The coaching staff wants the same. Campbell said this week that Clay, at his best, reminds him of Keith Byars — the versatile fullback/tight end who spent parts of four seasons in Miami. Byars could bust the seam on a defense, much like the Patriots’ tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. “I think the ability to attack the middle of the field in this modern era of the National Football League … is a critical element,” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said. “I think we’re starting to do a little better job ourselves.” Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/27/3116312/miami-dolphins-see-development.html#storylink=cpy
Yup, Clay has been a disappointment before this past game, but he is a weapon if he keeps developing. He's a tough match-up for any defense.
I don't recall Keith bears being a seam buster.. Is this a case of his talent, or the scheme relying on the position to produce, meaning a dozen different guys can do what he does. We need to go offense this draft..nobody being able to consistently threat the middle of the field is just nuts..Tannehill throws beautiful deep seam routes.
Gotta have this guy step up if we're going to make a push at the end of the year here IMO. He's the guy who can combat this eight in the box nonsense.
He did do this, however: [video=youtube;5mOFEwbOjGo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mOFEwbOjGo[/video]
Charles Clay has a lot of upside, and I think the coaching staff really likes him. I'm not really sure this represents a "development" for him... He was capable of doing this last year before he suddenly became incapable of doing anything besides pissing on his own shoes. I think that's a pretty nice aspect of Clay. He's a pretty good blocker all-around. Not sure I'd prefer to see him spend all game lining up in a 3-point stance next to a tackle, but he'd probably be way less of a disaster there than most guys in his weight class.
TBH, CC9 is a better athlete then Byars was, but Byars was a far more polished football player. Keith's foot problems took a lot of athleticism away from him
Great game from him last week, but I've seen so many guys with "break out" games that disappear afterwards that I'll believe it when I see it.
I think the changes in the offense under Philbin and Sherman slowed down Clay's progress. He is a very young player after all. Now he appears to be getting more comfortable with the offense and it's beginning to show on the field.
I don't know, his biggest issue I think is that he's dropped a massive amount of passes relative to how often he's been thrown the ball.
Well, the only thing that I can say, as a Debbie-Downer, is that I hope that one good game is a sign of things to come with Clay and not just an aberration.... We'll have to wait to see how it pans out, but he did some of the things guys like David Martin did for us this week. I've been down on Clay because, like Egnew, he simply hasn't been on the field. On the other hand, having a good game like this does help with Tanny's confidence in looking for him... I get the impression that Philbin and staff are orchestrating these young kids, game by game and adding a bit more each time so that they can gain a bit of confidence in themselves and the team around them rather than throwing them to the wolves and hoping they can overcome rookie mistakes without losing their confidence... The question with that sort of coaching style is whether ownership can stay attuned to it while the whole team continues to learn to win...
He did drop quite a few earlier in the season but I suspect this was due to lack of concentration what with having so much to grasp in a wholly different offense. Can't prove it but it would not be surprising.
Clay has obviously been disappointing so far this season. I thought he would take a step up this year, however this year has been a lot like last year for him. He might just be a slow learner. Hopefully this game was a preview of things to come. I am hoping he is a 40 yard per game type of player. More would be nice though.
Byars was definitely not a seam buster when he was here. He never had a game in which he averaged more than 14 yards per reception. Both Clay and Fasano can "bust" the seam. It doesn't take an extraordinary amount of speed. All it really takes is a guy who can get behind a LB, most of whom are not that great in coverage. Both Clay and Fasano have done it -- we just don't try it very often.
Well, now that we see development, its the consistency that is key. If he can do the things he did on Sunday every week, it will do a great job opening up the running game.
your right, we really don't try, I remember about four games ago, Reggie lined up in the slot, put a deek move on the corner to the outside, cut inside toward the seam, Tannehill hit him in stride, the field was open, and bush ran strait into the safety coming up to make the play, bout an 18 yard game, easiest 18 yards I ever seen, should of been more, point is, if someone is fast and elusive, run the pattern for the guy even if he lacks height.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/football/charles-clay-wants-to-be-master-of-many-tasks-for-/nTHn3/ New Article on Clay. Interesting Read. One thing that stuck out to me was, Why don't they hire people who can help them?
I don't see Fasano as a seam threat. When we have used him there he gets no separation. You rarely see Fasano lose his defender when he's covered one on one. Clay, on the other hand, has torched his man on several occassions despite his limited use. If Clay really has turned a corner and can show that he's our seam threat TE over the next five weeks, not only will that open up the offense a bit, but it could also lessen the need to draft a TE in this next draft depending on what happens with Fasano this offeason.
It's why he's good at making tough catches..he had to learn to catch without so much separation. It's going to be tough going into the offseason and draft not knowing how the staff projects Egnew.
I don't think it really matters if he has much separation if he makes the catch. Last year Fasano was pretty much inarguably threatening down the field. He made a lot of difficult and contested catches, but he did it pretty consistently to the point where I don't think he's being really well utilized this year.
Totally agree. I don't like reading this though: "Clay has seen when he’s prepared and he’s not thinking about what he has do to, that’s when he plays well,” Fasano said. Why would you say that unless it's an issue for the guy? Does he not prepare properly? Also, I want to see a tight end calling the other tight end by his first name after two years in meetings and practices together. Where's the damned family and closeness? "Clay" Sounds like they ain't close.
It could be that, or he lacks short area quickness, and is not explosive out of his stance, and is not fast..solid player, but won't require a double..
I don't think he's a major weapon down the seam though. Average, but not a big deal for defenses though. If they give us a gaping hole down the middle of the field, then we can and sold go to him until they stop. But otherwise, it really depends on if the LB covering him is a good pass coverage guy. For example, I wouldn't gameplan throwing seam to Fasano with Keuchly (spelling?) covering him.
Definitely not quick. I remember the first training camp under asparano, footage of drills and Fasano was taking early starts and Sparano stopped him and said no early jumps, An-ton-y.. If yer slow, yer slow. Lol.
It absolutely matters. A guy the defense worries will beat them deep down the seam affects their spacing much more than a guy who makes the shorter catch and is tackled immediately. It's also a riskier throw for the QB so it will get thrown less often and occasionally result in a pick like we saw this year.
