Good-bye Milliner but Banks in Dolphins wheelhouse

Well, you can forget about Dee Milliner falling to the No. 12 pick in the first round. The Alabama cornerback, the best defensive back prospect in the draft, had a fine season and today put an exclamation point on his season with an excellent combine performance.

Most impressive for Milliner was his 40-yard dash time, which came in at an unofficial 4.31. [I'll update with the official time when it comes out]. All this practically guarantees Milliner will not make it out of the top 10.

"I thought I was going to run a 4.2," Milliner told the NFL Network.

Milliner struggled with his ball skills. He had trouble catching the ball. But his play at Alabama will override that. He will not participate in the Alabama Pro Day because he's about to have shoulder surgery and will be out two months so he's done until the draft.

The Dolphins have a need at cornerback but they have the No. 12 overall selection. Only way they get a chance at Milliner is to trade up.

Barring that ... bye-bye, Dee.

Today's workouts for defensive backs did, however, present other possibilities for the Dolphins later in the draft. Mississippi State's Johnthan Banks was disappointing with a 4.59 hand timed 40-yard dash. Terrible. Excellent!

Yes, it's bad for Banks because suddenly he's not the late first-round pick he might have been had he run well. But it's good for the Dolphins because he's still a good player and now he might be in their second-round wheelhouse.

Banks can still turn the speed numbers around at his Pro Day.

I like him. He's got great ball skills. He's 6-2. He likes to hit, he supports on the run. He can play off and still recover. He's simply a very solid football player.

[Update: FSU's Xavier Rhodes, another second-round possibility, turned in a 4.41 in the 40. Good. He had the same time his second attempt but seemed to tweak a hamstring. Rhodes needs to be more a go-hard all the time guy to be effective in the NFL. Motor is a question. By the way, Deion Sanders echoed that. The former FSU guy said of the other former FSU guy: "He chilled a little bit. I need to see him realy go 100. He took it easy a little bit."]

[Update:  Washington's Desmond Trufant, another second-round guy, ran a 4.31 unofficially and that ties Milliner for the fastest time. He had a 4.38 on his second run.]

The talk of the day -- at least on the NFL Network -- was the showing by red flag machine Tyrann Mathieu, the former LSU player known as the Honey Badger.

Mathieu, who didn't play in 2012 because he was kicked off the team for various offenses including at least one positive drug test, impressed with a 4.43 unofficial time in the 40-yard dash.

That's good. He needed it because earlier Mathieu had only four reps on the bench press of 225 pounds. As Mike Mayock articulated, Mathieu wasn't on a team all last year but he couldn't get in the weight room or a gym and make sure he could survive a test he knew was coming?

Raises questions about his work ethic.

Mathieu has other questions as well. He's only 5-8. That's a problem as only two starting cornerbacks in the NFL are that short.

The kid is more a special teamer and perhaps a slot cornerback. He has great, great ball skills -- perhaps the best of the class -- but again, he's the personification of (red) Flag Day.

Would I draft Mathieu?

Of course!

But not earlier than the fifth or sixth round.

A player I truly, truly like is safety Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International here in Miami. He didn't run the 40 due to a hamstring injury. He did the drills. He was good, not great.

Keep an eye on him. He's likely a second round pick as well and the Dolphins could use a safety upgrade, particularly with Chris Clemons being a free agent.

[Update: Kenny Vaccaro, who some draft gurus have him in the first round and even as high as No. 12, ran a disappointing 4.59 on his first attempt. And then it got worse on his second attempt at 4.63. He'll have a chance to improve on that. Vaccaro plays faster than that because he takes great angles and is very, very smart. But ...]

[Update: CB Steve Williams of Cal just turned in the fastest unofficial time for the DBs at 4.25. He ran a 4.34 on his second attempt. I can see personnel men around the NFL saying they need to go back to the tape of this prospect.]

All these times are unofficial so check back for the official times.

Comments

[BoulderPhinfan]

forget Banks go for Rhodes. That guy will be a beast.

[Rage]

4.31.... That is blazing speed! Well, so much for Milliner. He ma not make it past the 5th pick.

[Rage]

may

[2 watt]

put the bong in his hand.
lol

[2 watt]

5-8 midget, like buckley.
lol

[hireland]

If we cover enough bases in FA then I'm all for moving up to the point where a true playmaker can be had. I wonder how far up our later 2nd would move us in the 1st?

[Tim in NJ]

With the 12th pick in the draft the miami Dolphins select Matt Barkley, QB USC.

[2 watt]

all projects, like tannehenne.
lol

[2 watt]

still need a qb.

[ron]

Tanny is a bust not a project.

[DO IT]

FIRE IRELAND AND HIRE ARMANDO FOR GM!!

[craig]

Question......

Would you sign Victor Cruz and give up 1st Round Pick if we can't get Wallace?...Seems like a better option then drafting a WR in 1st Round, lease we know Cruz is for real....

Would think he would be cheaper then Wallace as well

Thoughts

[Hayden Fox]

Rhodes and Trufant are going in the 1st Mando. I do not know where you get your info.

[Rdubs]

Craig,

Every time I bring that up, everyone thinks I am crazy. I would trade for Cruz, its a way to guarantee getting a ProBowl Player

[DO IT]

ARMANDO IS THE BEST DOLPHIN WRITER. GREAT INSIGHT AND TIMELY IDEAS.

[Jay]

Marshall > Cruz

[mace taggart]

J.Cryphien FIU PERIOD PERIOD !!

[Rdubs]

CRUZ = Nice Guy Team player Marshall = Butthole

[We Need Playmakers]

FSU's Xavier Rhodes, another second-round possibility, turned in a 4.41 in the 40. Good. He had the same time his second attempt but seemed to tweak a hamstring. Rhodes needs to be more a go-hard all the time guy to be effective in the NFL. Motor is a question. By the way, Deion Sanders echoed that. The former FSU guy said of the other former FSU guy: "He chilled a little bit. I need to see him realy go 100. He took it easy a little bit."]

Mando,

I don't know...Charlie Casserly has Rhodes as his top 'value pick' in the mid first round. With all of the teams that need CB's I don't think Rhodes gets out of the first.

[Dolfan Rick]

By the time April gets here theres no telling where Milliner will be on the boards and who's to say we will need a cb after free agency. Gotta see how it all plays out.

[FYI]

rdubs, nice guys finish last.

[48-Go]

Referring back to the previous blog post: I have a man crush on Patterson for no other reason than I like his athleticism and ability to beat tackles. Would love to get him at #12. But if we're to assume that Ireland will get Wallace or Jennings, I don't see him getting Patterson in the first round. I'm expecting a DE will be the #12 pick.

[We Need Playmakers]

"Question......

Would you sign Victor Cruz and give up 1st Round Pick if we can't get Wallace?...Seems like a better option then drafting a WR in 1st Round, lease we know Cruz is for real....

Would think he would be cheaper then Wallace as well

Thoughts"

Craig,

Are you serious??? Of course I'd trade a first round pick for Cruz. He's only 26, he scored 19 TD's in the last two years, & we know he's a very good NFL receiver. Any player we'll take at 12 is a gamble. Very few drafts ever have SURE things like Luck or Calvin Johnson or AJ Greene or Fitzgerald.

[Armando Salguero]

Guys, I've updated multiple times and players. The post is new every time. Check the post again for the updates.

[Rage]

Wow, 2Watt. 4 posts without a "28-0" in one of them. I don't know if I should be impressed or disappointed in you for slacking.

[mike]

Tim in NJ, you're just kidding about Barkley right. He's a projected late 1st early 2nd round pick because of a weak arm. Casserly, Tannebaum, and Pioli all said if Tannehill had come out this year he would be the top QB in the draft. Do you know much football.

[Rdubs]

FYI,

Not true, its an oversimplification of things.I just want a good receiver who is young. I just dont know if we end up with Jennings or Wallace and we do need a good WR this year, who isnt a rookie!!

[AndyNJ]

What's up guys?

Miami could go so many different directions with this pick. First and foremost we have to wait to free agency begins. If Miami misses which they seem to be highly capable of lately on Mike Wallace or maybe Jennings then I could see Ireland being desperate enough to go Cordarelle Patterson. If he gets on of the 2 big names (WALLACE!!) then I think WR is more likely in round 2 or 3.

The same goes for CB if Sean Smith isn't resigned does he get desperate and take Rhodes or some other rising prospect?

Then there's always pass rusher which Miami has a young but unproven player in Vernon and a supposedly 20 lbs lighter version of Odrick coming.

[We Need Playmakers]

"Referring back to the previous blog post: I have a man crush on Patterson for no other reason than I like his athleticism and ability to beat tackles. Would love to get him at #12. But if we're to assume that Ireland will get Wallace or Jennings, I don't see him getting Patterson in the first round. I'm expecting a DE will be the #12 pick."

48-Go,

I wouldn't assume anything. There are going to be a bunch of other teams (some better than we are) that are interested in Wallace & Jennings. I wouldn't even assume that we're going to re-sign Hartline at this point. Hartline & his agent know that he can go to a better team & still get paid.

Same goes for Long & Smith. I know Ireland wants the upper hand in negotiations but these three guys have the leverage right now unless Ireland offers them top dollar. All three guys can go to winning teams & still get paid.

[promichael]

All this emphasis on speed; It's the right way to go. However I guess it makes Bill Parcells look more like what he is. A dinosaur lost in time for recruiting big and slow.

[Get Sense]

promivhael, Parcells took us to the playoffs in 1 year. Biggerst turnaround in NFL history. Its been downhill every day since he left. And as far as speed how did Ireland fav Clyde Gates work out?

[We Need Playmakers]

All this emphasis on speed; It's the right way to go. However I guess it makes Bill Parcells look more like what he is. A dinosaur lost in time for recruiting big and slow.

Promichael,

Yes & no. If the guy can play Milliner than yes the speed helps but if the guy can't play like this kid Goodwin from Texas who cares how fast he is??? I'd be shocked if Goodwin does anything in the NFL.

Jerry Rice didn't run better than a 4.5 at the combine...How did that pick work out??? He's the f#cking G.O.A.T.

[Mark in Toronto]

That Rhodes time with his physicality ensures he won't get to the 2nd round. Impressive.

Am I missing something or was Vaccaro's time actually not bad for his size and skill set?

[Statler]

If there is an opportunity to get another pick in the first or early second round by trading down the Dolphins should take it. Too many needs to fill, and knowing Ireland at least one of the first 5 picks we currently have will be a total bust that will struggle to make the roster.

[Mark in Toronto]

Forget Dee Milliner, get the guy thate Dee Milliner up in Tuscaloosa ... Ryan Swope!

[MIADOLFAN207]

PLAYMAKING DEF. BACKS! THIRD ROUND PICK IS NCST CB #13 D. AMERSON HAD 13 INTS IN 2011 WHICH BECAME THE NCAA RECORD. FSU CB #27 X. RHODES IS ANOTHER GOOD PICK FOR THE 2ND ROUND. UF S #22 M. ELAM IS A PLAYMAKING S AVAILABLE IN THE 2ND OR 3RD ROUNDS.

[Dolfan Rick]

Get Sense,

Parcells took us to the playoffs with a team that was already built and a qb that fell in his lap.

[dusty bottoms]

go finsssssssss

[Mark in Toronto]

*that ate

[We Need Playmakers]

The same goes for CB if Sean Smith isn't resigned does he get desperate and take Rhodes or some other rising prospect?

Interesting how many rumors they are about Smith but I haven't heard ONE thing on Cary Williams or Antoine Cason who are both better players. There's something about Dolphin players (Bush, Smith, Long, Hartline, Starks, Matt Moore, etc.)& the non-stop rumors this year...Enough already! Time for FA.

[JS_in_LA]

Just watched Vaccaro in the DB back-pedal drills. Awkward. And slow.

Trufant looked smooth and fast.

I still have him #2 CB. Milliner won't eb there at 12. But Trufant might.

Elam will too.

[Get Sense]

Rick, 1-15 was already built?? TOO FUNNY!!

[Giants stink]

Great job with the updates, Mando. I'm laughing at the idiots that wanted Vaccaro at No. 12. hahahaha.

[JS_in_LA]

mando does a good point about Matthieu's work ethic.

Tough call.

Late rounds or nothing I say.

[FLPD]

Mando, what you think of taking Rhodes in the second round? Will he be there?

[We Need Playmakers]

JS,

Elam is 5'9" right??? If we take him @ 12 he better be Earl Thomas.

BTW--Ireland won't take a Safety that small.

[scourt]

Mando, haven't been posting but read every day. Gotta say I just checked other sites that cover Dolphins. You continue to give us the stuff we want and need to read. Good job, my man.

[JS_in_LA]

Mark,
You can't be serious. Swope instead of Milliner?

Really?

Has Swope been on anybody's radar with his play? NO.

late round possession guy. He didn't suddenly get fast. They just hadn't noticed before. there's a reason for that - it didn't show gametime.

he ran fast. Whoopdeedoo.
He still can't create his own space.

[JS_in_LA]

Playmakers,
Elam was knocking WRs and TEs out that are the same SEC guys that are being hyped in this draft.
He's a tough, fast, smart, and dangerous safety and has played against, and beaten top talent every week, for years.

I'll take him. Just was hoping to find him later than round 1.

[Mark in Toronto]

JS, I made no such statement. It was more like, move on from Milliner ... Swope is a guy we can get later in the draft and he fed Milliner his lunch in Tuscaloosa. I know he's white, I know he isn't that big. But he's a football player. And he's fast.

If we got this guy, I'd be happy.

[JS_in_LA]

Mark,
No worries.
But truly, we already have that guy. His name is Hartline. Same player.

I'll shut up about him, but I have no interest at all unless Hartline leaves.

And Jordan Matthews is also the same player, and a lot cheaper.

[Canadien Bacon]

Mark is canadien. NUFF SAID

[AndyNJ]

I was big on Vacarro and I still am.

He ran a 4.59 and 4.63. The 40 is a great measuring tool to a degree but it's also extremely flawed as is the entire combine. In what part of football do guys run 40 yards on a straight line? When do guys get into a sprinters, track stance to run?

The guy is a player. You can all base your evaluations solely on 40 times but here is a few guys off the top of my head who bombed at the combine or pro days

Arian Foster - 4.7
Jason Witten - 4.85 range
Jerry Rice - 4.6
LeSean McCoy - 4.6

[Mark in Toronto]

JS, we are all allowed to have our own opinions, no? You like Damontre Moore, I wouldn't give him a job as bellhop. That's the fun in this time of year.

[oscar canosa]

Elam won't do well backpedaling either. Those Ss do their best work going forward. There are other 2 great S prospects here I did not know about.

[2 watt]

remember lankford armando,? he ran a 4.28 and he f'n suxxed.
lol

[We Need Playmakers]

Playmakers,
Elam was knocking WRs and TEs out that are the same SEC guys that are being hyped in this draft.
He's a tough, fast, smart, and dangerous safety and has played against, and beaten top talent every week, for years.

I'll take him. Just was hoping to find him later than round 1.

JS,

At the end of the day I don't see Ireland deviating from his prototypes.

BTW--Check out the hype on this kid Trufant. His tape is not great on him but his offseason workouts are off the charts...This is a recipe for disaster & why making the All-Mayock team means jacksh#t.

[Ron Son]

Ross, save the Dolphins. SELL THE TEAM TO SOMEONE WITH A CLUE!

[2 watt]

28-0. how many games r u gonna win scoring the big 000000000000000.?
lmao

[2 watt]

son, he is moving 2 la.