Wait, the Dolphins Will Play Football This Week?

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Now that the dust is settling on the Miami Dolphins offseason, there is actual football on the horizon.

The bloodletting has ceased (for now) and the Miami Dolphins will attempt to field an NFL roster Sunday when they host the Baltimore Ravens.

Cuts and trades have left the 53-man roster a barren wasteland void of talent or hope for this season.

Tank you very much indeed.

 

These teams are polar opposites in many facets, starting under center.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will start an NFL football game for his eighth team Sunday.

Lamar Jackson has seven career starts.

Jackson improved as the year went on after taking over for Joe Flacco, and the Ravens were actually a top ten offense in terms of yardage last year.

A lot of that was thanks to Jackson who was second on the team with 695 yards rushing, and Baltimore won six of his seven starts.

Miami was abysmal against the run last year allowing 10 teams to eclipse 100 yards on the ground.

They could be even worse this time around.

The game plan for Baltimore should be simple, pound the Miami front seven into dust on the ground.

Perhaps Vincent Taylor could have been of assistance.

Mark Ingram still has a lot left in the tank at age 29, before the emergence of Alvin Kamara he started to put up excellent numbers in New Orleans with two consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns.

Look for Ingram out of the backfield as well, he has averaged over 43 receptions over the last four seasons.

The departure of Kiko Alonso won’t hurt the pass coverage at least.

Could we see Some Early FitzMagic for the Dolphins?

On the other side of the coin is the savvy veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who comes out guns blazing in the September heat.

 

 

Who can forget the swag that was FitzPatrick during the early part of last season.

He put up three straight 400-yard performances to start the season.

Elite.

Then he went full journeyman.

In that third game last year, Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions after just one in the first two games.

Tampa Bay took the loss in that one and in five straight games to follow. In those losses Fitzpatrick threw eight picks versus just six touchdowns.

That’s the Fitzpatrick most of us expect.

He does have some weapons in Preston Williams, Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant, and Mike Gesicki so there will be some moments.

However the back line for the Ravens is an opportunistic and savvy group in their own right, windows will be tight for Fitzpatrick.

Same Ol’ Ravens D

Safety Earl Thomas joins the Baltimore secondary after a tenuous departure from Seattle. The departure of Eric Weddle left a void in that group and Thomas has the experience to adjust quickly and lead a talented bunch.

 

Baltimore was the top rated overall defense in yards allowed while holding opponents to just 3.7 yards per carry.

Expect the Ravens to stack the box and dare Kenyan Drake and Kallen Ballage to put their foot down and earn the tough yards.

That could be a challenge behind what remains of the Miami offensive line.

 

Hopefully the big boys find their parking spots prior to Sunday, they will likely want a quick escape after the final whistle.

If (when) Miami gets behind the chains, Baltimore can pin their ears back and force Fitzpatrick into mistakes.

There is very little optimism for the Dolphins faithful but home games can take on a life of their own.

Should Miami be able to hang early and stop the Ravens offense, they could keep it close for a while.

Unfortunately it shapes up to be a long day in Miami Gardens, Baltimore simply has too much depth and overall talent.

These teams have a lot of history, including the 40-0 dismantling of Miami in 2017 which will be remembered for an Alonso hit on Flacco more than anything else.

Prediction: Ravens 27, Dolphins 17

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Mike Gesicki trending in right direction for the Dolphins

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After being drafted in the second round out of Penn State, the Dolphins had high expectations for Mike Gesicki.

Every team is searching for the next Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce and the Dolphins thought Gesicki, the 23-year old from Lakewood New Jersey, could fit that mold.

Mike Gesicki had a subpar 2018 season with Adam Gase at the helm. He finished with just 22 receptions for 202 yards, but nobody was expecting him to come in and perform as a top-tier tight end as rookie.

Under a new staff lead by Brian Flores, the Dolphins are focused on developing young talent and tight ends coach George Godsey is liking what he sees from the second-year tight end.

Where has Gesicki made the most progress?

“He’s had a good preseason – both the run game and pass game,” Godsey said. “His conditioning is improving throughout the course of not only spring, but the fall. He’s got an upward trend right now. He’s caught some passes in the preseason, made some big plays. Of course, now is when it counts.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml-r_GJ3RF0

How high is his ceiling?

“He’s a young player, so there’s a lot of room to improve,” Godsey said. “Obviously, there are some things we’re doing with him now that he’s unfamiliar with from college. For everybody, there’s a certain growth period, especially as you get into the league, not only learning your role, but the personnel and how to study the opponent and how you fit into the game plan and then performing when your number is called.”

How does added weight help Gesicki with technique?

“All that goes together – technique, physical stature and then getting open at the top of the route. All of that stuff really is important when you’re running routes,” Godsey said. “At this level, one of them can’t just be your strength. You have to excel in all those different phases of running routes. Mike is learning that. And then you have to catch the ball. All of that stuff really factors into it. You can run a great route, you can get open, and then if you don’t finish the play, then it’s all for naught. It’s the same thing – if you can’t get open, then you’re not even an option. He understands that and I think all of those things are going to help him become a better player.”

Mike Gesicki is listed as Miami’s starting tight end as the Dolphins welcome the Baltimore Ravens to Hard Rock Stadium for week one of the NFL season on Sunday.

 

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Who will step up as captains of the 2019 Miami Dolphins?

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After a preseason that saw the Dolphins purge their roster, they’re not only lacking talent, but also leadership and captains.

Miami rosters roughly 20 players that were on the team last season and first-year coach Brian Flores is looking to discover guys that his vision.

With players like Laremy Tunsil, Ryan Tannehill, Cameron Wake and John Denney no longer with the team, Flores spent the preseason looking for players who can step up as leaders and captains for a team that features one of the youngest rosters in the NFL.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Flores told reporters that the Dolphins are yet to name the team’s captains.

With everything we have heard this offseason, players like Jerome Baker and Xavien Howard seem like perfect candidates to lead the new era of the Miami Dolphins.

Will Ryan Fitzpatrick earn the title, despite having to play for his job on a week-by-week basis? Can Daniel Kilgore bounce back from an injury-shorted 2018 season and provide leadership for an offensive unit that has combined to start just 88 games?

Who would you like to see step on to the field as captains when the Dolphins welcome Baltimore to Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday?

Dolphins list Kenyan Drake as the week-one starter

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The Miami Dolphins released their week-one depth chart as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday and Kenyan Drake is there.

While it is easy to get caught up in all the new names on Miami’s roster, Kenyan Drake, who saw limited playing time this preseason, stands out as a week-one starter.

There was plenty of hype surrounding Kalen Ballage during the offseason, but the excitement died down after a preseason that included 18 rushing attempts for just 40 yards. He finished with an average of 20 yards per game, averaged 2.2 yards per carry and found the end zone once.

Many expect Ballage to have a breakout 2019 after a few impressive runs last season, which included a 75-yard touchdown run against the Vikings.

Kenyan Drake saw just four attempts in the preseason, however, he solidified himself as a play maker in Miami, scoring 13 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

It is important to keep in mind that it is common practice for a team to use a handful of backs, compared to just one who may touch the ball 20-25 times a game. Odds are that both Kenyan Drake and Ballage will get their fair share of touches.

Miami’s running back depth will be worth watching, especially for those who own one or both in fantasy as the Dolphins try to uncover players who fit into Miami’s long-term plan.

The USA Celtics struggle into the second round

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The “USA Celtics” are receiving no love from Miami fans. That’s for sure.

Gregg Popovich — in part because of superstar disinterest — formed a team that does not really represent the United States and most of its teams in what is, by far, the best basketball league in the world.

However, the United States still have one of the, if not, the best team in the tournament.

They beat the Czech Republic in the first game of the first round with ease, but struggled a lot to beat Turkey in the second game.

Before the tournament, some critics even put Serbia as the favorite to take it all. I don’t know what’s more impressive, the fact that the United States is not the clear favorite to win the world championship, or the fact that nobody really cares about what this team does.

That’s what’s happening in Miami, at least, even though this is a basketball town.

Anyway. Check out the last game of the United States, as they get ready to face Japan in the last game of the first round on Thursday morning (8 am ET).

These are some of the best plays made by Japan and the United States in their first two games:

In the second round the United States could face Turkey again, if the Turkish beat the Czech Republic, Brazil and however gets through between Greece and New Zealand.

Nothing to worry about for the “USA Celtics”, for now…

 

They don’t care about this United States team, but they sure do care about the NBA and our Miami Heat. Check Five on The Floor’s episodes, as the NBA Seasons approaches faster than Dorian. Be ready!

¿Quién cerró mejor el mercado de fichajes en Europa?

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Los fichajes bomba que había prometido Zinedine Zidane no terminaron de llegar y Neymar terminó resignado en París, pues le fue imposible al FC Barcelona y al PSG ponerse de acuerdo con respecto al brasileño.

El PSG, por su parte, no solo mantuvo a Neymar, sino que se hizo con los servicios de Mauro Icardi, vía préstamo con opción a compra, y trajo al descontento Keylor Navas para resguardar su meta.

El Atlético de Madrid armó un equipo bastante competitivo pese a la salida de varios de sus referentes, como Antoine Griezmann y Diego Godín, y se ha demostrado en las primeras tres fechas en España, donde lidera tras ganar todos sus encuentros, ya con cuatro puntos de ventaja sobre el Madrid y cinco sobre el Barcelona.

El Barcelona fichó a Griezmann en el verano y ya tenía asegurado a Frank de Jong desde Diciembre, pero se quedó con las ganas de traer nuevamente a Neymar. ¿O no? Quizás todo era parte del plan….

El Inter de Milán, por su parte, se armó con varias figuras como Romelu Lukaku, Diego Godín y Alexis Sánchez, y el Bayern Munich se reforzó con Coutinho, mientras que la Juventus se hizo con los servicios de De Ligt, y el Sevilla, pues, trajo al Chicharito nuevamente a España.

¿Qué equipo se reforzó mejor en esta ventaja de fichajes?

Ricardo Montes de Oca, María García y Alejandro Villegas, de Cinco Razones Deportes Network, lo analizan:

Disfruta de mas análisis de fútbol europeo y de la MLS en los podcasts 3-0-Cinco y 90+Cinco haciendo click en este link. Únete al equipo de Cinco Razones Deportes Network!

Vincent Taylor Release

Dolphins release DT Vincent Taylor

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No one is safe when it comes to the 2019 Miami Dolphins roster. After trading Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills and Kiko Alonso, then releasing longtime long snapper John Denney, Miami’s purge continues with the release of Vincent Taylor.

With that release, only 22 players who were on the 2018 squad remain, and it’s possible more moves are on the way.

What makes this move so surprising is that Taylor was clearly productive during his two season tenure.

In his 21 games, he made 45 tackles, hit the QB three times, made four tackles for a loss, two sacks, and his real claim to fame is blocking field goals. He has a strange knack for that, but he ended 2018 on injured reserve with a foot injury. Perhaps that has something to do with his lack of production in preseason.

New Face

To replace the 25-year old, the Dolphins signed veteran nose tackle John Jenkins, who spent his first four seasons with the Saints after being drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. He was a top performer at the combine that year, and unlike Taylor, the 30-year old Jenkins fits a niche role that’s necessary for Miami’s 3-4 defensive alignment.

Since being released by New Orleans in 2016, Jenkins has spent time with a different team each following year. In 2016, he played with the Seattle Seahawks. The next year was spent with the Bears, and in 2018 he was a member of the New York Giants. He played seven games for the Giants, and contributed almost nothing. No tackles, no sacks. To be fair, however, nose tackles aren’t meant to put up stats. They’re meant to clear the way for other defenders. If he can do that, then his contribution will be on tape, not on a stat sheet.

So is this the end of Vincent Taylor with the Dolphins? Not necessarily. Should he clear waivers, Taylor is still technically eligible for Miami’s practice squad. He could be brought back that way. But if not, some team somewhere is going to get real bang for their buck. Taylor isn’t the most well-conditioned player, but when he’s on the football field, he makes things happen.

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

Dolphins trade Kiko Alonso to Saints

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It’s official. Kiko Alonso is gone.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Miami Dolphins have traded LB Kiko Alonso to the New Orleans Saints

In exchange for the veteran LB the Dolphins receive LB Vince Biegel.

 

The news broke almost 24 hours after the Dolphins shipped Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to Houston, in exchange for a treasure chest of draft picks.

Alonso, 29, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round (46 overall) of the 2013 NFL draft.  He spent his first two seasons in Buffalo, before making a stop in Philadelphia.

He was later dealt to Miami in 2016, alongside DB Byron Maxwell.  The Eagles and Dolphins swapped first-round picks which would help them in their pursuit for Carson Wentz.

During his time in Miami, Alonso eclipsed 100+ tackles in each of his three seasons.

Whether it be for an unnecessary hit on a QB, or a game-changing interception, we will never forget you, Kiko Alonso.

Check out some of Kiko Alonso’s highlights in this link.

 

While we are ready for the beginning of the NFL season, we know you might not be as cheerful as usual, with the last moves the Miami Dolphins have made. However, we invite you to enjoy our coverage of the team, the best in the market for sure, visiting FiveReasonsSports.com often, and listening to our pods here. 

Wild Offseason for Dolphins Culminates With Tunsil Deal

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The Houston Texans saved the last dance for the Miami Dolphins, acquire Laremy Tunsil.

For days it seemed like everyone thought Jadeveon Clowney was going to be a Miami Dolphin.

Except Clowney.

Chris Grier and the Miami brass were determined to take advantage of a Houston power structure…without structure.

That they did it seems by sending franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills to Houston for two first round picks and a second rounder.

 

Miami also sends back a 2020 fourth rounder and a 2021 sixth rounder according to reports.

Stills’ departure was perhaps in the best interest of all parties, he gets a fresh start away from the noise in South Florida.

Houston is getting a good football player but an even better human being in the deal.

 

#TankSzn is here.

Wait, Don’t we Need a Left Tackle?

When you talk about a rebuild, there are four core positions that comprise the foundation.

Quarterback.

Defensive end.

Cornerback.

Left Tackle.

Miami locked in one of the four by signing Xavien Howard in the offseason.

Their pursuit of Clowney showed intent on resolving another spot.

Miami will likely draft a top prospect at the position next year, maybe the year after.

You can make what you will of the quarterback battle and outcome in preseason, but Josh Rosen will play this season.

Without a left tackle.

So why not keep Tunsil since he is one of the core four, on a team friendly rookie deal?

You’re going to need to find another left tackle eventually anyway.

The Miami Dolphins organization pushed all their chips in on 2020 and beyond.

While completing the fold on the 2019 campaign, in the process selling high on Tunsil.

High Picks Must be on Target

It is hard to remember a team with so much draft capital at their disposal.

 

Perhaps the Dallas Cowboys when they stole six picks from the Vikings for Herschel Walker.

Those picks became players such as Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, and Darren Woodson among others.

If the Dolphins can hit on the majority of those picks, especially the first rounders, the promising future could be upon us en masse.

Hopefully fans can survive the carnage they will witness in 2019 first.

From Stills and Jay-Z, firing of a coach, and some surprising cuts, another roller coaster summer has concluded in Davie.

Miami fans should be ready for anything at this point.

Follow us on Twitter for up to the minute Miami Dolphins news and information @SportsWaveDave and @5ReasonsSports.

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Dolphins send Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to Texans in massive trade

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Laremy Tunsil seemed safe. It seemed like he was going to remain a member of the Miami Dolphins. Then the front office pulls the rug out from under everyone. The Houston Texans sent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks. That should have been it. But then the Dolphins sent the Texans young star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills. They also added a fourth round pick for 2020.

In return, Miami received a 2020 first round pick, a 2021 first round pick, a 2021 second round pick, cornerback Johnson Bademosi and offensive tackle Julién Davenport. With that, the Dolphins officially topped the massive trade that the Raiders pulled off, sending star defender Khalil Mack to the Bears last season. The compensation for the 25-year old tackle and a solid wide receiver is huge, and GM Chris Grier is undoubtedly satisfied with his work.

But this does mean that now, the offensive line is without its best player. Which means that in 2019, both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen may spend most of the season running for their lives.

The Future

As large as this trade is, it does send a message loud and clear to the fan base and the remaining players in the locker room. 2019 is not intended to win games. In spite of everything head coach Brian Flores is saying, winning is not something Miami expects to do a lot of. Not that they will ever admit it publicly. All attention now needs to be placed on the next two drafts. The Dolphins are in a prime position to earn the first overall pick and have their quarterback of choice. Then with that extra first rounder, there’s no telling what they could do.

But there’s one thing that needs to be said now. Grier has to make sure he hits on these next two drafts. Many are saying that the Dolphins are taking the path the Cleveland Browns took. That path was a long one, and even with all the picks they’ve had over the last several years, only now are they actually a good football team on paper. Most importantly, his next selected quarterback needs to be a superstar.

2019, more than ever, is going to be about development. Miami has a young core on defense. Undoubtedly, they will add more in the coming seasons. It’s the offense that needs a lot of work. Unless Michael Deiter, Shaq Calhoun and Isaiah Prince develop, the Dolphins will need to overhaul the line again. Wide receiver has Jakeem Grant and Preston Williams. There’s no telling whether Albert Wilson will return after 2020. Wide receiver will need investing. And what of Josh Rosen? Will he get a chance to prove himself? Or is this Arizona all over again and he’s merely trade fodder or backup material? 2019 may not provide the answer. 2020 might.

There might even be more draft picks coming for the rebuild, if the Dolphins trade Kiko Alonso as expected. Who knows what will come of that? All that can be done now is to monitor the situation closely.

Prepare for pain before the pleasure. Rebuilding is never a fun process, but if Miami gets it right, then the next several years after the storm could be glorious.

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