Finsmob Unleashed

So this is the last game the Miami Dolphins will be playing that won’t count in the standings. It will count, however, for those players desperately vying to grab a roster spot. The majority of the roster is probably accounted for, but there are probably a handful of bubble decisions that will be determined by performances in this last game. There will be a few positions where the depth will have to be figured out, most importantly DB, where the Dolphins have lost some depth players, and actually may not have their starting CB Byron Jones ready for Game 1 against the New England Patriots. At RB, no one back has looked particularly good in either game yet, so most of the work in practice will have determined the depth chart so far, plus, McD may just want to keep the Patriots guessing as to what our offense will actually be. WR is where a few potential depth guys have looked good, but considering we have the first 4 spots locked up with Hill, Waddle, Wilson and Ezukanma, add in the fact that we may carry 3 QB’s, plus at least one fullback, it’s possible only 5 WR’s make it, and not 6. Does Lynn Bowden Jr. make the cut, or perhaps Braylon Sanders, or River Cracraft, or veteran Mohammed Sanu?

Running back has been a tough one to figure. You would think you can write in Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert and Sony Michel, because McD and Grier just brought them here. Myles Gaskin was here already, but he’s a guy that has produced too. Salvon Ahmed is too much like Gaskin, so I guess it will be either or, if one them makes the roster. Rookie ZaQuandre White hasn’t seen much action, just 2 carries for negative 1 yards. Gaskin leads the Dolphins with 39 yards on 8 carries. QB Skylar Thompson is 2nd with 26. In other words, we really haven’t seen enough to have any expectations. ZaQuandre White does have a 19 yard TD reception, so there’s that.

It has to be tempered because it’s preseason, but I like what I’ve seen of DE Porter Gustin, and I think he has a chance to stick. At LB, both Cameron Goode and 3rd RD draft pick Channing Tindall showed some positive things. Tindall is a lock, but Goode may find himself a spot on the roster as well. At CB, Mackensie Alexander is done, (that was quick!), so guys like Keion Crossen and longshot Kader Kohou have a chance because of the injury situation. Iggy seems to be on the outside looking in. Everything I’ve seen from this kid in this preseason tells me he’s a not an NFL player. We did well taking a shot with Nik Needham, I think one of the aforementioned guys is also going to get a shot.

At TE, there’s been lots of chatter about Mike Gesicki getting traded. I don’t see it happening, but I’m not against it if we get the right return. Gesicki is a one dimensional player at the moment, a talented one, but still one dimensional. He’s a receiver, and hasn’t seemed to have embraced the blocking aspect of the position. Durham Smythe can do both, but he’s not as good as a receiver as Gesicki. Long hasn’t really proved he’s great at anything, and Cethan Carter gives you H-back flexibility and is a strong blocker. I think to myself, Durham Smythe, Hunter Long and Cethan Carter don’t put any fear into any defense, and while Gesicki isn’t a great blocker, he’s a top 8-10 receiving TE. Tough call there, but if they can get a starter where we need it for Gesicki, or a 3rd RD pick in the 2023 draft, go for it.

On the O-line, we’ve been protecting LT Terron Armstead, and Larnel Coleman has been given a lot of playing time. Coleman has been good and bad, as expected. Coleman was a 7th RD pick last year, and he appears to be locked in as Armstead’s backup. The 5 we know will be here are Armstead, Eichenberg, Williams, Hunt and Jackson. The remaining guys are Greg Little, Solomon Kindley, Robert Jones, Michael Deiter, Adam Pankey, Kion Smith, Kellen Diesch and Blaise Andries. Due to the fact that Armstead is oft injured, Coleman seems to be safe. Greg Little was a 2nd RD pick back in ’19 for the Panthers, so he has some pedigree, but we haven’t seen anything from him here in MIA. Lots of decisions. Our special teams is set with K Jason Sanders, P Thomas Morstead, LS Blake Ferguson, and KR/PR Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, Jaylen Waddle and Jevon Holland. Just stay healthy guys, the roster will work itself out!

#stangerstrong

GO DOLPHINS!!!