Parcells regime starts with basics

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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/04/28/a1c_dolphins_0428.html

Parcells regime starts with basics

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, April 28, 2008

DAVIE — Bill Parcells is back buying the groceries. And for now, it looks like he is planning a blue-plate special rather than a gourmet meal.

Parcells and Co., running the Dolphins' draft for the first time, spent six of nine picks on linemen - three on each side of the ball - to go with a pair of bruising running backs and a quarterback known for his toughness and big arm.

"You know Parcells and his history. I'm kind of the same way," rookie General Manager Jeff Ireland said. "One of the first things you have to do is build the offensive and defensive lines."

Parcells, the Dolphins' head of football operations, as a coach once famously declared that if you were going to cook the meal you should have some say in the shopping.

It's unknown how much input new coach Tony Sparano had in the draft, but the former offensive line coach almost surely approved.

The no-frills approach led the Dolphins to sign players from eight conferences, including several with no BCS affiliation.

Only two of the six players drafted Sunday - Connecticut guard Donald Thomas and Arizona defensive lineman Lionel Dotson - went to schools in major conferences. The other four came from Hampton (defensive end Kendall Langford), Utah State (guard Shawn Murphy), Toledo (running back Jalen Parmele) and Montana (running back Lex Hilliard).

"Most of the draft is taken out of the BCS conferences," Ireland said. "We feel very comfortable in our ability to evaluate talent and judge that against what you're looking for at the NFL level."

On Day 1, the Dolphins had turned to major programs to address high-profile positions. They chose Clemson pass-rushing end Phillip Merling and quarterback Chad Henne, who joined his left tackle from Michigan, No. 1 pick Jake Long, who signed Tuesday.

Ireland declared himself satisfied with the weekend.

"I feel real good," he said. "There were a couple of players - I won't go into who they were - that got taken a couple of picks ahead we wished we would have had. But we're extremely happy with the group we got."

The Dolphins, with their emphasis on linemen, didn't select a wide receiver or cornerback, two areas of need.

Ireland began to address those issues Sunday night by signing an undrafted receiver from Hawaii, Davone Bess (5-10, 195 pounds). He caught 108 passes last season and had 41 touchdown receptions in his college career.

The Dolphins also signed two undrafted offensive tackles, Dan Gore of Boise State and Mike Byrne of Delaware, and BYU linebacker Kelly Poppinga.

Ireland said he plans to add eight to 10 more undrafted rookies before the club begins it rookie mini-camp, which will be Friday through Sunday.

The Dolphins entered the draft weekend with between 50 and 200 players on their draft board and a clear plan in mind.

Before they ended up in South Florida last winter, Parcells and Ireland helped make Dallas one of the NFC's best teams by building the Cowboys' lines.

Ireland recalled Sunday how the Cowboys selected four linemen and a pass-rusher - Pro Bowl player DeMarcus Ware - with the team's eight picks in 2005.

"It's fairly routine," Ireland said of the approach. "I don't know if it's a blueprint, but it's important you have an offensive and defensive line developing together."

So important, Ireland didn't want to risk missing out on Murphy, the son of former Atlanta Braves star Dale Murphy.

When linemen went with three straight picks early in the fourth round, Ireland insisted the team make a trade to move up to get Murphy.

To do so, Miami traded the Nos. 115 and 208 picks to Chicago for the No. 110 pick.

"It feels like you're indebted to them," Murphy said of being chosen.

That was the sentiment of the Dolphins' low-profile selections Sunday. Langford ended up at Hampton University in Virginia because the school helped him overcome low SAT scores; Hilliard bounced back from a ruptured Achilles' tendon suffered in 2006; Dotson sat out much of his first three seasons in Tucson with a variety of injuries.

Parcells and Ireland sifted through hundreds of players and their stories before settling on nine of them.

"They surprised me," said Langford, the 66th selection overall. "I'm glad that everything is over. I'm ready to come down there and play ball."

The Dolphins are ready to see their rookie class in action, beginning this weekend.

"I think it's important these guys compete and have a good first impression," Ireland said. "This is a job now. They are under the microscope."