Lamar Miller Rockin' Offseason Workouts with Frank Gore

You can do that by spelling him a series or a few snaps here and there. Doesn't have to be by taking him out on 3rd.

 

If he loses the 2nd string job he stands in danger of being cut unless he starts showing out on special teams.

 

See my last post. And there's a good number that can actually.

 

Hopefully we are scoring so quick, Miller won't get tired

 

Sure, but why take Miller out on the downs where his skillset is least utilized?

 

I think you're undervaluing what Miller could do on 3rd and overvaluing everything DT does in general.

 

Don't be so sure.

Pay attention to the language coming out of the Dolphins about Lamar Miller. Pay attention to all of the talking about his blocking abilities, how much he's improved on that front. Literally every time Joe Philbin has talked about Lamar Miller, he's talked about his improvement in blocking. Re-read the Barry Jackson part about people inside the facility believing he isn't just going to be a good starting tailback, but a great one...and think about what distinction applies specifically to the tailback position when it comes to the difference between "good starter" and great. Think about Lamar Miller's speed, and the damage he did catching the football in college.

I think your mistake is that you seem to be assuming that Daniel Thomas just has to watch his back and make sure none of the guys behind him look better than him at blocking and pass catching. That's not the case. He has to keep an eye out in front of him too, because the Dolphins are attempting to train Lamar Miller as a potential every down guy, and they're liking what they see...a lot.

In Green Bay when you really look at how they used to split reps between James Starks and Ryan Grant, you see that the 3rd down back often had the opportunity to get more action than the "starting" back. They used to rotate series between the two players, but have Starks sub onto the field for passing downs even during Grant's series, and then when the flow of the two-and-two series rotation was interrupted by a hurry up situation, again it was Starks that was called onto the field out-of-turn. James Starks was the third down back, but he ended up with 428 snaps to Ryan Grant's 277 snaps during games in which the two players both played.

Based on the language coming out they may have something like that in mind for Lamar Miller. But at the same time, the gap between Lamar and Daniel may be too big, and so you COULD actually be looking at a situation like Mike Sherman had in Green Bay with Ahman Green. During those years, Ahman did just about everything, averaged 350 touches per year for 5 years before he broke down. Or like how Mike Sherman used Ricky Watters in Seattle when he was the OC there in 1999. Watters had 365 touches and Ahman Green got very little playing time behind him.

Short story long, I don't think Daniel Thomas' job as the third down back is very secure at all. Not only could one of the backs behind him prove to be more adept at those duties (Gillislee or Gray the most likely), but he's also fighting off Lamar Miller for those duties, and the Dolphins could find themselves in a situation where Lamar Miller's second in command is not necessarily a third down back but more of a 1st/2nd down and/or short yardage back...and those are weaknesses for Daniel Thomas.

 

If the Dolphins were happy with DThomas, I don't think they'd have kept Gray or drafted Gillislee.

Hell, I'm still not convinced, that Miller doesn't become more of an X factor type player, while Gilly doesn't become more of a traditional back while Gray doesn't become the short yardage guy. Then again, its fairly common knowledge I'm insane.

 

Previously, I think there were three things keeping Lamar Miller from being a complete player.

1. Short yardage
2. Blocking
3. Mental lapses in the passing game

The player with those weaknesses is a 1st/2nd down guy. A version of Ryan Grant in 2011. The natural complement to this player is a 3rd down back, a James Starks.

The Dolphins are putting out a lot of language suggesting that his improvements in blocking and learning the playbook are such to where those two are no longer weaknesses. If that's the case, what's the natural complement? It's no longer a 3rd down back. It's going to be something between yet another complete all-around back (ahem, Gillislee), and/or a short yardage guy (ahem, Gray/Marshall).

 

run ricky run / run miller run
thought I'd never see that again, but it could be...

 

Okay, but has Gore been wearing a (throwback) Dolphins hat?

 

Lol...sorry..

 

check out my interview with Dave Hyde about all things dolphins at www.dukeandboy.com! thanks guys

 

Well he certainly isn't the best reciever. Miller has the best hands of any of the RBs, and did last year as well, when Bush was here. Miller catches it clean away from his body like a WR. There were talks on draft day that he could play WR in a pinch.

As you have said there is more to being a 3rd down back than one or two quailities, but don't think for a second DT has better hands than Miller, that is simply not true. Statistically Miller was the best out of the backfield catching passes last year for us, AHEAD of Bush.

If his pass pro has improved any at all over the way he finished the year (when Philbin said he had came a long way in blocking), then there is no reason Miller couldn't be a 3 down back. His hands are so good that you could bring him in on 3rd and medium and spread out the defense, and put him in the backfield OR split him out into 5 wide, depending on how the defense counters. With his speed and hands, he is a weapon you want on the field on the money down.

 

Is this is trick...duke and boy.com......sounds like a bar for the village people.

 

The NFL is all about 3rd down. If there is ANY time you want one of your best weapons on the field it is 3rd down. The players with the best chance of creating mismatches are the ones you want on the field on 3rd down. Miller is THAT guy. No LB is fast enough and no DB is big enough to handle him one on one. If his blocking has improved to a point where it can be considered adequate, Miller is a player I see on the field on 3rd down more than any other RB.

 

Not the down to sacrifice skill for protection of a player, kid has smooth hands, runs a great screen, can follow blocks, and you want that speed in the open field when linebackers and safeties are back in coverage on third down.

 

Third down is one area in which I was happy with Thomas. He was very effective as a pass catcher and I disagree with those who were critical of his pass blocking. IMO he made a few mistakes but they were relatively few. My disappointment with Thomas is as a runner. I do think Miller has good hands and could be effective as pass catcher if he has learned the check downs. The reports from mini camp on his pass pro were certainly positive. The big advantage he should bring on third down over Thomas was as a run threat and on draws.