DeAngelo Williams Possibility.

[Doc-phin]

Here is the article that got me to post this...

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2011/04/deangelo-williams-says-interest-in-dolphins-is-mutual.html

I actually really liked DeAngelo out of college and kinda hoped he would end up in Miami.  He is a quality individual with an excellent blend of speed, size, moves and vision.  Lockout aside, he is exactly the kind of replacement for Ricky and/or Ronnie that I would be looking for.

Having the draft before there can be free agency really sucks.  Free agents could really hold a great deal of cards knowing how strong the team needs them if they don't fill their needs in the draft.

I know that drafting a running back is not as risky as it used to be, but don't forget that running backs need to prove they can pass protect before they sniff the field in the NFL.  As things stand now, without a second round pick, signing DeAngelo would be a great way to avoid reaching for a running back at 15.  Ultimately, a third round running back may be a little late to get the #1 running back we need.

[MikeO]

Im all for it. We need weapons in a bad way on  offense. We have none

[Dave Gray]

I'm down with DeAngelo.

[Tenshot13]

+1

[StL FinFan]

I'm on board.

[Spider-Dan]

The track record of free agent running backs having an impact is... um, not good.  This guy is all of 16 months younger than Ronnie Brown.

Better to get a back in the draft.

[Brian Fein]

Love to have him but the article pretty clearly said he wants to play someplace that has a good QB.  For this reason, I doubt he ends up in Miami.

[Doc-phin]

The track record of free agent running backs having an impact is... um, not good.  This guy is all of 16 months younger than Ronnie Brown.

Better to get a back in the draft.

Ronnie's age isn't really the issue, it is his production.  I am not concerned with signing a running back that will be with us for the next 8-10 years; 3-4 years would be just fine.

[Doc-phin]

Love to have him but the article pretty clearly said he wants to play someplace that has a good QB.  For this reason, I doubt he ends up in Miami.

In the context of what he had in Carolina the last few years, I would say we are undoubtedly an upgrade.  Once he realizes that teams with great QB's don't feature or pay their running backs, I think his mind will change a bit.  We are middle of the road at that possition which is perfect for a free agent running back.

And on the plus side for us...  A better run game would really help our passing game (elevating the play of our QB artificially)! But we all know that.

[dolfan13]

umm, we definitely are not middle of the road at the qb position. more like bottom third of the league. hell about the only qb henne might be better than is clausen.

[tubba marxxx]

DeAngelo Williams + a RB drafted ANYWHERE in this draft will do wonders....DeAngelo Williams as the feature back?..not so much..end of story.

[Tenshot13]

D. Williams + Ingram would give us one of the best RB combos in the league, but there are guys to be had in the later rounds that could almost be as serviceable, plus we could spend that first rounder on a QB, OLB, WR or CB (although, I'm not ready to give up on S. Smith just yet...give him this year and see way happens).  Tough decisions.  If it was me, I'd take Mallett in the first at 15, best RB available in the 3rd (there is a guy Jawan Charles or Thomas...something like that who is rising the boards that could be Chris Johnson great) and sign D. Williams. 

[Doc-phin]

D. Williams + Ingram would give us one of the best RB combos in the league, but there are guys to be had in the later rounds that could almost be as serviceable, plus we could spend that first rounder on a QB, OLB, WR or CB (although, I'm not ready to give up on S. Smith just yet...give him this year and see way happens).  Tough decisions.  If it was me, I'd take Mallett in the first at 15, best RB available in the 3rd (there is a guy Jawan Charles or Thomas...something like that who is rising the boards that could be Chris Johnson great) and sign D. Williams. 

That is pretty much what I was thinking.  Avoid using 15 for a running back and hope you could be aggressive enough to sign someone like DeAngelo.  Would have been awesome to be able to work out that deal before the draft. 

In regards to Dolfan13...  My understanding is that Henne actually does rank right about 15th, 16th or 17th in the league.  I realize this is hard to believe, but I am pretty sure that is the case. 

Also, don't forget that more speed at running back coupled with the O-line stability that Sparano recently promised should result in a better run game which should open up the pass game a little more.  Do I believe Henne could crack the top 10 list of QB's? Not at all!  Which is why drafting a QB in round and going to free agency to pick up a top tier running back makes more sense to me.  However, Henne IS middle of the road enough to be serviceable for one more year while a rookie QB develops.

Last point - Don't forget that Kory Sheets while widely unknown is a speedy running back and got hurt early enough last year that he should be very healthy come training camp time.  Cobbs is going into his 2nd year post ACL and when ACL tears occur midseason it usually takes 2 seasons to get back to full speed.  Finally, Hilliard does offer a big back option if we do focus on speed with a running back acquisition.  Are these elite guys? NO.  But they do give us some flexibility at filling Ronnie and Ricky's loss.

[tubba marxxx]

I just read an article (I forget where, so I'm sorry I don't have a link right now) where, despite his end of the season bash of Sparano, if Miami made him a fair offer he would be back in a heartbeat and finish is career a Dolphin....again.

He also said that he doesn't think it's at all likely, I'm just a huge Ricky fan and I'm hoping for the best with that.  DeAngelo Williams said that Ricky is the reason he wears number 34..so it would be cool to see them as a 1,2 punch in that regard.

[MikeO]

I just read an article (I forget where, so I'm sorry I don't have a link right now) where, despite his end of the season bash of Sparano, if Miami made him a fair offer he would be back in a heartbeat and finish is career a Dolphin....again.

He also said that he doesn't think it's at all likely, I'm just a huge Ricky fan and I'm hoping for the best with that.  DeAngelo Williams said that Ricky is the reason he wears number 34..so it would be cool to see them as a 1,2 punch in that regard.

Im no big Sparano fan, but why would the franchise make Ricky a "fair" offer or any offer at all for the stunt Ricky pulled at the end of the season. Throwing the coaches and his teammates under the bus. Ricky showed his TRUE colors once again. Airing dirty laundry in the media. He is a POS and he can now uproot his family and go play somewhere else.