Dolphins Depth: Defense

We've drafted, the dread and speculation, the wait time, all gone. Yet as fans, it is true that this never really leaves. Speculation, like energy, just exerts itself into another direction, and for us Miami Dolphins, there are many directions in which this speculation can branch.

Miami attacked the skills position in this past draft, bringing in Cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, and safety Chris Clemons. They also drafted a project OLB in J.D. Folsom, and signed Defensive ends Ryan Baker and Orion Martin, and Nose Tackle Louis Ellis as undrafted free agents.

Hence, a reshaping of the defensive side of the ball is expected, and I assume it will look something like this:

D-Line: In 2008, the Miami Dolphins carried 10 Defensive linemen, including Hybrid LB/DE Matt Roth. Using the same number for available spots, Miami's Defensive Line should look similar to this:

Defensive Ends: We can assume that Miami's starting ends will consist of a rotation between Kendall Langford, Phillip Merling, and Randy Starks. Lionel Dotson had a solid year, and seems to continue to show promise, and as of now John Denney is our Long Snapper. We also acquired Tony McDaniel this offseason from Jacksonville who has prototypical 3-4 DE size, and the versatility to play all 3 positions at the line for Miami. The last spot should be a battle between Rodrique Wright, and undrafted free agents Ryan Baker and Orion Martin, but it's likely neither of them make it so the Dolphins have room to carry additional linebackers.

• My picks: Phillip Merling, Randy Starks, Kendall Langford, Lionel Dotson, Tony McDaniel and John Denney.
  

Defensive Tackles/Nose Tackles: Jason Ferguson is the starting nose tackle in our 3-4 scheme. Outside of that, it's likely a battle for 1 spot between Paul Soliai, Joe Cohen, and undrafted free agent Louis Ellis. I expect to see Soliai win the battle, but it's his last chance to prove himself.

• My Picks: Jason Ferguson, Paul Soliai. Cohen and Ellis will battle for a practice squad spot.
  

Linebackers: In 2008, the Miami Dolphins carried 6 linebackers, not including Matt Roth, whom they listed as a hybrid LB/DE on the roster. That said, I will assume they'll carry more than last year. The Miami Dolphins linebacking corps should look similar to this:

Inside Linebackers: Channing Crowder and Akin Ayodele will likely be the starters, similar to last season, and Reggie Torbor will be the immediate backup. Miami has more versatile OLB that can play ILB if the need arises.

Outside Linebackers: Joey Porter and Matt Roth are locks. The organization also seems to be extremely high on Canadian import Cameron Wake and Erik Walden. I believe that they will carry more than seven linebackers though, and thats where the battle ensues. Other candidates to make the team on the roster are William Kershaw, George Tearrius, Charlie Anderson, JD Fossom, and Quentin Moses.

• My Prediction: Channing Crowder, Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor, Joey Porter, Matt Roth, Cameron Wake, Erik Walden, Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses. Folsom and Kershaw should battle for a spot on the practice squad.
  

Secondary: The Miami Dolphins carried 10 defensive backs last year, and with some differences, I expect to see the same number on the opening day roster this year. Here's how the Miami secondary should look:

Cornerback: Incumbent starter Will Allen will likely start the season opposite rookie Vontae Davis. Eric Green and Sean Smith should battle for the nickel and dime, and Jason Allen and Nathan Jones should be on the roster as well.

Safety: Newly signed Gibril Wilson will team up with Yeremiah Bell to create one of the hardest hitting safety tandems in the league. Chris Clemons has already impressed through rookie camp and will likely be the first alternate, with Tyrone Culver behind him.

• My Predictions: Will Allen, Eric Green, Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Jason Allen, Nathan Jones, Gibril Wilson, Yeremiah Bell, Chris Clemons, and Tyrone Culver. Joey Thomas, Will Billingsley, Scorpio Babers, Courtney Bryan and Ethan Kilmer should compete for two practice squad spots.
  

Updates

Since I last posted, a great deal of events have taken place through, with, and around our organization. These are some of the things that occurred this past week and some links for you to jump to and gather information for what I couldn't cover.

• The Miami Dolphins owner has come to agreements with Margaritaville owner Jimmy Buffet about renaming Dolphin stadium. So what's the new name for our franchise's and several other south florida franchise's home you ask? Landshark Stadium. Personally, I don't like it. Hell if you think about it, the Shark is the Dolphins enemy in the waters, why name it that? To read more visit ESPN's story.
• Rookie Minicamp was the headline story for the Miami Dolphins this past weekend. Several rookies impressed, amongst them Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, Sun Sentinel's Ethan Skolnick, and Sun Sentinel's Omar Kelly all had coverage. (those are day one links, daytwo links can be found above or to the side of those)
• Jason Taylor saga continues, as he has yet to sign anywhere, talks continue everywhere, and Miami remains hesitant.
  

Jason Taylor and Other News

It appears that Miami is in negotiations with Jason Taylor. It also appears that they aren't the only team interested. I figured this might happen, and would love to have Jason back in a Miami uniform.

That said, the newly drafted Miami Dolphins have requested the numbers for their uniforms for the 2009 campaign. I was really pulling to have receivers wearing numbers in the 90's, but none chose any of those numbers. Here are what they chose:

Pat White - 6
Vontae Davis - 24
Chris Clemons - 30
Sean Smith - 31
J.D. Folsom - 59
Andrew Gardner - 63
Brian Hartline - 82
Patrick Turner - 84
John Nalbone - 86

These numbers aren't yet official, but it's important to have an idea of what they are for when camp comes around. This way, if any of you attend, you can spot who's who.

Dolphins Release John Beck

In an inevitable end to a relationship that never really had a chance, the Miami Dolphins release John Beck.

General Manager Jeff Ireland had this to say:

"We want to thank John for his work ethic and his professionalism, We wish him well in the future."

I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors, and thank him for his time as a Miami Dolphin.

UDFA Signings

It looks like Miami hit the phones quickly after the draft was over, and began signing some undrafted prospects they may have been eyeing.

Although it is not official, NE Patriots Draft has a list updating all the signings and by whom.

As of now, the Dolphins have "unofficially" signed TE Jared Bronson (Central Washington), OG Mark Lewis (Oregon), DE Ryan Baker (Purdue), LB Orion Martin (Virginia Tech), WR Chris Williams (New Mexico St.), OC Alex Derenthal (Temple), WR Brennan Marion (Tulsa).

Other Notables signed already are:
LB Antonio Appleby (Virginia)- Patriots
LB Darry Beckwith (LSU)- Chargers
LB Frantz Joseph (Florida Atlantic)- Raiders
DT Chris Baker (Hampton)- Broncos
LB Lee Robinson (Alcorn St)- Broncos
LB Dannell Ellerbe (Georgia)- Ravens
S Otis Wiley (Mich State)- Giants
LB Dallas Reynolds (BYU)- Eagles
WR Kevin Ogletree (Virginia)- Cowboys
OT Alex Boone (Ohio State)- 49ers
OG Cedric Dockery (Texas)- Saints

More updates will come as they become available.

Grading the Phins Draft

The long awaited draft weekend has ended, and after much speculation about nothing, we now know who the new Miami Dolphins are. Parcells, Ireland and Sparano went into the draft with the plan of attacking Miami's needs. Their draft strategy was simple, there is quality in quantities. While I trust this regime wholeheartedly, I disagree with some of the picks. Then again, I don't get paid millions of dollars to draft for any NFL franchise.

Entering the draft, Miami's biggest needs as analyzed by most were CB, WR, OLB, and NT. It's safe to say Miami addressed these needs, although not necessarily in the way that most of us wanted or predicted.

Miami had a weak secondary entering this draft. They addressed the cornerback position with not one but two stud players at the cornerback position. With their 25th pick, they drafted Vontae Davis, who has the best physical tools of any corner to come out of college in the past three years. They also drafted Seasn Smith with their 61st pick in the draft. Smith could be considered a steal, as many many mock drafts had him going in the first round. In addition, in the 5th round, Miami drafted FS Chris Clemons. Clemons is going to ensure that the safety position remains covered throughout the season. He was probably the best pick the Phins made in day 2.

The second position of weakness was wide receiver. It would be unreal to say that it wasn't addressed, because it was. Now, do I think that it was addressed properly? NO!! The Dolphins obviously could not have known or avoided the wide receiver run that took place during the late first round to the early second round. That run wiped Nicks, Britt, and Robiskie, and the other top receivers where gone since before the 25th pick. Since they couldn't take any of those receivers, they took back to back receivers in the 3rd and 4th rounds. That though, is not even what I criticize. I criticize who they took with those picks. The Dolphins took Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline. Now, I've done much scouting and analyzing of this draft, and I can honestly say that those guys would have easily been there during the 6th and maybe even the 7th round.

The third position of need, Outside Linebacker, was addressed in the 7th round. Yeah, the 7th round... I can't believe it either. Even more surprising, when the 7th round came along, I was surprised at the remaining prospects, and dared to get excited. Hell, Beckwith was there, so was Worrell Williams.. but noooo, they took JD Folsom... who??

The fourth position of need... wait, need? The front office doesn't seem to think so.

On the bright side, although I initially didn't like the pick, the Dolphins drafted Pat White. Now, after thinking alot about this pick, White might just be a great addition. He's going to play some Wide receiver, return some kicks, and take somewhere around 7-10 snaps at QB per game. That's not bad, especially if he becomes a successful utility player in the NFL, ala Antwaan Randle El.

Another couple of great picks were Chris Clemons and John Nalbone. Clemons addressed not only our future at safety but insurance at a poosition that lacked it. Nalbone is also not only insurance at the Tight end position, but someone whom the trifecta will groom, and now it doesn't force them to sign any of our two free agent tight ends next offseason if this kid comes along.

Overall, Miami's draft was not great, but it can be if just the two corners we selected pan out. We really don't know how well this draft really goes until 2-3 years down the line, and so, grading the teams picks, specially right now after having seen the players play ZERO NFL games, is pointless, but I'll do it anyways. My final grade for the Miami Dolphins 2009 NFL Draft is: C

2009 NFL Draft: Day 2

So we're done? Yes we're done! Day 2 had its ups and downs as a fins fan and someone who considers themselves somewhat knowledgeable about football, college football, and all the processes involved with both sports.

- Dolphins open the day by drafting 2 wide receivers, both of whom I haven't heard much of, while other "better" receivers according to experts were still on the board. Initially, I was disappointed, but after seeing that Patrick Turner caught 49 passes for 749 yards and 10 touchdowns for USC last season, I'm a bit more relieved. Brian Hartline will not be any more than a 4th receiver at the NFL level in my opinion, but he may be a great gunner in special teams.

- In the 5th round they went on to draft John Nalbone, TE from Monmouth. This guy was the beginning of a nice set of picks by Miami. Nalbone ranked in the top 5 in all his measurables as a tight end except his vertical. He is a cheap man's Pettigrew.

- Also in the 5th round, Miami addressed the secondary yet again in this draft by bringing to Miami the future at safety, Chris Clemons. Clemons won't be starting this year since we have two brilliant safeties, but he'll have a couple good players to learn from, and he can spell them every once in a while, or become a decent back up if one of them goes down.

- In the 6th round, Miami drafted Andrew Gardner, OT from Georgia Tech. This pick is more likely a project that anything else. Gardner has to be a quick tackle to have started at GT where they run the option a while lot. I don't think he will represent much more than a 3rd string tackle in Miami this season.

- With what became their last pick in the draft, Miami picked J.D. Folsom. Folsom is a linebacker from a small school who has the size that Parcells and company love. I dislike this pick simply because there were much better linebackers on the board that could have been drafted and likely actually pushed for a roster spot.

Overall: I liked just a couple of picks today, and felt like all the others were either reaches, or just didn't fit overall. I hope I'm wrong, I hope the picks pan out. Today though, I grade the dolphins with a D.

NFL Draft Live Thread: Day 2

Today we continue rounds 3-7 in the draft. In case you were not around yesterday, and haven't had a chance to check who our new Baby Phins are, Miami drafted Vontae Davis, Pat White, and Sean Smith yesterday.

Today, Miami enters the day with the following 7 picks:
23rd pick in the 3rd rd, 87th Overall
8th pick in the 4th rd, 108th Overall
25th pick in the 5th rd, 161st Overall
29th pick in the 5th rd, 165th Overall
8th pick in the 6th rd, 181st Overall
5th pick in the 7th rd, 214th Overall
28th pick in the 7th rd, 237th Overall

Lets Hope they make the best of it!

Again, like yesterday, I encourage you to drop by and give you opinions about the draft. I'm checking on an often basis, and will respond to any of your comments. Updates will come as the draft goes on and Miami makes their picks, similar to yesterday's style.

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With the 87th Pick in the NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Patrick Turner, WR, USC. There were other receiver options I liked more, and other options in general that I feel were better. This, I think, was not a good pick.

With the 108th pick in the NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Brian Hartline, WR, Ohio St. Looks like Miami is addressing the need positions quite heavily. The positive to this is that you can only miss so much, so maybe they can hit on atleast one of these guys and find a number 1 receiver as a late round gem.

With the 161st pick in the NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select John Nalbone, TE, Monmouth. Good pick here. The kid's measurables rank amongst the top tight ends in the draft, and may be a real sleeper at the position. Considering Miami has 2 of their 3 TE's as free agents next offseason, this is a great pick.

With the 165th pick in the NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Chris Clemons, S, Clemson. I like this pick as well. I think he would have gone earlier, and he provides not only someone to learn from our good safeties, but someone to spell them and as depth at the position in case one of them gets injured.

With the 181st pick in the NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Andrew Gardner, OT, Georgia Tech. Not a horrible pick. Provides the depth needed at tackle and considering that GT runs the option, he must be mobile enough to play the position.

With the 214th pick in the NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select J.D. Folsom, OLB, Weber State. This pick addresses the OLB position, although not with an elite pass rusher as everyone expect before the draft.

The Dolphins trade their 237th pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. KC will give the Dolphins "consideration" in next years draft.

2009 NFL Draft: Day 1

We conclude a busy day of drafting with an overall expression of what we liked and disliked in the first couple rounds of the draft.


- Oakland drafts Darius Heywerd-Bey with the #7 overall pick. Ahead of Crabtree... They may be the most retarded franchise in the NFL. Detroit gets unlucky, Oakland is just retarded. To cement my opinion, they go out and draft Michael Mitchell in rd 2. I have never heard of the guy, and ESPN didn't even have footage on him. Kiper estimates they could have waited until rd. 5 atleast to have drafted him... I'm glad in not a Raider fan.

- New England screws Miami, twice! They took Ron Brace, Darius Butler.. both Miami targets... I hate them!

- I can't believe that Rey Rey and Everette Brown fell to the 2nd round...

- If it only cost a 6th for TB to move up 2 slots in the 1st round, couldn't Miami have given up a 6th and moved up 4-5 slots in the early 2nd to land Brace? Butler? Brown? Maualuga? Ridiculous!

Now to Miami's picks"

25th Pick- Vontae Davis... Love it, a physical monster. He'll excel under this regime, and I expect he will be a stud corner for years to come.

44th Pick- Pat White... I know not what to say about this pick. I don't want to deliberately question the great and well trusted minds that run this organization, but, cmon... how much can the wildcat do? White brings versatility, but I'm interested in seeing how he will be used..

56th- was traded to Indianapolis for their 61st overall and their 5th round pick.

61st Pick- Sean Smith... Great Pick, 2 corners in day 1 which could shore up our secondary. This was also a value pick, and Smith should have gone much earlier.

Overall: I would have liked to see some different names on this list, but considering that a ton of great player went right in a span of 5-7 picks before our 44th, we kind of got screwed. The wide receiver run in the late first-early second killed the chance for Miami to pick up a stud receiver.

For Day 1: C/C+ Grade.

NFL Draft Live Thread

Ladies and Gentlemen, the day we have all been waiting for since the end of the season has arrived.

We have called in sick, canceled family events, and gotten our liquor ready for today. Pop open the caps and get your shot glasses ready, in 3 hours, the NFL draft will begin.

I will update this post after every pick, and I will sum up the day after out last pick today. During the coming week, we will analyze in depth how the Dolphins drafted, and how it affects the organization.

Lastly, I wish the Jets, Bill, and Patriots the worst of luck today. I hope all their players are busts!!

With that said, lets get this party started!! Go FINS!!

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With the 25th Pick in the NFL Draft, our Miami Dolphins select Vontae Davis, CB Illinois. This will definitely strengthen our secondary. I still think we should draft another corner later in the draft.

With the 44th Pick in the NFL Draft, our Miami Dolphins select Pat White, QB/WR, West Virginia. This is an interesting pick. Does this mean Miami is enhancing the wild cat? The run on Wide Receivers made me throw up in my mouth a little bit, but oh well.

The Miami Dolphins have traded their 56th pick to the Indianapolis Colts for their 61st pick overall and Indianapolis's 5th round pick.

With the 61st pick in the NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select Sean Smith, CB, Utah. Great pick to shore up our secondary!!

Breaking News!!

ESPN is reporting that the Arizona Cardinals have reduced their asking price for wide receiver Anquan Boldin from a 1st and a 3rd, to a 2nd and future considerations.

Recently I said that I am enamored with AQ, but a 1st and a 3rd was too steep a price. Now though, I don't know how Miami doesn't just pull the trigger as fast as possible.

I'd be willing to give a 2nd and a 6th or 7th just to spice up the offer. Either way, more than likely Miami would use their first or one of their second round picks on a receiver in this draft.

I hope to see some news develop out of this soon, and hopefully its from Miami.

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-Update [Apr. 25th, 12:01pm]

According to the National Football Post, the Arizona Cardinals GM, Graves, stated that they never initially set a price for Boldin, that the rumors that have come up recently about lowering the asking price are false, and that they remain on their position of having Boldin stay with the team with the hopes that they can sign him to a new contract.

Talking Numbers

Yesterday we learned that the approximate available salary cap number for the Dolphins entering the draft was at or about $13.19 Million dollars. Armando Salguero from the Miami Herald deems that this will be enough to not only sign all our picks, but 3-4 undrafted free agents, and a veteran through free agency.

I decided to take a closer look at last years numbers to have a closer estimate to how Miami's cap will look after the draft adding an additional 5% of the contract amount to this years draftees.

25th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected CB Mike Jenkins from South Florida. On the 26th of July, 2008, Mike Jenkins inked a 5 year, $9.725 Million dollar contract with Dallas.

This is how the contract looks:
$6.75 Million guaranteed, including a $3.1 Million signing bonus.
2008: $231,000 guaranteed
2009: $657,500
2010: $789,000
2011: $920,500
2012: $1.052 million

Expected Contract for Miami's 25th pick: 5 year, $10.24 Million Dollars, $7.10 Million guaranteed, signing bonus of $3.25 Million Dollars, 2009 Cap Hit of $242,550.

44th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Matt Forte, Tulane. On the 2nd of July, they signed him to a 4 year, $3.781 Million Dollar contract.

This is how the contract looks:
$2 Million guaranteed, including $1,533,333 signing bonus.
2008: $156,667
2009: $385,000
2010: $470,000
2011: $555,000

Expected contract for Miami's 44th pick: 4 year, $3.97 Million, $2.1 Million Guaranteed, $1.61 Million Signing Bonus, and a 2009 Cap Hit of $165,000.

56th Pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Green Bay selected QB Brian Brohm, Louisville. On the 27th of July, GB signed him to a 4 year, $2.605 Million deal.

Brohms contract becomes alot more complicated but the main part is that he got a signing bonus of $900,000 and a base salary for 2008 of $295,000.

That said, Miami's 56th Pick's contract should look something like 4 year, $2.74 Million, $950,000 signing bonus, and 2009 cap hit of: $310,000.

Alot of numbers, I know.

It's not worth calculating the lower picks, as much of the contract is based on whether they seem to make the 53 man roster or practice squad, or get cut.

Basically, though, the Dolphins should be able to sign all their picks and still have ample cap space. I would throw a rough estimate of about $7 Million left available in cap space. This will give them the luxury of picking up someone like Taylor after the draft to come in and solidify the defense for the next couple years while our younger guys develop.

Addressing Pre Draft Rumors

Recently there have been a ton of rumors regarding the Miami Dolphins, their players, players they may be looking to trade for, and how this all affects the future, not this season, rather, 3-4 years down the road.


Ronnie Brown Fiasco
First call of order is to address Ronnie Brown. To do so, we must understand that this regime does not believe in making players "unavailable." Every single Miami Dolphins player is available "for the right price." Now, do I think RB will be on the move?? No! Do I want him on the move?? No!

Take a couple minutes to view his picture. I chose this picture because I think it speaks louder than anything I can say about RB and what he means to this franchise. RB is the face of this franchise. If you analyze the picture, you can identify the expression on his face, a smile. RB's attitude towards his teammates, coaches, and football as not only a profession or a sport, but as a passion, exemplifies exactly what this organization and it's players are all about. In addition, RB is the face of the Dolphins. Look at his shoulder pads... that logo he wears is part of him, and he is part of us. If he's moved, morale as a whole within the organization will fall to the floor, and Parcells knows how important it is to have high morale (specially after his TO saga at Dallas).
Lastly, Ronnie Brown is a star running back. He is a proven back who posts amazing stats behind a mediocre line. Imagine when Miami's line builds chemistry, he will be THE best!

Anquan Boldin a Phin?
Anquan Boldin is a beast. He is an elite receiver who would work wonders for Miami working opposite Teddy Ginn. I believe a "Boldinesque" receiver, if I may, is exactly what would make Miami's offense a prolific offense in the NFL. Many people believe that it should be an automatic "pull the trigger" decision by the front office to acquire Boldin from Arizona, and as much as I like Boldin, I have to disagree with those people.

Dallas set the bench mark during the season last year for acquiring an elite Wide Receiver. Using that frame of reference, it's safe to assume that Boldin will not come cheaper than a 1st and a 3rd, and a new, lucrative contract to go along with it. Realistically, Parcells and Co. are not going to pay that much, but taking that out of consideration, I believe that is too steep a price considering he is not the missing piece to make this franchise a Superbowl contender.

Miami has one too many holes that need plugging, and trading away our future for a guy who's in his prime now just doesn't make any sense. (Recall the Ricky Williams trade?). I would be utterly disappointed if Miami ended up following through with this trade.

Salary Cap Concerns
Good News!! There is no need to be worried. According to Armando Salguero from the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are $13.19 Million dollars under the $127 Million dollar salary cap.

"This means the Dolphins can draft, add undrafted free agents, budget for a practice squad, and even add veteran free agents such as Jason Taylor or trade for an Anquan Boldin (which would require a new contract), if they so desire."

Which leads me to:

Jason Taylor's Reunion
If there is one move that I want Miami to make in regards to free agency and bringing in a possible veteran, it'd be this one. Not only is this a nice ending to an epic drama, but Taylor is a Phin at heart. I don't think there is a better fit than for him to come back to Miami. Even more encouraging is the fact that his mediocre injury prone season with Washington drove his price down to pocket change.

Taylor and the Miami brass have been in communication, and I expect him to rejoin Miami shortly after the draft. I sure hope they bring him back!

Reminder: Live Draft Thread

For those of you dropping by, Phin Addict will have full coverage of the NFL Draft this Saturday and Sunday with immediate analysis of all of Miami's draft picks. Keep that refresh button handy come this weekend.

There will also be a live NFL draft Thread available starting at 1pm EST Saturday. I highly encourage all of you Phin Addict followers to drop by and comment. You can do so as OpenID or even anonymously, so there is ZERO reason why you should hesitate.

I look forward to sharing thoughts with you all there!!

Proposed Draft Plan

The 2009 NFL Draft has had us speculating about what the Dolphins, or any team for that matter, will or will not do for the past couple of months, and for some, even longer. Who will Miami draft? Will they trade up, and if so for whom? Or will they trade down and acquire more picks?

The most important thing is that we can rest assured that our front office, Tuna Man and his crew, are not like our previous front offices from the past 10 years. The group of MEN leading this team today, and during the draft this coming weekend is not the group of boys that we had in here when we had the likes of Cam Cam, Nick "the dick" Saban, or Dave "not even successful in college" Wannstetd. This front office throws out smokescreens, does not leak information, and essentially drafts players that don't deviate from what they qualify "NFL quality."

We all speculate nonetheless, spend countless hours researching about who fits best under a system that half of us don't even understand. Nonetheless, I who consider myself the brain, will propose a simple plan towards what is the Miami Dolphins 2009 Draft.

One thing that is very important we remember is: Last year is gone! It was a magical season, where many things went Miami's way, whatever the reason (wildcat, flew under the radar, etc.). This year, the NFL has challenged us to prove ourselves with the schedule they've planned for us. With this said, understand that although Miami won the division last year, they are still in rebuilding mode. Why rebuilding and not "re-tooling" you ask... because Miami is still looking to overhaul about 30% of their roster. This 30% includes more than just depth positions, as some starting positions are not set yet.

With this understanding, Miami has to step into this draft with a "Best Player Available" mentality. This by no intentions means to draft players whom we have depth and starters for, rather, draft players who may not fill immediate needs or gaping holes, but whom have Stardom potential for the future.

The thing I'd like to see Miami do best is trade out of the first round. To be quite honest, this draft is full of second and third round talent. From my scouting and research, I would say there are potentially 10-15 players that are true first round talents on an average year. About 7 of them are true first round talent on any given year. I would absolutely adore a move where Miami can acquire a 2nd, 3rd and 4th for their 25th pick in the draft. This would allow us to fill more holes, with talent that isn't far below what will be drafted in the 1st round this year.

Heading into the draft, it is unreasonable to think that Miami needs a couple of players to make it a superbowl contender. Miami is still another off-season away, atleast.

Draft for the future!

Assessing Possibilities: Hakeem Nicks

Most of us, according to the recent poll about who to draft with the first pick in the draft, agreed that Cornerback is Miami's most gaping need. Most of us also agreed that a close second would be a number 1 Wideout, or at least a wideout that complements young Teddy Ginn.



Hakeem Nicks, 6-1 212lbs.
40 Time: 4.63/ Vertical: 36'

- 2008 1st Team All-ACC.

Hakeem Nick's is easily one of the more underrated players in the coming NFL draft, the most NFL ready receiver in the draft, and one of the wideouts with more upside in the draft.

Nick's 40 Time is misleading. While he doesn't have blazing speed to get past corners at the next level, he can at times get behind them and make plays down the field. Nicks is deemed a pure possession receiver. He has amazing hands and body control. His wing span is over 7 feet long, and is an offensive ball hawk.

One of the more surprising things about Nicks is his awareness. Nicks always knows where he is on the field, and who's around him. He may not be your team's burner, but he has all the ability in the world to take it to the house.

Nicks gets off the line extremely fast, and knows how to use his size to his advantage against weaker and even more physical corners. He boxes out corners for out routes and end zone fade routes like a pro.

He plays the middle of the field as well, or better than any other receiver in this draft. He's as physical as they come, and isn't afraid to knock pads against linebackers or safeties. Nicks runs great routes as well, and although he isn't as elusive or quick as guys like Maclin or Harvin, he has his own set of moves that are surprisingly effective.

The biggest punch on Nicks is his speed. What most people don't understand is that Nicks isn't your stopwatch speed type of guy. He plays faster than it seems. The other knock on Nicks is his work ethic. Nicks has added weight during his off-season, and this has brought questions about his work ethic, hence, his maturity level as well.

Overall: I won't lie, I have a humongous man-crush on Nicks. Ever since I saw him torch my Miami Hurricanes, I knew this guys was NFL ready. This off-season, and more heavily within the past two weeks, there have been many rumors about Miami going after Arizona's AQ (Anquan Boldin). Well, if they can draft Nicks with pick 2a, not only will I be ecstatic, but they'll have their own AQ... younger, cheaper, and hungry.

NFL Draft Sat/Sun

For those of you dropping by, Phin Addict will have full coverage of the NFL Draft this Saturday and Sunday with immediate analysis of all of Miami's draft picks. Keep that refresh button handy come this weekend.

There will also be a live NFL draft Thread available where you can comment all you want about the on-goings of the draft.

Assessing Possibilities: Vontae Davis

Picks in the first round are usually valued extremely high because of the superstar potential teams have when drafting early. There are zero guarantees that any player will translate well into the NFL, but through all the studying, it has been determined that players taken in the first round have a higher chance at success.

Welcome:

Vontae Davis, 5-11 1/2, 203lbs.
40 Time: 4.49/ Vertical: 36'

- 2 Time 1st Team All-Big Ten Selection.

Davis has the prototypical size and speed for NFL success. He has ideal height, top end speed, and a bulky build for a corner. He is not at all injury prone, and can play all day every day. His size and athleticism is unmatchable by any other corner in this draft, and none comes close.

Davis is explosive and possesses unbelievable closing speed. He has a second and even a third gear to catch receivers from behind if he bites a double move. Davis can change directions on a dime, and is fluid enough at the hips to play press and not get beat off the line.

Davis plays the ball as well as he plays the receiver, and doesn't miss the opportunity to intercept anything within his range. He becomes a receiver when the ball leaves the quarterback's hands. His vertical leaping ability allows him to jump with most receivers in the NFL.

Davis knows how to play the run. He recognizes run plays quickly, and closes on the ball carrier. He is a downhill player. He times his blitzes well, and closes on the QB as fast as anyone. He can also play on special teams, and play well.

The biggest speculation on Davis comes not from his physique, rather from his attitude. Is he easy to coach? Some sources say that Davis works hard only when he wants to, and that at times, he shows lack of respect for the coaching staff.

It's also said that although he's a physical monster, he isn't a playmaker, and when he gets blocked on the running game, he doesn't attempt to fight out of it. Some wonder whether he has hit his ceiling in potential.

Overall: I for one think that Davis's only downside is his attitude, and I think that this may be the deciding factor between Miami drafting Davis or Darius Butler if they're both available at pick 25. If Miami believes that they can straighten Davis out, then he's the pick. Otherwise, it's Butler.

If Davis can get his attitude problem straightened out, he has a legitimite shot at taking over Miami's starting corner job by the second half of the season, and becoming a star in the NFL. He is a safety with the physical ability and versatility to play corner. I would be ecstatic if Davis comes to play for Miami.

Assessing Possibilities: Jamon Meredith

To provide me with better information regarding Jamon Meredith, like I did with Nick Reed, I have contacted someone who watched him play throughout his entire collegiate career. John Havard from the great South Carolina blog, Garnet and Black Attack, has taken his time to answer some of my questions about Meredith, and this is what he had to say.

Jamon Meredith, 6-4 1/2, 304lbs.
40 Time: 5.03/ Bench: 31/ 20 Yard shuttle: 4.82

- 2006 Andrew Sorensen Scholar-Athlete Award

John Harvard had this to say about Meredith:

Meredith is certainly an athletic talent and a guy with a head on his shoulders. He's played every position on the line, so he's versatile. However, it's hard for me to be TOO high on him considering the line problems we've had over the past couple of years. Meredith has been an anchor on our line and has certainly played well. Jamon was pretty clean in college. He's also been successful academically. With a 3.7 GPA, my guess is that he didn't spend too much time hanging with some of the worse elements in our program.

John also stated that since Jamon has played his entire collegiate career under the offensive system run by Steve Spurrier, it's more than likely that his skills are translatable to the NFL, and that he will jump in with a head start because he already understands the systems.

When asked about Jamon's negatives, John said:

My main complaint about Meredith would be that he generally hasn't shown the kind of urgency and drive you like to see out of a lineman. He doesn't always finish a play, doesn't always seem to have that desire to pound an end into the ground. I just never felt he lived up to his huge potential. He'll need to develop drive to play in Miami, no doubt. Part of the problem in Carolina is coaching (we fired our OL coach this past January), so with better coaches, perhaps he'll show what he's capable of.

John also stated that Meredith's only character weakness was that although he practically led the line for his time at SC, he was never really a leader.

Meredith has incredible versatility, since he has played every position in the SC O-line. He's quick enough to play LT for Steve Spurrier, which says a great deal about his ability to move quickly. His 40 time ranked second amongst all Offensive Lineman at the Indianapolis combine.

His negatives can include him relying too much on the length of his arms, causing him to at times be slow moving his feet and adjusting to the rush. In addition, he needs to develop an attitude to be able to deal with the rushing linebackers and ends at the pro level.

Overall: This is more of a depth pick than a need pick for Miami if they were to select Meredith. He provides them with the versatility they need to insure them of any possible injuries. With a great Head Coach, Sparano, who's specialty is the O-line, Meredith may potentially become a decent starter or at worst an above average backup.

I want to thank John for his thoughts on Jamon Meredith. I encourage all you Gamecock fans to drop by and add your thoughts about Jamon Meredith, and how you think he will fit not only in the NFL, but in Miami's Offensive Line.

Assessing Possibilities: Clint Sintim

As we all know, Miami needs a quality rusher on the opposite side of Joey Porter. I think that they will address this early in the draft, in hopes of strengthening the defense for the upcoming season.

Clint Sintim, OLB, 6-3 256lbs.
40 Time: 4.82/ Vertical: 34 1/2

- 2008 Second Team All-ACC.

Sintim is the prototypical rush linebacker out of a 3-4 system. He has unbelievable burst up the field and great closing speed. He's quick at the point of attack, and can wrap up the "run you over" type backs.

Sintim is a heavy hitter. He loves to get the big hits, create plays, and cause turnovers. He doesn't get manhandled by tackles, and often sheds the block and gets to the quarterback. He can hold fullbacks in spot and create a pile that stops the running game. He is monsterously strong. He has long arms and huge hands, and will securely make tackles.

Sintim can occasionally play the Defensive End spot, although I don't expect to see him in that position very much in the NFL.

More importantly, Sintim is intelligent. He understands the 3-4 since he has played it for four years in college. He was a vocal leader at Virginia, and with some time under his belt will do the same in the pros. He is extremely coachable, and is always ready to play the game. At Virginia, he was always one of the first in and one of the last out.

Sintim's weakness, much like many other linebackers coming out of college, is to predict how the speed of the NFL will affect his game. Sintim is not extremely fast, and although he can handle a tight end in pass coverage, at times, he can also get beat. This goes hand in hand with his inability to block passes, be it at the line or in open space.

Sintim's negatives are somewhat coachable. His coverage abilities can improve, although his 40 time must improve to be efficient against the much faster NFL players.

It certainly seems as though Sintim will be a great situational OLB right off the bat, and can develop into an above average OLB in the future with the proper coaching. I certainly doubt that he will not be successful in the NFL.

Overall: I think he would fit great in Miami. He understands the 3-4, and he has a hell of a OLB in Miami right now (JP) to mentor him and teach him how to best play the position. I think he has star potential if developed properly, and through some effort of his own working in pass coverage.

Assessing Possibilities: Mike Mickens

A couple of days ago we looked at LB/DE hybrid Nick Reed, and how, for a 7th round pick possibility, he may become a true contributor of an NFL football team who may dedicate some time to develop him.

Today I wanted to focus on what I consider will be a sleeper at the position which Miami needs to fill the most in the coming draft.

Mike Mickens, CB, 6-0 184lbs.
40 Time: 4.53/ Vertical: 35 1/2

- First team All-Big East 2006
- Second team All-Big East 2008

Mickens was a dominant corner for most of his career at Cincinnati. He is a great athlete with a nose for the football. He can run with the best of them. His 4.53 40 time during his pro day was with him at 85% back from arthroscopic surgery, and had he been 100% he would definitely have been in the low 4.4's. Mickens plays tougher than he looks, and is not afraid to tackle the ball carrier.

He has a nose for the football, and is a playmaker. He has above average hands for a cornerback, and is a natural when the ball is in his hands. He has a second wind, and possesses the speed to make up for any mistakes. He is the type of cover corner that can blanket a receiver. He's as close to a ballhawk as you get for a corner. His burst to the football causes QB's to hesitate when throwing to his side. He has a second gear if the opposing Wideout tries to go deep on him.

At Cincinnati, Mickens improved every year. He is very coachable and is very confident in his abilities. He has played a variety of defensive schemes, and understands and excels in all of them. He was extremely good in a zone scheme where there is heavy blitzing, and in cover 2 with a safety shading him. This allows him to take more risks and make more plays.

Possible negatives with Mickens are that he plays with huge attitude, and although that may be great, he will draw penalties from time to time, and will get called for holding beyond 5 yards in press coverage every once in a while. Mickens's size gives him trouble when he attempts to come off blocks to make plays in the running game. His tackling technique is flawed, as he leads with his shoulder rather than arm wrap the ball carrier.

Mickens is the type of cover corner who has both the tangibles and intangibles to translate his skills effectively into the NFL game. He is a high motor, no quit guy, who's very dedicated to being successful. With the proper coaching and the right players around him, Mickens can develop his skills and become a very good corner in the National Football League.

Overall: I like Mike Mickens to come into the NFL and possibly steal the nickel or dime spot from anyone on any team. With Miami's thin depth at corner, I feel he can come in and possible take the nickel spot right away, and may have a legitimate shot at the number 2 spot by the second half of the year. His draft position may have taken a hit due to his injury, but judging by what he managed to do at the Cincinnati pro day at only 85% I think he'd be worth the pick if he fell into the fourth round.

Assessing Possibilities: Nick Reed

We have established a 7 rd. layout of more or less what the Dolphins draft may look like, and we know that late in the draft they may be targeting a project hybrid defensive end/linebacker. Reed makes sense to fill this role for the Miami Dolphins.

In order to give a more accurate scouting report, I contacted Jeremy Conant from a great Ducks blog, Addicted to Quack, and he provided me with a great deal of information on Nick Reed and how he may or may not project to the NFL.

Nick Reed, DE/LB Hybrid, 6-1 248lbs.
At the Oregon Pro Day: 40 Time: 4.71/ Bench Press: 24

- Two-time Pac-10 leader in sacks (despite usually facing the opposition's best offensive tackle)
- First-team All-Pac-10 his junior and senior year
- First-team All-American for the 2008-09 season
- Two-time Academic All-American

Jeremy had this to say:

What we saw at Oregon was a good athlete with tremendous instincts and a knack for making big plays. Reed is fast. More importantly, he has a very quick burst at the snap - that is where he usually gains an advantage in his pass rush. Can he be a run stopper in the NFL? That's the million dollar question.

The motor is there, the intangibles are mostly in his favor. Reed plays with high intensity and, at Oregon, was a vocal leader on defense. It's a long-shot that Reed is the next Tedy Bruschi, but if some NFL team is smart enough to invest in his development it's not out of the question. Early on Reed would be a beast on special teams.

If Reed would have been invited to the combine at Indianapolis, Reed would have been very close to some of the top linebacker prospects in the draft. His 40 time was faster than Ray Maualuga (4.83), Brian Cushing (4.79). His bench press would have also been higher than Maualuga and Laurinitis, and "his cone and shuttle drills would have been within hundreths of a second if Laurinitis and Cushing."

In response to some of the questions I asked, Jeremy adds:

I don't recall seeing Reed in pass coverage, so I can't speak to that. That has to be a real question mark with the pro scouts. My gut tells me pass coverage would have to be an immediate focus area for Reed if he's to play inside linebacker. I believe he would be an effective situational blitzer. As a two-time Academic All-American, Reed should not have issues grasping an NFL playbook. I don't recall any compaints regarding his coachability or pressence in the locker room. I don't recall any off-the-field issues during his years at Oregon.

Bottom line with Nick Reed: He's just a great football player. He's the quintessential overachiever who's desire to succeed will overcome just about any obstacle. It would be a surprise to me and many other Duck fans if he doesn't make an NFL roster as a back-up linebacker, possibly contributing immediately on special teams.

I for one would not be at all oppossed to drafting Nick Reed with a 7th round pick and giving him a shot at making the team. With the great coaching staff down here at Miami, he may just become the next Tedy Bruschi, as much as I dislike him and his patsies!!.

I want to thank Jeremy for his thoughts on Nick Reed. I encourage all you Duck fans to drop by and add your thoughts about Nick Reed, and how you think he will fit not only in the NFL, but in Miami's 3-4 defense.

Dolphins sign Punter

The Miami Dolphins have signed punter Jy Bond from Australia. This possibly means that they aren't satisfied with the inconsistencies that Fields has brought, and are looking for someone to push him for his job or possibly even replace him.

Dolphins Mock Draft 1.0

The NFL Draft is 11 days away!! It's becoming quite a difficult task for me to sit straight in my chair, but while I try to hold that under control, I will drop my Dolphins Mock Draft 1.0.

This draft may change a couple of times in the coming days since the week before the draft gets extremely hectic when it comes to players value shooting up and down.

• 1st rd. (25th Overall)- With the 25th Pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. As I've made clear before, I strongly believe that if Miami (who owns the toughest schedule in the NFL) is to at all come close to competing this season, they need to cover the hole they have in their secondary. Davis is the best corner in the draft and can likely take over Miami's number 1 corner spot by the second half of the year. That said, he may as well not be available at the 25 slot. If that's the case, I imagine Miami will look at Darius Butler or Sean Smith. I highly doubt Miami will draft outside the corner position in this slot in the draft. It is more likely they trade down.

• 2nd rd. (44th Overall)- With the 44th pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select WR, Hakeem Nicks, UNC. First and foremost let me establish that I think he will be the perfect complement to Teddy Ginn. He's not as fast, so he doesn't post the deep threat, but he is your dream possession receiver, and a great blocker. He will help Miami's pass and run offense immensely. Like Davis, it is extremely possible that he may have been drafted by the 44th pick, and if that's the case, then I don't believe Miami will draft WR. I imagine they may be looking for an OLB, where the likes of Larry English, Clint Sintim, or even Worrell Williams.

• 2nd rd. (56th Overall)- With the 56th pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select OLB, Clint Sintim, Virginia. This pick is very dependant on how high Tuna and his front office are on Cameron Wake. If they feel he's a project, they'll take an OLB early. Sintim has played the 3-4 in college and been successful, and will be used in the same slot he was in college if drafted by Miami. He will rush opposite Porter. My only issue with him is his pass coverage skills. If Miami happens to be high on Wake, and believe he's ready to play (who am I to argue with Parcells and his track record), then I can see Miami going after another corner to shore up that passing game once and for all. Possible targets might be Alphonso Smith or DJ Moore.

• 3rd rd. (87th Overall)- With the 87th pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select OT, Jamon Meredith, South Carolina. Miami has 2 great left tackles. This is not necessarily a position of need, rather a position of want. If Carey or Long go down, Miami has no insurance. Drafting Meredith will not only provide insurance, but in the 3rd rd, he may as well be one of the better players available, and he'll be able to spell the Tackles from time to time. I doubt Miami will draft another WR, or a NT here, and if my assumptions are correct, and if they go corner twice with the first three picks, it won't happen again here. Other possibilities may be Jarius Byrd if they don't draft a corner in rd. 2 or another tackle, Fenuki Tupou, Lawrence Sidbury.
  

• 4th rd. (108th Overall)- With the 108th pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select CB, Mike Mickens, Cincinnati. Mickens is a true cover corner who possesses the raw skills necessary to become a legit star in the NFL. He has the height and weight that Parcells likes, and his negatives can be fixed through coaching. Assuming Miami does not go corner twice on day one, they'll be taking a corner with this pick. Other options might be CB Greg Toler, NT Sammie Lee Hill.

• 5th rd. (161 Overall)- With the 161st pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select NT, Terrence Taylor, Michigan. Taylor was once a first round prospect who struggled along with everyone else at Michigan last year. He lacks a bit in height, but his shape and conditioning will be fixed once he goes pro. He will be a legitimate run stopper in the NFL. Other possibilities here may include ILB Frantz Joseph.
  

• 6th rd. (181 Overall)- With the 181st pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select SS, Otis Wiley, Michigan State. This is basically and insurance pick. Bell is 32 years ol and has an extensive injury history. He managed to keep it together last year, but it never hurts to have someone who can come in and perform in his place were something to happen. If not, a safety to groom. Other Possibilities may include C Dallas Reynolds, ILB Dannell Ellerbe.

• 7th rd. (214 Overall)- With the 214th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select ILB, Nick Reed, Oregon. Reed will more than likely not compete for a starting job, but he'll be a project. Has great work ethic, and may make the team on special teams. At this point in the draft, Miami might be drafting for the best player available.

• 7th rd. (237th Overall)- With the 237th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select OG/OT George Bussey, Louisville. This pick will provide Miami with versatility depth at the O-line. He's also a player who has been injury free throughout college, and has trememndous upside if coached well (which he will be) in the pros. Again, there may be a ton of other options at this point in the draft.

Well, there it is, the 7 round Dolphins Mock Draft. Feel free to comment on what you would change or not.

Dolphins 2009 Schedule

The Miami Dolphins have officially been screwed by the Patriot loving NFL employees and schedule makers. The new schedule looks like this:

Week 1- @ Atlanta
Week 2- Indianapolis
Week 3- @ San Diego
Week 4- Buffalo
Week 5- NY Jets
Week 6- Bye
Week 7- Saints
Week 8- @ NY Jets
Week 9- @ New England
Week 10- Tampa Bay
Week 11- @ Carolina
Week 12- @ Buffalo
Week 13- Patriots
Week 14- @ Jacksonville
Week 15- @ Tennessee
Week 16- Houston
Week 17- Pittsburgh

Analysis:
The first 3 games are against non-division teams. Sadly, all these teams had a winning record last season, and all made the playoffs. You can argue that San Diego had a down year with LT injured and will be much more dominant this year with LT back to full health. At the same time, you can argue that Indianapolis lost a future Hall of Fame coach, and may struggle to adapt to a new system both offensively and defensively, but there's only so much struggling Peyton Manning can do. Atlanta on the other hand is a team that like Miami, had an unexpectedly great season and will only get better with Ryan at the helm.

(Hopeful) Predictions for first 3 games:
Week 1- Win over Atlanta
Week 2- Loss against Indianapolis
Week 3- Win over San Diego

If this is the case after the first three games, it will be a successful start to the season.

Weeks 4 and 5 are against Division rivals, making these games fairly important.

Week 4, we play the Bills, whom have arguably added another WR to burn our secondary. T.O. may bring a ton of issues into the locker room, but when he steps on the field, he's a great WR. In addition, Evans tends to have great games against the Miami secondary, a secondary which may have more holes this year than it did last year entering the season thus far. Nonetheless, I think that between Sparano on the sidelines, and CP10 leading us on the field, Miami will manage the clock and beat Buffalo.

Week 5, we play the... ugh... the Jets... New QB, New Coach, new systems. Don't get me wrong, I DO NOT want to underestimate this team, but I just don't see them being ultra competitive this year. The... ugh... Jets.. (get the theme..)will be playing wholeheartedly during week 5, and any team can beat any team on any giving week, except the 2008 Detroit Lions, ask our very own 2007 Dolphins. So it's important to maintain focus, but the Jets won't be ready just yet, and Miami should prevail.

(Hopeful) Predictions for Week 4/5/6
Week 4- Win over Buffalo
Week 5- Win over NY Jets
Week 6- Bye

Now, this is not bad at all, this sets us up with a 4-1 record through the first 5 games of the season.

Week 7 is against the Saints, who's pass heavy offense led by the magnificent Drew Brees will be too much for Miami's secondary, whether or not they draft a corner or even two. The Saints have too many offensive weapons, and if healthy, Miami's defense will be too vulnerable.

Week 8/9 Jets again, same result. Then the NFL's bride to be, the New England Patriots. They'll have Brady back. Welker, Moss, Maroney healthy, Galloway, and their million weapons... god I hate em all... At this point in the season, this may be the make or break game for Miami in contention of the AFC crown. Unfortunately, I have Miami suffering the loss to a healthy (key) Patriots team.

(Hopeful) Predictions for Weeks 7-9
Week 7- Loss to Saints
Week 8- Win over Jets
Week 9- Loss to Patriots

Now that puts us at 5-3 for the year, and considering we hold the NFL's toughest schedule, I would not be quite dissapointed. Specially if we are in a nice position to make the playoffs.

Week 10/11/12 are not extremely difficult weeks. We face Tampa Bay, who failed the playoffs last year because they choked real bad at the end of last season. They'll have a new coach, a new offense/defense and a new coaching approach. They'll have a new QB, no Joey Galloway, and a heavily aged defense who will no longer be capable of completely dominating like they used to a couple years back.

We also face Carolina. Carolina can be explosive between DeAngelo Williams and Steve Smith, but they have many injury issues year in and year out. If they're healthy, they'll be tough to beat.

Week 12 we face Buffalo and their dual WR threats. This time, they'll be victorious, playing at home, likely by that time, winter kicking in, and Miami not used to playing in those conditions.

(Hopeful) Predictions for weeks 10-12
Week 10- Win over TB
Week 11- Loss to Panthers
Week 12- Loss to Buffalo

Week 13 is against New England, and they usually split the season series, so I'll give this one to Miami.

Week 14 is against Jacksonville. Jacksonville has dropped Taylor, so Jones-Drew now has all the workload. They also have a QB competition working up since Garrard had such a down year. The defense has lost its dominance from 3 years back. They're in rebuilding mode whether they like it or not, and Miami should handle them without much of a problem.

Week 15 is the complete opposite. So the Titans lost Haynesworth. They remain one of the more dominant teams in football and if Collins falters, Young is healthy and will likely be more than ready to take over.

(Hopeful) Predictions for weeks 13-15
Week 13- Win over Pats
Week 14- Win over Jags
Week 15- Loss to Titans

So Miami, with the toughest NFL schedule holds in their hands, at 8-6 a shot at controlling their own destiny.

Week 16 is against Miami's kryptonite, Houston, and this year, the kryptonite expires, and Miami will win. A couple of Miami's losses to Houston have been simply because of underestimating them and because its been early, so CP10 wasn't full on understanding of the playbook. During week 16, an important week because of the playoff race, Miami takes Houston, by a wide margin.

Week 17 on the other hand is against possibly the best defense in football, and an offense that can on get steadier. Pittsburgh should easily handle Miami.

(Hopeful) Predictions for week 16-17
Week 16- Win over Houston
Week 17- Loss to Pitts

So Overall, that gives Miami a 9-7 record.

Will that make the playoffs? Possibly, possibly not, the Pats missed it with an 11-5 record last year.

My point is, screw the schedule, lets face these teams with the Heart of a Champion... stare them in the face, don't back down, and if we go down, go down fighting!!! Let that be the theme for our season!

NFL Releases 2009 Schedule Tonight

At 7 pm eastern time tonight, the National Football League will release the 2009 Season's Schedule for every team. That includes our Miami Dolphins.

Until now, we know that our preseason games will consist of games against the Carolina Panthers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, The New Orleans Saints, and The Jacksonville Jaguars.

We also know the 16 teams that we will be playing throughout the 2009 season, and we know which ones will be at home and which ones will be away.

Tonight though, we will know our schedule, when we are home, when we are away, and from this we will obviously go into speculation about how it will affect us throughout the season, because it's what we do!

NFL Draft

As we all know, the NFL Draft is quickly approaching us. I'm sure that all you avid bloggers have been researching about the possibilities of Miami drafting the player whose bandwagon you ride, but lets take a close look at what Miami really needs in the upcoming draft.

Coming into the offseason, prior to free agency, Miami's major needs were quite different than the ones they have now heading into the draft. The front office (whom I trust wholeheartedly) has addressed the offensive line with the re-signing of Vernon Carey and the signing of Jake Grove to a 5 year $29.5 million contract. They have also addressed the safety slots with the re-signing of Yeremiah Bell and the major splash signing of Gibril Wilson to a 5 year, $27.5 million deal.

In addition to these signings, they have brought in depth with the likes of CB Eric Green, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, Cameron Wake, formerly of the CFL (and looks like he will be a stud player), Joe Berger, formerly of Dallas, and a few others.

Heading into the draft, Miami's major needs look like this:

CB, OLB, WR, NT, OL

Cornerback:
Miami has a huge hole at Corner, where the only true quality starter is Will Allen. As of now, it's going to be Jason Allen starting opposite him. Although this is a bloom or bust year for Allen, he defenitely is ready to cover the pass heavy offenses in the AFC, with the likes of Randy Moss and the newly arrived Terrell Owens. Our Nickel corner would be Joey Thomas, and to be quite honest, I don't even want him on the field. With that said, the secondary is by far Miami's most glaring hole, and one that needs to be heavily emphasized in the draft. I would assume that Miami will use their first and possibly another first day pick at this position.

Possibilities in the draft include the likes of Vontae Davis, Darius Butler, Sean Smith, Alphonso Smith and sleeper candidate Victor "Macho" Harris.

Outside Linebacker:
Miami's pass rush last year came from one side, from one man. Joey Porter. 17.5 sacks came from him and he was the only real threat to get to the QB. Defenses gameplanned, and managed to hold him up fairly well towards the latter part of the season. That said, Miami needs an OLB who can rush the passer, control the running game, and pass cover when the rush is from the other side. As of now, it's looking like Cameron Wake may get the chance to start opposite JP, but that's not a guarantee at success in the NFL.

It is likely that Miami won't draft a LB until their first pick of the 2nd round (44) since their major need is corner. Specially if Davis is available at 25. Regardless, I believe that the top OLB (Cushing, Curry, Maybin, Mathews) will be gone by the 25th pick.

Possibilities in the draft include Larry English, Clint Sintim, Connor Barwin, Cody Brown.

Wide Receiver:
Miami will almost certainly draft a wide receiver in the upcoming draft. The offense lacks a true wide receiver, as Teddy Ginn never developed into one, and looks as though he won't be doing so any time soon. Miami's WR group is not a bad one, but it none of the ones it has pose a real threat to any defense. As of now, it looks like Ginn is the #1 wideout, with Camarillo, Bess as the 2/3. Brandon London is a likely possibility to make the squad as the 5th wideout. (Not to mention I truly despise Ernest Wilford).

More than likely, Crabtree, Maclin, Heywerd-Bey, and Harvin will be off the board (Although Harvin's stock keeps falling due to the drug reports). That means that with the 44th or 56th pick, Miami may be able to grad someone like Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, or Brian Robiskie (Ginn's former teammate).

Nose Tackle:
Miami is running the 3-4 for its second year under the new staff. Currently on the roster as the Miami NT is Jason Ferguson. He is great at it too, when he's healthy. That's a big IF though, and Miami needs to bring someone in to give Jason breathing time during games. Paul Soliai is huge, and can defenitely fill the space, but he's not the tree stump we need, as he gets pushed back alot and often.

The 3rd or 4th round might be ideal for Miami to pick up a NT in the draft. At that time, Miami may find someone like Ron Brace (May need to drop a little for Miami to get him in the 3rd), or Terrence Taylor. Outside of those, I wouldn't see Miami throwing a pick in the way of this position.

Offensive Line:
Depthis sorely needed amongst the Offensive Line. Donald Thomas is coming off an injury and so is Justin Smiley. Miami has 2 outstanding tackles in Long and Carey, and a promising center for their line scheme with Grove. Outside of that, nothing. Berger can be a decent back up for the Center position, and maybe the guards. Miami traded Satele who was an above average backup.
This position must be addressed late in the draft, possibly twice.

Who would you like to see Miami draft in day one??