The Phinsider: All Posts by Chris Early

Jeff Ireland: The Once and Future GM

2013-05-09T11:00:12Z

A TIME TO REFLECT

The Miami Dolphins have been a team lacking an identity for over a decade. The Dolphins have been an ‘also-ran' in the NFL since Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino retired. Fans have suffered through various coaches, quarterbacks, and failed draft picks until they have about had it. Then in 2008, Miami hired former coach Bill Parcells to rebuild this team in his image and finally give this franchise an identity. And it worked for a season. Miami signed former Jets quarterback Chad Pennington that offseason to be a stopgap/mentor to rookie second round selection Chad Henne. Pennington had a renaissance of sorts where he played very well, earning a second place vote in the MVP race and leading the Dolphins to a division title and the playoffs. Things were looking up... until they weren't. Pennington couldn't stay healthy, Henne couldn't remain consistent, Parcells ducked out of his contract early, and new owner Stephen Ross and his GM Jeff Ireland were left holding the check.

All Dolphins fans are familiar with this narrative and frankly, it can be depressing to rehash it. However, there is one spin-off narrative that fans may be witnessing before their very eyes. Jeff Ireland is one of the most, if not THE most, polarizing figures in the Miami sports community. His presence has caused fans to picket and fly banners over the stadium wanting him to be fired. Fans have approached him in the stadium and told him he should fire himself (you stay classy fan). Fans on this site have expressed their feelings regarding Ireland more times than can be counted (at this point, it would not surprise me if they dug up an ancient scroll in an earthen jar somewhere in the middle of the Sahara desert and it said #Fireland in hieroglyphics).

However, I wanted to bring a new perspective to the discussion. In a recent NFL.com article, former Miami Herald writer Jeff Darlington wrote an article about the new look Dolphins. There was one line that caught my attention:

New, bold moves that suggest even general manager Jeff Ireland is enduring a maturation process that has him making decisions in a way that could lead to something more than the boring, wasted seasons of old.

I read that line about three times and it dawned on me that general managers, much like young players, need to develop. There is a myth going around that if a player doesn't become an immediate star, then he is a bust or a wasted draft pick. The fact is that while some players develop faster than others, all players need to develop. The same principle applies to general managers. Some GMs start out fast, but others may need more time. Some never get it, but then others might. Unlike players though, GMs rarely get that second chance. Becoming a GM is usually a one-time shot - you either win or you don't. If you don't, your chances of getting another shot are slim to none. Jeff Ireland is one of the rare GMs who got a second chance. And from appearances, it looks like he is finally developing into a good GM.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Part of the discussion regarding Jeff Ireland amongst fans is the involvement of Bill Parcells. It's a prickly subject to those who dislike Ireland because they feel it is an excuse; a crutch to let Ireland of the hook for bad moves. Those who are more supportive are Ireland stick to that argument believing that Parcells and his notorious need for control was the main driving force behind those bad moves. That discussion is not pertinent to this post. I do not want to discuss or debate whether or not the past moves are because of Parcells and how much control he had in the decisions. For the sake of this post (and sanity), we are going to assume that Ireland AND Parcells were in joint control of all of it. In fact, including Ireland in that regard will help deliver the point of this post.

Now that I've said that, we can look at the philosophy behind how 'The Trifecta' began to build this team. It is somewhat understood that GMs and coaches work together to shape a roster. Coaches have schemes and plans that they like to use and they want certain types of players to run those schemes. The GM goes out and finds the best players available that the coach wants to use. For example, if a coach plans to utilize a read-option attack in his offense, the GM is probably not going to acquire a quarterback like Ryan Mallett or Mike Glennon. That's not a hard and fast rule (Calvin Johnson is not an ideal WCO receiver, but if you are in a position to draft a player like that, you do it anyway). However, for the most part, that philosophy works.

So when the Trifecta got started, the men who acquired the players went out and got players that fit the philosophy of the coach. Coach Sparano was hand picked by Parcells to be the head coach and he was groomed under Parcells' tutelage in Dallas. It only makes since that the coach would have similar philosophies, which is that of a power run, ‘three yards and a cloud of dust' offense and big 3-4 defense. Their first draft reflected that philosophy when they took offensive tackle Jake Long first overall, eschewing filling the need for a quarterback until the second round. That move right there set the tone for the Trifecta regime.

Up until last season, if only seemed reasonable that Ireland (and Parcells before he left) would acquire players that fit the philosophy of the team. Ireland acquired bigger players; bigger receivers, bigger linemen, bigger defenders. The team lacked speed, which was sacrificed for size, but that was fine under the philosophy. It wasn't about speed, it was about power. If you look back over the course of the Sparano regime, you can clearly see that philosophy. But there were two little problems with it.

LIKE IT OR NOT, IT'S CHAD HENNE'S FAULT

I have said this many times on this site in the comment section and now I'm writing it in a post: regimes succeed or fail with the quarterback. It is pretty much that simple. If a GM finds a franchise quarterback, everything else falls into place. Even if a team has glaring weaknesses and/or lack of talent at other positions, a top-tier quarterback can make up for that. If the Dolphins had somehow acquired Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers in 2010, that team makes the playoffs. Why? Because those quarterbacks are so good, they make everyone around them better (Tom Brady went to the AFC Championship game in 2006 with a 35 year old Troy Brown, Jabar Gaffney, and Reche Caldwell as his top receiving options. You don't think he could have done serious damage with Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess, and Brian Hartline in 2010?)

On the flip side, if a GM cannot find a franchise quarterback, then those glaring weaknesses become magnified. When teams have to rely on other players making their quarterback better, they typically fail. Despite bringing in sufficient talent around Chad Henne, he was never able to take that step into becoming a franchise quarterback. Only excuses and questions ensue at that point. People question if the player needs a better coach or better receivers or better this and that (I still remember all the Henne debates on The Phinsider. I don't miss them). In reality, what is truly needed is just a better quarterback. The GM may be able to skirt by if he can acquire enough talent to stay afloat a la Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets. However, unless that GM can find another quarterback fast, he is usually put out to pasture and the team goes back to the depths of rebuilding, a la Mike Tannebaum and the Jets.

In summary, if Chad Henne had become the next franchise quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, no one would be discussing Jeff Ireland, or at least the volume of discussions would drop.

SHADES OF YESTERYEAR

To paraphrase the movie Anchorman, "Bob Dylan once wrote ‘times, they are a-changin'. Tony Sparano (and Bill Parcells) had never heard that song." Once upon a time, power rushing football was the name of the game. Teams built offenses around a powerful offensive line and premier running backs. All NFL teams still want a strong offensive line and dominant running game, but now they want a dynamic passing attack more. While quarterbacks have always been important, their role has increased with offenses and rules favoring the passing game. To illustrate this point, let's compare the rookie stats for Troy Aikman, HoF QB and first overall pick in the 1989 draft to that of Ryan Tannehill's rookie season of 2012. Aikman's rookie season: 155 completions, 293 attempts, 9 TDs, 18 INTs, 1749 yards (his highest yardage total in ANY season was 3445). Tannehill's rookie season: 282 completions, 484 attempts, 12 TDs ( plus 2 rushing TDs), 13 INTs, 3294 yards. As you can see, teams like to pass more these days.

To that effect, the offensive philosophy that Sparano tried to implement is an outdated philosophy. No, teams aren't abandoning the running game, but neither are they making that the primary focus either. Teams now want offenses that can score points quickly and at will. Sparano's offense was about clock and game management and winning close. If the offense put up 30 plus points via the running game, then that's great. But Sparano was content to win a 10-7 game too. Unfortunately, the rest of the NFL doesn't feel that way. So when a high powered offense came to town, it didn't usually work out for the Dolphins in the win column.

Another somewhat outdated philosophy that was employed was the idea to draft bigger players in lieu of faster players. In the era when Parcells reigned as a coach, size was more important than speed. You wanted big, nasty players because that's what won games. The desire to find big players hasn't really changed much. Teams still want big, nasty players, but now they want speed and athleticism too (which would explain much of Lane Johnson's meteoric rise from second round prospect to fourth overall pick). It's no longer cool just to be the biggest kid on the block. Now, you have to be the fastest and most athletic kid on the block as well (which would explain why a 5'9", 175 lbs slot receiver went eighth overall in the draft). Speed is the key now and Sparano didn't keep up. The outdated model the Dolphins used left them behind the times. Their roster may have been big and tough, but was literally and figuratively too slow to keep up.

WINDS OF CHANGE

It was thought that Jeff Ireland would be gone along with Sparano. However, Ireland was given that rare second chance to build a winning team. The Dolphins hired former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to be the head coach in the hopes he would bring the Dolphins into the modern era with a high powered passing offense. Along with Ireland, the two would work together to shape the roster under Philbin's vision. The growing pains were tough - struggling with a limited offense with a rookie quarterback at the helm and moving two mercurial, but talented players at key positions, leaving the team devoid of that talent. However, Philbin and Tannehill took the Dolphins farther than anyone thought; resulting in a 7-9 record when most thought 4 wins would be all the Dolphins could muster. Though some careful planning, Jeff Ireland staged an offseason to remember with high profile free agent signings galore and what appears to be a great draft. Now, the expectations for the Dolphins are that of a wild-card playoff contender and a team on the rise.

Of course, all of this is perception. Miami may not be as improved as people think. The free agent haul may not work out as expected and the draft picks may all be busts. Fans will continue to debate about the state of the Dolphins until they can actually see the product on the field. But that's not what's important right now, at least in terms of this post. What IS important is the growth and development of Jeff Ireland as a GM. The perception is that Miami's arrow is pointing up and included in that is the perception that Jeff Ireland has finally developed into not just a competent GM, but a good one. There will be those - writers, fans, hatters - who will not let anyone else forget about the previous blunders of Jeff Ireland. But as I have pointed out, there are at least plausible reasons for why he (and/or Parcells) made the choices he made and acquired the players he did (everyone misses). But as the old adage goes: to err is human, to forgive, divine.

COMPARISONS

Forgiveness for the past is exactly what Ireland would deserve should he build a winner. And of course, it all depends on Tannehill (see Henne section above). However, I think that it is apropos to look at how Ireland has developed from the Parcellsian days of 2008 into a more modern look in 2013. Ireland's first acquisitions were intrinsically tied to Parcells. He (they) acquired guys like Jake Long, Ernest Wilford, Karlos Dansby, Brandon Marshall, John Jerry, Daniel Thomas, Justin Smiley, and Koa Misi. Those players fit under the old archetype: big, strong, less emphasis on speed. Since Ireland has been completely on his own, he has veered away from that mode and into the modern realm of speed. His first draft pick by himself was still an offensive lineman, but probably one of the most athletic lineman in the league (it's fun to watch Pouncey pull and destroy on running plays). Within that draft, Ireland acquired the fastest player in the class in Clyde Gates. Gates never developed into a good player, but again, everyone is going to miss picks. The point is that Ireland made a move with an emphasis on speed not size and we're looking at philosophy here. Ireland did trade up for Daniel Thomas, who has been an underwhelming, but not a completely terrible pick. Limited by injuries, Thomas did flash in 2012 as he made some plays, ran with some power, and scored 4 TDs. While Thomas was not a checkmark on the speed acquisition chart, Ireland later made the move to ~~steal~~ acquire Reggie Bush from the Saints. Bush added the speed dimension, while Thomas was supposed to add the power dimension. He signed Matt Moore to backup Henne and we all know how that turned out. All in all, the 2011 draft was average to weak for Ireland. He scored a win by drafting Pouncey and the jury is still out on whether Thomas, Clay, and Wilson will be anything aside from backups. But remember, this was Ireland's first solo draft and it was still for Tony Sparano. He did well in free agency with the Bush, Moore, and Kevin Burnett signings and only really missed on Marc Colombo. This is where the arc of the learning curve starts moving up.

Going into 2012, Ireland lacked the cap space to be overly aggressive in free agency. He picked up a few free agents like Richard Marshall, but no one else of note. The biggest news was that the Dolphins traded Brandon Marshall to the Bears. Everyone questioned the move because its rare teams give up talent. However, the prevailing opinion is that Marshall did not mesh with Philbin's personality and vision for the team and that's fine. Philbin has the right to want the type of team and players he wants. The issue was about not replacing Marshall's production. But where Ireland really showed growth was in the draft. He admittedly went against his (Parcellsian) principles and drafted the aforementioned Ryan Tannehill (Tannehill did not fit Parcells' model due to lack of college starts). Tannehill already looks like a keeper and will solidify that standing with a good sophomore season. Ireland picked up what appears to be Jake Long's replacement in the second round with Jonathan Martin (a metaphorical washing of his hands of the 2008 draft). He picked up some players with good potential in other rounds, including the probable starting running back Lamar Miller in the fourth round. It's too early to declare this draft a success or failure, but Ireland's philosophy has shown dramatic change since 2008. This draft may his intentions clear: we are finding a quarterback and building around the quarterback and the passing game.

The team struggled in 2012, but Ireland's planning and vision left the team with plenty of cap space and thanks to trades, a bevy of draft picks. The 2013 offseason has been covered very well on this site, but it only shows how Ireland has developed. Instead of going for the Ernest Wilfords of the world, Ireland signs a top tier player renowned for his speed. Instead of resigning Fasano (a move I wanted), Ireland signs Dustin Keller. He's a receiving tight end, not a slow blocking tight end that fans are accustomed to seeing on the team. He lets Smith go and signs a potential upgrade in Grimes; with injury questions and not talent being the issue. Did you notice how it was only AFTER the draft that Ireland signed a key offensive lineman (Lance Louis is not a KEY acquisition). Ireland traded away Davone Bess, a reliable but slow slot receiver. When you look at the signings, the common theme is speed. Then Ireland attacked the draft, making bold moves to get Dion Jordan. He drafted players like Jamar Taylor, Dallas Thomas, Mike Gillislee, Jelani Jenkins and Will Davis who are fast and athletic at their respective positions. Again, the common theme is speed and athleticism.

Looking back over all of Ireland's six drafts, you can see a philosophical change; evident in his first round picks selections: offensive tackle, cornerback, defensive tackle, center, quarterback, pass rusher. Doesn't that appear that Ireland is changing and developing a better understanding of how the modern NFL works? Are Dustin Keller, Mike Wallace, Ryan Tannehill, and Mike Gillislee the types of players Ireland would have tried to acquire in 2008? My guess is no. Those players would have been outside of Ireland's principles in 2008. Today, they are all Miami Dolphins.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Jeff Ireland has shown me that he is willing to adapt to a changing NFL landscape. Instead of holding fast to outdated principles, he is willing to do what it takes to build a competitive team based on today's philosophy of speed and athleticism. Ireland has shown growth and development as a GM much like NFL players can show growth and development. He is showing us his development by sweeping away the remnants of the old line of thinking and trying to usher the Dolphins into a modern, athletic, fast, dynamic NFL. I will say that Jeff Ireland will never be perfect and he will continue to make mistakes as a GM, just like everyone else. But when the Dolphins begin to win and contend, as Tannehill becomes a franchise quarterback, those mistakes will be less striking and easier to forgive. So the next time you discuss Ireland on The Phinsider, try to view him through the eyes of his development and not strictly on his past. Sure, there are still questions that need to be answered and ultimately Ireland's legacy will depend on Ryan Tannehill. It's totally fair to have those questions because Miami has not been a great team and Jeff Ireland is a big part of that. But Ireland has also shown that he is changing and learning from those mistakes too. With cautious optimism, I believe that Jeff Ireland is becoming a good GM right in front of us. I believe he is changing for the better, showing that development as a GM to have the ability to build and maintain a quality team that can perennially contend. If so, let us forgive him of the past and look forward to a brighter future for the team we love. Perhaps the time is not far away when we laugh at our doubts we had about Ireland. What would we talk about then? Oh yeah... victory!

The New Miami Dolphins Defense: Hybrid Fronts Gone Wild

2013-05-07T15:00:08Z

The Miami Dolphins have made headlines all off-season with their blitzkrieg approach to rebuilding the roster. Jeff Ireland made move after move in free agency addressing plenty of team needs and getting good caliber players to fill those needs. The draft was no different as the first big move of the draft was Miami trading up for Oregon edge rusher Dion Jordan. Considered by most to be the best pass rushing prospect in the draft, Jordan was THE player in 2013 that Jeff Ireland said he would NOT miss out on in the draft.

Most Miami fans are still basking in the rays of post-draft excitement and optimism after the embattled GM makes what appears to be quality picks in the draft. However, some in the media have questioned Ireland's decision to move up for Jordan. The biggest questions are: how does Jordan fit in the scheme and will he contribute right away? These are valid questions that fans should not dismiss as mere disrespect from the media.

Miami has been a 3-4 defense for years and in 2012, made the move to play 4-3. Jordan projected to be more of a 3-4 edge rusher than a 4-3 edge rusher based on his size. While he checks in at over 6'6", he only weighs about 250 pounds. When you look at him, he doesn't appear to be big enough to play a full time 4-3 defensive end at the pro level. Part of the issue was a torn labrum and the subsequent surgery to repair it that has prevented him from getting in the weight room and adding weight and bulk. He says that as soon as the recovery is complete, he'll be back in the weight room and will start adding some weight. But the lack of bulk makes some wonder if he'll be a heavy contributor as a rookie at the defensive end position.

After the pick was made, some fans were asking the Dolphins beat writers via twitter if Miami is moving back to a 3-4 front. There were various answers and speculation, none of which were definitive. However, it got me thinking about what Miami's defense may look like this season and beyond. Like those questioning the pick, I too wondered about Jordan's fit within the defense. So I thought I would take a look at the possibility of Miami swapping back to the 3-4. The more I thought about it, the more the idea of using a hybrid defense with various fronts made incredible sense.

In reality, very few teams anymore run a strict version of the 3-4 or the 4-3. Most teams use hybrid schemes where the defense will show various formations throughout the game. Miami was one of those few teams that primarily based one scheme though. This season however, I think Miami could be using a hybrid scheme in order to maximize the talent of the front seven, including Jordan. The Dolphins have the personnel to play a hybrid scheme and play it very well. Let's look at the 3-4 front first.

The 3-4 Look

The Dolphins still have holdovers from the 3-4 days that are effective in either scheme. Randy Starks, Paul Soliai, and Jared Odrick have the experience and talent to be a devastating defensive line in the 3-4. Soliai can play a 1-gap 0-tech very well. Soliai is best when he can pick a gap and go (this is also what makes him an effective 1-tech in a 4-3 scheme). Starks and Odrick are ideal 5-techs that can not only set the edge in the run game, but can generate pressure from the 3-4 end position. The ONLY issue with a lot of 3-4 looks is depth. Miami did sign Vaughn Martin who has experience at 3-4 DE, but he's about it. Kheeston Randall could play either the nose or end, but is inexperienced and it is unknown if he would be effective in the 3-4. But for the starters, Miami is in good shape.

The linebackers are a pretty solid group. The outside linebackers would be Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon, and of course Jordan. The inside linebackers would most likely be new additions Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe. Koa Misi and rookie Jelani Jenkins would be the depth at that position, with Misi being the versatile linebacker than can play SOLB or ILB. Jenkins may be a big undersized for the 3-4 ILB spot, but could be used for his coverage skills. With Austin Spitler in the mix, the Dolphins have both good starters and good depth at the linebacker position.

In this week's Clayton's Mailbag article, ESPN football writer John Clayton was asked about the difference in cornerback and safety play with the different fronts. He says that 3-4 teams tend to play more zone than 4-3 teams. He also says that the safety (most likely strong safety) plays in the box more in the 3-4. Of course Clayton is generalizing, but given the 3-4 front's nature as a good run defense, his assessment makes sense. The Dolphins have already said they want to play more zone coverage this year and that would fit in the 3-4 mold. Reshad Jones would be the safety to move into the box to play the run and cover the tight ends while the other starting safety (interesting battle in camp to watch) will play the deep, centerfield role. But regardless of fronts, Miami's secondary has players to work either scheme.

The 4-3 Look

We are already familiar with this since we ran the 4-3 last season. On the defensive line, Wake lines up as the left end. Soliai plays the 1-tech over the guard and Starks plays the 3-tech. Odrick, Vernon, and Jordan will battle it out in camp for the starting right end spot. Right now, Odrick has the advantage, with Vernon in second place. If Jordan bulks up before the season, he'll be in contention for the starting spot. Right now, the best situation is to have those players rotate depending on the situation, until Jordan can hold down the spot.

At linebacker, Wheeler and Jenkins are outside linebackers. Ellerbe could play middle linebacker or outside linebacker as could Misi. I think they will let them battle it out in camp for those spots. The secondary doesn't change.

Situations

When I look at the Dolphins' schedule, the first game would make perfect sense for a 3-4 front. The Browns will look to establish Trent Richardson and get the running game going against Miami. The Dolphins could counter with using more 3-4 fronts in order to stuff Richardson and isolate the pass rushers. The Browns have the best left tackle in the NFL in Joe Thomas. Despite our hopes for Dion Jordan, he's not going to win many, if any matchups in his first game as a rookie against the best left tackle in the NFL. Using more of the 3-4 front will give Vernon and Jordan the best chance of winning on the left side because Odrick or Starks would create opportunities for them (much like Justin Smith does for Aldon Smith in San Francisco). Soliai would command a double team in the middle, Odrick and Starks could force a double team at the edge, leaving the rushers to get after Brandon Weeden.

On the other hand, the Dolphins play Indianapolis the very next week. The Colts do not have the power rushing game that Cleveland possesses and will more than likely rely on the arm of second year quarterback Andrew Luck to drive that offense. Given that Indy's offensive line is less of a concern than that of the Browns, the 4-3 scheme would probably be the best. The interior defenders can generate pressure and drive Luck into the waiting arms of Wake and company. Jordan will not be facing the same caliber of tackle as Thomas and could win some matchups against the Colts' left tackle, as could Vernon. A steady diet of the 4-3 would make more sense in that game.

Getting Creative

The Atlanta Falcons are a tough team to defend from a talent perspective. But scheme wise, you know what you are getting from them. The Patriots on the other hand are tough both from talent and scheme perspectives. Their unconventional offensive tactics make them tough to get a lock on defensively. It's games against teams like that where defensive coordinators want to use multiple fronts and schemes to counter. Kevin Coyle, with the addition of some athletic linebackers now has much needed versatility that he can use against the Patriots. He can run a three, four or even five man front depending on the offensive set. He can use a front of Wake, Starks, Odrick, Vernon, AND Jordan to either generate pressure or have Jordan drop off into coverage against the tight ends. He can mix and match the linebackers to maximize coverage and blitzing schemes. He might use a 3-4 front on one play and switch to a 4-3 front the next. He can use various fronts to get Brady out of rhythm and uncomfortable in the pocket. He can use various fronts to get the best coverage schemes available. He can unleash the mad defensive scientist within himself to give the Dolphins a chance to win

Final Thoughts

Dion Jordan was a good draft pick in that it will allow Miami to become more versatile on defense. Instead of running a strict 4-3 front, the Dolphins can mix and match fronts to gain an advantage. Miami can maximize the rookie's potential by using him in a variety of fronts where the offensive line cannot lock in on him. The Dolphins appear to have the personnel to finally become more creative and more disruptive on defense. By using a hybrid scheme, the decision to move up and draft Jordan takes on a different light. Dolphins fans can hope the results of that move is not only silencing the critics, but silencing opposing offenses as well.

Expectations: What Should Miami Dolphins Fans Expect To Get From The 2013 Rookie Class

2013-05-04T18:30:06Z

Football fans love the draft because of the hope that accompanies it. Rookies bring the promise of a better tomorrow for teams. If you ask most fans, they will say that they love their team's draft class. That appears to be no different amongst Dolphins fans. But what we must ask ourselves is: how much immediate impact will this draft class? If you listen to some fans, you would think that each player has to play at an extremely high level in order for the Dolphins to be successful. If you listen to others, they will say that most of the rookies will be backups and special teams guys and won't have a large impact, if they even make the team. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

Most team's draft classes produce one or two immediate starting players. Any more than that and it's considered a great draft. Odds are the Miami Dolphins will get about two players from this draft that will start this season. The others will be part time contributors as backups and special teamers. Here's a look at each draftee and what fans should expect from them in 2013.

Dion Jordan

When you are a first round pick, there are high expectations for you. When you are a top 5 pick, those expectations are higher. When a team trades up for you, those expectations go through the roof. When the commissioner announced that Miami had traded up for Jordan, visions of he and Wake having a ‘meeting at the quarterback' danced in our heads. It's a fair expectation for fans to have of Jordan. His athleticism, ability, and potential warrant that. However, should that be what we expect from him in his rookie year?

I think a fair expectation of Jordan in his rookie year is as a third down pass rushing specialist and tight end coverage specialist. I don't think it's a good expectation to envision him as a full time defensive end yet. Jordan still needs to add about 10-20 pounds of muscle to fill that role and the recovery time from his shoulder surgery is limiting that. Plus, the Dolphins already have Jared Odrick and Olivier Vernon who are more polished pass rushers and have that advantage over him right now.

In terms of production, I think anywhere from 5-8 sacks is a good expectation, Yes, some players had better production as rookies, but we shouldn't let that be our expectation for him. A good comparison for Jordan is his defensive end running mate, Cameron Wake. In Wake's rookie season, he amassed 23 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He was a part time player, which will be how Jordan starts out. If Jordan steadily improves over the season, his role as a full time player will increase. I think Dolphins fans should let the coaching staff use this season as a developmental year for Jordan and then let him wreak havoc in 2014. At that point, we can start thinking about 10+ sack seasons for Jordan.

Jamar Taylor

Taylor was drafted with the pick gained from the Vontae Davis trade, essentially making it a Davis-for-Taylor trade. Taylor will have ample opportunity for playing time as the cornerback position was the weakest group on the team heading into the draft. Brent Grimes is likely penciled in as one starter, but even he has question marks coming off of an injury. When healthy, Grimes is an All-Pro talent. Everyone else though is much less impressive. Richard Marshall will be the guy that Taylor will have to beat out for a starting job in training camp. Marshall has starting experience and could be a better player is a more zone based scheme than a man scheme. However, Marshall is by no means a world beater and Taylor has the talent to unseat him. Dimitri Patterson, Nolan Carroll, and everyone else is fighting for the nickel role and special teams spots.

Dolphins fans should reasonably expect Taylor to be in the running for the second starting position. He may not earn it at the start of the season, but he should definitely drop no further than three on the depth chart. Some might Taylor playing the nickel as a disappointment, but nickel corners have an increased role in the pass happy NFL today. The nickel corner plays anywhere from 60-70% of the snaps.

I think the right expectation for Taylor is to win the nickel corner spot at first and then work into the starting role as the season progresses. By 2014, Taylor should be the starter. As far as production goes, if he can generate a few turnovers, that will be a positive. The biggest concern for me is his development in coverage. Once he becomes better at communicating in the secondary, understanding assignments, and facing NFL receivers, then I'll start to expect more in the turnover department.

Dallas Thomas

If the cornerback position was the weakest position going into the draft, the offensive line was the weakest position after the draft. All we can say with certainty about the line is Mike Pouncey will be the starting center and Richie Incognito will play one of the guard spots. Everything else is in flux. Jonathan Martin is slated to be the starting left tackle right now. The right tackle spot is up for grabs with any number of players, including potential free agent acquisitions in play for that spot. John Jerry's spot on the line is in jeopardy with the Dolphins bringing in Lance Louis in free agency and now the Thomas pick.

With the line in such disarray right now, Thomas has a real shot to earn any one of four open spots on the line. Having played left guard and left tackle in college, he will get his chance to play on that side in some capacity. Some believe that Thomas is better fit at guard than tackle, but others disagree. I've watched some tape on Thomas and still need to watch more before I get a better feel for his best position. However, Thomas played tackle well in college. He moved to guard because Tennessee had a better tackle prospect that beat him out in camp (same thing happened to Branden Albert at Virginia and he turned out alright).

I think the best expectation fans can have regarding Thomas is that he'll compete in camp for a starting spot. The line has openings and there will be plenty of battles in camp for the remaining two starting spots. Thomas has the skills to play guard or tackle and will be in the running for any of those positions. It's not a bad thing if Thomas doesn't earn a starting job immediately, because he will provide excellent depth. But right now, he's probably in the best shape of all the rookies (not counting specialists) to earn a starting job from day one.

Will Davis

The Dolphins continued to rebuild the secondary by adding the athletic corner from Utah State. Being a third round pick, Davis doesn't have he same level of expectations as Taylor. However, he will have his chance to become a contributor. His biggest asset to the team is his aggressiveness in press situations. Miami will still play some man coverage this year and Davis excels when he can press. He is violent at the line and tries to jam receivers into oblivion. This will come in handy in red zone situations where Davis may be allowed to use that skillset against bigger receivers.

Davis can get in on the starting mix, and will battle against Taylor for that spot. However, I think the most reasonable expectation for Davis is as special teams contributor and as the fourth corner on the depth chart. He will be used as a contributor in dime packages and in special situations like the red zone scenario I mentioned. In 2014, Davis will get in the mix to be the other starting corner is Grimes is not retained.

Jelani Jenkins

Jenkins was one of my favorite picks from this draft. He has good coverage ability and could be a dynamic outside linebacker in a 4-3 set. He will need some development though and will unlikely earn a starting spot this season. Miami picked up Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler in free agency this offseason and Koa Misi was solid in the OLB spot last season. Barring a phenomenal camp from Jenkins, he will not unseat those three players. He may replace Misi on passing downs for coverage purposes, but Dion Jordan may also be used in that role.

Expectations for Jenkins should be that of special teams contributor and backup. Jenkins should excel on special teams and will provide much needed depth at the linebacker position. As he develops, he should begin competing for a starting spot in 2014 or 2015.

Dion Sims

Another solid pick for Ireland, Sims will compete with Egnew for the second tight end spot (don't sleep on Egnew becoming a contributor this year. Word is he has worked really hard this offseason to get better). Sims, though more than just a ‘blocking' tight end, excels as a blocker and will get playing time because of it. How much playing time will depend not on blocking, but on his receiving ability. Sims has big, soft hands and good speed for a bigger tight end. He will need to develop in this regard and as he does, he will be worked into the offense more.

I personally have high expectations for Sims. I think he was a very good pick and may become the Dolphins' best red zone threat (possibly by default). However, I think the best overall expectations for him would be that of a number two tight end. He'll be used to block mostly and will contribute some as a receiver. I think 20-30 receptions, 350-400 yards and 3 touchdowns would be a good rookie campaign for him. Looking forward to 2014, Sims should be to a point where he is in consideration for the number one tight end spot.

Mike Gillislee

What may end up as the best pick of the draft, Gillislee can provide another dynamic weapon out of the backfield. Gillislee has good speed and excellent vision. He is a willing blocker and can catch the ball well out of the backfield.

Gillislee will battle for a starting spot at the running back position, but we should expect him to fall into the second running back spot. Miller, though not completely entrenched as the starter yet, will most likely become the starter. Gillislee will battle Daniel Thomas for the second spot and the role as the third down back. He will provide depth at the position. As the second running back, 300-400 yards on the ground, 200-300 yards through the air, 2-4 touchdowns would be acceptable stats for a rookie.

Caleb Sturgis

Sturgis will have the easiest chance to become a starter out of all the rookie, simply because he only has to beat one player. Dan Carpenter has become a fan favorite for the Dolphins, earning the nickname DC$ on this site due to his ability to nail big time kicks. Last season however, Carpenter missed some kicks that could have won some games (of course if our secondary was better, we still would have won those games anyway). He was less than stellar from beyond 45 yards and the Dolphins felt he needed some competition. He is also set to make over $3M this year.

The bottom line is this: kickers are necessary, but aren't impact players. If you look at the stats, pro kickers are pretty even across the board. Carpenter's stats fall in rank with every other kicker. In other words, kickers are a dime a dozen. We could have replaced Carpenter will any other kicker last season and that kicker would have almost certainly averaged about the same.

Having said that, the biggest factor in this, in my opinion, is the money. Sturgis may or may not be a pro caliber kicker. But if he is, then he'll likely win the job away from Carpenter. He'll look as good as Carpenter in training camp and that will mean Carpenter and his $3M+ salary will be cut. The Dolphins can save $2.7M by cutting Carpenter and Sturgis' contract likely won't even count due to the ‘top 51' rule.

So expectations for Sturgis: If he performs well in camp, the job is his. If he doesn't, he was just a fifth round pick. This was a very low risk, high reward move.

Don Jones

Jones is a safety prospect from Arkansas State who the Dolphins said they envision possibly playing as a slot corner. But as a seventh round pick, Jones will have to really stand out in order to make the roster. The Dolphins have Reshad Jones entrenched at one starting safety position and Clemons, Wilson, and McCray battling it out for the other starting safety spot, where Clemons has the upper hand. Jones will have to outperform Wilson and former college teammate Kelcie McCray (whom the Dolphins appear to be very high on) for the back up starting safety spots. There is also a possibility that one of the corners like Carroll or Marshall could enter into the safety battle as well. As for the corner position, Jones will have to battle against Taylor, Davis, Patterson, and Stanford for the nickel and dime spots. Needless to say, he's got an uphill battle in a secondary that has suddenly become crowded.

The expectations for Jones is simple: we should expect him to make the practice squad unless he really stands out in camp.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it. I'm sure all fans want this draft class to be filled with superstars that will propel the Dolphins back into the Super Bowl and back into prestige. However, while it's nice to want some immediately breakout stars, it's better if we temper our expectations and let these players develop at the pace they should. Putting too many high expectations on them is unfair and unrealistic. Maybe Taylor can become a shutdown corner. Maybe Thomas can become a Pro-Bowl caliber offensive lineman. Maybe Jordan becomes Jason Taylor 2.0. But expecting that to happen in their rookie season maybe be asking too much of them (or any rookie for that matter). Miami has enough veterans in place at key positions to allow the rookies a smoother transition into the pros and time to develop their craft.

Phinsider Draft Series Part One: Positional Value

2013-02-28T14:00:16Z

This post is the first of a three part series discussing critical aspects of draft philosophy. Every offseason, draft experts permeate our football consciousness with mountains of information regarding collegiate prospects embarking on their journey to a professional football career. Pundits like Mike Mayock, Todd McShay, and Mel Kiper, Jr. become mainstays on sports programming and websites. Even amateur draft aficionados like Keith and me post mock drafts, videos of prospects, discuss potential draftees, and so on. It is inevitable that fans will disagree on whom they want their favorite team to draft. The disagreement can occur for a number of reasons, but the central reason, in my opinion, is a difference in draft philosophies. There are three critical areas of draft philosophy that drive the differing viewpoints: whether teams should draft based on need or draft the best player available, conflicting views on positional value, and whether or not a player is worth drafting at your particular draft selection. While that is not a complete list, it covers most origins of draft debates.

The logical place to begin this series is with a discussion of positional value. It never fails that NFL teams have a glaring need that fans dwell on in the offseason. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, that need has routinely been a franchise quarterback. But something funny happened on the way to the offseason in 2011. Matt Moore stepped in for an injured Chad Henne and went on a hot streak, winning 6 of the last 9 games for the Dolphins. He put up 2497 yards, 16 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions in 12 starts. He posted an acceptable 87.1 passer rating and was a spark to an otherwise listless Miami offense. He ended up winning the team's MVP award. Some fans began to think that Moore could finally solve the mystery that was the position of franchise quarterback for this team. Some fans disagreed, saying that Miami still needed a quarterback. Hold that thought for a moment.

On another channel, the Dolphins had brought in Dallas castoff Marc Colombo to be the starting right tackle. That move was a disaster, earning Colombo the nickname ‘turnstile'. It was bad enough that many fans believed that he could be upgraded with a tackling dummy. Needless to say, he was not retained that offseason and right tackle became a need. Hold that thought for a moment.

New head coach Joe Philbin was bringing in a new culture that encouraged hard work, high character, and team driven and frowned upon the flamboyant and self-centered. It goes without saying that Philbin and Brandon Marshall would have clashing viewpoints. In a move that can only be rightly explained as one solely for the purpose of ridding the team of questionable character concerns, Marshall was traded to the Chicago Bears. This left the Dolphins without a true go-to receiver, creating a large void at the position. Hold THAT thought for a moment as well.

When Kevin Coyle was brought in as the defensive coordinator, he brought in his 4-3 scheme. That's fine, except Miami had been a 3-4 team. Fortunately, the Dolphins had plenty of scheme diverse players that fit either scheme and the transition was mostly seamless. However, Miami lacked a 4-3 defensive end opposite Wake and was forced to play Jared Odrick out of position there all season.

Let's bring it all back now. Miami needed a quarterback, a right tackle, a go-to receiver, a pass rusher, and was sitting pretty at the eighth draft spot to take their pick of a number of players for any of those positions. Let's assume for a moment that there were four prospects, one for each position of need, and all have equal draft grades. Who would the Dolphins take? Who would YOU take? It is at that point, the views on positional value come into focus. Now that example is working on the unique assumption that four players at positions of need all have exactly equivalent draft grades and are available at Miami's draft slot. But it is not out of the realm of possibility that a number of players with similar draft grades would be sitting there at Miami's draft slot. How a team views positional value becomes highly critical in that event.

So how does one rate the value of each position? First, it needs to be stated that positional VALUE is not equivalent to positional IMPORTANCE. One can argue that every position is important. Kickers are important positions, as are long snappers. Try winning a game without an adequate one. But no one would consider these positions overly valuable. Teams aren't trading up to draft a long snapper. Teams aren't breaking the bank to sign a free agent kicker. All positions are important, but each has differing value.

In this post, I looked at two key factors to determine value: game impact and financial impact. In my estimation, those factors make the most sense. Some positions have a higher in-game impact than others, e.g. those that score touchdowns. Some positions get paid much higher than others, e.g. left tackles vs. right guards. Based on those two factors, I devised a list rating the value of each position. This list is not meant to be a definitive thesis on the topic. I am neither an NFL head coach nor a general manager. But examining financials, draft trends, and using a little common sense, I think this list would give us a relatively close approximation of how the NFL views positional value in general. In the financial aspect of the discussion, I will use the approximate franchise tag numbers for 2013 as well as a few featured contracts at certain positions. The franchise number will help because it's an average amount of high salaries at a given position. For example, if a quarterback tag number is $15M and a tight end tag number is $5M, it would stand to reason that quarterbacks make more money on average ergo their position is more valuable to teams.

Given those factors, here is my listing of positions and their overall value.

1) Quarterback

The quarterback is without a doubt the position with the highest value. All teams in the NFL either have a franchise quarterback or are looking for a franchise quarterback. There is no gray area. Quarterbacks are the only player on the field, besides the center, that touch the ball on every play (save for Wildcat nonsense). They are charged with not only leading the offense, but being a leader of the team. Quarterback is the most scrutinized position in all of sports. The position requires not just good athletic skills, but also high football intelligence and mental toughness to be successful. How a quarterback fares will determine the success or failure of a team. Hit on a quarterback, a team is set for a long time. Miss on a quarterback and a team is set back at least three years, if not more. Franchise quarterbacks are star players that end up becoming the face of the franchise. Franchise quarterbacks always give a team a chance to win a game. Finding and keeping a franchise caliber quarterback requires using plenty of assets in terms of draft picks and salary. Teams usually utilize their first round draft picks to get a quarterback. It would cost over $14M to franchise tag a quarterback (highest tag number). If you sign a top end quarterback, it will likely cost you over $20M a year, which is roughly 17% of the current cap space.

2) Edge Rusher

Finding a franchise quarterback is priority number one. Getting after the other team's quarterback is priority number two. Because the quarterback is such an important position and they impact the game so much, defenses are always looking for an edge rusher that can disrupt the play of the opposing quarterback. Edge rushers utilize a combination of speed, strength, size, and athleticism to work their way into the backfield and into the pocket. With NFL offenses become more pass oriented and rules changing to favor offenses, edge rushers that can generate pressure by themselves become more of a premium position (as opposed to scheme based pressure a la Rex Ryan). Teams are always looking for more ways to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and use plenty of assets to obtain premier edge rushers. Teams usually look for elite edge rushers in the first round of the draft. If they resort to free agency, they have to offer huge contracts for premier players (Julius Peppers: 6 year, $84M; $42M guaranteed. Mario Williams: 6 year, $96M; $50M guaranteed). They have the second highest tag number at nearly $11M. Edge rushers in a 4-3 defensive front usually warrant more money because that position is slightly more valuable than 3-4 edge rushers. Edge rushers in a 4-3 tend to be bigger and stronger than their 3-4 counterparts. Elite 4-3 rushers are typically harder to find than 3-4 rushers, therefore they are slightly more expensive, hence the higher value. Plus 3-4 edge rushers can be tagged under the linebacker position, lowering the financial value slightly. But in either case, edge rushers are extremely valuable commodities.

3) Left Tackle

In reality, left tackle and edge rusher should be 2 and 2a. However, the left tackle position has seen a drop in value due to more defenses lining an elite edge rusher over the right tackle to try and gain an advantage. But even with that, left tackles are still highly valuable. Since defenses are trying to get after the quarterback, offenses counter with players to neutralize the edge rusher. Good left tackles require athleticism and strength. They must have quick feet, long arms, good balance, and great awareness. Good left tackles rarely give up pressures and sacks and become anchors for the offensive line. Likewise bad left tackles are demoted to the right side of the line or worse, asked to play guard if they want to continue playing. Teams are always looking for a quality left tackle and typically use their first round picks to acquire one. As good left tackles rarely hit free agency, teams usually pay top dollar to keep a good one. If a good left tackle hits the market, teams will have to offer a huge contract to get one. While the franchise tag number is only the fifth highest (for offensive line in general, thus lower valued positions) at over $9.2M, the actual contract value to acquire or keep a good left tackle is much higher (Joe Thomas: 8 year, $92M; $44M guaranteed).

4) Cornerback

Since the NFL has become more pass oriented, the cornerback position has taken on more importance. Pass coverage and pass rush have a symbiotic relationship. But even the best pass rushers can't always get to the quarterback, which makes the need for quality coverage players a premium. Cornerbacks are the second line of defense against the pass (edge rushers being the first). They are required to line up against some of the fastest humans on earth, mirror their movements, and prevent a football from being caught by said speedy folks. Because the offense already knows where it is supposed to be, corners have to rely on technique, mental toughness, a good comprehension of offensive sets and schemes in order to be in the right position, not to mention physical talent. Thanks to the rookie pay scale, teams are looking higher and higher in the draft to find an elite corner. It takes a great deal of money to obtain or keep a cornerback. The franchise tag number is the third highest at over $10.6M and it would cost about that much or more per annum to sign a top end cornerback. Like edge rushers, corners can be scheme-specific depending if their strengths are man or zone coverage.

5) Wide Receiver

Like with edge rushers and left tackles, corners and receivers should be 3 and 3a. Receivers are usually the fastest players on the team. They have to not only be fast, but exhibit short area quickness, toughness, and great hands to secure the pass. Like quarterbacks, wide receivers can have star power. The main reason the receiver position is lower than cornerback is the financial aspect. Simply put, it is slightly cheaper to get a good receiver than it is to get a good cornerback. The franchise tag number for receivers is over $10M, just slightly less than cornerback and it would cost in the neighborhood of $8M-$10M a year for a top end receiver. Teams look for receivers both in free agency and in the draft. Teams don't always use a first round pick for a starting receiver, but will typically use anywhere from a first rounder to a third rounder to draft a quality receiver. While receivers are less scheme-specific than defenders, certain offensive schemes look for different types of receivers than others. For example, the West Coast Offense traditionally looks for receivers of a certain height and skill set compared to other offenses.

6) Defensive Tackle

Defensive tackles have seen a boon to their value in the pass oriented NFL. Interior defensive linemen now have to add pass rushing to their resume if they want to see a big pay day. More and more teams are looking for tackles that not only stuff the run, but can also generate pressure from the interior. Defensive tackles are no longer just the space-eating, hole-clogging behemoths from the past, but have to be quick and athletic as well as powerful. Interior defenders in a 4-3 have more value than their 3-4 counterparts simply based on scheme; they are asked to do more. However, some 3-4 defenses are becoming more aggressive with the line, requiring more disruptive players in that front, like J.J Watt. Regardless of scheme, defensive tackles are becoming more valuable. In the last few years, interior defensive linemen have gone high in the draft, with 3 defensive tackles going in the top 10 in 2010. The free agent market hasn't risen as high for tackles as some other positions, but it still takes a hefty sum to get or keep one. The market for an average to good defensive tackle will run in the $6M-$8M a year range, with the tag number just slightly over $8M.

7) Middle Linebacker

Middle linebackers are the quarterbacks of the defense in the sense that they call the plays and direct traffic. They generally have to be good tacklers, strong at the point of attack, and be decent in coverage. Middle linebackers in a 4-3 have more value than their 3-4 inside equivalents simply because there are less of them on the field. A 3-4 has two linebackers to do the job of a single 4-3 linebacker. Middle linebackers in a 4-3 generally have to be more athletic than 3-4 inside linebackers and they have to cover more ground. Teams don't always use a first round pick to get a middle linebacker, but they can if a top end prospect is available. Free agent middle linebackers aren't typically expensive, though depending on the player, they can be. The tag number for linebackers is just over $9M, although that includes the edge rushing 3-4 linebackers which raises that number.

8) Tight End

Tight ends were formerly the safety valve option for the quarterback. Today, tight ends are becoming go to targets, even supplanting the ‘alpha receiver' role on some teams like New England. Thanks to prolific offenses using tight ends to create mismatches, more and more teams are looking for tight ends as receiving weapons. As more tight ends in the league have become playmakers, their value has risen a good deal. A good tight end must be able to block in-line as before, but now must become a viable target in the offense. They have to have size and speed to generate separation downfield. Tight ends aren't quite the highly drafted commodity that wide receivers are however. Receivers of equivalent situation are considerably more valuable (a number one receiver like Calvin Johnson or A.J. Green will ALWAYS be more valuable than an elite tight end like Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski). The positions listed above tight ends still get looked at first in the draft. That usually pushes tight ends down the draft board. Tight ends are not usually very expensive on the open market and their tag number is the lowest of all positions, not including special teams, at slightly over $5M. However, as tight ends become bigger components in offenses, their overall value has gone up.

9) Safety

Safeties are the last line of pass defense. They are required to cover the middle portions of the field. Good safeties can be game changing playmakers. Their value has gone up mutually with that of the tight end. However, safeties aren't a scarce commodity. Safeties aren't a highly paid position and teams can find serviceable safeties at a good price. The cap number for safeties is second cheapest at over $6M, only higher than tight ends (not counting special teams). A good safety has less of an impact on the defense than a equally talented cornerback, since safeties aren't always in direct coverage like corners (which is why CBs get paid MUCH more). Safeties can go high in the draft, but teams can find a quality safety in other rounds besides the first.

10) Right Tackles

Left tackles have seen a slight drop in value thanks to defensive chicanery. On the flip side of that, right tackles have seen a slight increase in value. Right tackles are supposed to be better run blockers than pass protectors. The traditional axiom in relation to that idea is that tackles who can't play the left side; have to play the right side. While it's true that teams want their best tackle to play the left side for pass protection purposes, right tackles now have to be adequate in pass protection also. More right tackles have to be almost as good as left tackles since more and more teams are trying to accumulate pass rushers. However, most good rushers still play the right side defensively squaring up against the left tackle. In financial aspects, it is not a great idea to use the massive franchise tag number for a right tackle. Most teams can find a serviceable right tackle cheaper in free agency at around $6M-$8M a year as opposed to $10M+ of a left tackle. Most teams don't set out to find right tackles in the first round of the draft, though deeper teams can. Usually first round right tackles are left tackle experiments that didn't work.

11) Running Backs

I almost hate to place running back so low on the chart, but the fact is they have lost value (you could MAYBE place them higher than safeties). Once the lynchpin of a great offense, running backs are now complementary pieces within an offense. It is only logical that as the NFL becomes more pass oriented that the running back becomes less valuable. That's not so say that teams are abandoning the running game. It's just that teams are approaching the running game differently than before. More and more teams are looking for a group of running backs to take the place of the artist formerly known as the feature back. Instead of one back that gets 30-40 touches a game, teams want two or more backs that get the same amount. Teams are now incorporating more situational backs which limit touches to other backs. As far as money goes, the franchise tag for a back is just shy of $8M. That's a bargain price for elite backs, but a hefty price to pay for an average back. Most teams can find a decent back in the draft without having to use a first round choice for one. Most teams can find a serviceable back in free agency for a per annum rate less than the tag number.

12) Centers

Centers are the key component of the interior offensive line. Centers are the only player that touches the ball every play. They are responsible for identifying defenses and calling out protection schemes. They have to be good run blockers and serviceable in pass protection. Their value is higher than guards because of their added responsibilities. Teams look for good centers, but they usually don't over pay for them, which almost entirely rules out the franchise tag option. Interior linemen are usually only drafted in the first round if they are blue chip prospects.

13) Outside Linebackers

This is only for 4-3 outside linebackers since 3-4 outside linebackers are considered edge rushers. Outside linebackers have to be solid in run defense as well as solid in pass defense. The weakside linebacker is generally the playmaking linebacker of the group and is more responsible for coverage duties. The strongside linebacker is more of a run stuffer and block absorber than the weakside linebacker. Teams look for quality linebackers, but it isn't a scarce position. Most teams can find serviceable linebackers in free agency without paying too much. Most teams don't draft an outside linebacker in the first round unless they are a blue chip prospect.

14) Guards

Guards represent the lowest value of any full time position. Guards have to be good run blockers and adequate pass protectors. Guards are usually smaller and less athletic than tackles. Left guards tend to be higher in value than right guards due to pass protection responsibilities. As with centers, teams only draft guards high in the draft if they are blue chip prospects. Unless there is an elite guard available in free agency, most teams will sign guards to modest deals.

15) Kickers/Punters/Long Snappers

These positions are lowest value on any team for one main reason: they play very few snaps. A good punter can flip field position. A good kicker can turn a failed drive into points. But these players typically see less than 10 snaps a game. Most teams only sign a kicker or punter to a long term deal if they are elite at the position. Very rarely do teams draft a kicker or punter before later rounds simply because they don't play many snaps or will have the opportunity to play many snaps.

Positional value plays an important part of the drafting process. Teams with a good understanding of positional value make better decisions in the draft and free agency because they won't allocate valuable resources to positions of lower value. Of course, there are teams that draft the best player available regardless of position, but most teams have some form of positional value system like this in order to differentiate between draft prospects and free agents.

Part Two will discuss best-player-available strategy versus drafting for need.

Jeff Ireland Interview

2013-02-05T01:55:19Z

Jeff Ireland Interview

Ireland discusses a few things like the draft process, player development, and free agency.

Phinsider Weekly Miami Dolphins Chat

2013-01-19T04:41:32Z

The weekly Google+ Hangout series continues tonight.

This is a 30 minute interactive show, where we will answer your questions about the Dolphins, the NFL, and, maybe even turtles.

So, ask your questions in the comments below, and I'll answer them on the air.

You can also find the show by heading over to our Phinsider Google+ page.

If you miss the show, you can watch the archived video here in this thread, or over on thePhinsider's YouTube Channel. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube Channel to get all of the updated shows as I load them.

Now, get to asking your questions, and the show will go live at 11:30 pm Eastern! Post your questions now, and the live streaming video for the show will be available right here when it starts.

ProFootballFocus names their Best Player in Football Award after Former Dolphin Dwight Stephenson

2013-01-11T16:45:06Z

Profootballfocus.com is an NFL oriented site that tries to offer a fresh new look at how the game is played. The site has gained credibility with fans and media members alike for their unique grading system. Their system provide a new vantage point with which people can watch players on their favorite teams and also provides a rather level way to compare players at each position.

This season, PFF created an award for the highest graded player in their system, which would correspond to whom they considered the best player in football. They named their award: The Dwight Stephenson Award: PFF's Best Player in Football.

They delve into some explanation why they named their award after the former Dolphin Hall of Famer. Most MVP awards go to quarterbacks and running backs. That doesn't necessarily mean they are the ‘best' players however. Many times, players at less heralded positions have stellar seasons that are recognized and appreciated by stat gurus like PFF analysts, but go unnoticed by most fans and media sources. Dwight Stephenson is the epitome of that. They claim he was a player ‘out of time'; a transcendent player who may have revolutionized his position, had his career not been shortened by injury.

To those who may not know or didn't get a chance to watch him play, Dwight Stephenson, a native of North Carolina, was the Dolphins starting center from 1982 to 1987. He was drafted in the second round of the 1980 draft from the University of Alabama. Stephenson was voted to 5 straight Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1987 and named All Pro in each of those 5 seasons. His career was cut short thanks to a knee injury sustained in a game against the Jets (who else; one more reason to despise that franchise). Stephenson's greatness was such, that he was voted to the NFL Hall of Fame, despite a brief career. He is considered by many to be the greatest center of all time.

Profootballfocus will continue to offer great insight into the NFL with their grading system and analysis. And from this season forth, this respected and credible football website will christen the player they consider the best in football with the Dwight Stephenson Award. They will recognize current greatness by honoring it with former greatness; and the greatness they chose to employ came from the Miami Dolphins.

Clay Out for Rest of Season

2012-12-18T03:14:14Z

Clay Out for Rest of Season

Clay is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. His recovery could have an impact on Miami's offseason approach at the TE position.