After being a hard core fan for over 25 seasons (before that I was a fan for 13 years but was a petulant kid then high schooler so there has to be some form of credit for those years too but I want to be fair), I don't recall an offseason with so much promise and positivity. Most years, we're worried about someone coming back from injury, why some great player we either botched and didn't get or they didn't want to come to MIA, botched draft, the continuation of a current blundering coaches regime, or some other issues. If I had to give an offseason a grade this would get an A+. All news is positive with now Ajayi being referenced as being at least tied with Parker as most improved offensive player http://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/20...e-most-improve-player-this-offseason-offense/ I love Gase as a coach. He is getting everything out of the players. We still have to play the season of course but so far, we're clearly playoff and perhaps further bound.
You bring up a very important praise that is often overlooked in this day and age of player praise/criticism and that's Adam Gase. I was truly impressed with what he was able to accomplish as a first year coach with virtually the same players Philbin had. Too many times, the coaching staff is overlooked and given their due praise or criticism; it's far too often the players. When I think of great elite teams, more often than not, I think of the head coaches more than I do the players. Belichik, Coughlin, Carroll, Cowher, Reid...Levy, Reeves, Gibbs, Shula, Noll, Landry... These coaches have had consistent success and are/were far too often overshadowed by their players. I'm hopeful that with time, we'll be able to add Gase's name to this list.
Ajayi and Parker improving, esp Ajayi in the passing game could take this offense to new heights. Both actually would have a symbiotic relationship. Parker on the play action downfield would give an element we have not had in maybe 20 years?
IMO Ajayi was a fairly natural receiver at Boise State. He caught 50 passes his last season there. I expect that he hasn't been used as a receiver for Miami b/c of his pass pro and route running rather than a lack of catching ability. Those are the areas where young backs tend to struggle. Since Ajayi didn't really wake up until being left home week 1 I'd guess that he's never put in enough work on those parts of his game as a pro. I wouldn't be surprised if after a full off-season of better focus we see a quantum leap from him as a receiver.
I think the worry was a short career, so not out of the woods yet. However, many RBs have short careers so...
The theme this year is quantum leaps. We all talk about Tannehill, the defense, the guards, and other question marks, however, if certain guys play to their expectations, this could be a top offense. Think about big dividends we are expecting on offense? Drake, Ajayi, Parker and Thomas. Let's argue, if Drake and Ajayi combine for 2,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving and Parker and Thomas combine for 1700-1800 yards and 22 TD's (these are expectations), where can we be as a team?
Maybe I'm suffering from "sometimers disease"...sometimes I remember, sometimes I don't...but was Ajayi used much at all in the passing game last year? I really can't remember! I can truly SEE Ajayi taking on the role of Keith Byers...catching little swing passes out of the backfield and turning those passes into 10 yard gains, although I don't know if that's something in Gase's playbook.
if Pouncey can play, which signs are good that he will this year, the addition of him and fasano will be good for the run game..
What I meant was Ajayi opening up things in the passing game. I think he can catch a few balls a game for 30-50 yards though Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk