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Seasoned Veteran
Taken from his CBS Sportsline.com article on players who need to come up big in 2002.
8. Daryl Gardener, DE, Miami Dolphins -- The Dolphins saw defensive ends Kenny Mixon and Lorenzo Bromell leave via free agency to go to Minnesota. That forced the team to move Gardener outside from tackle.
Gardener has his playing weight down 10 pounds to 295, which should help his quickness. He will move inside on passing downs.
The move outside should help Gardener with his back troubles. He has had two surgeries the past two seasons to alleviate back trouble, but felt no effects of that at the team's recent minicamp.
He should be a much better anchor against the run than either Mixon or Bromell, which should help the run defense. But he has to be able to make some plays off the edge on early downs as well.
Moving Gardener outside is a risk in part because he is so good inside. But if he can make the transition a smooth one, and a young tackle such as Ernest Grant or Jermaine Haley can prove to be a solid starter, the Dolphins line will be much improved.
Uhhmm, Pete, ever heard of Larry Chester?
He was only one of the first FA signed this offseason!
8. Daryl Gardener, DE, Miami Dolphins -- The Dolphins saw defensive ends Kenny Mixon and Lorenzo Bromell leave via free agency to go to Minnesota. That forced the team to move Gardener outside from tackle.
Gardener has his playing weight down 10 pounds to 295, which should help his quickness. He will move inside on passing downs.
The move outside should help Gardener with his back troubles. He has had two surgeries the past two seasons to alleviate back trouble, but felt no effects of that at the team's recent minicamp.
He should be a much better anchor against the run than either Mixon or Bromell, which should help the run defense. But he has to be able to make some plays off the edge on early downs as well.
Moving Gardener outside is a risk in part because he is so good inside. But if he can make the transition a smooth one, and a young tackle such as Ernest Grant or Jermaine Haley can prove to be a solid starter, the Dolphins line will be much improved.
Uhhmm, Pete, ever heard of Larry Chester?
He was only one of the first FA signed this offseason!