FinsNation

Who Ya Got?

So you've come back home from your 4AM shopping spree at Wal-Mart and BrandsMart USA, where you got that 52" plasma TV for yourself (half off!) and The Best of Ralph Macchio DVD boxed set for your brother-in-law (also half-off!), and plucked yourself down on the couch to waste away the rest of the day. Good! Now you can sit back, relax, and watch today's Arkansas-LSU matchup (2:30 EST, CBS) as you enjoy your turkey salad sandwich and the rest of that boxed wine your uncle bought at Hal's Liquor Emporium. Because this game will feature two of the top college prospects entering next year's draft and two players who have a very real shot at becoming a member of your Miami Dolphins. And by "very real shot" I mean they have no shot whatsoever because we'll end up selecting a punter whose dad Cam knows from back in his days at his high school Glee Club.

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey are the guys to watch. Watch them closely, Nation, and try to picture them in a Dolphins uniform. Since Miami will hold the number one overall pick in April's draft and since they're rather short on talented players, these two will be projected as Top 5 candidates, even Top 2, in the 2008 NFL Draft.

McFadden is a horse. Plain and simple. He's everything you want in a franchise running back-- size, speed, athleticism and a diet that consists of scrap metal and raw meat. The dude can pound it between the tackles and can break out into the open field. He's huge and he's fast. And he has an excellent health track record. He's flat out going to be number one on every draft guru's board.

Dorsey anchors the defense for the best team in the country. He can dominate the line of scrimmage and dominate an entire Carnival Cruise all-day buffet. He's a house but he's also very fast. He can get by O-linemen with his speed or by blowing them up into smithereens. He can stuff the run, makes opposing QBs wet themselves and is a guy that needs constant double-teaming on just about every play. In short, he's pretty awesome.

So you have Dorsey, who would fill an immediate need on an aging defensive line that can't stop a runny nose. And you have McFadden, who would enter a team with a crowded backfield but is clearly the best player entering the draft and would be the best player on the entire roster. So, have at it.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a whole left-over pumpkin pie in the fridge with my name on it.

*Update*: Arkansas 50-LSU 48 (3 OT). First of all, holeeey-shit do I love college football. This game is a perfect example why it's so friggin fantastic. As for the game itself, McFadden finishes the day with 206 yards, 3 TD and 1 TD pass, beating the #1 team in the country pretty much single handedly. I've been on the fence with this guy all year. One week I want him, the next week I don't. But he's having a monster season and this game puts him over the top for me. Just a great performance all around. Well that's it. Have a great rest of the weekend...

I'll be back Monday with the MNF preview.

Samson Satele's Potential Is Offensive Line's Hope

The NFL Network's Adam Schefter writes about rookies who are standing out for each NFL team during their respective training camps. Each team has a rookie that is opening eyes in camp and emerging as a possible future star. For the Dolphins, it's second round pick (60th overall) center Samson Satele.

Schefter writes: "Satele is expected to have more an impact this season than wide receiver Ted Ginn and quarterback John Beck, Miami's two higher-profile selections. Satele is expected to be the Dolphins starting center on opening day and, if the organization is right, he could be the quarterback and centerpiece of the offensive line for the next dozen years. Satele is smart, tough, driven and he already is making calls for the entire offensive line. Satele has short arms –- not ideal for an offensive lineman –- but he is long on potential."

The Dolphins coaching staff and players all realize the offensive line needs to improve. While all the other players had left the field at the end of the work day yesterday, the O-line unit stayed on and kept working.

Satele described the intensity from the coaches:

''They got on us a lot the whole day yesterday up until our practice,'' he said. "It was a wake-up call for us. I know I woke up. I don't want coach Cam on me anymore.''

Satele's attitude and work ethic is drawing him a lot of praise. And for good reason. This team will only go as far as its offensive line will take it. And Satele is being called to be the leader of this unit during his rookie season. Cam Cameron and his staff are not sugar-coating this offensive line's deficiencies. Cameron has admitted that this is an inexperienced and young group in flux and openly critisized their poor play against Jacksonville last Saturday night. While more highly touted O-line prospects were taken in the first round and early second of the draft, the Dolphins had their eye on the 6-3, 300 pound Samoan, while spending their first couple of picks on skill position players. But Cameron's no stranger to wrangling together bits and pieces of late-round draft picks to form a great O-line. That's what his ex-team San Diego Chargers' record-breaking line was made of last year.

Hopefully, as Schefter reports, Satele will meet his potential and become the cornerstone to what will eventually be a great offensive line here in Miami. Sooner, we hope, rather than later. And for the next dozen years.