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Written by Roberto Yanes
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Friday, 06 August 2010 16:08 |
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THIS PUP HAS A MEAN BITE
The Miami Dolphins have entered training camp and after seven days of hard hitting practices, one name is on every Dol-fan's mind, Nolan Carroll. Carroll is the rookie cornerback from Maryland that the Dolphins selected in the 5th round of this year's draft. He measured in at 5'11”, 204 pounds at the Combine, and was a wide receiver before converting to cornerback. At his pro day he reportedly ran a sub 4.4. Aside from playing corner back, he was a team captain, played special teams and returned kicks. The word on him when he was selected by Miami was that he was athletic, had good speed, but was very raw. .
A lot of pundits considered Carroll to be a project when he first came to the Dolphins, but his success in camp during the last couple of days has everyone going from project to key contributor. It first began on WSVN 7’s Sunday’s Sports Xtra during the “Ask Drew” segment when Sports Agent Drew Rosenhaus was asked who he believed was the Dolphins most impressive player, aside from the obvious names. Drew replied by saying that even though he is not his agent, it is rookie corner back Nolan Carroll who has impressed the most. Since that day, not one day has gone by that we don’t hear some positive feedback from Carroll in camp reports. .
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald said it best when in his blog he wrote, “I should alert you that Nolan Carroll is coming.” When it has not been a pass break up, it has been an interception for a pick six. Carroll has also demonstrated blazing speed and burst at camp. He has been seeing time in dime packages when the Dolphins’ defense has lined up to defend four WR sets. He is being used on special teams and also as a kick returner. The rookie who was supposed to be nothing more than a project is proving that versatility, intelligence and athletic ability can immediately make you a difference maker in the NFL. .
It is not only reporters and fans who are talking about Carroll. Other players on the team are starting to take notice of Carroll’s play as well. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that Karlos Dansby and Yeremiah Bell, two of the Dolphins seasoned veterans and key contributors on the Dolphins defense, have also said that besides the obvious players, they are most impressed with Nolan Carroll. Perhaps the biggest compliment towards Carroll was said during Thursday’s press conference, when Coach Sparano was asked by a reporter what he thought about Carroll. Coach Sparano replied: .
“The ball finds him and he finds the ball. I have seen toughness out of him, I have seen him come up and smack a fullback or smack a guard at times. He is physical, I like his back peddle. He needs some fundamentals things, particularly in things we have done with him on third downs.” Fundamentally, he is still stuck at Maryland, a little bit, but that is understandable. I like the skill set that I am watching.” .
Coach Sparano continued to say: .
“On special teams this guy should be a core guy as we get into the preseason games. We are going to get him involved as much as we can, he will be involved in kick off returns. I think this guy will have a big role on special teams during the preseason. It obviously starts to help when you are thinking about the final 53 and if he is involved in the final 53”. .
The next step for Carroll is to transition his play off the practice field and into an actual game. Carroll also needs to prove he can tackle, something pundits have said he has struggled with in the past. He is already intelligent, versatile and athletic. Carroll’s willingness to play at different positions is something that will help him in his quest to make the final 53 man roster. If he can use all those gifts to his advantage, and show he can play in this league, the skies are the limit for Carroll. Bill Parcells has a famous saying that says, 'If he doesn't bite as a puppy, he won't bite'. So far into camp, it appears that rookie Nolan Carroll is a pup with a mean bite. .
Roberto Yanes has been a member of FinHeaven for six years and goes by the name FinAtic8480 on our forums. He lives in Miami and has been a hardcore Dolphins fan for over 10 years. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE FINHEAVEN FORUMS! |
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Written by Roberto Yanes
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Friday, 03 September 2010 16:22 |
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ROBERTO'S FIN FRIDAYS QBs (3): Chad Henne, Chad Pennington, Tyler Thigpen .
The Dolphins open the season with the most depth of any team at their quarterback position. All three starters have seen significant time in the NFL. There is no way Pat White was making this team with Henne, Pennington and Thigpen at quarterback. .
RBs (5): Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Patrick Cobbs, Lex Hilliard, Lousaka Polite .
Miami has one of the best running back tandems in the NFL. Cobbs is the change of pace running back and Sparano’s favorite player. Polite is the powerful lead blocker and first down machine, while Hilliard is a nice insurance running back and core special teams player. This is by far my favorite position for this team. .
WRs (5): Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, Marlon Moore, Roberto Wallace .
The top three at this position have remained the same throughout training camp and preseason. It was the bottom half that became wide open when Greg Camarillo was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. The trade opened the doors for both Marlon Moore and Roberto Wallace who have taken the opportunity and ran with it. Both players have outplayed Patrick Turner and have earned a spot on this team. .
Tight End (2): Anthony Fasano, David Martin .
I have a hard time believing Miami will stay with only two tight ends on the roster, but for right now, I think it is the best decision. Fasano and Martin are a real nice tandem at tight end and I expect a season similar to the one they had in ’08. Miami will more than likely place Nalbone on the practice squad and look for a backup tight end else where. .
Offensive Line (8): Jake Long, Vernon Carey, Richie Incognito, Joe Berger, John Jerry, Lyndon Murtha, Donald Thomas, Corey Proctor .
I had a real hard time deciding who would make the team along the offensive line, but in the end, I had to go with what I have said all along. I believe Miami will cut Jake Grove, who is injury prone and too costly to have in an uncapped year. This is the year to let go of a big contract without ramifications. .
With that said, Berger automatically becomes the starter at center, Procter makes the team and serves as a swing lineman, and Thomas becomes your back up guard. You have your bookend tackles in Long and Carey, who are the stars of the offensive line, and Murtha stays for now as insurance. .
I believe Miami will be in the market for an experienced backup offensive tackle, so Murtha’s time with the team may not be long. .
Defensive Line (8): Randy Starks, Paul Soliai, Kendall Langford, Jared Odrick, Marques Douglas, Charles Grant, Tony McDaniel, Ryan Baker .
Randy Starks, Paul Soliai, Kendall Langford, Jared Odrick are all locked to make the team. The additions of Marques Douglas and Charles Grant have solidified this unit and have proven to be blessings in disguise. McDaniel and Baker have improved and are quality backups that deserve a spot on this roster. .
Outside Linebacker (5): Cameron Wake, Koa Misi, Charlie Anderson, Ikaika Alama-Francis, Quentin Moses .
The Dolphins have Canadian sensation Cameron Wake and rookie Koa Misi manning the two outside linebacker spots. Charlie Anderson, a more than capable backup and special teams player, has proven he is a quality backup and remains with the team. Converted defensive lineman Ikaika Alama-Francis has been a pleasant surprise and has been Misi’s backup all through training camp and preseason. IAF has even seen time with the starters as a run stop specialist. Moses is my surprise here, I know he was injured, but I am impressed with what I have seen from him this pre season and I am seeing him apply solid pressure. .
Inside Linebacker (4): Karlos Dansby, Channing Crowder, Tim Dobbins, Micah Johnson .
The biggest surprise to the inside linebacker unit has to be overachiever Micah Johnson, who was signed as UDFA after being cut by the Giants when Miami lost linebacker A.J. Edds to a season ending injury. No one expected Johnson to make any contributions to the team, but the injury to Crowder opened the door and I believe Johnson has demonstrated, with his play, the ability to make the final squad. .
Cornerback (6): Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Will Allen, Benny Sapp, Nate Ness, Nolan Carroll .
The Trifecta has kept five corners on the roster these last two year’s, but after Will Allen suffered a set back to his injured knee, Miami was forced to keep six corner backs. I had to go with Nate Ness instead of Jason Allen, Ness has really come on strong and is a very good special teamer. Ness is sure tackler, with real good recovery speed and an ability to knock the ball away. He is also a lot cheaper than Jason Allen and in his young career has shown more. Remember Ness is a converted safety/cornerback so he also adds depth. I don’t know if the Dolphins will keep six corners the whole year, but for now Nate Ness has made the Miami Dolphins 53 man roster. .
Safety (4): Yeremiah Bell, Chris Clemons, Tyrone Culver, Reshad Jones .
An encouraging sign for the Dolphins is how consistent they have remained at the safety position since day one, especially after last year’s debacle. They have entrusted Clemons with the free safety position and Pro Bowl safety Yeremiah Bell is expected be used as a key weapon on the defense. Culver is a key contributor and quality special team player for the Dolphins and rookie Reshad Jones has enough potential to remain with the squad and also be a key special teamer. .
Specialists (3): Dan Carpenter, Brandon Fields, John Denney .
The Three Amigos, as I like to call them, have turned into one of the most consistent units on this team. Their play earned them all contract extensions during the offseason and there was no way this unit was being separated. .
Released: Pat White, Rolly Lumballa, Patrick Turner, Julius Priutt, John Nalbone, Ander Gardner, Jake Grove, Andrew Hartline, Ray Feinga, Lionel Dotson, Montavious Stanley, Erik Walden, Chris McCoy, Austin Spitler, J.D. Folsom, Jason Allen, Ross Weaver, Kevin Hobbs, and Jonathan Amaya. Roberto Yanes has been a member of FinHeaven for six years and goes by the name FinAtic8480 on our forums. He lives in Miami and has been a hardcore Dolphins fan for over 10 years. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE FINHEAVEN FORUMS! |
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Written by Josh Evans
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 22:04 |
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DOLPHINS END PRESEASON WITH LOSS 
The Dolphins preseason finally came to an end. Though the Dolphins lost to the Cowboys 27-25, the Dolphins won't care about that score come tomorrow. All eyes are now pointed at the Buffalo Bills next Sunday, when the games actually matter. Head coach Tony Sparano decided to play his starters this week against the Cowboys and they lasted three series, but only managed three points. The running game did improve and quarterback Chad Henne did redeem himself a bit after last week's horrible performance, but things were not as crisp as most would have hoped. The biggest concern the team has though is that on the final play that the starters were in on, Jake Long went down with a left knee injury. No initial word on the severity of the injury. No real need to disect this game, since we can all turn our attention to next week, when the regular season officially kicks off. The preseason is history, bring on the Bills. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE FINHEAVEN FORUMS! |
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Written by Roberto Yanes
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Thursday, 29 July 2010 17:00 |
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DOLPHINS D-LINE MUCH IMPROVED
Injuries to an NFL team are never meant to be a good thing, but one has to wonder if the recent season-ending injury to defensive lineman Phillip Merling has improved the Miami Dolphins. Merling's nightmarish offseason had the Dolphins searching for answers at the defensive end position, but I believe the Dolphins have done a great job at filling the position Merling left vacant when he was lost to a season-ending achilles injury. You see, the Dolphins have answered back at Merling's injury by signing two quality seasoned veterans. Both players have played at strong levels in their careers and both have had better numbers than Merling did last year. The players I am talking about are the Dolphins most recent acquisition, Marques Douglas and Charles Grant. .
Marques Douglas is a ten-year veteran who has been extremely sufficient throughout his career. His numbers alone do the talking, registering 435 tackles, 20.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles in his career. Douglas, regarded as a good run stuffer, played last year for the number one defense in the NFL at a high level and helped the Jets reach the AFC championship game. Marques finished his season at the Jets with 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He also has a past with new Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, after stints in Baltimore and San Francisco. Douglas’ signing did not surprise me one bit. The Dolphins have had him on their radar all offseason, and when Merling's injury was announced, his name was the first I thought about as a replacement. The Dolphins signing of Marques Douglas is a move I really like. The Dolphins have not only stolen a player from their arch nemesis, the New York Jets, but they also found a seasoned veteran that can groom and help rookie Jared Odrick. I give the Dolphins an A+ for this extremely underrated move. .
The next move the Fins made to sure up their D-line was signing Charles Grant. Grant is a player who has played at a high level in his career, but due to injuries and off the field issues, his play has taken a bit of a step back. He has posted some real nice numbers in the past, registering 423 tackles, 47 sacks, one interception, and 16 forced fumbles. Last year, Charles helped his team reach the Super Bowl registering 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a fumble. Unfortunately, Grant did not play in the Super Bowl due to a season-ending injury in which tore bicep, causing him to miss the playoffs. Aside from coming off a season ending injury, Grant has a four game suspension looming due to a failed drug test in 2008. The suspension has yet to take effect as it has been caught up in court after Viking players Kevin Williams and Pat Williams filed a lawsuit against the makers of the supplement in question. .
Another thing to point out about Grant is that at the age of 31 he will be making the switch to a 3-4 defense. This will be the first time in his career he will be making the move after playing his entire career in a 4-3 defense. The transition should not be a problem. The Saints where a team who often used three-man fronts and that should help Grant make the switch tremendously. The signing of Grant has plenty of question marks. He must prove he can still play in this league, remain healthy and earn a roster spot, but this is a very low risk, high reward signing. What I like about this signing is that Grant was given an incentive based deal. Incentive based deals keep players motivated and can help him overachieve. Then there is the fact that Grant is a veteran and has shown he can produce at a high level in this league. You add all those things together and you have no reason to believe that come opening day Grant will not be on the field. .
The signing of Douglas and Grant are great in my opinion. While it may seem that the Fins took a step back, I actually believed they have improved their defensive line. They have added to two very solid veterans to their D-line who bring depth, experience and have proven they can produce. Both players combine for 858 tackles, 67.5 sacks, one interception, and 24 forced fumbles. If Grant and Douglas can perform anywhere close to how they did last year for their former teams, the Fins have found themselves two key additions late in the offseason. Add Starks, Langford, Odrick and Soliai in to the mix and Dolphins D-line could be darn nasty this season. Roberto Yanes has been a member of FinHeaven for six years and goes by the name FinAtic8480 on our forums. He lives in Miami and has been a hardcore Dolphins fan for over 10 years. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE FINHEAVEN FORUMS! |
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Written by Roberto Yanes
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Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:32 |
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MR. AUTOMATIC
It is third down, the Dolphins need one yard to continue their drive and as they break into the huddle, the name Polite can be heard all over the stadium. The fans, the players, the coaches, and the opposing team know what is about to happen, but no one can stop it. The play is simple: hand the ball to Polite and let Mr. Automatic do what he does best, convert first downs. Since his arrival to the Dolphins midway into the ’08 season, Lousaka has become an overnight sensation. Polite began his collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh were he became the first three-year captain in the history of the school and a four-year starter at fullback. While at Pitt, Polite also proved to be a versatile player seeing time at the running back position. Lousaka went on to declare himself eligible for the ’04 draft. After not being selected in the ’04 draft, Polite signed a deal as an undrafted free agent to play for Coach Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys. It was at Dallas where Polite’s long journey to stardom began. In his first three seasons as a Cowboy, Polite did not play much. He was never able to catch-on and was waived in ’06. He then went on to the Bears where he was again cut before the ’08 season began. It was in October of ’08, after losing full back Casey Cramer due to injury, that the Dolphins signed Lousaka Polite. The one time journey man would be reunited again with the Trifecta, the same men who had offered him a contract when he had once been an undrafted free agent. Lousaka did not disappoint, proving to the Trifecta and Dolfans everywhere that this one time journey man was no fluke and cutting him would be out of the question. In his first season as a Dolphin, Lousaka was a pivotal part of the Dolphins’ AFC East Divisional Championship run. Lousaka was called in short yardage situations and he would not be denied. His success earned him the nick name Mr. Automatic, for being able to convert short yard situations into first downs. His ability to convert on short yardage and his aggressive blocking style earned him his first long-term contract when he was signed to a two year extension by the Fins in 2009. The ’09 season proved to be Polite’s best season in the league. Lousaka was a man on a mission and drew Pro-bowl attention by fans and NFL pundits everywhere. It was the Monday Night game against the Jets that I believe really helped Polite stand out among other full backs around the league. That night, in front of a national TV audience, Polite played like a possessed beast. He constantly kept making the big block to help the Dolphins’ running backs gain the extra yards. I remember being in the stands and hearing the cracking sounds every time Polite would lay a block on one of the Jets players. I personally feel not one full back had a better year than Polite did last year. So, I contacted Profootballfocus.com for their opinion and it appears I am not alone in how I feel about Polite’s style of play last year. Check out below what Ben Stockwell of Profootballfocus.com had to say about the Dolphins’ personal wrecking ball, Lousaka Polite: "Polite was a PFF.com 1st team All-Pro this season, such was the level of his play. What really stands out is how different his level was in '09 from almost all other fullbacks in the league. He comes out and physically imposes himself on linebackers where currently most fullbacks either can't or don't. His consistency on 3rd downs is helped by a strong o-line (though his consistency is impressive in itself) but it is work as a lead blocker that stands out from the crowd, he fires in there and physically dominates his assignment. His blocking performance wasn't limited to run-blocking either, as he surrendered only 1 sack (no hit, no pressure) on 72 pass blocks." I think I speak for all Dolfans when I say Lousaka has become a fan favorite of ours. It is with great pride that I write this article today. Polite has come a very long way to finally making it in the NFL. His aggressive style of play, smashing blocks and short yardage efficiency has helped win over a Miami fan base. His first two seasons in Miami have been amazing and I hope that this upcoming season is just as good for Mr. Automatic.
I would like to thank the staff from Profootballfocus.com
Roberto Yanes has been a member of FinHeaven for six years and goes by the name FinAtic8480 on our forums. He lives in Miami and has been a hardcore Dolphins fan for over 10 years. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE FINHEAVEN FORUMS! |
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