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Up next in our series of team mock drafts (all previously completed teams can be found here) is the Miami Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins a few years ago went 1-15 and were expected to have a very long rebuilding process before exceed expectations only to take a step back this past season (although it was probably in line with where a team typically would be after going 1-15 just a couple of seasons prior. A big reason why they struggled more this year than last year is that they only averaged 3.7 yards per carry.
The Dolphins owner group tried to push out Tony Saprano only to end up giving him an extension in one of the weirdest off-season sports stories.
Let’s take a look at the Dolphins needs really quick before we do a mock draft.
Quarterback
The Dolphins, have perhaps the toughest QB question to answer in the league this off-season because it is a toss up. Every other team eitherknows for sure whether or not they have their franchise Quarterback or is in a good position to find one early in the draft through trade (Kolb) or free agency (assuming the release of Donvoan Mcnabb), but the Dolphins are kind of in-between. I think though that they wished they believed more in Chad Henne then they do and that they will look elsewhere for their franchise signal caller.
Running back
This is well documented in draft circles becauuse Mark Ingram is mocked to them in essentially every mock draft created this off-season (except mine), but Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams could both be gone because of free agency. The Dolphins need to run the ball to be successful.
Safety
The Dolphins have very nice young cornerbacks, but they don’t have anything great at safety and could look to upgrade that position this off-season.
Inside Linebacker
I could be wrong about this but I don’t think the Dolphins are in love with Channing Crowder’s antics and terrible production 39 tackles in 11 starts (that doesn’t seem possible are NFL.com stat’s wrong?) The Dolphins could really use someone to play alongside Karlos Dansby that could make an actual impact on the field. Despite playing in 27 games, and having a combined 17 starts, Tim Dobbins and Channing Crowder had 74 less tackles than Stephen Tulloch had at linebacker this season as just one man aind in just 16 games.
Offensive Line
The Dolphins have talented running backs, but only averaged 3.7 yards per carry this season, which doesn’t happen if you have talented running backs and a good offensive line. Therefore, Dolphins OL must need upgrades. We all know JakeLong is a stud but players like Richie Incognito have been on a different team every year
Tight End
Anthony Fasaon might be a fan favorite (I don’t know honestly is he?) but he’s not that good. Fasano doesn’t strike fear in the defense and could be upgraded.
Wide Receiver
Marshall is good and Bess is good, but the Dolhpins lack a true #2 WR because Patrick Turner (released) or Brain Hartline is not to be that guy, two players they drafted recently.
The Dolphins have 7 picks, but no second round pick in this draft. Although, Ideally I think the Dolphins should look to trade down, I’m not going to predicdt trades in this mock.
1st Round pick #15 Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
Even though the Miami Hearld reported that the Dolphins were likely to take a running back or quarterback with the 15th overall pick I don’t see it happen. Odds are that the two QB’s available at 15 will be Ryan Mallett (just a slightly different more talented version of Chad Henne) or Jake Locker (If Washington unless the Redskins, who don’t have a ton of picks grab him at 10) and I don’t know if the Dolphins will pick either of those. As for the running backs, I don’t know if Mark Ingram will be available (he might be drafted before that #1) and number two, I can’t justify or see the Dolpins spending a 1st round pick on a Running back with no 2nd round picks. Running backs are players you draft to augument a talented roster, or complete the puzzle, the Dolphins can’t afford a RB with a first round pick when they don’t have a QB or a 2nd round pick available.
3rd round pick 79 Kelvin Sheppard, ILB, LSU
I wrote at the top on the needs the Dolphins had two ILB who started a total of 17 games and played in nearly 30 games and didn’t even register 90 tackles. That is embarassing. Karlos Dansby is a very nice player, but he needs a running mate. In a 3-4 defense it is imperative that teams have good linebacker play or the defense won’t be very good. The Dolphins have two good linebackers right now with Wake and Dansby and a potential third with Misi, who might develop into a very nice player, but they still need one more. They need Pittsburgh’s Farrior to Timmons, which they don’t have anything close to right now.
4th round 110th overall Delone Carter, Syracuse, RB
Even though, I don’t think the Dolphins will draft a Running back in the first round I do believe they will address that position at some point in the draft. Carte is a very nice pick in the fourth round because he’s a better football player than he is an athlete. He’s bigger (5-9 225 pounds) and stronger than he is fast. He also rarely fumbles and has good vision. he should be produtive for the Dolphins provided they can shore up their offensive line issues.
5th round 143 overall Will Hill, S, Florida
I haven’t given the Dolphins great value in this draft, but in this round they get good value with Will Hill. There are always players who fall further than expected and get picked in the 4th and 5th rounds. The Dolphins need safety depth and starters, but they address other needs before this pick so they have to take a player who could develop into a starter, but maybe not a player who will start at Safety immediately.
6th Round 174 Stephen Skelton, TE, Fordham
Skelton is a nice pass catching tight end who isn’t much of a blocker. He isn’t a dynamic downfield threat, but he has better than avearge speed for a tight end and has nice soft hands. The Dolphins need more pass catching options and Skelton can be that for this team from the TE position.
Round 7 pick 206 QB Tyrod Taylor, QB, VA Tech
The Dolphins are in a tight spot with no secound round pick this year. They can’t afford to trade up to get one of the top two quarterbacks, and in the third round they can’t get anything other than a developmental QB project at the expense of fulfilling other needs and getting good value. With two consecutive picks in the 7th round the Dolphins take the former talented Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor here in the 7th round as a developmental QB prospect (or possibly a WR)
Round 7 pick 207 Justin Boren, Guard, Ohio State
Boren is a nice player to get in the 7th round as a guy with good size (320 pounds) and enough ability to be a solid pass blocker and run blocker. Isn’t the greatest athlete though, but you can’t expect to get solid players who are great athletes in the 7th round.
I didn’t get a QB for the Dolphins in this draft because I think the Qb position in this draft, for the Dolphins, is first round or bust. Both Tony Soprano and Jeff Ireland might be looking to save their jobs and if that is the case they are not going to take a chance on prolonging their Dolphins careers with a mid-round Quarterback. 1st Round QB buy coaches and General Managers more time, 3rd round quarterbacks don’t. The Dolphins best chance to win this year might be with a veteran Quarterback (Mcnabb) or Henne
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Tags: 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Mock Draft, AFC East, AFC East Blog, Delone Carter, Draft, Gabe Carimi, Google, Miami Dolphins, mock draft 2011, NFL, Stephen Skelton, Syracuse Orangemen, Tyrod Taylor, Wisconsin Badgers
Hi, my name is Jesse Bartolis and I will be the co-editor of NFL Mocks and I look forward to providing all of you with the most draft and football information available as possible. I'm flexible and I aim to please so I will be more than willing to take suggestions for things you would like to see at the site.
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DC Pro Sports Report
FanSided
Hey idiot,
Patrick Turner was cut during training camp last year.
I know he’s not on the team.
I never said he was on the roster:
“because Patrick Turner or Brain Hartline is not to be that guy”
I was just saying the guys they recently drafted aren’t going to develop into #2 WR for the Dolphins so they still need one.
Woah, really no need to call anyone an idiot, man. Keep it respectful here. What did you accomplish by calling him an idiot? Nothing, you just made yourself look bad.
Plan A
*Mark Ingram* RB Alabama
*Torrey Smith WR Maryland (If we can aquire a 2nd round pick)
*D.J. Williams TE Arkansas (Just 6′-2″)
*Mason Foster ILB
*Ricky Henry OG Nebraska
*David Carter DT UCLA
*Jordan Holmes OC Oregon
*David Arkin OG Missouri State
Plan B
*Torrey Smith WR Maryland (If we can trade down in the draft mid 20′-30)
*DeMarco Murray(if we can get a 2nd round pick)
*D.J. Williams TE Arkansas (Just 6′-2″)
*Mason Foster ILB
*Ricky Henry OG Nebraska
*David Carter DT UCLA
*Jordan Holmes OC Oregon
*David Arkin OG Missouri State
That would be ideal…I’m not sure Mason Foster would be available in the 4th round, but it is definitely possible.
It’s interesting that you mention Torrey Smith because I’ve read the Dolphins are very intersted in acquiring more speed on their team, especially offense. Smith definitely brings speed…I mocked them Delone Carter the RB, but he’s not exactly fast and was considering different options at running back.
I personally love Mark Ingram, but with no second round pick it might be tough to justify taking a Running back in lieu of an OL.
I think Jake Locker is the guy we need. YOU CAN NOT win a superbowl if you don’t have a franchise quarterback. Chad Henne just doesn’t seem to have the ability to get it done.
Jake Locker look at his interviews and look at his tape. In the interviews he speaks like a leader and a competitor that will do anything to win even if that means sitting behind a veteran for a few years. You can see that Jake will be no problem off the feild and would be a delight to work with. He has accuracy issues yes, but when he gets out of the pocket he can make incredible throws. He is also working on his stance so he can deliver the ball quicker.
I think the guy has all the tools to be a complete success in the NFL if coached by the right guy. The one thing I’m excited about the hiring of Brian Dabaoll is his ability to improve quarterbacks. Look at what he did with Colt McCoy a rookie last season with the Browns. He can do the same with Jake Locker and Locker shows more of an upside.
Take the shot on him Miami! Build a team around that kid. Even if he has to sit for a year or 2 he will become a big up and comer. MARK MY WORDS!
It’s possible. I think Jake Locker was a touch overrated heading into last football season, but now he might be underrated. The Dolphins missing that second round pick hurts, but maybe they will pull the trigger on Locker in the first.
Holy mackerel, are you a Jets fan or something? Hoping for a terrible Phins draft. Wow.
No, I’m not a Jets fan, Ill keep my personal opinion to the Jets to myself.
I’m not trying to tell you what I would do if I were the G.M.of the Dolphins, just what they might do in the draft.
And let’s be honest they haven’t really blown it out of the water in the draft recently.
Common wisdom is it takes three years to evaluate a draft…
Here are the last three drafts from the Dolphins from 3,4, and 5 years ago.
1 1 Jake Long
2 32 Phillip Merling
2 57 Chad Henne
3 66 Kendall Langford
4 110 Shawn Murphy
6 176 Jalen Parmele
195 Donald Thomas
6 204 Lex Hilliard
245 Lionel Dotson
2007 – Miami Dolphins
1 9 Ted Ginn Jr.
2 40 John Beck
2 60 Samson Satele
3 71 Lorenzo Booker
4 108 Paul Soliai
6 181 Reagan Mauia
6 199 Drew Mormino
7 219 Kelvin Smith
7 225 Brandon Fields
7 238 Abraham Wright
2006 – Miami Dolphins
1 16 Jason Allen
3 82 Derek Hagan
4 114 Joseph Toledo
7 212 Fred Evans
7 226 Rodrique Wright
7 233 Devin Aromashodu
Who among them is an impact player? Jake Long.
What do you think they will do
And what do you hope they do?
Thanks for stopping by.
Keep in mind there was a management change and that Kendall Langford is an impact player, too. And that Henne and Merling still have a spark of potential
I know that is true about the management change. My biggest point was that a lot of times teams can’t get impact players in all rounds because they are not available in all rounds so you have to try and do the best you can.
I thought that draft would address all the needs of the team and provide some good value, maybe Carimi is a reach, but he fits their mold of offensive linemen and with the Dolphins already having a LT they don’t need a LT like Smith or Solder they need a punishing RT and that is Gabe Carimi.
I think Sheppard and Will Hill would be excellent value because they would have to fall in the draft to even make it to those sports. Sheppard is arguably the first or second best 3-4 inside linebacker.
I think most fans of each team excect to get excellent value with all of their picks, but I think the Dolphins are in a bind with no second round pick and a coach that needs to win now.
Fans also forget to or don’t want to admit that a majority of N.F.L. starters come from the first two rounds after round two just draft good players and pray.
thanks for the comment.
What are your thoughts in the way in which the Dolphins should attack the draft.
I meant for the above two comments to replies to you, John.
Langford…Yeah I can give you impact player.
Teams are littered with guys who have potential that don’t amount to much.
I don’t think the Dolhpins are going to move foward with Henne, from everything I read.
Merling though might become something
I hope we get demarco murray, a very solid and fast player.
Tyrod taylor in 7th? lol
ive had enough of the pat white era.
Thanks for stopping by, Dakota.
The biggest differerne between Taylor and White is that Taylor would come as a 7th round pick as a developmental QB or possibly be turned into a WR….
I think Taylor is more a passing QB heading into the draft. The Hokies let Taylor drop back more than 350 plus times this year to throw the ball (315 attempts plus 34 sacks plus any tuck and scramble runs he had).
But I could understand why you’d want to avoid a player like White again.
I agree with the positions, I would take Pouncey rather than Carimi.
Yeah, that’s fair. I’m just not persoally as high on pouncey as al ot of people are. I don’ think he’s a first round talent