3 Surprising Roster Spots
With the regular season less than 2 weeks away, the Dolphins will be finalizing their 53 man roster. The talent level on this team is definitely higher than it has been in many years, so there is going to be a few players that get cut that are going to be immediately scooped up by another team, and hopefully they do not land on the Patriots, and punish us in the first game. There is also going to be a few surprise players that will make the team.
Football gambling fans are betting that the two Damien and Damian Williams are going to be 2 players that earn a spot on the Dolphins 53 man roster. It’s hard to distinguish between these two on paper, since they practically have the same name, except Damien with an E at the end is the running back, and Damian with an A at the end is the wide receiver. Damian the WR entered the league in 2010 getting drafted by the Tennessee Titans out of USC. He had a respectable 2011 season with 45 receptions for 592 yards and 5 touchdowns, but he tore his ACL and MCL at the end of the season and was barely active after that. He has been catching a lot of eyes in the Dolphins camp this year with his speed, size and play making ability, and it appears that if the Dolphins decide to keep 6 WR’s on their roster, which would be a wise decision, then he would probably win the 6th and final spot over Armon Binns.
The other Damien Williams is an undrafted running back out of Oklahoma, who was kicked off the Sooners team with only 2 games remaining in his senior season. As a result his draft stock plummeted, and he was shunned by all 32 teams in the draft. The Dolphins signed him as an undrafted free-agent, and he has made the most of his chance in training camp, and the first 3 preseason games. He knows how to get that tough one yard on third and short, and at the goal line. Most football gambling fans are betting that he is going to be the third running back kept on the roster, meaning that Daniel Thomas will most likely be a roster casualty.
Gator Hoskins is another undrafted player out of Marshall, who has a very similar playing style to Charles Clay. He finished his college career with 28 touchdowns playing as a TE/Hb and has made plays in practice, and in the preseason games. With Egnew already being cut, and rookie Arthur Lynch being sidelined indefinitely with a back injury, it appears that Gator may sneak onto the roster as the third TE. Clay is coming of a knee injury, and was able to play a bit in the Dallas game, and Dion Sims has cemented himself as his back up. However, Lazor loves using tight ends in his offense so there will at least be 3 TE’s on the roster. Gator appears to be the front runner to lock up the third string TE spot, and may even get some substantial playing time this upcoming season. He has a high ceiling and a great name!
I feel as though those 3 should be locks for the 53 man roster, regardless what happens in the final preseason game.
Damien Williams (RB) = Athletic, Explosive, Tough, Agile, Big
Damian Williams (WR) = Athletic, Explosive, Fast, Good Size
Gator Hoskins = Athletic, Smart, Determined
Did you see a theme here????? Athletic!!! Each of these 3 players are athletic, and it is so nice to see athletic players once again on the Miami Dolphins roster. You know that this team is heading in the right direction when you look out on the practice field or preseason games and you see athletic players every where. I am not just talking about the 3 men mentioned in this and Jimmy’s article, but Miami’s roster is filled w/Athletic players, not just at the skilled positions. I am talking about the O-Line, the D-Line (every where), and even though our starting LB’ers are not the kind of athletic guys you vision, the new guys behind them are, as we are probably a year away from a whole new starting LBer core. The defensive backfield, starters and back-ups.
The future looks bright for the Miami Dolphins, and you can believe the league has already taken notice, now it is the general public to soon witness the same.
Go Fins 2014….