Miami Hurricanes: D’Eriq King named to Maxwell Award Watch List

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The 2021 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List was released on Monday, and a member of the Miami Hurricanes was on the list. Quarterback D’Eriq King made the cut after a successful 2020 season in Coral Gables.

King passed for 2,686 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He had many memorable performances last season. Statistically, none was bigger than against North Carolina State. He shone brightly under the Friday night lights, going 31-of-41 on the afternoon, throwing for 430 yards and five touchdowns.

With a veteran group of wide receivers, King could have a realistic shot at winning this award.  Mike Harley, newcomer Charleston Rambo, Dee Wiggins and Mark Pope all figure to have sizable roles in the offense this year. The Hurricanes have tremendous depth at the position, and wide receiver should be a strength for this team, unlike in past years.

With this being King’s second year under Rhett Lashlee, things could be even better than they were last year. He had a great year. However, there were times when he looked indecisive in terms of whether to run or pass the football. If he can get that under control, the Miami Hurricanes will be even more lethal offensively than they were at times last year.

2021’s Maxwell list features accomplished quarterbacks in contention for the award. The last member of the Miami Hurricanes to receive this award was Ken Dorsey in 2001. If King were to win this award, he would certainly be placed in good company.

King will have a chance to grab the national spotlight September 3, when Miami takes on a revamped Alabama Crimson Tide squad. Assuming King is healthy and ready to go, that could be a big moment for him and the program. A win could vault Miami to national prominence once again.

 

 

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Breaking Down Bam Adebayo’s Defensive/Passing Dominance vs Spain

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Team USA came away with the win in the final exhibition game against Spain, and although Bam Adebayo wasn’t the focal point in the scoring column, he was in all of the other primary areas.

So, as we usually do in these pieces, let’s dive right into all things Adebayo from last night’s game, which of course must start with the defensive side of the ball…

The Perimeter Lesson: Two Mismatches Become One

There were two different defensive principles that stood out with Adebayo yesterday, but we must start with the one that everybody loves to discuss: perimeter clamps. In a very similar defensive scheme to the Miami Heat, Adebayo finds himself on opposing guards time and time again.

While that doesn’t seem problematic, it is for the guard switching onto the rolling big. The thing about these type of switches in a general sense is that it usually creates two mismatches. The guard can take the slower big man off the dribble in space, while the big man can body the smaller guard on the block.

But when Adebayo is defending the action, the number of mismatches shifts from two to one. The perimeter lesson continues to be a tale of two halves. The opposing guard tries to take advantage of these switches early in the first half, before realizing in the second half a pass and relocation to the corner is the best call.

In the first clip above, Adebayo finds himself defending in space at the top of the key as others clear out a bit. Without much effort, he cuts off the ball-handler with his quick feet, forcing a kick-out as the shot clock ticked down to 3 seconds. That’s just a usual occurrence for Adebayo, but opposing NBA defenses have already found this out. These other Olympic teams are just finding out now.

Looking at the second clip above, you can see what I mean when I say there’s only one mismatch in the action. Once again, the ball-handler tries to take advantage of Adebayo off the dribble, but it goes absolutely no where. He retreats and feeds his big man with Damian Lillard defending for a bucket.

This defensive skill-set should be his biggest strength on that side of the floor, but I’m not so sure that it is……

Help-Side Dominance is the True Defensive Strength

As stated previously, it’s always fun to point out those possessions since it just showcases pure versatility and talent. But I don’t believe that is when he is at his absolute best for defensive disruption.

He’s not an interior force that can deter guys away at the rim with shot blocking, but he is a weak-side deterrent. When he is in the action, he disrupts his match-up while the other guy has a rough time. When he’s not in the action, his free-lancing, instinctive ways kick-in for absolute dominance inside the arc.

Let’s take a look above at some of the clips. In the first one, we see Adebayo awaiting a possible off-ball screen on the weak-side, before the big slips the screen, leaving Adebayo ball-watching once again. Without hesitation, Adebayo comes for the cut-off as Lillard is fronting the post, and it leads to a turnover.

That is how Team USA can do a full 360 with their defensive scheming. Yes, utilize talent on that end of the floor, but not at the cost of weaker defenders. Sustain the switch heavy scheme, but there must be total commitment to doubles and help-side quickness for it to work. And that means they will have to try to keep Draymond Green and Adebayo on the weak-side as much as possible.

Looking at the second and third clips above, this was the outcome of back to back possessions. He may be known as a perimeter stopper, but his interior defense has been strong as he attacks passing lanes. First, he deflects the ball on the entry pass into the post, which gets the team out into the open court where they thrive.

The final clip is Adebayo at his best. USA blitzes the initial action, leaving Adebayo defending both the corner and the rolling big man. He immediately cuts him off and strips it for yet another fast-break opportunity.

And speaking of fast-break opportunities…..

Extra Transition Reps

Something I talked about in Adebayo’s 2020-2021 season recap is the amount of transition opportunities he gets on a game to game basis. Players with that type of size and speed isn’t an ordinary combo, so it must be utilized in any way possible.

In Miami, it always felt he was looking for Jimmy Butler to make a play or Goran Dragic to try and get to the basket, but it’s going to be crucial for him to do more of that. And that’s one thing these Team USA reps will do for him, as he has a bit more fast-break freedom.

He had back-to-back transition tries early in the second quarter on Sunday night, and the first one ended in Butler-style. He put his head down to take the contact and get to the free throw line, which is always an important thing to do with the skill-set he has.

Although the second play didn’t end positively, as he lost the ball out of bounds while running at full speed, you can see how it can be effective. He absolutely beats everybody down the floor as expected, but ultimately is stopped by himself. That’s usually the takeaway with Adebayo in many circumstances, since it feels the only guy that can slow him down is Bam Adebayo.

Team USA’s Offensive Key 

Now, back into some of the half-court offense stuff, his play-style has been consistent since the first exhibition game. He’s a pure rolling threat, except he is the primary play-maker when put in that position.

Spacing has been a bit problematic with Team USA, but there’s a reason that hasn’t been the case in Green-Adebayo lineups. It’s not about maximizing shooters and scorers, it’s about setting up shooters and scorers.

Looking at the first clip above, Adebayo just checks into the game and uses some slight trickery. He acts as if he’s not going up for the screen to stay in the dunker spot, before sprinting up to the top of the key for the pick. They continue to blitz Lillard which ends in yet another pocket pass: also known as Adebayo’s home base.

Three defenders end up at the top by Lillard, as Adebayo is in the middle of the floor with plenty of options as only two defenders stand in his way. He looks right which sends the perimeter rotation in that direction, while both defenders crash him with the ball. He immediately turns for an easy corner kick-out to Kevin Durant for the triple.

This was pretty similar to the first play ran when Adebayo entered the game in the first quarter. In the second clip, they blitzed Durant in a similar fashion, as Lillard back-pedaled to the three-point line and Adebayo surveyed the floor with Ricky Rubio in front of him. He rises up for a contested layup which is off the mark, showing that a repeat of the first clip would’ve been the best call.

The kick-out was there for Lillard, which essentially will be their offense moving forward. Adebayo is the key for good looks on this team, and it’ll continue to be the key for him in the Heat’s offense.

Making Plays Off Pure Skill

As much as I dive into the importance of adding a point guard for primary play-making duties, that will never stop Adebayo from doing what he does, nor should it. He’s a natural passer that perfectly sets up his teammates for good looks, and that will always be a staple of his game.

When calling somebody a natural passer, it means that they do stuff in a way that I continue to use as a description for Adebayo: instinctive. Things won’t always go according to plan in a certain set, but being able to adjust mid-play and find the open man is when the word instinctive comes into play.

Looking at the first clip above, it’s initially a reiteration of that action I discussed in the last section. They blitz Zach LaVine, Adebayo receives the pocket pass, kick-out for the corner three. After the miss, Adebayo grabs the rebound and does what he does best: react.

He rises up to take the contact and get the big man in the air, and hits Keldon Johnson in stride for the bucket. That is far from an easy play to make, but it just looks so effortless when a big with his skill-set is doing it.

Another thing about his passing in these games is that he continues to force the ball into tight windows. It’s quite the gamble at times that can get him in some trouble with that Heat squad, but those timely gambles are working out well for him in these exhibition games.

Johnson slips the screen as Adebayo leads his man for a layup. Running sets, free-lancing, transition lead passes. It’s all in his bag as a passer, which is why it’s more than an unselfishness with his play-making. It’s just that he’s utilizing his talent and strengths.

Some Post-Move Flashes?

The final thing we got a quick glance at yesterday was a good looking post move. It’s an area of his game we always come back to, since that can open up everything else in the offense.

In the clip above, he forces the switch for the mismatch, but he never seemed to know how to take advantage of that with the Heat. His play-style is not overpowering an opponent with his back to the basket using incredible strength, so he improvises.

He uses his comfortable face-up game to get to a favorable spot on the block, after a quick jab into a baseline spin puts him in perfect position. He pump-fakes, uses some of that elbow and shoulder to create some space, then finishes with the left hand on the hook.

Once again, I don’t ever see him punishing mismatches on the block consistently with size, but some finesse moves to create an easy shot with space is the one thing he needs, and clearly it’s a capable addition.

 

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If Dame Lillard Leaves Portland, Where Would He Go?

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If you followed the reporting of Five Reasons Sports and Five on the Floor last month, you knew that the door was cracked open for Damian Lillard to finally ask out of Portland.

Now the noise around the Trail Blazers star is even louder. Everyone from Yahoo’s Chris Haynes (Lillard’s media confidant) to others in mainstream NBA media are reporting that Lillard could request a trade at some point. At the moment, Lillard is making it known that the Blazers are in “prove it” mode, needing to build a contending roster soon — which will be difficult to do given Portland’s limited assets and challenging geography.

If Lillard is to request a trade during the 2021 off-season, and IF Portland is willing to hit the reset  button, who are the teams that have a true chance to make it happen? Let us explore the top options. 

 

The New York Knicks. 

Out of all the teams that can attempt to trade for Damian Lillard, the New York Knicks seemingly have  the most assets to throw at Portland, and a head coach Tom Thibodeau that has always been willing to  sacrifice youth for experienced veteran talent. A trade package potentially featuring recent lottery picks  RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin, up and coming players such as Immanuel Quickley and Mitchell Robinson and a grand total of (6) movable 1st round picks and 4 pick swaps is far and away the most attractive trade  option of Blazers. The questions become: will a team headlined by Damian Lillard & Julius Randle be enough to make any noise in the east in the upcoming years, nonetheless make an NBA finals appearance  with juggernauts like the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks in their way?  

 

The Philadelphia 76ers. 

76er GM Daryl Morey has never been shy when it comes to bringing in big names and superstar talent to  win an NBA Championship, with a rap sheet that includes trading for MVP winners James Harden, Russell  Westbrook, and all-time great Point Guard Chris Paul during his tender as Houston Rockets GM. Morey is  in familiar territory, having in his hand a MVP caliber and top 10 NBA player in Joel Embiid and having  the task to build a championship contender around him. Morey has potentially (depending on what a team  later on this list is willing to give) the most established and decorated Player to offer to Portland in a trade:  Ben Simmons. Having mad multiple All-Star teams, multiple All-Defensive teams, and an All-NBA team  in only 4 played NBA seasons, Simmons is sure to be a valuable Cornerstone for Portland if they obtain him, even after his recent playoff woes. A Trade package involving Ben Simmons, Rookie Tyrese Maxey, and all-defensive team member Matisse Thybulle along with 3 movable 1st round picks and 4 pick swaps,  the Philadelphia 76ers have enough ammo to outbid almost anybody. Damian Lillard, alongside Joel  Embiid and Tobias Harris would have as much a chance as anybody to make an NBA Finals run.

 

The Golden State Warriors. 

The Warriors and GM Bob Myers have been silently preparing for the opportunity to make one more  championship run while Superstar Stephen Curry is still in his prime, albeit not in the way one would hope  for. After the departure of Kevin Durant, back-to-back seasons with Star Klay Thompson suffering season  ending injuries and even curry and Draymond missing time, the warriors have been able to stock up on  draft assets and prospects that can be used to bring in another superstar, including Oakland Native Damian  Lillard. Having the 7th pick form a prior trade with the Timberwolves, and their own 14th pick, along side  last years #2 overall pick James Wisemen is a great starting point for the warriors to begin trade negotiations, as well as 4 other movable first round picks. The only true huddle, besides cap room, for  Golden State is the possible reluctantly from Portland to trade Lillard to a rival Western team, although if  Portland decides to go in to a full flanged Rebuild, it might not matter what conference Lillard goes to in  their eyes. Certainly, a trio of Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard and the returning Klay Thompson would be  one of the most electric offensives in NBA History. 

 

The Miami Heat. 

A popular phase within the Miami Heat fandom is “In Riley we trust”, and with good reason. Always been on the lookout for his next “Whale”, Pat Riley is no stranger to going above and beyond to bring a top-level superstar to Miami. Wither it has been trading budding star Glen Rice to bring in a disgruntled Alonzo  Mourning from Charlotte, cutting ties with multiple promising young assets such as Caron Butler and  Lamar Odom to bring in the NBAs most dominant big man in recent memory, Shaquille O’Neal, or sign  and trade deals to bring franchise changing talents such as Lebron James and Jimmy Butler, Pat is as well  versed as they come in terms of wheeling and dealing star talent to Miami. His only obstacle (although if  you ask Pat “there are none”) is the lack of assets Miami has in its disposal compared to the other teams  mentioned in this Article. Having very little in terms of movable draft picks, the only true assets Miami has  to offer are Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala.

That is of course, unless Pat is willing to part  ways with a budding Superstar of his own in Bam Adebayo. Bam is far and away the most attractive Player  in a potential Damian Lillard trade if Pat were to make him available, and realistically the only ways for  Miami to receive Lillard form Portland would be if Bam is included. so many factors are involved to make  a decision of this magnitude, including Miami’s own superstar Jimmy Butler input. Another factor not  many are taking into account is, if Miami is to trade bam for Damian Lillard, and assuming they are to also  extend Jimmy Butler this summer, they would have two players deep in their 30’s making upwards of 45 million dollars by 2023-2024. This is a decision that would put at risk any movement in upcoming seasons,  and in reality, it is anything up a guarantee that a duo o Jimmy Butler and Damian Lillard will bring s  championship during that window. Will the alure of acquiring a top 10 talent like Lillard be too much for  Riley to resist?

 

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The Flexibility of Dragic, Iguodala Team Options

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While the Miami Heat’s young free agency products this season will be testing the market, the veterans are being controlled by the front office. With team options being attached to Goran Dragic and Andre Iguodala’s final year of their deal, it’s up to Miami on what they elect to do.

The first option would be to completely opt out and work the free agency route. But other than a point guard addition, like Kyle Lowry or Mike Conley, is there somebody out there worth money that the Heat would have their eyes on?

That feels to be a no, which takes us into the second option of opting into the deals. This doesn’t mean that they would have to be back in Miami for another season, but it gives them flexibility to operate any type of trade deal with both of those salary fillers.

That is one thing the Heat lost when trading away Meyers Leonard for Trevor Ariza, since they no longer had that money chip to include in any sign and trade to equalize any salary in the deal. Now Dragic and Iguodala are those playing cards, but one seems to be much harder to move on from than the other.

Have we seen Iguodala’s final NBA season? Could he be back with a familiar franchise? Those questions have yet to be answered, while the questions on Dragic are much different.

After quite the ride in Miami, there’s no doubt that the Heat won’t be reluctant to move on and improve the team right now. Yes, Jimmy Butler would love Dragic back in a Heat uniform, but he also seems to like the idea of Lowry in a Heat uniform.

He’s going to have a point guard on the roster next season that he shares a close relationship with, meaning all eyes are on the decision makers in the front office to figure out the next move. The focus is on Butler’s window more than anything, and while the clock is ticking, a deal will most likely needs to be finalized in some fashion.

What is Next for Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn in Free Agency?

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Two fantastic stories, two fantastic players. Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn went from un-drafted gems with the Miami Heat to off-season headaches with plenty of difficult decisions looming.

Of course the Heat front office would love to bring them back due to the personal connection, but sentimental Pat Riley seems to be out the window. It’s time to improve the team and make harsh decisions if they must be made.

The price of Nunn feels to be something that a bunch of teams would be willing to take a chance on as a fantastic offensive scorer who can just play freely in an offense to get buckets. With Miami needing to fill certain holes, it doesn’t seem like that money will be coming out of the Heat’s pocket.

Robinson, on the other hand, is a different story. The money range that he is looking for seems to be one that the Miami Heat expected. They’re not just going to let one of the league’s most lethal shooters just walk. But that doesn’t mean a sign and trade is impossible.

Like in every discussion, if the right deal comes along, the Heat should pull the trigger without including Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo. Would a deal that big actually enter the discussion over the next few weeks? Probably not, which means there’s a decent chance Robinson could be back in a Heat uniform next season.

Being in this position alone is a win for Nunn and Robinson. They’ve beaten the odds up to this point, and their NBA careers are still young. After the first big pay day, it’s then time to make the necessary leaps in their games to truly reach the next level of their respective skill-sets.

 

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Miami Hurricanes in play for 2022 LB Justin Medlock with decision looming

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The last couple of weeks have been extremely productive for the Miami Hurricanes in terms of recruiting. Later this week,  more good news could be coming.

2022 three-star linebacker Justin Medlock will be announcing his decision this Friday.

Medlock is the 47th overall linebacker in the 2022 class, and the 62nd overall linebacker in this class from the state of Texas per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Right now, it appears that Miami and Oklahoma are the top two schools that are vying for his services. Several of the Crystal Balls have him going to Oklahoma. However, a new development on Sunday could work in Miami’s favor.

Gaby Urrutia put in a Crystal Ball in Miami’s favor on Sunday. It is worth noting that it is a medium confidence crystal ball. With the linebacker being a position of need, Medlock would be a big get for Miami.

Measuring in at six-foot-one, 210 pounds, Medlock is the type of athletic linebacker Miami needs. When I was watching a little bit of his film, one of the things I noticed was his ability to read plays. If a passing play came his way, he kept his eyes on the quarterback and tracked the football in order to break up a potential pass.

Generally speaking, he has enough speed to be able to cover underneath, and that will certainly work well in an era of college football where versatility is important.

In terms of what he was able to do in stopping the run, he was very good at being able to break down, and fill the running lane rather quickly. Again, the way he pursued the play and how instinctively he went after the football was a major factor. He was able to stop a running play from getting to the second level.

That type of tenacity and stopping the run  could potentially work well for this Miami Hurricanes defense. Especially from the linebacker position, that would be a bonus.

Currently, Miami’s 2022 class ranks 75th nationally and 14th overall in the ACC per the 247Sports Team Rankings. Those numbers are a bit deceiving, given how well Miami has recruited in the last couple of weeks. They are really starting to build a strong class.

Miami fans will certainly be watching what happens on Friday. Medlock would be a major get for a position that has underwhelmed at times. Miami needs to start landing big-time linebackers. Medlock would be a great start.

 

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The Upward Growth of Bam Adebayo in a Heat Uniform

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Soft switching, reluctant shooting, DHO over-usage. When watching Bam Adebayo closely, it leaves you highlighting some of his weaknesses, but it’s necessary to constantly step out of that box.

Why is there such a focus on the negatives with him in particular? Well, he’s special. Really special.

Sometimes harping on a lot of these things, that a now 24 year old has in his bag, just isn’t the right way to go about it. He’s beat all of the odds to get to this point, so what makes you think a few minor bumps in the road won’t be tweaked?

Looking back to when he started with the Miami Heat, not only was the selection debatable, but the role he was being put in was debatable. Adding a guy with the 14th pick in the draft that looks to be a rim runner with defensive versatility wouldn’t seem to be enough to reach elite status.

But then came the leap.

In comes Jimmy Butler, and up goes Adebayo. This isn’t to say that Butler is responsible for that type of skill-set expansion, but the timing was right. In the middle of some good looking jumps in his game, Covid-19 came into play, which rocked the boat for all 30 NBA teams.

A couple months down the line, a bubble is formed and a Miami Heat run is started. The focus may have been on role player dominance, a Goran Dragic revival, and a Butler statement, but Adebayo was the glue. And that would be the answer of anybody on that 2019-2020 squad.

A little more confidence in his jumper led to taking on the vocal role that Udonis Haslem always wanted him to, before arriving at the play in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals that still gets brought up to this day. As Mark Jones said on the broadcast, “Tatum out in front. Clock at 7. Working against Butler, got downhill. Couldn’t punch it. Bam says get it out of here.”

In that moment, the perception flipped. It wasn’t just the Miami locals realizing what this young man is doing, but people all over the NBA world began to take notice. Not only does he have the talent of many of the league’s young stars, but he has the grit and work ethic of some of the most known players that wore “Heat” across their chest.

After making it to the NBA Finals, injuries struck, and disappointment followed. It left many questioning, what would’ve happened if they had a healthy unit? But a more important question to ask, how would a healthy Adebayo benefited from that type of environment?

He got a slight taste of it, but clearly, he wasn’t at 100%.

A quick turnaround is the outcome into the 2020-2021 NBA season, awaiting the next step of Adebayo’s career. But yet again, adversity strikes. Many of the Heat’s players in and out of the lineup for Covid protocols didn’t give him the best chance to grow in a functional offensive and defensive scheme.

On some nights, those negative questions that can be had came into play. Why hasn’t Adebayo stepped up as the guy when others have gone down? Well, then January 23rd happened.

A new big three has just been formed in Brooklyn, as a Miami Heat team with no Butler strolls into Barclays Center. Expectations were low.

But every quarter that went by, the expectations of the game rose higher and higher. What led to this unexpected shift? The guy that has been given the nickname “no ceiling.”

A 41 point masterpiece fell short in the win column, but it definitely was a W in the development column. Step-back jumpers, and-1 finishes, and off-the-dribble dominance reassured the NBA world that the nickname is no joke.

Recency bias takes us into the present moment, which has many thinking about that first round sweep by the Milwaukee Bucks, who are currently one game away from an NBA championship.

Yes, there were down moments in that series for Adebayo. But there were also down moments from the rest of the Miami Heat’s roster. After two consecutive seasons felt like a run-on sentence, it actually looked more like relief than disappointment.

Of course this organization doesn’t take losing lightly, but in some ways, charging back up with a new roster for the next season didn’t sound like the worst thing in the world.

When talking about perceptions, this can be viewed from two different angles: the public and the league. Although I’ve talked about the ways most observers view him, it’s really amazing how much respect fellow NBA players have for him. On Team USA, guys like Draymond Green, Zach LaVine, and others realize how special he is on the court, which is when the unselfishness becomes a major positive in the big picture.

He’s had an adventurous run up to this point, but it’s far from over. Game-saving blocks, Team USA post-game interviews, and the NBA Finals by year 4 should not be taken lightly.

And although everything is about the ‘now’ with the Miami Heat, they have a certain gem that can take them as far as he chooses. Being that he just turned 24 today, there are still years upon years until he reaches his final form.

But for now, just sit back at times and realize that critiquing so thoroughly isn’t always necessary. He’s ahead of schedule in many ways, but he treats each day, game, and practice as if he’s behind schedule.

That’s why he is a winner. That’s why he is a member of the Miami Heat.

 

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53-man Projection for Your 2021 Miami Dolphins

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53-man Projection for Your 2021 Miami Dolphins

With under 2 weeks left into training camp officially starts on July 27th, 2021, I wanted to invite you into my thinking process as to who ends up emerging and becoming a part of your 2021 Miami Dolphins. Keep in mind that this does not account for trades, potential practice squad players nor transactions that may come after league-wide cuts.

QB (2)

Tua Tagovailoa & Jacoby Brissett 

This is one of the easier ones as it is all on Tua this season with Jacoby there to help him understand what he’s seeing. Jacoby also has experience starting so that if Tua gets dinged up and must miss time like last year, we may not see a drop in QB play.

Not making team: Reid Sinnett

RB (4)

Myles Gaskin, Malcolm Brown, Salvon Ahmed & Gerrid Doaks

While some have Jordan Scarlett also making the team, I believe this team will go with Gaskin & Ahmed as the speed backs and Brown & Doaks as the power backs in that order. Keep in mind this will most likely be a running back by committee where the person with the hot hand gets most of the caries that afternoon. Doaks having special teams experience already from college is a big plus and may end up solidifying his spot on the roster. 

Not making team: Jordan Scarlett, Patrick Laird & Carl Tucker

WR (7)

Will Fuller, Devante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Preston Williams, Lynn Bowden Jr, Robert Foster & Malcolm Perry.

In what is the most competitive room on the entire team, we see the Dolphins go for what it loves most in younger players with untapped talent on cheap contracts. Barring any trades or injuries, the top 3 in Fuller, DVP, and Waddle are all locks. Outside of those 3, it’s a bloodbath to determine who sticks. Preston is firmly on the bubble; I expect another impressive camp that keeps him around, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s cut or traded. I also have the battles between LBJ vs Albert Wilson & Robert Foster vs Mack Hollins, going to Bowden and Foster due to being younger and cheaper in Bowden’s case, and Foster because of familiarity with Tua and special teams play. Malcolm Perry also squeaks in because of the position flexibility to play slot, RB, and special teams.

Not making team: Jakeem Grant, Mack Hollins, Allen Hurns, Kai Locksley, Kirk Merritt & Albert Wilson.

TE (4)

Mike Gesicki, Hunter Long, Adam Shaheen & Cethan Carter

When looking back at the 2020 Miami Dolphin’s roster breakdown it’s almost impossible to gloss over the fact the team only kept 3 TEs when this season it could be a 5 deep position. I have the Dolphins keeping 4 this time around with the “surprise” being Durham Smythe as I expect them to go with the more versatile player in Cethan Carter and Hunter Long taking most of Smythe’s 675 total snaps per PFF.

Not making team: Jibril Blount, Chris Myarick & Durham Smythe.

OL (9)

Austin Jackson, Jessie Davis, Matt Skura, Liam Eichenberg, Robert Hunt, Michael Dieter, Solomon Kindley, DJ Fluker & Robert Jones

Another position group that I looked back on last year and we kept 9 so I went with the same amount. The battle of backup Center went to Dieter because of the flexibility to also play him at Guard in a pinch. The swing tackle will be Jessie Davis or Fluker who can also play Guard. The developmental OL went to Robert Jones over Larnel Coleman and Adam Pankey.

Not making team: Cameron Tom, Durval Queiroz Neto, Larnel Coleman, Jonathan Hubbard, Adam Pankey & Timon Paris.

DL (6)

Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis, Emmanuel Ogbah, Zack Sieler, Adam Butler & John Jenkins

Barring any injuries, this Dline will be comprised of mainly Wilkins, Davis, Ogbah, and Sieler with sprinkles of Adam Butler & John Jenkins. Last season post the Godchaux injury, the Dline rotation was essentially the same top 4 with others lightly contributing. I expect more of the same and will be curious to see if the development of Davis, as well as the additions of Butler and Jenkins, will help improve this rush D which at times, would get gashed on command.

Not making team: Nick Coe, Jonathan Ledbetter, Tyshun Render, Jason Strowbridge, Jerome Johnson & Benito Jones.

 LB (8)

Jerome Baker, Bernardrick McKinney, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jaelan Phillips, Duke Riley, Vince Biegel, Elandon Roberts & Brennan Scarlett

The LB room after the McKinney trade and drafting of Jaelan Phillips is all but locked in. Baker and McKinney on the inside with a rotation led by AVG and Phillips while having plenty of Biegel and Scarlett on the outside to start the year, as the Dolphins like to slowly bring rookies along. Duke Riley is Baker’s backup and fills the role the departure of Grugier-Hill created. Elandon Roberts could be someone I see starting on the PUP and eventually coming back as the backup to McKinney and a key special teams contributor. 

Not making team: Sam Eguavoen, Kylan Johnson & Calvin Munson.

 DB (10)

Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Noah Igbinoghene, Jason McCourty, Justin Coleman, Jevon Holland, Brandon Jones, Eric Rowe, Clayton Fejedelem & Nick Needham

As stated previously, this projection will not include any potential trades so I have the top 2 CBs being Xavien and Byron with Justin Coleman beating out Needham for the slot CB job. I also have Jason McCourty making the team and rotating the starting safety role with Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones. Fejedelem sticks around as a special teamer, but I could see him being released due to salary cap ramifications. Needham ultimately stuck around as my 53rd player but more on that later.

Not making team: Jaytlin Askew, Terrell Bonds, Javaris Davis, Tino Ellis, Jamal Perry, Trill Williams & Nate Holley

 K

Jason Sanders

2020 Fantasy Football’s #1 Kicker in points. Enough said.

 P

Michael Pallardy

Another lefty punter that fits the mold. Hopefully, we don’t see him on the field too much.

 LS

Blake Ferguson

You don’t draft a LS to cut him a year later.

Last 3 in:

The last 3 players that made it to this roster projection were Brennan Scarlett, Malcolm Perry & Nick Needham. Keep these names in mind as they could initially make the roster but if a player or 2 from another team becomes available, I could see these guys being the first to be cut or moved.

 

 

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 to Start Betting on MLB

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If you visit one of the reputable online bookmakers, you will see it offers loads of sports. That’s not surprising because people in different countries like some sports more than others, especially when it comes down to betting.

 

The U.S. is one of the countries where online betting is becoming more popular every day, which is why some bookies started paying more attention to it. As you probably know, there are many popular sports there, one of which is baseball. That’s why this is also the preferred option for many bettors.

 

Baseball has a lot of fans, even in other places around the world, but if you want to watch the best teams in action, you need to check the MLB. Let’s go through some of the aspects you should know about this amazing league before you start betting.

 

Learn more about the sport

 

While it is true that baseball and the MBL have millions of fans in the U.S., this sport and the league don’t have that many followers outside the country. That’s why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some bettors don’t know a lot of information about it.

 

Fortunately, this isn’t a problem because you can always check this MLB baseball guide by Nostrabet and learn everything about the sport. Besides the rules, you can also check some of the important terminology, the history of the sport, and the different baseball leagues. Of course, the MBL is the most popular competition, but there are other things that you can choose from.

 

Choose a suitable online bookmaker

 

After you learn more about the sport and the MLB, it is time to visit at least several sports betting websites before choosing your new bookie. Since baseball is not among the go-to options for most punters, gambling websites don’t always offer a lot of markets and options for any MLB matches. Fortunately, the baseball betting guide found on Nostrabet will also provide you with valuable information regarding the top bookies for baseball betting. As you can probably guess, most of them have a permit that allows them to operate within the U.S.

 

The most important thing when choosing a bookie is to make sure it has a lot of markets. Due to the fact that baseball and the MLB are not the most popular sport for betting, even some of the brands that pay more attention to it do not provide their users with any special markets.

 

Make sure you fully understand how the MLB works

 

Every baseball fan knows how the MLB works, but this isn’t true for everyone, especially those new to the sport. Once you start reading more information about it, you will see that the MLB consists of two leagues – the American League and the National League. To make things even more complicated, each league has three divisions.

 

In total, every team that is a part of the MLB plays around 162 games in six months, which means there are plenty of things to bet on.

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Don Chaney Jr. poised to build off strong end to 2020

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When you look at the Miami Hurricanes roster, they have a collection of talented running backs. Some are more talented than others. Some also have more experience than others. With five in total, one name I would pay attention to is Don Chaney Jr.

He was not the main back in the Miami rushing attack last year. Rather, he played in spurts, and played well. Jaylan Knighton and Cam’Ron Harris made up the bulk of the Miami rushing attack last year, leading Chaney to hardly see any action. Even still, he was able to shine towards the end of the year.

Take the contest against Duke on December 5. In that game, he recorded nine carries for 62 yards. A couple weeks later, he provided strong production in the Cheez-It Bowl. He recorded six carries for 50 yards including a 27-yard rush that was his longest of the evening. He was a bright spot in what was a dismal game overall.

In that game, he was able to put this full skillset on display. He ran hard, and he ran physically. Those two traits in particular were things that were missing from the Miami rushing attack for a good portion of last season. He also hit the holes hard ,and it was not afraid to bear all over defenders when he needed to.  With his performance in that game, he gave a potential preview what could be coming down the road.

His good end to last season is only one reason to be excited about his potential heading into 2021. The other reason is his impressive numbers in the weight room. Chaney told the media his squat was to 555 pounds, and his benchpress was up to 315 pounds. Those numbers are certainly not too shabby.

Between his good performance at the end of last season and work Chaney has put in this off-season, I see him having a breakout year. He could be a key piece for a Miami Hurricanes rushing attack that ranked seventh overall in the ACC in 2020. That number is not too shabby, but it’s one that can certainly be improved upon. Chaney could bring stability to that portion of the offense.

Chaney figures to be high on the depth chart for Miami in 2021, so he will have opportunities to prove himself. If he can show the same tenacity and physicality that he did at the end of last season, the starting running back job could be his for the taking  sooner rather than later.

 

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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