What Is The Real Value of Ronnie Brown To The Dolphins?

[OneHondo]

Is Ronnie Brown an indispensable part of the Dolphins offense or just a roll player or a "plugin"?
After reading a couple of recent threads where Ronnie Browns name came up, I really began to wonder what fans really think of Ronnie Brown and his contribution to the offense and team and I thought I would throw this out for discussion.
One particular poster said that Ronnie was expendable and that another player could easily be plugged into his position with little difficulty. This immediately brought to mind past Dolphin problems with finding decent running backs and the struggles that were endured until Ricky Williams arrived.
I can vividly remember the Marino years when the Dolphins just couldn't seem to find a running game. Other than Ronnie Brown, Sammy Morris and Ricky Williams there was a long list of failed plugins. Travis Minor, Leonard Henry, Lamar Gordon, Kay-Jay Harris, J.J. Johnson, Autry Denson, Thurmon Thomas, John Avery, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Cecil Collins, Lawrence Phillips, Sammie Smith and others. Lamar Smith was with the Dolphins for two seasons and had one 1000 yard season. Seems as though some people have a short memory when Ricky Williams quit and left the Dolphins scrambling trying to find someone to run the ball.
I know RB is not the best runningback in the league, maybe not even in the top 10 but I am glad he is a Dolphin and hate to think where we would be if we lost him, but thats JMO.

 

[Adam First]

Ronnie Brown is an integral part of this offense. People don't seem to realize this.

Yes, while the quarterback is the leader of an NFL offense, that doesn't mean we only need a quarterback. Without a stable and steady running attack, we are doomed for sure. Ronnie Brown is the only back that can give that to us right now, unless Lorenzo Booker shows up unexpectedly.

 

[xxAQUA JOSHUAxx]

all you have to do is look at how the team is when he runs for more than 20 carries correct me if im wrong but were 6-1. we at least had a shot at a wildcard before he injured his hand and though sammy morris did an ok job you could tell a ronnie missing was a big part of the offense.

 

[phinfanfrommd]

having a young strong back like ronnie brown keeps the defense honest because linebackers dont like getting run over

 

[Trowa]

Ronnie Brown seems to be a sensitive subject on these boards. I made a thread stating that I don't think that Ronnie Brown is as great as people think that I think people have too high of expectations for him and almost got crucified. I think he's a good running back. He's a tough, hard nosed guy who's hard to tackle and not afraid to get hit or lay a hit on someone. But through his NFL and college career he's proven that he gets hurt easily. He's also never carried an offense for an entire season without missing at least 1 game. And we all know that in the NFL every single game matters. How many times do teams miss the playoffs by one game? And do we want to look back and say "Man if we just had Ronnie for 1 or 2 more games we could be in the playoffs." I think he has a lot of potential but we're coming on his 3rd year now and by now most Runningbacks who are going to be great are already showing their expertise. This could be Ronnie's break out year, and I hope that it is but if it's not then I don't think Ronnie will ever be a great runningback in the NFL. At least not worth the #2 pick in the draft. However that was a really crappy draft.

 

[Samphin]

Ronnie Brown seems to be a sensitive subject on these boards. I made a thread stating that I don't think that Ronnie Brown is as great as people think that I think people have too high of expectations for him and almost got crucified. I think he's a good running back. He's a tough, hard nosed guy who's hard to tackle and not afraid to get hit or lay a hit on someone. But through his NFL and college career he's proven that he gets hurt easily. He's also never carried an offense for an entire season without missing at least 1 game. And we all know that in the NFL every single game matters. How many times do teams miss the playoffs by one game? And do we want to look back and say "Man if we just had Ronnie for 1 or 2 more games we could be in the playoffs." I think he has a lot of potential but we're coming on his 3rd year now and by now most Runningbacks who are going to be great are already showing their expertise. This could be Ronnie's break out year, and I hope that it is but if it's not then I don't think Ronnie will ever be a great runningback in the NFL. At least not worth the #2 pick in the draft. However that was a really crappy draft.

Tiki Barbar didn't have a 1,000 yard rushing seaosn until his fourth year. He didn't become a perennial 1,200 yard back until his sixth year. Fred Taylor battled injuries and never becaome consistantly good until his fifth season.

Sometimes backs take longer than a year or two until they are really in their element and can dominate.

It doesn't help that going into Ronnie's third year, he has a third OC and pretty much a third offense to learn (argue if you must, but Mularkey's offense WAS different than Linehan's).

 

[Trowa]

Tiki Barbar didn't have a 1,000 yard rushing seaosn until his fourth year. He didn't become a perennial 1,200 yard back until his sixth year. Fred Taylor battled injuries and never becaome consistantly good until his fifth season.

Sometimes backs take longer than a year or two until they are really in their element and can dominate.

It doesn't help that going into Ronnie's third year, he has a third OC and pretty much a third offense to learn (argue if you must, but Mularkey's offense WAS different than Linehan's).

Tiki Barber is a real expection to the rule. As for Fred Taylor, I don't consider him a great Running back. He's good and all, but he was never really a top 10 back in the league. And now he's not even the starter in Jax anymore.

I agree that it doesn't help Ronnie having 3 different OCs in 3 years, but he was in a, let's call it a similar, offense the past 2 years. And he's done okay. But RB is probably the easiest transition from college to the NFL so that excuse doesn't fly nearly as much for Ronnie as it would for a QB or a WR.

I'm not trying to bash Ronnie. I like the guy. I actually have his jersey. I just try to look at things from an outside perspective, and from other message boards I visit no fans of any other team think that Ronnie Brown is all that Fins fans think he is. Which I guess is understandable. But I do think that a lot of Dolfans (I don't want to say overrate because it's such an overused expression but I think it applies here) Ronnie Brown.

 

[malzj]

ronnie brown is in his third season and is still improving. if people are giving up on him already, they are out of their damn mind.

 

[FinAtic8480]

Last year he was our best offensive weapon and until mid-season Murlackey refused to run him more then or atleast 24 times a game. And it is true when he runs for more then 20 times a game this team wins.

 

[#1dolphinsfan]

Brown is a huge part of this team if he comes into the season at a good weight and healthy he could be a really good RB i am very happy that ronnie is on the dolphins we would be really bad at RB if we didnt have Ronnie i dont think Booker is going to be a good back in this league i hope he can be good so he can back up ronnie if he get hurt but i think Booker would be a better WR he has the speed if booker wants to be a RB in this league he need to get bigger if i was Cam i would have him in the Slot WR spot

 

[Ozzy]

Ronnie Brown is the Dolphins best player on offense! So until someone surpases that, how could he be expendable?

 

[#1dolphinsfan]

all you have to do is look at how the team is when he runs for more than 20 carries correct me if im wrong but were 6-1. we at least had a shot at a wildcard before he injured his hand and though sammy morris did an ok job you could tell a ronnie missing was a big part of the offense.

its a good thing that cam is our coach now he like to run the ball alot LT ran a like 25 time a game

 

[FinAtic8480]

Brown is a huge part of this team if he comes into the season at a good weight and healthy he could be a really good RB i am very happy that ronnie is on the dolphins we would be really bad at RB if we didnt have Ronnie i dont think Booker is going to be a good back in this league i hope he can be good so he can back up ronnie if he get hurt but i think Booker would be a better WR he has the speed if booker wants to be a RB in this league he need to get bigger if i was Cam i would have him in the Slot WR spot

Alot of people are downgrading Booker and I think alot will be surprised. The kid was with a team with a real bad offense. I remember him giving several teams lots of problem in college and he was being talked alot coming out of college.

As far as Ronnie he is doing everything to get better and has shown improvement and growth as a player in two years he has been with us. He reminds me alot of guys like Steve Jackson and Larry Johnson in the sense they were really downgraded in the beginning of their careers and look where they are now. You have to admire his work ethic, in a recent article Cory Schlesinger said they were working together on assignment on how to follow Cory as a lead blocker and finding opening lanes and after the OTAs he headed to Arizona to the facility that helped him have the awesome combine he did. Just give Ronnie the rock and open lanes and this kid will surprise alot. Alot of people forget Ronnie had to share carries his first year and has never had an oline known for opening huge holes.

 

[Ozzy]

Tiki Barber is a real expection to the rule. As for Fred Taylor, I don't consider him a great Running back. He's good and all, but he was never really a top 10 back in the league. And now he's not even the starter in Jax anymore.

Fred Taylor not a great Rb? I don't know what Fred you've been watching but he most definitely has been one of the best Rb's in the league.......WHEN HE IS HEALTHY!

That's the thing with Taylor. He's been injured so much. I would have taken him in a heart beat over Ricky Williams. They could have gotten Taylor for a 3rd round pick, and still had first round picks for 2 years. Plus they would have gotten a Rb who was nearly, or just as good.

 

[#1dolphinsfan]

Ronnie Brown is the Dolphins best player on offense! So until someone surpases that, how could he be expendable?

yea ur right him and chambers are our best offensive players and they both have alot of talent