While yesterday was a tad quiet with the exception of the Dolphins landing a QB in the first round with the selection of Ryan Tannehill; today marked some improvements to bolster the offensive line, initiate the ability to stretch the field with a pass-catching tight end and a pass rusher.

Tonight, GM Jeff Ireland added some pieces to help the Dolphins in 2012.

First the Dolphins selected 6'5", 310 pound Tackle Jonathan Martin.  Martin can play either Right Tackle or Left Tackle.  Martin is a perfect fit in a zone-blocking scheme and was Andrew Luck's RT in passing situations.  In all, Martin is a welcome addition to the Dolphins who do not have anyone ready to play RT other than Lydon Murtha and Artis Hicks.  Dolfans should be happy with this move since Columbo made a swinging gate out of the right side of the line giving up a high number of sacks.  Martin can start right away and should with guidance from Coach Joe Philbin, an o-line guru.  Some insiders believe that Martin could serve as a long-term insurance policy should Jake Long leave the team in 2013.

Next witht he 72nd pick, the Dolphins selected 6'2" , 260 Defensive End/Linebacker, Olivier Vernon from the University of Miami.  Vernon contributed to 89 tackles and 9 sacks in college having his career cut short due to suspensions resulting from NCAA violations.  Vernon projects out to be a 3-4 LB or a 4-3 End as a pass rusher.  Vernon undoubtedly could work as a linebacker and a pass rusher in the Dolphins hybrid 3-4/4-3.  Vernon being selected was somewhat of a surprise since the Dolphins still had other guys on their board based on various mock drafts and draft experts.  Vernon could fill the void of Jason Taylor or take over for Koa Misi should he continue to fall short in his career as a Dolphin. 

Finally ,in a trade down scenario gaining a 6th round pick from the Chargers, the Dolphins selected at #78 in the 3rd round: 6'3" 236 pound Tight End Michael Egnew of the University of Missouri, Columbia.  In reality, this is a good pick for the Dolphins brass.  Egnew is known as a seam threat and with his body control can stretch the field and make tough catches.  In all, he should push both Charles Clay and Anthony Fasano.

So, what's left tomorrow, the Dolphins have a 4th, 5th, 2 6th rounders, and a 7th rounder.  I can see Ireland moving the 7th and 6th rounders if there is a guy he really likes. 

The Dolphins should  get at least two WRs tomorrow.  I'd also be curious if the Dolphins were to go after another developmental QB to push out Moore or Garrard.  It is all possible.  Case Keenum anyone???

Please keep visiting PhinsPhocus.com for the latest on the 2012 draft and the 2012 undrafted free-agent frenzy starting on Monday

Hooray!  Most of Dolphin Nation is praising the utter joy of drafting a QB in round 1. 

Somewhere off in the distance, a certain teacher and Miami Dolphin fan was praising his students about the Dolphins pick as they walzed into the classroom before taking a nearly impossible vocabulary quiz.  The name Ryan Tannehill sprang off of his tongue as the students prepared for their quiz seeing their teacher in the best mood in awhile after a Dolphins draft.

"Who did they take?" They inquired...Ryan Tannehill! 

 Ryan Tannehill.  From Henne to Tanny…that is what is going on.

Let’s be frank, Dan Marino sounds like ages ago and were getting to the point where most of the guys playing in college now, never saw him play.  So are we really trying to fill his shoes?

In addition, I can see where the comparison might be with Marino, his throwing motion from his ear, but it ends with Ryan Tannehill's sheer ability to run out of the pocket and make plays!  As he said yesterday, he is his own player.  That’s it.  The comparison stops at him being a first round QB joining Marino and Griese. 

So, as a Dolfan my take is this…we don’t have another QB on the roster that has won a Super Bowl.  We don’t have a QB on the roster that has ever beat the New England Patriots.  Ryan Tannehill is really the move that the Dolphins brass had to make in order to move this team into the 21st century. 

The Dolphins got better today, but why do some media members like seeing the Dolphins flounder or criticize the regime?

Because the Dolphins need to win.  Winning with Tanny will look and feel better!

If you look at the Dolphins drafts of year’s past the common denominator has been Defense.  The Dolphins have rarely sprang for an offensive skills guy until the Ireland era. 

Ireland has now picked a stellar LT in Jake Long, a shut-down corner in Vontae Davis, a staunch Defensive end in Jared Odrick, a nasty center in Pouncey, and now a golden-boy QB with an arm in Ryan Tannehill.

The Miami Dolphins are going somewhere with this pick and optimism and joy reign true in the halls of that school where “said teacher” works at and throughout the world where Dolfans are representing everywhere!

It’s all about #17 baby!

Hope!

 

This year after a 13 year long wait for Dolphins fans, the Phins finally used a first round pick on a QB. The Dolphins drafted Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, reuniting him with his former head coach Mike Sherman.

The waiting is over, the Dolphins now have a guy they can help grow and mold into a franchise QB.  

While Tannehill has his upside, he also has his issues, he is not a perfect prospect but he has a chance to really shine. Tannehill offers a potential solution to a 13 year QB search.  Tannehill is most known for his strong athletic skill set and ability to throw on the run.

Tannehill brings excitement to Miami as him and his super hot girlfriend now can call South Florida home.

Dolphins HOF QB Dan Marion wasted no time welcoming Tannehill with a tweet,

RT @DanMarino: Congrats to @ryantannehill1! Welcome to Miami.#Dolphins

Tannehill met with the media after being drafted indicating his excitement to be a Dolphin and his desire to compete for the starting job. Tannehill also mentioned he wants to wear his college number 17.

Douche bag GM Jeff Ireland, had this to say on his new QB, “I didn’t take him with the eighth pick in the draft to be a backup quarterback. I picked him to be a starting quarterback in this league at some point, to have an impact in this league, to help us win games and championships.”

Jeff Ireland said on @MikeAndMike wouldn't make any expectations or predictions on Ryan Tannehill #Dolphins then later said Tannehill checks out A+ in the tangible area. Jeff Ireland noted that Stephen Ross put no pressure on him to take Tannehill but was very excited about Ryan.

There is still great value on the board for the 2^nd round for the Dolphins. A list of available players include, WR’s Randle, Hill..TE Colby Fleener…OLB Upshaw…OT Cordy Glenn as well as many others.

Yesterday, I posted that Merling would be replaced, but that was a lucky guess and at least not until after the draft.

Jeff Ireland has solidified that he is going to take a DE somewhere in the draft.  Could it be round 1?  It's possible with Fletcher Cox and Melvin Ingram on the board at 8. 

I certainly don't discount the contribution of Phillip Merling during the 2008 season when the Dolphins needed a play and Merling took one on defense for 6 against the Jets in a playoff and division deciding game. 

However, Merling has been a bust and now Ireland must rectify that he made a mistake in picking him and not a QB, TE, or any other critical position of need. 

It's quite easy for Jeff Ireland to use Parcells as the scapegoat here...was it Parcell's choice or Jeff Ireland's?

Merling has been injured often and recently after signing his tender, he did not do his part and participate in non-mandatory OTAs to be with his teammates. 

At least the Dolphins can rest easy that they will not have to wait for Merling to turn on that switch from 2008 and be ready to go for the 2012 season.

Some serious questions come to mind garnering answers. 

Does this change the draft plans of Ireland who many media members and draft gurus believe he is taking Ryan Tannehill on the request of owner Stephen Ross?

Do the Dolphins tip their hand slightly and go after DEs in the first and second round? 

Do the Dolphins make any other moves such as looking if Sean Smith or Vontae Davis is the better corner and put either of them on the trade block to get more picks?

There are a lot of possibilities at 8, so the Dolphins look to continue their rebuilding mode if more moves are made to rectify past mistakes.

What will Ireland's countermove be after the release of Merling? 

As a Dolfan, you can only hope that the Dolphins take a QB somewhere and in a year we are proudly wearing the jersey of the new QB!

Folks, we are almost nearing draft eve and a lot of crazy talk is spewing out of the mouths of scouts, GMs, owners, and agents.

So, how does the knowledgeable Dolfan handle this crazy talk about owner Steve Ross pushing for Tannehill per Mike Florio at PFT? 

Just shrugging and working on other important things like a master's thesis.  No big deal.  This is common strategy from other teams to overvalue their selection in hopes that teams get desperate to pay up to move up.  No reason to speculate who actually said it. 

This much we do know for sure:

On offense, the Dolphins have glaring needs at QB, OL, and WR.  The Miami Dolphins can draft a viable replacement at QB to the two-headed monster that is Moore-Garrard at QB for 2013. 

There is also a thought that the Miami Dolphins will be content with Daniel Thomas and he’ll be a workhorse back.  I buy into some of this idea given that he is a big back that can move a pile. However, this is 2012 and the Dolphins are through with the Wild Cat and anything resembling it. I see fast, quick, and lateral as the key to using the run game with Joe Philbin.  Think change of pace. I only say this because with Philbin using the running back in Green Bay, it was not the biggest feature in games.  It was all Rogers all the time.

 However, I think that a compliment to Reggie Bush is not Thomas.  The Miami Dolphins have changed to a zone-blocking scheme that needs a very athletic and quick offensive line.  Daniel Thomas hesitates when moving toward a hole.  It’s almost comedic that he could not score from the 1 yard line last year.  Smaller, but yet quick Steve Slaton had a goal line TD agains the NY Giants.  I expect more from Slaton on Goal Line calls.

Next, the Miami Dolphins truly might benefit from zone blocking scheme and take an OL in the second round.  However, what are the Dolphins doing in round 1…here is my revised take:

First Round at #8:

Scenario 1: If Tannehill is there, then they could take him.  Since 1983, the Miami Dolphins have not taken a QB round 1.  Tannehill is the perfect player for this offense since Philbin and Sherman appear set on a West Coast offense and I have a sneaking suspicion contrary to what scouts believe, he will play in 2012 and he will sink or swim.  Ireland surely doesn’t have a year to prove his draft skills and hope they pan out in 2013. Another important detail is that Tannehill played in this offense for 19 games and is very familiar with all of Sherman’s play calls.  I can imagine Moore or Garrard getting removed when they don’t know the play and Tannehill does in practice. 

Why not play this season for 12 games?  It is a strong possibility.

Scenario 2: Best available is Mark Barron of Alabama.  Why? Because the Dolphins need an impact guy.  If you want Barron, though, you trade with the Chiefs or anyone before Pittsburgh and Baltimore.  Barron is a versatile and yet very explosive guy that could fill the void left after the release of Yeremiah Bell with a run-stopper.  If you were around when Louis Oliver seemed to find the football often, then this is your pick.  Remember when Oliver had his best game against the Bills and the Dolphins did not have to do much by halftime?  Awesome.

Scenario 3: Should someone such as Matt Kalil become available, then the Dolphins should look in that direction of taking out insurance on Jake Long.  Kalil is a beast and he played in an offense that featured an explosive passing game at USC.  I have always considered Jake Long as a beast, but built more for the run game.  Do not get me wrong, Long can handle his own and he’s a three-time pro-bowler.  However, Long is starting to wear down and get beat in the pass game on bull rushes and double teams.  It does not seem unreasonable for the Dolphins to revamp their o-line. 

Scenario 4: I like Brandon Weeden.  Everything about this guy including his leadership tells me that this guy can start day 1.  Word is getting around that Weeden could play on a team where there is a veteran QB for the next year.  I am not buying that talk one bit.  If the Dolphins like Weeden, it does not seem like they do, but I would not be surprised if they trade back to the upper teens to take him.  The Dolphins could benefit from getting a guy that can play 16 right now.  10 years of this player with his accuracy and arm strength would be an upgrade at QB right now.  I don’t care if he is 29 during training camp.  He’s got a fresh body and has not sustained many hits.  He’d be a hit in Miami with the fans and wow the media.

Scenario 5:

I am fresh out of ideas on this one. However, I still like Quinton Coples of North Carolina.  Some South Florida writers are not sold on Coples.  He switched positions for crying out loud and although that motor seems to need gas at the end of a game, he played decent with 7.5 sacks at a new position for him.  Jeff Ireland has a chance to right a wrong in taking Phillip Merling at the beginning of round 2 in 2008.  Coples for me would be an upgrade over Koa Misi who was a disaster in his position switch to LB from DE in college.  If Coples gets picked, I’d trade back just a bit just in case Richardson, Kalil or Gilmore are available and teams coveting them get desperate.

Scenario 6:  This is more of an acknowledgement to Armando Salguero: Today's blog featured something about DT/DL Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State.  This guy is a stud against the run and can get to the QB.  Armando mentions that the Dolphins really like this guy.  I think it's a possibility too.  This might be the back up to the back up to the back up in Ireland's mind.  In addition, I give kudos to Armando for getting a lot of these picks right, not because he knows his stuff, but because he knows people that I don't. 

I am not a draftnik, but I love the draft.  I am a passionate Dolfan who has his sights set on two intriguing matchups on the west coast, Arizona and SF.  I plan to be at both. 

Here’s to a fantastic draft eve and draft day!

Please read us at phinsphocus.com and follow @DolphinMick and @PhinsDaniel for the latest opinions and details prior to the draft!