Who is the best TDMMC GM?

[ethurst22]

Here's a contest.

What would you guys/girls do to improve the Dolphins and I will start it off...

Blockbuster trade: Send Ronnie Brown and possibly a linebacker for running back Darren McFadden. If they balk at a LB, mention Tyler Thigpen. Al Davis is a sucker, he would sign off.

McFadden is sitting behind Michael Bush in Oakland and probably wants out. He ran the Wildcat at Arkansas and knows the Dolphins QB coach and hes younger than Brown. Brown will be 29 next year.

Tell Channing Crowder that his career is over and release him.

With the first round pick, get an ILB or nose guard that can play 3-4 and 4-3.

[Philly Fin Fan]

You already fail. 

Ronnie is going to be a free agent, so no one will take that trade!

[Dave Gray]

I don't think that Ronnie Brown is under contract.  How do you trade a guy that's not on your team?


Here's what I do:

Running game:
* Re-sign Ronnie Brown.
* Continue to develop Pat White and the pistol offense as well as the wildcat with Brown.
* Limit Ricky's carries, and include Cobbs. (what we did before the Brown/Cobbs injuries)

Passing Game:
* Keep Pennington as backup/mentor for cheap, otherwise, find a value pick for a traditional pocket QB in the mid-rounds of the draft.
* Work on Henne's long ball accuracy and touch passes in the offseason.
* Keep Ginn as a speed receiver for at least one more season.
* Draft a possession receiver, focusing on hands/height/aggressiveness, over speed.
* Introduce Pat White as a throwing QB, giving him the occasional complete series.

Defense:
* Renegotiate or release Porter in favor of more Cameron Wake.
* Replace Gibril Wilson and Reggie Torbor.
* Invest in speed and tackling fundamentals, especially at OLB.  The flat has been a nemesis, with QB scrambles, RBs to the sideline, and screen passes.

Special Teams:
* Keep Ginn at KR and hope for the best.  Coach him to take a hit and encourage him to get what he can when the break-out isn't there.
* Punt less.


Areas of need for drafting/free agency:
* a tall, possession receiver
* speed at outside linebacker
* a hard hitting safety that sees the field well
* Jason Taylor's eventual replacement at DE/Linebacker
* Crowder's eventual replacement.
* A traditional, pocket QB for development, if no Pennington re-sign.

[fyo]

I don't think that Ronnie Brown is under contract.  How do you trade a guy that's not on your team?

Ronnie is going to be a free agent, so no one will take that trade!

Ronnie Brown is a free agent ONLY if a new CBA is agreed upon. In the event of an uncapped 2010, Ronnie will be a restricted free agent.

In any event, I believe the Dolphins and Ronnie Brown will come to terms on a new contract.

[Brian Fein]

I don't understand why you want another possession receiver, Dave.  We have 3 possession receivers.  I'd rather have a Marques Colston, Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson type big play guy.  Ginn is speedy on the edge but not going to consistently get you 7 catches for 18 YPC every game.

[Dave Gray]

I don't understand why you want another possession receiver, Dave.  We have 3 possession receivers.  I'd rather have a Marques Colston, Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson type big play guy.  Ginn is speedy on the edge but not going to consistently get you 7 catches for 18 YPC every game.

The way I boil it down, there are 3 types of receivers (oversimplifying):
- speed
- hands
- height

Some elite guys (Moss, Owens, Andre Johnson) can cover several areas, but realistically, most receivers accomplish one of these areas well.

Prototypical guys would be:
Speed - Ted Ginn (a guy that stretches the field, forcing safeties to stay deep and opening up the short game for others)
Hands - Wes Welker (a guy that is good for short gains, 1st downs, and YAC)
Height - Orande Gadsten (a guy that will go up and get a ball, in coverage)

I think that Ginn is obviously not ideal, since his hands have been suspect at best, but I think we need to let him redeem himself, and his big play ability is still there, as evidenced by his called-back TD against the Texans.  Besides, we've made our bed with Ginn and we need to see it through.  It's too soon to use resources on a similarly-skilled player.  I think you have to have faith that he will improve.

In terms of a hands guy, I think that both Bess and Camarillo are doing this job fairly well, although sometimes inconsistent.  If we fill the role of the "height" guy or actually convert on some of these Ginn deep balls, I think that it might take some pressure off of these guys, and allow them to play at a higher level.

Currently, I feel like we lack a big guy to go up and get the ball -- a guy who you can throw to in the corner of the endzone, or can leap for a ball at the sidelines.  Currently, we are sending Ginn on out-patterns that need to be perfectly thrown because he's so short and doesn't aggressively go after it.

[bsfins]

I don't have enough Time to go into Extreme Detail....

Offensively
- Uncapped Ronnie's under contract for 1 more year,If he is a free agent..I let him test the market,if someone's going to over pay him,let him walk....(I think it will be a Ray lewis situation, we could get him back fairly cheap)

-I'd look at Upgrading the the Offensive Guards - Smiley has been in and out of the line up most of the season with Shoulders (he's has since his 49er's days), and Donald Thomas good run blocker lousy pass protector,we've been rotating him in and out....Maybe Move Carey to Guard,and Find a Road Grader RT....

-Let Pennington Walk - He's making 10 mil a year....I can't see him taking a back up role,he feels he can still start....

- Let Fasano Walk,Sperry I think would be a nice fill in....Look at the Practice Squads of other teams,perhaps Small School Late round draft pick, undrafted free agent....

- Wr,I'm going to Steal Sunstroke's Idea....I'm gonna Call the Giants about Ramses Barden 6'6" 227 See if I can get him in a trade,I'm gonna avoid the free agent market, Look in the Draft for Deep sleeper...Resign Bess (I think he only signed a 2 year deal)

Defense...Ohh Boy....

Secondary - I'm gonna ask Will Allen to Move to Free Saftey,We gave him an extension last offseason at 31 see if he can fill that hole....Gibril Wilson,I'd take the cap hit and let him go...Look to Replace Yerimiah Bell, He's 31....We need a playmaker...We've waited long enough.....

Linebackers- This is a mess....Akin Ayodele will be 31 and in the last year of his contract he signed in Dallas (he should have been a 1-2 year Stop Gap), We Charlie Anderson, Cameron Wake, Reggie Torbor,And Quentin Moses,and Joey Porter under contract (the only reason I keep porter, more expensive,and younger than Jason Taylor....(I wanted Ray Maluega in the draft Last year) Look to the second round Pick too draft Play making LB....Sign middle tier LB as stop gap (depending on if I draft a MLB,or OLB)

- Defensive line- I need a DT,to take the Pressure off of my MLB's, let Fergason Walk....Might Spend a first round Draft pick here...We need to be strong up the middle...Stick With Merling, Starks, McDaniel,Langsford for Ends...Use Solai as the back up....

off the top of my head.....

[fyo]

Just to point out some contractual situations, other than the Ronnie Brown one...

Fasano: Making $535k. Free Agent if a CBA is reached, RFA otherwise.
Haynos: Making $385k. RFA regardless.
Sperry: Unknown deal.
Bess: Making $385k. RFA regardless.
Hilliard: Unknown contract. Originally signed a 4-year deal in 2008, but didn't survive final cuts. Signed to a new contract. Details unknown.
Cobbs: On year 2 of a $2.7M contract. Scheduled to make $775k in 2010.

[Tenshot13]

Defense:

-Draft Terrance Cody or Dan Williams for NT in the first round of the draft.  It would be an awesome rotation with Soliai, and rotating them on the same line from time to time would stuff any run.

-Draft Justin Woodall, Van Eskridge, Kam Chancellor or Jordan Lake in the fourth round of the draft to replace Bell in two years.  My vote is for Kam Chancellor (6'4'' 225 lbs. 4.5 forty).  He has all the tools to be groomed to be a playmaking safety.

-Cut Wilson and start Clemons.

-Sign Barrett Ruud if he isn't resigned by the Bucs or draft Ryan D'Imperio in the fifth round to eventually replace Akin Ayodele.

-Cut/trade Porter and start Wake.

-Sign JT to another one year deal.



Offense:

-Draft Golden Tate or Arrelious Benn in the second round.  Tate is more NFL ready and could make an immediate impact, but Benn has more upside on potential.

-Draft Toby Gerhart in the third round.  He's a big, bruising running back, who I personally think is very under-rated.

-Franchise Ronnie Brown for next year, until Gerhart is ready to take over.  Then trade Brown around the deadline for some high draft picks for 2011.

-Try to sign Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin or Malcom Floyd.

-Resign Bess.

-Try to sign Owen Daniels, Tony Scheffler or Ben Watson and let Fasano walk.

-Draft Brandon Carter for offensive line depth in the 6th or 7th round.

-Draft Brandon James as a possible 3rd down back and return specialist in the 6th or 7th round.

-If no trade value appears for Ginn, keep him around for one more year.

[dolfan13]

i'm not sure how you can play a 3-4 defensive scheme without a space eating nt and with crappy linebackers.

offensively they need a couple of playmaking wide receivers that can get down the field and go get the ball. height isn't everything... there are guys that get downfield, and will go get the ball no matter what physical size they are (think steve smith from carolina). we need some of those guys at the receiver position. we already have a stable of possession receivers...

btw, ginn still sucks as a wr, and will continue to suck as a wr until the day he is out of the nfl. only role for him on this team MIGHT be as a special teamer.

[Doc-phin]

Here is what I would do...

Keep in mind that for the most part our team would look the same.

Top priority - Acquire an explosive wide receiver with minimal-to-no history of locker room trouble.  I would prefer one with a little NFL experience, but would consider drafting the right guy.  I would keep or trade Ginn (would not release), keep either Bess or Hartline (not both) for play in the slot and make a training camp decision on Turner vs Camarillo.

2nd priority - Get a true and impactful free safety.  If Clemons appears to be able to fill that role, then I would allow that to happen.  I would consider trading Bell (high value) and moving Wilson to strong safety (I know you guys won't like this, but Wilson is really a pretty solid strong safety).  Jason and Will Allen also become expendable/tradeable.

3rd priority - Find a replacement NT.  Between Ferguson and Solai we have a year or two and that is why this is not priority 1 or 2.  I would prefer to draft this position and release either Solai (or trade) or Ferguson.

4th priority - Make room for a dedicated Kick/Punt returner that can be dangerous.  If not available, use Ginn 50% and find someone other than Bess that is on the roster to fill the other 50%.

5th priority - Find a true receiving tight end.

6th priority - Find a speedy (change up type) running back.  Not sure if Cobbs or the other RB we picked up can fill that role.

If all went as planned I would try to do this more specifically...

Release Porter and move Taylor into his role.
Release Pennington.
Release Nalbone or release/trade Haynos
Release Ricky Williams and likely release/trade Cobbs for someone faster
Release either Allen if not tradeable and try to find someone who is flexible between nickle and outside corner.  Would love if Will Allen would be satisfied in non-starting role (but doubt it).
Replace either Anderson or Moses with better overall play ability.
I would try to get good trade value out of Will or Jason Allen (must be replaced), any one of our D-ends, Y Bell or possibly Wilson, any one of our inside linebackers (if being replaced), any of our receivers.

Definite don'ts...

Don't allow Ronnie to go without a replacement that isn't already on this roster. 
Don't make any changes to our current active QB roster.
Don't let Crowder go unless being replaced with someone outstanding.
Don't modify any of the O-line starters.
Don't allow Polite to go.
Don't allow Fasano to go without an excellent replacement (he is a very good #2 tight end).
Don't release Ginn without acquiring another speedy receiver.
Don't get rid of Taylor this year.

[Philly Fin Fan]

I love how everyone says "trade this guy" , "trade that guy" for a pick.

Two issues with this-
1.You guys realize how rare player trades are in the NFL, right?
2. If you think the guy sucks balls, why would another NFL team trade a draft pick for that guy?

Realistically, the Fins have very few trade worthy commodities on this team.

[Doc-phin]

* A traditional, pocket QB for development, if no Pennington re-sign.

For the record, I think Thigpen fills this role quite well.

[Doc-phin]

I love how everyone says "trade this guy" , "trade that guy" for a pick.

Two issues with this-
1.You guys realize how rare player trades are in the NFL, right?
2. If you think the guy sucks balls, why would another NFL team trade a draft pick for that guy?

Realistically, the Fins have very few trade worthy commodities on this team.

Can't speak for anyone else, but my post accounts for this.  I list players that I feel may have trade value but also may be options for release if they don't draw interest.  For the most part, I think the other posts are written in this spirit and it is quite hard to discuss all of your intentions in something that is briefly readable. 

Furthermore...  Y Bell, Torbor, Ayeodele (sp?), Langford, Merling, Starks, McDaniel, Camarillo, Bess, Ginn, Hartline, Will Allen and possibly Cobbs, Haynos, Wilson, J. Allen or even Wake have a reasonable amount of trade value and can be compensated for with our current roster. 

Keep in mind that I don't mean that you trade multiple receivers, D-lineman or linebackers unless replacements are accounted for.

[Dave Gray]

Release Ricky Williams and likely release/trade Cobbs for someone faster

I disagree with both of these.  Ricky is a playmaker on his last year, and he's not too expensive.  Cobbs is the kind of guy I want to embrace on this team.  He's clutch, he's great away from the ball, and he catches balls out of the flat, as well as playing special teams.  You can't let him go, especially not for nothing.