Weekend Roundup: Incognito to visit Dolphins
by Matty I on Mar 15, 2010 12:15 AM EDT
in News
38 comments
Another week begins as we inch closer to the NFL Draft. But this past weekend was far more quiet than last weekend - when the Dolphins were wrapping up the signing of Karlos Dansby and the Ryan Clark saga was beginning to play out. But there's still a couple of things to talk about.
Dolphins to host "dirty" free agent lineman on Monday
While the Dolphins haven't hosted any free agents in days, they have generated quite a stir with the report that free agent guard Richie Incognito will be visiting the Dolphins on Monday. The 26 year old Incognito is a guy who has the talent and the measurables that this regime likes (6'3, 320). He also plays with the "mean streak" that Tony Sparano likes to see out of his offensive linemen.
However, it's that same "mean streak" that is creating the stir - and is why Incognito remains jobless to begin with. Why else would a physical, talented, young offensive lineman who has started every game (47) that he's played in still be on the market? Well it's simple - he's widely regarded as one of the dirtiest players in the league - finishing seventh in a Sports Illustrated poll of players and first in a Sporting News poll of players.
But it's not just these polls that have given Incognito such a bad name. The Rams released their former third round pick last season after committing two personal fouls in a single game (head-butting an opposing player) and then getting into a heated argument with their head coach. He was also fined $50,000 for his actions in that game and has a grand total of nearly $100,000 in league fines for dirty plays on the field.
38 comments | 0 recs |
NFL Draft Strategies: Part 1
by Little Nicky 21 on Mar 14, 2010 10:40 PM EDT
71 comments
There are a plethora (look it up) of different draft strategies that teams employ for the Annual Player Selection Meeting. None of them are the "right" way to do things, and most teams combine various strategies or change their preferred method based on draft talent, need, and the overall talent level of their current players. As fans, we rarely get a glimpse into these strategies, as most information filtered to us during the draft season is intentionally misleading or completely useless, but sometimes you can determine a team's preferred strategy after the fact, figuring out their pre-draft needs, evaluating their roster, and then observing how the team drafted. That is how we know that Ted Thompson in Green Bay loves to draft the best player on his board, and that Al Davis sleeps right up until it's his turn, then takes the best combine performer.
After the jump, I'll cover some of the Draft Strategies that I know of, how they work, how each would affect our Dolphins' draft this season, and then I'll try to blend them into 3 or 4 "ideal" mocks based on one overriding strategy. The philosophies I'm going to cover are BPA, or best player available; Positional Value; Need-Based Drafting; Stockpiling; Target and Attack; and Drafting for the Future. I'm sure many of you are familiar with these, but I'm going to go into a little bit of depth into how they work and why teams choose to follow these strategies.
For length purposes, I'll break this up into 3 parts, with 2 philosophies in each part. Part 1 (this one) will cover BPA and Positional Value.
Jump.
71 comments | 7 recs |
Reasons not to draft a NT at #12
by ct1361 on Mar 14, 2010 10:37 PM EDT
63 comments
There have been a lot of posts recently expressing the need for a NT. Whether it’s Dan Williams or Mt. Cody, a lot of fans of the Phinsider seem to want the Front Office to address this need, especially with the first round pick at #12. As many of you know, I have been advocating against this, instead wanting to go offense at #12 (specifically CJ Spiller). I won’t go into the many reasons why I want to go offense, El Presidente 00 does a good job explaining the reasons in his post “Why CJ Spiller is the Solution” (http://www.thephinsider.com/2010/3/12/1370738/why-cj-spiller-is-the-solution), but I will get into why drafting a NT at #12 would be a mistake.
Here is a chart of some of the NT’s in the NFL. In compiling this chart, I focused on the Top 15 Ranked Defenses in the NFL in ’09. I left off all of those defenses in the Top 15 that don’t run a 3-4 defense but included the Phins NT’s for sake of argument.
63 comments | 6 recs
Video Time: Outside Linebacker Prospects
by Matty I on Mar 13, 2010 1:00 AM EST
in Events
48 comments
Without a doubt, outside linebacker is clearly a position of need for the Dolphins. Even if the Dolphins do re-sign Jason Taylor - and that's no sure thing, either - the Dolphins will likely draft at least one outside linebacker in next month's draft, likely earlier rather than later. So this week's "video time" will focus on some of the best outside linebackers that will be available.
All of the videos are below after the jump. Enjoy.
48 comments | 0 recs
Dolphin Mock Drafts Around the 'Net, 3/12 Edition
by Matty I on Mar 12, 2010 12:15 AM EST
in News
271 comments
With the start of free agency last Friday at midnight, I chose to focus solely on all the news and rumors and put off this post for a week. But my inbox was surprisingly flooded with e-mails from people wondering where the updated mock draft post was.
Sorry to disappoint you all last week, but it's back today and will be back every Friday between now and the draft. I'm glad you all like this little feature. So let's get to it. The list of 44 mocks is below after the jump. And they should be a bit more interesting now that free agency has played out for a week and the big names that were available have found new homes, clarifying the needs of many teams throughout the league.
271 comments | 2 recs |
Fan's Pulse: The Dolphins' biggest need?
by Matty I on Mar 11, 2010 12:15 AM EST
in News
271 comments
It seems as though the Dolphins' activity in free agency is slowing. Outside of their one big signing, Miami has been relatively quiet. While I'd expect another move or two between now and the draft in April - nothing big, of course - it's clear that the Dolphins will head into next month's draft with a number of holes to fill.
The signing of Karlos Dansby, in my opinion, removes inside linebacker from the Dolphins' needs list. However there are still many areas this front office can address to improve this football team for 2010. So my question to all of you is simple: which need should currently be considered the Dolphins' biggest need?
The poll below lists what I think are currently Miami's top four needs - in no particular order. I've quickly touched on the four positions below. So read them, cast your vote, and then tell us why you voted the way you did.
271 comments | 0 recs |
Agent Lamont Smith said the Dolphins have expressed an interest in free agent receiver Antonio Bryant. But Cincinnati hosted him Tuesday and has been more aggressive.
-Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.
As much as I'm not a fan of Bryant's, signing him to a short-term deal has its benefits - especially in terms of draft flexibility. But other teams are probably more interested in Antonio at this point.
[UPDATE: Bryant has signed with Cincinnati - a reported 4 year, $28 million. That's a lot of money for a player with one good season.]
4 days ago
Matty I
59 comments
0 recs
Pondering the re-signing of Jason Ferguson
by Matty I on Mar 10, 2010 12:15 AM EST
in News
78 comments
The big story out of Miami on Tuesday was the Dolphins' decision to bring back veteran nose tackle Jason Ferguson despite the recent news that he is facing an eight game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Of course, the move has generated a rather big debate among many Dolphin fans, some of which are wondering why the Dolphins would bring back a 35 year old nose tackle who is rehabbing from injury and is now likely out for the first half of the 2010 season due to this suspension.
I can't say I blame them for questioning this decision.
But before we jump the gun, it's important to note that we really don't know enough about Ferguson's suspension. The term "performance-enhancing drug" is pretty vague. Ferguson could have been suspended for taking weight-loss medication. Or he could have been taking some kind of substance that would help him recover faster from his quadriceps surgery. Or he could have taken some substance that he didn't even know was banned.
Or he could have taken steroids.
The point is that we really have no idea what he took or the circumstances surrounding the suspension. However, cheating is cheating and Jason is 100% responsible for whatever he did. Pro athletes have got to know what they can and can't put in their own body. Ferguson got caught - for the second time in his career, that is - and now he must pay the price.
78 comments | 0 recs |
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Dolphins Schedule
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Atlanta
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Sun 09/13 | L 7 - 19 |
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Indianapolis
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Mon 09/21 | L 23 - 27 |
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San Diego
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Sun 09/27 | L 13 - 23 |
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Buffalo
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Sun 10/04 | W 38 - 10 |
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New York Jets
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New Orleans
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New York Jets
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New England
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Tampa Bay
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Carolina
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Thu 11/19 | W 24 - 17 |
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Buffalo
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Sun 11/29 | L 14 - 31 |
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New England
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Sun 12/06 | W 22 - 21 |
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Jacksonville
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Sun 12/13 | W 14 - 10 |
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Tennessee
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Sun 12/20 | L 24 - 27 |
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Houston
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Sun 12/27 | L 20 - 27 |
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Pittsburgh
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Sun 01/03 | L 24 - 30 |
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