Which players bring hope to the Miami Dolphins future outlook
After a week that left Miami Fans grasping for positives, a further look will show that there is more light to the Dolphin’s outlook than it seems. Let’s look at building blocks that the Dolphins have that will be essential to build upon for the next several years.
Jakeem Grant:
Hear me out. I know Jakeem is not elite talent and he isn’t a young kid that is going to put the team on his back. However, he is a player that grinds, gets better, has the right attitude, and can change games with his speed. When Gase talks about grinders and locker room influences that raise the play of those around, Jakeem is the guy you want. I call him the Jarvis Juice energy without the attitude. Look for Grant to keep giving in-play high fives and elevating teammates play.
Minkah Fitzpatrick:
This is obvious. Minkah is a game changer and if it wasn’t for an insanely over-valued market of QB’s, he would have been a top five draft pick. He does it all: nickel, safety, cornerback, and even linebacker work. He is wicked intelligent and he has amazing energy on the field. The best part is, HE’S A ROOKIE. Look for Minkah to be in the green and orange for the next decade and will be on par with some of the greatest safeties to play the game.
Xavien Howard:
I get it, he was bad last week. He made mental mistakes as well as mechanical ones. But there is no denying it, X marks the spot when it comes to shut down corner. He loves stepping up to challenges, he is a ballhawk, and you can depend on him to ghost the top receiver on the other end. Where shutdown corners are becoming a rarer commodity, he is proving his value.
Mike Gisicki:
A player that has yet to produce should not be on this list, right? Wrong. Mike has shown the most valuable attribute a young player can have. Shut up and get better at your weaknesses. Gisicki was drafted out of Penn because of his MASSIVE frame and his soft volleyball player hands. However, his run blocking was non existent and he had the potential to be a liability when it came to play disguise (which apparently Adam Gase does not prioritize, shown when he lines up empty backfields on first down and wonders why 3rd and longs keep happening… but hey… what do I know). Gisiki has shown that he can learn, get better, and be productive in areas of his game that he isn’t naturally good at, and that makes him scary when he does put it all together in the future.
Laremy Tunsil:
If you follow me on twitter (@travrichard), you know that I pull my hair out with Laremy. His pre-snap and drive killing holding penalties make me want to get a dragon tattoo on my neck and end all my life goals. (Seriously, between Gase’s first down formations and offensive line penalties, I’m about to dry shave my armpits) However, the truth is that Tunsil is being asked to do more due to interior line injuries.
Final Thoughts
Miami had a garbage 2017 draft. Look at the talent it produced: Charles Harris has done absolutely nothing but spin in place for the last year and a half. McMillan ripped his knee apart first pre-season snap and is still acclimating to the NFL speed. Tankersley just recently got back in Adam’s good graces and may even play a few snaps this year. Issac Asiata is now a practice squader. Vincent Taylor is the only other player of note from that draft. When Miami comes up blank of an entire draft class, it is ultra important to develop key players from the other draft classes. It’s not all bleak and this years class looks fantastic.