WhitewalkerInPhilly

Any highlights for the people who can't listen in?

I believe you're right. I remember being disappointed when Miami got Ellerbee because our LB situation was so bad. Instead, we drafted a guy called Kiko. I also distinctly remember analysts raving about how clever the Dolphins were for getting Mike Wallace at such a low cap hit his first year by offering a bit more guaranteed and having it spike through the roof his second season. Whoops.

I honestly don't see the Dolphins contending. They did good to clear a lot of bad contracts this offseason, but they have major holes at WR and RB. Stills has put up Robert Woods numbers, which is fine for a #2 receiver but they would need a Sammy to match the Bills. Their starting RB is Lamar Miller. Now, these can be fixed on the draft, but Miami picks 14th, so it's not a lock that they can fill those two spots within the first 3 rounds. And that's not even counting the fact that I like our linebackers and secondary considerably more than I like theirs. Miami aren't chumps, but I don't think they dominate us, never mind the Patriots.

I agree with you. My point is that it makes no sense to spend a pick and abandon a project, just to pick up a fresh one. Especially when Roman had great success with Kaep for 1.5 years, whose measurables and deficiencies look similar.

Guard. Even if Incognito is good after being out a year, he's a free agent next year. C. Williams was dissapointing even when healthy. Richardson *might* turn the corner this year and he might not. Urbik...you know what you're getting, and while I don't hate him he's not going to the Pro Bowl any time soon. If you want a power run game, don't skimp at guard.

Nooooooooo. Look, I'm not saying EJ is the answer but I'm pretty sure it isn't replacing a project QB with 14 starts with a project QB with zero.

I don't want to come off as a homer, so I'll come out and say this: the O-line was capital letters BAD last year, and there hasn't been a massive change in players yet. But looking at what Marrone did with a serviceable line under Gailey looks criminal. Glenn and Wood, two very good players regressed tremendously last year. Rather than tweak scheme to match players Marrone insisted on a Zone scheme when he had road graders in all his new draft picks. Kujo and CR were highly rated coming into the draft, and the knock on Henderson was his work ethic and drug problems, not his talent. Incognito is a huge upgrade over Pears. Urbik, while not stellar, is a decent stopgap. Pick up a G in rounds 2-3, and get a coach who knows what he's doing and they'll be at least serviceable.

Quinn must have had that sitting and waiting for the perfect moment. Seriously, some of those moves are sick.

Against us, but if it means anything the Dolphins get squat for it.

You could argue picking up an elite QB would make it perfect. But that almost never happens (Peyton aside). But seriously, knowing what Whaley realistically had to work with they let an inconsistent Spiller walk only to upgrade massively with Shady, picked up one of the best FBs in the game in Felton, picked up some backup in case EJ doesn't work out, picked up a dynamic player in Harvin, picked up a low risk high reward Guard in Incognito and (if this goes through) picked up a versatile TE. And that's not even mentioning picking up two of the brightest innovators on their respective sides if the ball in Rex and Roman. Pick up a guard, and maybe a safety and another TE and the Bills are average QB play away from being contenders.

I can't wait to see what he's saying. Yeah, that made me balk for a second. But seriously, something like that was going to have to happen. I was looking up the Jet Sweep when news of Harvin broke, and I saw the zone read wrinkle. With Clay and Felton as blockers, and Harvin, Shady and (if he wins the job) EJ all on the zone read option, that's a lot of moveable chess pieces you can play with out of very similar formations. Saint Doug day?

Depth depth depth... maybe Practice Squad material. At best.

I prefer Rex Romana. The first was Pax Romana, the peace of the Romans. I prefer Rex Romana, King of the Romans

No, it was to Fire Chan. Whoops, wrong poll. But seriously, I am ok giving EJ another chance. One more chance, considering cutting him would actually hurt the cap. But Tannehill is on the Carson Palmer track of average to slightly better. Now, I would take that, but there is the barest glimmer of a fully productive Kaep in EJ. Even 80% of that would make us a contender.

Correct. I want to see what he can do. And if I'm wrong and EJ flames out, hey, we're in a better spot for a 1st round pick next year.

Wait...you're telling me that a potentially talented QB who has been seen as a bust can become successful with Greg Roman? *mind blown*

This. Plus 1000% Both came in as raw project players. Both have had some highs, and some truly low lows. See 3/4 of Tanny's games against us the last two years, and I see a very unpolished QB against a lights out defense. But then, you had him do just enough to win last time. I'm not saying either of them are HOF QB's. But I want to see what EJ can do in Roman's system, which already was built around an athletic QB with accuracy issues but better than average mobility. EDIT: It should also be noted that, at this point, Tannehill has 3 times the number of starts as EJ. It's funny how a raw, unpolished QB gets better the more he plays, isn't it?

I would't have liked this with Marrone still here. Or as of three days ago for that matter. But as it's become more apparent that the Dolphins were going all out to keep Clay,no matter the cost, picking a dynamic playmaker on a show me deal is a pretty good consolation prize. In particular, I'm curious to see what Roman can do with him. He already has a blueprint of what Seattle did to great effect, and where Roman has had his greatest innovations has been in creating overloaded situations on run plays. With Felton as a lead blocker, and Shady in the backfield, EJ under center and Harvin on the jet sweep, all working on the zone read? That's a number of variables that Roman must be drooling over. Interesting reading: http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2014/1/16/5315666/jet-sweep-inside-zone-college-football

Zach Ertz and Coby Fleener were 2nd round picks. They wound up being Luck and Foles release valve those years. I understand the skepticism, but Walford looks like the best fit out there for the Hybrid player Clay is. Maybe Gresham to replace Chandler?

While we have evertone still here... Clive Walford? I looked up his info and it says that he's been used in H-back, in-line, slot and is a solid run blocker. Sounds a lot like Clay to me.

Well, now that Stills is in Miami, and so likely is Clay... Hey, his contact is better than what we'd have paid Clay, and would give us a rebuilt line. *Then* we go out and get a TE in the draft.

I know someone on here called it...

That's counting the money they already had tied up for Clay, and Cameron. Plus, they can cut Wallace after June 1 and save 6.9 as opposed to 2.5 and hold off on signing their first until after then, right?

Crap. That gives them a ton of cap room.

Cap hit for Cameron comessage out to be only 4.5M. Which means they *still* have 9.2M with Clay unaccounted for. Still...next year is going to be a baaaaaad time for the Phins. So many contracts come up when Suh and Cameron's deals hit their money years. Maybe if we structure similarly and guarantee a lot of money next year.