This piece is about Glenn Dorsey, who I believe is the second most likely player to be selected by the Miami Dolphins with the first pick of the 2008 NFL Draft.
(image courtesy of espn.com)Why He Might Be Chosen
Glenn Dorsey is one of, if not the best defensive players to come out in recent years. He is a very disruptive force in the trenches and could immediately contribute to a Miami run defense which was abysmal last year. Our biggest problem last year was our defensive linemen getting dominated up front and not putting our linebackers in position to make tackles near the line of scrimmage. Dorsey could be an excellent two-gapper who can take up space allowing others to thrive or penetrate and make tackles in the backfield. He is also a very skilled pass rusher from the middle and could contribute on passing downs as well.
We all know Bill Parcells' priority is fielding a good defense. Dorsey is the best defensive player in the draft is rated either number one or two in most "experts" big board. This would be a very logical selection. So much so, that about 90% of the mock drafts I have looked at have us taking him. Most fans are expecting him to be chosen and even though he doesn't play a sexy position most of them would be content if this happened. This would be the equivalent of if the Dolphins drafted Brady Quinn last year. Why do you do it? Because you are supposed to (Cam didn't get that memo).
Why He Might Not Be Chosen
Mainly, there are questions of how he would function in a 3-4 defense, rather than the traditional 4-3 he played in college. Is he big enough to be a true nose tackle or would we have to play him at defensive end? We really won't know until we try it out. That is a substantial risk for a guy who would be taken first overall. It would be much easier to draft guys who have played in a 3-4 or are the prototypical size for those positions.
Other than that, there really aren't many reasons not to draft him. Some may say he has some nagging injuries, but it probably just seems so because he never took time off and kept playing hurt. Also, he suffered the knee injury on a vicious cheap shot chop block which he couldn't avoid. To be honest, this is the most common sense selection, and if he isn't chosen it is because Parcells don't subscribe to conventional wisdom (which he has earned the right to do so).
Overall Thoughts
If he is selected, the transition from DT in the 4-3 to NT in the 3-4 will be a challenge. I believe he would overcome it though. Vince Wilfork of the Patriots didn't play NT in college but he has transitioned just fine. He is a little bit bigger, but not by much. Dorsey is one of the few can't miss prospects in this draft and it's hard to imagine him being a bust, wherever he goes.
I'd be very content and pretty excited about this pick. In fact, if it were up to me right now, I would draft him number one overall. Whether we play a 4-3 or a 3-4 or a hybrid is irrelevant. Glenn Dorsey is a great football player, not a great defensive tackle. Also, he has a good track record and is a high character guy and you know the new boss wants a lot of those guys.
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