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DOLPHINS ROOKIE TALK
The Dolphins began their most unique rookie minicamp ever Friday, in that there was no on-field work, just teaching and lab work.
Some highlights from the media availability with five draft picks:
• Jakeem Grant knows “the return job is going to help me out making the team.”
He also knows his size (5-6) is considered a limitation by many. That doubt drives him.
“I definitely got that my whole life,” he said. “That just created a bigger chip on my shoulder. A whole bunch of guys saying my career is not going to last in the NFL because of my size. People have seen me take a bunch of hits and get right back up.
“I’m going to show the world size doesn’t matter. Middle school, I see people still growing and I’m like ‘Damn.’ I’m not blessed with the height, but I’m blessed with speed and quickness. You can’t hit what you can’t catch. Just because you have a 6-3 corner doesn’t mean you can jam me.'
“I am going to use my strengths to maneuver around him. My numbers didn’t lie coming out of college. They said he’s too short. That’s what they used against me [in not inviting me to] the Combine. Once the ball is in my hand, there’s nobody that can stop me.”
On height-challenged players in general, Grant said: “I feel a lot of guys are looking up to me, just like I looked up to Darren Sproles. I feel if I pave the way for those guys, one day we will be looked at standard receivers [not] gadget guys…. I want to be the best person on the field.”
Grant called Adam Gase an “offensive genius…. Knowing Zach Thomas [another Texas Tech alum] played here motivates me to be a Hall of Famer. I spoke to him [when Thomas visited Texas Tech].”
Grant feels a connection with Thomas because both are undersized for their positions.
• Receiver Leonte Carroo’s self-scouting report: “A lot like Jarvis Landry, a very physical receiver. I’m fast for my size. I had three career drops. I catch the ball very well. I stretch the field. Can play in the slot, catch the underneath routes as well.”
Interesting story: He said he dropped six touchdown passes in a game in his junior year of high school “in a freezing cold game” and “lost a lot of scholarships.”
The next year “I worked on my hands every day. Caught 100 balls [every day] after practice. Dropped one pass my senior year. Told myself I would try not to drop another pass again because it’s embarrassing.”
He said an assault/domestic violence arrest at Rutgers “probably did hurt me” in the draft. But charges were dropped. “It’s behind me now. I was exonerated and was back on my team two weeks after.”
• Kenyan Drake, the former Alabama running back, said: “I don’t need to be in the backfield to make a play. I can line out wide. Kickoff returns. I try to play every play like it’s my last play.”
Did he expect to be the third back taken? “Of course. In my eyes, I was the best back in the draft.”
His best strength? “My versatility, my ability to be an every down back.”
Then there was this odd moment. Asked what he thought of Nick Saban and his best Saban story, Drake said: "Next question."
• Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty said playing for his hometown team "is surreal. I am really, really blessed. Coach Gase is giving me an opportunity to compete, and that's all you can ask for. I am excited to play in front of my family and friends. Last time I was here, I was Sun-Sentinel player of the week. Was here three times my senior year. I dreamt I was Dan Marino growing up. He was my favorite player growing up. To have him sit in our meetings is a pretty cool thing."
"I am accurate, do a pretty good job of taking care of the ball. Those are things you really can't coach.... I respect Matt Moore is here, Ryan [Tannehill] is here. I'm going to enjoy the grind.""
His drive from home in West Davie took four minutes. "No traffic on 595 at 5:30 in the morning."
Former Dolphin Jeff Dellenbach was his coach in high school.
• Former Baylor cornerback Xavien Howard also spoke. My colleagues will have highlights from that. (I was chatting with Dolphins linebacker signee and ex-Louisville standout James Burgess, a familiar name to some South Florida college football fans; more on him in the coming days.)
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...that-four-of-them-had-to-say-today-plus-.html
The Dolphins began their most unique rookie minicamp ever Friday, in that there was no on-field work, just teaching and lab work.
Some highlights from the media availability with five draft picks:
• Jakeem Grant knows “the return job is going to help me out making the team.”
He also knows his size (5-6) is considered a limitation by many. That doubt drives him.
“I definitely got that my whole life,” he said. “That just created a bigger chip on my shoulder. A whole bunch of guys saying my career is not going to last in the NFL because of my size. People have seen me take a bunch of hits and get right back up.
“I’m going to show the world size doesn’t matter. Middle school, I see people still growing and I’m like ‘Damn.’ I’m not blessed with the height, but I’m blessed with speed and quickness. You can’t hit what you can’t catch. Just because you have a 6-3 corner doesn’t mean you can jam me.'
“I am going to use my strengths to maneuver around him. My numbers didn’t lie coming out of college. They said he’s too short. That’s what they used against me [in not inviting me to] the Combine. Once the ball is in my hand, there’s nobody that can stop me.”
On height-challenged players in general, Grant said: “I feel a lot of guys are looking up to me, just like I looked up to Darren Sproles. I feel if I pave the way for those guys, one day we will be looked at standard receivers [not] gadget guys…. I want to be the best person on the field.”
Grant called Adam Gase an “offensive genius…. Knowing Zach Thomas [another Texas Tech alum] played here motivates me to be a Hall of Famer. I spoke to him [when Thomas visited Texas Tech].”
Grant feels a connection with Thomas because both are undersized for their positions.
• Receiver Leonte Carroo’s self-scouting report: “A lot like Jarvis Landry, a very physical receiver. I’m fast for my size. I had three career drops. I catch the ball very well. I stretch the field. Can play in the slot, catch the underneath routes as well.”
Interesting story: He said he dropped six touchdown passes in a game in his junior year of high school “in a freezing cold game” and “lost a lot of scholarships.”
The next year “I worked on my hands every day. Caught 100 balls [every day] after practice. Dropped one pass my senior year. Told myself I would try not to drop another pass again because it’s embarrassing.”
He said an assault/domestic violence arrest at Rutgers “probably did hurt me” in the draft. But charges were dropped. “It’s behind me now. I was exonerated and was back on my team two weeks after.”
• Kenyan Drake, the former Alabama running back, said: “I don’t need to be in the backfield to make a play. I can line out wide. Kickoff returns. I try to play every play like it’s my last play.”
Did he expect to be the third back taken? “Of course. In my eyes, I was the best back in the draft.”
His best strength? “My versatility, my ability to be an every down back.”
Then there was this odd moment. Asked what he thought of Nick Saban and his best Saban story, Drake said: "Next question."
• Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty said playing for his hometown team "is surreal. I am really, really blessed. Coach Gase is giving me an opportunity to compete, and that's all you can ask for. I am excited to play in front of my family and friends. Last time I was here, I was Sun-Sentinel player of the week. Was here three times my senior year. I dreamt I was Dan Marino growing up. He was my favorite player growing up. To have him sit in our meetings is a pretty cool thing."
"I am accurate, do a pretty good job of taking care of the ball. Those are things you really can't coach.... I respect Matt Moore is here, Ryan [Tannehill] is here. I'm going to enjoy the grind.""
His drive from home in West Davie took four minutes. "No traffic on 595 at 5:30 in the morning."
Former Dolphin Jeff Dellenbach was his coach in high school.
• Former Baylor cornerback Xavien Howard also spoke. My colleagues will have highlights from that. (I was chatting with Dolphins linebacker signee and ex-Louisville standout James Burgess, a familiar name to some South Florida college football fans; more on him in the coming days.)
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...that-four-of-them-had-to-say-today-plus-.html
