Dolphins Running Game (Week 13) (1 Viewer)

[Red Apples]

Team's back(s) to square one

Injuries keep piling up on depleted unit

By Harvey Fialkov | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

November 29, 2007

In the span of two weeks, Williams has gone from the center ring of another media circus to the crowded injured reserve list, where he joins 10 other Dolphins who have had season-ending injuries.

Williams was nowhere to be seen in the locker room Wednesday as he begins rehabilitation to repair a torn pectoral muscle sustained Monday night after Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons stepped on his shoulder blade while going for Williams' fumble.

Williams, who practiced just three times after not playing professional football for more than a year, finished the season with 15 yards on six carries.

The Dolphins re-signed running back Samkon Gado on Wednesday. He had been cut Monday when Williams was activated. Gado shared snaps with rookie tailback Lorenzo Booker in practice because projected starter Jesse Chatman is still limping on a tender right ankle.

"I really feel sorry for [Williams]," said Gado, who gained 46 yards on 18 carries for the Texans earlier this season. "I had a very interesting conversation with him before the game ... I felt like I really got a glimpse of who the guy was, and I wanted him to prove everybody wrong.

"But it's OK, all things happen for a reason, and it's not the final chapter for him by any stretch of the imagination."

Although that final chapter could be concluded elsewhere if the Dolphins decide to trade Williams in the offseason, coach Cam Cameron expressed confidence in the 30-year-old's ability to bounce back from the third serious injury of his tumultuous nine-year career. Williams broke his left ankle in 2000 while with New Orleans and fractured his left forearm last year while toiling in Canada.

"It's unfortunate," Cameron said. "It's easy, again, in those situations to get ahead of yourself and we all know that it's a different game on Sundays than when you're out back practicing and it's not contact.

"But as he and I talked, it's another test for him, another obstacle for him to overcome and he knows we're going to support him."

Despite the loss of starting running back Ronnie Brown in Game 7 against the Patriots, the loss of Williams and the nagging injuries hampering Jesse Chatman, the Dolphins' running attack has averaged 4.38 yards per carry, fifth best in the NFL.

"That's our job," said Dolphins right tackle L.J. Shelton. "To stay consistent, let them get into the flow of the game and make plays. We know we're an extension of the running game and we have to keep our quarterback clean. That's how we're going to earn respect."

Chatman said his neck was fine after getting speared Monday night, and is looking forward to challenging the Jets' 31st-ranked rushing defense, which is allowing an average of 150.5 yards a game on the ground.

"When you play this position you're going to take a beating. Just like the Timex, take a licking and keep on ticking, that's what we do," said Chatman, who had just 17 yards on 11 carries Monday.

If Chatman can't go, the Dolphins may opt for running backs by committee Sunday, with Patrick Cobbs, Booker and Gado sharing the load.

"I got a lot more [snaps] today than all season," said Booker, the third-round pick out of Florida State who has been inactive for eight games and has no carries in three others. "I've got to try to keep on an even keel.

"I know my time will come."

As for Williams, his time has come and gone again, but this time through no fault of his own.

 

[Liquid Tension]

Team's back(s) to square one

Injuries keep piling up on depleted unit

By Harvey Fialkov | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

November 29, 2007

In the span of two weeks, Williams has gone from the center ring of another media circus to the crowded injured reserve list, where he joins 10 other Dolphins who have had season-ending injuries.

Williams was nowhere to be seen in the locker room Wednesday as he begins rehabilitation to repair a torn pectoral muscle sustained Monday night after Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons stepped on his shoulder blade while going for Williams' fumble.

Williams, who practiced just three times after not playing professional football for more than a year, finished the season with 15 yards on six carries.

The Dolphins re-signed running back Samkon Gado on Wednesday. He had been cut Monday when Williams was activated. Gado shared snaps with rookie tailback Lorenzo Booker in practice because projected starter Jesse Chatman is still limping on a tender right ankle.

"I really feel sorry for [Williams]," said Gado, who gained 46 yards on 18 carries for the Texans earlier this season. "I had a very interesting conversation with him before the game ... I felt like I really got a glimpse of who the guy was, and I wanted him to prove everybody wrong.

"But it's OK, all things happen for a reason, and it's not the final chapter for him by any stretch of the imagination."

Although that final chapter could be concluded elsewhere if the Dolphins decide to trade Williams in the offseason, coach Cam Cameron expressed confidence in the 30-year-old's ability to bounce back from the third serious injury of his tumultuous nine-year career. Williams broke his left ankle in 2000 while with New Orleans and fractured his left forearm last year while toiling in Canada.

"It's unfortunate," Cameron said. "It's easy, again, in those situations to get ahead of yourself and we all know that it's a different game on Sundays than when you're out back practicing and it's not contact.

"But as he and I talked, it's another test for him, another obstacle for him to overcome and he knows we're going to support him."

Despite the loss of starting running back Ronnie Brown in Game 7 against the Patriots, the loss of Williams and the nagging injuries hampering Jesse Chatman, the Dolphins' running attack has averaged 4.38 yards per carry, fifth best in the NFL.

"That's our job," said Dolphins right tackle L.J. Shelton. "To stay consistent, let them get into the flow of the game and make plays. We know we're an extension of the running game and we have to keep our quarterback clean. That's how we're going to earn respect."

Chatman said his neck was fine after getting speared Monday night, and is looking forward to challenging the Jets' 31st-ranked rushing defense, which is allowing an average of 150.5 yards a game on the ground.

"When you play this position you're going to take a beating. Just like the Timex, take a licking and keep on ticking, that's what we do," said Chatman, who had just 17 yards on 11 carries Monday.

If Chatman can't go, the Dolphins may opt for running backs by committee Sunday, with Patrick Cobbs, Booker and Gado sharing the load.

"I got a lot more [snaps] today than all season," said Booker, the third-round pick out of Florida State who has been inactive for eight games and has no carries in three others. "I've got to try to keep on an even keel.

"I know my time will come."

As for Williams, his time has come and gone again, but this time through no fault of his own.

It speaks volumes to the bust that Booker must be that he has yet to take a snap when 3 of your claimed starting RB's have gone down.

 

[Donny Loved Bowling]

No mention of Patrick Cobbs... where does he figure in to the equation?

Surely he's better prepared than Gado at this point.

 

[[icon]]

I gotta think Chatman still sees quite a few carries once he gets a chance to rest up this week.

Gado's signing gets in the way of that a bit though.... prior to that I was actually pretty high on chatman

 

[PatrickT]

News: Chatman (ankle) practiced on Wednesday and expects to play against the Jets on Sunday, the Miami Herald reports.

Spin: Chatman said his ankle was fine before the Monday night game against Pittsburgh and only began to trouble him again as a result of the muddy conditions. He was limited in Wednesday's practice, but coach Cam Cameron expects him to be ready for Sunday. If Chatman struggles, Cameron won't hesitate to sub in Patrick Cobbs or Samkon Gado against a terrible Jets rush defense.

 

[montanatorice]

News: Chatman (ankle) practiced on Wednesday and expects to play against the Jets on Sunday, the Miami Herald reports.Spin: Chatman said his ankle was fine before the Monday night game against Pittsburgh and only began to trouble him again as a result of the muddy conditions. He was limited in Wednesday's practice, but coach Cam Cameron expects him to be ready for Sunday. If Chatman struggles, Cameron won't hesitate to sub in Patrick Cobbs or Samkon Gado against a terrible Jets rush defense.

The part that scares me is Cameron says they wont hesitate to put Gado or Cobbs in if Chatman struggles...I think Cameron sees this game as one of his only chances to get a win this year.

 

[Prof. Chaos]

No mention of Patrick Cobbs... where does he figure in to the equation?Surely he's better prepared than Gado at this point.

I read Cobbs was kept due to special teams ability. Gado was released to make room for RW.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Gado isn't cool.

 

[-OZ-]

News: Chatman (ankle) practiced on Wednesday and expects to play against the Jets on Sunday, the Miami Herald reports.

Spin: Chatman said his ankle was fine before the Monday night game against Pittsburgh and only began to trouble him again as a result of the muddy conditions. He was limited in Wednesday's practice, but coach Cam Cameron expects him to be ready for Sunday. If Chatman struggles, Cameron won't hesitate to sub in Patrick Cobbs or Samkon Gado against a terrible Jets rush defense.

The part that scares me is Cameron says they wont hesitate to put Gado or Cobbs in if Chatman struggles...I think Cameron sees this game as one of his only chances to get a win this year.

The part that scares me is Booker isn't much of a factor. I thought he was supposed to have some skill.

 

[Paddy O'Seanessy]

Booker was not active for the game. How good can a guy be who doesn't even dress with the #1 on IR?

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

The running game is never as bad as some people think.

For example, the thread title made me think Marty Booker was going to try tailback.

[/stupidity]

 

[Doctor Detroit]

What's going on with this? Anyone know? I'm too lazy to look anywhere else. TIA.

 

[az_prof]

According to Roto, Booker could be involved this week?

Booker could see playing time in Miami - Wed Nov 28 9:57:00 a.m. ET 2007

(Rotoworld) Lorenzo Booker could see work as a third-down back if Jesse Chatman misses Week 13.

Impact: Booker's teammates are impressed with his work in practice, but the Dolphins have been reluctant to get the diminutive back into the game, citing blocking concerns. The 'Phins have been using Booker as a slot receiver in practice, but with the injuries in their backfield, might have to use him behind Patrick Cobbs this weekend.

If he doesn't at least play soon I think his dynasty value falls to zero under the circunstances. WRs can take a while, but RBs usually show what they can do much faster.

 

[Horses Mouth]

Randy Mueller on radio last night said that Booker is a situational back and that he has done everything in practice that they've asked and more, but there hasn't been a situation in a game where they've wanted to utilize him. He said that Booker will definitely get his chances over the next few weeks.

 

[Red Apples]

Gado good to go?By Tim Graham | Friday, November 30, 2007, 03:47 PM Samkon Gado has a track record of producing when needed. This week he might get his chance to show what he can do for the Dolphins.The plan for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets is to dress Gado for the first time as a Dolphin. He has been deactivated twice, waived to make room for Ricky Williams and re-signed when Williams went down with a season-ending torn chest muscle.It’s uncertain if Gado will get a chance to run the ball. Starter Jesse Chatman went full go at practice today, and Patrick Cobbs still is listed second on the depth chart.But — based on the Dolphins’ bad luck in the backfield — if Gado has a jersey on, his chances to play seem good.And that could be a blessing for Dolfans.The Nigerian emigre became a fantasy football darling two years ago. The Packers called on the erstwhile practice teamer when running backs Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport went down with injuries.Gado started five games that year, rushing for at least 100 yards in three of them, before a knee injury ended his season. He made Phil Simms’ All-Iron Team and USA Today’s All-Joe Team, honoring the grunts who get the job done.In the five games he had at least 20 carries, he averaged 104.4 yards and scored six touchdowns, enough to tie NFL Rookie of the Year Cadillac Williams for most among rookies for the season.Gado played nine games last year for the Packers and Texans, starting once. Then he got lost in a Texans backfield that includes Green and Ron Dayne and was waived last month.The Dolphins picked him up to help fill the void caused by Ronnie Brown’s season-ending knee injury, but Sunday will be the first time he’ll be dressed to play.

 

[Couch Potato]

Randy Mueller on radio last night said that Booker is a situational back and that he has done everything in practice that they've asked and more, but there hasn't been a situation in a game where they've wanted to utilize him. He said that Booker will definitely get his chances over the next few weeks.

Booker: "Coach, I haven't played all year. What's up with that?"Cameron: "Well, you're what's called a situational back."

Booker: "OK... so in eleven games, all losses, you haven't found any situations all year where you've wanted to use me?"

Cameron: "That's right Lorenzo."

Booker: "Well, coach -- just hypothetically speaking -- what sort of situation would it take for a situational back like me get into a game?"

Cameron: "Ronnie's hurt. Ricky's hurt. Jesse's hurt. Now, if Gado and Cobbs both get hurt, we'll be in a helluva situation. That's when you'd come in."

Booker: "Man... at least I'm ahead of the practice squad guys I guess."

Cameron: "Oh wait a minute... I forgot about them... "

 

[jimmy b]

Randy Mueller on radio last night said that Booker is a situational back and that he has done everything in practice that they've asked and more, but there hasn't been a situation in a game where they've wanted to utilize him. He said that Booker will definitely get his chances over the next few weeks.

Booker: "Coach, I haven't played all year. What's up with that?"Cameron: "Well, you're what's called a situational back."

Booker: "OK... so in eleven games, all losses, you haven't found any situations all year where you've wanted to use me?"

Cameron: "That's right Lorenzo."

Booker: "Well, coach -- just hypothetically speaking -- what sort of situation would it take for a situational back like me get into a game?"

Cameron: "Ronnie's hurt. Ricky's hurt. Jesse's hurt. Now, if Gado and Cobbs both get hurt, we'll be in a helluva situation. That's when you'd come in."

Booker: "Man... at least I'm ahead of the practice squad guys I guess

Cameron: "Oh wait a minute... I forgot about them... "

GOOD STUFF HERE.......