Miami Dolphins 4th-round draft pick Lamar Miller is fighting just to make the final 53-man roster. He’s currently listed as the 4th-string running back, behind Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas and Steve Slaton.
At this point, Miller’s best chance to make the active roster may be by winning the kick returner competition. He’s battling Marcus Thigpen, who joined the team from the CFL, for the job.
When you draft a quarterback in the 1st round, you’re staking your entire reputation on that one player, which is exactly what Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland did with Ryan Tannehill. No matter what happens with the rest of this draft class, only Tannehill’s performance will be remembered.
I’ve been saying all year that Ryan Tannehill is not a 1st-round talent. I gave him a 3rd-round grade based on the fact that he has the raw skills to start in the NFL, but needs a considerable amount of development before he’s ready. And based on that assessment, I don’t like his chances to succeed in Miami. He’s the type of quarterback that needs to sit and learn, and he won’t have that luxury. The Dolphins are probably going to throw him into the fire, and that rarely works out well for developmental prospects.
Jonathan Martin was extremely overrated throughout the draft process, but he’s a solid 2nd-round pick for the Dolphins. He’ll be plugged in a right tackle where he should be an adequate starter.
Olivier Vernon is a run-stuffing lineman and I’m not sure how he fits in Miami’s 3-4 defense. He may be too small to play end but isn’t athletic enough to play linebacker.
Michael Egnew was a nice pickup in the 3rd round. He’s essentially an oversized receiver, and won’t be a three-down tight end. But they needed to add a pass-catching tight end, and he’ll be a nice compliment to Anthony Fasano, who’s more of a traditional tight end.
Lamar Miller could prove to be a steal in the 4th round, but the running back depth chart in Miami is crowded. He’ll have to fight for playing time behind Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas.
Josh Kaddu adds depth at linebacker and should contribute on special teams. He’ll likely play inside linebacker in their 3-4 defense.
B.J. Cunningham is a solid possession receiver who could be a late-round steal. He’s a strong route runner with good hands and has the skills to play immediately. However, he’s similar to some other receivers on the Dolphins roster, such as Davone Bess, which may hurt his chances of seeing any significant playing time as a rookie.
Kheeston Randall is a steal in the 7th round. He’s a tough, hard-working player who fits perfectly at end in the Dolphins 3-4 defense. He may only be a career backup, but in the 7th round he’s well worth the selection.
Richard Matthews will have a tough time making the Dolphins final roster cuts. He’ll find a job somewhere, but the depth chart is crowded at receiver in Miami.
The Dolphins made some nice picks in this draft, but it’s impossible to overlook the gamble on Tannehill. This franchise is headed in the wrong direction, and they don’t appear to have the decision makers in place to turn things around.
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Lamar Miller RB Miami FL #6
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Ht: 5’11”
Wt: 215 |
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| Strengths: | ||
| Small, compact build makes him tough to bring down. Strong lower body allows him to fight through arm tackles with ease. Patient runner; does a nice job following his blockers and allowing holes to develop. Above average breakaway speed. Hits holes with a burst. Impressive quickness and great body control; changes direction quickly and can reach top speed in a quick burst. Effective receiver out of the backfield; good hands. Some experience returning kicks. | ||
| Weaknesses: | ||
| Has a tendancy to be too patient at times; dances too much in the backfield waiting for his hole, which won’t fly at the next level. Not a power runner; can fight through weak tackles, but once he’s wrapped up, he’s going down. Effort as a blocker is lacking; whiffs on far too many attempts. Missed time in 2010 with a shoulder injury. Suffered another shoulder injury in 2011 vs Kansas State, but did not miss any time. | ||
| Comments: | ||
| Miller has all the tools necessary to be an effective starter at the next level. However, he fails to stand out in any one area, which limits his upside to an extent. He’s the type of running back who can be extremely effective, potentially even Pro Bowl caliber, if surrounded with the right supporting cast, but isn’t the type who can carry a team. In past years he may have been considered a legitimate 1st-round prospect, however, the position has been devalued in recent years. As a result, he could fall to the 2nd round, but should still be viewed as starter material. | ||
| Videos: | ||
| 2011 vs Ohio State 2011 vs Virginia Tech |
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