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Jay Glazer on twitter is reporting the Dolphins will take Tannehill. Miami is on the clock currently

Mort confirmed!

It is official. The Miami Dolphins have taken Ryan Tannehill

Even if he isn't a sure thing, I am happy with Tannehill. We haven't picked a first round QB since Marino and at least this finally shows that management is serious about identifying problems.

Tored of the QB/Head Coach/Coordinator carousel. I want to see the same regime for years to come. I don't care if Ross is an ass if he leaves his football people alone. George Steinbrenner was an ass and the Yankees still won titles.

Long live Ryan Tannehill.

Miami Dolphins have ONLY taken 2 QB's in the first round in franchise history.

Bob Griese and Dan Marino

...

I have no idea if he is the next Brady Quinn but I can't fault them for trying. This is actually an odd feeling not saying to myself ... "I wonder if passing on that QB is going to come back and bite us".  At least they seem to be trying to fix the problem which is more than I've ever felt before.  I was never 100% sure about this pick but I'm really at peace with it.

Sigh.

He's a HUGE reach at number 8, but the position needed to be addressed.  Maybe he can play in 2013.

Incorrect, sir.

In the Dolphins' first draft, they had the #1 and #2 overall picks (!).  With the second overall pick, they took Rick Norton, QB out of Kentucky.  The following year, they took one Bob Griese with the #4 overall pick.

However, 2 HOFers out of 3 first-round QB picks isn't bad.  Let's hope Tannehill keeps the streak going.  :P

I stand corrected. Thanks!

It's only a reach if he would've fell far. He wouldn't have lasted another 3 picks if we passed on him, so it really isn't much of a reach.

It's OK with me if he doesn't play till 2013. That means that either Garrard or Moore is doing ok.

I don't think he was in any danger of being drafted until #22.

Seattle would have taken him I feel. They were in love with him

Or he isn't capable of playing the NFL game yet.  

Hard to get excited about a player who you hopefully won't see play for another year or 2.  Hence the sigh.

Never in a million years.

As commented on before, I have no problem with Tannehill...but hope that Matt Moore has an improved 2012 season, so the Phins don't have to rush him in there before he's ready.

I'm not hoping that I don't see him in 2012, I'm hoping he plays his way into the starting position and you see him in 2012, but if he doesn't and becomes the starter in 2013 and turns out to be a top 10 QB in the NFL, I'll be happy as a pig in slop. There are still plenty of picks left in the draft to get excited about for 2012. Have a little faith in Tannehill, but more importantly have a little faith in Joe Philbin and Mike Sherman.

I'd like to have faith, but after years of being a Dolphin fan, it's all used up.  I hope Ryan really lights it up and proves all the critics (including myself) wrong, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

At least they can say they addressed a position of tremendous need.

To each his own, but I'll save the hope and faith for someone else. I'm fine with the Tannehill pick, but I want results. Give him a year or two, but lets not let this turn into Henne the sequel. There were some that had "faith" in Henne until his final snap in Miami.

So to put this in historical perspective:

According to ESPN's 2012 NFL Draft page (http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft), Tannehill graded out at a 94.  (For comparison, Luck was a 99, RG3 was a 97, and Weeden was an 86.)  Here's how the first-round QBs from some previous drafts have graded out:

2011 (http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/index)
Newton (1): 93
Locker (8): 90
Gabbert (10): 96
Ponder (12): 85

2010 (http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/)
Bradford (1): 97
Tebow (25): 78

2009 (http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/)
Stafford (1): 96
Sanchez (5): 95
Freeman (17): 85

So I guess you could say MIA got a QB that graded out higher than Cam Newton!  Or worse than Mark Sanchez and Blaine Gabbert.  Hmmm.

In any case, picking a QB graded 94 at the #8 slot definitely isn't a reach, and could be considered slightly (very slightly) exceeding expectations for the slot.

P.S. Mallett (74): 82

I'd say Tannehill is a reach by almost any standard.  You can get deep into the numbers, but there was virtually no way he was going before the '20s.

Regardless...he's here now.

I understand how you all feel, I really do. It's been very hard for me to stay positive as well the last several years seeing QB's and coaches come and go like they were on a merry go round. But there's one thing that maybe I can remember that allows me to have a little faith. I was also around when Dan was drafted in '83 in the first round and was the 6th QB taken that year. Dan had a terrific Junior year at Pitt and was expected to compete for the Heismann trophy in his Senior season only to have a sub-par year which caused his stock to drop. When Miami drafted him, no one knew what he had to offer. Would he be the Junior QB that seemed destined for greatness or the Senior QB who was just so-so? I was around when he came off the bench in a couple games and threw a couple of TD's. I was around when he got his first start. I was around when he got his first win and I was around in '84 when he lead the Dolphins to the SB and the first 5,000 yard season. At no time prior to that or since then have I been as excited about the Dolphins future as I was then. I don't know what Tannehill is going to do in the NFL, but I do know that a young franchise QB will make you forget about a lot of bad stuff. So I hold out hope that magic can happen again.

Also gives us the rest of this draft and all of next years draft to now ignore the QB position and build up the rest of the team. Makes drafting and putting together the team a lot easier when at every pick you don't have to go...."is this were we take our QB"

The biggest black cloud hanging over this franchise is now gone!!!!

Given the players that KC and SEA took, I find it very difficult to believe that Tannehill would have made it past 12.  It goes without saying that he certainly would not have made it past 22 under any foreseeable circumstance.

Look at the grading of players on ESPN's draft page and tell me that the #8 pick stands out as a reach.

As Charley Casserly and Mike Mayock have been saying. Tannehill is a better prospect entering the NFL than recent 1st round QB's like Joe Flacco, Josh Freeman, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder!

Nuff said!

Didn't really want him but here he is. I'm gonna be positive now and pray the curse is over.

Whatever.  In reality, I don't think it was going to happen.  Tannehill wasn't going for a long time if the Dolphins hadn't called.

You can trick yourself into thinking otherwise, no one else was interested in the QB unless he was in the 20s.  Kiper didn't even have him in the top 25 overall until very recently.

True dat.  What has happened has happened.  Let's move forward now.

Don't get me wrong, I'm also somewhat dismayed with his rise up the charts in the offseason.  That being said, he wasn't just rising up the charts of the Dolphins' draft board; the talking heads everywhere had pumped him up.  Brandon freaking Weeden going at 22 should tell you that Tannehill was not going to last until the 20s.  If he had gotten into the teens, some team would have traded up.

I think Cleveland was more likely to take Weeden at 22 if Tannehill was still available.  Some team may have traded up into the teens, but I don't think it's likely teams were willing to trade up for a player who under the realistic best case scenario wouldn't be ready for a long while.  Teams who have time to wait on players tend to draft them later.

But as I said earlier, it no longer matters.  Since I'm not paying for his draft slot, I'm not going to be too bothered worrying about this.  It would have been nice to get an extra pick or two and still pick up the same guy, but Miami brass felt otherwise.  They think they have their guy so Tannehill's gotta go out there and prove them right...eventually.  Ireland made his QB bed and now he has to lay in it.

Well, I'll say this... if Tannehill had made it to 26, I would have been screaming for MIA to trade up with HOU for MIA's 2012 2nd+3rd.

Great pick-up!!!!!!!!  Oh yeah, the QB Tannehill was good pick as well

(http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ryan-tannehill-wife-lauren3.jpg)

Best of luck to the Phins on Day 2 of the Draft.

What this says to me is... Sherman is "convinced" that Tannehill is "that" guy! 

He knows Tannehill better than anyone!

There was a report last night that Ireland was watching Tannehill since 2010 and knew since then he wanted Tannehill.  With Sherman on board as his OC I'm sure he questioned Sherman extensively about Tannehill.   Like I said before if we take Tannehill that means Sherman wanted him and felt he was a diamond in the rough..

I'm good with this because Sherman had to have input on this choice!   This doesn't mean he's the next Marino but it's the guy our OC wanted

For once, I'm happy we drafted a guy's family.

I agree here, and beyond that- even though I was not a fan of Tannehill going in- I'm gald Miami didn't get a retread QB, didn't pick up Manning or Flynn or Smith or anyone else's castoff. Taking Tannehill says, "We are committed to taking OUR guys and building the team from the ground up with players we believe can win." Even if they're flat wrong, at least they made a firm commitment to a player they wanted. Kudos.

Regarding my feelings on him- didn't want him going in, but now that he's here, I'm a fan. I'll support him the same way I did Henne and Marshall even when they were being killed by everyone else. -EK

You guys are all missing the boat here.  Sure, we drafted a QB.  We also got his wife.

(http://www.rightentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Lauren_Tannehill_1.png)

There could be a whole different thread on the trophies these guys bring with them. I mean ... I saw a bunch of excitement on Matt Kalil's mother as well. I guess it's the intangibles that count!  ;)

Edited to add I saw this and immediately thought of Maine's post! ...
Jeff Ireland ---  " I very much like the player and we're just excited to have Ryan and his wife Lauren join the Miami Dolphins family.”

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2012/04/jeff-ireland-talks-about-ryan-tannehill.html#storylink=cpy

Mike Sherman shares thoughts about Tannehill

Much has been speculated about what offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, formerly Ryan Tannehill's head coach at Texas A&M, really thinks of the quarterback. I suppose we'll never know the full story unless someone gets Sherman drunk on truth serum.

But Sherman released a statement Thursday night giving you some of his thoughts on the topic:
"Ryan Tannehill is a unique individual. Much has been said about his intellect and athleticism. What hasn't been discussed is his unselfish nature and his "team first" mentality which fits in with coach Philbin's philosophy. four years ago when we were down receivers I asked him to play that position for us because we needed help there. He put his dream of becoming an NFL quarterback on hold to accommodate my request in order to help his team win.

"As far as his quarterback skill level is concerned, I doubt there is a player on Jeff Ireland's draft board who has been scrutinized more than Ryan Tannehill. The general consensus is that he is a talented quarterback with a tremendous upside. As his former head coach, I agree with that evaluation. He has just scratched the surface as a quarterback. His learning curve, however, will be enhanced and accelerated simply because he is coming to an offensive scheme and terminology where he has a lot of familiarity.

He is an extremely competitive person and will embrace the responsibility that goes with being the 8th pick in the NFL draft. There is no doubt he will work to exceed those expectations.
I am excited to have him in the quarterback room with Matt [Moore], David [Garrard], and Pat [Devlin]. He will be a great addition to that group. It will be very competitive to say the least."

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2012/04/mike-shermans-shares-he-thoughts-about-tannehill.html#storylink=cpy

And this is why I'm not disappointed in this pick as other fans are.  Granted, he won't make much of an impact this year like a first rounder should, but if anyone knows what this kid is capable of, it's Mike Sherman.

Either Omar or Armando (can't remember right now) reported this morning that Philbin wanted Tannehill and Ireland didn't. I give Ireland credit for listening to his coach and not being stubborn on this.

Did Ireland screw up referring to Lauren as RT's wife. LOL

^^No, they got married in Jan.

NFL network just reported that Ireland is pumped about getting Tannehill!    Ireland told them he only told two people about his desire to get RT...  Ireland says he didn't want people to want Tannehill just because "HE" wanted Tannehill.

Well that's good. I think one of the channels labeled her yesterday as 'fiance' and I've been seeing her referred to as fiance all over the net this morning.

What I like about Tannehill also.... is the fact he played receiver!  He got to know by playing receiver what it's like... where guys want the ball and what they see!  I think this will help him a lot more than people think..   Like Ireland said to NFL network... he knows this offense and everything about it!

I wasn't crazy for, or against, Tannehill.  He seems to be teachable and has potential, I think his success will depend upon Philbin.  He's as good, or better, than anyone we would get next year...so I'm glad he's here.

Agree. It is all up to the coaching staff now. The potential is there! You just cannot teach speed or arm strength.

Given how fast a furious the trades were going, you really can't say that.  Yeah, you might have been able to project that the next team that needed a QB was at 22, but any team could trade up. 

Obviously, there' s a chance that everyone gets fired and that the Dolphins are picking a QB #1 three years from now.

That said, there are some things working in Tannehill's favor.

Ross is on board.  That means Ireland, Sherman and Philbin all have three years to make this work.  GM picked a QB the owner wanted: for better or worse, Ireland is extended.  Philbin is a new coach so needs time anyway (which also effectively extended Ireland).  Sherman wants to be an HC again, but that only happens if the Tannehill things works--so he's stuck in Miami a few years. 

And they know Tannehill's raw.  They know he's not starting game 1 probably.  So he's not rushed into that situation.  They can take the A. Rodgers approach and build him up before starting him.  It's uncommon to do that from #8, but it's what the Dolphins will do here.  And if Tannehill plays this year it will be after Moore/Garrard has already lost the job and put the Dolphins in a hole.  So he'll get  to play in a scenario where he can make mistakes and be looking to give hope instead of instant results.

So all that gives Tannehill a chance.  Hopefully it works out.

^^ Agree with all of that.

New coach will get time. There will be no panic this year unless it's just a 1-15 or 0-16 disaster and even that may not be enough.

There's 3 scenario's where I think Tannehill could play this year and none of them I would object to.

1) Injuries to Moore and Garrard force him into playing.
2) He plays his way into the starting spot with outstanding practices.
3) Moore and Garrard aren't getting it done and the season is pretty much lost. Might as well give the kid a shot at that point.

Any combination of the 3 could also pretty much force Miami into playing him.

Oddly, NFL.com's grade was only an 87 for Tannehill- lowest grade in the top 14 picks. Luck was a 97. RG3 was a 95. This seems a bit more realistic IMO. -EK

Love this draft so far. LOVE this offseason so far.

Draft a Franchise QB. A 1st round talent LT falls to round 2 we grab him and can play him at RT, have legit book-end TACKLES now. Dolphins move into this century and get a pass catching TE who can make plays down the field. Added a big weapon. 2 Tight End sets with Clay and Egnew could be fun!  And we get a pure 4-3 DE who if he stayed in school would have been a Top prospect in NEXT years draft.

We still have 5 picks on Saturday to address depth everywhere. With WR and a Pulling GUARD being the top 2 needs right now!

Not sure if we win many games next year but this draft is addressing major needs (QB, TE, and RT) and moving forward the outlook is much brighter than it has been in many many years!

^^I agree. I don't see much wrong with the draft. The TE pick kinda fooled me, but after watching him play, I see it. I get it. Was better in 2010 than 2011, but that's nothing to worry about because Gabbert was throwing to him in 2010.

When was TE a major need?  Fasano is serviceable and Clay was supposed to be The Future.  How many TEs are we going to carry?

^^ I think we had like 4 last year? There must have been 6 in preseason.

Yes, TE was a major need! Fassano is an out-dated style TE. Last yer of his deal.

Last year in GB the packers carried 5 TE's. Philbin was running that offense obviously so we might carry a bunch!

So what happened to Charles Clay?  I thought the point of drafting him last year was that he was supposed to take over TE.

Is TE really more of a need position than WR?  It doesn't make sense to be spending a 3rd there.

If you want to duplicate the success the Pats had with Gronkowski and Hernandez, then yes it is.  Philbin's system requires tight ends to be vertical threats.  Fasdno is not a vertical threat.  His days in Miami are numbered.

Yeah, I can see why you'd want to replace the guy who has caught the most TD's for your team over the past two years, as well as the second most receptions of over 20 yards. You could make a strong argument that he's been one of the best parts of the passing game recently. Without Marshall, he's actually Miami's most productive pass catcher since 2010. Between him and Clay, drafting another TE is pointless when they needed a WR and safety. -EK

It's not the same offense. You may not have heard, but the Dolphins are switching to a west coast offense. They took a BUNCH of players that fit the offense, not just a TE. Nobody is getting rid of Fasano just yet, but there's no harm in bringing in some competition is there? If I'm hearing you correctly it's not so much a problem with the TE you have, but rather that they didn't take a WR earlier. Well the fact is that there were plenty of good WCO type WR's and there was really only 2 good "seam" TE's Fleener and Egnew. If you wait on Egnew he might be gone and they did take 2 WR's later that are very good WCO type receivers. If they would have taken one of them earlier and taken the TE later would it have made you feel better because it certainly wouldn't have changed the fact that they added 2 WR's and TE that fit the WCO. I don't really see the big problem you are having with this.

H-Back. Clay can start at FB and also line up at TE as well on certain plays.

It's all about acquiring playmakers and more athletic players. Trying to get as many on the field as you can. In our new offense the TE position is very much important. Lots of 2 tight end sets are run.

Also the fact that Fassano HAS been Miami's most productive receiver after Marshall in recent years is why the Dolphins have sucked! Fassano is not a top flight TE. He is a back-up TE at best and even those days are numbered for him in that role!

It's NOT like we are breaking up a successful offense here! There is a reason why this unit stinks and needs to be revamped!

The problem I'm having with it is that they the player they drafted in the third round was not a significant enough upgrade at TE to pass on safety (who they never drafted) or WR. The receivers they did draft aren't going to see any kind of playing time. There's a reason they went in the 6th and 7th round. Don't fool yourself into thinking they were "steals." They weren't- they're late round talent who, like most late round talent, may not even make the team. -EK

Exactly.  This team has lots of areas that need improvement, and in the hierarchy of needs, finding a replacement for the most productive pass catcher remaining on the team should be a lower priority than replacing your Pro Bowl WR (particularly when you just drafted a TE last year).

If the argument is that Fasano doesn't fit this offense and needs to be replaced, why was Clay drafted last year at all?  It doesn't make sense.  Compared to almost everything else, TE is one of the better positions on MIA right now.

It is a copy cat league. 

Last year your division rival won the conference largely on the success of the two tight end formation.  Now everyone wants two tight ends that can both block and catch. 

Different offensive scheme and different coaching staff

Exactly!

He doesn't seem to get that yet!  Philbin needs guys that fit his system... Fasano obviously doesn't fit his system.  So it doesn't matter what you, me or anyone feel about Fasano if the guy running the ship feel he doesn't fit!  If the offense fails and doesn't work because he doesn't have the pieces then people will be asking why didn't he draft or sign the right players?

You can't force just any TE or WR into the West Coast offense... it's a reason everyone doesn't run the WCO!

I'd just like to interject that it's not necessarily that Fasano doesn't fit the system, but that perhaps that Egnew fits the system better and you need more than 1 TE in this league. I don't think Fasano or Clay are going anywhere, but the rest of the guys that call themselves TE on the team should definately be looking for a spot on another team.

If "different offensive scheme" means "we need to get rid of the two most productive pass catchers on our team because they 'don't fit'" then I humbly suggest that maybe Ireland and Ross should have went in a different direction with their coaching search.

You make everything sound so easy!

I'm not trying to give Ireland a pass but, I understand what it takes to go in a different direction.  Also, It's not like there were coaches lining up for this job... have you forgotten that?   I think there is a lot going in to these choices that most aren't thinking about...  The fact that Reggie Bush is going to be looking for a new contract!   I don't know but maybe Fasano is not what they want or near a new contract himself?    It's obvious Philbin has a blue print from his days at green bay and is sticking with it!

All the receivers fit that Jordy Nelson mold big and athletic not blazers but, you don't see anyone containing Nelson, do you?  They all actually fit that Brandon Marshall mold as well... they are all big and strong!   I don't remember hearing Brandon Marshall really tearing it up at UCF either!  Marshall played against a different level of competition than most these guys also...coming from the SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 you see different talent than coming from Conference USA...  I pointed out in other threads until recently.... you didn't hear people talking about Green Bay's receivers... they weren't household names.

Here's my problem:

When Arizona got a new coach, I don't remember them saying "Oh, we need to get rid of Fitzgerald and/or Boldin, they don't fit our system."
When Minnesota got a new coach, I don't remember them saying, "We need to move AP, we just can't make him work in our scheme."
When SF got two new coaches, I don't remember either one of them saying, "We don't have a place for Willis in the defense we want to run."

This entire line of "we can't make good players work in our system" (before a down has been played) sounds like lazy excuse-making to me.

Why? We had one of the worst offenses in the league, why you would want to continue with that offense? I think some of you may have the logic backwards. When you have one of the worst offenses in the NFL, you don't look at your top producers and say "Whatever we do, we got to keep those guys". No you look at it and say "These guys aren't getting it done, it's time to go find some guys that can get it done" and if that means putting in a new offense and drafting some guys that fit that offense then you do it.

When you have one of the worst offenses in the league, you definitely don't say, "We need to rebuild our offense... let's start by getting rid of the only Pro Bowl skill position player on that side of the ball."  If the offense is bad to begin with, how does shipping off your best players help?

Well we didn't just GIVE him away, we got 2 3rd round draft choices for him. A lot depends on what those 2 3rd round picks contribute, but it also allows Hartline and Bess a chance to step up and see what they offer. Personally I think Hartline is a better receiver than most give him credit for, but he's been underutilized in Miami, mostly because Marshall has been the primary target. That's just my opinion and no, I don't think Hartline will replace Marshall's numbers because he won't be asked to replace Marshall, there will be 2 or 3 guys that will be asked to replace Marshall's numbers to become less predictable and more flexible.

And that's not even taking into consideration the locker room. Marshall is a terrifically gifted player, but he's also a huge distraction and I don't think he would have been very happy NOT being the number 1 receiver and just becoming another receiver which is what he would have had to do to fit into the WCO. It's not so much that Marshall couldn't have been productive as a WCO receiver, but he'd have to be open to that idea in the first place which I find highly doubtful. The last thing you want when you turn over the coaching staff is someone who thinks he's more important than the system being implimented. Maybe Marshall would have been open to that idea, but then again maybe not.

And that's all assuming that Marshall isn't suspended before the season starts. I think he's still in danger of losing some playing time.

Then there's the whole contract side of things where trading Marshall allows more room under the cap for other positions/players.

That's just a few ways that it might have helped to trade Marshall. We'll just have to wait till the season starts to see whether or not the plan actually works, but I don't think it's a bad strategy especially considering the previous one wasn't working.

Pappy, I see what you're sayng- and believe me, I agree with Spider as often as NEVER- but if you are really going to help Miami by trading 1200+ yards, 6TD's and ~80 catches, you have to do better than drafting a TE to replace those numbers, when the current TE is the next best receiver on the team- better than Hartline or Bess for two years now. He's got more TD's and more receptions of over 20 yards than either of those guys. If you're going to give them a chance to step up, you should give him the same chance. The TE pick would have been better spent on Iloka or Allen- either safety was a greater need than TE for Miami. Everyone keeps saying how it's a "passing, QB league." That's fine, but when you don't have anyone on the defensive side of the ball to stop those QB's that everyone else has, drafting a position you already have covered isn't logical. -EK

^^ Ok, so let's talk stats for just a second. Egnew had 90 catches for 762 yards and 5 TD's in 2010 when Blaine Gabbert was QB. He dropped to 50 catches for 523 yards and 3 TD's in 2011 when Gabbert wasn't there. Granted it's college, but those are still some pretty impressive stats from a TE and that's only 1 3rd round pick, that still leaves another.

But the real issue EK is you CAN'T just talk stats. You have to look at the big picture. Miami was bringing in a new coaching staff and that's important, it WASN'T just a new head coach it's a completely new coaching staff practically from top to bottom. The old coaching staff had a completely different approach to the offense. I don't want to get into the nuts and bolts of a WCO because I really don't know jack shit, but what I do know is Philbin and Sherman have been doing this an awful long time and they've been extremely successful at it. The 2 of them have forgotten more about the WCO then you and I know combined. How in the heck do you think THEY came to the conclusion that trading Marshall was a good decision? Do you think they just flipped a coin? I don't think flipping a coin had much to do with it. I think they thought about it long and hard and decided they needed more pieces to move around on the board. They subtracted Marshall and added a free agent in Naanee. Then they went and got a QB, RT, TE, RB and 2 WR's in the draft. Then they picked up a couple more guys as undrafted free agents. They GOT more pieces to fit into the puzzle. Will the puzzle be complete? I highly doubt it after just 1 draft, but it's what they wanted to do. From that perspective it was a highly successful draft.

I agree with Spider on this one.

Not so much for the reason he gave, but the position he playes.  Defensive lineman and linebackers are very scheme dependant, you can be great in a 4-3 and suck in a 3-4.  Likewise different offensive schemes require TEs that are better at blocking or better than catching.

But there isn't a single pro-offensive scheme that doesn't benifit from a deep threat WR.  

We can debate this all offseason but, it's done!    We don't know what the plan for Fasano or anyone else is at this point...   Philbin is our head coach... he wanted these guys I trust his decision!   I could care less what anyone on a forum thinks about our draft choices as long as he's happy with them!   Obviously we aren't draft guru's because we're here on this forum not out making a living off our draft prowess!

I look at Marshall like T.O. ... both San Fran and Philly gave up on him when he was very productive for them!  You don't feed cancer you try to get rid off it before it spreads!  I wanted Marshall just as much if not more than anyone but he's a cancer!

Hartline was about as good of a deep threat target as Marshall was last year. Marshall was targetted 144 times last year and caught 17 passes of more than 20 yards for an 11.8% chance. Hartline was targetted 68 times last year and caught 8 passes of more than 20 yards an 11.8% chance. Marshall averaged 8.6 yards per target, Hartline averaged 8.1 yards per target. You probably remember Marshall a lot more than Hartline because Marshall caught 2 40+ yard passes against New England in that last game, but that wasn't typical for Marshall.

If you don't consider 20+ yard catches a deep threat, let's change that to 30+ and see the numbers. Marshall 8 catches or 5.5% chance, Hartline, 6 catches or 8.8% chance.

Gates is faster than either Marshall or Hartline by a good bit, I expect to see him on the field a lot more this year.

Miami hasnt had a deep threat receiver in a very long time. I assume you are referring to Marshall? He isn't a deep threat guy. He is a catch and run guy.

The WCO depends heavily on catch-and-run.

It also depends heavily on precise route running and timing, unselfish receivers who may be asked to "clear" an area for someone else and a QB who makes the right progressions and get's the ball to the open player. It doesn't rely on the QB simply throwing the ball to the #1 receiver even if he's covered and letting him go get it which is Marshall's idea of a good play.

Where has anyone criticized Marshall's route running?

...which makes it exactly like every other system...

...which, again, is exactly like the other offense(s) MIA has had for the last 60 years.

I imagine that it also does not rely on your wide receivers telling your offensive coordinators how to call a game.

"Marshall wouldn't fit" is a lazy excuse.  If you want to get rid of the most talented skill position player on your team because you can't handle his personality, say so.

Of course, you won't see Ireland say that, because Marshall has exactly the same personality today as he did when Ireland traded for him.

Ross basically put it that way when he said Marshall would have been cut if they could not have traded him. Also, Parcells pulled the trigger on that trade, not Ireland. When Parcells was in Miami Ireland was nothing more than a figure head.

I agree with your position that Marshall not being a fit is a crazy reason. It was completely based on the difficulty people have working with him.

GB carried 5 Tight Ends last year. The offense they ran (which will be similar if not exact to what we are running) will be heavy on TE's.

You haven't gotten past the Brandon Marshall thing yet? Seriously bro, its old news. Time to move on. He's gone!

They did draft Clyde Gates (deep threat and speed) last year in Rd 3 and expect him to do more this year at WR. Hell he has a chance to start. Ireland said in a radio interview part of getting Miller was so he can return kickoffs and punts so Gates can focus on WR more this upcoming year.

Well I don't consider it a strength of his. Marshall said the best route runner on the team was Bess and compared him to some all time great route runners (he wasn't on the list)

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/29716/marshall-calls-bess-top-all-time-route-runner

I don't think the WCO is like every other system, otherwise why would they call it the WCO? Wouldn't they ALL be called that? My understanding is that it relies more on quick reads, precise routes and precise timing, crosses etc then other systems do. Not that other systems don't have that, just that it's a bigger part of the offense then some other offenses. Most offenses have bits of pieces of every other offense in them, it's how you mix and match them that makes the offense different.

I think people are reading too much into the TE issue... Look at Green Bay receivers!

• Donald Driver - Alcorn St
• Greg Jennings - Western Michigan
• Jordy Nelson - Kansas State
• Randall Cobb - Kentucky

None of these guys were highly touted receivers... Jordy Nelson was considered slow and was thought of as a better choice to play safety.  Randall Cobb was a QB that was moved to receiver...   

Oh, by the way... Driver was a 7th round pick! ;D

My point is that you specifically mentioned that the WCO requires "unselfish" receivers and QBs that can make their progressions (not just throw the ball to the same guy every down).  Is there some other offensive system that thrives with a selfish receiver that you throw the ball to over and over?  Because I can't think of any, and I certainly don't think the Bears or Shanahan's Broncos fit that bill.

I mean, if you look at a passing philosophy that's basically the opposite of the WCO, the Gillman/Coryell downfield-attack offense (like what the Greatest Show on Turf-era Rams ran), they still rely on unselfish receivers and progression reads.

No, but there are some WR's who believe that would be an excellent system.

If I'm not mistaken Shanahan traded Marshall and the Bears have yet to find out what Marshall thinks.

Not the extent that the WCO does.

There are RBs who believe they should touch the ball on every down.  This is why your players are not offensive coordinators.

You are mistaken.  McDaniels traded Marshall a year after trading Cutler (because he wanted a different QB, Cassel, for his system).  And we see how that worked out for McDaniels.

He traded Marshall for the same reason we did... he's a cancer in the locker room!

Yep!

I was saying that he traded Cutler for the same weak reason that Ireland gave for trading Marshall.

Trading Marshall though, I hated it.... was the right move!   You could see it was just a matter of time he was going to become a problem...  I wanted Marshall so bad before we got him and still wanted him when they traded him but, he's a cancer!  No matter how good a player he is I don't want a T.O.!

In true Ted Ginn jr fashion, let's just hope that we drafted Ryan Tannehill's family...or at least his wife, model Lauren Ufer:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1158213-ryan-tannehills-fiancee-see-pics-of-lauren-ufer (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1158213-ryan-tannehills-fiancee-see-pics-of-lauren-ufer)

(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/164/673/church_original_crop_650x440.jpg?1335293060)

(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/164/677/Card3_display_image.jpg?1335292081)(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/164/676/Card1_display_image.jpg?1335291864)

(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/164/678/Card4_display_image.jpg?1335292313)(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/164/791/CardFront_display_image.jpg?1335292436)

Meh.  Waaaay too skinny.

If I saw her in real life, I'd think she is attractive, but she's not really Internet Famous Hot to me.

I think the black dress & hat photo is super hot.

Well at least he's got Tom Brady's taste in women. That should count for something shouldn't it?  >:D

Let's hope he turns out to be another Tom Brady.