As the NFL Draft approaches (April
26-27), I can’t help but think how amusing
it will be for the Miami Dolphins. Let
me rephrase that-how amusing it will
be watching the Miami Dolphins during
the draft.
Even though the Dolphins are my
favorite team (it’s a curse – my family’s
from Miami), I’m not above making fun of
them here. You see, the Dolphins managed
to take the last two years to build up to
this moment. The team is so thin in so
many positions on the depth chart that
whoever is lucky (or truly unlucky) enough
to be taken by Miami with the first overall
pick will be only a part of a multi-year
rebuilding plan.
So, I’ll go ahead and congratulate Chris
Long, defensive end from Virginia, or
Jake Long, offensive tackle from Michigan-
whichever the Dolphins settle on.
Chris would fill a serious need on the
defensive line while Jake would do the
same on the offensive line. It’s unfortunate
that the Dolphins can’t have both-that
way the healing process could take less
than a decade.
What’s more humorous (or depressing)
is that whichever Long is drafted will probably
be only one of two guys to contribute
immediately from the draft class. Draft picks
from the second and third round are reliable
and usually are ready to contribute, but
– after that – it’s usually a gamble. The
day the Dolphins are looking at a superstar,
one or two potential contributors and a
handful of projects to help shore up a 1-15
season. Good night and good luck.
Moving to the NBA, the Miami Heat will
face a similar situation in three months
when the league’s draft comes around. The
Heat front office did just as bad a job of
keeping the roster healthy and youthful as
its NFL counterparts and are also paying
the price. What makes the Heat worse is
that just three years ago, Shaq and Dwayne
Wade were hoisting the championship
trophy. Now, Miami is in a situation
where it needs to find a legitimate center,
an athletic forward in case Shawn Marion
leaves, a scoring wing or forward and a
point guard who isn’t out of his prime.
That’s just the starting lineup. The Heat
also needs a bench.
Miami isn’t going to get better through
the draft. Barring disaster, the Heat will
get the first pick and probably will take
Kansas State big man Michael Beasley or
Memphis guard Derrick Rose. Both players
are great on the college level and will make
outstanding pros. However, neither will
fill all the needs of the Heat, and Pat Riley
has yet to show that he can put a full team
together. The draft pick will need some help
to drag the Heat out of the cellar. Once
again-good night and good luck.