Finding the Fits: Alabama's Kenyan Drake more than a backup plan in Miami

[Fin Fan in Cali]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...kenyan-drake-more-than-a-backup-plan-in-miami

Miami's best fit: No. 73 overall -- RB Kenyan Drake, Alabama
Given the way he left Miami, one can't blame Dolphins fans for disliking Nick Saban.
Some solace for long-suffering Miami fans could be on the way, however, with Drake, one of Saban's star pupils at Alabama, who is in prime position to take a starring role for the Dolphins as a rookie.
Just ask Saban, who predicted a month prior to the draft that Drake would generate lots of interest in the NFL, despite serving mostly as a backup at Alabama while struggling a bit with durability.
"Kenyan Drake is a unique style player," Saban said prior to Alabama's Pro Day. "He's kind of a specialty guy who is a great receiver, especially as a mismatch guy out of the backfield, but he can also go out and run routes like a receiver. And he does have some potential as a running back, which is his natural position, especially on any kind of space plays. This is a guy that some people are going to covet, especially in style of play that you have right now.

Kenyan Drake is the perfect air back for Adam Gase's attack.
USATSI "[Patriots head coach] Bill Belichick and I were talking last night about 60-65 percent passing in the NFL right now. Well, [Drake is] certainly a guy you could feature in an offense like that."
Of course, after playing behind future second-round picks Eddie Lacy (Green Bay Packers), T.J. Yeldon (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans) at Alabama, Drake is used to being forced to make the most of his opportunities. He is a more explosive athlete than any of the other backs currently on Miami's roster and, in fact, could be in line for an even greater role in what is expected to be an up-tempo offense. Gase and general manager Chris Grier pursued veterans C.J. Anderson (Denver Broncos) and Chris Johnson (Arizona Cardinals) after losing Lamar Miller to the Houston Texans in free agency.

I don't know about our most explosive athlete at RB, but we will shall see.

 

[fishfanmiami]

I think gase will find lots of ways to use him but I'd be concerned if anything happens to Ajayi and he was our main back and had to carry the load.

 

[BigNastyFish]

Again, the loss of Miller will hurt this team. And it was an avoidable loss.

Jay Ajayi is classy kid but he's NOT a starting caliber NFL RB. Not even close.

So the workload on Drake is going to much higher than most folks realize.

So we have serious questions @RB -- in terms of durability and basic functionality.

LeMarvelous should run for a lot of yards in Texas...

BNF.

 

[next-year]

Again, the loss of Miller will hurt this team. And it was an avoidable loss.

Jay Ajayi is classy kid but he's NOT a starting caliber NFL RB. Not even close.

So the workload on Drake is going to much higher than most folks realize.

So we have serious questions @RB -- in terms of durability and basic functionality.

LeMarvelous should run for a lot of yards in Texas...

BNF.

Give it up already Miller is gone.

Saying Jay Ajayi isn't close to starting caliber is obviously based on nothing whatsoever. Some people on this board act as if we lost AP when the truth of the matter is that we lost a guy who barely broke 1k yards ONCE in his 4 years here.

To make a little better sense of this, Lamar Miller got drafted in the 4th round with no injury teams were worried about in a very very weak RB draft class.

Ajayi got drafted in the 5th in a wayyyyy better RB draft class and was projected to go in the 2nd but team were worried about his degenerative knee issue. I understand draft position ultimately doesn't add up to how a players career will turn up but in this scenario it's kind of like Ajayi's rookie season again. He was hurt for the first 8 weeks and then near then end benched to save him for next season. Ajayi was/is a better prospect than Lamar Miller and the fact that youre writing him off after one season which he was sidelined due to injury for a good portion is ridiculous.

 

[NRA]

Jay Ajayi is classy kid but he's NOT a starting caliber NFL RB. Not even close.

Where in the hell do these kind of statements come from. Its just baffling. I mean nothing could be more opposing to the truth about jay. All you can do is shake your head.

 

[LordTua]

I'm getting the sense that Drake will be used in the Vareen role that NE employed. I think he will be our pesky RB that just makes LBs lives miserable while moving the sticks through the air

 

[Kingdom Come]

I know I am so far out of the box that hardly anyone can see me, but I would still be doing everything possible to trade for Spencer Ware and Cordarrelle Patterson.

Ware had one of the best YPC's in the league last year and.....

Patterson is a RB. How can everyone not see that. He is James Starks, only much faster and shiftier.

 

[spiketex]

I know I am so far out of the box that hardly anyone can see me, but I would still be doing everything possible to trade for Spencer Ware and Cordarrelle Patterson.

Ware had one of the best YPC's in the league last year and.....

Patterson is a RB. How can everyone not see that. He is James Starks, only much faster and shiftier.

Cordarelle Patterson is blessed with great athleticism but apparently he's as dumb as they come. There is a reason why Zimmer gives him so little playing time. He's too dumb to learn the plays. These comments are just second hand but I believe it.

 

[Oraclepz]

Doesn't matter I'm ready to roll with what we have this year. If it doesn't work out then next year is the year to grab a back. That draft is going to be stacked with RBs. Fournette, Cook, Samarje, Mack, ETC

 

[DKphin]

Again, the loss of Miller will hurt this team. And it was an avoidable loss.

Jay Ajayi is classy kid but he's NOT a starting caliber NFL RB. Not even close.

So the workload on Drake is going to much higher than most folks realize.

So we have serious questions @RB -- in terms of durability and basic functionality.

LeMarvelous should run for a lot of yards in Texas...

BNF.

What do you base that statement on? Your own personal bias.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Drake is not more explosive than Ajayi. He's faster in a straight line, but that's it.

 

[FSU Truth]

Where in the hell do these kind of statements come from. Its just baffling. I mean nothing could be more opposing to the truth about jay. All you can do is shake your head.

Is he not a classy kid....

I get what you are saying...Jay carried the load at BSU and did a hell of a job...While I don't think he should carry the full load I do think he is a starter quality in the NFL and the match with Drake is a good one.

 

[Eesti]

Every rookie who faces an injury in his first year loses valuable snaps and learning experience. It's a HUGE setback. So much to learn and you are on the sideline. Devante Parker was able to climb back last year but only because Mathews got hurt.

I can't wait to see Ajayi get a chance. He's the violent type of runner that I love and he will be so much more ready this year. Even though Lamar Miller had a few more yards and a better average as a rookie, I saw more potential from Ajayi in year one than I saw from Miller.

 

[hoops]

even his own college coach called drake a "space player"

I don't see a mindset of avoid contact at all cost but I also don't see how this can work inside the tackles short of draw plays predicated by down and distance

ajayi needs to be the bell cow but something tells me miamis gonna go the vet free agent route as the starter

 

[beanh8er]

Give it up already Miller is gone.

Saying Jay Ajayi isn't close to starting caliber is obviously based on nothing whatsoever. Some people on this board act as if we lost AP when the truth of the matter is that we lost a guy who barely broke 1k yards ONCE in his 4 years here.

To make a little better sense of this, Lamar Miller got drafted in the 4th round with no injury teams were worried about in a very very weak RB draft class.

Ajayi got drafted in the 5th in a wayyyyy better RB draft class and was projected to go in the 2nd but team were worried about his degenerative knee issue. I understand draft position ultimately doesn't add up to how a players career will turn up but in this scenario it's kind of like Ajayi's rookie season again. He was hurt for the first 8 weeks and then near then end benched to save him for next season. Ajayi was/is a better prospect than Lamar Miller and the fact that youre writing him off after one season which he was sidelined due to injury for a good portion is ridiculous.

Lamar had an injury history. His shoulder was pretty much even to Ajayi's knee in terms of concern.