Draft Day No. 3 live blog starts here at noon

When the draft resumes this afternoon, I'm hoping the Dolphins land a certain RB that I've had my eyes on for a while whose name I will not type here because, believe it or not, I've recently learned at least one rival AFC team reads this blog for updates on what the Dolphins are thinking -- obviously not recognizing that I don't know squat about squat.

Joke's on them!

Nonetheless, I won't mention this RBs name at this point, not that it's a big secret.

Lookit, the Dolphins need speed today. It is lacking for them on offense. It is lacking on defense, although not to the same degree. It is definitely lacking on special teams.

Speed, speed, speed, speed, speed, speed!

When Bill Parcells first started constructing this team it started looking like a mirror image of the 1990 New York Giants for a while there. The Dolphins were big, hulking, and bulking. This team looks very imposing in the airport.

But the game has changed since 1990 and is played on the field not in an airport. So the plodding Fins have some adjusting to do.

They need speed to be more dynamic. They need speed to make sure those kickoff returns and punt returns stop going 90 yards in the other direction. They need speed to do something that we haven't seen around here a lot lately: Blow somebody up with a 90-yard punt return of their own, or hit them on a 74-yard run, or throw a 68-yard bomb over the top of their defense, or return an interception 101 yards.

So my hope is today is about turning the Incredible Hulk into Flash. Or something like that.

The hope for today is a:

Change of pace fast RB.

A return man. Must be ... fast.

(Hopefully the Dolphins can get two for one by having the fast RB also be a fast return guy.)

OLB help to punish Tom Brady and Slim Shady now that they're boys in New England.

Maybe a  NT. He's the only one that doesn't need to be fast. Don't sleep on the NT, by the way.

[NOTE: Live blog happening right here at noon. Yesterday was the biggest day on this blog in all of 2011. Enormous! Thank you. And thanks to that team for checking in. I don't know anything.]

Comments

[allen]

i would love to trade up and get Jaquizz Rodgers---

Gates, Daniel thomas, Jaquizz

to go with Marshall and Bess---and a

offense line wit poucey carey and long---

We would be set up perfect for a VET QB---

I think it also allows us to become players in the

Kevin Boss,
Nhamndi,
Manny Lawson

Mathias kiwanuki-Sweepstakes

[shaggy]

I like the pick but that second round boner was unforgivable.

[Lu]

Bogotá PhinFan called it, great pick, i like our draft so far.

[SureShockMiami]

theres our deep threat !!! now we are going to seee brandon produce his butt off

im still hoping for dj wills in the 6th

i think taiwan will be gone unless we do some 2012 trades to move into the fifth

[Image]

i hate drafting a return man when Sproles will be available and possibly Reggie Bush..

[Bogota Phin Fan]

beerphins...Salas too much like Hartline...i think.

[FinSideBarn]

Now this is shaping up nice, still hurting over passing on Ingram though, but I can't really complain after taking some time to see how all this pieced together, at least now all the QB people will get their wish next year if Henne can't put it together now with some new weapons to use.

[Zeik]

I'd like to see him race CJ.

[tokyo smith]

i guess they like him on returns better than taiwan boner.

[Mlb2007atla]

Please Armando do you know who good Edmond is besides the speed, what about hands and route running???

One thing I noticed watching some videos, is that he has great vision downfield once he sees the endzone he can get there very fast.

[The Local Seth]

Edmund Gates is actually 2 months OLDER than Mike Wallace of the Steelers. Will be 30 in 5 years.

[SureShockMiami]

DD, where you at?????

[jamesc]

No way we resign both Ronnie and ricky my guess is Ronnie unless we draft t jones

[finatic13]

We gotta go playmaker TE, got too. we can get some depth in the FA at OLB and RB. We cant get the speedy deep threat TE. Williams or another deep threat TE has to be the pick, if it is this is the best draft the fins have had in years.

[Armando Salguero]

Dolphins are not expecting tons out of Gates as a WR right away. He's not a polished route runner.

He is a punt returner and kick returner right away and will help at WR hopefully.

[beerphin]

I dunno but something tells me Salas will be a star. I see Hartline on roids when i watch his footage.

[scout9]

garbage plate

kiper?

the same kiper who said jake long was not a true left tackle because his hips don't swivel?

the same kiper that said vontae davis was a mistake for us to pick because he was a problem child?

i guess when a commercial comes on tv you go run out and by the product.

[GarbagePlate]

Imagine: I dont think they drafted a return guy. They drafted a WR who can also return kicks.

[NHDolphan]

I still see us picking up a vet QB in FA.

I also see us getting a RB in FA Poss even Ricky or Ronnie if they drop their price tag but I think a speed RB would be better.

[oscar canosa]

Now, this guy gets some kind of separation and he can catch. I had looked him over but I doubt he will be full time split end(too small). Great pick as a situational player and perhaps returner.

[Dave]

Center.RB and speed at WR. Those were the most pressing needs on the Fins. Seriously, may be a reach, but at least it was not like overreaching on one of those first round QB's.

Now let's hope DJ Williams can be picked up. Maybe trade the 6th and a 7th to get him if he is there late in the 5th?

[BOONEDOG]

GATES:SMALL HANDS,BUT RARELY DROPS A PASS

[SureShockMiami]

brandon is going to produce now that we have a speedy receiver !!!

i just see some WR getting released cuz we have too many on our roster

[scout9]

gates = ted ginn jr 2 he is the same player

[GarbagePlate]

scout: Kiper talking about his height is not debatable like the examples you gave. Height is what we call "measurable" Its not opinion

[GarbagePlate]

Maybe you should go scout some of your own misinformation

[SureShockMiami]

armando,

then do you feel we kinda reached on him?
if he is not goin to make an immediate impact (especially with the new kick off rules)

[The Local Seth]

Edmund Gates is just 1 year younger than Ted Ginn Jr.

[Bogota Phin Fan]

scout9...only thing the combine doesn't report is heart and guts. I would venture to say Gates has to have more of both.

[jovd]

Honestly, what do you guys want from a 4th round pick??? All these complaints, like "Oh crap, another Ted Ginn." Yeah, except we took Ted Ginn.2 105 picks later... How can you complain about this???

[finatic13]

1st off Scout is a moron, 2nd maybe we trade a 5th in next years draft and one of the 7th round pics we have to get us in there.

[Dave]

Too many WR's? No way. Finally some real speed to go along with all possesion guys. Besides, what team makes it through Training camp without injuries?
hartline is nice, but undersized. Bess is a slot guy. No one else can line up wide and stretch the field.
Thomas and Gates have questions, but who doesn't after the first 5 picks.

[SadFinStuckInMud]

We traded up for a fat, slow, fumbling machine. Sammie Smith, minus the speed! We're GREEEEEEAT!

And for any fools (ummm, Kris) thinking the ONE website you looked at over on ESPN is accurately representing his fumbles, you are WRONG. His fumbles are well-documented as worst of the top 12 draftable RB's in the nation. The ESPN website is wrong, doucheys.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/27350/spotlight-on-ball-security-for-rb-prospects

[scout9]

garbage

the sidline scouting site has him listed 5'11. henne needs targets taller than 7 ft.

[SureShockMiami]

i like the pick

i just feel he should be on the field if he is that fast to be threat on the other side. so it opens up marshall or bess

[Rob in OC]

We had Ginn as a speedster WR... Matters not if Henne isn't accurate enough or makes the read to throw it to a speedster.

The thing that I noticed was Deon constantly urging him to "run, run so us your speed during drills at the combine....he was super tenative or underconfident going through it.

I wonder if he will be wide eyed in the pros more than most?

Cheers,

[finatic13]

to the 5th rd

[qbclub13]

Feels like a good draft so far if we come out and get a TE I will call it an A

[GarbagePlate]

Bogota: On the money again. In order for him to be Ginn 2.0, he would have to fold up like a card table every time he thought about getting hit.

[Armando Salguero]

Dolphins land Taiwan Jones in the sixth round, I'll be thrilled with this draft.

[scout9]

finatic

so everyone who doesn't agree with you is a moron. feel sorry for your wife.

[Andy NJ]

Hey what's up fellas?

I really like how Miami has addressed their holes in this draft. I wanted Mallet as bad as anyone. Maybe some wanted Dalton or Kapernick but aside from that the Dolphins have made some very good picks to help right away and fill holes.

Mike Pouncey is going to be very good. As good as his brother? Who knows! But if he is close which he will be he is still a great pick for a team that needed to find a starting center for the next decade.

Daniel Thomas - you guys made me sick last night over how critical you were of him. He is a very good RB. He plays much faster then his 4.55 or 4.6 40 (depending on who's stop watch). I saw him play several times and he was their only NFL caliber player and he still was highlt productive. He ain't the burner most of you wanted but burner's are a dime a dozen mostly none are every down backs except for Chris Johnson. The Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, Jerious Norwood types are fast but can never be every down backs because of their size and durability. Thomas was the RIGHT pick!

Edmond Gates - I never saw him play but he is the burner we DEFINITELY needed at WR. It says he also is a good kick returner. Character concerns he has but so what.

[SureShockMiami]

you right rob,

henne probably wont throw it deep but too speedy but he still has to be accounted for on the field

[BOONEDOG]

KEEP AN EYE ON RB MARIO FANNIN FROM AUBURN,5 10 231 LBS 4.37 FORTY AT COMBINE

[Ben]

and everyone keeps saying Ginn 2.0 like they are cursing, but it is kind of a shame that was such a sore spot and he was released, IMO he would have made a great compliment to Marshall and maybe some of the infamy of that colossal reach could have been undone in the end. If Gates can bring the same thing without the emotional baggage, that would be great value out of a 4th round pick.

[morphin]

Gates made big strides in 2010 catching the ball. Nice quote "BLOWS THE TOP OFF OF DEFENSES"

[qbclub13]

Lol Ginn was taken in the first round this guy the 4th so atleast if it is the same player it proves this front office is way better than what we had

[finatic13]

i feel sorry for her too lol, you still are a moron as nobody else agrees with you either.

[SureShockMiami]

wow my grammar is horrible lol typing fast i suck at that too

i meant you're right

throw it deep to speedy gates

[bk]

I would like the fins to trade their 4th and 7th 2012 picks for someone's 5th. If that doesnt happen lets hope teams think DJ Williams is too small for TE. I like Virgil Green too.

What I would like to see

6th- TE DJ Williams
7th- QB Tj Yates
7th- Best Speedy RB Left

[Armando Salguero]

I do not feel the Dolphins reached on Gates.

Speed is a priority. He WILL contribute in an area the Dolphins have been losing at for years -- special teams. And there is nothing that says he cannot develop into a good WR, also.

I like it. I remember the Dolphins had the same vision for Ted Ginn and used the 9th overall pick on him with that vision.

[oscar canosa]

Sure he will contribute immediately a la whatshisname from Pittsburgh. If he can catch punts in traffic, even better.

[SadFinStuckInMud]

Craig M, you're nuts. Your grandma's transvestite unic sister could play QB better than Henne. He is the worst in the NFL and this team is 5-11 at best next year. I say that not because I hate Henne but because he is SO FRIGGING BAD. Pull your head out. The guy SUCKS. My beloved needs a QB and we screwed the pooch instead. My heart aches as we suck, and guys like you just want to live in frigging la la land. "Henne's OK. He'll be fine." In 10 years you'll be saying, "He's about to get it! I believe it! Henne needs juuuuust one more year!" You guys are ridiculous.

[Andy NJ]

This is courtesy of ESPN on Gates BIG PLAY ABILITY: Is at his best with the ball in his hands in space. Can take a quick-hitter the distance. Shows very good initial burst, can accelerate out of his breaks and he displays a big-time second-gear. Needs more work as a vertical route runner and with tracking the ball, but he has the burst and top-end speed to stretch the field.

[Barrett Wallace]

d1m,
Yes, I would like that backfield and feel much better about the year to come, but I still think that our QB position will hold back the running game.

[finatic13]

scout how tall is the best slot man in the NFL D. Bess, i believe about 5'10 or 5'9 right. Henne seemed to find him a lot last year.

[PriceMaster]

Maybe the value of Gates is he makes Roberto Wallace take a starter's role from one of last seasons starters.Either way it makes us better.

[Bulldogs77]

now we need D J williams, and Derrick Locke!

[Bogota Phin Fan]

Ladies...Armando make a prediction at 1:11!!!

[SureShockMiami]

i like the pick also

i think its going to do great things for us if he shows up to camp when there is one

hopefully he shines and we get him out there soon