Miami Dolphins can solve a lot of issues with one selection in draft
By Sean Moon
The Miami Dolphins can solve a lot of issues with one selection in this years NFL draft.
Among all the holes this Miami Dolphin team has, a true nose guard is likely going to be needed if new head coach Brian Flores wants to incorporate his 3-4 hybrid defense. The young and talented defensive tackles Devon Godchaux, Akeem Spence and Vincent Taylor will need a true 0 tech mauler in the middle of this defensive line.
So, if the Miami Dolphins are not going to pick up a quarterback in this years draft, which has been widely theorized or at least pick one in the first round, then the Miami Dolphins need to obviously take the man who wore a tiger paw on the side of their helmet.
Ok, maybe not just a man, but a beast and someone for sure who needs to be a top the charts. The Miami Dolphins need to look hard at Dexter Lawrence and let this man anchor, what would be a dominant defensive line for years to come. But, if you should opt for the young Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray, if he is sitting there at the 13th pick, then you can potentially trade up and nab a quality nose tackle in late first or early to mid-second rounds.
There are most likely a few nose tackles worth selecting in the early to mid-second rounds that would surely work out for the Dolphins defensive needs, but you’re not getting the mauler I mentioned earlier, who is by far the only 1st round rated nose tackle in this year’s draft, in my opinion. A man among boys as they say, Lawrence is listed at 6-4 and weighs in at a cool 350 pounds.
The more film you watch on this huge man, the more you want to see him paired up with Taylor, Spence or Godchaux, I think the word I’m looking for is disruptive, yes disruptive.
Now if you’re looking for a true nose tackle I think the best 0 or 1 tech guy out there is Dexter Lawrence, he is no secret and if you could care less about a first round quarterback in this years draft then this has to be your target. The Miami Dolphins need to go get him.
According to the official Clemson Tigers web site Dexter Lawrence finished his collegiate career with 162 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 43 quarterback pressures, five pass breakups, a caused fumble and three recovered fumbles in 1,541 snaps over 40 games (36 starts) … first-team All-American who was also a three-time All-ACC selection. Not a bad resume to say the least.
Dexter Lawrence is a physical imposing, very active nose tackle, who plays with bad intentions and is really made to play the 0 tech in the NFL. He might bulk up a little more from the weight room (not that its necessary) but he is definitely made to play nose tackle.
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He was slid into the 3 tech at times while at Clemson but that was just when Clemson decided to put Christian Wilkins in the 1 tech for a soul crushing front. He was such a dominate player he would routinely see double teams.
He did a superb job at taking up multiple bodies to free up open shots for the linebackers or safety blitzing. Even gap exchanging scheme plays worked to free up defensive tackles. He really reminds me of a Ndamukong Suh type of player, only at nose tackle instead of Defensive tackle.
He would be an immediate starter and can only get better, which is a scary thought. He is a giant being, but his feet are not stuck in the mud, now he is not the fastest and most agile guy on the field but only because he is a big guy, not because he lacks mobility.
Some of the knocks on his resume is that he sometimes disappears as a pass rusher, but that’s why you got edge rushers right, but I see his true value as a run stuffer any way, and we all know that the Miami Dolphins could use as much help there as possible. He would most likely be of use in the 3-4 hybrid defense due to his experience in the 3 tech as well.
In my opinion he would be a perfect fit for this defense. The real question is will he still be available when the draft reaches the 13th pick, and will the Miami Dolphins select a quarterback at that spot or move ahead with selecting a devastating mauler?