Not sure this needs a thread of its own, because we have the 53 man roster thread and the surprise cuts thread and probably a couple others. But, I thought I'd do it anyway.
Marvin McNutt. Aside having the name that requires a must-have 87 jersey, which gives him a huge advantage for folks wanting him on the team, here's a CBS Sports overview from when he was drafted:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1243697/marvin-mcnutt
McNutt is sort of an player who could have a bit of upside. He doesn’t have a great deal of experience playing the WR position. He was a high school quarterback, and initially was recruited as such when he was landed by Iowa. He played QB as a freshman (redshirted) and also as a redshirt freshman before being switched to WR for his sophomore season. Many players get switched to WR and adjust relatively quickly, I suppose, but McNutt has really only played the position for four years (this will be his 5th) so he may still be progressing along his learning curve. Thing with that is… he doesn’t catch the ball smoothly, which is problematic. Obviously, Philadelphia, who drafted him, didn’t see enough in him to keep him around. Of the three guys, though, if we only keep five WRs, personally, I think McNutt is going to make the Dolphin roster. He averaged 17 yards per catch and scored 28 TD’s over his college career, which are pretty decent numbers over three seasons. While he also came out of college with a reputation for having decent hands (which seems to have been misleading), he also had a reputation of being a lazy route runner as addressed in the link and also an indifferent blocker (which I'll admit this is hearsay, but it seems to be what I remember). A major concern is that he’s just not all that fast, with a 4.53 forty-time (though he did get loose for 50+ yards to win the game last night), not that quick and more of a long-strider, nor that explosive. He does have size (6,'3", 216 lbs.) and can be a physical receiver, and the size may help him on special teams, where fifth WRs need to be able to make tackles on kickoffs and punts and block on kickoff returns.
Brian Tyms. This NFL Draft Scout link has his name as Bryan Tymes, until you get into the text of it where it changes to Tyms, but Tymes might have been a cool name on the back of a jersey, too - here's the link:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=114078&draftyear=2012&genpos=WR
At 6'3", 210 lbs., and a forty-time in the low- to mid- 4.4s, Tyms has the size and speed combination that the Dolphins staff covets. Undrafted out of Florida A&M, Tyms is an athletic guy, who found his way briefly on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad last year. In September, however, the Dolphins signed him off the 49ers p.s. and he was with the Dolphins for most of the season. Tyms college career wasn't all that productive with only a couple years playing games, and in those, he caught 45passes for 661 yards (14.7 average), and 4 TDs. So again, you're looking at an athletic player out of a small college program that probably hasn't fully-blossomed as a WR yet, but athletically, he has some upside. His size and speed also fit well with playing special teams, where he could probably be a pretty good gunner on the punt team and possibly return some kicks. He's had a fairly productive preseason, highlighted by the Tampa game where he was targeted three times and caught all three passes - one a diving catch on a comebacker from Devlin. With his size and speed, Tyms should be able to man the outside or play in the slot on offense. He's still learning in the route-running and blocking departments. Of the three WRs in question, Tyms has the quickest 10-, 20-, and 40-times, as well as being quicker in the shuttle and three cone drill. The words that springs to mind are "untapped potential". Potential can blossom and be electric, or it can be the sword you fall on.
Chad Bumphis. In the third corner, we have the 3rd WR that seems to be the most instinctive of the three in a short sample but also the smallest of the three, and here's a link on him:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=89515&draftyear=2013&genpos=WR
Bumphis comes from a big-time football program in college football's toughest (arguably, I suppose) conference, the SEC. He was a fairly productive player through his college career, but he erupted - from a scoring prospective - in his senior year with 12 TDs. Last year, he caught 58 passes for 922 yards, and as stated before but bears repeating, 12 TDs. As an athlete, Bumphis doesn't seem to be the most athletic and is certainly not the fastest (nor quickest) player. He does seem to have a knack for getting open and making plays, however. Because of his shorter stature and being under 200 lbs., he may be a little more limited on special teams than the guys he's competing against. The Dolphins have let him return punts, however, and he could be in line to take Davone Bess' punt-returning chores if he can be a bit more dependable than he has through his first preseason. Bumphis started the preseason with the biggest bang come game time, but for whatever reason, his repetitions were more limited as the games proceeded. A lot of NFL players have limited size and speed, but they can make plays and know how to get open. Bumphis seems to fit in that mold. However, because of that, he seems to perform better from a slot role than from an exterior receiver role.
So, there's my rhetoric on the three players that I think are in line behind Rishard Matthews, who I'm going to guess is the # 4 WR in the minds of the Dolphins coaches (presumptuous, though it may be), to claim that coveted 5th WR role. As I stated, just watching how the coaches have played the players, rather than what they've said about them, I'm thinking Marvin McNutt has the upper hand right now. Unfortunately, I also think he's dropped more passes than any of the other receivers, both in practices and in games. All three guys have potential, and I think that McNutt may have the least upside of the three. However, he has the size the coaches like, and the big play last night couldn't have hurt him. Personally, I've been a Bumphis fan since he was picked up after the draft -- he's an SEC guy, and I have a bias toward guys from the conference (if I like them). He also seems to be the most instinctive of the three to me, the player with the best feel for the game. Reminds me of a guy with similar size (although a first round pick), OJ McDuffie, who wasn't all that fast (4.5 forty) or big (5'11", 194), but he was super-instinctive and knew how to get open. Tyms is the most unknown to me. Being the most athletic, you tend you think maybe he has the most upside. However, sometimes the most athletic guys just aren't football players. I have no idea in Tyms case. He's had some good plays on special teams, and he's made some catches. The way it comes down, and with practice squad eligibility for both Tyms and Bumphis, I still think it'll be McNutt.
Maybe we'll keep six guys. Maybe Matthews isn't # 4 or # 5. Maybe I'm out to lunch. What do you guys think? Who is your guy?
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Honestly, I think it's hard to differentiate between the three, because they all played pretty acceptably for young #5/#6 WRs. I'd rank them Bumphis, McNutt, then Tyms in terms of likelihood to stay.
Bumphis was the most consistent pre-season performer, can play the slot, and can return punts. That'll give him the advantage, as they don't trust Marcus Thigpen to return punts deep in their own territory, and despite what their coaching staff said about receivers, they've still very much got a bunch of guys who don't play in the slot(Hartline, Wallace, Matthews), or do overwhelmingly(Gibson). The likely composition of the roster means they need another slot-capable guy. -
Its something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I've hoped you had some Brian Tyms in your life.
BayAreaFinFan, P h i N s A N i T y and Finrunner like this. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
I'd say we keep Tyms and Bumphis, but I'd be happy with any combination of 2 out of the 3...Tyms is my favorite though, mainly because he has the attitude and perseverance along with some skill.
Larry Little and Finrunner like this. -
From all reports he was looking real good and pushing Gibson for time.
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If Binns would've stayed on the field, we are legitimately talking the 2nd most complete WR core in the AFC.
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Clearly Tyms and Mcnutt deserve a spot, both are redzone targets and have stretch potential, and are physical receivers.
Puka-head likes this. -
I would rather trade for a backup WR to Mike Wallace. Another guy with elite speed who can return punts and kicks and run the nine if Wallace goes down.
Example: Jacoby Ford
I'd offer Nate Garner,Marcus Thigpen and maybe a late round pick to seal the deal.
Raiders are depleted on their OL and could use a versatile lineman. They are also thin at RB.
Raiders are in rebuild and might like the idea of another pick next year even if it is just a 6th. -
Good Tymes.
If McNutt makes the team, its extremely disappointing. The other day, i posted that the guy leaves his effort on the bench from play to play. If i can see it, you can see, he can see it; than they must see it.
I'm being absolutely serious when i express that if he makes the team, you gotta blow this scouting staff up again. You think its an exaggeration but you take that very tiny sample size and begin multiplying and you've assembled depth in the likes of which you witnessed on Thursday.
Oh, the homers are going to have a field day with me on this. Take it as my morning gift to you. But if you don't think theres a correlation between keeping McNutt and that tackling clinic we saw on Thursday, your're dead wrong- dead wrong.MrClean likes this. -
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Actually you make a good point here... even though I disagree with your solution. There is no backup to Mike Wallace's speed on the team. However, I think it's too late to add a player to the roster who would have any kind of impact should something happen to Walllace. Watching Hard Knocks though and that WR they cut Jheranie Boyd, wouldn't mind adding him to the practice squad. Size speed ratio is pretty nice. 6 foot 2 but too light at the moment... 42 in vertical and over 11 foot broad jump.
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I wasn't going to reply to such insight. Heading out to the bank any way but to make it clear, what our scouts are seeing, its not translating into very good football. The decisions they are making off of what they are looking at, it's not becoming a vision of a majority of talent and minority of lack of talent. If I say its 50/50, its because Im a fan.
If you're telling me our scouting dept. from the top down sees talent, size, or upside over effort as an asset, you need a new pair of eyes in the dept.
To dumb it down the only way i can contemplate and Jim Carrey couldn't get any dumb and dumber- this is Madden football and you've got a $hit load of overall 60s on your team.
Starters are what matter. That doesn't escape me. Nor does it escape me that the best team of the last decade could have Joe Blow step right into probowl shoes and the beat would go on.
Talent is not a majority on this franchise, guys. This is team is a ritual I live and die by. I love the Miami Dolphins and I am telling you that it is only because we have no other choice but to dissect players of the likes of McNutt that makes us blind to the fact that we might actually be considering keeping a converted QB that couldn't find it in him to leave it on the field when it mattered the most in his career.
I can't dumb it down more than that. -
Gotta have both. Can't just have wasted talent sitting around.
If talent > effort, 100% of the time, we'd still have Brandon Marshall and Patrick Turner.
Think it was Kevin Durant that said "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard".cuchulainn, Paul 13 and Fin D like this. -
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Looks like it was McNutt, While that doesn't please me, it is what I thought the coaches were thinking. Hopefully, the guy develops into a physical, tough WR. He'll never be a burner. And I hope he works with the Juggs machine catching balls over and over. He drops too many.
But McNutt is an awesome name for a football player. As a forum, I think we can work with that. -
You're wrong.
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
I'm just curious, what do the scouts have to do with who the coaches pick to make the team? Or are you implying the coaches only keep him because they need a WR and he's the lesser of the evils presented?sports24/7 likes this. -
I thought Bumphis had the edge just from limited action but they all were so close in the strengths and weaknesses, maybe they see some intelligence in practice or something in terms of bigger play potential in Mcnutt that put him ahead..there were at least 6 times where I saw a drop or a loss of control of the ball with Mcnutt, he should be able to strengthen his hands, arms and focus while riding the pine this year.
MrClean likes this. -
This. I'm not sure why the scouting staff is blamed for a decision that will be made by the coaching staff and GM.
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I saw the same drops in the games, and then we heard about them in the practices as well. But thing is, even if your not a natural pass-catcher, it's a skill that can be worked on over and over, and a player can get better at it. Catching in traffic is a little different, and that takes a tougher mentality. Not sure if I see that in McNutt, but I probably haven't watched him enough.
Whatever else, I hope he's coached up and then has the wherewithal to run good routes when he gets into the game. Bad routes cost us last year (I can remember the very first game, when Legadu Nannee ran a weak, rounded slant and didn't cut hard... the defender cut right in front of him for Tannehill's first INT), and I'd like WRs # 1 thru # 5 to run good routes. That's just disciplining yourself.
Like has been reiterated by others, I thought Bumphis had the slot skill the other guys didn't have, but I think Philbin was probably being honest when he said he wanted the type of WR that could play from both the slot and on the exterior. McNutt can do both of those things... I just want him to catch the balls he touches. -
^^ That's the thing to me. Bumphis has the most reliable and natural hands of that bunch, regardless of anything else. That pass against NO that McN attempted to one hand, I feel Bumphis would have extended with two and made the catch. Matthews would have too for that matter.
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