During the summer, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano hardly could conceal his excitement about two of his newest offensive toys, a pair of speedy third-day draft picks with impressive college resumes.
Wide receiver Clyde Gates would instantly provide the Dolphins with the electrifying speed they’ve lacked since dealing Ted Ginn Jr. to the 49ers for a fifth-round draft pick. Fullback/H-back/tight end Charles Clay would give Miami a versatile weapon who could line up at several positions.
So far, the Dolphins have seen a few flashes from both. But they want to see a lot more over the final 12 games. “They’ve done a good job with the reps we’ve asked them to do,” offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. “They’re improving each day.”
Clay, who sat out the first two games with a hamstring injury, started the next two at fullback but was used six plays against Cleveland and 14 against San Diego.
The Dolphins went to Clay on the first play of the Chargers game, lining him up at receiver and completing a 3-yard pass. Later, he found an opening in the middle of the field and gained 31 yards on a pass from Matt Moore.
Clay said he is being used primarily at H-back but also has lined up at fullback and tight end. Daboll said he’s most effective when he’s next to Anthony Fasano.
“I’m playing four or five different positions, and I enjoy it,” Clay said. “Moving around, it keeps defenses on their toes.”
The Dolphins still are experimenting with Clay, who had 189 receptions (13.5 average) and 28 touchdowns at Tulsa. He averaged 5.1 yards on 179 rushing attempts in college but hasn’t run the ball yet as a pro.
“His growth has been stunted a little bit by the injury,” Sparano said. “He has to do a lot of different jobs. When you miss time from a mental standpoint, with the position Charles is playing, it really becomes challenging.”
When the Dolphins drafted Gates, comparisons were raised with Mike Wallace (who caught 39 passes for 756 yards as a rookie for Pittsburgh), and Gates’ close friend Johnny Knox, a fellow Abilene-Christian alum who caught 45 passes for 527 yards as a rookie for the Bears.
But Gates has been targeted six times and made his first and only catch of the season (for eight yards) against San Diego. His most meaningful moment on offense so far was catching a pass out of bounds during the Dolphins’ final possession against Cleveland.
“I would like to get him a little more involved in the offense,” Sparano said of a player who had the fastest 40-yard dash time of any receiver at this year’s NFL Combine (a 4.3).
Gates has played 17, 8, 17 and 9 offensive snaps in the four games.
“I’m not antsy,” he said. “I’m patiently waiting. … I don’t want to just be known as a speed guy. I want to be a polished, every down receiver. Speed is a given.”
Receivers coach Steve Bush and assistant receivers coach Ike Hilliard have had Gates study tape of Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens. Sometimes at night, Gates will study DVDs of Larry Fitzgerald, Chad OchoCinco and Brandon Marshall from his Denver days.
As a kick returner, Gates ranks 26th in the league with a modest 22.1 average. He has failed to reach the 20-yard-line on six of the 11 kickoffs that he has returned from the end zone.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/14/2454649/miami-dolphins-expect-much-more.html
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