Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Tin Bits - Tuesday, January 26th 2010

It wouldn't be Tin's Fins on a Tuesday if I didn't get a Tin Bits article out there, and surprisingly there is a lot of interesting stories out there this week.
  • Wes Bunting of NFP had this to say about the Senior Bowl weigh-ins: "Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody tipped the scales at a whopping 370 pounds and looked every bit of it...On the other hand, Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams carries his 329 pounds very well and possesses one of the thickest bases I have ever seen. The guy has a massive bubble, really powerful-looking thighs and looks built to sit into his stance and overwhelm inside."
  • According to multiple reports, Bill Parcells is not attending the Senior Bowl week at all this year, but did attend at least some of the East-West Shrine Game week.  I wonder who he went to see there....Torrell Troup, maybe?
  • Wisconsin OLB, O'Brien Schofield (#8 on my Top 10 OLB list) was named the Defensive MVP of the Shrine Game, and two days later tore an ACL in a Senior Bowl practice drill.  Schofield probably felt he had to show more of his conversion to LB, but in hindsight he should have gone out on a high note and waited for the combine/pro-days.  Now his draft stock will plummet.
  • WalterFootball.com had this to say about converted QB, Joe Webb (#8 on my Top 10 QB list): "Former U.A.B. quarterback Joe Webb had a pretty good day as he attempts to make the transition to wide receiver. Webb is extremely raw, not very explosive and may not have natural hands but he was extremely physical. Not only did Webb show the ability to get off the line and beat the jam against guys like Taylor Mays and Nate Allen but he did it in a violent fashion. On one rep he simply threw Javier Arenas to the ground and on another he delivered a bona fide headslap to Taylor Mays. Later in the practice Webb drew cheers from the crowd as he beat Patrick Robinson on a deep pass, which may have been the day's biggest play."
  • Florida State Safety and Rhodes Scholar, Myron Rolle, was said to have the body of a 'Greek God' at weigh-ins this week and in practice, "displayed excellent technique, used his hands well and did a nice job of jamming wideouts at the line".
  • And one unidentified member of the Dolphins staff got visibly and audibly angry with USC Safety, Taylor Mays, after he delivered a crushing hit on a WR during practice.  Mays needs to save that stuff for the game, not the first day of practice in shells.
  • Speaking of Dolphins' coaches, here is what Head Coach, Tony Sparano had to say about Mike Nolan replacing Paul Pasqualoni as Defensive Coordinator.  Nolan, by the way, is not working with the staff in Mobile this week.  He is probably relocating and doing Orientation classes, i.e. Sexual Harassment 101, OSHA training, etc.  You know, the kind of thing many of us have to do every year working in corporate America. - UPDATE:  Reader 'son of a son of shula' reports that Nolan was in fact on the field in Mobile.  I got my info from reports on Monday, so maybe he showed up late?
  • There are now 3 confirmed mock drafts from established draft sites now listing Miami taking Jason Pierre-Paul with the 12th overall pick.  Mike Mayock of NFLN has ranked JPP as the top DE in the draft.  If he really is the top DE in the draft, then he will likely go in the top 15, but if he really is the top DE in the draft, then he won't be going to Miami, as they have no need for a 265 lb DE.  Since he is an underclassman, there will be no opportunity for him to showcase his ability to play 3-4 OLB in an All-Star game setting, thus he will be drafted per his game film, which is at DE in a 4-3.
  • My #1 TE (who I actually class as a WR), Dorin Dickerson, is listed on the Senior Bowl roster as a fullback, an obvious conversion, but is getting lambasted by the media saying he can't get any separation.  How much separation does a full-back usually get?  Stay tuned on this one, as once the practices get more physical, I think he will start to gain more positive reviews.  Plus you really have to take these reports with a grain of salt.  For example I saw one report on Sean Weatherspoon that said he was "a strong filler that plays downhill from the middle very effectively. He struggled to move laterally in tight space however, he downright looked silly on the outside."  Well, that's odd considering he played predominantly outside at Missouri and was All Big Twelve at the position.

62 comments:

  1. Your comments on Pierre-Paul are entirely wrong. He could easily be drafted as a 3-4 linebacker despite playing end in college. That's how it works. Almost all 3-4 OLBs played end in college. Look at DeMarcus Ware, Shawne Merriman, Terrell Suggs. Almost every one? What tape do you think Cameron Wake was signed based on? You gotta get some knowledge, man.

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  2. Chris, I think we all agree 4-3 DEs can be converted very successfully to rush first OLBs in the NFL. That said, to spend a 12th overall pick on a potential alone is probably a bit too much of a risk....

    Also, know that Tin is a USF guy too, so his honesty shows he's trying to stay as realistic as possible. (Now if he starts bashing George Selvie, then we'll know he's lost his mind).

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  3. First off I don't see us drafting Cody since his weight is definitely a major concern.  370 is out of control. We
    have a TON of needs & finding a NT is right up there but I believe at that weight he's too much of risk.  This franchise is FINALLY on the right track to building a team through the draft BUT the problem that won't go away are all of the misses before Parcells & Co. took over.  Unfortunately if we hit on another 3 or 4 picks this year, it still won't be enough.

    As for Mayock or anyone else for that matter predicting who we are drafting, let's just say that I don't put a whole lot of stock in any of the so-called "experts" opinion.  There is no such thing as an "expert" since the draft is truly an inexact science.  Looking back on last year's draft I was VERY surprised that we took Vontae over Matthews & Nicks.  This is not to say that it wasn't the RIGHT pick (I still like all three players) but nonetheless a surprise.  If Matthews is not a Parcells' kind of guy I guess I don't know what is anymore.

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  4. I'm not making any kind of judgment on Jason Pierre-Paul. Obviously, he could turn out to be DeMarcus Ware or Vernon Gholston if he's drafted as a 3-4 OLB.

    I'm simply saying that his assumptions about the Dolphins' interest are misguided. When someone says Pierre-Paul is the "top DE in the draft" they're saying that with the 4-3 in mind. But it doesn't mean he doesn't project as a 3-4 OLB as well, because he does.

    My point is that saying Pierre-Paul won't be drafted by a 3-4 team to play OLB because he has no game tape of that is entirely wrong. Dozens of college ends are drafted or signed as 3-4 OLBs every year.

    Look at Miami's roster. Charlie Anderson was a 3-4 end in college. So were Brian Johnston, Quentin Moses, Joey Porter, Jason Taylor, and Cameron Wake. The team literally does not have one 3-4 OLB on the team that did NOT play end in college.

    So again, I'm not making any judgment on what kind of player Pierre-Paul will be. But he is as much a 3-4 OLB prospect as he is a 4-3 DE prospect, and he'll be under consideration by all 3-4 teams for that role if he is on the board.

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  5. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 11:42 AM

    Good stuff, Tin. Yesterday NJ PHIN FAN reported that O'Brien Schofield got pancaked by some big lineman and it appeared that he hurt his shoulder real bad. You say it's his ACL. Is that a confirmation?

    How does one look downright silly? LOL

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  6. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 11:46 AM

    You mean 4-3 DEs.



    Charlie Anderson - 4th round
    Brian Johnston - 7th round
    Quentin Moses - 3rd round
    Joey Porter - 3rd round
    Jason Taylor - 3rd round
    Cameron Wake - not drafted


    You don't draft raw prospects which Pierre-Paul is at #12.

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  7. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 11:47 AM

    Never mind, I found a story that says Schofield tore his ACL.

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  8. Charlie Anderson was a 4-3 end, right?  Just want to clarify, not many college teams run a 3-4.  That's what was so cool about Kendall Langford, he played 3-4 end in college and started right away for us even though Merling was taken ahead of him.  Either way, my completely uninformed opionion is that unless these college DE's go to an NFL 4-3 team, they have work to do transitioning to DE or OLB in a 3-4....Thus I can see Tin's point on not grabbing a guy early that needs more work to convert......

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  9. Chris,

    IMO--I would not take Pierre-Paul over a player like Sergio Kindle.

    If we keep the No. 12 pick then my first choice would be to go ILB with McClain but if he's taken then I'd go OLB with Kindle.  Orakpo has been a lot better than I anticipated as a pro & I think Kindle will be as good if not better. 

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  10. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 11:51 AM

    The trifecta had Vonta Davis rated higher on their board. Remember before all the rumors of bad character Vontae was a #8-15 prospect. He fell to #25. That was a great value pick.

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  11. Schofield hurt his knee as he was engaged with Vladimir Ducasse of Maryland
    (6'5", 330lbs) in a 1 on 1 drill. From what I hear he wasn't pancaked, but
    his leg stuck in the ground at an odd angle and 'POP!'
    Very unfortunate, but goes with the mantra that sometimes you CAN do too
    much.
    Word is Illinois guard, Jon Asamoah also got hurt yesterday. Both these
    guys were rated as high 2nd round talent.

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  12. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 11:56 AM

    Tin is a USF fan and follows that team closely. Everyone considers Pierre-Paul extremely raw. You don't take a project with little college production at #12.

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  13. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 12:00 PM

    WHP, right now I would say McClain and Kindle would be high on our list at #12.

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  14. Hey Tin I'll get this out of the way since it falls into the 'drama' catagory, but caught a few of the Joey Porter articles out there (refusing to come off the field, etc.), and of the tension between him and JT.  Seems to me that the bottleneck at the top of the OLB roster could have been what led to Roth souring on us.  With JP not coming off the field, and Taylor on the strong side, no room for him.  Hopefully we lose Porter, keep Taylor, and with Nolan in the mix we see our D making plays.....

    Anyway, really curious about Taylor Mays.  We took a 6-3 215 corner last year, wouldn't Taylor match that pattern?  Big enough to take down TEs and big WRs, but is he really fast enough?  Also he's USC....which is never good in my book (still rooting for P. Turner though cause we're stuck)

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  15. It's like I'm talking to a wall. Once again, never said anything about the ability of Jason Pierre-Paul. All I was saying was that he will be considered by all 3-4 teams at OLB, because he projects there very much.

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  16. Assuming they stay healthy I think they'll both be stars at the next level but McClain would be perfect.

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  17. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 12:18 PM

    Yeah the ability of a player has nothing to do with it. He's never played OLB and no one knows if he can do the things an OLB needs to do, but he projects there very much. Then again that's just the opinion of a wall.

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  18. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 12:20 PM

    Agreed.

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  19. I like Kindle too, obviously he stood out in the national championship game, but I just don't know about using our first rounder on him. Really any pass rush LB for that matter... We need help inside, guys that can stop the run, drop back in coverage, etc. 

    I truly feel like next year we bring back either JT or JP, still have Wake, Charlie Anderson who seems primed to break out and even Quentin Moses might be ready to flash in year 3. Compared to what we have inside (where we have NO depth), it'll just kill me if we go with Kindle (even though I do really like his potential).

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  20. I think the Roth issue was actually the opposite...the team soured on *him*,
    not the other way around.
    Taylor Mays is getting a lot of attention from Sparano and Co. at practice
    today. I wouldn't compare him to Sean Smith though, because Smith is
    *not*very physical at all and struggles to tackle bigger receivers.
    If they
    could put Vontae's ability into Smith's body, you would have a Hall of Fame
    player, IMO. I think if they end up thinking Mays can play FS at the next
    level, they might open their eyes to guys like Kam Chancellor who wouldn't
    cost as high a pick. I think it's very unlikely that Mays lasts till their
    second round pick and I don't think they'd go with him as the 12th pick, but
    who knows. I'll be interested to see what they think of Nate Allen and
    Myron Rolle.
    Allen, Rolle, and Mays are all on the South team and really represent a
    range of sizes (6' 0.5", 205lbs/ 6'1" 217lbs/ 6'3" 231lbs). It would be
    hard to believe they'll pass on a FS in the draft after seeing some of the
    specimens in these all-star games.

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  21. "he projects there very much"
    What does that even mean?

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  22. Chris, you talked about Tin needing some knowledge and then you throw a guy in with 3 players that have different backgrounds. All 3 that you mentioned had more college experience and ALL 3 were very early picks. Why would we(this is a dolphins blog) pick an experimental player at 12?  Thats where we are picking and Tuna doesnt pick experiments at #12. Sure he is a good player but not at #12. And this brick wall doesnt give a shyt where the other 31 teams draft.

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  23. Kindle is grade as a 2nd round player right now, so he'll have to show up at
    the combine to make it up to #12.
    I also think Moses flashed a bit last year and could make the push this
    year. But if he doesn't, his time is up and we need to move on. We need to
    bring in a stud ILB no matter what the cost. If it means bringing in an
    athlete who needs to learn the position then so be it. We can't rely on
    McClain being there at #12, so we need a contingency plan.
    Zach Thomas is still out there....;)

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  24. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 1:03 PM

    I've seen Kindle in the top 20 at a lot of mock sites.

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  25. Honestly, if the knock against Mays is he can't cover, than I don't want him. I don't care how big he is.
    I think Rolle is a really interesting prospect but he was listed as a strong safety at FSU. Also, very interested in Chancellor and potentially being able to draft him in the 3rd/4th round if he's still there. 

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  26. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 1:06 PM

    That means you gotta get some knowledge, man.  :-D

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  27. son of a son of a shulaJanuary 26, 2010 at 1:14 PM

    In one of your bits you said Nolan wouldn't be in Mobile. That is incorrect I saw him on the field.
    Japman told me you were doting on Myron so I had to see. He looked better than Mays.

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  28. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 1:18 PM

    Reports are Mays struggled in coverage and looked very stiff in practice today. He's going to become a LB in a 4-3.

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  29. I saw him high too but he seems to be slipping a spot or two every week
    since the BCS title game. It all depends on what Nolan wants to do.
    Ultimately I can't help but think if McClain is off the board we'll either
    trade down or pull a 180 and draft Dez Bryant.

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  30. SOSOAS, thanks. It was reported yesterday that Nolan wasn't there....either
    he showed up late or he missed yesterday altogether? Anyway I added an
    update on the blog.
    Since you're luck enough to attend, why not share your impressions with us?

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  31. son of a son of a shulaJanuary 26, 2010 at 1:40 PM

    No I saw him on TV. McCluster however puny makes plays and beat whoever covered him. Tebow throws a nice deep ball. Taylor Mays is a load but struggled in one on one coverage. Myron is big and fluid. Cody bull rushed the guard once , stood him straight up and moved him back like a blocking sled. I gotta get his name but the L. guard in the line drills looked really good, put his man on the ground two times in a row. I didn't see Williams. Tebow's receiver roommate (name escapes me) is physical off the line gets seperation and then drops the ball. Twice I saw.

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  32. Riley Cooper.
    I forgot that it's on TV lol. Silly me with my day job and all...

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  33. The Knight who says Ni!January 26, 2010 at 1:57 PM

    Tebow throws a nice deep ball? Seriously? How deep? Early reports on him was he was horrible today.

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  34. son of a son of a shulaJanuary 26, 2010 at 2:00 PM

    Yeah, thanks. You gotta stop letting work get in the way of your life.
    Cooper is a big guy, but you gotta catch the ball.

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  35. son of a son of a shulaJanuary 26, 2010 at 2:02 PM

    No he gets it out there for his man to run under, his problems are the wind up to get it to the sidelines and the middle medium stuff.

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  36. You know who else throws a good deep ball?
    JaMarcus Russell
    Pat White
    That McMahon guy with the visor...

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  37. son of a son of a shulaJanuary 26, 2010 at 3:02 PM

    I've seen a couple mocks w/ Tebow going to the Raiders in the second. You talk about clashing images...
    Almost makes me feel bad for Tebow.

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  38. Don't the Raiders have enough issues with QBs? Oh, I forgot the Raiders
    like having issues...

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  39. Yeah I was wondering if he'd have to convert....

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  40. son of a son of a shulaJanuary 26, 2010 at 3:49 PM

    Hey Tin,
     There are two offensive players I like for us. See what you think.
    RB Jonathan Dwyer GT, He's big and I like that he's from a spreed/option team he could work in nicely. Big though and good speed. 6' goes 235.

    WR Eric Decker Minn. 6'2 goes 215. Smart, plays smart and good hands. A bookend to Hartline.

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  41. Hey guys I've been hearing all this chatter about the Jets and how they will be faves going into next year......Don't want my hatred for them blinding me, but are all these guys forgetting that were 8 gazillion teams tied to get that wild card?  Are the Jets the only ones from that bunch that could have gotten the AFC Championship?  I'm sorry, I know San Diego has a sexy roster, but they proved to me that they are pretenders.  And the Bungholios?  Please..... As much as it annoys me, at least all this attention I think will serve to feed their egos even further, and while everyone is talking Pats/Jets, we can slide right in and take the division....

    I guess my question here is, of the teams that were vying for that spot (the one that the Colts and Bungholes gave Rexy), which could have replicated their march to the championship? 

    And no, this isn't a complaint that somehow we got screwed, because I am completely disgusted with how we finished and we didn't deserve to go.  I just don't think the Jets are all that.....

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  42. son of a son of a shulaJanuary 26, 2010 at 4:04 PM

    Your dead on. I'm not gonna pretend to give a shit about the phucken jets. I hate em and I can't wait to see them get their ass kicked next year.

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  43. It means he's as much a 3-4 OLB prospect as he is a 4-3 DE prospect. He'll be considered by all teams, for their specific scheme.

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  44. He's not an "experimental" player any more than Ware or Merriman was. He's a guy who played 4-3 end in college, but also projects as a 3-4 OLB. He's a legitimate top-10 prospect in the NFL Draft, meaning he's worth considering at No. 12.

    I'm not saying draft him, I'm not saying don't. I'm saying that he's a top-of-the-draft talent that projects at 3-4 OLB and will garner consideration from all 3-4 teams, including Miami (though he'll probably be off the board before #12).

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  45. Tin,

    Know what a big fan of man boobs you are, thought you would like to see what a 370 lb nose tackle looks like.

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  46. you should add to you poll above.  you need to add yourself or at least all the amateur's of the SS

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  47. I did put 'other' for that reason.

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  48. He looks stoned beyond belief there.  I never really understood how anyone who lifts weights on a regular basis can have man boobs but I guess there's some genetic factors as well.  For Cody though it's more of a Carl's Jr Factor.

    I'm totally going to use this photo in my next blog though, so thanks.

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  49. The Knight who says Ni!January 27, 2010 at 7:13 AM

    "He's not an "experimental" player any more than Ware or Merriman was."

    Ware and Merriman were much more productive in college. What part of little college production and experience are you not getting with Pierre-Paul? Are you his uncle or something?

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  50. The Knight who says Ni!January 27, 2010 at 7:16 AM

    My god! Way to stay in shape Cody. No Thanks!

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  51. yes, but i as meaning you should name yourself or at least the SS amateur's so you get some credit.  other can be anything.  just saying is all.  i for one read (yeah some of us do read what you write) your blogs and the post of some on the ss.

    tin go to here

    http://www.620wdae.com/pages/ron_ian.html

    that is where i got the pic from.  click on the 'other senior bowl pics' and you get a pick of baby jesus.  quite the contrast

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  52. See new blog http://tinsfins.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-down89-to-go.html

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  53. Who's baby jesus? Tebow?

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  54. Or CJ. Spiller ?  What is it with Spiller, that I can't get out of my head ?   I hope we go with defense somewhere down the center of the field, but with the uncertainty at RB it is of some concern. 

    As for WR, I think we are in better shape in that position than what we know.  We had players open down field that were missed by the QBs that is not the WRs fault.  Our QBs and WRs are still pretty raw, that doesn't mean they can't play or get open.  Even TG which I think is flop so far, has some value.  I think they need to use him diferently.  We as fans need to forget he is overpaid and the (#8 pick "duh") of the draft 3 years ago.

    I truly beleive that the OC should have followed DC out the door this year.

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  55. Oh My!!!! That is to much ffr.  Baby Jesus cracks me up....

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  56. I agree with you on the OC jab, but they probably didn't want to lose too
    much continuity with half the staff leaving already.
    As for Spiller, I would not be disappointed at all if we drafted him. I
    would prefer to stick to McClain but if he's gone and it's a choice between
    Spiller and say Dan Williams, I'd take Spiller. He'd immediately replace
    Cobbs and Ginn, and eventually could become the focal point of the offense,
    or at least another option besides Ronnie and Bess. We need to keep
    defenses honest and spread out by having multiple threats on the field at
    once.

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  57. Baby Jesus!!!!!!!!Nailed it!!!Bad choice of words i guess, but the nickname is now official.........

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  58. I think the Roth escapade was a 2 way street.  Roth clearly was not happy about JT coming back, so there insued a undisclosed injury.  Which led to the dog house from the coaching staff.  They weren't going to have a player holding them hostage even if he may have been correct !!!

    If JP is saying that he hopes the Dolphins release him, he is doing the nearly the same as Roth did.  I see him getting his wish.

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  59. I have seen the Porter-Gate report listed in about 20,000 google hits, but
    not a single one actually has a transcript or recording of the radio clip.
    Even the radio station itself doesn't have an audio archive (it is a Top 40
    station with a morning zoo show). So since I haven't seen or heard what
    Joey actually said, I'm with-holding judgment on it until their is further
    evidence than a a news organization quoting a reporter quoting another
    reporter quoting a blogger.
    I cannot believe not a single one of these so-called journalists has tried
    to obtain a tape from the radio station in question. And how does Armando
    know what was said in a private meeting between Porter and Sparano? Did
    Sparano spill the beans voluntarily? Is Porter squealing on himself making
    himself look bad?

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  60. Tin I can't verify anything.  I saw something about what was said someplace, that is why I used the word IF my sentence when addressing the issue

    Where is herdfan when we need her.  Maybe she can find the somebody that heard the something, somewhere, in a somewhat remote area someplace, at sometime in the next few years.....  Never mind just pass me the beer.

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