Sports Agenda For Friday (4/29/11)
Big Story:
Luckily, there's only one really big story today that revolves around the local teams, and that's the NFL Draft. While the overhyped Cam Newton went overall to the Carolina Panthers; the Dolphins had to sit at number 15 and take the best player on their board.
Unfortunately, the way Jeff Ireland sounded after the pick was made, Mike Pouncey wasn't the best player, but simply the safest.
Dolphins:
First off, let's say that Pouncey could very well be a solid player on the offensive line. The Fins had a deep need to fill the gaps on the interior of the offensive line and they feel like they did with the twin brother of Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey.
The problem is Mike is not as good as Maurkice, if he had been, he would have come out last year and been drafted around the same spot as Maurkice. But Mike isn't as good, at least not at center. Mike will be a nice guard, but as a center, he was horrible last year at Florida.
He was also never brought in for a private workout with the Fins.
All of that brings me to the real issue with the Dolphins. It stems from their ties to former vice-president Bill Parcells.
The Dolphins have NO GUTS.
Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland called Pouncey the safe pick. You know which teams make the safe pick? The teams that are always picking in the top half of the draft. It's also the policy of general managers and coaches who are looking for jobs the next season.
Bokamper criticized anyone who criticized the pick, saying the Fins needed help on the interior offensive line, and saying only true football fans can get excited about an offensive line pick.
Thank you captain obvious, we know they needed interior offensive line help. The supposed genius offensive line coach of Tony Sparano has spent 6 draft picks on offensive linemen since 2008, and they still have no solid offensive line. In fact, of those picks, only Jake Long has become serviceable.
So yes, pardon the football fans from not getting excited about another offensive linemen when the Fins organization has hit on 1 offensive linemen in the draft.
They also needed quarterback help, wide receiver help, and running back help. But you didn't see the Fins reach for them like they did for Pouncey
Why? Because there's a much larger risk/reward factor with the skill positions. And Ireland and company were simply playing not to lose instead of playing to win.
Pouncey may turn into an all-pro guard/center. If he does, that's great. But it's not going to solve the problems for the Dolphins. They could have jumped and gone after Gabbert as he began to slide. It would have solved the quarterback position for the Fins, which is still a mess.
As Jorge Sedano said, there should be no confidence in this organization. Zero. Nada.
Everyone knows that if they don't win this year, the owner will finally clean house. I say finally, because it should have been done last year.
Marlins: (@ Cincinnati Reds 7:10 p.m. Fox Sports Florida)
The Fish throw up Javier Vazquez on the mound to face the Reds Friday night.
I say throw up Vazquez because so far this year, he's been awful. He's 1-2 in 4 starts and has an ERA of 6.52. In other words, OUCH. Plus, opponents are hitting over .300 against him.
For comparison's sake, opponents are hitting .116 against Josh Johnson, .271 against Chris Volstad, .270 against Anibal Sanchez, and .262 against Ricky Nolasco.
So, who's the weakest link here?
