Dolphins select OT Andrew Gardner in 6th round

The Dolphins just made their sixth-round selection and it is offensive tackle Andrew Gardner of Georgia Tech, who obviously will compete to be a backup behind Jake Long and Vernon Carey.

"I think I'm really one of the best values in this draft at this position," Gardener said moments ago. "I think the Dolphins got a good player."

The good player may have been available with the 181st selection of the draft because he suffered a torn labrum in 2008. He had surgery to repair the injury in November, but he doesn't believe it will be a problem.

"They'll evaluate me in Miami and hopefully feel I'm good and ready to go," Gardener said. "That's how I feel."

Gardner was a four-year starter at Tech. He was a left tackle throughout his time there. He better be prepared to compete for a at right tackle. And he better be ready to sit and learn and provide depth -- at least initially.

Comments

[Tommya]

J.D. Folsom

NFL Network had him listed as a Safety. But Weber's website has him listed as an OLB. I got this info on him:

Name: J.D. Folsom
College: Weber State Number: 33
Height: 6-3 Weight: 228
Position: OLB Pos2: ILB
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2009
40 Time: 4.84 40 Low: 4.74 40 High: 4.95

12/02/08 - 2008 ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM: OLB J.D. Folsom, LB, Weber State, has been selected All-Big Sky Conference First Team for the 2008 college football season by the nine Big Sky Conference coaches. - Weber State football

09/22/08 - BIG SKY SEPT 22 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Folsom registered a game-high 14 tackles in the Wildcats’ conference road win over Sacramento State. Folsom also had a forced fumble. He finished with five solo tackles and nine assisted tackles. - Big Sky Football

[Sal D'amico]

From a Weber State fanblog:
Points of Difference: Great vision, very aggressive in getting to the ball, tremendous body strength especially in the shoulders and upper body
Positions: Linebacker
Best Games: 9/20/08 at Sacramento State
9/27/08 at Utah
12/6/08 at Montana

Weber State
Major: Zoology
2008 – Earned First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors, second on team in total tackles with 94 and had 4 double figure tackle games
2007 - Earned Second Team All-Big Sky Conference honors, second on team in total tackles with 73 and had 4 double figure tackle games, was named Team Defensive MVP, transferred to Weber at the 2007 semester break in January from Snow Junior College in Ephraim, Utah

Junior College
Played at Snow in the fall of 2003 for Coach Steve Coburn then left to serve a two-year LDS Church mission to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Came back and helped the Badgers to an 11-1 record in 2006. First Team All-Western State’s Football League, First Team NJCAA Academic All-America team, and Second Team NJCAA All-America team. Had 69.5 tackles in 2006, 10 tackles for loss and 3 quarterback sacks.

Weber State Statistics

Year GP Solo TKL Ast TKL TFL - Yds SKS - Yds Int - Yds Fum Rec - Yds
2008 11 27 49 5.0 - 10 1 - 7.0 1 - 34 1 - 12
2007 11 30 43 5.5 - 21 2 - 13 0 - 0 1 - ?

Personal: Full name is John-David Jeffrey Folsom. Married to Weber State volleyball standout Micah Lines. Played quarterback and linebacker at Salmon High for Coach Dustin Hunt where he earned Second Team All-State honors as a senior. Was a national qualifier in Team Roping on the high school rodeo team.

[sanchito from jetlito]

sanchez,picolito
pampino,my rose
my every thing could be
the light of my eyes
the rain in the field
the love of my team
the daddy of the fish

[erik]

Armando,

How about you give us some explanations here???? The Dolphins are clearly reaching for guys, its getting out of hand here. Other than Gardner and Clemons, EVERY SINGLE PICK was a HUGE reach, huge.

Today is more like April fools day, than day 2 of the NFL draft.

[Glenn in New Hampshire]

This kid Folsom would have been a "no-pick". You could have got him after the draft. Too slow to be a safety and not big enough to be a backer. Is he going to replace Moses, Torbor or Anderson? Not likely.

[chris]

"throw away 7th round pick"

hows that possible? Ever heard of a guy who was a 7th round bust? no! cos they arent expected to do anything. Thats like saying "a waste of 2 cents"

[sanchito from jetlito]

Sal, all this info for no body player Weber ?what if you had picked SANCHEZ ,would you be writing for months ?

[DolphinsFan]

hows that possible? Ever heard of a guy who was a 7th round bust? no! cos they arent expected to do anything. Thats like saying "a waste of 2 cents"

OK, I get your drift. This guy will have a hard time making the team.

[sanchito from jetlito]

can you believe the ESPN still talking abou draft number 500 ,when these people stop talking like idiots ? you could have having NJ PHIN FAN and he would make more sense than all of them.

[stating the obvious]

Thanks Sal

[Tommya]

erik,

This entire draft was like April fools day and groundhog day all rolled into one for the entire league.

Imagine being one of the teams with a top five pick?!? Being forced to pay those kids all that money when they clearly don't deserve it. I'm just glad the Fins had a late pick in the first round.

This was not a sexy draft, to say the least!

[chris]

erik

1st : Davis - Projected first rounder taken first round...not a reach

2nd round: White - targeted by Dallas and the pats in second round...we needed to take him there if we were going to get him so not a reach

2nd: Smith - possible starter picked LATE second round...not a reach

3rd: turner - 10 tds and 700 yds at USC NOT A REACH

4th: Hartline - came out too early (possibly) but productive wr not a reach

5th: Nalbone - te who can block and catch. not a reach in the 5th round

7th: who cares who we pick its the 7th round!!!! they cant be a reach cos its a nothing pick. he works out awesome, he doesnt who cares we didnt give anything up for him.

[Category5cane]

"when these people stop talking like idiots ?"

English motherfer,do you speak it?

[sanchito from jetlito]

chris, you giving me a head pain man, sanchez is the man

[chris]

DolphinsFan

maybe, but if he doesnt its ok cos he was just a 7th rounder...if hes a star he's a steal.

7th round is were u take risks cos you arent losing anything.

[jet in lube with sanchito]

Jet fans prepare for GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chris]

sorry sanchito from jetlito didnt mean to give you a head ache

[FB]

JD Folsom is another Zak Thomas; he's very energetic and can get to the football quickly. He's a hustler who has a nose for the football. Don't you think BP & JI saw something in the kid? He's a tough, smart football player with discipline.

[chris]

oh btw sanchito from jetlito

the only reason Mark Sanchez was considered first round material is because the talent pool at qb was so shallow you could have paddled through it and not got your toenails wet

[Armando Salguero]

THE FOLSOM POST IS UP ON THE BLOG. LET'S PARTY THERE.

[erik]

Chris,

As I stated earlier, I am completely fine with the picks yesterday. Im talking about today. Chris Clemons and the OT Gardner are solid picks at each spot. But every other guy could have been picked much later.

Turner, even though he was projected to go 4th to 5th round range, Ill give you the benefit of the doubt.

But Hartline, Nalbone, and Folsom???? Are you kidding me? Especially with some of the guys that were still available. Come on, give me a break.

7th round picks are worth something, contrary to what some of you think. Why not draft Jean Francois, or some of the other quality guys left, and then bring in Nalbone, Folsom in as free agents, cause you cant honestly tell me they were on your radar or that they would be drafted that high.

[sanchito from jetlito]

chris, i salute you for your understanding .too mush info already, it's time to have some fun and trash talk with your future Pappi sanchez.

jet in lube, do you camp on this blog, every time i come here i am honored to find your charming presence the best thing in this blog

[Alex]

Hey jets fan didn't we hear the same thing from you guys last year when you got brett.
get use to the fact that miami will finish in front of you. You guy can end up with better pick but we will end with a better record.
FIN RULE THE jets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sanchito from jetlito]

chris, i am going to answer this way,pats tradeed almost all their picks due to poor talent in this draft and that's prove your point,still i think sanchez will be a heck QB.

LETS MOVE TO ARMANDO'S NOW TO HIS NEW POST AS HE SAID,WE OWE HIM A LOT

[chris]

erik my bad though u meant the draft as whole

as for your question bout the 7th round pick, they picked Folsom because the trifecta liked what they saw more than with the other guys. Tuna and co have a great track record in drafts and have studied these guys in much more detail than we ever could.

And i get that 7th round picks arent useless...just next to useless. I meant that you can't really reach on a 7th because the expectations of any 7th rounder is so low that nobody really cares if they don't make the team. know what i mean?

I admit i dont know much about Hartline or Nalbone but if the Dolphins thought they were the best thing available i can't really argue. remember both the raiders and the bears targeted a 7th round prospect in the 2nd. It's only a reach if NO-ONE else is after them that high.