Riley Reiff to Dolphins at No. 8? Are you kidding?

Riley Reiff is a good football player, OK? I have nothing against the offensive tackle from the University of Iowa. I have watched a couple of games in which he has played and he's always performed well enough.

And that, coupled with his size and ability and smarts, is a reason he's considered a top of the first round type of talent. But to the Dolphins? Are you kidding me?

God, I hope not.

Seems Reiff to the Dolphins is a popular stream of thought among NFL draft analysts. ESPN's Mel Kiper penciled Reiff to Miami in his first and only (so far) mock draft. NFL Network talent analyst Bucky Brooks similarly has Reiff going to the Dolphins with the eighth overall selection. And NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche has the Dolphins picking Reiff as well.

I get it.

Reiff is an offensive tackle. He's perfect for the Dolphins to fill the void at right tackle -- even though he played left tackle at Iowa. And, of course, his connections to Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz makes him a natural for the Dolphins because Miami coaches Joe Philbin and Mike Sherman know and respect Ferentz and value his players.

But ...

Riley Reiff, for all his attributes and gifts and the logic of filling an obvious void, would be a terrible pick for the Dolphins at No. 8. Why?

Value.

There is simply not a great deal of value of picking a right tackle in the top 10 selections of the draft. No, there's no rule that says this is a fact. No, there's no philosophy or statistic that has proven this to be the case. But work with me for a second and let me state my case ...

{UPDATE: Since posting this, I got a call from an NFL scout who reads the blog and he told me he has Reiff as a guard. And he said he's not alone in the thinking. So there's that.]

The draft is not only picking the right players, but also getting them in the right round to maximize their value. And in the top 10 a team with so many needs as Miami has should not be investing on a player that neither will score points, nor prevent points from being scored. The offensive right tackle will never, not even on his best day, throw a TD pass, or intercept a pass, or sack the quarterback, strip him of the ball and run it in for a TD. He will never make a game-changing play.

And that game-changer is the only kind of player that brings value to a team in the top 10 picks.

Said another way, I want my team to pick a quarterback, a cornerback, a wide receiver, a 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. I want playmakers drafted in the top 10.

I do not want grunts.

Grunts are wonderful additions later.

Why?

Because grunts don't lead a team to the playoffs or the Super Bowl. Playmakers lead teams to the playoffs or the Super Bowl.

That doesn't mean I am against drafting offensive linemen later in the first round or anytime after that. And some special offensive linemen deserve top 10 consideration depending on a team's relative needs and whether the player is a left tackle or center.

But a right tackle? Or a guard?

In the top 10?

Quick, who was Green Bay's right tackle this year while they went 15-1? Quick, who was the last right tackle to be named NFL MVP or even his own team's MVP?

Yeah, thought so.

A top 10 pick is a premium, premium draft choice. It should be used to select premium, premium NFL playmakers.

And right tackles, no matter how gifted, do not qualify. Reiff, by the way, is No. 77 in the video below.

Comments

[ALoco]

HENNE WILL COMPETE FOR THE STARTING JOB AT KC ........6 MILLION A YEARS DONKEYS .....

[Timmy "3 Heismans" Tebow]

TO ALL THE UNEDUCATED DOLPHIN FANS ;;;;;;;;;

ALERT DONKEYS..........

(( CHAD HENNE WILL SIGN WITH ONE OF 5 TEAMS ARE PUSHING TO SIGN HIM FOR UP TO 7 MILLION A YEAR ,AMONG THEM THE JETS,DENVER,KC AND OTHERS )).........

NOW KEEP TALKING ABOUT MANNING WHO'S LOOKING FOR A RETIREMENT PACKAGE .....
Posted by: ALoco

correct. Flash back to 1987. Us losing Henne this year is like when the Bucs lost Steve Young. Both the 80s Bucs and the 10s Fins are in a sorry state.

[Rick]

Ireland should squander 3 picks again on a backup RB.

[TGH]

Getting rid of Henne is like getting rid of a disease.

[odinseye]

Rick don't start that argument up around here.

The genius mathmaticians will have you believe we only spent two picks on Thomas.

They say we used a 3rd, 5th and 7th to trade up for a 2nd. Thus: we gave up 3 but got one back. For them 3-1 = 2.

The problem they fail to realize is, THE ONE we GOT BACK, we USED on Thomas-LOL.

Either way, if we give up 3 picks this year for one player, that player BETTER be named RGIII!

[The Crusher]

so much speculation i can't wait until FA & the draft are over.one thing for certain though our team last year had charactor.they never mailed it in ala the bucs,cowgirls,& colts. whoever our next QB is i think we are going to be a damn good team. we hired a coach who does not believe in stone age football so hopefully they can put it together in 2012 with whoever is running 13's old spot.16-0 or 0-16 i will always bleed aqua & orange, hell i'm losing sleep wondering what they're going to do.

[Timmy "3 Heismans" Tebow]

Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round.

On the other hand, Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, and I were drafted in the first round. #WINNING.

[JS_in_LA]

Odin,
Sure, you're right, Leaf's team did alright, and so did Russell's for that matter. Smith was a one year stat freak, so he qualifies.
BUT... I watched many of Russell's LSU tigers play, and he wasn't the best player on their team, or even close to it. He managed the game, threw underneath to playmakers, and threw deep passes to physical freaks who were a lock to catch them. With Russell, Flynn did quite well. In other words, JR didn't make a difference.
Honestly I hadn't heard of Leaf until draft time, but I did know Peyton. Wouldn't have been a question for me, but ignorance of WSU probably helped.
Smith was a stat freak and a combine freak.
Everyone also said how perfect Alex Smith looked physically. Tim Couch - had all the throws. On and on.
Sure, it's not a simple thing to pick QBs. The best in the world can't do better than 50/50 on their picks.
Heck, in Henne's draft, only two of the top 5 are still starting, and Henne was #3. (Ryan, and Flacco).

I'm just sick of hearing experts blather on about how QB X has all the throws. Tannehill, Foles etc. Whatever.

Don't get me started on back-up QBs who play one good game. Ugh.

[DC Dolfan]

Lou,

Like Chad Henne last year, Moore will have a chance to show what he's got. Getting another QB doesn't mean they will be guaranteed the starting position. They'll have to win it in competition (how it should be). If Moore is as great as you claim, then he'll be able to beat whatever QB is thrown his way. However, I think any GM who gave Matt Moore a Kolb-type contract (based on what he's done) should be fired on the spot.

Also, I think the actions of the Owner and the GM should lead you to certain assumptions. If they are making such a big pitch to grab another QB (not a backup), then the assumption should be THEY don't believe Moore is capable of leading a team to becoming elite (or consistently relevant). They know Moore better than both of us. I'm not saying they're definitely right always, I just happen to believe them on this one.

[DC Dullfan]

It is my observation that the team that scores MORE points often WINS the game.

I have watched HUNDREDS of games very closely and have noticed this to almost always be the case.

Also, it is equally true that the team that scores LESS points most often LOSES the game, although I am not certain that is always the case.

[DC Dolfan]

Also, don't forget, Henne came in Week 3 in 2009 and we finished the Season 7-9. Penny lost all 3 games he was in, so Henne's record that year was 7-6. Pretty good start huh?

Now in 2012, Henne's proved he's not the guy (for Miami) and he will not get a contract to play for this team.

I make that point to say fool's gold looks awfully similar to the real thing. Sometimes, when you find water in the desert, it's just a mirage.

[JS_in_LA]

I suppose I could've brought up Heath Shuler, and Rick Mirer to better prove my point, but alas...

[DC Dullfan]

I make that point to say fool's gold looks awfully similar to the real thing. Sometimes, when you find water in the desert, it's just a mirage.

Posted by: DC Dolfan | March 02, 2012 at 01:42 PM

----------------------------------------------------

Forgot to add a stitch in time saves nine and a penny saved is a penny earned.

I'll have more trite cliches later, folks!

[Hiram]

odin

We gave 3 picks, they gave us 1 pick.

Net result is 2 picks in cost.

Why is 2nd grade arithmetic so difficult for you to understand? Are you really that burnt out on drugs?

[Hiram]

Points wise we traded up, not down, the value was for all practical purposes fair. A 7th round pick rarely even makes the team.

[Lady Kit Kat]

You gotta shake that butt in the jungle! Meow!

Y'all a bunch of skank ho's

[Hiram]

odin, I may be able to help you understand.

You have 3 joints of Mexican rag weed, harsh and stemmy.

You trade those 3 joints for 1 joint of thai buds.

You gave up 3 joints of junk and got 1 joint of quality.

[Timmy "3 Heismans" Tebow]

Every single person here lacks my poise, character, charm, strength, courage, good looks, throwing arm, quads, glutes, #winning ability.

#winning.

[Timmy "3 Heismans" Tebow]

LOL hiram. But drugs are bad for you.

[THE ALL KNOWING TRUTH GIVER (YOU ARE LUCKY TO HAVE WITNESSED ME)]

I will rank certain people on a scale of 1 to 300 in musical talent:

Kurt Cobain: 300
Whitney Houston: 17
Mariah Carey: 170
Jimi Hendrix: 300
Shaq: 18
Eddie Van Halen: 220
Dan Auerbach: 300
Jack White: 299
Amy Winehouse: 2

[Ryan "Sittin' on the Couch" Leaf]

give it up mando!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hiram]

Timmy

The drugs in the foods you eat, preservites, chemicals, artificial substancces, GMO, the acid rain, and the air you breath are worse than smoking a doobie.

[Professor Lou]

Isn't it "Ryan "Sittn' in the Padded Room" Leaf"?

[The Crusher]

all knowing truth giver knows nothing. he gives kurt cobain 300(agree by the way)jack white 299, and Van Halen 220???huh...are you f-in kidding me Van Halen is a freakin virtuoso man. hendrix by the way is whatever your highest graded person is + 1000 there was/is no one better. get your phones out,smoke some of odins sweat leaf and listen to eruption @ 11

[the truth giver]

Crusher: Meh. I will go see VH next month, however. Good show I'm sure. VH ain't no J Mascis. Now there's a beast on the guitar.

[Timmy Tebow]

Timmy need football season to start. Life boring without Dolphins football.

Meantime, Mando, give us what we need!!!

[NHFINSFAN]

Step 1: Release Soliai to free up $15M in cap space
Step 2: Sign Manning
Step 3: Sign Saturday to give Peyton some comfort @ C
Step 4: Move Pouncey to RG & Murtha to RT
Step 5: Draft Ingram DE @ #8
Step 6: Draft Poe NT w/ 2nd pick to replace Soliai

Yea, that's the ticket!

[sid]

Van Halen is boring, trite crap. It's "music" the way a Budweiser is "beer." Pablum for the dolts.

[NY "G"]

Below are today's draft slots. Notice how WR Justin Blackmon moved UP from #10 and is not #7. Also, Matt Kalil moved from the #2 spot to #3 and RG moved from #3 into #2.

1. Andrew Luck*

2. Robert Griffin III*

3. Matt Kalil

4. Trent Richardson*

5. Morris Claiborne*

6. Melvin Ingram

7. Justin Blackmon*

8. Michael Brockers*

9. Luke Kuechly*

10. Riley Reiff*

11. Quinton Coples

12. Mark Barron

13. Ryan Tannehill

14. Dontari Poe

15. Janoris Jenkins

16. David DeCastro*

17. Courtney Upshaw

18. Fletcher Cox*

19. Michael Floyd

20. Cordy Glenn

21. Dre Kirkpatrick*

22. Kendall Wright

23. Jonathan Martin*

24. Mike Adams

25. Jerel Worthy*

26. Andre Branch

27. Peter Konz*

28. Devon Still

29. Brock Osweiler*

30. Chandler Jones*

31. Lamar Miller*

32. Dont'a Hightower*

[The Crusher]

mr. truth...i have never heard of j. mascis but i will be "borrowing" some of his music from the internet if you can provide a song recommendation or 2. i see from wiki he is a jazzman. in my youth i liked a little di meola & mcglaughlin, but mostly rock in all its varieties from the beatles to rage against the machine. im going to see the chili peppers on 4/2/12. it was on a friday in january originally but was rescheduled to a monday which sucks, but they sure dont

[NY "G"]

typo - WR Blackmon is NOW #7.

[odinseye]

I'm just sick of hearing experts blather on about how QB X has all the throws. Tannehill, Foles etc. Whatever.
Don't get me started on back-up QBs who play one good game. Ugh.

Posted by: JS_in_LA | March 02, 2012 at 01:37 PM

LOL! I hear you JS!

Another thing too, it always amazes me when the trolls come here and TRY to make fun of us for playing Armchair GM. Granted we don't have as much info and access as they do. But, when they are making the Big Money and only batting .500, I feel I have every right to throw in my Two Cents!

[wolfman13]

I've seen a few comments on this blog about Brees....and "just say no to Brees."...."He's on the downhill." etc, etc, etc

First off, if he were to become available, saying no to Brees would just about be the icing on the "stupid cake." 2ndly, no way he becomes available...yeah, there having some tough negotiations, but either a deal will get done or they will franchise him. Regardless, he's going to be a Saint.

In RE to being on the down side of his career...to use a golf analogy....yeah, he's on the back 9...but I'd say hold 10 or 11 and he's hitting eagles and birdies. Plenty of game left.

Conversely, Manning is just coming off the 17th and a triple bogie...I guess we'll see what he can do on the 18th hole, but regardless, the round is pretty much over.

[wolfman13]

And Flynn is about to tee off on the 1st hole....RG3 and Luck are still on the driving range warming up.

[orinews]

blacmon will be a bust. too small, too slow for the nfl. he will drop to late first round.

[In Summation]

Odin, can you stop saying "we" as if you are some kind of respected and beloved poster here?

The truth is most of us wish you'd vanish and find you about as interesting as staring at a chair.

[Charles]

Agree wolf, Brees clearly doesn't have many years left and NO doesn't want to over pay him. Declines happen rapidly at his age. SKip him and Peyton.

[The Crusher]

hey sid, im not a huge fan of van halens recent music but the 1st four albums rocked. im just pointing out the man can play the shite out of the guitar and was worth more then 220 on ALL KNOWINGS scale.

[DC Dolfan]

wolf, yeah, that's dumb (those saying Brees is done). He's so done he just broke Marino's 30 year record. I wish I was that done.

[truth]

Crusher, J Mascis is Dinosaur Jr. As close as it gets to Nirvana bro!! Watch the concert vid on netflix.

youtube dinosaur jr live and I'm sure you'll find it.

I discovered by having a pandora channel based on "Aneurysm" by Nirvana. Nasty Nirvana-ish rock but J Mascis does these wicked guitar solos. he's the "indie" guitar hero.

I ended up buying every single one of their albums. really annoying countrified voice but then he just rips it on guitar

freak scene
gargoyle -- good songs

[NY "G"]

It was reported a few hours ago Manning is currently working out in Florida and “throwing much, much better. The report was NOT from the Manning camp.

So much for all the "noodle arm fanatics" rumors.

Just like any procedure the body takes time to heal and I for one was not on the noodle arm bandwagon which for the most part are those that just don't want Patten in Miami and has nothing to do with his recovery and ability to throw. Just my observation after reading hundreds of postings over the last couple of months here.

My position is that the Dolphins should carefully evaluate the situation. There is a long, long time before the season begins and plenty of time to improve his nerve regeneration and strength.

If doable we should go after Manning and sign him with an incentive and conditional contract. Patten is going to be 100% better then anyone we have or can get now. We can also look to get a young QB who can learn under Patten and it will all benefit the team's future.

Now, with THAT I am NOT ruling out going after other QBs in FA such as Flynn, etc. If Philbin deems Flynn "that good" by all means we should take Philbin at his words.

remember.. The reason why you don't hear a peep out of the Dolphins or Philbin on Flynn is so that they aren't tagged with Tampering.

[wolfman13]

Why are people so adament that we have to add Jeff Saturday to make Manning comfortable. It would seem to me that Manning (if healthy) could continue to be Manning without Saturday. Are these guys joined at the hip? Does Manning suck without Saturday. Not to mention, this guy is 36 years old. Why has everyone become such proponents of adding players who are over the age of 35? Kept seeing people talk about H Ward yesterday too....has everyone lost their minds?

Yes, let's draft every FA available who is over the age of 35....that's the ticket!

[The Crusher]

thanks truth, i've got a cuz who has netflicks so i'll definitly be checkin it out to take my mind off these dolphins

[truth]

crusher:

youtube "dinosaur jr live in the middle east"

that concert vid is streaming on netflix and $9.99 on itunes--totally worth it. great show at a small club in NYC.

they're from the 80s but reunited around 2006 and started being awesome again.

if you like nirvana, Dino Jr is as close as I've found to something to take a break from nonstop nirvana listening.

[hoosier]

nyg doen't be so gullible, its peytons buddies saying that stuff. he is throwing better than what? a girl scout maybe.

[truth]

i still say on a scale of 1 to 300 Kurt is 300 and VH is 230 or so.

of course VH is superior guitarist. was just making a point.

to each his own, but there are approximatley 60 Nirvana songs that I listen to nonstop but NO Van Halen songs that are worth listening to.

[wolfman13]

NY G - I'll believe it when I see it. I'm most definitely in the "Manning will be a shadow of his former self" camp....but if the Phins land him, I hope I'm wrong. I'd love to see a couple great seasons with him...I just have some serious doubts.

[Mark in Toronto]

Erik's is the king! Going to be in the 10th row on St Patrick's day here in Toronto. Pumped!!

[NY "G"]

orinews,

Can you expand on how you came up with your post that >> blacmon will be a bust. too small, too slow for the nfl. he will drop to late first round<<< ?

A bust? To slow for the NFL? Drop to late round????

Justin Blackmon in MY opinion is one of the best WR to come out of the draft in many, many, many years. This kid is a Play maker and We Dolphins fans had better hope that the Jets or Pats dont get him because if the do.. we are in trouble. Our secondary stinks and will not be able to contain him and I dont see our secondary improving this draft or season.

[truth]

I hope it's still streaming. I have learned that Netflix "rotates" its selection (Netflix themselves tol me this) which basically sucks, so things disappear.

I watch mostly music stuff on netflix--good selection but sometimes stuff disappears.

But yeah "Dinosaur Jr Live in the Middle East" -- first song starts out grungy and BAM he just rips into the guitar.

he also supposedly uses like 14 Marshall stacks in a tiny venue and it's so loud that people who like him actually leave his concerts cause it's just too loud

but on DVD you can just enjoy the sound.

I enjoy J Mascis guitar like 333X more than van halen.

[wolfman13]

Agree wolf, Brees clearly doesn't have many years left and NO doesn't want to over pay him. Declines happen rapidly at his age. SKip him and Peyton.
Posted by: Charles | March 02, 2012 at 02:28 PM

_______________________________________________________

I don't think you fully read and/or comprehended my post. Passing on Brees would be stupid. It's irrelevant though...he'll be a Saint no matter what....they'll franchise tag him if they have to.

[The Crusher]

van halen the band=230...seems about right...
van halen the guitarist=300...i can listen to mean streets quite a few times. he wails on that one, but can he play QB?

[Phins78]

In summation who is "us"? Isn't that the same as odinseye saying "we"? COUGH COUGHhypocriteCOUGH COUGH?

[odinseye]

odin
We gave 3 picks, they gave us 1 pick.
Net result is 2 picks in cost.
Why is 2nd grade arithmetic so difficult for you to understand? Are you really that burnt out on drugs?

Posted by: Hiram | March 02, 2012 at 01:47 PM

Blog Hit Tro.......(Ahem), I mean Hiram,

If you have 3 picks before you pick Thomas and no picks after, how many did you spend?

Rhetorical! PLEASE don't YOU even TRY to answer. PLEASE-LOL. We all know the answer: 3.

I'll take stoned over stoopid all day long-Duh ;)

We picked Thomas and had no picks left

[Mark in Toronto]

Nirvana fukking sucked. Dave group's Foo fighters is a million times the band that junkie generated Cobain fronted. I think nirvana actually held grohl back and its probably a good thing that loser put the wrong end of a shotgun in his mouth or we'd never have the foos, just a bunch of music for manic depressives and losers around the world.

[Kris]

who is Patten.....

and is Patten any good.....what postion does he play....does Patten fill a postion of need.....

[NY "G"]

hoosier and wolfman13,

Thanks guys.

I also would like evidence but that will need to come first from the medical and physical he would need to go through and pass followed by carefully putting him through a test drive.

The outcome from all that will provide more information before we drop an offer for him.

The Fins have a good track record of passing on talent and taking sub par talent. In the end, if we get him and he can perform, we all will be happy fans. if we pass on him and he ends up elsewhere and ends up in the Superbowl, then we will all be on here pointing fingers at everyone. lol

I just want to WIN and just like you am sick of losing. And when I say WIN, I mean a Superbowl or three.

[NY "G"]

PEYTON... Thanks Kris. My spelling mistake which i seem to always do.

[MJ]

Irescum will give 3 picks for Jacory Harris.

[Mark in Toronto]

Odin, forget it, some people are just not good with math. Haha, holy moly!

And that should read Eddie, not Erik. Stupid autocorrect.