Training camp preview: Running Backs
By Brian Miller
In this next part of our preview of the Miami Dolphins training camp, we will look at the Running Backs.
Roster:
"Ronnie Brown – year 3Lorenzo Booker – RookieJesse Chatman – year 5Patrick Cobbs – year 2Ray Perkins – year 1"
Dolphins situation:
The Dolphins are in interesting waters here. New HC Cam Cameron has had it made the last few years with Tomlinson in SD. Not the case now. Ronnie Brown has shown flashes of being a very good RB but has yet to reach elite status, not surprising as he has only been in the league for two years. Still, questions about his durability linger and the fact that Miami has changed the depth, leaves questions as to whether or not the Phins have enough depth should Brown go down with a significant injury.
"Ronnie Brown: This is not a battle of who will be the starter, it’s a battle of who will back up Brown. The lingering questions revolve around the durability issues. When Brown is healthy, he can rack up some yards and he has shown the ability to get better as the game gets late. The problem for Brown is threefold. 1: He has been saddled with oline questions and changes in each of his first two years. 2: Brown has not been used like he should. Last year, OC Mularkey seemed to forget at times that Brown was on the roster, at critical points in the game. 3: The systems. Whether or not you think the same system has been in place for Brown, he enters his 3rd season learning his 3rd true system."
"The continuity of the 3rd problem coupled with the other two has surrounded Brown with questions that in my opinion are unjust. He did after all rush for over 1,000 yards last year, and he missed 4 games. The 4 games are more of a concern to me than the other two. Despite the fact that many predicted a breakout year for Brown last year, too many outside problems from Mularkey to the Oline shifts to the merry-go-QBs hindered that “break-out”. Still, 4.2 yards per carry and over 1 grand in yardage is still good, even for a player who has yet to reach the elite status.The Good: He is undisputed. There is no one pushing him for his job. The reason this is good is that he is young and finally has a coach who knows how to run an offense. Brown has been here for 2 years, if he can not break out in the Cameron system, Miami will be looking next year at finding someone who will. He possesses good speed and technique. He does not put the ball on the ground often and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield will serve him well in this system.The Bad: His durability. If there is a knock on him, its the every day grind that he will have to endure. With the emergence of Lorenzo Booker, Brown will not likely see a lot of 3rd downs so long as Booker continues to impress when the pads are on. If Brown can get some rest, he should stay fresh and his injury issues will be less of an issue. But he has to stay healthy. If the Dolphins want to make any splash this year, Browns’ health will be key. After him there is no other every down back."
"Lorenzo Booker: Drafted in the 3rd round of this years draft Booker has impressed not only his coaches but some of the veteran defenseman as well. Booker has the moves and he has the speed. What he does not have is the collegiate history of other RBs. Booker was underutilized at FSU and some question the ability for Booker to ever become a featured RB in the NFL. Time will tell."
"The Good: Has the speed, the agility, and the ability to catch the ball out of the back-field. Booker could be a steal in the 3rd round as he should flourish in the Cameron offense, especially on 3rd down where he should see most of his time, barring injury to Brown. Booker replaces Sammy Morris and Travis Minor who both left for other pastures this past off-season. The Bad: Playing time. He has not received a lot of touches from his college days compared to other number 1 college backs. He has at times amazed his teammates with his ability but pads were not on, and it will remain to be seen if he can take the 2 a day hits that he will face at training camp. Unfortunately for Booker his youth is his greatest downfall, for now. His size is another issue as he is on the light side of 200. Cameron and the trainers will try and bulk him up and weight training should help with the absorption of NFL caliber hits.All in all, Booker is not ready for prime time and likely won’t be ready at the end of training camp, but Booker doesn’t have to be, he only needs to be ready to come in and spell Brown, and work the chains on 3rd downs. He should be ready for that. Booker is a serviceable back-up to Brown, provided Brown stays healthy. If Brown goes down and misses significant time, Booker may not stand up to the rigors of every down."
"Jesse Chatman: Chatman is a 5 year veteran who has played under Cam Cameron. Weight issues contributed to his release from SD where he would sign on with the Dolphins as a FA only to be traded to New Orleans two years ago for a conditional 7th. He was cut 3 games into the season and did not play."
"The Good: He is a veteran. He knows how Cam Cameron does things, and he is no stranger to the Miami heat. He shows flashes of being very solid, in 15 games during his last year in SD, Chatman averaged 6 yards per carry on 65 touches."
"The Bad: Chatman has been a journeyman for the better part of 3 years now and has logged no playing time during those years. He runs well but not consistently and his off-season work ethic is part of the reason he was let go in SD. Chatman just hasn’t been playing enough to formulate a solid opinion one way or the other. He still is someone to watch in training camp due to the lack of depth at the position."
"Outlook: On the bubble. Chatman will have to compete to make the team. He will likely be on the opening day roster but that will be because there is no depth."
"Prediction: Makes the team, contributes on special teams."
"Patrick Cobbs: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Patriots, Cobbs showed some real flashes during the pre-season. So much so that he drew the interest of the Steelers and was traded on September 1st. However, he was then cut by Pittsburgh after the opening night game against the Dolphins. He refused to sign a practice squad deal with the Steelers and was added to the Dolphins practice squad instead. He has played in 3 regular season games in the NFL. All on special teams."
"The Good: He is fast and offers a nice change of pace to the style of game that Brown runs. However, he will not be spelling Brown and is on the team for Depth. His best chance at seeing playing time is to outperform Booker in camp for the 3rd down role."
"The Bad: Like the other RB’s mentioned outside of Brown, experience is the largest downside. He has not played enough to make significant strides to be a normal contributor to the team. He has the tools but he has not been given the opportunity to use them. The longer this kid sits and watches the worse it will get for him."
"Outlook: Cobbs will be competing for a roster spot."
"Prediction: Cobbs will make the team but will see his name on the inactive list until someone gets hurt. Cobbs has to show in TC that he is more valuable than Chatman. The lack of veteran depth for the Dolphins will play a part in where Cobbs fits in. Chatman will likely get the nod unless Cobbs can flat out outplay him."
"Ray Perkins: Perkins spent his entire rookie season on the SD Charger practice squad. He was signed by Miami after a mini-camp tryout this year."
"Outlook: Perkins is a practice squad player at best. He will be competing with Chatman and Cobbs for a roster spot."
"Prediction: Not likely to make the team."
"RBs Overall: This is a weak area this year. With the absence of Morris and Minor, the Dolphins will have to rely on Booker, Chatman, and perhaps Cobbs to fill in behind starter Brown. The Dolphins also possess 4 FB’s on the roster that will take up space and it remains to be seen how many of each will be kept. Full-Backs will be up later today."
I think that the Dolphins will keep Chatman and Cobbs with Brown and Booker. The odd man out is Perkins unless Cobbs just doesn’t impress Cameron. The fact that Cameron knows Chatman and Perkins might lead some to believe that Cobbs will be the odd man out. Due to the injury problems of Ronnie Brown and the inexperience of Booker, the Dolphins will have to carry 4 RBs’ this year with one of those inactive on the practice squad.