Dolphins Defensive About 2010 Draft
By Brian Miller
Make no mistake the Miami Dolphins are desperate to improve their defensive showing from last season. A pathetic 27 out of 32 ranking. A safety position that gave up more down-field plays that the offense could generate. A linebacking corp that couldn’t stop even the more mediocre TE’s. So forget about the offensive side of the ball, this year, the Miami Dolphins got very defensive about their 201o draft approach.
The draft kicked off with the Phins trading out of the 12 spot and picking up a 2nd round draft pick. Moving back to the 28 spot, they took Jared Odrick. A bruising pass-rushing tackle that will line up next to new NT Randy Starks (who has and is capable of playing the spot full-time). Odrick? Let’s just say he is a “football player”. Non-stop motor and killer instinct.
The Phins then took a total of 30 seconds to use their 2nd rounder. Drafting Koa Misi a DE/OLB hybrid who plays fast and is solid in coverage with the ability to move up field and rush the passer. A common theme this year? A solid non-stop motor who is a “football player”. Oh, and a “football player” is someone who just simply plays the game. They don’t showboat, they don’t strut, they just play and only know one way to do it…with intensity.
It was the 3rd round that put a damper on the defensive festivities when they took John Jerry from Ole Miss. A 6’6 mammoth offensive guard who seems poised to start from day 1. Built like a NT, Jerry will likely line up between Center Jake Grove and LT Jake Long. Call it the “3J” side of the ball. Jake, John, and Jake.
The 4th round sent the Dolphins back to the defensive side of the ball and they stayed their. They opened day 3 with A.J. Edds. A big time LB’er prospect that may play both inside and outside as well as special teams. They followed up the Edds pick by addressing their depth at corner-back. Drafting Nolan Carrol in the 5th round with the pick they received for Ted Ginn.
The Dolphins were supposed to be off the clock until the 6th round but Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells needed to get back into round 5 so they traded their final 6th round pick and one of their 7th rounders to the Redskins to move back into round 5 where they drafted Reshad Jones. An explosive hitting, ball hawking safety out of Georgia. He needs some polishing but Jones was a projected 2nd or 3rd round projection who fell to the 5th.
The Dolphins still have 2 7th rounders left on their draft card but the real fun in this late portion of the draft starts later when teams begin to fill out their rosters with undrafted fee agents. This is where the Dolphins stole Davone Bess 3 years ago.
This years draft was not explosive on the ‘name’ front but the team added strong production players who were all 4 year starters and became familiar to the team during the Senior Bowl. The Dolphins come out of this draft with a lot of defensive help.
Still wish the Phins would have spent some picks on the offensive side of the ball? Well let’s not forget they drafted Brandon Marshall for a pair of two’s as well…yes, that counts.