In our opinion the Dolphins need to pay the same attention to the offense in the upcoming draft as they paid to the defense last April. Our D is young, and Mike “Crazylegs” Nolan is the freaking Stephen Hawking of defensive coordinators.
The big question we need to answer is whether or not Chad Henne is still the answer at quarterback. Well, we don’t need to answer that. Tony Sparano needs to. Or Gruden. Or Cowher. Or whoever’s giving the locker room speeches next fall. We personally still think he’s got the goods, and that yanking the plug on him before he’s even played a full season is a mistake. And perhaps Thigpen was just playing possum against Chicago, setting up the Raiders so he can “get Thiggy with it” this Sunday?
So, these are the three non-quarterbacks we’d love to bring into the fold this April. The goal? Reclaiming our identity.
Round 1: MARK INGRAM, RB, Alabama – Time for fresh legs. Explosion. Ricky and Ronnie are both free agents as of press time. When is the best time to grab a franchise back? When one is sitting there, and your team is lucky enough to be on the clock.
ROUND 2: No pick. We should make Brandon Marshall catch passes from the Juggs machine in the war room for the entirety of this round.
ROUND 3: OL ORLANDO FRANKLIN, Miami: Sure, why not the hometown guy? Massive, massive, massive. Has played a lot of tackle, but projects as a badass guard at the next level. What happened to that #4 rushing offense from 2009? We’ve got to scare folks on the ground again.
ROUND 4: TIM BARNES, C, Missouri: Great athleticism, and ready to play from the get go. A center who can protect the QB, but also escort RBs down the field, and solidify the position for years to come.
Again, a lot of our actions will be dictated by the QB question. We think our problems this season have stemmed from a complete loss of identity, and some very questionable “strategery”. We want to steamroll people again, then sting ’em through the air when they cheat up to the line.
We know it’s early, but the stuffing isn’t ready yet, so why not a glance ahead at the draft?
GO DOLPHINS! – And feel free to follow us on Twitter @thebottlenose
thebottlenose.wordpress.com 
Nice draft. Those are all good choices and would help the team out. I’d also like to see Ronnie traded for a second. Probably wishful thinking, but as we continue to rebuild on the offensive side of the ball, Ingram for Brown would be the right thing to do, much as I’ve been a huge Ronnie fan since he got drafted. I think at this juncture it’s best to draft high for RB, and Ingram is the real deal.
With the trade deadline passed, any chance of getting something for Ronnie is long gone. Probably would have been pennies on the dollar anyway. He’s been a warrior. If he and/or Ricky come back (at bargain prices), no complaints here. But we can’t do it at the expense of the future, and the explosiveness of our offense.
Thank for the comment, Kenny. Stop by anytime.
Too many good HB out there that can be found later in draft. Get beter on D or O-line. Need to somehow get some more picks as well
Well it better be one hell of a OG or C if we’re going to wait ’til the mid-3rd to pick again. Personally I like the chances of finding interior linemen in the 3rd and 4th a lot more than the chances of finding a stud RB.
Or if we like another back (Ryan Williams maybe), perhaps we can trade down, add a 2nd, and still get a RB lower in the first.
Our D is one of the youngest in the league, and 6th overall in the NFL, without Edds and hardly any Odrick. I think we can tend towards offensive players this year, in my opinion.
Thanks for stopping by The Bottlenose!
If you look at all the top teams, they all have great quarterbacks. Until Miami gets a franchise quarterback, they will be as average as the other mediocre teams. Without question, they should do whatever it takes (reasonable) to get the top quarterback.
In his first 21 games as a starter Henne had two more INTs than TDs. So did Peyton Manning. And Henne’s completion percentage was 63%, to Peyton’s 59. Oh, and Manning went 6-15. Pretty awful compared to Chad’s 11-10. And almost 1,000 of Peyton’s yards were dump-offs to Marshall Faulk.
We think this was a premature benching by a coach who’s drifting out of the race and losing his security blanket in Parcells. The roadside is littered with “top quarterbacks” in the draft who never panned out. Henne has shown more than any of the guys we’ve paraded through here over the last God knows how many years.
Hopefully he’ll still get the chance to come of age in Miami. He hasn’t even started a full season and we’re cutting bait? We don’t like it.
Thanks for stopping by The Bottlenose.
i like what your saying when they set henne in the number 2 seat to pennington which is hennings choice of qbs because all they have done is try to get henne to be more like him if they would let him play his ay and call some plays that suits his play style we would see more out of henne and as for thigpen he sucks
I just realized Henne isnt that bad. Hes in the top 10 in the NFL in completions, completion percentage, and yards. He doesnt get sacked much either. His td to int ratio is what messes him up as well as his qb rating. Therefore if hes not mobile nor getting sacked much why do we need so desperately Guards and a Center?? We need knew consistent, non injury prone RBs. We also need speed and playmakers at WR. We have 2 great slots in Hartline and Bess and one Superstar in Marshall. After Brandon is double teamed, who is a speed threat downfield? Some who can change the game or break a long one, bust a move or something??
Again, just my two cents, but 25th in the NFL in yards per carry is unacceptable. I want the bulldozers back, and I want to run Mark Ingram behind them.
I had a dream Miami played in the Superbowl against Dallas! I swear! Life is crazy. I like that someone here is finally talking about the truth in what this team needs. A CENTER!!! Gurads, O-Line help! Thank you, finally the voice of reason! You know what else all those franchises with great QB’s have? Dominant O-Lines! We gotta get a real Dominant Center in this years draft! Well Like I always say KOWABUNGA!!!!!!!!!!
May your dream come true soon. Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Thanksgiving!
I love your draft choices. A running back is definitely needed in the first round. I think some secondary help at the safety position would be best in the 2nd round if a worthy player is available. possibly move up if need be in the 3rd to take a solid C.
Thanks for stopping by The Bottlenose, WillyRicks. I’ve been impressed with Clemons at FS, and Reshad Jones was a sleeper in last year’s draft. I hope we go offense, offense, offense.
Yes I agree offense, offense, offense. NO D until like round 6 or 7. We need speed and playmakers look at the Eagles! We have hands and possesion receivers, no speed, flare, swag, gamebreakers.
1-Mark Ingram RB
3-Noel Devine or Jaquizz Rodgers RB
A McCluster type, bush or mccoy type player. Who can run and catch and return kicks
4-Derrell Johnson-Koulianos WR
5-Jerrel Jernigan WR
6-John Skelton TE
7- Nickel or Dime CB
We just draft a saftey and we have enough depth at C, plus Grove only 28. We just signed Incognito, drafted John Jerry and have a good and great tackle. Why use a 3rd rounder, when we dont have a 2nd on a O lineman? Maybe they can sign a C/G or draft one 6th or 7th round, good ones come late too
O-Line isn’t flashy, but we were the #4 rushing team in the NFL last year. Something has gone hugely wrong in that area. We’re 25th in the league this year in yards per carry. That push is missing. The bulldozing mentality. Perhaps that would change with a new offensive coordinator. Perhaps it’s been injuries. But it has to change.
I would love a playmaking scatback like Devine or Rodgers. I was screaming for Jacoby Ford this last draft. I like the skill players in your mock, but only if we can solidify that rush-blocking. No beef in those picks!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by The Bottlenose!
My wish list is to have a great land with a few hourses to ride and a lake to go fishing, a gun to hunt some deer. then go to sleep and do that once again 🙂
1) give all draft picks to car and pick luck!!!
2) tag brown for next year and give rw a one year contract
3) give a call to coach cowher and simply ask him “how much?”
Not bad. But how about letting Ronnie leave and signing Deangelo Williams?
what would you think if dolphins get Cam Newton on the frist round???
its sounds very good to me but i want to know what do you think
Cam Newton has a lot going for him, but there will be a learning curve. Before we go back down that road we need to see how Henne finishes up the year, with Brandon Marshall at full speed. Henne’s stats at this early point in his career aren’t much different than some legendary QBs.
Not only that, but Vince Young may come much cheaper than Newton, if we felt like making a change while still using our first rounder on something else (RB perhaps? Mark Ingram maybe?) And Vince has experience.
If Henne exels down the stretch it would probably make sense to pencil him in for next season and solidify our team elsewhere.
Just my 2 cents. Thanks for stopping by The Bottlenose.
Cam is intriguing. I want to see how Henne finishes. How does Cam stack up against Vince Young, who will be available this offseason? This is all stuff we’ll have to figure out, if we even decide to ditch Henne (who we think has “skillz”). I am very concerned about our running game, which was 4th in the NFL in 2009, and has disappeared this season. Feels like the 1st round for a RB this year, especially considering we won’t pick again ’til round 3.
Thanks for stopping by The Bottlenose!
Hi im brett a dolphin fan 4 life. The dolphins r holding henne back the nfl is a passing league. U have the best left tackle n the game n he blocked 4 henne n college. I think ingram is over rated. We need 2 try n trade up 4 aj green or baldwin from oklahoma st. Marshall n baldwin think of fitzgerald n boldin. U dont trade 2 second round picks 4 1 of the best recievers n the game 2 say ur a running team. I say we trade merling n smith 2 the lions 4 there second round pick n draft the rb from oregon lemicheal james. Hes fast explosive n 2 me better then ingram. James has break away speed ingram doesnt. Henne has a big arm let him use it. We have been a running team 4 5years n only 1 playoff apperence time 2 go back 2 throwing the ball like the rest of the league. Thats like drafting harrison n manning but want 2 b a running team. Henne has a big time arm let him throw the ball n then u will c improvment. Bring back satele at c he made the ol physical. Then go after joseph from the bengals n put him next2 davis
If anyone from the fins ownership is actually reading this blog heres my plea. The Dolphins need a mobile quarterback with a strong arm to compliment Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams and that wildcat offense. Since Michael Vick is not available please make an attempt to sign Vince Young (I think he may be looking for a new job in the offseason….hmmm just a hunch) Can you imagine the Young/Marshall/Bess combination next year, combined with the dynamic duo and that up and coming defense, one word unstoppable.
If Tony, or whomever comes in here next, pulls the plug on Chad, Vince will surely be tempting. But it seems like there are some locker room issues with that guy. Here’s one. How about Donovan McNabb? Just asking.
Forget Mark Ingram he hasn’t looked good at all this year and we don’t need a bust at the HB position who we need in a phin uniform after the 2011 draft? K-State RB Daniel Thomas the dudes a specimen he played in the wildcat over in Kansas state too 1st 3rd 4th round w/e this is the guy. I like your G/C ideas but at WR I think we try even though I think it to be improbable Titus Young would be terrific speedster and great compliment to what we already have. As for Henne, he has the skill he just needs to grow up. One more year before a change at QB
Ingram looks legit to me, but Daniel Thomas is indeed badass. Hard to tell now, before these guys are put under the pre-draft microscope. K-State faces one defense per year, and the SEC is full of guys who will play on Sundays. I agree that a field-stretching WR would be fantastic as well. Perhaps Marlon Moore qualifies? Looks like Anthony Armstrong is filling that role for the Redskins now. Shame we cut him loose.
Thanks for your comments!
I hope we fire henning n bring n josh mcdanials as oc. Look at what he did with orton n dont forget what he did with the pats n 07. Draft justin blackmon n the 1st round. Blackmon will take pressure of off henne n marshall. Think of fitzgerald n boldin with marshall n blackmon. N round 3 hopefully the middle linebacker from unc will b there with dansby n crowder getting up there n age n injured he would be able 2 learn from them n b another young piece on defense. N round 4 we could look at a rb that is versatile that can run n catch the ball. N free agency i hope we pick up hightower from the cards he is a do it all back n satele our c we got n the welker trade n then n the 1st round next year go after james the back from oregon. I hope the miami organiztion reads this n listens 2 me. Get rid of henning n then open it up 4 henne who did have 17 straghit completions against the jags last year. Goodbye dan henning n then henne will progress n b that francise qb i know he is. Henning is holding him back.
Wow, you’ve laid it all out, Brett. I will say that I agree about Henning stunting Henne’s growth a bit, and not just because he keeps yanking Chad off the field for Wildcat plays that haven’t been working for a year now. We also don’t throw deep balls. Maybe three this entire year. The Saints do that in a half. Seems to me that we aren’t taking advantage of Henne’s “plus” arm strength. Though maybe we just don’t have anyone who can stretch the freaking field.
What do you think of Deangelo Williams as a free agent?
Josh McD for OC would be a disaster…
He and B Marsh do NOT get along at all…remember the drama in Denver?
I’d say we need a new OC (Chad Pennington???) but also a new QB coach?
Clearly we need a new approach at that position, if Henne has some upside, maybe a fresh approach from the coaching standpoint can help.
Maybe Jay Gruden – he know QB’s and offense.
DeAngelo Williams? I liked him out of college, but has missed 13 out of the last 32 games and has only avg. OVER 65 yds a game only 2 out of the last 5 years.
How about this backfield: Mark Ingram, Ricky Williams and Ahmad Bradshaw.
Bradshaw is a bruising FA back, ran for 1235 this year, used to 3 back systems and may have worn out his welcome with Tom Coughlin. Relatively fresh and healthy.
Bradshaw had an amazing year, and I expect him to break the bank. What about Deangelo and Ricky in a sort of Jamaal Charles/Thomas Jones timeshare? Would minimize wear and tear.
I think the the offensive coordinator has to go ASAP!!! no question about it, that being said next is the bull headed coach. Bring Cowher or Groden in. give henne qnother year. we need another fast tall reciever. the running backs are falling off. we need to tend the to the offense! Offense- RB,TE,WR,OL Defense – S,CB,LB
I do think we need a QB, however, we may not have one of the big 3 or 4 by the time we need to pick. I do believe that Cam Newton is on the board we should stay away from him. I agree with you about grabbing a running back. Fixing the O line is a must. I do thing we go out and get vets to do this. No more learn on the Job for the O line. Get a wide rec.. to run the other side to keep the defense honest. Big tight end also. I also think a speedy olb on the other side to compliment Camron Wake. I agree with the center spot that we need to sure that up through the draft. I also think that the receivers that we have now aren’t bad. I think if they want a spot on the team they need to sign up for off season track and field training with some college team to get faster. Hey if you want to be successful then you have to work hard.
Defense:
Keep: Soliai, McDaniel, Sapp (Reassign Merling to back up Soliai)
Bye Bye: Crowder, Will Allen & Tyrone Culver
Offense:
New OC: Chad Pennington (stole this from some one else, didn’t like it at 1st, but it is growing on me)
New QB coach: Jay Gruden (He knows QB’s & offense – we NEED a change in approach!)
Keep: Incognito, Denney, Fields, Polite & Ricky
Bye Bye: Ronnie, P. Cobbs, Hilliard, Anderson, Sheets, OL junk (sign & trade Ronnie for a draft pick?)
Regardless of who our QB is – he needs a good OL and a running game to help.
OL needs vet help – thats when they’ve done best
We’ve wasted too many picks hoping for rookie OL help:
(Drew Mormino, Joe Toledo, Shawn Murphy, Donald Thomas, John Jerry, John Nalbone)
Be smart about money spent.
Right now backup Cory Procter @ $1.5mil makes more than Soliai, Langford & Murtha COMBINED!
Free Agents available: C: Kalil (CAR), C: Satele (OAK), OG: D. Joseph (TB), OG: Justin Blalock (ATL)
All starters & all make less than $500K and can definitely add help to our OL
Starters: Long, Incognito, Kalil/Satele, Blalock & Carey
Backups: Garner, Feinga, Berger, Jerry and McQuistan
(Blalock is 6-6 320 and played ROT as a Longhorn in college, in case Carey gets hurt)
Skills:
Jacoby Jones (FA WR- HOU) – Speed we need with starting experience as the 3rd WR.
We have youth to develop – let Hartline, Jones, Pruitt, Wallace and Moore fight it out for 3rd – 5th spots.
Get them returning kicks to teach them how to run in traffic and get their hands on the ball.
Draft: RB Mark Ingram (How does this backfield sound: Mark Ingram, Ricky Williams and Ahmad Bradshaw?)
Luck, Newton, Locker and Mallett may be gone before we pick around 15th, if we can’t trade up.
(Vikings, Titans, 49ers, Cardinals need a QB & even the Broncos and Panthers might look to get a new QB)
If a REALLY GOOD QB is still available – then definitely choose one! Otherwise our RBs need an overhaul.
Maybe UF’s Pouncey at C or G if we can’t get better through FA. Twin brother is amazing with the Steelers.
QB: If we can draft a sure thing what about McNabb? Palmer? Henne? Thigpen? Bring em ALL in!!
Search High and low – UFL Garcia, Bollinger, Greisen, Canadian League – (Cameron Wake got any leads?)
Open competition Winner takes all. Runner up gets the clip board. Third place gets the Gatorade.
Sorry Vince Young – No head cases…
4 smart FA pickups (WR, OG, C, RB) will help our starters get much better while adding to our depth.
Then we can concentrate on fixing our QB situation full time.
Just read this forum, but i think you guys are missing a few solid players to be looked into. First off, I totally agree get rid of henning and get a quality OC in place who will take the cuffs off of Henne. Tashard Choice will be a free agent and giving him a shot as a number one running back could really help our run game. Starting line should be long, pouncey (1st rd pick) incognito at center, jerry and carey. The left side of the line would be set for a decade and putting incognito at center will give us the stability needed to create the running game we need. A 3rd round speedster to run a deep streak like mike wallace does for the steelers would give the dolphins the 3 extra wins to get us into the playoffs year in and year out. Keep in mind dolfans, we lost to the pats early in the year due to shitty special teams, and we lost to the steelers over a fluke fumble. Wins there would make us 9-7 on the season despite the struggles with the rest of the team. GO PHINS
Looking at or ol if incognito is going 2 play c we should draft pouncey from uf 2 play left guard. N round 3 we should draft casey matthews from oregon 2 play mlb. Then we should draft te williams from arkansas. N round 5 we should look at hunter from oklahoma st. Then trade our 6 and 7 round picks 2 get a speedy reciever. N free agency we should take away hightower n breaston from the cards we would have a do it all back n a speedy reciever. N last but not least fire henning n bring n j mcd as or oc. Look at brandon lloyd a pro bowler. Mcdanials will definently have our offense n the top 5 just a suggest ment he might not b ready 4 a head coaching job but as a oc there is no denying his talant at making a great offense. I hope the miami organazation reads this and listens 2 me. If they do i should b hired but it all makes sense just give it a try n look at the names n free agency n the draft n they can all help the team lets go dolphins. Brett turner
Henne is not the answer we need to spend as much money, or our best draft pick on a quality QB. Believe me I was a huge chad henne fan at first and did really believe he was the future for the dolphins but now he is too timid. Every passing play he scans the recievers down field without waiting for them to get open and instead will dump it off to a reciever/ RB at the line of scrimmage. Henne is not the answer….
This blog really gets you thinking, I never even pondered the mark ingram in the draft. I truly think one of us should be in the front office. This dolphins process seems like its reoccuring every year. Needing Offensive Players. Our Defense is solid and I really don’t think it needs any real changes when our offense is crying out for help. The running game is shot. Half the blame i’ll give to Henning, the other half is split between the RB’s and the O-Line. Henne should get another chance atleast. With no running game how can the passing game excel? It’s easy to predict an offense that can only pass. Therefore I am now a believer in the draft Ingram/ Keep Henne. But thats just one option I like. The other is pick up one of the solid RB free agents and use the first pick to help O-line. Just as long as the phins address one of the 2 issues (RB, O-line) I’ll be a happy camper. But… as history shows, our front office has a hard time identifying talent and actually getting it. proof in the past drafts. The last 2 drafts are improvements though. As for OC, get Chilly. Out of the candidates (half worked with the BROWNS o.0) he would be the best to fill… or Gruden. Not too familiar with him though. Great site, I like the ideas and the different Phin fans viewpoints. Different Theories but everyone wants the Same Goals. GO PHINS!
Losing to the browns,buffalo, and the lions is just unexceptable. with a decent QB we woulda been atleast 10-6. 11-5 if the stupid refs werent in the steelers pocket.
If no Locker or Gabbard, drop down get a second
Wisniewski or Pouncey
Jerrel Jerigan Jeremy Kerley or Titus Young Speed WR/KR
Andy Dalton
Demarco Murray, Derrick Locke, Alan Bradford, Daniel Thomas
1 round pick should be Mark Ingram then find a way to trade to accuire two 2nd round picks then select Christian ponder as well as Lenoard Hankerson taking orlando franklin if available after those picks would be an entire boost to every need, its not out of the question if all these players are going to be available, well just have to see how agressive miami is
Interesting posts..
Personally I have nagging concerns about taking a QB and agree we need to give Henne a shot with some more downfield opportunities. I also reserve judgement on Ingram until we see his pre draft workouts and how the disputes/FA pan out.
Ultimately we can’t afford another poor draft yr..Look over our record for the 90’s and early this century..jusat awful. The last 2yrs much better, which gives me hope, but the phins are actually pretty close to competing now (provided henne develops). I think we draft accordingly.
My tips are: Pouncey or a receiver with the first pick..Likely Baldwin. If we can pick up a good free agent like Bradshaw or Choice, maybe even DeAngelo Williams or Brandon Jacobs then I agree we ought to able to get a speedster back somewhere in the middle of the draft, plus another lineman and Tight End. A FA end would be advisable too. If we play this right and get some smart low key pieces in place then it should just come down to more adventurous playcalling and execution..The D is going to awesome with Odrick in there too, Misi and Wake having had a yr as starters already, Dansby & Vontae should probably have been pro bowl..
Imagine a tougher o line, Henne allowed to throw, Marshall, Bess and Baldwin at WR (plus Hartline & Moore), a good pass catching TE and Jacobs, Ricky & young fast back..
Could put us one more good draft away from the superbowl. All rides on Henne and the coaches. Could take Locker in the third if he falls that far as a project..
I’m worried about our D taking a huge step back without Soliai. He set the tone for our entire run D, and warranted so much attention. I hope we can find a way to bring him back, or we’ll be much more vulnerable right up the gut.
I want more touches for Marlon Moore. I think we’ve got a little something there. We let Anthony Armstrong leave without ever giving him reps, and now he’s Washington’s deep threat.
Ingram needs to run under a 4.5. I’m interested to see what Bilal Powell runs. And LeShoure too. And of course, there are FA options.
Would The Bifecta really go to war with Henne again? That would be ballsy.
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Try to trade down for what ever and reguardless draft by need of position.Personally i believe there will be no football this year.Then people should boycott the following year.
Dolphin fan 57 I sayed the dolphins would not make the playoffs i was right.i said they sucked i was right. I said qb did the same.Running backes the same. one safty the same.front of the same. Oh owener did a bad move COUCH. whats up with the staff.Out with the old in with the new.if you dont do your job your out.mabe we should start putting on papper bags.may be they would get the masage
How many games do you think Tony needs to win to keep his job?