Sports Buzz: Roller coaster for Dolphin rookies | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Sports Buzz: Roller coaster for Dolphin rookies

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For most of the Dolphins’ rookie draft picks, their first NFL journey has been something of an emotional rollercoaster.

DeVante Parker has gone from dominating May practices to undergoing foot surgery in June to barely playing at all in October.

Jamil Douglas has gone from starting at right guard to not getting a single snap.

Jordan Phillips has gone from producing Miami’s only sack in the first two weeks to not even being active in Week 3 to now playing the most snaps of any backup defensive tackle.

Bobby McCain has gone from not playing to potentially playing a lot on Sunday if Brice McCain is sidelined by a sprained knee. (Brice McCain missed practice Wednesday and said he’s unsure if he can play this week. It doesn't seem promising.)

And Jay Ajayi has gone from struggling for part of training camp, to finally excelling late in preseason, to sustaining a rib injury that has robbed him of half of his rookie season.

Meanwhile, this has been a developmental year for cornerback Tony Lippett, who hasn’t played at all, and practice squad safety Cedric Thompson.

So Miami still isn’t quite sure which of these seven draft picks will make an impact over the season’s final 11 games.

Parker, who the Dolphins were thrilled to snag 14th overall in the draft, said he has been fully recovered from June foot surgery for weeks. But he played only six snaps Sunday against Tennessee --- certainly not what the rookie expected after displaying so much potential during May and June practices.

Coaches believe Rishard Matthews (60 snaps Sunday) warrants substantially more playing time than Parker.

“It’s tough,” Parker said of not playing much. “You’re happy because your team is winning and see everybody making plays. You just have to wait for your turn to make the same plays they make. I feel like I’m pretty much where I need to be, but I need better technique, stick to it every play. If I work on that, I’ll be fine.

“They want me to be more consistent. I make a big play here or there; just make easier plays. That’s what I’m looking for. I don’t have drops in practice.”

Parker has played only 88 offensive snaps. Among other first-round receivers, Oakland’s Amari Cooper (299 snaps), Philadelphia’s Nelson Agoholor (269 snaps) and the Colts’ Phillip Dorsett (106 snaps) have all played more than Parker. Chicago’s Kevin White and Baltimore’s Breshad Perriman haven’t played because of injuries.

Coach Dan Campbell said he feels no pressure to play Parker because of his draft status.

Campbell said Parker is “competing with Rishard Matthews. Rishard Matthews has stepped up his game. He’s a beast right now. So he’s going to have to really, really push himself to pass Rishard Matthews up and those guys.

“It doesn’t mean he won’t be getting plays, and we’re going to try to work him in because he has a unique skill set. We all know what kind of player he is capable of being just by the talent level that he has. We’re just trying to get him to become the football player we believe he can be. He’s a flash player right [now]. As soon as those flashes start showing up a lot more often, that’s when you feel good about getting him on the field.”
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More here:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
 
I'm torn on Parker not being on the field, but I appreciate that Campbell is committed to putting the best 11 on the field and from what I've read about practices it's causing our guys to step up and compete day in and day out. Glad to see Campbell is playing guys regardless of tenure
 
Parker needs to live with Landry.

As a WR, you gotta ****ing want it and you gotta take it...
 
No one can beat out Matthews with how he is playing... Guy is beasting.
 
mahmacoat said:
you understand how players in their contract year perform vs FA's who just got paid right?
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Clearly Matthews story is much different. I've always felt he should have gotten much more opps (and have stated as such on this board) than what Phailbin gave him. Had he been allowed to play more we would have been seeing this production two years ago. But Phailbin couldn't evaluate talent so we havent seen Matthews until now.
 
mahmacoat said:
you understand how players in their contract year perform vs FA's who just got paid right?
Click to expand...

You understand how a player that does everything right on the field gets held out of the game for years by a douche and finally gets a chance actually performs, right?
 
mahmacoat said:
you understand how players in their contract year perform vs FA's who just got paid right?
Click to expand...

That's such a football myth.......you mean to tell me players play harder in contract years? Any NFL player would take offense to that.

Matthews has always showed flashes. I think he is reading defenses better and is simply getting more playing time to showcase his talents. He has always been quick, physical and caught the ball well. For whatever reason, Philbin didnt like him.......and now he is gone. Irony.
 
I feel like he should at least to be able to alternate series' with Stills? although I have noticed we went much less 3 wide last week with Sims back, who's also an asset. At the end of the day this is a good problem.

---------- Post added at 11:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 PM ----------
Scotty P said:
That's such a football myth.......you mean to tell me players play harder in contract years? Any NFL player would take offense to that.

Matthews has always showed flashes. I think he is reading defenses better and is simply getting more playing time to showcase his talents. He has always been quick, physical and caught the ball well. For whatever reason, Philbin didnt like him.......and now he is gone. Irony.
Click to expand...

especially since in the NFL almost every year is essentially a contract year, with not much being guarenteed in an NFL contract
 
Why does Parker have to "beat out" mathews?

He needs to be on the field WITH him. And frankly, jennings and stills havnt set the world on fire. Even though stills made that big downfield catch on the titans, he has been a ghost. The absolute goal should be getting Mathews, Landry and Parker as our top starters and 3 wide stallwarts.

Parker needs GAME DAY REPS, WITH TANNY ACTUALLY THROWING HIM THE BALL for that to happen.


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WHY NOT?
 
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