FINS CHATTER
• Daniel Thomas has shown encouraging flashes on occasion through nine practices, and he has this message for fans eager to see his debut Friday at Atlanta: “I’m a different player when the lights are on. Fans don’t know what to expect from me, but I know what kind of player I am. I feel I’ll be one of the better [NFL] rookies.”
Thomas, who averaged 5.2 yards at Kansas State, said his speed has improved since college and “I think I can get 5 yards a carry. Maybe 4.5.” Dolphins coaches have Thomas studying Houston’s Arian Foster because of similarities in the teams’ running games.
Tony Sparano said what has most surprised him about Thomas – who grew up wanting to emulate Warrick Dunn – is “he has very good hands. Most big backs don’t have that. He catches the ball well out of the backfield.”
• Thomas is very appreciative that Reggie Bush has gone out of his way to mentor him and offers frequent tips to improve. … Among the passing formations Miami likes is Bush lining up at receiver, with the Dolphins’ three top receivers. That’s a third-down option if Clyde Gates doesn’t earn a lot of playing time early in the season.
• Lex Hilliard has been running very hard, and how he fares in preseason will help determine if Miami feels compelled to sign a more accomplished third back. (Thomas' play also will factor into that decision.) The front office wanted to see Hilliard late last season, but the coaching staff never gave him a carry.
• Kory Sheets has looked sharp and explosive off Achilles’ surgery and “they really want to see me play these first two games and see what I can do, mainly pass blocking. They know I can carry the ball.” Sparano said the lack of experience at running back "definitely is a concern, but I feel really good about the group that I have right now."
• By the way, the Dolphins were so disinterested in Baltimore-bound Ricky Williams – who criticized Sparano after the season – that they didn’t even want him back at the minimum. The only other team (besides Baltimore) that showed interest was Detroit, whose offensive coordinator Scott Linehan approached Williams after the teams played last December, which was tampering. This tampering stuff isn’t uncommon. One respected agent said Nick Saban did it when he was with the Dolphins, asking about free agents still with other teams.
• Though offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie would love to play here, the Dolphins had not called or worked him out as of Tuesday morning, even though he graded out much higher than Marc Colombo in every category last season (McKinnie was 16th among tackles, Colombo 76th, according to Pro Football Focus). But Colombo played for this Dolphins staff in Dallas; McKinnie didn’t.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/...ifies-cornerback-situation.html#ixzz1UdNexgoK
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Boy, if Daniel Thomas' speed has improved and he can get 4.5 YPC that'll go a long way towards helping this offense.
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Stuff like this disgusts me and why I've completely had it with this FO. They clearly prefer taking the easy way out rather than sign more talented players that they aren't familiar with.Aquafin, Xeticus, The Aqua Crush and 1 other person like this. -
I dont think it was being unfamiliae so much that McKinnie was cut for being overweight.GMJohnson likes this. -
and Tin Indian like this.
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And he also sent out a bulk email to every NFL team saying McKinnie would play for "2.5 million plus reasonable incentives"? -
If McKinnie was down 40 pounds or so as of now, I would sign him. However, at 400 lbs, that would be just dumb to do. I think we are going to have to role with Colombo/Garner combo, with Willis being the wild card. If Willis is healthy, hes much better then Colombo(although thats not saying to much).
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I would welcome McKinnie back to Miami. I believe the move will help both him and the team. Murtha has looked good in practice, Colombo may be the average RT he once was but, there is no way in hell that either are even close to McKinne when he is down to his playing weight, and $2.5M is not a lot for what he would bring to our OL
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Wake owned some good players last year. Colombo got and is getting manhandled by no bodies. -
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MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
djphinfan likes this. -
Last year, McK was the #16 OT in the NFL playing LT, based on PFF. Colombo was at #76 of 78 playing RT.
Hmmm, let me try to sort out those numbers, and get back to everyone.MonstBlitz likes this. -
I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on o-linemen here. I'm just reading the opinion of the writer that McKinnie grades out better than Colombo, coupling that with what I've heard about Colombo getting owned so far in camp along with past instances of this FO using the Dallas pipeline instead of searching out more talented players and drawing some conclusions. Maybe Colombo is the better of the 2, I don't know. Doesn't change how I feel about Ireland and company taking the easy way out with Dallas connections. There are better players out there worthy of this FO's attention. -
Seeing how McKinnie was booted from the pro bowl squad for partying to much I'd say that is a valid concern. -
?? are you trying to tell me Colombo didnt get abused during last season? in games? -
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Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member
Like the stuff on Thomas. But I hate stuff like this from all-talk-no-walk Sparano:
I do like the Reggie Bush as a receiver and in motion stuff. He's got open-field talent. Hopefully they won't try to run him like he's Ronnie Brown or something. They have to use him effectively - which means getting him the ball in space, not in-between the tackles.Xeticus likes this. -
Bryant McKinnie would not be able to start anytime even remotely soon. He's just a massive piece of **** right now, and frankly, he's probably not that big of an upgrade over Marc Colombo circa 2009.
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MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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They weren't at all shy with using other backs at receivers. Patrick Cobbs got loads of use in the role, and it was the absolutely right thing because he was better than Brown at it..ToddsPhins, MarinePhinFan, and 1 other person like this. -
I was listening to a local sports radio show yesterday. They reported that in addition to being over 400 lbs, McKinnie supposedly has a Cholesterol test at over 400 as well. I don't have a link or anything but if true he's a heart attack waiting to happen.
Edit: found link: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Bryant-McKinnie-trolling-for-work.html -
MarinePhinFan likes this.
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MrClean and MarinePhinFan like this.
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I'm all about EVERYONE having a chance to prove they belong this year. Sparano, Henne, etc. And we do have a lot of talent on this team. Vontae, Wake, Long, Marshall, Dansby, Bess, Misi to name just a few.
But I see this FO making some of the same mistakes that have helped lead to the past 2 mediocre and failed seasons. I hope Chad Henne can pull a Drew Brees this season as much as the next Dolphin fan, but it doesn't change the fact that going into this season with Henne as our uncontested starter is risky, arrogant, and more of the same of Ireland and his mentor Parcells before him not placing the appropriate value on the QB position. -
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I think people are also kind of not at all thinking of Murtha. The guy is from what I've seen and heard holding down LT well. He's probably your RT once Long comes back.jim1 likes this. -
Sure, I will beat my chest with my Arian Foster comparison on draft day....actually ill take 3/4 of an Arian Foster if I may.
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No. Unless they expect Long to be out longer then expected, then I understand it. But it is more important to get him reps in the position he would be starting then having him on the left side just so the OL looks better when it doesn't matter...in the least. Especially considering all the time off. -
I believe that if McKinnie were in shape he would be a clear upgrade at RT. The guy is just a blob at the moment and his lack of conditioning is the reason why no team is beating the door down trying to sign him.
If he were in shape he wouldn't be available. -
Nappy Roots and Stitches like this.
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I think people are dramatically underestimating what kind of problem McKinnie is right now. It's not the kind of situation where he's simply too big and will just be limited athletically because of it. The guy is a huge health risk. If the Vikings kept him, he'd be on PUP or IR more than likely. Despite his suggestions that he'll be ready to play in 2011, it's been suggested that the Vikings doctor suggested he play next year. If **** like his cholesterol being nearly 400 is true, I doubt he'd even be cleared to practice anytime soon.
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