Weekend Roundup

by Matty I on Mar 31, 2008 12:14 AM EDT in News Comment 24 comments

Here's what you might have missed while you were out enjoying yourself this weekend:

RICKY IS READY
Here's an interesting and exciting nugget that Barry Jackson throws out to us in the Miami Herald yesterday:

A friend of Ricky Williams said he has never seen the running back more determined and that Williams speaks of wanting to be one of the NFL's three to five best backs. Bill Parcells, who told Williams he believes in him, has pushed the right buttons, and Williams knows he needs money for his family.

This is the kind of information that Dolphin fans have been dying to hear. When you couple Ricky's determination this offseason with the fact that Ronnie Brown's rehab seems to be ahead of schedule, it's hard not to get excited for the potential of a much improved offense in 2008.

However, the thing to remember, of course, is that a running game is only as strong as the people who are opening the holes for those backs to run through. And right now, the Dolphins are lacking 40% of their starting offensive line. Hopefully, however, this is something that gets taken care of once the draft rolls around. Until then, though, I'll ask you all to join me in having visions of Ricky and Ronnie running for touchdowns in our heads.

I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE QUESTIONING MATT RYAN
Frank Cooney, of NFL Draft Scout, runs of the best online draft sites. And a lot of that is because Frank has some solid connections and really knows what some teams are thinking. For instance, last year, he had John Beck as a potential late 1st or early 2nd round pick. As it turned out, he nailed that one right on the head.

With that said, I present to you two quotes from Frank's site. The first can be found here, at his mock draft:

Although Miami could select QB Matt Ryan to compete with last year's second round pick, John Beck, many teams do not even have Ryan in their top 20!

The second quote is on the site's page for prospects whose draft stock is falling:

Despite reports to the contrary, Ryan did not help his stock during his March 18 Pro Day. Characterized by some as a candidate to be the first overall pick, Ryan's lack of prototypical arm strength and marginal athleticism left many of the hundred-plus scouts attending the workout questioning if Ryan has the upside to warrant such a high selection.

Now I know the pro-Ryan fans will say that this is just one person's opinion, but like I said, he has some connections to the scouts of NFL teams. and I believe him when he says that some teams don't even have Matt Ryan in their top 20. And if that is indeed the case, how in the world could the Dolphins spend the top overall pick on him?

I've said it before and I'll continue saying it until draft day: The Dolphins will not draft Matt Ryan.

MLB'S OPENING DAY 2008
Ah yes, it's opening day for Major League Baseball. And as I promised, I got a baseball diary up and running, which can be found right here.

Also, if you are a baseball fan, might I suggest checking out the SB Nation blog of your favorite team? Ironically, that's actually how I ended up running a site like this. I learned of SBN just by looking for a great St. Louis Cardinals site. What I found was Viva El Birdos, the absolute best Cardinals site there is. And that site is what inspired me to look into running a Miami Dolphins site for SBN. and the rest is, clearly, history...(sort of...eh, not really).

Anyways, enough of my rambling. Thoughts about any of this below...

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Matty, the only thing I think about this guy's

mock draft is that he is way out on a limb. I could see Gholston as the number one, but I would be WAY more shocked to see them pick McFadden than I would be to see them take Ryan, and this guy had McFadden previously. So, connections or not, I think he is just trying to take his shot at being different in hopes that he gets lucky and then can later on say, "Look at me! I picked the guy when all the other experts were wrong!"

But I COULD see Gholston... though I think he's a long shot. I don't see Parcells as the kind of guy to take a chance with the pick.

I beleive Omar Kelly over at the Sentinel called this one first in his Mar 25th blog.

"Since I'm making bold predictions, I'm going to put it out there right now that Ohio State's Vernon Gholston has a better shot of playing for the Dolphins than Chris Long does. Why do I say this? Upside. One of my scouting friends put it to me this way.
"Which player would you hate to see lined up against the Dolphins playing for the Patriots if you were the team's decision maker. Would it be Long, an effort guy, or Gholston, an athletic freak?" he asked."

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/

by LeftCoastFinFan on Mar 31, 2008 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So exactly

how many more anit-Ryan articles do you plan on posting before the draft? Are you trying to convince the Dolphins front office too? Just curious.....-)

I have read the tidbits about Ricky. Nice to have a motivated Riacky WIlliams in the backfield, its' been a long time.

You Savvy?

by Neo on Mar 31, 2008 8:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RIcky and Ronnie!

Ahh the old debate! Does the back make the o-line or does the o-line make the back....?????

I am so excited to see these two together. Remember, the o-line was making holes for the NFLs leading rusher when he went down. Can you imagine these two guys with an improved line....???

Throw in Booker and we have the bext RB core in the NFL!

Too young to remember 72...not old enough to forget about ever other year since!

by JGray on Mar 31, 2008 8:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ricky is the man

I love seeing what he does on the field and he's one of the most interesting players off it. He doesn't throw out the usual cliches we can all recite. It's time for him to remind everyone how great he is. Hopefully he gets enough carries to show his stuff!

by New York Fins Fan on Mar 31, 2008 9:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You Win.

Its amazing your anti-Ryan slant. Its your site, so its your right to do so. However, it'd be nice for you to show the zeal for tearing apart the other top players too.

I have hereby suspended all talk of Matt Ryan on this site.

by dab415217 on Mar 31, 2008 9:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dab...

I'm not a Matt Ryan fan, but then again, I'm not exactly dotting over Jake or Chris Long. I think there are many questions about each of these players. More than say other drafts, where there have been several prospects that were thought of as being as close to a lock as possible.

It is simply that type of draft.

The one thing about Gholston is that he would appear to have more upside than any of the Long-Ryan-Long group. More upside and...more risk.

by Natalya on Mar 31, 2008 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think what he is hinting at

is about what I'm hinting at.

I think there are many questions about each of these players.

Where are Matty's I questions about the other top picks?. Every other day there seems to be another Anti- Ryan article. While the other top draft choices are (like Chris Long) are given fair shakes. But I must admit, if Matty I agreed with all my opinions, I'd never come here again.-)

1st off, Lets be honest Chris long is a tweener. He is not Bill's ideal DE in a 3-4 and definitely not Bill's ideal LB. He has a good motor and the intangibles. Big deal.

You all brought up the ones about Jake Long.

Gholston, bigger upside (more of a Parcells LB I think) but not polished.

Whats with all the attacks on Ryan?

You Savvy?

by Neo on Mar 31, 2008 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but...

I don't think we need to take a risk (Gholston or Ryan). We won 1 game last year, so we need the most "sure thing" out of this draft. I think it has to be Chris Long or Jake Long.

If we get Jake in round one we have the hands down best Offensive Tackle in the draft, and with our second pick (#32), we have a chance to get the top Offensive guard (or the very close second guard). If we go that direction, we could permanently fix this O-line for the next decade or so. Carey, Rookie (Rachal/Albert), Satele, Smiley, Jake Long. So, I would really prefer that we go that route, simply because I am tired of seeing our line be manhandled every week. I am ready to make this offense explode by improving a sub-par O-Line. This isn't saying that I will be mad if we draft whoever...

I am just really tired of arguing over all of this draft crap. we just need to trust Parcells/Sparano/Ireland... They haven't given us a reason not to yet.

~~ FINGUY23 ~~

by JDPhinFan on Mar 31, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see Chris Long as a sure thing

Ok, what if he comes out the gate and has a good year like Julius Peppers of Carolina, then disappears?

Jake Long (who I want) I think is the closest thing to being sure, but even I have questions about him. You take a chance with any player.

You Savvy?

by Neo on Mar 31, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I was saying...

I think we take who Parcells and CO. analyze as being the "surest thing" in the draft. I think Jake is the #1, and C. Long is the #2. That is just me, so I am just gonna trust Parcells. ;)

~~ FINGUY23 ~~

by JDPhinFan on Mar 31, 2008 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats just it

Parcells and Co. hasn't said who they think is the "surest thing" in the draft. I think Jake Long is, some Chris, but someone please give me the link that says Parcells and CO. does.

Wouldn't it blow everyone's mind if they think SOMEONE ELSE is? Even the hated Matt Ryan.

You Savvy?

by Neo on Mar 31, 2008 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If it takes hating HIM...

...to get him picked, I'll officially join the 'Don't Draft the Big East First Team QB' "hate" club. :)

by dab415217 on Mar 31, 2008 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

I meant I personally think The Long's are the surest things, I didn't mean I think that is what Parcells thinks. :) If they believe Ryan is worth the #1 pick, then I will trust them... I just personally don't want him at #1. But, I don't work in the football industry, nor do I have the time or tapes to analyze these players... so, it is just whatever these "football guys" that run the Dolphins believe, I will be happy with whomever they pick, if they don't get a trade!! :)

~~ FINGUY23 ~~

by JDPhinFan on Mar 31, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not singling your post out bud

just in general.

You Savvy?

by Neo on Mar 31, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that no one player sticks out...

...in this draft, Nat.

Most places have the #1 pick down to a three horse race: Chris long, Jake Long, and nameless QB. However, lets take names out of this and just look at positions. We have a probably hybrid DE/LB, a T (not sure whether its a LT or RT), and a QB.

Our current hybrid DE/LB is an All-Pro, admittedly getting near the end of his career. I'd say he has a solid 2, maybe 3 years left. So we have at least a very solid player in this position.

Ok, lets look at the T, LT first. We already have a very solid LT who is playing at near All-Pro level. Is the guy in the draft a LT or a RT? That seems to be the big question. Just for the sake of argument, lets say he is. We move our current LT back to RT. RT's don't get paid what LT's get. Our new RT, has proven in the NFL he can play at a high level at LT. Are we going to pay this guy LT money? Because I guarantee you someone else will. And most pundits agree that you don't draft a RT with the first pick. Well, if we spend the #1 pick on a LT, move our current LT to RT, have we not in essence just drafted a RT with that pick? We just filled our RT by moving our current, very good, LT to the position. Basically, I'm saying why draft for a position we already have filled with that #1 pick.

Now on to QB. Hmm, the only proven QB on this roster is the one who isn't expected to be the starter. QB on this team is a huge gaping hole at this point. We have an unproven "young" QB and a journeyman. There is a QB that many, not all, but many of the experts are saying has a chance to be a franchise QB sitting there for us to pick.

So in review, we have a All-Pro DE/LB hybrid on the roster, we have a near All-Pro level LT, and a gaping hole, as of right now, at QB. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

As I have said, do I think the Dolphins are going to draft the nameless, and endlessly Matty-bashed QB? No. Which will make him happy. :) However, I just don't see the "need" to draft players with the #1 pick in positions we already have very good players at.

by dab415217 on Mar 31, 2008 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bottomline.

I'm going to root for whomever the Dolphins draft. My favorite for the #1 is obviously the BC QB.

By the way, its all in fun Matty. I respect everyone's opinion...even the misguided ones. :)

by dab415217 on Mar 31, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

"Whats with all the attacks on Ryan?"

Why is it that some people think he can do no wrong?

by Patssuck456 on Mar 31, 2008 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who said that?

You Savvy?

by Neo on Mar 31, 2008 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Safety First

Lots of good opinions here about the first pick in the draft, but I think all of you are looking at this from the wrong perspective. This pick has to be about more than getting the "best" player or filling the biggest need.

Whiffing on the first pick of the draft is an absolute disaster. The Dolphins simply cannot afford to be wrong or it will set the franchise back financially for years. It's unfair, but you all know it's true.

What the Dolphins need is the SAFEST player at the top of the draft. They need to draft a player that will be effective no matter how bad the team is. They need to select someone that after suffering a serious injury can still come back and have an impact even if he's never going to be the same player that he was. The first pick of the draft needs to be a Miami Dolphin for the next 10 years. Set aside your opinions about a particular player and look at it from that standpoint.

Will Matt Ryan be a good pick if they are unable to put the pieces around him to succeed? Think about it. Insert any rookie QB on this team today and attempt to project his growth with no go-to receiver and a patchwork offensive line. Sure, they would attempt to build around him, but what if the other guys they bring in are busts? It doesn't matter how good Matt Ryan is, or how bad John Beck is for that matter: if they never get better around the QB position, it simply doesn't matter who is under center.

The remaining choices are linemen, players that have a tendency to wear down over time and sometimes become ineffective after injuries.

Vernon Gholston, for example, reminds me somewhat of Jevon Kearse. He is an amazing athlete, and I will be surprised if he doesn't have at least two very good years in the NFL. But when he gets hurt or older and loses his natural ability, will he continue to be able to get to the QB? Honestly, I don't know and I'm not sure you can measure that, but doesn't it scare you relying on a person's talents that could be taken away from them at any moment?

Like many, I believe the two safest picks are the Longs. Jake Long appears to have all the tools to play tackle in the NFL. Personally, I think he's going to be a very good player and I'm not writing this with the intent of tearing him down. It just appears that drafting a tackle at the top of the draft can be hit or miss. Will he be Joe Thomas or Robert Gallery? Tough to say from a fan's standpoint, but I'm sure this is exactly what the front office is trying to figure out. If I had a time machine and could see he was a Pro Bowl linemen five or ten years from now, I'd say pull the trigger.

I don't and that's why I think the pick needs to be Chris Long. Why is he not subject to the same assessment as Gholston? As one commenter put it, "He has a good motor and the intangibles. Big deal." Yeah, actually it is a very big deal. That means he relies less on athletic ability and more on hustle. It makes him more likely to still be an impact player as his body breaks down and more likely to learn new techniques to stay in the league longer. Maybe he will never put up the number of sacks in a year a Gholston can, and maybe he's never even a Pro Bowl caliber player, but you know he's going to be a player for years.

You folks can continue to debate this all you want. I think all four of these guys are going to be good players. In the case of Ryan, I believe his success will be largely situational as it is for 90% of QB's drafted, which is why drafting him first would be horrible. The others should get along well wherever they go. At the end of the day, it's about which guy would be wearing a Dolphins uni the longest.

P.S. Julius Peppers did not have one good year and disappear, he posted double digit sacks in four of his first five seasons. If he rebounds from '07, he is still one of the best defensive ends in football.

by Kulp on Mar 31, 2008 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Was being sarcastic about the 1 year thing

Peppers was a beast, but one of the best DE in the NFL doesn't go from having his total and solo tackles drop by nearly 20, plus have his sack total go form 13 to 2.5 in 1 year. He was a non-factor last year.

It just appears that drafting a tackle at the top of the draft can be hit or miss

It's not just tackle, you hit or miss at every position.

You brought up:

"He has a good motor and the intangibles. Big deal." *

But you didn't bring up he is a tweener. He isn't a DE in a 3-4 and doesn't fit Parcells type LB.

*At the end of the day, it's about which guy would be wearing a Dolphins uni the longest

I'd argue that a tackle NFL playing span is one of the longest in the league, if not THE longest.

and maybe he's never even a Pro Bowl caliber player, but you know he's going to be a player for years.

You can't say this about Jake Long? And if your the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft, you better make a d@mn Pro Bowl.

You Savvy?

by Neo on Mar 31, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What makes a player a "safe" pick?

That's not a measurable and is completely subjective. ~Will Matt Ryan be a good pick if they are unable to put the pieces around him to succeed?~ That can be said about any QB, or any other position player for that matter. You can't single out one position. Would Chris long be a safe pick if the rets of the defense stinks. We already go a guy like that on the Dolphins...Jason Taylor. He was an All-Pro again on a bad defense. Would Chris Long be any better because he was the "safe" pick? ~Sure, they would attempt to build around him, but what if the other guys they bring in are busts?~ Again, that can be said about any player. However, the fact that Parcells is the brain behind this rebuilding, and the fact that he has done it before, I'm pretty sure he knows how to build around a rookie QB, i.e. Drew Bledsoe. The truth is, the safe picks always seem to be the players who don't have the ball in their hands deciding the outcome of each play. With that mindset NO QB would ever be the safe pick. Personally, I'm not all about making the safe pick. I'm also a little confused as to why Ryan is NOT a safe pick. He's got all the tools to be a very good NFL QB. He's a gym rat and a film-aholic. He's a quality person. Where is the unsafe in that, other than the position he plays. The reality is that it is the position he plays that scares us, not his skill set or personality. You want safe, draft a kicker.

by dab415217 on Mar 31, 2008 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for the wall of text.

I obviously hit the wrong key somewhere.

by dab415217 on Mar 31, 2008 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reposted for readability

That's not a measurable and is completely subjective.

~Will Matt Ryan be a good pick if they are unable to put the pieces around him to succeed?~

That can be said about any QB, or any other position player for that matter. You can't single out one position. Would Chris long be a safe pick if the rest of the defense stinks. We already go a guy like that on the Dolphins...Jason Taylor. He was an All-Pro again on a bad defense. Would Chris Long be any better because he was the "safe" pick?

~Sure, they would attempt to build around him, but what if the other guys they bring in are busts?~

Again, that can be said about any player. However, the fact that Parcells is the brain behind this rebuilding, and the fact that he has done it before, I'm pretty sure he knows how to build around a rookie QB, i.e. Drew Bledsoe. The truth is, the safe picks always seem to be the players who don't have the ball in their hands deciding the outcome of each play. With that mindset NO QB would ever be the safe pick. Personally, I'm not all about making the safe pick.

I'm also a little confused as to why Ryan is NOT a safe pick. He's got all the tools to be a very good NFL QB. He's a gym rat and a film-aholic. He's a quality person. Where is the unsafe in that, other than the position he plays? The reality is that it is the position he plays that scares us, not his skill set or personality.

You want safe, draft a kicker.

by dab415217 on Mar 31, 2008 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs