Miami Dolphins must watch camp battle: Bowden Vs. Perry
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins list one as a running back and one as a wide receiver but Lynn Bowden, Jr. and Malcolm Perry are identical in a lot of ways.
In 2020, there was plenty of room for Bowden and Perry to be on the roster but in 2021, the roster is far better with depth players and skilled players leaving the possibility of both players making the roster, a lot less likely.
Bowden has more experience than the Dolphins 2020 7th round pick, Malcolm Perry but Perry has elements in his game that Bowden hasn’t displayed yet. For starters, Perry has played quarterback. The one-time Navy signal-caller transitioned when he arrived in the NFL to more of a skill set WR/RB combination.
Perry ran the ball 3 times for 5 yards in 2020 but added 9 receptions on 13 targets and a touchdown in the passing game. Perry played in nine games starting two.
Bowden on the other hand rushed 9 times for 32 yards and caught 28 passes for 211 yards. Bowden appeared in 10 games and started four.
With the Dolphins roster a lot tighter this year, there is little room for dual-threat players who play the same positions. Bowden and Perry are those players and while there is room for one, I seriously doubt that this year will provide an opportunity for both to make the roster.
Part of the problem is that Perry is listed as a WR/RB and Bowden is listed as a WR. The WR position is stacked with talent and Bowden may not be able to compete for one of six maybe seven spots. At running back, The Dolphins have seven players at the position including Perry. That race is going to be a tight one for what could be four or at the most five running backs.
If the Dolphins were to carry five runners Perry and Bowden would still be competing against Jordan Scarlett, Patrick Laird, and Gerrid Doaks for the final two spots and Doaks is likely to take one of them.
This training camp will come down to opportunity and who can take advantage of that opportunity when they get it. For Perry and Bowden, it may come down to just a handful of plays and which one fits into the offensive scheme better. For now, that may be Bowden.