Dolphins Claim RB Steve Slaton off Waivers

wheeee!

 

Excellent move.

 

Well he was pretty good a couple years or so ago. I remember he fumbled a lot, not sure what happened to him outside of that.

 

Wouldn't hurt to become a running team that's for sure. Reggie Bush being used on returns now to add a new factor to the return game would be nice.

 

Another case of the stats not telling the whole story. Slaton was a fantasy football god for one year and stunk since.

 

I dig this move...and I agree Bush needs to look out. If anything Slaton has proved he can run the ball much better.

 

Picking up Slaton is an indication to me that they are just looking for someone else that can fill Bush's role. Its not going to improve the running game, because I don't think Slaton is a very effective runner. Hes really just someone that will help the passing game IMO.

 

It's hard not to be optimistic about Slaton. He fell off in 2009, in a year where the Texans really didn't have very good blocking, and then Adrian Foster stole his job, which in turn looks like it might be stolen by Ben Tate. They've also got all sorts of depth, with Derrick Ward and James Casey's big performance just recently.

 

Run between the tackles?

 

What is Bush's role exactly? It's changed in every week. Slaton is not a better pass-catcher than Bush, he's at least proven in the past that he can run the ball unlike Bush.

Having all three of these guys helps since one of them can at least kick Bess off of punt returns and Gates out of kick returns.

 

And pick up his 1.2M salary.

 

maybe he will be the new short yardage runner?

 

Didn't he get injured? Then came back and was not the same....

 

Bush running between the tackles is mainly, as some like to call it, a constraint play. They have to do it, because if they don't then defenses will start ignoring certain gaps.

Bush's role is making things easier for Henne and the passing game as a whole:

 

Bush doesn't make anything easier. The threat of the run is so pathetic that teams simply harass Henne. Henne's passing numbers reflect this. When Thomas is back there the threat of the draw gaining five-six is a crusher against opposing defenses.

Sparano is a moron. I could care less about Reggie in space if the other team drops back into heavy coverage and rushes the heck out of Henne anytime they see Reggie. They don't even respect Reggie even if we do run up the middle with him.

 

The seasons saved.

 

Kinda goes against the whole slash and burn roster idea doesn't it?

 

Teams are dropping into heavy coverage? I've seen a lot more man coverage than last year. Its hard to play much zone underneath when Bush is on the field.

ETA: and I do agree that team's don't respect Reggie Bush as a runner. But the team isn't trying to run the ball when he's in the game. They're trying to pass the ball mainly. Any runs are just constraint plays.

Jahvid Best is averaging 2.9 YPC this year in pretty much the exact same role.

 

My understanding is that he injured his neck during his lackluster 2009 season, which led to numbness in his right arm, and fumbling problems. Eventually they put him on injured reserve. The neck is apparently not something that can have long-term ramifications, and shouldn't have been an issue.

 

i think this move kinda says miami will use bush more as a WR (hopefully)

 

I dig it too.....and I just hope Daboll can figure a way to let all 3 (Thomas, Bush, Slaton) be on the field in a spread at the same time and exploit the mismatches.

We need to BEAT them a different way, since the way we are trying hasnt worked. We need to be creative in our packages and maximize the mismatches.

And that includes motion....we do not use Motion enough to aide in separation and gain a step at the snap of the ball. Especially in the RedZone..we are too static.

 

What would be the mismatches. If I see three RBs two of them being smaller guys, I'm just going to put an extra safety in the game or a CB. Bush against a CB in pass coverage isn't exactly a major mismatch. Maybe in a Jet Sweep it helps.

 

If Daboll cant figure out how to use motion, and gain a step and create immediate space for the ATHLETES to use their gifts, then we suck as an offense and our system should be trashed. I believe Slaton and Bush in space, and Thomas pounding off delays and spreads, along with Marshall, Bess, Hartline combo would create more success then we have accomplished to date...including RZ.

 

How does that do any better than putting real WRs on the field? A Jet sweep with Bush is the only real mismatch to be had.

 

Steve Slaton? Really? I won't say it's a bad move, but I don't see how he fits on a team with Reggie Bush and Davone Bess.

 

I've yet to see a defense put a CB or S on Bush so far this season.

But either way, the point is that when Reggie Bush is in the backfield, whomever is covering him has to let it be known. They can't play that far off the LOS, because giving Bush any type of space is dangerous. They have to come up and defend him from the snap. So when a defender is forced to do this, that means that is one defender that can't play 7 yards off the LOS and clog up passing lanes. It also makes it a lot harder to play zone coverage underneath, because you're giving Bush more space than you would like to. If Reggie Bush catches a pass at the LOS, and the closest defender is 7 yards off the LOS, thats a big advantage for the Dolphins, and potentially a big play. If Daniel Thomas catches a ball in that situation, then the defense is a lot more likely to get to him and stop him for a small gain.

 

Because even though Bush isn't a good running back, the defense still has to account for all the gaps. Defenses are still matching LBs on Bush.

 

It's what would happen if we put Bush in as a WR with a RB in the backfield as was the suggestion.

They can account for whatever gaps they please if the two extra RBs are aligned as WRs those aren't extra gaps per say. They're just WRs that can run a screen.

 

Wouldnt using motion and having Bush & Bess each work the slot, and having Thomas and Slaton work the flats or PA to middle, or screens, or runnig plays using spread and delays, draws, or seeing Bush on Jet Sweep, end-around, etc all would create space, pause the defense, make them react to our movement.

Is Slaton slow or plodding? I seem to remember he has quickness no?

 

Noh bad, mang.

 

Being a WVU fan I'm pretty excited for this. Glad to have him on the team.

 

Injury protection, competition, etc.?

 

Ryan Baker cut to make room for him.