Dolphins fill needs in trenches: Parcells, Ireland use draft to add bulk

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins28sbapr28,0,4532730.story

Dolphins fill needs in trenches: Parcells, Ireland use draft to add bulk

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

April 28, 2008

DAVIE - Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland must have a Costco or Sam's Club card inside his wallet because the Dolphins obviously like buying bulk.

After selecting offensive tackle Jake Long and defensive end Phillip Merling with their first two picks of the 2008 draft, the Dolphins used four of their six second-day selections to add a significant amount of girth to both sides of the line.

The blueprint Bill Parcells, the team's new vice president of football operations, works off usually starts with building his teams in the trenches. And that's exactly what the Dolphins did in this draft, taking three defensive linemen and three offensive linemen, who collectively average out to 6 feet 5, 295 pounds.

Ireland said what the Dolphins did this weekend mirrors what he and Parcells did together in Dallas in 2005 when the Cowboys used six of eight draft picks on players who have spent most of their careers in the trenches.

"We feel like one of the first things you've got to do is build the offensive line and defensive line," Ireland said. "I think it's very important that you have an offensive line and defensive line develop, and develop together."

Hampton defensive end Kendall Langford was the first player the Dolphins selected Sunday, using pick No. 66 after moving down two spots to get an additional sixth-rounder.

Langford's huge 6-5, 294-pound frame and quick feet drew most teams' attention at the Senior Bowl. But Ireland said the scouting department has had their eye on him since this time last year.

"Anybody that's 6-5, 290 pounds and runs a 4.9 [40-yard dash] is going to be on our radar pretty quickly," Ireland said.

Utah State offensive guard Shawn Murphy was selected in the fourth round and will be paired with Connecticut guard Donald Thomas, one of Sunday's three sixth-round picks, to duke it out with three veterans for the vacant starting guard spot.

The Dolphins targeted the fourth round to address the interior of their offensive line, but an early run on those players before the Dolphins were on the clock forced the organization to move up five spots to select Murphy, the son of former Braves slugger Dale Murphy, with pick No. 110.

"We were sitting there with pick 115 and saw a center, a guard, and a guard go right there and I didn't want to wait on the guy. He was the guy we targeted so we decided to give the seventh up to go ensure we got him," Ireland said. "I like the way he plays. He's tough, he's hard-nosed, just like his dad."

Murphy is a converted defensive lineman who gave up just one sack in his second season at his new position. Ireland said he's more suited to play on the right side, which could mean veteran free agent signee Justin Smiley might be worked on the left to aid in Long's development. Ireland said those issues will be decided when training camp begins.

Thomas is a former walk-on who spent only one year as a starter for the Huskies. But Ireland believes his athleticism, and strength (28 reps of 225 pounds) makes him a developmental project with plenty of upside.

"He is one of those hard-nosed guys that Parcells looks for," UConn coach Randy Edsall said of Thomas, who ran a 4.9 in the 40, and bench pressed 225 pounds 28 times at the NFL Combine.

The Dolphins closed out their draft by selecting Arizona defensive tackle Lionel Dotson with pick No. 245. Ireland believes Dotson has the size, strength and quickness needed to make the conversion to nose tackle.

"It was kind of frustrating and nervous," Dotson said of the draft process. "But at the same time nobody knows in the NFL Draft. That's why it's the NFL Draft, anything can happen."

But the one thing that is for certain is that the Dolphins got bigger, much bigger, over the weekend.