Luc Leclerc-US PRESSWIRE
Miami Dolphins rookie QB Ryan Tannehill is starting to find success in the passing game. This success has come in throwing to his right to Davone Bess in the slot, and Brian Hartline out wide. He has struggled making plays to his left. Legedu Naanee was on the left before his poor play earned him a release from the team. We are even seeing Reggie Bush line up on the left side as a slot-WR to try to create mis-match problems for the opposing defense so Tannehill has options to spread the ball around the entire football filed.
Word out of Florida is this week the ‘Phins will get the debut of Jabar Gaffney, and we can expect him on the left side.
Gaffney is a 10-year veteran who appears to be healthy after dealing with quad issues the last little while. The Florida native will be suiting up for his 6th different team, and 1st team that is based out of Florida.
Miami has been using Marlon Moore lately, but surely Gaffney is a major upgrade (all due respect to Moore). The veteran Gaffney had career-highs last season with 68 catches for 947 yards and 5 TDs. That is an average of 60 yards per game. All of that with Rex Grossman as his QB. Tannehill is a rookie, but surely Tannehill has more/better QB tools than Grossman (all due respect to Grossman!).
We would think Cortland Finnegan will be assigned Hartline, so we could see rookie CB Janoris Jenkins line-up vs Gaffney.
Gaffney is a good and disciplined route runner who should provide a test for the #39 overall pick (Jenkins). He will not drop a lot of passes, and he never fumbles (he is reliable). Suddenly the much-maligned Dolphins WR group looks better, if not downright good. Hartline is back from injury and he is killing it. Bess is his usual dependable self, and I do think Gaffney can produce and contribute for the 2012 ‘Phins.
If the rumors are true we are mere hours away from seeing Gaffney make his Dolphins debut.
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