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.
