Phase two of Parcells’ master plan beginning to take shape

By Hugo Guzman  |   Tuesday, March 03, 2009  |  Comments( 5 )

Miami Dolphins
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In the NFL, February is always a month full of speculation and conjecture. Fans, pundits and self-proclaimed insiders have all taken their turns predicting the course that Bill Parcells and his brain trust would take in their second full offseason in South Florida. Sure enough, the month of March has ushered in a strong blast of reality that has shattered many a pipe dream and projection.

Many believed that Vernon Carey’s price tag, not to mention his less-than-Pro Bowl form, would make him a free-agent casualty. Instead, the veteran right tackle was honored with a long-term contract that should shore up Miami’s bookends along offensive line for years to come.

Even more believed that linebacker Channing Crowder was a liability whose relatively high asking price would assure that he would be playing for another team this in 2009. Instead, Crowder and Miami’s front office came to terms on a fair contract that will allow Crowder to continue calling plays and racking up tackles for the Dolphins.

Yeremiah Bell was expected to re-sign and he did. However, few expected the team to add fellow safety Gibril Wilson, making room for the free-agent jettisoning of former starting FS Renaldo Hill. Also somewhat surprising was the exit of veteran cornerback Andre Goodman, who will join Hill in Denver and was regarded by many to be a legitimate starting option for the Dolphins.

Perhaps most surprising of all were the moves that Miami’s brain trust didn’t make. The Dolphins didn’t sign free-agent center Jason Brown, now a Ram, or his former Baltimore teammate Bart Scott, who is a Jet; moreover, they didn’t overpay for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth -- who inked with the Redskins -- or go after any free-agent wide receivers.

This turn of events would seem to suggest that Miami has the cornerback, center, defensive tackle, outside linebacker and receiver positions pegged as high priorities for the draft (though some would suggest that ILB is also a high priority despite Crowder’s re-signing). Still, it’s unlikely that the Dolphins will be able to find starters at all of these positions via the draft, so don’t be surprised if Miami makes a few more choice additions via free agency.

The most interesting part of this process has been the insight into the approach of Parcells and company on evaluating talent. The likes of Crowder, who is often the target of fan venom, was viewed as a true asset; meanwhile, other players like Andre Goodman, who some felt was the best cornerback on the team, were allowed to walk.

Hopefully, this series of enlightening events will do more than educate fans on how to evaluate NFL talent and production. And fans themselves should hope it will result in a tangible improvement over what was already a wildly successful first year under Parcells' regime.
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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