NFL Draft 2011: 10 Prospects Who Could Bring Much Needed Speed to Miami
Once the Miami Dolphins were mathematically eliminated from 2010 postseason contention, their primary off-season need was extremely visible. The Dolphins' once-promising offense was sorely lacking speed and explosiveness. It had become anemic and failed to muster up any excitement.
Both Jeff Ireland and Stephen Ross, in their own respective methods, have made the team's desire to acquire speed in this year's draft public. Although finding explosive prospects capable of making early impacts will be limited without a second-round pick, there is still a slew of players who could inject some excitement into the Dolphins' offense.
10. Derrick Locke, Running Back, Kentucky
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Kentucky's Derrick Locke is the latest converted track star to surface as an NFL prospect. But Locke is not your average, skinny, contact-avoiding sprinter—he is also a former power-lifter. In other words, Locke is an extremely unique specimen.
Despite his measurables, Locke was never a great producer, never carried a full workload, and repeatedly struggled with knee, leg, and rib injuries. He posted a 4.42 40, but the cons might outweigh the pros. Still, a team in the market for speed such as the Dolphins might want to take a late round flier on Locke to see if he can finally convert all of that sheer athleticism into football skill.
9. Denarius Moore, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
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While starring as a Texas high school football standout, Denarius Moore took to track during the off-season. He won the state championship. Moore's athletic prowess brought him to Tennessee where he became the Vols' primarily deep threat, catching nine touchdowns in 2010.
Moore proceeded to run a 4.44 40, establishing himself as one of the fastest prospects in the 2011 draft class. Although he currently projects as a late-round pick, if Moore can add to his 194-pound frame and improve his return skills, a team like the Dolphins could be getting a huge bargain.
8. Jacquizz Rogers, Running Back, Oregon State
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Jacquizz Rodgers is the little man who could. Except he isn't that little. Rodgers, though only 5'6", weighs in at a rock solid 196 pounds. He's a bowling ball, and exhibits lightning quickness; however, he ran a very mediocre 4.64 40, and was actually a between-the-tackles rusher at Oregon State.
So while Rodgers does have exceptional quickness and agility, he does not have exceptional speed. Also, he carried the ball 788 times in just three years. Will his small frame and interior rushing style allow him to find success in the NFL? It's certainly possible, but not entirely likely. Rodgers could be on Miami's radar, but do not expect him to sit atop their draft board.
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7. Jerrel Jernigan, Wide Receiver, Troy
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Teams that miss out or worry about Titus Young's maturity can find an alternative in Troy's Jerrel Jernigan. Though he played against inferior competition in the Sun Belt Conference and weighs in at a tiny 5'9", 185 pounds, he is seething with speed.
Jernigan ran a 4.46 at the combine, but he seems to play much faster on the field. He caught 84 passes for Troy in 2010, reaching the end-zone six times, showing amazing shiftiness and vertical speed. However, his frame is cause for serious concern. There are plenty of short receivers in the NFL, but none have such a thin frame.
Unless Jernigan bulks up, he will be easily pushed off of routes and dominated by defensive backs. Ultimately, he may be a poor man's Titus Young who can likely be had in the third or fourth round, still making great value for a team like the Dolphins in the market for a burner.
6. Taiwan Jones, Running Back, Eastern Washington
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A relative unknown prior to "Draft Season," Eastern Washington running back Taiwan Jones has not only established himself as a potential middle-round pick, but one of the biggest sleepers in the entire 2011 draft class.
Jones demolished I-AA competition, rushing for 1,742 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2010. But to top it all off, he reportedly ran a 4.33 40 at his pro day which is sure to catapult his draft stock. Jones seems like he would be a great fit for the Dolphins, but he has severe fumble issues (17 fumbles in two years) and durability issues—two things that could easily destroy his NFL prospectus.
5. Virgil Green, Tight End, Nevada
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It's safe to assume the Dolphins will have their eyes set on a tight end at some point during the 2011 NFL Draft. If they stick to their predisposed plan of acquiring speed, then Nevada's Virgil Green should be atop the draft board.
Green is one of the most dynamic players in this year's draft class. He's roughly 6'4", 249 pounds, yet ran a 4.56 40 at the combine and caught 35 passes for Nevada in 2010. Some might argue for FAU's Robert Housler here, but he played against inferior competition, is not as bulky as Green, and has a one-year wonder label.
4. Dion Lewis, Running Back, Pittsburgh
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Even though Pittsburgh has a track record of spawning great running backs (Tony Dorsett, Curtis Martin, LeSean McCoy) Dion Lewis has hovered below the national radar. Perhaps his 5'7" height is to blame, but that did not stop Lewis from rushing for a combined 2,860 yards his last two years on campus.
Although Lewis does not have the straight ahead speed that many of the prospects on this list do (ran a 4.57) he is extremely quick and agile, and PFW's Nolan Nawrocki compares him to Brian Westbrook. Lewis could provide invaluable explosiveness to the Dolphins' offense, especially if paired with a bigger, physical back.
3. Edmond Gates, Wide Receiver, Abilene Christian
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Abilene Christian's Edmond Gates hails from the same alma-mater as NFL speedsters Johnny Knox, Bernard Scott and Danieal Manning. Fittingly, Gates ran a 4.37 at the combine despite re-aggravating a groin injury he suffered during the regular season. It was an impressive display that will have him rising up draft boards.
Gates currently projects to fall into the third round, but that price might be a bit steep for a player who dominated inferior competition at the Division II level. Then again, Knox, Scott, and Manning have all overcome the learning curve quickly and successfully, setting a favorable precedent for Gates.
2. Titus Young, Wide Receiver, Boise State
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For a player who might be the second coming of DeSean Jackson, Boise State's Titus Young is getting a pretty bad rap. Both have small frames, blazing speed and eccentric attitudes, but concerns linger about Young's toughness. Also, Jackson's 4.35 40 was more impressive than Young's 4.40.
Miami would benefit tremendously from Young's skill-set, but Sports Illustrated's Tony Pauline reports that Young is viewed as a third-round pick by most teams. There also might not be room for another prima donna receiver with Brandon Marshall already on the roster.
However, if Young can dispel maturity concerns, the Dolphins should absolutely roll the dice with one of this year's biggest high-risk—high-reward prospects if he is available in the third round.
1. Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver / Running Back / Quarterback, Kentucky
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He runs a 4.47 40 and played running back, wide receiver, and quarterback at Kentucky. What more could the Dolphins want in a prospect?
Kentucky recruited Randall Cobb to play quarterback, but he quickly began splitting time at wide receiver where he was able to further utilize his sub-4.5 speed and electrifying agility. He also shouldered scattered punt and kickoff return duties throughout his four-year career. Cobb finished his career as the Wildcats' go-to running back.
Not only could Cobb provide the complement to Brandon Marshall that the Dolphins need so desperately, but he could also run the Wildcat, return kicks and serve as a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
He might need some time to transition into a full-time wide receiver but, if the Dolphins trade back into the latter portion of the first round or the early portion of the second round, they could draft Cobb and hit three birds with one stone.
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