Dolphins Select Herbert and Jeudy in Latest Tankathon Mock Draft

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One week ago, the Dolphins were sitting pretty at the top of the 2020 NFL Draft order.  And although there was still plenty of football to be played, fans could breath a sigh of relief.  After all, anything less than the first-overall pick would be a massive disappointment.  Which, to be honest, has been the story for the last twenty years for most Dolphins’ fans.

Well folks, prepare to be disappointed once more.

In the latest Tankathon.com mock draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are at the top of the draft order.  And for a team that wasted more years on Andy Dalton than the Dolphins did on Ryan Tannehill, the time is now for Zac Taylor to handpick his QB of the future.

Sure, there’s the slight chance he takes Oregon QB Justin Herbert, but the more likely scenario is Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa.  (Insert Sad Face)

So with the #Tankovailoa sweepstakes over, who will the Dolphins select with their three-first round draft picks?

There’s no question the Dolphins will draft a QB in this April’s draft.  And whether that be Jake Fromm, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, or Justin Herbert, a QB will be selected on day one. (If you want to take a look at this year’s top QB prospects, CLICK HERE)

In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, that QB is Herbert– who has been mocked to Miami several times before.  Furthermore, GM Chris Grier continues to do his due diligence on the prototypical passer (6’6, 237 LBs).

 

But who should the Dolphins select with the 5th-overall pick?

In previous mocks, Tankathon had Miami selecting Iowa pass-rusher A.J Epenesa.  Now, they go with one of Tua’s favorite targets in wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.

Jeudy would be a game-changer in Chad O’Shea’s offense and would make the rest of receiving corps better.  He would also be the perfect security blanket for the Dolphins’ newest QB, whoever they ultimately decide to draft.

 

Lastly, Miami selects LSU CB Kristian Fulton with the 25th-overall pick.  As we all know, Miami desperately needs help opposite of Xavien Howard and Fulton would be an immediate fit.

This will change many more times between now and April 23, 2020.  With that said, how do you feel with Tankathon’s latest mock draft?

 

Josh Houtz (@houtz) is a die-hard fan of the Miami Dolphins, despite what Jerome Baker thinks.

 

 

Butler and the Bucket: the Love Affair continues

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We first saw this Butler affair flourish in Chicago.

That’s where Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro started posting Instagram love letters to each other, shooting and sneering together in workouts.

Now, though, their affection is in full bloom.

Jimmy Butler clearly likes guys who get it. Who not only can play, but play really really hard. It’s already apparent to him that the rookie does that.

And Tuesday, in the Miami Heat’s preseason opening win against the San Antonio Spurs, Heat fans saw that up close. Herro scored 18 in his preseason debut, every which way. But he also dished, blocked, scrambled and sprinted.

And Butler loved it.

Well, he didn’t love everything.

He doesn’t love Herro’s hair.

Here’s a clip from after the game.

You’ll probably figure out when the rookie walked by him, and then walked out.

Get your Jimmy Canastas t-shirt here!

Keith Yandle makes history in Panthers loss to Hurricanes

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Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle made history on Tuesday by playing in his 800th consecutive NHL game.

The 33-year-old veteran scored on a power-play goal with 10:26 left in the third period but the Panthers fell 6-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Yandle’s career stared in 2006 with the Phoenix Coyotes. The last game he missed was March 22, 2009.

The Panthers were unable to overcome a four-goal deficit after the first period. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was replaced by Sam Montembeault to start the second period. He finished the game with 19 saves.

“He played great,” Yandle said of Montembeault’s performance. “He gave us a chance to get back in it. We feel bad that we hung Bob [Bobrovsky] out to try, especially with how he played last game for us. It’s just one of those things, for us, that’ll be a good test for us to see how we respond.”

The Panthers outscored the Hurricanes 3-2 during the second and third period with the last Carolina goal coming after Florida pulled their goalie to create a 6-on-5 scenario.

“I think the message is clear that we’ve got to play our system to the drop of the puck until the end of the game,” Yandle said. “Once we buckled down and played the way [the coaches] want us to play, in the second and third you could tell we were the more dominant team, but we were chasing too much.” 

The Hurricanes have won their fourth straight game to begin the season, equaling the best start in franchise history.

Herro Shines in Miami Heat Win Over Spurs

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The night started as Jimmy Butler’s show, but it ended as Tyler Herro’s coming out party.

Herro shined in his debut, scoring a team high 18 pts while leading the team in its 89 to 107 victory over the Spurs.  Herro was a game high +29 and showed every facet of his game.

“It’s great for young guys to come in and have that confidence to be aggressive and to feel comfortable,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I’m sure he had a lot of nerves coming into tonight, not knowing what to expect.”

Spoelstra’s juge experimental starting lineup of Justise Winslow, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, Meyers Leonard and Bam Adebayo got off to a rough start.  The defense looked porous and the offense anemic, but after a few trips up and down the floor they seemed to settle in.  Butler, especially, looked like he preferred to defer and didn’t score his first points until the second quarter – missing his first three shots mostly under duress or late in the shot clock.

Business really picked up when the bench unit entered the game late in the first quarter, led by Goran Dragic and the much-heralded Herro.  Herro’s full offensive arsenal was on display in the first half. Step back three pointers, dribble drive push shots in the lane and turnaround midrange jumpers.  By the end of the first half, Herro had the American Airlines Arena crowd breathlessly anticipating every possession.

Adebayo and Leonard proved more than capable in the rebounding department, temporarily putting to rest a large concern this offseason with the departure of Hassan Whiteside.  “We have to (rebound), not just necessarily Meyers. We have to be a group rebounding team. We talk about being one of the better defensive teams in the league, but we have to finish possessions,” said Spoelstra. The two combined for 19 rebounds while playing only 23 and 24 minutes. Adebayo also chipped in with 14 pts.

Winslow proved capable of handling the offense at times in an uneven performance, including a disappointing 0-4 from three point range after making the shot a priority this summer.  After shooting almost 38% last season, this may prove to be much ado about nothing, but it’s a play that he needs to make if he wants to continue to lead the starting unit.  Winslow finished with 11 pts, 3 assists and 4 turnovers.

Chris Silva was another bright spot for a Heat team in search of size off the bench. “He made us watch him. He’s had those moments in training camp too,” said Spoelstra.  “He had a great block tonight, but he probably had 5 blocks better than that in training camp.”

Silva finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds in only 14 minutes.

Spoelstra Rolls Out Surprise Miami Heat Starting Five

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Erik Spoelstra is rolling out a starting lineup of Justise Winslow, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, Meyers Leonard and Bam Adebayo in the Heat’s preseason opener vs. San Antonio.  Essentially placing Jimmy Butler in the shooting guard role to the surprise of most fans and pundits.

It’s only preseason of course but the lineup gives the Heat 2 things that many feared problematic coming into the season – Size and Shooting.  With Robinson and Leonard as floor spacers and Winslow developing a stellar 3 point shot of his own, Butler and Adebayo should have plenty of room to work in the middle.

The lineup also gives a preview of what Spoelstra is planning to do at the starting point guard position with Winslow taking the floor ahead of Goran Dragic.  Dragic has the potential to be a dynamic scorer off the bench, pairing him with 30-11 running mate Dion Waiters.

Whether this starting lineup will be a mainstay going forward or if we are just looking at placeholders until the return of James Johnson and Kelly Olynyk, the message is clear – Spoelstra thinks he has depth with this team and isn’t afraid to try different combinations.

Dolphins QB search: The Jake Fromm Play That “Didn’t Happen”

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It may seem like a simple 7- yard completion from Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm to a receiver.

But it’s more than that.

Chris Kouffman (@CKParrot) of Three Yards Per Carry — our popular Dolphins analysis podcast — breaks down why this completion shows off so many of Fromm’s unique abilities.

Follow the thread below:

Click here to follow the 3YardsPerCarry College QB tracker for in-depth break downs and stats for all of the top 2020  class prospects.

Don’t forget about the Meyers Leonard addition

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Meyers Leonard is not the name that comes to mind of Heat fans when thinking of new acquisitions. In an offseason that netted Miami a top 10 player in Jimmy Butler (yea, I said it), Leonard’s name gets lost in the fanfare.

Don’t let it.

Not just because he and his wife Elle are social media superstars.

 

Or because he looks so damn good in a vice uni. Right, Meyers Leonard?

 

 

Fans should be excited because Meyers Leonard has the chance to be a key contributor on a Heat team poised to finish in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

The former 11th overall pick is coming off his most efficient offensive season, averaging 5.9 points a game on 55% shooting. Not to mention The Hammer was an 84% free-throw shooter in 2018.

But the big man’s most important spot will be a couple of steps back. Leonard shot 45 perfect from three in 2018, standing at an unblockable seven feet and one inch off the ground. And if anyone can maximize a stretch big it is Heat coach, and recently richer man, Erik Spoelstra (see Christopher Wesson Bosh).

And we saw some signs in the Heat’s annual Red, White and Pink scrimmage, when Leonard made four three-pointers in six attempts.

All that being said, he might not even be the best three-point shooter in his own house.

 

 

Heat fans should do themselves a favor and follow this man both on and off the court.

We got [BIG] shooters.

 

Miami Dolphins add project player Antonio Garcia to team

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This is an intriguing signing by the Miami Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins made a move on Monday. It is not a move that is going to generate headlines, but it is certainly of note. The team claimed offensive tackle Antonio Garcia off waivers.

There is no doubt that Garcia is a bit of a project. He is coming off a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.

Garcia has bounced around the National Football League early in his career. He is very familiar with AFC East, as he was selected by the New England Patriots with the 85th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.  He never saw the field in 2017 as he spent his rookie season on injured reserve due to blood clots in his lungs. For some, that would be a reason to hang up the cleats immediately. Nevertheless, he attempted a comeback.

Garcia is well-traveled

Garcia was released by the Patriots on May 11, 2018. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on May 14, 2018. He was never able to find his footing in New York, and was waived by the Jets on August 31. Garcia then traveled to Indianapolis, where he was signed to their practice squad on October 29. While in Indianapolis, he was suspended by the National Football League.

The Miami Dolphins desperately need help on the offensive line. Between injuries and the Laremy Tunsil trade, things are bleak on the unit. It’s interesting that the Dolphins would take a flyer on him. He seems like a bit of a project player. I thought the Dolphins would want to sign a more established veteran. However, this is a move that costed nothing for the Dolphins to make.

Hopefully, Garcia can find his footing here and help with the Miami Dolphins at a time when their line desperately needs it. He could turn out to be a very solid player. He has just encountered roadblocks along the way. This was a good move for the Miami Dolphins at a time when they are undoubtedly trying to find the best pieces they can for their team. In a year like this, it is ideal for them to evaluate talent and decide which players they can keep and which ones will be packing their bags.

Inter Miami gets first big win

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As incoming teams, Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC both took part in the Expansion Priority draft in New York City today.

As results of a coin toss, the clubs would alternate picks choosing five different ways to help start building their teams.

  1. Number 1 pick in 2019 MLS Expansion Draft
  2. Number 1 pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft
  3. Number 1 position in Allocation Ranking Order
  4. Penultimate position in MLS Re-Entry and End-of-year Waiver Order
  5. Penultimate position in Discovery Player Ranking

The coin flip was in Inter Miami’s favor, and the club walked away from New York City with both the first pick in the Expansion Draft and the first pick in the SuperDraft. They’ll be able to secure their most favored target with MLS experience and also take their top ranked rookie, barring any trades.

 

Inter Miami have already started building up their roster and have been linked to some major moves. With top priority in both of these drafts, the pieces seem to be falling well for Inter in its inaugural season.

 

The 2019 MLS Expansion Draft will take place on November 19th where both Inter Miami and Nashville will be coming away with up to five players from teams already in the MLS (Exempt teams are D.C. United, Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, and the New York Red Bulls.) Only 12 players are allowed to be protected by each team, so it seems almost a sure thing MLS proven talent will be headed to South Beach.

 

Marlins prospect Alex Vesia is torching the Arizona Fall League

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At 10-5, the Salt River Rafters have the best record in the Arizona Fall League, and is in part, thanks to Alex Vesia. This is relevant considering that this is the team that includes seven Marlins high level prospects.

The Rafters roster is comprised of top prospects from the Marlins, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rays and Twins. Their best reliever so far in the season has been Alex Vesia, who has yet to give up a run in six games while striking out 10 batters.

That alone is impressive but when compounded with the fact that he finished the minor league season not giving up a run in nine games at Double-A Jacksonville while striking out 25 in 16.1 innings, then it looks like the Marlins’ next closer is on the way.

Most of the prospects that play in the Arizona Fall League find themselves in the big leagues not too long after. Case in point is Giancarlo Stanton, the slugger formerly known as “Mike.” He was in the Arizona Fall League in 2009 and made his MLB debut in June 8, 2010.

So consider who are falling victim to Vesia’s vicious velocity. Joe Rizzo is the Seattle Mariners’ 16th ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline and Vesia struck him out swinging on three 93-94 MPH fastballs this past Saturday. Greyson Jenista is the Atlanta Braves 11th ranked prospect. After drawing a full count against Vesia on Oct. 2, a series of foul balls and a 92 MPH fastball did him in. Micker Adolfo (No. 11, White Sox) struck out swinging twice in the same week against him. Elehuris Montero (No. 4, Cardinals) is the highest ranked prospect that Vesia struck out.

Vesia’s first performance was his best in the AFL. Zack Short (No. 9, Cubs), Greg Deichmann (No. 17, Athletics) and Nick Allen (No. 6, Athletics) all struck out swinging on the same fastball that has plagued every prospect that’s faced him.

It’s amazing to believe that his minor league season began in Low A Clinton and ended with 100 strikeouts in 66.2 innings through three different levels. At this point, there’s a good chance he joins the Marlins bullpen in 2020 as the next Nick Anderson.