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2009 NFL Draft Predictions: Miami Dolphins

Written April 7, 2009 by Black Widow

Miami Dolphins Draft Despite a first-round playoff loss to the Ravens last season, the Miami Dolphins have plenty of enthusiasm heading into the ‘09 campaign after an 11-5 record and an AFC East Title in Year One of what most figured would be a long-term restoration project. Yet for the progress they made last season, there’s still a whole lot more to be done. The Dolphins got much younger last year, but the youth movement will continue in full swing this April. Let’s take a look at five positions where the Dolphins could use an upgrade.

1.) Inside Linebacker – Channing Crowder was re-signed to a long-term contract extension after finishing second on the team in tackles to S Yeremiah Bell last fall. Outside of him, there’s not a while lot to be excited about on the inside of the Fins’ 3-4 defense. Akin Ayodele is a serviceable option whom the coaching staff brought with them from Dallas, but won’t make many highlight reels. Reggie Tarbor didn’t make much of an impact in his first season as a Dolphins after coming over from New York. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: LB Brian Cushing (USC), ILB Jasper Brinkley (South Carolina). NFL Grid Iron Gab suggests it’s time the Dolphins draft defensive players.

2.) Free Safety – While a strong safety position is in good hands with Bell, a free safety they can plug in next to him is a problem the Dolphins don’t have a solution for. Over the past two years, Miami has started nearly 10 players at the position, to no avail. The best athlete in the secondary is Jason Allen who was a 2006 first-round pick, but nobody’s quite sure whether he’d be better served as a safety or cornerback. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: FS Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest).

3.) Outside Linebacker – After a 17.5-sack campaign, Joey Porter put all of his doubters in their place who said the former Steeler had lost his edge. But Porter is on the wrong side of 30, and more importantly there’s nobody on the other side of him to brings down quarterbacks. In Miami’s 3-4 defense, obtaining sack-happy outside linebackers is critical. Parcells was directing the Cowboys when they drafted playmaking OLB’s DeMarcus Ware and Antony Spencer, and the same blueprint can be expected to follow him to South Florida. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: OLB Clay Mathews (USC).

4.) Offensive Tackle – Under the direction of Bill Parcells, Miami subscribes to the theory that teams are built from the inside-out. And just because the Dolphins invested the No. 1 overall pick of 2008 in OLT Jake Long, who was solid in his initial NFL Season, doesn’t mean they’re done. ORT Vernon Carey was re-signed in the offseason, but the Dolphins still boast little depth at offensive tackle. Good Fits in ’09 Draft Class: OT Garrett Reynolds (UNC).

5.) Wide Receiver – The backhanded compliment of “overachiever” aptly describes the Fins’ top two wide receivers, Done Bess and Greg Camarillo. Neither possesses side or speed, and both were unheralded finds out of Stanford and Hawaii. They’ve won over the coaching staff, which is something ‘07 first-rounder Teddy Ginn Jr. can’t say. One thing none of the three wideouts can claim is a big body that can be targeted on third downs and in the red zone. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: WR Brooks Foster (UNC), WR Austin Collie (BYU), WR Quan Cosby (Texas). In the MVN Mock Draft, Fins Nation took Hakeem Nicks in the first round.

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2 Comments

Comments

2 Responses to “2009 NFL Draft Predictions: Miami Dolphins”

Brad on April 7th, 2009 9:47 pm

“While a strong safety position is in good hands with Bell, a free safety they can plug in next to him is a problem the Dolphins don’t have a solution for.”

Gibril Wilson? *cough*

Also, I agree that they’ll look at OLB, but Cam Wake deserves mention.

Overall, I enjoyed the post.

Reply
Black Widow on April 16th, 2009 1:11 pm

Thanks for the heads up, I missed the Gabril Wilson signing at free safety. I appreciate you taking the time to read the post and I try to be as accurate as possible with all the up-to-date information presented.

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