Going into last week’s draft one thing was clear, the Dolphins offense needed a serious jolt of energy, and from the looks of it the organization felt the same way. The team’s first four picks were offensive players and three out of those four were skill players. Surprisingly though none of the six players the Dolphins will find himself under center, but they sure did go a long way in helping the current signal caller.
Their first pick is one that is tough to argue, because many draft experts rated Mike Pouncey, the best offensive lineman in the draft. His combination of athleticism and power provide a bolt of energy on the offensive line that was greatly needed last year. Not to mention that Sporano is an offensive line coach at heart and Pouncey’s older brother was a pro bowl player as a rookie for Pittsburgh last year. Some people may have wanted Mark Ingram in that spot, but I ask you this, was Mark Ingram running anywhere behind that spotty offensive line last year? Doubt it.
Miami picked up two perfect compliment players for them in the middle rounds with running back Daniel Thomas out of Kansas St. and wide receiver Edmond Gates out of Abilene Christian. Gates is a wide out that can flat out fly. He’s a speedy deep ball threat, and he isn’t a 9th pick in the draft all word kick returner, ala “The Great Ted Ginn.” Gates could help stretch the field and open up coverage for the Dolphins and dare I say it, actually create big plays. Dynamic down field type plays have been more rare from the Dolphins over the past ten years then a Miami Heat game winning jump shot in the final seconds.
Daniel Thomas is a tough, physical down field type runner who brings a hard noised type mentality to a team that desperately tries to say they will out physical any opponent. He’s not the fastest back in the world and wont bust open 60-yard runs. Here’s the biggest key with the Thomas pick though, and it lies within the 2012 Madden cover. Peyton Hillis had an all-pro caliber season last year while running in Brian Dabol’s offense in Cleveland. So now that Dabol has found a new home in South Florida the Dolphins hope to have added their own Peyton Hillis in Thomas.
Lets keep things in perspective this team is still a long way away from being a high caliber competitor in the AFC. If ever the lockout does come to an end for longer then 13 hours the Dolphins will have to be very aggressive in free agency. Keeping it real though the Miami is still a long way away from hoisting the Lombardi trophy anytime soon but at least they’ve taken a step in the right direction.
Going into last week’s draft one thing was clear, the Dolphins offense needed a serious jolt of energy, and from the looks of it the organization felt the same way. The team’s first four picks were offensive players and three out of those four were skill players. Surprisingly though none of the six players the Dolphins will find himself under center, but they sure did go a long way in helping the current signal caller.
Their first pick is one that is tough to argue, because many draft experts rated Mike Pouncey, the best offensive lineman in the draft. His combination of athleticism and power provide a bolt of energy on the offensive line that was greatly needed last year. Not to mention that Sporano is an offensive line coach at heart and Pouncey’s older brother was a pro bowl player as a rookie for Pittsburgh last year. Some people may have wanted Mark Ingram in that spot, but I ask you this, was Mark Ingram running anywhere behind that spotty offensive line last year? Doubt it.
Miami picked up two perfect compliment players for them in the middle rounds with running back Daniel Thomas out of Kansas St. and wide receiver Edmond Gates out of Abilene Christian. Gates is a wide out that can flat out fly. He’s a speedy deep ball threat, and he isn’t a 9th pick in the draft all word kick returner, ala “The Great Ted Ginn.” Gates could help stretch the field and open up coverage for the Dolphins and dare I say it, actually create big plays. Dynamic down field type plays have been more rare from the Dolphins over the past ten years then a Miami Heat game winning jump shot in the final seconds.
Daniel Thomas is a tough, physical down field type runner who brings a hard noised type mentality to a team that desperately tries to say they will out physical any opponent. He’s not the fastest back in the world and wont bust open 60-yard runs. Here’s the biggest key with the Thomas pick though, and it lies within the 2012 Madden cover. Peyton Hillis had an all-pro caliber season last year while running in Brian Dabol’s offense in Cleveland. So now that Dabol has found a new home in South Florida the Dolphins hope to have added their own Peyton Hillis in Thomas.
Lets keep things in perspective this team is still a long way away from being a high caliber competitor in the AFC. If ever the lockout does come to an end for longer then 13 hours the Dolphins will have to be very aggressive in free agency. Keeping it real though the Miami is still a long way away from hoisting the Lombardi trophy anytime soon but at least they’ve taken a step in the right direction.
