Great job of drafting a OL.........WTF? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Great job of drafting a OL.........WTF?

LikeUntoGod

LikeUntoGod

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I've been watching some NFL.com clips from Yahoo Sports(I think from SB Nation).

They started with Foster retiring. And all Props to the man. He was a great running back in the NFL and maybe jump started Ajayi a little bit this season.

So OK, a Foster clip. And then more Dolphin videos kept coming.

Ever hear of a player named Jay Ajayi? The NFL Network knows now, lol. And we hear the once famous Pickle Juice story( the jar still had the pickles in it)and he is given much love by those like LT who wonders "can he keep it up for 4-6 years".

But the clip that got me was one of only some ex-players sitting together. There was love for Ajayi then one said "But how about that drafting? The Dolphins have four 1st round picks on the OL plus an ex-Pro Bowler. They say this is the top 5 OL that should be starting. And there was much agreeing and toasting....and Harrumphing.....

I'm like WHAT? Did our OL just get LOVE? On NFL.com? This is odd, I feel like I'm on the Dolphins Network. 6 videos in a row.

They talked about how Gase made a great move cutting players. He is putting his foot down. Late for a meeting? You stay home. Miss some blocks? You are gone.

I will say this again. Jay Ajayi is a North-South runner or a downhill runner. All that means is that he heads downfield without any dancing or trying to jump to the outside. When you watch him run, notice that even while he shifts to miss tackles, he basically stays heading towards the end zone, never going 5 yards out of his way. HE DOES NOT HESITATE, he hits the hole at top speed. And if you have him 8 yards back instead of in a shotgun, he hits the LOS even faster.

Ajayi has a wicked stiff arm and he does not need awesome blocking, he just needs good blocking. Just keep the defense from hitting him two yards into our backfield. The important thing is to knock defenders a bit off their feet or get them off balance. Because Ajayi hits the hole so fast and keeps churning his legs, an arm tackle is not going to stop a 225 pound running back.

Keep running the ball Dolphins. And Adam, keep reading my posts for ideas.....


[video=youtube;JN99jshaQbY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN99jshaQbY[/video]
 
As I am watching the game a second time, it is amazing to see how well both Ajayi and the line are performing. Some blocks are not devestaing. Just enough strength at the correct place to shield the defensive player for a split second and Ajayi is through. It reminds me of TD at Denver: Sometimes power and sometimes sealing. One play was incredible to watch. Albert, Tunsil, and Pouncey engage at the first level for a second. Pouncey is in a double team with Bushrod. Albert, Pouncey, and Tunsil release to get to the second level. The TE seals Tunsil guy and Bushrod stays engaged. Albert, Tunsil, and Pouncey engage the LB at the second level. Again, it reminds me of the great lines I have seen in the past. WOW! I was floored by what I was seeing.
 
Good stuff. In addition to all the big 10 yard runs, as you mention we are not seeing tackles in backfield. What used to be 2nd and 13 is now 2nd and 8. Another "poor" run and were in a manageable 3rd and 6. Before it was already 3rd and 22 after the sack on an obvious passing play.

Sure is exciting to have a couple wins like this because it's a reliable formula, vs hoping our QB plays lights out.
 
What a difference an all world rb makes.

If gase was still doing his 10 man rb rotation of Williams was the starter (he wouldn't have gotten 60 yds much less 200) and were still! Not running the ball with o-line still being blamed. Giving Ajayi the gig and actually keeping him in the game is what's responsible for all of this, getting fed the ball and other widely talent by Jay.

And frankly, I don't get all the where's he been and I never knew he could do this kind of cunning because he is just doing what he did at boise state. Sure, many college players get big numbers and never get them in the nfl but usually, those types have one big break outburst and go to the NFL and DONT repeat. Jay was a monster from day one at boise and watching him game after game (i'm an Idaho homeboy) you could tell he was real deal and no college wonder just like branders and Eric Dickerson were watching them in college. It was obvious they were going to be special in the pros.

Go back to that draft and the draft mags that year and many scouts, gurus and draft shows said Ajayi could end up being the best rb in this draft. He would have been right there with gurly as rb 1A and 1B. Had ajayi not had the knee rumour floating around, many thought he would hands down have been the first rb taken.

I agree. And Jay didn't come out of nowhere. Gase didn't wave a magic wand. This line, although obviously improved in pass protection is still kind of so-so in run blocking. Jay is is the difference. He is just doing what he always has done. Their just letting him do it now. Jay is also a great pass catcher and I hope they get him more involved there.
 
Ajayi ran very hard the few touches I saw him get last year. You could see he was not easy to bring down by any stretch. He just needed an opportunity and the line to do its job. I'm glad for once we got to see our own talent do something in a Dolphin uniform. Instead of shipping it to BB just to watch it blow up.
 
I really have to go back to it being a mind set. We needed to get tougher mentally and physically.

We were not trying to run the ball, we were trying "finesse" plays. We needed to line up in at least a single back formation (and OMG, put Ajayi in a power I) and try to run the ball.

Instead of working all week to get the shifting of the possible pass blocking down, we told our OL that we trusted and believed in them to run the ball. As some have noticed, I think a well ran running play is a work of art. But the OLineman knows where is is going and who he is going to block. And when it all comes together it is poety in motion.

But it comes from desire. And from keeping it simple. And to having a commitment to running the ball.

A few weeks ago, our Fans were asking "what can we do?" I said, start running the football. I'm 100% sure our OL love run blocking compared to pass blocking. And they and Ajayi manned up to getting the green light.

Adam Gase told them that the last two games and maybe the season were on them, and they responded.
 
NRA said:
What a difference an all world rb makes.

If gase was still doing his 10 man rb rotation of Williams was the starter (he wouldn't have gotten 60 yds much less 200) and were still! Not running the ball with o-line still being blamed. Giving Ajayi the gig and actually keeping him in the game is what's responsible for all of this, getting fed the ball and other widely talent by Jay.

And frankly, I don't get all the where's he been and I never knew he could do this kind of cunning because he is just doing what he did at boise state. Sure, many college players get big numbers and never get them in the nfl but usually, those types have one big break outburst and go to the NFL and DONT repeat. Jay was a monster from day one at boise and watching him game after game (i'm an Idaho homeboy) you could tell he was real deal and no college wonder just like branders and Eric Dickerson were watching them in college. It was obvious they were going to be special in the pros.

Go back to that draft and the draft mags that year and many scouts, gurus and draft shows said Ajayi could end up being the best rb in this draft. He would have been right there with gurly as rb 1A and 1B. Had ajayi not had the knee rumour floating around, many thought he would hands down have been the first rb taken.

I agree. And Jay didn't come out of nowhere. Gase didn't wave a magic wand. This line, although obviously improved in pass protection is still kind of so-so in run blocking. Jay is is the difference. He is just doing what he always has done. Their just letting him do it now. Jay is also a great pass catcher and I hope they get him more involved there.
Click to expand...

I'm also not surprised. Not saying I expected back to back 200 yards games. Who would expect that? But I've said several times he's the only RB ever to have 2000 yards rushing and 500 receiving in the same season in college. I don't care who you're playing you need talent for that.

Ozzy rules!!
 
2 weeks that's a nice start, but it's only 2 weeks. I'd like to see consistent play before we start heaping praise.
 
Please keep this straight this time.

It's not the running back...or the QB.....it is commitment and the Offensive Line.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins put on another running clinic, as Jay Ajayi accomplished something only three other players in NFL history have done. He joined Earl Campbell, O.J. Simpson and Ricky Williams after recording back-to-back 200-yard rushing games. Ajayi finished Sunday with 214 yards on 28 carries (a 7.6-yard average). When you accomplish something historic like that, every O-lineman takes full pride in the feat.


The O-line took control of the game against Buffalo on the opening possession, as Miami marched 64 yards on 15 plays and chewed up 7:32 before settling for a field goal. The Fins tallied 454 yards of total offense against a Bills defense that was ranked 12th overall, fifth on third down and first in red-zone defense. The protection was consistent, as well: Ryan Tannehill was only sacked once and barely touched otherwise -- pretty impressive against a defense that was second in the league in sacks (21) heading into the game. So what prevented the Dolphins from being this week's winner? The O-line had six penalties -- five holding penalties and one false start.
 
I think most here don't even realize what Ajayi accomplished in his last year in college.

All he managed to do was
#1 in the running back class with 50 receptions
#1 in the running back class with 535 yards receiving
#1 in yards after the catch with 488 yac

If and when Gase figures out what he has in Ajayi in the passing game
we might just have the BEST dual threat at running back in the NFL
 
miamiron said:
I think most here don't even realize what Ajayi accomplished in his last year in college.

All he managed to do was
#1 in the running back class with 50 receptions
#1 in the running back class with 535 yards receiving
#1 in yards after the catch with 488 yac

If and when Gase figures out what he has in Ajayi in the passing game
we might just have the BEST dual threat at running back in the NFL
Click to expand...

I need to watch more old Boise tape, but i can only assume their QB has no where near the zip and velocity that Tannehill has on his passes because Ajayi has had a fair number of drops since preseason on his small amount of receiving targets.

Dmac
 
NRA said:
What a difference an all world rb makes.

If gase was still doing his 10 man rb rotation of Williams was the starter (he wouldn't have gotten 60 yds much less 200) and were still! Not running the ball with o-line still being blamed. Giving Ajayi the gig and actually keeping him in the game is what's responsible for all of this, getting fed the ball and other widely talent by Jay.

And frankly, I don't get all the where's he been and I never knew he could do this kind of cunning because he is just doing what he did at boise state. Sure, many college players get big numbers and never get them in the nfl but usually, those types have one big break outburst and go to the NFL and DONT repeat. Jay was a monster from day one at boise and watching him game after game (i'm an Idaho homeboy) you could tell he was real deal and no college wonder just like branders and Eric Dickerson were watching them in college. It was obvious they were going to be special in the pros.

Go back to that draft and the draft mags that year and many scouts, gurus and draft shows said Ajayi could end up being the best rb in this draft. He would have been right there with gurly as rb 1A and 1B. Had ajayi not had the knee rumour floating around, many thought he would hands down have been the first rb taken.

I agree. And Jay didn't come out of nowhere. Gase didn't wave a magic wand. This line, although obviously improved in pass protection is still kind of so-so in run blocking. Jay is is the difference. He is just doing what he always has done. Their just letting him do it now. Jay is also a great pass catcher and I hope they get him more involved there.
Click to expand...

While Ajayi has been great, the real reason we're running for all these yards is our 5 O-lineman are starting together for the first time this year.

It's simple logic, Ajayi has been in the game for most of the season...what's changed in the past two games? The o line.
 
NRA said:
What a difference an all world rb makes.

If gase was still doing his 10 man rb rotation of Williams was the starter (he wouldn't have gotten 60 yds much less 200) and were still! Not running the ball with o-line still being blamed. Giving Ajayi the gig and actually keeping him in the game is what's responsible for all of this, getting fed the ball and other widely talent by Jay.

And frankly, I don't get all the where's he been and I never knew he could do this kind of cunning because he is just doing what he did at boise state. Sure, many college players get big numbers and never get them in the nfl but usually, those types have one big break outburst and go to the NFL and DONT repeat. Jay was a monster from day one at boise and watching him game after game (i'm an Idaho homeboy) you could tell he was real deal and no college wonder just like branders and Eric Dickerson were watching them in college. It was obvious they were going to be special in the pros.

Go back to that draft and the draft mags that year and many scouts, gurus and draft shows said Ajayi could end up being the best rb in this draft. He would have been right there with gurly as rb 1A and 1B. Had ajayi not had the knee rumour floating around, many thought he would hands down have been the first rb taken.

I agree. And Jay didn't come out of nowhere. Gase didn't wave a magic wand. This line, although obviously improved in pass protection is still kind of so-so in run blocking. Jay is is the difference. He is just doing what he always has done. Their just letting him do it now. Jay is also a great pass catcher and I hope they get him more involved there.
Click to expand...

Disagree. OL had a huge impact. Not to say Ajayi didnt, but shouldnt dismiss their play either.
 
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