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Sports Buzz Wednesday 8-13

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Analyzing battles for roster spots


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As the Dolphins lurch through the monotony of training camp, you will not find many genuine battles for starting jobs. That’s limited mostly to defensive tackle, possibly right guard and perhaps running back.

But what you will find, as usual, is compelling competition toward the bottom of the roster, with uncertainty at virtually every position.
Assessing the races, heading into Saturday’s second preseason game at Tampa:
### Receiver: The Dolphins’ deepest position presents difficult decisions. Rishard Matthews, who irked the Dolphins last season because of multiple issues (including tardiness), said he is now on the same page with coach Joe Philbin, and his work throughout camp has made him the favorite for the No. 5 receiver job barring a trade, behind Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson and Jarvis Landry.
But Matthews still must hold off Armon Binns, who has fallen off after a strong start to camp, and Damian Williams, who has flashed throughout camp but didn’t have a catch in the preseason opener. The Dolphins could keep six, which is even more realistic if they retain only two quarterbacks.
Then there’s the issue of what to do with Marcus Thigpen, who’s listed as a receiver (he plays the slot) but also can play running back. Thigpen would be expendable if Landry wins the punt and kickoff return jobs. Landry made a case for that with a 48-yard punt return against Atlanta.
But the Dolphins like Thigpen’s elusiveness and versatility and this decision will not be easy unless Landry repeats Friday’s punt return magic over the next three weeks.
Incidentally, because of the drafting of Landry, some NFL people believe it’s not a certainty that Gibson ($2.7 million salary) will be on this team, and that he could be traded. Gibson has a $3.7 million cap hit if he’s on the roster, $2 million if he’s not. But he’s too good a player to cut for nominal cap savings.
### Quarterback: It would be risky to entrust the No. 2 job with Brady Quinn – considering his poor track record – but this could become a consideration if Matt Moore flounders badly in preseason and Quinn plays well. Keeping both wouldn’t necessarily make sense, especially if the Dolphins want to sign Seth Lobato to the practice squad. None of Quinn $855,000 contract is guaranteed.
### Running back: The Dolphins like the speed and pass catching ability of Damien Williams, the undrafted Oklahoma running back, and he’s battling Daniel Thomas and Mike Gillislee for one or two jobs behind Lamar Miller and Knowshon Moreno.
Thomas has averaged 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 yards per carry in his first three seasons and his performance in camp had been pedestrian before being sidelined by a hamstring injury for the past 10 days. Gillislee also remains sidelined by a hamstring.
The Dolphins overlooked Thomas’ uninspiring work in recent years because they liked his potential as well as the notion of having a big back. But Thomas, the Dolphins’ tallest and heaviest back at 6-1 and 235, doesn’t always play like one. Philbin likes Gillislee and his pass-blocking has been solid, but there remain too many carries for marginal gains.
### Tight end: The Dolphins figure to keep four, because they’re a vital part of Bill Lazor’s offense. Charles Clay and Dion Sims have secured spots, and rookie Arthur Lynch seems likely to stick.

Michael Egnew could make the team for a third consecutive year, but coaches want him to improve his route-running. Brett Brackett has shown more as a receiver than Egnew during his brief time with the team. Harold Hoskins’ chances have faded because of a hamstring injury, and Kyle Miller does little to stand out. If the Dolphins part with Egnew, they could look for a fourth tight end after final cuts.
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The rest of battles:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
 
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It's absurd to me that they're still talking as if Rishard Matthews might be cut.

How stupid can this team be?
 
When a lot of the passing game is predicated on timing and the QB/WR being on the same page - I would be very shocked if they cut/trade Gibson. He's a comfort blanket in the slot for RT, however, lets not forget, that we turned him into a Slot WR, he was an outside guy before he got here - brings even more value.

Additionally, with the movement, alignments that are being spoken of, of the Lazor offense, WR's, TE's and even the RB's will end up playing all over the place, inside and outside.

Gibson brings great value to this offense. And it looks like Hickey has made a point of developing a strength within the receiving corps with the volume of players he's signed to compete.

The player that I am very curious about this year is Cone who seems to be getting more reps with RT that I would ever have expected. Yes he had a brain fart on his catch in the red zone by not getting his second foot down in time, but it was his movement, size and hands that stood out to me.

Getting back to Gibson, I see a lot of similarities - playing style wise and physique - between Landry, Gibson and Matthews and the fact that they can play anywhere will make it difficult for defenses to key on any one in particular. Caveat here is, I'm not saying this is my top three, just that I like these three as a group. And a relatively young group at that.
 
I might be the only one, but Cone looks a lot like Gibson on the field talent wise. Also, does anyone know if there is practice today and is so, what time?
 
J. David Wannyheimer said:
It's absurd to me that they're still talking as if Rishard Matthews might be cut.

How stupid can this team be?
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No what's absurd is talking about ditching Gibson for 2 mil in savings for a team that isn't cap strapped! They want to save something ditch Moore!
 
flynryan15 said:
No what's absurd is talking about ditching Gibson for 2 mil I'm savings for a team that isn't cap strapped! They want to save something ditch Moore!
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I am hoping that this is just the beat writers making up stupid crap.

I think that if you go on what Philbin originally intended to do when he got here, plus what our roster looks like, plus the renewed emphasis on defensive backfield penalties, this team really is set up to run lots of 4-5 wide sets.

I mean, the Patriots and Jets keep adding cornerbacks, but how good are their nickel corners? How good are their #4 corners?
 
not looking good for D Thomas and Egnew, but they had (more than)enough chance. Pretty bad when UDFA's outperform them after a couple weeks on the team
 
J. David Wannyheimer said:
I am hoping that this is just the beat writers making up stupid crap.

I think that if you go on what Philbin originally intended to do when he got here, plus what our roster looks like, plus the renewed emphasis on defensive backfield penalties, this team really is set up to run lots of 4-5 wide sets.

I mean, the Patriots and Jets keep adding cornerbacks, but how good are their nickel corners? How good are their #4 corners?
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Agreed! Plus cutting anyone for a rookie is not wise.

---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 PM ----------
rent this space said:
not looking good for D Thomas and Egnew, but they had (more than)enough chance. Pretty bad when UDFA's outperform them after a couple weeks on the team
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Thank god!
 
the only reason to completely dump/trade moore and or Gibson is if we trade for another player. At this point, I would hope that player would be a mike.
 
What a joke. Gibson was looking like the best/most reliable receiver on this team last year before his injury. Plays with an edge and gas the ability to get in the endzone. Would be furious if this happened.

I would have no problem cutting Daniel Thomas and Gillislee. I think Thigpen has more value than both of them at this point, and Williams has shown th kind of toughness you want.
 
J. David Wannyheimer said:
I am hoping that this is just the beat writers making up stupid crap.

I think that if you go on what Philbin originally intended to do when he got here, plus what our roster looks like, plus the renewed emphasis on defensive backfield penalties, this team really is set up to run lots of 4-5 wide sets.

I mean, the Patriots and Jets keep adding cornerbacks, but how good are their nickel corners? How good are their #4 corners?
Click to expand...

I agree with this. If the protection holds up we should really be able to get at the CB depth of other teams. The Miami WR's can win many of those battles. I keep 6 and 2 QB's and do not cut or trade Brandon Gibson to save 2M. I like Matt Moore but I'd ditch his number way before I'd think of ditching Gibson's.
 
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