With the 15th Pick in the 2011 Dawgs By Nature Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins Select...

With the 15th pick in the 2011 Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins select...

Mike Pouncey, C/OG, University of Florida

This selection and write-up was made by jaws:

This draft just hasn't stacked up too kindly for the Dolphins. The Dolphins main need is at quarterback, where Chad Henne no longer inspires confidence. Unfortunately, both of the top rated quarterbacks are off the board. Likewise, I believe the draft's last elite physical talent was taken off the board when the Rams took Julio Jones, which hurts because the Dolphins have stated an intention to add more speed on offense. Popular consensus has the Dolphins taking Mark Ingram, aiming to replace the aging and unproductive tandem of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. However, I feel a first round running back is a luxury pick, especially when he doesn't have elite speed and gamebreaking ability. The Dolphins also have a need at safety, but again there isn't really an elite player available at this juncture who can fill that need.

When it comes down to it, the 'fins have a great left tackle in Jake Long, but Richie Incognito is their only other offensive lineman that they feel they can rely on, and even he is mediocre at best. The AFC East is a division where you have to face the Patriots and Jets each twice a year and that means you have to try and block Vince Wilfork and Sione Pouha on the inside. Against these 3-4 defenses it really helps your offensive coordinator to have a center who can be counted on to block even the biggest and strongest nose tackles one on one. So, if I'm the Dolphins, I take Mike Pouncey and hope that he can replicate the wild success his brother Maurkice had last season at the center position.

However, If the new CBA does get done soon and it has some sort of NBA-style rookie wage scale, I wouldn't be surprised if the Dolphins were one team that would be lining up to trade either up (in search of Cam Newton or Gabbert) or down (perhaps targeting Jake Locker and trying to get a replacement second round pick for the one that they traded away to acquire Brandon Marshall).

The Dolphins' other needs (safety, running back, speedy deep-threat wide receiver) will have to wait until later rounds. I think this draft is very deep at running back, so I think the Dolphins have a good shot at finding a guy they like in the third round, which is when they pick next.

I agree that the Dolphins have way too many needs to fill. Up to this point in the draft, I would consider them the biggest "wildcard" in terms of who they will draft. I know some mocks have Mark Ingram going here, but has two decent running backs really improved Miami that much over the years? They struggled down in the red zone last year under Chad Henne, so getting someone who can make a difference in that area would seem like a priority. Maybe they can address that in free agency. Pouncey might be a bit overvalued due to his brother's success, but it's still a suitable pick.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock next (email has been sent to sleepy042).