Sutton will very likely disappear once the pads go on. His poor patterns and agility will expose him. Right now he's bigger than everyone. He won't be bigger than everyone once hitting is allowed...
I think there's been a lot more offensive production at this mini camp than in years past.
Cameron has the offense going in the right direction. He works with convention, knows what he likes and likes what he knows. He's shifting everyone into their niches, teaching them, and then demanding that they maintain their consistency or face benching. He benched Chambers in a mini camp earlier this off season and all the sudden Chambers looks like a different player this camp, according to Greg Bedard. Chambers even appreciated the benching, talking about how nice it is having a coach that shows that lack of focus will come with consequences, where in years past he felt like he and other people could make mistakes and nobody would call them on it.
One false start sent Drew Mormino reeling back to the second team, where he has stayed ever since. What did that teach Samson Satele? I think he said it the best. He said in his most recent interview he needs to get into the playbook because he's one play away from being benched, one mistaken play, one false start, etc...I think the message got across when his fellow rookie was sent to the bench in favor of the vet.
Everything Cam has done with the offense speaks to me of a plan. It isn't just randomly shifting guys around and then seeing if they'll be good there or not. He finds players that fits the right mold and puts them in the spot that is most appropriate for that mold.
He says Rex Hadnot was kind of big for a center, so he puts him at guard where his size is perfect. He says he doesn't like 330 pound mountains at guard, and so he shifts Shelton and Toledo back to tackle. He likes a certain kind of player at center, so he drafts a Samson Satele. He needs a certain amount of consistency and work ethic at left tackle, a player that gives you that feeling that you can trust them, so he moves Carey, by far the Dolphins' most consistent OL, back over to that side.
What does he like in a tight end? A guy like Antonio Gates, that can be a threat in the deep middle, keeping cover two safeties honest. Did we have that in McMichael? Afraid not. McMichael runs a 4.9 and is notorious for not giving 100% effort when it comes to his conditioning. So, they go out and get David Martin, former WR that runs more in the 4.76 range, to go along with 37 inch vertical and 10'7" broad jump marks that are highly abnormal for his size.
He likes a certain kind of guy at the flanker spots. What players fit that role? Ted Ginn Jr., Az Hakim, Kelly Campbell...all very similar players. What player doesn't quite fit that mold? Chris Chambers. So, he moves him. In the mean time, he's got a bunch of players playing different spots, including Ted Ginn, just as a method of teaching them...teaching them to get off a jam if that's what they need to learn, etc.
At runningback, what does he like to see? Well, he doesn't like to see 240 pound backs lumbering through the hole, that's for sure...and he made that known very quickly when he fired the runningbacks coach and hired Bobby Jackson, a guy that coached with him and knew exactly what he wants.
And of course, lastly there was the quarterback position. I think it was obvious to many people, some I think knew it but were kind of in denial about it, that Daunte Culpepper is not the model quarterback for this system. Trent Green and John Beck were, though.
He knows what he likes and he likes what he knows. He took to the offense with the blow torch and sottering iron, in order to mold it into something he understands and can work with...and I just have a feeling that even though there are bound to be a ton of growing pains, this offense becomes a mediocre offense that ranks between #12 and #20 this season...and by 2008, I think we have a top 10 offense. That's my feeling. It seems almost exactly like Saban's work with the defense, when he took an aging set of guys that didn't seem to fit his style, chopped it up, added pieces here and there, and within two years formed it into a highly formidable unit.
