Review of Dolphin's Draft

The draft is over and the pundits can now grade the picks (like I am doing).

So what do I think of the Dolphins draft? Here are my thoughts on the picks:

• Vontae Davis CB – Definitely a talented corner who is big and physical, but character questions are there. He was in the dog-house at times with his college coach. His brother Vernon Davis (TE SF) has had well publicized run-ins with coach Mike Singletary. If Sparano can get him to play to his potential, he will be a steal at #25. If not, it will be questioned because there were a lot of good CBs taken in the second round and the Dolphins could have a filled a need at WR or LB.
• Pat White QB – This is an interesting pick. Are they bringing him to run the “wildcat”? Or to compete with Henne? Or will they convert to a WR? He is very talented and very football smart. How he will be utilized will be the interesting story.
• Sean Smith CB – Another big physical corner. We need help with this position because of the teams in our division. He does not like to tackle but can cover and create turnovers.
• Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline WR – They are both tall, lanky possession receivers. They do not have great speed but have good hands. If they can contribute on special teams coverage, that will help their chances of making the team.

The late guys drafted (John Nalbone, Chris Clemons, Andrew Gardner, and J.D. Folsom) will have to show a lot in training camp and pre-season to stick on the roster. The Dolphins have several needs but it is still tough to make an NFL roster.

Overall I will give the team a grade of B-. We got help in the secondary, but not at LB or NT. The WRs are okay but not superstars. They could have gotten a WR with their first pick and still addressed the defensive needs with the two picks in the second round.

This draft class will probably be known for the OLB and WR positions. Both are needs for the Dolphins that they did not address.

Draft Day

Today is one of those days in the off season that NFL football fans can their fix - the draft!

The draft is important because this is the way successful franchises get talent. One of acronyms for the NFL is "Not For Long" because of the short careers players can have. It is the best way to add depth and fill holes.

The brain trust of Parcell, Ireland, and Sparano have done a good job so far. Parcells and Ireland have a history of picking the right players (when the ownership does not interfere).

The re-signings of Vernon Carey RT, Yeremiah Bell S, and Channing Crowder ILB keep some key positions filled with good talent. This help keeps the nucleus intact. The free agent signs of Jake Grove C, Gabriel Wilson S, and Eric Green CB and trading for Tony McDaniel DT help improve positions or provide depth. Free agents can address some needs but it is hard to build a championship this way.

Rounds one and two will be picked today with five more rounds on Sunday. The Dolphins hold the #25 pick in first round and #44 and #56 in the second round. These are the picks people expect to have an impact this season. So what do I think the Dolphins need this weekend:

• WR - This was the most glaring need last year and continues to be. We need another play maker to go with Ted Ginn. Greg Camarillo and Devone Bess are nice slot receivers, but not the game breakers. We need a big physical receiver who will go get the ball. This can be addressed in the first or second round. Percy Harvin, Kenny Britt, Brandon Tate, Hakeem Hicks, or Brian Robiskie could be picked today. Rumors have been thrown around about trading for Anquan Boldin of the Cardinals or Braylon Edwards of the Browns, but both have baggage, injury history. and big contracts which does not sit well with Parcells or Ireland. Harvin scares me because he never played a full season without injuries.
• CB - The AFC East is rich in WR talent (Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Wes Welker, Lee Evans) and teams need to have depth at CB to cover them. The Dolphins have one very solid corner but need more talent. Teams will take advantage of this. This position could be addressed in the first or second round. The class this is not elite but very solid. Michael Jenkins, Alphonso Smith, Coye Francies, and Cory Harris are possible picks.
• LB - This is not a glaring need, but the draft is stocked with high quality players. Joey Porter is getting up in years and faded late last season. Plus the 3-4 needs active OLBs. I could see the Dolphins taking Ray Maualugua (if he falls), Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Robert Ayers, or Larry English. I think one of these players will be the first round pick for the Dolphins.
• DL - The NT is the important piece in the 3-4. You need to solid 330lb+ body to occupy 2 (or 3) opposing lineman. Jason Ferguson fit perfectly but will turn 35 during the season. His replacement is probably not on the roster today. Look for the Dolphins to pick someone in the second or third round especially if somebody slips.

In the later rounds the Dolphins will look to add depth across the other positions and for special teams. Parcells values depth on the lines so I expect to see depth added the offensive line even though that is our best unit.

Next week I will give my thoughts on the picks. However, it takes time with drafted players. You may not see the full impact for a couple years.

Do South Florida Driver Know the Rules of the Road?

I wonder sometime if people really know the rules of the road or read traffic signs.

Over the last week I seen four incidents that have added to this.

Coming home from work last Tuesday evening, an ambulance was coming in the opposite direction. The light was red and there was only one car blocking the left hand turn lane. The driver of car was on his cell phone, not paying attention. The ambulance pulled behind him, honked their horn for him to move. The driver could not figure out what to do. All traffic was stopped in all directions. He needed to make his turn and get out of the way. But he sat there continuing to talk until the ambulance honked again. The driver next me and I looked at each shaking our heads.

Saturday morning I’m riding my bike on A1A headed south. As you approach Sunrise Boulevard, there is a sign for cars turning right to yield to cyclists. A car pulled up behind me, honked, and flipped his finger at me. I guess he did not read the sign or the state statues on cars and cyclists on the road.

Saturday night, I am out with friends eating off of A1A. On the way, we are stuck in traffic. A guy on a chopper is fed and decides to use the bicycle lane for his own. He cut back into traffic and nearly got side-swiped by another car making a legal lane change.

On Sunday, I was getting off I-95 when a funeral possession was going through the intersection. The light turned green, but they were still going through. The women behind me laid on her horn. She then whipped her car around me to be greeted by a sheriff’s car stopping traffic. She immediately proceeded to backup to where she should have been.

Examples like these cause me to wonder about drivers. Do they really know what to do? Are they paying attention? Do they realize they are breaking the law?

These are probably the same people who wonder why South Florida has a reputation of bad drivers.

Dichotomy of Treatment

Over the past week we have seen two very different postures of the current administration and how they deal with people.

Last Sunday night, we saw the conclusion of the hostage situation with freighter off of Somalia.

According to an email account I received and a couple other blogs that I read (all of which were second and third hand accounts – so fairly close to what happened), the commander of the Bainbridge asked for permission to take out the pirates at least twice and was denied. The President wanted a “peaceful” solution.

The commander took his own initiative during a request for “proof of life” with the pirates. When Captain Phillips was brought out, the Navy’s plan was put into action and he was safely rescued.

At the Summit of the America’s, we see Obama embrace dictator Hugo Chavez. We also hear about re-opening relations with the Castro brothers in Cuba. Both of these countries do not allow the freedoms we enjoy. They have suppressed their people through intimidation, imprisonment, and violence.

We then have Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano allowing the release of a paper that defines potential threats to our national security as coming from conservatives, NRA members, and military personnel returning home from overseas. The paper classified military personnel as potentially turning into Timothy McVeigh (from the Oklahoma City bombing), yet does not provide tangible evidence that this is a reality.

NRA members are pointed out because they own guns which are allowed to be legally owned under the Constitution. I guess my 70-year father is a double threat since he is ex-military and an NRA member! Yet they failed to address the criminals and terrorists who commit illegal acts and represent the true threat to us.

The CIA was also thrown under the bus by administration through the release of papers and memos on their interrogation tactics. This puts field agents and the military at risk because the terrorists now know how we operate.

If you read through the methods used, a lot of people might change their minds about these forms of so-called “torture”. Would you rather have a terrorist be uncomfortable for several hours or watch them carry out their plans?

Junior high school students are treated worse by PE coaches than the way the CIA treated these terrorists.

The dichotomy is that we are treating these different groups in the wrong ways. For those who have showed a pattern of violence and disrespect of other rights, the administration wants to protect and befriend them. For those who have done the right things or have a differing opinion as allowed under the Constitution are branded a problem.

This is where the liberal left is trying to take our nation. As Bill O’Reilly says it is “culture war” of turning wrong into right and right into wrong. This is not what the founding fathers of our nation intended. We need to continue to speak out against this.

Tax Day

It's April 15th - have you filed your taxes?

Taxes are due today if you did know. The government continues to demand more and more of money to feed their unending appetite to expand government programs.

All across America today, we saw citizens voice their opinion about the politicians in Washington through "tea parties". People are fed up with wasteful spending and handouts our government giving away. As a result, we are on a path of monumental debt levels and people are upset.

Personally, I attended the "tea party" in downtown Fort Lauderdale. There were probably a thousand or more people (and not one person from ACORN or MoveOn from what I saw).

Everyone was civilized, friendly, but definitely upset with our government. I have to admit that there were some pretty creative signs as well. The liberal mass media is painting a different picture or disparaging it such as MSNBC and CNN did today.

Politicians need to take notice. It is not a Democrat or republican thing. People are genuinely upset about where the government is headed. I am too the point to where I will campaign against both of the Congressional incumbents in my district.

President Obama commented on tax day. He recognized that the tax code is far too complicated and he vows to setup a committee to look into it. He also commented that people need to keep more of their income. So far his actions in his first 100+ days show no such signs.

Across the country we are seeing all forms of government (federal, state, and local) raise taxes to cover their massive spending programs they started during the height of the economic boom.

Speak up against continued spending and expansion. We cannot allow this to continue.

"Man is not free unless government is limited.... As government expands, liberty contracts." Ronald Reagan

Spring Is Here...

Spring is officially here. I tell by the smell of pine and rosin. (Does rosin actually have a scent??)Baseball has started the regular season!

The Florida Marlins are off to a good start at 5-1 already. There is hope on the horizon with a new stadium in downtown Miami and a commitment to build a contender through youth. Here is how I view the team:

• Starting Pitchers - They might have the one of the best overall rotations in baseball with Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, and Andrew Miller. They match up with any other rotation in the majors and will keep the Marlins competitive through the season. You cannot have too many good starters in an organization.
• Relief Pitchers - The part of team was completely re-worked. Matt Lindstrom is now the closer. He has the stuff but does he have the mental make-up? The rest of the cast looks promising but has been mediocre early on. This is probably the key to making the playoffs.
• Hitting - With Mike Jacobs and Josh Willingham gone you would think there would be a power shortage, but they still have 30 home run potential with Ramirez, Uggla, and Cantu. Team speed is greatly improved with Cameron Mayben and Emilio Bonifacio. Mayben has the potential to be a super star like Ramirez. Cody Ross and Jeremy Hermida are the outfield corners and are adequate.
• Fielding - The changes here will be noticeable. Cantu at first is an upgrade over Jacobs. Bonifacio will be better than Cantu at 3B even though he is out of position. Mayben can already play major league defense in center. Moving Hermida from right to left helps to hide him. John Baker and Ronny Paulino are serviceable behind the plate.

So where do I think they will finish? I think they will 86-88 wins, finish second to the Phillies, and be in contention to the end for the wild card spot. The Mets, Braves, and Nationals round out the NL East.

I cannot wait to get out to some games this summer.

Writer's Block

It is now two plus weeks since my last post. If you are wondering what has been going on, it is writer's block.

Yes, there are plenty of things to write about on the international and national fronts but I have not been inspired to write about them. I can probably blame it on work which has been busy or taking a short vacation (and not wanting to think about writing).

There are some topics that I have thought about that I will probably write on the the coming weeks:

• The Marlin's have opened the season 5-1 (yes, I know three games were against the Nationals.)
• The dolphin run (mahi-mahi for the non-natives) is starting. I hope to get out there this year if my buddy can get his boat in the water.
• The NFL draft is two weeks away - who will (should) the Dolphins get?

Maybe in the end I just needed a short break.