Tyler Eiffert Should Be Dolphins Pick At 12
By Brian Miller
Feb 23, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Tyler Eiffert runs the 40 yard dash during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins will go on the clock in a little under 2 weeks. One week come this Thursday. The field of possibilities is wide open thanks to a hopeful game changing free agency period. Most of the talk has been centered around corner back and left tackle.
Luke Joeckel, Lane Johnson, and Eric Fisher have been linked to Miami Dolphins interest. Xavier Rhodes seems to be the top CB at the 12 spot. For my money, if I’m Jeff Ireland, there is no question who I will be selecting with my 12th overall pick in round 1.
Tyler Eiffert.
Done. Over. Look to round 2. Smile, clap my hands and call it a night. Tyler Eiffert has the tools to be that explosive. That good. That ability to change a game on a dime. He, unlike Rhodes and the three left tackles can score TD’s. And let’s face it, the Dolphins have a problem scoring touchdowns in the red-zone.
Eiffert stands over 6.5 feet tall and is as athletic as Aaron Herandez, Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham. He has the potential to be an elite pass catching TE who can block as well. Not great but he can do enough. Eiffert is as good as it gets in pass catching. He has the ability to get up for the ball and uses his body well to shield defenders.
While Eiffert doesn’t have blazing speed, ran a 4.68 40, he has better than average speed and is a legit seam threat in any offense. Eiffert has all of the physical tools you need for a West Coast style offense and the addition of Eiffert would give sophomore QB Ryan Tannehill yet another major weapon.
Most sites who report team needs, have left the TE position off the list for the Miami Dolphins, specifically due to the one year deal with Dustin Keller. The Dolphins can not afford to enter the 2013 season with Keller as the lone viable option at the position. Behind Keller on the depth chart are Kyle Miller, Michael Egnew, and Charles Clay. That is simply not good enough.
With Eiffert in the fold, the Dolphins could easily use five wide sets or four wide one back sets. Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline manning the outsides, Davone Bess in the slot, with Eiffert and Keller off the edge. The Dolphins could run a legit two TE set, something they want to run but have lacked the personnel for.
The Dolphins know they need a big impact from the position. They reportedly went strong for Tennessee Titans free agent Jared Cook before deciding on giving Keller a one year deal. Who is coming off a season in which he only played eight games.
The Dolphins would have far more flexibility with Eiffert and a long term solution at a position that has been problematic for a very long time. The pick of Eiffert would not be frowned upon by most fans. Eiffert sits atop many fans wish lists. Along with another game changing pass catcher. Tavon Austin.
Austin is a number one choice for many fans as Eiffert is for many others. I happen to be asked quite regularly why I’m not as high on Austin as I am on Eiffert and the answer is simply this. Ceiling.
Eiffert has it and in my opinion Austin does not. Austin is a rare athlete that combines speed and unreal quickness and there is no doubt that he is one of those few players that can change a game with one touch of the football. The issue I have with Austin is I don’t see where he has room to get better. Unlike Eiffert.
It’s safe to say that once both players reach the NFL level there will be growing pains and production drops. It’s natural. The speed at the next level is nothing compared to the college level and that is going to create a bigger problem, to me, for Austin.
Austin will not gain speed after he enters the NFL. He has reached the top of that performance level. In fact, it’s a safe assumption given the speed of the NFL to see Austin’s speed drop instead of rise. He will make a huge impact in the return game and while he can break it long he will face the fastest players of his college days every day in the NFL.
He is a solid pass catcher and while he can improve he will not become a number 1 or number 2 wide-receiver but instead will be a slot or HB type player. Austin will need to use his speed to gain separation because he is not going to get any taller and will lack the size to use his body to fend off defenders.
Tavon Austin reminds me a lot of Quadry Ismail coming out of college. All the speed and intangibles but lacking a higher ceiling to become elite. Eiffert on the other hand can put on more size to his already big frame. He can learn to run faster and learn to get quicker while not losing any of his strengths.
Of all the players in this year draft, Tavon Austin may be the best all around athlete but Tyler Eiffert may very well be the best pure football player. If I’m Jeff Ireland. I’m making this move on Thursday night. With so many draft picks, Ireland can afford then to move back into round one to grab another playmaker.