When the Dolphins were considering former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, general manager Jeff Ireland gave thought to this point that he verbalized later:
“When you watch the Packers, you see there’s development in every phase of the offense. That’s what we need. It’s a developmental league. If you’re not moving forward in the development of players, we’re not going where we need to be.”
So Philbin and his Dolphins offensive staff have been charged with extracting more from the young players, including three that Ireland coveted in last year’s draft and are key to his vision for the offense:Daniel Thomas, Clyde Gates and Charles Clay. Thomas and Gates exited their rookie seasons with more questions than answers.Thomas managed just a 3.5 per carry average – 59th among 67 qualifying backs - and now faces competition from Lamar Miller for playing time behind Reggie Bush.“I can’t worry about who they’re drafting,” Thomas said of Miller. “I know I’ve gotten better. The injuries affected me a lot last year. They messed my mind up. I lost the confidence I had. I didn’t have the same burst I had earlier” when he ran for 107 and 95 yards in his first two games. (He ran for just 379 in the 11 others.)Thomas said his 3.5 average (including 2.9 in the fourth quarter) is unacceptable and “very disappointing,” adding, “I think I can average 5.0 a carry in this league.”Also troubling: his 1.9 yards-per-carry average after contact – fifth-worst among NFL backs.
That’s one reason he added seven pounds, to 235. “I wanted to get stronger because I lost some of the leg drive I had early on. I was stopped on first contact and that’s not me.”Thomas, who averaged 5.2 per carry in two years at Kansas State, is encouraged because “our offense is doing a lot more zone running, and we ran well last year when we zoned. That’s something I did in college a lot.”
Thomas was the fifth back drafted (62nd overall) after Mark Ingram (3.9 average), Shane Vereen (just 57 yards) and Ryan Williams and Mikel Leshoure (both injured reserve). What’s worrisome is the sixth back taken - Dallas’ DeMarco Murray, nine spots after Thomas – was far better than Thomas (897 yards, 5.5 average). And Thomas’ per-carry average trailed that of the seventh back (Stevan Ridley at 5.1), the ninth (Roy Helu, 4.2) and 10th (Kendall Hunter, 4.2), though all had fewer carries.
The Dolphins drafted Gates 111th and hoped he would produce immediately, like his close friend and fellow Abilene-Christian alumJohnny Knox did when the Bears drafted him 140th in 2009. But Gates played only 155 snaps, was targeted 10 times and caught two passes for 19 yards.
“The only thing I was discouraged about,” Ireland said, “was not getting him more opportunities. He has a great future.”Gates, who has a 4.3 speed, said last year “was confusing” but that the game has started “to slow down for me” mentally.
But it’s not happening for Gates as fast as some of the other receivers; Philbin said he needs work on making route adjustments based on defensive coverages.If he doesn’t improve in that area – vital in the West Coast offense – it’s difficult to envision him beating out front-runner Legedu Naanee for the No. 3 job or even winning the No. 4 job. Gates has bigger goals than that: "I want to be an every-down receiver.''Clay, who split his 405 snaps last year between tight end, H-back and fullback, said this offense “suits me well” partly because it exploits mismatches, such as Clay on a slower linebacker.“We love his versatility,” Philbin said after watching tape of the sixth-rounder’s rookie season (16 receptions, 233 yards, three touchdowns). “If you can keep him in the game and line him up as a tight end, [then] line him up next to the tight end, and [then] line him up as a receiver, you’re helping yourself offensively.” At times, the Dolphins will useAnthony Fasano, Clay and rookie Michael Egnew together.
CHATTER### Some Dolphins players have been especially impressed by David Garrard in offseason sessions – he’s polished, practices well (Matt Moore isn’t considered a great practice player) and has skills well suited for the West Coast offense. Don’t dismiss his chances in this competition, though there’s also a chance he doesn’t make the team if Moore or Ryan Tannehill wins the job. That’s because Miami must pay him at least $3.35 million if he sticks.### Though ESPNCleveland reported last week that Tannehill’s maturity “as a quarterback and field leader were so lacking, that he turned [the Browns] off in interviews,” the Dolphins felt the opposite, believing highly in his leadership. We would trust Miami’s evaluation more, because ofMike Sherman’s familiarity with him.... Please see my story elsewhere on the sports home page for more on the Dolphins' plans to work out free agent receiver Chad OchoCinco.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
“When you watch the Packers, you see there’s development in every phase of the offense. That’s what we need. It’s a developmental league. If you’re not moving forward in the development of players, we’re not going where we need to be.”
So Philbin and his Dolphins offensive staff have been charged with extracting more from the young players, including three that Ireland coveted in last year’s draft and are key to his vision for the offense:Daniel Thomas, Clyde Gates and Charles Clay. Thomas and Gates exited their rookie seasons with more questions than answers.Thomas managed just a 3.5 per carry average – 59th among 67 qualifying backs - and now faces competition from Lamar Miller for playing time behind Reggie Bush.“I can’t worry about who they’re drafting,” Thomas said of Miller. “I know I’ve gotten better. The injuries affected me a lot last year. They messed my mind up. I lost the confidence I had. I didn’t have the same burst I had earlier” when he ran for 107 and 95 yards in his first two games. (He ran for just 379 in the 11 others.)Thomas said his 3.5 average (including 2.9 in the fourth quarter) is unacceptable and “very disappointing,” adding, “I think I can average 5.0 a carry in this league.”Also troubling: his 1.9 yards-per-carry average after contact – fifth-worst among NFL backs.
That’s one reason he added seven pounds, to 235. “I wanted to get stronger because I lost some of the leg drive I had early on. I was stopped on first contact and that’s not me.”Thomas, who averaged 5.2 per carry in two years at Kansas State, is encouraged because “our offense is doing a lot more zone running, and we ran well last year when we zoned. That’s something I did in college a lot.”
Thomas was the fifth back drafted (62nd overall) after Mark Ingram (3.9 average), Shane Vereen (just 57 yards) and Ryan Williams and Mikel Leshoure (both injured reserve). What’s worrisome is the sixth back taken - Dallas’ DeMarco Murray, nine spots after Thomas – was far better than Thomas (897 yards, 5.5 average). And Thomas’ per-carry average trailed that of the seventh back (Stevan Ridley at 5.1), the ninth (Roy Helu, 4.2) and 10th (Kendall Hunter, 4.2), though all had fewer carries.
The Dolphins drafted Gates 111th and hoped he would produce immediately, like his close friend and fellow Abilene-Christian alumJohnny Knox did when the Bears drafted him 140th in 2009. But Gates played only 155 snaps, was targeted 10 times and caught two passes for 19 yards.
“The only thing I was discouraged about,” Ireland said, “was not getting him more opportunities. He has a great future.”Gates, who has a 4.3 speed, said last year “was confusing” but that the game has started “to slow down for me” mentally.
But it’s not happening for Gates as fast as some of the other receivers; Philbin said he needs work on making route adjustments based on defensive coverages.If he doesn’t improve in that area – vital in the West Coast offense – it’s difficult to envision him beating out front-runner Legedu Naanee for the No. 3 job or even winning the No. 4 job. Gates has bigger goals than that: "I want to be an every-down receiver.''Clay, who split his 405 snaps last year between tight end, H-back and fullback, said this offense “suits me well” partly because it exploits mismatches, such as Clay on a slower linebacker.“We love his versatility,” Philbin said after watching tape of the sixth-rounder’s rookie season (16 receptions, 233 yards, three touchdowns). “If you can keep him in the game and line him up as a tight end, [then] line him up next to the tight end, and [then] line him up as a receiver, you’re helping yourself offensively.” At times, the Dolphins will useAnthony Fasano, Clay and rookie Michael Egnew together.
CHATTER### Some Dolphins players have been especially impressed by David Garrard in offseason sessions – he’s polished, practices well (Matt Moore isn’t considered a great practice player) and has skills well suited for the West Coast offense. Don’t dismiss his chances in this competition, though there’s also a chance he doesn’t make the team if Moore or Ryan Tannehill wins the job. That’s because Miami must pay him at least $3.35 million if he sticks.### Though ESPNCleveland reported last week that Tannehill’s maturity “as a quarterback and field leader were so lacking, that he turned [the Browns] off in interviews,” the Dolphins felt the opposite, believing highly in his leadership. We would trust Miami’s evaluation more, because ofMike Sherman’s familiarity with him.... Please see my story elsewhere on the sports home page for more on the Dolphins' plans to work out free agent receiver Chad OchoCinco.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
