Undrafted But Not Unwanted: Miami Dolphins Style

It is hard to believe that after all of the research and time NFL teams put into the NFL draft, talented players could be missed. This past year 256 players were drafted, yet some team out there may have made their best pick in the days after the draft.

It is the days following the draft where teams go over their lists and see what players they were following and eventually went undrafted. Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez were supposed to be the sure quarterbacks of the ’09 draft. But, who knows if ten years from now John Parker Wilson, undrafted out of Alabama, or Graham Harrell, Texas Tech,  will be considered the best quarterback from the ’09 class?

Who knows if the Denver Broncos will make Kestahn Moore, an undrafted running back out of the University of Florida, their next unheralded star player?

At this point in time it is truly impossible to know who the stars will be. That is what the past tells us.

Top draft picks could be the next Ryan Leaf or Lawrence Phillips. Undrafted players could be the next Kurt Warner or Rod Smith.

After months, possibly years, of tedious research no NFL teams thought Kurt Warner was worth drafting. The same year he went undrafted, Heath Shuler was the first overall quarterback taken.

Heath who? I have never even heard of this guy. Kurt Warner on the other hand, well I am well aware of his two MVP awards. I am well aware of his Super Bowl victory and the Super Bowl MVP award he won for his performance.

So that’s one exception, but nobody thought Hall of Famer Warren Moon was worth drafting either. Rod Smith amassed over 10,000 receiving yards in his career after going undrafted.

I am not trying to make the argument that great players are being missed yearly. However, significant role players and the occasional gem are often available after the draft is over.

Having the Miami Dolphins as my home team has made me realize this.

First I saw them pick up Adewale Ogunleye. An injured defensive end out of Indiana University. Three years after they signed him, he would lead the AFC in sacks.

Their next diamond in the rough find was Wes Welker. The Dolphins gave him his first opportunity in the NFL and he proved a reliable receiver. I still do not know why the Fins let him slip away, but as we all know Welker has put consecutive 1,000 yard seasons for the Patriots.

Last year the Miami Dolphins made a miracle run to the playoffs. Three of their key players were undrafted.

Davone Bess was signed as a wide receiver after going undrafted in 2008. He would prove to be the Fins’ most reliable receiver as he filled in admirably when Greg Camarillo was lost to injury. While starting only six games Bess had 54 receptions for 554 yards.

Dan Carpenter was signed in 2008 to compete with Jay Feely for the kicking job. Little did Feely know that Bill Parcells would go with the rookie out of Montana. Carpenter was perfect from inside 40 yards in 2008 and 9-of-13 from 40-plus yards. Pretty good if you ask me.

While the Dolphins were not responsible for the original signing of Lousaka Polite, they did bring him prior to their 2008 run. Dolphins’ fans love Polite for extending several drives with his proficiency on third-and-one plays. Polite was seven-of-eight on third or fourth-and-one runs.

Anyone who follows the Dolphins knows that these undrafted players were integral to the Fins’ success in ’08. So what about you? What have undrafted players done for your favorite team?

 

How the Miami Dolphins Won the Ryan-Crowder Battle

What do coaches get paid to do?

They get paid to run practices, they get paid to draw up plays, they get paid to keep their team focused, they get paid to represent their organization.

Up in New York, Rex Ryan has been miserably failing at doing his job. Last time I checked, head coaches were not supposed to make comments that you could confuse for something Joey Porter, Terrell Owens, or Chad Johnson might say.

Ryan has been engaged in a war-of-words with middle linebacker Channing Crowder of the Miami Dolphins. Ryan recently said of Crowder, “I’ve walked over tougher guys going to a fight.”

I think I have heard something like that before. I am just having trouble remembering if I heard it in my fourth or fifth grade class.

Seriously Rex?

I understand that coaches are expected to fire their teams up, but right now this whole thing just looks horrible for Ryan and the Jets. The Jets and Dolphins will not even face each other until October 12, which is a good four months away.

A little pre-mature aren’t you, Rex?

The week before a game, maybe that is the time for some trash talking. Head coaches though? They are supposed to save their trash talking for the locker room.

So what began this all saga?

Rex Ryan was running around making Super Bowl predictions for his Jets, and well, Channing Crowder took offence.

Crowder reacted to Ryan’s outlandish predictions by saying, “I know it’s his first chance to be a head coach, and I know he’s excited about life. But, like I said, I’ve never played a football game in June in my whole life. So congratulations to him. He’s the OTA, the OTA Super Bowl winner.”

And Crowder was right. Football games do not get played in June. Ryan does not even have a game on his record yet, and he is talking about Super Bowls?

Maybe this all stems from the fact the Dolphins chose Tony Sparano over Ryan a year ago for their head coaching position. Ryan’s comments sound more bitter than anything.

As the war progressed, Ryan at one point said he did not know who Crowder was. Crowder astutely responded that a head coach should know the starting middle linebacker of their rival team.

I know I am biased, but to me it seems like Crowder made a fool of Ryan.

Who was the one to bring up fighting? No, not the tough linebacker—the guy who gets paid to coach was the first one to bring up an actual fight.

Are the Jets proud of this guy or wondering why the hell they hired him?

Channing Crowder, who gets paid to beat the heck out of guys, out-witted and out-smarted an NFL coach.

Crowder also decided to be the bigger man and end this little feud.

That is just one aspect of how the Dolphins won this battle.

The other aspect is that members of the Dolphins front office refused to get involved, whereas members of the Jets front office were in the middle of it.

So who looks more respectable? The Dolphins or the Jets?

I think it is obvious, but you tell me.

 

Tony Sparano: A Humble Man Who Transformed The Dolphins and The NFL

Its hard to believe the head coach of a team that had the best turnaround from a one-win season in NFL history could be under-appreciated, but Tony Sparano is. So why is Sparano under-appreciated?

Sparano had to share the spotlight with football mastermind Bill Parcells. He had to share the spotlight as new owner Stephen Ross immersed himself into the Dolphins organization. He had to share the spotlight as the Dolphins success was attributed to Joey Porter and Chad Pennington’s re-emergence.

Not much of the spotlight was left for Tony Sparano. Sure, he got some credit, but not nearly enough.

The best turnaround in league history. From one win to 11 wins. That just does not happen. When teams hit league bottom, they stay there. Just ask the Lions.

Not even the Dolphins 10 win improvement could win Sparano the AP Coach of the Year award. Mike Smith won that award in Atlanta with a seven win improvement. An award that surely would have been Sparano’s had the spotlight been his, or had he been a flashier coach.

Sparano is not that type of coach. In an age where coaches and owners have become celebrities themselves Sparano prefers to go about his work with little fanfare.

Trying to find information on Sparano is difficult; there just is not much to go on.

So how did this little-known first-year coach transform the NFL in 2008?

He decided to run the Wildcat.

The Dolphins were having a rough start to the season. They were 0-2 and heading back from a crushing defeat in Arizona.

What was Tony Sparano thinking about? He wanted Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams on the field at the same time. Two of the best running backs in the league; oh the havoc they could wreak if used right.

Wildcat.

Somehow it clicked for Sparano. He gave the orders to his assistants.

“I called David [Lee] to the front of the plane and said, ‘Look. Here’s what I want: Tomorrow when we get back, I want three runs, maybe a pass out of this Wildcat package” Sparano commented after the idea came to him on a charter flight home.

Lee, the quarterbacks coach, would draw up those plays. The Dolphins would then go to New England and rock the Patriots world.

The league took notice of the Dolphins, even if the league did not take notice of Tony Sparano.

Sparano’s idea forced teams to spend extra time preparing for the Wildcat. It forced them to live in fear of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams running wild around the field. That was before the flea-flickers and end-arounds were even introduced.

How much did the Wildcat help the Dolphins? While their success can not be fully attributed to it, the Dolphins went 11-3 after its introduction.

That has to make Dolphins fans feel excited about next season.

Sure, Bill Parcells is considered the mastermind behind the Dolphins success. He put the pieces together, but Sparano was the one who utilized them.

Parcells can only be given so much credit for what the Dolphins did. Sparano was the one on the sidelines, not Parcells. Parcells did not even accompany the team for away games.

I am in no way trying to take away from what Parcells has done because he did amazing things for the Dolphins. One of those amazing things was bringing in Sparano.

Sparano spent four years under Parcells in Dallas, as did Paul Pasqualoni.

After being hired Sparano was responsible for bringing in Pasqualoni to be defensive coordinator. Pasqualoni would be the one to implement the Dolphins 3-4 defense that would allow Joey Porter’s resurgence.

So with little attention Sparano changed the Dolphins, and he changed the NFL. While he may not be well known, he is well respected both within the Dolphins and outside the Dolphins.

“The guys passionate. He loves to come out here and watch his players play, and he throws himself completely into it” remarked team leader and quarterback Chad Pennington.

The Dolphins have three more years of Sparano. Parcells is also under contract for three more years, but a clause that was activated when Wayne Huizenga sold the Dolphins to Ross would allow Parcells to leave whenever he pleases.

The Dolphins have great management, and with the leadership of Sparano they should have continued success.

The following quote would not mean as much unless I put it in context. A rookie coach taking the reins of a 1-15 team, and what did Sparano say?

“I’m not afraid of challenges. I look forward to them.”

Miami Dolphins: 2009 Key Positional Battles

Heading into the Miami Dolphins’ training camps and preseason, there are several positions that are still up for grabs. Let’s take a look at what positional battles are the most interesting and important. You might just see some familiar faces replaced by some new ones.

Matt Roth vs. Cameron Wake/Jason Taylor To Start at Outside Linebacker

Last year was Matt Roth’s first at outside linebacker for the Dolphins after making the switch from defensive end.

Roth had 56 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2008. His statistics were not overwhelming, but Roth was well-known for his jarring hits. Roth looked promising enough that the job should be his to begin 2009.

However, any great strides made by Cameron Wake could change that.

Wake comes to the Dolphins from the CFL where he was selected the Most Outstanding Defensive Player both seasons he spent there. In those two seasons, he recorded 39 sacks which could greatly add to the Fins’ pass-rushing ability. Wake’s transition to the NFL will be something to follow closely as the Fins progress through camps.

The last thing to mention here is Jason Taylor’s return to the Dolphins. It is expected he will be an outside linebacker, but with these two young talents, he might struggle for playing time. Look for him to a third-down rusher rather than a force in the linebacker corps.

Jason Allen vs. Vontae Davis/Sean Smith/Eric Green To Start at Cornerback

Right now it is Jason Allen’s job to lose. However, it is likely he will lose it.

Allen has been unimpressive in three seasons with the Dolphins and this will be his make-or-break year.

Unfortunately for Allen, but fortunately for the Dolphins, he will have stiff competition to win a starting job. Green comes to the Dolphins after four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where he had 39 tackles and an interception last year.

Davis and Smith joined the Dolphins in the 2009 draft. While Davis was the first round pick, Smith also looks to be formidable cornerback as he stands in at 6’4″ and runs 4.5 40-yard dash. Do not be too surprised if Smith emerges as a dark horse candidate for this job, but Davis might be the current favorite.

Whoever wins will be starting opposite Will Allen, who pretty much cemented his starting job with a solid 2008 season.

Phillip Merling vs. Randy Starks To Start at Defensive End

Unlike many of the Dolphins’ battles, this one involves two returning players.

Vonnie Holiday left the Dolphins after 2009, vacating his starting job. Starks was solid when he saw the field last year, as he recorded three sacks and even an interception.

While Starks has been around the NFL a while, Merling was a rookie with the Dolphins last year. Merling is the taller of the two, but also the lighter and more agile. This is likely his job to lose as the Dolphins will expect him to increase his production in his sophomore campaign.

Merling only had one sack in 2008, but he did record a key interception for a TD in the Dolphins’ season finale (pictured above).

Regardless of who wins this job, the loser should still get plenty of time on the field as both players are solid.

Pat White vs. Chad Henne To Be the Back-Up for Chad Pennington

While this might not be a pressing issue for 2009, it is a pressing issue for the Dolphins future.

Last year, Chad Henne was heralded as the future of the Dolphins at quarterback. Then, Bill Parcells threw everyone for a loop when he drafted Pat White this year.

White and Henne were both solid college quarterbacks, White is the more versatile of the two. White will likely see more playing time than Henne this year, as the Dolphins may look to put him under center in the Wildcat. White can run effectively, and actually be a threat to throw unlike when Ronnie Brown stood under center for the Wildcat.

If White is successful then he may end up being the quarterback of the future for the Dolphins. Both players should still be afforded time to develop as Pennington looks to lead the Fins to another playoff berth.

Ted Ginn vs. Davone Bess/Greg Camarillo/Patrick Turner/Brian Hartline for Passes from Pennington

So who will be Pennington’s favorite target this year?

Last year it switched almost every game. Anthony Fasano and David Martin proved to be more reliable as receiving targets than the Dolphins’ actual receivers.

Bess ended up being the most reliable, while Ginn ended up being the most dangerous. Bess has his job as a third-down receiver secure, but this year he will look to expand his role.

Ginn must finally tap into his potential and prove that he is a threat. Camarillio will return from injury and hope to show the Dolphins made a good decision by giving him a long-term deal last season.

However, the Dolphins obviously did not feel safe going into 2009 with just these three receivers, as they brought in Hartline and Turner to compete for time. Expect to see Turner make an immediate impact and take someone’s passes away.

 

Obviously any of these battles could drastically change based on injury or outstanding performance during camps and the preseason. Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano are not known for playing favorites; whoever is the best at their position will be the starter. Keep an eye on how Camarillo returns from injury and how the Fins decide to utilize Pat White.

Early Expectations for the Miami Dolphins’ 2009 Season

Last season, the Dolphins went 11-5. This year expect the Dolphins to have to pull a miracle or two just to get to 10 wins.

In 2008 the Dolphins were 2-0 against the Bills, 1-1 against the Patriots, and 1-1 against the Jets in their own division. Outside their division the Fins beat the Chargers, Broncos, Seahawks, Raiders, Rams, 49ers, and Chiefs. They came out on the losing end of games against the Cardinals, Texans, and Ravens (twice including the playoffs).

While the Dolphins had the best turnaround in NFL history last year while going from one win to 11, there were still things to be concerned about.

The Dolphins went 1-3 against playoff teams, including their post-season game against the Ravens. All of their wins except for two came against teams that were .500 or under.

One of the wins against an above .500 team was when the Dolphins unleashed the Wildcat for the first time on the Patriots. The second of those wins was against the Jets in the season finale when Brett Favre looked like he belonged anywhere but on a football field.

The Dolphins were not a fluke. They were a good team. In 2008 they were able to beat all the teams they were supposed to beat save for the Texas.

However, in 2009 there is no longer a schedule full of games that the Dolphins are supposed to win. In fact it is quite the opposite.

Let’s take a look.

Sep 13. @ Atlanta 1:00pm

For the Dolphins first game they will have to go on the road to play a tough Falcons team. The Falcons were a playoff team last year and nearly beat the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in the first round.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Ryan had an amazing rookie season and should be even more dangerous with another year under his belt and with Tony Gonzalez as his new option at tight end.

This team did not lose much in the offseason but they were able to add defensive tackle Peria Jerry in the first round of this year’s draft who should make an immediate impact on their defense. I chalk this game up as a tough loss.

Sep 21. Indianapolis 8:30pm

No there is not let down after traveling to Atlanta. The Dolphins must come back to Florida to face the ever dangerous Indianapolis Colts. However, there are two main intangibles that might give the Dolphins a win; this is a Monday night game at LandShark Stadium.

The Colts have yet to re-sign Peyton Manning’s favorite threat Marvin Harrison and lost back-up running back Dominic Rhodes to free agency. While a game against the Colts will never be easy, I see this one as a victory.

Sep 27. @ San Diego 4:15pm

Last season the Dolphins beat the Chargers 17-10 at home. The Chargers would eventually sneak into the playoffs, but the Chargers who lost to the Dolphins on October 5, 2008 got much better as the season went on. Phillip Rivers became one of the leagues premier quarterbacks.

Darren Sproles and LaDainian Tomlinson have the ability to run wild against any defense. Speaking of defense the Chargers will get Shawne Merriman back off the injured reserve and picked up defense end Larry English in the draft. This is not a game I expect the Dolphins to win in San Diego.

Oct 4. Buffalo 4:05pm, Nov 29. @Buffalo 1:00pm

If there is a game the Dolphins should win, it is this one. The additions of Terrell Owens and Dominic Rhodes should have little impact on a team that still has no quarterback. The Miami Dolphins were one game short of missing Marshawn Lynch’s three game suspension, but he still should be a little off his game for their first meeting.

The Bills are highly improved, as they also added Seth McKinney through free agency and drafted Aaron Maybin. However, I still see the Dolphins winning their first meeting easily and winning their second meeting in a close affair.

Oct 12. NYJ 8:30pm,  @ NYJ Nov 1 1:00pm

It has always been a hard feat for the Dolphins to sweep the Jets, but I think this will be one of those years. The Jets have a choice between two inexperience quarterbacks; either of whom will be facing an incredible Dolphins defense. I

n the draft the Jets addressed few problems as overall they had few picks. Unless Mark Sanchez turns out to be a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco the Dolphins should win on Monday night at home and on the road November 1.

Oct 25. New Orleans 4:15pm

The Saints had an uneventful offseason after finishing 8-8 last season. The Saints are always dangerous with Drew Brees at the helm, but the Saints are a relatively mediocre team overall. I do not expect them to beat the Dolphins at home this year. The Dolphins will be coming off a bye week and should be prepared to beat the Saints.

Nov. 8 @ New England 1:00pm,   Dec 6. New England 8:20pm

Tom Brady is back this year. That makes the Patriots scary again. Even with Brady missing and the Wildcat formation, the Dolphins only won once against the Patriots last year.

The Patriots went out and got Joey Galloway as another threat for Brady and strengthened their defense through the draft and free agency. I would love to see the Dolphins beat the Patriots twice, but unfortunately I think it will be the Patriots beating the Fins twice.

Nov 15 Tampa Bay 1:00pm

Last year a late season collapse prevented the Bucs from making the playoffs. As a result, coach Jon Gruden was fired in January. New coach Raheem Morris will try to find a starting quarterback amongst Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, Brian Griese and first round draft choice Josh Freeman.

Whoever wins the battle will still have Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton to throw to, as well as new addition Kellen Winslow. The Dolphins should win this game against a rookie coach and at home. Plus, none of the Bucs choices at quarterback look overly appealing.

Nov 19. @ Carolina 8:20pm

On short rest the Dolphins will head to play the Panthers on a Thursday night. Luckily, Carolina will be dealing with same situation. The Panthers were a dominant team last year and Deangelo Williams emerged as a premier running back.

The Panthers remain relatively unchanged from last season and I think this is game is a toss-up. Based off the fact the game is in Carolina, I predict a win for Carolina.

Dec 13. @ Jacksonville 1:00pm

Road games are always tough, but this is one the Dolphins should win. Jacksonville self-destructed both internally and on the field last season. David Garrard did not turn out to be the quarterback the Jags were hoping for and Jack Del Rio lost control of his team. I see this being a road victory for the Dolphins.

Dec 20. @ Tennessee 1:00pm

Tennessee was one of the best teams in the league last year, and there is no reason to believe they will not be again. The Titans did lose Albert Haynesworth, but other than their teams remains relatively intact from last season. Expect this to be a road loss for the Fins.

Dec 27. Houston 1:00pm

The Dolphins notoriously struggle against one of the NFL’s consistently worst teams: the Houston Texas. Last year it was a last second scramble as the clock ticked off that cost the Dolphins the game. This year the Texans have to come to Florida, and the Fins will be looking for revenge.

The Texans have a nice young team highlighted by Matt Schaub, Steve Slaton, and Andre Johnson on offense. With that being said, I expected the Fins to blowout the Texans this year.

Jan 3. Pittsburgh 1:00pm

Did you watch the Super Bowl last year? Well this year the Steelers come to Miami to face the Dolphins. The last few times the Fins have faced the Steelers it has been a close game. The Steelers let players like Nate Washington and Larry Foote depart after the season, but made sure to lock up Hines Ward and James Harrison.

One thing to consider about the last game is that its possible that Pittsburgh will have the playoffs clinched and sit their starters. Since I can not assume that, I mark this one as a Steelers win.

Well with my predictions, that would give the Dolphins a 9-7 season. Hopefully they can surprise me and pull out an extra victory for a playoff birth.

A pro about the Dolphins schedule is that they do not have to travel to any cold regions during the late parts of the season, except Buffalo in late November. A major con about this schedule is how strong it is. Many of the teams the Dolphins face this year were playoff teams or were better on paper than they actually performed.

Last year the Dolphins were handed an easy schedule and they made the most of it. The Dolphins were aware of this though, and did not assume they could put the same team on the field and win 11 games this year.  

Key arrivals include free agents Gibril Wilson and Jason Taylor. Wilson will look to help a weak secondary that should also get help from first round draft pick Vontae Davis and Yeremiah Bell who signed a long-term deal.

Taylor will join Joey Porter, Matt Roth, and Channing Crowder, who signed a multi-year extension, in what could become one of the premier linebacker corps in the league.  The Dolphins also looked to address a depth problem at wide receiver by drafting Brian Hartline out of Ohio State and Patrick Turner out of USC.

Key departures include Vonnie Holiday, Andre Goodman, and Renaldo Hill who all played on the defensive side of the ball.  The Dolphins will look to Jason Allen and Davis to fill the void left by Goodman while Wilson will replace Hill.

For the Dolphins to excel again this year Chad Pennington needs to have another career year. For that to happen some wide receivers need to emerge on this team, and quickly. If Pennington has no quality receivers to go to this team can go no where. Something that would be nice would be increased production from Ronnie Brown.

In 2007 he looked like the best back in the league before his injury, but last year he was not nearly as impressive.  If he runs better it will help Pennington’s game even more.

On the defensive side of the ball the Dolphins need newcomers Wilson and Davis to shore up a weak secondary.  The Dolphins should have relatively little problems stopping the run, but a poor pass defense could be their downfall.

Last year the defense was hurt by a poor special teams unit that often gave opposing offenses good field advantage. This also needs to improve for the Dolphins to have a solid year.

The Dolphins have improved this off-season. I would even go as far as to say greatly improved. The real problem is their new schedule. If they had the same schedule as last year I would have them penciled in for 13 wins this year.

Hopefully I am wrong and the Dolphins can make it to the playoffs with this solid team. Jason Taylor is sure to be a lightning bolt and veteran leader for the Dolphins, something to what Alonzo Mourning was for the Heat in recent years. Surprise the NFL again Fins.

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