Inter Miami Win 3-2 Thriller Over Chicago Fire

/0 Comments/in , /by

After not having won a home match in eight attempts to begin the season, Inter Miami CF has been on a roll lately at DRV PNK Stadium.

For the third time in a row at home, the Herons have come from behind and scored two goals in the second half to take the lead and ultimately win the match vs. their opponents. 2-1 against CF Montreal, 2-1 against Nashville SC, and a 3-2 thriller against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.

This season, Rodolfo Pizarro has made headline after headline with Inter Miami and has mostly been negative. After a winning goal in stoppage time as a substitute, the headlines will differ following the victory.

“I think if I could have picked anyone to score the winner tonight, it would’ve been [Pizarro],” – Inter Miami CF Manager Phil Neville.

Pizarro found the back of the net for Inter Miami’s third and winning goal of the match following a pass from Victor Ulloa, who was fed by Gonzalo Higuain. Pizarro found the bottom of the far corner, beating the keeper on a beautiful shot, and the scenes were so intense he may have just lost his hair tie.

Miami had taken the lead in the first half after Indiana Vassilev scored a rebound goal following a Robbie Robinson shot in the 34th minute. Right place, right time for Vassilev, who instructed the entire move from the beginning. He egged on Lewis Morgan to take some space from their own third after receiving the ball, and Morgan ended up finding Higuain in the middle of the field, which led to a wide-open Robinson on the left side. Higuain connected with Robinson, which led to the shot that led to the initial save. Vassilev was there to put it in.

Just six minutes later, Miami conceded and went into half-time all square with Chicago following a corner kick. Goalkeeper Nick Marsman was beaten on his near post after Francisco Calvo, unmarked, connected with Luka Stojanovic’s cross by a header. A deflating moment, and it got the better of Inter Miami following the second-half whistle.

After a cross from Stanislav Ivanov, Inter Miami conceded just three minutes into the second half to Chicago’s first-half assist man, Stojanovic, found him virtually unmarked and got a shot off from around the penalty spot. At that moment, Miami had to come from behind for a win yet again.

And that they did. Gonzalo Higuain, who arguably had his best performance of the year, set up Robinson in the 62nd minute for his only direct assist in the match. Higuain from the end-line found Robinson in the box, alone in front of Chicago’s keeper, who blasted it right past him into the top of the net.

As the game was level, it was evident that Chicago looked to bunker in, waste time, and see out the draw. Some substitutions from Inter Miami led to a far from the ideal result for the Fire, however.

Neville switched from a 3-4-3 (or 5-2-3, however you want to see it) to a 5-2-1-2 right before the Robinson goal. Robinson played up as a second striker next to Higuain, and Vassilev drifted in behind to play as a number ten.

Robinson scored the goal, and directly after, Pizarro and Brek Shea came on for Kieran Gibbs and Vassilev. Pizarro slotted straight into the ten spot while Shea took over for Gibbs as a left wing-back. (Both Gibbs and Vassilev were late transfers, still looking to get fully match fit. Neither of them has played a full match all season.)

After about 30 minutes of chippy, aggressive play from both sides, Higuain dropped deep, found Ulloa at the top of the box, who then found Pizarro for the winner.

Every goal had a significant involvement from Gonzalo Higuain in this match, which surely won’t go unnoticed. Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet, Higuain’s play led to every goal Miami scored on the night.

“His quality on the ball sets him apart from most players in the league,” Neville stated.

Inter Miami CF has lost only one match in their last six, dating back to July 25th. Their previous six-game stretch resulted in six straight losses, one of those being to Wednesday night’s opponent, the Chicago Fire.

In what’s been quite the turnaround for the club, confidence and togetherness seem to be looming large, and they’ll need that to find a steady run of form like they had before the New York City FC loss.

Miami takes on Toronto FC on Saturday night, again at DRV PNK Stadium. The Herons will look to make it four wins in a row at home as they push in the latter half of the season to make the playoffs.

 

 

KZ Okpala: Understanding His NBA Role

/0 Comments/in , /by

It has been a rocky start to KZ Okpala’s NBA career. The expectations were high after Miami sent out three second round picks to acquire him in the 2019 NBA draft, and he has yet to have a featured role on this Heat team.

The first road block that came up frequently was the lack of true NBA experience. He was never really given a true chance out there on the floor, but after this past season when opportunities arose, it was obvious that wasn’t the issue.

The next conversation to be had was that the Summer League void really stunted his development. But after seeing him in action for his first Summer League the past few weeks, there are some clear takeaways about his future.

Usually when a player is heading into their third season and playing in Las Vegas, there’s separation between themselves and the next guy. There’s more overall comfort at this stage, an all-around understanding of the game and sets that will be run, and of course, being the first or second option enhances a lot of things.

Loading
Loading...

The issue was that there was no padding between Okpala and the undrafted guys heading in, and frankly, being the first or second option on Summer League wasn’t really that possible with his unknown offensive game.

But with that said, how can Okpala find his offensive game?

For starters, the reason he gets harped on so often is due to Miami investing so much into a young kid with a proven strength at the NBA level: defensive pressure.

One-on-one basketball on the defensive end is exactly his game. He can press up on the ball from baseline to baseline, fight over screens at a high level, and never allows ball-handlers to create much separation. There’s no doubt in my mind that’s an elite skill for a guy that isn’t getting extended run.

But the issue is that stuff doesn’t matter if Okpala doesn’t know his offensive role. There’s a difference between offensive struggles, and just plainly not fitting on that end of the floor. Okpala has definitely attached to the latter.

He’s obviously not a guy that can really stretch the floor, meaning when he stations himself in the corner, the spacing just absolutely plummets since his guy becomes a freelancing tagger and doubler. The thing he has gone to most as a scorer is attacking the basket, and that just doesn’t seem to be an effective attribute of his in the short-term or long-term.

Okpala doesn’t have great touch around the rim, which means he can high elbow his way to the basket, if the offensive foul isn’t called, and it just puts him in a very awkward position. So, how can this stuff be avoided?

Well, it all comes down to a simple deep ball jumper.

It really isn’t that simple, but that’s the place he will need to trend if he wants to be an effective player in this league. And by the way, this isn’t just because he went 4 of 5 from beyond the arc in his final Summer League game, even though that just proves it’s in there somewhere.

Even if he’s not super comfortable in a spot-up role, that’s where he will most likely be utilized moving forward as he continues to work on his game offensively. A consistent corner three ball shifts the way Miami can use him as a plug and play guy.

If his defender can just stay semi-glued to him when he spaces himself in the corner, combined with some defensive dominance that he always seems to bring on the perimeter, that’s a guy the Heat can use right now.

No dribbles. No attacking. No dribble penetration.

Just play off the catch, fire away when open, and work on the defensive reads a bit more to limit turnovers and predictability. He enjoys cutting through the middle of the floor with the ball in his hands, but the issue is that defenders just front their man on the perimeter.

His eyes tell the whole story when trotting through the lane, since it’s clear he is looking for the kick-out and not thinking about scoring. As we all know, Okpala is a project for Miami, but at least they have an idea what his offensive future can look like.

Catch and shoot. Catch and shoot. Catch and shoot.

Being a 3 and D player is the way for him to truly thrive in this league, and that’s a build the Miami Heat are very familiar with. Simplifying his game will be most important for him at this stage, and well, that’s as simple as it gets from a role perspective.

Okpala has the blueprint, and it’s up to him to gain a role on this team if he really wants it.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Jaelen Phillips

Dolphins bringing LB Jaelen Phillips back gradually

/0 Comments/in , /by

When the Miami Dolphins drafted Jaelen Phillips with the 18th overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft, it was with the understanding they were taking a chance with his health. Phillips has suffered wrist injuries, ankle injuries, and numerous concussions in his college career. Now, Phillips is dealing with another injury, one that’s either kept him limited in practice, or not practicing at all. Needless to say, it’s been a slow start for the Miami Hurricane standout.

Before the start of Miami’s first preseason game, Jaelen Phillips was among the players sitting out. This is in spite of the fact that Phillips practiced against the Bears during their joint sessions. Lately the Dolphins have been tight-lipped regarding player injuries. If they can help it, they won’t disclose the details. But one thing head coach Brian Flores was willing to admit was that their plan is to bring Jaelen Phillips along slowly.

“Again, when we are trying to work guys back, we just want to take our time and not have any setbacks.” Flores said on Tuesday. “We plan on working him in against Atlanta whether it is both days, the first day. We will talk through that. Again, he’s doing everything he can possibly do to get out there. As a young guy, he needs reps but at the same time, we want to be smart with our plan to bring him back. We are working him back in.”

The brief time he practiced against Chicago, reports circulated that he was playing with the starting unit as a buck linebacker. This means he was responsible for rushing the passer as well as dropping into pass coverage when needed.

One of the biggest things Jaelen Phillips has going for him is his versatility. Just nine days earlier, Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer talked about how Phillips’s flexibility opens up endless possibilities for the defense to play with.

“I think there are a number of things I think he can do for us.” Boyer said on August 9. “Obviously we’d like to get him out there and see as many things as we can. I think it’s not just unique to him, it’s all players; and we try to make them as multiple as possible. I think the more that guys can do from a position flexibility standpoint, it makes you a little bit more multiple as a defense and it gives them more value as a player. If he can do a couple things that are end-type responsibility and do a couple things that are backer-type responsibility – the other thing is it allows us to be multiple. You don’t necessarily know where guys are gong to line up play after play after play.”

Phillips’s fellow linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel was also asked about the rookie out of Miami, and he had plenty of praise to offer as well.

Loading
Loading...

“He’s very quick and fast. His first step is explosive.” Van Ginkel said on Tuesday. “He’s also strong at the top, so he’s got many different moves he can work with. I love how he comes in and works every day. His will to get better and all of that is there on a day-to-day basis. You love to see that.”

In the grand scheme of things, the NFL is a marathon, not a sprint. It makes sense for the Dolphins to use caution with Jaelen Phillips. Especially if they intend to have him available during the regular season.

As Miami plays host to Atlanta, it will be worth keeping a close eye on Phillips. He definitely has some catching up to do on the field. With any luck, he’ll get up to speed faster to make up for the extra recovery time.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882

 

Thrive Fantasy takes away the hours of research required to make the most out of your fantasy sports experience. Thrive’s featured $100K guaranteed contest is only $20 to enter, and the first-place winner takes $20K.

Go to https://www.thrivefantasy.com/?promo=5Fins and use the promo code “dolphins” to match up to $100 on your first deposit when you sign up, and take advantage of your Dolphins knowledge with their special Dolphins-based contest to get started.

 

Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins make first round of cuts, send Allen Hurns to IR

/0 Comments/in , /by

The inevitable trimming of the roster has begun. The Miami Dolphins needed to deplete the team down to 85 players by August 17, 4:00 P.M EST., and in order to do so, they have cut ties with OTs Jonathan Hubbard, Timon Parris, DT Jerome Johnson, guard Tyler Marz, and waived/injured CB Jaytlin Askew. For the final transaction, the Dolphins placed veteran WR Allen Hurns on injured reserve with a wrist injury.

Hurns, who will turn 30 in November, sat out 2020 due to Covid-19 concerns. Since his return, he hasn’t been able to make much of an impact in training camp. His best season was in 2015, where he caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars. That performance prompted the Jaguars to reward Hurns with an extension for 4-years, $40.65 million. Two seasons later, he was released, and spent one year with the Dallas Cowboys before signing a 2-year deal with the Dolphins in 2019.

Due to Hurns’s injured status, there are extenuating circumstances. In order for him to play for Miami in 2021, he must reach an injury settlement with the Dolphins. The standard rules for players placed on injured reserve this season is that players can be taken off of injured reserve three weeks after going on. But that only applies after the preseason is over. So for Hurns to play with Miami, they must reach a settlement. Hurns then becomes a free agent, and can re-sign with the Dolphins (or anyone else).

Loading
Loading...

Hubbard, 24, is an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern State (LA) who was attempting to compete with the likes of Larnel Coleman for a spot on the roster as depth. But unfortunately for Hubbard, he never made enough of an impression to move up to the higher units in practice.

Parris, 25, signed on with Miami on May 20. He was then waived on June 14, and re-signed on July 19. Like Hubbard, Parris was competing for a reserve role with Coleman. But also like Hubbard, he didn’t leave a lasting impression. His likely fate is Miami’s practice squad if he’s not claimed elsewhere.

Johnson, 23, is a former standout from Indiana who was named Indiana’s Outstanding Lineman of the Year for his sophomore and junior years. In 2020, Big Ten coaches voted him second-team all-conference. With the amount of depth on the defensive line, Johnson was on the outside looking in. But he could easily become a target for the practice squad if he clears.

Tyler Marz is the second oldest out of the group. At 28 years old, Marz has spent two stints with the Tennessee Titans, one with the Los Angeles Chargers, and one with the Carolina Panthers. As a former Wisconsin starter at left tackle, he was moved inside to guard to better his chances. But unfortunately, he was not able to prove himself to Brian Flores.

The outlier here is CB Jaytlin Askew. Unlike the others, Askew has the waived/injured designation. Which means that before the Dolphins can place Askew on IR, he must clear waivers. Unlike the previous five players, Askew made some plays in the secondary. His release is a result of injury and a lack of space on Miami’s loaded defense. If Askew somehow clears waivers and is available when the time comes, expect Askew to eventually be stashed on the practice squad.

Thanks to the International Player Pathway program, the Miami Dolphins still have a roster exception. Durval Queiroz Neto was shifted from defensive tackle to guard after his first year in Miami, and he’s been working at it ever since.

The next deadline for cuts is August 24, and they will have to slim down to 80 players. Anyone else on the roster bubble, no doubt they feel the pressure now.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882

 

Thrive Fantasy takes away the hours of research required to make the most out of your fantasy sports experience. Thrive’s featured $100K guaranteed contest is only $20 to enter, and the first-place winner takes $20K.

Go to https://www.thrivefantasy.com/?promo=5Fins and use the promo code “dolphins” to match up to $100 on your first deposit when you sign up, and take advantage of your Dolphins knowledge with their special Dolphins-based contest to get started.

Greg Little

Dolphins acquire OT Greg Little from Panthers for 2022 7th round pick

/0 Comments/in , /by

With the offensive line struggling to find stability, the Miami Dolphins have decided to take another flyer in hopes of fixing things. In exchange for a 2022 7th round draft pick, the Dolphins acquired former 2nd round pick Greg Little from the Carolina Panthers. He’s projected to play at right tackle, opposite Austin Jackson, who the Dolphins are also remaining patient with.

Little, 23, was originally drafted back in 2019 37th overall. The Panthers hoped he would be a staple of their offensive line for years to come. However, Little’s career has already been plagued with injuries. In his rookie season, Little only played in four games, starting three of them, before being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury on December 14, 2019. He then started 2020 on the PUP list, only started three of the 10 games he played that season, and landed back on IR with another ankle injury just 10 days after being taken off the Covid reserve list.

As a former Ole Miss standout, Little had the daunting task of succeeding Laremy Tunsil at left tackle. He did well enough to earn a second-round grade, and scouts compared him to Seahawks All-Pro Duane Brown before the draft. Little, obviously, has not lived up to those expectations. But part of the problem could be his inability to stay healthy over his first two seasons. It would not be the first time a change of scenery gives a player new life in their career.

Loading
Loading...

Ironically enough, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule was asked about Greg Little’s progress last week, and spoke highly of him.

“I think he’s progressing,” Rhule said. “I think he’s way further ahead than he was in the spring. he’s got stiff competition ahead of him but I think Greg is showing progress. I’ll really have a better feel over the next three days. I think the next three days are the days I’ll have a feel for the offensive line and the fullbacks.”

There were reports circulating that the Dolphins were searching for trade options at offensive tackle. With the acquisition of Greg Little, Miami is making yet another low-risk move. Hopefully, it will turn out better than their previous attempt with Isaiah Wilson.

If Little shows more of what originally got him drafted, the Dolphins may have solved their right tackle problem. At worst, Little can be a reserve tackle who can play on either side of the line. His first goal will simply be to stay healthy. Then Miami can try to unleash his true potential.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882

 

Thrive Fantasy takes away the hours of research required to make the most out of your fantasy sports experience. Thrive’s featured $100K guaranteed contest is only $20 to enter, and the first-place winner takes $20K.

Go to https://www.thrivefantasy.com/?promo=5Fins and use the promo code “dolphins” to match up to $100 on your first deposit when you sign up, and take advantage of your Dolphins knowledge with their special Dolphins-based contest to get started.

Austin Jackson

Dolphins practicing patience with OT Austin Jackson

/1 Comment/in , /by

Looking back on the Miami Dolphins first preseason game of the 2021 season, it’s safe to say that the offensive line is going to be a concern. To make matters worse, one player stood out above the rest with his struggles against the Chicago Bears. That’s offensive tackle Austin Jackson. According to ProFootballFocus, Jackson gave up five pressures in 18 pass blocking chances. His run blocking was only marginally better.

Loading
Loading...

By every available metric, Jackson struggled in his first ever preseason game. It’s no secret that numbers sometimes lie in sports. However, in this case, the film seems to support the numbers.

Austin Jackson is a 1st round draft pick. He is expected to perform as such. If Jackson doesn’t figure things out quickly, then Tua Tagovailoa could find himself hitting the ground a lot more than what is necessary. Granted, there is still time, and Jackson is only 22 years old. He showed what he’s capable of during his rookie season, having plenty of ups to go with his downs. As a result, the Dolphins seem to be taking the same approach they’re taking with Noah Igbinoghene.

Patience.

“I thought he did some good things. I thought he competed well.” Head coach Brian Flores said on Sunday. “We were playing against a good front, some good players over there. I thought he competed well, I thought he did some good things in the running game, did some good things in pass protection. I thought he did a lot of good things. Obviously there were some instances where his techniques and fundamentals weren’t as good and we’re making those corrections right now. But I was pleased with how he played.”

It’s no surprise to see Flores defending his players. He’s never been one to throw any one player under the bus. As for Jackson himself, he’s focusing on trying to get up to speed, and declines to comment on where the OL is versus where they want to be.

“That’s a tough question to ask, especially with all of the moving pieces going in.” He said after the game. “We’re putting in the offense right now, so we’re all learning; but I know one thing we do do is we come in and compete every day. The effort part, if you’re not lacking the effort part – which is a struggle for a lot of people and teams – then you can go great places. We’re staying on that track and just keep building until we get a brick wall.”

While Austin Jackson struggled against the Bears, not all hope is lost. The offensive line was not able to do anything while run blocking, but their pass protection was better than given credit for. QB Tua Tagovailoa even went out of his way to credit them after the game was over.

“I think the line did a tremendous job today.” Tagovailoa said after the game. “They kept the pocket clean, gave me a lot of time to step up into the pocket and make that throw. And it wasn’t just that play. There were numerous occasions throughout the first quarter and second quarter where they’ve really shown up and given me a clean pocket.”

Watching the film, the pass protection actually was better than it seemed. Tagovailoa’s best throws of the day came with no one around him. The real glaring weak spot was Austin Jackson. Fortunately for the Miami Dolphins, there’s still time to bring him back up to speed.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882

 

Thrive Fantasy takes away the hours of research required to make the most out of your fantasy sports experience. Thrive’s featured $100K guaranteed contest is only $20 to enter, and the first-place winner takes $20K.

Go to https://www.thrivefantasy.com/?promo=5Fins and use the promo code “dolphins” to match up to $100 on your first deposit when you sign up, and take advantage of your Dolphins knowledge with their special Dolphins-based contest to get started.

 

Dolphins win Patriots

Bullish or Bearish? Miami Dolphins Preseason Week 1

/0 Comments/in , /by

Welcome to the first installment of Bullish or Bearish! I am not one to touch stonks nor give financial advice, but I do love some crypto and these are two terms, we in the community use to identify whether a project is trending up or inverse to that, trending down. This year I will be bringing you a Bullish or Bearish report once a week to help you identify who’s improving and who’s regressing on the 2021 Miami Dolphins. We start Week 1 of the Pre-Season schedule for your Miami Dolphins with a  final score of 13-20 in favor of the Bears and left us with some questions answered while also leaving us with some concerns. Let’s dive in.

Loading
Loading...

Bullish

Mike Gesicki:

A bold take on the way, health permitting, we may be on the verge of a breakout season by Mike Gesicki. A breakout into possibly 1100+ yards and 10+ TDs territory. I know it’s early and many of Tua’s other weapons are out but that also lets me know that he will be reliable when those same WRs aren’t available (I expect that to be often) and most importantly is that he might be the biggest benefactor of the attention needed to guard Will Fuller and Jaylan Waddle leaving him isolated one on one like he was against the Bears and Alec Ogletree. Look out because Gesicki looks ready to make the Dolphins pay for not having paid him yet.

Salvon Ahmed:

We talked all offseason about a needed 2nd-year jump for many guys but the one we all seem to have left out is Salvon Ahmed. All afternoon Ahmed looked faster, stronger, quicker, and overall, more comfortable. Salvon was able to not just only show the burst which led to the Dolphins’ first 100-yard rushing performance by a player in nearly 2 seasons, Ahmed also showed tremendous improvement in the passing game as evident by TD to end the half from Jacoby. Coach Flores already has hinted at this being a RBBC but I wouldn’t be shocked if at some point this season Ahmed claims the job as his. 

Lynn Bowden Jr:

 Someone who desperately needed a good showing after a curiously quiet camp was Lynn Bowden Jr. Lynn was able to show everything that has me excited and expecting a substantial jump in performance. Altogether he had 4 catches for 47 yards, 2 first downs, and 1 kick return (more on that later). If Lynn can build off this performance and put together a good week of practice vs the Falcons, he could guarantee not only his roster spot but also a role as a specialists/WR.

Bearish

Jakeem Grant

Some may see Jakeem’s name on the bearish side and will yell out how he had the most explosive punt return of the game when it went for 34 yards. I urge you to realize what is going on with the KR and PR positions. On KR we saw both Noah Igbinoghene and Lynn Bowden Jr get chances to show what they can do. On PR we saw a total of 7 punt returns with Jakeem getting 3, Malcolm Perry getting 3, and Waddle getting only 1. It is starting to feel like if anyone steps up and makes the returner jobs theirs, Jakeem’s time in Miami may be coming to an end.

Malcolm Brown

Another year, another power back who can’t seem to find space to operate. After some good initial runs by Brown, where he showed a nice ability to finish forward, he and the OL did their best to give us Jordan Howard PTSD. In total Malcolm had 9 carries go for a total of 8 yards with a long of 6. Think about that, he had 8 carries go for 2 yards. Outside of the pedestrian performance, the emergence of Salvon Ahmed could force Malcolm to be a key reserve or not even make the team at all. This is a situation that will require further research to see how this ends up working out.

Austin Jackson

As nicely as I can put it, that was an abysmal performance by Austin Jackson. When you stop and consider Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, and Robert Quinn each played less than 9 snaps while Austin had 44 total snaps, it’s extremely concerning to see him struggle as he did, against backups and third-stringers. The toughest part of watching Austin vs the Bears? He got beat in a plethora of ways, from stunts, speed rushes, and bullrushes. There weren’t many things that the defense tried, that didn’t work. Per PFF in 22 pass-blocking opportunities, Austin gave up a holding penalty to stall a drive, 1 QB hit, 4 QB hurries, and 5 QB pressures. Not the start many envisioned for the 2020 18th overall selection.

 

 

Overall, the first preseason game was just that, the first preseason game and while it did give us some things to start to focus on more (the oline) there is still time to improve and work on the things that did work. This week-to-week report could in theory having Austin Jackson as bearish but if he comes out next week and responds to the criticism he may find himself on the bullish side of things. Until next time, Fins Up!

 

 

Thrive has over $140,000 guaranteed in prizes up for grabs just for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season alone, and has awarded over 4 million dollars in prize money. And Thrive’s featured $100K guaranteed contest is only $20 to enter, and the first-place winner takes $20K. What does that mean though? That means that even if you don’t win the most points of them all, you still have a good shot at putting a significant sum of cash in your virtual wallet.

How does this get better? Well if you use the promo code dolphins when you sign up today, you will have 100% of your first deposit matched up to $100, which means you will essentially double the amount you have to try your luck. They even have been gracious enough to create a Dolphins-centered contest for week 1 that’s completely free! So what are you waiting for? Download ThriveFantasy on the App or Play store, or visit www.thrivefantasy.com to get started. Sign up and PropUp today!

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Answering Your Questions on the Miami Heat’s New Roster

/0 Comments/in , /by

There’s plenty to discuss regarding the Miami Heat this off-season, especially since there will be a long period of time with no basketball following Tuesday’s final Summer League game. So, with a bunch of recent player breakdowns and many more on the way, this piece is all about answering your guys’ questions.

The roster looks different, the scheme will look different, which leaves us with quite the debate toward the bottom of the rotation. Anyway, let’s hop right into some of the questions…

If you consider Gabe Vincent a “G-Leaguer,” then possibly. But for the most part, the answer is the latter.

Last season, there really wasn’t a way to utilize facilitators by committee, due to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo being the only true threats. And even though there was only one major addition in that department, in Kyle Lowry, it’ll make all the difference.

One point that I will continue to hammer home this off-season is that a back-up point guard would be ideal, but it’s not as necessary as it was in past years. There won’t be many moments that Lowry, Butler, and Adebayo are all on the sideline at the same time, which is why the roles will be sustainable barring zero injuries.

Although I don’t see them fluctuating Tyler Herro’s role in that fashion, there will be some minor play-making usage from guys like PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris.

Tucker is the gem that can run some hand-offs for Duncan Robinson, allowing Adebayo to play off the catch. Morris will be used mostly as a screener at the top of the key, where he’s shown to be pretty useful as a passer with skip passes from that area.

The point is that bench play-making shouldn’t be much of a worry in my eyes, due to the roster catering to others stepping up.

 

When discussing the possibility of playing Omer Yurtsveen next to Adebayo in certain lineups, it’s not really about Yurtseven making any type of expansion. His skill-set blends in well with Adebayo’s right now.

The question is more about Yurtseven’s capabilities against the NBA competition at this stage, since he clearly fits the build of the lengthy bigs that can be effective front-court pairings.

Loading
Loading...

Defensively, we all know what Adebayo can do on the perimeter against smaller guys, but the most important part about playing at the four is that he can be more of a weak-side free-lancer to help out as Yurtseven drops in the action. He’s been highly effective so far as a shot-blocker, which is the one piece Adebayo can use as a defensive combo.

The offensive side of the ball is even simpler. Yurtseven’s role would be simplified to constant screening and popping for his most coveted spot of the floor: above the break threes. That fits with Adebayo’s interior and mid-range play pretty perfectly, and some 4-5 PnR’s would unlock plenty of things for Adebayo’s game.

This of course is best case scenario when talking about the development of Yurtseven, but there’s no doubt that it makes more sense than the development and fit of Precious Achiuwa.

After touching on the combo of Adebayo and Yurtseven in the front-court, I just don’t feel the best possible lineup with those two is very complicated. Throwing out Lowry, Butler, and Robinson is a pretty ideal blend of shooting, dribble penetration, and defense.

I’ve seen many bring up the point about Adebayo thriving next to Meyers Leonard or Kelly Olynyk for long stretches due to having a drop big as his side-kick, but I feel there’s a deeper meaning.

The reason for that high level play according to the numbers wasn’t because of who was next to Bam Adebayo. It was Bam Adebayo.

The only reason those numbers jump out at you is due to it being over a longer period of time. Jae Crowder was acquired at the trade deadline before the league shut down, then went on to make a run to the NBA finals without any true on-court chemistry.

The same goes for Trevor Ariza this year, which even though the playoff outcome was entirely different, it was a short period of time where the plan was basically for Adebayo to just “figure it out.”

It isn’t about the player build next to Adebayo, it’s about longevity and chemistry. And with the PJ Tucker pick-up, there’s a good chance he will finally have a full season with one front-court pairing. That’s the difference maker.

Max Strus’ recent play in Summer League definitely shouldn’t be pushed under the rug. Shooting consistency, on-ball flashes, and strong all-around play. But with that said, I don’t know if I see him getting the “3 and D” label.

Since we’re projecting forward in this scenario, I think there’s more of a chance that he breaks out in different areas offensively than becoming a full out 3 and D player. This isn’t a knock on his defense, since his physicality on that end allows him to be successful in many areas, but it just points to his offensive up-side.

His overall qualities trend toward being a trusted rotation piece over many other guys in the running. Like I said previously, he is consistent, and that is huge when we’re talking about those final rotation spots.

The team knows his primary skill, and he knows that he can do it well on a regular basis. Other guys are still in that middle ground trying to discover their biggest strength while trying to improve their all-around game, so it honestly feels like Strus will come out on top in that grouping.

Gabe Vincent has indeed been in Vegas, but there was a good idea that he wasn’t going to play. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t anything injury related, but it was due to him just coming off an extended stretch of games with Nigeria in the Olympics.

As much as some may think it’s a crucial development period to just get out there and get some reps, I don’t know if I 100% agree when talking about Vincent. Of course we see where Strus’ stock has gone over the last few weeks, but Miami pretty much knows what they have in Vincent already.

KZ Okpala, on the other hand, was in a similar situation as Vincent in the Olympics with Nigeria, but his story is completely different. This time is more important for him than anybody else. There isn’t really a chance that he will be getting any type of run next season as a rotational player, so he had to utilize this time correctly.

Vincent sees a rotation spot standing right in front of him, and it’s totally on him to take full advantage of it. If he shoots the ball at a decent clip, I believe it is his. The Heat trust him in a bunch of different spots, and having a tough defensive guard next to Herro off the bench isn’t the worst thing.

The question becomes: Who takes the offensive initiator role? Herro or Vincent? It’s an interesting conversation to be had, since I believe they will use Herro in different ways next season, but Vincent is much more of an off-ball threat even after playing so much point guard last season.

We will see what happens with that, but ultimately, it’s setting up nicely for Vincent to get a real opportunity.

If this was a question about the two-way contracts, I wouldn’t have to answer because it will most likely be both of them in that spot.

Marcus Garrett has essentially been a two-way lock since his first game, since teams like when they can distinguish a specific skill immediately as a major strength. As I’ve said in the past, I don’t remember many Heat Summer League guys that were this solid defensively this soon.

His biggest strength is fighting over screens both on and off the ball, but his ball-pressure is elite, he can hit passing lanes at a high level, and can really get under the skin of ball-handlers in the half-court. To sum up, he’s a Heat guy.

DeJon Jerreau, on the other hand, is more of an all-around threat. He may not be as good of a defender as Garrett, but he’s not too far behind. Another guy who is a very savvy on-ball defender, and loves to pick the pocket of dribblers as a help defender.

He’s a very good finisher due to his flashy ways, has a fall-away jumper makes it hard for defenders to contest, and he took full control as primary facilitator of this Summer League unit. He can make serious reads in the pick and roll, not only in the action, but watching the weak-side tagger for the easy skip pass.

Jerreau is super skilled, which is why it’s hard to really see them passing up on him with the two-way. As I said before the draft, Miami would be looking for a defensive guard to try and develop. Not only did they find one, but they’ve got two.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

How Will Max Strus Be Used for Miami Next Season?

/0 Comments/in , /by

Over his time in Summer League, Max Strus has been putting on quite a show for the Miami Heat. Knock-down shooting, cold-blooded game winners in sudden death, and respectable leadership.

The best players in this environment can be picked out pretty quickly due to their being a major gap between themselves and the next guy. Surprisingly, Strus has been one of them.

And the more that we are seeing this offensive expansion, the more it shows that Strus can very well have a regular spot in the rotation next year for Miami. With a bench unit consisting of Tyler Herro, Markieff Morris, and Dewayne Dedmon, that ninth man has been quite the topic over the past few weeks, but he may be right in front of their eyes.

Loading
Loading...

So, instead of continually talking about his overall skill-set, let’s take a dive into the ways he can be utilized on the actual roster next season…

Screen Usage

This is not going to be a Max Strus-Duncan Robinson comparison piece, since frankly that comparison is extremely lazy, but it’s important to bring up in terms of his role. Yes, they can both shoot the ball from beyond the arc, but there aren’t many other parallels about their games.

Robinson being more of a lengthy and skinnier build, while Strus is more of a bigger and stockier build is a perfect starting point. Strus will be a perfect offensive tool for Erik Spoelstra in terms of screening, especially considering his overall physicality on both ends.

Looking at the play above, it’s something we see a lot with Robinson, but that won’t come with such ease for others. Robinson slipping a screen does wonders due to its’ pull on a defense when he sprints to the wing, but Strus will be used in a much different manner.

Early on, defenses weren’t even remotely worried about him popping out as seen in the clip. It allowed him to get into a rhythm of just catching and firing. Will he get that shooting label next to his name pretty quickly? Most definitely, and that is when the true difference can be made about his effectiveness.

Angling screens downhill for Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry on the ball will be home-base. Of course he will be in a Robinson-lite role by coming off screens, but it feels like Strus will be in the actions more than he is out of it. Once he gets extended run out there, the plans will change, but it seems like that will be the starting point of using his greatest skill to the offense’s advantage.

Robinson-Strus Trials

Strus entering the game for Robinson next season could be extremely beneficial for the offense, but how could things look with them both on the floor? The small sample size last season says it can look really good.

The reason for that is they can transfer Strus into Robinson’s off-ball navigation role, and totally maximize spacing with Robinson as a screener.

Looking at the clip above, this is the perfect starting point: Strus coming off a double off-ball screen with Robinson setting the initial pick. It loops into a Bam Adebayo dribble hand-off, which ended in Strus knocking down a good look from three. But that’s not even the most important part of the play.

The essential element is when Strus receives the hand-off. The closest defender to the goal is currently at the free throw line, with nobody in sight below the rim. That is what is meant by “maximizing spacing.” It’s why these minutes are so likely, due to Spoelstra’s willingness to become very creative with the combination of weapons and space.

Strus obviously won’t have a major role in the rotation next season, since they will simplify it down on offense as a spot-up shooter to start, but limitations won’t be placed on him. Some minor leaps from Robinson are expected, but Strus may be the key to unlock some of those things.

Many are aware these two can mesh on the offensive end, but the question becomes the defensive stuff that was harped on all of last season. But that should no longer be a worry…

Defensive Survival

For one, this isn’t the same Heat team as last year. They have added two strong wing defenders who can guard multiple positions, a veteran point of attack defender who will plug so many of Miami’s holes, and lost two guards who were known as poor defenders.

Worrying about certain lineups defensively won’t be as common, and it definitely shouldn’t be when discussing Max Strus. He’s definitely not a high level defender, but he’s clearly not a bad one. Even when being thrown into the fire last season, he found a way to survive on that end of the floor.

Strus knows how to use his bulky frame to defend bigger wings in the post, and has a great feel for dropping down off the perimeter for cut-offs in the paint or at the nail. That off-ball defensive role will be his usual placing anyway, when being surrounded by guys like Butler, Adebayo, Lowry, Tucker, and more.

Robinson made some minor improvements on that end last season, and there’s no doubt in my mind there are more to come. Non-defensive lineups won’t be common next season due to the current roster construction, and I’m not even sure I would bat an eye at Robinson-Strus minutes on that end. Around those other guys, there shouldn’t be many issues to make the coaching staff think twice.

Summer League Attacking isn’t Temporary

One of the first surprises from Strus last season with Miami was his ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim in a strong fashion. He had a few highlight reel moments, catching a body or two, and we’ve seen even more flashes of that in the Summer League.

But don’t let recency bias distract you from the fact it isn’t just the competition, it’s just the skill-set of Strus.

As I mentioned earlier, spot-up play will be where he finds himself often in the offense, but he’s going to catch people off-guard by using his body to float downhill and get to the rim with ease. He isn’t a flashy or smooth attacker, he’s just a solid attacker. And that is exactly what the Heat will need from him.

Looking at the roster, it seems like Lowry and Butler will have to carry a lot of the load as downhill threats. There are a bunch of different skill-sets on the team, but some guys like Tyler Herro or Strus will need to sprinkle in some effective drives to bend the defense slightly.

Robinson’s next step will most likely be the mid-range, and even though he’s been super efficient around the rim so far, it doesn’t seem like he will be getting down there much. If Strus can just barely improve his handle to be able to work stuff in the interior, it’ll make a lot of this stuff much more flexible.

And knowing Strus’ background of doing whatever the coaching staff tells him, it’s very possible we see that pretty quickly.

Wild Card

And finally, Strus’ wild-card ability. This entire piece has been about where he plugs into the offense next season in certain lineups, but this one attribute shifts the entire conversation completely.

Coming into Summer League, it was obvious he would be getting plenty of on-ball reps, forcing him to shoot off the dribble, create a bit, and facilitate in that leadership role. And he’s done all of that and more.

Not only is he running unexpected pick and rolls, but he’s throwing defenders all over the place to fire away from deep.

Looking at the clips above, this stuff should not be skipped over. The first play is not bad defense whatsoever. He covers him tightly as he mixes in some between the leg dribbles, before leaning right and firing over the top of his contest. Bucket.

Why do I feel like this stuff is sustainable? Well, the thing about this ability is it comes down to the player’s response to certain contests. And if there’s one thing I know about Max Strus after watching him in Summer League, it’s that he isn’t fazed by any shot contest when he’s behind the three-point line.

If this on-ball expansion is made, it makes a bunch of people’s jobs much easier. I wouldn’t expect to see it much, but that being in his bag somewhere can make the difference.

Miami now has the defensive group they always seem to like, but bucket getters are now a necessity. And well, Strus has proved to be quite the bucket getter over his time in Las Vegas.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Miami Dolphins

Preseason Week 1 – Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears: 5 players to watch

/0 Comments/in , /by

As the Miami Dolphins prepare to face off against the Chicago Bears for their first real game action of the year, there are plenty of players to keep an eye on. But considering the circumstances, there are a few players who deserve more attention than others. Here are five of those players.

1. Larnel Coleman – OT

Larnel Coleman is intriguing for a few reasons. First and foremost, the Miami Dolphins offensive line is – once again – in flux. Liam Eichenberg did not immediately take to right tackle like so many hoped. His left guard ambitions did not go much better. However, in limited snaps in practice, Coleman has shown a certain level of promise. Against the Chicago Bears, Coleman will have a big test ahead of him.

As a 7th round pick, Coleman is undoubtedly a project. But he has talent and he’s already shown he can hold his own against his teammates. Raw speed seems to be a weakness of his, as evidenced by Vince Biegel figuring him out in practice last week. If Coleman develops quickly, Miami may dodge a bullet if Eichenberg doesn’t catch on first. All due respect to veteran Jesse Davis, a long term starter he is not. Miami needs an upgrade.

2. Noah Igbinoghene – CB

To say that Noah Igbinoghene has been disappointing so far in practice would be an understatement. Even the coaching staff briefly demoted him to third string due to his struggles in practice. In one practice he was beaten not once, but twice on deep passes to Isaiah Ford. That is not a ringing endorsement for the 1st round pick out of Auburn. However, once again, patience is required for Igbinoghene.

He’s a physical freak, a one of a kind athlete. But his experience at corner is so limited compared to other players in his draft class, it’s no surprise he’s a step or two behind. Will Miami get to reap the benefits of his drafting? That remains to be seen. Fortunately, the Dolphins worked things out with Xavien Howard, so Igbinoghene’s bought at least one more season to train as an NFL cornerback.

Loading
Loading...

3. Brennan Scarlett – LB

When Jaelen Phillips went down with an injury, the first player to make an instant impact was none other than Brennan Scarlett. The veteran linebacker went undrafted in 2016 and signed with the Houston Texans, only to land on injured reserve over and over again with various injuries. It’s clear that his career has been derailed by these injuries. Ever since training camp opened, Scarlett has made plays against the first team offense and is a regular contributor on the special teams unit.

So why look at Scarlett instead of rookie Jaelen Phillips? Well, if Phillips plays, then by all means, watch him too. After all, he returned to practice during the joint sessions with the Bears and was immediately placed with the first team. But Scarlett has been given more time to stand out than Phillips, and he’s taken advantage of that time. If Scarlett performs, that could give Phillips more time to heal and develop. No need to rush things along if someone can provide an instant impact already.

4. Gerrid Doaks – RB

If it feels like the choices are a little obscure, there is a reason for that. Remember, preseason is essentially an extended tryout. There’s no question that Myles Gaskin, Malcolm Brown and Salvon Ahmed are the favorites to make the roster as the team’s running back stable. But the Miami Dolphins opted to draft Gerrid Doaks with their final draft pick in 2021, so they must have felt he was worth something to not let him test the market.

Doaks hasn’t necessarily stood out. If he had, he would have pushed for more playing time with the starting unit. But the rotation at running back in practice is so fluid that literally everyone has gotten a chance to take handoffs from Tua Tagovailoa at this point. Doaks will likely receive a lot of snaps, since Gaskin is the clear starter. Brown and Ahmed both suffered injuries in practice recently, and are also expected to make the team anyway.

So keeping the reality of preseason in mind, Doaks will receive more of a chance to stand out than anyone else as the game drags on. His main niche is as a power back, and has a reputation for being a good blocker out of the backfield. Everyone knows how much Miami loves running backs that can block. Doaks has a chance to make his presence felt against the Chicago Bears.

5. Tua Tagovailoa – QB

The one that everyone’s been waiting for. The time has come to finally see Tua Tagovailoa throw the football against an NFL team that isn’t his own. So why, with all the hype surrounding him, is he so low on this list? Simply put, he likely won’t be in for very long. This is not the dress rehearsal. There may not even be a dress rehearsal with the way the NFL has changed the structure of preseason. He’ll get in a few drives, maybe even play a quarter. But it’s unlikely he stays any longer than that before Jacoby Brissett and Reid Sinnett take over from there.

Make no mistake, as with any NFL team, the season hinges on the performance of the quarterback. Tagovailoa seems to have taken a huge step forward so far, so if he can follow up his camp performance with an amazing showing in limited time against Chicago, then Miami Dolphins fans everywhere have a massive reason to be excited for the upcoming season.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882