The Life and Times of Sebastian Vettel | Hitting the Apex

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For older McLaren fans, in particular those who are veterans of the battles of the early 2010s which saw Red Bull transform from plucky energy drink company to Formula 1 dominance coinciding with a McLaren backslide into the midfield, it’s hard to identify the epiphanic moment.

That chill that runs down the spine, causing the whole body to shiver.

The realization that you like and admire Sebastian Vettel.

The 4-time World Champion announced his retirement this week. And his career spanning more than a decade illustrates the power of sports and the platform it provides to reach a higher calling outside of the race track.

Vettel’s journey from Wunderkind to Elder Statesman saw the German achieve much more when he was no longer winning races than he ever did by lifting trophies.

Born to Race

Sebastian Vettel was born to be a race car driver. He started karting at the age of 3 and quickly ascended up the racing totem pole, finally becoming a full-time Formula 1 driver with the Toro Rosso racing team.

And he took the sport by storm, fast from the beginning. He also earned the reputation as impetuous, foolish, too young to win a championship. And despite being the youngest driver in F1 history to win a race, there was still healthy skepticism about his ability to be a world champion.

For much of the 2010 season, that skepticism seemed valid as Vettel adjusted to the Red Bull team he had joined. Vettel was the fastest driver, but several retirements and mistakes, most notably crashing into his teammate Mark Webber in Turkey, seemed to have gifted the championship to Fernando Alonso. With 2 races to go, Vettel needed to win both to have any shot at the title. He accomplished the first half of that in Brazil. In the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Vettel not only needed to win, he needed a minor miracle.

You ask for a miracle? I give you Ferrari.

All Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso needed to do was finish 2nd to win the championship, and Top 4 would be enough to prevent Vettel from winning his first title.

Enter Ferrari strategy. They pitted Alonso early to cover off Mark Webber, who had only pitted early because of damage. By doing so, Ferrari undercut themselves out of the race, spending the race stuck behind a Renault and finishing 7th. Vettel won the race and the championship, becoming the youngest champion in Formula 1 history.

The Wunderkind had delivered on his promise.

Over the next 3 years as part of winning 4 consecutive titles, Vettel transformed from young gun to veteran, from exciting prospect to part of the scenery. We started to take his brilliance for granted. The age old detraction of “anyone can win in that car” was bandied about.

But anyone didn’t win in that car. Vettel did.

For fans of teams that weren’t Red Bull, this period was vexing. An energy drink company is not supposed to put a kid in a car and beat teams with the tradition of McLaren, Ferrari, and Williams.

Which was why what happened next was so shocking. Vettel had been with the Red Bull program since he was a junior driver. But after one bad 2014 season, he left. It’s hard to know what precipitated the divorce, but Red Bull had their next young leader in Daniel Ricciardo, and Vettel wanted the challenge of Ferrari.

The End of an Era

What had actually happened in 2014 was not Vettel’s fault. Red Bull had become so accustomed to winning, they, and really all of Formula 1, was not prepared for the era of dominance Mercedes was about to unleash. Mercedes would win the next 7 Drivers Championships until last year’s controversial Max Verstappen win.

And when history retells this tale of Mercedes’ dominance, it’ll talk about the one Nico Rosberg title, and Lewis Hamilton’s ascension into the greatest driver in Formula 1 history. It will be glossed over as a time when no one challenged Mercedes.

But that isn’t true. Because Vettel did. 

The 2018 season will look in the history books like one that is non-competitive. Hamilton won the championship by 88 points. But he was not in the lead at the halfway mark. This was a season where Vettel pushed Hamilton to his limit. The reason Hamilton is the greatest driver in Formula 1 history is that when pushed to his limit, he found another gear, reaching a crescendo in one of the best qualifying laps in Formula 1 history which saw him take pole and win the race at a “Ferrari” track in Singapore.

This was Hamilton at the height of his powers, and there was Vettel, pushing him all the way.

Which is why once again it was so shocking that merely one season later, Ferrari unceremoniously announced that Vettel would not continue after the upcoming 2020 season. Once again, Vettel, with so much left to offer his team, was on the move.

This time there was no race winning car in his future, but Aston Martin beckoned.

Retirement

Why would a 4-time World Champion decide to finish career at lowly Aston Martin? Sure, there was the opportunity to potentially build a race winning team given the influx of money being pumped into the team. But Vettel has won 53 races. He didn’t need to win another. He had won 4 titles. He didn’t need to win another

No, it was not the on track aspect. You see, while Sebastian Vettel was born to be a race car driver, his actual calling in life is humanitarian. And Formula 1 provided him the platform to become the champion of the downtrodden, the discriminated against, the marginalized people who have no voice.

While our current era of athletes are almost preprogrammed to give rote answers about any social or marginally controversial issue, Vettel seeks out the limelight precisely to highlight those issues, and to take a side. The side he chooses to take is the one of righteousness, of humanity, of putting others in front of his personal brand.

It’s with a sense of irony that Vettel announced his retirement the week of the Hungarian Grand Prix as he returns to the scene of where he famously wore rainbow colored shoes in protest of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination laws in Hungary. For a marginalized community in Hungary legitimately living in fear of discrimination and much worse, Vettel provided a beacon of hope.

He has been at the forefront of supporting Lewis Hamilton in the fight against racism, to the point that the once furious rivals are now close friends.

Vettel is not afraid to be out in front. He’s used to leading the pack. And it is fitting that as former 3-time World Champion Nelson Piquet gave everyone a window into his racism, Vettel continues to show the world what a real champion is. In a cover piece for a LGBTQ+ magazine attitude that was released almost simultaneous to Piquet being banned from the Formula 1 paddock for repeated racial and homophobic slurs, Vettel said:

It doesn’t matter your skin colour, it doesn’t matter your background, it doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter who you fall in love with. In the end, you just want equal treatment for everybody. Everyone has the same right to love.

That is the essence of Sebastian Vettel, the man. Formula 1 is losing so much more than a fast race car driver when Vettel exits the sport. I’m under no illusion that this Aston Martin car can win a race, that we’ll see Vettel ascend to that top step of the podium one more time, that we’ll see him showered in champagne.

However, what we’ve witnessed is far greater than that. We’ve seen Vettel ascend to the top step of the podium of life. From Wunderkind to humanitarian, from petulant to role model, from driver to legend.

It will be impossible to write the history of Formula 1 without Sebastian Vettel. His quality as a race car driver saw to that.

But his impact off the track, his shifting of our expectations of how we expect a driver to conduct himself, his willingness to step out front and lead on issues that were not spoken about previously, providing support to those who need it most, will echo through eternity. 

Formula 1 will lose Sebastian Vettel as a driver in 10 more races.

The world is a better place because of Sebastian Vettel the person, and fortunately for all of us, that Sebastian Vettel isn’t going anywhere.

Vishnu Parasuraman is a contributor for @FiveReasonsSports. He covers the Miami Hurricanes  for Sixth Ring Canes and Formula 1 for Hitting the Apex. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003

What Matthew Tkachuk brings to the Florida Panthers

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The hockey world was taken aback Friday night as the Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames swapped 100-point superstars in a blockbuster trade.

Florida sent all-time franchise points leader Jonathan Huberdeau to Calgary alongside MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a 2025 conditional first-round pick, in exchange for 24-year-old Matthew Tkachuk, and a 2025 conditional fourth-round pick.

Earlier in the week, reports said that Tkachuk told Calgary he wasn’t going to re-sign as an RFA; Florida was one of the few desired teams on his trade list, he told ESPN’s Linda Cohn. 

Tkachuk’s contract extension in Florida is eight-years, $76-million, with a base salary of $1-million per-season, $68-million in signing bonuses.

Obviously this trade has the fan base at odds. Many are disappointed that Huberdeau, one of the most beloved players in Panthers’ history is on his way out after 10 seasons in Florida, along with MacKenzie Weegar. The other side of the fan base is excited to see what a young star in Tkachuk can bring to a team that has had limited playoff success over the last 25 years.

In this article I am going to focus on the type of player Tkachuk is and how he can help the Panthers this season and beyond. 

Who is Matthew Tkachuk?

 

Tkachuk plays a unique brand of hockey that isn’t seen often in today’s NHL. He’s a 6-foot-2, 200-pound, power forward that can go toe-to-toe physically with anyone in the league, while still scoring at above a point-per-game rate. If I could describe him in non-hockey terms, I’d say he’s like a Swiss Army Knife. He can score, hit, fight, pass, dangle – he can do whatever you need him to do and that’s why the Panthers gave up so much for him.

In 431 career games, he has 152 goals, and 230 assists for 382 points. He is coming off the best year of his career which saw him score 42 goals, tallying 104 points in 82 games with the Flames.

When you watch Tkachuk play, immediately you’ll notice his presence in the offensive zone. 

Without the puck, he continuously works his way into areas where his teammates can feed him.

He aggressively fights for loose pucks in the corners and will use his big frame to his advantage in 50-50 puck battles. In front of the net, he finds ways to get the puck on goal, even if it is from the most absurd angles. Tkachuk is extremely composed and may flash his silky hands with a behind the legs goal or a mid-air deflection, as he did multiple times in Calgary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTnt4Hi87HY

As you watch more of his game, you’ll see how frequently he carries the puck in transition. With his long stride, quick release and playmaking ability, he can score off the rush or find an open teammate in a prime scoring area. 

Obviously one of the biggest parts of Tkachuk’s game as a power forward is his physical play. There’s not a ton of players in the league who can lay the body as well as he does; getting under the skin of the opposition while still being top-10 in points (he ranked eighth in 2021-2022). A comparable player would be Brad Marchand. While Marchand isn’t as big as Tkachuk, listing at just 5-foot-9, both players can hit, score and irritate opponents. 

We know what Tkachuk is capable of on the ice, but how will this help a Panthers team that is one of the top contenders in the league?

First off, he is only 24. When we look at the age of the Panthers’ core, every player except for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is 26-years-old or younger, and the Panthers’ have a stud 21-year-old backup goalie in Spencer Knight. Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar both would have been 29 by the time the playoffs started this upcoming season, and would have been 30-years-old the first-year after their current contracts expire. Florida got younger with this move and it extends their cup contention window.

Why make this trade?

 

Getting Tkachuk who is in the prime of his career extends the competitive window the Panthers will have with their core for multiple years. As the second highest paid skater on the roster, just behind captain Aleksander Barkov, Tkachuk will be playing at his highest level alongside most of the current Panthers’ players for multiple seasons. 

Obviously Jonathan Huberdeau is coming off the best single-season by a left-winger in NHL history with his 115 point 2021-2022 campaign, but how long can Huberdeau continuously play at this elite-level? That was definitely one of the questions the Panthers pondered as they made the decision to not offer him an extension and package the star to Calgary for a much younger player.

With one-year remaining on his current contract with an average annual value of $5.9 million, the 29-year-old is due for a massive payday, most likely getting a similar dollar amount to that of which Tkachuk signed for on his extension. Florida decided that a long-term extension with Huberdeau wasn’t part of their future plans, and it makes sense as a hypothetical eight-year extension upwards of $9-million per season would have made Huberdeau one of the three highest paid players on the team throughout his 30’s (barring any higher contracts in the future). 

So let’s say Huberdeau signed the eight-year, $76-million extension in Florida instead of Tkachuk, that’s still the same term and cap hit no matter the ages of the two players. What about the other pending unrestricted free agent that was involved in the trade, MacKenzie Weegar?

Weegar, who is just a few months younger than Huberdeau was also due for a new contract and his next deal would have demanded way more than his current $3.25 million AAV. If we look at active defenseman contracts in today’s NHL, the 25 highest-paid defenseman all have a AAV of at least $7 million. It is safe to say after Weegar’s 2020-2021 season which saw him finish top-8 in Norris Trophy voting, he could see potential offers of around $6 million plus on his next contract. With these scenarios, Florida would have tied up around (at least) $16 million on those two while still having three more years on Sergei Bobrovksy’s $10 million AAV deal. That would have seen three players in their 30’s making upwards of $26 million for multiple years, not including another $10 million for Barkov’s contract. 

With this trade, Florida will have some flexibility for next offseason’s free agency, a luxury they didn’t have this year for a variety of reasons, mostly due to the $6.575 million of dead cap from buyout penalties. In 2023-2024, Florida would only have $1.24 million of dead cap and have $7.8 million come off the books from Patric Horqnvist and Radko Gudas’ contracts. The Panther’s will have a substantial amount of money to spend next offseason compared to the budget they had this year.

So Florida gets a young player who slots in the timeline of their current core and they’ll have more space to bring in players over the next few seasons.

What about this year?

Thinking of the future is always smart, no matter how good your team is, but the Panther’s just won the President’s Trophy the previous season before getting swept in the second-round of the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team can contend now, the question is does Tkachuk take them to the next level?

Offense wise, Tkachuk’s even strength points per 60 last season was 3.7, while Huberdeau was at 3.9. Tkachuk had a better overall on-ice goals for and corsi for per 60 than Huberdeau last season while also having a better on-ice goals against per 60 metric. Tkachuk’s 5-on-5 and even strength advanced stats in most major categories are also statistically better than Huberdeau’s during the 2021-2022 season. These advanced stats show Florida is getting a statistically better all-around player in Tkachuk. 

If you watched Panthers games last year, most of the season saw Barkov and Huberdeau playing on separate lines to balance out the top-six, creating two top lines. With Tkachuk replacing Huberdeau on the wing, does he play with his former Flames teammate Sam Bennett? Maybe he gets paired alongside last year’s rookie phenom Anton Lundell, or you put him with the captain Aleksander Barkov. 

Florida’s newest head coach Paul Maurice will have to see which line combinations work best for the team. It would make a lot of sense to see how Tkachuk and Barkov fare together on the top line. With Tkachuk’s tenacity in front of the net and his aggressive style of play, he’s going to open up the ice for the playmaking machine that Barkov is. Tkachuk and Barkov would be a matchup nightmare as the duo are both talented goal scorers and playmakers. Pair that with Barkov’s defensive abilities and Tkachuk’s hard-hitting play, this could be a scary top line.

Last postseason for the Panthers was an extremely disappointing one to say the least. GM Bill Zito went all in at the trade deadline, depleting major assets to acquire Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot. After winning their first playoff series since 1996, Florida was dominated by Tampa in their four game series which saw the Panthers get swept. Over the 10 playoff games, Florida’s two star forwards Barkov and Huberdeau combined for 3 goals and 12 points.

On the other end of the continent, Tkachuk and the Flames also found themselves on the wrong end of a second-round matchup with their in-province rivals, losing in five games to the Edmonton Oilers. In 12 playoff games last season, Tkachuk had 4 goals and 10 points. In 27 career playoff games, he has 15 points. 

With only one playoff-series win to show for over the last 25 years in Florida, the front office wanted a new look, hoping Tkachuk will produce in the playoffs, taking Florida to the next level.

MacKenzie Weegar, left, and Jonathan Huberdeau were two of the Florida Panthers' most popular players. (Florida Panthers)

Pressure Point: Panthers’ blockbuster deal makes sense, but Huberdeau will be missed

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It always hurts when a favorite player on a team you’re emotionally invested in is traded away.

So it was a gut punch for Florida Panthers fans when news broke late Friday night that Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar had been traded to the Calgary Flames.

Especially Huberdeau, the franchise scoring leader and a complete class act since Florida drafted him with the third overall pick in 2011.
But the outrage evident in knee-jerk social media is misplaced in light of the return — a 24-year-old coming off a 42-goal season (104 points) and newly signed to a long-term deal.

And, who is built for playoff hockey, and has shown it.

If unfamiliar with Matthew Tkachuk’s work, check out any number of highlight videos on YouTube. He’s a dynamic forward who will energize FLA Live Arena playing alongside Aleksander Barkov and another skilled wing such as Carter Verhaeghe or Sam Reinhart.

He’ll do so for the next eight years after agreeing to a $76 million contract. Notably, Barkov is also embarking on an eight-year deal this season.

Blockbuster deal shakes up NHL

A trade involving two players coming off 100-point seasons is a stunner. All the experts and many fans are quick to call this a win for Calgary. Yes, Panthers GM Bill Zito gave up a hell of a lot: Huberdeau and Weegar and a prospect with some potential (Cole Schwindt) and a future first-round pick.

But Huberdeau and Weegar will be playing on expiring contracts and can walk away after the upcoming season.

What strikes me is this was a Pat Riley sort of trade. Zito has shown since he got to South Florida in 2020 that he is not at all hesitant to make a bold move. He didn’t let being tight against the salary cap prevent him from swinging one of the biggest NHL trades in years.

Zito stuck his neck out on this one and it will be fascinating to see how it plays out.

Peel away the emotion and local sentiment about star players who have meant a lot to Panthers fans and this deal makes sense.

Notably, Tkachuk is just entering his prime while Huberdeau is 29 and will be playing though his next contract well into his 30s.

Various factors involved in trade

Trying to work out a long-term deal for Huberdeau, who can be an unrestricted free agent next summer, was supposed to be priority one for this Panthers offseason. Safe to assume that finding out what that would take to accomplish factored into the decision to trade him.

Weegar, a talented two-way defenseman, can also be a UFA after the upcoming season. It would have been unlikely to keep both players long term.

Zito has made it clear he is chasing the Stanley Cup in the short term. Getting to the second round for the first time since 1996 wasn’t enough to justify the status quo.

Being swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning likely was a consideration in making this trade. The Panthers’ high-scoring offense managed only three goals in four games, and also sputtered in the series win against the Washington Capitals.

Coming off a 115-point regular season, Huberdeau was mostly ineffective throughout the playoffs, registering one goal and four assists in 10 games.

Weegar’s untimely giveaway cost the Panthers Game 2 against the Lightning, and he also had a game-changing turnover in the Game 1 loss in the series against the Capitals.

Tkachuk better suited for playoffs

Huberdeau is one of the top playmakers in the NHL, his anticipation uncanny, his passing often dazzling. He’s been a joy to watch for 10 seasons in Sunrise.

In Tkachuk, the Panthers gain a creative scorer whose more physical style is better suited to playoff hockey. In 12 playoff games with Calgary this past season he had 10 points (four goals).

Can’t wait to see how his offensive skills mesh with Barkov.

Also looking forward to what else Zito has up his sleeve this offseason. Now he has a big hole to fill on the blue line, which already needed improvement.

Zito spent a lot of draft capital on making a run in the recent playoffs and couldn’t prevent Claude Giroux, Mason Marchment and Ben Chiarot from departing in free agency.

Now he has made his riskiest gamble in dealing away one of the biggest stars in Panthers history. Emotionally it’s a blow to the fan base.

But when a franchise has been flailing in mediocrity for decades, it’s tough to make a case for staying the same course.

Ten years of hope under previous GM Dale Tallon didn’t produce a single playoff series win. They never advanced past the first round with Huberdeau in the lineup until this year.

That is not to detract from Huberdeau’s contributions and accomplishments. I covered him for a number of years and always admired him as a player and a person. I recall how he and Barkov immediately thrived when Jaromir Jagr arrived and joined them on the top line, and how entertaining it was to watch the trio circulate the puck around the offensive zone — Huberdeau had 12 points in his first 13 games with Jagr.

Make no mistake, we’ll miss ya, Hubie.

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

Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Deandre Ayton is Worth Betting On

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Before it was too late, the Suns sobered up and matched Indiana’s offer sheet for Deandre Ayton.  Waiting an entire season after he was eligible for his rookie extension was a waste of time.  It only pissed him off, and now they can’t use him as trade bait to get Kevin Durant out of Brooklyn until Jan. 15, but Phoenix’s center can veto proposals this year. 

 

Ayton has improved every season of his career.  Considering his abilities as a finisher up to 16 feet away from the rim + his effectiveness guarding the interior, it’s still bewildering that Phoenix never appreciated his value until they were left with no choice.  Without him giving up touches, willingly sacrificing his body to get teammates open, and crashing the glass for extra possessions, the Suns would have never made the Finals in 2021.  

 

On offense, Ayton has turned into one of the league’s most efficient players, finishing each season in the top 20 in field goal percentage and the last two years in the top 20 in offensive rating.  

 

His 7-foot stature overwhelms defenders near the rim, making help necessary after the catch.  In the dunker spot, he can jump higher than his matchup and go back up for a close-range shot.

 

Attacking through pick ‘n’ roll is one of Phoenix’s choice strategies, using it on ¼ of their possessions. With Ayton as the roll man, he scores 5.4 points a night on 64% from the field.  Nonetheless, Ayton is underutilized as the scoring option in screen ‘n’ roll.  Unless the defense sends a weak side shot blocker or clogs the paint, #22’s size and soft touch present an advantage in a league that heavily relies on small-ball.

 

It’s important to note that Ayton’s activity as a screener buys teammates precious seconds being open while also giving him a small window to get the ball back.  In the regular season, he was fifth in screen assists averaged (5.4), with 11.6 points scored for the team with his help.   

 

It’s critical for big men to receive a steady diet of touches so all the work that goes towards defending the paint and getting teammates open doesn’t waver.  Twelve attempts a game for Ayton is not enough when he shoots 63.4% from the field, and the right way to play is inside out.  Not the opposite.  

 

For the Suns’ 2022 playoff run, they finished 10/13 games with more shots coming outside of the paint than in it.  That style of play can hinder big men, and it’s peculiar Phoenix didn’t counter with more of an inside game when Chris Paul couldn’t get to his mid-range shot in Round 2.  Ayton is a mismatch against most players who will defend him. If he bricks from close range, he can snag an offensive rebound unless stuck in poor positioning.  

 

 There are only five players in the NBA with a higher post-up frequency than Ayton (Robin Lopez, Joel Embiid, Jonas Valanciunas, Jusuf Nurkic, Kristaps Porzingis).  Phoenix’s center is second in that group in percentage of shots 0-3 feet from the basket (33.3) but first in made field goal efficiency in that zone (79.3).  When a player scores that well around the cup, it’s surprising if he misses next to the restricted area.  It might open up extra space on the perimeter if Ayton gets more looks with his back to the basket because of traps or doubles sent his way.  

 

The danger in focusing the attack from the outside is that it limits second chance opportunities. If a pivot is standing close to the rim while his team is heaving up an excessive amount of  3-pointers, most misses will be long rebounds and out of reach of big men.  

 

As the Suns’ second line of protection, Ayton was one of the most involved defenders in the league.  Despite missing 24 games in 2021/2022, he still put a hand in front of more attempts than 95% of the NBA with 659 contests. Opponents scored 44.3% of shots with Ayton in front of them.

 

His averages in blocks don’t jump off the stat sheet but his impact taking away lanes is a premium the Suns couldn’t afford to lose.  

 

At 24 years old, Ayton is not a finished product.  Big men take longer to develop than guards and forwards, which makes his future promising.  Keeping him around a Hall of Fame playmaker like CP3 and a proven gunslinger in Devin Booker should help expedite the process as long as Ayton isn’t forgotten about on offense.

 

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Where does Lynn Bowden Jr. fit on the Dolphins roster?

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With a new coaching regime in Miami, Lynn Bowden has a shot to make the roster, The question is, what is Lynn Bowden’s fit on the Dolphins roster?

Last year I wrote about how Lynn Bowden Jr, would be an X factor in Miami. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Bowden was placed on season ending IR.

Fit as a wide receiver

Currently listed as a wide receiver in Miami, Lynn Bowden Jr. played only 10 games his rookie season. Of those 10 games, Bowden started in four games for Miami.

Bowden played a big role for the Dolphins offense down the stretch in the 2020 season, catching 27 passes for 212 yards (7.9 avg.) in the final five games.

In the Dolphins offense, Lynn Bowden Jr. is a rare talent. He can line up out wide, in the slot, as a running back, or a wildcat quarterback.

Within this new Dolphins offense; however, Lynn Bowden Jr. is not the rarity. Receivers like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Erik Ezukanma can do everything Bowden does.

Frankly, the Miami Dolphins wide receiver roster is loaded with versatile talent:

  • Tyreek Hill
  • Jaylen Waddle
  • Cedrick Wilson
  • Erik Ezukanma
  • Preston Williams
  • Lynn Bowden Jr.
  • Cody Core
  • River Cracraft
  • DeVonte Dedmon
  • Braylon Sanders

While Bowden Jr. will see some snaps at receiver if he is kept on the roster, will it be enough to make a sizable impact?

In 2020, Bowden logged 9.6% target percentage when he was on the field. Player profile loggs it as the 99th best in 2020.

Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Cedrick Wilson are locked as the Dolphins first three receivers. Battling for the fourth receiver spot will come down to rookie Erik Ezukanma, Bowden, and Preston Williams.

Both Williams and Ezukanma are bigger than Bowden and can line up more on the outside. Williams has taken snaps at running back before. Ezukanma at Texas Tech did the same things Bowden did.

Financially, letting go of Bowden earns almost $1.04 million back to sign free agents in the middle of the season due to any injuries.

Player Cap Charge Dead Cap Cap Savings
Erik Ezukanma $886,248 $724,992 $161,256
Lynn Bowden Jr. $1,038,128 $0 $1,038,128
Preston Williams $1,290,000 $275,000 $1,015,000

However, depth on the roster is like money, you can never have too much. Carrying more than six receivers on the roster is a necessity, especially in a pass-heavy league.

But…

Lynn Bowden Jr. as a running back?

We all know in 2020, the Las Vegas Raiders botched their plan for Bowden Jr. by slotting him as a running back. It never worked out.

But what if the Miami Dolphins tried it?

When the time comes Lynn Bowden Jr. will be a great case study in the value of versatility.

We’ve seen what Julian Edelman, Taysom Hill, Brian Mitchell, Antwan Randle-El, Hines Ward, and others back to Frank Gifford and Paul Hornung have accomplished, but staff matters.

This is where Lynn Bowden could thrive in an offensive staff and scheme assembled by Mike McDaniel.

Yes, we all have heard Mike McDaniel and his evolution of turning Deebo Samuel into an all-pro wideback.

Just the combination of running the ball and Bowden’s toughness minimizes the offense’s risk in the passing game.

A personnel of Waddle and Hill on opposite sides of the field with Bowden Jr. in the backfield will make defenses scratch their heads. There’s an advantage of lining him up in the backfield and as a running back.

Running Back Financials

Player Cap Charge Dead Cap Cap Savings
Chase Edmonds $5,500,000 $5,500,000 $0
Raheem Mostert $1,936,765 $1,000,000 $936,765
Myles Gaskin $2,561,777 $21,777 $2,540,000
Sony Michel $1,750,000 $850,000 $900,000

Those are the four top guys at running back right now, and Gaskin has the least dead money and offers the most cap savings by far.

The Dolphins are also carrying Alec Ingold whose 2022 salary is fully guaranteed for a cap charge of $2,750,000 at fullback. Chase Edmonds and Alec Ingold are both locks for the roster.

Again, depth is money- but you become smart with money. Unless there’s an injury in camp at the position or Gaskin has a strong training camp, it will be hard justifying his cap charge as a running back.

The Miami Dolphins currently have the fourth-highest positional spending at the running back position. This is where Lynn Bowden Jr. comes into play.

The Dolphins can carry Bowden as the fifth running back on the roster while also stacking the deck at wide receiver on the roster.

Positions are given based on a core scheme. In contrast, the league is moving towards position-less football on offense and defense with players becoming more versatile.

NFL teams make roster and personnel changes each game based on the opponent and matchups dictated. There may be more receivers on a game day roster one week, more running backs another week, and potentially two fullbacks the week after.

This may be the most logical option of getting a talented and versatile player like Lynn Bowden Jr. on the field.

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Hussam Patel***

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

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Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Nets Better Off Keeping Kevin Durant

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To some, Kevin Durant looks like an NBA labor hero for asking to skip town with four years and $198 million remaining on his deal.  Others see him as the dude trying to take the easy way out. 

 

As for his trade request, it would defy logic for the Brooklyn Nets to move Durant.  He’s perhaps the league’s most lethal scorer because of his arsenal and the mismatches a 6’11 frame creates. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, the organization is bending over backward, acquiescing to KD’s wishes and looking for a negotiating partner. 

 

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Durant doesn’t have any leverage.  Willingly putting him on the market is a dereliction of duty by the front office.  They have not realized that whatever could be sent back for him won’t be as impactful as the man who already wears the uniform.  Taking on assets for the future is risky as well.  There is no guarantee the players picked will hit.  

 

Keeping Durant ensures the team is always in the mix, competing or at least the headlines.  How many opportunities will any franchise get to have a guy like KD signed long-term?  He’s a made man who needs to be convinced the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.  

 

 Offensively, the Slim Reaper has no weaknesses and is one of the rare players in the NBA who would fit well next to any playstyle.  When a man as gifted as he has already committed to a team like that, the plan should be trying to fix whatever the differences between the two camps are.     

 

The team has Kyrie Irving riding shotgun for at least one more year.  The Nets should have asked Durant the moment he gave notice why he can’t make it work for $198 million?  Why can’t he commit to the team as they did to him while he spent an entire year recovering from an Achilles tear?  They believed enough in him to devote themselves for four years when no one knew what version of the Easy Money Sniper was coming back.  But here we are. The ink on Durant’s extension hasn’t dried, and his interests are elsewhere. 

 

Helping the team win 1/3 playoff rounds he’s participated in and only playing in 106 games as a Net in three seasons shouldn’t buy him the cache to make such an asinine favor.    

 

Ben Simmons still has not made his debut for Brooklyn.  His size, versatility, and explosive lateral quickness make him one of the NBA’s premier defenders.  He can switch on opponents in zone or man coverage, which will fix some of the Nets’ weak spots while also benefiting the offense by adding transition opportunities.  

 

There are few athletes in the NBA like Simmons.  In fact, Durant hasn’t played with a specimen like him since he was Russell Westbrook’s teammate in Oklahoma City from 2008-2016.  Simmons is a threat whenever he puts his head down and attacks the basket.  His role as a playmaker while sharing the floor with Irving would leave #11 in single coverage while playing off-ball.  Kyrie wouldn’t have to work as hard getting open to avoid traps and doubles.  

 

Running pick ‘n’ roll with Simmons as the screener for Durant or Irving could be a nightmare for opponents to guard.  The man setting the pick always gets open after the player he pinned shakes loose.  If Simmons gets the ball back on the roll, he can attack if the lane is clear, or if he catches a pair of help defenders, he could pass out to an open teammate on the baseline or perimeter.  In this play, the Nets could use Ben at center surrounded by a few sharpshooters like Joe Harris, Irving, and Durant to spread out defenders.

 

This team has never gotten close to maximizing its full potential.  Injuries were a factor but Irving selfishly avoiding taking the COVID vaccine negatively affected how the team performed as well.  Perhaps if he were available for more than 29 regular season games, the Nets would have been a higher seed than seventh and likely seen a different opponent in round one.  

 

Going forward, per Executive Order 62, courtesy of New York City mayor Eric Adams’ signature on March 24, Irving’s vaccination status won’t prevent him from contributing next season as it did in 2021/2022.

 

Management shouldn’t give in to Durant’s desires.  It’s perfectly feasible that Brooklyn’s star threesome can make things interesting next season.   Not giving Durant, Irving, and Simmons the chance to take the floor together would be a colossal failure.

 

If the Nets capitulate, it will prove they are an unserious organization.  

 

****

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Does running the ball set up the pass?

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Running the ball to set up the pass is an age-old adage where your father and grandfather told you how to play football, but does running the ball really set up the pass?

Traditionally, when an offense executes a successful run for a significant chunk of yardage, an opposing defense will attempt to compensate by bringing additional defenders into the “run box.” The more bodies in the way of the run, the more likely it is for the run to be held short.

However, if more defenders are in the box, that means there are fewer players to defend passes away from the box, so the passing game has greater opportunity to get the ball further down the field.

The NFL evolves every decade moving onward towards something unique but building on basic concepts. We’ve witnessed the fall of the I-form power football in the ‘70’s, to rise of the West Coast offense in the ‘80’s, Run ‘N Shoot and K-Gun in the ‘90’s, Spread and Shotgun offenses in the early 2000’s to the RPO revolution in the 2020’s.

Ultimately, this has come as a result of the NFL’s purposeful rule changes and schematic breakthroughs that have led to its desired impact: more touchdowns. In turn this led to running the ball much less.

EPA on running the ball to set up the pass

A study done by Sean Clements, who is now a data analyst for the Baltimore Ravens, found that establishing the run early in NFL games does not open the passing game later in games.

Through a boxplot Clements made, it’s found that there is little correlation between running the ball early and at a high volume increases the yardage obtained on passing plays. The next emphasis is through EPA, expected points added. Basically, it measures the expected points of a play.

In a graph made by Ben Baldwin, the number of expected points decreases as the number of rushing attempts increases. Contrary to the belief running the ball will help to set up the pass and score.

If that were the case, then we would expect to see higher EPA as the number of rushing attempts increases.

How the modern era has discontinued running the ball to set up the pass

From 2015-2020 passing on first down has averaged a 7.6 YPA, yards per attempt, while running the ball gained 4.3 YPA.

Per sharp football stats, 30.4% of pass attempts on first down have ended up moving the chains. However, only 12.8% of running plays have picked up another first down. In 2020, NFL teams ran the ball on 50.3% of their first-down plays in 2020 and passed the ball on only 49.7%.

In 2021, NFL offenses averaged 7.4 YPA passing on first down compared to 4.2 YPA rushing.

Even the most run-heavy teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans had higher YPA’s on first down compared to running the ball. San Francisco had an 8.9 YPA passing and 4.4 YPA rushing. Tennessee had 7.2 YPA passing and 4.2 YPA rushing.

Yet, 20 of 32 NFL teams, run the ball on first down gaining minimal yards compared to easily moving the chains to score. So what gives?

How two-high coverages has stopped running the ball to set up the pass

As a result of the modern NFL, many offenses are trigger-happy and defenses have had to respond with swift actions.

Defenses have adapted as time has passed. This time to coverages that include a large base of two-high safety shells.  Two-high coverage means both the strong safety and free safety defend the deep end of the field, with each responsible for a section that runs to each boundary.

Thus leaving the middle of the field open, the main purpose of two-high is to prevent explosive plays in the deep third of the field and not allow big plays.

Some NFL offenses and high-profile quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes have struggled against two-high coverage early on because they struggled to take what the defense gives them.

In 2018, the highest amount of two-high looks faced by any quarterback in the league was 42%. Eight weeks into the 2021 NFL season, only five teams faced two-high safeties less than 40%.

The key to beating two-high coverage? Running the ball. Two-high is not the perfect scheme to use a majority of the time as yards can be gained in the intermediate passing game and the running game.

Due to the nature of defensive backs lined up well outside the box, offenses often have a light defensive body count in the box to go against. This opens up numerous lanes for running backs.

How passing the ball has set up the run

Running the ball does keep the defense honest and it can be noted on second and third down. YPA on rush attempts increases to 4.4 on second down and 4.5 on third down. The success rate of it gaining five or more yards is 50% on second down and jumps to 53% on third down.

Passing on second down yields a 6.9 YPA with a 47% success rate, on third down passing results in 7.2 YPA with a 37% success rate. First down has become the most successful passing down to move the chains and get drives started for offenses with a 54% success rate.

The most successful offenses in the NFL have potent passing attacks and have the most success by passing the ball on first down and converting it five-plus yards or past the sticks.

First Down situation Pass: Run Ratios

Buffalo, San Francisco, Green Bay, Cincinnati, and the Los Angeles Rams all have 8 or more yards per attempt passing coupled with being over a 54% success rate. Respectively, each team’s YPA on running the ball increases on 2nd and 3rd downs.

Second and Third down Pass: Run ratios

As the NFL continues its passing revolution, gone are the days of running the ball to set up the pass. With the league running two-high shells almost 50% of the time, the NFL offense has adjusted to throwing the ball more on early downs to gain more yards. Thus, able to run the ball effectively when needed to be.  

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Hussam Patel***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

 
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Why Chase Edmonds will have the biggest impact in the Miami Dolphins running back room

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The Miami Dolphins signed Chase Edmonds in free agency filling a pressing need at running back. Chase Edmonds was the first signee for Mike McDaniel, and for a good reason.

Chase Edmonds fit in Miami

With Mike McDaniel as the play-caller in Miami, his offensive scheme is centered around the outside zone running game. Edmonds, while in Arizona did indeed play with zone blocking but in an inside zone scheme.

“The flow of the backers is different because in inside zone, it’s more slow to fast, where I can pitter-patter my steps,” Edmonds said. “Outside zone here, it’s kind of like you’re riding a wave. Once you hit that wave, you’ve got to hit it and go. I’m getting used to that, getting my feet under me. I’m taking pride in that journey, that challenge of fine-tuning it.”

Chase Edmonds on the outside zone scheme

While all zone blocking concepts are the same, the way the running back finds gaps are not. Chase Edmonds does bring that experience into Miami, especially to help quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Running the Ball

Arizona routinely ran bubble screen RPO’s where it’s an inside zone option.

The most intriguing part of this play is the design itself, the threat of the quarterback keep. Tight end Zach Ertz executes an H-back arc block on this play. Ertz motioning from right-to-left leaves the EDGE untouched and climbs second level.

If the EDGE rusher were to crash on Chase Edmonds, Kyler Murray can keep the ball and run around the edge with Ertz blocking for him. Furthermore, if the linebacker was also focused on Edmonds, Murray could throw the ball to Zach Ertz.

With Chase Edmonds, the Miami Dolphins can utilize this same concept on different designs. After all, the did something similar like it last year.

Chase Edmonds intangibles is exactly what the Miami Dolphins need out of their running back room this year.

In a zone running scheme, running backs should have fast feet to move quickly around blocks, vision to see gaps open up before a block is made and short area burst after running through the hole.

Edmonds brings all of that to Miami, here’s a play that demonstrates his skills.

Edmonds finds the crease, using quick footwork behind the offensive line to get into the hole and gains 11 yards. He swiftly reads and reacts to the blocks in front of him

Given his experience and skillset, Edmonds is a near-ideal fit for the rushing offense McDaniel implements.

Catching the ball

Chase Edmonds is capable in the passing game, and a serviceable blocker.

With 96 catches for 713 yards the last two seasons, and no sacks allowed on 132 pass blocking snaps the last three years, Edmonds has demonstrated the ability to play on all three downs.

In Arizona, Edmonds was used in the receiving game as a slot receiver and used effectively in the screen game. As a result of Edmonds skillset, routinely, Arizona utilized his quickness against reacting linebackers in short areas of the field.

Mike McDaniel, as the play caller in San Francisco produced three top 10 run-after-catch players in 2021, this bodes well for Chase Edmonds in Miami.

With more defenses playing two-high coverage at an alarming rate, it’s important that teams have pass-catchers that can make defenders miss underneath and gain yards after the catch. Last year, Edmonds averaged 7.9 yards after the catch and used as an underneath option.

Chase Edmonds’ Efficiency and EPA

There is another component to the Edmonds news that makes sense from Miami’s perspective.

Efficiency. The emphasis is through EPA, expected points added. Basically, it measures the expected points of a play.

The average rushing EPA per play last season? A negative number.

However, contextualizing Edmonds rushes, He is one of those rare running backs who was efficient last season.

According to charting data from Sports Info Solutions, Edmonds had an EPA per rushing attempt of 0.08. That placed him fifth overall among ball-carriers with 100 or more rushing attempts last season.

Head Coach, Mike McDaniel values this extremely in his running back room. It’s something he speaks to at lengths in media pressers and believes in his scheme

The value of the running back position — what value do you put on anywhere from a third to a half of the plays on a given offensive season? You got to realize running backs, collectively… you have about 300 to 400 some touches, so it’s incredibly valuable, but there is a more diverse way of finding them. From a historical perspective, there is rookies, second-year players, mid-to-late-round [draftees] that have more success at that position than some others. But it’s…of paramount importance. We just have a concrete skill set that we found that can really flourish in a zone-blocking system.

Mike McDaniel on running back value

In Chase Edmonds, McDaniel now has that zone-blocking fit, as well as one of the league’s more efficient backs from a season ago to help bolster the Miami Dolphins rushing attack.

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Hussam Patel***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

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Tua Tagovailoa and Play-action passing

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Tua Tagovailoa has become a hot topic this off-season from pundits deciding if this would be his make-or-break year. Additionally, a recent article from PFT’s Mike Florio detailed that free agent acquisition Tyreek Hill had low expectations for Tua.

The third-year Dolphins quarterback has received the most criticism from the media, fans and throughout last season, even players. One man is here to change that narrative – new head coach Mike McDaniel.

How Mike McDaniel will help Tua Tagovailoa

The big thing is what new head coach Mike McDaniel wants to do. McDaniel comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, the ever glorious wide-zone, bootleg, play-action world with Kyle Shanahan that has made Jimmy Garrapolo, Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins successful in the NFL.

Mike McDaniel with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay utilized 12 personnel mainly in their time with the now Washington Commanders. McVay now utilizes a spread concept using 11 personnel to maximize his players skill sets. Kyle Shanahan uses 21 personnel to maximize his offensive players skillset and utilizes the pistol formation.

McDaniel is able to use a combination of the two but put his spin on how he can maximize his players skill set; mainly, Tua Tagovailoa.

The easiest way to explain the offense McDaniel has helped culture through the past couple of years is to break it down into two parts. It’s a wide zone run scheme paired with a west coast offense passing scheme.

In terms of the west coast passing scheme, it involves a lot of play action passes that can be deadly with a good running game. It is comprised of a lot of slants and crossing routes.

This is a perfect offense for Tua Tagovailoa. It truly does maximize everything he does well, while limiting the things he does bad. Tua will be asked to make quick reads, and throw the ball primarily to the middle of the field.

Slants, crossing routes, screen passes, and dig routes are gonna be the bread and butter of this offense’s passing plays, and Tagovailoa excels at those routes

Play-action passing

This off-season the hottest name is Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who understands the the vast superiority of the play-action pass.

Simply put, play action is the easiest way to scheme quarterbacks more time and create big plays downfield.

At the heart of it all is the outside zone run, a very popular run concept in the NFL today. Not only is it effective, the play action off outside zone affords the quarterback more time than a normal dropback when passing.

The biggest question heading into the 2022 NFL season is if Miami’s new offensive line can block decently for Tua. Play-action passing provides Tua more time to maneuver the pocket and throw the ball down the field.

More and more teams are beginning to buy in to this line of thinking, for instance, with the play action rate in the NFL in 2018 reaching 24%. Expect the Dolphins to be one of them.

Per PFF, Tua Tagovailoa has a 80.3 grade on play-action passes and the offense as a whole has a 82.3 grade. In other words, when there’s a successful fake, he usually makes magic happen.

Flood Concept

A staple of the 49ers offense McDaniel is from is using the fullback or tight ends to condense across the formation, kick out in a split zone concept that allows for cutbacks, and take advantage of overflowing defenses.

This play action flood concept aims to put the flat and deep third defender in conflict

With the 49ers run game’s reputation and established tendencies, this leaves the window open for play action off of it.

This play action flood concept aims to put the flat and deep third defender in conflict. If #33 stays deep under the corner by Dwelley, QB can hit the 10 yard dig route to Emmanuel Sanders or dump it down to Juszczyk in the flats. If #33 comes up, QB can throw one over his head and in front of the FS occupied by the skinny post ran by Deebo Samuel.

The beauty of play-action is that it can create simple reads and make them even easier.

Mike McDaniel and Kyle Shanahan did an amazing job of giving Garoppolo easy reads and setting him up for success by scheming guys open and allowing for easy completions.

Boot-action and roll-outs in play action passing

Bootlegs are nothing new. Yet the rebirth of the outside-zone-then-boot idea has led to one specific change: the boot-action is no longer a specific down-and-distance call.

It’s no longer about moving the chains on third down, or bluffing on early down to steal ten yards. The boot-action and roll-out has become the go-to way for the league’s most prominent offenses to hit explosive plays.

The NFL is a league of explosives. Hit as many as you can; stop as many as you can. That’s it. In the passing era, that’s the entire ball game.

I believe this may be the key to unlocking an explosive Miami Dolphins offense.

How it works

Bootleg passes have several advantages, but one major disadvantage: they only attack one side of the field.

All play-action bootlegs are built around the same principals and are designed to achieve the same goals. These plays use misdirection to confuse defenders.

In other words, they look like running plays, slowing the pass rush and drawing linebackers close to the line of scrimmage to open passing lanes.

The run action also slows the pass rush, and the movement of the quarterback forces defensive linemen to change their pass-rush angle.

Finally, play-action bootlegs usually move one side of the field with receivers while putting the quarterback in position to execute short, easy throws.

The use of the boot has steadily trickled up across the league. The quarterback, offensive line, and running back are set up like it’s outside zone. Everyone kicks one way. It looks like outside-zone.

However, only the quarterback keeps the ball, rolls to the outside, away from the pass-rush, and then surveys the landscape.

Traditional boot-action concepts are built like any old “flood” concept: there’s a deep route, an intermediate route, and a short route.

In the modern game, with almost all just about quarterbacks mobile enough to be a perimeter threat, the quarterback is his own option. If nothing is open, he can run the ball himself.

Usually that quarterback rolls, opens up his hips and fires to a receiver swooping across the field. The defense bites one way, the ball is thrown the other way.

How Mike McDaniel can utilize Boot-action and Play-action passes to help Tua

By many, Tua Tagovailoa is seen as a one-read quarterback who is heavily reliant on RPO’s.

While it might be true that the Dolphins led the league in RPO passes down the field, many forget about Tua’s play-action game. Per Pro-Football reference, Tua Tagovailoa had the 11th highest play-action pass attempts (113). 

Play-action passing with Jimmy Garrapolo

Assuming RPOs are considered play-action, the San Francisco 49ers had a 31% play-action usage in their pass attempts, with Jimmy Garoppolo accounting for 147 passes on 441 pass attempts.

Most of the 49er’s play-action passes in 2021 came from under shotgun compared to the usual Shanahan system. The quarterback under center, him turning and handing off or throwing a play-action pass or bootleg.

The play-action pass from under center in particular was the staple of the Shanahan offense.

Shanahans usual way is not the best play-action system for Tua, neither for Jimmy Garropolo.

2021 became the year where, with McDaniel’s help, Shanahan changed his philosophy. From Week 8 onward, the 49ers were exclusively in shotgun instead of under center.

Per Sharp Football stats, the 49ers were in shotgun on 67% of all passes in 2021, coming in at 13th overall of all NFL teams, an increase from 20th in 2020. When asked about the change from under center to shotgun, here’s what McDaniel had to say:

“Well, Jimmy’s a lot more decisive in the gun. He likes to see it while he’s delivering tight window throws… minimizing pass exclusive situations, which on first and second down, you can do if you have the threat of (run out of gun). And we’ve just kind of evolved. Kyle in 2019, really started noticing that and put pressure on us to evolve. And every week you figure out different ways to do some of the same things, maybe a couple of wrinkles.” Mike McDaniel

Jimmy Garropolo’s efficiency and decisiveness went up towards the middle weeks of the NFL season, a huge part in driving San Francisco to the playoffs.

This is not something new to Mike McDaniel. As an offensive assistant with Washington, McDaniel and Shanahan took the league by storm by utilizing read-option plays to capitalize RGIII’s effectiveness in the run game.

Play action passing with Tua Tagovailoa

Similar to Jimmy Garropolo is Tua Tagovailoa. We’ve seen how decisive Tua can be in no-huddle, up-tempo, shotgun based offense. It’s one of his biggest strengths.

In the play seen above, the Dolphins are in a condensed 11 Personnel formation with Isaiah Ford motioning to the right side of the field.

Jaylen Waddle runs a “go” route and looks to be Tua’s first read. Tua identifies the bracket coverage on Waddle and shifts towards Devante Parker, his second read.

Tua moves LB Rashaan Evans with his eyes and holds him towards Waddle. This creates an opening to fire a pass down the middle to Devante Parker on a post route.

This is the type of play-action sequence Tua is successful at.

New Play-action sequences for Tua Tagovailoa

One of the most used play-calls used by the San Francisco 49ers under Mike McDaniel was the “DRIFT” concept.

It is a quick-hitting play that hits in the zone vacated by linebackers flowing toward the run action. 

 

The run fake draws up the linebackers and opens the zone behind them for the quarterback. This most basic of play-action of concepts opens some of the biggest throwing lanes in any offense I do expect this “DRIFT” concept to be utilized for the Dolphins offense in 2022, especially for Tua Tagovailoa.

How the RPO gives a boost to play-action passing

Per PFF, the Dolphins had 63 downfield RPO’s thrown beyond three yards, which was the highest figure since 2016. These downfield RPO’s generally enhance a teams play efficiency in the run game, giving a boost to play-action passing. In addition, the 2021 Dolphins RPO system was generally a “one-read” system as plays were meant for one person.
 
 
This will change as McDaniel brings a different philosophy in terms of RPO’s and improvements along the offensive line. It all starts with a concept called “WANDA”. 
 
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The biggest difference is that if the football is not given to the running backs as the quarterbacks first read, the running back himself can become another outlet instead of pass blocking.
 
By providing another read to the quarterback, the running back runs a “wheel” concept giving another downfield passing threat if the blocking is solid. The threat of the pass will open up running lanes for running backs in RPO’s and Tua in play-action passing concepts.
 
Fortunately, Miami signed running backs in Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds who have ample experience in this type of offense.

Will these play-action passing concepts work?

“One thing I know about you is you have the ambition to be great. My job is to coach you to get all that greatness out of you”.
 
These words were uttered by Mike McDaniel in his first phone call to Tua Tagovailoa. McDaniel has success with quarterbacks with similar skill-sets like Tua, however the young man must put in the work to silence his critics and improve.
“What I’ve seen is a skill set that I’m familiar with, that’s very successful in this offense, you’re seeing a very accurate passer that receivers love to catch footballs from — tight spirals and accurate throws, which are huge for run after the catch and YAC yardage. What that means for an offense is if you have people who can run after the catch, that’s an outstanding skill set for him. Mike McDaniel on Tua Tagovailoa
It’s time for Mike McDaniel to tap into Tua’s skillsets and Tua to put in the work to make the Miami Dolphins offense successful in 2022.
 

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Hussam Patel***

 

  Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel  
 
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Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Dallas Can’t Lose Jalen Brunson

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The Dallas Mavericks can’t let Luka Dončić’s top gun, Jalen Brunson, walk in free agency.  He was a fundamental cog in the team’s success- the most they’ve had in over a decade.  The outfit finally broke through in the 2022 postseason, winning a pair of rounds and distinguishing themselves as a group to be respected.  If Mark Cuban’s team wishes to build on what they have, he will likely need to overpay Brunson.

 

Dallas’ coveted free agent is a shifty combo guard approaching his apex.  He earned some stripes torching the Utah Jazz in the first round.  In that span, he averaged 27.8 points on over 48% shooting while spacing the floor and blowing past perimeter defenders for strong drives to the rim that often attracted help.  

 

In the open court, challengers weren’t fast enough to stay above his hip.  When opponents would go under a teammates screen, Brunson would bury triples on either wing.  Getting iced on pick ‘n’ roll, he still eluded two defenders by attacking the shot blocker for a finish at the cup.  

 

Brunson’s importance to the rotation cannot be understated. Dallas’ most used five-man lineup in the playoffs consisted of Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith, Brunson and Dončić, logging 142 minutes in 15 games.  That same group was also the most utilized in the regular season, totaling 367 minutes in 40 games.   

 

Losing the team’s secondary playmaker and scorer would be too devastating a blow to recover from immediately.  Dončić would have more responsibilities as the primary ball handler and could be at risk of having dead legs in April from the added workload. 

 

Brunson, as the decision-maker with Dončić on the court, lets #77 get free in single coverage moving around the perimeter. It also allows Dončić to conserve energy because he’s not catching the same schemes as he does with the ball after crossing halfcourt.

 

Chemistry built through continuity is vital for a team.  A group must learn how to win together, but they also need to master overcoming the sting of defeat as a unit.  The on-court trust the Mavericks have developed over time paid dividends in the squad’s first season under Jason Kidd as head coach. Eight players returned from the previous campaign, but the team changed its guarding philosophy, and the group finished the year as the seventh-rated defense through 82 games and ninth-best in the playoffs. In 2020/2021, Dallas was 21st in the category for the regular season and 10th in the first round with Rick Carlisle as their instructor.   

 

The Mavericks were one of the three last teams standing. They are likely a few modifications away from being good enough to win a title.  Perhaps their offense is more potent next season with Tim Hardaway Jr. reintegrated into the lineup to space the floor for cuts by Brunson and Dončić.  Maybe they will orchestrate an essential trade for an effective role player by the February trade deadline.  But it won’t mean anything if they don’t show Brunson the money.

 

The season may have been one small step for Dončić, but it was a giant leap for the Mavs.

 

*****

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