It happened seemingly overnight, I used to walk to the corner Italian restaurant into the bar area and pick up a large scamotz (how we used to say it) for the family. It is actually “scamorza” cheese and it used to be what all the pizza’s were made with. That and thick pepperoni that had a bite to it and would curl up at the edges as it cooked. All of a sudden scamotz disappeared and mozzarella took its place. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. The thin white box, so hot on the bottom you could barely hold it with thin crust and the smell – oh the smell – delicious.
Three Corner’s Italian Restaurant was just a couple of blocks away, across from Gene’s market, where I bought my baseball cards. Well baseball cards, football cards, gum, candy, soda, twinkies, devil dogs, neco wafers, Tahitian treat, Yoohoo you name it. Anyway, Three Corners wasn’t one of the better restaurants around but it was the closest so it served our family well at times. I remember walking up there and entering the smoke filled bar to pick up the large scamotz with pepperoni. The bar was separate from the restaurant and had it’s own entry. I was just a little kid then too, but the bartender and the patrons didn’t care that a kid was in there.
I’ll just never understand how quickly scamorza suddenly disappeared. I’ve heard it had to do with cost and availability but how could everyone have had it one day and not the next. I suppose the change was more gradual 
than I may remember because to me it was abrupt and sudden and leaves me baffled still to this day. Ordering a large scamotz was so simple, it flowed off the tongue. Now it’s a “cheese” pizza and who knows what crap they are putting on there. Large mozzarella sounds idiotic, no one orders a large mozzarella. But they did order a large scamotz, you better believe it.
There used to be a simpler time. A time when you ordered a pizza by the name of the cheese on it. A time when it was a given that Don Shula would have his team in the playoffs and the Big Red Machine would be a factor. Now it’s cheese pizza, Patriots and no one cares about baseball all that much. We, well at least I, want our old pizza cheese back. We want Coach Gase to return the Dolphins to prominence and glory. And baseball, well baseball can still use the All-Star game to manipulate the season.
We are two long weeks away from the opening of camp for most NFL teams and a month or more away from even pre-season games but the hardest stretch is about to be over and we we can live in football harmony once again. Our Dolphins seem primed to break out, properly coached and motivated this is a talented group that has as good a chance as any Dolphin team to make a playoff run.
Man on phone: Hey how ya doin? Let me get a large scamotz
restaurant person: Sure, you want pepperoni on dat?
M: Yea, dat sounds good.
rp: You gonna pick it up?
M: No, I’ll send da boy down
rp: Alright then
Finsmob Unleashed 
Great post Son! And dammit you made me hungry. Btw thin crust pizza is best. If you don’t agree with me on that we can’t be friends. 😉
I agree, but they’re all good.
This the same one you posted below or was this something awesome that some of us just missed out on?
I wonder why the Dolphins only have 88 players on their roster? Dion Jordan suspended so he cannot be on the roster who makes 89 if they’re keeping a space for him. That leaves one more spot they could have a body in
So wouldn’t you know it? I have not had anyone over my house in close to a year. The one time that a girl I have been chatting chatting up decides to stop by with one of her girlfriends unannounced I had just finished taking a horrendous shit that stunk up the entire house. Just finished my business and the doorbell rang. I don’t know what I did in a past life but God damn it I must have paid the karmic debt already!
Febreze
😦
LMAO!!!
https://twitter.com/CherguiaMbark/status/754087636864819200
Good article Son,
At first I thought it was a Blues Brothers reference, but that was SCMODS
I think scamotz was a Connecticut thing because I have never heard it anywhere else
scamotz
1. a confectionery mixture made of: one part low grade Mozzarella cheese, one part American cheese and three parts hydrogenated vegetable oil. Found on cheap pizza and other Italian influenced American foods. 2. semen
Maria: I almost choked to death on some scamotz, last night.
Jennifer: The cheap Italian stuff, or the testicle gravy?
Maria: Both, actually.
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LOL at Son, I wonder why it disappeared.
Ya just had to try and rain on his boyhood memories.
—————-
Scamorza is a curd cheese, in which the fresh curd matures in its own whey for several hours to allow acidity to develop by the process of lactose being converted to lactic acid. Artisanal cheese makers generally form the cheese into a round shape, and then tie a string around the mass one third of the distance from the top, and hang to dry.
Scamorza can be substituted for mozzarella in most dishes as can any other cheese, but the resulting taste will be much stronger and more dominant. It is reputed to melt better in baking. Using the smoked variety (scamorza affumicata) adds a nice background flavor in replacement of mozzarella.
Nice piece Son — what is about leaving the Northeast that makes us miss the pizza so much? It ain’t just about the water. Found a good one down my way if you visit. Come the night before and they should deliver.
Lesner vows to get to the bottom of the doping violation. Does he work for Robert Kraft?
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is inching closer to a return.
Kershaw, sidelined since June 27 with a mild disk herniation, will throw a simulated game in Los Angeles on Saturday. Roberts said Kershaw will throw 60 pitches.
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Anyone really know what a simulated game is? I’d think they’d have him face live batters, with a full defense behind him.
Interesting post, Son! I prefer crispy thin crust pizza with real mozzarella that actually melts. 🙂
Make it stop
LOL @ Herd
I can’t stand his face
What, Trump can’t eat pizza ground hog day style?
I hope he ordered an extra cyanide pizza
I have ONE OPENING REMAINING in TDS FFL would one of you join the fun?
It’s free, not time consuming, if you can’t attend the live draft (Friday Sept 2 @ 8 pm EST I can change the day & time if needed) it will auto draft and all you need to do at the least is just check in and make sure a player is not on a bye week and if any of your players get injured you will want to change that player out.It can take as little as 5 minutes to do any of those things. Other than that your team runs itself.
There is room for maybe 2 more people as I also want to drop a player from last year if two of you want to join….come join the fun!!!!
It’s an NFL.com league and here is the link. (http://fantasy.nfl.com/league/980041)
I am hopeful at the end of this day I can have the league full and ready for the live draft.
PLEASE Help me out! …..an attempt to play on your conscience (Those of you who have one) or I will hold my breath until one of you take the plunge!!!!! waiting, waiting, waiting…….almost out of air….. 🙂
I am limiting it to a 10 team league….
If you never done it before NFL.com have a active live mock draft that you can play to get the feel of how it goes maybe you would like to try it. It is fun and can give you an idea of who you might get on your FF team should you play…
First time players would be wise to practice and it can be fun during this slow period in the offseason…
Try it!
http://fantasy.nfl.com/draftcenter/mockdrafts?leagueId=980041
One last note, as soon as I get enough active players I will change the league the following season into a paid league where you can win some money at season’s end.
Ahhhh pizza
I never heard of scamotz before
Sounds delicious
Whatver you humans can do to cut down the sausage I encourage
cheese, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms & onions mmmmmm
Any kinda pizza sounds good right about now, but now it’s Sunday brunch time, which means any combo of eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, ham and grits. We’re all vegetarians as you can see.
This has to stop!!!
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/us/baton-route-police-shooting/index.html
KPLC 7 News
1 hr ·
#BREAKING The number of law enforcement officers killed in Baton Rouge has risen to three>>http://www.kplctv.com/…/watch-live-baton-rouge-police-respo…
Louisiana State Police
5 mins ·
UPDATE:
Three law enforcement are confirmed dead, three others injured. One suspect is dead, law enforcement believes two others may be at large. Asking the public if they see anything suspicious please call 911 immediately.
At approximately 9:00 this morning Baton Rouge Police officers and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies were involved in a shooting incident on Airline Highway near Old Hammond Highway. Multiple officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals.
Please be advised Airline Highway both lanes is currently shut down from Goodwood to Old Hammond. Old Hammond is closed to Tara Boulevard. At this point in time the scene is still active. We are advising the public to please take an alternate route and steer clear of the area. Those in the area are asked to remain indoors and contact law enforcement immediately if they see anything suspicious.
MikeE, “simulated game”… pitcher throws off the mound to 2 or 3 live batters. Either a coach or the catcher calls balls and strikes. Just a way to get in a pitch count to see how the body responds. If it goes well they might consider a minor league start next.
This is actually what most of the A’s starters look like anyway. LOL
I probably missed the talk on Brady’s suspension…
… just want to quickly say that I’m glad we get the road game against Pats so early now. Call me chicken shit or whatever, but after the last few years I’ll take a chance at a W any way we can get them. If Graffolo (spelling?) tears us up, then at least we’ll know early that we’ll be under .500 again.
You’re not a chicken shit, chicken shit is what the cheats do to win.
OK
My wife drove through that intersection in Baton Rouge Friday morning!
You have just officially made me concerned for the safety of my family!
God help you if you get in the way of there safety!
I’ve always been locked and loaded, now I have the hammer back!
It’s a sad day!!!!!!!
Rhino
Thanks man, but it was Steve who was asking about the simulated game.
Just got back from a business trip to Baltimore. Just the THREAT of demonstrations caused Brinks to cease all deliveries and pick-ups at the Baltimore Inner Harbor & Convention Center. Attendance at the convention down by over 50%. The show was supposed to run thru Sunday. But by 2 PM Saturday, the vast majority of dealers had left the show (including our firm). NO demonstrations took place while we we there, but a march was scheduled saturday night. The hours the show was open the first 3 days were trimmed by the sponsors while police presence was greatly increased. Sad times, indeed.
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ON a happier note, Ichiro Suzuki’s March to History continued today with a double in the 6th inning at St. Louis. He now has 2993 hits. It is one of the greatest, nost memorable, stories of the 2016 baseball season. He’s 7 hits away from being the 4th player in history with 3,000 hits. 500 stolen bases, and a lifetime .300 batting average. WOW!!!
MAKE THAT 2994 HITS FOR ICHIRO!!! That’s a 3 for 4 day so far, putting him over .340 for the season. And, for good measure, he stole another base in the 8th inning! Marlins lead St. Louis 6-3 in the bottom of the 8th.
LOL!!–Thanks, GDP!! – – Let’s just hope the Pats don’t crush Miami with a back-up QB!
Arian Foster came in for another “visit,” said to be more of a workout this time.Only other team having him in at this time is Detroit, although NE is thought to have a slight interest. Detroit has Abdullah, Riddick, and Ridley. Are they all fumblers?
Buffalo makes Reggie Bush an offer, but he is not in a hurry to go there.
I don’t want to see a vet take carries away from Ajayi or Drake
But I definately want a vet in case those guys have any setbacks
Foster is probably a good choice but I hope he understands he is the #3
I guess camp will sort it out
I think like every other player, the best ones that can help you win play.
1738
I dont think Foster would be considered the #3 as much as he would be seen as a rotational back with the other two. I would think given Fosters talent, and injury history, and ability to both rush and receive, we would be considered a guy we intend to mix in pretty evenly, but also lower his risk of injury by not over using him. I also think Drake is going to be more than just a scat back/receiving back option, he is a much better runner than i think most here understand him to be. Each of our RB, including Foster if they decide to sign him, come with an injury history and reasons to keep them limited on their snap count. If i were a betting mn, however, Drake eventually becomes the bigger factor in our offense, but im pretty alone in that belief i think,
Foster comes in he is doing so as Arian Foster. Might not be here next year, but for sure he is getting 1/2 to 1/3rd the carries.
I understand Piggy’s sentiment about not wanting to take away carries from Ajayi and Drake but the problem is they are both untested so we need someone we can rely upon and I think Foster fits that bill
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter 2m2 minutes ago
Arian Foster is signing a one-year deal with Miami, per sources.
I think Foster will split carries relatively evenly with Ajayi and Drake
Yeah i think it gives those guys a chance to watch and learn behind a guy who has been doing things at a high level for many years, and at the same time giving each of them a change to lighten the load. Its a win just having him on the team. Say buh bye to Williams and one fo the two, Pead or DT3, most likely DT3 i would think.
i can see the feathers flying now, when in week 1 Miller out rushes Foster.. LMAO..
I don’t expect Foster to outrush Miller. We should have signed Miller but that is a different topic
Jesus that Baton Rouge shooter was armed to the teeth. He had an IWI Tavor SAR 5.56 caliber rifle, a Stag Arms M4 variant 5.56 caliber rifle, an AR 15, and some pistol i havent found the make/caliber of yet. That Tavor is a 1600 dollar gun by itself. He was planning on some carnage and was just going to take out as many as he could before they got him. He also apparently expect to at least make it back to his vehicle as part of his strategy because the M4 was staged and lock/loaded at that site.
sorry mean was just the one M4 not an additional AR 15 as well.
D
Agree on DT. I would also think Pead stays because of his speed and return abilities.
well i asked for them to either sign Foster or Moreno months ago, so I have to be happy with what I wished for, but it is still a little sad to see carries taken away from Ajayi and Drake, but then again Drake is already hurt again and we all know about Ajayi’s knee and Foster’s injuries, so maybe we can get a full RB1 out of the three of them with Pead as the 4th back on fresh legs for the playoff run. Plus Arian is another back with great hands and moves after a catch.
We got Foster on the cap too. Hard not to complain about this unless you are DT3.
—————————————
Arian Foster has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, according to the veteran running back’s agent.
The deal is worth $1.5 million that includes incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to a max of $3.5 million, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Hard to complain….”
Thats next to nothing, very little risk with a good chance of reward. Its similar to what we did with Moreno and i do hope we have better results, but Moreno was truly showing he was back to form early on, too bad it was short lived.
Moreno won a game for us; if Arian can win a game that we would not have won without him, then he’s worth the paycheck.
Plus Knowshon showed Miller how to run hard NFL style. He made Miller a much better back. If Arian can show Ajayi how to run with vision like he had at Houston, then that would be an awesome addition to the RB room.
The deal is so good that it makes you wonder whether or not Foster is 100% healthy….particularly with the incentives.
Why is the deal so Good? You’ve got a guy no one wants signing for $1.5M min with incentives, coming off of an achilles tendon injury.
I like bringing in depth, and possibly a good goal line/short yardage guy.
What’s the NFL min for a guy like him…..$800k or something? Doesn’t get much cheaper.
He did nothing last year, horrible ypc in 4 games. I like the signing, but you’re getting ahead of yourself Stanger.
Foster has also been on the decline lately, but he wasn’t brought in to be the #1 back.
I don’t really think Foster is looked at as a #1 back. If teams viewed him that way, you’d think someone would have snatched him up long before now. It’s possible his health is an issue for teams as well. It just seems like there wasn’t a big market for his services, for whatever reason. Most teams use two backs anyway. Gase uses multiple backs. Foster may just be another multi-tool in his chest.
***
I still like the signing though. Bring him in. Throw him into the mix and see what happens. He may be great in the classroom/practice field with the young guys too, for all we know. I’m not too worried about Ajayi…or anybody…losing reps. Nobody we have is that good where he NEEDS to be on the field, and it might actually help Ajayi, health-wise, to limit his reps. Sure, you like young guys getting reps, but they still will. If you show you can make plays in practice, Gase will find a way to get you on the field, I’m betting.
Foster is our starter to think he isn’t means you are only kidding yourself. Everyone said the same thing when Moreno came here and until he got hurt he was the clear cut starter – just like Foster is now. And you know what, that’s a good thing as long as he is healthy.
You don’t know any more than the rest of us, and I saw what you did there at the end talking about his health, your out 😉
He may not even make the 53.
I wasn’t saying I knew anything anyone else didn’t I’m just trying to clear the haze. Adrian Foster will be our starter if healthy, that’s just how it goes in the NFL he’s a proven commodity.
…and stop calling it a cum pizza, that’s gross
You’re killing me, I’m not saying I know more…but you did it again. He’s past his prime. And you ate cumulative pizza growing up 😄
Alright….good low cost/risk signing on Foster….we’ll know where he’s at healthwise during Camp. If he fails, then take the $1.5M hit and release him….then if our other backs are also faltering, we can pick up the Rb that is a final roster rtim in KC, Knile Davis or Ware.
If the OL, scheme & play calling show any signs of improvement over the last couple of seasons, then we’ll be ok @ RB how ever it shakes out in that unit….IMO.
The last roster spot should be Dion FF anytime now….word is he’s really turned it around..But I’m with OD-Missouri on this one! Show me Jordan, show me!
yep … they’ve been holding two spots open for a while now … they and Arian both knew as soon as he was ready they would sign him.
The other one is for Dion the New Jordan.
Cubs win, Cubs win!
WTF kind of board is this, Pig writes about gay rodents, Son writes about eating cum pizza…😃
Too many estrogen mimickers in their diets.
Piggs and I know what kind of sick assholes you are so we use our license to appease you. And I mean that in the nicest of ways!
Lol
Fish win, Fish win!! –Yes, Miami’s 2nd favorite franchise was down to their last strike in the 9th inning, trailing 2-0! But the Marlins struck for two runs to send the game into extra innings. –Then, Martin Prado hit his 3rd homer of the season to win it 3-2 in 11 innings!! –Brings back great memories of the 7th game of the ’97 World Series, which the Marlins ALSO won 3-2 in 11 innings over Cleveland!!
————–
NOW STEVE, don’t go too crazy over your Cubbies. This scenario of the Cubs winning a division title and the Marlins winning a wild card spot hasn’t worked out so well for Cubs’ fans, has it??—Oh, well, any team can have a bad century. –Great Grandpa is out for this evening.
I’m not a Cubs fan, Dodgers fan, I like the Marlins too.
Foster is the kind of back I was hoping for, power runner that doesn’t loose many yards, and keeps the D honest. We now have 3 completely different backs, yet they can all play 3 downs.
Is that not perfect team-building?
No DC can game plan only to stop the flash speed guy or the big bruiser or the slasher guy … we have all three. And they can all catch the outlet pass and get YAC.
We just added another 4-time Pro-Bowler, a bell-cow back who rushed for the most yards in the whole NFL one year, a vet who is still under 30 (barely), a guy who has been to the playoffs, a guy in the John Elway tree through Kubiak to Gase, so he knows the concepts, and a guy who wanted to be in Miami over all other teams. A perfect scheme fit, an over-achiever, and a tough guy. A work-horse, used to sweating in the heat and humidity of Houston. Just a football player.
And a guy with so much street cred even the ESPN knuckleheads and NFL.com patsies suck-ups must acknowledge his value. A superman like Wake who overcame UDFA and his Achilles.
And like Wade, is past his prime, so don’t expect a 1000 yrd rusher, but that’s not what we need. When Miller was handed the starting job he struggled with consistency, this signing helps reduce that with Ajayi. When it’s winning time, we have the ball and the lead late, I expect a heavy dose of Foster.
One of the hidden benefits of signing Foster is that NE can’t use him against us.
If they wanted to use him they would have signed him but they let him sit in FA for months like 31 other teams. I like the signing but let’s not go overboard with what it means.
He wasn’t able to work out for anyone until he worked out for us and got signed. No one was signing him while he was recovering.
If you’re a DC, who do you game plan to take away from Miami in the passing offense? Landry in the slot? We have Stills and Parker going deep and Cameron and Duarte up the seams and a RB filling in behind Landry or on the opposite side.
No way a DC can just put 8 in the box with all those WRs in the pattern. So that should help our OL blocking assignments. No DC is going to game plan to stop any one of our RBs, so who do they plan to stop?
Tannehill.
This is similar to playing NE. No use trying to game plan to stop the trash he was feeding the ball to, you just have to stop Marsha. Teams that did that beat NE, including us. And Denver (GASE’s old team).
In our case, Tannehill better be able to come through for us and the OL pass-pro better hold up.
Weapons, weapons, and more weapons, so no more excuses, guys don’t get it done they get the door. I’m not talking about stats, I’m talking about getting it done when called on, get open, catch it when thrown to you, reduce mental mistakes.
Naples, the fact that Foster is a former Pro Bowler only means he used to be good. We tried signing all those former first rounders in Shula’s last year, that didn’t turn out so well.
Y.A. Tittle is also a former probowler…
Let’s sign him up 😉
Coming Soon: Colonpokey feasts on pizza…
Lol
Foster is a good signing
we needed a vet to o with those inexperienced backs
but I do want to see those inexperienced backs contribute
I think our success is more tied to them then to Foster
Soooo. Training camp is almost here. I’m thinking ahead to the contests. What are we doing?? I need to get some FABULOUS prizes lined up!!!!
FF league…as defending champ I think we need to do it again!
Roster pick?
Is Howie still with the group? Game score pick?
Suggestions please.
I wonder if the Dolphins will just make a photo copy of Daniel Thomas’s previous release papers in cutting him again this year.
What I like about the Dolphins is the competition they have created within this team and signing Foster is just more proof of that.
I would love for them to add one more veteran CB to the team and I would feel better.
There’s a good chance of that as well.
Leon Hall might be that guy (rumored before to Miami since he played under Vance last year).
Other than that I feel we are set for 2016…
My thoughts on Foster is that he was seeking more than a 1 year deal around the league and after all that didn’t work out he came back to Miami (and at Miami’s offering price which was probably on par, or slightly less, with what other teams were offering).
• REPUBLICAN PLATFORM 2016 •
Click to access DRAFT_12_FINAL%5B1%5D-ben_1468872234.pdf
Markey,
Regarding the corner position, it’s going to be nice to see them go back to physical ones.
Byron was clearly overpaid in Philly but he wasn’t horrible and actually had a good stretch in Philly before having some issues. He will be better in Miami’s scheme IMO.
Xavier will have his moments in coverage over the top but he was the most aggressive run stopper and physical corner i saw on film this year out of the top 10 CB in the 2016 draft.
I just would feel a little better with one more proven veteran CB in the mix.
I’m just hoping that this year’s version of Foster ends up better than the Knowshown Moreno one a couple of years back (same risk profile IMO).
Herd,
I’ve got a few Dolphin’s things I’m trying to clear out if you need prizes.
Foster will need to show he still has something left and that he can get through training camp. If he does I can see him in the RB rotation. But I wouldn’t suggest he’s the #1 back at this time at all.
Herd,
If you guys like, I’ll do the same competition as last year. Basically the final record and final roster that we did the last few years.
Final record is a tough one at least for a prize. There’s only so many combos so multiple winners. We need a tie breaker.
Maybe the tie breaker could the average points scored for the team for the whole year.
Naples,
I agree with the amount of weapons being stacked on offense.
I think no matter what happens with the QB position, the Fins FO is right into placing resources around the position so that in the future if RT does not pan out, any other NFL QB can slide right in just like Peyton did in Denver and have good weapons at his disposal.
The OL story still continues and there are still questions on guard play and overall depth between the guards. The Fins are trying to get Turner/Thomas to be starters which they haven’t proven to be able to handle yet and some of the other guys like Tunsil & Bushrod have never played at OG. I remain hopeful that the powerful Tunsil will not have problems at OG and that Bushrod can hold it down at OG with his veteran presence while Turner develops.
One thing that has always upset me about the OL is the spacing.
It’s not just blocking 1 on 1 along the OL but pushing defenders out of the passing lanes.
You watch the Patriots and Brady usually has 10 yard throwing windows because their guards push guys way out to the outside.
I believe Gase changed some of our blocking schemes – more man blocking.
Tim,
Agree. It’s Ajayi’s job at this point with Foster providing relief.
Markey,
Your thoughts on the LB group and FS?
Mentioning Moreno brings back memories of how good the O was that day against the Cheats. I expect more of the same this year, if we can run it.
I would also temper expectations with Duarte.
He was taken in the later rounds for a reason.
He showed some receiving skills at UCLA but he clearly did not get much action as an inline blocker and in the NFL that is a must for any TE entering the league and Gase did mention “We’ll see when we put on the pads” in reference to that aspect of Duarte’s game.
You draft 7th rounders for future consideration, like in 2017 we may decide not to pay Cameron and let Duarte take his spot.
Agreed, the coaches also asked him to put on weight and he did up to 245 now.
I can see our RBs used in the second halves of games, based on first half effectiveness. Foster to be short yardage back.
I don’t necessarily agree with saying 7th RD picks are for future consideration. If a player “shows up”, whether they were drafted or even undrafted, if they get noticed, they might get playing time immediately. There are many cases, but look at the Bills Seantrel Henderson.
True but I would not be surprised to see Duarte’s snaps limited as he learns the TE/H-back role and can stay in on running downs as a blocker – something he hasn’t done much of. I think Cameron and Sims will get the most snaps.
That all depends on how Duarte plays, and more importantly, how Cameron and Sims play.
No team drafts a 7th Rd with the expectation that he’ll be anything more than a special teams player, if he does make the team. That doesn’t mean he can’t start or contribute, but you don’t draft someone in the 7th and pencil him in to start before camp, hence Al saying temper expectations on Duarte.
I think being a 7th rounder means that you might be a niche kind of guy with regards to current skill set, or you may have some lingering questions about translation of skills/work ethic to the NFL. You simply are a gamble, so you use a pick on them to secure getting them so you dont have to chance it in UDFA. I personally think that Duarte has a pretty solid and somewhat unique skill set as a receiver, which makes him a guy who in the right offense could be really big. The reason we didn’t take him earlier probably is the limitation in the protection game, but i think he has as more of a chance to make a our squad as any 7th rounder we have drafted in recent memory.
I think we rotate backs in every game, hot hand guy gets the bulk carries that day, but i think they come into every game competing to be that guy. Im sure there will be games where foster gets 20 touches, and others where its Ajayi or Drake.
The key word is gamble.
Also keep in mind how little money he makes
Tim you’re a sellout, you can’t agree with both sides 😉
I agree on the RB’s D. That’s how I feel as well
Steve
I’m not impressed with either Cameron or Sims, especially last year. If they turn it around, and Duarte doesn’t flash, it’s possible we don’t see him until next season.
Cameron and RT weren’t on the same page, but I expect that to change. Some of the plays Cameron made were great, then they stop throwing his way. Sims is a blocker first, but I don’t think he was used correctly either. I expect big things from our TEs as a unit.
We all like to think all the RBs are good enough that we can play the one with the hot hand. But history tells us someone will step up in camp, and earn the most carries. I hope it happens just like D described.
It would push competition to be a all year thing, and this coaching staff seems to really like the idea of keeping competition between players high.
They sure have brought in enough competetion all over the board. Last year we had several stars and no depth, so we looked great one minute, then horrible the next.
I really think all draftees are gambles, there are definitely ones that are safer bets, but you generally have a lot riding on them as well so the risk is higher should they fail. I think Duarte has a high chance of making the team and contributing to this team. I probably feel more confidant about it being sooner than later, but i do think he will stick. Doughty too for that matter.
The only one of our draftees I don’t see as a lock to making the team is the CB/S from State Penn. He should make it too, but I don’t think he’s a lock.
He probably makes it because of versatility. He is the agressive playing style they like and he can/has played CB (nickle and outside) an both safety positions. I would keep him unless he is a complete disappointment in TC.
steveccnv says:
July 19, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Cameron and RT weren’t on the same page, but I expect that to change. Some of the plays Cameron made were great, then they stop throwing his way. Sims is a blocker first, but I don’t think he was used correctly either. I expect big things from our TEs as a unit.
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Sims didnt seem to be the same player after he got his bell rung. It took him most the season to really get back to functional.
Sims has kind of been in the same shoes as Billy Turner.
They get hurt and stunt their development.
For some guys, it won’t stop their career from taking off but when you aren’t exactly the most talented guy at your position, you need to be out there refining your technique and going at it 100% in all phases (off field workouts, on field technique, film analysis, etc). There is only a small window in which to develop.
Steve,
I’ve seen film on Jordan Lucas and don’t really see what the Dolphins see in terms of starter potential. He’s aggressive for sure and looks more the part of a SS but given where he was drafted, he will just be special teams if that and a wildcard positional player (hybrid DB or eventually a SS).
I think it was a versatility thing. Lucas even admitted there wasnt much communication between the two before the draft and was shocked to hear his name called as the dolphins pick. I think he was probably the best ranked player that they had on their baord and he probably checked off some markers they like fromt he agressive play perspective and versatility so they took him.
D,
I believe Doughty will be an interesting guy to watch in training camp.
If he surprises, and a key injury occurs elsewhere in the NFL to a starter late in the preseason process, it’s possible the Fins deal Moore.
The only thing holding back that idea is the win now mentality the FO may have with the current team makeup. If any thing were to happen to RT temporarily, Moore’s experience is critical for continuity.
“Al in MIA says:
July 19, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Markey,
Your thoughts on the LB group and FS?”
I like our LB group as long as two things happen Kiko Alonso stays healthy and we switch Dion Jordan when he comes back to an OLB.
As for our Safety position I feel comfortable with both Jones and Isa Abdul-Quddus both able to play either Safety positions
Im a little concerned about Isa’s ability to play the hybrid FS/SS role, but it may be just because he didnt get a ton of opportunity to sow a lot in terms of ballhawking. He seems to be a solid PD guy, but i dont think he could replace or serve the role Jones does for us as that more hybrids guy. Again, i may be wrong, but i havent found any tape of Isa that makes me feel confidant that way.
Al in MIA says:
July 19, 2016 at 4:05 pm
D,
Where do you size up Isa’s game relative to what the Fins have done at FS the last 5 years?
Chris Clemons (the king of late reaction on reads), Louis Delmas (injury ridden, tackling issues), Michael Thomas, Walt Aikens, etc.
I really had hoped the Fins would try and put Jamar Taylor at FS but they went in a different direction.
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Just from what i see in Isa, i think we see different use of him at safety than we are use to in the past few years. I dont think we are going to be two hybrid, mid deep safeties, and probably will be doing one somewhat shallow one more deep, and a more traditional rold for the SS than we did for the past 4-5 years.
As far as quality of player, I think overall he is a much better safety than Clemons, and from what Thomas and Aikens have shown, he’s better than either of them. Neither of those two look to be stong as a SS or FS, and Isa has definately shown he can play the SS role.
Jones is flat out more talented, has better instincts, and i think he has a better football IQ. Isa may change some of those opinions as i dont know that Detroit use him to best of his ability (ie they kinda forced him to into a role) or it could be he is just scraping the surface of what he can do with the little bit of play time he got there. He may really blossom into a great hybrid in our system under Vance, it just hasnt shown on tape yet.
I think i liked Delmas’ ability as a safety, i think he is probably a more talented safety than Isa at this point in Isa’s career, but he is definitely an improvement over the rest of those listed. Delmas would have been a great addition to our team had he stayed healthy.
It’s depth at the Safety position that is a concern.
Mike E,
7th RD picks are like buying penny stocks and hoping something comes out of nothing 🙂
They are easy on the budget……teams need low priced players.
Good point! The lowest of what, 5 salaried players don’t count against the cap?
More like being a Scamotz, and hoping to be the one in a million😉
D,
Where do you size up Isa’s game relative to what the Fins have done at FS the last 5 years?
Chris Clemons (the king of late reaction on reads), Louis Delmas (injury ridden, tackling issues), Michael Thomas, Walt Aikens, etc.
I really had hoped the Fins would try and put Jamar Taylor at FS but they went in a different direction.
For some reason I believe our coaches will be the X factor in why this team will finally turn that corner. it’s just a matter of when not if….
I think we’ve heard all of this before. I’ll wait until they start playing real football before celebrating how good our coaches are.
I was not a big fan of Tony Sparano nor Joe Philbin as I could tell early on they did not have what it takes to be head coach.
Adam Gase is truly different and he had added some very good staff/coaches so I do see a big difference. But I agree all that matters is their W/L record.
Delmas was that presence on the back end that made the D complete, we’ve struggled big time without him.
markeyh says:
July 19, 2016 at 3:58 pm
It’s depth at the Safety position that is a concern.
——
Been a concern of mine for years.
The Fins have relied on developmental players, expensive FA, and
They hit on Reshad Jones (5th RD in 2010) over the last 5 years but there’s really been no attempt to draft any pure S higher than the 5th RD (Walt Aikens was a 4th if your counting him as a S draft attempt) since forever.
Here are the safety selections since 2000 for Miami:
Cedric Thompson (5th RD in 2015), Don Jones (7th RD in 2013), Jimmy Wilson (7th RD in 2011) Chris Clemons (5th RD in 2009) & Yeremiah Bell (6th RD in 2003), Arturo Freeman (5th RD in 2000)
I looked at the Fins entire draft history and scrolled down all the way to 1989 to find something inside the top 3 rounds for a pure S….
Louis Oliver in RD 1 was the last time the Fins did that.
The year prior the Fins took Oliver’s collegiate teammate, Jarvis Williams with the 42nd overall pick (RD 2).
Historically for the franchise, they haven’t taken a S in the first 3 rounds often but just the times I mentioned and then way back in the 70s when Tim Foley (3rd RD pick) & Dick Anderson (3rd RD were drafted by Miami.
Steve,
LOL @ the scemotz analogy…
db coach: I need quality!
F.O.: A little scamotz is all you’re going to get
Al in MIA says:
July 19, 2016 at 4:05 pm
D,
Where do you size up Isa’s game relative to what the Fins have done at FS the last 5 years?
Chris Clemons (the king of late reaction on reads), Louis Delmas (injury ridden, tackling issues), Michael Thomas, Walt Aikens, etc.
I really had hoped the Fins would try and put Jamar Taylor at FS but they went in a different direction.
—————————————
Just from what i see in Isa, i think we see different use of him at safety than we are use to in the past few years. I dont think we are going to be two hybrid, mid deep safeties, and probably will be doing one somewhat shallow one more deep, and a more traditional rold for the SS than we did for the past 4-5 years.
As far as quality of player, I think overall he is a much better safety than Clemons, and from what Thomas and Aikens have shown, he’s better than either of them. Neither of those two look to be stong as a SS or FS, and Isa has definately shown he can play the SS role.
Jones is flat out more talented, has better instincts, and i think he has a better football IQ. Isa may change some of those opinions as i dont know that Detroit use him to best of his ability (ie they kinda forced him to into a role) or it could be he is just scraping the surface of what he can do with the little bit of play time he got there. He may really blossom into a great hybrid in our system under Vance, it just hasnt shown on tape yet.
I think i liked Delmas’ ability as a safety, i think he is probably a more talented safety than Isa at this point in Isa’s career, but he is definitely an improvement over the rest of those listed. Delmas would have been a great addition to our team had he stayed healthy.
There are several good safety prospects next year, and if we hit with our CB selection, and Kiko pans out, i think we would probably target a S really high next year. Our offense has a good bit of talent, only a couple places i think we really might want to draft high on that side unless things just really don’t work out for us with some of the guys from this year.
Im eyeballing Jamal Adams from LSU at this point. This kid is a stud and in a long line of good DB’s from that school. Nice size as well at 6’1 215. SEC is loaded this year with safety prospects though Marcus Maye from UF is a ballhawk of a safety, and pretty solid in run pro, Eddie Jackson from Alabama, Jonathan Ford from Auburn, Tony Conner from Ole Miss Dominick Sanders from Georgia, each of these guys could wind up being 1st to 2nd rounders.
I am hoping that we use an early pick maybe round 1 on a young pass rusher, it is a shame they did not take one this year with both our DE aged veteran players. This will be a lost year where we could have had some young DE learn from two of the best in the game.
They also SHOULD have doubled down on CB in this last draft. We just did not need to draft a WR this year….
The problem with double down is they both become FAs the same year. I hated the CBs from this draft, none could cover.
Was only two i really liked and wanted us to draft, and that was Hargreaves and Ramsey, we didnt get a chance at either of them. Outside of those guys no one really stood out, i think we got the right guy for us, though i still cannot say i felt the trade up was necessary to get him.
Hargreaves has bust written all over him. He’ll get some picks, but he can’t cover.
Markey the DE pool is pretty deep this coming year too, there wont be much of a reason to sweat going first round probably at either S or DE, i agree though i would hope we take on of them in the first two rounds at least, if not get both one in the first one in the second.
I agree
Really the biggest weak spots in next years draft at least from an early perspective is TE and to some extent WR, OT and OG dont look deep next year.
too soon!
Actually I’m hoping we have that defensive heavy draft I was hoping for in 2016 next year
But I suspect the play on the field this year will shape what we determine to be our needs
Me too it was a mistake to not draft defense heavy this year but it is what it is…
Jamal Adams is getting a lot of early press so far
I tend to like LSU prospects a lot
year after year they put out talent
I am curious to see Kendell Beckwith as well
Last year Wedge profiled Carl Lawson (Auburn) n, if he comes out in 2017 he is probably going to be a very good DE
Markeyh
I have regrets about not going defense in the draft too
but I think Gase wants to make the team in his image
and I respect a coach who wants to do it his way
So obviously he looked at the team and decided he had to make changes on offense for his formula to work
If we end up having a high scoring team bc of it
it will be exciting to watch if nothing more
I always hope for the best and despite my disappointment I am excited to see what this Dolphins team will do.
Pig WTF? Gase had nothing to do with going heavy on O.
What?
How can you. It believe they drafted to fit his style of offense?
I think it’s obvious
Pig Man & Markeyh, that’s the thing…Gase came in here as HC, an offensive minded as well.
He saw an offense that was struggling to score on avg 19pts a game.
In a passing/high scoring modern NFL, he knew we had to start scoring first & foremost…especially in a division with the Patsies who seem to avg 30pts a game.
So Gase & the GM team went more heavily on offense with the draft, (Tunsil fell to them), but also made shrewd moves on Defense with FA & a couple of draft picks/UDFA’s.
Plus I think he saw some young 2nd-4th year developing talent on Defense as well.
I’m sure VJ said he had something to work with for now with his type of system he’ll run.
I think it’s a smart approach to get out of the gates strong in year 1 as HC. You can only do so much in 1 year. Scoring points will go a long way to helping a Defense as well as over all team motivation & psyche.
Go Gase!
Go Phins!
But I ask you who have we drafted on offense Other than Tunsil (who we benefited from his misfortune) will make a difference? I like the young RB Kenyan Drake of Alabama and we needed a RB but specifically from WR Leonte Carroo on I just feel we should have drafted young defensive players to play alongside our older defense. Adam’s offensive weapons will basically be the players he inherited. We already had a young offense and with better coaching they SHOULD score more.
Yes & no…but I see your point.
Drake could turn into a dangerous weapon, as with Grant on returns or a designed play here and there. Carroo is the future, especially since Stills may be hard to resign for a fair price.
Also we did draft a couple young defensive players to mix in with an older defense, especially in the secondary.
Again, can’t do it all in one offseason….and as some of you mentioned above, I suspect we’ll add some nice defensive players early next draft in 2017.
What I am more disappointed in is that NOW THIS YEAR we have Mario Williams and Suh and Wake playing together how beneficial would it have been to have a young DE and there were plenty in the draft this year then have Carroo who I still do not see as a must draft this year…
Fighting Fish Filet Fading Phils — again, in extra innings, this time by a 2-1 score. –Meanwhile the Mets defeated the fading Cubs by the same score, while the Nationals lost to the Dodgers! –The Cubbies just can’t handle those NL East teams, can they?? –And the Nats have seen their lead in the East drop to 4 and 1/2 over Miami and 5 and 1/2 over the Mets. –Miami goes for the sweep tomorrow in Philadelphia.
Bravos beat the Redlegs! 🙂
markeyh says:
July 19, 2016 at 11:07 pm
What I am more disappointed in is that NOW THIS YEAR we have Mario Williams and Suh and Wake playing together how beneficial would it have been to have a young DE and there were plenty in the draft this year then have Carroo who I still do not see as a must draft this year…
Reply
We all expected a top DE early, but after Tunsil, it changed the way our draft fell to us. I remember all of the top flight DE’s were off the board early on and right after Tunsil, sans a desperate need for a corner.
I look for Lang 25yo & Fede 24yo to develop behind Mario & Wake. Andre Branch 27yo might come alive too with a change of venue….also Jordan Williams 23yo could progress too.
OD
That was a wild and crazy finish in the Mets-Cubs game last night. Familia loads the bases, no outs, and a ground ball to 1B, Loney gets the out at home for the first out. Then a ground ball to Reyes, he throws to 2B for one, and Walker with a great turn to Loney for the third out. Unbelievable!
Honorable mention to Loney for the scoop on the throw from Walker. Truly a great play all around, started by a laser throw from Reyes to Walker
I thought we were at least going to extras. I still can’t believe they pulled that one out!
Bri
Hell yeah, to be honest, I was hoping we GOT to extras, I was figuring Familia’s 1st blown save was gonna be a loss last night. Amazing that no one scored.
The Dodgers have been pulling a lot the bases loaded no outs and not scoring lately. Friday night was the exception, but they tried not scoring. Up 8-4 BL no outs, the first 2 guys strike out, then got a grand slam. Saturday bases loaded 2 outs don’t score, in extra innings, the next inning BLOCKED no outs don’t score, lose in bottom half. Sunday another BL no outs right after Az. put up 3 in the first, didn’t score.
What do you mean by BLOCKED?
I got auto corrected, it was BL for bases loaded.
It means I’m done with you, you’re blocked😉