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!!!