Miami Dolphins Select Ryan Tannehill in the First Round

Well, the first day of the 2012 NFL Draft has finally come and gone for the Miami Dolphins. After months of studying, discussing, and predicting we officially know who the Dolphins have drafted eighth overall.

QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

While it may seem like an anticlimactic ending to the hours and hours that we have spent discussing prospects, I assure you that the discussion has only begun. The next few years are going to be very interesting to follow. We will spend next offseason (most likely) wondering whether Tannehill will be ready to start.

Heck, maybe something miraculous will happen and he'll be ready to start this year. I highly doubt that, but you never know. He's a hard working kid, and you know he's going to do his best to win the starting spot.

I know we have a lot of people who weren't very excited with the pick because we spent a very high draft choice on a player that probably won't start for another year or two, but I want you guys to hear me out on this one. Here are a few reasons why I am happy with us selecting Tannehill.


The #1 Reason: We finally got our quarterback

Tannehill has the potential to be a franchise quarterback. That much we know. It might take him a few years to develop, but it's not like we had another option this year anyway. We have two good quarterbacks in Matt Moore and David Garrard. They will be able to hold down the fort for a year or two while Tannehill develops, and they will also be able to help him in the development process because of their experience.

Miami has gone too long without a franchise quarterback, and I think there is a really good chance that Tannehill becomes that franchise quarterback we've been searching for.


Reason #2: He fits our offense

Tannehill makes more sense with the Miami Dolphins than any other team in the league, and that is the truth. We have his old head coach as our offensive coordinator, we have players that can fill in for however long we need them to until he is ready to start, and we run a west coast offense which suits his abilities very well.

Mike Sherman, who is our offensive coordinator and was Texas A&M's head coach last year, has been with Tannehill for all four years. He knows him better than pretty much everyone else in the league. I read today that Sherman really wanted Tannehill, which can only be good news for the Dolphins.

Tannehill just makes too much sense with the Dolphins. His situation fits perfectly with what Miami is able to do. Not only can we afford to wait (and yes we can actually afford to wait, despite what most Dolphins fans think), we also have the right group to help teach him whatever he needs to know.


Reason #3: It's not as much of a reach as it's made out to be

I'm not saying it isn't a reach, but it's not like they took someone who was going to be taken in the second or third round. If Miami didn't take Tannehill in the first round, then someone else would have. They were unable to find a trade partner so that they could trade down and take him later, so if they wanted him then they had to take him at eight.

It isn't like they passed on some surefire guy who was guaranteed to be a starter for a long time. The next player to be picked that we thought they were considering was Quinton Coples at 16 to the Jets, and he had question marks of his own. After him was Melvin Ingram at 18 to the Chargers and Riley Reiff at 23 to the Lions. I'm not saying that I wouldn't have liked to have any of those three, because I would. What I am saying is that taking Tannehill wasn't exactly a crazy decision.

Getting players like Coples, Ingram, and Reiff would have been nice, but we need to help the most important position in football more: quarterback.



I would also like to mention one thing kind of as a side benefit of getting Tannehill, and that is that he has a beautiful wife:

See guys? Things aren't that bad for us. I believe that we have finally found our answer at quarterback: Garrard or Moore for 1-2 years and then Tannehill for (hopefully) the next 15.

Thanks for stopping by. As always leave your comments below.

Feel free to email me at paul@dolphinshout.com and follow me on twitter
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Dolphin Shout 2012 Mock Draft Sponsored By GamblingNerd.com

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Dolphin Shout Mock Draft written by John Bleech and brought to you by GamblingNerd.com.

It seems as though Quarterbacks couldn't possibly be discussed anymore throughout the draft process. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are outstanding prospects, and it's rare to find two QBs this talented in a single class, much less one. Luck is said to be the best QB to enter the draft since the QB he will replace in Indianapolis, Peyton Manning.

RG3 brings a unique blend of athletic ability and intelligence that I don't believe the NFL has never seen. A world class athlete, he was once a hurdler and brings incredible speed to the QB position (4.41 40), while still being a true pocket passer.

These two definitely look the part to become franchise QBs and difference makers in the NFL. And if they aren't.............they sure have me fooled (especially Luck).

While everyone knows the destinations for Luck and RG3, Ryan Tannehill's landing spot is far from definite.

Will Cleveland take him at four? Will Miami take him at eight? Will Kansas City take him at 11? Will a team trade up to get him? Will he fall more than most are projecting?

It's tough to know. With Tannehill going from QB, to WR, and back to QB, he only had 19 starts in his college career (12-7 record). With this lack of experience, it makes him tough to judge and will have some teams scared to take him near the first half of the first round. His decision making has been questionable, but this is something that can be coached and improved with time.

What Tannehill has that cannot be coached: work ethic, size (6'4” 221 lbs.), ability to throw on the run (as well as he does), and elite arm strength. These things do not necessarily makeup a franchise QB, but they're definitely attributes of one.

If I'm Cleveland would I take him at four? I don't think so. And it's mainly because of that risk, when they can draft the elite talent at RB, Trent Richardson.

If I'm Miami would I draft Tannehill at eight? Yes, I would. Miami does in fact need a pass rusher, and a number one wide receiver, but I don't think there's a must have prospect when they're on the clock. In my opinion, Tannehill needs to sit a minimum of two years. Miami is in the position to do just that, while being developed under the right personnel. Miami is a perfect fit, and gives Tannehill the best chance to succeed.

Here is my 2012 Mock Draft. With the new rookie pay scale, there will be much wheeling and dealing (as usual), destroying this mock. At the very least, I hope you enjoy the mock and find some of the picks interesting.

Bleech's 2012 Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
- One of the best NFL prospects to ever enter the draft. The Colts will transition from Peyton Manning, to the best prospect to come out since he entered the draft in '98.

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis) - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
- RG3 brings a unique skill set to the QB position and is a perfect fit for Mike Shanahan's bootleg offense. I believe he's the franchise QB Washington has been searching so long for, and I think he will look like a better, well-polished Michael Vick.

3. Minnesota Vikings - Matt Kalil, OT, USC
- A franchise left tackle is one of the toughest positions to find and Minnesota desperately needs to protect Christian Ponder, who the Vikings hope is their franchise QB. While CB Morris Claiborne is intriguing, with the tough QB competition in the NFC North, Kalil will not be able to be passed up.

4. Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
- Cleveland needs a RB, number one WR, and a franchise QB, amongst other positions. In my opinion, Richardson is most definitely the best prospect on the board at this point. He will provide a much needed run game, which will in turn improve the passing game. Even with the downgrade the RB position has had in the NFL, he is an every down back and is one of the exceptions. The best RB prospect to come out since Adrian Peterson.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
- Ronde Barber is 37, Aqib Talib has all sorts of problems off the field, and Claiborne just happens to be one of the five elite players in this draft.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.
- Sam Bradford needs a number one receiver as much as any other QB in the league. While I don't think Blackmon is an elite talent, I do think he is a valid number one receiver and will help the Rams offense greatly.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
- This would be the first “eye-opener” of the draft. I don't think Gilmore is a top ten prospect, but I've heard a couple of insiders say the Jags believe he's worthy of a top ten pick. This is very believable if one looks at GM Gene Smith's draft history, who likes extremely safe picks. DE Melvin Ingram is also a very likely choice.

8. Miami Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
- It's tough to predict where Tannehill will be drafted. I can see some team trading up for him, whether it be Miami (who wouldn't trade up far, if at all), Kansas City, or Cleveland (with their second 1st round pick), and I can also see him falling a bit. Miami is under a new regime, bringing in head coach Joe Philbin, defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, and offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, who was Tannehill's college head coach. Miami is in good position to take Tannehill, as they can sit him as long as needed, while continuing to be developed under Sherman, along with Philbin. I think Miami is the best chance for him to succeed since he can sit that much needed time, and he is also best suited for the west coast offense.

9. Carolina Panthers - Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
- Quinton Coples is one of the poster boys for this year's “boom or bust” prospect. He had 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons, but his performance in his senior season was inconsistent. This is a red flag to many teams, and Carolina might very well go with Melvin Ingram, or DT Fletcher Cox. When Coples has “it” turned on, he's definitely the top pass rusher of this class, as he has elite talent and size (6'6”, 285 lbs.). I think he might remind Carolina of their former first round pick, Julius Peppers.

10. Buffalo Bills - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
- Buffalo has made the moves to vastly improve their defense, now they need to do what it takes to vastly improve their offense. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is in dire need of weapons to throw to, as Steve Johnson is all he has. At 6'2”, 220 lbs., two straight 1,000 yard receiving seasons, and 37 career TDs at Notre Dame, Floyd has the makings of an elite receiver. Even with the Bills signing Steve Johnson to a big contract, he has shown a lack of maturity, and needs another receiver to keep the attention off of him. If not Floyd, I think OT Riley Reiff is a big possibility.

11. Kansas City Chiefs - Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
- Kuechly is one of the safest picks in this draft, accumulating an astonishing 532 total tackles (only 13 short of the NCAA FBS record) in his three years at Boston College. Though his stats speak for himself, Kuechly is a no-brainer here.

12. Seattle Seahawks - Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
- Seattle has a solid defensive line, but needs a consistent pass rush. Chris Clemons has been the only player to show that and the athletic Ingram could be a great complement to him. Ingram had 19 sacks, 26 tackles for a loss, and 3 TDs in his past two seasons, and all in the dominant SEC.

13. Arizona Cardinals - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
- Arizona re-signed left tackle Levi Brown, but desperately need improvement at guard, and mainly right tackle. Some don't see Reiff as a left tackle, but the Cardinals could plug him in at ROT and possibly replace Levi Brown at LOT down the road.

14. Dallas Cowboys - Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
- I'm not very confident Barron will still be on the board here, but if he is I feel confident he's the pick. Impact performers are much needed in Dallas' secondary and Barron might very well be that player. Solid safeties are hard to find and Barron would be a great, versatile piece in Rob Ryan's scheme.

15. Philadelphia Eagles - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St.
- I could even see Philly trading up for Cox, if he gets past Carolina. Cox is known as the best pass rusher of this DT class and is one of the safer picks. If they stay at 15 and Cox is there, they probably skip to the podium.

16. New York Jets - Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
- Poe blew up the Combine and I think Rex Ryan would love to see him fall. Poe has rare athleticism for his size, as the 346 pounder ran a 4.98 in the 40 yard dash. The Jets have been on the lookout for a replacement at nose tackle since Kris Jenkins retired and Sione Pouha is 33. Poe needs to be coached up and can sit behind Pouha until it's his time.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
- Cincy could go with CB Dre Kirkpatrick, but I think DeCasto is the highest player on their board at this point and is great value here. He fills a top need, is a future Pro-Bowler, and can be their starter for the next decade.

18. San Diego Chargers - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
- The Chargers desperately need help on the offensive line, along with an improved pass rush. The Chargers ranked 23rd in sacks in 2011, tallying a total of 32. San Diego signed Jarret Johnson, but need fresh legs at OLB. Upshaw comes out of Nick Saban's “pro-ready” defense, has had good production, and is just a good football player. Many worry he doesn't have an ideal fit, but at 270 pounds, is a powerful force coming off the edge.

19. Chicago Bears - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
- I expect Chicago to address the defensive line in the first round. The Bears could very well go with a DE, but I think Brockers would be the highest player on their board. Brockers hasn't come close to his potential and the dominating run stopper could be plugged in at nose tackle from day one.

20. Tennessee Titans - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
- With Courtland Finnegan's departure to St. Louis, CB is probably Tennessee's biggest need. Kirkpatrick is a physical player, and fits just what the Titans are in need of. Kirkpatrick tested positive for marijuana during the draft process, but Nick Saban does a good job of talking up his players.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
- Mike Brown makes it a priority to acquire weapons for the QB, and Wright would complement Cincinnati's 2011 first round pick, AJ Green, immensely. Racking up 108 receptions, 1,663 yards, and 14 TDs in 2011, Wright is great in space and would help keep the pressure off of Green, and more importantly, QB Andy Dalton.

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta) - Jonathon Martin, OT, Stanford
- Cleveland's hearts might be broken with Wright coming off the board, and only one pick ahead. The Browns desperately need a go to guy at WR and they could possibly go with a high potential guy like WR Stephen Hill, but Cleveland has to address the offensive line at some point early in the draft. Martin is a safer pick and is a good fit for Cleveland's zone blocking scheme.

23. Detroit Lions - Cordy Glenn, OG/T, Georgia
- Detroit's number one need is probably CB, but I'm not too sure they want the baggage that comes with Janoris Jenkins. The Lions also need major improvement on the O-line. I think Glenn is best suited as a guard, but can also play right tackle, and would be an immediate upgrade.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
- Pittsburgh and Baltimore will both be salivating over Hightower. Captain of the 2012 National Champs, he fits just what Steeler defense is all about. He's a big, tough, physical player, with tons of leadership qualities.

25. Denver Broncos - Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan St.
- Denver's obvious top need is DT. While Worthy was the most penalized defensive lineman in 2011, he has the size and potential to be a solid starter.

26. Houston Texans - Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
- With the players left at this point, I think Houston might take a “gamble” with a developmental player like Hill. The Texans are in need of another receiving threat opposite of the elite, but injury prone Andre Johnson, and while Hill is raw, he can turn into the next successful Georgia Tech receiver. He has an outstanding blend of size and speed (6'4”, 215 lbs., 4.38 40), and while he didn't have many catches (accredited to playing in the triple option), he averaged 29.3 yards per catch in 2011.

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans) - Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
- History tells us the Pats will trade one of their first round picks. It would be absurd for them to once again ignore their need for a pass rusher. Perry is a strong rusher off the edge, and is versatile enough to play both DE and OLB in New England's hybrid scheme.

28. Green Bay Packers - Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise St.
- Clay Matthews dropped from 13.5 sacks in 2010, to six in 2011. The largest factor in that is Green Bay's lack of pass rushers. Not only is McClellin a good pass rusher, he's an all-around good linebacker, and football player.

29. Baltimore Ravens - Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse
- Jones is very athletic and versatile, but his knee injury could have him fall. Baltimore doesn't have any glaring needs, but they could certainly use a pass rusher opposite of Terrell Suggs.

30. San Francisco 49ers - Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
- This makes sense in a few ways: San Fran runs a good many two TE formations, Delanie Walker is in his contract year, and Jim Harbaugh knows more about Fleener than any other coach in the NFL, and might highly covet him. Fleener is yet another dangerous weapon to help Alex Smith succeed. If not Fleener, I think OG Kevin Zeitler out of Wisconsin is a fair bet here.

31. New England Patriots - Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
- Jenkins is definitely a top three CB in this draft if one just watches his film, and is argued by some to be the best cover corner in this draft. His off the field issues are another story. He would easily be much higher than this if it weren't for all of his baggage. New England has taken chances on players with character issues over the years and could possibly take a chance on him.

32. New York Giants - Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
- The G-Men enhance their strong point even more. NYG need O-linemen more than anything, but Osi Umenyiora might not be back, and if he is it won't be for long. Either way, a team can never have enough pass rushers, especially when they are utilized as well as the Giants'. Mercilus started off his college career quietly, but led the FBS in sacks with 16 in 2011, which could definitely lead to him being taken earlier than this.


Thank you for reading Bleech's 2012 Mock Draft brought to you by GamblingNerd.com.

Please feel free to leave me feedback by commenting, emailing me at Bleech@fromthepocket.com or following me on twitter Follow @JBleech

The Dolphins will Pass on Tannehill

Many teams profess to follow the “best player available” (BPA) theory when drafting, but the truth is, player evaluation is an inexact science and even the word science can only be loosely associated with evaluating players.

In science, the thought is to create a vacuum for an experiment so the data is not biased by preconceived conclusions that invalidate the outcome. This may work when dealing with chemicals or inanimate objects, but people cannot be evaluated in a vacuum. Hawthorn said, “subjects improve or modify an aspect of their behavior being experimentally measured simply in response to the fact that they know they are being studied.”

Pre-combine draft camps designed specifically to coach players in the proper answers to questions regarding personality traits, lead to higher scores on draft personality and intelligence tests. In light of these camps, a low Wonderlic is perhaps more detrimental to player than when Dan Marino scored a 16 on the test.

The pre-draft game is simple, figure out the test and then coach players in the correct responses. Teams continually change the tests to outpace the coaching, but over time the nature of the tests are the same and the answers become obvious. The camps now coach players on how to take the tests, more than the specific answers.

Even forty times no longer have the meaning they did in the past. Players spend months training in how to increase straight-line speed, without pads. Players never line-up in a sprinter’s stance on the football field and football is not a straight-line sport. Lifting weights rarely determine how a player uses leverage on the football field and never defines how a player responds to contact.

All this leads to pointless testing that does more to deceive than to predict. The combine is nothing more than a media event used to keep the league in the spotlight during the off-season and fuel millions dollars for the league as a showcase that does nothing for true player evaluation. The combine is simply a media event that has spawned thousands of websites and so called experts that have no clue what real football people are thinking.

The internet infused experts look at a pro-day and see Ryan Tannehill completed 65 of 68 passes, which included two dropped balls. He also ran a 4.62 time in the 40-yard dash. The true measure of a QB is on the field, whether that player leads his team to victory. The bottom line is, Tannehill led Texas A&M to a 7-6 record in a season when the team was predicted to contend for the Big Twelve title.

The season included 5 loses by a total of 17 points and led to the firing of Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman, who is now the Miami Dolphin’s offensive coordinator. Five losses by an average of 2.5 points could be perceived as a good thing because A&M was in each of these games and defense or unfortunate turns of fate led to many of the losses, but football is not measured in what could have been, it is measured in wins and losses.

The Miami Dolphins understand this all too well, what if Brandon Marshall had not dropped a pass, what if Sean Smith had not dropped an interception, What if Ted Ginn turned out to be a football player and not a straight-line runner. In 2009 Marshall scored 10 TDs, in his other five seasons, he averaged less than 5. The body of work does not equate to a player who wins games by scoring TDs in critical situations. The 2009 season deceived the Dolphins into thinking Marshall had matured into a game winning WR.

The Dolphins made a mistake on Ginn by thinking straight-line speed would equate to a game changing player. Ginn was a colossal mistake that led to Cam Cameron being run out of town. Ginn had 135 Receptions for 1943 Yds, a 14.4 Avg, with 15 TDs in 3 seasons at Ohio State. A look at the numbers coupled with 4.3 forty time and a respectable family led the Dolphins away from what was evident on tape, Ginn shied away from contact. Ginn was not a football player, but a sprinter in a football uniform.

Sean Smith, in contrast was picked number 61 in the draft and the reason was that Utah did not play a major college schedule in the Mountain West Conference. His unique size and speed did not overcome the fact that he did not play in a major program. As a second round pick, Smith was perfectly slotted and a great pick.

This leads back to Tannehill and the reality that he is not worthy of the number 8 pick in the draft. It presents a huge problem for the Dolphins, a team that has not drafted a QB in the first round in 28 years. By not landing Peyton Manning and not offering Matt Flynn a starters contract, then signing aging free agent David Garrard the Dolphins have led the fans to believe Ryan Tannehill has been the objective all along.

Jeff Ireland and Stephen Ross are the object of scorn as a once admired franchise descends to the bottom of the NFL. Not picking Tannehill could lead to a mutiny among fans, even if Tannehill is not worthy of the pick. Miami is in a bad place, but it may be time to abandon the normal misinformation associated with the draft process and begin feeding the press with the reality that Tannehill will not be the pick.

It could not be a bad thing even if the true intent is to pick Tannehill, by feeding the information the Dolphins do two things, they lower fan expectations and throw other teams off if Tannehill is truly the pick. With this in mind, expect information to shortly hit the media knocking Tannehill down the draft ladder.

In the end, the Dolphins will trade down with the eighth pick to the Browns at number 22 and select, you guessed it… The best player available!

Miami Dolphins Projected Positional Priority Prospect's at Pick #8

The NFL Draft returns to primetime in 2012 with the first round taking place Thursday, April 26, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday April 27. Rounds 4-7 will be held Saturday, April 28. So, with the Miami Dolphins currently having four scheduled picks in the first three rounds let us start to consider what collegiate prospect our beloved team might consider should they actually make their first selection at number eight!!

At this moment;
It's well known by all that our Dolphins are in dire need of a reliable guarantee or two on the right-side of the O-Line.. Though seeing that they've managed to be retained without seeing much of the field, and because injury-prone players don't stick around very long with this regime, one has to consider that the versatile Right Tackle, Right Guard types of Lydon Murtha, Nate Garner, and John Jerry are worthy candidates, or posses incriminating photo's of someone in the hierarchy.. So, maybe the position isn't quite as weak as it appears from the outside, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors??

One position that there is no doubt about is the outside pass-rusher position opposite of Cameron Wake!! Whether it be addressed in going after that type of Defensive-End, Outside-Linebacker or both is of no matter, the fact is, that outside force requires instant attention!! Though, Randy Starks played the position brilliantly in 2009 with 7 sacks!! He was about to become a star DE until he became an experiment at Nose Tackle going into the 2010 season, and has been unable to regather the momentum he had established at DE, but is progressing back to 09 status with 4.5 sacks in 2011, while highly touted Jared Odrick is finally getting healthy in accruing 6 (part-time duty) sacks in 2011 as the dimmer-switch gradually turns clockwise!! Koa Misi is still a yet developed potential option at OLB pass rusher, but similar to the OLine position, I'd suggest we as fans would like at least ONE reliable guarantee at the Outside Pass-Rusher position opposite CWake as well as the Right OLine position in the 2012 draft!! Though AGAIN, maybe from the outside lookin-in, the position and/or position's aren't as dire as the casual fan might think ??

The vacated Wide Receiver position via two third round picks is another position that will be addressed at some point in the draft, and according to what I'm re-realizing upon writing this article.. The WR position might be of higher priority than I've suggested in the list below?? While also "at some point", we'll likely address the Defensive Back/Safety, Tight End, Interior DLine, and another position that audibles my mind.. Ohhh Yeaaa, a Quarterback of the future, preferably one of bionics, and science fiction type weaponry!!

So, here are the Projected, Positional, Priority, Prospects I came up with for OUR DOLPHINS first round pick at number EIGHT !!

1. OT Matt Kalil, USC Underclassman, 23, 6-7, 306 and the Top ranked Tackle has an overall prospect ranking of THREE.. The entire world says he's going to Minnesota at pick number three!! http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/matt-kalil?id=2533131

2. DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, 23, 6-1, 264, 4.79 forty holds the distinct honor of being the Top Out-Side Line Backer with an overall ranking of NINE.. "Ingram might want to send a personal thank you note to Giants general manager Jerry Reese for the slew of teams who are spending extra hours breaking down his game film.. In a copycat league, the Giants have also drawn a blueprint for teams to look hard at athletes who can flat-out get after the passer. Get them in camp and figure out where to play them later.. Ingram fits that mold, a versatile athlete who can lineup outside either tackle, move to tackle on third down and rush the passer standing up inside or off the edge".. Consensus Mocks have him going once at number 6, twice at 7 and 13, with a single prediction to Miami at 8, and single selection's at 10 along with 16 totaling an average mock pick at 8.3 .. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/melvin-ingram?id=2532870

3. OT Riley Reiff, Iowa Underclassman, 6-6, 300, is the second ranked Offensive Tackle, and is ranked at number EIGHT overall.. Possessing NFL size, sound technique and better athleticism than Bryan Bulaga (who became an NFL stud) that Reiff replaced at Iowa.. "Reiff is viewed by scouts as a pro-ready tackle capable of helping immediately at either left or right tackle".. The mock draft's give him two selection's at number seven, THREE at number eight to Miami, a couple at 11 to KC, and one at 19 equaling a 9.7 average mock.. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/riley-reiff?id=2533042

4. DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina Sr., 6-6, 284, 4.78 forty, stands tall as the Top Defensive End,http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif while being ranked number SEVEN overall.. Wherever teams project Coples, he is the most physically gifted defensive lineman in this draft - rated the top defensive end prospect by NFLDraftScout.com, and enjoyed a strong week at the Senior Bowl.. "I take pride in being versatile," he said. "It definitely has raised my stock in that it lets teams know that I can go inside or out, I'm definitely prepared for whatever defensive scheme that a team has.".. Mock consensus suggest he'll go at number 7 to the Jags, or 10 to Buffalo, but he also has projection's up to and including 14, while his total mock average is 9.2.. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/quinton-coples?id=2532818

5. WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State Underclassman, 6-1, 207, 4.48 forty, is the Top Wide-Receiver prospect, and has an overall player ranking of FIVE.. "Blackmon's draft stock has been steadily on the rise for two years, and the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner has built a resume worthy of a top-10 pick in the 2012 draft".. Mock averages have him at picks 4 (two) and 6 (five), though he could potentially fall to the Dolphins at number 8 (one).. His mock average stands at 5.6 .. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/justin-blackmon?id=2533038

6. OG David DeCastro, Stanford Underclassman, 6-5, 312 is this years number one ranked interior Offensive-Lineman, and holds an overall prospect rank of THIRTEEN.. "DeCastro isn't an elite athlete but he's rarely moved in pass protection and dominates as a run blocker with technical precision, toughness and intelligence. He's at his best on the move because of his nifty footwork and agility, pulling to lead in the running game, and plays every down with the intent to bury a defender. There's not a scheme in which DeCastro wouldn't fit and he would be an upgrade over the majority of current NFL guards." A first round lock, Steve Hutchinson-type with a 13.7 average mock selection.. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/david-decastro?id=2533043

7. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama Underclassman, 5-11, 228, 4.4's forty.. The Top Running Back candidate, and an overall player ranking of SIX.. "Put simply, only the likes of Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker have come into the mighty SEC and physically dominated opponents with a combination of size, speed and power like Richardson. A first-round pick with the potential to warrant a spot in the top 10. With the passing game becoming the preferred way to attack defenses in today's NFL, few teams are willing to invest a first-round pick in a running back. Richardson, however, is the type of talent that transcends scheme. As well-built as any player in the country, Richardson is an imposing target for tacklers and a bull to bring down. Fast enough to beat linebackers to the edge or pull away when he breaks free, Richardson is a one-man wrecking crew capable of making an immediate impact as a runner, receiver and kick returner." With his four predicted picks at number four, and four projection's at number five, his 4.4 mock average likely eliminates his availability to the Dolphins at pick eight..

8. WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, 22, 6-3, 224, 4.42 forty is projected as the second best Wide Receiver while being the SIXTEENTH ranked player overall.. "Route running: Needs to tighten up his routes, but has the quick feet and balance to cut or come back to the ball. Should excel in a West Coast or timing-type of offense. Lined up at every receiver position to take advantage of the best matchup. Solid threat on slants, shallow crosses and in the red zone.
After the catch: More of a bull than a cheetah. Will not outrun NFL defensive backs, but has more than enough speed to turn short passes into long gains when his quarterback leads him. Can make a quick inside move on an out route to get additional yardage, but won't outrun NFL defenders from a standstill. Looks best when plowing over corners one-on-one in space or carrying multiple defenders down the middle." Floyd's average mock selection is 16.6 .. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/michael-floyd?id=2532841

9. CB Morris Claiborne, LSU, 22, 5-11, 188, 4.45 forty (plays faster) while being the Top Corner Back with an overall player ranking at FOUR.. "Claiborne is regarded as the most natural corner in the draft, He may be more technically sound than Patrick Peterson" (also out of LSU) picked at 2011's number five, and an instant NFL star !! Claiborne is widely projected in the Top six of the 2012 draft with a 5.5 mock average, and likely the BPA (Best Player Available) if he's there at the Dolphins pick of eight.. I do believe that both Vontae Davis, and Sean Smith are scheduled to become Free Agent's in 2013, and that's why I included this potential superstar defensive back!! While other DB's will get mention in followup (mid to late first, second, and third round ) articles in hopes of gathering a three round SHOUT draft CHART.. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/morris-claiborne?id=2533059

10. OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford Underclassman, 6-6, 305, and being the third best projected Offensive Tackle is the EIGHTEENTH ranked overall player prospect.. "Not all scouts agree that Martin has the natural strength to be highly successful as a pro pass protector, but he did manage to get the job done in Stanford's pro-style offense. He seemed more comfortable as a run blocker, but that is not unusual. Some scouts believe that Stanford's zone blocking scheme helped Martin maximize his results and that he will need more strength to battle the behemoths he will encounter in the NFL." Martin's average mock spot is 15.7.. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jonathan-martin?id=2533041

11. QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M, 24, 6-4, 221, is the projected Top QB with an ELEVENTH overall ranking, and has an average mock pick at 10.1 while being projected to Miami at pick eight by 5 of the 8 sports writer mockers.. I personally like Tannehill A-LOT, and as suggested for several month's would like very much for him to become a Miami Dolphin, but I'm one of the opinion that a first round pick, especially a pick at number EIGHT, has to be an immediate contributor of impact!! I don't think it'd be wise to take Tannehill at number EIGHT, while I included him here for the sake of those that think he, or any Quarterback (enter your preference) is a must with 2012's first draft pick.. However; I do believe that taking-on a first round QB project becomes a viable option, if (in the case of Tannehill) one takes a QB that won't contribute for at least a couple of years in a "trade down" scenario, while acquiring other positional immediate contributor's of impact via additional early round picks!! P.S. ( most mocks suggest that if Tannehill makes it past us at EIGHT, there aren't any other teams that are likely to have QB interest until the first round pick of 25 or later)!!

Therefore, Ryan Tannehill will also be included in the next draft edition being that of a "trade down" into the mid-teens scenario, along with other QB prospects in all of the first three rounds, but feel free to choose whoever you like for your pick at EIGHT!! http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/ryan-tannehill?id=2532956

WR Floyd, and OT Martin will likely make the next draft edition too, but I wanted to offer multiple option's at Pass Rusher, OLine, and Wide Receiver for pick number EIGHT!! AGAIN, if your pick at EIGHT didn't make this list ?? PLEASE BRING-IT TO THE TABLE, we welcome your knowledge :) !! I know I had a few more that I would have liked to include, though I think that only seven of the mentioned eleven are truly worthy of a pick at EIGHT, with those seven (not necessarily) being the top seven listed (no-matter the need) !!

The CBS provided bio's of the above mentioned prospects that you might lust over at the pick of number EIGHT, as well as their Astrological Signs, Favorite Colors, and Lucky Numbers can be found here, Simply by clicking your hot dates name!! http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings

One Half of the noted mocks;
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/mock-drafts

THANKS for an Open-Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view ;) !! GOOOOOAAAAHHH D O L P H I N S !!
WHO'S YOUR PICK AT NUMBER EIGHT ??