Dolphin draft, part 2

A quick explanation of positions in American football. The roster is basically split into three units – offense, defense and special teams. In each, a line of scrimmage is formed with the opposition, and behind them will be a number of other players in specialist positions. On defense (the Fins will run a 3-4 defense next season) the team will set up like this

Defensive End - Defensive/Nose Tackle - Defensive End
Outside Linebacker - Inside LB - Inside LB - Outside LB
Safety - Safety
Cornerback (CB) - Cornerback

This is called 3-4 because there are three down linemen and 4 linebackers. The tackle, in a 3-4 called the nose tackle, is primarily a large, immovable run-stopper, attempting to block the creation of gaps for the opposing running back to knife through. The two defensive ends (DEs), big but much more mobile, attempt to put pressure on the opposing quarterback, by pushing back the opposing offensive line. They will also help stop the run. The two outside linebackers will be big, athletic, quick players whose job it is to penetrate the opposition backfield and hurry up, or if possible 'sack' (tackle and force to the round for a loss of yards) the quarterback. They will also try to direct any outside running plays back into the middle so the ILBs can stop them. The inside linebackers will try to stop the the run if that's the play, but would also have to drop into covering opposition receivers (especially 'slot' receivers and tight ends who come across the middle on shallow routes looking for quick, safe short passes). The safeties are smaller but have to be physical, and read the play and have to cover sideline-to-sideline to help out their cornerbacks or cover receivers themselves. The corners are quick guys, often converted wide receivers whose handling skills didn't quite make the nut, who mark or cover opposing receivers downfield. Cornerbacks are highly coveted and very well paid in comparison to safeties.

The glamour positions on offense are the skill positions: quarterback (QB), running back (RB), wide receiver (WR). On defense, the glamour positions would be the DE or OLB who rushes the quarterback and gets sacks. For the Fins, their star player is a DE/OLB, Jason Taylor. The problem with Taylor is that he is an 11-year veteran, earns big money, has never been in a Dolphins team that has had a sniff of the SuperBowl, and who wants out. Oh, and he is currently wowing them on American tv hit Dancing with the Stars, much to the Big Tuna's chagrin.
Jake Long, this year's number 1 pick, is a left tackle (LT). While not glamorous, a quality player at this position is much sought-after, as they protect the right-handed QB's blindside and stop him being pounded face-first into the FieldTurf by opposing DEs. A great LT can make an ordinary QB look good by giving him time to find open receivers. Conversely, a great QB with no Offensive line protection will still get smashed into the dirt facemask-first. Teams often run to the right, so the right guard and right tackle should be good blockers with drive to make holes for the running back. The Fins starting LT last year, Vernon Carey, is being moved back to right tackle (RT), and a free agency signing, Justin Smiley, will (it seems) play left guard (LG) (to help rookie Long). The rest of the Dolphins draft looked like this:

2a: Philip Merling, DE (a steal at this pick, projected to go much higher)
2b: Chad Henne, quarterback (QB) (solid, a player the Fins were looking at at 2a)
3: Kendall Langford, DE (a huge, quick run-stuffer who will be a monster in two years)
4. Shawn Murphy, G (will compete for RG spot)
6a. Donald Thoma, G (again will compete at RG)
6b. Jalen Parmele, Running Back (big and fast, to help out starters Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, both coming back from injuries)
6c. Lex Hilliard, a 'tweener' back, part RB and part Full Back (a bigger, slower running back who blocks for the RB and could be used on short-yardage and goal-line situations where strength and power at the key)
7. Lionel Dotson, Defensive tackle (DT)

After the draft has finished, NFL teams are able to sign any undrafted college player as a 'rookie free agent'. The Dolphins have currently picked up about a dozen. Most won't make it. However, they've picked up three possible 'keepers': Kelly Poppinga, a LB whose brother already plays in the NFL; Davone Bess, a smallish receiver from Hawai'i who has great hands and is tough – could play the slot, a position the Fins need; and most excitingly of all Jayson Foster, a tiny (5'7”) by NFL standards QB/ WR/ kick returner, who has blistering speed and is very elusive. The Big Tuna phoned Foster personally to offer him a contract, so he's one to watch.
Except for the two RBs, Bess and Foster, you can see that the Tuna and his comrades didn't go for the skill positions, the glamour positions. Henne at QB isn't exciting, but could be a solid pro. The Fins have gone for some VERY big men on O-line and defense, building the foundations. Next year the Fins will be a mean, tough, big, bruising team who hit hard, run the ball down the opposition's throats, beat 'em up and win ugly. In the Dan Marino years, the Dolphins were a finesse team; since his retirement, they've been on the slide. Not any more.
Oh, back to Ted Ginn Jr. He was the Fins first pick in last year's draft, when the Dolphins had the number 9 overall. Fans were appalled at this selection as they wanted QB Brady Quinn, who subsequently slid down to 22, where he was selected by the Cleveland Browns, but didn't get to play much through the excellence of the incumbent Derek Anderson. Ginn, I think, will eventually be a good receiver. The Fins signed Ernest Wilford, a big 'possession' receiver, as a free agent to complement him.
Things are looking up in Miami. Now, if only they can resolve the Taylor situation. I thought he was going to be traded in the middle of round two of the draft – rumours had the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Tampa Bay Bucs after him. Hunched over the computer at 1.30am on Saturday night/ Sunday morning, I hoped he would be traded. As the Bucs pick came round, rumours picked up momentum. The Sun-Sentinel wrote that 'reports' were Taylor was to be traded. And as the Bucs were 'on the clock', the screen flashed 'trade' – but it wasn't the Dolphins who traded for this pick, it was the Jags. They took Quentin Groves, who the Fins were heavily interested in. Groves, like Taylor, is a DE/OLB. A lightbulb flashed above my head: will the Jags try to hold the Fins to ransom? But the Taylor to Jags deal seems officially dead now. There was no deal with the Bucs, only rumour. And now the blogs say: the Jags or another playoff contender will come back in if they want to have shot at the SuperBowl this year. Or Taylor will be traded for next year's draft picks. Or Taylor will stay. Whatever. But however this dance ends, the Fins are much better off with Big Tuna and his minions than they have been since the grandest days of Coach Shula and the 1972 team's own brand of beat 'em up, physical, 'smash-mouth' football. I can't wait for next season.