Errol Spence Jr. v. Shawn Porter

/0 Comments/in /by

Where to watch: Saturday, September 28th, 2019, Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. Available on FOX/PBC PPV.

In the latest example of the renaissance of the Welterweight Division in Boxing, IBF World Champion Errol Spence Jr. will take on WBC Champion Shawn Porter in a unification bout on Saturday. On the face of it the odds on BetDSI show a possibly lopsided affair as Spence is a -909 Favorite, and you can get +594 by betting on Porter.

I see it a bit different. As a fan of “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas” Podcast, I agree with something Teddy Atlas often repeats on his show, which is that the “conventional wisdom is often wrong.” Spence is the taller, longer, “rangier” guy and therefore he should just box Porter’s face off. That is simplistic thinking.

Shawn Porter has a few tricks up his sleeve that he can employ. First of all, Porter has always had a good lead right, which is a Southpaw’s kryptonite (Errol Spence is a Southpaw), and secondly, every charge of being “dirty” that Errol Spence has lobbed toward Shawn Porter, is true. Porter mysteriously likes to leave his elbows up in clinches, he tends to grab-punch, and head butts can become common in a Shawn Porter fight. These are all tools he can use to equalize this matchup.

So, Spence should keep his distance and use a Jab to defeat Porter handily at range? Not necessarily. If Porter decides to “crowd” Spence, Errol Spence would be well advised to fight on the inside, as he can always keep the range as Porter tries to backup or escape exchanges. If he fights at a distance, he is susceptible to Porter employing his movement to ruin his range and nullify his power. Spence will have to engage to win this fight.

Now, make no mistake, Spence is a clear and deserved favorite. So how can Shawn Porter win? Well, there is one sure fire way he can lose. If he tris to fight an aggressors fight and push a pace by stalking Spence, he is opening himself to a knockout or stoppage. He would be wise to choose his exchanges carefully. His best bet to win is to “pot shot” Spence from angles, and employ his Jab to dictate the pace. His activity can win this fight, but only if he is dictating when the exchanges occur. Whenever he is going to deploy a combination, he will however have to close the distance, to get into Spence’s chest to avoid return volley’s. Make no Mistake, Shawn Porter is going to have to fight a near perfect fight to win, but he is very much capable of just that.

So what does a Errol Spence Jr. win look like? I think it looks like Shawn Porter attempting to press a pace by stalking Spence, attempting roughhouse tactics inside, and Spence finding the range with his Jab, and short hooks as Porter walks right into perfect range of his power punches. If this happens, Spence can and will get rid of Porter in short order. If Porter employs a smarter style, a win for Spence is likely to look more like a pure clinic in speed, accuracy and activity. It is possible that Spence is actually worth the ample betting lines and is just too good for Porter on Saturday. Either way, this is going to be a fun one to watch.

Prediction: Errol Spence Jr. by Unanimous Decision, 12 Rounds.

Bet the Fight with BetDSI
Use the Promo Code: YARDS101 (Match Bonus on 1st Deposit)

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

Brian Flores

Dolphins’ failings run deeper than stripped down roster

/0 Comments/in /by
Dolphins’ mind-numbing mistakes, disorganized defense lead to another embarrassing defeat in Dallas.

For a brief moment, there were indications the Dolphins were ready to play a competitive game. Maybe even capable of it.

Josh Rosen, in his first start for Miami, was avoiding rushers, making some impressive throws right on target.

Inexplicably, considering they fell behind 10-0, the Dolphins were on the brink of taking the lead before halftime Sunday at Dallas.

An assortment of forehead-smacking dropped passes and a killing fumble by Kenyan Drake prevented it from happening.

Then in the second half the team that was outscored 102-10 in the first two weeks reverted to form and got steamrolled again, 31-6 by the Cowboys.

Better off watching Tua

For the @TankForTua (Tagovailoa) crowd, the objective remains on track.

If you’ve been watching Alabama’s Heavin’ Hawaiian, he is providing validity to the strategy of throwing away a season for the chance to draft him.

After back-to-back games with five touchdown passes, Tua said he’s still learning and can get better.

As for these 0-3 Dolphins, the lessons of catching the ball and tackling remain elusive.

So after it appeared there might be some positives to point to in Week 3, there really weren’t.

It was good to see the offense making better use of Drake. Then he fumbled.

DeVante Parker made a terrific one-handed grab 40 yards down field. Then he dropped a perfectly placed pass over the middle that could have gone for a touchdown prior to Drake’s gaffe.

Rookie receiver Preston Williams has his moments, but he couldn’t hold onto another would-be touchdown pass long enough for it to be ruled a catch.

The mistakes are mind-numbing even for a team that has been stripped down for a total rebuild.

That’s D for disaster

And the defense is like it’s playing on the down slope of the roller coaster, prompting safety Bobby McCain to say, “I am concerned with the defense. Run defense, pass defense, it doesn’t matter. We give up 31 points, we give up 49 points, whatever it was, that is what I am concerned about. It’s not one phase of the game. Defensively, we got our ass whooped.”

It could be pointed out that this team wasn’t assembled to win anything at all.

But you have to wonder about this coaching staff’s ability to put together a cohesive plan and muster a competent effort.

You think of coach Brian Flores’ TNT gimmick that has players doing punitive runs in practice after mistakes that “take no talent.” Then you see a successful onside kick nullified by an offside penalty.

You also wonder about the decisions to get rid of certain players who supposedly weren’t in step with the program.

Such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, who after a short week of practice with the Steelers had an interception and forced a fumble in his debut at safety with Pittsburgh.

Mixed bag for Rosen

The expression on owner Steve Ross’ face during the second half in Dallas was one of “What have I done?” Yes, he was the one who ordered the drastic measures that have this season on course for historic futility.

https://twitter.com/DolphinMaven/status/1175869461481607168

“Some good, some bad. I’d say right in the middle,” Rosen said in evaluating his performance.

Rosen had to go off for an obligatory concussion evaluation and was fortunate he was well enough to be able to return.

The offensive line, already subpar, had left tackle Jesse Davis and right guard Danny Isidora go out with injuries.

The bottom line, the Dolphins have one touchdown in three games.

Perhaps it is a mistake to try to assess these Dolphins in the context of real games. Because what we’re seeing every Sunday feels unreal.

​

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

More from Dolphin Maven

Please check out our site, dedicated to bringing you Dolphins news, insight and commentary year round.

Dolphins’ QB Josh Rosen deserves chance to start

/1 Comment/in /by

It’s Rosen time!

After a week 1 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Miami Dolphins looked to regroup quickly vs the New England Patriots.

And no matter how nice the field looked, or how appealing the white throwbacks were — this game was ugly.

Miami’s offense looked anemic for most of the game, much like they did last week vs Baltimore.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 11/21 for 81 yards. And in a relief effort, Josh Rosen threw for 97 yards on 7/18 passing.

So where do the tanking Dolphins go from here?

For me, it all starts with the QB position. And although I pledged my allegiance earlier in the offseason, the time is now for “The Chosen One’ to take over. Why? Because the Dolphins need to know before the end of the season whether or not he’s the guy, and having ‘X amount of games to evaluate Rosen on, appears to be in the team’s best interest.

Now, I know you’re going to mention the turnstile of an offensive line, or the complete lack of a run game, but that’s okay. Because as we’ve seen all offseason long, Rosen appears to be the better all-around QB. He has a better sense in the pocket and appears to be capable of making throws, Fitzpatrick is not.  Yes, Flores has all but announced the veteran Fitzpatrick as the team’s Week 3 starter. And if the Dolphins truly are tanking, why make the change now?

Why not wait two more weeks until the BYE?

That all sounds well and good.  However, if you’re one of the 53-men on Miami’s roster, you have to realize Fitz just doesn’t have his magic anymore.  And no matter how badly you’d rather not trade away young talent like Laremy Tunsil or Minkah Fitzpatrick, losing won’t help matters.  The young defensive back forced his way out of Miami, and several others could too before the process is complete.

Truth is, the Harvard graduate has not looked the same since retiring in South Florida. What we can’t fully understand however, is the type of leadership he brings to this team. And for as respectable as that might be, the time is now to make a change. Josh Rosen was once a top-QB prospect and was highly coveted in college. Since joining the Dolphins in April, Rosen has done and said, all the right things. Now is his chance to prove to someone, anyone, that he can be a starting QB in this league.

If you’re Miami, best case scenario he looks like something the team could potentially build upon. Maybe he shows enough to have an open QB competition next summer. Most likely, however, is that a team completely void of talent continues to flounder. Anything less than failure would be in-humane. The Dolphins need the #1 pick and Tua Tagovailoa.

But in the here and now, it’s time for change.

Unfortunately, the book has been closed on both #FitzMagics. And unless he has a similar case to Benjamin Button, there won’t be many more highlight moments from the 36-year old QB. However, the opposite holds true for Rosen.

Each and every year, we see QBs define odds and become top-tier talent in the league. Why not Rosen?

It’s time. Start ‘The Chosen One’

Josh Houtz (@houtz) still supports Josh Rosen, even if it is #Tankovailoa SZN

Many Dolfans onboard with Dolphins tanking plan; I’m skeptical

/0 Comments/in /by

An interesting aspect of the Dolphins’ radical rebuilding project that must be recognized is it seems to have significant fan support.

This isn’t a scientific assessment, but it appears that the majority commenting on social media believe Dolphins management is doing what needs to be done.

Good for them, because it will take a high level of faith to endure the atrocities this team is committing to the game of football Sunday after Sunday.

One could argue how much of it is blind faith in a franchise that hasn’t gotten much right through a revolving door of executives and coaches over the past 20 years.

But I get it, fans are fed up with the old one-step-forward-and-two-steps-back routine.

So many of them are all in on writing off this season of epic humiliation for the promise of an influx of fresh talent through a boatload of draft picks and salary cap space accumulated via an epic roster purge.

Tanking shouldn’t be rewarded

Personally, I hate the concept of tanking that has become a trend in the various team sports. The NFL should institute a lottery system so that such a blatant dive for the top pick as the Dolphins are doing isn’t rewarded.

Dolphins coach Brian Flores is correct is saying that such a strategy is disrespectful to the game, even as he participates in one of the most extreme tank jobs that has been undertaken.

It’s worse than disrespecting the game, it’s a disgrace. Smart teams don’t have to tank to stay competitive.

The Dolphins haven’t been in that category for too long, so they have taken desperate measures.

As always with desperation, it’s a tenuous undertaking.

It’s also tougher to pull off in the NFL than in other team sports, particularly the NBA.

It was good to see Dolphins GM Chris Grier speak publicly Tuesday in the wake of the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade to let fans know there is a method to what has appeared to be madness in the roster turnover of the past few weeks.

Grier explained that the Dolphins couldn’t resist when the Texans kept offering more for Laremy Tunsil, and only ceded to Fitzpatrick’s trade request only after all the top brass, including owner Steve Ross, were unable to talk him out of it.

Those deals inflated their impressive cache of high draft picks, Of course, they will have to expend some to replace those young former first-rounders.

And you see gaping holes to fill everywhere you look on the depth chart.

Maven view: No quick fix to this Dolphins mess

Grier aims for rapid turnaround

There is a belief pervading comments on social media that the Dolphins will be much better next year after a draft that includes three first-round picks and two in the second and with ample money to spend on free agents.

Grier somewhat fed that notion Tuesday.

“I don’t know if you really put a time frame with it. For us, we’ve positioned ourselves to where we think the organization will be in a good place shortly,” he said.

“How long that takes? Like I said, we’ll be aggressive in free agency. Again, we’re not going to sit back and not do anything. We’re going to be proactive and try and get this turned quickly.”

Maybe they will, and I hope for this long disappointed fan base will finally be rewarded.

They certainly have a wealth of draft capital to play in the next two years.

It is a stretch to think you can turn them all into winning players.

Look at the handful of draft picks from the first three rounds that remain on this stripped down roster and only Xavien Howard can be considered Pro Bowl caliber.

This year’s draft produced immediate starters in Christian Wilkins and Michael Deiter, so that’s a positive.

Looking at previous years, Kenyan Drake has potential that hasn’t been fully utilized. Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan are contributors but nothing special so far. DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki and Charles Harris have fallen well short of expectations.

All of the rest are gone.

Yes, they have mined some gems in later rounds over the years, such as Reshad Jones and Jakeem Grant, and solid players such as Davon Godchaux and Bobby McCain, as well as Lamar Miller, Jay Ajayi and Rishard Matthews, the latter three long gone from Miami.

Draft a hit-or-miss proposition

But even the overall success rate of first-rounders is only about 50-50.

They will get their pick of the quarterback litter. They’d better choose wisely.

The best choice isn’t always the first one. Keep in mind, the Dolphins could have taken the quarterback who shredded them in Week 1. Instead, Lamar Jackson was available to the Ravens at No. 32 in 2018, when the Dolphins took Fitzpatrick at No. 11.

As for filling more needs with established players, experience here has shown that you have to overpay for prime free agents and they generally underperform.

What we know for sure is that a franchise that has had more than its share of bizarre chapters has never had one quite like this.

Grier has certainly heaped a mountain of pressure on his own back. Watching how he plays out this rebuilding game will be a lot more fascinating than anything the Dolphins do on the field the rest of this sorry season.

​

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

More from Dolphin Maven

Please check out our site, dedicated to bringing you Dolphins news, insight and commentary year round.

Dolphins future hinges on tempering (Tua) expectations

/1 Comment/in /by

This story is not here to tell you you’re wrong.

It is not here to argue against the plan.

This story is not here to take shots at any particular player.

Anyone who follows me on social media believes me to be critical of Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. I’ve made uninformed comments regarding his skillset that I have since corrected. Nevertheless, my personal philosophy leads people to believe that I am a “non-believer” of sorts. I make comments regarding what I have coined the “Cult of Tua,” because of the relentless hype surrounding this one quarterback. Not since Andrew Luck’s final year at Stanford has there been such a fanfare about a quarterback who has yet to join the ranks of the National Football League.

My frustration, such as it is, can be summed up from one GIF that I see on a regular basis while browsing Twitter.

That wink.

At this moment, it’s necessary to reiterate that my issue is not with Tua the football player. That GIF of him winking by itself is not what fills me with trepidation. It’s what it represents by those who use it. The hype machine that has surrounded Tua is where I take issue, because I can see where this could go horribly wrong for the Dolphins.

There are those who remember how things are. I applaud you if you’re one of them. But for those who are already crowning Tua as the savior of the franchise, I urge you to open your minds. Tua may very well be the next elite NFL quarterback. He may become Miami’s next Dan Marino, and maybe even surpass him. We don’t know, and that’s the entire point. Remember to temper expectations.

Tua’s Potential

Without a doubt, Tua Tagovailoa is the best QB Alabama has seen in a very, very long time. The word “transcendental” is used to describe his potential. All that is well and good. No argument here. But consider what will happen when Tua leaves his college world where he reigns supreme and enters a much bigger pond. If Miami’s plan is indeed to draft him, then the level of talent around him – resources to replenish or no – will not equate to what he had in college.

That is important.

Tua may not struggle at all, he may just be so incredibly elite that he’ll light up the NFL the moment he steps foot on a football field. If that’s the case, the Dolphins hit the jackpot. But it’s unwise to assume that will be the case or even get hopes up for that. If there’s one thing that’s been made clear, it’s that fanbases are notoriously impatient. Dolphins fans especially so. Certainly, there are those who will be disappointed when/if Tua fails to perform up to the remarkably high standards he set at Alabama. They may even turn on him, calling him a bust because he didn’t do as a rookie what he did in college.

You may now be saying to your screen that you feel you’re being talked down to. Of course you don’t believe Tua will be the same player in the NFL that he is in college. Again, I applaud you for your open-mindedness. There are growing pains to be had, adjustments to be made. Indeed, Tua may not even win the starting job to begin the 2020 season. But it is imperative that no matter what happens, patience prevails.

History says?

Consider the QB prospects that have come out in recent memory.

Sam Bradford had every tool required to be an elite NFL QB, but it never materialized due to injuries.

Cam Newton was touted as one of the most athletically gifted quarterbacks ever coming out of college. He’s made it to a Super Bowl, put up staggering numbers and highlights. But now as he begins to struggle, the Carolina fanbase is turning sour on him.

Andrew Luck, the ultimate can’t-miss prospect. He was the chosen one, chants of “Suck for Luck” rang loud and clear throughout Miami as fans desperately wanted the Dolphins to do what they’re doing now – tanking – to get their hands on him. However, he instead replaced Peyton Manning, the previous most can’t-miss prospect, in Indianapolis. No one questioned Luck’s skillset. But his most successful seasons? His first three. Indianapolis went 11-5 his first three seasons, and it went downhill from there. The Colts only ever made it as far as the Conference Championship. Luck is now retired as his body is breaking down.

Speaking of Peyton Manning, perhaps he is the most appropriate example of all. Manning’s rookie season in 1998 was a miserable experience to watch. Oh, he showed his potential to be sure, but it was not pretty to watch him go through his growing pains. Naturally, in 1998, social media was not a thing. There was no Facebook, no Twitter, no platform for fans to speak their minds like there are now. But after that season, what would fans think of their young quarterback who was supposed to be the face of their franchise? Undoubtedly, they would think he’s a bust.

Manning went on to win two Super Bowls. But it took a little time for the success to materialize.

Temper Expectations

It’s okay to get excited about a new face, especially one as supremely talented as Tua. But it is imperative that fans and media alike refrain from putting him on a pedestal he has yet to earn. That is what leads to disappointment and heartbreak. Tua’s status as an elite college QB and NFL prospect is unquestionable. What he does once he reaches the NFL is not only up to him. Even Dan Marino, arguably the greater passer in NFL history, never won a Super Bowl.

Many have said that there is no such expectation being placed on Tua, it’s all in our heads. However, there is also the simple fact that everyone said they were ready for a tanking season. Now, many of those same individuals are unhappy because they didn’t know what tanking would entail. There are many of you who read this and are nodding sagely. Then there are those of you who feel that this story didn’t need to be written. There are even some who think that all this is wrong, that Tua is the savior and nothing can or will change your mind.

That’s fine, I’m not trying to change your mind.

Go on believing that Tua is the answer to Miami’s problems. He might be. But, remember to temper your expectations and not give up on him too soon if he struggles at the beginning. Tua’s wide receivers are some of the best in Alabama’s history, and his offensive line certainly exceeds the Dolphins. That factors into his success, believe it or not. It may not be the same for him when he arrives in Miami.

Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t allow your heart to be broken again.

Josh Rosen could get his chance to start soon, but he won't be able to turn around lost season for Dolphins. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

There’s no quick fix for tanking Dolphins mess

/0 Comments/in /by

How many more weeks of this?

Right. The tank-travesty of this Dolphins season is only two games in and already pushing historical levels of ineptitude.

It would be difficult to recall a more incompetent showing, particularly on offense, than Sunday’s 43-0 drubbing by the Patriots. That is, if memory was limited to less than a week and you’d already forgotten the Ravens running it up 59-10 against an all-but-invisible Miami defense in the opener.

Two first downs through the first three quarters against the Patriots. Two pick-sixes allowed (one of them should be charged to the receiver, not the quarterback). Seven sacks allowed.

So, 102-10 in the first two weeks at home. That’s how far this once-proud franchise has retreated in a strategic rebuild that must have been masterminded by Col. Klink.

Granted, an organization stuck in the throes of mediocrity for two decades needed to try something different. But in a league in which the system is geared for parity it should never be necessary for a team to strip itself to this depth.

For those who have bought into the process of rebuilding through the draft, it’s delusional to think these threadbare Dolphins are going to rise from this mess by stockpiling a handful of extra draft picks.

The way this season is going, there’s nothing for Dolfans to look forward to until next April 23 — draft night. But this isn’t a one-draft fix.

The Dolphins have turned themselves into an expansion team.
Early in my career I covered the Tampa Bay Bucs’ 2-26 first two seasons. That is what we’re looking at here.

Many holes to fill

There are no guarantees in the draft, anyway, particularly for an organization with a subpar record of picking talent, dating to the previous century.

Now there are so many holes to fill, and they seem to have no qualms about digging more.

Yes, they need to find a stud quarterback. But if you can’t put a team around him, what do you have? You have Josh Rosen last year in Arizona. Or this year in Miami.

Trading away a young left tackle like Laremy Tunsil seems counterproductive, regardless of the return of high draft picks.

Now there are indications of willingness to trade DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, another recent first-rounder, and perhaps running back Kenyan Drake as well.

If coach Brian Flores can’t figure how to make productive use of these talented young players, I’m beginning to question his aptitude as head coach. Can only imagine what his players are thinking.

The Flores era couldn’t have gotten off to a rockier start.

Sunday’s game looked like what happens when a major college team faces an outmanned FCS opponent.

Like Bethune-Cookman did against the Hurricanes on Saturday, the Dolphins hung with the Patriots for awhile in the first half.

But even when it was still close, it felt as if the Patriots could do whatever they wanted. Especially when the Miami offense could do nothing at all.

Miami Miracle distant memory

“I thought they played hard,” Flores said of his defense. “I thought the communication was better, the tackling was better. I thought they played hard, and it’s a good [New England] offense. We got them off the field a couple times.”

Can’t knock the effort of the defensive players, especially in the first half. Later, when the runaway train gathered steam, that unit was gassed.

On New England’s final touchdown, a 10-yard screen to James White, the Fort Lauderdale native had four blockers escorting him to the end zone. None of them could find a single white jersey to block.

By then, the memory of the Miami Miracle had morphed to the South Florida Sham.

In the fourth quarter, the TV camera showed Dan Marino, who looked like he’d eaten bad fish at halftime. With good reason.

Is there any logical explanation for Kalen Ballage flubber-handing a routine swing pass into a pick six?

And what’s with a receiving corps with an aversion for the ball? Rosen, in mop-up duty, put deep balls right on the mark to Jakeem Grant and Preston Williams, and neither made the catch. Earlier, DeVante Parker was unable to outwrestle a defender for a spot-on long throw from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Give Rosen a chance

As for the quarterback situation, there’s no question Rosen should be the starter going forward. He’s more mobile and showed the arm strength and ability to deliver the ball on target down the field.

Not to say Rosen could rescue this already lost cause — or that Fitzpatrick is necessarily to blame for the offense’s woes.

If this miserable season is going to achieve anything, why not find out what the former 10th overall draft pick (of Arizona in 2018) Miami traded a second-round pick for can do and get him some experience?

After the game, Flores said Fitzpatrick is the starter, for now. That could change before next week at Dallas.

Maybe it’s not even in Rosen’s best interest to play, considering the inability of the line to protect either passer. He nearly blew out his knee scrambling out of bounds.

But it’s madness to keep beating one’s head against the same door and expecting it to open.

How many more weeks of this?

​

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

More from Dolphin Maven

Please check out our site, dedicated to bringing you Dolphins news, insight and commentary year round.

Five Hurricanes players to look forward to in Week 3

/0 Comments/in /by

The Miami Hurricanes finally get to play at home for the first time this season after a road game at North Carolina and neutral site showdown with Florida. Saturday’s matchup against Bethune-Cookman of the FCS ranks is the first of five consecutive home games. While the game is expected to result in an anti-climatic blowout win for Miami, here are five players fans should keep an eye on. 

Thunder and Lighting

Through Miami’s first two games, running backs DeeJay Dallas and Cam Harris have combined for 41 carries, 276 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. They call themselves “Thunder and Lighting.”

“He’s Thunder, I’m lightning,” Harris said with a wink.

They have a similar perspective towards running the ball, which bodes well for the offense. Miami offensive coordinator Dan Enos emphasized running down hill and both backs have demonstrated the ability to do that. 

“You gotta have that mentality of ‘me vs. you’ in every play,” Dallas said. “When you step in front of me, that’s disrespectful to me because I feel like I’m superior to you.”

Gregory Rousaeau 

Despite starting the season 0-2 for the first time in 40 years, Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker likes how his defense has been able to rush the passer.

However, redshirt freshman Gregory Rousaeau stands as the only Miami defensive lineman to have recorded a sack this season. He had to redshirt last season due to injury but has flashed in minimal snaps against Florida and North Carolina. At 6-feet-6 and 255 pounds, Rousseau is a special athlete in his position with length and agility. 

Who is Miami D-lineman Gregory Rousseau?

“Sometimes those guys are a little bit stronger and a little less athletic and more like heavy guys who want to just pancake you,” said Rousseau, a Coconut Creek native who missed most of last season with an ankle injury. “It’s really different, but it’s really the same thing because you’ve just got to come off the ball fast, get extension, be physical and just get after it every single play. Just like D-end, just kind of a different spot.”

Miami defensive coordinator Blake Baker said Rousaeau will get more snaps in the near future. He’s also earned the respect of his veteran teammates, especially redshirt senior Scott Patchan, who referred to Rousseau as “a gift from God.”

“I think being hurt has allowed him to stick more time and investment in the weight room and he’s definitely benefited a lot from that,” Patchan said. “I mean, he’s leading us in sacks right now.”

Bubba Baxa

Some fans would argue that if it wasn’t for sophomore Bubba Baxa missing the field goal at the end the game, the Hurricanes would have won that game. Obviously there’s more to it but in two games, Baxa is 4-for-7 in field goals and seven points have been the difference between going 2-0 and 0-2, where Hurricanes currently are.

Unlike in the NFL, the Hurricanes can’t simply cut Baxa and bring in the next kicker they can find. There are only two courses of action Miami can take; hand the reigns over to Camden Price or Turner Davidson, or rally around Baxa and hope for the best. Miami head coach Manny Diaz went with the ladder.

“It’s not a thing you get to do it 20 times in a game like you’re shooting free throws. It’s kind of a one-shot deal,” Diaz said. “The only thing he can do and anybody can do is continue to work, continue to trust himself and just fully commit to every kick.”

The main reason behind Diaz sticking with Baxa is his leg power. His kickoffs usually results in touchbacks and he nailed his first 50+ yard field goal attempt against UNC.

“The more he feels us around him and the more he feels our support, and I said this the other day, he’s going to miss a kick again. It’s going to happen. We can’t demand perfection. But like we talk with all our guys, ‘am I improving and am I finding the way to become the best version of myself?’ ”

Jarren Williams

UM quarterback Jarren Williams mentioned before the UNC game that he has improved his pocket presence and it showed with a 30-of-39 performance for 309 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. While many were easy underneath throws, completing more than 75 percent of his passes is still impressive for a freshman starting quarterback. Against Bethune-Cookman the deep ball is the next area in which Williams must show improvement on.

“My deep ball is something I got to work out every day if I want to be efficient in that and that comes with time and building that chemistry,” Williams said after Wednesday’s practice. “That just comes with me working hard all day on Greentree [Practice Fields] and practicing it every day and just getting that timing right and getting a good feel for the deep ball.”

Brevin Jordan

Sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan started the season as the first player on the team to wear the new touchdown rings. Against UNC, he was one of three UM receivers to net over 70 receiving yards. As impressive he as been as a receiver, his contribution to the running game as blocker is something that gives him added value to the offense.

Hurricanes meet the press: Week 3

“I mean, I pride myself in blocking,” Jordan said. “I don’t want to be a tight end that’s 6-7 and can just block or a short tight end who just runs routes. I wanted to be a guy that’s versatile and can do it all. That’s the whole point. I want to be an in-line tight end that can block and be a guy that can be put outside and run vertical.”

He’ll have plenty of opportunities to do both against Bethune-Cookman, so what he does he enjoy more? Jordan was asked on Tuesday to compare the feeling he gets from making a great block to making a great catch.

“Truthfully, I like the ball in my hands. I’d rather make a great catch,” Jordan said, “but giving a great block, throwing somebody on the floor and then seeing [running backs Cam’Ron Harris] or DeeJay [Dallas] run past me, I mean, that’s just as good. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Five takeaways from Hurricanes coaches press conference

/0 Comments/in /by

On the Monday of every regular season week, Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz and his coordinators give a State of the U type press conference recapping the previous game and previewing the upcoming one. Having attended it, here are my takeaways from what they said.

1) Diaz’s approach to recruiting

When Manny Diaz became the head coach, one of the first things he did was establish “The New Miami” rebrand in an effort to excite the base and modernize a throwback identity. That rebranding is at the forefront of recruiting, which Miami should have a natural advantage given it is in the apex of prime talent real estate. It hasn’t been easy, however. Miami has led the nation with 19 decommitments in the last recruiting cycle and has lost 13 this time around. A majority of those decommitments came from prospects that gave a verbal pledge to Miami early in the process only to later change their minds and put out a statement on twitter via notes app that ends with some combination of “PLEASE RESPECT MY DECISION!” and “NO INTERVIEWS!” That has led to a new approach from Diaz.

“What I will tell you broadly is that there’s some things we are changing in terms of what we will do to take a commitment,” Diaz said. “Not all of those things are necessarily grandfathered, but there are some things going forward. What it means to be committed to Miami and a series of criteria that has to happen for that happen. There’s a series of criteria of what happens once you are committed to Miami that’s never been in place in the past.”

He compared recruiting to sales during the presser, using his podium microphone as a metaphoric example.

“I have to create value and I have to make you want this, but before you value it, I have to value it,” Diaz said.” Part of that is not tolerating people not respecting the University of Miami, not respecting their hometown team. That’s something very personal to me. I want it to be personal to our staff and I want it to personal to our players. And that’s OK. Other people can go other places and that’s why there are 130 schools, but the University of Miami is going to get back where it needs to get back to with players that love the University of Miami. They love what it means to be a Miami Hurricane and they understand that value.”

Diaz had a little more polished version of Mike Singletary’s “I want winners!” speech during his first game as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

2) Moneyball Manny

Diaz went for it on a 4th-and-1 in the third quarter against North Carolina. While it came up short and the Hurricanes turned the ball over on downs, Diaz did not second guess his decision because it was backed up by data, which is an important element to his coaching style.

“I’m big into data,” Diaz said. “The Moneyball effect has filtered into football. I equate it to playing blackjack. We know we want a team that wants to be aggressive and go for it on fourth down. Once you understand the data, you trust you’ve made the right decision. It’s been calculated.”

That’s not to say that he’ll go for it in every fourth-and-short situation. Diaz said that those decisions “depends on score, time of game, depends on the opponent.” 

“Your kicking game has to factor in as well,” Diaz said. “How often does any college kicker make a kick from 37 yards? All of that goes into the science of it.”

3) The quickest way from point A to point B is…

The Hurricanes gained 179 rushing yards against North Carolina and DeeJay Dallas looks to be a future NFL running back after back-to-back impressive performances this season. Enos mentioned where the Canes offense want to go on the ground during his press conference.

“We’re gonna run north,” Enos said. “When we get the ball, we’re not gonna be an east/west team. We’re gonna run the ball downhill.”

Cam’Ron Harris gained 60 yards and a touchdown in 10 carries against UNC, giving Miami a one-two punch to Enos’ liking.

“One thing that happens with running back in my experience, have been around some really, really, good ones, is when one’s on the sideline watching the other one run hard, he kind of realizes ‘when I get out there, I better run as determined and just as hard.'” Enos said. “That’s what we tell the guys. If you want more carries, you got to earn more carries.”

4) The more the merrier for Dan Enos

Against North Carolina, nine different Canes players recorded a reception and two running backs received double digit carries. Miami offensive coordinator Dan Enos emphasized playing a large amount of players on offense during the first two games. With the home opener against Bethune-Cookman expected to be a blowout early, plenty of players can expect to see the field on Saturday.

“It’s a lot better for your moral when you have more guys playing from a mental standpoint,” Enos said. “Coming over to practice for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, they all come over with maybe a little bit of jump to their step, knowing that they’re gonna have a chance to play.”

5) Why you should go to the Bethune-Cookman game

After a neutral site game and road game to start the season, Miami will be home for the next five games. In fact, from now until the last game of the season, the Hurricanes only game outside of the state of Florida is on Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh. The home opener against Bethune-Cookman and the Central Michigan matchup afterwards are expected to be a anti-climatic blowout where the fans would naturally leave once the tailgate buzz wears off. Diaz offered some valid reasons to come to game despite the expected outcome.

“These next five weeks are going to say a lot in terms of where this team is and what happens in our season in the ACC Costal,” Diaz said. “I would come just to watch Cam Harris and DeeJay Dallas run the ball. I’d come to watch Jarren Williams play and I know for a fact, I’d come watch Shaquille Quarterman, Mike Pinckney and Zach McCloud play their last run of games at home because those are guys that you want to say five years from now, ten years ago, that every time I had a chance to watch Shaq Quarterman play, I watched him play. And if it happens, come watch Lou Hedley punt. That might be worth a ticket too.”

Honorable mention: UM defensive coordinator Blake Baker on his defensive personnel

“Talent is not going to be out issue, I think experience is our issue and there’s going to be some growing pains.”

Dolphins trudge off after what may be a season filled with losses. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

5 Live: Has the Dolphins’ Tank Already Gone Too Far?

/0 Comments/in /by

After the Dolphins’ franchise-worst 59-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, fans are showing more fight on Twitter than their team showed in the game.

So it raises a question:

Has the Dolphins’ tank already gone too far?

Time for 5 Live.

Chris Kouffman (@CKParrot) of Three Yards Per Carry: “The Dolphins are spending 67% of the average league AAV this season, which is $27 million worse than the next cheapest team out there. They’re spending $36 million less than the next cheapest team out there in cash payroll. They have the 3rd most salary cap space in the league at $38 million. They flushed Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, Kiko Alonso, TJ McDonald, Tank Carradine, and 26% of the roster days before the season began. The entire right side of the offensive line (Danny Isidora & Julie’n Davenport) didn’t even have their parking space yet, and they had a career right guard playing left tackle. They had a slow 5’9” experimental career slot corner manning the last line of defense at free safety, a coverage linebacker from the CFL playing Edge defender, and a defensive lineman that similarly hasn’t found his parking space Avery Moss playing 46 snaps (poorly). None of this has anything to do with Nick Foles, nor will it be helpful in any way to the effort in 2020+. All of it could’ve been prevented with basic roster management. Choosing this resulted in the worst home loss in franchise history, a fan base that will probably not go to any more home games, and (evidently) multiple players complaining they want out. This was a choice, it had nothing to do with Nick Foles, and we shouldn’t pretend there was only one way to do a rebuild, or even one way to tank. They chose THIS way, and they’re gonna have to live with the consequences, and I’d just assume stop playing holier than thou with the people that are upset about it.”

Luis Sung (@LuisDSung), Dolphins writer for 5 Reasons and Dolphin Maven: “As someone who despised the idea of tanking from the very beginning, the Miami Dolphins have indeed gone too far with their tanking process. And in some ways, they also haven’t gone far enough. If the goal is to be back on their feet by 2020, they can’t go so far as to completely remove any and all talent that’s found throughout the offseason. Cutting Nate Orchard, their top pass rusher in the preseason, serves what purpose other than to make sure they fail? Could he not have played an Andre Branch role when Miami decided to contend again? By the same token, if tanking is the goal, why are the young players not playing? Isaiah Prince was inactive against Baltimore, as was guard Shaq Calhoun. Why are they not giving them that experience? Let’s not even discuss the Josh Rosen angle. Miami has done too well in removing talent that can contribute, and seems unwilling to develop the raw talent that can potentially help in the future. That’s the worst of both worlds.”

Alfredo Arteaga (@UptownReport) of Three Yards Per Carry: “The Goldilocks principle.  Not too far, not far enough, just right.  Where did they probably” go too far?  I would say that the Tunsil/Stills trade was an opportunity that fell into their lap and they took advantage of it.  The purge that started with allowing Cameron Wake to walk and trading Tannehill was necessary for a rebuild.  So are we at the point where it’s the cuts of Tank Carradine and Nate Orchard as the last straws?  No.  Although those two cuts bother me because I thought the point of a tank is to of course, lose enough, but also attempt to add some cheap useful talent, which those two were.  Where they did go too far is on the offensive line, where it started with a Tunsil trade, that I don’t have a problem with, but continued with a mysterious Jesse Davis journey from RG to RT, to now LT!.  Shaq Calhoun getting what seemed like every 1st team snap in camp and preseason, to then be inactive on gameday while they play a journeyman (Isidora) in his place.  Then Davenport plays RT out of the blue?  This looks intentional, and if it’s not intentional, it’s something much worse. Incompetence.”

Josh Houtz (@Houtz), Dolphins writer for 5 Reasons and Dolphin Maven: “Everyone knew heading into the season, that the Dolphins were going to be bad. But no one was ready for what we saw on Sunday. It was bad. Really, really bad. Now there are reports of a mutiny in Miami, but why?  This team was going to be bad with or without Tunsil, Stills, or Kiko. An influx in young players is on the horizon. And with a Billion dollars in cap space, the Dolphins can get one or two franchising altering free agents. If there are players that are upset with what’s going on in Miami, do better. After all, none of those guys did anything to stop the 59-10 pummeling. …. The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming…. #TrustTheProcess.”

Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick), Five Reasons content director: “The Dolphins, after two decades of abrupt direction changes, have finally found one that works. Down. And while I understand the impetus for the overall strategy, because Steve Ross gave up trying to do it the right way, it’s impossible to defend what we saw last week, with the cuts of useful players in favor of unproven newcomers. And it’s impossible to defend what we saw on the field Sunday. Here’s the problem: Most fans aren’t on social media. They don’t know the ins and outs of the Dolphins’ plan, and unlike the Marlins, Chris Grier has done a poor job of explaining it. They just see the outrageously inept output.. What’s worse is that Grier has put his new head coach, Brian Flores, out front, to justify the unjustifiable. It’s unfair, and we see where it’s going. Eventually, when Grier goes — like Sashi Brown and Sam Hinkie went in similar tank jobs — Flores won’t be shielded either. He’ll bear the brunt of fan apathy and anger. Grier has accumulated gobs of assets, sure. But do you trust this organization to do right by them anyway. Simply put, bring on Heat season.”

Xavien Howard and the Dolphins fell hard against the Ravens. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

Rout reveals ugly reality of tanking Dolphins

/0 Comments/in /by

MIAMI GARDENS — It is one thing to talk of tanking as a concept.

The reality of it?

That was the atrocity on display Sunday when the Dolphins offered the resistance of tissue paper in a 59-10 walkover by the Ravens.

In their inaugural season in 1966, the Dolphins lost 58-24 at Buffalo, the most points allowed in a regular-season game in franchise history before Sunday.

The only loss more one-sided and humbling than this one was the 62-7 playoff thrashing at Jacksonville in Dan Marino’s final game.

Ironically, two decades later they are still trying to replace him and have sold their soul for the chance to draft another magic quarterback. Or so they hope.

No question, the Dolphins were in need of a major overhaul, a radically different approach than has failed miserably over the past two decades.

The debacle Sunday showed what tanking looks like, what happens when you take a stripped-down roster into games that count.

More from Maven: Flores vows to do better job of coaching

Disaster on defense

It looks like giving up a 49-yard run on the first play and never being competitive in the game.

It looks like having such a talent deficit with the opponent that you fall behind 28-0 just over a minute into the second quarter, as the Dolphins did.

Dolphins icon Larry Csonka tweeted, “New personnel. Unrehearsed. This is tough to watch. “

Even with the expectation that this Dolphins team wasn’t built to win, the scope of the incompetence and disorganization was stunning.

Particularly on defense, which is coach Brian Flores’ forte. Obviously, he is not directing the Patriots defense anymore.

Nonetheless, all of the scheming and attention to detail and punitive dashes to the TNT (Takes No Talent) Wall were supposed to yield a unit that knew what it was doing out there, albeit limited in talent.

But this Dolphins defense look disorganized, clueless, lost.

It was a total pushover. It had no answer to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Jackson produced the best passer rating (158.3) in Ravens history and rookie Marquise Brown debuted with 147 yards receiving, including touchdowns of 47 and 83 yards on his first two catches.

I didn’t think there was a scheme issue,” Flores said. “There was an execution problem and we weren’t getting aligned. We’ll be better next week.”

Seriously? Next week, Flores’ former team, the defending champion Patriots, come to town.

Trade fallout lingers

There may well be a morale problem, stemming from trading away Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills and other veterans at the end of the preseason.

The Tunsil trade seems a reach too far into the tank. Left tackle is one of the cornerstone positions and he was a rising star still on his rookie contract. Sure, they got three high draft picks in the deal, but those will be late in the round from a good Texans team.

And they will need to draft someone to fill the void of Tunsil, which will be a reach.

Meanwhile, Sunday was no isolated bad day for the home team. Be prepared for a month of NFL Sunday’s like it.

For the aqua-clad people in the stands, it means little return in entertainment value on those pricy season-ticket plans.

That is what tanking the season is all about. It was on display in all of its teeth-gnashing splendor.

“We’ve got problems on offense, defense and special teams. We’ll try to fix them all,” Flores said. “Schematically from a personnel standpoint, we’ll try to fix them all. We’ll try to put our players in the best position to win. We’ve got a lot of work to do from that standpoint.”

Problem is, there is no immediate fix for this season.

Dolfans can point to a huge cache of future draft choices as hope for the future. But this game illuminated how much talent will have to be mined from upcoming drafts to field a competitive team, and gave an indication of how long that could take.

Let there be no mistake, the Dolphins will be picking near, if not at the very top next April.

But there’s no guarantee the strategy of suffering through losing seasons and stockpiling draft picks will work.

Look at Cleveland, which endured a 1-31 stretch in 2016 and 2017. This is supposed to be the Browns’ year. They started it with a dud in a 43-13 loss to the Titans.

Imagine how their fans feel today. Probably worse than Dolfans.

Roster turnover hurts

There were some boos early from the home crowd at Hard Rock Stadium. They had one highlight moment to cheer when DeVante Parker made a leaping 49-yard catch between two defenders.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who made history by starting for his eighth NFL team, led a spunky touchdown drive before the half, with undrafted rookie Preston Williams punctuating his first NFL TD catch with a resounding spike.

By halftime, with the Dolphins trailing 42-10, fans were sitting dumbfounded in their seats or retreating up the aisles, presumably to a bar.

The big question about the Dolphins going into the game wasn’t could they find a way to win?

It was, who are those guys?

I counted only 20 players who were on the roster last season. A dozen joined the team since the final preseason game. Fifteen hadn’t appeared in an NFL game before Sunday.

Two who had just joined the team started on the offensive line, Danny Isidora at right guard and Julien Davenport at right tackle. Jesse Davis, who played all preseason at right tackle, moved to left tackle.

An offense that aspires to be successful running the ball had 21 yards rushing, averaging 1.8 yards a carry.

Josh Rosen created a mild stir from those still watching when he entered late in the third quarter and threw a short completion on his first pass. His second pass was intercepted.

“He told us, let it sink in, remember this feeling,” said cornerback Eric Rowe, a former Patriot who was victimized on Brown’s first touchdown catch, said of Flores’ message to the team. “I think everybody is going to remember this feeling because that’s just going to motivate us to push harder in practice.”

“We’re going to let it sink in. Let that [expletive] hurt. Let it hurt, let it hurt, because it does,” safety Bobby McCain said.

Get used to it, folks. These are your 2019 Miami Dolphins. And it’s going to hurt. A lot.

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

(Photo of Ryan Fitzpatrick by Jasen Vinlove for USA Today)

More from Dolphin Maven

Please check out our site, dedicated to bringing you Dolphins news, insight and commentary year round.