Barry Jackson: Dolphins Day 2, Intriguing receiver battle

[Hayden Fox]

Wallace, Hartline, Landry, and Binns are the starters, with Thigpen and Hazel making the final 6. Thigpen can also play running back and returner so he takes the 5th spot.
Matthews and Gibson are gone. Williams to practice squad.
The 6th receiver is a vulnerable spot. Depending on other injuries, Hazel could be cut as well at some point unless he flashes in games early..

Gibson gone? I am not sure of that right now.

 

[fishfanmiami]

Feel better Hayden.

The only thing weighting against Gibson is certainly not his play when healthy or his connection with our QB. It's his price tag.
Based on what I saw late year he's number three until Landry beats him out which I think he will. The battle is probably between Binns and Matthews with Hazel on the practise squad for now. Thiggy ?

 

[TheWalrus]

Interesting that Jackson thinks Mathews would have no value in trade...I'm not so sure about that...I think late round is possible to a team with a similar o to ours...but even as the 5th wr to me he's more valuable to us than the return given the cheap rookie contract and our wrs aren't exactly showing to be the most durable bunch

Every team probably feels like they have a guy like Matthews, a guy that's flashed physical ability but hasn't been able to put it all together. I can't see him have any value in a trade. Same with Gibson (though for a different reason). Even Hartline, with his contract, wouldn't return much in a trade.

 

[spiral]

We have yet to see anyone who can return kicks close to Thigpen,] You lost me bro

 

[iambanned]

Matthews value was defined when Hartline got hurt in the final game vs the Jets. Matthews could no longer hider under the petticoats of being WR3, he was exposed as a non-playmaker who couldn't beat NY's #2 CB. Matthews doesn't get separation when the D actually D's him up. We need guys who can actually beat a DB and not just find a soft spot in a zone.

Matthews does usually have hands, but I think we learned why he lasted until the 7th round.

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 PM ----------

And I had been a big Matthews fan too. He just disappeared sometimes when we needed him the most.

 

[Hayden Fox]

I swear the Fins win that Jets game, albeit close, if Hartline stays healthy.

With that said, the team needs to be able to overcome adversity like that...esp. in big spots.

 

[finfan54]

Unless Wallace breaks out and has the season his talent is capable of delivering, we won't have a top receiver corps.

Hartline is a nice cog in the machine, but won't improve in yardage beyond what he already delivers and won't be a TD machine in his career. Gibson's ceiling is probably 8 or 900 yards and 8 or 9 TDs. Not shabby, but also not top half of the league. Matthews and Landry can be great inside players with physicality and YAC potential, but are unlikely to be elite in terms of yards and TDs.

It's all about Wallace, if we're talking about a performance that transforms our offense. He's the guy who has to add maybe 500 yards and 8 TDs to his production last year if we want to add playoff-level offensive output to our season. The rest of the roster can really only be expected to make incremental improvement.

Over to you Mike...

just wondering what Bill Belichick would really have to say after he heard this.

that said, I think Wallace will make a huge leap. Lazor like leap.

 

[finfan54]

Matthews value was defined when Hartline got hurt in the final game vs the Jets. Matthews could no longer hider under the petticoats of being WR3, he was exposed as a non-playmaker who couldn't beat NY's #2 CB. Matthews doesn't get separation when the D actually D's him up. We need guys who can actually beat a DB and not just find a soft spot in a zone.

Matthews does usually have hands, but I think we learned why he lasted until the 7th round.

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 PM ----------

And I had been a big Matthews fan too. He just disappeared sometimes when we needed him the most.

If you think about it, that could be said about most anyone on this team.

RT
Wallace
Pouncey
Martin LOL


serously though, if you put on the New England win, you would notice BB getting upset no one is covering Matthews after he made like his fourth catch in a row.

So you see, its week to week. whats on film for someone else to see? Who is playing more due to injuries? Who can a team key on since they know damn well they only really need to worry about a couple of guys?

the reason teams win in this league is becuase they change it up week to week or offer something that keeps a defense on its heels. like NO with hockey-like squads who come out in place of an entire receiving squad.

In other words, dont worrry about who makes the team. Often times its the last man standing.

Has matthews ever been hurt? These are serious questions people need to ask when considering who is still standing when it matters.

 

[Fins1971]

Agreed, we probably win that game with Hartline playing.
Seems like the Dolphin receivers always get knicked when the games count the most. Gadsden went down late in 2001 and we could only muster 3 points vs the ravens.
Camarillo went down late in 2008 and once again get held to 9 points vs ravens. Then Hartline and Gibson last year and we score 7 points in 2 games. Dolphins have buzzards luck lately.

 

[hoops]

Every team probably feels like they have a guy like Matthews, a guy that's flashed physical ability but hasn't been able to put it all together. I can't see him have any value in a trade. Same with Gibson (though for a different reason). Even Hartline, with his contract, wouldn't return much in a trade.

Maybe...but I'm not sure every team does...

 

[Austin Tatious]

I would keep 6 receivers. Wallace, Gibby, Landry, Hartline, Matthews, and Binns. I'd work Landry at PR. Thiggy can go. Hazel and Wooten to practice squad.

There is precedent with Green Bay's philosophy that you can overload a position where that's how your best 53 shakes out. I believe they kept 5 tight ends one year. If Philbin was influenced by that, maybe we keep 6 wideouts. I'd rather have that 6th wideout than keep a lesser guy somewhere else.

 

[justdev7]

If we let Mathews walk I would most guarantee that the patriots would sign him

 

[Virginia99]

Gibson gone? I am not sure of that right now.

No way Gibson gets cut unless he's not healthy. Also, anyone want bet, the first receiver who does get cut gets picked up by New England? They'll have to report straight debrief meeting with Belicek.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

just wondering what Bill Belichick would really have to say after he heard this.

that said, I think Wallace will make a huge leap. Lazor like leap.

To me, it's a simple case of maths. We need about 16 more TDs a season. Hartline is unlikely to chip in more than an extra one or two, Clay and the TEs maybe have a few more in the locker, Gibson and the rest of the corps another few extras. The RBs could do with stepping their rate up, but we haven't seen it so I remain sceptical. The one guy who should be giving us half of the extra TDs we need all by himself, is Wallace.

There just isn't the capacity in the rest of the offense to take the burden off Wallace and leave him to be under performing as a #1 receiver. We need his production badly. If we get it we'll automatically stop worrying about who the #6 WR will be and enjoy our playoff run.

 

[So Be]

Feel better Hayden.

The only thing weighting against Gibson is certainly not his play when healthy or his connection with our QB. It's his price tag.
Based on what I saw late year he's number three until Landry beats him out which I think he will. The battle is probably between Binns and Matthews with Hazel on the practise squad for now. Thiggy ?

Keeping Gibson will cost the team $2M over cutting/trading him. Then you need to subtract another $500K for his roster replacement. I don't see $1.5M as a lot to keep a good player.