The return of Warner

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Phins sign Gross

Miami, FL-- "This Free Agent class is strong in defense and up front in the O-line, not as much in the skill positions," was the sentiment echoed throughout the Dolphins facility, and the signings have kept with that theory. They signed T Jordan Gross away from Carolina for a 5 year deal worth $37 million with a $6 million signing bonus. Gross is a fundamentally-sound lineman that has excellent body control, balance and rarely allows himself to get out of control or off center. He is a natural knee-bender that does a good job of keeping his pad level down to leverage his blocks. He is strong enough, but is not an overly powerful blocker. He tends to be more on the finesse side, than a punishing mauler that looks to punish opponents. He is quick off the ball and shows excellent lateral range in pass protection and can react, adjust and right himself versus counters or back-under moves. He can punch out with powerful hands, jar opponents at the line and does a good job of getting a fit to control and steer opponents by the pocket. He can sink his hips to stop the bull rush and shows decent hip roll and explosion on drive blocks.

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Andrews loves warm-weather

Miami, FL-- The Dolphins and OG Stacy Andrews agreed to deal today worth $27 million over 5 years with a $4 millions signing bonus. Andrews has excellent size and strength and he plays with good balance. Due to his overall height, he tends to play high, but is strong enough to create movement in the run game. He is inconsistent with his use of leverage, but is big enough to cover up smaller defenders and is hard to shed. He has good agility for a big man, but is more effective in a confined area than out in space. In passing situations, Andrews has adequate foot quickness. He can set and lock quickly with his long arms and strong hands. He has adequate ability to change direction, but he can have problems with quick players. He does a good job of attacking defenders and letting his size take over, rather than trying to mirror and slide. He has good anchor strength. He is alert for games and blitzes. He is not a finished product at this time and should only continue to improve with experience. The fact that Andrews can play guard or tackle only adds to his value.

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Noll escapes Detroit for Miami

Miami, FL-- OG Ben Noll has agreed to a 4 year deal worth $19 million with a $2.5 million signing bonus. Noll projects as a starter along with Jordan Gross(Guard), Samson Satele (Center), Stacy Andrews (Guard), and someone the Dolphins are looking to pick up in the draft, i.e. Jake Long with the 1st overall pick.

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Henry late add for Miami

Miami, FL-- The Dolphins today agreed on a 2 year deal with WR Chris Henry, worth $6.4 million with a $1 million signing bonus. Henry was added after a workout in which coach Kurt Warner was extremely unimpressed with the receivers, according to multiple reports. So, 1 week before the NFL Draft, Warner went out and grabbed Henry to play for him. Henry possesses excellent size, he is fast enough to stretch defenses and he is a threat to make plays in the vertical passing game. Henry shows good leaping ability, he has the height to win most jump balls and he is a threat in the red zone. He possesses good body control and he will adjust to the ball while it's in the air. Henry shows good burst after the catch, he has the change-of-direction skills to make the first defender miss and he is capable of turning the short gain into the big play. He plays with a mean streak and he looks to throw blocks downfield. He has worked hard to improve as a blocker and as a short-to-intermediate route-runner but he is still unpolished and inconsistent in those areas. He lacks ideal recognition skills, doesn't always adjust to the blitz and he has a hard time finding the soft spot in zone coverage. His route running is inconsistent and he doesn't show a great feel for setting defenders up with double moves. He relies entirely too much on his natural ability but looks to perform well as he steps into the role of a #1 WR. Henry has had some off-field problems, but has been cleaning up his act, according to reports from his former team, the Bengals.

[Jefferson2Lafell]

2008 NFL Draft Recap: Miami Dolphins

New York, NY-- With the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins... don't select anyone! The Dolphins traded the 1st overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens for the 8th overall pick, the 38th overall pick, and the Raven's first rounder next year. The Ravens then selected QB Matt Ryan.

Round 1)

8th Overall Pick- OT Jake Long- Miami was extremely lucky when their man fell to them , but couldn't be happier with this pick. Long has strong hands and an explosive punch as both a pass and run blocker. He has the power to get movement off the line of scrimmage at the point of attack. He understands angles and how to leverage his opponent once engaged. Long has good initial quickness, foot agility and balance to kick step as a pass blocker. He can slide and mirror effectively but isn't always nimble footed to react well verse quick counter moves. He is an instinctive lineman who reacts well to changing fronts and pressure packages. He can slam and get up to the second level but doesn't show great agility to hit moving targets. Long is a tough, nasty competitor who brings attitude to the Miami offensive line and though not the most athletic left tackle in the league, shows great promise to have a long productive career.

32nd Overall Pick- WR Donnie Avery- Avery has adequate size and outstanding speed for the position. He accelerates extremely well into routes and can separate from defenders vertically. He is still developing as a route runner but his speed can stretch the defense as he can consistently run over the top of most CBs in man-coverage. When attempting to get in and out of sharp breaks he will need to improve his footwork. He takes extra steps at times or round out off a cut. He has good overall hands and adjustment skills along with good body control to adjust to the poorly thrown ball. If he catches the ball in stride, he is a big-play threat who can go the distance at any time. Avery is an ascending player with big play potential. If he continues to refine his route running he can be a difference make for the Phins.

Round 2)

38th Overall pick- Calais Campbell, DE- Campbell is a tall player with long arms and adequate strength. He has good initial quickness for his size. He can stack and separate playing the run, but his reactions are inconsistent. He lacks quick shed strength to get off blocks quickly and is missing some burst in the open field. As a pass-rusher, he lacks speed off the edge and needs to learn how to clear contact more consistently. Overall, Campbell is a good effort player. Once his recognition skills improve, he has the ability to become a starter.

57th Overall pick- Malcolm Kelly, WR- Big, strong and smooth receiver prospect. Excellent combination of size and athleticism. Plays quicker than his measurables would lead you to believe. He is a very natural pass-catcher. Has big, strong hands -- strongest hands of any WR in this year's class (in our opinion). Does an excellent job of securing the ball in traffic. Uses massive frame to shield defenders from the ball. Wins more jump balls than most receivers. Is a serious weapon inside the red zone. Displays unusually smooth hips for a bigger receiver. Gets in and out of breaks with very little wastes motion. Displays very soft hands when plucking on the run. Is smooth and fluid after the catch. Also a very strong runner. Will drag defenders and bounce off initial hits. Maintains balance after initial contact and will gain a lot of tough yards at the end of runs. Will give an adequate effort as a stalk blocker. Not overly physical but he will get in position and wall-off defender. Has the size to smother most DB's at the point of attack.

64th Overall pick- Tavares Gooden, MLB- Gooden could stand to add some more thickness and strength to better take on offensive linemen, but he does move very well and can close with a burst to the ball carrier. He has very good range and shows very solid change-of-direction skills. Gooden's instincts remain a work in progress and he can be overly aggressive at times instead of properly reading his keys. Gooden also needs to play the position with a wider and stronger base.

Day 2

Round 4)

97th Overall pick-Andre Woodson, QB- Possesses prototypical NFL quarterback size. Is tall with adequate bulk and room on his frame to add 10 more pounds. Has proven to be extremely accurate. Displays very good touch and timing. Possesses very good arm strength (just a notch below elite level such as JaMarcus Russell). Can drive the ball downfield vertically and can fit the ball into tight spots in the intermediate passing game. Gets great zip on deep-out throws. Is competitive and has proven capable of leading his team from behind (Louisville and LSU in 2007). Teammates believe in him. Is tough; will stand in the pocket and take a hit when following through on a throw when necessary. He has been durable throughout his career. While he lacks ideal quickness, he does build speed as he goes and he also gets set quickly on drops.

Round 5)

144th Overall pick- Josh Morgan, WR- Has adequate height and is thickly built. Is quick and displays good change-of-direction skills. Knows how to find soft spots in zone and not afraid to go over the middle. Shows good sideline awareness and has generally done a good job of getting feet down inbounds. Flashes excellent upper body strength and can shed press coverage. Uses frame to shield defenders from ball, flashes ability to make the tough catch in traffic and has the potential to develop into a productive red zone receiver. Runs hard after the catch and flashes the ability to pick up yards after contact. Flashes a mean streak and can sustain blocks if he wants to. Plays with a good motor and looks to throw blocks downfield. Has experience returning kickoffs as well as punts, can get to the punter when going for a block and can contribute on special teams.

Round 6)

161st Overall pick- Xavier Omon, RB- A thickly built and powerful back with adequate height and very good bulk. A one-cut downhill runner with adequate-to-good straight-line speed. Is a strong north-south runner with good vision, body control and balance. A tough inside runner that uses good pad-level and leg drive to gain yards after contact. Also utilizes a stiff-arm very effectively. Protects the ball well and thrives in his role as bell cow back within an offense. He has shown reliable hands as a receiver out of the backfield and has adequate experience in that regard. Is a strong blocker with the size and toughness to pick up the blitz in pass protection.

185th Overall pick- Eric Young, OG- Possesses good height and adequate bulk at OG position. Does a fine job with hand placement and will generally sustain once locked on. Shows good initial quickness and is a natural knee bender. Can shuffle laterally and mirror double move so long as he's not in too much space. Shows adequate awareness in pass pro. Has longer arms and does a good job of using them to steer pass rushers. Displays adequate initial pop with hand punch and has a strong upper body

Round 7)

193rd overall pick- Paul Smith, QB- A gritty playmaker. Understands the offense, spreads the ball around and can be effective when takes what the defense gives him. Is accurate when sets feet, puts good touch on passes and can lead receivers when throwing underneath. Gets much better zip on intermediate throws than people seem to think, especially on deep-out route. Overall arm strength is adequate-to-good. Has good mobility, throws fairly well on the run and can buy some time. Has adequate top-end speed, shows good vision and can pick up yards with feet. Confident, wants the ball late in the game and is a leader. Showed steady progress over the course of collegiate career and should only continue to get better.

203rd Overall pick- Ali Highsmith, LB- Experienced starter with versatility. Has played all three LB spots at LSU and also has experience contributing on special teams. Better suited to play in space on the weak-side in the NFL. He is a very smooth athlete. Is able to flip his hips with ease and shows very good change-of-direction skills. He's quicker than fast. Gets a deep drop in zone and can cover a lot of ground if he makes the read on time. Shows good instincts and burst when turned loose as a pass rusher. Experienced starter with good overall production at the highest collegiate level. Plays the game with passion and emotion. Fiery type of leader with an excellent motor.

210th Overall pick- Justin Forsett, RB- A shifty back with very good vision and quickness. Displays outstanding initial burst and can change directions in a hurry. Does a fine job of recognizing and quickly hitting the open backside lane. Runs with good balance and body-control. He is a fluid and smooth athlete with good elusiveness in space. Displays soft hands and can adjust to the poorly thrown pass. Shows adequate awareness in pass pro and will do what he can to slow down oncoming blitz sometimes he's able to cut bigger LB's. Has experience as a gunner covering kicks on special teams. Also has some experience returning kicks at Cal and displays upside as a KOR and PR in the NFL. Durable back for his size. A versatile prospect with unselfish attitude.

215th Overall pick- J Leman, ILB- Reads keys quickly, aggressive and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. Has a mean streak, can deliver a powerful punch and flashes the ability to shed blocks quickly. Plays with a good motor, takes adequate angles to the ball and makes plays in pursuit. Wraps up upon contact and is a reliable open field tackler that flashes the ability to deliver the big hit. Flashes an effective swim move and takes the shortest path to the quarterback when asked to blitz. Vocal, plays with emotion and is a leader on the field.

Undrafted Free Agents

After the Draft, the Dolphins jumped on these 5 players:

K Alexis Serna-Powerful, can get good distance on kickoffs and can connect on long-range field goal attempts despite size. Fairly accurate and doesn't miss many field goal attempts inside 40 yards. Has experience kicking in poor weather and it doesn't appear to affect him. Handled the punting duties last year, showed adequate accuracy in that role and is versatile enough to fill in there if needed.

RB Dantrell Savage- Displays very good initial burst, gets around the corner quickly and shows a second gear when gets into space. Shows good vision and reads blocks fairly well. Is a slippery runner and makes it tough to get a clean shot on him at times. Makes crisp cuts, recognizes when defenders get caught out of position and is an effective cutback runner. Has a low center of gravity, has excellent body control and flashes the ability to pick up yards after contact despite size. Played a bigger role in the passing game last year and is a threat to turn a catch underneath into a long gain. Has soft hands and does a nice job of adjusting to passes thrown outside of frame. Returned five punts last year and though failed to make an impact in that role has some upside as a return man and can contribute on special teams. Has some experience throwing the ball downfield and is versatile.

OG Warren Adams- Possesses a very good combination of size and bulk for the guard position. He has very good upper-body power and shows the ability to jar defenders with initial contact. Displays good initial quickness, takes good angles and fires out as a run blocker. Shows good awareness in pass pro. Has a big frame and long arms to engulf defenders once in position. Plays with a mean streak and will fight to the finish. Also shows discipline and is rarely penalized. Gives a good effort and never quits on a play. Despite injury issues, he will finish his collegiate career with four years of playing experience at the highest level.

WR Adrian Arrington- He is tall with decent bulk and room on his frame to get bigger. Possesses long arms and a big wingspan to shield defenders. Is a bigger target with soft hands. Very smooth and fluid athlete. At his best working against zone and soft-man coverage. Adept at finding soft spots in zone and creating passing windows for his quarterback. Shows good leaping ability and can catch the ball thrown over his head. Not afraid to go over the middle and will make the tough catch in traffic. Gives a good effort as a run blocker.

TE Mike Peterson-Shows a second gear, tracks the ball well and can work the seam. Shows good body control and appears comfortable catching passes over his shoulder. Snatches the ball out of the air, isn't going to drop many passes that should catch and can make the tough catch in traffic. Shows good work ethic, moves feet and works hard at sustaining blocks once locked on. Has gotten better each year and should only continue to improve with added experience.

[Mike3207]

I'm surprised Long fell to 8, he usually goes in the top 5 picks. What are your position philosophies and playbooks?

[Jefferson2Lafell]

My Systems:
Offense- Tom Moore's Play's
Defense- Phillips 3-4

Posistion:
QB- Balanced
HB- Balanced
FB- Blocking
WR- Balanced
TE- Balanced
OL- Balanced
DL- Versatile/3-4
OLB- Pass Rusher/3-4 Blitzer OLB
MLB- Balanced
CB- Mancoverage/Ballhawk
FS- Centerfielder
SS- Run Support/Big Hitter

[edward_1385]

WOW!!! Long fell to eight overall, what were the picks from 2-7???

Also love the in depth analysis of each of ur players, u really work hard on these, hope u don't ever quit doing it...