Do you guys think Charles Clay can become an impact player for us? He was my pick for a breakout season last year but that didn't happen. It's frustrating because he randomly has games where he looks like he is going to turn the corner for us like the Seattle game this past year. Then I think it was the Rams game when he ran the ball out of bounds short of a first down when we were trying to run the clock out. What do you guys think?
I really liked him for a breakout last season, and was disappointed when it didn't happen. I think this is make or break for him his season, he has the potential but if he wants it to be any more than potential he needs to start showing it big style.
I'm not sure if I ever pegged him for an impact player personally. I thought he was always a unique sort of project that I was interested to see how it worked out.
It's just frustrating because he definately has his moments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyFgBuHhdKU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVHwkcY-SAw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDZlcuGfKhY
Yes I believe in him because he has shown flashes his first 2 seasons. I've never been one to give up on players after the first year or 2 because some guys just take longer to get it going. Reshad Jones is a perfect example of this. Everyone wrote him off after 2011 and now look at him. Same reason I have yet to give up on Daniel Thomas, and to a lesser degree, Jonathan Martin.
I think a fair amount of people myself included expected Clay to break out, and I'm not entirely sure that should be written off at this point. The guy clearly has upside. I don't believe his roster spot is in serious danger.
I hope he at least gets a shot this season, it may be tough with Keller and Sims on board now along with the new wideouts
We could be in the Matrix and the NFL and all of its players could just be programs to distract us.........you sure you're 100% sure haha
I expect Keller and Sims to be the primary TE's on the roster this coming season. I think Egnew and Clay will be fighting for a roster spot in training camp and that one of them won't be on the team when the season begins. Based on last season, I suspect Egnew to be the odd man out. If on the other hand, Clay doesn't show improvement in training camp and Egnew looks like he might finally be picking up the play book, it wouldn't surprise me if Clay is cut before the regular season begins. Clay has been a disappointment with the Dolphins in his first two seasons and I don't ever see him being anything more than a borderline NFL player.
I didnt last year so my hopes are not high, I don't see where he presents a mismatch, he's not that big, not fast and not that quick.. The position I would like to see him excel at would be becoming a rock solid blocker fullback, that way we can utilize his pass catching skills out of that formation.
Since he can play multiple positions, I think he will always have a spot on the roster, as a versatile inexpensive backup. But I don't think he'll ever become a star.
I see him off the team next season IF Keller stays healthy and is resigned to a multi-year deal like I think he will. Then we have Keller, Sims and maybe a 2014 draft pick if Egnew turds out again this season
I never really felt he was anything more then a really good 3rd tight end/h-back. He has a niche but its mostly as a receiver. He's an OK but undersized blocker at TE but never felt he should be our Aaron Hernandez type matchup problem. If he's our 3rd or 4th TE you have good depth.
For whatever reason I bought the hype last season was going to be a breakout year. IDK I think he makes it as a FB/H-B/TE. He's also cheap and fills a bunch of roles.
It looks like they have Clay designated as a FB now, not a TE...his competition will be from the FB/HB types... That could make is chances either better or worse... Either he shows enough as an HB to warrant sticking around or if he doesn't totally impress, he could be gone...I just think that comparing his production (or lack thereof) the first two years has nothing to do with this season...
I've admitted my miss evaluation on the player several times already this year, feels so good to be wrong..totally blew me away thus far, and continues to show consistency in some clutch situations.
Same guy who can break 3 tackles to score a 49 yd Td is the same one who can drop key passes in the 4th qtr with less than 2 minutes left. Don't misunderstand, love me some CC9, but let us not pretend he is a consistent player. I see him drop passes, miss blocks, this is one of the parts of being a young player.
his consistency has gone up a lot Pod...what I notice is how he comes off the Los to start his route..he's got a plan it seems.
I would've loved to see him paired with Keller. Although, I'm not sure Clay would've grown and had as much confidence as he does now if Keller was healthy - just from sheer opportunities. I really Clay. I think he can be really special from an H-Back position. As a TE, I think he's still average. If we can find someone to pair him up with this offseason and get him back to H-Back, that'd be great.
As I've said Deej, he reminds me of Keith Byars, a sort of Rb/Te hybrid Used to amaze me how easily Byars would be wide open, taking these little pigeon toed baby steps, but there he would be...
I now see that speed and quickness. Before I thought he was just a stiff player. Also has been fighting not to go down on first contact. Actually, I have noticed for a few weeks now that our skill players are fighting harder than ever to break tackles and it really showed up against the Jets.
I agree with you. He makes some plays that makes you think he cold be elite. He certainly has put up some good numbers for us this year. On the other hand, he doesn't run the correct route, isn't on the same page with RTH, drops catchable balls and is poor at run blocking. This certainly isn't a knock on him. He's been very good. Simply stating that I'd like to see him be more consistent and improve his game.
To me, I chalk it up to inexperience, this is the ***** about free agency By the time they really know what they are doing, they are gone in FA
Oh man, loved me some Keith. Total Buckeye homer. He was smart and he had some serious mitts. Great hands. Ran 4.6, but he wasn't running that his last few years w/ us. Big boy.
Clay is a better blocker in the backfield than he is in-line, but he's most productive receiver-wise at tight end proper. I think going forward pairing Clay up with a "true" tight end would be valuable, but I think you should be building a fair amount of your offense over Clay being consistently on the field and his versatility.
I'm hoping that we can make that our base offense next season. Wallace, Hartline, Clay, TE, Miller. Swap out Clay or other TE for Gibson depending on the situation.
Every player can drop passes in the 4th Q. I don't think Clay has had an unusual number of drops and some of the ones that have been counted as drops were pretty tough catches IMO.
I agree. I'd like to see a little more of him as a ball carrier too and not necessarily limited to short yardage plays. When we drafted him and had Daboll as the new OC, I was predicting that we'd use Clay more at RB than people expected and that they may have envisioned him in a role similar to how Daboll used Hillis in 2010. I was wrong about that, but I still think he might work well in that role. He's a very physical runner with some wiggle and I'd like to see the Fins explore that more with him.