Dolphins draft WR Edmund Gates

I think this shows what the FO and Daboll have in mind. All of these picks on on the Offensive side are breathing new life into a depleated body. Now adding Gates who can bring speed to STs really helps out improving our team each time we touch the ball. I know several are not happy with the way this draft is playing out because we are not making the sexy splashy picks but when have we ever? I am very happy with the way this is laying out and I feel we are already a better team than we were Thursday morning. JMO.

So we pretty much can expect a Michael Wallace if he pans out?

With the way Marshall blocks Id love to get Gates some bubble screens, and crossing routes with Marshall blocking down field!

The FO pleased all the whining fans and addressed a speed issue.
Hope no one is crying about the "this" pick.

It's all on Chad Henne now, the Fins just got three new offensive weapons who should improve us. They still need to resign Ricky or Ronnie-two back league and both would help Thomas especially with a hopefully improved OLine.

"BlameItOnTheHenne wrote:

All is good in the world now :tongue2:

Except for the QB but why complain about something so trivial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs4BeSDwk0w

Wow he's got "getting away from the cops speed"

/Gus Johnson.

They should honestly just go four wide with the big back out of the backfield.

"Jaj wrote:

They should honestly just go four wide with the big back out of the backfield.

Isnt that what Daboll wants to do? Use alot more multi WR sets.
Well now we can.

As much as I have not been happy with the first two picks because I think the Dolphins drafted both Pouncey and Thomas higher in the draft than either player deserved. I will give the Dolphins and Ireland credit for this pick. I have no idea what type of receiver Gates will be in the NFL but at least he has the speed the Dolphins said they needed on offense. Now I would love to see Taiwan Jones fall to the sixth round of the draft and the Dolphins select him. He would be a great complement to Thomas out of the backfield and with his speed he would certainly be as factor in the return game.

It's what I've wanted to do too ****.

Before we nominate him for rookie of the year and offensive player of the year

Gates took a circuitous route to becoming an NFL prospect. He intended on playing in the NBA after a successful high school basketball career and one season at Tyler Junior College in Texas. He was not asked to return for his sophomore year

Weaknesses: Raw receiver with little experience. Routes need to be tightened up, too rounded on outs. Very lanky frame. Did not face a strong jam or tougher cornerbacks downfield at the Division II level. Inconsistent hands, especially when feeling a hit coming over the middle. Will struggle to sustain blocks without more effort and strength.

Gates is a developmental prospect with big-play ability who has some makeup concerns but could become a valuable backup receiver and returner with time and more coaching. However, he's currently very unrefined as a route-runner, lacks some bulk (but is tough), and needs to improve his overall football IQ.

At this time, can turn a short pass into an explosive play, but route-running deficiencies and his ability to track the deep ball limit his ability as a vertical threat.

Thin build. Very raw and lacks football experience. Route-running needs a lot of polish. Susceptible to press coverage. Will drop the catchable pass on occasion. Lacks awareness against zone coverage. Blocking needs work.

Turns 25 in June.

Well of course people have to **** on the pick.
Its a Miami Dolphins board.

"miamiron wrote:

Before we nominate him for rookie of the year and offensive player of the year

Gates took a circuitous route to becoming an NFL prospect. He intended on playing in the NBA after a successful high school basketball career and one season at Tyler Junior College in Texas. He was not asked to return for his sophomore year

Weaknesses: Raw receiver with little experience. Routes need to be tightened up, too rounded on outs. Very lanky frame. Did not face a strong jam or tougher cornerbacks downfield at the Division II level. Inconsistent hands, especially when feeling a hit coming over the middle. Will struggle to sustain blocks without more effort and strength.

Gates is a developmental prospect with big-play ability who has some makeup concerns but could become a valuable backup receiver and returner with time and more coaching. However, he's currently very unrefined as a route-runner, lacks some bulk (but is tough), and needs to improve his overall football IQ.

At this time, can turn a short pass into an explosive play, but route-running deficiencies and his ability to track the deep ball limit his ability as a vertical threat.

Thin build. Very raw and lacks football experience. Route-running needs a lot of polish. Susceptible to press coverage. Will drop the catchable pass on occasion. Lacks awareness against zone coverage. Blocking needs work.

Turns 25 in June.

I hate to admit it but a lot of what you describe as his weaknesses are very similar to the weaknesses Ginn had when he played for the Dolphins. At least one thing in his favor is that he appears to play tough and doesn't appear to be afraid of getting hit. Unlike the way Ginn played while he was with the Dolphins. Since he is a 4th round pick and not the first round pick Ginn was, I think it was worth the risk at this point in the draft to select him, if for no other reason than his ability to separate from the defense once he gets down field. Of course the one thing that still needs to be answered is, can he get separation from the defensive back once the ball is snapped? The defensive backs in the NFL are much more difficult to separate from and run past than the DB's he faced while playing in college.

"KB21 wrote:

Well, he's definitely a guy that can take the top off a zone and returns kicks. He has some character issues and is very raw from a technique standpoint. Most favorable comparision in the NFL is Mike Wallace though, so he's definitely a guy with a ton of upside. He will run a lot of verticals and crosses on this team.

whats your thoughts on the 3 picks so far KB ?

"miamiron wrote:

Before we nominate him for rookie of the year and offensive player of the year

Gates took a circuitous route to becoming an NFL prospect. He intended on playing in the NBA after a successful high school basketball career and one season at Tyler Junior College in Texas. He was not asked to return for his sophomore year

Weaknesses: Raw receiver with little experience. Routes need to be tightened up, too rounded on outs. Very lanky frame. Did not face a strong jam or tougher cornerbacks downfield at the Division II level. Inconsistent hands, especially when feeling a hit coming over the middle. Will struggle to sustain blocks without more effort and strength.

Gates is a developmental prospect with big-play ability who has some makeup concerns but could become a valuable backup receiver and returner with time and more coaching. However, he's currently very unrefined as a route-runner, lacks some bulk (but is tough), and needs to improve his overall football IQ.

At this time, can turn a short pass into an explosive play, but route-running deficiencies and his ability to track the deep ball limit his ability as a vertical threat.

Thin build. Very raw and lacks football experience. Route-running needs a lot of polish. Susceptible to press coverage. Will drop the catchable pass on occasion. Lacks awareness against zone coverage. Blocking needs work.

Turns 25 in June.

He was a mid 4th round pick that a lot of people had going in the 3rd. He has the speed we've been lacking in our offense. Even if he turns into Ted Ginn v2, it gives us a return guy and gives us the ability to run 4 WR sets. Before the draft, we had 3 WRs that were worthy of being on the field (and 2 of them were injured this past season). Even if Gates isn't the best football player in the draft, he is going to scare defenses.

wouldnt mind seeing the fins take a flier on Noel Devine or Craig Cooper in the 6th

"finsbuck719 wrote:

He was a mid 4th round pick that a lot of people had going in the 3rd. He has the speed we've been lacking in our offense. Even if he turns into Ted Ginn v2, it gives us a return guy and gives us the ability to run 4 WR sets. Before the draft, we had 3 WRs that were worthy of being on the field (and 2 of them were injured this past season). Even if Gates isn't the best football player in the draft, he is going to scare defenses.

He needs NFL level coaching. This kid has good potential to be a gamebreaker, love this pick. Ireland seems to struggle in rounds 2-3, but he is good with the day 3 guys.

i never really understood why we got rid of Ginn as soon as we got Marshall. This offense clearly needed a burner that could run straight down the field when the defense was paying too much attention to Marshall/Bess underneath. Now Gates can be that guy.

All this talk about Mallets great arm and I think people forgot Henne has one too, he just didn't have anyone who could burn anybody. This is a fantastic pick and I could easily see this guy have 4-5 Tds.

have liked every pick. Ireland is doing a great job in this draft.

Has anyone met his family yet?

Good pick.

Speedy and explosive, but not one of the midgets in this draft. Decent size.

"CitizenSnips wrote:

i never really understood why we got rid of Ginn as soon as we got Marshall. This offense clearly needed a burner that could run straight down the field when the defense was paying too much attention to Marshall/Bess underneath. Now Gates can be that guy.

All this talk about Mallets great arm and I think people forgot Henne has one too, he just didn't have anyone who could burn anybody. This is a fantastic pick and I could easily see this guy have 4-5 Tds.

The Dolphins got rid of Ginn because the 49er's were dumb enough to offer them a draft choice for him. Ginn was not an effective down field threat because he was afraid to get hit while he was in the game.
He had great speed but when all was said and done, he was scared and he was always looking to avoid contact. I thought it was very telling that while the Ravens needed a deep threat before last years draft. Cam Cameron did not use his influence to try and get the Ravens to trade for Ginn. Perhaps Cameron realized that he drafted the wrong member of the Ginn family when he was the head coach of the Dolphins. Perhaps it was Ginn's little sister he should have drafted, since she is probably tougher and has more balls than her big brother.

"shula_guy wrote:

Has anyone met his family yet?

I'll check with Cam Cameron and get back to you on that.

Looking at 18 minutes worth of highlight film...

He's thicker than Ginn (although not stocky by any means) and he's got better short-area burst. He's got some elusiveness to him in the open field.

Ginn was long strides, straight-line and not much wiggle.

Gates also posted a 40-inch vertical. Dude can get up.