Our 2012 Draft Class Talent vs. The Rest of The League

[rayfinkle5]

I’ve been reading a lot lately about our lack of performance on offense and I am wondering who is more to blame, our scouts and GM or our coaches? Looking at the 2012 draft class and how some players have performed on other teams as compared to our draft picks reveals our picks are underperforming in my opinion. Did we pick worse talent or are we doing a worse job of coaching up our guys? Take a look at the following stats…

QB’s:
Tannehill (8): 2559 yards, 57.9% completions, 7 TD/12 INT, 72.3 QB rating
Weeden (22): 2820 yards, 57% completions, 13 TD/15 INT, 72.3 QB rating
Wilson (75): 2344 yards, 63.4% completions, 19 TD/8 INT, 95.2 QB rating
Foles (88): 793 yards, 60.9% completions, 2 TD/3 INT, 73.3 QB rating

We currently rank 23^rd in the NFL in passing and Tannehill ranks near the bottom of all QB's in QB rating. I am a fan of Tannehill and I believe he was the right pick but how can we expect him to carry this offense unless he has a legitimate threat at WR to throw to? We had plenty of opportunities to sign, trade for or draft a #1 WR last offseason and failed to do so. I put this deficiency on Ireland. Didn't he claim during a Hard Knocks episode that our receiving core would look far different on opening day? What happened with that?

RB’s:
Miller (97): 27 carries, 145 yards (5.4 ypc), 1 TD
Turbin (106): 45 carries, 182 yards (4.0 ypc), 0 TD
Rainey (159): 21 carries, 79 yards (3.8 ypc), 2 TD
Ballard (170): 127 carries, 468 yards (3.7 ypc), 1 TD
Morris (173): 230 carries, 1106 yards (4.8 ypc), 6 TD
Brown (229): 75 carries, 488 yards (6.5 ypc), 4 TD’s

The RB position blows me away! I could not be more confident in Lamar Miller's ability and believe he is more talented then all of the RB’s drafted behind him (including Morris and Brown). Why aren’t we using him more? The responses I hear most frequently are his lack in ability to pass protect and that he is struggling to learn the offense. Really? How are other teams able to get their 6^th and 7^th round selections up to speed and find productive ways to use them? Certainly, being drafted 2-3 rounds behind our guy suggests these players had deficiencies of their own entering the draft. We currently rank 17^th in the NFL in rushing which isn't horrible but, it isn’t productive enough to keep a talent like Miller on the bench. Once considered the #2 RB in the draft behind Richardson, Miller sits on a shiny 5.4 yards per carry average while D. Thomas continues to get ample opportunity to prove he's only worth a 3.5 yard gain (one of the lowest ypc averages in the league). I think the coaches get the blame on this one. Quit talking about how excited you are about Miller's ability. Instead, coach him up and insert him in the lineup!

TE’s:
Fleener (34): 22 catches, 248 yards, 1 TD
Allen (64): 36 catches, 435 yards, 2 TD
Egnew (78) 0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TD’s

I understand that Fleener and Allen were both drafted ahead of Egnew but as the 3^rd TE selected in the draft is it too much to expect that we get a guy we could at least activate during the year? As one of the weakest teams at the TE position and the 24^th ranked receiving team you would think a 3^rd round TE talent would be able to contribute in some way. I blame everyone for this one, including (and especially) Egnew himself.

[Twitches Brew]

Yea it's all kinda sad.
Tannehill was a project/gamble, we knew that; it's just a shame he hasn't played as well as guys picked way behind him like Wilson, who was also a risk.

Just as a rule I give any TEs, WRs, and DBs (not picked in 1st rd) two nfl seasons to get it together; the game is really different at those positions.

The RB bit bothers me the most - i just don't get how we pick Miller where we did (for his talent) and then not play him.

[tay0365]

Yea it's all pretty sad.
Tannehill was a project/gamble, we knew that; it's just a shame he hasn't played as well as guys picked way behind him like Wilson, who was also a risk.

Wilson does have better talent around him, and eventually his lack of height will catch up to him, while Tannehill will get better talent to help him...unlike coaching staffs, this coaching staff wants to succeed with the pass, not shy away from it.

[Geforce]

Wilson does have better talent around him, and eventually his lack of height will catch up to him, while Tannehill will get better talent to help him...unlike coaching staffs, this coaching staff wants to succeed with the pass, not shy away from it.

I'm not so sure that it will. Wilson seems to have learned from Drew Brees on how to manipulate the pocket to find that necessary passing window needed to complete passes.

[Sirspud]

Wilson does have better talent around him, and eventually his lack of height will catch up to him, while Tannehill will get better talent to help him...unlike coaching staffs, this coaching staff wants to succeed with the pass, not shy away from it.

Really? Because the guy has shown that its practically a non-issue and it's not something like lack of arm strength or mobility that truly limits what he can do.

I don't see how anyone could look at Drew Brees and think that a guy who is playing successful QB in the NFL will fail eventually because of height.

[Birdmond]

Wilson does have better talent around him, and eventually his lack of height will catch up to him, while Tannehill will get better talent to help him...unlike coaching staffs, this coaching staff wants to succeed with the pass, not shy away from it.

I call BS. If he is finding passing lanes now he will continue to find them. He is a baller. Get over it.

[silverfin]

Yea it's all kinda sad.
Tannehill was a project/gamble, we knew that; it's just a shame he hasn't played as well as guys picked way behind him like Wilson, who was also a risk.

Just as a rule I give any TEs, WRs, and DBs (not picked in 1st rd) two nfl seasons to get it together; the game is really different at those positions.

The RB bit bothers me the most - i just don't get how we pick Miller where we did (for his talent) and then not play him.

In all fairness Darrell Bevell has done a fantastic job in Seattle. Wilson is really benefiting from his play calling. Seattle also have a solid run game which certainly helps.

[Southbeach 2]

In all fairness Darrell Bevell has done a fantastic job in Seattle. Wilson is really benefiting from his play calling. Seattle also have a solid run game which certainly helps.

I love the RT pick, and believe he is gonna be VG. We can make many reasons/excuses on why he only has 7 TD's, like the OL and surrounding talent, which is fair. However, I am a bit disappointed in his not making plays when he had the opportunity to do so. Hopefully, this will come next year or, maybe even in the next 4 games.

[Geforce]

I’ve been reading a lot lately about our lack of performance on offense and I am wondering who is more to blame, our scouts and GM or our coaches? Looking at the 2012 draft class and how some players have performed on other teams as compared to our draft picks reveals our picks are underperforming in my opinion. Did we pick worse talent or are we doing a worse job of coaching up our guys? Take a look at the following stats…

The GM and our coaches. The GM for drafting the players he did and the coaches for not finding roles for the players to excel in.

[ANUFan]

Is this another bash Ireland, Philbin fire them all Thread? Geez!