Should C Gates be our new number 2 WR? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Should C Gates be our new number 2 WR?

LikeUntoGod

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C Gates finally was able to show what he can do for us in our game against the Cowboys.

C Gates beating a corner one on one on a streak was not new. The safety being late coming to help is not new. The difference is that the pass was on target. C Gates was open again for a long TD. It has happened about 6 times this preseason.

That is chunk yards and quick TDs. C Gates could have 7-10 TDs this season.

He has played almost every practice and preseason game rep More then any other WR.

Hartline just played his first game at the Slot.

IMO, here is the way it is going to go.

We have four starters in Marshall, Gates, Bess and Hartline
Last season we only had 3 with Marshall, Hartline and Bess.

Marshall will line up on the right as our #1 WR.
Gates will line up on the left as our #2 WR.
Bess will start in the slot.
And Hartline will come in in all three positions.

LUG has spoken! (Let it me written, let it be done)

P.S. I do admit that I was totally wrong that we would keep P Livas on our first 53. It is a gamble that could pay off.
 
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When I say number 2 WR I think of the guy starting. If there's 2 WR on the field I think it's Marshall and Bess in most situations.

Obviously Bess' quickness is great from the slot and he works well underneath as a safety blanket for Henne and Gates' speed is nice on the outside. So when Gates comes in I think you're right we'll see Bess slide to the slot a lot, but I don't see that as making Gates the #2 WR.
 
Will he end up being #2 I doubt it, our staff loves Hartline. His speed is something else, I just hope that Henne and Gates can continue to work on there timing so he isn't being over thrown all the time.
 
Gates will certainly get a shot to earn the #2 spot (and I would love him to), but to give it to him this early while Bess and Hartline have had strong preseasons?

No chance.
 
With the way this team has been run the last couple of years I'm not concerned at which guy is officially which role. But this team is gonna do what makes the most sense, which is keep Marshall and Bess on the field in crucial passing situations and use Hartline & Gates for certain purposes where they make the most sense. Most of the time this will be Hartline, as he is much more polished at going over the middle and running routes, but Gates will see some select plays where his threat of going deep will have to force the defense to adjust.

Gates needs to be able to do more than run nice deep routes before he takes over the majority of snaps. He's a rookie receiver, and not many receivers are ready to start as rookies.
 
No need to rush him to be the #2.. he'll be there when it's time. He might do more damage not being the #2 this season actually.. line him up against the nickel guys, run him down the seam and let him toast them.
 
No need to rush him to be the #2.. he'll be there when it's time. He might do more damage not being the #2 this season actually.. line him up against the nickel guys, run him down the seam and let him toast them.


This
 
I love how the Dolphins try to build a team:

Loaded at WR.....the Dolphins still find themselves without a Quarterback. Oh the Irony.
 
Heck no..Bess has worked way to hard for that spot...no rookie is taking from him...my answer is NO.
 
i dont think it matters. he blows the lid off the defense. job #1. just do your job, get open, you get ball. in the words of the great tom brady...the guy who gets the ball is the one who is open.

I think we open first play with 5 WR set. BB attempts man to man press coverage, clyde glides past and walla! TD! then BB goes, oh crap! gonna be a long night.
 
Have to love this site. One post says:

I love how the Dolphins try to build a team:

Loaded at WR.....the Dolphins still find themselves without a Quarterback. Oh the Irony.

And the post directly below it says:

Heck no..Bess has worked way to hard for that spot...no rookie is taking from him...my answer is NO.

Here's a hint: If Bess is your #2 WR, you ARE NOT loaded at WR.
 
The transition from college WR to the NFL is huge. And it is even bigger for a guy coming from a Division 2 program. At the start of camp, even Tony Sparano said they would keep things simple for Gates this year, asking him to just do things that require him to run fast. NFL offenses heavily utilize option routes. In order to run those, a WR needs to be able to read defenses on the fly. Hartline is the only guy on the team who knows all 3 WR positions. Just because Omar Kelly said that he doesn't play the slot doesn't mean that is true. In his 2 years, Hartline has played the X, Y, and Z positions. Hartline can do everything they'll ask of him, and Gates won't be able to do that yet. Gates speed is for real. But, most of his getting open deep this summer has been against backup defensive backs. Both of the Cowboys starting corners are hurt. By the time Gates made that big play against them, they had their 3rd string corners in the game. Gates is going to have to get used to getting by guys who aren't afraid to jam him. That never happened to him in college, and it rarely happened this summer. I think Gates is going to be good in the long term, because not only is he fast, but he has a toughness about him that Ted Ginn never had. But, anyone who thinks he is going to start for us is underestimating what is asked of WR at the NFL level. Look around the league and look at how many WR start as rookies, and how many are impact players. The percentages are quite small. And those that do succeed early are often big, strong, physical guys. And that does not describe Gates. And many of the guys who have early success are guys who played in a pro style offense, at a Division 1 program. Again, Gates doesn't have that going for him either.
 
Have to love this site. One post says:



And the post directly below it says:



Here's a hint: If Bess is your #2 WR, you ARE NOT loaded at WR.

I disagree, its not that cut and dry.

Bess is what he is. Incredible hands, and a chain mover.
Brandon Marshall is a GREAT receiver when his head is straight.
Hartline is a little of both
Marlon Moore could end up being a very nice WR with time.
Gates is a burner. He seems to have pretty good hands.

Overall, its a very solid group of WR's. LOTS of teams would LOVE to have our problems at WR.
 
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