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National Football League
Draft King Analysis
December 21, 2007
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
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Look for some major changes to come to Miami with Bill Parcells locked in as the team's new Executive Vice President of Football Operations. At 1-13, the Dolphins needed a shake-up, and Parcells should provide just that.
It's premature to think that Parcells has a plan in place; he just took the job, and he's actually finishing out his ESPN obligations through the end of the week. But he will bring a no-nonsense approach to a team where nothing is locked in place definitively.
But while he's finishing up at the WWL, Parcells is already back to his old, sharp ways. Parcells was asked about his plans to bring in new talent, and in particular what he'll do with the #1 pick. The response was vintage Parcells, "It's not going to be driven by the media or somebody's poll or some mock draft." You tell them, Bill!
Though, with a comment like that, it almost seems to imply that there *are* some teams that look at mock drafts and listen to the media to help make their decision. From what I've observed, teams generally ignore the outside prognosticators and take who they think will fit best.
Look at the hell that they gave Charlie Casserly in Houston when the Texans took Mario Williams over Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, etc. And now, particularly in recent weeks, Williams has turned into a dominant force. Casserly has to be thinking, "I told you so!" And who could blame him?
 | Bill Parcells is giving up the headset, but he'll be calling the shots behind the scenes in Miami. (James D. Smith/Icon SMI)
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Parcells is going to do his absolute best to fix the Dolphins run defense. They have some good players on the squad: DE Jason Taylor is among the best in the NFL at his position, Zach Thomas (when healthy) is an elite middle linebacker, and Joey Porter, while not posting sack numbers that match his Pittsburgh era, is still a skilled outside linebacker.
Picking Glenn Dorsey makes the most sense for Miami, but obviously Parcells is going to make evaluations himself and decide who will be the best fit at the right spot for the team.
There are some very interesting situations to watch: how will Parcells handle the Ricky Williams situation? Will he be tempted to sign Julius Jones as a free agent RB to either back up or split time with Ronnie Brown? Is John Beck a QB who Parcells feels can handle the team long-term? Those are all things that Parcells must decide in the coming weeks and months, and it will be quite intruiging to see him do that, particularly from a front office (and not a coaching) situation.
Know this: Parcells is going to study this draft and be as up to speed on it as anyone else out there. He knows the system he wants, the players who fit, the guys who he believes will give him the best chance to win. There has been no indication if Miami will shift to the Parcells-preferred 3-4 defense, but that also depends on other changes, such as if first year head coach Cam Cameron will be retained.
Perhaps there's an OLB out there about to hit free agency who would suit Parcells quite well. Add in some blockers on offense (Parcells is usually very good about finding them), perhaps find a dark horse tight end in the draft, and before you know it, the Dolphins will begin to fit the image of Parcells. They didn't bring him in with a four-year deal to sit around and do nothing, and Parcells is the type of person who won't be shy about implementing things his way.
The Dolphins, if they don't trade down (a common Parcells draft-day tactic), face a potential challenge with the first pick in round two. Because of Spygate and the Patriots forfeiting their 2008 first round selection, the first player of the second round will actually be the 32nd overall player taken. And you know that whoever the agent is for the player selected there will argue that first round money is deserving for the 32nd player taken in the draft, even though cap allocations and rules are different for round two guys.
One would think that, unlike what happened in the 2007 NFL Draft with JaMarcus Russell and the Raiders and the subsequent long contract impasse, the Dolphins would have their #1 overall pick signed, sealed, and delivered before the draft begins. Glenn Dorsey is a great talent, but the Dolphins (should they take him) needs a full camp to be able to get in there right away and make the type of contribution that Miami would need out of him.
The Dolphins face some challenges this off-season, but with Parcells in an Executive President role with the team, I'd figure that he'll put them in the best position possible to win now without mortgaging the future.
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