Is Ezekiel Elliot worth the the Miami Dolphins 13th Pick in the NFL Draft?
Is Ezekiel Elliot worth the 13th pick of the Miami Dolphins in the NFL 2016 Draft?
The Miami Dolphins have lost there top running back in Lamar Miller, and then have tried desperately to replace him. So far they have been less than lucky in their attempts to sign a veteran. It’s being reported that the Dolphins are seriously considering the selection of Ohio State Running back Ezekiel Elliott with the 13th pick in the first round. So, should Miami Dolphins eye Elliot in Draft?
Adam Gase is the head coach and tight-ends and running backs are the go juice in his system. He a restructured Cameron and Simms under contract. So the TE’s are settled. Miller was let go and C.J. Anderson was reeled back to Denver. And so far, it seems Ajayi isn’t the man to lead his “O”. With a back missing at this point in free agency, the Draft is the last place to get one of an upper echelon caliber.
Elliott has been deemed the “best running back” in the draft. He’s 6’1”, 225 pounds, and has the speed and physicality to be an every down back in the NFL. Last season, he carried the rock 289 times for 1,821 and 23 touchdowns, and was the Postseason MVP for the Buckeyes two years ago when they won the National Championship. Pass blocking, the most important trait for a three down back, he’s very good at as well. So will Miami, should Miami go running back with the first round pick – if he is still there?
Dolphins run a zone blocking scheme which favors agile blocker who use angles to have there way with “D’s”. This year Gase will run a lot of stretch runs with a back side escape hatch. They need a back with speed to hit the corner and patience to cut it back when over pursuit and lane integrity is lost. Denver ran it back in the day with T.D. – he was a 6th round pick.
The negatives on Elliot are he takes a little too much abuse and can run high a bit to much. Me, I don’t like his broad just and verticals – they aren’t just test, but metrics to demonstrate explosion. I see him as fast but limited pop. Much of what he did in college, the bounces outside with the”soft S”, hitting wide holes, isn’t going to happen against the speed of an NFL “D”.
Am I saying he is a bust? Heck no! But worth the 13th pick? A reader named Steve knows a heck of a lot more than me on the college game, and he is sky high on him. He might be right. The kid is fast, tough, big, and strong. But, even if he is all that, if there is no holes, what will he do?
Miami Dolphins must decide what’s the focus of the 2016 offense.
Consistency and continuity are key for an offensive line, especially in the zone-blocking scheme, and any sports gambling fan knows Miami’s line hasn’t had that in a long time. Gase has stated the line is better than it has produced. Bushrod has been brought in to fill a guard spot. But, cut blocks are near outlawed, so the days of the Broncs’ stretch, cut, and cripple with lesser linemen is over. Can a line plagued with injuries and inconsistent play be consistent in 2016? And if not, isn’t it a waste to have a stud getting beaten into a dud?
I like the kid. But, I’d like a productive O-line a lot more. None of this means they will even draft a RB or O-linemen anyway. But, on the flip side, if he ended up a Peterson and we missed, what would the fallout of hindsight be?
Mike Tannenbaum and the Miami Dolphins are in a tight bind. They have warm bodies in places of need: CB, LB, DE, and even G – although those bodies look like they should be in the morgue. But, it seems heading into the Draft the only place where they aimed and missed, and are short on bodies is RB. They need to nail this for their credibility and for the Dolphins to have hope they can rise from the ashes. The only thing I can think of now is what Arnold Schwarzenegger said to Lou Ferrigno’s father in the movie Pumping Iron: “Don’t screw it up this time”! Go Fins!!
