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Trawling The Waters - A Dolfan's Perspective
So, this is my first post in Mike's contest and I'm thinking to myself, "How should I go about this?"
My first option is to rep the M-I-A is my typical homer fashion. Problem is, there's nothing new or exciting about that, and new/exciting is what's needed to win the big bucks. And let's be honest, a mediocre Dolphins team would be a massive improvement over last year. Not much to trumpet.
Instead, I think I'll focus on the future, that is the guys that've been drafted or picked up as UDFAs that've stuck with the team in the last four years. Those are the guys that'll bring the Lombardi Trophy back home.
With that in mind, let's run down the list starting with the '05 draft.
Ronnie Brown: This guy obviously has talent, up to week seven of last year he was well on his way to one of the best seasons by a Miami RB ever and that's saying a lot. He probably won't play a whole lot the first half of this season because of the lingering knee injury that sidelined him last year, but look out for him in the 09-10 season (a contract year in which he'll be fully recovered.)
Matt Roth: Drafted in the second round, Roth was a classic Saban guy. He's the Little Engine Who Could, he never stops going and he is insanely intense. The problem is he's a bit undersized, so he's had problems coming out of a three-point stance and taking on tackles. The new regime realized this and they have moved him to OLB, which he flourished in during the preseason. It should be interesting to see how he does this year.
Channing Crowder: Crowder was drafted as Zach Thomas' replacement and when he was forced to move inside because Thomas went down with a major concussion, he demonstrated he's the same kind of tackling machine. I fully expect him to shine this year and eventually take on the leadership role the same way one of Miami's legendary linebackers did.
Travis Daniels: Frankly a disappointment and not worth the pick. No longer with the team.
Anthony Alabi: No longer with the team.
Kevin Vickerson: No longer with the team.
Now the '06 draft.
Jason Allen: In his first two years he struggled horribly, regularly being victimized. It's apparent now that the guy has all the athleticism in the world and the majority of his struggles result from being shifted back and forth between Safety and Corner in a very cerebral defense. This preseason he absolutely shined at both positions in a defense that allows players to actually play on instinct. Look for him to be the centerpiece of a rebuilt Miami defensive backfield in the future.
Derek Hagan: I don't know what it is about this draft class, but it seems like they've all had major struggles. Hagan's problem has been, so he claims, nerves. It looked like he was back to his all-star PAC-10 self during the first three games of the preseason and then had two bad drops against the Saints. It's kinda sad considering he had worked himself into the starting lineup as the #2 WR, but I expect him to fully develop his talent this year.
Joe Toledo: No longer with the team.
Devin Aromashodu: He was cut before the '06 season began, which greatly upset me at the time. Since then he's come up with a few big plays while with the Colts, but was again the victim of a numbers game.
Fred Evans: No longer with the team.
Rod Wright: Wright had first round talent but dropped like a five ton boulder after scouts found out about a torn rotator cup (which he didn't even know about.) He's flashed enough talent that the new regime decide to keep him and go thin at other positions, which is amazing considering how stacked the Dolphins are at DT.
The '07 draft.
Ted Ginn: This pick was roundly booed by Dolfans who were overly enamored with a QB who likely won't live up to the press hype. I was just glad Quinn wasn't picked. Ginn is now the #1 receiver and a legit threat to take it to the house on every return.
John Beck: Right now Beck is the third QB on the draft. He seems to have his own case of jitters and is easily shell-shocked, likely a result of having all the time in the world to throw while playing for BYU in a weak WAC. That said, Jaws seems to think that Beck has all the tools to be a legit NFL QB, so if he hasn't been totally ruined a la Joey Harrington we should see something out of him in the future.
Samson Satele: Take it to the bank, this guy is a future HOF center. The two other Dolphin centers who were drafted and started their rookie seasons ended up in the Hall of Fame. I've seen nothing from the guy but massive talent and playing skill, so I fully expect him to see his first Pro Bowl either this season or next with many more to come.
Lorenzo Booker: Lobo was traded this past draft to the Eagles, but he flashed playmaking ability in the '07 season. I fully expect him to eventually replace Brian Westbrook in Philly.
Paul Soliai: To be honest, the guy was horrible last year. This year, however, he worked hard in the off-season and managed to stick with the team in a loaded DT position. We'll see how he does in the rotation this year.
Reagan Mauia: The Juggernaut played well at fullback considering he was a converted DT, but frankly he whiffed to often on block and had hands of stone, which is why he was cut.
Drew Mormino: A guy with a lot of raw talent that never saw the field before being cut. A shame, but oh well.
Brandon Fields: A guy with a massive leg, perhaps with Reggie Roby-like talent.
Kelvin Smith: He's still with the team, although what role he'll serve I have no clue about.
Abraham Wright: He was injured in his rookie season and received an injury settlement back in May. He likely won't catch on with another team.
And finally the '08 draft.
Jake Long: This guy is a legit left tackle. His only problem, a frankly common one with rookie tackles, is that he has a tendency to over-commit on pass pro, letting rushing ends and linebackers to beat him to the outside. He'll learn and he'll eventually join Richmond Webb as one of the most celebrated Dolphins offensive linemen ever.
Phillip Merling: I suppose the guy is essentially a first round pick, since he was taken #32 overall and he has the talent to match. Lucky for him, he gets to spend a season behind Vonnie Holliday and learn from one of the best stack and shed DEs I've ever seen.
Chad Henne: He has a cannon for an arm, but he tends to ignore the checkdown and he's shown himself to be a bit error-prone. A lot of that has to do with the fact that he doesn't know the offense, but he'll likely be a future star.
Kendall Langford: Nobody expected this guy to come out and start, but he has and on top of that has quickly shown his ability to stuff the run and get to the passer. With Merling and Langford, I think the Fins have another Taylor/Ogunleye combination.
Shawn Murphy: Every Dolfan had expected that if any of the two guards drafted were to start, it'd be Murphy. It hasn't turned out that way, but only because Murphy's behind somebody who is more experienced. He'll likely start next season.
Jalen Parmele: No relation to Bernie Parmalee, but he's probably just as punishing a runner. He'll be a good back to punch it in on short yardage goal situations, although I don't know if he'll ever be the primary runner. I doubt it, but only because Ronnie Brown's more talented.
Donald Thomas: I'm amazed by this guy. He walks onto the Connecticut team having never played a down of football, wins the starting job in his second year, and then is drafted by the Dolphins and wins the starting RG spot purely on raw talent. This guy is a freak of nature, so don't be surprised if he accomplishes a lot in his career.
Lex Hilliard: He didn't make the team, largely because Parmele busted out a huge 80 yard run when it mattered and Hilliard had no answer. Hilliard's more of a FB/RB hybrid, so if he bulks up some I think he can take the job from Grigsby next year. Right now he's on the practice squad.
Lionel Dotson: you know that stacked DT situation I keep mentioning? Dotson's part of the equation. I don't know how it'll shake out, but if the regime didn't want to cut him then there's a reason.
Davone Bess: A UDFA WR out of Hawaii's prolific offense, he managed to beat out a bunch of veterans and rookies to snag the #4 receiver slot. The guy has hands made of stick-'em and a nose for the open space. In short, he's a black Wes Welker, except slightly bigger and maybe better.
***
Well, that's that with that. I'll post updates to tell you how these guys are doing in games and practice.
My first option is to rep the M-I-A is my typical homer fashion. Problem is, there's nothing new or exciting about that, and new/exciting is what's needed to win the big bucks. And let's be honest, a mediocre Dolphins team would be a massive improvement over last year. Not much to trumpet.
Instead, I think I'll focus on the future, that is the guys that've been drafted or picked up as UDFAs that've stuck with the team in the last four years. Those are the guys that'll bring the Lombardi Trophy back home.
With that in mind, let's run down the list starting with the '05 draft.
Ronnie Brown: This guy obviously has talent, up to week seven of last year he was well on his way to one of the best seasons by a Miami RB ever and that's saying a lot. He probably won't play a whole lot the first half of this season because of the lingering knee injury that sidelined him last year, but look out for him in the 09-10 season (a contract year in which he'll be fully recovered.)
Matt Roth: Drafted in the second round, Roth was a classic Saban guy. He's the Little Engine Who Could, he never stops going and he is insanely intense. The problem is he's a bit undersized, so he's had problems coming out of a three-point stance and taking on tackles. The new regime realized this and they have moved him to OLB, which he flourished in during the preseason. It should be interesting to see how he does this year.
Channing Crowder: Crowder was drafted as Zach Thomas' replacement and when he was forced to move inside because Thomas went down with a major concussion, he demonstrated he's the same kind of tackling machine. I fully expect him to shine this year and eventually take on the leadership role the same way one of Miami's legendary linebackers did.
Travis Daniels: Frankly a disappointment and not worth the pick. No longer with the team.
Anthony Alabi: No longer with the team.
Kevin Vickerson: No longer with the team.
Now the '06 draft.
Jason Allen: In his first two years he struggled horribly, regularly being victimized. It's apparent now that the guy has all the athleticism in the world and the majority of his struggles result from being shifted back and forth between Safety and Corner in a very cerebral defense. This preseason he absolutely shined at both positions in a defense that allows players to actually play on instinct. Look for him to be the centerpiece of a rebuilt Miami defensive backfield in the future.
Derek Hagan: I don't know what it is about this draft class, but it seems like they've all had major struggles. Hagan's problem has been, so he claims, nerves. It looked like he was back to his all-star PAC-10 self during the first three games of the preseason and then had two bad drops against the Saints. It's kinda sad considering he had worked himself into the starting lineup as the #2 WR, but I expect him to fully develop his talent this year.
Joe Toledo: No longer with the team.
Devin Aromashodu: He was cut before the '06 season began, which greatly upset me at the time. Since then he's come up with a few big plays while with the Colts, but was again the victim of a numbers game.
Fred Evans: No longer with the team.
Rod Wright: Wright had first round talent but dropped like a five ton boulder after scouts found out about a torn rotator cup (which he didn't even know about.) He's flashed enough talent that the new regime decide to keep him and go thin at other positions, which is amazing considering how stacked the Dolphins are at DT.
The '07 draft.
Ted Ginn: This pick was roundly booed by Dolfans who were overly enamored with a QB who likely won't live up to the press hype. I was just glad Quinn wasn't picked. Ginn is now the #1 receiver and a legit threat to take it to the house on every return.
John Beck: Right now Beck is the third QB on the draft. He seems to have his own case of jitters and is easily shell-shocked, likely a result of having all the time in the world to throw while playing for BYU in a weak WAC. That said, Jaws seems to think that Beck has all the tools to be a legit NFL QB, so if he hasn't been totally ruined a la Joey Harrington we should see something out of him in the future.
Samson Satele: Take it to the bank, this guy is a future HOF center. The two other Dolphin centers who were drafted and started their rookie seasons ended up in the Hall of Fame. I've seen nothing from the guy but massive talent and playing skill, so I fully expect him to see his first Pro Bowl either this season or next with many more to come.
Lorenzo Booker: Lobo was traded this past draft to the Eagles, but he flashed playmaking ability in the '07 season. I fully expect him to eventually replace Brian Westbrook in Philly.
Paul Soliai: To be honest, the guy was horrible last year. This year, however, he worked hard in the off-season and managed to stick with the team in a loaded DT position. We'll see how he does in the rotation this year.
Reagan Mauia: The Juggernaut played well at fullback considering he was a converted DT, but frankly he whiffed to often on block and had hands of stone, which is why he was cut.
Drew Mormino: A guy with a lot of raw talent that never saw the field before being cut. A shame, but oh well.
Brandon Fields: A guy with a massive leg, perhaps with Reggie Roby-like talent.
Kelvin Smith: He's still with the team, although what role he'll serve I have no clue about.
Abraham Wright: He was injured in his rookie season and received an injury settlement back in May. He likely won't catch on with another team.
And finally the '08 draft.
Jake Long: This guy is a legit left tackle. His only problem, a frankly common one with rookie tackles, is that he has a tendency to over-commit on pass pro, letting rushing ends and linebackers to beat him to the outside. He'll learn and he'll eventually join Richmond Webb as one of the most celebrated Dolphins offensive linemen ever.
Phillip Merling: I suppose the guy is essentially a first round pick, since he was taken #32 overall and he has the talent to match. Lucky for him, he gets to spend a season behind Vonnie Holliday and learn from one of the best stack and shed DEs I've ever seen.
Chad Henne: He has a cannon for an arm, but he tends to ignore the checkdown and he's shown himself to be a bit error-prone. A lot of that has to do with the fact that he doesn't know the offense, but he'll likely be a future star.
Kendall Langford: Nobody expected this guy to come out and start, but he has and on top of that has quickly shown his ability to stuff the run and get to the passer. With Merling and Langford, I think the Fins have another Taylor/Ogunleye combination.
Shawn Murphy: Every Dolfan had expected that if any of the two guards drafted were to start, it'd be Murphy. It hasn't turned out that way, but only because Murphy's behind somebody who is more experienced. He'll likely start next season.
Jalen Parmele: No relation to Bernie Parmalee, but he's probably just as punishing a runner. He'll be a good back to punch it in on short yardage goal situations, although I don't know if he'll ever be the primary runner. I doubt it, but only because Ronnie Brown's more talented.
Donald Thomas: I'm amazed by this guy. He walks onto the Connecticut team having never played a down of football, wins the starting job in his second year, and then is drafted by the Dolphins and wins the starting RG spot purely on raw talent. This guy is a freak of nature, so don't be surprised if he accomplishes a lot in his career.
Lex Hilliard: He didn't make the team, largely because Parmele busted out a huge 80 yard run when it mattered and Hilliard had no answer. Hilliard's more of a FB/RB hybrid, so if he bulks up some I think he can take the job from Grigsby next year. Right now he's on the practice squad.
Lionel Dotson: you know that stacked DT situation I keep mentioning? Dotson's part of the equation. I don't know how it'll shake out, but if the regime didn't want to cut him then there's a reason.
Davone Bess: A UDFA WR out of Hawaii's prolific offense, he managed to beat out a bunch of veterans and rookies to snag the #4 receiver slot. The guy has hands made of stick-'em and a nose for the open space. In short, he's a black Wes Welker, except slightly bigger and maybe better.
***
Well, that's that with that. I'll post updates to tell you how these guys are doing in games and practice.
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