Quotes from the Miami papers over the past 3 days

Cool entry in the Sun-Sentinel blog on the Dolphins about Mauia:

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2007/05/draft_pick_runs.html

About his weight loss (I think this quote has been posted before), Mauia said:
"I played nose guard before I went to fullback. I was big back then, about 351 [pounds]. I ended up converting to fullback and played last year at 290, 300. I recently decided to make the move to lose more weight so I could be more effective on the next level." (SFSS)


About the 80 pounds that he lost, Mauia said:
"It feels like I lost a midget." (SFSS, MH)


About how he is releated to Samson, Mauia said:
"Our grandmothers are related somehow. His dad was telling me that. I was just like, 'OK.' " (MH)

Interesting note in the MH about Miami's 4th round pick 6'4" 334-pound NT Paul Soliai:
Through a Dolphins representative, Soliai said Sunday he's pals with third-round pick Samson Satele, worked out with Satele before the draft and shared the same agent. That almost counts as family in modern sports." (MH)


Looking forward to running the ball up the middle, Mauia said:
"The head coach's favorite play was `belly,' so we run the belly here. I have it down to a tee. We'll be running some bellies when I come there." (MH)


Praising Mauia, Dolphins GM Randy Mueller said:
"He's a nifty big kid that we think brings some quality as a blocker and as a pass catcher." (MH)


About getting Samson, Mauia, and Tala Esera, Mueller said:
"That was not a part of the plan, but at the same time we found out that Hawaii does produce some good players and they like playing. June Jones has done a great job coaching them up over there. There's also a coach on the offensive side [ Wes Suan] that actually coached me in college, so we had a pretty good connection on what kind of kids these guys were.

Who knows? Maybe strength in numbers they'll feed off each other. It's a good group and they're close. They're very close. As you know, the culture is one of passion and caring. They bring some of that. Those are good team building identity things that we want with our team." (MH)


About the Hawaii guys drafted by Miama, SFSS reporter Alex Marvez said:
Mueller said the Dolphins were seeking players with a "specific skill set" in the draft. Translated: The Dolphins want players they believe have particular traits best-suited for the systems the team plans to run. The Dolphins are seeking lighter, more athletic guards and want to add more aggressiveness to the line as a whole. The 6-foot-2, 302-pounds Satele fits the bill on both accounts. At 272 pounds, Mauia has the size to become a devastating blocker in the same fashion as Lorenzo Neal, who played under Cameron the past four seasons in San Diego." (SFSS)


Asked if the rookie OL can be expected to contribute much this season, Marvez said:
"I would not be surprised to see second-round pick Samson Satele (pictured) of Hawaii receive snaps as the starting left guard during this weekend's minicamp. The Dolphins have juggled their line by shifting Vernon Carey to left tackle and moving L.J. Shelton from right guard to replace him at right tackle. Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said Chris Liwienski and Joe Toledo are expected to split snaps at right guard but added that the plan for how the linemen will be used at the minicamp wasn't finalized.

Eastern Michigan's Drew Mormino (sixth round) could see action as a backup center behind Rex Hadnot. The Dolphins also have agreed to terms with several college free agent linemen who could compete for roster or practice squad spots, including Hawaii guard Tala Esera, Arkansas guard Stephen Parker and University of Alabama-Birmingham tackle Julius Wilson.

The Dolphins want all of their linemen to have the versatility to play at least two positions, so expect Satele and Mormino to work at both guard and center." (SFSS)