With vote of confidence from Parcells and Ireland, TE looking to raise profile

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins30sbjul30,0,3615220.story

Anthony Fasano wants to be the end all, be all on offense at tight end

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

July 30, 2008

DAVIE - Anthony Fasano has a set of baby-blue eyes, dimple-filled cheeks and a chiseled chin made for Hollywood.

No wonder his new teammates put up a picture of John Travolta, whom he slightly resembles, in the Dolphins' locker room, with Fasano's name inscribed on it as a joke.

While the gag generated a chuckle, the Dolphins' new tight end is hoping that the contributions he brings this season will be no laughing matter and help elevate him from supporting cast member to a leading role.

The Dolphins' new front-office officials, who drafted him while they were at Dallas, believe he has that type of talent.

Despite the presence of Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten, Bill Parcells used a second-round pick to select Fasano in the 2006 draft, and justified it by saying the former Notre Dame standout reminded him of former Giants legend Mark Bavaro.

When Parcells took over the Dolphins' front office, he and General Manager Jeff Ireland brokered a trade with the Cowboys that brought Fasano and inside linebacker Akin Ayodele to the Dolphins for a fourth-round pick.

Both Fasano and Ayodele are viewed as front-runners to earn starting spots with the Dolphins, but it was Fasano's upside that fueled the trade.

"I was really excited about the trade. It's a great opportunity for me personally," said Fasano, who caught 14 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown last season. "I'm trying to provide that every-down tight end. Try to create mismatches when they line linebackers and safeties up against me. If I can do that, I think it'll be a big advantage for our offense."

It's undeniable that Fasano has a big advantage over the other five tight ends in this training camp competition. He knows most of these coaches and has spent his first two seasons playing in a very similar offense. In fact, Fasano said what the Dolphins are running is very reminiscent of the Dallas offense that new Dolphins coach Tony Sparano was the conductor of in 2006, when he served as the playcaller.

That season Fasano started five games and contributed 14 receptions for 126 yards. But he mainly served as second fiddle to Witten, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who caught 64 passes for 754 yards and one touchdown that season.

Fasano is confident he can put up numbers similar to Witten's if given the opportunity. If he does, it would trump the 538 total yards returning tight ends David Martin, Justin Peelle and Aaron Halterman put together last season on 64 receptions.

Considering they've spent most of their NFL careers as backups, Fasano's veteran challengers say what is unfolding is nothing new to them.

Martin, who on occasion is working with the starters, said the coaches are feeling out every tight end, determining what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Who is the better straight-line blocker? Which tight end runs the best routes and has the best hands? And who is versatile enough to serve as the H-back, a pseudo-fullback who comes out of the backfield and goes in motion?

With all the tight ends on the roster — and that includes free-agent addition Sean Ryan and undrafted rookie Matthew Mulligan — the Dolphins are likely to keep three on the 53-man roster because this offense regularly uses a package that features two tight ends.

But even with the tight end-friendly offense, there's rarely enough work for everyone during practice.

"When you get your chance, you've got to make the best of what you've got," said Peelle, who contributed a career-high 29 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns last season. "There are a lot of us."

Sparano said each tight end's fate will depend on how many roles he can fill, and who excels as a special teams player.

"We've got a lot of tight ends that can play in this league," said Martin, who got credit from Sparano for improving his blocking over the spring.

"The competition is good," Martin said, "and that's going to make us better."

[fyo]

When Parcells took over the Dolphins' front office, he and General Manager Jeff Ireland brokered a trade with the Cowboys that brought Fasano and inside linebacker Akin Ayodele to the Dolphins for a fourth-round pick.

Both Fasano and Ayodele are viewed as front-runners to earn starting spots with the Dolphins, but it was Fasano's upside that fueled the trade.

Seriously, if we get two starters out of a 4th round pick... that's either one hell of a trade or our roster sucks.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Seriously, if we get two starters out of a 4th round pick... that's either one hell of a trade or our roster sucks.

I'd be willing to think it's a little of both.  How bad was our roster last season?  I think in another article that Dolfan619 posted, it said that no end-of-the-season team banquet was held and no team MVP was chosen for 2007. 

[DolFan619]

I'd be willing to think it's a little of both.  How bad was our roster last season?  I think in another article that Dolfan619 posted, it said that no end-of-the-season team banquet was held and no team MVP was chosen for 2007.  

  What's the point of having a banquet that reflects back on a one win team?  It's rather pointless, and the Dolphins were smart to skip out on it this year.