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Sports Buzz: Four unproven Dolphins thrust into first-team roles as OTAs begin

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by jim1, May 26, 2015.

  1. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

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    In two seasons he's lined up everywhere except Center. That's hard to do for any player, even harder for a rookie. If he's plugged in full time at LG, where he was decent last season, he'll get more reps/opps to improve and grow comfortable. It's not something really worth worrying about IMO.
     
  2. keithjackson

    keithjackson Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Is it actually that extreme? Mathis allowed 1.5 less pressures a game than Dallas at guard (plus more sacks btw); is that worth a top five contract for a soon-to-be declining player? (While I don't have the individual PFF run numbers, Football Outsiders does rank each interior Oline unit's running game prowess; Mathis' interior line unit's run game ranked #23 in the NFL, yes that's Chip Kelly's brilliant rushing attack. Dallas Thomas? His interior Oline unit was ranked as the #2 run-blocking unit in the entire NFL.) It doesn't seem a wise investment of a huge contract because, even if Mathis is sublime, the net gain is way less than if those resources were spent more wisely.

    Ultimately, this focus on Dallas Thomas should be moot as Jamil Douglas has a great shot at unseating him. So I really don't know if Mathis is worth anything near what he wants if we already have an improvement in the wings.

    (Interesting note: Miami was ranked #31 running around the left end.)
     
    cuchulainn likes this.
  3. LBsFinest

    LBsFinest Banned

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    God we really ****ed up not drafting Collins late.
     
  4. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    Hey, that's my family you're talking about! Except, I'm not black. I'm a McCain, they're McCains. All fam! haha

    In all seriousness, that's a bunch of McCains. It's not an extremely common last name, for sure.
     
  5. invid

    invid Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    He wouldn't have signed. After the second day, he most likely had resigned to the fact that he could at least choose where he went if he wasn't getting drafted in rounds 1-3.
     
  6. LBsFinest

    LBsFinest Banned

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    let me guess, he would have sat out the year? You actually believe that?
     
  7. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

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    I'm saying that there's no reason to focus on a preseason game when there are several regular season games to look at, unless you're just out to bash the guy. I guarantee if Thomas played poorly at OG in the regular season but excelled in a preseason game or two no one would care and anyone who even brought it up would be deservedly ridiculed.
     
  8. invid

    invid Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    You're pretty bad at reading.
     
  9. LBsFinest

    LBsFinest Banned

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    "He wouldn't have signed" .....okay, and then what? We draft him, we own his rights, if he didn't want to play for us he only has one option at that point.

    After the draft we were one of the two finalists for his services, we have his former teammates here, our VP has a great relationship with his representation...I mean what do you think would have happened? Put 2 and 2 together dude.
     
  10. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    McCain showed flashes. Mainly in pre-season, I thought.

    Dion had higher ceiling, though, and if Dion were actually focused on football I'd play him ahead of McCain at both positions.

    But, Dion is probably never going to amount to much in this league (if he even plays again). So... glad we have McCain, who looks pretty good considering his lack of pedigree.

    Goes to show you, no one knows anything about who to draft!
     
    Clark Kent likes this.
  11. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent Fighter of the Nightman

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    His agent admitted it was a bluff. If a team drafted Collins, he would of signed w/that team. His agent discussed the massive risks of sitting out a season, including weight gain, competition from future prospects, etc... Which is exactly as I believed. The idea that you just take a season off from football as a rookie, and come back the same isn't realistic. Even some great vets don't come back the same right away (see Brady, 2008).
     
  12. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    You just never know how someone will turn out - but, I wouldn't say no one knows anything; some front offices do perform consistently better over time than others in the draft. It's nearly as much art as science, though.

    In this case, McCain flashed a lot of talent at Cal and had potential with a good final season to be a high draft choice. But, he was arrogant and lazy and was kicked off the team three games into his final season for "conduct detrimental" and for academic issues as they. He wound up not being drafted at all because of that, but that discipline woke him up. At his pro day he was quoted:

    Thankfully that discipline was probably the best thing to happen to him - as well as not being drafted - as it humbled him. He is still thin, but it would be interesting to see how much stronger he's gotten (he had only 10 reps at his pro day - another indication that he wasn't working as hard as he needed to and just getting by on talent). He did run in the 4.6's.

    He also had this to say later to the Herald:

    So great to see (reminiscent of Cameron Wake - though he didn't get dismissed, he wasn't working as hard as he should have and it took a couple of years in Canada to wake him up).

    I really have high hopes for McCain. And, for all the LBs. Misi has reached his ceiling, imo, but he's a veteran leader on the unit and should probably stay another year but I also like Kelvin Shepperd in the middle and want to see a youth take over at LB. Big fan of Tripp as well but unfortunately it seems they are playing him at the same position as Jenkins. I'm not really all that worried about the LB position as far as talent (utilization of that talent is the only concern, imo). They showed a lot of potential last season (both pre-season and when they had to take over after the vets were injured).

    This and a couple of other positions is why I wish we had a 58-60 man roster instead of 53. I think it would serve all teams better as they'd be able to develop talent.

    But, McCain has so many solid attributes. Can't wait to see him get better and better and excel. He really does have great potential with the right work ethic. And, he has really showed great work ethic (even in the off-season last year, he gained 25 lbs - from 225 at his pro day to 250 by the start of the season).

    Also looking forward to seeing Shelby (though he's perhaps reached closer to his potential), Fede, and Anthony Johnson continue to develop and play well. Will be interesting to see what kind of 2nd year leap Fede & Johnson take.

    Fede, remember, came from Marist (first player ever drafted in the NFL) - but he led his conference in sacks (13) his Sr. season, and led his team in sacks three straight seasons. He also ran a 4.7 40 at 276 lbs on his pro day; 33 inch vert and 25 reps. For a small school kid that's solid. Hard work this off-season and he could get some PT at DE. Ideal size at 6'4, 282 (with 34 inch arms).

    Really, I love the D we have going if our two stars stay healthy. I like the accumulation of young talent and competition at LB and DB. Wish we had a little bit more competition at OG. That's really the only position I don't like on the team (assuming we stay healthy).
     
  13. zwave21

    zwave21 New Member

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    Love the fact this staff is going younger when it comes to giving players a chance to win a starting job. In the past this staff's inability to send the young guys to the fire has been a real gripe of mine.

    In truth I've been sick of patch work OL, LB, and CB.

    Starting at Billy Turner we traded up for him, even last year I thought he should've played more, but injuries and getting up to speed on playbook was tough. I expect some big things from this big man at RG. If he and James have improved their strength I feel this could be a very solid side to our OL for years to come. BTW, seems like both JJ and Billy are close off the field too. Lining up against Suh is going to speed up the learning curve real nice too!

    Dallas Thomas has taking Daniel Thomas' role of a cat with 9 lives. This guy has had as rough a beginning to a career at OL as I can remember. FWIW, he was an All-SEC OG at Tennesee so it's not like he's never been good. One thing we know he has no business at OT, zero, none. The guy has been pulled in so many direction so maybe standing pat at OG and knowing he'll be there will be a benefit to his development. Adding a player like Branden Albert to his left will also be of help. I don't take much stock into OTA's for OL, but when the pads come on I am interested to see his growth and comfort at OG. Don't sleep on Jamil Douglas, if he comes out and punches people in the mouth he can take this spot. IMO, I give each of these guys first team reps and see who rises to the top, if you still feel it's a liability take a look at Training Camp cuts, not before.

    Jamar Taylor, call me crazy but I think he puts it together this year. I saw ability last year more than his rookie, but injury bug still got him. Last year Finnegan entered camp as #2 guy and never relinquished it despite poor play in season. Taylor a 2nd round pick who some considered a steal has a ton of talent and good size. Personally, I feel CB have a tough adjustment to the pro game and with injuries taking affect it can be even harder. If Taylor can rise up and prove starter worthy it will be a big plus for 2015 and beyond.

    Chris McCain's place at SLB gets me very excited. Actually our LB unit gets me much more excited than in the past. McCain's ability to move in space, rush the passer, and play with a mean streak is just something else. Now what comes into play is Football IQ, growth, and consistency. The ability is there as evident from last Pre-Season and his play sparingly in games. He also has ability in speed package to play that role Jordan would've played and gives our defense much more variety.

    Other players to keep an eye on:
    - Matt Hazel - think he could unseat Rishard as #5 guy especially if there is a suitor for Matthews.
    - Anthony Johnson - he's rotating in with 2nd unit behind Suh/Mitchell, while Phillips may be more glamorous choice, Johnson's ability to grow and go 4 deep at DT would be huge
    - Terrance Fede - another guy due to Jordan's absence will have more opportunity, he is a big guy and if he can develop it can give us more hope at DE with OV being a FA in 2016 and Wake getting older
    - Walt Aikens - some say he is playing behind Reshad Jones but I think with Delmas injury concerns that Aikens could be the guy to step in at FS if need be. His length, ability as a ball hawk really intrigue me at the position, while he may not start in 2015 if he shows growth we could roll with him as starter in 2016.

    My realistic hope for these young guys is we find one high caliber start OG (Turner/Thomas/Douglas), Jamar becomes a starting caliber CB, McCain locks down SLB and future of OLB is set with him and Jenkins, and then a 2nd year player on DL or Secondary step up.
     
  14. Brasfin

    Brasfin Well-Known Member

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    The bolded is exactly the reason why he wasn't drafted by us, IMO. The agency probably talked to Tannenbaum and asked him not to draft Collins, and told him that if he played his cards right, he might even end up going to Miami as an UDFA. Tannebaum did a favor to the agency and gambled on bringing him to Miami later, it didn't work obviously.
     
  15. invid

    invid Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    If it was a bluff, it not only fooled the Dolphins, but every other team in the NFL. When an agent comes out and says that his client won't sign with anyone after the 3rd round you have to take it at face value. Now you can say we should have put a card in on him on day 2 and I might agree with you. The rest seems like speculation.
     
  16. JimToss

    JimToss Thank You Chad Pennington

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    Dallas Thomas is the new Daniel Thomas.
    He will just not go away.
    He is the herpes of the Miami Dolphins.
     
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  17. Rocky Raccoon

    Rocky Raccoon Greasepaint Ghost Staff Member

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    It wasn't just whether or not Collins would have signed if he were drafted, it's also that he may have murdered someone.
     
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  18. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    And he was so lazy he was called out by his coaches to prospective NFL teams. But other than that, the murder stuff and telling teams to not draft him, LB says we should have. He also says we shouldn't have drafted Parker because winning & smart teams like the Browns & Rams passed on him.
     

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