"Chatter on some quarterbacks and running backs on the Dolphins' radar, heading into the NFL Combine: If Miami stays at No.?15, it might not be conducive to taking a quarterback at that spot, based on current projections. The popular view is Missouri's Blaine Gabbert will be gone by 15, and there's a good chance Auburn's Cam Newton will be, too. Mel Kiper has Newton third and Gabbert 10th in his mock draft. And many evaluators believe 15 is too high for Arkansas' Ryan Mallett and Washington's Jake Locker, neither of whom is in Kiper's projected first round. It's important Mallett and Locker show consistent accuracy at the Combine, Sports Illustrated draft analyst Tony Pauline said. Fox Sports and NFL Network have cited unspecified off-field concerns with Mallett, so his interviews with teams will be key. Mallett's completion percentage rose every year, from 43.3 to 55.8 to 64.7, but "you can't look at that," Pauline said. "Look at the Alabama game. He had receivers open and underthrew them, and he threw an interception on what should have been a touchdown. He needs work on fundamentals and footwork." Kiper said "the long striding in the pocket bothers me." Locker, who had just a .554 completion percentage as a senior, didn't have a good Senior Bowl week and needs a good Combine. "He has reverted back to poor form: throwing across his body, making bad decisions," Pauline said. "[Dolphins general manager] Jeff Ireland doesn't have the time" to spend years developing him." Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/20/2075886/plenty-of-qbs-running-backs-on.html
