Interesting Notes from Omar Kelly on Phins Minicamp

[Kdawg954]

"--CFL import Jerome Messam is listed as a 6-4, 248 pound tailback for the Dolphins. Seriously?"

Larry Csonka 6'3" 240lb. I like it.

I haven't watched much of Messam, but I'd probably be willing to gamble that size is the only thing him and Czonk have in common. That guy was one tough SOB . . . I'm pretty sure at the time he was the only RB to ever receive a penalty for roughing the defender. Everything about the guy was tough.

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

At 6'4" and almost 250 he's built more like a Tight End then a Running back

 

[LikeUntoGod]

these guys read that messam is gonna get some looks at fb...thats where the fb stuff comes from...makes no sense to me...guy looks like a single back ball carrier to me...got a lot of daniel thomas to his game imo...

the move to a zbs should only help murtha on the right side...

Messam is not a FB and Clay is not a TE............

 

[NYPhin24]

I don't doubt us having a RT already on this roster between Murtha, Garner and Jerry...I don't know that we have the Guards for the ZBS though. Incognito is slow and unathletic and the RG spot is completely open. I don't even know if we have someone on the roster that can play the spot effectively.

Unfortunately Artis Hicks practiced at RT, but i have seen a few places that mention he would be a better fit as a Guard (played Guard at Memphis)

here is a scouting report on Hicks

SCOUTING REPORT
Artis Hicks Memphis 6-4|303|5.11 5Sr
STATS & BIO: Four-year starter used at both guard and left tackle. First team All-Conference selection as a senior and originally a Freshman All-American in 1998.
THE GOOD: Nice sized, athletic lineman with a lot of upside potential if he applies himself. Plays with forward lean, effectively breaks down and bends his knees. Moves well laterally, quick getting out front and blocking on the second level, staying square and keeping the opponent in front of him at all times. Flexible, uses good body positioning and effective when he works his hands.
THE BAD: Displays strength at the point of attack and the ability to control defenders but not intense, does not attack his blocks or work hard to finish off defenders. Seemingly content with leaning on defenders instead of burying them when he has the opportunity.
THE SKINNY: Has the underlying skills and the body type to become a dominant force but just happy relying just on his natural abilities. Innate skills warrant a first day pick but attitude and approach push him into the later rounds. Early Sixth Round.

http://profootball.scout.com/2/43554.html

 

[TheWalrus]

Messam is not a FB and Clay is not a TE............

You got half of that right.

Charles Clay in my view will definitely be used this year as a tight end. In fact, I think Philbin even said that definitively, pointing to Clay as one of the more interesting players on the roster whose role needed to be simplified into just being a tight end.

One of the things that hasn't been talked about much is that we really don't have a fullback on the roster right now, and that position is a big part of the West Coast offense. Think Tom Rathman and the part he played in the 49er passing game. John Kuhn is a workmanlike guy without much talent but he has a pretty big role in the Packer offense, especially as a receiver. The play action rollout -- with the fullback as the primary receiver -- is a staple of the WCO.

Anyway, we need one. This is not, as usual, a good draft for fullbacks, but one thing I think you can take to the bank is that we'll take one at some point.

 

[PYRO]

The thing that really stood out to me was how happy he was at their efficiency during practice, Something I was hoping Philbin would bring to this franchise...a since of urgency. How do you expect to run a 2 minute offense if your not used to doing it in practice?! I'm tired of seeing us squander 4th quarter comebacks...or maintaining a lead whatsoever. We will be a surprise team this year if we become efficient with the talent we proved we had.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

Something tells me he is going to be a project at fullback, especially since we have Slaton, Thomas and Bush at running back.

Hey bro, does your dog play Madden online??

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

You got half of that right.

Charles Clay in my view will definitely be used this year as a tight end. In fact, I think Philbin even said that definitively, pointing to Clay as one of the more interesting players on the roster whose role needed to be simplified into just being a tight end.

One of the things that hasn't been talked about much is that we really don't have a fullback on the roster right now, and that position is a big part of the West Coast offense. Think Tom Rathman and the part he played in the 49er passing game. John Kuhn is a workmanlike guy without much talent but he has a pretty big role in the Packer offense, especially as a receiver. The play action rollout -- with the fullback as the primary receiver -- is a staple of the WCO.

Anyway, we need one. This is not, as usual, a good draft for fullbacks, but one thing I think you can take to the bank is that we'll take one at some point.

We need Lou Polite back. He was one of my favorite players. Could catch, great blocker, and was great in short yardage. I can't believe they just let him walk away to the pats.

 

[Exuro]

We need Lou Polite back. He was one of my favorite players. Could catch, great blocker, and was great in short yardage. I can't believe they just let him walk away to the pats.

His role was greatly diminihsed with the arrival of Clay. Only the Jets keep 2 fullbacks on the 53 man roster.

 

[BigBossFin]

messam wont make the squad

 

[TheWalrus]

We need Lou Polite back. He was one of my favorite players. Could catch, great blocker, and was great in short yardage. I can't believe they just let him walk away to the pats.

I don't particularly agree. Polite was good in short yardage but 2009 was his only good season as a blocker, imo. His first and third seasons he was mediocre to sub-mediocre at the POA. He was also a very limited athlete and useless route wise on anything but a simple checkdown.

If you're going to be as stiff with the ball in your hands as Vontae Leach, you better block like Vontae Leach, in my view. And Polite just wasn't that.

By the way, the Pats released him in March. No one's picked him up. If we don't get a FB in the draft we might bring him back, but I sort of doubt it. He's 30 and has had injury concerns through his career.

 

[Cole Hbr finfan]

messam will impress.

 

[hoops]

we're gonna play a lot of spread formations with single back sets...no need for a true fb like a polite...thats a waste of a 45 man gameday roster spot...we need someone like a john kuhn...willing as a blocker but not all that adept at it but a weapon in the underneath passing game and can take a few goalline short yardage carries etc...if clay is being moved to te i can see them flexing him out etc but good luck getting away with him in line in pass pro without a lot of help...he's more a dive cut blocker than a stone you off the ball guy...

i don't see a kuhn like fb on this roster especially with clay making the switch and i don't see how anyone watches messam video of him as a ball carrier and thinks fb...despite the size...he's a make one cut and get north and south guy with pretty good feet i don't see daniel thomas feet but good feet and looks like decent wheels...but another guy that runs awful upright in traffic

the thing about clay making the switch to te last year he was more a free release down the field guy and frankly a guy the d rarely accounted for...if he's gonna be the finley in this o for us which i have a hard time seeing but anyways he's gonna have to show he can get off of coverage at the los and know when to sit down etc...identify coverages...and he's gonna have to beat man to man coverage...something he's yet to do so its an unknown...terrific soft hands though...plucks the ball effortlessly out of the air...i think its more about scheme though as to what kind of damage he'll do for us as true te than flat out talent...