Dolphins release John Beck

The Miami Dolphins tried to trade third string quarterback John Beck during the draft weekend. Finding no takers, the team released him yesterday. Beck is the latest bust from the 2007 draft that saw the Dolphins bypass QB Brady Quinn, among others, to make a reach pick for Ted Ginn in the first round. Beck was selected in the second round of that draft.

2009 draft picks

Here are the players the Dolphins selected:

Rd 1 - Vontae Davis - CB
Rd 2 - Pat White - QB/WR
Rd 2 - Sean Smith - CB
Rd 3 - Patrick Turner - WR
Rd 4 - Brian Hartline - WR
Rd 5 - J Nalbone - TE
Rd 5 - Chris Clemons - S
Rd 6 - Andrew Gardner - OT
Rd 7 - J.D. Folsom - LB

I don't know much about the latter round players. I don't even know Nalbone's first name, because I've seen two different ones.
Given that the team didn't draft a pass rusher early, signing Jason Taylor looks like a pretty good option.

Dolphins select two corners on Day One

The Miami Dolphins addressed their need for a cornerback in the NFL draft by choosing two within the top three rounds. In the first round, the team picked Vontae Davis of Illinois. While Davis was a possibility in some mock drafts, other players of need such as LB Clay Matthews and WR Hakeem Nicks were also available (both were chosen soon after the Dolphins picked). Miami then selected West Virginia QB Pat White in the second round. White is expected to fill more of a "slash" role in the Wildcat offense than to be a legitimate threat to Chad Pennington and Chad Henne. With their last pick on Day One, the Dolphins selected Utah CB Sean Smith. I don't know much about Smith, but a report on him that I found thought he might be too tall (6' 3") for CB and could be better suited to play safety.

Draft preview

Going into the NFL draft this weekend, the Dolphins' biggest needs are at wide receiver, cornerback, and linebacker. If they keep their first round pick at #25, a top CB or OLB would have to slip for Miami not to make a "reach" pick. For example, if , say, Ohio State CB Malcolm Jenkins were still available when the Dolphins pick, I'd urge them to take the CB. However, chances are that a worthy WR will be on the board at the time of the 25th pick. The top WR in the draft, Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree, is expected to be long gone. However, Florida's Percy Harvin, North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks, or Maryland's Darrius Hayward-Bey should be available.

What would derail this obvious route is Bill Parcells' stated dislike for drafting WRs in the first round. Parcells believes that good NFL receivers can be found in the latter part of the draft. As for CB and OLB, in this draft, I believe the team can find a decent CB in later rounds without reaching, and they can address their pass rushing needs by signing Jason Taylor instead of rolling the dice on a rookie.

2009 schedule announced

After no national television exposure in 2008, the Miami Dolphins return to the limelight with two Monday Night Football appearances in 2009 as well as a Sunday night game. The full schedule, which is also rated the league's toughest based on 2008 team records, is listed here:

Sept. 13 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Sept. 21 Indianapolis, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 4 Buffalo, 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 12 N.Y. Jets, 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 BYE
Oct. 25 New Orleans, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 1 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 at New England, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Nov. 19 at Carolina, 8:20 p.m.
Nov. 29 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6 New England, 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27 Houston, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.