Dave Hyde | Sun Sentinel blogs

Hyde5: Larry Bird rips his Pacers team as S-O-F-T

Wed, 23 May 2012 05:57:56 GMT

1. As if emotions won't be high enough for Thursday's Game 6, Larry Bird had the harshest words of any for his Pacers. "I can't believe my team went soft - S-O-F-T," Bird told the Indianapolis Star. "I'm disappointed. I never thought it would happen."

Asked to expand on that, he told the Star, "That's all I have to say."

Bird was talking about their resolve more than their physical plays. The Pacers wilted in the second half competitively. But this will add to the emotions.

2. Danny Granger sounds like he will miss Game 6 and Udonis Haslem might. Granger injured his ankle in the second half of Game 5 on Tuesday and said afterward it's "day'to-day." He also said the pain was an "eight or nine" on a scale of 10. The question isn't if he tries to play, as he did Tuesday after it happeend. The question is if he can play effectively. David West, who injured his knee, sounded better about his chances of laying.

Haslem? His retaliatory foul on Tyler Hansborough was hard enough to merit a flagrant call. Stu Jackson will review it in the league offices. The question is what he decides. Does it merit an upgrade to a flagrant-two? Or does it get upgraded further to a one-game suspension?

As Haslem pointed out after the game, "Check my rap sheet. Nine years, I've never been accused of dirty play."

Reputations come into play in these things, sure. TNT's Steve Kerr said he'd be suspended. Charles Barkley said he wouldn't. Everyone's guessing.

3. Quote of the Day I: "My head is not the ball,'' Wade said of Hansborough hitting him in the head with his flagrant foul.

4. Quote of the Day II: "It's stupid,'' LeBron said after the morning shootaround about Granger's tough-guy play.

5. The Heat set a franchise playoff record of 61.4 percent. That won't repeat Thursday. But what could is Indiana shooting 33.7 percent. The Heat has found the defensive formula to lock down Indiana, especially if they're refusing to throw the ball into Roy Hibbert. The 7-2 Hibbert had 19 points and 18 rebounds in Gamed 3 and threatened to take over the series with his size. But Erik Spoelstra set up a net that begins with fronting Hibbert and getting quick off-side help. Hibbert had eight points and 12 rebounds on Tuesday. David West, who has been neutralized by the smaller Battier, had 10 points and four rebounds. The Heat out-rebounded the Pacers, 49-35.

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Hyde5: Five keys to tonight's Game 5 of Heat-Pacers

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:21:00 GMT

1. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade need 60 points combined. When they've scored more than that (61 and 70 in Games 1 and 4, respectively), the Heat have won. When they've scored less than that (54 and 27 in Game 2 and 3), they've lost. It's not a big surprise to say the Heat need huge games from their two stars with Chris Bosh out.

2. The third quarter is deciding games. In Game 2 and 3, Indiana outscored the Heat 28-14 and 26-12 in the third quarter to send them on their way. In Game 4, the Heat come out and had a 30-16 margin to turn an eight-point halftime deficit into a six-point lead. The only third-quarter margin that was close was in Game 1. Even then the Heat outscored the Pacers 28-22. Every team that's won the third quarter has won the game.

3. Expect more Roy Hibbert (and David West). The Pacers' size and depth are their best advantages. They got away from that in Game 4. Part of that was foul issues. Part of it was bad coaching. Hibbert, for instance, was left on the bench too long with four fouls - a fact Indiana coach Frank Vogel admitted.

But West outweighs Shane Battier - assuming Battier plays more than Udonis Haslem - by 35 pounds - and the 7-2 Hibbert has a decided height advantage over whomever covers him.

"We got away from looking at (Hibbert) from over the top when they were fronting us," Vogel told Indiana reporters on Monday. "Myself from a play-calling standpoint, David and Roy both have to work harder to get the ball in the post and their teammates have to see them better in the post if we're going to take advantage of those matchups at the big positions."

4. Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding. Along with the third quarter, the team that has more rebounds wins - and the swings have been big. The Heat out-rebounded Indiana 45-38 and 47-38 in their wins. Indiana out-rebounded the Heat 50-40 and 52-36 in their wins.

5. The Heat's three-point shooting. The Heat ranked as the ninth-best 3-point shooting team in the regular season at 35.9 percent. They're shooting 18.5 percent for the series. Game 4 gave a glimmer of hope as they shot 5-of-12. Those five shots equaled their total for the first three games -- in 42 attempts. So the question is whether Game 4 was the start of something or the abberation in the series.

Hyde5: How Udonis got groove back - change offense?

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:10:22 GMT

Hyde5 on the Heat-Pacers series:

1. Before the Indiana series, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade talked with Udonis Haslem and suggested how he stop his season-long shooting funk: Quit running the offense the way he was told to do so all year. Start doing what he had been his entire career.

On pick-and-rolls, this translated into a subtle but distinct adjustment. All season long when setting a pick, Haslem rolled toward the basket when his defender switched on his teammate. That’s the classic way to run the pick-and-roll. Follow your ex-defender. Get a simple pass. Make a close shot to the glass.

“That’s the way I’ve been doing it all year,’’ Haslem said.

And that’s different for him.

“I’ve always pick-and-popped,’’ Haslem said.

Instead of rolling to the basket, he popped out into open space. That resulted in the open 14- to 16-foot jumpers that were Haslem’s bread-and-butter for the past nine years.

That, he says, is what he began doing again in Sunday’s Game 4. And that’s why, he says, he made five-of-six shots for 14 points.

“We wouldn’t have won without him,’’ LeBron said.

All this smacks of a mini-mutiny on some level. If you freelance on your own, you’re by definition making up your own rules. Haslem and the Big Two apparently figured he had failed enough the other way. He’s fallen steadily out of favor to the point Erik Spoelstra has started Shane Battier at power forward the last couple of games.

Battier provides little offense – for that matter, Haslem provided little until Sunday. One game doesn’t mean a problem is fixed. It means for one afternoon all was well. It also means he’ll get more of a chance to play a more significant role in Game 5.

2. If I’m Frank Vogel, I tell my Indiana players this: “It took a historic effort by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to beat us in Game 3. They were great. They put up monster numbers. They also played more than 40 minutes each and were exhausted. The Heat have no other choice. If LeBron and Wade and do that two of the next three games, we’ll take off our hat to them. But especially with one day off between games from here, I don’t think they can do it. I think we’ll wear them out. And if they can’t play their best, we’ll win this series.”

3. LeBron James is reading the “Hunger Games” series before and after games while the media is in the locker room. After Sunday’s game, he was mouthing the words as he read. During the Knicks series, it was “West by West,” the Jerry West biography. No idea the purpose of such a big show. But, well, it’s half-entertaining.

4. Whoever has won the rebounding battle this series has won every game. The Heat won in the first and fourth games (47-38 on Sunday with LeBron having 18 rebounds and Wade having nine).

5. San Antonio is, far and away, the best team playing right now. The question is if they’ll be like that a month from now.

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Hyde5: Five thoughts on Heat's Game 4 win over Pacers

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:49:36 GMT

1. We won't hear for a while about how Dwyane Wade and LeBron James can't exist. In one of the more remarkable stretches you'll see, they combined for 38 points during a run from late in the first half to late in the third quarter. On the run, LeBron made six of nine shots and six of eight free throws. Wade all eight of his shots and two of five free throws. The Heat went from down by four points to up by six points.

2. Udonis Haslem was used little of late for the Heat - just seven minutes in Game 3. He also has shot the lowest of his career this year. But he came off the bench Sunday and provided the kind of game and toughness that's been missing. He made five-of-six shots, finished with 14 points and nine stitches over his eye from an Lou Amundson elbow. No shot was bigger than his with 14-foot jumper with just over a minute that gave the Heat a 98-91 lead as Indiana tried to come back.

3. Some interesting numbers from Game 3: With 18 rebounds, LeBron was one short of his most rebounds ever in the playoffs. The Heat's 30 points in the third quarter matched the most against Indiana in the playoffs. The Heat shot 5-of-12 on 3-point shots after shooting 5-of-42 in the first three games. Wade and James had 19 of the team's 29 rebounds and nine of its 11 assists in the second half.

3. Erik Spoelstra made two big adjustments with Chris Bosh hurt and Haslem struggling. One was starting Dexter Pittman or Ronny Turiaf at center. There's not a good opiton there, just a worse option. The other adjustment was just as risky. He moved Shane Battier to power forward to defend David West. Battier said he hadn't defended many power forwards this year. He also was giving up 35 pounds to West (Battier is listed at 225 but says he's only 215). This one is looking better for the Heat. West was insignificant on Sunday as his eight points and six rebounds show.

5. Quote of the game from Shane Battier on what it felt like to be out there as LeBron and Wade scored 38 straight Heat points: "You get so caught up in playing the game that you don't realize what the numbers that they are putting up are. It was a special performance. That's the reason why I came to Miami, for performances like that, the kind that you'l be able to tell your kids about one day."

Indiana rookie Stephenson gives choke sign to LeBron

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:40:22 GMT

How ugly did it get for the Heat in Game 3 against Indiana? Indiana rookie Lance Stephenson, standing on the bench, clad in full warm-ups, placed both hands around his neck in the universal "choke" sign after LeBron James missed a technical foul shot in the third quarter.

Come on, a rookie? Who's done nothing? Who sits on the bench? Giving a choke sign to the game's MVP?

Is the kid clueless?

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Hyde5: Five thoughts on Heat's Game 3 loss to Pacers

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:15:53 GMT

1. “We’re getting fantastic looks, looks you dream about,’’ Shane Battier said of the Heat’s shooting opportunities. “We’re just not making very many of them.”

They tied for ninth in the regular season by shooting 35.9 percent from three-point range.

They’re shooting 11.9 percent (five-for-42) this series.

This isn’t about Chris Bosh, either. Other things are about him this series. But Battier shot 0-for-7 in Thursday’s Game 3 loss with as open shots as an NBA player will get. James Jones was brought in to help and he shot 0-for-3 from his specialty of three-pointers (and one-for-six overall).

On a team desperate for offense, with Dwyane Wade playing as bad as he ever has, the offense came down to LeBron James (22 points) and a hot Mario Chalmers (25 points). This always was a serious concern with this team. Battier is shooting a career low. Udonis Haslem is shooting a career low. Mike Miller (two-for-three in 17 minutes in Game 3) hasn’t shot well since a midseason injury.

Can they be trusted to do so moving ahead?

2. The third quarter is a disaster for the Heat. They led by five points in Game 2 at halftime and were promptly outscored, 28-17. They were tied in Game 3 and were outscored in the third quarter, 26-12.

"We came out very flat,'' Spoelstra said. "We have to give credit to them. They pounded us on the glass and sapped our energy."

3. Can Dwyane Wade find himself? Or is this who he is now? Playoffs have a way of identifying just who a player is. Some stars rise. Some stars fall. Wade had an awful playoff night (five points) and is having a brutal series, as I wrote in today’s column. It’s not just his 31 percent shooting. It’s the fact he has 10 rebounds total in the three games. And has 10 turnovers against nine assists. He's hurting. But is he this hurt?

4. Roy Hibbert is dominating inside and Danny Granger is bothering LeBron James. Hibbert had 19 points and 18 rebounds in Game 3. That’s what he should against the competition the Heat can throw at him. Granger, meanwhile, isn’t so much hurting the Heat as he is pestering LeBron. And it’s not just him. LeBron looked exhausted by the end of the third quarter on Thursday.

5. The Dexter Pittman Experiment showed just how much the Heat miss Chris Bosh. In a stunner, the Heat started Pittman at center. Pittman hadn’t played a minute all post-season and was considered the fourth option at center most of the year behind Chris Bosh, Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf. He proved why with this attemptto match his big body on Hibbert. In an entirely forgettable 3 minutes and 31 seconds, Pittman had two of his shots blocked by Hibbert, committed a foul on Hibbert and was out-rebounded by Hibbert, 3-0. Hibbert also had two points as the Pacers built a 9-2 opening lead. Other than that? The move worked.

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Hyde5: FIve thoughts on Heat's Game 2 loss to Pacers

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:39:27 GMT

1. Now you see why the Heat miss Chris Bosh so badly: They have so little else. LeBron James (28 points) and Dwyane Wade (24 points) scored 52 points in Game 2 after combining for 62 points in the first game against Indiana. At some point, someone else has to be the cavalry riding over the hill to help.

But who?

Mario Chalmers is the next, best option, but he was in foul trouble in Game 2, shot two-for-10 and finished with five points. The telling stat is that tied him with Shane Battier for third among Heat scorers in Game 2's loss. Five points. It took Battier nearly 33 minutes to get that many. Mike Miller? No points in 17 minutes. James Jones made one of four shots in 10 minutes. Joel Anthony missed five shots in 35 minutes.

Ask yourself this: Who does LeBron have to help other than Wade right now? And is his cast any better at this point than it was in Cleveland?

2. There is no coaching second-guess on the final-minute plays in this game. None. But TNT had a good healthy debate anyway. Charles Barkley blamed Erik Spoelstra for the play on the possession in the final minute that broke down and resulted in Wade missing a lay-up. The play called for LeBron to pass the ball in the corner to Battier, who then fed Wade in the post.

"I have no idea why the best player in the world isn't closing,'' Barkley said. "LeBron is going to take criticism ... When you have a nuclear weapon like LeBron, you unleash him."

As the play broke down, LeBron got the ball out up top and could have made a move with the ball. He passed to LeBron, who made a move and then missed the lay-up.

"If LeBron wants to be the go-to man, he has to act like he's the go-to man,'' Shaquille O'Neal said.

"I'd like to see LeBron be more aggressive at the end," Kenny Smith said.

I questioned Spoelstra's decisions at the end of the Knicks loss. And I agree in general that LeBron seems to have few plays drawn up for him at the end. But this specific game? Wade missed a lay-up. That's the bottom-line here. And on the next one ....

4. Another non-second guess: Chalmers getting the play called with eight seconds left that resulted in a missed 3-point shot. You don't think Indiana was loading up on LeBron and Wade? Yet here are the shooting percentages from distance this year: Wade 26.8, LeBron 36.2 and Chalmers 38.8. Blame? Spoelstra should get credit for this play just for finding a play that would get an open 3-point shot in the final seconds, much less to the best percentage option.

4. LeBron James missed both foul shots with 54.3 seconds left and he's now 10 for 17 of the foul line in the final minute or overtime this year in one-possession games. That's an unsettling stat for a guy shooting 77 percent of foul shots this year. LeBron had the best regular season by a player I've watched (I wasn't here for Marino in '84). But the national chorus will start up now on him finishing in playoff games and there's only one want to silence it: Win. Elite players are judged by winning and losing, especially in basketball. So while LeBron's 28 points, nine rebounds, six steals and five assists matter, winning is what matters most. When a great player has a chance to make plays to win, he has to make them.

5. The Heat is now shooting 1-for-22 from the three-point line. Enough said.

Hyde5: Five reasons Heat still should beat Pacers

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:26:04 GMT

1. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are still the two best players in the series. Yes, they previously had the three best with Chris Bosh. And Heat coach Erik Spoelstra calls Bosh the most critical - more irreplaceable - of the Big Three since he's the one big man. But LeBron, especially, is such an elite and versatile player he gives lots of options for the Heat. The real questions for Spoelstra are (a) when to play LeBron at small or power forward (he also played a possession on Indiana center Roy Hibbert in the first game), and (b) how much to use LeBron. This second part is especially critical. Forgotten from the Dallas series last year, when LeBron disappeared, is there were serious questions leading up to that about the staggering minutes LeBron was playing.

2.. The Heat will be fine on defense. This isn't to minimize Bosh's defensive presence. Like the Heat model demands, he's a fine two-way player. But the drop-off shouldn't be crushing on the defensive end for a couple of reasons. First, Joel Anthony is a good defensive player and Ronny Turiaf is a big-effort, big body capable of holding his own. Also ...

3. Has Roy Hibbert shown the capacity to take over a series? This is the crux of the series, really, from Indiana's view. Indiana power forward David West and small forward Danny Granger have shown themselves capable of having big offensive games. Hibbert is a big presence at center with a very good and versatile game. He hasn't shown the capacity to take over a game offensively, though. He averaged 12.8 points this year - up from his 11.1 career average. Sure, he can have a 20-point game. And you can argue the Pacers big and decently talented front line can take control of the game. But there's not one player you point to as the real fear.

4. Can Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and Shane Battier provide more? You would think given open looks they have on offense and their good careers that they would be producing effective offense this year. Haslem and Battier are shooting a career-low percentage. Miller hasn't been the same since returning from injury in early April (suggesting he really isn't completely healed). The Heat really need one of them to have a good game not just to take some of the scoring pressure of Wade and James but to demand Indiana's defense not load up on the two scorers.

5. This isn't a reason why the Heat should win this series, but it's a reason they can't rush Bosh back from this tricky injury. Shaquille O'Neal said he's had the Chris Bosh abdominal strain twice - "on both sides,'' he said on TNT. "This is an injury you can't work out, you can't do anything. And then you have to strengthen the areas around it - if you don't strengthen the areas around it, you'll rip the other side." In other words, there's little sense rushing Bosh back from this injury as you might from a sprained ankle or bad shoulder. That could just cause a bigger setback here.

Hyde5: Vogel's focus on refs plays into Heat's hands

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:16:30 GMT

1. Now you see the danger of a young coach with a young team focusing on referees before a series even starts. It's not the $15,000 fine. It's not that his point didn't have some merit (Mike Miller and LeBron James did flop in Sunday's Game 1). But in mid-game you had the Pacers complaining more loudly than they should about officiatings, as if that was deciding part of the game. And by game's end you had them openly whining.

Y'all know,'' George Hill told reporters. "We know. Everybody knows. The world knows. But sometimes it's better left unsaid.''

He was talking of the free-throw disparity of the Heat's 38 foul shots to Indiana's 28. Of cours, four of those Heat free throws came in the final couple of minutes as Indiana fouled to try to climb back into the game. So it's really 34-28. That's not much, especially when you consider the Indiana is a high-foul team and LeBron and Wade attack the basket and draw fouls.

The legitimate problem for the Pacers was foul trouble. Starters Danny Granger, David West and Paul George had two fouls in the first quarter. The not-so-legitimate problem was smarts. George Hill picked up a fourth foul then needlessly charged into Mario Chalmers as he was trying to call a time-out at midcourt.

The Heat got some calls, no doubt. When you have LeBron and Wade, you always will get some. But Indiana got an obvious help call from the refs when Roy Hibbert should have been called for his fifth foul and it was assigned to Hill in one of those best-interests-of-the-team referee judgments.

The larger point is the Pacers can't win whining about officiating. Vogel pointed them in that direction entering the game by loudly demanding the referees call the game in a certain way. His young players seemed to take that up in Game 1. Every call against them suggested a fix was in. That played into the Heat's hands as the day went on.

2. It was a sad day at UM with Paul Dee's passing. He was a good man and a good force inside the school. II used to joke that he was 7/8 lawyer and 1/8 human. I had to do battle with him several times over stories - most notably a relaxing of the school's drug-test rules in 1996 that led to various problems - but he always made a point to talk afterwards and say all was good. He was a long-time legal counsel at the school before becoming its athletic director. He taught a class in the law school after he left as athletic director. Besides running various multi-million-dollar athletic decisions, Dee was proud of thing that showed his human touch: Putting hot dogs in the media room at UM basketball games. "I've got to have a hot dog before games,'' he said.

3. What are the Marlins going to do with Heath Bell? Carlos Zambrano (1.88 ERA) is proving to be a great, early move. But Bell blew another game Sunday, his ERA is up to 10.08 and there's a long way to go in his three-year, $27 million deal. They tried put him in a set-up role, have a couple good outings and move him back to closer. There's not much more they can do right now than hope this passes.

4. Manchester City's 3-2 win against QPR had to crack the Top 10 of the most dramatic sports games I've watched. But, yes, I know, soccer is boring.

5. Mad Men is just muddling along this season, isn't it?

Hyde5: Five thoughts on Heat's Game 1 win vs Pacers

Sun, 13 May 2012 23:26:49 GMT

1..The story of the NBA season has been injury, and the Heat got hit in a potentially big way when Chris Bosh went down in the second quarter with what was called a lower abdominal strain. He didn't return the rest of the day. No one knows how long he'll be out, but it doesn't sound like the thing that goes away with a little ice and rest. Think groin injury. There's a real possibilty of him missing an Indiana series where the Heat need his size. If it's just this series, the Heat probably would feel very fortunate.

2. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade showed how to get away with no Bosh for one afternoon. After six points in the first half, James finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. Wade had 29 points and four assists (and just as surprisingly zero rebounds). They scored 42 of the 61 in the second half when Bosh was gone. So the second-half scoreline reads: James and Wade 42, Pacers 38. Throw in the defense du jour and you see why they're two of the best.

3. The Pacers showed they can be a tough team - if they get some scoring from their wings. Big men David West and Roy Hibbert had 17 points and double-figure rebounds each. But the question moving ahead is the Pacers' wings. Danny Granger scored just seven points on one-of-10 shooting. Paul George scored six points on one-of-five shooting. Not coincidentally, those are the positions LeBron and Wade covered (when LeBron wasn't covering a big man).

4. Frank Vogel was fined $15,000 for calling out officials on the Heat's flops before the series even began. He probably won't talk about it again. And there's no real reason to do so. The Pacers had more fouls called on them (31-22) but that was a reflection of the styles the teams play. The 38-28 free-throw total actually was 34-28 until the final minute when Indiana fouled. So in Game 1 it's a non-issue.

5. The Heat didn't make a 3-point shot (0-6) for the first time in playoff history.

Hyde5: Are Pacers smart or playing into Heat's hands?

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:22:36 GMT

1. Frank Vogel is doing what NBA coaches do by calling the Heat floppers. He's working the refs. He's trying to negate a potential problem. He's doing through the media what Pat Riley and Phil Jackson made an art form of.

But in talking like this he's also ensuring the Heat will be awake and ready for Game 1.

"They are the biggest flopping team in the NBA," Vogel said. "It will be very interesting to see how the referees officiate this series and how much flopping they reward. Every time you drive to the basket, they've got guys not making a play on the ball, but sliding in front of drivers, often times they're falling down before contact is even made. It'll be very interesting to see how this series is officiated."

Let's look at the two teams. Indiana is bigger and slower. It wants to get the ball into the post and pound on the Heat. One of the ways for the Heat to negate that is to stand their ground and, on occasion, take a charge. It's what the Heat does. Even LeBron James took two charges in a game against the Knicks (though they were on Knicks attacks at the baskets in which he stepped in).

Vogel wants this series called one way from the start. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has had a day to think about how to answer. Let the games begin.

2. Brandon Marshall is making a lot of headlines for having done nothing in Chicago. But, don't worry, if it doesn't work out it'll be someone else's fault. The coach. The quarterback. The offense. The sun. I don't understand how the Dolphins upgraded by dumping him overboard with no player ready to replace him. But the more he talks in circles, the more I'm reminded about the thinking behind the move.

3. Remember when the public talk was the Heat might consider Carlos Boozer? With Chicago missing Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, Boozer missed 10 of 11 shots in the Bulls' elmination loss to Philadelphia and was on the bench at the end of the game.

4. I'm not sure who played dumber at the end last night, Chicago or Atlanta? You expect that out of Atlanta, which for years has been the definition of a team that doesn't know how to win. But Chicago not getting back on defense after a missed foul shot? Haven't we heard for the past two seasons how well-coached and smart they are? They weren't on the possession that decided their season.

5. The new golf drama: Will Tiger make the cut?

Hyde5: Charles Barkley has Pacers winning in 6 games

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:36:02 GMT

1. Charles Barkley often sees things differently than Heat fans. He's stays consistent on his prediction for the Heat-Pacers series.

"I look at the series like this – if it goes six games, Indiana’s going to win,'' he said Wednesday night on TNT. "If it goes seven, Miami's going to win. I don't think (the Pacers) can win going to Miami. But if they can win (the series) in Game 6, they’re going to win it."

Most people see Indiana being a harder series from a degree-of-difficulty standpoint for the Heat. Few see them losing. But it's good to have a different perspective. Charles is one of the few voices on TV who's entertaining -- though going back to last year his predictions on the Heat haven't followed reality too often.

2. Steve LeBow Stat of the Knicks-Heat series: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each had 43 field goals. That's balance a Wallenda could love. LeBron was 43-of-90 (47.8 percent). That was five more field-goal attempts than Wade (50.6 percent shooting). Seven of LeBron's shots were 3-pointers (in 20 attempts) compared to Wade's two 3-pointers in nine attempts. The big differential was at the foul line. LeBron made 46 of 57 (80.7 percent). Wade go there about half the time and shot worse (17 of 30 for 56.7 percent).

3. Managing the tempo of the game will be a key to Heat-Pacers. The more athletic Heat want to run. The bigger Pacers want to plod. As TNT"s Kenny Smith said: "(Roy Hibbert's) body can be negated if he's moving from foul line to foul line" and can't keep up with the pace of play. If that game slows down, you've got Roy Hibbert, David West and Danny Granger who can play very well in the half court."

4. Center Ronny Turiaf can be expected to play this series. He's been out nursing a hamstring issue, but he looks active on the bench doing his M.L. Carr cheerleading thing and Erik Spoelstra says is ready to go. The Heat probably will need some big bodies to bang against the Pacers' front line. Turiaf presented a better option than Joel Anthony because he can score a little. The Heat will need him ready against whomever they meet in the Finals, too.

5. Spoelstra had a good line, saying this series will, "feel like it's played more in a cage than on a basketball court," because of how physical Indiana can be. As I wrote in my column today, though, I see the Heat winning in five games.

Hyde5: Time for Heat to take care of business, Knicks

Wed, 09 May 2012 03:25:27 GMT

1. Indianapolis is waiting, and if the Heat are the team they think they are, tonight isn't a problem. If they're the team a lot of us think they are, Game 5 against the Knicks isn't in doubt from the tip-off. It's easy. It's one-sided. It's the kind of game where they quickly take apart a Knicks team that was just decent even before diminished by injuries in this series.

If they're the team that's ready to win the title, the mistakes and lack of resolve in Game 4 helps them in Game 5. The loss in New York didn't mean anything to this series or where this season should end up. It should translate into a motivated Heat team tonight beyond just closing out this series.

If they're the team they think they are.

2. Here's what I think is missing when people say Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland put his "career on the line," with Ryan Tannehill, as SI's Peter King, whom I respect greatly, said recently: Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano (but not Ireland, as it worked) put their careers/reputations on the line with Chad Henne, who was the 57th pick overall. Randy Mueller/Cam Cameron did with John Beck, the 40th overall pick. Nick Saban did w/Daunte Culpepper's knee. Rick Spielman and Dave Wannstedt did first with Jacksonville back-up Jay Fiedler, then with A.J. Feeley. The point is: Every coach and GM puts his career on the line no matter where they get a quarterback. Unlike the others in the past decade, Ireland and Joe Philbin put their careers on the line with the eighth overall pick.

3. Al Horford hadn't played since Jan. 11. In Tuesday's elmination game for Atlanta, he played 41 minutes, scored a game-high 19 points, had 11 rebounds, had the game-winning points and provided the defense on the final play of Atlanta's win against Boston. Doubtful he shifted the series. But give the man some applause.

4. My neighborhood lost one of its jewels this past weekend. Tump Phillips, 93, died in her sleep. And with her goes one of the great people every good neighborhood has. Together with her husband, WIlliam, they had stories that told of a rich life that few of us will rival. William, a doctor, waited three days in the English Channel for the weather to clear for D-Day, where he was responsible for transporting the injured off Normandy Beach. He told of Patton chewing him out for the manner he drove. He co-founded the Miami Heart Institute. He was the doctor of the Nicaraguan president, Somoza, and had pictures of when he visited the neighborhood in the 1950s with bodyguards holding machine guns. They toured Europe in summers. They lived in good society but somehow never lost their common touch. Her friends, family and neighbors had a party at her home Monday night to celebrate a rare life.

5. TNT's Kenny Smith said what I've never got a good answer to around the Heat regarding last-play philosophy: "I would have had the ball in LeBron's hands and let Wade set the pick." A two-man game, in other words, with two of the best players in the game.

Hyde5: Let's be adults about playoff stakes for Heat

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:27:53 GMT

1. The Tribune Company has something called "Four Corners" where four writers in the newspaper chain write about some subject assigned by an editor out of Los Angeles. I was one of the writers chosen to write on this chose subject: "Does Erik Spoelstra lose his job if the Heat doesn't win the title?"

That's simplifying the larger point, of course. Assuming a healthy roster and no abnormal turn of events, there will plenty of changes if the Heat don't win it all. The Big Three gets broken up in some form. The roster gets shaken up as much as the salary-cap allows. And, yes, Spoelstra probably loses his job, too, again, assuming everyone's healthy. Those are the high stakes for the Heat this year.

The other side is true, too. Win the title this year, and Spoelstra can go on to win several with this team. The Big Three can reach the mutiple titles they've talked about. The Heat can make the first, most difficult step to become the kind of dynasty they discussed on assembling.

Spoelstra is viewed as a bright, young coach, and he's done a lot of good things. His main strength is he's held the Big Three accountable while making them allies. LeBron has been asked to do things defensively that no other team asks of a superstar. And it's working very well. ABC's Jeff Van Gundy also pointed out the No. 1 thing a coach had to do especially this year is monitor a team's health and energy as far as practices schedule and game playing time- "That's something Erik hasn't got enough credit for."

Spoelstra made a mistake in Sunday's Game 4, though it's not the one the national media is focused on. The mistake was not giving the ball to Dwyane Wade at the end instead of LeBron James. I said during the time-out I'd give the ball to James. But Wade has hit plenty of big shots in his career, had 11 points in the fourth quarter and is never a bad choice to take a last shot depending on the matchup and the play. So lots of people are playing the bad result to criticize Spoelstra for that decision.

To that end, no other coach gets criticized for failed shots at the end like Spoelstra. That's because no other coach has two such obvious options. Did you see the Clippers' Chris Paul's flailing shot at the end of regulation? That rightfully got pinned on Paul, not the play call by Vinny del Negro. Just as the Heat's ending should be pinned on Wade momentarily losing the ball and having to take a bad shot - not on Spoelstra for giving him the ball.

Spoelstra's error was not moving LeBron, the Heat's best defender, onto Carmelo Anthony, the only Knick who could beat the Heat. It won't change this outcome this series. It does, however, merit monitoring as the playoffs roll on. Last spring, remember, Dallas owner Mark Cuban said his team won because his coaches made adjustments the Heat coaches didn't.

This is a bottom-line season, There's no learning curve when you have this team. No excuses, as Spoelstra keeps saying. They've got to win now. In the simplistic way things like "Four Corners" work - yes, Spoelstra's job is on the line. As are the jobs of others with the Heat if they don't win. Those are the high stakes they signed on for with this team.

2. Giancarlo Stanton has come alive for the Marlins, hasn't he?

3. The Rangers-Capitals series is why playoff hockey is so much fun.

4. Here's something to expand your mind: Six Things Comedians Can Teach You About Public Speaking. One example: Tell humbling personal stories, because, " As a general rule, an audience will envy someone “above” them, connect with someone “like” them, and support someone “below” them. Any degree of arrogance will result in a disengaged audience. Comedians often open up their acts by sharing a humbling or even humiliating story. Not only is it funny, but it shows the audience that they are just a regular Joe. And regular Joes get support from the audience."

5. Maybe it's just me, but I still don't see it ending well for Don Draper in his relatively new marriage.

Hyde5: Does Heat loss expose them to unwanted risk?

Mon, 07 May 2012 04:37:27 GMT

1. Baron Davis went down with a dislocated patella on Sunday. That brings to four the number of starters they've lost of late, and that's the real risk the Heat face in losing Game 4 on Sunday. Davis actually was only a starter because Jeremy Lin was hurt. They also lost Iman Shumpert to a busted knee and Amare Stoudemare to a self-inflicted wound for a game. Look around the league. Either this lockout-shortened season is breaking players or it's a run of bad luck. Caron Butler and Josh Smith missed playoff games with injuries. Dwight Howard and Al Horford haven't played in them. There's no way the Heat will lose this series. The risk, though, is that by playing another game they run the risk of injury in a season filled with them.

2. The Heat shot 24 of 35 (68 percent) on foul shots. That's misusing the stat, though. While the rest of the Heat shot 20 of 24, Dwyane Wade made only four of 11. There's no explaining this or understanding it. He's a career 77 percent foul shooter. He's making 79 percent this year. Strike it up to a bad day.

3. The Heat made three-of-19 (15.8 percent) of three-pointers and the Knicks made five-of-22 (22.7 percent). This was just an ugly of 3-point shooting. The Knicks averaged the fourth-most 3-pointers in the league this year. But the Heat have pretty much taken that out of the repetoire. Look at poor Steve Novak. All he can do is shoot 3's. The Heat held him to two shots in 15:38 on Sunday. He made one 3-pointer in Game 4. He's not four-of-10 in four games this series. He just can't get many shots off.

4. Udonis Haslem played 14 minutes and 25 seconds in Game 4. He has played 19, 21, 17 and now 14 minutes this series. That's the answer to what Erik Spoelstra thinks about his game. His rebounding is as good as ever - a 6.3 average this series in moderate minutes. But even making three of five shots in Game 4 he's shooting 41 percent. You see the Knicks leaving him open and picking their poison elsewhere. Still, it was surprising he (or Joel Anthony) weren't put on Tyson Chandler at the end to free up LeBron to play on the real threat in Carmelo Anthony. That was a statement about what the Heat coaches think right now about as dedicated a player as they've had with the Heat.

5. The Knicks got to celebrate a playoff win for the first time since April of 2001. That's 11 years and 13 playoff games.

Hyde5: Five telling stats of Heat's Game 3 vs Knicks

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:22:26 GMT

1. Carmelo Anthony is shooting 22-of-64 for the series. This speaks of two things: A) The Heat defense headlined by LeBron James and Shane Battier on him. Carmelo was so flustered at the end he couldn't even put a simple sentence together. "It seems like we can't score the ball right now," he said to open his news conference after the game; B) Carmelo isn't the franchise player New York seemed to think it was getting. You can't throw this entire series on him. He has no help - the Knicks were down three starters by Thursday. But the Knicks are finding what Denver concluded. Carmelo is a great scorer, one of the best in the league. He only shines at that end of the court, though, and even that can be taken away.

2. LeBron outscored the Knicks in the fourth quarter, 17-14. He was like the Heat for so much of the night in that he looked off his game and disinterested in the night. But after sitting down much of the third quarter after getting in rare foul trouble, LeBron came in ready to play. "Fresh legs,'' Carmelo Anthony said James had, with a touch of envy. LeBron scored the first eight points of the quarter to seal the game. He went on to show one quarter of his greatness on a night can be the thing everyone leaves talking about.

3. Mario Chalmers had 19 points, seven rebounds, three steals - and no assists. Strange line for a point guard, which Chalmers is in name only with this team. LeBron runs the show most of the time. Chalmers, however, showed his worth again this night by making five-of-eight 3-point shots. He's now shooting 8-of-16 from distance in this series. That's the kind of shooting that keeps defenses honest and was necessary this night because ...

4. Shane Battier and Mike Miller were a combined 1-for-10 from the 3-point line. It gets lost on a night like this when the Heat walk away looking ahead to the next series (or even the Finals, if we're being serious about it). But this is the prime concern about the Heat. Against the best teams, the Heat need Battier and/or Miller to make an average amount of 3-point shots considering they're getting wide-open looks. They haven't been doing so consistently all year, though. It's hard to imagine that starting now.

5. Norris Cole 3:42 played and James Jones 4:47 played. This is important only in that Erik Spoelstra seems to be keeping them ready if needed these playoffs. He had both in the first-half rotation again. In a series like this, against a pushover opponent like this, it seems he's making sure they're not completely rusty if a night comes where they're needed down the line. That said, Ronny Turiaf would be needed against the Lakers frontline, wouldn't he? Maybe?

Hyde5: Of course Bosh should be there for child's birth

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:52:23 GMT

1. Good for Chris Bosh. Good for his priorities. Good that he considers being with his wife for the birth of their first child more important than a basketball game, if that's what plays out today. Bosh flew home from New York Wednesday night evidently after getting word from his wife was ready to deliver their baby. No doubt this will cause all sorts of debate, from fans thinking their star should play the game he's paid millions to play. But if we're accepting
anything about athletes it's that for all their social armor from dollars and fame, they still have the same desires and insecurities most people have in life. Ask yourself this; Would you miss a day of work to be at the birth of your child? I missed three days for the birth of mine

2. Junior Seau would arrive for his morning workouts at 4 a.m. with the Dophins. That mindset was infectious, someone like him and Jeff Zgonina working out in the weight room for a couple of hours before others arrived. That's one of the memories teammates have of him. Another: In a game against the Giants, his finger was lacerated from the base to the tip. "Tape it up,'' he told the trainers. He missed a couple of plays. No one one the sideline could believe it. And yet someone that strong and dedicated took his life on Wednesday. Maybe the two extremes are linked. Maybe he felt as dedicated on the football field as he felt as lost off it. I'm not pretending to know him. I talked to him occasionally with the Dolphins. But as you hear of the cost of football, as you see the price of concussions and real-life strains, you have to wonder if it's worth it. The risk of a game should be a torn knee or shoulder. Not a broken life.

3. Let's hear some evidence against Jonathan Vilma before debating if his one-year suspension for his role in Bountygate is warranted.

4. Tyson Chandler is a fine and conventional pick as Defensive Player of the Year. But when LeBron James can shut down a prolific power forward like Carmelo Anthony in one game, shut down last year's MVP Derrick Rose, a point guard, in another, and cover centers (as he has done with Chandler on occasion this series), he's the best defensive player in the league. No one matches his versatility. No one can be the shut-down cornerback at any position on the floor like he can.

5. Since the Hyde5 attempts to paint the big picture: Edvard Munch's "The Scream" sold for $119.5 million.

Hyde5: Path in the East keeps clearing for the Heat

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:18:24 GMT

1. Now Josh Smith is hurt. As if that really matters for the Heat. As if Smith standing in the was any potential roadblock. But his leaving Atlanta's game with a sprained knee Tuesday night underlines what's going on to the Heat's competition in the East. Chicago: Derrick Rose. Boston: Ray Allen. Orlando: Dwight Howard. New York: Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert and Amare Stoudemire. Now Atlanta with Smith.

The Heat was the favorite to come out of the East anyhow. Now the road is clearing for them to the Finals. But there's a cautionary message here, and it's they better take out teams in the minimal games. David Stern can say this compacted season hasn't increased injuries, but the casual evidence suggests otherwise. At least it does in the East. The longer the Heat play, the more there's a risk of some freak injury.

2. Since Spygate is back in the news thanks to John Harbaugh's comments: If the Patriots didn't get any benefit from videotaping team's signals, as the team's defenders keep saying, why did they keep doing it?

3. The biggest benefactor to Amare Stoudemire punching the glass is Carmelo Anthony. New York would be all over him for the manner his one-dimensional game is playing out in this series. He has one great half in two games thus far. He's also Exhibit A of the difference between the Heat and Knicks: The Heat's best players are elite at both end of the court. The Knicks best play only one end.

4. We'll know the Panthers are ready to challenge for something important when much of their first line this year is their second line.

5. Has Sheriff Roger Goodell's tactics of punishing bad behavior helped? Well, maybe. A USA Today study shows NFL player arrests are down since he put on the badge. Here's the tally by year:

2006: 79 arrests
2007: 73 arrests
2008: 72 arrests
2009: 62 arrests
2010: 64 arrests
2011: 62 arrests
2012: 16 arrests* (as of May 2)

The 2012 number translates to 47 arrests this year. So, yes, it appears Goodell's message is working.

Hyde5: Ireland making own identity in Dolphins draft

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:09:25 GMT

1. When he was being questioned a month ago, Jeff Ireland asked for the entire off-season to play out before concluding what was at work. Now you can see why. Signing a veteran quarterback like David Garrard to go with Matt Moore means rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill won't have to hit the field this year, if he's not ready. That's often the plan with rookies. Trent Green was supposed to protect John Beck in 2007. But when Green was hurt, Beck eventually went in. Two veterans mean that shouldn't have happen with Tannehill.

Beyond that, we're seeing more of Ireland's vision for his team. One of the confusing parts the last year was separating his roots with Bill Parcells from his own thoughts. Now the fog is lifting with this second draft. Parcells never would have drafted the necessary risk of Tannehill (he's gone out of his way not to take quarterbacks high - Matt Ryan vs Jake Long - and Tannehill didn't have the college experience Parcells demands).

Parcells also wouldn't have taken a mobile tackle that has a "finessee" label on him like Jonathan Martin or a tight end with great receiving skills but blocking questions like Michael Egnew. Ireland, of course, was getting the kind of players Joe Philbin and Mike Sherman want to use on their more-mobile offense. But couple the decisions this draft with the speed from last year - Clyde Gates and Charles Clay - and you're starting to see where there's some separation between Ireland and Parcells. Taking center Mike Pouncey as last year's top pick shows Ireland's roots. But the larger picture is you're getting a better picture of just who Ireland is and how he wants to build a roster.

2. Lavonte David is the answer. The University of Miami had the top-rated recruiting class in 2008 headlined by the Northwestern High class that included Jacory Harris, Sean Spence, Tommy Streeter, Brandon Washington, Marcus Robinson, Aldarius Johnson, Kendall Thompkins and Benjamin Jones. David didn't have the grades and went the junior-college route before playing at Nebraska. He became the first player drafted from that Northwestern when Tampa Bay took him in the second round. What happened to the Miami-Northwestern kids? Well, how many of us actually reach our potential?

3. The path keeps clearing for the Heat as every team in the East has severe injury problems. Chicago lost Derrick Rose in Game 1 against Philadelphia. Orlando already had lost Dwight Howard for the season. The Knicks lost Iman Schumpert in Game 1 to go with Jeremy Lin. Boston has Ray Allen out with a foot injury. Atlanta doesn't have Al Horford back. Already the favorte to come out of the East, they should be able to do so easier than expected.

4. The only way the Marlins could be hitting worse would be to have signed Albert Pujols.

5. Mad Men Recap: Roger has the best scripts written for him of any character this season and Megan is on the clock for leaving Don. In other words, Don Draper's downfall won't be his doing - he's on his best behavior, for once. But the storm clouds are rolling in.

Hyde5: Five questions about Tannehill that got answered

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:59:23 GMT

Need a quarterback, take a first-round quarterback. Five thoughts on the Dolphins ending a 29-year drought and at least a decade of questions, as I wrote in my column today, by taking Ryan Tannehill.

1. How can they take a quarterback with 19 college starts? Nineteen starts isn't a lot. But Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland told Joe Rose this morning if Tannehill had, "eight or 10 more starts he'd be mentioned up there with Griffin and Luck,'' he said, meaning Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck.

2. Why did he play receiver at Texas A&M for two years if he's such a great quarterback? I can't think of any premier quarterbacks who did this. But new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, who was Tannehill's coach at Texas A&M, told the story and it adds to good thoughts on Tannehill. "Four years ago when we were down receivers I asked him to play that position for us because we needed help there,'' Sherman said in a statement from the Dolphins. "He put his dream of becoming an NFL quarterback on hold to accommodate my request in order to help his team win."

3. Is his pass accuracy an issue? The Dolphins counted 79 drops by Texas A&M receivers. They scaled that back to 70 drops to give receivers some benefit of the doubt. If you say half those passes are caught - every quarterback has some passes dropped - then his passing percentage rises from a head-scratching 53rd in college football last year (61.7 pct) to a more understandable 15th (68.1 pct)

4. Did Dolphins owner Stephen Ross push for him, as reported nationally? Let's see, H. Wayne Huizenga wanted the Dolphins to draft Brady Quinn. The point is this: Owners want the big answer that helps business. Of course they do. But what I've said and firmly believe is it's a stretch to go from "wanting" a quarterback to "demanding" they take one. That's what several national reports suggested about Ross and was one of the questions about taking Tannehil. Did Ross force this pick? Everyone's going to say the right things about being on board after the fact he's taken. And Ireland, Ross and Joe Philbin did Thursday night. So the people who believe in this Ross-inspired conspiracy won't be talked off it. But Ireland has skipped over trading for Blaine Gabbert last draft, trading for Kyle Orton last off-season and signing Matt Flynn this off-season. So this franchise has shown in the past year if they don't like a quarterback they're not going to take one. Here's how I look at the drafting of Tannehill: This was a football decision that made the owner happy.

5. Is he worth the eighth overall pick if he doesn't play next year? This is the position that has sunk the Dolphins for a decade. If the option was taking a guy who the football people think can be great as opposed to a second-round player who can be ready to play this year but isn't seen as potentially great, so be it. The idea here was getting a long-term answer to the most important position in the game. I'm on board with that.

Draft Winds: Expanded mock drafts for Dolphins tonight

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:22:59 GMT

Draft Winds offers a mock draft today of Tolstoy-ian length, width and anlytical depth. This is the final installment of the series through the analytic minds and detailed writing of Universal Draft experts Simon Clancy, Chris Kouffman and Richard Lines. Draft Winds has been a weekly regular on my blog in recent years. The Twitter accounts of the writers are @siclancy, @ckparrot and @riclines.) I hope you join me in heartfelt appreciation of the hard work and good thinking that Draft Winds provides -- Dave Hyde

Final Draft Winds 2012

So here we are again. The end of a long process that seems to get longer every year. The spin, smoke and double talk has us all confused and as the Dolphins have a new coaching staff, then the parameters for selection have changed, adding to the confusion. How West Coast is our offense going to be? Are we a 4-3 or a 3-4? Press or zone coverage? So during the course of this final Draft Winds, we’ll go round by round to see if we can identify who we think the Dolphins will pick and why. If you’re a long time follower of this column, you’ll know the drill. If not, this is what we do:

• Each of us picks four players in each round and they fall into the following categories

• Player we like for that spot

• Runner-up in that spot

• Player we think Miami will actually take

• Player we don’t want

So, on with the show:

7th Round

PLAYER WE LIKE
Chris: Leonard Parker, CB, San Diego State: One of two leaders of a strong SDSU defense, Parker had 7 picks in 2011. Despite a small frame, he was able to match up one-on-one with the 6'6" and 238lbs, highly-rated TE Ladarius Green multiple times on end zone fades, breaking up both passes. Despite questions about timed speed, he was able to outrun and catch Michigan QB Denard Robinson from behind when the two met on the field. His ball awareness is ideal and he showed the ability to stay in the hip pocket of any receiver he came across in man coverage without any help.

Richard: Chris Owusu, WR, Stanford: Owusu is oft injured and has serious concussion concerns, but when he’s right he’s a dynamic player. I remember watching him last year and thinking he was a real playmaker. A versatile player who can also help on special teams, Owusu may be worth the gamble this late.

Simon: Brandon Lindsey, OLB, Pittsburgh: This is the epitome of a diamond in the rough. Lindsey ran slowly and looked pedestrian in drills but shorts and t-shirts isn’t NFL football. Lindsay was 16th in the nation in sacks and 16th in the nation in tackles for loss with 10 and 17 respectively in 2011. He has excellent get off, can get his hands inside and drive the tackle back into the QB and is scheme diverse. He’s a relentless hustler with a good nose for the football and as a seventh round selection you can’t ask for better than that.

RUNNER UP
Chris: DE Jamie Blatnick, Oklahoma State: Anyone who watched a significant amount of the Oklahoma State defense in 2011 knows that Blatnick was the heart and soul of a defense that forced the most turnovers in FBS football. He is not the best athlete but he moves very quickly in short spaces and his pro day 4.76 second 40 yard dash shows that he can hoof it pretty well at need. He has made plays by intercepting the ball, forcing fumbles, returning fumbles for big yardage and sacking the quarterback. Very strong player with a lot of weight room prowess.

Richard: Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois: Harnish set 30 Northern Illinois records during his four years at Northern Illinois. Harnish has a decent arm but he will struggle to drive the ball down the field with authority. However, in the short to medium area of the field, Harnish puts enough zip on the ball to get the job done. An athletic developmental prospect, Harnish could prove to be a competent backup.

Simon: Case Keenum, QB, Houston: Don’t care too much about the size or the system, Keenum is as tough as they come with excellent short and intermediate accuracy who can make plays with his feet as well as sling it down the field. As a 7th round developmental prospect, he’s better than Graham Harrell who Philbin was grooming as Aaron Rodgers’s number two in Green Bay.

MIAMI NICE
Chris: OT, Markus Zusevics, Iowa: Speculation has been rampant that Philbin's connections with Iowa could result in Riley Reiff or even Adam Gettis being drafted by the Dolphins. I think they've got the wrong lineman. Zusevics was a top 50 offensive line recruit coming out of high school and has added over 75 pounds of bulk to his frame since coming to Iowa. He has every bit the athleticism and movement skills Philbin and Sherman want for their scheme in Miami. His main area for improvement will be his hand placement. He gets his hands up off the snap and keeps them there, but they stay relatively dead where he needs to shoot them more. His easy movement skills make him fun to watch.

Richard: Tim Benford, WR, Tennessee Tech: I’m going out on a bit of limb, if there is one when talking about 7th round selections but I think Benford may work well with this system. Not a large receiver, he works well over the middle of the field and is more of a north south type runner who is capable of exploiting cracks in a defense. Benford is not an overly fast player but his willingness to get up the field after the catch, make him appear to play faster than he really is. Benford tracks the ball well, but struggles to consistently get off the line of scrimmage which may make him better suited for the slot or as a motion player.

Simon: Darron Thomas, QB, Oregon: The leader of the Ducks offense, he was a surprising early entry but is an intriguing prospect. He has good size, good short to intermediate accuracy and the ability to manage a game as well as get outside the pocket and make plays with his feet. He’s certainly a developmental project but one that could potentially be very malleable for a coaching staff with a reputation for developing young passers.

NO THANKS
Chris: OG Rishaw Johnson, California (PA): This is one troubled player that I would not like the Dolphins to take a shot on as Rishaw has continually showed both on and off the field that he doesn't get it. His movements are sloppy. He seems to resist coaching and instruction. His past is spotty with suspensions and the transfer from Ole Miss to Cal (PA). Despite obvious movement skills, I would prefer Miami stay away

Richard: Scott Solomon, DE, Rice: In much the same vein as Olivier Vernon, Solomon is another defender who may intrigue, but isn’t one likely to stick. He will flash some explosion, but he does not finish the job with regularity. Simply does not make enough plays despite his burst, which honestly will get him some looks as a situational pass rusher. Solomon, as my colleague Chris Kouffman likes to say “has T-Rex arms”; which will only hinder him on the next level in my opinion. In layman’s terms he looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane.

Simon: Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State: It’s unclear if anyone who hasn’t committed a fairly serious crime has had a worse pre-draft experience than Burfict. Quite apart from his showing at the Combine, the signs were there for all to see on tape; leaden footed, he often chooses the wrong holes when stepping to the LOS and consistently struggles to get off blocks. He’ll run round them to get to the ball carrier and although he can be effective going forwards into the pocket, he lacks any sort of athletic ability. He’s also a walking personal foul penalty, a coach killer. No thanks.

6TH ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris: TE Chase Ford, Miami (FL): Despite an underwhelming career at The U, Chase Ford may have a bright future in the NFL. At just shy of 6'7" and 255lbs, he ran a 4.75 in the 40 yard dash with a 33 inch vertical, and good agility measures. Most importantly, I watched him live during East-West Shrine practices and he made plays all over the place. This translated to the game itself as he hauled in a big seam pass, broke the tackles of two defenders that came at him simultaneously, and used his speed to create a bunch of yards after contact. He made so many big plays like that in practice that by the end, quarterbacks were looking for him. Watching his highlights from JUCO at Kilgore, you see the same play maker. The black hole in his record is his time with The U, but he would hardly be the first athlete in recent memory that they have failed to utilize or develop properly, that go on to be better pros than collegians.

Richard: Audie Cole, LB, North Carolina State: Cole is a former strong side backer who moved inside this past year. He has the size, instincts and temperament required to handle the duties on the inside. He does need to improve on his choice of angles as he can overrun plays leaving cutback lanes. And, while willing to engage offensive linemen he can struggle to disengage. Overall he has a decent base to build from.

Simon: Gerell Robinson, WR, Arizona State: Having watched so much of Brock Osweiler on tape, I also ended up seeing a lot of his number one target Gerell Robinson who did a terrific job working across the middle, making the tough grabs and then making yards after the catch. He’s big – 6’3, 220 – and needs some polish but he adjusts well to the badly thrown ball, he’s a hard-nosed player, very physical and has the ability to box off a corner and make the catch in traffic. He won’t outrun anyone down the field, but he presents a big target and has some upside.

RUNNER UP

Chris: OT, Jeff Adams, Columbia: Another player I watched practice live at East-West Shrine practices, Adams stood out to me for his obvious movement skills and frame. He is 6'6" and 306 lbs, and can mirror any pass rusher with his great lower body explosion. He had a little trouble with the bull rush early in the week, but this was a technique issue that coaches helped him correct and by the end of the week he was holding his ground.

Richard: Jacquies Smith, DE, Missouri: Smith possesses good initial quickness at the snap and can pressure the edge of an offense. However, he is still a bit raw in terms of his hand use and ability to diagnose plays. A good athlete, Smith can also see time in space in certain situations which could make him more valuable to teams that play a wide variety of personnel.

Simon: James Hanna, TE, Oklahoma: At this point in the Draft you’re looking for those diamonds in the rough or those acorns as Jeff Ireland calls them. An underused tight end from a big school who measures in at 6’4, 252 and runs a 4.49 forty? Where do I sign? As a move tight end, Hanna represents a match up nightmare for defences, especially down the seams where he can use his speed to get in behind a linebacker and display the nice hands he’s shown as a Sooner.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: CB Coryell Judie, Texas A&M: Mike Sherman may be an offensive coach but he was the Head Coach of Texas A&M when Judie was a top level JUCO transfer recruit. Some injuries de-railed his short career at TAMU, but nobody is in better position than Sherman to know exactly how hard Judie works and what kind of passion he brings to the game, not to mention what kind of natural athletic skill he possesses. The relationship could figure to be important, since so much is unknown about Judie in the wake of an injury plagued senior season.

Richard: Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M: Judie is another raw athlete, but he has improved by leaps and bounds in his short collegiate career. He does not possess great long range speed, but he is extremely athletic and has shown a good degree of savvy when playing the ball. Given his intangibles, toughness and athleticism, if given the time to improve, he could be another feather in Jeff Ireland’s cap when it comes to selecting late round talent for the defensive backfield.

Simon: Jeff Adams, OT, Colombia: If Adams is on the board at this stage then it’s a no brainer. He’s terrific in pass protection, he can get out and make blocks in space and although he’s had some issues with false start penalties, he’s real value here.

NO THANKS

Chris: LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State: I believe Burfict's problems run a lot deeper than the constant stream of yellow flags that were thrown at him in college. Based on what I have heard about him at Arizona State and even going back to high school, as well as public statements by Burfict and the aforementioned willful disregard of the rules of the game, his issues are not going to be fixed by simply putting him in a "strong locker room".

Richard: Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami: Vernon is the definition of a player that teases with potential. He looks the part of a prime time player walking off the bus, but he might injure himself when doing so. A role player who only flashed while at Miami is a guy someone will take a flyer on, only to be disappointed. Buyer beware.

Simon: Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers: Tough to put Wynn in here because fundamentally on tape he can really play, especially in the run game. But the guy is put together with band aids. His career has been a litany of serious and semi-serious injuries and it’s tough to use a pick on a guy who’s had injury issues with shoulders, a knee, head, face, nose, etc.

5TH ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris: OT Donald Stephenson, Oklahoma: Standing at 6'6" and 312 lbs with 35 inch arms and 10 inch hands, having started two seasons at left tackle for a major program like Oklahoma, only having allowed one sack in 2011 when FSU standout end Bjoern Werner timed Landry Jones' snap perfectly and got an early jump on his rush, it surprises me that Stephenson is not getting more attention. His lower body explosion jumps out at you on the tape, and he proved it by flashing wide receiver-like 35.5 inch vertical and 9'6" broad jump marks at the Combine. He also ran a 4.94 in the 40 yard dash. I love how he commits himself to his blocks and uses his hands actively.

Richard: Omar Bolden, CB, Arizona State: Bolden presents good value here should he get to this point. A competent tackler who can play both man and zone coverage he should fit in just about any scheme. He may struggle dealing with taller receivers but is more physical than his listed size would indicate. The Dolphins need corners with some ball skills outside of Vontae Davis and Jimmy Wilson and adding Bolden would only help that cause.

Simon: Simon: Ryan Davis, OLB, Bethune Cookman: The Dolphins are showing a lot of interest in small school DE/OLB Ryan Davis of Bethune Cookman. He’s just under 6’3 and 260lbs and had 12 sacks and 21.5 TFL last season. He worked out at the Miami Hurricane pro day in front of Jeff Ireland and Brian Gaine and they were so impressed that they sent scouts to see him again at the BC pro day.

RUNNER UP

Chris: OL Tom Compton, South Dakota: The thing that stood out to me about Compton after watching him perform in Combine drills was how he had what Bill Walsh would refer to as "bone girth". He has a heavy, powerful frame, yet moves uncommonly well and showed that in his measurements. He is a two-year team captain and a first team All-American. He should be able to play multiple spots on the offensive line.

Richard: Tom Compton – T/G – South Dakota: Compton did not play Div I football, but he possesses enough positive traits to be a valid consideration here. He outperformed some more highly touted offensive linemen at the combine earlier this year, helping to solidify his draft position to many. Compton is a better run blocker than he is pass protector at this stage, but those issues can be tidied up with some coaching. Compton may be better on the inside at the next level as he would not operate in space as often.

Simon: Lucas Nix, OT/G, Pittsburgh: Nix is another lineman that the Dolphins have been showing an interest in. He’s a solid mid round tackle/guard prospect who measures in at 6’6, 317lbs but missed much of 2011 through injury. A three year starter, he’s a scrapper, but is tough and strong and probably figures to kick inside at the next level.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa: The connection between McNutt and Dolphins WR Coach Ken O'Keefe is obvious. O'Keefe has seen McNutt transition unselfishly from a quarterback to a standout wide receiver, and he knows what potential McNutt has if he keeps working at his trade. Marvin has great hands and some untapped potential that could see him turning into a Marty Booker type of pro receiver.

Richard: Senio Kelemete, G, Washington: Kelemete originally signed with Washington as a defensive tackle and even played in 8 games on that side of the ball his freshman year. Kelemete eventually made the move to left tackle and has played there the last two seasons. Possessing nimble feet but decent size and upper body strength he has the ability to thrive in a zone blocking system. Moving forward he needs to learn to keep his feet moving through contact, but he has a good initial punch; allowing him to jolt defenders. A raw talent who could be molded into an athletic, powerful guard in the future

Simon: Ryan Steed, CB, Furman: Furman’s Ryan Steed is a very interesting player that the Dolphins like. A small schooler, I saw him against Florida and Appalachian State. He’s aggressive, can tackle and looks very smooth and athletic, especially in press coverage. He did an excellent job in coverage against Brian Quick of Appalachian State who was one of the stars of the Senior Bowl and has been touted as a day 2 pick. Steed held him to 4 catches. He has good size – 5’10, 195 – but ran a terrifically disappointing 4.68 forty in Indianapolis. He’s one to keep an eye on.

NO THANKS

Chris: WR Tommy Streeter, Miami : Even in the 5th round, I would be reluctant to take the inconsistent Streeter, based on what I have seen on tape. Streeter for me epitomizes the type of long strider whose 4.40 speed does not translate on the field. I saw a man that was extremely sluggish getting off the line, which is problematic if you're 6'4" and 215 lbs because you're already a hard-to-miss target for corners that would attempt to press you. I did not see his speed translate often enough, as you could see guys like Luke Kuechly keep up with him over the deep middle. I do not see special hands nor run after catch skills

Richard: Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia: Tandy, while possessing good closing speed, is not a good fit in anything outside of a nickel back in any scheme that features predominance of man to man coverage. He doesn’t lack quickness but he simply can’t handle the duties on the outside. He is a solid tackler who will take on bigger players with some zeal. But, even in a limited role, he has sloppy feet and can look very choppy at times will likely expose him against the typically smaller, quicker slot receivers. Tandy isn’t a god fit in my opinion

Simon: Chris Rainey, TB, Florida: Flattered to deceive for years at Florida. Great speedster but never really got it done with any sort of consistency. Obviously provides a match-up problem for defenders in space, but I’d rather a Ronnie Hillman or a LaMichael James who could at least offer something running the ball. He showed up and flashed as a slot receiver at the Senior Bowl but I just don’t see that translation in the pros; he’s essentially going to be used primarily on screens and bubbles and his mere presence will tip off defences because he’s not coming in to block.

4TH ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris: WR Devon Wylie, Fresno State: Wylie is another player I watched at Shrine practice. He is quick as a hiccup with remarkable flexibility, the speed to take the top off a defense and the quick ability to spot the ball in the air that makes for a player who can adjust to the football. He is a fantastic punt returner and brings those skills free the catch.

Richard: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin: I know Doug Flutie is pulling for this guy to succeed, but he’s not alone as there is a good deal to like about Wilson. He’s an experienced starter, has a good arm capable of making every throw you’d need to, he’s mobile and he’s a leader. If only he were 6’ tall. Wilson’s height is obviously his only insurmountable fault as he does just about everything else well enough to be a borderline first rounder.

Simon: James Michael Johnson, LB, Nevada: The Dolphins have been all over JMJ who confirmed that Dolphins LB coach worked him out privately after his pro day. He’s an athletic MLB who goes 6’1, 242lbs. He’s quick, can play inside and out and has 3 down ability at the next level. He’s instinctive and will make a clean living on special teams early on but has the look of a long time NFL starter.

RUNNER UP

Chris: SS Brandon Taylor, LSU: Taylor made a few plays every game that really caught my attention. He has much better range than some believe, and he extends that range by never being out of position. He was the heart and soul of a devastating college defense.

Richard: Omar Bolden, CB, Arizona State: I now that corner may not be at the top of most people’s draft boards at this slot for Miami, but the truth is Miami may still need some more depth at the position. The team did sign Richard Marshall in the offseason, casting a little uncertainty towards the future of Sean Smith. The team also lost Will Allen via free agency and it could use a player who could line up both in the slot and outside if needed. Bolden has the speed to run with anyone, but needs refinement as he has thus far lived off his physical talent without honing his craft. Bolden isn’t as big as some teams may want, but he plays a bit bigger than his listed size and whoever drafts him has added a solid contributor to their team.

Simon: Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota: See Chris and Richard’s Compton explanations.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: OT Tony Bergstrom, Utah : The Dolphins have had their eye on the athletic tackle out of Utah. Bergstrom shows a nice combination of heavy, thick frame, and athletic explosiveness.

Richard: B.J. Coleman, QB, Chattanooga: Coleman has an NFL type body, measuring in at 6’3’’ and 232 lbs. He did post great numbers while at Chattanooga throwing for 52 touchdowns and 31 interceptions with a 57.4% completion percentage. Coleman is a better than average athlete with a decent arm capable of making stick throws when required and has decent accuracy. His biggest issues maybe a lack of touch and how to manage a game better. Had a reputation as a gym rat and a film junkie, which would endear him to most coaching staffs. Regardless of apparent positive traits Coleman needs more experience in pretty much all facets. Moving forward that may be one his biggest challenges; getting enough reps to improve on his natural ability. This may be the first player Sherman and Philbin will have a hand in bringing along, albeit about 3 rounds too late for most fans.

Simon: Matt McCants, OT, UAB: McCants has been all over the board from the 3rd to the 6th round. Miami have spent some time with the big tackle and at 6’6, 308lbs, he’s exactly the sort of player that Coach Philbin was talking about yesterday. Ignore his forty time from the Combine, this is an athletic tackle, with solid fundamentals, quick feet and the ability to get out and make a difference at the second level. Played on a poor UAB team. Needs to grow physically and spend some time in the weight room, but overall he could be a future starting RT.

NO THANKS

Chris: TE Ladarius Green, UL-Lafayette: Green looks nice on paper and in shorts, however when you get him on a football field I have real problems with his total lack of body control. Dwayne Allen may not jump as high in shorts at the Combine, but 9 times out of 10 if the two found themselves leaping on a route to try and make a catch, Allen would jump higher and exhibit more body control.

Richard: Keenan Robinson, ILB, Texas: Relatively athletic line backer, who does not possess lateral explosiveness, fails to use his hands to disengage from blockers and generally needs to be a bit more physical. He looks the part as he’s 6’3’’ and 243lbs but he plays more like he’s 203lbs. May remind people of former Ohio State Buckeye Bobby Carpenter although not nearly as instinctive as Carpenter was, which is saying something.

Simon: Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State: Chris and I have the same opinion on this kid; just don’t see the fuss. Falls into the category marked ‘Tommy Streeter’ for me.

3RD ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris: OG Brandon Brooks, Miami (OH): I watched Brooks live at East-West Shrinevpractices and his combination of size, strength and explosion could one day make him the second best interior lineman in this Draft. He gets to the second level ideally and can do a lot of damage once there.

Simon: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma: One of my favourite players in all of college football over the past few seasons. I know from within the Sooner organisation that he’s one of the hardest workers on the team and the most difficult player to defend. He makes tough catches look easy, runs great routes and always finds a way to get open. Not a slot or possession guy, Broyles is a kid who can consistently press the corner deep down the field. He’s a crisp route runner and when he’s healthy he’s going to be a hell of a prospect. A first rounder potentially available in R3. Bargain.

RUNNER UP

Chris: DE Cam Johnson, Virginia : Cam is a really raw pass rusher that kicked sound a few positions before settling in at end in Virginia's 4-3 defense. He needs a significant amount of coaching on proper pass rush angles and how to aggressively rush thru instead of around offensive tackles. When he is not thinking, he is a force to be reckoned with as he possesses a great punch, natural burst and change of direction skills.

Simon: Malik Jackson, DE, Tennessee: Jackson, a transfer from USC, has great size, a great frame and can explode off the ball. He possesses terrific arm length and the ability to set up a lineman, keeping his body clean and then ripping into the backfield. He has some rough edges to his game but his upside is massive.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: TE Michael Egnew, Missouri: Miami has shown a history under Jeff Ireland of liking very large, fast and agile tight ends. Egnew checks all those. Boxes, and is very explosive. His height and athletic ability my make him a viable seam threat.

Richard: Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia: Combination of size and speed make him a solid value at this stage of the draft although being selected in the 70’s may be a touch high for him. Johnson did not put up prolific sack numbers while at Virginia, but he does have good explosion and strong hands. He does need to work on adding to his pass rush repertoire; but that is common amongst collegiate players. A bit of a high cut player with somewhat limited lateral agility, he may need to see spot duty until he improves his weaknesses. Johnson is strictly a defensive end at the next level, not a linebacker even though he saw action at the position with the Cavaliers.

Simon: Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest: An explosive receiver who gets off the line and down the field in a hurry. He immediately puts the corner on the back foot and shows natural ability to set a defender up. He needs to be more consistent with his hands because he has a tendency to let the ball into his body and injuries would be a concern – 2 ACL’s in high school – but he can be a force.

NO THANKS

Chris: WR Brian Quick, Appalachia State: I have tried very hard to see what all the fuss is about on Quick, with very little luck. I don't see him as unusually athletic, nor do I see a dangerous route runner.

Simon: Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State: Hard to go against a fellow Londoner, but Crawford has flashed like Tarzan but plays too often like Jane. Never really trained on at Penn State and although he absolutely looks like a physical freak, he’s stiff, lacks movement fluidity and shows no ability to rush the passer with any sort of consistency.

3RD ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris: WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma: Boyles is the NCAA record holder in career receptions. When healthy he is able to run in the 4.4's and shows it on tape. He can be a threat from all three wide receiver positions and showed a broad array of skills that should avail him at the next level.

Richard: George Iloka, FS, Boise State: Iloka has a good build and plays a little faster than his 4.66 forty time would indicate. He needs to tighten up his pursuit angles and become a better form tackler but he has quick feet for a man his size and is a fluid athlete. Such fluidity could make him a solid contributor in the defensive backfield. Iloka needs work but he has the measurables to warrant a look here.

Simon: Marvin Jones, WR, California: Love watching this kid. He’s quick, he runs excellent routes and has the strength to take on and defeat good press corners and box them out. Turned up at the Senior Bowl and looked terrific, exploding off the line and catching everything thrown his way. Fits perfectly the size and speed parameters that Joe Philbin looks for in a player. Greg Jennings type.

RUNNER UP

Chris: LB James-Michael Johnson, Nevada: Johnson is a clean player with great size and speed for the position. He closes to the football very well and shows natural instincts in pass coverage. Watching his tape was a revelation. He was one of the very few linebackers in this Draft that consistently had n early jump on the football.

Richard: Malik Jackson, DE, Tennessee: Jackson is a versatile defender who has played up and down the defensive line in Knoxville. Jeff Ireland has openly said players who can apply pressure from the outside and then reduce inside in some situations. Jackson will provide just that as he has a good burst, long arms and the size to play various positions. The former Volunteer needs to work on some fundamental aspects of the game such as hand use and playing with consistent leverage. Improvement in these areas could make him an absolute steal at this stage of the draft.

Simon: Tyrone Crawford, OLB, Boise State: Big, quick and athletic, Crawford is flying under the radar. Plays opposite Shea McClellin and displays terrific quickness, strength at the point of attack and the ability to get after the passer. At 6’4, 275lbs he has 27TFL and 13.5 sacks the past two seasons and show the ability to bend and run the arc.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers: Sanu will remind the Dolphins a little bit of a cross between Jordy Nelson and James Jones, both of whom were successful up in Green Bay. I take a issue with his game speed and his consistency, but the Dolphins may begin their revamp of the unit with him nonetheless.

Richard: Jeff Allen, OT, Illinois: Illinois product Jeff Allen is somewhat of a project player in that he needs refinement in his technique and strength and conditioning. A nimble, generally active player, Allen has seen time at both left and right tackle while in Champaign. At this moment he is a better pass protector than he is a run blocker, but if the Dolphins are in the market for players who a little more mobile. And, they may be willing to trade some of their previously desired paradigms for the position for that mobility. Allen needs to on maintaining his blocks and keeping his feet moving through contact, but if he gets stronger, along with better coaching, he should be a fine acquisition.

Simon: Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State: Strikes me as the sort of player that, were Jeff Ireland Billy Beane, that he’d see this as a Moneyball type selection. Unfortunately I can also see Ireland over-drafting this kid who is no more than a 4th round selection, is three years away from starting and simply lacks basic football fundamentals that you expect from the QB position. Throwing through defenders is the enemy of touch. I still suspect Ireland pulls the trigger.

NO THANKS

Chris: OT Zebrie Sanders, Florida State: He is not as good an athlete as advertised and when you get right down to it, he is a highly overrated blocker.

Simon: Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona: See above. Just a monstrously overrated talent with no touch, a simple offense that he struggled to look good in with and basic passing concepts.

2ND ROUND

PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris: QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State: Weeden is virtually guaranteed not to reach pick #42 overall, but if he does, he should be the pick. Otherwise, the Dolphins should trade up to ensure they get him. He is not a strong player when forced to scramble, however he is not a bad player in those circumstances either, and he does the most of any quarterback not named Andrew Luck to ensure that he gets into very few of those situations where he needs to scramble. His combination of arm, control and accuracy are the best I have ever seen coming out of theDraft, and I am not alone in that evaluation

Richard: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU: This is what I consider to be a good fit for the scheme Miami will run. One look at Randle’s playing style reminds of Green bay receivers, especially Greg Jennings. Randle has been hurt somewhat by what could be best described as a dysfunctional passing game in Baton Rouge. Regardless, Randle improved every year and appears ready for the next step. A fluid, sneaky fast player capable of taking short passes for long yardage, Randle should be an ideal fit for what Joe Philbin’s offense.

Simon: Keliche Osemele, OG, Iowa State: A wow player in my eyes. On the three times this season I watched him in isolation I came away thinking he had potential All Pro ability. He explodes off the snap using heavy hands and can steer and drive linemen off the ball. He has good feet and although he’s a little susceptible to leaving his inside leg open, he shows outstanding foot quickness to recover. I think he’s a terrific player who could start at T or G for Miami.

RUNNER UP

Chris: WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech:- If the Dolphins do take Tannehill at #8 overall, they could be left in a position to take purely the best available player at #42 overall, rather than picking for need. The defensive ends worth drafting here are likely to be gone. Stephen Hill could be a surprise availability and I would take him in a heartbeat. He is ridiculously fast, big, strong, physical, agile and capable of circus catches. His biggest weakness is he has not been taught to run the route tree at Georgia Tech, but considering his natural feet and agility, that's just a matter of bookwork. He is a very good route runner, he just has not been asked to put those skills on display. The important thing to note is they are there.

Richard: Amini Silatolu, LT, Midwestern State: Silatolu is a small school left tackle that will likely transition inside to guard at the next level. Possessing good quickness and agility for a man his size, combined with a bit of a mean streak Silatolu is likely to hear his name called earlier than many might expect. The Dolphins need to find young, agile offensive linemen to make the new scheme work and Silatolu fits that bill. Obviously he will need some time to prove he can adjust to the speed of the pro game, but he has the raw talent to do so.

Simon: Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia: Pound for pound this has to be one of the best athletes in the draft. He’s quick footed, quick hipped and fleet of foot down the field. He may be 5’9 but he rarely struggles against bigger receivers and can live with anyone. He also has return ability and could become an outstanding slot corner.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: DE Vinny Curry, Marshall: Curry notches all of the prototypes that Jeff Ireland looks for in this kind of player. He has good size and a good frame, and is capable of getting off the ball very quickly. He is also a strong player. For me, he lacks flexibility and agility, but Miami may like him nonetheless.

Richard: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU: The Dolphins need to bring in players who fit the new offensive system and who possess the speed necessary to short passes for long gains. Randle is not going to make people miss in tight spaces and is more akin to gazelle in the open field. As noted Randle is a smooth player who is faster than he is given credit for with good hands and a willingness to fight for the ball in the air.

Simon: Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska: One of the most enjoyable prospects I saw on tape in 2011 was the Husker OLB. The Dolphins had him into Davie and I think he deserves to go off the board between 15 and 25 because he’s everything that North Carolina’s Zach Brown isn’t. David is tough, instinctive and an absolute tackle machine. He’s ultra-consistent, he runs with the quickest tight ends and is always around the ball. This kid is going to be a real star in the NFL.

NO THANKS

Chris: QB Brock Osweiler, Arizona State: Brock would not be a quarterback option I could find myself endorsing. I think he's emotionally immature, but worst of all he's an immature thrower of the football. If you are not even a mature thrower, you have a lot further to go before you can work on being a mature passer, which are two different accomplishments.

Richard: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina: Brown is likely to be one the faster linebackers in the NFL. Unfortunately he may also need someone to show him where the ball is. Brown would rather run around just about every blocker in front of him to make a tackle rather than just simply taking them head on. The former Tarheel is also easily fooled by misdirection and play action, negating his speed as he is out of position to have any effect on the outcome of the play - just and over rated player to be honest.

Simon: Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina: I generally don’t trust North Carolina defenders and Brown is another. He has great speed and can really cover the field but watch him in isolation in coverage; he looks unsure and at times he seems to lack great instincts. Misdirection fools him and he can be two and three steps in the wrong direction before he realises what’s happened. Bang on tape of him and then of Kuechly and it’s night and day. He struggles to get off blocks and whilst speed is one thing, he simply doesn’t seem to know what to do with it.

1ST ROUND

PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina: Given how much I have harped about the quarterback position this may seem a strange choice, but drafting Quinton Coples would open the door for a trade up from #42 overall in order to ensure the Miami Dolphins can satisfy two of their most important needs at defensive end and quarterback. Coples is the only elite end in this Draft. He is an extremely safe selection because he is so versatile and such an advanced run defender. At worst, he can defend the run on 1st and 2nd down and rush the passer from the interior on 3rd down, but I believe he can rush the passer from end on 3rd down and felt he was most intriguing when pass rushing from wider angles. Production was not an issue for him if you track every way he affected the game rather than just sack stat lines. I did not see issues with effort.

Richard: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College: Kuechly is an instinctive, downhill linebacker who has drawn comparisons to former Dolphin Zach Thomas. Kuechly is bigger and faster than Thomas was, but is still not someone you want to single up against backs on a consistent basis. He is an aware pass defender, often getting in passing lanes and making plays when dropping into zones. His aggressive nature can cause him to bite on play action, but these issues aside Kuechly is a player whose floor is very high.

Simon: Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama: Miami won’t take Upshaw at 8. But his situation everything that’s wrong with the draft season; all of a sudden he’s a tweener with no natural position. Wrong. He’s the most violent defender in the draft, with the most violent hands and the fact of the matter is, he’s the best player on the best defense on the best team in the nation. Switch on the tape and tell me that’s not what you see.

RUNNER UP

Chris: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M: In the absence of a trade down, this may be the way to go that works best for Miami from a system standpoint. He is not my first choice at quarterback but he is only a shade off my first choice. Whenever you hear analysts criticize Tannehill or suggest he isn't any good, you should always think of one fact: he is very, very good at sensing pressure, reacting to it, and throwing on the run. You marry that with his experience in Miami's system, his size, arm strength, accuracy, quick feet, quickest delivery in the Draft, and his pure athleticism and running skills, and I literally don't know how Miami could go wrong taking him. It does not compute.

Richard: Nick Perry, DE, USC: I know I’ve been beating the drum for Perry for a while now, and I’m not stopping now. The Dolphins are rumored to be one of the teams looking to trade down if possible come Thursday. If they do succeed, the move will likely leave the team picking from the middle of round 1 and back. If this is the case, then a pass rusher like Perry becomes much more viable. The Dolphins have just released Phillip Merling and outside of former Jet Jamaal Westerman and Cameron Wake the Dolphins are thin in the pass rushing department. The Dolphins will look to take a defensive end or outside linebacker at some point that can apply pressure and in my opinion Perry is a very under rated player who should prove to be a steal if he is taken anywhere after the 20th pick in the draft.

Simon: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College: Watching Mark Herzlich on tape before his cancer, Kuechly would show up again and again on tape because he was everywhere. As much as Herzlich flashed – easy to forget he was a nailed on top 10 pick – so did his team-mate inside. He possesses outstanding instincts, flows naturally to the football and is an outstanding cover defender. For a team that has had real trouble shutting down tight ends, this is the TE killer. Would allow Miami to kick Karlos Dansby back outside.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M: Miami has gone out of their way recently to make sure all their local beat writers believe they could pass on Tannehill when he comes up at #8. When Pro Football Talk ran a rumor that Steve Ross was lobbying for Tannehill, he went on the defensive claiming the report is untrue. My question is, if the Dolphins are trying to take someone other than Tannehill, wouldn't they want to give everyone the impression they are taking Ryan, so as to prevent anyone trading up and stealing their true target? I think they protest too much.

Richard: Luke Kuechly , LB, Boston College: No, that’s not a typo. I believe Miami has every intention of bypassing both Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden in the first round come Thursday night. I understand that will surprise some, but I think the Dolphins have a different plan. Jeff Ireland is a guy who sticks to his plan no matter what. Given the Dolphins involvement in pursuing Carson Palmer and the desire for the GM to wait for that specific player is an indication of how Ireland operates. I think the player that Ireland ultimately wants to play quarterback for the Dolphins is Matt Barkley, and he’ll do just about anything to get him – even bypass talent at the position in the early portions of the 2012 NFL Draft. Barkley has been long rumored to be the apple of Ireland’s eye, and I don’t see Jeff blinking to appease anyone. Miami has kicked the tired on just about every living backer who can man the interior and only signed Gary Guyton to a one year deal this off season.

Simon: Fletcher Cox, DE/DT, Mississippi State: A consistent difference maker this season for the Bulldogs, he’s only scratching the surface of his ability. He’s strong, can play inside or out and has the ability to rush the passer from the end position with quickness and can bend and run the arc. He will also drop into coverage displaying rare athletic ability, phenomenal for a man of his size. He has some issues with his hands, but a player who is so athletic, can diagnose and change direction so quickly is going to be very hard for Jeff Ireland to pass up IF he’s on the board. Ultimately he could end up being the best defensive player in the Draft.

NO THANKS

Chris: LB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina: Melvin notches the same statistical production problems as Quinton Coples and takes things a step further having been just a part time player for much of his career. He has T-Rex arms that will not avail him in pass rush at the next level, and I see him as more of an all purpose linebacker in the mold of Adalius Thomas, which the Dolphins do not need.

Richard: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: It is not secret that I am not a fan of Coples. I don’t think he possesses the explosion necessary to be an every down defensive end at the next level. Nor is he a defensive tackle, although sliding him inside on some passing downs is possible. I have said in earlier articles that I think Coples best position may be as a 3-4 defensive end due to his size ad playing style. I think bringing him to Miami is a mistake as in my opinion he isn’t an ideal fit.

Simon: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: He’s a sexy Kendall Langford and no more. Don’t see a guy who will record more than 5 sacks a season. Because he doesn’t have any great quickness off the ball and neither can he run the arc. He paddles too much to get back into the play when ridden wide and doesn’t have any closing burst. He’s best suited to be a 4-3 DT where he played his best football at North Carolina and looks a very solid player on tape. But for the life of me he looks like a mid-20’s pick for a team looking to shore up the interior of their 43 front.

So there you have it. We’re hearing some anti Tannehill chatter which may just be a smokescreen but I don’t think any of us would be surprised to see Kuechly or Cox or Coples or Chandler Jones come off the board at 8 and Miami has REALLY been investigating Coples about as thoroughly as is humanly possible and dined with Jones before his pro day and have a legitimate interest

MIAMI MEETS:

This is where you’ll find most of the Dolphins picks. It’s not hyperbole, but fact. This is a list of people Miami have interviewed, met with, worked out or flown into Davie.

QB: RG3, Ryan Lindley, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, Nick Foles, Stephen Garcia, Kirk Cousins, Zach Collaros, Dominique Davis, Darron Thomas, Dane Simoneau, Matt Blanchard, Ryan Tannehill.

TB: Travaris Cadet, Zach Brown, Trent Richardson, Lamar Miller, Chris Rainey, Derrick Coleman, Isaiah Pead, James Rodgers, Edwin Baker, Alfred Morris.

WR: Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd, Jeff Fuller, Tommy Streeter, Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Marvin McNutt, Thomas Mayo, Stephen Hill, Reuben Randle, Cody Pearcy, Rishard Matthews, Patrick Edwards, Devon Wylie, Kendall Wright, Alshon Jeffrey, Lance Lewis, Travis Benjamin, DeVier Posey, Damarlo Belcher, Darius Reynolds, LaVon Brazill, Donovan Varner,

TE: Taylor Thompson, Chase Ford, Adrien Robinson, Ladarius Green, Coby Fleener, Cory Harkey, Orson Charles, Kyle Fiedorowizc.

OT: Levy Adcock, Bobbie Massie, Kelechi Osemele, Riley Reiff, Mike Harris, Jeff Adams, Tom Compton, Zebrie Sanders, Matt McCants, Mike Adams.

OG: Brandon Brooks, David Gonzales, Desmond Wynn, David DeCastro, Lucas Nix, Mitchell Schwartz, Brandon Brooks, Joe Looney

C: Tyler Horn, Chris Anzevino

DE: Whitney Mercilus, Nick Perry, Quinton Coples, Melvin Ingram, Jamie Blatnick, Courtney Upshaw, Vinny Currie, Chandler Jones, Cam Johnson, Brett Roy, Jake Bequette, Armond Armstead, Darius Johnson, Fred Jones, Bruce Irvin

DT: Marcus Forston, Ronnie Cameron, Jerel Worthy, Michael Brockers

LB: Ryan Davis, Lavonte David, Jerry Franklin, Zach Brown, Sean Spence, James Michael Johnson, Demario Davis, Bobby Wagner, Korey Toomer, Ronnie Thornton

CB: Janoris Jenkins, Dre Kirkpatrick, Morris Claiborne, Justin Haulcy-Bateman, Luis Villavicencio, Ryan Steed, Jayron Hosley, Coryell Judie, Justin Bethel, Josh Robinson, Antonio Fenelus, Brandon Hardin, Trumaine Johnson, Chris Greenwood, Conroy Black.

S: Chris Adkins, Donnell Jones, Jarrell Drane, Kelcie McCray, Brandon Taylor.

So there you have it. Christmas is coming. Let’s hope Jeff Ireland plays the Santa role perfectly. I hope you enjoy the draft as much as we will and thanks for reading.

Draft Winds: Expanded mock drafts for Dolphins tonight

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:22:59 GMT

Final Draft Winds 2012

• Each of us picks four players in each round and they fall into the following categories

• Player we like for that spot

• Runner-up in that spot

• Player we think Miami will actually take

• Player we don’t want

So, on with the show:

7th Round

PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:Leonard Parker, CB, San Diego State: One of two leaders of a strong SDSU defense, Parker had 7 picks in 2011. Despite a small frame, he was able to match up one-on-one with the 6'6" and 238lbs, highly-rated TE Ladarius Green multiple times on end zone fades, breaking up both passes. Despite questions about timed speed, he was able to outrun and catch Michigan QB Denard Robinson from behind when the two met on the field. His ball awareness is ideal and he showed the ability to stay in the hip pocket of any receiver he came across in man coverage without any help.

RUNNER UP

Chris:DE Jamie Blatnick, Oklahoma State: Anyone who watched a significant amount of the Oklahoma State defense in 2011 knows that Blatnick was the heart and soul of a defense that forced the most turnovers in FBS football. He is not the best athlete but he moves very quickly in short spaces and his pro day 4.76 second 40 yard dash shows that he can hoof it pretty well at need. He has made plays by intercepting the ball, forcing fumbles, returning fumbles for big yardage and sacking the quarterback. Very strong player with a lot of weight room prowess.

MIAMI NICE

Chris: OT, Markus Zusevics, Iowa: Speculation has been rampant that Philbin's connections with Iowa could result in Riley Reiff or even Adam Gettis being drafted by the Dolphins. I think they've got the wrong lineman. Zusevics was a top 50 offensive line recruit coming out of high school and has added over 75 pounds of bulk to his frame since coming to Iowa. He has every bit the athleticism and movement skills Philbin and Sherman want for their scheme in Miami. His main area for improvement will be his hand placement. He gets his hands up off the snap and keeps them there, but they stay relatively dead where he needs to shoot them more. His easy movement skills make him fun to watch.

NO THANKS

Chris:OG Rishaw Johnson, California (PA): This is one troubled player that I would not like the Dolphins to take a shot on as Rishaw has continually showed both on and off the field that he doesn't get it. His movements are sloppy. He seems to resist coaching and instruction. His past is spotty with suspensions and the transfer from Ole Miss to Cal (PA). Despite obvious movement skills, I would prefer Miami stay away

6TH ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:TE Chase Ford, Miami (FL): Despite an underwhelming career at The U, Chase Ford may have a bright future in the NFL. At just shy of 6'7" and 255lbs, he ran a 4.75 in the 40 yard dash with a 33 inch vertical, and good agility measures. Most importantly, I watched him live during East-West Shrine practices and he made plays all over the place. This translated to the game itself as he hauled in a big seam pass, broke the tackles of two defenders that came at him simultaneously, and used his speed to create a bunch of yards after contact. He made so many big plays like that in practice that by the end, quarterbacks were looking for him. Watching his highlights from JUCO at Kilgore, you see the same play maker. The black hole in his record is his time with The U, but he would hardly be the first athlete in recent memory that they have failed to utilize or develop properly, that go on to be better pros than collegians.

RUNNER UP

Chris:OT, Jeff Adams, Columbia: Another player I watched practice live at East-West Shrine practices, Adams stood out to me for his obvious movement skills and frame. He is 6'6" and 306 lbs, and can mirror any pass rusher with his great lower body explosion. He had a little trouble with the bull rush early in the week, but this was a technique issue that coaches helped him correct and by the end of the week he was holding his ground.

MIAMI NICE

Chris:CB Coryell Judie, Texas A&M: Mike Sherman may be an offensive coach but he was the Head Coach of Texas A&M when Judie was a top level JUCO transfer recruit. Some injuries de-railed his short career at TAMU, but nobody is in better position than Sherman to know exactly how hard Judie works and what kind of passion he brings to the game, not to mention what kind of natural athletic skill he possesses. The relationship could figure to be important, since so much is unknown about Judie in the wake of an injury plagued senior season.

Richard:Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M: Judie is another raw athlete, but he has improved by leaps and bounds in his short collegiate career. He does not possess great long range speed, but he is extremely athletic and has shown a good degree of savvy when playing the ball. Given his intangibles, toughness and athleticism, if given the time to improve, he could be another feather in Jeff Ireland’s cap when it comes to selecting late round talent for the defensive backfield.

NO THANKS

Chris:LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State: I believe Burfict's problems run a lot deeper than the constant stream of yellow flags that were thrown at him in college. Based on what I have heard about him at Arizona State and even going back to high school, as well as public statements by Burfict and the aforementioned willful disregard of the rules of the game, his issues are not going to be fixed by simply putting him in a "strong locker room".

5TH ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:OT Donald Stephenson, Oklahoma: Standing at 6'6" and 312 lbs with 35 inch arms and 10 inch hands, having started two seasons at left tackle for a major program like Oklahoma, only having allowed one sack in 2011 when FSU standout end Bjoern Werner timed Landry Jones' snap perfectly and got an early jump on his rush, it surprises me that Stephenson is not getting more attention. His lower body explosion jumps out at you on the tape, and he proved it by flashing wide receiver-like 35.5 inch vertical and 9'6" broad jump marks at the Combine. He also ran a 4.94 in the 40 yard dash. I love how he commits himself to his blocks and uses his hands actively.

RUNNER UP

Chris:OL Tom Compton, South Dakota: The thing that stood out to me about Compton after watching him perform in Combine drills was how he had what Bill Walsh would refer to as "bone girth". He has a heavy, powerful frame, yet moves uncommonly well and showed that in his measurements. He is a two-year team captain and a first team All-American. He should be able to play multiple spots on the offensive line.

MIAMI NICE

Chris:WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa: The connection between McNutt and Dolphins WR Coach Ken O'Keefe is obvious. O'Keefe has seen McNutt transition unselfishly from a quarterback to a standout wide receiver, and he knows what potential McNutt has if he keeps working at his trade. Marvin has great hands and some untapped potential that could see him turning into a Marty Booker type of pro receiver.

NO THANKS

Chris:WR Tommy Streeter, Miami : Even in the 5th round, I would be reluctant to take the inconsistent Streeter, based on what I have seen on tape. Streeter for me epitomizes the type of long strider whose 4.40 speed does not translate on the field. I saw a man that was extremely sluggish getting off the line, which is problematic if you're 6'4" and 215 lbs because you're already a hard-to-miss target for corners that would attempt to press you. I did not see his speed translate often enough, as you could see guys like Luke Kuechly keep up with him over the deep middle. I do not see special hands nor run after catch skills

4TH ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:WR Devon Wylie, Fresno State: Wylie is another player I watched at Shrine practice. He is quick as a hiccup with remarkable flexibility, the speed to take the top off a defense and the quick ability to spot the ball in the air that makes for a player who can adjust to the football. He is a fantastic punt returner and brings those skills free the catch.

RUNNER UP

Chris:SS Brandon Taylor, LSU: Taylor made a few plays every game that really caught my attention. He has much better range than some believe, and he extends that range by never being out of position. He was the heart and soul of a devastating college defense.

Simon: Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota: See Chris and Richard’s Compton explanations.

MIAMI NICE

Chris:OT Tony Bergstrom, Utah : The Dolphins have had their eye on the athletic tackle out of Utah. Bergstrom shows a nice combination of heavy, thick frame, and athletic explosiveness.

NO THANKS

Chris:TE Ladarius Green, UL-Lafayette: Green looks nice on paper and in shorts, however when you get him on a football field I have real problems with his total lack of body control. Dwayne Allen may not jump as high in shorts at the Combine, but 9 times out of 10 if the two found themselves leaping on a route to try and make a catch, Allen would jump higher and exhibit more body control.

Simon: Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State: Chris and I have the same opinion on this kid; just don’t see the fuss. Falls into the category marked ‘Tommy Streeter’ for me.

3RD ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:OG Brandon Brooks, Miami (OH): I watched Brooks live at East-West Shrinevpractices and his combination of size, strength and explosion could one day make him the second best interior lineman in this Draft. He gets to the second level ideally and can do a lot of damage once there.

RUNNER UP

MIAMI NICE

Chris:TE Michael Egnew, Missouri: Miami has shown a history under Jeff Ireland of liking very large, fast and agile tight ends. Egnew checks all those. Boxes, and is very explosive. His height and athletic ability my make him a viable seam threat.

NO THANKS

Chris:WR Brian Quick, Appalachia State: I have tried very hard to see what all the fuss is about on Quick, with very little luck. I don't see him as unusually athletic, nor do I see a dangerous route runner.

3RD ROUND
PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma: Boyles is the NCAA record holder in career receptions. When healthy he is able to run in the 4.4's and shows it on tape. He can be a threat from all three wide receiver positions and showed a broad array of skills that should avail him at the next level.

RUNNER UP

Chris:LB James-Michael Johnson, Nevada: Johnson is a clean player with great size and speed for the position. He closes to the football very well and shows natural instincts in pass coverage. Watching his tape was a revelation. He was one of the very few linebackers in this Draft that consistently had n early jump on the football.

MIAMI NICE

Chris:WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers: Sanu will remind the Dolphins a little bit of a cross between Jordy Nelson and James Jones, both of whom were successful up in Green Bay. I take a issue with his game speed and his consistency, but the Dolphins may begin their revamp of the unit with him nonetheless.

NO THANKS

Chris:OT Zebrie Sanders, Florida State: He is not as good an athlete as advertised and when you get right down to it, he is a highly overrated blocker.

Simon: Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona: See above. Just a monstrously overrated talent with no touch, a simple offense that he struggled to look good in with and basic passing concepts.

2ND ROUND

PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State: Weeden is virtually guaranteed not to reach pick #42 overall, but if he does, he should be the pick. Otherwise, the Dolphins should trade up to ensure they get him. He is not a strong player when forced to scramble, however he is not a bad player in those circumstances either, and he does the most of any quarterback not named Andrew Luck to ensure that he gets into very few of those situations where he needs to scramble. His combination of arm, control and accuracy are the best I have ever seen coming out of theDraft, and I am not alone in that evaluation

RUNNER UP

Chris:WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech:- If the Dolphins do take Tannehill at #8 overall, they could be left in a position to take purely the best available player at #42 overall, rather than picking for need. The defensive ends worth drafting here are likely to be gone. Stephen Hill could be a surprise availability and I would take him in a heartbeat. He is ridiculously fast, big, strong, physical, agile and capable of circus catches. His biggest weakness is he has not been taught to run the route tree at Georgia Tech, but considering his natural feet and agility, that's just a matter of bookwork. He is a very good route runner, he just has not been asked to put those skills on display. The important thing to note is they are there.

MIAMI NICE

Chris:DE Vinny Curry, Marshall: Curry notches all of the prototypes that Jeff Ireland looks for in this kind of player. He has good size and a good frame, and is capable of getting off the ball very quickly. He is also a strong player. For me, he lacks flexibility and agility, but Miami may like him nonetheless.

NO THANKS

Chris:QB Brock Osweiler, Arizona State: Brock would not be a quarterback option I could find myself endorsing. I think he's emotionally immature, but worst of all he's an immature thrower of the football. If you are not even a mature thrower, you have a lot further to go before you can work on being a mature passer, which are two different accomplishments.

1ST ROUND

PLAYER WE LIKE

Chris:DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina: Given how much I have harped about the quarterback position this may seem a strange choice, but drafting Quinton Coples would open the door for a trade up from #42 overall in order to ensure the Miami Dolphins can satisfy two of their most important needs at defensive end and quarterback. Coples is the only elite end in this Draft. He is an extremely safe selection because he is so versatile and such an advanced run defender. At worst, he can defend the run on 1st and 2nd down and rush the passer from the interior on 3rd down, but I believe he can rush the passer from end on 3rd down and felt he was most intriguing when pass rushing from wider angles. Production was not an issue for him if you track every way he affected the game rather than just sack stat lines. I did not see issues with effort.

RUNNER UP

Chris:QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M: In the absence of a trade down, this may be the way to go that works best for Miami from a system standpoint. He is not my first choice at quarterback but he is only a shade off my first choice. Whenever you hear analysts criticize Tannehill or suggest he isn't any good, you should always think of one fact: he is very, very good at sensing pressure, reacting to it, and throwing on the run. You marry that with his experience in Miami's system, his size, arm strength, accuracy, quick feet, quickest delivery in the Draft, and his pure athleticism and running skills, and I literally don't know how Miami could go wrong taking him. It does not compute.

MIAMI NICE

Chris:QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M: Miami has gone out of their way recently to make sure all their local beat writers believe they could pass on Tannehill when he comes up at #8. When Pro Football Talk ran a rumor that Steve Ross was lobbying for Tannehill, he went on the defensive claiming the report is untrue. My question is, if the Dolphins are trying to take someone other than Tannehill, wouldn't they want to give everyone the impression they are taking Ryan, so as to prevent anyone trading up and stealing their true target? I think they protest too much.

NO THANKS

MIAMI MEETS:

This is where you’ll find most of the Dolphins picks. It’s not hyperbole, but fact. This is a list of people Miami have interviewed, met with, worked out or flown into Davie.

QB: RG3, Ryan Lindley, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, Nick Foles, Stephen Garcia, Kirk Cousins, Zach Collaros, Dominique Davis, Darron Thomas, Dane Simoneau, Matt Blanchard, Ryan Tannehill.

TB: Travaris Cadet, Zach Brown, Trent Richardson, Lamar Miller, Chris Rainey, Derrick Coleman, Isaiah Pead, James Rodgers, Edwin Baker, Alfred Morris.

TE: Taylor Thompson, Chase Ford, Adrien Robinson, Ladarius Green, Coby Fleener, Cory Harkey, Orson Charles, Kyle Fiedorowizc.

OT: Levy Adcock, Bobbie Massie, Kelechi Osemele, Riley Reiff, Mike Harris, Jeff Adams, Tom Compton, Zebrie Sanders, Matt McCants, Mike Adams.

OG: Brandon Brooks, David Gonzales, Desmond Wynn, David DeCastro, Lucas Nix, Mitchell Schwartz, Brandon Brooks, Joe Looney

C: Tyler Horn, Chris Anzevino

DT: Marcus Forston, Ronnie Cameron, Jerel Worthy, Michael Brockers

LB: Ryan Davis, Lavonte David, Jerry Franklin, Zach Brown, Sean Spence, James Michael Johnson, Demario Davis, Bobby Wagner, Korey Toomer, Ronnie Thornton

S: Chris Adkins, Donnell Jones, Jarrell Drane, Kelcie McCray, Brandon Taylor.

So there you have it. Christmas is coming. Let’s hope Jeff Ireland plays the Santa role perfectly. I hope you enjoy the draft as much as we will and thanks for reading.

Hyde5: If Tannehill checks out, Dolphins can't pass

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:03:40 GMT

1. I've heard all the reasons why not to draft Ryan Tannehill. It's a crapshoot taking a quarterback. He's so raw he'll have to sit next year. The Dolphins need a pass rusher (or receiver or ...)

But it doesn't matter if you take tomorrow's quarterback in the first or fifth round. You're married to him. Your regime succeeds only if that guy succeeds. Haven't the failed experiments of A.J. Feeley, Daunte Culpepper, John Beck, Chad Henne and Pat White shown us that much?

The last time the Dolphins had a decision on a quarterback who was sitting there for them in the draft and they passed was Ryan in 2008. This was Bill Parcells' first decision. I'm not going to go off on that decision again other than to underline you can't expect to get this chance every draft. Every three or four years? That seems about right.

A lot of people say the Dolphins to wait for the quarterback-rich draft of 2013. Sort of like a year ago they said to wait for the quarterback-rich draft of 2012. Or even the quarterback-rich draft of 2011 when four were taken before they picked at 15th.

If the Dolphins' homework says Tannehill is a franchise quarterback, they can't pass on him. The risk of taking him doesn't outweigh the risk of not taking him.

2. Thursday brings the first Game 7 of a playoff series to South Florida for the first time since Heat-Pistons in 2005.

3. Florida International University is about to feel the wrath of public opinion for its refusal to allow Dominique Ferguson to transfer in light of Isiah Thomas' firing. And rightfully so. Wisconsin was battered into submission a week ago on this subject. Now it's FIU deciding it can exploit players however they want. Ferguson says he's going to enter tne NBA draft - or in the case of a 6-8 sophomore who hasn't done much other than be a top high-school recruit, the un-draft.

4. Albert Pujols is still looking for his first home run as an Angel. So, yes, these strange first weeks for the Marlins could've been worse.

5. What is with the angst over the Knicks in a playoff series? Flashbacks to Allan Houston's shot? To Jeff Van Gundy's riding Zo's leg? No way they beat the Heat in a seven-game series. The outer boundary for it is six games.

Hyde5: If Tannehill checks out, Dolphins can't pass

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:03:40 GMT

1. I've heard all the reasons why not to draft Ryan Tannehill. It's a crapshoot taking a quarterback. He's so raw he'll have to sit next year. The Dolphins need a pass rusher (or receiver or ...)

But you only get unsteady swings at a franchise quarterback and you set the franchise back every time you don't take that guy. This franchise knows that better than anyone. See Drew Brees. See Aaron Rodgers. See Matt Ryan. See how many regimes have been fired for lack of a good, young quarterback to build around.

The last time the Dolphins had a decision on a quarterback who was sitting there for them in the draft and they passed as Ryan in 2008. This was Bill Parcells' first decision. I'm not going to go off on that decision again other than to underline you can't expect to get this chance every draft.

If the Dolphins' homework says Tannehill is a franchise quarterback, they can't pass on him. The risk of taking him doesn't outweigh the risk of not taking him.

2. Thursday brings the first Game 7 of a playoff series to South Florida for the first time since Heat-Pistons in 2005.

4. Albert Pujols is still looking for his first home run as an Angel. So, yes, these strange first weeks for the Marlins could've been worse.

Hyde5: Ireland refutes reports Ross pushing Tannehill

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:13:58 GMT

1. Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland refuted a couple of national reports that team owner Steve Ross is pushing him to take Ryan Tannehill with the eighth pick overall. That would be dumb for reasons we'll get into in a second. It also would go against the grain of what Ross has done in his time as owner.

Ireland appeared with Pro Football Talk's Mike Forio on Monday and called Ross, "very engaged. He’s also very supportive leaving the decisions (about) the draft to me, Coach Philbin and our scouts and football staff. I said in opening the press conference last week I don’t feel any pressure to draft a (particular) position or anything like that. I’ll seque this comment in there. I don’t feel any pressure from the owner. He has not pressured me in that way. I don’t know where that’s coming from."

Sports Illustrated's respected Peter King reported he was told, "Ross wanted the Dolphins to pick Tannehill." Florio wrote on Pro Football Talk he was told, "the man pushing hardest for Tannehill is owner Stephen Ross."

Beyond Ireland's word, I was told by a source, "It's flat-out not true (Ross) is pushing anyone in the way they're suggesting."

Would Ross like Tannehill to be The One? Of course. Does he want to draft him with that hope? Maybe. I remember H. Wayne Huizenga saying he wanted to sign Drew Brees in 2006, but had to go with, "the people who know better than me - they have all the information."

Ross clearly wanted Peyton Manning earlier this off-season. There has been no hint Jeff Ireland or Joe Philbin didn't want him, either. But if Ross was going to dictate a quarterback decision to foster business, it would've been Tim Tebow. That's a name that would create the kind of attention and sell short-term tickets in a manner the Dolphins need. Tannehill will do neither for the first year after Thursday's draft. He needs to sit and develop, according to every report on him. Ross even would've pushed for Matt Flynn, considering that was a guy who could step in and play.

Florio even floated the Tebow idea in March. "For Stephen Ross, the big headline could end up being Tebow." The conclusion: "While John Elway is trying his best to find an excuse to look away, the eyes of owner Stephen Ross would surely be wide open. And he’s be seeing (sic) nothing but dollar signs."

Ultimately, Ross put his faith in Ireland and his football people to make the right decision, for better or worse. That's what he should do now, for richer or poor. Ross has kept close tabs on the quarterback research and thinking. He might even want Tannehill. But I'd have a hard time believing he would demand him to be drafted over the wishes of his football people.

2. Home teams are 19-29 in the NHL playoffs. The No. 1 seed in the West (Vancouver) is gone. The No. 1 seed in the East (New York Rangers) are on the ropes. A popular favorite (PIttsburgh) is out. The NHL playoffs defy predicting.

3. Showtime picked the right team, then got a lucky break (for them) with the Ozzie Guillen Fidel-fest. Top three moments from their half-hour trailer on their "documentary" on the Marlins' season is great entertainment: 1) Ozzie in tears after his emotional, apologetic presser about the I-love-Fidel comment; 2) David Samson delivering the news to Ozzie about the five-game suspension; 3) Me talking on radio (come on, it's my blog) about Ozzie using the "four most flammable words" in Miami.

4. Jim Abbott has a book out on his life and baseball career called, "Imperfect: An Improbable Life." He was the central piece in the most dramatic sports moment I've ever seen. This was in Havana, 1988. The U.S. Pan-American baseball team played the Cuban national team in an exhibition. Earlier, U.S. coach Ron Fraser was invited to meet Fidel Castro on the field before the game and refused, sparking an international incident. Abbott was the conversation piece of the game. How could "El Mano," The One-Handed Man as headlines called him, pitch and play baseball? Victor "El Loco" Mesa was Cuba's lead-off hitter, a center fielder with speed and flair. He laid down a perfect bunt in his opening at-bat. Abbott would transfer the glove from his bad hand to his good one in his follow through to be able to catch the ball. He had to transfer it back quickly now as he fielded the bunt. He got it cleanly and threw out Mesa in bang-bang play at first. And then the magic happened: 60,000 fans in rickety El Estadio Latinoamericana rose as one. Standing ovation. The cheer went on and on. And on. They were saluting Abbott for his ability and his heart. I've been to 10 Olympics, a couple of dozen years worth of Super Bowls, World Series, NBA championships, Masters, etc ... That was the most amazing sports moment I've seen.

5. I'm still digesting the "Mad Men" episode like fried clams from Howard Johnson's.