New coach, 45 new players on roster as Dolphins again reboot

[DKphin]

They begin training camp July 29 hitting the reset button yet again and hoping this season will somehow be different. Adam Gase, the NFL's youngest head coach at 38, has installed a new offense with the help of new coordinator Clyde Christensen, and the defense has also been revamped under new coordinator Vance Joseph.
There are also 45 newcomers on the roster for a franchise where turnover and transition are the norm. Gase is Miami's ninth coach since 2004, and he'll have plenty to sort out in camp as the Dolphins try to lay the foundation for a turnaround.

Here are some keys to gaining ground on perennial champion New England and the rest of the division:

THE LEADER: Gase was the offensive coordinator for the high-scoring Denver Broncos in 2013-14, but also for the last-place Chicago Bears in 2015. Confident and jocular, he likes to talk trash with his players, which makes him a stark contrast to staid Joe Philbin, who ran the past four training camps.
Players rave about Gase, but then he hasn't lost a game yet.
"He's very vibrant," tight end Jordan Cameron said. "He has so much confidence in his ability to call plays and set up an offense, and that's kind of contagious. He's definitely a player's coach, he knows how to communicate to us and he's very black and white, which is good. It's been awesome so far. We're in the beginning stages and we have a lot of work to do, but I think we've definitely gotten off on the right foot."

CAMP COMPETITION: At least five starting jobs are up for grabs: both guard spots, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback. Not even first-round draft pick Laremy Tunsil is assured of starting the opener, but having so many unsettled situations isn't all bad.
"That's how we are rolling," Gase said. "You have to earn your spot. I don't think you've seen anybody really get plugged in and anointed anything. Everybody is battling. That's what we want. We want competition. We want guys to earn their spots. If you're a veteran player, a lot of guys respect that because they know it's not going to be handed to anybody."

TEAM STRENGTH: The front four could rank among the NFL's best if Mario Williams and Cameron Wake return to form. Williams, 31, signed a $17 million, two-year deal with Miami after he totaled just five sacks for the Buffalo Bills in 2015. Wake, 34, is mounting a comeback from a torn Achilles tendon last October.
Another question mark with upside potential is defensive end Dion Jordan, who is expected to return after sitting out last season for his latest violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Ndamukong Suh anchors the middle, and offseason acquisitions Andre Branch and Chris Jones help depth.
"I'm always going to feel good about that group, because we have very talented players," Gase said. "But you can't just sit here and be like, 'Oh, I feel great about this certain position.' At the end of the season — that's when you get excited."

BALL CARRIERS: There will be a scramble for playing time in a crowded backfield following the departure of Lamar Miller to Houston via free agency.
Jay Ajayi is the leading returnee after rushing for 187 yards as a rookie last year, but he could get stiff competition from four-time Pro Bowl back Arian Foster, a newcomer who says he has recovered from a torn Achilles tendon. Kenyan Drake, a third-round pick from Alabama, will compete for a backup role.

TANNEHILL'S TIME: This season could determine whether Ryan Tannehill can be a franchise quarterback. He's 29-35 in four seasons with the Dolphins, has yet to lead them to a winning record and back slid in 2015, when his completion percentage, touchdowns and passer rating declined.
Gase won praise for his work with Peyton Manning, Jay Cutler and even Tim Tebow. He plans to give Tannehill more responsibility with play calling, and teammates have applauded the move.
"This is what Ryan has been waiting for his whole career, to go out there and be the guy to kind of call the show," center Mike Pouncey said.
That also means more blame for Tannehill if things go wrong, as they have so often done in recent years for the Dolphins.

http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/article91043932.html

 

[fansinceGWilson]

I don't worry about # of newcomers. I worry about the # of STARTING newcomers. Even then, it depends on the PAST starters. I see Tunsil as an upgrade. Anyone not named Dallas Thomas is an upgrade. KA SHOULD be an upgrade. Taylor Swift is an upgrade over J Taylor. IAQ should be an upgrade over last year's safeties. HC is an upgrade. I see very little I'd call a downgrade (RB). As I've stated elsewhere, I expect some frustrations the 1st 8 games, but that's experience, not talent. TO me the factor bigger than 45 new faces is the competence of the coaching staff. While I'm optimistic, I'm waiting for eveidence.

 

[BenchFiedler]

I don't worry about # of newcomers. I worry about the # of STARTING newcomers.

So if I understand correctly, only 46 players can dress out for the actual game and we have 45 new players on the roster. I think that's a bit scary lol

 

[fansinceGWilson]

So if I understand correctly, only 46 players can dress out for the actual game and we have 45 new players on the roster. I think that's a bit scary lol

I don't know what a 'normal' range is in the NFL, but rookies and UDFAs make up a third of that. Churn (e.g., Fox, J Taylor, Sheppard) counts for some. Bringing in 3 OGs when only one will stick takes up some. Getting 3 players for a #8 pick adds a couple. I'll be more interested in # of new faces after final cuts.

 

[zach8111]

I don't know what a 'normal' range is in the NFL, but rookies and UDFAs make up a third of that. Churn (e.g., Fox, J Taylor, Sheppard) counts for some. Bringing in 3 OGs when only one will stick takes up some. Getting 3 players for a #8 pick adds a couple. I'll be more interested in # of new faces after final cuts.

Exactly. Rosters end at 53 last year. Then jump to 90 so obviously your gonna have a HUGE number of newcomers... Wait until the final 53 man roster is done and see the real number of newcomers

 

[datruth55]

So if I understand correctly, only 46 players can dress out for the actual game and we have 45 new players on the roster. I think that's a bit scary lol

45 new players include the players that are coming to camp...of the 90 teams are allowed to invite. They're overstating the new players on the roster...a bit of trickery on their part. They make it sound as if there are only 8 returning players on the roster and we know better than that.

It would be sad as heck if we only had 8 players returning and one of them was Dallas Thomas.

 

[DKphin]

45 new players include the players that are coming to camp...of the 90 teams are allowed to invite. They're overstating the new players on the roster...a bit of trickery on their part. They make it sound as if there are only 8 returning players on the roster and we know better than that.

It would be sad as heck if we only had 8 players returning and one of them was Dallas Thomas.

That is funny and sad at the same time

 

[tay0365]

45 new players include the players that are coming to camp...of the 90 teams are allowed to invite. They're overstating the new players on the roster...a bit of trickery on their part. They make it sound as if there are only 8 returning players on the roster and we know better than that.

It would be sad as heck if we only had 8 players returning and one of them was Dallas Thomas.

Well, he's cheap, and he has potential. :unsure:

 

[royalshank]

Does Daniel Thomas count as a newcomer?