NFL  > Miami Dolphins  > free agency/draft
January 8, 2009, 02:37 PM
O-line, secondary,WR,D tackle would be my order of things that need to be addressed this offseason. Would like to see Miami acquire a safety in the first round of the draft ( actually would like to see them package their 1st and the Skins 2nd and move up to get Maaulaga in the 1st) Smiley will hopefully return but now becomes an injury question mark as this is his second year ending on the IR. Donald Thomas hopefully can become a starter as a guard but not sure if that will stop the fish from bringing in a free agent. Not sure if Satele is our answer at C, perhaps he could play G. Would like to them bring back Carey.
Still not crazy about the WR's, not sure who's available via free agency but we seem to need a legitimate #1. Would like to see them draft another D tackle in the mid rounds.
Thoughts???
January 9, 2009  08:44 AM ET

Maaulaga would be a great addition, but will most likely be Top 10 pick and therefore out of reach for the Fins.

I could see us taking another USC LB though - Brian Cushing. He fits into the Parcells-mould of LB: big, strong and versatile. He could be Strongside OLB replacement for Roth or maybe even play inside.

January 9, 2009  09:14 AM ET

I would be happy with Cushings, have seen him fall to us in a few mock drafts.

January 9, 2009  12:53 PM ET

I say we draft Ted Ginn Jr's family

January 9, 2009  12:56 PM ET

We need to draft the rest of Ted Ginn Jr's family. Offensive Coordinators need to stay Offensive Coordinators. BTW Cam, who was going to throw to Mr. Ginn Jr?

January 9, 2009  01:51 PM ET

I'm with ya Finatical, still hate that pick.

January 10, 2009  06:35 PM ET

i think we need a strong corner to bad malcom jenkins and vernon davis is out reach for us and a wr .j houshurmama will be a free agent this season? not sure he's a number one though but a much needed wide out

January 10, 2009  06:40 PM ET

yeah its a shame ray Maaulaga out reach same with lauranitis.and then theres the corner not to down the paly of the corners this year but we need youth and speed and height which none of the db's have.but uh T.j houshurmama is going to be a FA he's not a answer but atleast he gives us some kind of threat. But i wouldnt count out devon bess he looked really good at the end of the year

January 10, 2009  11:52 PM ET

i think we should stay in florida and go with the national championship winners ( GO Gators!!! )
and take brandon spikes hes a great LB who plays with alot of intesity and would be great to pay next to crowder another former gator who we hopefully re-sign.........and about the o line i think if we re-sign vernon carey it will be a soid unit with smiley comming back

January 12, 2009  03:59 PM ET

A playmaker like Percy Harvin would add much needed "run after the catch" athleticism and heart. He was all the offense U of F needed to beat the Sooners. If he comes out, he might be available at 26. Both LB's Spikes and Cushing would be great additions too, as would DE Tyson Jackson from LSU. As far as free agency is concerned, Houshmanzadeh is on the wrong side of 30 and was always a "second fiddle". I think a Nnamdi Asomugha, CB from Oakland, who was named an "All-Pro" this year, and is only 27 would fill a huge need for more playmakers on D. Signing him would allow the Phins to concentrate on WR, front 7 and a guard in the draft.

January 12, 2009  09:17 PM ET

donobvious: Agree with you 100%.

January 13, 2009  12:52 PM ET

I also believe that resigning Carey and Crowder are way more important then going nuts in Free Agency. Football is the ultimate team sport, and continuity cannot be over emphasized, especially on the Offensive Line. With the returns of Smiley and Thomas, and with Long's and Satele's continued development, I believe the line will only improve. Good O-lines take a few years to come together, but when they do, they are the heart of Super Bowl caliber teams, especially Bill Parcell teams.
Crowder is a good player too. His absence in the KC game proved that. He is young, has a ton of heart and his dad was a Dolphin. Adding a few more years to his and Matt Roth's resume will only help the front seven. And, by grabbing a second round ILB, like TCU's Jason Phillips or Pitt's Scott McKillop, the front 7 should become a strength of this team.

January 13, 2009  02:02 PM ET

don: again I agree...not sure about Satele though. He's athletic but really struggles against the big tackles he faces. Would like to see them sign Crowder and really liked the steps Roth took this year. If Spikes is available when our pick is up I believe they will take him if not I think we go with the best available secondary player, free safety or corner. Our line was very young and I think the Smiley injury hurt quite a bit.

January 13, 2009  02:45 PM ET

I like Spikes alot, but i don't think he'll be there at 26. If he is, I think he is a good pick, although Harvin would be just as good. Then again, Harvin might not be there either. ( Although, most Mock Drafts have him in the last 5 first-round picks, whereas Spikes goes anywhere 15-25 )They are both playmakers, have multi-position ability and are proven leaders and winners. And, of course, Gators!
I give Percy the edge only because his skill level is such a rarity. What he is capable of doing with the ball in his hands is remarkable. And in todays NFL, having a receiver that can turn a 6 yard throw into a 30 yard gain is HUGE. A quick check-off in a blitz situation, break a tackle and see you in the end-zone!
Unfortunately, I don't see any "first-round worthy" DB's available at 26, but lot's of front 7 guys, like LB's Spikes, Cushing and Laurinaitis, DE's Jackson from LSU and Hardy from Ole Miss (who declared today) and NT Hardy from Alabama. I just think Harvin is better than any of these guys.
As far as Satele is concerned, he is only 24 and will only get stronger. I do believe the Tuna will draft interior linemen after he fills WR, DB and front 7 picks ( Unless we fill these needs in FA, i.e. Asomugha ). But, the average age of the off-line in probably 25, and the idea of letting 5 guys gel into a cohesive unit appeals to me.

January 15, 2009  11:29 PM ET

The draft picture has certainly changed. Maybe Cushing or Laurinaitis may fall. Hakeem Nicks is a nice reciever with good size and stats and Heyward-Bey should be there. Clint Sintim is a good pass rushing OLB and Sean Smith and DJ Moore might be available at CB or William Moore at safety. Would Parcells trade up to get Laurinaitis? He would certainly be a great addition, and is a "Parcells Type". I guess the picture will be much clearer as Free Agency unfolds.

January 15, 2009  11:30 PM ET

The draft picture has certainly changed. Maybe Cushing or Laurinaitis may fall. Hakeem Nicks is a nice reciever with good size and stats and Heyward-Bey should be there. Clint Sintim is a good pass rushing OLB and Sean Smith and DJ Moore might be available at CB or William Moore at safety. Would Parcells trade up to get Laurinaitis? He would certainly be a great addition, and is a "Parcells Type". I guess the picture will be much clearer as Free Agency unfolds.

January 16, 2009  12:49 AM ET

If Miami could sign Nnamdi Asomugha and Anquan Boldin if available/released that would be 1-2 punch for free agency. Re-sign the guys on our roster like stated above and save their picks don't trade up. Too many times high picks bust. Rather get 3 picks in the first 2 rounds than 2. And use 1st round pick on best LB or S available.

January 16, 2009  10:16 AM ET

I agree about not drafting up. And, Parcells' track record reflects that. Sorta like a quantity above "quality". There are some really good ILB's that will be available in the second round, like TCU's Phillips or Pitt's McKillop, allowing him to choose the "best available athlete" with the first round pick. If they do sign Asomugha, they will probably grab a reciever first, and I would love to see NC's Nicks or Maryland's Heyward-Bey lining up with Camarillo and Ginn next year. If not, then definitely a DB. Boldin is a stretch, but he would be a killer addition. It would have to be a trade, because I can't imagine him being released. Maybe our second 2nd round pick?

January 16, 2009  10:16 AM ET

I agree about not drafting up. And, Parcells' track record reflects that. Sorta like a quantity above "quality". There are some really good ILB's that will be available in the second round, like TCU's Phillips or Pitt's McKillop, allowing him to choose the "best available athlete" with the first round pick. If they do sign Asomugha, they will probably grab a reciever first, and I would love to see NC's Nicks or Maryland's Heyward-Bey lining up with Camarillo and Ginn next year. If not, then definitely a DB. Boldin is a stretch, but he would be a killer addition. It would have to be a trade, because I can't imagine him being released. Maybe our second 2nd round pick?

January 17, 2009  02:25 PM ET

I can't see Boldin getting traded unless he really makes a stink in the offseason. They'd have to get quite a bit for him to give him up. I also can't see Nnamdi Asomugha not getting tagged unless there was something in the past in his contract that stopped it from happening. He was just too good. WHile SPikes could have been a good addition, he isn't coming out in the draft. I have heard about the Fins being interested possibly in the Ravens Center who is bigger (stronger?) than Satele and is young... Brown. If that is possible or anything more than a rumor, it's beyond me. The Ravens do have alot of other guys to re-sign. It was said Parcells likes BIG Centers. Gurode in Dallas and Bart Oates from the Giants old teams help fit that statement. Dbacks, a young impactful LB, and a Big (#1?) WR are definately needed... a NT to eventually replace Ferguson wouldn't hurt either. Kenny Britt in the 2nd round from Rutgers could fit the need at WR!

 
January 17, 2009  10:08 PM ET

I think Soliai was terrific as Ferguson's back-up, and I can't imagine (at least, the more i think about it) the Phins drafting a NT in the first few rounds. And, as well as Merling and Langford played as rookies, I think you can scratch D-linemen from the first few rounds all together.

As far as my thoughts on Sam Satele, well, just look at my earlier comments. He is only 24, and will get bigger and stronger. He started as a rookie, and did nothing but improve with every start. I don't think Oates was huge, maybe 265 tops. In fact, when he played in the USFL, he had just returned from a Mormon Mission (he went to BYU) and hadn't played football in two years. And, Kevin Mawae, who many consider the best center in the game, plays around 285. Before him, Dermonti Dawson was the man in Pittsburgh, and he was around 280. And, of course, Dwight Stephenson, the best center of all time, played at 255. What they all had was incredible quickness and leverage, and of course great technique.

Anyway, once Free Agency plays out, we'll have a much clearer picture of the draft. True, i can't imagine the Raiders letting Asomugha walk away, but I think the consensus is that he is the most desirable player out there.

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