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WRs making progress, but tough decisions are ahead

By Edgar Thompson | Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 12:11 PM

A couple of weeks ago, coach Tony Sparano laid down an ultimatum for his butter-fingered wide receivers.

Sparano believes they’ve responded.

“I’ve been pleased with what they’ve done lately,” he said today. “Early on I did say they weren’t catching the ball. Even in practice, they’re competing for the ball. The ball is on the ground a lot less.”

Sparano said coaches are going to have some tough decisions to make when it’s time to trim down the roster to 53 players on Aug. 30.

For the second day in a row, Sparano complimented ex-Arena Football League player Anthony Armstrong, a 25-year-old rookie who began camp as a long shot to make the team.

Sparano said Armstrong, who suffered a number of drops early in training camp, caught three passes of more than 50 yards. “It was pretty impressive,” Sparano said.

The Dolphins coach also said he’s been impressed with Greg Camarillo, the hero of last seasons’ only win. Sparano called Camarillo is “quarterback friendly” because of his ability to get open and make tough catches.

Ted Ginn Jr. and Derek Hagan seem to be the only WRs who are lock to make the team. Ernest Wilford has been disappointing, but he signed a four-year deal in the off-season for $6 million guaranteed, plus he has rare size (6-4, 218) and a decent NFL track record.

Camarillo has had as good a camp as anyone, with the exception of Hagan. Undrafted rookie Davone Bess has shown the best hands, while David Kircus has made his share of big plays.

Add Armstrong, and that’s seven WRs. And that’s not including Jayson Foster, the electric 5-foot-7 rookie.

A team typically keeps five, while stashing one or maybe two on the eight-man practice squad.

“There’s going to be tough decisions there, but that’s what we wanted,” Sparano said.

Sparano said they’re going to be tough decisions at a number of positions, including safety, where coaches have been experimenting with Chris Crocker in the starting lineup this week.

Crocker, a free-agent pickup from Atlanta, has been lining up at starting free safety in place of Jason Allen. Allen, the team’s first-round pick in 2006, started the final nine games of 2007 and the first two pre-season games.

Sparano said not to read too much into the move. “You try to get these guys work where they’re going to be challenge,” Sparano said, pointing out that a safety might not even get a pass thrown his way during the fourth quarter of a pre-season game.

But Sparano is impressed with Crocker in pass coverage ability, which has been Allen’s weakness in the past.

“Crocker probably has the best cover skills that we have back there at the safety position,” Sparano said.

Wilford has been a bust so far in pre-season. As of right now, I'd say they overpaid for him BIG time. He's only making the team because they can't cut him and admit to a $6 million dollar mistake.

6 mill guaranteed is tough to swallow, but if he's a liability, then you gotta take your medicine.  we WAY overpaid for him.  I'm encouraged by the staff's attraction to Hagan, but I wanna see it.  I wanna see him overcome his dropsies in clutch situations and make some plays. 

I want Camarillo and Kircus to both make the team, but I think Camarillo would be the odd-man-out.  I think they'll keep 6 guys: Ginn, Hagan, Wilford, Kircus, Camarillo, and Bess (in that order).  I think Foster and Armstrong end up on the practice squad.  Maybe Bess will be labeled "Kick Returner"...

I'd have to agree with this prediction, simply because Armstrong and Foster are too raw, and Wilford has done nothing to earn his big contract. 

  There are really four guys who are "locks" at WR.  Ted Ginn Jr. and Derek Hagan will be #1 and #2 receivers.  Davone Bess will be the 3rd (slot receiver).  Ernest Wilford will be the fourth guy.  Wilford will probably be axed at the end of the season, and a better upgrade will be found through the 2009 Draft.  As for the last couple of spots, don't discount the fact that this team could look to upgrade the bottom half of the WR corps through the waiver wire.  There may be a rookie or two that gets axed from a team that has great depth.

I think Kircus is also a lock...

I think the biggest question is, do you kick Wilford to the curb?

He *clearly* hasn't performed in camp or preseason, but he's a veteran player and he MIGHT be better when the real games come around...

I agree with the "Armstrong and Foster for Practice Squad" sentiment, but that really leaves 4 players fighting for 3 spots: Bess, Camarillo, Kircus and Wilford (alphabetical order).

The "standard" is to keep 2 fullbacks, 3 running backs, 5 receivers and 3 tight ends... + 1 extra player in one of those categories. It's been widely reported that the Trifecta is going with a single fullback (although I'm still not completely convinced). If they do go with only 1 fullback, it's almost unthinkable not to go with 4 running backs. That would free up the "extra" player for a 6th receiver, allowing them to keep Wilford around a bit longer.

I'd think a second fullback would be more valuable than a third TE.  Especially if that 2nd fullback is a guy that could line up at TE.