Biggest needs in the 2012 Draft

by TheFins on Jan 16, 2012 2:56 PM EST

Lets look at the biggest needs for the Miami Dolphins in this years NFL draft. To do this I think you need to really dig in and see what the issues are surrounding the Miami Dolphins. First off lets look at sacks vs. sacks given. Four teams in the NFL had a negative sack to sacks given for the season and made the playoffs. Those four teams are Green Bay, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Denver. All these team are out of the playoffs, except for San Francisco. As for the games these teams lost in the playoffs Green Bay lost the Sack battle vs New York, Denver lost the sack battle to New England, and N.O. lost the sack battle to San Fran.

Looking at the stats there are only four teams with winning records for the season with a negative sack ratio, and 7 of the top ten teams in sacks to sacks given made the playoffs and 3 of these are still in the playoffs now. The reason I think that this is important, are negative plays. If you are causing more negative plays with sacks then your opponent then you are going to win battles. The line of scrimmage is an important battle to win, and is a key to victories. So I want to break down how Miami looked in this category

Miami had 41 sacks on the season. This is tied for tenth in the league and is actually really good. One of the issues we will need to face is Jason Taylor had 7 of the 41 sacks, and he is gone so we will need to replace that production with someone else. Next Miami gave up 52 sacks on the season which is 3 worst in the league. That is negative 11 on the sack ratio which is the 7th worst in the league, and what do you know we are picking 8th in the draft. These stats show us a couple of things first that Miami is good at getting to the QB. I feel that anytime you are in the top 10 in any stat in the NFL that you are getting top tier performance. Second our offensive line is horrible. Giving up the 3 most sacks in the NFL is not good, and creates a huge need on the offensive line to help this team progress. Right tackle and Right Guard has to be big needs for the Dolphins.

Next I would like to look at turnover ratio. Miami Dolphins had 16 interceptions this year. Leaders on picks were Davis with 4, Smith with 2 and Randy Starks with 2. Starks had the same amount of interceptions as our safeties combined. I think that Smith is an OK DB. He had the same amount of passes defended as Vonte Davis, and fell short on the interceptions. Our Safeties on the other hand are not helping the team get the turnovers. It is great that Bell is leading the team in tackles, but he only caused 1 turnover. Troy Polamalu only had 2 turnovers this year, but he had 1 defensive touchdown, and 14 passes defended which is over 3 times the amount for Bell. Jones was just as bad as Bell. Matching him in every category in the passing game, but 40 tackles behind. Our pass defense was 25th in the league, and needs to get better. In the AFC we are going to face a lot of pass happy teams. The teams at the top of the conference pass the ball, and Miami needs to improve. I think the improvement needs to start at safety. Free Safety and Strong Safety are big needs for the Dolphins.

Next need for me is the passing game. The dolphins had 8 plays of over 40 yards on the season in the passing game, and only 1 play over 50. The Pats had 4 plays over 40 yards, and 1 over 50 just in the opening game alone. I know that it is hard to find a QB as good as Brady, and that is understandable, but what our Quarterbacks are bring to the games are not cutting it.. Matt Moore was 29th in the league in yards per game. Our Passing game needs to improve. Anthony Fasano was the 22nd receiving Tight End in the league, and some teams number 2 tight end had better stats. TE and QB is a must fix this year as well.

So in my mind looking at the needs of the team for me go in this order.

1. RT

2. FS

3. QB

4. TE

5 . RG

6. SS

7. OLB

That doesn't mean that you pick guys in that order, but you need value at each of these positions when the season starts next year. I know it seems like a lot of gaps, but that is what you get with a 6 win team. If you can fix the o-line, the tight end and one of the safeties maybe the pass defense, and the pass offense gets better.

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Well reasoned

rec’d

by Phinsphana on Jan 16, 2012 3:28 PM EST reply actions

Well said, rec'd

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by finzrule on Jan 16, 2012 3:39 PM EST reply actions

As much as I want to see us desperately grab I a QB

I admit, I would love to see us address RT, TE, OLB and S.

If we dont get RGIII we sure as hell get good players in the draft for those 4 positions.

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by BSerious72 on Jan 16, 2012 3:44 PM EST reply actions

Good Article.

John Jerry might be the solution at RT, certainly at RG. And Miami can draft a corner and move Sean Smith to safety. Maybe start Jimmy Wilson alongside vontae davis. Wilson always seemed to be around the football. If RGIII is gone by Miami pick, Miami might be best served by drafting Morris Claiborne CB, or Zach Brown, OLB.

by tpl on Jan 16, 2012 4:47 PM EST reply actions

Well said

We cn address the RG and FS position in free agency. Then as un-sexy as it is get the RT with the first. Package the 2nd and 4th pick to move into the bottom of the first to get the best TE in the draft. From there we need to get an outside LB in the third.

by Fins-Fan on Jan 16, 2012 6:00 PM EST reply actions

Good pionts, if we can not move up for RGlll, I would address the Line first then other areas.

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by 21Dave on Jan 16, 2012 7:08 PM EST reply actions

I would change the order a bit.

1. QB
2. OLB
3. RT
4. WR (Tall with speed)
5. RG
6. SS (Only because Bell is getting old)
7. Nickel CB (Allen is old and I don’t trust Carroll, Wilson might be the answer but better to have a backup plan)

I don’t think we need a FS or TE. Everyone is going gaga over NE and their TEs. But they’re just putting up high numbers because of NEs lack of WR (except for Welker). Fasano’s numbers dropped this year not because he’s not talented. It’s because of the change in QB (he had a better connection with Henne than Moore), and the injuries/poor play of our tackles (kept in for blocking). I also think Jones will be fine as our starting FS, it was only his second year in the NFL.

I used to think I had a drinking problem.
So I stopped thinking.

by luvs2drnk on Jan 17, 2012 2:21 AM EST reply actions

^^THIS

OLB is a bigger need than FS.. The Giants did not beat Green Bay because of who they had at FS, they beat him by bringing the pain. Which do you think gets in a QBs head more? The threat of an interception if he throws the ball the wrong place or the threat of physical pain if the whole defense is coming after him? Which one interupts a QBs timing the most? Having a scary front 7 will cause him to make bad choices and in turn make your FS better than it would otherwise be.

We had [Brady] down… but we didn’t kick him. We helped him up and gave him a PowerPuff Girls band-aid for his knee. What exactly did you expect would happen when we did that?

by Jason Scott_90 on Jan 17, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions

I think FS in a 3-4 is more important than most people give it credit.

GB was without Nick Collins for most of the season. Collins may never play again. Collins was a top 5 FS in the league. Look at Pitt. without Clark. KC without Berry. This years draft is weak on Safeties. So I expect Ireland will draft one.

I’m not a fan of moving Smith to FS. I’ve been thinking Will Allen may be the right guy at FS.

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by FinFanFromCA on Jan 17, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

A FS is darn important no matter the defensive scheme.

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by Finhead83 on Jan 17, 2012 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

The FS is important in a 3-4, but not as much as an OLB.

Even the best FS in the game can’t cover a receiver forever. Which is what will happen if you can’t get pressure on the QB.

I used to think I had a drinking problem.
So I stopped thinking.

by luvs2drnk on Jan 18, 2012 2:49 AM EST up reply actions

The other day watchin the playoffs there was a switcharoo of sorts the defense put there best corrner on the slot reciver and he was shutdown & when he made catch it didnt go for TD sumone was watching tape!

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by wild zion beaver on Jan 17, 2012 8:08 AM EST up reply actions

The Jets did that to the Pats.

They put Revis on Welker.

I used to think I had a drinking problem.
So I stopped thinking.

by luvs2drnk on Jan 18, 2012 2:47 AM EST up reply actions

QB is our main need.

Moore is a good backup QB, but he proved that he is not the guy to win a game for us. At most he has proven that at most of the time he is the guy to not LOSE the game for us.

We had [Brady] down… but we didn’t kick him. We helped him up and gave him a PowerPuff Girls band-aid for his knee. What exactly did you expect would happen when we did that?

by Jason Scott_90 on Jan 17, 2012 7:59 AM EST reply actions

First pick "hold-tight" take a stud #1, theres only 9 out there!

2.) RT/RG
3.) TE/FS/OLB
4.) TE/FS/OLB
5.) TE/FS/OLB
6.) presumming we have it QB. out of Bosie State
7.) presumming we have it QB. out of Bosie State
If we do not pick this kid QB. in the draft. No one elses picks him, drop all & go get this free agent. The wideouts will thank you later in practice this is a rare tallent (accurecy) it’s always needed in camp!

by wild zion beaver on Jan 17, 2012 8:27 AM EST reply actions

When the team was 0-7, I wanted the team to conitnue losing. The year was lost, Now What???

Since the team didn’t Suck for Luck and wasn’t Lousy for RG, we are stuck and may need to Tony-it and draft an O-line person.
That being said, I vote for trading down, getting a 1 and a 2, drafting Dwayne Allen and a O-Line dude or a pass rusher. For now the team is screwed. It will cost too much to move up and draft RG3. Washington is more likely to pay too much and move up to #2 or 3. This team definately has too many needs and should not Oakland it in order to get a QB. IMHO, M Moore is a 10-16 ranked QB. He EARNED a shot to be a starter for 2012. If he is great, well, fantastic. If not there will be Barkley, L Jones etc and others available next year. It is more important to get playmakers!! Obviously you need a great QB in this league. But a Stout defense and strong TE ala Vernon Davis, Antonio Gates is also important.

by DAVEBUCK on Jan 17, 2012 8:46 AM EST reply actions

I'm surprised it hasn't been listed yet as...

1) QB
2) Everything else.

- Attempting to debate with a person who has abandoned reason is like giving medicine to the dead.
- Defeat isn't bitter if you don't swallow it.

Contributing Writer to the The Phinsider

by Finhead83 on Jan 17, 2012 9:45 AM EST reply actions

I would put OLB up at 2nd,

only because you made very good points about the offensive line. I originally wanted OLB then RT, but you’ve convinced me to change my mind.

As for the deep plays, I think you are underestimating the need for a speedy WR, or a seam-threat TE, that can actually get seperation. If Blackmon falls somehow, we should grab him, otherwise stick with RT/OLB as our biggest needs.

More of Moore in 2012!

Coples for our new 4-3!

'Phins phor Liphe!

by joel311 on Jan 17, 2012 11:15 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Nicely put Joel rec!

by wild zion beaver on Jan 17, 2012 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

I have always been of the belief that if you do not have a Franchise QB, than QB is your biggest need until you find one...

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by #1Heatfan on Jan 17, 2012 12:30 PM EST reply actions

Quite the thought untill "we started winning" games, aganst (teams we had no) rite beating. The QB Moore, showed well for as much time widt the fins, as he had. Now if we can get Columbo ida here, get a true replca of a footballer at RT I'm in!

The team wont win for Hene…………………………………………………………

by wild zion beaver on Jan 17, 2012 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

i totally agree with the priority of needs that you laid out.

that is all

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Go Dolphins!

by Phinphinatic on Jan 17, 2012 2:00 PM EST reply actions