A Look Back at the Miami Dolphins 2016 Rookies

[Perfect72]

[FONT=&quot]Miami entered the 2016 NFL Draft with a plethora of needs. From linebacker and corner to guard, tackle, and running back. The Dolphins didn’t get all of what they wanted or what they needed but they got some guys who could make a difference.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]How much of difference did the Dolphins rookies make in 2016? A lot more than the class of 2015 did although to be fair, most of the ’15 class were not given much opportunity in their rookie seasons.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Instead of grading out the players with A’s and B’s, we will grade them based on what they have shown for the future potential as trending up or down.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Laremy Tunsil[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Tunsil, a natural tackle dropped to the Dolphins 13th position following a released video 10 minutes prior to the draft. Tunsil struggled early as he made the switch to guard but his play has improved over the year and he has become one of the better lineman on the team. Tunsil missed a couple of games due to injury but was also able to slide outside and cover for Branden Albert when he was injured.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Trending: Way up. Tunsil’s future in Miami looks very good.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Xavien Howard[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]It’s hard to grade Howard. He started the season and looked good then missed almost all of it with an injury. His return the last couple of weeks has been mixed as he acclimated to the NFL but he has shown that he can play at this level and should get better with a healthy off-season.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Trending: Despite the injury battles and missed games, Howard’s future looks like it could be really good.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Kenyan Drake[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Drake hasn’t carried the ball much this year but when he has, he has been a dynamic player to watch. His reverse field touchdown against the Bills was amazing and he added a game saving kick return touchdown as well. Drake, despite his lack of carries (33 on the season) started showing he will make a solid compliment to Jay Ajayi.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Trending: Up. Drake is showing the same drive he did in college and with more opportunities he should continue to improve.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Leonte Carroo[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Carroo was supposed to be the outside version of Jarvis Landry but Carroo couldn’t get on the field in a busy Dolphins wide-receiver group. When he was able to get on the field he made little impact. At one point Carroo was passed over in favor of an undrafted rookie. That tends to speak towards his practice habits.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Trending: Down. Any player whose practice habits leaves him off the active roster in favor of an undrafted rookie, in this case Rashawn Scott, there could be a problem.

More at LINK: http://phinphanatic.com/2017/01/03/miami-dolphins-2016-rookie-class-grades/

Your thoughts? [/FONT]

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Best pick by the staff was Xavien Howard. I say that because the Tunsil selection was due more to a mishap than an execution of a plan.

Tunsil played well, but had plenty of hiccups with ME/MA's at LG. I understand the need for him inside with Albert, but the quicker we can kick him out the better.

Howard was a pleasant surprise. Physical, in-your-pocket CB whom we had confidence starting from day one. Granted health concerns are shelved we've got ourselves a long-term starter.

Drake had his moments. Flashed at times. Still would have liked to invested in the defensive side of the ball and skipped some of the gadget players like Drake and Grant.

Caroo . . . FTW.

 

[hoops]

x howard has trended down since he returned from injury

could still recover that stellar grade with a good post season showing

they did fine with this draft....given x howard and tunsil carried the class...drake got dinged up late vs the pats might be something that keeps him out this week which sucks for him cause he had taken the #2 rb job it appeared

caroo like most wrs is a wait and see proposition...not a big deal that he's not active given Miami is heavy 3 wr usage anyways in the offense...

grant needs to catch the rock consistently or he's gonna walk the plank which if he does isn't a big deal with a 5th rounder

no late rounder lb types could rescue that unit anyways

 

[phintim]

The 3 that have contributed Tunsil, Howard and Drake have injury bug issues that will have to be overcome for their long term success the talent is there however.

 

[nick1]

The 3 that have contributed Tunsil, Howard and Drake have injury bug issues that will have to be overcome for their long term success the talent is there however.

Drake is tough though. I was watching highlights the other day of Davis the LB from Florida. Drake was out there killing it 2 weeks after a broken arm

 

[Mike13]

Caroo has played decent when he gets the ball, I wont hold the fact that he cant crack our top 3 against him.

 

[miamiron]

Caroo has played decent when he gets the ball, I wont hold the fact that he cant crack our top 3 against him.

He's had 1 reception in the last 15 games,Have we set the bar so low that we call that
decent in any way shape or form