http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...s-phillip-livas-0814-20110813,0,4569839.story Now, clearly Sparano is referencing Chris Williams's 09 debacle, however I like the fact that the back slapping "name in the paper" stuff is starting with Phil Livas as the biggest problem these UDFA longshots have is not signing with a Team for a NFL Training Camp, it is handling success. Now he will probably go on the morning Sports Talk Radio circuit (Rose and Salguero etc) and then the lights will come on at home everyone will know his name, and the opponent's ST unit will be focused on stopping him to win their own roster slots, let us see how he does then, as the NCAA co record holder for Return TD's though, I suspect he will do fine, but you have to see it on the field.
Two simple ways to keep 6 WRs is keep just 8 OL, since we seldom dress more than 7 anyway. Or keep just one backup TE, since they all suck anyway.
A bit early though, 1 game in the ps does not mean all that much, if he continues to perform then they can worry about making a slot. That is what I found interesting, or the most interesting, aside from the high performance in College, Rizzi being able to get some of "his" guys in Camp, along with Trusnik, maybe Special Teams i no longer the backwater that it used to be which is a positive change for Sparano's approach.
Really?...our very own punt and kick returner?.golly gee, never had me one of those before.. Nice job Irish.. Like that he seems to have vision for both jobs.Kick and Punt... Weakness was addressed..Check.. Great weapon for a team where its number one goal was to create balance and fill that position with an explosive playmaker.. I like him too, seems like a nice kid..
There is always a camp darling that eventually gets cut, I hope its not Livas. Anyways... Marshall, Hartline, Bess, Gates, Moore, Livas?? Ill predict that for now
Well Deej, I'm more excited that they are finally taking ST seriously, whether Livas makes it or not. But of course I want a designated Returner..
Moore like adios Moore, why keep a pt Wr over a player who will handle the ball that much and is the best man for the job? Assuming Livas continues to perform of course and he does not make much sense as a practice squad player either as his benefit is Right Now, as a Returner?
well if he doesn't make it, then their not taking it seriously, If he could tackle that would be great..lol..He's gonna make the team Pod, unless he starts fumbling punts and I don't think one of the all time best college returners has a problem with that.. 8 td's... 4 punt, 4 kickoff.....make it 5 career now..4 kickoff.. I know I want him on the team, I'll sacrifice another position for that weapon.
Agreed, but we've both been around the block enough times to know 1 preseason game is not really enough to pry open a roster slot that is active on gamedays, as a default Sparano can always just use Bess and Carroll on punts and kickoffs. I'd set his goal at 100 yds in returns in each of the next 3 games, if he bumps 500 yds, and does not make mental errors on things like when to Fair Catch the ball, and when to return it, and when to let it hit the ground, that should earn him a roster slot imo. I'd bet they are going to try him in the Slot and on at least 1 end around.
I thought there'd be a #'s crunch at WR even before Livas brought his name into the fold. I expect them to keep 6 WRs personally, especially if Livas wins the return job.
Well, I'd think you would keep Wallace over Moore. As far as periennial backups, might as well keep the one with size in case Marshall gets hurt. a #5 WR won't contribute to field position as much as a good returner, so keep the returner.
I have to second taking Wallace over Moore. It seems like Wallace is controlling himself a lot more this year than last. I heard Moore had a rough few days of practice and isnt quite the same threat as Wallace. For a project reciever, I'd much rather have Wallace and he is also a good ST player.
Keep Clay and ditch the other tight ends. They're a weakness on the field. They're Luke Waltons of the NFL.
Exactly. Moore & Wallace both have potential in the league, but if I'm cutting one there's no way I'm cutting Wallace over Moore. Wallace has a body and athleticism to dominate if he works hard enough. Moore could eventually become a serviceable starter or #3 who can make plays but I don't see him with the same upside as Wallace. There just aren't many 6'4, 225 WR's.
Everything we been hearing now is that Wallace is 4th,ahead of Gates and Moore. So more like the obvious 4 followed by Wallace and Livas. Moore made some nice catches, but gets caught in a numbers game.
Not to get ahead of myself, but if one thinks about it "if": Wallace over Moore to keep Livas: We know Wallace can play ST, we've also seen Moore make at least one explosive play in an actual game, but adding Livas means we have the potential for explosive plays on any punt or kick return, Livas would have about 70 touches over the course of a season. Moore's say 10 receptions vs Livas 70 touches and Wallace on ST and as the #5 Wr in waiting for an injury?
Clay has been running as the #1 Fb, Polite #2, Lou's time in Miami could be winding down. The guy who would have to step up is Lex Hilliard as he would then be the "blocking" FB/H-Back and fill in Cobbs old role.
Shuler? I might keep him. Roberto Wallace though might have to get onto the field. The Dolphins could potentially be five deep at WR for the first time since well dang. I don't remember a time they were ever really five deep per say.
you see or hear that video {forget where I heard} where he talks about how the coaches worked him in practice and he had to learn the position last year?..
Had not heard that Deej, only Lexxy news I've heard was MMA training this offseason. Would not surprise me Deej, I suspect Lexxy is Cobbs 2.0 as many jobs, and expected to play ST at a high level, if it works he will be quite a valuable player due to all of the roles he can fill ST/Fb/Rb/ 3rd down back on occasion.
agreed that its to early to tell if livas is the man and already a keeper, but if he just manages to stay on his average against carolina, he has to be a keeper, sparano said a while back that he would find a roster spot for just a return man, time to make it happen if livas performs again on friday....i will cheer for him and gladly say bye bye to sheets or whoever has to go to make room for him
Yeah, that's along the lines of what I was thinking. Instead of 3 TE's, you keep 2 and Clay as a FB/3rd TE.
point blank said the staff had him learning fullback.. If he could block as good as Polite it would be a no brainer to covert him, however, you know how that goes.. Do captains in preseason usually get cut..?
I don't like the idea of giving up a sure-fire short yardage back for a guy that has done nothing in the pros yet. Is there really no room for Polite? This guy has been money since he got here.
Same here, however if the change in the offense is as dramatic as we have seen, a short yd back, who struggled blocking in 10, and is not really an asset in the passing game, probably just is not a good fit. Which of course will mean he will go to NE, and beat the pooh out of us twice a yr as they return to more of a power running game.
I think there is room for both. Either if we consider Clay one of 3 TEs, or we keep two TEs and count him as one of 6 RBs. I figure we can keep 25 offensive and 25 defensive players, then the 3 specialists. QB: 3 RB: 5, including 4 RBs and one FB (Polite) WR: 6 TE:3 (including Clay) OL: 8 Total offense: 25 Defense I figure: DL: 8 or 7 LB: 8 or 9 DB: 9 Total defense: 25 Usually I'd guess we keep 5 WRs and 9 OL, but we generally only dress 7 for any particular game anyway, so why not carry just 3 very versatile backups and an extra one more than usual on the practice squad. That allows us to keep Livas
Polite's blocking decline was directly related to the offensive line run blocking decline in front of him. Until or unless Clay proves for at least half a regular season that he can fill the Vickers role for Daboll, we better keep Polite to do it.
[video=youtube;4aCL2IRVX9U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aCL2IRVX9U&feature=autoplay&list=PL5A397D2016DDC8A2&index=12&playnext=2[/video] Yo..check out my embeddin skillz.. umm seriously, this is some new footage on the kid.. The kid played running back and corner..and how bout the wildcat run against lsu...lol We all have been talking about how we have to keep 6 receivers just to keep him, what about him beating out Grigsby and sheets, and making it on that unit?
deej, getting it on with the 'bedden skillz... I've seen him take direct snaps at LaTech, and 4 rb's, DT, Bush, Lexxy and Livas? Would make sense, stash Grigsby on the PS.
You could do that, then keep Moore as the 6th WR. Or keep Livas as the 6th WR, and Grigsby as the 4th RB It would depend on which player was a better special teams guy IMO, Grigsby or Moore. Both made tackles on kick/punt coverage the other night. If both players were deemed to be equal as STs players, I would lean toward keeping the extra RB, Grigsby.