Dolphins Still Missing Bruising Back
By Eric Roddy
Dec 13, 2013; Charleston, IL, USA; Towson Tigers running back Terrance West (28) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at O
In my opinion, Dennis Hickey has done a great job so far as the new General Manager of the Miami Dolphins. Has Miami’s Free Agency involvement been perfect? By no means. That being said, I think Hickey has shown great decision making, and has brought in the necessary talent for the right price. He secured a big tackle to protect Ryan Tannehill’s blindside. He brought in a veteran RB to compete with Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas He brought in veteran Louis Delmas and resigned CB Brent Grimes to strengthen our secondary. All before the 2014 NFL Draft. I will truly be impressed with Dennis Hickey if he knocks this year’s draft out of the park. While the focus will undoubtedly be on the rest of the unfinished line, I think another piece of the puzzle that the ‘Phins must find through the draft is a strong and physical running back. Someone who can come in on 3rd and short or 4th and short and pick up a yard or two. A bruiser who can catch the ball in the flats and help keep Tannehill upright. I believe this should be one of Hickey’s main concerns in entering the draft.
All signs point to the Miami Dolphins drafting a running back. Fellow staff writer Tyler McMullen agrees, and the Dolphins have recently worked out Towson RB Terrance West. West is an absolute monster, standing at 5 foot 9 inches and weighing 223 pounds. Through just three seasons (that’s right he is only a junior), he set school records with 4,584 yards and 86 TD’s. He is an excellent down-hill runner, and almost always takes at least two players to wrestle him down. He would compliment the agile and swift Moreno perfectly.
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Another big back that Miami could possibly be interested in is Andre Williams out of Boston College. The 5 foot 11, 230 pound Williams ran a 4.56 forty yard dash at the combine, and rushed for over 1,000 yards last season. He is by no means a bad pass blocker or pass-catcher, though could use improvement in both areas. The great thing about Williams is he will likely be available in the later rounds.
Due to the recent signing of Knowshon Moreno, I think Miami will more likely wait until at least round 3 before considering a RB. That being said, I think it is inevitable that they will indeed draft one. Miami would then enter summer camps with a newly drafted rookie, Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Knowshon Moreno, Mike Gillislee, and Marcus Thigpen as their RB’s. Thigpen is obviously more of a return specialist, and Gillislee saw most of his actions on ST last season. That leaves Moreno, Thomas, Miller and the new rookie fighting for the starting spot and additional carries. I believe the odd man out will be Daniel Thomas. Thomas has yet to live up to his potential, and his inconsistent pass blocking and Lamar Miller’s speed and quickness will likely mean the end of DT’s career in Miami. The Dolphins moved up into the 2nd round in 2011 and drafted Thomas, hoping that he would be their big bruising back. While Thomas has shown sparks of greatness, he has never truly been the work horse the Dolphins were hoping for.
FINS UP!