Miami Dolphins Thin at Receiver
The Brandon Marshall trade had Miami Dolphins fans everywhere screaming for Jeff Ireland’s head. Understandably, this puzzling trade left Miami very thin at wide receiver. Once the truth came out of Marshall’s new run in with the law, fans everywhere are forgetting about Brandon Marshall. Personally, Brandon was one of my favorite players, but his “me first” attitude had to go. Davone Bess and Brian Hartline simply will not cut it in today’s pass happy league as a duo. Although Miami has a promising player in Edmund “Clyde” Gates, the Dolphins should look to draft at least two wide receivers.
The fast approaching draft is deep at the wide receiver position. With Justin Blackmon likely off the board when Miami picks, watch out for Michael Floyd to be their guy (we can only hope). If Miami passes on Floyd, there is still a large amount of receivers waiting to be plucked off the tree. Hopefully, if Miami does decide to look else where with their top pick, they will look towards Tannehill or trading back to pick up more picks later on. If Miami does pursue other options, here are a few that Joe Philbin and company could be interested in.
Brian Quick (Appalachian State) – Brian is a huge 6’4” 220 lbs., physical specimen, who I compare ironically enough, to Brandon Marshall. When my good friend, Shaun Craft, told me about this kid, I immediately looked him up. He did not disappoint. The way Brian runs routes, catches the ball, and even holds the ball while running, is almost exact to Marshall. He possesses that uncanny break away speed with the ball in his hands, not to mention, he has above average hands. With his size, he towers over defenders. And when faced with press coverage, he uses his size to get off quickly. He struggles when the ball is under thrown, and does not show break away speed when the ball is not in his hands. Although people may suggest that he did not play against elite talent at Appalachian State, he dominated Virginia Tech’s defensive backs when App. State played Va. Tech. Brian is almost an exact replica of Brandon Marshall, without the bad attitude.
Grade: 2nd – 3rd
Dale Moss (South Dakota State) – Many people have never heard of this kid who made the transition from basketball to football, at South Dakota State. Moss is an intriguing prospect at 6’3” 213 lbs. From what I have seen, Moss was not even invited to the NFL Scouting Combine (what a shame). Sigmund Bloom of the Bleacher Report, reports that Moss ran a 4.45 forty at his pro day. That’s pretty speedy for a 6’3” guy. Moss has excellent concentration when the ball is in the air, while also possessing above average hands (should be expected from a basketball guy). He runs average routes from what I have seen on tape. He looks a little like Roy Williams. He runs decent routes, and he is excellent when the ball is in the air. Like Roy, he is a little stiff in the hips and does not play low to the ground. Unlike Mr. Williams (who attended Texas), he is a small school receiver who needs to be exposed to big time talent. He also must improve his explosion off the line, like Williams. If he can improve his explosion and route running, Dale Moss could be an excellent number two receiver in a west coast system for years.
Grade: 6th – Undrafted
Greg Childs (Arkansas) – A 6’3” 219 lbs., receiver who never really figured out how to be consistent. Childs has all of the tools to be the top receiver on any team in the country. He has good speed for a guy his size, excellent hands, and has the ability to be a blocker in the run game. He just has to become consistent. On tape, one moment he will make a great block, the next he will show no effort at all. With the right coaching, this kid could shine in any offensive scheme. Childs compares to Reggie Wayne, based upon ability. Both have excellent hands and run above average routes. The only knock on Childs, repeating myself, is consistency. He does fight for the ball, and has good tracking ability. BUT, he needs to improve his explosion off the line. Once Greg Childs gets it, you’ll be hearing from him on a weekly basis.
Grade: 5th – 7th
Devier Posey (Ohio State) – Posey is probably one of the best in this class at running routes. At 6’2” 211lbs., he had the size desired to be a number two receiver. He also has above average hands and great field awareness (similar to fellow Ohio State Buckeye, Brian Hartline). Hartline and Posey are probably the most comparable out of anyone on this list (although I believe Posey has more upside). They are almost carbon copies of each other, but Posey has the break away speed that Hartline is missing. Two major issues I have with Devier, and one minor. 1. He has off the field issues that the Miami Dolphins do not need, and he will need to clean that up. 2. He needs to learn that football, is a violent sport. It is obvious that when going across the middle, this kid does not want to be hit. He needs to understand, he will be hit. 3. He needs to learn how to block. In Joe Philbin’s new scheme, Reggie Bush is going to be featured. Wide Receivers need to learn how to block, and stay with it. Posey has all of the talent in the world, and has shown flashes of it. Like Childs, this kid can be good, but only if he wants to be.
Grade: 3rd – 5th
The wide receiver class this year is deep, very deep. Joe Philbin will draft players that fit the system that he, and Offensive Coordinator Mike Sherman are installing. The west coast system does not call for small, shifty, speedy guys. Look for Philbin to find big wide receivers who can run great routes, and have above average hands. Personally, I would not be disappointed with the combination of Brian Quick and Devier Posey. Dolphan nation needs to keep their fins up, and keep “feeding the wolf”!