Did Miami make a major strategic error not drafting Matt Ryan?

[JoeSixPat]

Don't get me wrong - I value a solid left tackle as much as the next guy, and I'm impressed with how the Dolphins have made themselves respectable again, though really they were helped greatly by the Jets decision to drop what turns out to be a 7-5 QB for a 8-4 QB.

But I'm not really sure Chad Pennington can be considered the "QB of the Future" - and given what we've seen from Matt Ryan, taking the nearly as pathetic Falcons to 8-4, solidifying the QB position potentially for the next 10 years plus, I have to wonder if the Dolphins made a major strategic mistake.

I guess we should be happy that the questionable draft moves of the Fins continue, seeing as the Patriots benefit as a result, so I'm not complaining - just wondering what others think.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

They see Chad Henne as their QB of the future. He looked good in preseason, but who knows.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

They would have to have KNOWN a priori that Ryan was gonna be a Franchise QB. LT is almost as significant to success and a much less risky pick. Way more QB busts than elite OT busts, although there are certainly some notables there too.

Look at the QBs the Pats have found in the 6th and 7th round. Maybe Parcells & Co feels that they can draft a developmental QB in the 3rd round, like we just did last year with The Mick?

 

[BlitzFritz]

They would have to have KNOWN a priori that Ryan was gonna be a Franchise QB. LT is almost as significant to success and a much less risky pick. Way more QB busts than elite OT busts, although there are certainly some notables there too.

Look at the QBs the Pats have found in the 6th and 7th round. Maybe Parcells & Co feels that they can draft a developmental QB in the 3rd round, like we just did last year with The Mick?

EXACTLY

in my view, BB/SP believe that it is very difficult to project QBs into the NFL. therefore VERY RISKY to draft high.

so did Miami make a strategic error - no. did Atlanta get lucky - probably.

i think

- FRITZ

 

[patsox23]

Jake Long has turned out to be a STUD, cornerstone LT. Their draft was just fine.

 

[maverick4]

One major issue is, you can sign a decent QB like Pennington from free agency whereas it is impossible to get a decent left tackle without drafting one. Also, look at how many QB's you can find in the 4th rd and below, do you really want to blow your #1 pick and the huge money involved on a more risky position like QB where a bad pick could screw your franchise for years?

Also, they like and want to develop Chad Henne.

 

[JSn]

I think their record would be worse with Matt Ryan. Don't get me wrong, he's looking to be a very good QB, but I think the general lack of mental health in the Fishies locker room and upheaval required a Veteran to see past it. And it's hard to argue with the pick the did make at #1. Guy's a stud.

 

[Rob0729]

You know I thought originally that they made a strategic error drafting Long just because I didn't think he would make it at LT. I was wrong so far. In fact, he looks like he could turn into the first franchise LT to come out of the draft in a long, long time.

Matt Ryan is having a really good rookie year, but he isn't an elite QB. He may never become an elite QB. Remember Rick Mirer had a pretty good rookie season and collapsed after that. Besides, would Ryan be having the year he was having if he had Ronnie Brown as his lead back instead of Michael Turner forcing teams to put 8 in the box all the time?

I think it is too early to say the Dolphins made a mistake not taking Matt Ryan. If Long becomes a franchise LT and Ryan becomes a good, but not great QB; I think you can say they made the right choice.

 

[billdog3484]

based on his play so far, YES. the kids amazing. you dont pass up a pro bowl QB

 

[Patriot Missile]

I'm not taking anything away from Matt Ryan. He has a had probably one of the best rookie QB seasons ever. The coach and gm down there imo deserve all the praise they have been given.

I will say this though, without Michael Turner and that running game, Ryan doesn't have the balance in that offense to succeed the way he has. Again, he deserves rookie of the year and it appears he is on his way to stardom. Huge props to our fellow BC alumni.

I think Miami made the right choice in Jake Long and I also believe Ryan has benefitted greatly by not being picked by Miami.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm not taking anything away from Matt Ryan. He has a had probably one of the best rookie QB seasons ever. The coach and gm down there imo deserve all the praise they have been given.

I will say this though, without Michael Turner and that running game, Ryan doesn't have the balance in that offense to succeed the way he has. Again, he deserves rookie of the year and it appears he is on his way to stardom. Huge props to our fellow BC alumni.

I think Miami made the right choice in Jake Long and I also believe Ryan has benefitted greatly by not being picked by Miami.

I agree. I think the Michael Turner factor is huge in Ryan's fast development. Teams play the run first against the Falcons which gives the receivers a lot of favorable match ups.

 

[Caf]

As good as Long is at LT, I think Miami made a huge mistake in not going after Ryan. Since, DE Long and LT (fogot his name), went in the top 4 picks, Miami could have traded down to No. 3 and still got Ryan at a cheaper price plus another pick. After they picked up Pennington, they could have brought Ryan slowley around to learn under Pennington and had the best of both worlds.

 

[Rob0729]

As good as Long is at LT, I think Miami made a huge mistake in not going after Ryan. Since, DE Long and LT (fogot his name), went in the top 4 picks, Miami could have traded down to No. 3 and still got Ryan at a cheaper price plus another pick. After they picked up Pennington, they could have brought Ryan slowley around to learn under Pennington and had the best of both worlds.

The Dolphins tried to trade down. No one wanted to trade. There was no clear cut #1 in this draft and no one wants to trade up anymore because the money associated with the #1 pick. I think if Parcells got any legitimate offer for the #1 pick even if it wasn't equal value for the trade, Parcells would have traded the pick in a heartbeat.

It seems that every year for the last half dozen of years or so, the team with the #1 pick has tried to trade it away and no one even tries to lowball the pick away from them.

To trade away the #1 pick, you need to have a team who wants to trade for it. Until they fix the system or a guaranteed stud beyond belief enters the draft, no team will ever trade the #1 pick ever again whether they want to or not.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'm not taking anything away from Matt Ryan. He has a had probably one of the best rookie QB seasons ever. The coach and gm down there imo deserve all the praise they have been given.

You mean former Patriots college scouting director Tom Dimitroff (who, BTW, was a former DB for the well-known University of Guelph)?

 

[Deus Irae]

There's a saying that defense wins championships. Well, looking at Super Bowl history, it's also clear that great quarterbacks win championships. Yes, it's true that a few lesser quarterbacks have won Super Bowls, but that's the exception, not the rule.

On the other hand, the Patriots, Colts, Steelers and Giants of this decade stand as perfect examples of why you don't spend the #1 pick on left tackle if there's a top quarterback available. I can't say it was a strategic error, because I don't know how the Dolphins had Ryan ranked. It could have been a scouting error instead. However, assuming both players continue to excel, the Dolphins made the wrong choice.

 

[upstater1]

They see Chad Henne as their QB of the future. He looked good in preseason, but who knows.

Henne was awful in college. We'll see how he does in the pros. I would take Brian Brohm over Henne any day of the week.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

On the other hand, the Patriots, Colts, Steelers and Giants of this decade stand as perfect examples of why you don't spend the #1 pick on left tackle if there's a top quarterback available. I can't say it was a strategic error, because I don't know how the Dolphins had Ryan ranked. It could have been a scouting error instead. However, assuming both players continue to excel, the Dolphins made the wrong choice.

The only problem is that if your OL is teh suck, you can turn that All-Universe QB into the next David Carr.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Don't get me wrong - I value a solid left tackle as much as the next guy, and I'm impressed with how the Dolphins have made themselves respectable again, though really they were helped greatly by the Jets decision to drop what turns out to be a 7-5 QB for a 8-4 QB.

But I'm not really sure Chad Pennington can be considered the "QB of the Future" - and given what we've seen from Matt Ryan, taking the nearly as pathetic Falcons to 8-4, solidifying the QB position potentially for the next 10 years plus, I have to wonder if the Dolphins made a major strategic mistake.

I guess we should be happy that the questionable draft moves of the Fins continue, seeing as the Patriots benefit as a result, so I'm not complaining - just wondering what others think.

He is a lot more of the "QB for the future" than Brett Favre is for the Jest.

Trading Matt Casell in the 2010 offseason for an early pick, that results in a premium LOT makes a lot of sense to me. Note that I said after NEXT season, not after this season as someone has to play QB until Tom Brady is healthy, which will be sometime into the 2009 season.

 

[AzPatsFan]

The only problem is that if your OL is teh suck, you can turn that All-Universe QB into the next David Carr.

And Houston did; and is doing that to Schaub as well. They NEED a premium LOT.

 

[VJCPatriot]

You know I thought originally that they made a strategic error drafting Long just because I didn't think he would make it at LT. I was wrong so far. In fact, he looks like he could turn into the first franchise LT to come out of the draft in a long, long time.

Matt Ryan is having a really good rookie year, but he isn't an elite QB. He may never become an elite QB. Remember Rick Mirer had a pretty good rookie season and collapsed after that. Besides, would Ryan be having the year he was having if he had Ronnie Brown as his lead back instead of Michael Turner forcing teams to put 8 in the box all the time?

I think it is too early to say the Dolphins made a mistake not taking Matt Ryan. If Long becomes a franchise LT and Ryan becomes a good, but not great QB; I think you can say they made the right choice.

Huh, Joe Thomas is a franchise LT, and that draft wasn't that LONG, LONG ago. I think it's harder to find a franchise QB honestly. And QB is the most important position in the football. But I'm glad that Matt Ryan landed in Atlanta, that was the perfect situation for him really and the arrival of Michael Turner takes a lot of pressure off him to 'do everything'.

I guess drafting Long can't be considered a mistake because he is a very, very good young player and LT is almost as valuable a position. But I'll take the franchise QB over the franchise LT in any draft, unless I already have a franchise QB in the fold, aka Tom Brady.