Jackson's Sunday buzz- interesting tidbits

[Daytona Fin]

Content with Matt Moore, the Dolphins decided not to inquire about a trade for Tampa Bay’s Mike Glennon, and the Buccaneers say they want to keep him anyway…

Though they’re already deep at receiver, the Dolphins conveyed interest in moving running back Marcus Thigpen (who has been sidelined with back problems) back to receiver and want him to have competition for his return jobs, with rookies Jarvis Landry and Aikens and ex-Titans receiver Damian Williams among potential challengers.

### Among undrafted Dolphins rookies worth keeping an eye on: LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson (“A lot of people thought he was better than [fellow LSU tackle] Ego Ferguson, who was picked 51st by the Bears,” Sporting News analyst Russ Lande said. “He has most of the traits you look for in an NFL starter”) and Marshall tight end/H-back Gator Hoskins, whose 15 TD catches last season led the nation. “Hoskins knows how to get open,” Lande said.

Beyond offensive line, no Dolphins position has more uncertainty than cornerback, excluding Brent Grimes. Cortland Finnegan hasn’t had a good year since 2011, and Jamar Taylor and Will Davis played just 110 defensive snaps as rookies last season and allowed 12 of 14 passes to be completed against them, for 17.3 yards per reception.

Because Miami made no effort to keep Nolan Carroll (now with Philadelphia) and Dimitri Patterson (Jets), Taylor and Davis project to be among Miami’s top four corners. Joe Philbin said both will be given every chance to beat out Finnegan for a starting job.

“Those are guys we thought highly of; they had injury issues,” Philbin said.

Taylor, selected 54th overall out of Boise State, was inactive for seven games, partly because of a groin injury related to offseason hernia surgery. He played just 45 snaps and allowed all four passes thrown against him to be caught, for 100 yards.

“I felt down plenty of times,” he said late last season. “It’s frustrating. When you’re healthy, you don’t play much. When you’re not healthy, you don’t play. It’s tough when you see teams like Buffalo playing their rookies. I had great guys in front of me. [But] I got drafted here to help and I haven’t.”

At the NFL owners meetings in Orlando in March, two front office executives with other teams told me that Finnegan’s physicality and feistiness should help Miami if he’s disciplined and provided his skills do not diminish.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher insisted Finnegan hasn’t lost speed and St. Louis wanted him back as a nickel-back. One NFL executive said then-Rams coordinator Tim Walton (since fired) didn’t use Finnegan to his strengths. (Walton previously was d-coordinator at UM.)

“I’m on my worst behavior, in a modified way,” said Finnegan, 30, once a Pro Bowler when he played for Tennessee. “Just stay tuned. I won’t hurt the team by any stretch. I’m back. I lost that edge, but it’s back.”

Incidentally, the Dolphins’ fifth and sixth cornerbacks are rookie fourth-round pick Walt Aikens and journeyman Jalil Brown, who played 34 games with two starts for the Chiefs and Colts.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...cripts-dolphins-canes-buzz.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Digital]

Thanks for posting it. I always enjoy these.

Not sure I buy the Glennon bit but the rest is kind of non-news. But hey, at least he wrote something about the Dolphins, which is always nice to read.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Daytona Fin]

I am wondering if Thigpen's days are numbered in Miami. If we can find a better option on returns,which shouldn't be too hard, I think Thigpen will have a tough road ahead at making the final roster.

Though they’re already deep at receiver, the Dolphins conveyed interest in moving running back Marcus Thigpen (who has been sidelined with back problems) back to receiver and want him to have competition for his return jobs, with rookies Jarvis Landry and Aikens and ex-Titans receiver Damian Williams among potential challengers.

 

[roy_miami]

I am wondering if Thigpen's days are numbered in Miami. If we can find a better option on returns,which shouldn't be too hard, I think Thigpen will have a tough road ahead at making the final roster.

When Thigpen gets opportunities on offense he makes plays but he's not great at punt returning. Hopefully we find a way to work him into the offense more.

 

[Billk78]

Im worried about corner opposite Grimes. Hoping someone can step up, or perhaps we can sign someone after cuts.

 

[SkapePhin]

I have a bad feeling our defense will implode this season...

 

[So Be]

When Thigpen gets opportunities on offense he makes plays but he's not great at punt returning. Hopefully we find a way to work him into the offense more.

Agree on the punts. Would Landry be like a Bess, who was very solid there?

 

[Phinsfan93]

I have a bad feeling our defense will implode this season...

I have the same feeling, mostly because of the loss of Soliai, but then I have another feeling that Taylor wins the #2 CB spot, Dion breaks out, and Ellerbe performs better in his second year. I do see this defense improving before it implodes though.

 

[rent this space]

I have a feeling Finnegan will return to form and start opposite Grimes. Wheeler is my main worry on defense, I will be very interested to see what Tripp can offer.

 

[fishfanmiami]

I have a bad feeling our defense will implode this season...

Really hope your wrong brother but there does seem to be many questions on that side of the ball.
Who will step up opposite Grimes ? Can someone unseat Wheeler ? Will our run D suffer without Big Paul ? What to do with Jordan.

Hopefully everything works out for the best.

 

[Vaark]

Wonder what tackle "traits" Johnson possesses that favorably compares him to the 54th player taken (aside from less "ego" obviously). Despite myself, although I should know better, I get excited over UFAs like Johnson and G8R - who accomplished what they did..thinking just maybe they can turn out to be those proverbial diamonds in the rough.

 

[roy_miami]

Wonder what tackle "traits" Johnson possesses that favorably compares him to the 54th player taken (aside from less "ego" obviously). Despite myself, although I should know better, I get excited over UFAs like Johnson and G8R - who accomplished what they did..thinking just maybe they can turn out to be those proverbial diamonds in the rough.

Johnson had a third round grade before the draft, think he was one of the ones that failed a drug test at the combine. He was a 5 star recruit too evidently, dude has some upside for sure if he's not a head case. Gator is my favorite highlight package pick.

 

[NRA]

I have a bad feeling our defense will implode this season...

but....., you dont explain.

we upgraded solie's spot with mitchell who is every bit the run stuffer solie is/was and is a WAY better pass rusher. in fact, solie was in decline from previous years, maybe its the fact he is a 3-4 nose tackle and not a 4-3 DT. i dont miss him.

AND EVERYONE WHINING ABOUT "BIG PAUL" AND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE RUN GAME and who is going to stop it now, etc.... .

IF YOUR TEAM ONLY HAS ONE GUY to depend on to get a job done [outside the qb] you dont have much of a team. and there were MANY different reasons the run game was up and down and LITTLE of it had to do with solie. i foresee NO decline unless there are mass in juries, especially at db and lb.

 

[So Be]

Mitchell was a 295 pound NT last year, which does not work. I expect his move to DT to be similar to moving Odrick there from the outside, with VG results. As for our second CB, Carroll was below average in coverage, and Patterson barely saw the field. How hard will it be for Taylor, Finnegen, and maybe Davis to be better. I see our D as being better.

 

[Vaark]

Johnson had a third round grade before the draft, think he was one of the ones that failed a drug test at the combine. He was a 5 star recruit too evidently, dude has some upside for sure if he's not a head case. Gator is my favorite highlight package pick.

There's even more reason to be hopeful about the ones who plummet due to off the field issues. Either they learn from their bad and costly experience with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove - or they regulate themselves into a UPS uniform. Vontaze Burrfect is a good example of the former, being named 2nd team All Pro and to the ProBowl. I'm liking these moves from Hickey, whereas I think Ireland would ignore most of these already proven guys with baggege, instead from an ego standpoint, trying to harvest acorns that show how smart he is (or thinks that he is).