I think we have some players on the team that no one is talking about that could be solid, if not more, contributors. TE -- AJ Derby. He switched in college from QB to TE. He could be our Trey Burton. He's got some skill. I think we could see him in 2 TE sets with Gesicki. He could also throw the football. WR -- Isaiah Ford/Drew Morgan. While we seem stocked right now, there could be an opening for one of these two. OT -- Eric Smith could put himself in position for some serious playing time. He could turn out to be the best swing OT on the team. LB -- Chase Allen. Not really under the radar, but he's getting lost in many of the conversations about the LB unit. I think he can play. He's probably the best natural SLB on the team. He's got some experience. CB -- I like the kids we signed as UDFA...you never know. But I think Torry McTyer is a player. DT -- I don't really know anything about Gabe Wright. Hopefully he can play. I don't see any RBs, QBs, S surprising us. The draft picks will play. RT is all there is at QB.
Don't forget about S Maurice Smith(former Bama & Bulldog transfer) and DE Cameron Malveaux. I'm excited about both.
Yeah Maurice Smith is the one to watch out for. Him and chase Allen. I think Allen might win the base strong gig. That’s the way I’d lean going into camp. Eric smith likely to be inactive as the 4th tackle
Yep. Zero instincts at mike. Game is poa and he can handle athletically base strong ask. The 2 deep mike is gonna be interesting. Raekwon the only one that can give them the poa ask and stack and shed and plus instincts off tackle to off tackle. I think Anthony is destined for nickel rotation. They can’t trust him not to screw up any assignment adjustment on the fly. I imagine he’s making dirt money on the 4tb year of that rookie contract. Kikos got no comp as starting weak for 2018. Like you said Jerome baker sub package. And this Ohio kid specials maven that people better watch out for. Although he doesn’t seem to give us the poa ask schematically. This lb Corp has ideal scenario package play written all over it. Barring attrition
It will be interesting to see it play out b/c I fully expect teams, like some of our very own division rivals, to put us in base and attempt to expose our LB corp which we really have only addressed in terms of fielding with lighter subpackage schemes.
I saw the patriots a couple years ago basically spread us for a half toying with us only to force us in base in the second half when the game was tight and murder us off pa with gronk. No oc worth a damn is gonna let Miami play it personnel wise ideal scenario. We have to get teams behind the sticks so we can dictate. This d is built for leads like the colts d during their run and the saints d when they won the bowl. The pressure is on the o to allow us leads and pin ears opportunities. I would think our first team base look regardless of what we put out there at lb wears a coverage target. We can’t get away with guys who are as suspect at the poa as baker there. And the entire league knows Anthony’s football iq is very low. But at least we have some guys in the building at lb worthy of roster spots. For years playing lb has been the easiest route to a roster spot on the team. The talent level has been horrid.
That's why he's under the radar. He has to beat out Sam Young for backup OT role. He might. Never know.
Unless someone surprises. I remember in 1996, we had penciled in Jack Del Rio as our starter for MLB. All we had was the physically limited Zach Thomas on the roster...Del Rio was a lock. Until ZT showed up and changed everyone's perception and took over the job that he would keep for many years. We don't know what we have with Baker, really with Anthony, how much Chase Allen will improve, or what an UDFA will show in camp.
Sometimes you have to be willing to give up yards between the 20s and then be able to hold the offense to a FG opportunity. Our run defense can be exploited until the red zone then we run with a stronger unit because the D doesn't have as much field to defend.
we can always root for the rookies to surge into a strong starting position - when that happens, it usually swings a team's fortune. Look at Saints last year and Falcons couple of years ago. On the flip side. I see Chase Allen as a key LB backup and a role player in particular situations, but that's his ceiling. Anthony is who he is. If he couldn't grab the reins last season with that abysmal LB corps, I don't see him doing much this season either.
Remember how bad Terrell Buckley was in Green Bay? He was horrid. But, we he came to Miami, he was pretty good. He and Madison and Surtain gave us three really good CBs. You never know how a change will work out. We don't need Anthony to be all world...he just needs to be above average.
Buckley was mediocre, but serviceable as our nickel corner. I'd argue that he didn't improve that much, he was just lined up against inferior talent since Madison and Surtain were covering the other teams top players.
IMO, MarQueis Gray gets overlooked a lot, even by the coaching staff. I thought he was a pretty good blocker as an in-line TE and H-back in 2016. Caught only 14 passes, but averaged 12.4 ypc. With Julius Thomas they went away from Gray last year; 1 catch, but had 5 short-yardage carries. I like his odds for the 3rd TE job more so than Derby, Duarte and Escobar as Gray can play in-line, as an H-Back, FB, and he plays on kickoff, kickoff return, punt, and punt return. Plus he played some college CB and was used there as a wildcat QB for a play last year. I'd like to see him get a chance to showcase what he can do in preseason. But, for as much as they've talked about Derby, I fear Gray could be phased out.
Adam Beasley ✔ @AdamHBeasley Can confirm @FieldYates report that the Dolphins have claimed QB. Bryce Petty off waivers.
I want to see what they see in Derby. He had some nice blocking reps, but I think his receiving reps weren't very good. Hopefully a full offseason and camp helps him out.
Derby’s a smooth athlete. I think they probably keep 4 tight ends. 5 WRs 3 rbs. 2 QBs and oline wise Asiata or Larsen And don’t be surprised if brendel starts on the pivot by the bye week
And he's smart. He knows what the QB is looking for. I think he makes it...but who knows. MarQueis might be busting out in camp!
I find it hard to imagine that either of them will be on the team. Parker, Stills, Wilson, Amendola are 4 penciled in for the roster for sure. I imagine Grant wont be cut either If they keep 6 WR's then Carroo, Ford, Morgan, Lewis, Owusu, and Scott are all fighting for the last spot.
Maybe we will see some 13 or 23 groupings near the goal line. I think down the road our offense could end up being pretty lethal. If we can get everyone on the same page and really open up the playbook our offense has the potential to be a tough out for the defense. A lot of guys can hurt ya.
Yes if everyone stays healthy and things go according to plan that would seem like the logical and of the roster. But who knows?
I think it all comes down to Derby on whether we keep 4 TE's or not. If he can step up and really help us you got to keep him, but if he is just taking a roster spot then maybe it would be better to go with 6 WRs. I expect some of those guys to make some noise in camp. If I had to choose between keeping an equally talented TE or WR, I would go with TE. I think its harder to find a good TE than it is a good WR. What would you do?
derbys pretty soft. or finesse. they tried to run some red zone back shoulder stuff with him and he lost physically at the catch point every time. if we do keep a 6th wr and it's specials my moneys on scott. although he is so jag as a actual wr option. ford didn't separate much on college tape but we'll see what he looks like in camp. the other guys I saw in camp aren't very interesting. morgan probably the most interesting but he's a slot and Miami just signed 2 more of those as free agents. caroo is who I'd carry if it's for actual wr depth Miami lacks size at wr outside of dvp to offset that I'd envision us keeping 4 tight ends. they seemed to prefer derby over gray for route running work last year. almost like they don't see much more meat on the bone with gray growth wise.
I was not impressed with his ability to catch. The only reason I think he makes the team is the fact that Gase does not like to use Gray and there really isn't anyone better.
