little bit, and tilt your head to the left, but it’s there—right next to the magic unicorn.

By the way, I find it ironic that you describe your post as a “few clouds” while your avatar is a happy, smiling sun.

Go Dolphins.

by lancelotlink on Apr 29, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well my

avatar was my daughters favorite baby toy and she’s a bright and cheer girl, while I’m a fins fan, so i’ve endured 20+ years of cloudy weather….

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 29, 2008 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right on.

My avatar is my son and me at his first ever pro football game: Fins vs Bengals at the end of last season. My wife and daughters were there, too, and I’ve been preaching the history of the Fins for years to the entire family. All they’ve known is the sucky Dolphins, starting with the JJ era and it’s ensuing downward spiral. Having them around makes all that bearable, though. They pull me right out of the funk of another frustrating loss.

When I was his age, the Fins had just hired Shula and greatness was creeping over the horizon. I’d already been to a few games and my lifelong addiction was just beginning to stir. Things are so different now. I can’t imagine growing up with the internet. If The Phinsider had been around when I was a kid, I would have flunked out of school…

Okay, it’s getting late. Thanks for the two cents…and goodnight.

Go Dolphins.

If I had a tagline, this would be it.

by lancelotlink on Apr 30, 2008 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs