Saturday Sports Buzz

[Daytona Fin]

Lamar Miller’s 4.9 per carry average ranks sixth among all running backs and his 673 yards rank 11th.

So why is Miller carrying just 12.4 times per game?

Most would conclude it's done to keep Miller relatively healthy because he has been dealing with a shoulder issue for several weeks and a minor knee issue last week. But Joe Philbin doesn't cite that as an explanation.

“We like the different running backs we have,” Philbin said. “We like the kind of different skill sets. We feature certain guys different ways. That’s kind of how the snaps have worked themselves out. Really, I think the Detroit game, [when] he got four carries... skewed things a little bit, but we want to get different guys involved and get their hands on the football as well. But we certainly like the contribution he’s made.”

Walt Aikens, who played cornerback at Liberty, has worked at corner this week in anticipation of being needed there Monday. But getting snaps at safety for much of the season “helped me out. I got to see the big picture.”

At corner, Aikens, 6-1, says he “has good speed for my size. And I’m physical.”

Joe Philbin didn't rule out the possibility of Jimmy Wilson moving to boundary cornerback if needed, though that would create another issue. Wilson typically plays in the slot as the team's nickel corner.

Don Jones can play in the slot, but throwing Jones into the mix this quickly on defense would be surprising, because he hasn't been with the team since training camp, and Saturday will be his first practice since Miami claimed him off waivers on Friday. Jones was signed primarily for his special teams value.

With Cortland Finnegan limited or out of practice all week, Aikens and R.J. Stanford have both received first-team snaps at cornerback in practice. Stanford can also play in the slot, by the way.

Tannehill said of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor: "Right now we’re on the same page. We think about the game the same way and I really like the way he’s been calling the games."

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...quick-hits-broadcast-notes.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Geforce]

Tannehill said of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor: "Right now we’re on the same page. We think about the game the same way and I really like the way he’s been calling the games."

Does this mean the trust between Tannehill and Lazor is growing enough for Lazor to take the training wheels off so the offense can start working at the break-neck pace we heard about all off-season?

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

The only people who talked about the hurry up no huddle offense were outside people who were speculating that we would want to run the Chip Kelly offense.

From what I've seen, Bill Lazor has NEVER indicated that we're going to be running a no huddle offense.

 

[Geforce]

The only people who talked about the hurry up no huddle offense were outside people who were speculating that we would want to run the Chip Kelly offense.

From what I've seen, Bill Lazor has NEVER indicated that we're going to be running a no huddle offense.

No one said anything about a no-huddle offense.

As far as the pace of the offense, here is something Finnegan said about it.

(On how much the pace and motions in the offense challenge the defense) – “It’s huge. You try to look at route concepts and quarterback drops and everything, but you’ve got people moving around, running around constantly. So it’s hard to do, so you’ve got to play it honest. I think it’s great what the offense is giving us. It’s going to help us game time. Game speed’s going to definitely be slowed down for us and we appreciate it.”

(On how much he would compare the offense to what he’s seen from with the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans) – “I’ve never seen anything this fast. It’s great. It’s going to be great for us as an offense and defense. To go against one another, compete at this level and do it with this many bullets flying and people running around. So I’m enjoying it.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...-cortland-finnegan-june-9-20140609-story.html

Every snap Lazor stands behind the quarterback, usually with his arms folded, fingers pointing, and mouth firing off criticism, instructions, or questions.

He's consistently yelling the word "tempo" because that's what the offense he's installing demands if it is to work.

"It's real fast," said receiver Mike Wallace, who scored three touchdowns during last week's red zone centric practice on Tuesday. "Tempo! We catch a lot of people off guard. We're all over the place on offense. We've got a lot of play action, a lot of shots [deep]. It is my type of offense."

Lazor wants his unit to hurry to the line of scrimmage, his quarterback to process the field quickly, and then throw the ball on time. And most importantly, he needs everyone to practice at game speed every single day, keeping their foot on the gas to make the pace become second nature.

"He wants to play fast," Tannehill said of Lazor, who is widely credited for the emergence of Nick Foles, who led the league in passer rating and set an NFL record for touchdown-to-interception ratio (27:2) last season. "I think that's his biggest point at this time is just getting to the line, playing fast, putting pressure on the defense. We're going to huddle. We're going to take our time in that standpoint, but once we break we want to put pressure on the defense."

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/20...-ryan-tannehill-eagles-quarterback-nick-foles

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Does this mean the trust between Tannehill and Lazor is growing enough for Lazor to take the training wheels off so the offense can start working at the break-neck pace we heard about all off-season?

We saw at the end of the Broncos game what we can do when we need speed. It's not always an ideal goal during the regular course of the game. We are taking for granted the way we are able to drive down the field within 10-14 plays and score all the while keeping our defense rested and off the field. That way when the game speed needs to be picked up, their defense is a little more weary and we can try and take advantage.

 

[RobertHorry]

I like Walt Aikens. I think he could do well at corner for the time being instead of Jimmy Wilson and RJ Standford. Although Jamar Taylor is better than all of them.

 

[Travis34]

Baffling what Philbin says about the rb situation. Clearly nearly all of the snaps need to go to Miller/Williams. Yet Thomas STILL gets the benefit of the doubt. It's heartbreaking. I know the dudes done better this year but damn

 

[Dolfan23]

I wonder what Wallace is thinking now and the "a lot of shots deep" comment.

 

[DUB]

Baffling what Philbin says about the rb situation. Clearly nearly all of the snaps need to go to Miller/Williams. Yet Thomas STILL gets the benefit of the doubt. It's heartbreaking. I know the dudes done better this year but damn

I have to agree. Miller should carry the load down the stretch. I havent seen any one advocate for Thomas over Williams, after the way Damien has flashed.

 

[hoops]

It's possible we played fast tempo in camp to speed up the learning process of the offense but this offense we are running screams play with tempo if you trust the qbs ability to execute...

Leave jimmy Wilson in the slot...aikens hips on the boundary are a concern...have to play with a cushion to not be exposed...really this scheme does not fit him as a corner so I don't see this lasting come a healthy unit

 

[finfan54]

Miller cant carry the load. He's on the friggin injury report every week and he is smaller.

Philbin is exactly right in playing DT and Williams for different skill sets.

The real deal is we are unbeatable when we run the ball over 24 times. We lose mostly when we dont.

Word to lazor.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

Thomas has been our most productive short yardage back of the bunch, and it isn't even close.

Now, arguably we should have a better guy for hammering it in than Thomas, but of the players we do have DT is the only viable short yardage option.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

Thomas has been our most productive short yardage back of the bunch, and it isn't even close.

Now, arguably we should have a better guy for hammering it in than Thomas, but of the players we do have DT is the only viable short yardage option.

Thomas is HORRIBLE in short yardage. Has the vision of Stevie Wonder, and gets too impatient. Miller or Williams either one is much better. Thomas is a big back who hasn't realized it yet.

 

[phinking]

The only people who talked about the hurry up no huddle offense were outside people who were speculating that we would want to run the Chip Kelly offense.

From what I've seen, Bill Lazor has NEVER indicated that we're going to be running a no huddle offense.

Wanny, you are a mean dude for exposing McKelvin like that.

 

[roy_miami]

Statistically, both Thomas and Williams are much better at receiving than Miller but neither are good at the actual rushing part. And Miller is one of the worst in the NFL at receiving but on of the best at rushing. So we don't have a complete back on the roster, which is probably why James is getting some looks.