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the bottom third of the roster, keep in mind, ....long

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by my 2 cents, Apr 30, 2020.

  1. my 2 cents

    my 2 cents Well-Known Member

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    Someone made a good point about the RB's cut and asked a question that is a good question about which backs may be kept........keep this in mind......this team now has a vision and they have a core and they most importantly have a QB that they are going to build around...so that clues you in on who they may keep at the bottom of the roster...

    Also this team is zeroed in on what they value, character, position flexibility, upside on the bottom third of the roster, work ethic, ST's value, team and position fit as opposed to individual talent level....etc.....

    1. their third down back that they are going to keep WILL be able to block first, catch second and if he offers value on ST's or ion the run game great but he WILL step up and protect his QB....that guy is in my mind most obviously Laird.

    2. Watch who Tua develops a connection with in TC if they have one and when it happens. If there is some obvious misconnections then that guy will be on the bubble. Two guys that have some reputation that might be worth watching are, Hurns has notoriously dropped balls inside his catch radius and Tua is known for getting balls inside a catch radius very accurately. Wilson is known to have big YAC when he gets balls in space but has some of the same drop issues inside his body, although not like Hurns on balls that get in on his hands....a guy that may excel is Grant who can accelerate and has good inside hands and a small catch radius that does not get to some balls in space, that might not be as big of deal with Tua. If someone like a Matt Cole or Malcom Perry offers big help on ST's and connects with Tua they could surprise and I would not be shocked to see Hurns being left off the roster if someone emerges.

    3. ST's......core ST's is obviously a priority for this team....picking a LS in the draft...wow type move.......they made Matt Cole who's best position is gunner a priority. Cole could also provide you the added benefit of return man value, and some potential at slot or even boundary. Merritt is another guy that has less experience and disability but ST's is also his path to a roster spot. Other guys that are right there on the bottom of the roster that might make a mark on ST's's and have some upside still are Chris Myarick, Calvin Munson, Bryan Sterk, Trent Harris, and Chandler Cox.

    4. Position flexibility.......some guys that have that either the ability to drop down from DE to DT or stand up at OLB, inside/outside guys at LB, ....bottom third guys like Malcom Perry, Trent Harris, Raekwon McMillian, Ken Webster, Michael Dieter, Adrian Colbert, and a couple the rookie FA's come to mind like Donnell Stanley, Jonathan Hubbard and Tyshuan Render.

    5. It might be time...some guys might be nearing the end of their Miami playing days as the team becomes more talented and is molded more into the image if Flores......guys that don't fit the above categories or some of them.....Durham Smythe, Chandler Cox, Taco Charlton, Charles Harris, Cordorea Tankersly and yes Allen Hurns are names I would not be shocked to see go....I think Albert Wilson gets another shot...but I "predict" one of the under the radar WR's Jennings, Perry, Cole or Merritt make the active 53.

    Just stuff to look for if we ever get to watch football again.
     
    Irishman, The Guy, firedan and 3 others like this.
  2. Vinny Fins

    Vinny Fins Feisty Brooklyn dolfan ️‍

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    I agree with a lot of this but I do not think Chandler Cox needs to sweat yet. This team wants a full back and wants to smash mouth identity to protect its quarterback. Unless they get a better full back I think he’s here for a while.
     
    Irishman likes this.
  3. Etrius24

    Etrius24 Well-Known Member

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    The dolphins brought in a couple of lesser signings over the offseason guys that are absolute special teams monsters... The special teams play is going to be a lot of fun to watch this season.

    The picks like Perry and the undrafted players like Merritt These guys will really make their presence known on special teams if they make the football club.
     
    Irishman and rafael like this.
  4. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

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    Is it me, or does it seem like the fullback is a dying position? I think back to the days we had Keith Byars. What an all around weapon he was; running the ball, blocking, catching out of the backfield. You never seemed to know what he was gong to do when he was on the field.

    Hope we bring this potent weapon back into our arsenal.
     
  5. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    It is dying or even dead in a sense.

    In another sense though it has sort of evolved to merge with the TE position, but because of that we see way less carries from a "FB" and more of just a TE lining up in the backfield to go out on a route or block.
     
    Irishman likes this.
  6. Silverphin

    Silverphin Well-Known Member

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    Plus, if we're being honest, it's kinda hard to judge a full back when the quarterback is the leading rusher on your offense, and when your leading rusher ran for less yards than a lot backup running backs in the league.
     
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  7. Patster1969

    Patster1969 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    On the flip side, we signed Elandon Roberts in FA, who played FB a lot for NE - as he adds value offensively & defensively (plus likely ST's), Cox could be closer to the bubble than we think
     
    Irishman likes this.
  8. Irishman

    Irishman Well-Known Member

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    Terminology often too narrowly describes all the functions a player needs to perform on the field in the NFL. An end, any kind of end, is normally a receiver but sometimes functions as a running back or a blocker.

    Blocking has always been an element for any offensive players that play in the backfield from time to time and may be the most overlooked and under developed skill that a college player needs to improve at when they get to the NFL.
     
    Surfs Up 99 likes this.
  9. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    A handful of teams make good use of fullbacks. It's an important position in the Shannahan offense in San Fran, and the Patriots have used them well enough.

    But overall yeah, the idea of a RB lining up behind a FB and plowing ahead for 2 yards is dead. Just not enough versatility.
     
    Irishman likes this.
  10. Etrius24

    Etrius24 Well-Known Member

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    Well back in the day... Guys like Emmit Smith became stars because they had a hall of fame blocking fullback in front of them. There is a place for it... If you get a really good running back and a great blocking fullback.

    The Ravens and the 49ers have athletic fullbacks that can catch the ball and run a little... That helps.
     
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  11. AGuyNamedAlex

    AGuyNamedAlex Well-Known Member

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    I think teams have in general gone away from the typical FB because it's the easiest place to save a roster spot. You can generally recreate what a FB does using another position.

    There are so few all around FB who can run, catch, and block at level that makes you feel like you absolutely need that player.

    In reality most FB were/are specialized. A guy could do a couple of those things decent but not great, or had one very strong ability and wasnt great at the rest.

    When you think of it, it makes sense. If he was a spectacular runner he would be a HB to maximize. If he was a spectacular pass catcher hed probably be a TE or third down back.

    So what you ended up with is a bunch of guys who generally weren't useful for more than one thing on the field.

    Teams decided they would rather use that roster spot on a different position and recreate what the FB does using different positions like TE or occasionally a defensive lineman in short yardage.

    I believe the FB position has a place, but the player needs to be a strong all around player with both blocking and skill position attributes. That is incredibly rare.

    That is how I see it anyway.
     
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  12. Etrius24

    Etrius24 Well-Known Member

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    I always thought that Charles Clay would have been dynamite as a Fullback.. Where there were plays designed for him... and he got his number called a handfull of times a game. He had enough athletic ability to shine as a fullback... He could run a little and catch a football. Was undersized at tight end but just fine to play fullback
     
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