Deconstructing the new Dolphins brain trust

By Hugo Guzman  |   Monday, April 28, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Miami Dolphins
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Fans don’t like it. Media pundits will misunderstand it. Experts will appreciate it. Time will prove to be the ultimate test of its viability.

What am I referring to? The Miami Dolphins approach to drafting this past weekend.

The first pick is unassailable: A franchise tackle (Jake Long) who will immediately upgrade Miami’s offense in terms of both the run and the pass. Beyond that, it can be argued that every pick thereafter is open to criticism. Two defensive ends, two guards, two running backs (in the same round!) and virtually no attention paid to skill positions such as wide receiver and cornerback. Add two trades, including one that shipped a fan favorite and former third-round pick to Philadelphia for nothing more than a fourth-round pick in return, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for nothing short of outright mutiny.

Now, some of you might say that mutiny is a bit of a strong word, but think about it this way: If it was Cam Cameron making these selections, just imagine what the South Florida reaction might have been like.

In any case, the sophisticated fan should take a moment to analyze this draft to gain insight into the thought process behind the selections. Clearly, the triumvirate of Tony Sparano, Jeff Ireland, and most importantly Bill Parcells has an extremely regimented approach to rebuilding this Dolphins franchise.

Here are some key initial takeaways:

1) They might consider moving Jason Taylor, but only for the right price.

2) Don’t believe a word they say. They talked up Lorenzo Booker, then he was traded to the Eagles. They talk up John Beck, then Chad Henne is drafted in the second round. Mind you, I have no problem with this duplicitous approach to media relations; it’s just important to note that what these three say isn’t necessarily what they really mean.

3) In their view, the key to Miami’s resurgence resides on the lines.

4) The cornerback and wide receiver position is not as weak as some might think. It appears that they’re comfortable with the tandem of Ernest Wilford and Ted Ginn Jr. It also appears as if they’re comfortable with Will Allen, Andre Goodman and Michael Lehan.

5) Unlike most teams, Parcells and company truly do pick the best player available on their draft board. How else could you explain selecting two consecutive running backs in the sixth round?

You can’t make everyone happy, especially when you’re dealing with the fickle Dolphins fan base; therefore, it might be a positive that Miami’s new and improved front office avoided the flashy skill players and instead chose to make the unpopular picks that would build a foundation for long-term success.

The franchise's new approach might ruffle a few fan feathers in April, but it should lead to a lot more victories in September and beyond.
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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