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Kenyan Drake ??

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gregorygrant83

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I think Drake showed some promise in his handful of carries at running back in 2016, however with the emergence of Ajayi and the team's love for Williams could Drake have a brighter future as a receiver? At 6'1 215 Drake would have decent size outside (about the same size as Rishard Matthews) and he has solid hands. He showed what he could do with his speed in space on several kickoff returns. Playing Drake at receiver could get him more touches per game than he might get at running back. I'm not big on switching positions once you're in the league, but I think Drake could be pretty good receiver if ask too and at the least would give Miami another option to stretch the field. Then again if Stills, Landry, Parker and Carroo are back next year he would still have to fight for playing time as a reciever too. In time I think he could be pretty good at either position.
 
For me, the key for KD is like other young RB's... will his pass protection improve?

Drake, Grant, & Duarte improving will take this offense from good to lethal... provided the OL doesn't regress to Philbin level.
 
No need to switch him positions but the Dolphins like a lot of teams will split RB's out wide in the formation so in essence they will be a receiver on that play.
 
utahphinsfan said:
For me, the key for KD is like other young RB's... will his pass protection improve?
Drake, Grant, & Duarte improving will take this offense from good to lethal... provided the OL doesn't regress to Philbin level.
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Drake has very high potential but pass protection is a major problem. It needs to improve a lot.
 
I liked Kenyan at Kickoff Returning. Only 13 returns but 397 total yards for 30.5 yards per return with 1 TD.
 
If Drake had better hands he would have been in the field more often. Seem the staff likes Williams better catching balls out the backfield. As to having Drake play WR. Not a chance. There's already a logjams there. Add a seam TE and we're set in offense.
 
JEDIJ007 said:
If Drake had better hands he would have been in the field more often. Seem the staff likes Williams better catching balls out the backfield. As to having Drake play WR. Not a chance. There's already a logjams there. Add a seam TE and we're set in offense.
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He has "good enough" hands. Coaching staff just trusted Damian Williams more as he was laying guys out in pass protection during camp.

Come next season, expect Drake to really take over that role. Just too much talent on the sidelines and I am sure the coaching staff has told him as much. Work on the less flashy parts of being a RB.
 
Gase seems to find ways to incorporate playmakers. I really believe that if he can get Drake to improve on his pass protection, we will see him on the field a lot more.
 
The Dolphins drafted Kenyan Drake when they could have had Keivare Russell or Shilique Calhoun on defense who were drafted right after. They also could have added at least depth and likely a starter on the OL in OT/OG Shon Coleman and Joe Thuney. Later in the round they traded away 2017 3rd and 4th rd picks for WR Leonte Carroo when taken right after him were OLB Kyler Fackrell and DT Javon Hargrave. In the 6th rd they drafted Jakeem Grant when they could have drafted DE Anthony Zettel or boundary CB Maurice Canady. In the 7th rd they drafted Thomas Duarte when they could have drafted LB depth (at least) in Tyler Matakevich or Scooby Wright.

I like Kenyan Drake and Jakeem Grant looks good if he can stop fumbling, but the opportunity cost of drafting these offensive role players was imo huge- not only in players we could have drafted instead but also the 3rd and 4th rd picks this year that we really could have used, even though we should have those extra supplemental picks to work with. That being said, Kenyan Drake should stay where he is- he's a RB and KR not a WR and the WR position is crowded as it is especially with the costly Leontee Carroo waiting in the wings.
 
I like Ajayi. He surprised me. I think Drake could be the better back but I don't see a reason why we can't do 15-20 carries for Ajayi, 3-5 for both Drake and Williams. Unless you want to trade williams or Drake for a draft pick. Unfortunately Ajayi is not a great receiving back.
 
Dthrill_08 said:
I like Ajayi. He surprised me. I think Drake could be the better back but I don't see a reason why we can't do 15-20 carries for Ajayi, 3-5 for both Drake and Williams. Unless you want to trade williams or Drake for a draft pick. Unfortunately Ajayi is not a great receiving back.
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He actually is a pretty talented receiving back.
 
I really think we could keep teams off balance by swapping out Ajayi and Drake. Give Ajayi most of the carries, and bring in Drake as a chance of pace. Use Drake in end-around plays. Maybe play them together with Ajayi in the FB position.

As for Williams, he did pretty well as a 3rd-down back...kind of a Jim Jensen position. He's a downhill runner like Ajayi, though, so he's a good backup...but don't see him playing as much unless Ajayi gets hurt.
 
Unless Grant improves his hands I don't think he'll make the roster next year which makes Drake your return man for both kicks and punts. I doubt next season that Landary is going to be anywhere near those duties. Also if we square away the injury bug on the O-line Drake would make a great 3rd down back next season.

I'm still high on the kid and glad we choose him, I think he can be a playmaker for Miami for years to come. I'd work him into a Darren Sproles type role.
 
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