WEBVTT - Drive Time: 2023 NFL Draft Preview, Linebackers with Damien Parson 0:00:01.600 --> 0:00:05.160 You are listening to the Miami Dolphins podcast Network. This 0:00:05.360 --> 0:00:08.600 is Drivetime with Travis Winfield. Back to throw to a 0:00:08.760 --> 0:00:17.160 looking Dolpen, touchdock to Rikill, waddle to a shotguns back, 0:00:17.239 --> 0:00:21.479 It's roll looking comes up fires touchtop again, It's waddle, 0:00:22.079 --> 0:00:27.200 It's six touchdown Pad of the day. Drivetime with Travis 0:00:27.240 --> 0:00:35.160 Winfield begins. Now let me check your what is up? Dolphins? 0:00:35.320 --> 0:00:38.720 And welcome to the Drivetime podcast, part of the Miami 0:00:38.800 --> 0:00:43.840 Dolphins podcast network covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. How's 0:00:43.840 --> 0:00:47.040 it going? Everybody? I am your host, Travis Winfield. And 0:00:47.120 --> 0:00:50.559 on today's show, the positional previews roll on. We are 0:00:50.600 --> 0:00:53.519 stopping by the Linebacker Room with Damian Parson of the 0:00:53.600 --> 0:00:56.840 Draft Network. Will also discuss the David Long acquisition and 0:00:56.880 --> 0:01:00.880 get a year two preview for linebacker Channing ten dol Plus, 0:01:01.120 --> 0:01:04.240 I have a takeaway from rewatching the entire season. All 0:01:04.240 --> 0:01:06.120 of that and a heck of a lot more from 0:01:06.120 --> 0:01:09.320 the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. 0:01:09.360 --> 0:01:16.160 This is the Drivetime Podcast. May Gaffe fash please help me? 0:01:16.240 --> 0:01:19.160 Welcome in my guest today from the Draft Network, Damian 0:01:19.240 --> 0:01:22.480 Parson and jumping on the podcast now is yet another 0:01:22.560 --> 0:01:25.520 draft guru and expert in the field and a friend 0:01:25.560 --> 0:01:28.920 of mine, Damian Parson. Damien, we're just over a week 0:01:28.959 --> 0:01:31.240 out from the draft, now, how you feeling, Man, You 0:01:31.240 --> 0:01:37.000 get any rest these days? No, I am that I 0:01:37.040 --> 0:01:41.240 wish shortly though, soon soon, and very soon this draft 0:01:41.280 --> 0:01:44.240 class will be you know, Kansas City will be rocking 0:01:44.360 --> 0:01:47.520 and rolling and the draft will be live. And it's like, man, 0:01:48.080 --> 0:01:51.040 the culmination of all this hard work on everybody's part 0:01:51.320 --> 0:01:53.440 has been a fun process, but it's been a tiring one. 0:01:53.680 --> 0:01:56.240 We had a conversation before we started recording the podcast here, 0:01:56.240 --> 0:01:58.240 and I think it's worth talking about again, just because 0:01:58.280 --> 0:02:01.200 I thought your your perspective was really value about the 0:02:01.280 --> 0:02:04.440 idea of the Dolphins, you know, and the genesis of 0:02:04.440 --> 0:02:06.120 this was me saying, like, I rely on guys like 0:02:06.160 --> 0:02:08.079 you because we haven't had the draft picks or our 0:02:08.200 --> 0:02:11.079 energy has been focused, you know, on coaching changes or 0:02:11.200 --> 0:02:13.720 new veteran acquisitions, or breaking down someone's film like a 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:16.360 Tyree or like a Tyreek Hill last year Bradley Chub 0:02:16.400 --> 0:02:19.840 midseason a year ago, and I was curious to get 0:02:19.880 --> 0:02:23.320 your take on the process of spending you know, picks 0:02:23.320 --> 0:02:25.200 in the twenties, which Miami has done the last two 0:02:25.240 --> 0:02:28.520 years now on Tyreek and Bradley Chubb on veteran players, 0:02:28.520 --> 0:02:32.000 and how consistently that works. Going back to Stefon Diggs 0:02:32.080 --> 0:02:33.880 or Frank Clark. It's just like every time you see 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:36.320 a trade like this happen, it typically benefits the team 0:02:36.360 --> 0:02:38.679 that gets the veteran. In some cases you do wind 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:40.640 up with Justin Jefferson on the other side, which is 0:02:40.639 --> 0:02:42.400 great too. But I was curious to hear your take 0:02:42.720 --> 0:02:44.760 on to the Dolphins approach and doing that because you 0:02:44.840 --> 0:02:46.920 go from you know, pick twenty nine is what that 0:02:46.919 --> 0:02:49.600 would have been this year and looking at like edge 0:02:49.680 --> 0:02:52.080 six or maybe seven with how much those guys go 0:02:52.120 --> 0:02:54.840 off the board versus Bradley Chubb, and to me, the 0:02:54.840 --> 0:02:56.560 answer there is obvious. So how do you kind of 0:02:56.560 --> 0:02:59.239 feel about the Dolphins approach in their team cycle and 0:02:59.280 --> 0:03:01.680 team building? Right now? I love it. Right you have 0:03:01.720 --> 0:03:04.160 a quarterback on a rookie deal for you guys, having 0:03:04.240 --> 0:03:07.600 to who you saw last year when Healthy was one 0:03:07.600 --> 0:03:09.160 of the better quarterbacks in the league. You got him 0:03:09.200 --> 0:03:11.560 weapons and now he's out here performing at a very 0:03:11.639 --> 0:03:14.320 high level, going throw for throwing score for score with 0:03:14.360 --> 0:03:17.080 the Lamar Jacksons with the Jaws Shallons of the world 0:03:17.160 --> 0:03:20.400 right and being able to really apply pressure to opposing defenses. 0:03:20.560 --> 0:03:24.440 So have I'd rather have a Tyreek Hill, and essentially 0:03:24.480 --> 0:03:26.360 that's my draft pick. You know what I mean if 0:03:26.360 --> 0:03:28.600 you tell me I could draft the Tyreek Hill or 0:03:28.960 --> 0:03:32.000 draft a Bradley Chubb with a pick in the twenties, 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:35.120 rather than getting a young person, a young player that 0:03:35.240 --> 0:03:38.160 is unproven, that has developed development that they have to 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:41.400 get to go through and essentially learn the game at 0:03:41.400 --> 0:03:43.480 the next level, at the NFL level, no matter how 0:03:43.680 --> 0:03:46.720 physically gifted and talented you are, it's always a learning 0:03:46.800 --> 0:03:49.160 curve no matter who you are. We see Peyton Manning 0:03:49.200 --> 0:03:52.080 through a twenty eight interceptions his third year in the league. 0:03:52.160 --> 0:03:55.600 It's a learning curve for everyone. Hall of Famers, guys 0:03:55.640 --> 0:03:57.600 who become Hall of famers, or guys who you know 0:03:57.640 --> 0:03:59.480 flame league. At the end of the day, everyone has 0:03:59.480 --> 0:04:01.680 a learning curve. So especially when you look at this 0:04:01.720 --> 0:04:04.600 class for you guys, you guys did great trading the 0:04:04.640 --> 0:04:07.560 first round pick for a proven commodity that knows how 0:04:07.600 --> 0:04:11.360 to win against NFL tackles right now, who's proven he 0:04:11.400 --> 0:04:14.400 can win versus NFL tackles right now rather than, like 0:04:14.480 --> 0:04:17.640 you said, possibly getting a back end of the top 0:04:17.680 --> 0:04:22.080 five edge or potential like top eight edge in the twenties. 0:04:22.279 --> 0:04:24.120 And then a lot of these guys in this edge class, 0:04:24.160 --> 0:04:27.880 while they're physically gifted and talented, they're very raw in 0:04:27.960 --> 0:04:31.320 terms of their technique because of colleges not teaching these 0:04:31.400 --> 0:04:34.320 kids the same way the NFL, you know, has these guys. 0:04:34.320 --> 0:04:37.000 It's a lot different when you are bigger, stronger, and 0:04:37.080 --> 0:04:40.880 faster because you're ninth, you're twenty twenty one, and the 0:04:40.960 --> 0:04:43.280 kids you're faces a true freshman. When you get to 0:04:43.320 --> 0:04:45.640 the league, you're facing twenty eight, twenty nine and thirty 0:04:45.720 --> 0:04:48.520 year old grown men. This is their livelihood. So it's 0:04:48.560 --> 0:04:51.840 a different ball game. And these guys taking I love 0:04:52.000 --> 0:04:54.760 listening to old line offensive line and the old line 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:59.080 coaches because it's so detail oriented and these guys practice 0:04:59.160 --> 0:05:02.200 and they stud to be able to stop these type 0:05:02.200 --> 0:05:04.680 of guys. So when you got a student at high 0:05:04.760 --> 0:05:08.839 level student as an eight year pro versus a first year, 0:05:09.400 --> 0:05:12.640 day one rookie, yeah, it's a little different, man, you 0:05:12.640 --> 0:05:13.760 know what I mean, It's different for you like a 0:05:13.839 --> 0:05:16.400 Nick Bosa Vaughan middle of those guys like came in 0:05:16.520 --> 0:05:19.640 just more technically refined and didn't have other worldly skills. 0:05:19.640 --> 0:05:21.560 So yeah, one hundred percent, man, I'd rather have the 0:05:21.640 --> 0:05:23.560 proof of commodities. At the end of the day, you're 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:26.120 not gonna draft an all Pro year one. It's very 0:05:26.160 --> 0:05:28.479 rare that you see them. But if I can acquire 0:05:28.640 --> 0:05:31.960 in all pro, all pro caliber player, give that to me, 0:05:32.200 --> 0:05:34.080 you know what I mean with one of those middle 0:05:34.080 --> 0:05:36.760 of the first round type of picks. Yeah, the right 0:05:36.760 --> 0:05:39.960 now comment you made is what really kind of triggers 0:05:40.200 --> 0:05:43.440 the genius behind it to me, because like understanding where 0:05:43.480 --> 0:05:45.720 you are in your team cycle and the expectations, like 0:05:45.760 --> 0:05:48.279 the Dolphins made the playoffs last year, I think probably 0:05:48.279 --> 0:05:51.120 the nine and eight record was maybe not representative of 0:05:51.120 --> 0:05:53.480 how good they played at times, especially in the middle 0:05:53.520 --> 0:05:55.279 portion of the season before you know that, the injury 0:05:55.320 --> 0:05:58.120 at the quarterback position. Understanding where you are in your 0:05:58.120 --> 0:06:00.920 team cycle, and getting Bradley Chubb, who right now today 0:06:00.960 --> 0:06:03.760 you know can go beat most offensive tackles. I love 0:06:03.800 --> 0:06:06.360 that idea. I love that it's premier positions too, right 0:06:06.360 --> 0:06:08.400 because we talk about edge six, seven, eight, whatever it 0:06:08.480 --> 0:06:10.719 might have been. At the backck of the first round 0:06:10.760 --> 0:06:13.159 if that's the route you go in. Same with wide 0:06:13.200 --> 0:06:15.120 receiver man in that class last year like you had, 0:06:15.440 --> 0:06:17.160 I think it was five or six receivers plucked off 0:06:17.160 --> 0:06:19.080 the board before that pick where we used it for 0:06:19.160 --> 0:06:21.920 Tyreek Hill. I love that idea. And then you kind 0:06:21.920 --> 0:06:24.560 of mentioned there a little bit as well. Don't forget 0:06:24.600 --> 0:06:26.200 Jalen Ramsey too. By the way, the third round pick 0:06:26.200 --> 0:06:28.040 for Jill Ramsey's not too bad on the back end. 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:30.400 And and you know, I love this cornerback class. I 0:06:30.400 --> 0:06:32.200 think it's the best group in the entire draft. But 0:06:32.520 --> 0:06:35.680 I'll take Jylen Ramsey any day over a rookie. I mean, like, 0:06:35.800 --> 0:06:37.960 how could you not in this particular climates of the 0:06:37.960 --> 0:06:40.480 Dolphins roster. And then you know the way the way 0:06:40.520 --> 0:06:42.360 the Dolphins offense kind of flipped to the strength of 0:06:42.360 --> 0:06:44.400 the team last year, you know, finishing top ten compared 0:06:44.400 --> 0:06:46.479 to the defense where that had been the one carrying 0:06:46.520 --> 0:06:49.039 them year before. Finding a way to get that defense 0:06:49.160 --> 0:06:51.120 back to that level of twenty twenty one or twenty 0:06:51.200 --> 0:06:54.080 twenty will be a big, a big portion of what 0:06:54.120 --> 0:06:56.320 the Dolphins season becomes this year. And that's what we 0:06:56.360 --> 0:06:58.039 have you on here to talk about. One of the 0:06:58.040 --> 0:07:01.719 groups on that defense here under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, 0:07:01.920 --> 0:07:04.240 and I want to talk about linebackers again, that satellite 0:07:04.279 --> 0:07:06.120 or the analog of the running back position on the 0:07:06.120 --> 0:07:08.479 defensive side of the football and kind of sort of 0:07:08.520 --> 0:07:10.440 do it through the lens of how the Dolphins could 0:07:10.480 --> 0:07:14.680 attack the position with picks fifty one, eighty four and 0:07:14.720 --> 0:07:16.720 then the six and seventh round. But before we do that, 0:07:16.920 --> 0:07:18.760 I want to go back to free agency because the 0:07:18.800 --> 0:07:22.200 Dolphins made a big splash and acquiring a player who's tape. 0:07:22.240 --> 0:07:24.880 I just can't get enough of David Long. He is 0:07:24.920 --> 0:07:27.320 so fun to watch. Man. Since we're talking linebackers, I 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:30.720 want to get your take, Dame on Long's game and 0:07:30.880 --> 0:07:34.640 his fit in Vic Fangio's defense. Man, I watching the 0:07:35.040 --> 0:07:37.760 watching David along for the Tennessee Titans this past season 0:07:37.800 --> 0:07:40.240 and even going back to the summer, I'll came away 0:07:40.360 --> 0:07:42.560 very impressed with him. Right like a guy that's athletic. 0:07:42.840 --> 0:07:45.679 He can move sideline the sideline. You see the ability 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:48.560 to drop offensive zones and coverages and even covers some 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:51.240 tight ends at times. But just be that plus player 0:07:51.280 --> 0:07:53.360 on all three downs, and that's what you want. You 0:07:53.440 --> 0:07:56.040 want the all three down player at the linebacker position. Yeah, 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:57.600 because you see a lot of teams they want to 0:07:58.200 --> 0:08:02.480 supplant supplement linebacker for a third or fourth safety and 0:08:02.560 --> 0:08:04.120 bring more speed on the filble. And you got a 0:08:04.160 --> 0:08:07.120 guy that is athletic as a David Long. He can 0:08:07.240 --> 0:08:10.080 essentially do the same things that you want that box 0:08:10.160 --> 0:08:12.640 safety to do. He can blitz, he can fit the 0:08:12.880 --> 0:08:16.240 fit the gaps in the run game. So I can 0:08:16.400 --> 0:08:19.040 repressed with him with that. He was a well coached guy. 0:08:19.120 --> 0:08:22.840 Mike Frabel is one of the tougher defensive defensive minded coaches, 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:25.680 and he played the linebacker position right where he understands 0:08:25.720 --> 0:08:28.760 what it takes to succeed. So that knowledge that he 0:08:28.760 --> 0:08:31.200 was able to instill in David Long, I think showcase 0:08:31.280 --> 0:08:34.040 as he developed during his time in Tennessee. So I 0:08:34.080 --> 0:08:37.640 think in this Vic Vangio's defense, I think he can 0:08:37.679 --> 0:08:40.280 really shine as one of those stars on the second 0:08:40.400 --> 0:08:43.440 level man be able to scrape sideline, the sideline flow 0:08:43.480 --> 0:08:46.520 with the ball for the perimeter runs tass sweeps, the 0:08:46.559 --> 0:08:50.600 wide angle zone type of runs, but also get downhill 0:08:50.880 --> 0:08:52.839 you know what I mean, and fill those run layers. 0:08:53.000 --> 0:08:55.760 I love the fit of what he could become in 0:08:55.840 --> 0:08:58.800 this defense, going from Mike Vrabel to a vig Vanjie. 0:08:58.840 --> 0:09:01.760 I think that's a great opportunity for this young man 0:09:01.880 --> 0:09:04.480 because I like his game and the reason I do 0:09:04.559 --> 0:09:06.840 lead with David Long because much like the rest of 0:09:06.840 --> 0:09:09.800 the defense or roster in general, I think the Dolphins 0:09:09.800 --> 0:09:11.840 could line up and play a game tomorrow and be 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:14.480 well positioned to do so. Like most of the you know, 0:09:14.520 --> 0:09:16.240 guys we're going to see the most snap counts from 0:09:16.240 --> 0:09:19.000 are already here. You know, Long and Jerome Baker have 0:09:19.080 --> 0:09:21.560 been every down players for years. You got Duke Cryley's 0:09:21.600 --> 0:09:24.480 a quasi starter like sub package ace in addition to 0:09:24.480 --> 0:09:26.440 what he does on special teams. And then you know, 0:09:26.440 --> 0:09:28.600 I think Channing Tindal's a guy that has all the 0:09:28.679 --> 0:09:30.800 upside in the world. And actually I want to get 0:09:30.800 --> 0:09:32.760 your take on him because when you talk about David 0:09:32.800 --> 0:09:35.800 Long and what he brings the table and how his 0:09:35.960 --> 0:09:38.360 instincts in the way he plays the game kind of 0:09:38.360 --> 0:09:40.719 faster with that processing speed, to me, that's a big 0:09:40.760 --> 0:09:43.320 benefit in a defense that will go lighter boxes at 0:09:43.320 --> 0:09:46.599 times and what Vic Fangio operates with. But also a 0:09:46.880 --> 0:09:50.080 great player to kind of show Channing Tendal the ropes 0:09:50.080 --> 0:09:52.200 and a young player who just doesn't have that much football, 0:09:52.520 --> 0:09:54.920 you know, experience in his background, Like he was part 0:09:54.960 --> 0:09:56.480 of those Georgia teams, but didn't play a lot of 0:09:56.520 --> 0:09:58.760 snaps those those three years he was there, and then 0:09:58.880 --> 0:10:01.439 last year not very many s on defense either. Um. 0:10:01.440 --> 0:10:04.240 But after that red shirt season, I'm curious to see 0:10:04.240 --> 0:10:07.680 how you think he might fit in Vic Fangio's defense 0:10:07.679 --> 0:10:10.000 and how all those traits and all that athletic ability 0:10:10.160 --> 0:10:12.280 you talked about David Long being the what was the 0:10:12.280 --> 0:10:15.880 word he used, the spill spill yep. So like kind 0:10:15.920 --> 0:10:17.480 of sounds like I'm a similar to Chang Kendall in 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:20.720 a way, doesn't it. Yeah, No, Channell like that that 0:10:20.800 --> 0:10:23.960 burst in range. So he has driving down hill. He's 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:27.040 a player that I always felt coming out of Georgia, Um, 0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:30.880 that was much better going downhill than dropping backwards. Uh, 0:10:30.880 --> 0:10:33.000 he does, he's he's I think he's a good athlete, 0:10:33.320 --> 0:10:36.240 but that that that athleticism and just his play style 0:10:36.320 --> 0:10:40.240 was always better forward charging at the last scrims, blitzing. Uh. 0:10:40.520 --> 0:10:42.560 He played with like this and I say it in 0:10:42.600 --> 0:10:44.760 a positive way of reckless, abandoned, like he did not 0:10:45.120 --> 0:10:47.400 really care, like he was a physical guy who was 0:10:47.440 --> 0:10:49.240 going to and you saw it with you know, it 0:10:49.280 --> 0:10:51.360 was him, the Kobe Dean and Quay Walker. And when 0:10:51.360 --> 0:10:53.240 they will put one of those guys off off the field, 0:10:53.320 --> 0:10:55.800 they would still do their double A gap bugs, you know, 0:10:55.880 --> 0:10:58.000 putting walk him up on the line of scrimmage in 0:10:58.000 --> 0:11:00.880 the A gaps he would blitz. He will phil and 0:11:00.960 --> 0:11:03.160 be that splattered guy, that physical guy in the run 0:11:03.200 --> 0:11:05.240 game as well. But like you said, just coming into 0:11:05.240 --> 0:11:07.319 the NFL, as we talked about earlier, it's a it's 0:11:07.320 --> 0:11:09.360 a learning curve, not just for the speed of the game, 0:11:09.559 --> 0:11:12.400 but just learning NFL defenses because one thing about Kirby 0:11:12.440 --> 0:11:14.760 smart like and you look at what all of these 0:11:14.840 --> 0:11:18.840 defensive players in the front seven for Georgia. They're not 0:11:18.920 --> 0:11:22.400 technically refined guys like you know, Vaunta y At, Jordan Davis, 0:11:22.400 --> 0:11:26.439 Trayvon Walker, this year's prospect, Nolan Smith, Robert Beale Junior, 0:11:26.520 --> 0:11:28.760 all these guys come in kind of raw because they're 0:11:28.800 --> 0:11:31.120 just hey, go be an athlete. Hey we scheme it 0:11:31.200 --> 0:11:33.760 up right, you know, cross dog and cross dog blitz 0:11:33.840 --> 0:11:36.360 is when you get the linebackers crossing it at the 0:11:36.360 --> 0:11:39.280 snap and getting going opposite direction of the line of 0:11:39.280 --> 0:11:42.440 scrimmage and hitting opposite gaps. Then they're a line, right. 0:11:42.480 --> 0:11:44.800 They did a lot of scheming, especially when you had 0:11:44.840 --> 0:11:47.040 all those stars in the defensive line as well, where 0:11:47.280 --> 0:11:50.000 you know, George Davis is getting double team the Vaunta, 0:11:50.040 --> 0:11:52.720 why is getting a potential duo block? Now it leaves 0:11:52.880 --> 0:11:55.960 one guard or the center by himself or a tackle 0:11:56.040 --> 0:11:58.600 by himself to deal with all these moving parts on 0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:03.079 the second level. They are firing at allers cylinders downhill. 0:12:03.200 --> 0:12:06.120 So I think with him, it's just now, it's okay. 0:12:06.200 --> 0:12:09.600 You got to play a designated role in the defense 0:12:09.800 --> 0:12:14.320 that structured and Georgia's defense, to me, was never truly 0:12:14.360 --> 0:12:17.480 a structured defense like an NFL defense where hey, it's 0:12:17.480 --> 0:12:19.520 all about reading your keys that you know. We use 0:12:19.559 --> 0:12:21.600 the term for a linebackers slow until you know. So 0:12:21.640 --> 0:12:25.200 you got to be very very disciplined in terms of 0:12:25.520 --> 0:12:28.160 where you're patient with reading, but you're not a slow 0:12:28.240 --> 0:12:31.640 processor where you allow guards and centers to climb up 0:12:31.640 --> 0:12:34.079 to the second level in the screen game and then 0:12:34.080 --> 0:12:36.240 the run game to pick you off. So slow until 0:12:36.280 --> 0:12:38.360 you know, locate the ball, see where the ball is 0:12:38.400 --> 0:12:40.040 or where the direction is, and now you hit, you 0:12:40.080 --> 0:12:41.760 get on your horse, and you get there. So I 0:12:41.800 --> 0:12:44.160 think with Tendall, having a guy like David Long, who's 0:12:44.200 --> 0:12:46.480 a veteran in this league now, and having the veterans 0:12:46.520 --> 0:12:49.120 in the locker room at the linebacker position, I think 0:12:49.160 --> 0:12:51.640 that could help his development this year. My favorite part 0:12:51.640 --> 0:12:53.720 about the scouting industry is the phrases in terms you 0:12:53.720 --> 0:12:55.959 guys all come up with, slow until you know that 0:12:56.040 --> 0:12:58.120 stuff is so good, Like Daniel Jeremiah always has the 0:12:58.200 --> 0:13:00.199 best ones at the NFL Network and that's one I 0:13:00.240 --> 0:13:03.160 haven't heard before. So good stuff their damon. You know, 0:13:03.640 --> 0:13:06.599 we talk about the idea of these veteran acquisitions and 0:13:06.679 --> 0:13:08.960 kind of, you know, let's get immediate impact right now. 0:13:09.080 --> 0:13:10.880 You can almost look back at last year's clash for 0:13:10.880 --> 0:13:12.520 the Dolphins and say like that was a class that 0:13:12.640 --> 0:13:15.360 might be more geared towards producing in twenty twenty three, 0:13:15.520 --> 0:13:17.720 both with he and eric A Zukama, who might get 0:13:17.720 --> 0:13:19.160 more of a chance to get some more snaps this 0:13:19.240 --> 0:13:21.840 year with Trent Sherfield exiting stage left and going up 0:13:21.840 --> 0:13:24.800 to Buffalo in free agency this year. So great stuff there. 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:26.120 I do want to talk about the draft with you. 0:13:26.160 --> 0:13:27.679 That's why you're on here. Let's go ahead and take 0:13:27.679 --> 0:13:30.320 our first break right here real quick and come back 0:13:30.360 --> 0:13:32.439 on the other side and talk about the linebacker class. 0:13:32.480 --> 0:13:34.480 I know you're excited to talk about these guys. It's 0:13:34.480 --> 0:13:37.360 a good crop. That's next Draft Time Podcast. Your host 0:13:37.440 --> 0:13:40.080 Trys Wingfield. My guest today Damien Parson, brought to you 0:13:40.120 --> 0:13:47.360 by a donation, Segment number two on a linebacker preview 0:13:47.520 --> 0:13:50.280 edition of the Draft Time Podcast. I've got Damien Parson 0:13:50.320 --> 0:13:53.440 from the Draft Network locked on NFL Draft Podcast as well. 0:13:53.480 --> 0:13:55.960 He and his co host Keith Sanchez do a great job. 0:13:56.200 --> 0:13:57.920 I think we're gonna have Keith on. Not quite sure 0:13:57.920 --> 0:13:59.720 if that's confirmed yet, but I'm looking forward to talking 0:13:59.760 --> 0:14:02.080 deep with him. He was He was great last year 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:03.880 on the podcast doing that same thing with us, so 0:14:04.120 --> 0:14:06.120 looking forward to getting him on the podcast here hopefully. 0:14:06.120 --> 0:14:08.319 I think next week is the idea here, But do 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:10.040 you kind of want to go and do this the 0:14:10.080 --> 0:14:11.640 same way I've done it with my other guests so 0:14:11.679 --> 0:14:14.160 far and just go in order of the Dolphins draft 0:14:14.160 --> 0:14:16.400 picks and where they sit on the board. Obviously no 0:14:16.520 --> 0:14:19.240 first round pick, the first pick they have is at 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:21.800 fifty one, and so the question I've been asking my guests, 0:14:21.880 --> 0:14:24.680 is how many linebackers do you think will be gone 0:14:24.760 --> 0:14:27.320 off the board through those top fifty picks. So when 0:14:27.320 --> 0:14:29.440 the Dolphins get on the board at fifty one, who 0:14:29.520 --> 0:14:31.480 is going to be out of the equation that you 0:14:31.560 --> 0:14:33.800 know for sure? I know it's up to talking absolutes 0:14:33.840 --> 0:14:35.680 in the draft season, but who are guys that you 0:14:35.680 --> 0:14:37.000 think for sure are going to be gone at pick 0:14:37.040 --> 0:14:40.440 fifty one? Man by pick fifty one, I think we 0:14:40.600 --> 0:14:45.080 could potentially see two. I think that's Drew Sanders and 0:14:45.200 --> 0:14:48.920 Trent Simpson. Drew Sanders linebacker sas edge usher from Arkansas, 0:14:49.600 --> 0:14:51.560 a guy that you know, you think about what Denver 0:14:51.680 --> 0:14:54.160 does with Baron Browning and then of course with the 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:58.080 Dallas Cowboys have now made famous with Michael Parsons, a 0:14:58.160 --> 0:15:02.040 guy that's traditional edge rusher, but athletic and athletically gifted 0:15:02.080 --> 0:15:05.680 and physically enough to play off ball linebacker on early 0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:07.800 downs while you walk him up and rush him as 0:15:07.800 --> 0:15:10.560 his natural position on third downs. With those two guys, 0:15:10.600 --> 0:15:12.800 I think Drew Sanders fits that mold and that's gonna 0:15:12.800 --> 0:15:15.600 be really hard for defenses at the top of the 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:19.000 second round to pass on in my personal opinion, because 0:15:19.000 --> 0:15:21.800 he has the measurements. He has to height, the arm length, 0:15:21.800 --> 0:15:26.440 the physical and athletic ability to play both positions, so 0:15:27.040 --> 0:15:30.360 that that type of flexibility and versatility were big. And 0:15:30.440 --> 0:15:32.640 if you talk about versatility, Trent Simpson a guy that 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:35.360 some teams have as a safety, other teams has been 0:15:35.360 --> 0:15:37.440 a linebacker. Then there are the the you know, the 0:15:37.440 --> 0:15:40.040 third cropper like man. He could play either one for us, 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:43.080 It doesn't really matter because he has that physical profile, 0:15:43.400 --> 0:15:47.800 but he has that also that safety dB athleticism in range. Right, 0:15:47.840 --> 0:15:50.320 So a young man that that can blitz, rush off 0:15:50.360 --> 0:15:53.640 the edge, drop off in coverage, play man to man. Uh, 0:15:53.760 --> 0:15:55.960 you know a guy that could potentially be that third 0:15:56.040 --> 0:15:59.640 safety you know, nickel dime backer on the field as well. 0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:01.440 So I think those are two guys that will be 0:16:01.480 --> 0:16:05.880 off the board before up by time that Miami picks Uh. 0:16:05.920 --> 0:16:07.960 And the guy that that I think that could be 0:16:08.000 --> 0:16:11.240 on the board that I truly think could really be 0:16:11.320 --> 0:16:14.160 a nice fit for them is uh is day and 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:19.080 Henley from Washington States, Like, I absolutely love this kid 0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:24.440 own brand, right brand I just showed my coffee is 0:16:24.440 --> 0:16:28.080 Washington State. But everyone here knows I make sure everyone 0:16:28.120 --> 0:16:31.480 knows that, No, listen, I really came away in press. Well, 0:16:31.480 --> 0:16:32.840 I didn't get a chance to watch him prior to 0:16:32.920 --> 0:16:35.400 the Senior Bowl, um because he wasn't in my bucket 0:16:35.600 --> 0:16:38.200 of players to watch prior to. But watching him at 0:16:38.200 --> 0:16:39.880 the Senior Bowl, you talk about guy who looked good 0:16:39.960 --> 0:16:41.840 on the huff. You know, he's got that that he's 0:16:41.880 --> 0:16:44.680 walking around with the Zeke crop top, you know, with 0:16:44.760 --> 0:16:48.600 the jersey tucked up showing the eight pack. Abs played 0:16:49.120 --> 0:16:50.920 but right like you know what I'm saying. It's just 0:16:51.080 --> 0:16:54.200 he played and his energy was so infectious. You can 0:16:54.360 --> 0:16:57.080 feel him on the field kind of getting everybody else 0:16:57.200 --> 0:16:59.280 riled up. You know, you watched him in the past 0:16:59.680 --> 0:17:02.320 in the one to one pass protection drills with the line, 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:04.639 with the running backs and linebackers going one on one, 0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:06.880 and it was very rarely that he was blocked one 0:17:06.880 --> 0:17:08.639 on one by any of the running backs down the 0:17:08.760 --> 0:17:11.480 mobile and the physicality he played with. This is the 0:17:11.520 --> 0:17:13.439 young man who was I think he played quarterback. He 0:17:13.520 --> 0:17:17.280 played receiver growing up as well, and it's like, okay 0:17:17.359 --> 0:17:19.560 to make it. I think he played some safety also, 0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:22.639 So now putting him at linebackers, this is different. This 0:17:22.760 --> 0:17:24.600 is a different area for this young man. I think 0:17:24.600 --> 0:17:28.359 he's assimilateing himself and become accustomed to it well and 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:30.720 really embraced it. And then you said, you see the 0:17:30.840 --> 0:17:33.919 range from sideline the sideline. He's getting quicker as the 0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:37.040 time as time goes by, with processing and reading right 0:17:37.080 --> 0:17:38.760 being slown to you know, But I will I love 0:17:38.800 --> 0:17:41.320 the fact that, you know, watching him in the run game, 0:17:41.520 --> 0:17:44.880 a guy that will be planted. He sees the ball, 0:17:45.040 --> 0:17:47.639 He's able to evade and slip blocks and still be 0:17:47.680 --> 0:17:50.240 able to re square himself to make a powerful hit 0:17:50.440 --> 0:17:52.639 you know what I mean, and bring down the ball carrier. 0:17:52.720 --> 0:17:54.640 So this is a guy I think that if they 0:17:54.720 --> 0:17:58.879 did want to attack linebacker, you know, especially if you 0:17:59.160 --> 0:18:02.879 have any qualm are concerns about the long term potential 0:18:02.960 --> 0:18:08.240 of a channing tendo. I think you know Dan Henley especially, 0:18:08.520 --> 0:18:11.880 he compares a little bit too um too David Long, 0:18:12.160 --> 0:18:14.439 I think physically. But I'll tell you that one of 0:18:14.440 --> 0:18:16.680 the comps I had, like not a full comp because 0:18:16.680 --> 0:18:18.520 I think they're they're two different type of athletes. And 0:18:18.560 --> 0:18:20.760 I remember this guy ran the four so four four. 0:18:21.320 --> 0:18:25.320 His playstyle reminded me very much of Ryan Shazier over 0:18:25.359 --> 0:18:27.560 with the with the Pittsburgh Steelers when in his prime, 0:18:27.760 --> 0:18:29.960 Shazier was a guy that played with his hair on fire. 0:18:30.240 --> 0:18:33.240 He was physical, he was aggressive. He didn't meet the 0:18:33.359 --> 0:18:37.600 body masks thresholds of the old school linebackers, right. He 0:18:37.600 --> 0:18:40.320 didn't look like ray Lewis, Brian or Lacker. He didn't 0:18:40.320 --> 0:18:42.520 have all the masks on this body. He looked more 0:18:42.640 --> 0:18:45.520 like a safety. But a guy that shot gaps, got 0:18:45.560 --> 0:18:49.080 into the backfield and you felt his presence play after play. 0:18:49.240 --> 0:18:51.280