2011 NFL Mock Draft: How Sparano and Daboll Affect Miami Dolphins' Draft Plans

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross' outlandish wish to find the next Dan Marino and install an up-tempo offense may have been squashed once the team announced the hiring of former Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

Under Daboll, the Browns ran a similar ground 'n' pound style of play that has formed the Dolphins' identity since Tony Sparano's arrival. So, it is safe to assume that Miami will continue down the path of "four yards and a cloud of dust" offense that Ross apparently despises (Good for Tony).

The team's decision to hire Daboll and retain Sparano significantly alters the outlook for the Dolphins' 2011 draft. Although quarterback and the team's other needs remain the same, their rank of importance has changed.

1st Round: Mike Pouncey, Center, Florida

Heading into the 2011 offseason, both guard and center remain vacant, and unless a top-tier quarterback experiences a Leinart-Rodgers-Clausen-esque free fall, University of Florida center Mike Pouncey should be the 15th overall pick.

Pouncey starred in the college ranks, and is widely heralded as the best center in the 2011 NFL Draft. Pouncey weighs in at a monstrous 6'5", 309 pounds, yet maintains the athleticism to line up at guard as well.

Imagine Pouncey lining up alongside John Jerry and Jake Long. The Dolphins would instantly boast a tremendous nucleus of young talent along their offensive line that could be around for a decade. Also, the importance of a great offensive line cannot be understated.

Before Miami wishes to reinvent their running game or find the next Marino, they must have a brick wall up front.

3rd Round: Pat Devlin, Quarterback, Delaware

Four years ago, Penn State freshman Pat Devlin lost the Nittany Lions quarterback job to upperclassman Daryll Clark. Devlin promptly transferred to Delaware, where he has amassed 5,696 passing yards and tossed 32 touchdowns in two seasons as the Blue Hens' starter.

Despite his impressive statistics, Devlin has been groomed in Delaware's spread offense and has faced second-tier talent playing in the Division I-AA subdivision, factors which will work against him come draft day.

Inevitably, Devlin will also draw comparisons to his Delaware predecessor, Joe Flacco. Flacco is roughly two to three inches taller, and his arm is undeniably more powerful, but his immediate NFL success definitely bodes well for Devlin. Plus, Flacco's success running the Ravens run-first offense increases the odds Miami will take a chance on Devlin.

In all likelihood, Brian Daboll and Tony Sparano will maintain Miami's ground 'n' pound style of play, but thanks to the trail blazed by Joe Flacco, that does not rule Devlin out as an option for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins must address the need for a young quarterback at some juncture, and Devlin is a low-risk, high-reward prospect.

4th Round: Bilal Powell, Running Back, Louisville

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LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 15: Bilal Powell #15 of the Louisville Cardinals runs for a touchdown during the Big East Conference game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on October 15, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by An

The Dolphins' current quarterback chaos will absorb most of the team's offseason headlines, but there is an equal amount of mayhem looming ahead for the team's running back corps.

Ricky Williams has almost definitely played his last downs as a Dolphin, and Ronnie Brown is slated for unrestricted free agency. So, if Brown bolts town or fails to negotiate a new deal (which is unlikely, he will probably return), the Dolphins will soon find themselves without one legitimate starting running back on the roster.

Fortunately for the Dolphins, there is an abundance of high-caliber running backs also slated for free agency, but Miami still must add depth and youth to a position lacking both. Louisville's Bilal Powell is criminally underrated in a very thin running back draft class. Powell used his unique blend of size, speed, and explosiveness to rush for 1,405 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

If Powell continues hovering below the radar, the Dolphins could snag the Lakeland native with a mid-round pick.

5th Round: Josh Bynes, Linebacker, Auburn

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Josh Bynes #17 of the Auburn Tigers against the Clemson Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Channing Crowder was an integral part of the Dolphins' 2008 playoff run, racking up a career high 113 tackles while missing just one game. Since then, Crowder's statistics and health have been in freefall. Over the past two seasons, he has missed a combined eight games, compiling just 90 tackles when healthy.

Crowder does bring intensity and energy to a defense lacking an identity, but at this point, he might be dead weight. With A.J. Edds and Tim Dobbins on the roster, the Dolphins could afford to part with Crowder's over-sized contract and use their fifth-round pick on a young linebacker to add depth to the position.

Auburn's Josh Bynes, like Crowder, brings intensity and an attitude with him on every play, making him an ideal replacement. Obviously, Bynes would probably be relegated to special teams duties early on, but his explosiveness and energy could eventually grant him an expanded role with the 'Fins.

6th Round: Jeremy Kerley, Wide Receiver, TCU

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 16: Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley #85 of the TCU Horned Frogs carries the ball against the BYU Cougars at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU beat BYU 31-3. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Between Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess, Brian Hartline, Roberto Wallace and Marlon Moore, the Dolphins might not be in the market for a wide receiver this offseason. However, Miami is most certainly in the market for speed, and TCU's Jeremy Kerley has plenty.

Kerley enjoyed a breakout senior season with the Horned Frogs in 2010, reeling in 56 receptions and 10 touchdowns. More importantly, Kerley was one of college football's deadliest return men, averaging almost 28 yards per kick return and eight yards per punt return.

The Dolphins are desperately lacking both a game-breaking kick returner and a wide receiver with burning speed. Kerley packages both with a late-round price tag, and he should absolutely be on the Dolphins' radar in April.

7th Round: David Arkin, Guard, Missouri State

Heralded as one of the best offensive lineman in the FCS, Missouri State's David Arkin could make for an intriguing pick at the tail end of the 2010 draft.

Arkin possesses the mammoth size typical of this Dolphins regime's lineman. He stands at 6'5", 305 pounds, and did not miss a start throughout the entirety of his stellar four-year career.

Arkin might grade out to be a practice squad project, but he dominated the FCS ranks, and certainly deserves a shot with the big boys. Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano seem to have an uncanny knack for finding quality offensive linemen in the darkest depths of the football world (Joe Berger, Nate Garner, Donald Thomas, Pat McQuistan, others), and Arkin seems to fit the physical bill for Miami.

7th Round: Virgil Green, Tight End, Nevada

There are many trends amongst the league's elite teams, but one that stands out is the presence of an athletic, receiving-oriented tight end. The Colts have Dallas Clark, the Patriots have Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, the Falcons have Tony Gonzalez, the Chargers have Antonio Gates, the Steelers have Heath Miller, and so on.

The Dolphins have lacked this dynamic since Keith Jackson in the early 1990s, and whether or not this regime wants to admit it, Anthony Fasano does not fit the bill. He has subpar speed and his 39 receptions for 528 yards were both career highs (not impressive).

Nevada tight end Virgil Green stands at a commanding 6'5", 245 pounds, but he still managed to catch 35 passes and five touchdowns (solid numbers for a collegiate tight end) during his senior season with the Wolf Pack. Although he stems from Nevada's funky Pistol offense, Green is a project worth investing in.