Rookie Chess Pieces

The acquisition of top-tier talent wasn’t limited to the free agency period for the Miami Dolphins. The 2018 NFL Draft saw the team add three players who I believe are going to step in and make a large contribution to the team from the start. Equally as important, however, is the versatility these players are going to give both the offensive and defensive coordinator. In today’s NFL, it’s imperative that you create match-up nightmares for your opponent. That is exactly what Mike Gesicki, Kalen Ballage, and Minkah Fitzpatrick will do for the 2018 squad.

One thing — among many, if we’re being honest here — that the Miami Dolphins offense has been lacking seemingly forever is a dependable target from the tight end position. Charles Clay was arguably the last good tight end the team had, and he was off to Buffalo in the blink of an eye. You can make a pretty good case that the Dolphins haven’t had consistent quality at the tight end spot since the Randy McMichael days. If not before that, even.

That should change with second-round pick Mike Gesicki. Gesicki is an ultra-athletic tight end coming to Miami from Penn State. He dominated the Big 10 for years and should give Tannehill the reliable over-the-middle target he’s needed his entire career. Gesicki has the athleticism to line up in multiple positions — out wide, in the slot, even in the backfield — and as long as he’s not asked to block regularly, should make a solid contribution. Rookie tight ends have a steep learning curve when it comes to the NFL, so I don’t expect big things right away. But in due time he’s going to be big-time.

Joining Gesicki as a chess piece for Adam Gase’s offense is former Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage. Criminally underused in his time as a Sun Devil, Ballage brings a unique blend of size and athleticism to the Dolphins backfield that you don’t get with incumbent starter Kenyan Drake or presumed short-yardage back Frank Gore.

One might think that with Drake and Gore already in the fold, it would be tough for Ballage to see touches. But Gase-run offenses have always thrived on having a back who is a weapon in the pass game. That should be Ballage in spades. The rookie running back possesses rare speed and agility for a back his size. His college coaches didn’t quite know what to do with him, but I trust Gase to find plenty of use for him. Whether that be in the backfield or split out wide, he’ll feast.

The Miami Dolphins trio of rookie chess pieces rounds out on the defensive side of things, with newcomer and first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick joins a safety corps with perennial All-Pro caliber Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald. Suffice it to say that Fitzpatrick wasn’t a need pick, but his skill set was too much to pass on. The 2017 Dolphins defense struggled mightily with its coverage over the middle of the field, particularly against tight ends.

Fitzpatrick should come in and immediately provide some relief in that aspect. The former Crimson Tide DB has the size, build, and range to line up as a safety — or even a rover linebacker a la a Deone Bucannon type — and hold his own against today’s speedy, yet physical tight ends. Fitzpatrick also has the fluidity and agility to line up outside and join a talented cornerback group in Dime packages. Offensive coordinators are going to have to be very cognizant of where Fitzpatrick is at all times, which is an advantage to the Dolphins defense.

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