How do the Dolphins address the RB situation next season?

[jtex316]

***This is a serious post. No "anti-fins" stuff here***

I think that the Dolphins have a major decision in their hands, and if they don't think they do, then they already are screwing up the future of their franchise.

I think the team needs to take a very hard long look at both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.

Ronnie Brown is out for the season twice in 3 years. He - I believe - was also injured his rookie season. Technically, he already is on the downside of his career, and as the Dolphins have proved recently, you can still be effective running the ball without Ronnie Brown. I think trading or releasing or whatever contract status dictates for Ronnie Brown should be explored and probably pursued.

Ricky Williams is old, very old. He's now a fumbling machine, too, and he doesn't seem to have very good reliability or durability for that matter (he was also injured and out for the season not too long ago). Also let's not forget that with one more drug-related suspension, he is out of the NFL permanently, so he is walking an incredibly razor-thin line as it is. It's probably time to trade him to a team desperate for a veteran RB while he still has some value left to acquire some much needed help on a very poor defense with seemingly one good player on it (Davis).

They can always use that guy Polite or draft some young speedy guy.

I don't think they can be competitive in 2010 with their current stable of RBs.

[bsfins]

I feel we're lacking that Game changer,Big Play Bakc...Ricky likes to run the A-B Gaps,Ronnie is agile,but hasn't shown the great break awy speed..and Both are pounders....We need that Game changer Reggie Bush,Darren Sproles,Johnathan Stewart...

[Brian Fein]

Here's the problem with the backs...

Ronnie's contract is up after this season.  If we don't get him an extension, he's a free agent and as good as gone.

Ricky has publicly said that next season is his last season.

So, now finally we MAY HAVE found a decent QB of the future but our running game is falling apart.  I am VERY worried about this.  Unless we can find some diamond in the rough RB, it might be Patrick Cobbs as the starter in a few years.

The offense is falling apart...

[Sunstroke]

If we were investing that mid-first rounder on the position, I'd say that CJ Spiller would be an excellent choice for that role. If we're waiting until the mid rounds, and we're looking for a smaller 3rd down type big play back/returner, I'd say look at Noel Devine or Dexter McCluster.

[Brian Fein]

Let's also not forget Lex Hilliard.  He looks like he might be able to hang with the big dogs, and he definitely has the tenacity.  We obviously don't know how he would do over a full season of 20+ carries per game...

[bsfins]

^^^ I don't think they trust him...I thought he'd get more,and more carries with Ronnie going down...Most of the time,they throw when he's in the game....

[jtex316]

Ronnie Brown has to be out after this season, right? 2 season-ending injuries and (I believe) a 3rd injury in his rookie year and his contract is up (which I am sure he will request way too much money). I can't possibly imagine the rationale for re-signing this guy. Durability is so under-rated in the NFL. You can't suffer two season-ending injuries in 3 years, especially an RB.

What about this Lousaka Polite guy? Seems like he's a fullback or change-of-pace type back. Maybe he can develop?

I just think that the Dolphins need to always "bolster the trenches", both the O and D lines. Backs and WRs are a dime a dozen IMO. If you have a solid O-line and a solid D-line, you can compete in the NFL with even marginal talent at the "talent" positions.

[Sunstroke]

Backs and WRs are a dime a dozen IMO.

Man, you can get 12 Chris Johnsons' or 12 Andre Johnsons for a dime? There's a sweet deal...

I can't even get my neighbor to look at my Johnson for a dime.

[Tepop84]

dont forget that patrick cobbs will be back next year too. Ronnie brown should be let go if they would have had to resign him.

[jtex316]

Man, you can get 12 Chris Johnsons' or 12 Andre Johnsons for a dime? There's a sweet deal...

I can't even get my neighbor to look at my Johnson for a dime.

Eli and Peyton Manning proved that you can take absolute no-ones (Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Domenick Hixon, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Anthony Gonzales, and etc etc etc) and with work you can develop them into very servicable WRs who can make a big play when needed. You don't necessarily NEED Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. The last 2 teams with big name WRs (for their time) that won the SB in the last 10 years were the 1999 rams (Issac Bruce + a rookie Torry Holt) and the 2006 Colts (Marvin Harrison + Reggie Wayne).

[Brian Fein]

I guess Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes aren't big name WR's anymore?

I understand what you're saying but you need SOME talent to be successful.  You can't put Dave Gray at RB behind the best O-line in NFL history and expect him to run for 100 yards.

And Lou Polite is a fullback.  He's not a tailback, not a runner, he's good for the tough inside run of 1-3 yards, but he's not fast and he's not shifty.  He's a power back, and that's why he's good at what he does.

[JVides]

Ronnie Brown is unrestricted only if the collective bargaining agreement gets solved between now and March, which won't happen.  Otherwise, he comes back next year at a $5 million salary, and he should.  Prior to his injury, he was trucking along quite nicely and on pace for a 1,200 yard, 14 TD year.  There's nothing wrong with going into next year with Brown, Williams, and Cobbs as your running backs.  Out of all the positions in football, I feel like RB is the one in which a rookie can have the greatest impact, so unless some marvelous rookie falls to Miami in the second or third round, I'd address other things first and worry about running back after next season.

Get me a wideout, a middle linebacker, a d-tackle, and a couple of safeties before you go addressing a strength position.

[Tenshot13]

As much as I love Ronnie Brown on our team, I think it's time for him to go.  He has been injured a good portion of his career.

We could possibly get Toby Gerhart, Stanford (power-back) in the 3rd round.  I like Strokes idea of Noel Divine (speed-back/playmaker).  I've been following him since his high school days, and have seen enough of him watching USF play West Virginia over the years. He might be around in the fourth round.  Some people might grumble taking a RB in the 3rd and 4th rounds, but I don't see a problem with it if it's those two guys.

Only problem is Ricky will probably be back next year, and so will Cobbs, so that would be 4 RBs on the roster (assuming we don't keep Ronnie).  Although I would love to see taking both of those guys, it probably won't happen. 

I wouldn't want to spend a first rounder on C.J. Spiller though.  If we are going to spend a first rounder on anyone, he better be close to an every down player, and I see Spiller as a situational guy.

What about taking Brandon James in the late part of the draft?  He does run a 4.3 forty.

[fyo]

I don't see us letting Ronnie Brown go. I really don't. It's just not a move that Parcells/Ireland/Sparano will make. It could happen if Ronnie comes up with an insane contract requirement, but otherwise, I think a deal will be reached to keep Brown in Miami for another 4 years.

Due to the nature of the injuries, I think the medical staff will say that he's not a particularly great risk -- and there will probably be something in the contract to shield the Dolphins (or whatever other team wound up signing him).

That's not to say that I don't believe the position should be addressed. I very much think that now is the time to seriously look at a young running back. I think we'll be fine next year (with the R&R combo), but the wheels could come off the wagon very, very quickly. And I don't see Hilliard or Cobbs filling anyone's shoes. Polite is awesome at what he does, but there needs to be a "real" running back.

[Dolphin-UK]

In the grand scheme of things, whilst running back longievity is a concern, I don't think we need to do anything about it this year the running game should be serviceable next season and we have bigger areas for improvement (at WR for example). I think tweaking the running game for us is a luxury at this point.