Sun Sentinel

Miami Dolphins draft week pop quiz

By Omar Kelly

Sun Sentinel

9:54 AM EDT, April 22, 2013


We've spent four months preparing you for this week and now it is time to take the Sun-Sentinel's NFL draft pop quiz.

Get your No. 2 pencils out because you're on the clock....You've got 10 minutes to answer 10 questions.

1. Who are the top five offensive linemen in the 2013 draft? And name their schools and positions.

2. Why is Tavon Austin's stock rising in the draft, and why is Cordarrelle Patterson and Keenan Allen falling?

3. Why is tailback not a position of need for the Miami Dolphins?

4. What complicates Miami's possible trade with Kansas City for Branden Albert?

5. Name the five positions of need for the Dolphins, and what approach does General Manager Jeff Ireland take in the draft?

6. There are two things Dolphins coach Joe Philbin is looking for regarding the players he wants on his team? Name them.

7. Why is Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker a bad first-round pick for the Dolphins?

8. Why do the Dolphins feel like they can wait to address the cornerback position? And what type of cornerbacks are the Dolphins looking for.

9. Why is the 2013 quarterback class considered bad by most NFL teams?

10. Name the three players I've consistently predicted would be selected by the Dolphins in the first round?

Bonus question: When does Ireland make his biggest mistakes in the draft? What is he trying to overcome?

Some of you are gonna get gold stars, and some are will be headed to the corner.

Here are the answers....

1. Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan's Eric Fisher and Oklahoma's Lane Johnson, who are all left tackles. Then there is Alabama offensive guard Chance Warmack and UNC guard Jonathan Cooper.

2. Austin's stock is rising because he's got a rare blend of speed and quickness, which makes most overlook his lack of size. Patterson's intelligence has become a concern, and Allen had a horrible pro day and ran a low 40-time.

3. The Dolphins view former UM standout Lamar Miller as the 2013 starter, and with Daniel Thomas, Marcus Thigpen and Jonas Gray the position has decent depth. The tailback position might be addressed in the draft, but probably with a late pick.

4. Trading for Albert would require picks (likely No. 54) and a new contract, which is a no-no in the Bill Parcells' book on managing an NFL team. Albert is seeking a contract that pays him north of $30 million over four-years, and that might be too much for the Dolphins considering they balked at paying Jake Long, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, that type of money.

5. The Dolphins need to improve the offensive line (OT and OG), and address depth at cornerback, tight end, safety and pass rusher (DE with quick twitch traits). Ireland uses a horizontal approach to the draft, which marries need with BPA.

6. Philbin wants "football players" with CLEAN character. That means guys who look good on film (game tape), not their workouts. And players who don't have arrests, drugs or character concerns in their portfolio.

7. Fluker is not a fit for the Dolphins' offensive line because Miami wants ATHLETIC, zone blocking offensive linemen, and will target players under 320 pounds based on the Green Bay model. Fluker is heavy and has questionable cement-like feet.

8. The Dolphins can wait to address cornerbacks because that's one of the deeper positions in this draft, and history shows a cornerback drafted late has just as much of a chance at succeeding as a cornerback drafted in the first two rounds. And the Dolphins are looking for zone cornerbacks from this point out.

9. The 2013 QB class is considered bad because all of the prospects have glaring warts. None of them are polished, and each would likely need time to develop as an NFL starter.

10. I've consistently mocked UNC guard Jonathan Cooper, Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert and FSU CB Xavier Rhodes as Miami's first round picks. And yes, they are ordered.

Bonus question: Ireland makes his biggest draft mistakes when he's trying to fill a need position after a run has taken place in the draft. That's when he typically reaches on players. That explains why the Dolphins have left very few needs to fill this year.