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Skylar Thompson forcing Dolphins to make hard choices

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Very few people knew the name Skylar Thompson when the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In fact, many were wondering why Miami would use a draft pick on a QB who many believed would be available as an undrafted free agent. Surely, there were other developmental players available the Dolphins could invest in during a win-now year.

However, from the moment he put on the uniform, Skylar Thompson was turning heads.

The 25-year old rookie out of Kansas State is showing extreme poise under pressure. Granted, he’s playing against backups the majority of the time, but his preseason performances are undeniably impressive. In just over five quarters of preseason play, Thompson has gone 29-of-38, with 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Even the team’s starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, can’t help but be impressed by Thompson’s play so far.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with Skylar.” Tagovailoa said after Saturday’s game. “Skylar handled the Tampa game extremely well, and then now he comes in a little later into the third quarter, gets his group going, has — I don’t even know how many plays he had. He probably had a 10-play drive leading up to the score that we had our first score that we had here at Hard Rock for this 2022 season. But I think he has handled it extremely well. He gave us an opportunity to kick a field goal to win the game. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, but I think he has done an extremely great job for us.”

To some draft pundits, Thompson’s success comes as no surprise. Matt Waldman – creator of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio since 2006, stated during his evaluation that Thompson has at least one trait that stands out above every other QB prospect in this draft.

“Thompson has the best pocket management of this class. He maneuvers from all types of pressure better than at least half of the NFL starters I’ve watched this year.  He also takes hellacious hits and maintains the equanimity to deliver an accurate ball.”

Perhaps what held Thompson back during the draft were the injuries he suffered at Kansas State. During his senior year in 2020, Thompson suffered an upper-body injury which limited him to only three starts. But in those games, he went 40-of-64, 62.5 completion percentage, 626 yards and four touchdowns.

He didn’t have much better luck in 2021, as he suffered a knee injury that allowed him only ten starts. However, he still put up decent numbers (162-of-233, 69.5%, 2,113 yards, 12 TDs, four INTs) and finished his career by winning Texas Bowl MVP honors in the team’s win over a depleted LSU roster, in which he went 21-of-28, 259 yards and 3 TDs.

Had he been healthy throughout his collegiate career, it’s safe to assume Thompson would not have fallen all the way to the 7th round. His lack of production at Kansas State was partly due to those injuries. It was also partly due to the demands of the scheme he was in. Nonetheless, coach Mike McDaniel saw something in Thompson that caused the Dolphins to deem it fit to use a draft pick on him.

So far, McDaniel appears justified in that assessment.

“He just gets better every day.” McDaniel said after the preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. “This game the operation was better. There was one time that he kind of lost the play clock a little bit, and we had to burn a timeout, but more than anything, he really had command over everything. And he is starting to make plays that when one or two aren’t there, feeling the concept. And like that touchdown they threw to ‘Z. White’ on the left-hand side, that’s something that Skylar doesn’t make at the beginning of preseason. So, I’ve seen continued improvement, but he is very diligent about the process. He has got the makeup of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. So I think all of his teammates can feel that too.”

Now given the opportunity to produce in a QB friendly offensive scheme, it’s clear Skylar Thompson’s production was not due to lack of skill. PrizePicks.com had Thompson’s O/U on passing yardage at 165.5 yards, assuming that he would play the entirety of the second half if not more.

In spite of entering the game with less than a minute left in the 3rd quarter, Thompson was nearly able to reach that prop. As he led the Dolphins down the field and nearly led what could have been the game-winning drive, Thompson went 9-of-10 for 129 yards and a touchdown, all in the span of barely over one quarter’s time.

Skylar Thompson wasn’t supposed to make things difficult. But he is. Now, the Miami Dolphins have a difficult choice to make. Do they run the risk of letting him test the waiver wire? There are surely QB-needy teams who would love to claim him as their own. Or, alternatively, do they roster three quarterbacks? That idea is unprecedented in today’s modern NFL, but the Dolphins may not have a choice.

Veteran backup QB Teddy Bridgewater has a contract worth up to $10 million. $6.5 million of it is guaranteed. The way it’s structured, as of this moment, releasing Bridgewater saves Miami a grand total of zero dollars in cap space. And it puts them in a deep hole financially as they would be forced to pay him that amount no matter what.

However, if the Dolphins can trade Bridgewater, that changes. Trading him saves Miami $4.5 million in cap space with only $2 million in dead cap. The hard part is finding a trade partner.

These are the questions Skylar Thompson is forcing the Dolphins to answer. His performance in preseason and in practice make it extremely difficult to justify waiving him. By the same token, keeping him instead of Bridgewater hurts the team financially. In 2023, Miami is going to need every penny they can save.

And if they simply keep all three QBs? Then another position that may need the extra depth will lose an important piece. The Dolphins are low on cornerbacks and good offensive line depth. Can they afford the extra roster spot? It’s up to Mike McDaniel to weigh the pros and cons and make that choice.

As for Skylar Thompson himself, he’s determined not to let the situation get to him as the preseason rapidly approaches its end.

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“That decision is out of my control.” He said. “All I can do is focus on being the best teammate that I can possibly be every day, continue to grow and try to learn and get better. That’s really all I’m focused on right now, and everything else I know will take care of itself whichever way that may fold. This is out of my hands. I’m just here to be a good teammate – help the team the most whichever way I can.”

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

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5 Takeaways from Miami Dolphins Training Camp Day 9

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1: Stars of the Day

 

Jaylen Waddle seemed to be everywhere on the field today. Waddle caught multiple mid-range throws but the highlight was when Tagovailoa was able to feed waddle a 25-yard strike in stride as waddle immediately bursted down field finished the play in the end-zone. Fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma caught a beautiful touchdown as quarterback Skyler Thompson rolled out and delivered a bomb. Ezukanma’s consistent performance in camp has been impressive and is making a case for the 53-man roster. 

 

2: Training Camp Vibes at an All-Time High

 

Defensive End Ben Stille was the player hyping the fans up to start practice by doing the “Worm” dance.

 

 

Stille is an undrafted free agent from Nebraska who is also having a relatively impressive camp. Defensive tackle Christain Wilkins later, jokingly told us that Stille “stole” and “plagiarized” the move from him. 

 

About midway through camp, the quarterbacks lined up near the 50-yard line and started launching balls aiming for a net sitting near the back of the endzone. Each time a QB “scored,” the crowd would subsequently erupt in cheers, especially when Tua did so (twice).

 

 

3: The Front 4

 

The defensive line has no doubt been a force to be reckoned with all throughout camp, and that didn’t stop today. Our own “Three Yards Per Carrry” cited Emmanuel Ogbah as practice player of the day but it was also Christian Wilkins, Jaelan Phillips and Zach Sieler who continue to burden the offensive line. 

 

4: Trill Williams

 

Defensive back Trill Wiliams has been showing his diverse set of skills throughout the week. You usually see WR Tyreek Hill burn every corner in the book, but Williams was able to keep up with him today. Williams had a great coverage on a deep ball from Bridgewater to Hill and was able to close the window and force the incompletion. Then shortly after, Williams shut down a quick hitter to Hill. 

 

5: Did Noah Igbinoghene get an INT?

 

During one of the plays on 11-11, Igbinoghene was able to jump a route on a telegraphed throw from Tagovailoa. There was an immense debate during some of the conversations had today abot whether Igbo indeed came down with the football. Nevertheless, a good sign from Igbinoghene as he had one of his better days at camp. 

 

2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Watchlist

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Summer scouting season is underway and it kicks off with the 2023 quarterback class. Here is my 2023 NFL Draft quarterback watchlist.

Top 5 2023 quarterback watchlist

Bryce Young

Alabama’s Bryce Young is coming off a heisman season and is looking to build off that as he’s regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation at making throws out of the pocket and out of structure. 

Although, his draft stock may be hurt by his slight frame. Young looks more like a slot receiver compared to what a franchise quarterback is billed at.

Young led the Crimson Tide to a win in the SEC Championship game, becoming the only quarterback to beat the vaunted Georgia defense last season. In that game he was 26 of 44 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns. 

While the Crimson Tide ended up losing in the title game in the rematch against Georgia, Young showed throughout the season that he could play the position at a high level.

In the play above you see Young’s quick feet moving him to allow him a clean pocket. He throws a rope in-between two defenders outside the hash marks. 

His anticipation and touch at this level makes him one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and number one in this 2023 quarterback watchlist.

C.J. Stroud

Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud is one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in this class. He completed 72% of his passes in 2022. Stroud will look to build off what he did in the rose bowl game against Utah.

Stroud is accurate, aggressive, willing to attack the middle of the field, and reads the field extremely well as a passer.

Pre-snap, Utah show single-high coverage in the defensive backfield. However, the post-snap reality does not match the pre-snap expectations. The Utes defense converts into a two-deep shell.

Stroud, after opening to the left side of the field, reads the rotation and throws to the post route from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

He’s a smart signal-caller who is a natural leader with great instincts and the ability to quickly cycle through his reads. Which makes him the second quarterback on my 2023 quarterback watchlist.

Tyler Van Dyke

There is excitement in the area around the Miami Hurricanes this season, mainly in part to new head coach Mario Cristobal. Tyler Van Dyke’s play last season is another big reason for that excitement.

In 2021 as a sophomore he played in 10 games as he passed for 2918 yards on 326 attempts with a completion percentage of 62 for an average of 9.0 yards per pass, with 25 TDs, while also taking 23 sacks, and putting up a QB rating of 108.9. After the first year as starting quarterback, he earned ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

This touchdown early in that contest is a good example of how well Van Dyke sees the field and throws with anticipation. He hits the post route for a touchdown on a switch concept, letting the ball fly as the receiver gets into his break.

Van Dyke is my third ranked prospect in this 2023 quarterback watchlist because of his processing skills. Also, he uses good technique, squaring his shoulders to the target and stepping into his throws

Will Levis

Kentucky’s Will Levis came from nowhere last year and is now looked at as a legitimate first-round talent. He has great physical gifts as well as good accuracy and powerful quick release as well a natural feel for the game

Levis offers a nice blend of size, arm strength and toughness. In the pocket, he has a good feel to climb and avoid pressure — and also possesses enough athleticism to extend plays with his legs.

If he can work on ball placement issues, and lower-body inconsistencies with his mechanics, he’ll live up to the hype.

The Wildcat product has an elite quick-release coupled with fast processing skills which makes him an ideal for a condensed formation offense, similar to the likes of the Rams.

Tanner McKee

In his first year starting at Stanford, Tanner McKee showcased a handful of NFL Traits. He has elite size for the position – stands 6-6 and weighs 230lbs and has the arm strength to match.

The Cardinals product accuracy is decent but his ball placement is one of his best traits overall. McKee shows excellent accuracy on short timing routes to backs and receivers. Slightly, he places the ball in front of receiver to lead them to potential yardage after the catch.

This completion against Oregon highlights two of his strengths: Aggression and ball placement. McKee is not afraid of challenging small throwing windows, and has no fear throwing over the middle. Couple that with accuracy, and McKee can have a solid foundation for the NFL.

He’s an intriguing pro prospect due to his obvious tangibles. McKee looks the part possessing prototypical drop-back passer qualities, is a quick decision-maker, and decent accuracy. He can easily transition into a pro-style offense which makes him the fifth prospect on the 2023 quarterback watchlist.

Honorable Mentions:

Phil Jurkovec-Boston College, Spencer Rattler- South Carolina, Hendon Hooker-Tennessee, Anthony Richardson-Florida, Jake Haener-Fresno State.

 

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

 

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

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Dolphins breakout candidates

5 Breakout Candidates for the Miami Dolphins in 2022

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The Miami Dolphins kicked of the Mike McDaniel era this week when rookies reported to the team’s facility. The Dolphins 2022 draft class featured a franchise-low four selections, but with undrafted rookies, a decent crop arrived to start training camp. With veterans poised to report on Tuesday July 26th, it’s time to consider which Dolphins are breakout candidates for the coming season.

McDaniel, the quirky offensive guru and 11th head coach in franchise history, is tasked with reshaping one of the most stagnant offensive attacks in the NFL. The Dolphins haven’t had a top-10 offense in 27 years, when Dan Marino was still under center.

Entering his first training camp as a head coach, McDaniel must identify the players that can help take Miami to the next level. The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game in 2000 but seem to have populated the roster with players talented enough to end that drought.

Here’s a look at five breakout candidates for the Miami Dolphins in 2022.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.

The headlines this offense naturally went toward the trade acquisition of Tyreek Hill, but the signing of Cedrick Wilson Jr. should also excite ‘Phins fans. Miami targeted Wilson early in free agency, which signals confidence in potential production and offensive fit.

At 6-foot-2, Wilson stands as a solid complement to Miami’s other speedy pass catchers, and he’s something of a burner himself. He fits McDaniel’s as a run-after-the-catch threat, something that, coupled with the addition of Hill, pushed DeVante Parker off Miami’s roster.

Wilson comes to Miami following a career-year with the Cowboys. He made 45 catches for 602 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, Dallas quarterbacks registered a 138.0 passer rating when targeting Wilson on intermediate routes. That figure ranked eighth among all wideouts.

Although he’ll share time and targets with Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike Gesicki, among others in the passing game, Wilson should provide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with a reliable redzone threat. Waddle led the Dolphins with 15 redzone targets last year, but no other player was in double figures.

Gesicki saw nine, as did running back Myles Gaskin. Departed wideouts Mack Hollins and Parker vacate 14 redzone targets between them, so Wilson could pick up the slack there. He saw nine redzone targets last season, making six catches, including three for touchdowns.

 

While the 27-year-old fourth-year pro has never recorded a 1,000-yard season, he’s poised to assume a significant role in the Dolphins’ passing attack.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: RB Chase Edmonds

Miami revamped their backfield this offseason with the additions of Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel, and Alec Ingold. While there’s a clear tie between Mostert and McDaniel given their shared time in San Francisco, Edmonds stands taller among Dolphins breakout candidates.

Edmonds was one of two running backs last season that registered more than 100 carries, over 5.0 yards-per-carry, and over 40 receptions. He finished top-10 in yards-per-rushing-attempt (5.1) and generated 341 yards after contact. Edmonds posted career-highs in 10-plus yard carries (19) and missed tackles forced (16).

Edmonds looks like a great system fit, too. The 49ers used a zone blocking scheme 282 times last season, 6th-most in the NFL. Edmonds thrived behind zone blocking last season, ranking first in the NFL in yards-per-attempt (5.8).

Edmonds seems to have an inside track for the starting role in Miami, and his dual-threat nature has him poised for a breakout season. He made 43 catches in 12 games last season, finishing 14th among running backs. He averaged 3.6 receptions per game, so if he had played a full season, he might have finished with 61 grabs. That figure would have put him top-5 among all running backs.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: S Brandon Jones

While most of the offseason attention will go to Miami’s other safety Jevon Holland, Brandon Jones also looks ready to make the leap next season. He flashed an elite skill for his position last season, blitzing the quarterback, and finished with five sacks. That figure led all defensive backs in 2021. He also recorded 14 pressures.

Miami personnel official Matt Winston said recently Jones is “very reliable, in terms of what you’re getting day in and day out. You know you’re going to get some sort of explosive play. He’s got a niche rushing the passer in exotic packages. Really being a force in and around the line of scrimmage is where he’s stood out to me.”

Jones posted a 77.6 pass-rush grade in 2021 for Pro Football Focus, which ranked 10th among qualified safeties.

During OTAs, Jones told reporters he wants to avoid being labeled a “blitz only” guy. He said his goal is “just trying to be and find the best way for me that I could be well rounded.”

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: Jaelan Phillips

The No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Phillips finished with 8.5 sacks, second among all rookies last season behind only Micah Parsons’ 13. He also registered 16 QB Hits as a rookie.

Phillips played all 17 games last season, but seemed to get more comfortable as the year progressed. He recorded seven of his sacks in the second half of the season, including a run of five games registering at least half a sack. Phillips should get more run in 2022 following a rookie campaign that saw him play just 54 percent of defensive snaps overall.

Teammates recognize Phillips’ potential as well. Three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead said Phillips “has the chance to be special” in the NFL. And Phillips’ pass rush partner, Emmanuel Ogbah, noted Phillips “has the mentality” and he’s “excited to see his growth this year.”

For comparison’s sake, Jason Taylor managed five sacks as a rookie, then nine in his second season. Taylor set Miami’s single-season sack record (18.5) in 2002, his sixth season.

If Phillips follows a similar trajectory, he’ll be among the elite pass rushers in the game. Should he make a four-sack jump in Year 2, he’d finish with 12.5, a figure that would’ve tied for seventh-most last season.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: Tua Tagovailoa

This one seems like the obvious one, so I’ve saved quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for last among the Dolphins breakout candidates. Behind an improved offensive line and with a ground attack designed by running game guru McDaniel, a run-after-the-catch design for this offense should be one Tagovailoa thrives in.

Over his 12 games last season, Tagovailoa registered 2,653 yards, 16 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 67.8-percent completion percentage. He led the league in deep ball completion percentage (50.0 percent) and red zone completion percentage (64.9 percent). Tagovailoa posted the highest clean-pocket completion percentage among starting quarterbacks (76.3 percent). That’s noteworthy considering offensive line play should improve following the additions of Armstead and Connor Williams.

Tagovailoa ranked fourth in play-action completion percentage (69.0-percent), too. While he might not excel throwing into tight windows, his top-3 receivers for 2022 can all create space for their quarterback with their speed.

Following his hire as Dolphins head coach, McDaniel said of Tagovailoa: “I think it’s important that you empower the quarterback with the rest of the players around him and the scheme you bring forth. So, I think his best days are in front of him.”

Tagovailoa’s accuracy and decision-making should help him capitalize on the talent upgrades surrounding him in Miami this season.

 

These veterans will report to Miami’s facility on Tuesday, July 26th, set for training camp. The first practice open to the public will occur on July 30th. Follow 5 Reasons and Three Yards Per Carry host Alfredo Arteaga for updates during training camp to see who stands out among the Dolphins breakout candidates.

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Guide to Live Betting on the NFL

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NFL games are fast and furious, which make them ideal for live betting, especially when live bets are so easy to place. In fact, when it comes to betting, many see NFL games as perfect candidates for a wager. 

 

On its website, the NFL, reporting figures from the American Gaming Association, informed visitors in 2021 that more than 45 million Americans had said they planned to bet on NFL games this year. There are many different types of bets these punters lay down, however, we are here today for a rather engaging type of bet.

Below is a look at some of the different live bets you can place on the NFL, plus a discussion of tactics you can use for more successful live betting.

 

The different types of live bets you can make

 

Live betting offers a range of advantages, the main one being that you can follow the action and place the right bet at the right time. If you’re on the ball, you can also wager on a certain income before the sportsbook has time to change the odds. Here are some of the live bets you can make:

Money line

A money line bet is a straightforward bet on who you think will win the game. As the game goes on, you’ll see the money line change. The advantage of this type of bet is that you can place more than one bet as the game twists and turns. 

 

Point spreads

The point spread is the advantage or disadvantage the sportsbooks give to the opposing teams and the number is based on the margin of their victory or defeat within a specific timeframe. One of the advantages of point spread betting is that you’re betting against the spread, rather than on a straight winner, and it’s easier for an underdog to come through for you. You can also win more money because of this.

 

Second half

The second half line bet is an excellent way to mitigate risk. Suppose you’ve already laid your wager on the favourite, but now the underdog looks like it’s going to fight its way back and reduce the difference between the two teams. Your second half bet could be on the underdog, guaranteeing that one of your bets will win. 

 

Totals

This is a straightforward bet. You’re simply betting on whether the total number of points will reach a certain number or not, or fall short of it. Totals betting is a popular type of bet and keeps you in suspense until the end. The advantage of a totals bet is that you can bet on anything that’s countable, providing you with lots of flexibility in what you can bet on.

 

Parlays

You don’t have to bet on just one live game, however. If there’s more than one game being played, you can live bet on several at once, all as part of the same bet. If one bet fails, however, you lose the whole bet. It’s a risky type of bet but will pay handsomely if it comes off.

 

Tips for live betting on the NFL

Naturally, when you place a live bet, you want to win (or maybe you’re just in it for the excitement!). Here are some tips for live betting on the NFL:

 

Watch the game

This may sound elementary, but it needs to be said. You can’t tell if a team is mounting a comeback and make a live wager if you’re not actually following the game as it happens. If you can’t follow the game, place your bet before it starts.

 

Decide upon your strategy

One of the most important things you can do is determine your strategy before the game. Decide which bets you’re going to focus on. The common ones are the money line, the point spread and the totals. If you focus on multiple aspects of the game, it will be harder for you to spot the signs or events that will help you to gain an advantage when you place your bet. 

 

Know the team’s best quarters

Before the game, research into the teams’ games and see if you can identify a quarter in which they consistently seem to perform better in some way. This is useful knowledge you can use to your advantage when making a bet.

The NFL presents some amazing opportunities for live betting, and players can mix things up by betting on different aspects rather than just straight outcomes if they wish. Following the tips above will also help you to bet more successfully. Why not give them a try and see how they work for you?

NFL Receiving Yards 2022 Leader Odds

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The NFL is all about passing these days, and wide receivers have been benefiting big time from the rules in today’s NFL. Wide receivers are easy to come by these days in terms of talent, but the quarterback needs to be good enough to get them the football, though. There are so many of them, and some teams have as many as three good wide receivers.

 

Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams led the NFL in receiving yards last season with 1,947 yards receiving, and he was not far from 2,000 yards receiving. There will be those that bet on the NFL receiving yards leader at an online casino, so, What are the odds, and who will be the favorites to be the receiving yards leader in the NFL this upcoming season?

 

Justin Jefferson and Cooper Kupp +800

 

Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams both have the best odds to win the receiving yards title this season. Jefferson is more likely to get it this time around than Kupp is. Justin Jefferson was second in the NFL in receiving yards last season with 1,616 yards receiving.

 

The Minnesota Vikings don’t have a deep receiving core behind Jefferson. Adam Theilen is a very good number two wide receiver, but they don’t have a bonafide number three. Kirk Cousins will be throwing passes to Justin Jefferson this season. 

 

As for Cooper Kupp on the Los Angeles Rams, some of his yardages might be taken away by Allen Robinson and Van Jefferson. The only thing for him going is that Matthew Stafford is his quarterback. 

 

Kupp is also one of the most reliable wide receivers in the NFL. He may have a lot of catches once again this season, but don’t count on him getting that much yardage again this season.

 

Travis Kelce and Ja’Marr Chase +1000

 

Travis Kelce, tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Ja’Marr Chase, wide receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals, both have the second-best odds to be the NFL’s leading receiver in 2022. 

 

Kelce will be Patrick Mahomes’s number one target this season now that Tyreek Hill is no longer with the football team after being traded to the Miami Dolphins.

 

Travis Kelce will be by far the best offensive tight end statistically this season, but the question will be how many games does he get double teamed and how many games does he have boom or bust kind of performances in fantasy football? 

 

Kelce finished with 1,125 receiving yards last season, which was 14th in the NFL.

 

Ja’Marr Chase was fourth in the NFL in receiving yards as a rookie last season at 1,455 yards receiving. He is already one of the best wide receivers in the game. Chase’s size and body build, along with his physicality, is a nightmare for defensive backs. 

 

Ja’Marr Chase is a game-breaker and also had five touchdowns last season over 50 yards. The Ja’Marr Chase-Joe Burrow connection was on point last season as it was back in the LSU days. 

 

Despite going to the Super Bowl last season and falling short, the connection can even be better this season because they will have a much better offensive line.

 

Davante Adams +1200

 

Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders has the third-best odds to win the 2022 NFL receiving leader. Adams is a wide receiver and is one of the best in the NFL. He finished with the third-most receiving yards last season, with 1,553 yards receiving with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

 

Davante Adams will be catching passes this season from his old college football teammate at Fresno State, quarterback Derek Carr. Carr was one of the reasons why the Las Vegas Raiders made it to the playoffs last season, and he will make sure that Davante Adams gets the ball often this year.

What Channing Tindall brings to the Miami Dolphins

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With the 102nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall.

Pre-draft

The Miami Dolphins brought in Channing Tindall in a 30-visit. Overall, General Manager Chris Grier and the Dolphins brass were impressed with the Bulldog Product. 

Chris Grier cited his game speed, versatility, and character. 

“That character too, that part of him really stood out to me like, ‘Hey, this kid loves ball and wanted to be around his teammates and do anything he can to help them win.’ And it paid off. They won a national championship. We really enjoyed getting to know the kid. Specifically, the speed stands out on film on him.”

Chris Grier on Channing Tindall

Tindall on his pre-draft visit in Miami:

“I just really got in with the linebackers coaches. I talked to the whole staff and I felt like home, honestly, when I was there.”

New Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Tindall

Scouting Report

Strengths

Channing Tindall is a super fast and athletic linebacker that runs a 4.4 forty time.  He’s a sure fire tackler who always brings down the ball carrier

At 6-foot-2, Tindall may be a tad undersized but it does not show on film. The Georgia product is a hard hitter and flys by blockers blowing up run plays. Has surprising strength for his size. 

Channing Tindalls’ coverage skills are reminiscent of a big nickel, or strong safety in the slot position. He’s able to cover tight ends in press man and stick with faster running backs. 

In terms of Tindalls’ pass-rushing prowess, he has some natural pass rush moves. In high school, Tindall was an EDGE. He’s got fluid hips and nice lateral movement. 

He provides a good outside rush and is able to get around bigger offensive lineman with his blazing speed on the outside. Also, as a run defender, he takes good angles and pursues ball carriers. Very rarely do you see Channing Tindall out of position.

Weaknesses

Tindall was never able to secure a starting spot in the linebacker core behind Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean. 

While the Bulldog alum did see increases in production numbers his senior year, he barely even logged over 600 snaps over four years at Georgia. 

In such a talented collegiate defense, Tindall was rarely focused on as a weakness and that might have not shown how he does when teams target him. 

Routinely, as an “undersized” player he was pushed around when teams ran at him. A majority of his successful plays were when he was a chaser than in a blockers face.

However with such little snaps, the reps Channing Tindall played in, he made the most of his opportunities. Tindall was third on the team in tackles. 

Projection

Projecting how new Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Tindall will not be hard. 

Miami’s defensive philosophy asks their linebackers to play the run, rush the quarterback and occasionally be a spy in coverage. 

Channing Tindall has done all those things in his time at Georgia. 

“I think when you watch the film, it’s a very talented defense and how they use him – they use him as a spy, they use him to blitz, he covers backs. Just a lot of the ways that are kind of similar to how he will probably be used here in different schemes”

Chris Grier on how Channing Tindall was used in Georgia

Tindall is one of the fasted linebackers in this year’s class – he’s a player who covers like a safety and possesses serious tackling and hitting power.

It’s likely that Tindall will be used as an inside linebacker, but that’s not all he can do. Not only can he be a MIKE, he can also be on the outside as a SAM or WILL linebacker. 

“The way they use their linebackers is different. They use their linebackers everywhere, put them on the edge sometimes, put them on the line, they put them at Mike, Will. They are very versatile and I feel like I fit into it.”

Channing Tindall on the Dolphins Linebacker usage

It’s a solid selection to start of Mike McDaniels’ first ever draft as a head coach. Channing Tindall fills a need and brings more athletic talent and speed that the Miami Dolphins currently have and covet.

 

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

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2022 NFL Draft Rumors

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It’s the largest smokescreens NFL teams put out year after year. Many NFL Teams moves are a mystery as news is intentionally leaked out by the organizations themselves, truth or not.

The odds and news have changed dramatically over the last days as this years NFL Draft is truly the most unpredictable in years.

Here are some of the 2022 NFL Draft rumors and notes:

Deebo Samuel

League source confirms Deebo Samuel is not being traded at this time, which means a draft day move is unlikely for many teams hoping to get an electric player.

Top 10 news

Jacksonville Jaguars

Georgia EDGE rusher Travon Walker is garnering a lot of hype lately and the oddsmakers are betting on the Bulldog product to be taken first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

I’ve had Aidan Hutchinson in several mock drafts to Jacksonville, but with rumors coming out, it may not be far fetched.

Schematically, it favors Walker than Hutchinson as Walker can play outside linebacker, standup EDGE and as an interior lineman. This help out K’Lavon Chaisson and Foye Olukun, compared to Hutchinson who is a hand in the dirt rusher.

Detroit Lions

A Malik Willis pairing in Detroit is all about the future. Willis can learn behind Goff as he needs the most development of any quarterback in this years 2022 NFL Draft class.

General Manager Brad Holmes is “looking” at the quarterback position and it might not be with the second overall pick.

It may come down to Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker to beef up the defensive trenches.

However, how much longer does Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers have left to play, the same may be said about Kirk Cousins.

The Chicago Bears still need some pieces and Justin Fields is still developing, drafting Willis may pay off in the future.

Houston Texans

Derek Stingley Jr. and the Texans have had connections for a while due to his former DB coach part of the Texans Coaching staff.

If Houston is all in on Davis Mills, building the trenches would be a better option with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft. In the latest mocks and with some news coming out, the Texans do have two offensive tackles in mind: Evan Neal and Ikem Ekonwu.

It’s a deep defensive class towards the backend of the draft, especially for defenders. The 2022 NFL Draft rumors have the trading back from the 13th overall pick.

New York Jets

I’ve heard that Robert Saleh is not a big Travon Walker fan. Also, Kyle Hamilton fourth overall would not fit with what the Jets defense is looking to build.

Ikem Ekonwu is a favorite of Jets General Manager Joe Douglas. Having another offensive lineman fortifies the the line for Zach Wilson and we may see shades of his BYU playing days.

Gang green will look to load up on offense by pairing Wilson arm with a big body wide receiver in the likes of Drake London. Jameson Williams is a possibility with the tenth overall selection.

Head Coach Robert Saleh may want to get better in the trenches on defense. If Kayvon Thibodeaux falls, it may be a tossup between him and Jermaine Johnson.

New York Giants

The 2022 NFL Draft rumor mill has it that the Giants may look to trade back a few spots to gain more value.

While General Manager Joe Schoen has hinted that the offensive line is a priority, they may forgo passing on a lineman for more pressing needs. An EDGE rusher, a deep class overall, is very much in play. Especially the top three in Thibodeaux, Walker, and Johnson.

If the Giants are comfortable at fifth and seventh overall Evan Neal and Charles Cross are targets. Big Blue has a big decision to make after the draft if they want to keep Daniel Jones for a fifth year, which does not seem likely.

Carolina Panthers

Carolina is a weird team this year. Considering the fact that they are heavily interested in a quarterback this year, Sam Darnold is still “the guy”.

They have the sixth pick and their next is in the fourth round. I highgly expect Carolina to select a quarterback with the physical tools of Matt Corral. Kenny Pickett seems like the logical choice– have Matt Rhule and co. made a logical decision recently?

Atlanta Falcons

Expect Terry Fontenet and the Falcons to after several EDGE rushers hard. I’ve heard Kayvon Thibodeaux is a favorite but Jermaine Johnsons skillset is very hard to pass up on.

Atlanta could be a dark horse for Malik Willis if he were to fall to the eighth pick, even if Kayvon Thibodeaux is on the board.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle just seems so perfect for Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.

They’ll have to re-build their defense and Sauce brings the moxie and physical play style Carroll wants in his defense.

However, recent draft history has shown that the Seahawks routinely trade back to garner more picks later on to fill needs. Offensive line is another deep position group in this years class.

Notes

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia is on the market for cornerbacks and Trent McDuffie has been mocked routinely. The 2022 NFL Draft rumor mill has Kaiir Elam as the third or fourth corner picked, I would not be shocked if Kaiir Elam is picked up by the Eagles with their second first round pick.

The Eagles are also on the marke for an EDGE rusher, George Karlaftis has been a mainstay in several recent mock drafts. Although, another wide receiver for Jalen Hurts would not hurt, a potential trade up for Jameson Williams may be in play. Garrett Wilson could also be on the board.

Kyle Hamilton

Hamilton seems to be one of the most polarizing players in this draft cycle as he can do it all on the defensive side of the ball.

The range he showed on tape didn’t match the speed he showed in workouts; shockingly, to NFL teams it may matter. However, teams within the top 10 have other pressing needs than a safety.

The Washington Commanders and Houston Texans have been heavily linked to Kyle Hamilton in the 2022 NFL Draft rumors.

Running back in Round 1?

A new saying goes that you do not ever take a running back in the first round, there are differing opinions.

There’s been a recent trend of running backs devalued in the first round; however, it is situationally based.

The 2022 NFL Draft rumors has the Buffalo Bills circling around Iowa State’s Breece Hall as the first running back taken off the board. Pair with a lethal aerial attack in Orchard Park, the Bills may well be on their way back to the AFC Championship game.

Miami Dolphins

It’s quiet in south beach, a bit too quiet. It’s been an aggressive off-season for the Miami Dolphins and General Manager Chris Grier.

Grier talked about finding the right time to be aggressive in the off-season and the NFL Draft is a part of it.

With Miami only having four picks in this years draft a move up to grab a player they really like is a good possibility to complete a piece on either side of the ball.

 

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

 

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Day 1 NFL Combine Takeaways

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Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Scouting combine is in the books here are the 3 takeaways from the first day of on-field workouts.

40 times

The first night of on-field workouts was a speed thrill. In a city that celebrates speed with Indy cars , the wide receivers at the NFL scouting combine matched a record Thursday that would have NASCAR opening their eyes.

The group of pass catchers left dust, as the eight sub-4.4 clockings tied the most by the wide receivers at the combine in any year evaluated since 2006.

Tyquan Thornton had the only official time under 4.3, as Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., had the second fastest official clocking at 4.31.

Many unofficial times had to be changed and chatter around the league was this years class of pass catchers is the fastest in NFL History OR the 40 times were off

Kenny Pickett’s Hand Size

It is hands-down the most critiqued quality attached to NFL quarterback prospects each year.

As a potential first round pick, Pickett‘s hand size has been scrutinized heavily. His hands officially measured in at 8 1/2″ at the NFL Combine. This makes Pickett’s hands the smallest of any quarterback in the NFL.

“The reason I didn’t measure at the Senior Bowl was just to have those extra couple weeks, just kind of a commonsense thing, to have more time working the exercises…Whatever it measures, it measures, I’m sure that won’t be the end of it, but that will be the last measurement I’m sure I’ll take of it.”

– Kenny Pickett

According to ESPN Stats & Information data, average hand size for quarterbacks taken in the first round from 2008 to 2020 is 9 7/10 inches.

Christian Watsons big day

Watson won the day at the receiver position. He’s 6-4 and 210 pounds, one of the most sizable receivers in this class.

He ran 4.36 with a 38.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot, four-inch broad jump, one of the longest in combine history.

“He’s a special dude. You can see that just physically, how big he is, how fast he is. Great person to be around, obviously one of my closest friends. Someone that helped me get to where I am right now. I wouldn’t be here without Christian.”

–Trey Lance on Christian Watson

I wrote about Christian Watson last summer and how the Miami Dolphins should take a chance on him.

Now, I’m not sure if Watson lasts till the end of the 2nd round, he’s highly thought off in league circles.

*** This article was originally posted at ATB Network***

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

2022 NFL Scouting Combine Preview

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The NFL Combine kicks off on March 1st and ends on March 7th. The 2022 NFL Combine will take place in Lucas Oil Stadium. 

NFL Network will be covering the 2022 NFL Combine:

  • March 3rd: quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends from 4 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET 
  • March 4th: running backs, offensive linemen and special teams from 4 pm. ET to 10 p.m. ET 
  • March 5th: Five hours of live coverage of defensive linemen and linebackers from 4 p.m. ET to 9 p.m. 
  • March 6th: Five hours of live coverage of defensive backs from 2 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET 

What it is

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine allows prospects to participate in on-field drills in front of NFL evaluators. Additionally, prospects have the opportunity to interview with NFL teams.

There are around 324 total combine participants ranging from SEC powerhouses to FCS and HBCU players. 

Analysis

The NFL combine is the biggest draft-centric event of the year. A year after its full cancellation, the NFL combine is returning this year but the National Invitational Camp planned to implement several COVID-19 protocols, including a “bubble.” 

However, The NFL Combine is lifting bubble restrictions shortly after the news that player agents were organizing a boycott.

Most prospects train for the NFL Combine right after the season ends. Each prospect has a team of nutritionists, agents, and trainers- to help them with their testing, nutrition, training and even sleep schedule.

Training for the combine is no joke as it is the biggest interview of prospects lives.

It may be entertaining for fans and media alike to enjoy the testing events such as the 40 yard dash and even the bench press. NFL teams view the medical evaluations as the most vital aspect of the combine.

These medical evaluations are critical in decision making for NFL teams. At times if a player fails the evaluation it may knock them off a teams board or may even shatter their dreams of playing in the NFL.

Interviews with NFL team evaluators is the second most important part of the combine process. It’s a rare opportunity for scouts, coaches, and general managers to get to know players in a one-on-one format. 

This allows players to understand what teams are looking for in them and teams to really pick a prospects brain and see if they can be a cultural fit within their organization.

Prospects see a volatile change in their training regimen for the NFL Combine. The Combine itself has a different structure compared to how players train.

Players are in a new uncomfortable environment which interferes in how they go about doing things. It’s not an optimal environment that will translate into testing numbers they usually hit.

Furthermore, it’s why teams go to prospects pro days. Pro days are similar to the NFL combine except colleges host it for their players. This allows prospects to be comfortable in familiar circumstances to put their best foot forward.

Pro days are essentially structured by college training staffs where players know the surface they are working on. In short, players create the workout during pro days where the combine creates the work for them.

Conclusion

For many of us in the draft world, analysts don’t “trust” the pro day testing numbers as they want to see how prospects react to different environments as it translates to prospects figuring out things in the league and on game days.

Agents of prospects sometimes tell them to forgo the combine testing and do the medical testing and interviews with teams. Teams still take into account pro day numbers and can use their evaluation criteria to better judge players.

 

*** This article was originally posted at PhinManiacs***

 

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