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Which Players Have Best Chance Of Progressing?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Bpk, Jan 30, 2013.

  1. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    With free agents leaving, we will need free agency and the draft to fill holes. Our best chance of progressing may be with more of our young players improving and taking a step forwards in their development.

    Last year it was Rashad Jones. Who do you see as likely to take a big step up in their level of play next season?

    Here are some candidates:
    - Koa Misi
    - Jared Odrick
    - Dmitri Patterson
    - Lamar Miller
    - Rashard Matthews
    - Nolan Carroll
    - Jimmy Wilson
    - Chris Clemons
    - Olivier Vernon
    - Javorskie Lane
    - Jonathon Martin
    - John Jerry
    - Michael Egnew

    Who do you think will take a big step up next season? Any of the above, or someone I forgot to mention?
     
  2. VanDolPhan

    VanDolPhan Club member Club Member

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    If John Jerry can keep his weight down he could provide a big boost to the OL instead of spending camp dealing with his weight. Martin should also make strides with an offseason of weight training. Getting stronger will help Martin immensely.

    Really looking forward to Miller. Especially if he works hard on his blocking this offseason.
     
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  3. slickj101

    slickj101 Is Water

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    Will Yeatman and obviously (hopefully) Tannehill going in to his 2nd year.
     
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  4. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    I didn't think Reshad Jones would progress like he did and I was wrong. I did think Mike Poiuncey would take his place as one of the top centers in the game.

    I would strike Dimitri Patterson from the list. He's actually kind of an older guy. He's not on the up slope anymore, IMO.

    John Jerry could ascend. We could be talking this time next year about what a strong guard he is. I could see that. Nolan Carroll could ascend, too. It might be too soon for Matthews or Egnew.

    I give a halfway decent chance for Koa Misi to ascend IF and ONLY IF the Dolphins cut one of their other linebackers. If they do that, Misi can play on passing downs in coverage and if he continues to improve there, he'll be known a lot better than he is right now I guarantee it.

    If the Dolphins move Jared Odrick into Randy Starks' old spot then that could go either way. Either he'll dramatically turn his fortunes around and bring his name out of the mud, or it'll be more obvious he was a poor 1st round draft choice.

    Lamar Miller is the chalk. By all looks he's getting first crack at starting in place of Reggie, and we all saw him already averaging a high yards per carry, making plays, etc. He's the favorite.

    The guy you didn't mention that I think deserves mention is Charles Clay. He had a sophomore slump while learning his second NFL offense in two years. He was never the brightest bulb anyway, so I could see that having really set him back in 2012. Then in 2013 suddenly he is the Dustin Keller that everyone wants to pay a bunch of money for in free agency. Just a thought.

    I would also add Derrick Shelby. One way or another if Randy Starks is gone and Odrick is moved over, Shelby could find himself starting.

    Bryan McCann deserves mention, too.
     
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  5. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Egnew. Nowhere top go but up.
     
  6. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    I'd like to see Vernon in 3-3-5 nickel packages more. Egnew and Clay are good candidates. Jerry was mentioned, JMart should be better. Sean Smith has more room to improve, Jones too. If any combo of the young guys can step up it takes a lot of pressure off if the soon to be rooks and FA signees.
     
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  7. juju.simba

    juju.simba New Member

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    be good if they actually put jerry at tackle where he belongs ,far better pass blocker than run blocker imo
     
  8. juju.simba

    juju.simba New Member

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    if richard marshall was moved to free safety i would have added him to the list , a bit old but back where he belongs he aint no boundary corner as we all saw !
    for me vernon would start over shelby iff we didnt add another de

    i have majour doubts over odrich doing the biz if he is a full time starter in place of starks [dont want that to happen at all ]

    imo misi has found his home a 2 down linebacker and cant see him making the same strides again and certainly wouldnt want him on passing downs

    clay is a good shout he was improving late on in the season before injury
    i can see matthews and binns being frozen out down the depth chart if we add 2 wr`s [which we should]
    for me got to be miller without doubt
    plus i really want to see what samuda got, our guard play was very average at best plug him in !!
     
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  9. PHINANALYST

    PHINANALYST Well-Known Member

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    on the OL, we have in order: Martin (getting the offseason to get stronger); Yeatman (aparrent pet project); Burden and Samuda (more year 2 projects); and Jerry (doubt it, just don't see an awakening happening with his weight)

    For RB we have: Miller (showed very solid ability at the very least), and then you have Gray (who isn't getting much attention - but i am looking forward to the Miller/Gray tandem).

    For TE: Clay has always flashed some ability ... and might really make some strides in year 2 of this offense. Egnew, the problem i have at this point is ... if he isn't or can't be at least an average blocker -- then outside of size, what does he bring that Clay doesn't ... namely, we don't need 2 of the same. Not sure how having '2' receiving TEs helps us significantly. I might have higher hopes for Miller than Egnew ...

    For WR: the lot of Binns, Tyms and Matthews and Fuller ... would be nice if just one of them made some real strides (i give Binns and Matthews the best chance of this group). They should be seeking veteran assistance (mentoring) and working out with Tanny all offseason.

    For DL: Vernon (showed flashes), Randall (showed he can hang), Shelby (needs to improve) ... and will certainly need Alecxih to earn a spot this year ...

    For LB: we need Freeny or Kaddu to show something .... Kaddu has gotten some attention, so hope is there. i think we know what Freeny and Spitler are at this point, and i can't see substantial improvement with Misi.

    For DBs: i think we saw some improvement with different coaching last year -- hopefully, that continues with Clemens, Carroll, Wilson, Amaya McCann and Stanford ... and the newbies - Posey, and Pressley

    Bottom Line is that we still have room for lots of improvement with the young folks on the roster ... have maintained that during the Fat Man Tony regime ... that whilst we may not have elite talent, our coaching and development of the talent we had was horrific. Specifically with WRs, TEs and DBs ... we have flipped many acorns at these positions, without any real payoff.
     
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  10. GMJohnson

    GMJohnson New Member

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    What'd you seen in 5 quarters (when he was healthy) that led you to conclude he wasn't a good corner?
     
  11. ATLFINFAN

    ATLFINFAN Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Miller is the obvious choice to excel.
    Olivier Vernon is the other from this list I EXPECT to improve. I base this mostly on what Wake said about him and OV being willing to listen to Wake.
     
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  12. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

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    Egnew. All he has to do is record a reception. :shifty:

    Edit: lmeister beat me to it.
     
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  13. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Tannehill
    Odrick
    Miller
    Jimmy Wilson
    Martin
    Vernon
    Carroll
    Rishard Matthews
    Kaddu
     
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  14. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Honestly?

    Miller, he will have touches, without that it does not matter their potential

    I look at that list though...and let's just say I'm not filled with hope here.
     
  15. Zanno

    Zanno Junior Member

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    I thought Philbin said Kaddu was the guy who might progress the most.
     
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  16. RoninFin4

    RoninFin4 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Chris beat me too it, but I thought Bryan McCann played pretty well given the circumstances he came in under.

    Miller and Tannehill would be the favorites to me. I'll cast a vote for Jonathan Martin as well. Those three improving would be a boon.
     
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  17. CANDolphan

    CANDolphan Well-Known Member

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    I look for big leaps by Miller, Martin and Clay.
     
  18. mommabilly

    mommabilly No riders allowed

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    Samuda. IMO, he will replace Jerry at RG. Jerry seems to lazy or kinds speaking, set in his ways. We need a RT no matter how you spell it up. Keep Long at a good price at LT, fine but Jonathan Martin is not the answer at RT or LT or any tackle and most definately not at Guard.
     
  19. mommabilly

    mommabilly No riders allowed

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    We had to use Jerry at Guard, we had no one else and we had just brought in Martin. Garner blows at guard and Samuda was not ready. the guy we brought in, forget his name, veteran but decided to retire, could not even bend over anymore. If Samuda works out at guard and then yeah, try Jerry at Tackle what the heck. Personally hope we keep Long at a good price. Even half speed Long is light years better then Martin.
     
  20. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Never listen to what Coaches and GM's say, watch who plays instead.
     
  21. CANDolphan

    CANDolphan Well-Known Member

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    Wow I havent seen someone already willing to give up no Martin. Interesting.
     
  22. mommabilly

    mommabilly No riders allowed

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    Would keep Martin as a good reserve Tackle. Would be his best position for this football team. I keep hearing he will get stronger yada yad yada ya. Some do not realize large D1 schools have better weight programs then the Pros do. In college they are monitored year round. In the Pros they are not and no, they are not folks. As far as the Pros go every team is the same. They have a set amount of weight training when they get to OTAs and camp. Beyond that ? Nada, nothing. They cannot force the players to do more then what is put forth to them and Johathan Martin is going to do exactly what HE HAS to do and nothing more. I am sure there are those that actually believe they whip the players into things like the Russian boxer in Rocky LOL, no, they give them enough to stay in shape, it ends there. Its all up to the players after that.

    Martin had years at a large D1 school and months to train for the combine and then his Pro Day at Stanford. He basically sucked at the combind and sucked even worse at his Pro day. Now THAT was under strict guidelines to look good for the combine and his Pro day and the kid comes up flat ? No, this kid is doing nothing to get bigger faster or better so those that think he is are going to be really dissapointed. Its not friggin rocket science folks.
     
  23. CANDolphan

    CANDolphan Well-Known Member

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    First - Having experience with players both before and after, I can simply tell you that you're incorrect. Weight training within the professional ranks is much more in depth and better suited for not only muscle mass but sustained health.

    Pretty much every (90%+) NFL player gets stronger when he arrives to the league. That's my first point, and is completely regardless of Jon Martin, just trying to correct mis-information before it gets spread.

    Second - You argument has the assumption that he's simply too weak to play in the NFL. Tell me, why do you think this is? Because it has been repeated over and over? Is it because you see him being prone to the bull rush?

    Lastly - Are you down on Martin because of his PFF ranking? Ive been seeing a lot of people who were on the fence on him absolutely hating him when that article came out that showed the Dolphins being ranked in the 20s of all offensive lines.

    What about him, as a tackle in the NFL, have you got a serious issue with? I'm trying to slim down the argument here.
     
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  24. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Lets hope the local boys from the U make their mark..
     
  25. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent Fighter of the Nightman

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    Beyond some of the obvious choices (Tanny and Miller most notably) I think the answer might be Charles Clay. Had a good rookie season, then really looked unimpressive in training camp, started out slow, picked up speed... then got hurt. Year three might be a good one for him. I hope so... Given our TE situation, we need it from him.
     

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