Miami Dolphins rookie grades led by a late round kicker
By Nick Belotto
With the new year upon us and a new regime eventually coming down to Miami, it’s as good a time as ever to look at the Miami Dolphins 2018 draft class and see how they fared this season.
With the recent reports over the last few days discussing the possibility of a Miami Dolphins rebuild, it’s imperative to see which members of the 2018 draft class will be pieces to build on for the incoming coaching staff. It seems as though Chris Grier and Stephen Ross recognize that the best way to build this team for sustained success is through the draft, so let’s see how Grier’s most recent rookie class fared on the field this past year.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
2018 Stats: 80 Tackles, 29 Assisted Tackles, 2 Interceptions, 1 Touchdown, Played in 16 Games
Minkah Fitzpatrick came out as a highly touted defensive prospect and didn’t disappoint. He seemed to have a nose for the football and was one of Miami’s better players on the field defensively. The issue with Fitzpatrick wasn’t necessarily his play but his constant repositioning. In order for Miami to benefit from his skill set, they will need to play him as a safety, pairing him up with either Reshad Jones or T.J. McDonald (whichever one survives the offseason).
Fitzpatrick has the skills, athleticism and play making skills to be a foundational piece for a Dolphins rebuild.
2018 Grade: B+
Mike Gesicki
2018 Stats: 32 Targets, 22 Receptions, 202 Yards, 0 Touchdowns, Played in 16 Games
To say that Mike Gesicki’s rookie campagin was disappointing may be an understatement. When he was drafted in the second round, many, present company included, believed that he could be a difference maker on the offense by stretching the field and becoming a reliable go to target for Ryan Tannehill. This didn’t happen.
Many are already calling Gesicki a bust which seems a bit harsh and unfair for a rookie. Yes, his numbers were abysmal but the question needs to be asked if this was due to his inability to play effectively or if it had a lot to do with the play calling. It is too early to give up on Gesicki, but his rookie campaign left a lot to be desired.
2018 Grade: D-
Jerome Baker
2018 Stats: 79 Tackles, 22 Assisted Tackles, 3.0 Sacks, 1 Interception, 1 Touchdowns, 16 Games Played
Baker was a pleasant surprise as a rookie. He brought important speed to the field every play and looked like a bit of a steal as a third rounder. He was a great compliment to McMillan and Alonso in the linebacking corp and will continue to grow and develop into a great playmaker. He is not yet a perfect linebacker, but with proper coaching and a stronger coordinator, Baker could develop into a force to be reckoned with.
2018 Grade: B+
Durham Smythe
2018 Stats: 6 Receptions, 50 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns, Played in 15 Games
Smythe was brought in to be a blocking tight end that would compliment Gesicki’s speed and receiving talents. Smythe proved to be a quality blocker who could be used more offensively with the right coach. Similarly to Gesicki, Smythe may have suffered statistically due to the offensive game planning. Yet the fact that the Dolphins had to bring in Nick O’Leary to help this unit says a lot about both Smythe and Gesicki. Hopefully with a new game plan, both rookie tight ends will get more action and be more active offensively.
2018 Grade: C-
Kalen Ballage
2018 Stats: 36 Attempts, 191 Rushing Yards, 1 Touchdown, 9 Receptions, 56 Receiving Yards, Played in 12 Games
Ballage was basically missing in action in the early part of the season. He was behind both Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore so his carries were limited to say the least. To put things in comparison, Ballage touched the ball 8 times in 13 games. Things completely changed, however, when Frank Gore became another addition to the injured reserve list and Ballage was able to pick up some of his carries. Starting in week 15, Ballage saw his touches increase, albeit not tremendously. He did show that he has a lot of potential to be a bruising running back that could compliment Drake’s skill set. He will need more touches to really get a good feel for his capabilities, but there is enough there to warrant some more opportunities in 2019.
2018 Grade: C+
Cornell Armstrong
2018 Stats: 8 Tackles, 0 Assisted Tackles, 0 Interceptions, 0 Touchdown, Played in 15 Games
Armstrong’s performance throughout the year is difficult to grade. The sixth round pick out of Southern Miss didn’t do enough to make a huge impact but he also didn’t have opportunities to make a difference. He was seen as a project with upside when drafted so it’s hard to fault him for being exactly as expected. He finished the year with 8 tackles, so that’s cool, right?
2018 Grade: Incomplete?
Quentin Poling
2018 Stats: N/A
Being signed to the practice squad was the right move for a linebacker who needed some time to improve and grow into the NFL game. The jury is still out for Poling, who should get another shot to compete in the 2019 offseason.
2018 Grade: Incomplete
Jason Sanders
2018 Stats: 18 of 20 Field Goals (90%) and 35 of 36 (97.2%) Extra Points, Played in 16 games
This guy. Miami’s rookie kicker was exactly what he was expected to be. He played great all season and the decision to go with him over fellow rookie Greg Joseph proved to be a great call. If Sanders can keep this up, he could be kicking in Miami for a long time.
2018 Grade: A