He is actually doing pretty good this year with breaking tackles.

He had a terrible game yesterday, but he has done things to impress. Just a very upgradable player.

 

I would like to see an upgrade but I have to disagree about him not breaking tackles and falling at initial contact. One of the things that has struck me the most about him is how often he goes beyond initial contact. He is more of a finesse runner though. We could use a solid power runner.

I think our run game issues maybe more than just a talent issue at RB though. Our OL might be struggling to provide sufficient support.

 

WTF was with those Wildcat plays?

 

We played a pretty elite run-D yesterday so I wasn't shocked that we struggled. Gaskin was not impressive in that game but he's had some really solid performances this year as well. I hope we keep him in the rotation even after upgrading.

Looking forward, I have a feeling that we draft Travis Etienne out of Clemson next year- the kid is a freaking all-around stud and does everything well. He'd be a perfect fit for what we do and he's crazy dangerous in space...he puts me in the mindset of a Bo Jackson style of runner (like having Jakeem Grant at RB).

 

He's fine but definitely upgradeable. They need WR's that can catch the ball. Golden Tate is available.

 

Personally, I hope we use our 1st rounders on a WR and a LB. Tua needs a true #1 receiver, and upgrading LB on defense is IMO the most impactful — we have good DB's but I think a better LB corps would do wonders for stopping the run, which is the one weak spot for this defense as we're giving up 4.9 Y/C = 4th worst.

But of the two, I think WR is the more important one. Have to build a really good offense.

 

Even the best running back in the league wouldn't provide much of a difference for the team. Such is the nature of running the ball in the present-day NFL.

 

I'm with you there but I would replace WR with TE. He needs the reliable big target over the middle. In fact I might go TE and WR in round 1. On defense I would target an edge rusher and a ball-hawking safety long before a LB.

 

We have Gesicki, who has disappeared the last 2 games but is a pretty good TE and fills that role over the middle. What we don't have is someone defenses are afraid of at mid/long ranges, so for me WR > TE. And while in theory a DE would be really valuable, Flores seems to know how to play chess at the DL position. That is, he can create mismatches without having the best talent there. But at LB it doesn't seem to be working as well, at least for run defense.

That's why for me it's WR + LB that are most important to upgrade in the offseason (draft or FA).

 

To me, it really depends on Preston Williams and his growth this season. I love Grant, love Parker and love Gisecki (who's really a WR as well). Williams is the wild-card of the bunch...he has elite talent, but can he deliver it consistently? We need to know that answer this season.

I'd part ways with Albert Wilson since I think he's too similar to Grant in skill-sets. I'd keep Ford as a #5-type player, or maybe that's Williams role in the future. Parker is not a true #1 in my eyes...I'd say Gisecki is closer to that than Parker. So yeah, I agree that WR could be a huge priority....it's a shame it wasn't this season since the draft was so deep with elite talent.

But I'd also agree that if there's a truly elite LB sitting there when we pick #5, he's the guy I want over anyone else. I'd leave the secondary alone for a year and I'd grab a late 1st/early 2nd round RB, plus another lineman since we should always invest there. The rest of the draft could literally be WR and d-line. Oh, I forgot QB....we'll need one of those to backup Tua as well (unless we bring in another aging veteran, which is also fine). I am big on continually developing linemen and QB's though.

 

Williams drops too many passes. It's too consistent with him. Also, he really hasn't had many good games. The guy isn't the answer. I guarantee you no defense is afraid of him.

 

The Preston Williams can be elite rhetoric needs to stop.

 

Which is why he's a perfect #3/#4 receiver IF HE CAN STOP DROPPING THE FOOTBALL. I put that last part in caps so people won't confuse this with the elite talk others have mentioned.

I do think he has a ton of promise as a situational receiver if he can clean up those hands and become consistent- all our QB's (Rosen, Tua, Fitz) have gone to him a lot over the past few seasons and he's disappointed all of them, so I get the impression that he's one of those "practice field Pro-Bowler's" that just doesn't perform in live action. Why else would he be a primary read so frequently on 3rd down? The coaches must see something that we don't....he's only about a dozen games into his career though. So there's hope anyway.

 

Gaskin is not too bad, but I do want the Dolphins to take a look at drafting a RB in the next draft. It's a shame JK Dobbins got taken one pick ahead by the Ravens in the 2nd round. Really wanted him.

 

I didnt see any sort of actual gameplan used yesterday offensively.. i didnt know if they wanted to establish the run or if they wanted to pass. The offensive line was getting mauled all game and you saw Tua throw some quick checkdowns to avoid the sack, or throw it to some little slant on the move.

so i dont really know what to make of the game we played other than it was awful.

mind you we played a top 5 defense.. our defense made more plays and we won.. but our offense needs to play much better if we want any legitimate shot at the division.

 

Really?

Gaskin isnt an elite runner but hes a starting caliber back if you look at what most teams have. He almost always falls forward and rarely loses any significant yardage on broken run plays.

He has solid hands and takes good angles after the catch. He lacks elite burst, elite shiftyness and elite power, but hes very good in all areas.

I'd rather find another back who can compliment him rather than replace him.

 

I think we can definitely upgrade at RB, WR and our OL is young and will get better.

 

The main thing with Gaskin is that he keeps getting back up on his feet. Very durable so far in the early part of his career. The guy is a hard worker and that has been his secret recipe. You have insanely talented backs that can't stay healthy and you have scrappy durable runners like Gaskin who are tougher than a two dollar steak. I'll take the back that's going to stay on the field. Gaskin certainly isn't the prettiest at his position, but he's a seventh round pick that is overachieving. He has nice hands, dependable runner, can catch the ball out of the back field. If he gets into open space he can take one to the house. Problem is, in the modern day NFL, it seems a lot more difficult to run the ball for some reason. You may not always get the talent you want at a position, but as of right now, Gaskin shows up and takes care of business and does it quite well. I'm pleasantly surprised by him this year and I hope we can eventually pair him with a dependable power back at some point.

 

This. Plus like I said, look around the league and you realize he isnt bad to have. Other than Henry and possibly including him, I cant think of a single back in the league that is on the level of a Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson (in his prime, not now) and can impact a game like they could.

If you dont have a star HB it's really nice to have a guy like Gaskin who provides great value for his contract and can do a little of everything.

I wouldnt mind drafting a back this year, but not to replace him. Just to give us a 1-2 punch.

 

Gaskin needs to break one and I bet after that his play will get better, sometimes a back needs that one long run to get them going.

 

Pretty sure RB and WR/TE are next year plans after you have your QB of the future and build around him. As for Gaskin he has been the best performer so far.

 

JaMarr Chase and Travis Etienne in round 1 baby. :2guns:

 

We could swing a trade for a running back.

 

This is what is setting him apart from better backs - he isn't breaking off long runs and getting to the end zone. Watching a dude like Dalvin Cook take it to the Packers this Sunday, and Gaskin just hasn't provided chunk plays like that. Cook, Henry, Kamara, Chubb, etc ... they all do the same grunt work as Gaskin but they will break off those 20+ chunks.

 

Hopefully there’s some good RB’s in the second round.

 

I've said it before we need our own premier running back, our own Derrick Henry, Jerome Bettis or even another Ricky Williams. We needa back that we can feed the ball to 25 times a game and average 5 yards a carry. If we can get THAT, our offense has the potential to be frightening!

 

Gaskin was always a back that needs carries early and often to get in rythym, He's going to break those runs in the 4th qtr on his 18th and 23rd carries. We barely had 40 plays against the Rams. Just keep feeding him, you'll see.

 

If Howard and Breida can't beat Gaskin for the starting RB spot, thank God we have Gaskin holding down the fort. I'm not unhappy with him at all but know that he's a placeholder. I'd be shocked if we don't use one of the first four picks on a stud RB in the next draft. This year, we took foundational pieces and so far it looks like we did very well. Next year, we can augment this years' picks with one of the sexiest Dolphins drafts in eons.

 

I wish they would try using Breida more and, especially, try to get him in space. Use him more in the passing game. I think he can be dangerous in space. I am surprised that they haven't even really tried to get him going.

 

Consider the tear down and rebuild we started 2 years ago and how RBs seem to be pretty interchangeable in the modern NFL.
It makes sense for the team to be putting RB lower on the list of priorities than QB, OL, CB, LB etc. Next year we’ll have the draft capital and hopefully will be well stocked enough at other positions to put a high round draft pick into RB.
Gaskin is to RBs what Ryan Fitzpatrick was to QBs last year. He’s the good enough to work with until we find someone better guy.

 

My personal opinion is that at HB you either want a star on a rookie contract or a solid can do it all guy on a value contract.

You can say that about any position but it rings double true in the backfield IMO.

 

That is a good point. It's the same reason a reverse can be effective except without the gimmicky nature of running a reverse. A half step can break a runner.

 

I wouldn't be so sure. As I said before (knock on wood) he's healthy, he's durable. I guess it depends on how long you consider a tenure as a placeholder is. For me, it's like...a year at the most. By then, a replacement is in place. If Gaskin can stay healthy and our run blocking can improve, I see no reason why he can't be a big part of our offense for the next 3-4 years and maybe longer. His durability has been his most impressive quality thus far. Hopefully I don't jinx him by gushing about it on here.

 

I wouldnt get rid of Wilson personally. I love the idea of being 5 deep with Parker, Williams, Wilson, Grant and Ford.

That said if Preston doesnt start to make some plays I'd really consider finding someone else.

 

Williams is on a rookie contract in his 2nd year (after missing over half of year one). There's no reason to rush to judgement there- either he improves over the next few years or he doesn't. His raw talent and potential are huge, so it's worth continuing the experiment.

 

Per Rotoworld

Dolphins acquired RB DeAndre Washington from the Chiefs.

 

In most cases I'd agree but this isnt a team thinking of winning in two or three years anymore.

I'm not going to continue starting a guy who plays very small for his size with sometimes suspect hands at my #2 receiver position when I think I can win now and into the future.

In my opinion he has half a year left before you start trying to replace him on the field and maybe two for the roster if he doesnt come on strong.

Potential is great but at the end of the day a guy needs to earn his roster spot when other deserving players are competing.