The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Despite the fact that we finished with a 6 game win streak, we still have some major issues heading into the off-season.
All of these positions need to be addressed, but which position do you feel is the TOP priority?

1. QB- Gus played well down the stetch, but is not the long term answer. However, if Saban feels he is good enough to start for a few more years, we can adress other needs in the draft. Personally, I'd think its our top priority.

2. O-Line- Again, this unit played well this year, but Houck made lemonade out of lemons. The line was shuffled a lot during the pre-season, so I feel if Houck works with the same unit thru mini camps, they will greatly improve. If we can use money elsewhere in free agency, I don't think its the top priority.

3. WR- Some people still feel Chambers is not a legit #1, despite the numbers he put up this year. Booker has been a good #2, but there is concern over his contract. Welker has really stepped it up, and is a good #3 option. I'd like to see us upgrade this postion, but am not so sure its the top priority.

4. D-Backs- Daniels looked good for a rookie, but it doesn't look like Madison will be back, and who knows what Will Poole is capable of after several knee operations. I'd like to see Schulters re-signed, and think that Bell can be a starter. I think we need to upgrade, but again, its not our top priority.

I think I've said this before, but I voted QB, even though I think that drafting a QB might not be the best bet.

We need to build our team around a QB, so keeping that in mind (whether it be the draft, free agency, or getting your eye on a guy in next year's draft, it should dictate your offseason decisions this year.

How about a little discussion to go with your votes? Come on, lets make this interesting!

I voted Qb,with DB being the second biggest need.

My major concern is Mike Mularkey the new O-Coordinator,not with the system,or playcalling,but his influence with who we may draft QB wise.Do we really want a J.P Losman,or Kordell Stweart? Kordell,is barely hanging on in the league,and hasn't gotten a sniff as a starter since he left Pittsburgh.

J.P Losman really hasn't impressed me yet,Note: Being a Dolphins fan,I've only seen him play once? :|

We bring a Mike Mularkey guy,he could be with us for 3-4 years,while Mike is the head coach in Arizona in 2007.

The WR corps,is an odd bunch (imo).I feel we need to develop some better depth,I have little faith in Bryan Gilmore.Wes Welker is an improving WR,and a very good special team guy.If he pulls a Hamstring,it could be a nightmare.I don't see Welker being anymore than a good 3rd WR,if a Starter goes down,he's not an every down guy.

The DB's,I'd like to see an Impact Safety to be the leader.Better quality depth at the corners.

I'd like to see another DL/LB hybrid guy,a possible replacement for Jason Taylor.Taylor's not getting any younger,or cheaper.

I went against my gut feeling and selected DB. My reasoniong is this. I do not see us getting a QB that is going to be ready to step in and be the franchise QB immediately. We can however get a DB that will step right in. Therefore you have my reasoning.

First off Kordell was not a Mularkey guy.  Kordell was drafted in '95 when Mularkey was in Tampa Bay coaching TEs.. 

Second, Mularkey joined the Steelers in '96 as their TE coach.  He had very little to do with Kordell, until when he became the OC which did not happen until 2001 when Kordell might have had his best year.

As for Losman.  He was not a Mularkey guy either since Mularkey did not do the drafting in Buffalo.  That was Tom Donohue.

And yes I'd take Losman pick.  Last year he showed promise, but as with most young QBs showed his inexperience.  Remember that he missed most of his rookie year with a broken leg so last year was he first action.

I voted QB, but like Dave, I don't think that's necessarily what we should pick with our first rounder. We have a lot of needs (although I don't think WR is one of them) and should pick the best player.

I should note that I don't follow college football AT ALL, but from what little I've seen and from what people have said, Jay Cutler looks like an interesting prospect. The one problem I have with him is that I've heard some grumblings about "bad mechanics". At this point, it might be just too late to do much about that, if it's true.

Going the non-draft route, I wouldn't mind Carr. Not that I would necessarily give a whole lot in trade for him, but let's see what happens when his $8M bonus is due (yeah, I know they've said they intend to keep him, but that's just posturing - I'll believe it when I see the money). This isn't like taking a team's third string QB as we did with Feeley. Carr has experience and is a "proven" commodity. He has been severely limited by an oline that makes the worst we've had look like pro-bowlers.

If we do go the rookie way, we need to play lots of max protect schemes so we don't ruin him the way Houston has Carr. Statistically, quarterbacks that sit a season or so before starting wind up with better carreer stats that quarterbacks that don't, so it would probably be best to not start the rookie week 1, despite our experience with Marino his first year.

He may not have drafted them,but they are the QB's that he has worked with.It is what I have to judge him By.It's like you said,Kordell had his BEST YEAR under Mularkey.

How can you not say J.P Losman,is a Mularkey guy?

Just because he wasn't the general manager?...that's WEAK!,he was the head coach,he had a Major say in who they drafted.

I'll rate these positions in order of priority (in my opinion):

1.  QB-  Gus is nothing more than a journeyman backup, and Sage is much better suited to coming off the bench.  Now that Mularkey is running the offense, he is going to want to develop his own guy.  The last six games proved that when the Dolphins get good play from their QB, they can beat anybody. 

2.  DB- Travis Daniels proved to be a capable corner but needs to work on deep coverage.  Madison and Howard will definitely be let go.  The biggest question mark is Will Poole and how he can come back from that surgically repaired knee.  Still, I see them going after a proven cover corner.  Texas CB Michael Huff would be a good first round choice if the QB they want is not available.

3. OL-  This unit performed well beyond anyone's expectations, and proved that Tony Wise (last year's OL coach) should not be coaching in this league at all.  Had problems early on with penalties but cleared that up towards the end.  Still see them needing a left tackle as well as a right guard if Hadnot shifts to center.  Damon McIntosh and Stockar McDougle might as well pack their bags.

4.  WR-  Chris Chambers performance in the last six games may have silenced some of his critics, but he will need to duplicate that over a full season of football in order to be considered elite.  Marty Booker had a fine season, and Wes Welker proved to be another Wayne Chrebet/Tim Dwight.  The biggest upgrade the Dolphins could make to this unit would be to sign disgruntled Eagles WR Terell Owens.  That would have the effect of a nuclear bomb going off in South Florida.

  He worked with Maddox for more years than Kordell & yet you ignored him.  He took a QB who had not played NFL QB in over 6 years & made him a serviceable QB for a couple of years.

  Because Donohue was the man in Buffalo.  He had the power to do whatever he thought was best for the team. 

  Do you not understand what a GM does especially one with as much power as Donohue had?     We are not talking Rick Speilman here.  Donohue is one of the most respected GM in the NFL.

For all we know Murlakey was completely against drafting Losman or he could have been all for it.  The fact remains you cannot hang that tag on him simply because we know who was making the decisions then.

I agree that Mularkey probably had less to do with drafting Losman than one would think. Donahoe is the one who made the trade with Dallas to get their pick and draft him.

The OL should be the top priority. This is because the Fins suffered more as a result of missed opportunities on offense, than on blown coverage in my opinion. The D may improve as Will Poole comes back. Saban may pick the LSU corner in the 1st round, and he may make a fast contribution. But QB wouldn't get much better unless the line improves.

You can't always look at the ratings, and say this QB is better than that one. Frerotte's good for our system because he can work the long ball and move around efficiently, when behind a weak line. You look at the stats of NFL offenses and the teams that allow the least sacks with few exceptions the QB is healthy and they are in playoffs while the cellar teams did allow the most sacks over the past few years. One of the reason the Bears got into the playoffs, is due to their much improved offensive line play: they allowed 31 sacks this year during the regular season compared to 66 last year!  

The QB would be the next most important thing. Can Gus play to the level of top NFL QB's behind a better line?

Then WR/DB would be a toss-up. Probably corner and safety are more important, if the defensive schemes start jelling it still needs more talent with all the excellent passing offenses out there.

You could say our O-line was just as improved as the Bears O-line was. Our O-line only allowed 26 sacks this year compared to 52 last year. Although they had a ton of penalties early on in the season, that seemed to go away after they grew accustomed to playing together. Like I said, I listed it because I feel it needs to be upgraded, but don't feel its the #1 priority.

Still, that would have been a lot higher than the 26 sacks, if we had kept A-J Feeley ,,,

How would that relate to the line rather than Feeley? The O-line played well enough that it does not need to be the #1 pick. Also it is my understanding that it is one of the deepest positions in the draft.

Tommy Maddux= Gus Frerotte....


He's still the head coach....REGARDLESS of who the general manager


IT's NOT a fact,it's an opionon...and yours...not mine...

He made the decisions on who steps on that field...maybe not who's on the team....

I don't want a Kordell Stweart,Tommy Maddux, J.P Losman,Kelly Holcumb,I'll give him he couldn't protect Drew Bledsoe,and tried to change him.

I don't like the QB's He's worked with...I don't want to see those type of guy's in miami....

B- I think he tried to make do with what he had in all of the situations. Did he want Kordell? No, byut thats who the QB was, so he worked with him. Did he want Maddox? No, but thats who the back up was when Kordell got hurt. I'm sure he would've loved to have had a young Ben Roethlisberger to work with. When he got to Buffalo, he had Bledsoe. The GM then decided to move in another direction. I'm sure Mularkey wasn't all for it, but he had to make do. Notice that he did not want to start Losman, and kept benching him in favor of a proven QB? That tells me that he really never liked Losman as his QB. I think Saban will ask Mularkey for input, and then go with whoever he wants to go with. The good thing is Mularkey has proven that he can take an average QB (Stewart, Maddox) and make them shine. So whoever we end up drafting, should have some moderate success.

I agree with you Philly...

What I don't want is to bring a young "J.P losman" and be stuck with him for years after Mike Mularky is gone. That's what is getting misconstrued. 

Got that right.

  This means?

  No its pretty much a fact.  An opinion is something like.  I think Dan Marino was overrated ( Not really, just an example).  That is an opinion.

A fact is.  Tom Donohue is the GM ( Given that was his title in Buffalo & when they hired him Ralph Wilson said he would make decisions on players drafted & signed as FA )  He gave Mularkey the players to choose from.

You can call a dog a cat, but it does not change the fact you still have a dog.  It would not make it an opinion.

  And you are knocking him for choosing Losman over Holcumb?

Oooooooookay.

  Why you would not want a young QB as talented & athletic as Losman does confuse me. 

Are you one of these people who think a young QB is suppose to be solid from the moment he is drafted?

Why would you even think you would see those type Qbs in Miami because of him?

Just because a mechanic is forced to work on a Ford, does not mean given the choice he would not want a Royce instead.

What is your problem with Losman?   You are acting as if you have made up your mind on his ability, which is far to early to do.

Sure he made his mistakes, but in reality he should not have seen the field this year but things force Buffalo to put him on the field & at times showed great promise.

Losman should be a whole lot better next season with a years worth of playing under his belt.

A.) I don't like "moblie QB's"

B.) I could give a rotten Rats F-- About J.P. Losman

C.) I can hang whatever tag I want on a person,

d.) you're taking things out of context.


Your words not mine...See A.)...I don't think he'll be that good of aQB,down the road....But it's not my problem See B.)

If you can't figure out,the Mike Mularky was the head coach,he could play whomever he wished....this is like talking to the wall...



All taken out of context,and has nothing to do with anything...See d.)
I know what a general manager is...don't patronize me....


If you don't think mike Mularkey isn't going to have a say in who we bring into play QB,you need your head examined.

I'm done trying to explain myself....

  Yea, I like wooden Indian type QBs also. 

Hopefully you know there is a difference between mobile & a running QB.  Vick is a running QB.  Losman is mobile.

  So you care. 

  Yes you can.  No matter whether its right or wrong.  You can do it.


  No, I really do not think there is anything to take out of context. 
   You made a statement(s) & it was not really accurate.   Like Mularkey was responsible for having Kordell in Pitts & Losman in Buffalo.

  No.  You said you did not want a QB like Losman drafted in Miami.  Losman is young, athletic, strong armed QB.  What does that mean you want?  If you go opposite of that then it sounds like to me Gus is what you want. 

We has already determined you want a wooden Indian type QB.  Ok, so do you want young?   Do you want weak armed?

  Really do not get where you are going with this comment.  You act as if he had a better option.

 He had two real choices.  Holcomb or Losman.  Who do you pick?  An old broken down QB who has never been anything more than a stop gap QB or your former No. 1 pick that has a rocket for an arm & legs to get out of trouble & the physical talent to be special.

I can see where one would think Holcomb would be the better choice.

   Sorry, for pointing out the huge flaws in what you have said.   I guess some people simply like going around with their head buried in the sand hoping no one will notice.

    Not patronizing you.  Just wondering why you are blaming the coach for the players the GM gave him to work with.  Makes no sense.

  I doubt he will have much of a say other than.   "Hey Mike.  What do you think?"

I'm sure his opinion will be ask, but in the end it will come down to what Saban & Muellar think.  These are the two men in charge of bringing players in, but I can see where one would think they will let what the OC make the call. 

Again, Mularkey has never had the chance to make that call so who knows what type QB he likes.


Guess that hole will stop getting deep then.

Hey Dphins4me- welcome to the boards. If you have a second, stop by the off topic forum and tell us about yourself.

We are glad to have you here, but lets try to keep the discussions on topic. If you and B disagree, so be it, but no need to keep going around and around about the differences you guys have. You will find that lots of people on here disagree, but when threads end up becoming back and forth banter and name calling, it gets disinteresting for everyone.

 Â    Clearly, our biggest offseason need is a QB.  Unfortunately we are not in the best position to draft one this year.  There is a slight chance Cutler could fall to us, but his stock could shoot through the roof at the Senior Bowl this week.  Leaving us with some other names to ponder.  Names like: Omar Jacobs, D.J. Shockley, Brodie Croyle, Charlie Whitehurst, and Reggie McNeal (who, by the way, was pretty damn impressive in the E/W Shrine Game on Saturday).  Three of the five names will be performing at the Senior Bowl this weekend, DolFans might want to check out the game, and start taking a long look at some of the other names.

 Â The other major need is CB.  Our secondary really hurt us this past season.  Madison doesn't fit the system, and Reggie Howard sucks as a starter.  Travis Daniels proved himself this season, but with questions surrounding Will Poole's knee we should consider drafting Michael Huff of Texas.  This guy can tackle and will knock you on your ass.  These are the kind of corners that Coach Saban wants.

 Â So, if it looks like Cutler won't be available to us at 16.  I say we need to go ahead and shore up an ailing secondary with a very good young corner.

like i've said in earlier threads...QB is obviously THE spot to upgrade, with nasty high energy guy in the secondary being a close second.  get younger on the defensive side of the ball along with more secondary playmakers, while maybe getting a nice solid free agent pickup for the o-line...should be some good options out there this offseason. 

  Thanks.

   

Sorry, but I've always enjoyed the back & forth with a poster.   

I never lower myself to name calling even when someone does it to me. 

Also this is not a simple difference of opinion.

Any way I will let it go.

I went DB.

I want a QB badly, but I don't think the right one will be available. I hope I am wrong. We have the 16th pick, and the top 3 QBs should be gone by then.  I don't want to take a QB just for the sake of taking one.  Example: We draft a Brodie Croyle 2nd round. We do this, we will groom him for a couple of years and hope he turns out. If he doesn't we will be worse off being committed to an average qb when a better future QB might be out there.

I want to build our defense and get younger. I miss the days when we had 2 quality corners and had 100% faith in them.

obviously the fins need upgrading at the qb position. assuming that they can't move too far up from #16, cutler might be a possibility, but i think that the player most worthy of moving up for is huff by far. this guy will make an immediate impact much like crowder did at backer last year. where did we get crowder, 3rd round?? man he can play any of the backer positions at a high level. well huff can basically do the same between safety and cover corner. your looking at a very special player that can line up anywhere in the secondary right now. versus maybe a decent prospect at qb in cutler...

Hey guys- keep in mind that I never said "who should we draft in the first round?"
The poll is what is the top priority for the offseason.

I went with a defensive back.  While I wait with anticipation for a new QB under center, I'm a firm believer that a good defense is better that a good offense.  A weakness at DB is hard to hide and the Dolphins were vicitmized often this year.  I would love a shutdown corner to lock up half the field, and still think we could get a prospect QB in later rounds.

Amen, Jim...I voted for defensive back there too, and for similar reasons. QB is a need as well, no argument about that, but I think an upgrade in the defensive backfield will put Miami in more game situations where Frerotte "doesn't" need to force things. As odd as it sounds, an improved defensive backfield should help improve our QB play "almost" as much as an improved O-line would.

I agree there.  And like I said in my earlier post, if the QB the Dolphins want is gone by the time they pick, Texas DB Michael Huff would be an excellent choice.

Again guys, top priority doesn't necesarily mean who we should take in the first round!

True, true...but it doesn't necessarily mean Miami "shouldn't" either, if the value for that draft slot and the likelihood of other quality players at the other need positions being available later dictates going DB rather than QB or OL in round one.   ;)

I agree, but the only reason I mentioned that was that it seems people were only discussing who we should draft. Top Priority means trades, free agency and the draft.

Good point.  The thing is, it looks like there's several veteran QB's and some good WR's out there in free agency, but no stud offensive linemen or DB's. 

I thought this was the question I answered.........our biggest need is a DB.  If we can only bring in 1 player, it should be a DB.

I didn't mean you when I said that. Some people specifically said "we should draft a DB if the QB we want is gone".

this is a team that has not made the playoffs in some time now, had some excellent coaching last season, and basically overachieved. there are many big "needs" on this freaking team, and you really can't nail it down to a single biggest need. basically have to use every mechanism possible to try and get good players because if you haven't noticed, our drafts and fa acquisitions over the past few years weren't that good. maybe if we won the division we could scope it to a single biggest need, but right now, with the talent on this team, we need as many good players as we can possibly get our hands on.

biggest need is to get about 4 -5 better starters than we currently have on the freaking roster right now. lets see, qb, ol, db, dl, lb, fs/ss, wr... best player available through whatever mechanism (draft, fa, trade) would satisfy a biggest need of many that the dolphins have!!