Must never forget the RBs on Miami's radar

Enough about quarterbacks. We don't need no stinkin' quarterback!

(I jest.)

Yes, the Dolphins continue to be eyebrow deep in Ryan Mallet's visit, but they are also trying to address issues with their running back situation. Remember that Ronnie Brown, Patrick Cobbs and Ricky Williams are unsigned for 2011.

So the club today is also visiting with Kansas State's Daniel Thomas. He will be in town through Friday. Next week the club will be hosting a meet with Eastern Washington's Taiwan Jones, who is highly intriguing to me.

Thomas, a middle round candidate, looks the part of a Miami running back. He is 6-foot and 230 pounds. He isn't necessarily fast, having been timed in the 4.5 range. But he's something of a riddle on this one because he didn't run at the Indianapolis Combine and didn't the Senior Bowl due to a hamstring injury.

Thomas gained 1,585 yards on 298 carries in 2010.

He is by all accounts a great kid. Quiet. Son of a preacher. Team leader. That was very important to the Dolphins last year.

Jones, who is 5-11 and 195 pounds, is interesting based on his sheer speed and freakish hops. He had his pro day on Thursday and was timed in the 4.29 to 4.35 range, depending on which account you read and which scout is leaking the information. He also had a reported 41-inch vertical leap. There were 27 teams at his event.

Jones is not necessarily a full-time back. Teams think of him as a Chris Johnson type. If he produces like Chris Johnson, he'll be a stud. But I digress.

Jones comes with red flags. He has durability issues. He is coming off a broken foot that prevented him from participating in the Indianapolis Combine running drills. In fact, he was in a boot until a month ago. He had surgery on a sports hernia in 2009 that prevented him from participating in Spring practice last year. He also had a hand and shoulder injuries in 2009.

Oh, and he had a broken leg early in 2008.

Yeah, I know, it sounds like a disaster.

I didn't say he's a first overall pick.

I said he intrigues. He rushed for 1,742 last season and scored 14 TDs. He shared the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year award.

As you know the Dolphins need speed on offense. They need a home run hitter. Jones has scored on a 93-yard kickoff return and an 87-yard run from scrimmage.

I like him. A lot.

 

Comments

[DyingBreed]

Jamie Dukes is pretty much calling Ryan Mallet the "W" word. WIGGER! LOL.............

[Buffalo Dolphan]

I agree with the comment Phil-Phin-Phan made. This guy's never going to find holes that big in the NFL. And even if they did, they be on him pretty quick.

[Kris]

uh......we knew what the "W" word meant....LOL

[DyingBreed]

I guess basically what Jamie Dukes is saying is had Mallet come along 40yrs ago. He would have been the NFL's first black quarterback. LOL.....................

[DyingBreed]

LOL@ chris!

[DyingBreed]

sorry, meant kris. LOL...........

[ALoco]

DB,

WHY YOU R NOT HAVING FUN WHEN SOME ONE DISAGREE WITH YOU LIKE GRAIG M ? HE'S WHO HE'S AND YOU CAN TALK TO HIM WITH EASE LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE ...TRY,HE'S A GOOD GUY LIKE YOU ...YOU DON'T NEED TO GET VERY UPSET LIKE TODAY,YOU R COOLER THAN ,TAKE A LESSON FROM OUR ROLE MODLE ODINSEYE ......TRY IT .

[DyingBreed]

Bill Clinton was the first black president! LOL..........

[odinseye]

Kris,

4th or 5th-PERIOD!!!!

And a ValHalla to you too!

[DyingBreed]

ALoco,

CraigM has made a committment within his own head to have a personal vendetta against me. We all have issues with eachother at times. But its different with CraigM towards me.

There aint no smoothing over when someone becomes insanely possessed with squeezing your balls any chance he gets. Maybe you should talk to him about and see what he says.

[redsky]

God I love this blog!!!!! Thanks all for all your comments, it makes life more fun!!! Almost like a sitcom on a a blog!!! The Heat won yesterday without the big 3, the Yankees beat the 1st place Orioles tonight again!! All is good!!

[Kris]

DB....its all good.....my mom just wanted to be differnt with the spelling....got to spell the dang thing everytime somebody writes my name down.....

i'll never forgive her for that.....

[DyingBreed]

Aloco,

Im not the kind of person that likes to stay angry forever. But unfortunately there are those who do.

I think CraigM is one of them. He seems to get extremely angry when you dont agree with him. Then he tries to do all possible to soil your name with a barrage of untruths.

[odinseye]

I see a problem you guys.

Darryl suggested a mock draft for the Dolphins.

Armando just mentioned posting a mock draft for the ENTIRE 1st round.

I thought that's what Armando meant the other day when he responded to Darryl by saying the mock would take up a lot of space.

So which is it?

Are we doing a mock dolphins draft?

Are we doing a 1st round mock?

Armando?

Darryl?

Guys?

[redsky]

Kris is a good guy, so is Odin, Aloco, and the rest! We love our team and we want to win! So what's the argument?

[ALoco]

DB,

NOTICE HOW ODIN DEAL WITH PEOPLE,, EVERY ONE LOVES HIM ..I LIKE TO BE LIKE ODIN ....WE GOT TO LEARN FROM BEING HERE ,NOT JUST SHOOTING THE FOOTBALL CRAP

[redsky]

Odin, I think a 1st round is MORE than enough, personally.....

[ALoco]

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SS GUY MIKE THE BASEBALL GUY ?...THEY HIRED A NEW GUY AND NOW THEY HAVE OMAR AND HIM AND NO MORE MIKE THE BASEBALL GUY .

[DyingBreed]

ALoco,

Ive been meaning to ask. Whats the deal between you and Cuban Menance? Seems you dont like him.

[nickzi]

Preacher's kids, Armando, are famous for one thing, and it sure ain't a quiet, productive, godly life-style.

I like Taiwan Jones, but I would wonder about how many hits he can take as a RB.

[Kris]

Odin...not the all inclusive...all emcompassing....infinetly DECISIVE.....PERIOD......with exclamation marks......

Everyone knows once a poster uses this card....the argument is over and undisputedly decided in the favor of the FIRST poster to use the word PERIOD......lol

[odinseye]

Aloco,

You're making it hard to be humble.

I'm blushing like school girl!

PS: I pan fried some fresh Smelt tonight. Cajun Style. I loved it. Made me feel like Daniel Boone!

[redsky]

Or, let's keep it to Dolphin picks.....I'm just gonna read anyway, so you guys do what you want and I'll enjoy!

[Darryl Dunphy]

..Funny that that video started with the Montana game in 2009.Jones had a 94 yard return called back on a hold, he also had another 60 yarder(from scrimmage calledback...home refs) A lot of that highlight reel is from 2 seasons ago. The only stuff on it from last year is the Nevada game. And the Montana game on their new red turf(another 70 plus td agaist the Griz...I'm glad he is gone)

In the Nevada game.Jones was by far the best player on the field that day. This includes Kaep, and the other 2 Nevada players that should be drafted this year. As it is with most players.Some see potential, others do not. We all know that success in college doesn't automatically mean success in the show. But as I said before many times in fact. Jones is the best player I have seen at the FCS level. I think he is going to be outstanding

[DyingBreed]

Redsky,

CraigM just was again being the wart that just wont go away. If you dont agree with you he then spends every awakening hour on the blog trying to ambush you with half truths and outright lies to try and soil your credibility.

But he's fine when you become robotic and agree with every single thing he post no matter how idiotic. He has an obssessive need to be right even when he's wrong.

[DyingBreed]

I cant write worth a s*hit tonight! LOL

should have been "if you dont agree with him"

[odinseye]

Redsky,

I thought we were mocking the Dolphins picks only.

I agree mocking the entire 1st round would be more than enough.

I'm just getting confused because I think, or thought Darryl was talking about Dolphins picks ONLY.

Now Armando's talking about mocking the entire first round.

I don't really care who the other 31 teams pick.

Where's Darryl when you need him????

[Darryl Dunphy]

Odin...I thought we would do a 1-7 Dolphins draft. Those other teams can suck it. And I hope they do. Just Phins baby!!!

[DyingBreed]

odinseye,

Its simple, just email Armando and clarify its a 7 round mock of Dolphins draft picks only.

[Kris]

Redsky....no argument here....and thanks for the kind words.....they are always apperciated.....and in turn reciprocated....

Every family fights.....but its when you "stop being polite....and start being real".....thats when true debates and real issues get talked abut in here.....

Good strong debate his healthy...and makes for good reading.....

Its the troll like personal attacks that we took a stand against a few weeks ago.....

and I would say its worked......

[ALoco]

DD,

WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE INJURES TO HIM OF LATE ? DOES THAT SCARES YOU TO BE PAYING A GUY TO SIT ON THE BENCH W/ODRICK ?

[DyingBreed]

I EMAILED ARMANDO CLARIFYING THE MOCK DRAFT WE WANT. I HOPE HE READS HIS MAIL OFTEN. LOL.........

[redsky]

Odin, I thought they were doing the ENTIRE draft, you know my feelings, I'm retired! I'm not going to waste my time guessing, I'd rather waste my time drinking and reading YOUR guesses!!! Either way it will be amusing and we'll see what next season brings, if there is one! I'll throw this out though, I like the 18 game season idea! It's easy

[Darryl Dunphy]

ALoco...The injuries did not phase him all season. The broken fibula happened in the semi-final v Villanova, and was a freak injury that happened on the stupid red turf that EWU put in. By all accounts a shite surface, that was grass the year before. Obviously there is a concern. But Jones has playmaking ability that we need. It would be worth a shot at him. I don't think he makes it to the 5th round. So the question is should we take him in round 4?
I say yes. It is worth the gamble inthe 4th round. Especially with the backs that are projected for that round. He has something none of these guys have..Elite speed.

[Cuban Menace]

Good evening guys,What's new in Phinland?????, Breed, I love Lil Aloco, after all with lil aloco working 16 hours a day we get to stay on the blog all day....LOL....

[ALoco]

DD,

ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP ROSS PAYING HIS SALARY ?

[Darryl Dunphy]

..Sorry the injury was in the quarterfinal.Not in the Semis.

[ALoco]

CUBAN, I AM 1/2 DA FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS ,THEN STARTING TOMORROW YOU WON'T FIND ME AROUND UNTIL MONDAY .

[0x80]

DD,

Broken leg, broken foot, hernia, hand and shoulder injuries? I say thats a bit much. How will he take the NFL?

I have no doubt TJ will make some plays, but how often will he be healthy enough to be activated is the question. I think he is too high risk to stay healthy.

[redsky]

Odin, I got cut off, AGAIN

[ALoco]

WE ARE BECOMING FOOT INJURY EXPERTS WITH ODRICK AND JONES .....

CUBAN, DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MIKE FARANDINO THE BASEBALL GUY ON THE SS ?

[redsky]

Odin, we do 2 preseason games and 18 regular season games. Problem solved!

[Craig M]

DB,

Are you back to bad-mouthing people again? I'm 'the 'wart' that won't go away'? My God you're a condescending pr*ck!!

I'll dig up some more of the crap that you've said previously on here and then you can deny it and say it's 'untruths'.

[odinseye]

Redsky,

I agree. I've been blogging here a long time and I LOVE THIS PLACE.

Kris,

I agree with you also, It seems it's been quite a bit better lately.

PS: Cyber friends rock! I've never had to tell any of you guys to get up off my living room floor and go home!!!!

[Craig M]

Guys what are your thoughts on Demarco Murray? Is he a guy that can get the job done and still be available in, let's say, the third round.

[Cuban Menace]

Wow, Lil Aloco I too have been Working 1/2 days the last 2 days, Starting tommarrow I'am working the dreaded 8 to hate shift which means I'am on duty till it quiets down , around midnight or 1 or 2am, sat. too... Thats gonna be some long hours............

[ALoco]

GIVE HOT ASHLEY A FRIENDLY KISS FROM ME CUBAN .

[BuckeyeFinFan]

DD-

Thanks for clearing that up about the Phins mock. I was kind of wondering the same thing that Odin mentioned.

[ALoco]

FIRST Q FIRST GRAIG M.... IS MURRAY HAS A FOOT INJURY OR OTHER INJURES ??

[Darryl Dunphy]

...In the quartefinal game before Jones got knicked. He was 20-200 plus. I don't remember him playing in the 4th quarter, or overtime.

0x80..I know all the risk involved. And if he was a first round prospect I would agree. We are talking a running back. These guys have limited shelf life. I say lets roll the dice on him. If there were more players in this draft with his skill set, I would agree with you. But the running back position, although deep.Doesn't have a player with Jones pure speed,or playmaking ability. Even if I'm wrong(this happens a lot)and Jones makes it into the 5th or 6th round....It's the 5th or 6th round! Why not roll the dice?

[Cuban Menace]

I say if there gonna get a RB, I say take Ingram..............You know he's a bull.....

[BuckeyeFinFan]

Craig-

I like Murray and think he's a good pick in the third. What do you think about Shane Vareen maybe in the 4th?

[Cuban Menace]

Aloco, Will do.........

[DyingBreed]

ALoco,

See what I tell you. My reoccuring wart that is CragM announces his entrance referring to me. LOL...............

[fin4life]

I didn`t mean to start a flurry, just thought that the statement was hypochritical. I as a member of the Latin community in Miami wouldn`t throw my own people under a bus !

I just thought that the "statement" He is better because his Father is a Preacher was wrong !!

The reason for having this blogg is based on the fact that were all Dolphans and no matter how diff. our points of view, at the end of the day we all want to win !! I can`t believe anybody cares what my Political views are, UNLESS I`M MUSLIM !!!! but then again we double down religiuosly if I am !!!

[Craig M]

BuckeyeFinFan,

I like Vareen as well. I like the speed of some of these kids. My concern is can any of these guys carry the load for us or the more of situational type backs. Murray is intriguing to me.

[Cuban Menace]

Jone's seems like a little guy, Yeah he can run like Gissele in the WAC but does he have the durabillity for the NFL????

[Craig M]

DB,

Your a tough guy behind a computer keyboard! If there's anybody who is hanging onto and is angry it's you. Me?....I just don't put up with your crap. You're a fraud pal....you spout all this crap and then claim weeks later that you never said it. I'll let the others make up their own minds on you.

You?....you can go back to name-calling and call me a 'jello-freeze'.

[ALoco]

GRIAG M,

BY EXTENDING YOUR HAND TO DB ,YOU WILL WIN ALL OF OUR PRAISE AND RESPECT..LET US ALL START A NEW ..........

[Darryl Dunphy]

..So there are a lot of folks on now that I hope will participate in the mock draft challenge. This was my thought. I wanted to keep it simple. Just draft rounds 1,3,4,5,6,7,7,7. Those are our picks.If something changes before our draft day, we can ammend the order. This keeps it easy. If you must do a draft that involves trades, by all means do it. I just ask that it is a realistic scenario. I would ask that you do not do a draft with a trade. But if you cannot fathom us staying put, and it keeps you from participating. Do what you must. I will log all of the mocks, and re-post them a few days after the draft as to not ambush potentially more important information post-draft. I hope eveyone gets a chance to post a mock. It should be fun...Oh by the way. Just 1 mock per person please.