More Sherman nuggets: He predicted Jonathan Martin “will be a fine left tackle in this league” but has a “ways to go.”... He said rookie tight end Dion Sims was “light years away” during rookie mini-camp but "he has made phenomenal progress. We knew he would be a good blocker. Really has improved as a receiver. He’s on target to play a lot this year.”... And he said tight end Michael Egnew “has made drastic improvement from a year ago. He’s a lot more physical. His blocking has really improved. Still has to show more consistency. His peaks and valleys aren’t quite as [dramatic].” Several Dolphins players will tell you they like Josh Samuda’s physicality and toughness, and his rise to first-team right guard is even more notable considering Miami had to be persuaded to give him a tryout, let alone sign him. Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
Bitter sweet tidbit for Egnew, got some praise but it sounds like Sims is turning heads. I hope Egnew sticks and keeps improving, Keller is on a 1year deal and has been fragile....we NEED A seam buster.
Paints a potentially rosy picture, considering the performances of the O in the HOF and then again on Tuesday.... I think sometimes, given the recent history of this team, we tend to take every bit of negative and turn it into mega-negative and use very little of the positive.... There have been several reports from the media that indicated that Martin's performance was better than adequate, yet all the fan chatter is how bad he was...?? It's still going to be an interesting trek this team is taking.... I can't wait to see how it'll turn out...
When he expresses some regrets about last year and says if he could do it over again he would have thrown less at them as opposed to more, I think that's interesting. It may be an admission that some of the young guys were the most talented guys they had but they couldn't show it very well because he over complicated the offense which put their inexperience at too much of a disadvantage. I'm thinking guys like Charles Clay, Lamar Miller, Rishard Matthews, Michael Egnew, etc...in addition to Ryan Tannehill who started all the same but might have had too full a plate.
For me, it sounds like the last 2 Wr roster slots are still wide open. Encouraging to hear about Egnew, imo this next game is crucial for his development as a lot of times guys will have one good game, and then fall off...he has to build momentum. And interesting that Charles Clay is the starting FB..can easily see him in a James Casey role for us.
I am looking forward to watching the offense develop. We finally added players that provide some spacing. I expect that once the offense gets in sync a bit, scoring will be less of a grind. The keys are RT improving his speed and distribution and Miller's running. I really believe that Miller can provide several long TDs ala Chris Johnson from a few years back. Miller and Wallace can add many quick and easy TDs this season. If they do that then our scoring average looks a lot better even if the rest of the O is only marginally better. (IMO Keller and Gibson do improve our ability to move the chains so that part of our O should improve as we'll). I agree that Martin will be fine eventually. I don't know that he'll ever be a great LT, but I expect he'll give us about what we got from Long the last two seasons this year, maybe even a bit better.
It's one of those stirring the pot things people are doing talking about how good guys like Tom Brady and Andrew Luck did on the same day Ryan Tannehill threw 3 or 4 picks in practice.
He's been quiet so far, but, I've been pulling for Jeff Fuller the day we signed him as an UFA. Smart guy, great hands, moves the chains, physical mismatch. He could be a very good possession WR. Also, I was banging the drum for Dion Sims from before the draft, so it's nice to hear good things about him. I have a feeling that guy is going to be very good. He's freakishly athletic for a big, strong fella. Good hands to boot. I'm still anxious about the OL getting settled. At this point, I'm not terribly comfortable with anyone not named Pouncey or Clabo. I'm expecting them to play a little better vs JAX.
I'd like to see Fuller and Bumphis round out the field. Edit: I forgot about Rishard Matthews, him before these 2.
I'm not saying its a majority or even extreme, but are there people with this Jeff Fuller fascination, and I'm wondering why that is. It just seems odd to me.
I get that part. I didn't phrase my question correctly earlier. I hope enough people flash to fill out the team, I don't much care which 2-3 receivers fill out the 5-6 that will be part of the 53, but some people specifically want Fuller over others. Being that he's familiar with Sherm & Tanny doesn't seem like enough of a reason to pull for him over someone else though, IMO. That's why I'm asking.....what is it about Fuller?
If we keep 5 he doesn't have a chance, if we keep 6 he does, because he's as good as the rest competing for the 6th.. He flashes sometimes very good ability.
I'm comfortable with Pouncy, Clabo, Incognito and Samuda. And I think Louis is better than Samuda when healthy. I can't say I'm comfortable with Martin, but I was comfortable with not over-paying for Long or Albert or passing on a better prospect in Jordan to add Johnson. I'm not a huge Fuller fan. I think he has the measurables, but I doubt his maturity and focus. Now those things aren't necessarily permanent problems so he could overcome them.
Back when Jeff Fuller was supposed to be a 1st round prospect, I was really not a big fan at all. I watched him play and he just constantly disappointed. He didn't look like he had the quickness, coordination or consistency for the position, though he clearly had an impressive body and there was some polish to his game. Then he started to fall all the way to undrafted and I thought, even though he doesn't excite me on film the way other UDFAs like Derrick Shelby, Josh Samuda and Jonas Gray do...you could CERTAINLY do worse than to take a chance on a guy like that undrafted considering he already knows your system and your quarterback. There was an undeniable logic to signing him as a UDFA that I really appreciated. But in the end, I think he's just the guy that never really impressed me on film.
Honestly I'm OK with keeping only 5 receivers this year and if there's going to be a 6th then I hope it's Marvin McNutt who begins tearing it up in the next four preseason games. If he doesn't, I'm perfectly fine with cutting him loose rather than holding a candle for him. I thought he was a good draft idea, but sometimes good draft ideas don't pan out and you just have to cut bait. After the last 10 days or so (beginning with the scrimmage), I have Chad Bumphis as the 5th player and I wouldn't be shocked if he became more like the 4th, and eventually perhaps even the 3rd.
One interesting reveal is how Josh Samuda ended up on the team. I thought maybe he had a scout heavily in his corner, lobbying for him. That's often the way of things with UDFAs. It was his agent that lobbied for him to come in and work out as a local product. He begged to just give his client a chance. And then Jim Turner liked what he saw in the tryout. Credit to Jim Turner.
Late in the season, but we started out with 4. Clay was as much a FB as a TE too. He was the starting FB in week 1. The way they move the TEs and FBs around it is pretty clear they value versatile players. Even Fasano lined up in the backfield sometimes. I could see the team keeping the same numbers at the TE/FB positions, and they seem to basically overlap in this offense. I'd expect Keller, Sims, Egnew, and Clay to all make the team. I could see ERod to make the roster over Lane because of his versatility. His skill set IMO is similar to Clay's. I suppose it is possible Miller makes the team over ERod too for that matter. Based on who is on the roster now anyway.
I agree with your four of Keller, Sims, Clay, and Egnew. I'm not sure I see any reason to keep Rodriguez or Lane, based on what Charles Clay can do. I'd be more inclined to try and grab a developmental TE with some athleticism in case you can't bring back Dustin Keller next year and/or who knows what you get out of Egnew. If they were flirting with signing Vonta Leach, then I think if they're going to keep someone as a true FB, it's going to be someone more akin to Jorvorskie Lane than Rodriguez, but I'm not sure that person's on the roster right now. Miami also had a TE on the practice squad early in the season before they signed Miller. I can't think of the name, but I'm pretty sure he was from Indianapolis as well.
I know. I meant that as to say that since they looked at Leach, if they're going to keep someone on the roster as a "true" fullback, in addition to having Charles Clay, then I think it's probably likely that player is going to be someone who is more of a blocking fullback, like Lane, than someone like Rodriguez. I just have a hard time seeing them keep Rodriguez when you already have Clay. Not to say they won't, but I just think it's unlikely.
Normally, I would agree that the team keep players with different skills; however, I don't Lane has developed into a reliable blocking fullback. If Leach was signed and attended training camp, the playbook would be tailored for a blocking FB. This would have given Lane a chance to compete against Leach to try to beat him out by the end of camp, while front office could gamble that Lane would be available at a later date if Leach held on to the spot. I believe there's a difference between Clay and Rodriguez with CC being a more straight-away player while ER has more twisting, bending ability. Clay's move may be a pleasant surprise as it seems there's good TE depth and CC has improved his blocking by getting stouter. He may move around a bit in order to square up for a block or release to an intermediate / deep route. Rodriguez seems to look more like a traditional FB and may be used to chip the edge rusher and release into the flat as a check-down receiver. The added benefit of 2 receiving & blocking FBs is that weekly game plan does not have to change much if one gets dinged up as happened last year.
" we want to be the best tackling football team in the league" Joe Philbin.. In the game thread I got a little frustrated with players and coaches constantly talking about creating turnovers, I understand why their stressing it, but my fear was if were focusing so much on one part of the game, could it affect another part like fundamentals in tackling, and lack of discipline within the scheme.. The game itself didnt help squish those thoughts , or, maybe there is a grace period where you have to take the hit on the tackling part, until they've engrained it enough where it becomes 2nd nature..whatta ya think? Koa Misi says he will play tomorrow. I don't think Bryan Tyms has the hand eye coordination needed..that drop I've looked at 6 or 7 times, it really bothered me. I just don't believe Javorski is a good enough blocker to justify a position..Evan has more speed and quicks.. Every team peaks at their own pace in preseason..
I like some of your observations, they seem to coincide with mine sometimes, what your seeing in terms of flexibility and agility I think are on point as it pertains to Clay and Rodriguez..
Can't recall a TE on the practice squad prior to Miller. Was Les "usghe" Brown ever on the squad? Wonder what happened to him?!
That's the thing, they were only flirting, no serious offer ever made. If a true pure FB ala Lane was wanted, why not sign the best one in the league when you have the chance? I do not expect Lane to make the 53 or any other pure FB. I do not consider ERod a pure FB. He is someone who can do the same variety of roles as Clay.
I just don't see the potential with Fuller, IMO his only real strength is his knowlege of Sherman's system and experience working with Tannehill. Beyond that we better keep 6 WR's or he's a goner JMVHO
An honest answer might be because you can sign a cheaper one after cuts, especially if Miami was only offering a 1-year deal to Leach.
I am it sure how keeping six receivers is even a remote possibility. If you look at the roster breakdown by position, there just doesn't seem to be room. QB: Tannehill, Moore, Devlin HB: L. Miller, Gray, Gillislee, Thomas FB: Clay WR: Wallace, Hartline, Gibson, Matthews TE: Keller, Egnew, Sims OL: Martin, Incognito, Pouncey, Samuda, Clabo, Garner, Jerry, Thomas, Louis Add a spot for either Carpenter or Sturgis, one for Fields, another for Denney and most likely a spot for Marcus Thigpen for the return specialist and you are at 28 roster spots without even looking at the defense. That leaves 25 spots for the defense, which means guys like McNutt, Miller, Bumphis, Fuller, Rodriguez et al. Are going to absolutely need to impress big time in order to find a spot. I suppose it is possible we don't keep four halfbacks, and out of those four, I honestly think that Daniel Thomas would be the odd man out. And three additional tight ends to go with Clay could be one too many, so it is possible that either Sims or Egnew could be cut, but I doubt it wholeheartedly. I would assume we aren't keeping nine offensive linemen, but given the injuries, we may not have a choice at the start of the season. Point being, there may be two roster spots that you can shift from the list above to get you six wide receivers, but doing so severely shortens the ailing offensive line and/or cuts the running backs down. More than likely, I would imagine we will see practice squad eligible receivers kept around for exactly that...the practice squad. Either that or you start to cut into the defensive roster spots, which I have a feeling, isn't going to happen. I suppose if Thigpen can show anything as a tailback, you can justify having him fill the back end of the running back rotation and gain a roster spot back from your running backs there without losing too much,.
I agree, I don't see them keeping 6 WRs. I think they'll almost certainly have five though. If there's a young guy they want to develop they can stick him on the practice squad as a sixth. I'm pretty sure they'll only carry 3 HBs, so that would give you a slot for a fifth wideout. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
