Miami Dolphins Select Speedy WR Edmond Gates

The Miami Dolphins have made a great pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by selecting WR Edmond Gates of Abilene Christian.

Gates is a very fast receiver who runs a 4.35 40-yard dash. He is the receiver that Miami needs to be able to stretch the field and open things up for the Dolphins other receivers.

This is the perfect pick for Miami at this position, and I am pleased at the decision. Gates has a very impressive 40" vertical, so he should be able to go up and catch almost any ball thrown near him.

This is a very good value pick.

Also, I have calmed down after last night and have been thinking long and hard about the Dolphins and what they have done so far in the draft. I am not as disappointed by them not taking Mallett anymore. It isn't the end of the world like I made it seem, and I will elaborate more on that tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think about the Gates pick.

Miami Dolphins Trade Up And Select RB Daniel Thomas In 2nd Round

Just when I finally thought the Miami Dolphins would pick Ryan Mallett after trading up they go and select RB Daniel Thomas from Kansas State.

The Dolphins traded their third round pick, a fifth round pick, and a seventh round pick to the Washington Redskins for their 62nd overall pick.

My question is: why would Miami trade up and get rid of three draft picks so they can get Thomas?

My impression of Thomas is that he is just a solid running back. I haven't done much research on him, but that is what I have heard about him. He doesn't have breakaway speed. He has been clocked at a 4.58 40-yard dash. He is a pretty big back as well. I believe that he will be good in the NFL, but I don't think he was as good of a pick as Mallett would have been.

Last night I could kind of understand the Dolphins passing up Mallett because it was early in the draft, but tonight I don't understand why they would pass up on Mallett after giving away three draft picks.

Thanks for reading and let me know what you guys think.

Will The Miami Dolphins Take A QB In The Third Round?

Now that the first round has passed and the Miami Dolphins have selected Mike Pouncey it is time to look to their next pick.

Because of the trade to get Brandon Marshall, the Dolphins don't have a pick in the second round, so we have to look to their third round pick at 79 overall.

The question for their third round pick is will they take a quarterback? I believe they are still considering drafting a quarterback, but the good ones who are available now will likely be gone before Miami's pick.

Quarterbacks like Andy Dalton, Ryan Mallett, and Colin Kaepernick are still available. Do I think any of those three will fall to the middle of the third round? No, but there is always a chance. In the NFL Draft, players who you don't expect to slide will slide, and I am hoping that one of those falling players is Mallett, Dalton, or Kaepernick.

You guys obviously know that I want Mallett to slide to 79 the most, but I don't expect him to even come close to the third round.

The player I could see falling of those mentioned above is Kaepernick. Of the three, Kapernick was projected to go the latest, and that could still happen. You never know, though. He could be taken before both Mallett and Dalton. This has been a pretty crazy draft so far with players like Jake Locker being taken 8th overall and Christian Ponder 12th. I was shocked when I saw Ponder taken so early, and I may have a similar reaction with Kaepernick. I may not be as surprised, but you never know.

Another QB that Miami could end up getting that I haven't talked much about is Ricki Stanzi. Stanzi is a very solid passer, and his leadership would be a welcome trait after Miami has had to deal with a poor leader like Chad Henne for two years.

That's all I've got for now. After thinking about it for a little while I am content in the Dolphins getting Pouncey. Sure, they didn't get Mallett, but they fixed a big need on the offensive line.

Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think they will do at 79th.

Miami Dolphins Select Mike Pouncey With The 15th Overall Pick Of The NFL Draft

The Miami Dolphins selected Mike Pouncey with their 15th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

As solid as this pick is, I am disappointed that the Dolphins didn't get QB prospect Mallett. My only hope now is that Miami will trade up in order to still pick Mallett. I highly doubt they will, but one can only hope.

Pouncey will undoubtedly give the Dolphins some stability at offensive line, which is important. Now Pouncey will either start at center or guard with Richie Incognito starting at the other spot.

It is a relief to me that Miami didn't pick Ingram. Hopefully we will be hearing very soon about the Dolphins signing or, at least, pursuing DeAngelo Williams.

Let me know what you guys think. I am pretty frustrated right now, so I don't feel like typing anymore.

Thanks for reading.

Draft Day Is Finally Upon Us

So, Miami Dolphins fans, the 2011 NFL Draft is finally here.

I want to use this post to encourage you guys to check out the mock draft that I posted earlier this week if you haven't already. A really good friend of mine wrote it, and I am very confident that he made a lot of good predictions. Here is the link to it:
Dolphin Shout Mock Draft

I also want to tell you guys to stay tuned for a post tonight after the Dolphins make their pick. I am hoping that I can announce the selection of Ryan Mallett, but I will post regardless of whether they get him or someone else.

So stay tuned, thanks for reading, and please take a minute to check out the mock here.

Rest In Peace Mad Dog

The news of Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich's passing is very sad news for a lot of people.

I would like to take this opportunity to remember Mandich and all that he did as a player, broadcaster, and as a man.

We all know that Mandich will still be opening every Dolphins game up in heaven with an "Awwwright Miami!" and I hope you guys will think of him when the Dolphins start playing again.

Thanks for checking by, and I invite you guys to share your Mad Dog memories below.

The Final Evaluations: Who Should The Miami Dolphins Draft?

So now that we are just days away from the 2011 NFL Draft I figured it was appropriate to hear the final say on who the Miami Dolphins should pick.

Jeff Ireland has said that he has narrowed down the list of players the Dolphins are considering drafting 15th overall to three. He hasn't said who those three are (I would be concerned if he did), so we are left to speculate.

My guess on who those three players are is OG/C Mike Pouncey, QB Ryan Mallett, and RB Mark Ingram. I wish I could say with certainty that their favorite prospect is Ryan Mallett, but I can't.

Interestingly enough, the lockout was lifted yesterday by Judge Susan Nelson yesterday. I am not exactly sure what this means for the draft, but there is a possibility that players will be traded now. Hopefully Riverdog will clear it up for us below (no pressure Gary).

Back to Miami, though. There is still the obvious possibility that the Dolphins will trade back to a later pick in the first and get a second as well. If they traded back to later in the first they could still possibly get Mallett, and they may be willing to take that risk. It depends on how much they like him. They could just like him so much that they aren't willing to take the risk of waiting until later than 15. That would be great in my opinion, but I'm sure a lot of you don't agree with me.

Now I want you guys to tell me what you think the Dolphins will and should do on Thursday night. This is the final evaluation we will have before the draft. I have it posted today so the discussion can continue into tomorrow.

So let me know what you think. Also, if you haven't seen the Dolphin Shout 2011 NFL Mock Draft please take a minute to at least check it out. It took a lot of time to put together for both me and John, so I would greatly appreciate it if you took a look. Here is the banner linking to the mock:



Thanks for reading, and let me hear your reactions.

2011 NFL Mock Draft Sponsored By Sportsbets.net

Welcome to the 2011 edition of the Dolphin Shout NFL Mock Draft brought to you by Sports Bets.

The storylines of the 2011 NFL draft have been swirling around Cam Newton and the rare potential of this defensive line class. Newton is seen by many to be one of the toughest prospects to predict, which has helped make him the hottest topic of the draft. Although, his transition into the NFL has been heavily questioned, his draft stock doesn't reveal that at all. Newton has ultimately been projected to be selected within the first four picks in the majority of mock drafts.

With the CBA looming over the draft, many teams will be forced to make decisions that aren't in the norm come April 28th. Since the unfinished CBA has disabled teams from any offseason moves, not only will teams not be able to operate as usual, but many teams will also be forced to put need over value when drafting the future of their franchise in this draft. With over a fourth of the teams quarterback needy, I believe this is the most intriguing aspect of this draft.

What do Carolina, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee, Washington, Miami, Seattle, and arguably Oakland and Denver have in common?

They all need a quarterback.

That’s an awful lot of franchises in need of the game’s most important positional player, and with no way to sign a QB through free agency (until the lockout is over) this creates somewhat of a sense of urgency with these teams.

The general consensus is that Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert will both be gone by the time the 9th pick is on the clock, and the other QB prospects are basically in a gray area.
The most notable of the “2nd tier QB prospects” are Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton, and Colin Kaepernick. Where their destinations might be are much in question.

The two wild cards of those QBs are Locker and Mallett, who I believe could go anywhere from the 8th overall pick to the 43rd overall pick. Both players have the kind of potential that could have them as high as a top two QB on some teams’ boards.

Some teams will go with a proven veteran and some will enter into the Kevin Kolb sweepstakes.

It will be interesting to see how the quarterback lottery plays out and which teams feel the pressure to draft a QB come draft day.


2011 NFL Mock Draft

By John Bleech


1.Carolina Panthers - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
I wouldn't necessarily go with Newton in the state that Carolina's offense is in, but they seem to love Newton's athleticism and potential........I guess I can't blame them after watching Jimmy Clausen operate Carolina's offense this past season.

2.Denver Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Dareus would be the perfect scheme fit in the transition to a 4-3 defense under new Head Coach John Fox. This also fills Denver's primary need.

3.Buffalo Bills - Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
The Bills are still paying for drafting Aaron Maybin in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft who has compiled a total of only 24 tackles and 0 sacks. Miller would be the ideal pick for Buffalo and I would expect him to make an immediate impact.

4.Cincinnati Bengals - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Bengals Owner Mike Brown is a stubborn man, but even he can't downplay the threats Carson Palmer has made to retire if not traded. Gabbert could be a safe pick and potentially the face of Cincinnati's franchise.

5.Arizona Cardinals - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
This isn't the Cardinals top need, but he is arguably the best player of the draft and I'm not sure Arizona could pass him up.

6.Cleveland Browns - AJ Green, WR, Georgia
Colt McCoy is in dire need of a weapon to throw to and Green has the potential to be a star in the NFL.

7.San Francisco 49ers - Robert Quinn, OLB/DE, North Carolina
New Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio will run an aggressive, blitzing 3-4 defense, and although CB Prince Amukamara could be the pick here the 'Niners main need is to get pressure on the quarterback.

8.Tennessee Titans - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Fairley showed this past season at Auburn that he is worthy of the top pick in the draft, but concerns of work ethic and other off the field issues could have him drop to this spot. He could solidify Tennessee's defensive line greatly.
9.Dallas Cowboys - JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin
If the Cowboys don't trade back for an OT, I expect Watt to be the pick here. Three out of Dallas' top four defensive ends played on one year contracts in 2010 and new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would be happy to take the top 5-technique of the draft.

10.Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
The Redskins could go in many directions with this pick.....they need everything. Santana Moss is a free agent and with no other receiver to open up the field, Julio Jones would be a very solid pick here.

11.Houston Texans - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Houston also needs a rush OLB, but Amukamara would help solidify the worst secondary in the NFL.

12.Minnesota Vikings - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
"The Williams Wall" has fallen due to DT Pat Williams' retirement. Liuget has the potential to be able to fill Pat's shoes. Ray Edwards is also a FA, so a DE could be the pick here.

13.Detroit Lions - Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College
The Lions desperately need to keep the 2009 first overall pick Matthew Stafford healthy, and Costanzo could be plugged in at left or right tackle for day one.

14.St. Louis Rams - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo can never have enough defensive linemen. If St. Louis' medical staff gives the ok on Bowers, I believe it would be very tough for the Rams to pass up.

15.Miami Dolphins - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
*Paul passes out due to excitement* Mallett would be an absolute shocker to most if he went here. I believe some team will be in awe over how pro ready of a QB Mallett is, and Miami has been looking into him deeply. Chad Henne is just not getting the job done.

16.Jacksonville Jaguars - Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
DE Aaron Kampman is coming off his second torn ACL and the Jags are coming off a season where they compiled just 26 sacks. They take one of the most athletic DEs in the draft in Smith.

17.New England Patriots (from Oakland) - Cameron Jordan, DE, California
The Pats need an edge rusher who can create pass rush opportunities for others. Jordan is a top 5-technique DE in this draft and fits the bill perfectly.

18.San Diego Chargers - Tyron Smith, OT, USC
San Diego needs a defensive player in the front seven badly, but Smith could start at right tackle from day one and stay there for the next decade.

19.New York Giants - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Number of fumbles Ahmad Bradshaw lost in 2010: 6
Amount of money Brandon Jacobs is owed in 2010: $4.65 million
Number of fumbles Ingram had in his entire college career: 0
Ingram is the most solid back in the draft, and Head Coach Tom Coughlin would love to see some consistency at RB.

20.Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
With the expected release of CB Aqib Talib, the Bucs could go for CB Jimmy Smith, but taking Kerrigan would solidify the defensive line after taking DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price in the first two rounds of the '10 draft.

21.Kansas City Chiefs - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
The Chiefs have virtually no depth at OT, and Solder could help them continue the rushing attack brought on by Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.

22.Indianapolis Colts - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
The Colts need to protect their most expensive toy (Peyton Manning). Carimi would be a no-brainer here.

23.Philadelphia Eagles - Mike Pouncey, OG/C, Florida
Andy Reid believes that games are won by the big men in the trenches. Philly needs help solidifying the offensive line, and Pouncey's diversity could put him at OG or C.

24.New Orleans Saints - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
The Saints registered one sack or fewer in seven games this past season. Although DE Will Smith is a solid veteran, New Orleans needs fresh legs at the position.

25.Seattle Seahawks - Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
The Seahawks have only drafted two quarterbacks in the past six years. The aging Matt Hasselbeck is a free agent and Charlie Whitehurst is under contract for one more season. I see Dalton being a good fit in Seattle's west coast offense.

26.Baltimore Ravens - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Smith's talent is well superior to the 26th pick, but off the field concerns could land him this far. This could be one of the best value picks of the draft.

27.Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
Future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez is likely to retire after the 2011 season. If Atlanta checks out Rudolph medically, this would be a great scenario for Rudolph to be groomed under Gonzalez's wing (pun intended).

28.New England Patriots - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
New England found a solid OLB in Jermaine Cunningham, but they need to find another OLB to compliment him. Ayers is a solid, all-around OLB that should fit the need.

29.Chicago Bears - Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple
DT Tommie Harris was released in the offseason and DT Anthony Adams is a FA. Da Bears will be on the lookout for a big, athletic player on the DL like the 315 lb. Wilkerson.

30.New York Jets - Justin Houston, OLB/DE, Georgia
The Jets' number one need in 2010 carries over to 2011, which is a pass-rusher. The 37-year-old Jason Taylor is a free agent, and even if they were to re-sign him, youth at OLB is much needed.
(UPDATE: Houston has tested positive for Marijuana. Because of this news I believe he will fall out of the first round. I now think the Jets will go with OLB Brooks Reed out of Arizona or possibly NT Phil Taylor out of Baylor.)

31.Pittsburgh Steelers - Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor
Watkins is a tough, hard-nosed player that just looks like a Steeler. He would immediately help solidify the offensive line that was left in shambles after the 2010 season.

32.Green Bay Packers - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio St.
Cullen Jenkins is a free agent and Johnny Jolly was arrested in the offseason for possession of codeine. Grabbing Heyward here would be great value as he is one of the draft's top 5-technique DEs.



Thanks for reading the first edition of the Dolphin Shout NFL Mock Draft brought to you by SportsBets.net.

Feel free to leave me any comments, questions, or other feedback you'd like below. If you would like to contact me by email, just email me at john@dolphinshout.com. I'm also on twitter at twitter.com/JBleech.

Please Stay Tuned For A Mock Draft On Monday

First, I hope everyone is have a very Happy Easter.

Now, I would like to take the opportunity to tell you guys about a mock draft we will be doing on Dolphin Shout.

A good friend of mine who is an expert in both NFL and NCAA will be doing the mock. His name is John Bleech, and I wanted to make sure to tell you guys about him before you saw some stranger write a post. If anyone would like to contact him feel free to email him at john@dolphinshout.com.

John is an Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Bulldogs fan. His knowledge about the game of football and both the NCAA and NFL is incredible, and I am sure he would be open to any type of discussion about either.

I want you guys to know that I did not have any part in deciding where John put the players in his mock. It was entirely his decision. I discuss the NFL with him a lot, but I took no part in deciding where the players went.

I hope you guys enjoy the mock, and please take a minute to leave a comment with your reactions after you have read it.

Stay tuned for the mock on Monday. I hope you guys enjoy, and as always, please feel free to email him at john@dolphinshout.com or email me for the heck of it at paul@dolphinshout.com.

Dolphins Brandon Marshall Stabbed In The Stomach By His Wife

There is a new development in the Marshall stabbing.

According to Adam Schefter, Brandon Marshall, WR for the Miami Dolphins, was stabbed by his wife.

Marshall was only stabbed in the stomach and, thankfully, no vital organs were pierced.

This is very bad news for many reasons. One of which will be that he will take a few weeks to recover. Another is that whatever happens in this marriage could be a big distraction for Marshall on the field.

Let's hope that it wasn't really his wife, but I wouldn't count on it.

Thanks for reading, and please pray for a speedy recovery.

Miami Dolphins Brandon Marshall Stabbed And In ICU

UPDATE: Per Adam Schefter:

Brandon Marshall was stabbed in stomach. No vital organs were pierced. Should make full recovery in two to three weeks.

Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall was stabbed by a woman sometime Saturday morning and is in the intensive care unit, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Marshall will be ok, though, which is a huge relief. Everyone please pray for a speedy recovery and I will update you as soon as I know more.

Thanks for reading.

Should Stephen Ross Cut Tony Sparano And Jeff Ireland Some Slack Because Of The CBA? (Fan Question)

Today's Miami Dolphins question is from Shawn in Connecticut, who is a regular commenter and is another vital part of the discussions on Dolphin Shout. I really liked his question, and I think you guys will enjoy it. Here it is:

"Considering the current CBA situation should Stephen Ross give Sparano and Ireland the benefit of the doubt if Miami has a losing season? Or should Ross pull the trigger and fire them?"

I think it will depend on how bad their record is and how much time they have to prepare.

If the Dolphins were to go 7-9 but a new CBA wasn't reached until a week or two before the season started, then I could see Ross giving them another chance. If they went 7-9 with a month or more to prepare, then I couldn't see them keeping their jobs.

Anything worse than 7-9 and I would expect them to be fired. Stephen Ross doesn't seem to me like a very patient man, and 10 or more losses in a season would almost certainly result in him firing the two.

One thing that I could see happening if the Dolphins don't do well is Ross just firing Sparano and not Ireland. I get the feeling that Stephen Ross trusts Jeff Ireland way too much and because of that his job is much, much safer than Sparano's. I am not quite sure if you guys get the same feeling as me, though, so please let me know your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks everyone for reading and thanks Shawn for the question.

Should The Miami Dolphins Consider Julio Jones If He Slips To The 15th Pick? (Fan Question)

Today's question about the Miami Dolphins and the NFL Draft is from Nolan Kane Swihart in Wasilla, Alaska. It is great to see Dolphins fans all the way up in Alaska, and thank you Nolan for the question.

He sent me a good bit of questions, but my favorite question is this:

"Should the Dolphins consider Julio Jones if he slips to the 15th pick?"

The short answer to that is no, but you didn't ask for a short answer so I will explain.

Jones is definitely a very talented receiver. He will be successful in the NFL, and I am confident in that. Miami just doesn't need him, and I don't think they should "waste" their 15th overall pick on a receiver when they have other bigger needs and not another pick until the 3rd round.

Instead of Jones the Dolphins need to draft either an offensive lineman or quarterback. That way they can fix one problem and use some of their later picks to fix another. Drafting Jones would give Miami an even better receiving corps, but a better receiving corps wouldn't help any without a quarterback or a good enough offensive line to protect that quarterback. Plus, if Miami wants another receiver, they can just wait until free agency and sign a receiver like Mike Sims-Walker.

Jones is a tempting pick, but I wouldn't count on him going to the Dolphins.

A lot of NFL Draft analysts argue that it is better to draft the most talented player available over a certain need a team has, but I disagree with that. There are a lot of instances where it wouldn't make sense to draft the most talented player. A team must have a big enough need at a certain position to draft a player of that position, and that applies to Miami here. Sure, they need a burner WR, but not badly enough to focus on fixing that before OL and QB.

The only instance I could see Miami drafting Jones in the first is if they trade down to a later pick and he is still available. That way they would have extra picks to use on QB and OL, but it isn't very likely that he would fall to whatever new spot the Dolphins are at.

Brandon Marshall Shows Support For NFL Draft Prospect Ryan Mallett

This is why we all wanted Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall to be on twitter. I know I am supposed to be answering your draft questions, but I had to write about this. I will get back to the questions tomorrow. Today is all about Brandon Marshall and what he wrote on twitter.

Last night, Marshall wrote the following in a tweet:

"Listen to me. Ryan Mallett will be an All-Pro Qb."

I am not making this up either. Marshall really did say that. Seeing that tweet excited me because it means that Marshall would obviously be pleased if Miami did draft Mallett.

My hope is that someone in the Dolphins organization sees this tweet and it helps influence their decision at least a little bit. Miami invested a lot of money in Marshall so they want to keep him happy, and drafting Mallett would do just that.

This tweet also means that Marshall will be eager to work with Mallett if he comes to South Florida. That eagerness can only be a good thing and I am certain that it would result in instant chemistry between the two.

As you guys can probably tell I was very, very pleased to read this tweet. I have been a Mallett supporter this entire offseason, and it is awesome to hear the Miami Dolphins star wide receiver sharing the same view.

Marshall also had two other tweets of interest after his Mallett tweet. First, he said this:

"Rt it.. Blog it.. Hate it.. Criticize it.. Dolphins and 49ers in Super Bowl XLVI"

For those of you who don't know, RT stands for retweet, which is basically copying someone else's tweet and putting it on your profile page.

I am not quite sure why Marshall chose the 49ers to make the Super Bowl as well, but it is good to hear that he is trying to be positive, which leads me to his other tweet of interest:

"Tonight we will start our movement on getting our team and fans #believing again. Power of the tongue."

I like the positive energy Marshall is trying to have. He did make a pretty bold statement with his Super Bowl prediction, but I don't think that was a very big deal. The bigger deal to me was the fact that he is trying to increase the confidence of the Dolphins fan base. He is moving farther and farther away from the diva image that he got before he left Denver, and I think he is going to have an incredible season this year.

Thank you guys for reading, and if you are on twitter please be sure to follow me at twitter.com/pauldsmythe

Let me know what you think with your comments.

Fan Question: Fixing The Miami Dolphins Woes

Today's Miami Dolphins fan question is from Tom in Texas. Most of you guys know him as TXDOLFAN because he is a huge contributor in the comments.

Here is his question:

"I have been a DOLFAN from the beginning, having the pleasure of seeing them play their first game in the old Orange Bowl while awaiting the start of my Senior Year at Palmetto Sr High. Needless to say I am very concerned for the team and all the problems they have had the past two years. I wish for something that will not happen and that is a return to the style played under Don Shula. Considering the past is past, what do you foresee as the best solution to the team's woes that will be effective over the long term?"

Tom, let me first thank you for contributing so much in this blog. I enjoy reading your comments and enjoy your point of view. You are a vital part of this community, and I appreciate what you add to discussions.

Now, for my answer. I will start by saying that I strongly believe that drafting Ryan Mallett is the best solution to the Dolphins woes. You probably expected me to say that, but I am confident that he will be the franchise QB Miami has been in desperate need of since the end of the Marino-era.

I know you don't want to hear me talking about Mallett anymore, though, because you have already heard it all, so I will move on.

This year's draft class is very deep in the guard position, which is perfect for Miami. They could take Mallett in the first round and then get a few guards with their other later picks. Not having a second round pick isn't great, but the Dolphins could still fix their biggest problems without having to trade down.

I could also see the Dolphins drafting a running back later on, but I don't think they need one that badly. All they have to do is sign DeAngelo Williams and either re-sign Ronnie Brown to back Williams up or let Kory Sheets and Lex Hilliard compete for the 2nd RB spot.

As you know, everyone has been saying Miami should get Mark Ingram, but that isn't necessary because of free agency and the backs that the Dolphins already have on their roster. Most people who want Ingram don't know about Sheets or Hilliard, who could be very good running backs in the NFL if given a chance. Ingram is an unnecessary waste of a first round pick.


Thanks for asking the question TX. I hope I answered your question and if not just email me or ask more in the comments.

Thank you everyone for reading, and if you have a question be sure to email me at paul@dolphinshout.com

Do Ryan Mallett's Drug Rumors Concern You At All?

Ryan Mallett has been tabbed by many as the most scrutinized player in this year's NFL Draft, and I tend to agree with that. Nobody has been questioned more than Ryan Mallett, and it has more than likely caused his stock to drop for at least a couple teams.

Most of that scrutiny has come from rumors of his supposed drug use. He had a run in with the law his sophmore year. He was arrested for public intoxication. It was reported that he smelled of marijuana, which he denied smoking but did acknowledge previously being around people who were.

Here is a link to details of the arrest:
http://www.arkansassports360.com/13371/arkansas-qb-mallett-arrested-charged-with-public-intoxication-updated

I want to know if the rumors about his drug use scare or concern you at all as a fan of the Miami Dolphins.

Honestly, the rumors don't scare me that much, which you guys can probably tell by how much I support him.

I don't support drug use of any kind, but smelling of marijuana isn't exactly a huge offense. Was he smoking it? I don't know, but I still don't think it is as big of a deal as people make it out to be. If he did smoke marijuana it is definitely a mistake, but I don't think that will hinder his career to any extent.

Dan Marino had similar questions when he was coming out of college and look how he turned out. I am not saying that marijuana is acceptable, just that it won't hinder his performance.

Now I want to know what you guys think. Are you concerned about Ryan Mallett's drug rumors? Would you mind if the Miami Dolphins did draft him?

Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think.

Ask Me A Draft Question Pertaining To The Miami Dolphins

Because there isn't exactly anything newsworthy to write about, I was thinking I would take some of your questions and answer them in blog posts up until the NFL Draft.

The questions should be about the NFL Draft and the Miami Dolphins. They can be about specific players in the draft that you think Miami should target or about what would Miami do in certain situations? I am open to a lot of things, so just send it in and I might answer it in a blog post.

You should email your question(s) to paul@dolphinshout.com along with whatever way you want to be identified. Here is an example of one way to format your question:

Name:
What City, State You Are From:
Website/Blog You Own(if you own one and would like to represent it):
Question:

You don't have to format it that way, but that is an option.

If you have a question that you're not sure is an NFL Draft question but is something that I might want to post on my blog, please feel free to still send it in.

Thank you guys for reading, and I will be waiting for those emails at paul@dolphinshout.com

What Draft Pick Could Chad Henne Be Traded For?

I am not saying this is going to happen, I just want to know what you guys think.

If the Miami Dolphins were to trade Chad Henne for a draft pick, what draft pick would he be worth?

This is just judging his value. There is no talk of them actually trading him, and even if they wanted to they wouldn't be able to because of the lockout.

I just want to know exactly how highly you guys think of him, even though I know you guys you will be all over the board.

So, let me know what he is worth to you. Thanks for reading and thanks to Riverdog for the idea.

Join Brandon Marshall For Dinner Tonight

If there is anyone interested in a free meal tonight, Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall will be hosting a #beastfeast (that's how he calls it) for the first 50 people that show up.

In order to find out where to meet you need to go to his website and do some digging around at brandonmarshall19.com. You can also follow him on twitter for more updates at twitter.com/brandonmarshall19.

He is also giving away a free signed Miami Dolphins jersey to the 19th person that shows up, so be sure to get there early.

Once again, details can be found at brandonmarshall19.com.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back tomorrow because I have a great discussion planned for you guys. Riverdog gave me the idea, so you know it will be good.

Miami Dolphins Officials To Meet With Ryan Mallett Thursday & Friday

I know most of you are probably tired of hearing me talk about Ryan Mallett, but I am going to talk about him anyway.

For those of you that are tired or annoyed of my talk of Mallett, I want you to remember me when Mallett is a top NFL quarterback. I am absolutely confident that is what he will be, and I can only hope that the Miami Dolphins draft him at 15.

Anyways, according to the Miami Herald, Ryan Mallett will be meeting with Dolphins officials on Thursday and Friday.

I believe that this means Miami is seriously considering drafting Mallett. It is their second workout with him, and this time they are taking an extra day to get to know as much about him as they can.

Let's hope that they really do want Mallett. You guys won't be disappointed.

Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think.

Clarifying Brandon Marshall And His Supposed Murderer

Ok, so yesterday I told you guys about a story involving current Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall and an apparent attempt at his life.

Today I will be explaining that story for you guys and what I believe happened. The link to the whole story is here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1184186/index.htm

So, some of you may know about Darrent Williams, a starting cornerback for the Denver Broncos, who was murdered early in the morning on January 1st, 2007. The rented white limousine Williams was in was hit by 15 bullets, and of the 17 passengers in the limo Williams was the only one who was killed.

The shooter was a street thug who went by Little Willie, and it is pretty obvious to me that Williams wasn't his intended target.

Brandon Marshall was.

The impression I got was that earlier that night Marshall's cousin, Blair Clark, was spraying champagne which normally that wouldn't be a problem. But I am pretty sure that Clark sprayed Little Willie, which made Little Willie very mad. Marshall never acknowledged that happening, but it is obvious that he was trying to cover for Clark and hide that he really did get Little Willie.

Clark later attempts to mess with two women, and Little Willie jumped in and came to their defense. Willie put his hand inside of his jacket like he was reaching for a gun, which angered Clark and caused him to grab Little Willie and hold him down in the snow.

Marshall and Clark confronted Little Willie later on and they argued tensely. From what I can tell, Willie made a gun with his fingers and pointed it at Marshall because of something he said. During their confrontation, Darrent Williams and others with him came to Marshall and Clark's aid.

Sometime after Williams and his group joined the argument they told the two cousins to "get in the limo," which is what made Little Willie think that Marshall and Clark were in the limo.

So, when he shot at the limo he figured that Marshall and Clark were in there.


I know this may be old news to some of you, but I am willing to bet that a lot of you don't know much about what happened. I never really paid much attention to it when Williams passed away, but hearing about Marshall interested me enough to research it.

Thank you guys for reading, and let me know what you think.

Brandon Marshall Could Have Possibly Been The Target Of A Murderer

Intrigued? Well, so am I.

I'm not making this up either. This news surprised me just as much as it probably surprises you right now.

Current Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall could have possibly been targeted by a murderer a few years ago according to a post by Tim Graham of ESPN.

The report that Tim links to is a very long one that will take a while to read. For today I will just be letting you guys know about his post, and I will get back to you tomorrow after I read the full report that Tim linked to.

Be sure to check back tomorrow when I will clarify a little more. I apologize for doing this, but I wanted you guys to see it as soon as I found it.

Here is the link to his post if you are interested:
http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/27806/was-marshall-murderers-intended-target

Thanks for reading, and I hope you all are anxious to check back tomorrow and find out more.

DeAngelo Williams Expresses Desire To Play For The Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins and RB DeAngelo Williams may be coming together after all according to a report by Pro Football Talk.

During an interview on WQAM in Miami, Williams had this to say about Miami:

"This is a place I'd like to live. I hope I'm at the top of their list and they come after me."

Seeing this quote is really exciting for me because Williams is basically asking the Dolphins to sign him.

This is helpful because Miami won't have to consider drafting Mark Ingram anymore. They can focus on drafting other positions instead with the knowledge that they will be able to sign Williams during free agency.

Williams looked to be slowing down a little bit last year. He was under five yards per carry for the first time since 2006, and he only played six games due to injury.

Even with all of that, I am not concerned about how he would be in Miami. He is still lightning fast and has had a lot of time to let his body recover. If Miami uses the draft to improve their offensive line he could easily end up being a Top 10 NFL running back.

Williams would compliment Ronnie Brown well if Brown ended up staying, or he could work well with backs like Lex Hilliard and Kory Sheets. Hilliard and Sheets may not be very well known, but that doesn't make them any less talented. I believe at least one of them would be capable of splitting carries with Williams.

Like I always say, we will see what happens. Thank you guys for reading, and let me know your thoughts on Williams possibly coming to play for the Dolphins.

You Tell Me: Do YOU Want Mark Ingram?

There has been a lot of talk about Alabama RB Mark Ingram and the Miami Dolphins together. Despite all of that talk, I realized that I have never asked you guys whether you want to get Mark Ingram with the 15th pick or not. I have always given options of him and another player, but never just a yes or no question.

So, with this week's "You Tell Me" my question is, do you want the Miami Dolphins to get Mark Ingram with the 15th overall pick?

It amazes me that I have never actually asked you guys straight up before, so I figured I should do it.

Let me hear it. I am sure there are people on both sides of the fence as well as some who are sitting on the fence and still not sure, but whatever you think please tell us.

Thanks for reading.

What Do You Want Done Differently On Dolphin Shout?

Ok, so today I am looking for ways to improve this obviously wonderful Miami Dolphins blog.

I want you guys to tell me what you like and don't like about this blog. If there is something you don't like, then please let me know. My goal is to make this an enjoyable site to come to and discuss the Miami Dolphins. If there is something that is making it less enjoyable to you please let me know.

If you don't like the way I write, tell me. My feelings won't be hurt.

If there are certain posts that you really enjoy reading or discussing, let me know. I want you guys to enjoy reading and discussing here. If I know what types of posts you guys like to read, then I can write more of those types.

And finally, I want your suggestions for new things I can add to the blog. I can't guarantee that I will add everything you guys ask for, but I will try my best to add things to make this site better. I am even open to adding a new writer if you guys would like to see that as well.

Also, as you can probably tell I am not the best at choosing color schemes and things like that, so if you have any suggestions for what to do with the site's background, the text, and any other colors please let me know.

I want to thank everyone in advance for whatever advice you have for me. I want to make Dolphin Shout the best it can be, and that will be a lot easier with your input.

So let me know. You can either email me at paul@dolphinshout.com or leave a comment.

Thanks for reading.

Put Yourself In Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland's Shoes

Here is a great piece that Gary (aka Riverdog) emailed to me and asked that I put up for you guys regarding the Miami Dolphins and the NFL Draft.

It is a very interesting way of thinking, and I want to know what you guys would do. Here it is:

"Imagine for a second you are Jeff Ireland and it's your turn to select the 15th pick in the NFL draft. You have decided you are not going to trade out of the 15 pick, or all offers were turned down. You know that your owner likes to make headlines, and you also know you have one year to get things right or you will be sitting next to Parcells on his golf cart next year. Your owner has also told you in public he expects you to not do something stupid to improve the team such as trading the future for Carson Palmer.

You look at the board and see the following:

• All 3 QBs you targeted are gone (Gabbert, Newton, and Mallett)
• Ponder, Locker, and Kaepernick are all there
• WR Julio Jones, the top rated OLB, and the top rated CB are sitting there
• Carmini and Pouncey haven't been called yet
• On top of all of that, Mark Ingram is waiting to be selected

Choose wrong and you are going to be castrated by not only the fans but also by your Boss. What are you going to do?"

Gary has a great idea with that, so now I want you guys to tell me what you would do.

Thanks for reading, and I really look forward to what you have to say.

My Analysis Of The Miami Dolphins And The NFL Draft

Yesterday I was emailing in a mock draft "application" to one of ESPN's podcasts, and I had to write what I thought about the Miami Dolphins and what they need to do. I figured I would share it with you guys.

"Despite their pedestrian 7-9 record last year, the Miami Dolphins don't have that many needs. There were a few positions that were holding Miami back, and because of those few problems they had such a poor record. The Dolphins are actually a very talented team. They're just missing a few parts. Their top needs in order are:

1. Guard
2. Quarterback
3. Center
4. Running Back

Let me start off by saying that Miami has no glaring needs on defense. Last year they focused on defense, and it has paid off with a very young and talented group.

In my opinion, the Dolphins don't need to take a single defensive player in this year's draft. If they were to take a defensive player, my best guess is that that player would be an outside linebacker. They are set at one OLB slot with Cameron Wake, but their other OLB slot is filled by second year LB Koa Misi. The Dolphins drafted Misi in the second round last year, and he has been great at pass coverage. However, he is lacking in his pass-rushing abilities. Misi is hardly a problem, but if I had to choose one position for the Dolphins to take, I would guess OLB to compete with Misi for the starting job.

Defense is hardly a problem, which is good because the Dolphins will need to focus most, if not all, of their picks on OL, QB, and RB.

I believe the Dolphins biggest need is Offensive Guard. Left guard isn't as big of a concern as right guard at the moment. The Dolphins LG is Nate Garner, and I believe he is manageable enough to not have to worry about replacing early in the draft. The problem comes in at right guard. Richie Incognito was the starting RG for the majority of the season, but he will be moved to center next year, leaving the right guard spot up for grabs.

That is the position I believe the Dolphins should fix with their first pick at 15 overall if they don't trade down. My preference for Miami would be for them to trade down, and I believe they are considering that possibility. Because of the Brandon Marshall trade, Miami doesn't have a second round pick, and that hurts them a good bit. What would make the most sense for them is to trade down to a later pick in the 1st round and get a 2nd rounder as well.

If the Dolphins don't trade down, then I think they should take Mike Pouncey. Pouncey is a very talented offensive lineman who is capable of playing guard or center. Not only would he be able to fill in at right guard, but he would also be able to swap with Incognito at center and move Incognito to guard while he played center if that would work out better. Pouncey's versatility is a definite plus, and I think he would be the perfect pick for Miami at 15.

If Miami does trade down Pouncey could still be available, and I would still want them to get him. If Pouncey is gone, then I believe the Dolphins should take Ryan Mallett. Mallett is a supreme talent and has been extremely underestimated recently. I believe he would be a steal later in the first round if the Dolphins are able to get him.

If the Dolphins do get Pouncey with their first rounder that they traded down to get, then I would want them to use their second round pick on Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick is a very good quarterback prospect, and with a little developing could end up being a very good NFL QB. If Miami got Mallett with their pick they traded down for, then I would want them to draft G Danny Watkins of Baylor.

I am in the minority of Dolphins fans in that I don't want them to get Mark Ingram with their first pick. I acknowledge that Ingram is a great player and that he will be really good in the NFL, but I don't think it is worth taking a running back first round when they have other, more important holes to fill, and it is easier to find a breakout RB in the later rounds than most other positions.

Another reason I don't want Miami to take Ingram is that I think they will be able to re-sign Ronnie Brown. Both Brown and Ingram are slower NFL running backs, and I don't see a point in having two running backs who don't have elite speed. Miami also has a few great running backs that could fill in nicely if they are called upon. Backs like Kory Sheets, who was on IR last year, and Lex HIlliard have shown that they can actually play pretty well if given the chance. This may be the year that one of them gets a lot of carries and does really well."

I hope you guys enjoyed reading that. Thanks for reading.

Addressing Mark Ingram: Why The Miami Dolphins Need To Draft Another Back Later

Everyone has the Miami Dolphins taking Alabama RB Mark Ingram in the first round of their mock drafts. On the surface Ingram looks like a good, safe pick, but in reality it isn't as good as many think.

About a month ago, there were people comparing Ingram to Emmitt Smith. I think those were a bit premature, but that really had a lot of Dolphins fans wanting him.

The problem I have with taking a running back early in the draft isn't that I think that running back won't be great in the NFL. I expect Ingram to be a really good back. The problem is that you can always find great backs later on in the draft.

Mark Ingram could end up being a star running back in the NFL, and I acknowledge that. I just think it isn't worth wasting our first pick on a position that they could fill almost as easily with a later round pick.

If running back was Miami's biggest need, then I would also be in favor of taking Ingram. But, we don't even know if it is our biggest need because of the lockout. We aren't sure if we will have Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams because both could end up leaving or staying in Miami. We just don't know yet, and nothing will happen until free agency starts up.

Everyone is just assuming that Brown and Williams are gone, and I am not quite sure that will happen. Williams may likely be gone, but I think Brown will end up staying.

So, if the Dolphins drafted Ingram and re-signed Brown, then you have two backs without breakaway speed. I'm not saying that they are exactly the same running back because they aren't, but they are both slow and having two slow running backs isn't exactly ideal in the NFL.

What is more important is to get a quarterback or offensive lineman first and then a quick back later on. QB and OL are positions we know we have deficiencies in.

I want to know what you guys think. Sure, Ingram is good and will have a potentially great NFL career, but is it worth using our first pick on him when there are other problems to fix?

Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think. I know Riverdog will provide his great insight on Brown in the comments below, so be sure to see what he has to say.

How Much Should The Dolphins Focus On Drafting Defense?

It is very obvious that the Miami Dolphins need to fix their offense after being one of the worst scoring teams in the league last year.

The most frustrating part about last year's offense was that they had a lot of playmakers. Say what you want, but Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams didn't just go from being one of the best running back tandems in the NFL to an average at-best tandem because they weren't playmakers. They were still playmakers last year, they just weren't utilized correctly.

The same goes for Miami receivers. Brandon Marshall doesn't just go from scoring ten touchdowns in a year with the Broncos to three the next year with Miami because he isn't a playmaker. He did it because the Dolphins underutilized their playmakers.

There were a few reasons Miami wasn't able to use their playmakers well enough, and the biggest of those were Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning, Quarterback Chad Henne, and the overall play of the offensive line.

But, you guys already know all of that. We all know that the Dolphins need to focus the majority of their attention on offense.

What we don't talk about much, though, is how much they should focus on defense, and particularly during the draft. Miami's defense last year was superb, and Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan needs to be commended for his efforts. He turned a very bad defense into a great one in just a year, and he did it with a lot of very young players.

I think we can all agree that the Dolphins shouldn't draft a defensive player in the first round. No position on Miami's defense is lacking enough to warrant drafting a prospect from that position 15th overall. This discussion is about later rounds and what positions the Dolphins should consider adding to.

There are only two positions that I can think of that are questionable enough to warrant a defensive player being drafted, and those two are OLB and MLB/ILB. Both positions aren't weak by any standard, but they could each use some more depth.

The Dolphins are obviously set at OLB on one side with Cameron Wake. Wake is a beast, and there aren't many other linebackers in the NFL better than him. The other side could be cause for some concern. Koa Misi is the current starter, and I think he will be a great starter for the Dolpins for many years. The only problem is the depth behind him. Ikaika Alama-Francis is alright, but what would be ideal is to get another player to compete with both Misi and Alama-Francis. Both players are very young, and it is important to keep pushing them so they can improve. Adding another OLB to compete with them would do just that.

As for an inside linebacker, Karlos Dansby is obviously safe, but Channing Crowder might not be. Crowder is questionable at times, and he could use some competition for his starting spot. I don't expect Miami to try and draft in ILB, but it is possible if they see someone who could potentially replace Crowder.

If I had to guess, I would say the Dolphins probably only take one defensive player in the draft with a late pick, and that position will probably be an outside linebacker. It is always possible that Miami picks a prospect in a defensive position other than LB if they really like that prospect, but it isn't likely given what they need to fix on offense.

I have to say that it is hard finding any holes in Miami's defense, which is a testament to the Dolphins ability to draft well last year and Mike Nolan's ability to train his players. Nolan really put together a great group of defenders, and it showed.

Hopefully they will be able to use those drafting skills on offense this year. I would like to see the Miami Dolphins playmakers actually making plays instead of watching Dan Carpenter kick the ball.

Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think with a comment.

You Tell Me: Is Channing Crowder Good Enough For The Miami Dolphins?

This week's "You Tell Me" is about Miami Dolphins LB Channing Crowder.

Crowder has always been a very talkative player, and that can be a good or bad thing depending on the situation. His vocal abilities have never come into question. What has come into question before is his playing ability, and I want to know what you guys think about him.

So, my question is do you guys think Crowder is good enough to be starting for the Miami Dolphins?

If you don't think he is good enough, then who do you want Miami to go after to replace him and why isn't he good enough? If you do think he is good enough, then what do you like about him?

I hope you guys enjoy the discussion, and I will be adding my two cents whenever I feel like I should.

Thanks for reading. Let me hear what you have to say with a comment, and thank you Gary for the idea of this "You Tell Me."

Calling All Miami Dolphins Fans, Read This Article

If you are a fan of the Miami Dolphins, then you need to read this article I am going to tell you about.

The article is all about Ryan Mallett and it is an extremely comprehensive look at every aspect of his game, personality, and supposed issues.

I don't want you guys to waste any more time reading what I have to say, though, so please just read the article.

I will warn you that it is very, very long, but it is worth the read and I promise you will be glad that you did. Here is the link:
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/hyde/blog/2011/03/draft_winds_lies_damn_lies_and_1.html

Now go and read it. It is an incredible analysis, and I know it will give you a different understanding of Mallett.

Thanks for stopping by, and here's the link once again:
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/hyde/blog/2011/03/draft_winds_lies_damn_lies_and_1.html