Undrafted rookies McCain, Johnson, Williams angling for roster spot | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Undrafted rookies McCain, Johnson, Williams angling for roster spot

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From Davone Bess to Dan Carpenter to Derrick Shelby, the Dolphins have had pretty good success unearthing undrafted rookies who not only made the team but contributed in their first season.

It’s not certain yet if anyone from this class of undrafted rookies will become another Shelby or Bess, but linebacker Chris McCain and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson are making a case for the 53-man roster, and running back Damien Williams cannot be ruled out.

Pro Football Focus rates McCain as Miami’s third-best defender in the preseason, behind Jason Trusnik and Will Davis.

“He flashes playmaking ability in different areas,” coach Joe Philbin said of McCain. “He can really run. He can track down a ball-carrier very well. He’s got a little pass rush ability that we are working to develop.”

The Dolphins are playing him mostly at strong-side linebacker, where he is splitting second-team snaps with Jonathan Freeney, behind Philip Wheeler. But they are also using him a bit on third downs at defensive end.

California deployed him in a way similar to how Oregon used Dolphins teammate Dion Jordan.

But his college career ended three games into his senior season when coach Sonny Dykes dismissed him for conduct detrimental to the team. “It wasn’t just one thing – it was a series of things,” Dykes said at the time.

McCain wouldn’t discuss specifics of his dismissal but said “it wasn’t a violation of rules. It was attitude. I got a big head, and me and coach got into a disagreement. I didn’t want to be dismissed, but it was the best thing I needed to get my life back on track. I’ve grown up.”

McCain, who has gained 25 pounds over the past five months, received only two offers after the draft. He picked the Dolphins over St. Louis because of “location” and because linebacker coach Mark Duffner “and I really connected when we talked right after the draft.”
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http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/08/20/4300376/undrafted-rookies-including-lb.html
 
I believe McCain, Tripp, and Johnson will make the roster. And by the end of the year both Lb's will be contributing heavily or starting for us!
Im not sure about D.Williams though....I still have to see more of him to make up my mind.
 
PHINSfan said:
I believe McCain, Tripp, and Johnson will make the roster. And by the end of the year both Lb's will be contributing heavily or starting for us!
Im not sure about D.Williams though....I still have to see more of him to make up my mind.
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JohnSon will def make the rotation, he has top notch talent just raW. But he will be needed if he makes the roster either way.

Damien should best out gillislee and Thomas IMO, Thomas can't do anything Damien cant do. Gillislee just doesn't do much.

I'm still not sold on Tripp yet, I need to see him make some tackles against 1st teamers, he had trouble finishing plays in college, that's not really something you can teach. He either does it or he doesn't.

McCain will play sparingly to start, he played a similar role as Dion Jordan in college, now he's learning a new position, will need time to develop, crazy talent though.

And no, Jordan should not be playing lber, McCain is playing there because he doesn't have jordans burst.

But def a great looking class of UDFA, hickey did his thing for sure.
 
Tripp and McCain should get lots of playing time, rotating them with Misi and Wheeler....fresh legs on the field. Tripp and McCain seem to do well on pass defense, so alternating them on 3rd downs or 2nd and long is a good bet.
 
I was excited about the article until I heard that Trusnik was one of our top 3 defenders this preseason. As a defender, Trusnik blows.
 
Sirspud said:
I was excited about the article until I heard that Trusnik was one of our top 3 defenders this preseason. As a defender, Trusnik blows.
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Yea that popped out to me as well lol...

The other thing that popped out was how the article spoke of McCain being used like dion jordon was in college yet McCain they throw right out to olb and seem to fight the possibility that jordon play there... I'm not getting into that debate as I'm far to limited in my scouting as to position placement, just thought is was strange that both players used similar in college project to different positions in the nfl and appears both packed on about 25lbs since huh...

With our lb core u would think they would be trying any and everything...
 
TruePoizon said:
Tripp and McCain should get lots of playing time, rotating them with Misi and Wheeler....fresh legs on the field. Tripp and McCain seem to do well on pass defense, so alternating them on 3rd downs or 2nd and long is a good bet.
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It looked more like Tripp was playing Wheeler's spot and McCain was in Ellerbe's spot. Trusnik subbed for Misi at MLB.
 
Am I missing something with Williams? I haven't seen him juke anyone, break a tackle, blow past someone, anything. He looks just like Gillislie....average.
 
kcbrown said:
Am I missing something with Williams? I haven't seen him juke anyone, break a tackle, blow past someone, anything. He looks just like Gillislie....average.
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The one thing Williams does that none of the other rbs do is fall forward after contact. I think he would easily be our best short yardage/goal line rb if he makes the team.
 
kcbrown said:
Am I missing something with Williams? I haven't seen him juke anyone, break a tackle, blow past someone, anything. He looks just like Gillislie....average.
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Williams probably wouldn't be that exciting to most teams, but Miami has one of the worst RB situations in the NFL. I'll be curious to see if we can't pick up someone off waivers. Watched the Carolina/KC game interested in some of KC's LB's as potential pick ups, but I ended up focusing on Carolina's 3rd string RB Fozzy Whittaker. With the possible exception of Moreno, he's better than anything we have at RB.
 
xXwarXx said:
Damien should best out gillislee and Thomas IMO, Thomas can't do anything Damien cant do. Gillislee just doesn't do much.
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Gillislee is the best blocker we have at RB.. Better than our starter Miller.
 
Gilleslie will def get snagged by someone else. Williams has a better chance for the practice squad than Gilleslie. Gilleslie will heal then cut Daniel Thomas.
 
Williams is the only one out of the 3 that has a chance to pass through waivers.
 
There is no way we are going to be able to stash McCain on the PS, he makes the 53.
 
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