Josh Rosen signs autographs for fans following the first workout of Dolphins training camp on Thursday. (Craig Davis)

Josh Rosen has long way to go to fulfill hope as Dolphins QB of future

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DAVIE – If conclusions were to be drawn from the first day of Dolphins training camp, drafting a quarterback would remain high on GM Chris Grier’s to-do list next year.

As during OTAs in the spring, Josh Rosen didn’t look like anything special and perhaps less than adequate in terms of accuracy and execution Thursday. Quite frankly, all that distinguished him from presumed third-stringer Jake Rudock were the numbers on their jerseys.

To be fair, the starting job wasn’t being decided Thursday with the team working in shorts in front of a diehard crowd that packed the stands overlooking the practice field at the Dolphins training complex. As coach Brian Flores stressed, no one was expected to be in midseason form.

But the reason many of those fans were waiting patiently at the gate an hour before practice was to see for themselves any indication as to whether the Dolphins have found a quarterback to lead them into a more successful future in Rosen.

That was the objective of the offseason trade with Arizona for the 10th overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Dolphins fans hopeful

There were quite a few in the crowd sporting new No. 3 Rosen jerseys, but the first glimpse brought little return in the hope that went with those investments.

At his point, you don’t expect a finished product but you’d like to see signs, something that telegraphs standout talent in the 22-year-old from UCLA.

By Rosen’s own evaluation of Day 1, “Thought I had a slow start but finished pretty strong.”

​Rosen’s best moment did come near the end of the session in an 11-on-11 drill in the red zone when he lofted a perfect lob that tight end Nick O’Leary caught in stride in the back of the end zone.

Earlier, he was picked off by undrafted rookie safety Montre Hartage trying to force a pass into the middle of the opposite end zone.

Meanwhile, it is abundantly clear that journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick is the most polished, intuitive and self-assured quarterback on the team at this moment.

If you are a coach whose top priority is winning games, you put the ball in Fitzpatrick’s hands.

The bearded veteran entering his 15th season is taking snaps with the first team and is playing like he intends to keep doing so. His passes are on the mark with zip, and most important, he is in command of the offense.

Season is about the future

But everyone knows, this quarterback completion isn’t as much about now as it is about the future. At 36, Fitzpatrick isn’t going to be the future.

What must be determined, will Rosen be?

Everyone interested in the Dolphins wants to know the answer, and they want it fast. Realistically, it won’t come in a day. Probably not by the end of the preseason.

Rosen explained that his mindset is different from fans and media who are fixated on the question.

He’s living in the moment.

“I’ve just got a play call [that] I’m trying to execute – that one play, regardless of my situation on the team or at the position,” he said.

“Regardless of whatever battle or situation you’re in at any position, you’re just trying to get better. [I’m] just trying to watch as much film as I can, listen in meetings and get better every day.”

That’s the players’ mentality, and it doesn’t change with experience.

“Just trying to be the best version of me that I can be,” Fitzpatrick said.

Unless Rosen dazzles and closes the gap with eye-opening efficiency in the exhibitions, Fitzpatrick will likely begin the regular season as the starter.

It would be preferable if Rosen won the job outright. If not, that doesn’t close the book on him.

Answer on Rosen will come … eventually

Maybe Rosen is the QB to build a future around. Maybe he’s not. One way or another, the Dolphins will draw their own conclusions by the end of the season and shape their plans for the next draft accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ quarterback story is beginning yet again 20 years after Dan Marino’s final season. It’s going to be novel-length. Might as well sit back, pop open a beer and enjoy all the twists and turns and hope the ending leaves you with a smile.

There’s no other way to approach it.

“Regardless of what you guys say or write, I’m going to go about my approach that’s gotten me this far,” Rosen said.

“It’s about getting better day by day and just trying to improve. It’s not about taking a massive step forward, it’s just about continuing to grow and continuing to make positive progress.

“Any kind of setback is worse than any progress you could gain.”

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

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Marlins Park may dissuade local star from coming home as a free agent

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There’s no secret that the Miami Marlins need some more bats to truly become a competitive team and their home ballpark favors pitchers more than hitters with their long outfield dimensions.

That might actually keep some free agents away from signing with the Marlins. One in particular is Davie native Nicholas Castellanos, who is currently an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers.

Like the Marlins, the Tigers are a rebuilding team and don’t expect any of their players to want to resign when free agency comes around. Like Marlins Park, Comerica Park is also a pitchers park and Castellanos has a problem with the dimensions there, how would he find Miami to be any better?

“This park’s a joke,” Castellanos said to reporters after hitting a walk-off home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. “It’s to the point where, how are we going to be compared to the rest of the people in the league for power numbers, OPS, slugging and all this stuff when we got a yard out here that’s 420 feet straight across in center field?”

Castellanos’ main issue with Comerica Park is how many homers hit there turn into fly outs or mere extra base hits. His home run was hit 372 feet to left field.

It’s a similar complaint that both fans and players have alike when it comes to Marlins Park, Seattle’s T-Mobile Park and San Diego’s Petco Park. Seattle and San Diego moved the outfield fences in to increase the chance of home runs being hit there and it led to both struggling franchises signing major free agents in the recent decade.

Castellanos has 11 home runs but led the majors in triples in 2017 and leads MLB in doubles with 34 this season. That’s where his home ballpark plays a factor for the better but not the same as reaching power hitter status. His career high for home runs was 26 in 2017.

“We get on second base or third base, and they’re looking, like, ‘Man, how do you guys do this?’ We play 81 games here. I don’t want to hear about your two that you hit that are questionable,” said Castellanos. “Move in center field, right center, there is no reason that I hit a ball 434 off Anibal Sanchez and it goes in the first row, that shouldn’t happen.”

At 27 years of age, Castellanos would seem like an ideal fit for this young core reaching it’s prime, but his comments seem like recruiting him from one pitcher’s park to the other seem futile.

Training Camp Header

Top 5 players to watch on defense during Dolphins training camp

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Now that the offense has been taken care of, it’s time to take a close look at who should be watched very carefully on defense once training camp begins. The team’s young talent is more centralized on this unit, and head coach Brian Flores has a defensive background. There’s no shortage of players to watch here, so let’s narrow it down to five.

Jerome Baker, LB

Baker brings a lot to the table that a lot of Miami’s other linebackers don’t. He’s fast, he can cover, and he can be wherever the ball is at any given moment. Those are traits that other Dolphins linebackers like Kiko Alonso and Raekwon McMillan struggle in. Now, however, there’s no telling what the plan is for Baker at this point. In the simplistic scheme run by Matt Burke, Baker’s role was clear. He was the one who ran around the field, chasing tight ends and running backs as an outside linebacker.

Many view Baker as the best linebacker on the roster as a result, but there is still some learning for him to do. Baker is sometimes a tad late when reacting to plays; his speed bails him out a lot in these situations, but that’s not something to count on. Fortunately, coach Flores believes Baker has learned from his rookie season and is on the fast track to further development.

“He’s taken a little bit of a leadership role.” Flores said back in May. “He’s taken a step in that direction, he’s obviously smart, he’s very athletic. Again, his lateral quickness, as you mentioned, is good for the linebacker position. I think the challenge for him will be putting everything together. Really, the challenge for all of our players is consistency.”

Preaching consistency is a very New England thing to do, and it speaks volumes as to what Flores expects from his linebackers. Baker will be used a lot to be sure, but the question is how? One theory is that he and fellow Ohio State alum Raekwon McMillan would make a perfect pair as inside linebackers in a 3-4 defense. McMillan acting as the SAM linebacker (lined up wherever the tight end is on offense) with Baker as the WILL, cleaning up messes.

Seeing how the defense uses the linebackers in training camp, particularly Baker, will be interesting to say the least. There’s no telling what coach Flores has in mind for such a versatile player.

Xavien Howard, CB

This is an obvious pick. Xavien Howard is now the undisputed superstar of the Dolphins defense, signing a five year, $75.25 million extension on May 9. However, in spite of tying for first place in interceptions last season with seven, Howard is still being overlooked by a large portion of alleged NFL experts. Though there are some who acknowledge his ability.

Consider the release of the player ratings on the latest edition of EA’s Madden series. In that game, developers are tasked with assigning overall ratings to every player in the league. What did Miami’s superstar cornerback earn himself after all the work he put in?

An overall 83 ranking. Not even the best player on the roster. That honor is shared between Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills of all people, who both have an 84. Needless to say, Howard is being snubbed.

Why is this the case? The best theory is simply that Howard wears a Dolphins uniform. If he played in New England, he would be getting a lot more credibility. Yet in spite of the lack of respect being put on his name, Howard was still voted to the Pro Bowl in 2018. Now, with Miami projecting to use more press coverage, Howard stands to improve even more as he gets to do what he excels at.

Former defensive coordinator Matt Burke had an unhealthy obsession with zone coverage, sending his corners ten yards away from the line of scrimmage. That strategy allowed teams to punish Miami with short passes and methodically go down the field. Howard’s specialty is playing press, locking up a team’s top receiver and taking them out of the game. Howard managed to do that quite well in 2018.

That success is expected to continue in 2019, and he will prove that whoever is in charge of Madden ratings made a grave mistake ranking him so low.

Bobby McCain, DB

Everyone knows that Bobby McCain brings to the table. He’s one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL, and he’s not afraid to be aggressive. He can cover, he can go after quarterbacks on a blitz, and there’s never a moment where he’s not intense on the field.

So why choose him to watch in training camp over someone like Minkah Fitzpatrick? It’s because McCain is the subject of a coaching experiment this season. Reports say that McCain is getting time at a position he has no experience playing. Free safety.

One might wonder why the coaching staff would bother to make that move. McCain is a very good slot corner, why move him now? It’s very likely because Fitzpatrick is an even better slot corner, and only one can play that position at a time. Fitzpatrick spent the vast majority of his college career in the slot, only occasionally moving to safety. There’s a reason for that. So if Fitzpatrick has what it takes to be elite in the slot, it makes perfect sense why the coaches want to see if McCain can find another role.

Contrary to popular belief, McCain is not undersized for a free safety. He sizes up quite nicely with the likes of Tyrann Mathieu and Earl Thomas, whom experts consider the best at their positions. Therefore, there’s no reason to believe McCain can’t handle it. Training camp is the time for experimentation. If it turns out McCain can’t handle playing safety, then Fitzpatrick will just take over as he’s more versatile. McCain finding a new home at safety, however, upgrades the whole defense.

Charles Harris, DE/OLB

What can anyone say about Charles Harris at this point? Is he a bust? Does he need more time? As the heir to Cameron Wake’s throne, Harris is a disappointment. There’s no disputing that Harris has failed to live up to the expectations placed upon him, seeming more like another Dion Jordan than anything. The Dolphins can’t seem to find good pass rushers in the draft anymore. Nevertheless, with the departure of Wake to Tennessee, and veteran Robert Quinn traded to Dallas, Harris is the headlining pass rusher.

For better or worse.

There’s one last hope for Harris to revitalize his career, and that’s going back to doing what he did best in college. As the Dolphins shift to a hybrid defense, Harris will have chances to rush the passer standing up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. That’s what Harris did best back at Missouri, which used a lot of 4-2-5 elements (four linebackers, two defensive tackles, five defensive backs) in their defense.

Since Harris isn’t making an impact as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt (again, parallels to Dion Jordan), perhaps he can contribute with the help of the 3-4 formation. This is why he needs watching in training camp this year. If he fails this time, it may be time to cut ties and chalk Harris up as another first round bust.

Vincent Taylor, DT

There are a lot of talented players on the interior of Miami’s defensive line. Davon Godchaux, Akeem Spence, the newly-drafted Christian Wilkins…so why focus in on Vincent Taylor specifically? Simply put, Taylor is supremely talented, and only injuries have held him back.

In the 21 games he’s played since being drafted, Taylor has made 45 tackles, two sacks, and he’s shown a knack for blocking field goals. Even when he’s not increasing his numbers, Taylor finds ways to make things difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

Durability is one of the few question marks in Taylor’s game at this point. Considering most draft scouts viewed him as a practice squad player at best, he’s quite the overachiever. Head coach Brian Flores had some good things to say about him as well.

“You see some athleticism. You see some strength. He’s got good size. He does a good job of staying on his feet.” he said back in early June. “Again, at that position, you said it. At that position, it’s hard to evaluate without putting pads on from a run-read standpoint, going from a run, play-action transition to a pass rush. These are things that are, until we get the pads on, there is no way to really evaluate it.”

With camp almost here, Flores will have all the chances he needs to see what Taylor can do. While everyone focuses on Wilkins and Godchaux – talented players in their own right, of course, Taylor’s return to training camp will hopefully come with even more domination, forcing opposing offensive lines to keep him at bay. That will open the way for the rest of the team. Taylor isn’t making headlines, but every team needs someone to do the dirty work.

Revisiting the Marlins 2018 deadline trades and what can be expected in 2019

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The Miami Marlins were entering the first year of a rebuild project (or what they simply refer to as a “build”) in 2018 and had a few veteran players left to trade for prospects.

They sent Cam Maybin to Seattle for infielder Bryson Brigman, Brad Zeigler to Arizona for pitcher Tommy Eveld and Justin Bour to Philadelphia for pitcher McKenzie Mills.

None of the players traded made an impact for their new clubs nor resulted in a postseason berth so whatever production came from the return felt like house money.

The Mariners selected Brigman in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of San Diego and after batting just .245/.330/.294 in his first two pro seasons, shipped him to Miami with international bonus pool money to acquire Maybin. He rebounded to hit .310/.370/.395 in 2018 and gave the Marlins hope that they landed a steal.

Brigman started the season in Double-A Jacksonville and ranked 24th among the Marlins top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline. A .236/.322/.296 slash line in 70 games saw him demoted to Single-A Jupiter and while the 20-game slash line of .267/.349/.307 seems like an improvement, 2019 is proving to be a step back year for the 24-year-old.

Eveld was an intriguing find for the Marlins considering he grew up in South Florida and went to the University of South Florida as a quarterback. He never saw the field and an injury to his right knee prompted the switch to baseball. Naturally going from throwing position to throwing position, Eveld thrived as a pitcher for the Bulls and was selected in the ninth round by the Diamondbacks in 2016, same draft as Brigman.

He followed the steps of his older brother Bobby, who also played quarterback at South Florida and pitched in the Blue Jays and Rangers system.

Acquired from Arizona last July in exchange for Brad Ziegler, Eveld impressed in his first big league Spring Training with the Marlins and cracked the top 30. He started the season in Triple-A New Orleans but like Brigman, a 7.71 ERA in 18 appearances led to a demotion to Double-A Jacksonville. This was supposed to be the year he breaks into the big leagues but it looks like he has more ground to cover.

Mills was a Single-A pitcher during the time of the Bour trade. This year he started in Double-A Jacksonville as a starting pitcher but moved to the bullpen after his seventh start. He currently has a 5.20 ERA in 20 appearances (eight starts) this season but in his last 10 outings, he has a 2.66 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. It’s quite possible Mills remains as a reliever and gets soon fast-tracked into the big leagues as soon as next season.

Which leads to this year. The Marlins have a handful of veterans in the last years of their contracts. Starlin Castro, Martin Prado, Neil Walker, Curtis Granderson and Sergio Romo. Most of those veterans are at the stage of their careers where they play a clubhouse leadership role rather than a main contributor to the lineup type role. Getting anything for Walker, Prado and Granderson may seem highly unlikely but there is certainly a strong possibility to get more of a return for Castro and Romo than last year.

Romo has been the Marlins closer this season and has converted 16-of-17 save opportunities with a 3.79 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched. Nearly every team could use a stronger bullpen come playoff time. The Cleveland Indians last season traded their top prospect to the San Diego Padres for their closer, former Marlin Brad Hand. While Romo is not at the same level as Hand, someone could send over one of their top-30 prospect for two-three crucial months of Romo, a veteran with two World Series rings.

Castro might bring out a legit prospect considering he’s an everyday second baseman who has been slashing .298/.310/.452 in his last 30 games with three home runs and 13 RBI. Over the course of the season, Castro is batting .252 with a .633 OPS and 7 home runs and 40 RBI.

“Star knows he can hit,” Mattingly said. “I talked about early in the year, water reaches its level. Guys that can hit, hit, and are .270-.280 career guys, somehow they are close to that by the time the season ends.”

He is still owed roughly $4.7MM of his $11MM salary for the 2019 season, and his $16MM club option for 2020 can be bought out for $1MM. He is currently blocking second base prospect Isan Diaz, who is the No. 6 prospect slashing .306/.396/.582 with 23 home runs and 63 RBI in Triple-A New Orleans.

Granderson got to spend the longest time in the big leagues with a batting average below .200 despite over 250 at-bats. When he was still a serviceable starter with the Mets, he was traded to the Dodgers in 2017 for relief pitcher Jacob Rhame. When he was with the Blue Jays in 2018, he was traded to Milwaukee at the end of the August 31 waiver trade deadline for minor league outfielder Demi Orimoloye. In Single-A Dunedin this year, he’s slashed .237/.298/.380 in 75 games so far that qualifies as minimal return.

Martin Prado is a 35-year-old veteran infielder who often gets injured. Batting .237 with a .563 OPS in 156 at-bats. He is at the final season of a three-year, $40M contract which includes a $15M base salary this season. The Marlins would be hard pressed to fine any suiters.

Walker was last traded in 2017 from the New York Mets to the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later. It turned out to be reliever Eric Hanhold, who made his MLB debut last year but is currently pitching in Double-A after struggling in Triple-A. His slash line with the Mets (.264/.339/.442) is similar to this year with the Marlins (.274/.351/.403) so it’s safe to suggest the return for a veteran infielder that can play first and third base and come through with a pinch hit here and there is going to be similar to that of Maybin if not less.

That trade occurred in August before the waiver trade deadline. That is gone now so the July 31 trade deadline is final. So we all get to play the waiting game.

“It’s very interesting because you don’t know if it will happen today, you don’t know if it could happen in the deadline, you don’t know if it will happen at all,” Walker said. “So you try to not have it affect you on a daily basis. Coming here, I knew that it was a possibility. You just try to keep it in the back of your mind and compete if it case it does happen.”

 

Top 5 players to watch on offense during Dolphins training camp

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Training camp is almost here, and the Dolphins have a lot of evaluating to do. Both offense and defense have several players who need to prove themselves to the new staff. Today, we’ll break down the top five players on offense to watch in practice.

Josh Rosen, QB

This is the most obvious pick, but it’s also the most important one in the long run. Miami invested a second-round pick to get their hands on Rosen, and there’s more at stake with him than anyone else. If Rosen pans out, then the Dolphins may not need to invest several picks into finding a new QB in 2020. If he fails to become what everyone hopes he will, then Miami loses out on a second-round pick that could have been used to supplement a depleted roster.

As it stands, Rosen is trailing veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick based on reports from OTAs and mini-camp. It doesn’t help matters that assistant head coach/QB coach Jim Caldwell is taking a leave of absence. Now it’s up to the assistant QB coach Jerry Schuplinski to mold Rosen into a franchise quarterback in training camp.

The Cardinals moved up in the 2018 draft to select the UCLA standout. But after a sub-par rookie season, Arizona finished the season with the worst record in the league. This opened the door for a new head coach to come in, and he wanted his guy. Kyler Murray.

Rosen now has a chance to redeem himself in Miami. He can show what makes him such an intriguing prospect: elite footwork, pocket presence, and an inquisitive mind that demands answers when things don’t go right.

There were a lot of things that did not go right with the Cardinals.

Rosen’s coaching was suspect, his offensive line was putrid, the offense was never sure what it was trying to accomplish. All those ingredients equal a miserable experience for any rookie, and Rosen is no exception. Now in Miami, he’s presumably being beaten out by a journeyman QB who has incredible highs and devastating lows from game to game. Keep in mind, however, Fitzpatrick is very good at making those highlight reel plays. He throws touchdowns that fans can’t believe are possible. He also throws interceptions that leaves them dumbfounded.

Rosen just needs to show consistency with his reads and decision-making, and things will go well for him. The Patriots offense is all about timing and precision. With Brian Flores and Chad O’Shea, Josh Rosen should fit in quite nicely. But he needs to prove it first.

Mike Gesicki, TE

Penn State considers tight end Mike Gesicki as one of the best athletes to come out of their school in the past several years. So one has to wonder…why did former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase use a pass-catching specialist as a blocker? Even more baffling, Gesicki blocked more often than several other tight ends in the league during his rookie season. Why? No one really knows how to justify it. Perhaps, that’s because there is no justification for that reasoning.

As far as being a weapon goes, Gesicki only caught 22 passes for 202 yards. He was also targeted only 32 times all season long. For a pass-catching tight end, that is ludicrous.

Now, however, Gesicki’s projected to actually be used for what he was drafted for. Head coach Brian Flores comes from a franchise that spends its time looking at how to best utilize available talent. There won’t be any forcing square pegs into round holes with this regime.

New England loves tight ends, and Gesicki has enough potential to be a dangerous weapon if utilized properly. This doesn’t mean that Gesicki is content with being a one-trick pony. After the struggle he went through last year, he spent the offseason bulking up an extra 15 pounds. Hopefully, that will give him enough of an edge that he’ll at least be passable as a blocker.

Miami’s search for a tight end has gone on for years. Dustin Keller, Jordan Cameron, Julius Thomas, all veterans who failed to recapture what made them great during their previous stops. The Dolphins want a seam threat they can count on, and veteran Dwayne Allen doesn’t project to be the long term answer.

Gesicki’s development will no doubt be one of the main storylines of training camp. If he can become the player he was at Penn State, then the Dolphins will be well on their way to having a dangerous offense again.

Kalen Ballage, RB

We all know what Kenyan Drake can do. The Miami Miracle alone is enough proof that he has what it takes to be a deadly weapon in any offense. His primary backup, however, still has something to prove. Kalen Ballage was a no-name running back who was heavily underutilized in college. Then along came the Dolphins, picking him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. His limited film is impressive, he has lots of raw skills that can turn him into a dangerous runner.

If only he could run as strong as his body suggests. Ballage stands in at an imposing 6’2″, 231 pounds; that type of frame screams power runner. Problem is, Ballage has a tendency to go down easier than someone of his size is expected to. Fortunately, he’s also fast and explosive out of the backfield, meaning there’s plenty to work with.

With any luck, Ballage learned something about vision and decision-making after spending a year under the tutelage of Frank Gore. Along with his lack of physicality, Ballage’s greatness weakness is deciding where he should take off running. But once he does, teams beware because catching him is a challenge.

His huge run against the Vikings bloat his stats significantly, but if he can pull off more than one of those, he proves his worth. Watching to see if Ballage has learned vision from his rookie season should be fascinating. Watching to see if he starts knocking people over with that power he’s got in training camp should be even more so.

Chandler Cox, FB

Given that fullback is a dying position, this seems like an odd choice. Making it more odd is the fact that Cox is a seventh-round pick. But in the world of head coach Brian Flores, Chandler Cox’s drafting indicates the fullback position is alive and well, and Flores intends to have one, period.

“What I specifically like about him was his energy, his play on the field, obviously, his toughness, his intelligence.” Flores said about Cox back in May. “But really his toughness, his grit. To me, that’s … He embodied a lot of things that I love about the game. We’re going to have a fullback one way or another. We’re going to be a tough, physical team.”

That statement is what makes this so interesting. These past two coaching regimes, Miami has been primarily a finesse team, getting pushed around by more physical teams that come to town. See the Ravens as an example. The brief time Dan Campbell took over as interim, the Dolphins were physical, but horrendously undisciplined. That led to penalties galore, ultimately hurting the team more than helping it.

Flores preaches be physical, but also disciplined. The best of both worlds. This is precisely why Cox is such an intriguing target; not since Jorvorskie Lane has Miami emphasized having a fullback on the roster. Players have taken up the role in the past, but always as more of an afterthought rather than a focus. In this case, Cox has a chance to make a very distinct contribution.

In New England, the Patriots use fullback James Develin as a blocker, a pass-catcher, a runner, and whatever else they need at any given moment. Cox is capable of doing the same, and that’s likely the plan offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea has in mind. Cox will have competition to be sure, possibly with AAF star Kenneth Farrow, but watching Cox in training camp will be extremely interesting.

It marks the beginning of a new offensive philosophy.

Preston Williams, WR

The final selection is a bit redundant to another story describing dark horses. In it, Preston Williams is described as being a long shot to make Miami final roster. However, that does not take away from how interesting it will be to see it all play out in training camp. Williams is a rarity, he’s got size, speed, and all the potential in the world. He comes to the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent as a result of bad decisions made off the field, but his potential makes him impossible to write off.

He’s the tallest receiver on the roster by far, he’s physical, more so than DeVante Parker has ever proven to be. He’s fast, he elevates his game further when motivated, he’s got a catch radius that gives any QB peace of mind when throwing to him.

The same elements that make him a dark horse help make him one of the most fascinating storylines of training camp. His competition with Brice Butler and DeVante Parker is sure to be a close one, and if he does make the roster, one can only imagine what the coaching staff will use him for.

It won’t be an easy road for him, but Williams will be fun to watch in action from start to finish. With any luck, he will become what DeVante Parker was supposed to be when he was drafted back in 2015, and perhaps more.

Entre quejas y robots en Grandes Ligas

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Los robots y la zona de strike son el tema de moda en el beisbol profesional.

Marlins de Miami han sufrido con sentencias de bolas y strikes en sus últimas dos derrotas y eso ha intensificado el debate sobre el uso de los robots en el beisbol de Grandes Ligas.

En la Atlantic League ya se está probando este sistema, como parte de un contrato de tres años que permitirá probar varias novedades en esta liga.

Los robots ya están cantando pitcheos, y ya fue expulsado el primer manager por protestar bolas y strikes utilizando este sistema.

En Grandes Ligas, esto ha tenido su efecto, pues ya varios jugadores y personalidades del beisbol han afirmado que están listos para dar el paso y aceptar la llegada de las sentencias automatizadas al mejor beisbol del mundo.

Nuestros amigos Leandro Soto y Ricardo Montes de Oca tienen ya semanas peleando por este tema, y parece que el debate pica y se extiende.

Ricardo pide la robotización de estas sentencias lo mas pronto posible, mientras que Leandro se sigue aferrando a que los bateadores tienen que hacer un mejor trabajo protegiendo la zona de strike.

Como se ha visto en la Atlantic League, los umpire robots no son perfectos ni dejan a todos conformes, así que ni siquiera cuando se termine de implementar este sistema, vamos a tener sentencias que tengan a todos los participantes contentos.

Challenge the robots

Cuando la repetición instantánea llegó al beisbol muchos decían que esta iba a quitarle el elemento humano al deporte, y que iba a relentizar mucho el juego, pero la realidad en el terreno ha sido otra.

Los umpires aún tienen peso sobre lo que sucede en el terreno, pues la sentencia original es fundamental para el veredicto final.

Si el umpire comete un fallo claro, la repetición cambia la decisión y hace justicia, pero si la jugada es muy pequeña y no hay evidencia suficiente como para revertir la sentencia inicial, se mantiene la sentencia original.

Algo parecido podría hacerse con la zona de strike. El sistema no detecta todos los pitcheos, y los umpires en la Atlantic League tienen que sentenciar lo que ellos vean cuando la máquina no da un veredicto, por lo que el elemento humano se mantiene.

En Grandes Ligas se podría utilizar el mismo sistema del challenge para las bolas y strikes. Que el manager y/o jugador que se sientan afectados por una sentencia tengan la oportunidad de pedir que se revise la sentencia.

Tal como sucede con las repeticiones con jugadas en las bases o el home plate, lo que digan los umpires en Nueva York sería la sentencia final.

Si no hay veredicto con algún pitcheo, como sucede en la Atlantic League en ocasiones, pues que se mantenga la sentencia original.

Creo que es la manera de ir introduciendo poco a poco este sistema, y que se mantenga de alguna forma el elemento humano.

El beisbol puede seguir mejorando y siendo mas justo sin necesidad de ser extremista con los sistemas.

Así, creo que se podrá mantener a la mayor cantidad de personas contentas. De lo contrario, si se impone una zona electrónica (que no es infalible), el resultado podría no ser el deseado.

 

Disfruta de Cinco Razones Podcast haciendo click en este link. Ricardo Montes de Oca y Leandro Soto siempre van a estar en desacuerdo con respecto a los cambios en el beisbol… You can’t miss that… 

Snubbed! Howard, Tunsil Among Madden 20’s Dolphins Oversights

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In eight days, the Miami Dolphins will begin training camp.  And while we anxiously wait for the beginning of football season to arrive, many are also counting down the days until the release of EA’s popular video game, Madden.

But before the game is released to the eager public, EA must first reveal the ratings for all 32 teams and players alike.  And just like you would expect with such news, everyone agrees disagrees with their favorite player’s ratings.  This usually makes for an entertaining day on social media, message boards, and other areas of the worldwide web.  So on Monday, when EA released their ratings for Madden 20, disarray shortly followed.

There are four players that a majority of Dolphins fans believe are severely undervalued in this year’s game.  And when we asked Twitter which of those players got the ‘short end of the stick’, the answers were unanimous.

 

Here’s a look at the top four ‘snubs’ on the Dolphins’ roster in Madden 20.

John Denney – 47 Overall

Awareness – 85

Acceleration – 78

Pursuit – 72

Strength – 76

Unfortunately, EA has yet to implement the long-snapper position into Madden.  Which means Dolphins’ legend John Denney is listed as a tight end.  Tragically, however, he is rated as the worst player on Miami’s roster with a 47 overall.  That’s right, folks.  Arguably the greatest long-snapper to ever play the position, is the worst player on Miami’s lowly roster. Thankfully, and I know this might be tough to hear, but the long-snapper position really doesn’t matter in Madden.  Nevertheless, EA needs to put a little respect on the G.O.A.T’s name, and bump that overall up a good 20 or 30 points.  Then I will be happy where Denney ranks in this year’s game.

Minkah Fitzpatrick – 80 Overall

Man Coverage – 79

Zone Coverage – 79

Press – 75

Press Coverage – 87

One of the things that irks me most, is when a player is listed out of position in Madden.  And although last year it appeared Minkah Fitzpatrick would play a significant amount of snaps at Free Safety, things changed quickly.  And if all reports are true, he is expected to play a majority of his time in the slot in 2019.  However, that does not mean he won’t be utilized all throughout Flores’ defense.  He’s a playmaker that can lineup anywhere on the football field.   But when it comes to Madden, EA did Fitzpatrick no favors.   His duel 79 man/zone coverage ratings seem a bit lazy.  And although he is rated well in man-to-man coverage, according to EA, he struggles to press at the line.  Which isn’t necessarily the case with the 22-year old playmaker.  His ratings are fair, but should be a bit higher.

The future is bright for Fitzpatrick.  And I don’t think it will be long before his ratings are in the high-80’s.  He is going to be a special player.

Laremy Tunsil – 84 Overall

Pass Block-85

Run Block -79

Interior Blocking- 84

Strength – 91

When you look over the Dolphins’ roster in Madden, there are two players at the top of the list.  One is obviously Laremy Tunsil, and the other is speedy wide receiver Kenny Stills.  But with all due respect to Stills, he is not one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers.  He’s very good, but not elite.  As for Tunsil, he is currently one of the league’s top left tackles.  So to see those two players rated equally at the top of the roster, is a good indication of what to expect from the rest of the ratings.  Nevertheless, it is a travesty to have Tunsil rated outside of the top-10 at his position.  And this is something EA should look to fix in their next roster update.

Tunsil is one of the best tackles in football and should play like one on the virtual gridiron.

Xavien Howard – 83 Overall 

Superstar Ability – PICK ARTIST

Man Coverage – 80

Zone Coverage – 85

Press – 83

Press Coverage – 86

It’s perfectly acceptable to question why Xavien Howard, one of the NFL’s top defensive backs in 2018, is the 27th rated cornerback in Madden.  Sure, his ratings are a bit more favorable than the overall seems to imply, but Howard was one of the most significant snubs in this year’s game. And while each team has a player with a superstar ability, not all teams will have a superstar x-factor-that includes Miami.  Howard’s ratings in coverage are a bit underwhelming, especially for a guy that prides himself at playing man-to-man.  Nonetheless, if Howard continues on this trajectory, he will be the Dolphins only Superstar X-factor sooner rather than later.  He’s that good and with a hefty new deal in place, should exceed all expectations this upcoming season.

On this week’s episode of 3 Yards Per Carry, the guys weigh in on Jim Caldwell, Training Camp, and Madden 20 Ratings.

Below are some of the best reactions from #DolphinsTwitter :

 

In the end, the Dolphins are ranked the worst team in Madden 20 with a 74 overall rating.  And although EA will update their rosters weekly during the regular season, it would be disingenuous to expect Miami to be littered with top-level talent.  Nevertheless, EA’s rosters are not perfect, and there are plenty of players and fans that feel slighted.  Some of these gripes will be changed in the coming weeks, others will not.  Madden will always have it’s flaws.  And I, like every year, will buy the newest installment.  Death, Taxes, and Madden.

 

This article was written by Madden Analyst, Josh Houtz (@houtz)

Barcelona y su empeño con Neymar

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Neymar ha conseguido la manera de ser el protagonista de las novelas veraniegas en las últimas temporadas.

Hace un par de años, fue él mismo quien tuvo que pagar su cláusula de recisión para salir del FC Barcelona, tras decidir que debía buscar nuevos aires para salir de la sombra de Messi y Suárez.

En ese Barcelona, Neymar lucía como el actor de reparto perfecto y futuro sucesor de Messi, pero su entorno lo convenció de que era el momento de buscar ser él el principal referente de un gran proyecto.

Ahora, dos años después, tras un par de temporada de fracasos y lesiones, el brasileño ha decidido que ya no quiere jugar más en el PSG.

Así de simple…

Desde que se fue Neymar siempre tuvo buena relación con los jugadores del Barcelona, aunque su relación con la directiva y con la afición culé llegó a un punto que parecía de no retorno.

Para sorpresa de muchos, el Barcelona no ha descartado de plano el regreso del brasileño, sino que ha insistido en buscar la manera de que se haga realidad su vuelta al Camp Nou.

Neymar y su tormentoso romance con Barcelona

La manera en la que se fue Neymar, pagando su propia cláusula, en el mejor momento de su carrera, y jugando en uno de los tridentes mas letales de la historia, parecía imposible que volviese a ver de cerca la posibilidad de volver.

Sin embargo, así es la vida.

El regreso de Neymar implica una operación complicada. El PSG no va a querer dejarlo ir por menos de los 222 millones que pagó hace dos años, y tras el fichaje de Antoine Griezmann, se ve bastante compicado armar un once inicial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogy2-0e5r3A

Neymar quiere regresar, como aquel romance que sabe que nunca debió irse, y cometió un error, y el Barcelona, aún con el despecho de las dos debacles en Champions en temporadas consecutivas, se está abriendo a la posibilidad de recibirlo nuevamente.

Como analista, siento que en realidad no le hace falta Neymar a este equipo. Como seguidor del Barcelona, creo que lo mejor para ambos es que se vuelva a dar esa relación. Un mal necesario, si se quiere…

Y ahora les explico porqué.

¿Cómo va a jugar este Barcelona?

Con la llegada de Antoine Griezmann parece obvio que Ernesto Valverde va a tener que volver a apostar por el tridente en el ataque con Suárez y el francés acompañando a Lionel Messi en el ataque.

Dembelé, Coutinho y Malcom, de seguir en el equipo, serían resignados a venir desde la banca.

En el medio campo se da un debate que puede durar horas. Sergi Busquets no es el mismo de antes, y si yo tuviese esa responsabilidad, él sería mi escogido para ir al banco.

Frank De Jong debe ser titular, y Arthur se ha ganado su puesto con su buen rendimiento desde que llegó al equipo. Si a eso le agregamos el buen concepto que tiene Valverde sobre Rakitic, uno de sus jugadores favoritos, se ve difícil armar a los tres que serán titulares en la mitad de la cancha.

Eso, sin dejar de olvidar que Arturo Vidal también es una muy buena opción para empezar desde el vamos, aunque le queda perfecto el traje de revulsivo viniendo como el segundo frente de ataque.

Incluso, el propio Coutinho podría jugar mas retrasado, como parte del medio campo. Esta zona del campo parece la mas completa, aun esperando que cierre el mercado de pases a ver si alguno de los que mencionamos termina siendo vendido.

El mal necesario de Neymar

Neymar no hace falta en este FC Barcelona, pero podría ser un mal necesario para el futuro del equipo, pensando en el futuro sucesor de Messi.

Antoine Griezmann llega a refrescar el ataque, pero no creo que lo vean como el pilar sobre el que van a construir el FC Barcelona de los años post Messi.

Neymar podría ser ese jugador por unos años, si endereza su vida personal y logra mantenerse sano. Si el Barcelona no lo toma ahora, quizás no tenga la posibilidad de hacerlo mas nunca.

Esa debe ser la presión que tiene la directiva culé. Si se hubiese ganado alguna de las dos últimas Champions League, creo que ni estarían volteando a ver que sucede con Neymar.

No estoy de acuerdo con que se apoye la falta de profesionalismo de esos jugadores que al querer salir de un equipo simplemente se rebelan, y preocupa que el Barcelona lo haya hecho en su momento con Dembelé, y ahora esté repitiendo el mismo camino con Neymar.

Cucurella solo fue un espejismo

El Barcelona recompró a Marc Cucurella desde el Eibar y muchos pensamos que iba a ser la competencia directa de Jordi Alba en el lateral izquierdo, uno de los puntos débiles que permitió al Liverpool la remontada de Anfield.

Sin embargo, el Barcelona anunció que Cucurella jugará en el Getafe, aunque los detalles están siendo definidos aún. ¿No habrá entonces competencia para Alba?

Esa debería ser la prioridad del FC Barcelona. No la llegada de Neymar… Pero amanecerá y veremos.

Disfruta de todo el análisis del mercado de pases del fútbol internacional en 90 + Cinco en el feed de Cinco Razones Podcast con Octavio Sequera, María García y Bruno Gómez. Te prometemos que te va a gustar

Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman: End of the road?

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Where to watch: Saturday, July 20th, 2019, MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Available on FOX Sports PBC PPV.

When I wrote a few weeks ago that Boxing was/is in a very good place, I had weekends like this one in mind. When Manny Pacquiao takes to the ring in Las Vegas versus the WBA Welterweight Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman on Saturday Night in las Vegas, you will have the first of what should be many “Super Fights” in the Welterweight division. Erroll Spence, Shawn Porter, Terrance Crawford, all figure to be fighting either the winner of this fight, or each other in the very near future. Exciting times.

Now, on the face of it, some might be skeptical of this fight on Saturday. Well, get this. Vegas is not. Pacquiao is actually the Favorite in this fight! https://mybookie.ag/sportsbook/boxing/ How? Well, not hard to see. Since his debacle versus Floyd Mayweather, when losing by unanimous decision (with one arm), yeah folks, I’m not making excuses, The guy had shoulder surgery after his “fight”, Pacquiao has run off an impressive string of fights. Defeated Tim Bradley handily, for the 2nd time, and let’s be real, for the third time. A win versus Jessie Vargas, and a controversial loss versus crowd Favorite Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia.

Then came his fight versus Lucas Matthysse. I felt this was an irresponsible fight to make. Lucas Matthysse is a killer. 36 Knockouts in 39 wins? Fighting a near 40 year old Manny Pacquiao? This was surely not going to end well. Knowing how Matthysse fights with that pressure style, I figured he would induce the diminished “Pacman” into exchanges that would surely end Manny’s career. That is not what happened. Manny Pacquiao never looked better. He annihilated Matthysse via 7th round TKO, and that setup his latest snore fest versus perennial disappointment Adrien Broner.

Which brings us to Keith Thurman. How good is he? Well, it’s hard to say really. After defeating Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia, many considered him the best Welterweight in the world. But injury and the emergence of Spence, Crawford has him as the forgotten man. What hurts him in the eyes of fans is that there is this perception that Pacquiao has hand picked Thurman due to his return to the ring against Josesito López in January of this year, being so underwhelming. He looked bad. Got rocked in the 7th round by a guy in López, that is not known for any power. Thurman has a lot to prove. Manny is attempting a pretty nice addon to his legacy. Makes for a good matchup.

So who wins? Well, Manny is now 40 years old. Thurman is finally healthy and in his prime. You have to figure that the clock will strike twelve on old man Pacquiao, sooner rather than later, and this is one dangerous matchup. Thurman is not only younger, and bigger, but boasts the superior power at this stage in their careers.

But somehow Thurman is not the favorite. Is it a gift? Smarter observers than myself are considering it a gift. Hall of Famer Teddy Atlas (who has a remarkable record as of late, picking fights) made a point to talk about how Pacquiao’s muscle tone is different, and that he seem to be taking chances at these late stages of his career that a younger opponent can take advantage of. He says Thurman by stoppage on his much heralded podcast:

This is where I remind everybody about what we have learned about these two fighters in their recent history. While Thurman had a layoff and returned to underwhelm, Pacquiao has been cutting through the division in impressive fashion. His pressure, heart and determination will give Thurman anxious moments, and we all know Manny’s penchant for beating up guys that are bigger than him (De La Hoya, Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, Matthysse). So, do I have the Pacman, once again? I really hated Keith Thurman’s last performance. I think Manny is the wrong fight for Thurman to take. I don’t think Thurman can win a decision against an active Manny Pacquiao, so he needs a stoppage. Can he summon one? I say Manny dances through the rain drops once again, and No, it’s not the end of the road.

Prediction: Manny Pacquiao by Decision.

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@UptownReport) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Top 5 Dolphins training camp dark horses

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Each year when training camp rolls around, the challenge is not deciding who the starters at any one position will be – at least in most cases. Instead, it’s about figuring out who’s going to fill out the Dolphins roster and give teams the best depth possible. But sometimes that depth comes from the least likely places.

It never fails. Every season, there’s always a few players who raise eyebrows and perform better than expected. For instance, in 2016, defensive end Julius Warmsley went from a practice squad player to making the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, his production didn’t last and he’s currently waiting for another team to sign him off the free agent market.

The fact remains that teams have players who possess hidden potential, and the Dolphins are no exception. Here are the top five dark horse candidates to shock everyone and make Miami’s final 53-man roster.

Jayrone Elliott, LB

For all the issues the American Alliance of Football (AAF) had, it did give free agent players a chance to showcase their skills in-game. Of all the players from that now defunct league, pass rusher Jayrone Elliott might be the most intriguing. Formerly a 2014 undrafted free agent of the Green Bay Packers, Elliott set a record in the AAF by tying for first in the league with 7.5 sacks in just eight games. That level of pass rushing production is unheard of, regardless of what level of football it is.

So what makes him a dark horse candidate? Simply put, he had to be in the AAF to begin with. He was unable to stick with any NFL teams; he was traded from the Packers to the Cowboys in 2017 for a conditional seventh-round pick. Two weeks later, Dallas waived him, and then Elliott signed a reserve/future contract with the New Orleans Saints, only to not make the final cut in 2018.

But make no mistake, Elliott has talent. With good coaching, he could easily make more flashy plays that will not only enable him to make the roster, but give him a chance to prove he’s not just a fringe player. Miami needs 3-4 pass rushers, and look at the kind of things he’s done during his limited NFL playing time.

True, all of this is against less than elite talent, but that should not be an indictment against Elliott. You don’t become any league’s top pass rusher if you don’t have something to offer. With the Dolphins needing pass rush help, Elliott could answer that call and prove to be more than what he’s expected to be.

Preston Williams, WR

Preston Williams stands in at an impressive 6’5″, 218 pounds, and runs a 4.61 40-yard dash. That run is also, presumably, not one of his better showings, so it’s likely he’s actually faster than that, much like former Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry. However, what makes Williams a dark horse candidate is that there’s a lot of talent standing in his way.

Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, and Jakeem Grant are likely guaranteed roster spots. Williams’s chances increase depending on how many receivers Miami decide to keep. If it’s six, he’s got a fairly good chance at making it. But if it’s only five, there are two guys in front of him who currently stand a better chance.

Brice Butler, a seven-year veteran who stands in at 6’3″, 211 pounds, made a splash during the 2018 season after being off the street due to numerous injuries. He played physically, made tough catches, and some even believed he was better than DeVante Parker. That last part remains to be seen, but there’s no denying that Butler was effective in the short time he got to play.

Then there’s Parker himself. The former 2015 first-round draft pick also stands in at 6’3″, and was supposed to be their go-to for beating press coverage and making contested catches. But Parker’s lack of maturity and durability has kept him from realizing his potential. Now, he’s getting a second chance to prove himself on a 2-year, $10 million dollar contract.

This brings us back to Preston Williams. He’s already shown the coaches he’s a physical player, and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. In college, he made flashy plays on a weekly basis, but the talent he faced was far from elite, potentially skewing the film.

On top of that, there is the minor concern of his off-the-field concerns. In 2017, Williams had an altercation with his girlfriend that led to him getting arrested. He was arrested again later for violating a restraining order. Granted, those things are in the past, and Williams has stated as such.

Being compared to Martavis Bryant by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, Williams has all the talent in the world. But he has shadows looming over him, so he’ll have to stand out in training camp if he wants to be chosen over his competition.

Durval Queiroz Neto, DT

Given that the Dolphins project to switch to a hybrid defense, there is need of a true nose tackle. Traditionally, nose tackles are extremely large, hulking brutes whose only goal is to take on double teams to let linebackers run in and finish the job. This fits Brazilian defensive tackle Durval Queiroz Neto to a tee. Standing in at 6’4″ and 330 pounds, Miami picked him up through the International Player Pathway Program, and he’s a prime candidate to be the Dolphins 0-tech DT, lining up over the center.

He’s a Brazilian judo champion, he played on the two best teams in Brazil these past four years, and most importantly, he’s willing to learn. He has his work cut out for him though. Miami already has four talented defensive tackles standing in front of him. 2019 first-rounder Christian Wilkins, seven-year veteran Akeem Spence, and three-year veterans Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor all have an advantage on Queiroz, and it’s hard to imagine the Dolphins keeping that many more defensive tackles.

To make matters worse, Godchaux is reportedly putting in work at the nose tackle position, making Queiroz’s niche less of a need overall.

Queiroz is a talented and impressionable player, and his body type makes him ideal as a true nose tackle. If he can make some flashes in training camp and preseason, there’s an outside chance he could make the 53-man roster as a nose tackle. He’s huge, he’s athletic, but he’ll have to show his production in Brazil can carry over to the NFL.

Maurice Smith, SS

Safety Maurice Smith always catches eyes on the field. But for whatever reason, he can’t seem to stick on the roster. The most common one is a simple lack of space on the roster. Since signing as an undrafted free agent back in 2017, Smith has been blocked by the likes of Reshad Jones, T.J. McDonald, Michael Thomas, Walt Aikens, and even veteran Nate Allen. Fair or not, established players usually have an advantage over players trying to squeeze onto the roster.

In spite of the roadblocks in his way, Smith has managed to get playing time in spurts these past two seasons. He’s played in a total of 13 regular season games, totaling six tackles and two pass deflections. On the surface, that’s not much to brag about, but one has to keep in mind that Smith didn’t play a lot of snaps in those games, usually through no fault of his own.

This season might be Smith’s best chance to stick around, but he’ll have to continue his trend of improvement. Currently, Jones and McDonald are still projected to be Miami’s main safeties, and cornerback Bobby McCain is getting in work as a free safety. Add to that the presence of Walt Aikens and young do-it-all defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, It’s hard to justify keeping so many safeties when cornerback is a more pressing matter.

Head coach Brian Flores will doubtlessly have an increased emphasis on the secondary in his defense, but Smith is still a long shot to make the roster unless he proves he can play safety above and beyond his more versatile constituents.

Myles Gaskin, RB

Some might say it’s a hot take to say that one of Miami’s draft picks are already a dark horse candidate. Nevertheless, Washington RB Myles Gaskin could already be on the outside looking in. The Dolphins presumably have two slots locked up at running back with Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage. That leaves one, maybe two, slots left for other players. Considering coach Flores has stated in no uncertain terms that Miami will carry a fullback on the roster, that means one slot could easily go to one of two players: Kenneth Farrow, or Chandler Cox.

Cox was the RB/FB chosen literally one pick before Gaskin, and his claim to fame is his blocking prowess. Farrow, on the other hand, spent time on New England’s practice squad before being released and going to the AAF’s San Antonio Commanders, where he was the lead back and ran 106 times for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Both are bruisers and both can block extremely well, which is something Gaskin trails behind them in.

If the Dolphins keep four running backs, then Gaskin’s biggest competition will be Mark Walton, who’s being given a second chance by this regime after he made several bad decisions off the field. Walton himself could easily be named an honorable mention as a dark horse candidate based on potential legal repercussions, but it goes to Gaskin here due to Walton having previous NFL experience and more projected potential.

To be clear, this is not a knock on Gaskin. In all four years of college, Gaskin was a steadily productive runner, and production is what New England coaches are all about. Reminder, Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea are part of the Bill Belichick coaching tree.

Gaskin could easily remain his steadily productive self, but Walton is probably extremely motivated to succeed now that his career may be on the line. Gaskin will have to find an extra gear and prove he deserves to be on the final roster, rather than waiting to be placed on the practice squad.