Lamar Miller and Olivier Vernon

[Landshark]

I'm not sure why the Dolphins have not had a University of Miami player that kicked butt for them before, but the more tape I watch of these guys, the more it seems like that drought is about to come to an end. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7dxPzUBoi4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNezgFO87Hw

[MikeO]

I don't get why this bothers fans. Not an attack you on Landshark, but I hear this a lot that the Fins never draft Canes.   The Dolphins don't need to go out of their way to draft Hurricanes nor should they treat those kids from THE U special. I mean should Cowboys go out of their way to draft guys from Texas, Texas AM, or Texas Tech? Should the Jets and Giants go out of their way to draft guys from Rutgers/UCONN? Should the Steelers go out of their way to draft guys from Pitt? It's silly.

The NFL is a business and the local college team isn't their farm system. They have no obligation to treat the local college special or different from any other school.  Good players come from everywhere.

[Landshark]

I don't get why this bothers fans. Not an attack you on Landshark, but I hear this a lot that the Fins never draft Canes.   The Dolphins don't need to go out of their way to draft Hurricanes nor should they treat those kids from THE U special. I mean should Cowboys go out of their way to draft guys from Texas, Texas AM, or Texas Tech? Should the Jets and Giants go out of their way to draft guys from Rutgers/UCONN? Should the Steelers go out of their way to draft guys from Pitt? It's silly.

The NFL is a business and the local college team isn't their farm system. They have no obligation to treat the local college special or different from any other school.  Good players come from everywhere.

The local college team isn't their farm system but it can be, and it's obviously very easy to scout these guys.  Plus, new NFL rules allow unlimited private workouts for players from local colleges, whereas players from out of state colleges are only allowed to visit a certain number of teams to work out. 

[MikeO]

The local college team isn't their farm system but it can be, and it's obviously very easy to scout these guys.  Plus, new NFL rules allow unlimited private workouts for players from local colleges, whereas players from out of state colleges are only allowed to visit a certain number of teams to work out. 

Still its like getting on the Steelers for not drafting guys from Pitt. Or getting on the Chargers for not drafting guys from UCLA. Or the Browns for not drafting more Ohio St guys. I think its silly.

[Landshark]

Still its like getting on the Steelers for not drafting guys from Pitt. Or getting on the Chargers for not drafting guys from UCLA. Or the Browns for not drafting more Ohio St guys. I think its silly.

OK, maybe you misread my post.  I'm not getting on the Dolphins for not bringing in Hurricane players.  I'm just pointing out that I don't recall a Hurricane player ever excelling for the Dolphins.  Vernon Carey came the closest to doing that, which isn't saying much. 

Hopefully these two guys can make things different.

[MikeO]

OK, maybe you misread my post.  I'm not getting on the Dolphins for not bringing in Hurricane players.  I'm just pointing out that I don't recall a Hurricane player ever excelling for the Dolphins.  Vernon Carey came the closest to doing that, which isn't saying much. 

Hopefully these two guys can make things different.

Vernon Carey is the most successful of late. They also took Yatil Green (injuries) and Randall Hill (was a lunatic off the field at the time, but now actually works for the FBI...lol) in Rd 1 not all that long ago. Last 20 years or so.

[Landshark]

Vernon Carey is the most successful of late. They also took Yatil Green (injuries) and Randall Hill (was a lunatic off the field at the time, but now actually works for the FBI...lol) in Rd 1 not all that long ago. Last 20 years or so.

Randall Hill had speed, a big ego, and not much else.  Yatil Green was a china doll.  Word was he could get hurt without even taking a good solid hit, and he proved everyone right. 

I remember when they also brought in Jay Brophy in 1984 and Mark Caesar and Coleman Bell in 1993.  Guys that played well for the Hurricanes and had some potential but fizzled out.

[Fins4ever]

I don't get why this bothers fans.

Who is complaining?

It doesn't bother me at all if they do or don't draft locally. In fact, drafting local starts to look like tunnel vision after awhile. If you recall, Saban was stuck on players from the SEC, hence the Jason Allen pick in round 1.

As far as Miller and Vernon go, the Miller pick was a steal. I am not sold on Vernon, although I have not seen him play much. 

[Landshark]

Who is complaining?

It doesn't bother me at all if they do or don't draft locally. In fact, drafting local starts to look like tunnel vision after awhile. If you recall, Saban was stuck on players from the SEC, hence the Jason Allen pick in round 1.

As far as Miller and Vernon go, the Miller pick was a steal. I am not sold on Vernon, although I have not seen him play much. 

Vernon had a solid junior year and was poised for a breakout senior year but got suspended for half the season because of the Shapiro scandal.

According to Hurricanes coach Al Golden, the Dolphins got two first round talents in these guys

[EKnight]

Of course they did according to him. What? He's going to sell his own players as the second and fourth round picks they were? While I agree they will likely both be good players, I think I'd look for a less biased POV in ranking their talent. Just sayin. -EK

[Thundergod]

Didn't you know? All Hurricanes players are future NFL Hall of Famers. I love Hurricanes fans. XD

[JVides]

It bothers me that they haven't drafted more 'Canes because, if you look at the pro ranks, the NFL is absolutely littered with 'Canes! 

2001 - Did I want Reggie Wayne (# 30 to Indianapolis) over Jamar Fletcher (#26 to Miami)?  Yep. 
2008 - Calais Campbell (#50 to Arizona) over Philip Merling (#32 to Miami)?  Yep.
2010 - Did I want Jimmy Graham (# 95 to New Orleans) over John Jerry (# 73 to Miami)?  You bet!

Granted, these are three examples that are extremely one sided, but on every one of these picks, I vividly remember thinking "you should have drafted the 'Cane".  Other examples:  Browns pick William Green over Clinton Portis.  The Detroit Lions pick Charles Rogers over Andre Johnson.  Sometimes, it's just obvious.

If I knew these guys were going to be great pros, and all I am is a dumb ass fan, how could the Dolphins not have known?  It really does infuriate me.