Why Hickey's former boss believes he will succeed here.
Barry Jackson The Miami Herald January 28th 2014 Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik, who was new Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey’s boss the past five years, has some theories why he believes Hickey will be a good GM. Among them: ### Dominik believes Hickey, who was Tampa’s player personnel director the past three years, “has a keen eye for talent.” He said Hickey advocated and was “instrumental” in the drafting of four key players who were outstanding picks in the past two years: impact linebacker Lavonte David (selected 58th in 2012), running back Doug Martin (31st in 2012), quarterback Mike Glennon (73rd in 2013) and former UM running back Mike James (189th in 2013). He said Hickey was strongly in favor of drafting Glennon, who had a higher quarterback rating in 2013 than Ryan Tannehill (83.9 to 81.7). “He was always the top quarterback on our board, higher than Geno Smith and A.J. Manuel and Matt Barkley,” Dominik said, indicating Hickey agreed with that. “And he was the best quarterback in the rookie class this year.” Dominik said over the past five seasons, Tampa rookies finished in the top five in snaps by rookie draft classes, and that Hickey deserves some credit there. Was there any pick that Hickey had to really sell Dominik on? Dominik cited former Michigan State defensive end William Gholston, who was picked 126th last April and flashed potential as a rookie. He also said Hickey suggested selecting FSU linebacker Dekoda Watson in the seventh round in 2010; Watson has become a key reserve. ### He said Hickey is aggressive on waiver wire pickups. After Tennessee signed and later cut undrafted running back LeGarrette Blount in 2010, Hickey suggested pouncing on him, which Tampa did. He ran for 1007 yards on 5.0 per carry in 2010 and had three solid years before Tampa traded him to New England in 2013. It wouldn’t be surprising if Miami pursues him in free agency this spring. Dominik said Hickey also advocated the Buccaneers sign undrafted defensive end Michael Bennett after Seattle signed and then cut him. He had 15 sacks in four years for Tampa before returning to Seattle last off-season. Dominik said Hickey also was involved in the decision to acquire two marquee players last offseason --- free agent Vincent Jackson and a trade for Darrelle Revis. ### Hickey’s character. “He’s got a tremendous work ethic --- strongest I’ve been around,” Dominik said. “He has great integrity, which is very important in this business.” ### Dominik said Hickey was “instrumental” in making the Buccaneers technologically-advanced: “We were one of the first to use I-pads, making everything digital” in draft preparation. (Hickey mentioned using advanced technology in his news conference Tuesday.) ### Dominik said Hickey, who was a Buccaneers scout when they won the 2002 Super Bowl, is a winner. “Everywhere, he’s had success,” Dominik said, citing high school, college and junior college, too. “He’s deserving of this.” But Tampa was 28-52 the past five seasons, and it’s difficult to overlook that in evaluating any prominent Buccaneers executive. Hickey never had final say but had a “fairly significant” role in decisions, Dominik said. Hickey, by the way, pointed to draft day trade-ups for David and Martin as what he’s most proud of during his Tampa tenure. CHATTER ### Former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland said he liked to “marry” a team need with the best player available in deciding whom to select in the first round of the draft. But Hickey said he believes in strictly taking the best player available and will rank players 1 through 500 before the draft. He already has done considerable work putting together a draft board because he was involved with that in Tampa Bay. ### Hickey said he believes in making decisions “collectively” with his coach, and resolving differences of opinion before draft day and before he’s ready to pursue a particular free agent. Considering Joe Philbin tried to persuade Ireland to acquire Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert last spring, it won’t be surprising if Albert emerges as a target in free agency in March. ### Stephen Ross said one challenge in his GM search was that “everybody wants to say, ‘I drafted this guy but the bad guy, somebody else did.’ So it’s hard to get a real feel. So you look at how they work together” with the coach. ### Ross, on his failure to land a big name coach or GM: “Sometimes big names deliver. Often times they don’t. Just because you’re a big name doesn’t mean you going to win.” ### Ross was asked where the Ireland/Philbin relationship created the most tangible problems. "Having respect for each other and listening to each other," Ross said. "I didn't feel it."Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2014/01/why-hickeys-former-boss-believes-he-will-succeed-here-dolphins-um-heat-chatter.html#storylink=cpy
Wait a minute PR has been reporting that Schiano drafted these guys?
Wait a minute PR has been reporting that Schiano drafted these guys?
I think Ross nailed it. You interview these guys, and the good picks they had, are theirs, and the bad picks were somebody else's.
Who the fuck is AJ Manuel. No wonder we been drafting so shitty over the years.
"Former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland said he liked to “marry” a team need with the best player available in deciding whom to select in the first round of the draft. But Hickey said he believes in strictly taking the best player available and will rank players 1 through 500 before the draft. He already has done considerable work putting together a draft board because he was involved with that in Tampa Bay"Gotta say I am not a fan of this. There are guys who don't want, guys that don't fit what you do. You also assume, wrongly, that you can sorta between the 16th and 17th best player if you talk strictly about BPA. The whole approach is flawed and no one would shop for anything this way let alone make hiring decisions like this.
I thought the most interesting implication (perhaps - hard to be sure) out of this is that the Bucs didn't have any QBs on their list with a first or second round grade last year. That's the smartest thing I've read about the talent eval if true.
The pats wouldn't want to keep him?
The pats wouldn't want to keep him?
He's a 1 trick pony ... I'm sure they won't bar the doors to keep him from leaving. If he wants to resign for cheap , on the other hand , I'm sure they'd welcome him back.
"Former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland said he liked to “marry” a team need with the best player available in deciding whom to select in the first round of the draft. But Hickey said he believes in strictly taking the best player available and will rank players 1 through 500 before the draft. He already has done considerable work putting together a draft board because he was involved with that in Tampa Bay"Gotta say I am not a fan of this. There are guys who don't want, guys that don't fit what you do. You also assume, wrongly, that you can sorta between the 16th and 17th best player if you talk strictly about BPA. The whole approach is flawed and no one would shop for anything this way let alone make hiring decisions like this.
I was listening to Licht on with Rich and Booger. He said he's a BPA guy, but of course that's through a system-specific lens, which shrinks the board. He said that it's hard to make needs the focus, but needs always change between May and September.
The pats wouldn't want to keep him?
He's a 1 trick pony ... I'm sure they won't bar the doors to keep him from leaving. If he wants to resign for cheap , on the other hand , I'm sure they'd welcome him back.
A lot of players dream of playing for the pats, so I guess it depends on if he wants his money "bled" to him, or in one large sum.
The pats wouldn't want to keep him?
They would, but they won't pay him large jack. So it depends what LeGarrette wants. The money, or to be on a team that is in the playoffs every season.
I thought the most interesting implication (perhaps - hard to be sure) out of this is that the Bucs didn't have any QBs on their list with a first or second round grade last year. That's the smartest thing I've read about the talent eval if true.
IIRC dominick had a 'late first round' grade on glennon, who indeed was their top rated qb, and that they felt very fortunate to grab a player of that grade in the middle of the 3rd round.
So basically, Hickey was responsible for all the good draft picks and free agent signings here. No mention of the bad ones.Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Great article.
