MarQueis Gray brought physicality to the Phins inline blocking at Tight End
MarQueis Gray could play H-Back and Tight End, his loss puts a ton of pressure on rookie Smythe to perform
In a shocking news, the Dolphins placed MarQueis Gray on Injured Reserve today with a torn Achilles.
While this injury isn’t devastating to the team’s chances in 2018, it presents a problem to the Dolphins desire to be physical and their depth at the Tight End position.
This could create a ripple effect with ever increasing magnitude if a few players don’t step up.
First, you have to feel bad for Gray and his career. This was his first real shot to prove himself a starter, and opportunity may or may not come again.
From the Dolphins standpoint, this leaves only rookie Durham Smythe as the sole, true inline blocker and H-back at Tight End.
It would have been very nice to see some 12 Personnel packages with Gray and Smythe.
Phins are now one injury from moving hard in the direction of a finesse running team.
A.J. Derby is more of a pass catcher and doesn’t bring the same skill set of Gray. Derby has shown the ability to block, but not with the same point of impact power that Gray or Smythe has. He’s more of an angle blocker than drive blocker.
Miami re-signed Gavin Escobar to fill the hole, but he’s nowhere near the physical presence of Gray.
Miami ran the ball successfully in Preseason and had the best YPC. They need to keep this success of running the ball going in the Regular Season if they want to return to the Playoffs. Gray’s absence doesn’t ruin their run game potential, but it complicates matters with only days before the season begins… especially against a physical team like the Titans.
You do have to tip your hat in Chris Grier’s direction for picking Smythe. The insurance policy may just pay off… even if it’s being used far too early.
Thankfully Mike Gesicki was given so many reps of blocking and he showed growth.
But Gesicki’s specialty as a grunt, it’s to make impact plays and threaten the seam.
Now he will have to far more banging as a blocker than originally intended. This could wear on him as the season progresses. Also, Smythe is now bumped up to a key cog, rather than a set of fuzzy dice on the rearview mirror. He must perform well ‘out of the box’.
Phinsnews knew these two rookie Tight Ends would play crucial roles in the success of the Dolphins season… but we didn’t think it would have to be right out of the gates. Go Phins!!!
Yeah, saw that vid a while back… he knows his stuff. Their counter game with Lewis scares me. I don’t fear their edge run game with Henry due to consistency, but I do worry about a big pop. Hayes is back and Phillips will start this will help… Can the Lb’s not over pursue? Titans were pretty poor in pass defense last year. Last year Titans had 1 sacks… this year we have a better OL. I think Miami wins… if they can stop the over pursuit and don’t act like they get paid per penalty.
“Must be getting excuses lined up for another disma year.”
Don’t think it will be dismal in the least. It might be meh and not good or great. As for “lining the up excuses bit”, I spent 3 years dealing with a commenter named Phinfreak with this angle.
I’ll dust off one of my retorts.
There is a difference between speaking about the realities of a situation and offering excuses. Every year has 31 teams in the league that find out the realities of why they didn’t get a ring. And every year every football reporting agency goes over what the realities were that led them to not reach the goal.
The definition for an excuse: 1 a : to make apology for b : to try to remove blame from 2 : to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import : regard as excusable graciously excused his tardiness 3 a : to grant exemption or release to was excused from jury duty b : to allow to leave excused the class 4 : to serve as excuse for : justify nothing can excuse such neglect
My article was in no way a justification… simply a reality of the situation. If I did otherwise, I’d be accused of carrying pom-poms, sir.
The Dolphin fans I know go into a season with an optimistic look. And honestly, I haven’t been more optimistic since the Marino years. You must have been a Landry/Pouncey/Suh fan???? This team is much better off without those “I” players. Grant it, in Pouncey’s case, injury dictated his game. Key to the season is the first quarter of the season: Titans, Jets, Raiders, Pats. I wounder just how many of the pessimists (national media as well) will be jumping on the band wagon, should this team start 3-1 or better??? Should this team tank and start 0-4 or 1-3, then I’m sure you’all will be saying I told you so!
Should this offense be better??? You better believe it. Say what you want about Landry, we will not miss the penalties nor the free lancing instead of topping your route off. We won’t miss our center not practicing throughout the week nor getting over powered (we will miss his second level ability). How good were we with Suh, as a defense??? Um, not very, only can be an upward trend defensively. Will Tanny be better than Cutler,,, HELLO, you’d better believe he will be, much better. Now how about the O-Line??? Not only will they be much more consistent, should the 2 first round tackles play up to their abilities, this line could be a top 10 line, true story! Watching this team this pre-season, camp, etc, there is much much more speed, athletic ability, and play makers (ie: Gesicki, McMillan, Baker, Fitz, Drake, Amendola, Wilson), just to name a few. We shall see, it all starts with the Titans. Win the first one and see what it can lead to. There is a lot of inexperienced youth on this team, but if they can minimize the mental mistakes, that band wagon will fill up quickly. And I’m sure you Mr/Mrs McLendon will right in the middle of that wagon, not a bad place to be however!
I don’t see or hear or read the excuses, I see, hear, read optimism at its highest peak. Join in, you may be thankful you’ve done so!!!
Hey, Dunner!! Was going to reply last night, but I wanted to rewatch all the Titans games again before I did. My first instinct is to say that Dolphins win. I’m worried about the run game of the Titans. Dion Lewis will make life hell if the Dolphins over pursue. Mariota is dangerous with his legs but erratic with his arm. The Titans are soft in pass defense, especially inside. Pass rush is meh. Dolphins should win. Can they play disciplined football? Can McMillan play 100% better than he did in Preseason. He is my only concern. Kiko and Baker will make plays and screw up. Mcmillan just screws up with a rare play here and there. MLB should be racking up stats… I had a 10 point win by Miami… but to be fair, I’m so uncertain of them that I can’t stick my foot in the ground on that. But I like your prediction, though. I’m so excited and nervous at the same time for this game… can’t wait.
Looking forward to the Game Sunday and hope the Best for the Dolphins.
Who are the Tennessee Titan and why the Fins cannot sleep on the Titans.
https://youtu.be/54jt4zjTI80
Yeah, saw that vid a while back… he knows his stuff. Their counter game with Lewis scares me. I don’t fear their edge run game with Henry due to consistency, but I do worry about a big pop. Hayes is back and Phillips will start this will help… Can the Lb’s not over pursue? Titans were pretty poor in pass defense last year. Last year Titans had 1 sacks… this year we have a better OL. I think Miami wins… if they can stop the over pursuit and don’t act like they get paid per penalty.
Must be getting excuses lined up for another disma year. Been a fan since their beginning and this owner and excuses are the worst.
“Must be getting excuses lined up for another disma year.”
Don’t think it will be dismal in the least. It might be meh and not good or great. As for “lining the up excuses bit”, I spent 3 years dealing with a commenter named Phinfreak with this angle.
I’ll dust off one of my retorts.
There is a difference between speaking about the realities of a situation and offering excuses. Every year has 31 teams in the league that find out the realities of why they didn’t get a ring. And every year every football reporting agency goes over what the realities were that led them to not reach the goal.
The definition for an excuse:
1 a : to make apology for
b : to try to remove blame from
2 : to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import : regard as excusable graciously excused his tardiness
3 a : to grant exemption or release to was excused from jury duty
b : to allow to leave excused the class
4 : to serve as excuse for : justify nothing can excuse such neglect
My article was in no way a justification… simply a reality of the situation. If I did otherwise, I’d be accused of carrying pom-poms, sir.
The Dolphin fans I know go into a season with an optimistic look. And honestly, I haven’t been more optimistic since the Marino years. You must have been a Landry/Pouncey/Suh fan???? This team is much better off without those “I” players. Grant it, in Pouncey’s case, injury dictated his game.
Key to the season is the first quarter of the season: Titans, Jets, Raiders, Pats. I wounder just how many of the pessimists (national media as well) will be jumping on the band wagon, should this team start 3-1 or better??? Should this team tank and start 0-4 or 1-3, then I’m sure you’all will be saying I told you so!
Should this offense be better??? You better believe it.
Say what you want about Landry, we will not miss the penalties nor the free lancing instead of topping your route off.
We won’t miss our center not practicing throughout the week nor getting over powered (we will miss his second level ability).
How good were we with Suh, as a defense??? Um, not very, only can be an upward trend defensively.
Will Tanny be better than Cutler,,, HELLO, you’d better believe he will be, much better.
Now how about the O-Line??? Not only will they be much more consistent, should the 2 first round tackles play up to their abilities, this line could be a top 10 line, true story!
Watching this team this pre-season, camp, etc, there is much much more speed, athletic ability, and play makers (ie: Gesicki, McMillan, Baker, Fitz, Drake, Amendola, Wilson), just to name a few.
We shall see, it all starts with the Titans. Win the first one and see what it can lead to.
There is a lot of inexperienced youth on this team, but if they can minimize the mental mistakes, that band wagon will fill up quickly. And I’m sure you Mr/Mrs McLendon will right in the middle of that wagon, not a bad place to be however!
I don’t see or hear or read the excuses, I see, hear, read optimism at its highest peak. Join in, you may be thankful you’ve done so!!!
Miami 28
Titans 17
Hey, Dunner!! Was going to reply last night, but I wanted to rewatch all the Titans games again before I did. My first instinct is to say that Dolphins win. I’m worried about the run game of the Titans. Dion Lewis will make life hell if the Dolphins over pursue. Mariota is dangerous with his legs but erratic with his arm. The Titans are soft in pass defense, especially inside. Pass rush is meh. Dolphins should win. Can they play disciplined football? Can McMillan play 100% better than he did in Preseason. He is my only concern. Kiko and Baker will make plays and screw up. Mcmillan just screws up with a rare play here and there. MLB should be racking up stats… I had a 10 point win by Miami… but to be fair, I’m so uncertain of them that I can’t stick my foot in the ground on that. But I like your prediction, though. I’m so excited and nervous at the same time for this game… can’t wait.
You just about nailed it, sir. Good job! What’s the new lotto numbers?