Dolphins' TE Fasano beginning to connect

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/655448.html

Dolphins' TE Fasano beginning to connect

BY MIKE PHILLIPS
Miami Herald

Freeze that picture, and keep it in mind when the Dolphins begin the real season.

It is the shot of Anthony Fasano catching the ball inside the 10 and carrying a couple of Kansas City Chiefs with him into the end zone Saturday night.

Pretty, right? Well, as pretty as it gets for a blue-collar tight end. It is no secret Dolphins boss Bill Parcells likes Fasano, who was drafted in the second round by Parcells when he was with the Cowboys in 2006. When Fasano, the 53rd overall pick, showed up in Dallas, Parcells compared him to former Giants tight end Mark Bavaro.

Yes, that Mark Bavaro. But Fasano was stuck behind Jason Witten, arguably the best tight end in the game, and he still managed to catch 14 passes in each of his two years with the Cowboys.

David Martin, last year's starter for the Dolphins, caught just 34 passes and had two touchdowns, both against Cleveland. That is one reason the Dolphins sent Dallas a fourth-round draft pick in April to get Fasano and starting linebacker Akin Ayodele.

So there was Fasano making two big plays Saturday -- one not so good and the other sort of memorable. He had caught just one pass (a 6-yarder) in the first two exhibition games, but Fasano pulled down three for 30 yards in the first half of a 24-0 victory over the Chiefs.

That first catch of the night came up a little short. The Dolphins faced a third-and-goal at the Kansas City 5-yard line. Chad Pennington found Fasano, who pulled down the catch at the 1 -- just short of a touchdown. The Dolphins settled for a 19-yard field goal and 3-0 lead.

''I was trying to secure the catch, and I came back to the ball,'' Fasano said. ``That's something that will get better as we play together more.''

But Fasano made up for it with a 17-yard catch and run that lifted Miami to a 17-0 lead with 9:36 left in the half. The Dolphins thought they had a touchdown when Pennington connected with Justin Peelle for what appeared to be a 22-yard touchdown, but officials ruled it incomplete, and after coach Tony Sparano threw the challenge flag, the call held up.

But Fasano came back with the big play.

That is what this season is supposed to be about, the Dolphins coming back from frustration. Fasano is a part of that plan.

''He did a good job of getting open on the play,'' Pennington said. ``My eyes came right the same time. It was a great job. The ball was thrown early. And for him to turn and get his head around and get the ball, and then get in the end zone, I thought he did a great job.''

The Dolphins brought in a group of tight ends to begin camp, but it's looking more like the starter will be Fasano. Martin didn't catch a pass in the first two exhibition games, but he caught two for 11 yards and ran tough after the catches Saturday.

''I think those two complement each other. They push each other every day in practice,'' Ayodele said, ``I know [Fasano] from Dallas. He is a versatile tight end. He is a good blocker and at the same time he can stretch the field. That was a big play he made on the touchdown. I think he was mad at himself after not scoring earlier.''

Fasano's days with Dallas, and learning from Witten, might pay dividends now.

''I'm going to take a lot of what I learned from him and apply it to my ability here,'' Fasano said. ``I go out every day and try to perform in practice and I stay hungry. . . . I'm very happy here, and I just want to make the most of it.''

[Rick]

  I've always liked Anthony Fasano....he was a good TE at Notre Dame, and Fasano will be a very good TE for the Dolphins....he will have a big year in 2008

[Philly Fin Fan]

  I've always liked Anthony Fasano....he was a good TE at Notre Dame, and Fasano will be a very good TE for the Dolphins....he will have a big year in 2008

I'm with you on this one Rick. I liked Fasano and thought he was a good draft pick for the Cowboys, but unfortunately for him, he was behind Witten. Pennington liked going to his TE's in NY, so i'm sure he'll do the same in Miami.

[Rick]

^^^ And the best part about Fasano is, he is only 24 years old....if he turns out to be as good as we think he will, Fasano could be Miami's TE for a long, long time.  That would be nice for a 4th round pick....not to mention Ayodele was included as well!!!!

[YoFuggedaboutit]

^^^ And the best part about Fasano is, he is only 24 years old....if he turns out to be as good as we think he will, Fasano could be Miami's TE for a long, long time.  That would be nice for a 4th round pick....not to mention Ayodele was included as well!!!!

That would be Grand Theft in our favor. 

[Dphins4me]

  I hope he works out for Miami, but he was not stuck behind Witten.  He was losing playing time to Tony Curtis.

[DolFan619]

  I've always liked Anthony Fasano....he was a good TE at Notre Dame, and Fasano will be a very good TE for the Dolphins....he will have a big year in 2008

  I think he'll have a big year as well.  Definately an upgrade over Martin and Peelle.

[Denver_Bronco]

  I hope he works out for Miami, but he was not stuck behind Witten.  He was losing playing time to Tony Curtis.

Thank you, Captain Reality. I was hoping someone pointed that out.

[Philly Fin Fan]

  I hope he works out for Miami, but he was not stuck behind Witten.  He was losing playing time to Tony Curtis.

Sorry. I wasn't a Cowboys fan, so I didn't know their depth chart. I didn't mean he was directly behind Witten. What I meant was that since the team had a TE like Witten, none of the backups are going to excel.

[Dphins4me]

Sorry. I wasn't a Cowboys fan, so I didn't know their depth chart. I didn't mean he was directly behind Witten. What I meant was that since the team had a TE like Witten, none of the backups are going to excel.

  He was the No. 2 listed TE.  However, reports had it that late in the year last year that Curtis was starting to get snaps that usually went to the No. 2 TE.

Only posting what reports said was happening. 

[Rick]

  He was the No. 2 listed TE.  However, reports had it that late in the year last year that Curtis was starting to get snaps that usually went to the No. 2 TE.

Only posting what reports said was happening. 

  Anthony Fasano played ALL of 2007(including training camp and pre-season) with a nagging shoulder injury which required surgery in January of 2008...he also suffered a concussion in week 15 of the season...despite these injuries he did not miss ONE game....maybe these "reports" should have taken these factors into consideration as to why Curtis was seeing more playing time...Fasano was banged up and needed a break

[cuzzy]

AF is a warrior.  In Dallas, he had one of the worst shoulder injuries that their doctor/orthopedic had seen in over 20 years and DID not miss one game.

In Dallas he was the best two-way threat at TE.  He was easily the best blocker and he could catch the ball when given the opportunity.   It's too bad and obvious that Witten is the man and he was stuck behind WItten on the Depth Chart.  I believe anyone on this board would agree that being behind Witten makes it difficult to advance/grow. 

Now it's his time to shine.  Give him time you will not be disappointed.