Dolphins Will Become Champs Via the Draft, Not Free Agency

Hate to burst your bubble, but the next two or three drafts will be the determining factor in what turns the Miami Dolphins into a Super Bowl champion; it will not be signing big names in free agency.

The future stars and difference-makers for the Dolphins will be drafted, not signed by free agency or acquired via trades. Take a look at a quote from one of the most respected GM/Presidents in the league just last week at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.  Bill Polian of the Indianapolis Colts said, “We are not going to be involved in free agency this year, we never are.”  

For starters, look at the Super Bowl Champions the last five years: NY Giants, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and New England. These teams have many things in common.

1. Exceptional quarterbacks acquired via the draft
2. Excellent Front Office stability and general manager leadership
3. Are more known for losing high-profile players in free agency than acquiring them. Never overpay to keep a star player.
4. Can pressure the quarterback with effective defensive rush and protect the quarterback with equal aplomb.
5. Have six or seven stars on each roster, all acquired by the draft. The remaining roster is built up of overachieving no-names that would excel at mediocrity in the wrong NFL system.  

How many times have we seen a former NE Patriot leave for a bigger paycheck and make a big difference on their new team? Other examples include former-Steelers LB Porter and my prediction, the largest signing in free agency this year, former-Patriot CB Asante Samuel.

(Just how motivated do you think this cat is going to be for Philly? He already has three rings via New England is its obvious he is chasing a paycheck not a championship. If he wanted a championship, then why leave NE?)

I understand your position as a fan. You love football, and we have suffered a month now without any meaningful games.  Then free agency begins, and you are excited about each transaction because this is all the football you are going to get till the draft. 

So far I like the moves I have seen with Parcells. He has come in and whacked some significant aging, underachieving deadweight off this roster, and is beginning to replace these losses with bigger, younger, stronger, and faster mid-level-quality skilled “no name” players that represent the majority of space on any championship NFL caliber roster.

These players excel at special teams as well, which is another Parcells mantra to success. Better to bring in three above-average players that can contribute in multiple areas rather than paying the price of signing one superstar that will help with ticket sales. 

I guess I am an idiot, not paying attention, but I did not even know who LB Torbor was till Miami picked him up this past Friday, and I have watched the Super Bowl and NFC championship game about three times apiece now. 

Parcells' initial focus has been building and improving upon the center of the field with the offensive line and defensive front seven. With the current rules and the way games are called by the refs in today’s NFL, successful teams that get to the playoffs year-in and year-out do so by controlling the center of the field or controlling the line of scrimmage: by protecting your quarterback, by getting to the quarterback on defense, dominating the game at the point of attack. 

That’s why the experts say two of the three most important positions on the field are Defensive End, and Left (or blindside) Tackle. Pass rush and protect the Quarterback.  

The Giants demonstrated both the importance of a strong pass rush and the value of a good draft a month ago. The No. six-seed 2005 Steelers are another example of the value of making a Hall Of Fame Quarterback look like a one-legged 10-year-old school girl in the 2005 AFC divisional at Indy; Peyton spent all day on his ass. 

Cornerbacks can’t touch the receiver like they used to; the rules won’t allow it. Corners are effective by reacting to an effective pass rush.  The less time a receiver has to get open, and the less time a QB has to throw the ball, the greater the CB will look. I would much rather have Reggie White or Bruce Smith than a Deon Sanders any day. 

The Super Bowl Champion Giants had a mediocre secondary at best. A 60-year-old Sam Madison, McQuarters, Webster? Please. Rookie CBs Pope and Ross had just as great of an impact.  This secondary was banged up all year and there was nothing exceptional about them. 

If you are a average Chess player, and don’t know much about openings or strategy but enjoy playing, try this strategy the next time you play; Identify the central four squares on the board, and do nothing but try to control those four squares for the entire game. Every move you make, especially in the opening, should be geared toward protecting and controlling the central four squares.

Notice the difference in your play now?  

Parcells has acquired two very large defensive tackles and linebackers, an offensive guard, and a tight end. I imagine the draft will also bring in some new blood on the offensive and defensive lines. He is attempting to rebuild from the center and work his way outward.

So far I am impressed with his management choices with this organization, and I will enjoy watching it all come together over the next couple of seasons.

My Thoughts on Taylor 

Regarding Jason Taylor, we all know what kind of play he brings to the field. In my opinion, Jason Taylor has two solid years left in him, providing Jason wants to continue playing. Yesterday, Parcells shot down rumors that Taylor may be traded. This may or may not be a bluff. We will see between now and the end of April.  

I hope Miami and Taylor can stay together for a few more years. Taylor is the only pro-bowler this team has left and he is one of the most important positions on the field. I cannot help but think the defense would be better-served with him over the next couple of years. 

If Calvin Pace is acquired, I fail to see any reason this makes Taylor expendable. Taylor is a DE, and Pace is a LB, both have played both positions in 3-4 and 4-3 hybrids. Yes we will have Taylor, Porter, Pace, Crowder, Torbor, and Anderson and maybe even rookie DE Long. As the Giants proved this year, you can never have enough pass rushers, and the Dolphins would only be one injury away from this overcrowded defense not being so overcrowded. 

I have to agree with recent criticism of Taylor, however. He is participating in “Dancing with The Stars,” and this will eat up three months of his spring while living in Los Angeles.

I understand Taylor’s motive for planning for life after football, but he is the senior leader of the entire team, and his lack of presence in Miami during the months between March and May is probably not making Parcells too happy.  There will be a lot of new young faces and a lot of changes, and the team’s All-Star leader is not there to support all the change.

You lead by example and I question Taylor’s leadership in this instance. Granted this is the fifth new regime in as many years for Taylor, but this one is different.  Or maybe Taylor and Parcells already know he is a goner, and Taylor is thinking, “What’s the point?”  

I look forward to seeing how the Taylor story evolves between now and the Draft.

All of my articles can be found at 

http://thedolphininsider.blogspot.com/