5 Veterans Who Won’t Make Miami Dolphins’ 53-Man Roster

[fisi]

1. Josh Freeman - Quarterback
If there was a sliver of hope that Josh Freeman would make this season's roster, it was undoubtedly erased after last week's horrific preseason performance. The player who once was considered a franchise QB will soon be on his way out of Miami and in search of new work. The Dolphins were probably Freeman's last shot in the NFL.

2. Jordan Kovacs - Safety
Jordan Kovacs has gotten the chance to play in 17 games for the Dolphins over the past two season, but has yet to leave a lasting impression. Kovacs is a strong special teams player, but this alone won't earn him a spot in this year's 53-man roster.

3. Mike Gillislee- Running Back
Miami drafted Mike Gillislee in the fifth round of the 2013 draft with the hopes that the Florida native would blossom into a legitimate NFL back. Gillislee was a standout while at the University of Florida and some considered him a steal for where the Dolphins selected him. Gillislee is good at everything, but not great at anything. When this guy was drafted ahead of Elligton out of Clemson, I was like "WTf".

4. Kevin Cone / LaRon Byrd - Wide Receivers
Kevin Cone's case is very similar to Byrd's. Cone has the size, speed and ability to possibly one day become a starter in the NFL, but the Dolphins simply don't have the roster space for him. While Byrd was with the Atlanta Falcons, he found himself competing within one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFL for snaps. Unfortunately for Cone, it's been the same song different tune for him in Miami.

5. Brandon Fields –punter
Believe it or not Fields isn’t guaranteed a job. Rookie Matt Darr is playing very well and is pushing Fields for his job. Fields had his lowest season in 2014.


Honorably mentioned;
C.J. Mosley – When Mosley was signed this off-season it appeared that the Dolphins may have found a gem. Instead they haven’t come close to seeing what they had hoped from Mosley.
Spencer Paysinger – Yet another off-season addition, Paysinger has starts at linebacker with the Giants but he isn’t showing enough yet to warrant a roster spot.
Zack Bowman – Bowman chose Miami this off-season because he was told he would compete for a starting job. He is instead competing for a roster spot. Bowman has been very inconsistent thus far and the Dolphins like many of their other young corners.
Jacques McClendon – Another free agent signing this off-season that isn’t panning out. Making matters worse for McClendon is the fact that there are so many questions on the offensive line and he has yet to really show up and play
http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2015/08/20/5-veterans-who-wont-make-miami-dolphins-53-man-roster/

 

[datruth55]

I thought #5 was a joke when they said it after week 1 but I played close attention to Darr in the Carolina game. He can boom some kicks deep with very good hang time. Haven't seen him have to put one inside the 10 or coffin corner one just yet...something Fields is pretty good at but Fields doesn't seem to have the same booming leg he used to.

 

[fisi]

I thought #5 was a joke when they said it after week 1 but I played close attention to Darr in the Carolina game. He can boom some kicks deep with very good hang time. Haven't seen him have to put one inside the 10 or coffin corner one just yet...something Fields is pretty good at but Fields doesn't seem to have the same booming leg he used to.

plus cost around 1mil

 

[gregorygrant83]

plus cost around 1mil

My thing with moving on from Carpenter was I don't believe a sub-.500 non-playoff team should pay millions for a kicker or punter. If you really feel like Miami has a shot at the playoffs this year you don't skimp on paying your punter unless you 100% believe the new/cheaper punter is the better player.

 

[mrhankey81701]

None of these are real surprises (except maybe Fields). Going into training camp I didn't even realize Mike Gillislee was still on the team. I disagree that Paysinger and Bowman will be cut, I believe that both will make it based off of their special teams ability. As for CJ Mosley making the team, it comes down to Anthony Johnson does he show enough to justify getting the last DT spot over the veteran.

 

[gregorygrant83]

None of these are real surprises (except maybe Fields). Going into training camp I didn't even realize Mike Gillislee was still on the team. I disagree that Paysinger and Bowman will be cut, I believe that both will make it based off of their special teams ability. As for CJ Mosley making the team, it comes down to Anthony Johnson does he show enough to justify getting the last DT spot over the veteran.

I really don't want to lose Johnson or Francis, but could this team really afford to have the reserve defensive tackles (Phillips, Johnson and Francis) all be young and inexperienced?

 

[AEGBRG]

I still have not forgiven Fields for that atrocious punt during the Packers game.

 

[Mogwai]

I'm not down for any punter making what Fields does. He makes more than every McCain on our team combined. He makes more than Landry, Jelani, OV, and Stills combined. It's absurd. Darr has outperformed him this preseason too. It might be harsh because fields has been consistent for us but no punter should be making that much.

 

[Perfect23]

I think the first 5 are correct i think Moseley and Paysinger and Bowman all make the final roster.

 

[datruth55]

My thing with moving on from Carpenter was I don't believe a sub-.500 non-playoff team should pay millions for a kicker or punter. If you really feel like Miami has a shot at the playoffs this year you don't skimp on paying your punter unless you 100% believe the new/cheaper punter is the better player.

Brandon Fields

6 punts, 273 yards, 45.5 avg. 4 inside the 20 (long of 56)

Chicago punts
4th and 7 at CHI 43 (2:58) (Punt formation) B.Fields punts 34 yards to CHI 9, Center-J.Denney, downed by MIA-M.Thomas.
4th and 2 at MIA 28 (11:37) (Punt formation) B.Fields punts 58 yards to CHI 14, Center-J.Denney. M.Mariani to CHI 42 for 28 yards (T.Lippett). PENALTY on CHI-D.Hurst, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 9 yards, enforced at CHI 18.
4th and 6 at CHI 39 (4:01) (Punt formation) B.Fields punts 21 yards to CHI 18, Center-J.Denney, out of bounds.

If we had a decent FG kicker that 3rd punt would have been a FG attempt from 57 yards out. For the most part Fields had a short field to work with and the 2nd one only ended up inside the 20 because of penalty or it would have been a net of just 30 yards...he was booting some line drives in that game.

Carolina Punts
4th and 8 at MIA 34 (11:31) B.Fields punts 52 yards to CAR 14, Center-J.Denney. T.Ginn to CAR 23 for 9 yards (Bo.McCain). PENALTY on CAR-T.Williams, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 7 yards, enforced at CAR 14.
4th and 13 at MIA 20 (5:46) B.Fields punts 56 yards to CAR 24, Center-J.Denney. T.Ginn pushed ob at CAR 35 for 11 yards (S.Paysinger).
4th and 3 at MIA 27 (2:16) B.Fields punts 52 yards to CAR 21, Center-J.Denney. D.Byrd pushed ob at CAR 29 for 8 yards (K.Cone). PENALTY on MIA-Z.Vigil, Ineligible Downfield Kick, 5 yards, enforced at CAR 29.

The 1st punt only ends up inside the 20 because of penalty. He basically ends up with 19 total yards in returns...although one of those Ginn just went out of bounds when no one was even close to him...same old Ginn lol.

Matt Darr

5 punts, 239 yards, 47.8 avg. 0 inside the 20 (long of 58)

Chicago Punts
4th and 7 at MIA 23 (8:18) (Punt formation) M.Darr punts 40 yards to CHI 37, Center-J.Denney, downed by MIA-Z.Vigil.
4th and 4 at MIA 39 (10:29) (Punt formation) M.Darr punts 37 yards to CHI 24, Center-J.Denney. A.Cruz to CHI 35 for 11 yards (M.Hull).
4th and 3 at MIA 16 (5:52) (Punt formation) M.Darr punts 56 yards to CHI 28, Center-J.Denney. L.Norwood to CHI 39 for 11 yards (M.Hull).

Basically Darr's net average was a tick below Fields average because of the two returns. Still a 37 yard net is pretty good.

Carolina Punts
4th and 8 at MIA 10 (:55) M.Darr punts 56 yards to CAR 34, Center-J.Denney. D.Byrd to CAR 43 for 9 yards (T.Lippett; C.Thompson).
4th and 12 at MIA 18 (6:16) M.Darr punts 50 yards to CAR 32, Center-J.Denney. D.Byrd to CAR 35 for 3 yards (J.Luc).

Darr gives up 12 yards in returns on his two kicks. No opportunity to pin one inside the 20.

It's also difficult to judge return yards for both guys because special teams have a lot of guys that probably won't make the team especially in the 2nd half of these games but this is a much closer battle than I had realized.

 

[FIU82]

I thought gillislee's chances came and went with that long run and then the fumble at the end in the first game

 

[gregorygrant83]

I think Gillislee has looked a lot better than he did during the prior two training camps, but I still don't see a player that I couldn't match his talent level by grabbing someone off a practice squad.

 

[jvw]

I thought #5 was a joke when they said it after week 1 but I played close attention to Darr in the Carolina game. He can boom some kicks deep with very good hang time. Haven't seen him have to put one inside the 10 or coffin corner one just yet...something Fields is pretty good at but Fields doesn't seem to have the same booming leg he used to.

Lets stick with the veteran here, don't want to make a run for the playoffs with a rookie kicking the ball....

 

[spike owen]

What's interesting is that the author has now changed number five from Fields to LaRon Byrd, Guess he also thought it was unlikely Fields gets cut. He's not exactly going out on a limb with the rest.

 

[datruth55]

Lets stick with the veteran here, don't want to make a run for the playoffs with a rookie kicking the ball....

Dallas has two rookie punters they're trying out right now. A rookie punter won't kill your season...not like a rookie kicker (or Sturgis) would.