MIAMI — The dialog between Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, common supervisor Chris Grier and Alabama coach Nick Saban exceeded 10 minutes as Senior Bowl gamers started submitting out of Hancock Whitney Stadium towards the buses following a Jan. 27 observe.
The visible was putting. Flores had simply completed teaching a Nationwide staff observe when Saban and Grier, strolling side-by-side, approached him on the 40-yard line. Upwards of 100 individuals — a mix of gamers, coaches, staff, NFL personnel and TV media members — have been on the sector and sidelines speaking, however these three males fashioned a huddle seemingly in their very own world.
Saban, arms crossed, appeared to do a lot of the talking, although Grier and Flores have been vocal. The main points mentioned would possibly solely ever be recognized by them and the turf beneath.
Possibly they mentioned maximizing former Crimson Tide QB and Dolphins 2020 first-round choose Tua Tagovailoa after an up-and-down rookie season. Possibly Saban provided recommendation on execute the co-offensive coordinator system the Dolphins are implementing. Or, perhaps it was an trustworthy scouting report on Alabama prospects DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris. Maybe all the above?
The Dolphins love Alabama gamers, they usually’re definitely not the one ones. No staff has had extra prospects drafted over the previous decade than Alabama (85). However over the previous 5 drafts, the Dolphins-Alabama pipeline has develop into more and more fruitful as Miami has chosen 4 Alabama gamers within the prime three rounds — operating again Kenyan Drake (2016), defensive again Minkah Fitzpatrick (’18), Tagovailoa (’20) and defensive sort out Raekwon Davis (’20). The Dolphins took Tagovailoa (No. 5 general) and Davis (No. 56) within the first two rounds final 12 months, and the pipeline has an excellent likelihood to develop within the 2021 NFL draft (April 29-Might 1 in Cleveland, on ESPN and ESPN the App).
In a scouting 12 months with a lot uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, trusted relationships and luxury would possibly flip the tide for Miami in terms of powerful draft choices. The Dolphins have 4 picks within the prime two rounds, together with two within the prime 20 (Nos. 6 and 18) and clear wants at positions the place Alabama has prime prospects. The listing consists of receiver (Smith, Jaylen Waddle), operating again (Harris) and offensive line (heart Landon Dickerson, guard/sort out Alex Leatherwood and guard Deonte Brown).
Solely the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens have comparable or higher long-standing hyperlinks to Alabama than Miami does now with Grier, Flores and the remainder of its employees. Throughout Saban’s tenure as Dolphins coach (2005-06) Grier was the staff’s assistant director of school scouting, and present co-directors of personnel — Adam Engroff and Anthony Hunt — have been Miami scouts. And the Dolphins’ assistant particular groups coordinator, Brendan Farrell, spent six seasons at Alabama underneath Saban as a particular groups analyst.
Ask Saban and he’ll downplay the connections.
“There is not any particular relationship. Chris Grier does an awesome job — he was there once I was there,” Saban stated. “We have now a longtime relationship, however I feel he’ll make all skilled choices relative to what they want and the way they consider our gamers as a company — not simply what he thinks.”
That is likely to be true, however the Dolphins-Alabama pipeline started when Grier took over as GM in 2016. Miami had gone 35 drafts (1981-2015) with out choosing an Alabama prospect within the first three rounds earlier than Grier was elevated to the lead function.
Saban’s success has been an element, as Alabama has had no less than one first-round choose in each draft since 2009 — his third 12 months as coach — displaying a big leap in expertise and growth after this system had zero first-round picks from 2001-08.
One other issue appears to be the arrival of Flores as Miami’s coach in 2019. He does not have the identical longstanding ties to Saban as Grier, however spent a lot of the previous twenty years working for Patriots coach Invoice Belichick, who has an in depth friendship with Saban.
What’s much less glamorous however perhaps as necessary is the relationships these Dolphins staffers have with different workers contained in the Alabama program who inform them the unfiltered fact about their prospects.
Roll Fins? Deciding on Smith, Waddle, Harris, Dickerson or some other Alabama prospect would mark the fifth Tide participant drafted by Miami up to now six drafts.
‘Slim Reaper and Hurdling Harris’
The Alabama prospects to observe early are Smith and Waddle, two of the draft’s three finest receivers and potential top-10 picks. Smith, particularly, seems to be a prime contender for Miami’s pick at No. 6 overall, together with LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase and Florida tight finish Kyle Pitts, because the Dolphins search for a playmaker to assist Tagovailoa and the offense.
In a 12 months with no mix, no flying prospects to your facility and minimal in-person analysis time, the Dolphins spent practically per week with Smith in conferences and interviews after he accepted a spot on their Senior Bowl roster regardless of not with the ability to play due to a fractured finger.
Smith is shut with Tagovailoa and stated on the Senior Bowl that they “talked about [how] it could be good to run it again once more” in Miami. Each got here to Alabama in the identical recruiting class, and as freshmen they linked on the profitable landing within the 2018 Nationwide Championship Sport.
Tagovailoa gave Miami his public endorsement for drafting Smith on CBS Sports activities this offseason, saying the Heisman Trophy winner’s NFL transition will probably be “slim to none” and “they do not name him the ‘Slim Reaper’ for no cause.”
Like Tagovailoa, Flores dismissed the lingering questions on Smith’s 170-pound stature when requested on the Senior Bowl: “You’ll be able to nitpick all you need a few man’s measurement, however good gamers are good gamers. All of us can see that,” Flores stated. “This man is an excellent participant. He made a number of performs in faculty. He made a number of performs within the largest video games of the 12 months. … It has been good attending to know him. He is an excellent child, too.”
Although Chase and Pitts can be game-changing offensive weapons for Miami, it could be silly to dismiss the prospect of the Dolphins taking Smith at No. 6.
Harris is likely to be much more prone to land in Miami. The Dolphins are excessive on him, sources informed ESPN, and are out there to pick out a operating again within the early rounds.
On The Adam Schefter Podcast, Harris stated the Dolphins have been one of some groups he had nice Zoom conferences with through the pre-draft course of. Like Smith, Harris was a late addition to the Senior Bowl roster as he jumped on the likelihood to spend per week on the Dolphins’ roster regardless of nursing an ankle harm that prevented him from taking part in within the sport.
Harris additionally impressed NFL groups at Alabama’s first professional day on March 23 when he drove in a single day 9 hours from Dallas to Birmingham, Alabama after his flight was canceled as a consequence of lightning, per Schefter. He did not work out due to the ankle harm, however needed to help his teammates. Groups eat that up. Harris and Smith fought by means of their accidents to take part in parts of Alabama’s second professional day on March 30.
Harris was extraordinarily near Tagovailoa throughout their time at Alabama, nevertheless it’s his eagerness to show himself, enjoyable, pleasant persona and a well-rounded sport with energy and pass-catching capability that make him an intriguing possibility for the Dolphins at No. 18 — in the event that they’re keen to take a position a first-round choose on a operating again. The Dolphins have not achieved so since taking Ronnie Brown No. 2 general in 2005. Additionally they have a choose at No. 36, however would possibly must get fortunate to land Harris at that spot.
Past these three probably first-round prospects, Dickerson could possibly be a long-term beginning heart if Miami is comfy along with his medicals (he suffered a knee injury in December) and may land him on Day 2 of the draft.
It is easy to image Smith, Waddle, Harris and/or Dickerson turning into a core piece for a Dolphins staff constructing round Tagovailoa.
Flores’ subsequent ‘we obtained him’ prospect
Flores smiled extensive with exuberance, rubbing his arms collectively, tapping his foot and spinning in his workplace chair because the Dolphins chosen Davis late within the second spherical of the 2020 draft. He later was seen on digital camera jovially placing his arm out, displaying the defensive energy that Davis has when he throws an offensive lineman within the trenches.
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Matt Miller appears at Najee Harris, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams and wonders if they are going to be taken within the first spherical of the NFL draft.
At that second, Flores expressed an pleasure not often seen publicly since taking on the Dolphins in February 2019.
“I used to be excited to get Raekwon. We obtained him,” Flores stated then when describing his uncharacteristic present of emotion. “He is most likely by no means seen me smile. He can return and have a look at that and spend time occupied with whether or not it is the identical man he offers with each day.”
Flores might need recognized one thing the remainder of the league did not as Davis was the Dolphins’ most spectacular rookie and one of many NFL’s finest rookie defensive lineman final season after being drafted No. 56 general.
Is there one other Alabama prospect this 12 months who will give Flores that very same type of pleasure?
“Miami, Baltimore, New England all have a good pipeline reference to Bama gamers,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. stated. “Trusting what Nick says a few participant, understanding they’re being coached in addition to anyone else and handled as NFL gamers in conferences and observe is essential.”
Added ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller: “Saban talked about it some time in the past like, ‘Why do not coaches name and ask me about my gamers? It is only some guys who do it.’ It is easy to determine who these guys are. Whenever you draft Alabama, there’s much less projection, so I feel it is simpler to simply plug them proper into what you are doing.”
If the conflict room cameras present Flores grinning ear-to-ear with pleasure as soon as once more or Grier flashing a large smile on draft day because the Dolphins choose one other Alabama participant, we could marvel if that January on-field dialog with Saban and subsequent conversations with different Tide sources performed a small function in main them to their favourite pipeline once more.