I don't believe in grades this early but...

[Deadmeat]

for those of you do here's one from Jason Cole:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--2013-afc-draft-grades--dolphins-earn-only-a-033857465.html

[J Lunis]

On 5/1/2013 2:55 PM, Deadmeat wrote:
> for those of you do here's one from Jason Cole:
>
> http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--2013-afc-draft-grades--dolphins-earn-only-a-033857465.html
>

These are obviously conditional grades. Miami's picks 'should be' A
quality. Will they? Ask me in December. For now, the grade is based
on filling needs with bodies and the amount 'spent' on each pick.

I'm going by a combination of FAs and draft picks compared against
needs, but, as above, conditional grades. Wallace, Gibson, Grimes, and
Taylor, WR and CB have been significantly upgraded. Ellerbe, Wheeler,
Jordan, and Jenkins appear to upgrade the pass rush and coverage. Run D
gets mixed reviews. TE still concerns me. Miami has ONE TE and he is
a below average blocker (do you REALLY have faith in Clay, Egnew,
Sims?). OT? All indications are Miami is still searching for one -
left or right - so this grade is incomplete. Those, IMO, are/were the
top needs. CB, pass rush, WR . . . check. OL incomplete. TE gets a
D+. Playmakers? Unquestionable improvement.

Now for safety. Jones and Clemons were in the top 1/4 of the league so
this isn't in dire need of a talent upgrade. It "IS* in need of a
playmaker upgrade. I'm uncertain on OG since I don't know the quality
of Louis and Thomas but replacing Jerry has to be a plus. RB? I
honestly don't know. I'll not miss Reggie bouncing everything outside.
I have little faith in Thomas but Gray was supposed to be the power
back THIS year. Now Gillisle(sp) has been added so I'm cautiously
optimistic. What grade does that equate to? I'm gonna say a
conditional B-/B, assuming an OT FA is signed.

Finally, I'm VERY interested in seeing the development of the kids -
Martin, Gray, Shelby, Vernon, Kaddu, Wilson - all of whom received
constant praise and, excepting Gray, showed flashes of talent last year
(although we saw little of Wilson at safety). If half of these guys
step up and the new guys play as expected, I can get quite optimistic.

[euphemism]

On 5/1/2013 1:55 PM, Deadmeat wrote:
> for those of you do here's one from Jason Cole:
>
> http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--2013-afc-draft-grades--dolphins-earn-only-a-033857465.html
>

I'm glad someone has the decency to note the work that the Dolphins did...

The "what ifs" go on for miles, but when you take the NEEDS that Miami
had, the CONSENSUS TALENT that was available and the MOVES that were
made, it is clearly arguable that they had an exceptional draft.

There are plenty of people who "know" what will happen with all these
players - the guys who KNOW Tannehill is a bust, the ones who KNOW that
Miami should have picked Johnson at #3... Those people will vanish
like a fart in the wind if the opposite conclusions prove to be the
right ones over the next few years.

I think I understand the choices that were made and I think the logic
was sound. Sure, there were some goofs, like the trade out and then
back in to the 3rd round. I say that the draft is a moving snake and
it's good if you can grab it and not get bitten.

I was less generous - with my "B+" but I did say I could have gone to an
"A" had sex with a hot cheerleader been offered.

So... it's nice to see a favorable assessment. The focus of the
pundits has elsewhere recent years - you get TIRED of hearing the
fuckers rave endlessly above certain teams. So Miami gets a decent
notice this time. Good. Good.

[J Lunis]

Agreed. Got the best pass rusher available - a huge need. Got the best
CB available - another huge need. Yeah, I like the O, but I'll take
playmakers on either side of the ball. I would, to be honest, like to
see one of the below-3rd-round guys put in a breath-taking performance
to make up for all those ho-hum years.

[euphemism]

It used to be there was some late-round pick who came up big each new
year. The name that comes to mind is Brian Cox and I recall that people
acted surprised that Zach Thomas was so special. That phenomena was the
thing that made spring and camp news so interesting... was to hear the
rumble of the approaching storm.

Not too many good surprises the last 13 years or so. It would be nice
if that changed starting this year.

[J Lunis]

Two names that really surprised me recently . . . wait for it . . .
Carroll and Wilson. I'm not surprised when observers/sports writers
watch practices and claim a rookie is 'special' or when coaches give the
obligatory 'he's showing flashes.' I *DO* pay attention when the
veterans consistently rave about a rookie - Carroll and Wilson received
those veteran raves. Carroll was to be a starter with a 'long career'
and Wilson was said to be 'everywhere on the field' disrupting plays.

But I digress. It has been a while since Miami drafted a playmaking
(I'll not require 'elite') low-round rookie. To be fair, many teams are
experiencing the same drought so this isn't an 'ireland thing' but in my
prejudiced opinion, Miami is due a surprisingly good pick.

I mentioned in another thread the talent Miami appears to have gained in
FA and the draft and the expectations of 5-7 2nd year guys, including
the maturity/performance I expect from RT. If just 2/3s of these guys
perform as expected and OT is addressed, think what this team could be
if, as a bonus, a 'Zack Thomas' was discovered in the low rounds.
Grades? I stand by my conditional B, always aware a Pat White or Zack
Thomas could be lurking in the shadows.

[Dan the Man]

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013 2:55:48 PM UTC-4, Deadmeat wrote:
> for those of you do here's one from Jason Cole:
>
>
>
> http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--2013-afc-draft-grades--dolphins-earn-only-a-033857465.html

Tough to grade a draft in May. While I have no faith in Jeff Ireland, let's see what happens when they've got pads on. Even a blind pig might find an acorn or two.

Dan

[euphemism]

I have seen positive comments about Carroll - can't say I've read
similar about Wilson, but I could be just not remembering. Here are two
other "predictions" that I'm waiting on:

(1) Lamar Miller is very special and has that next level speed.

(2) Pat White is going to really surpise people (Chad Pennington).

[J Lunis]

I'll agree with Miller. I'm not courageous enough to think PW will do
anything as a QB. OK, I'll take a flyer . . . I think Matthews will
surprise a lot of people.