Creating a buzz

Rookie TE Mike Gesicki has raised expectations for this season

Dolphins’ rookie Gesicki’s in the (red) zone.

DAVIE — Every time the Miami Dolphins offense starts working on its red-zone plays practice quickly turns into the Mike Gesicki show, which exnormal plains the fascination coaches, teammates, fans and the media are developing for the rookie tight end, who has been the buzz of training camp and preseason practices.

Keep in mind that Miami hasn’t had a respectable tight end since Charles Clay left the franchise as a free agent in 2015, so the excitement level is high. But there are some lofty expectations being placed on the shoulders of the Dolphins’ second-round pick.

The impressive back-toback touchdown catches Gesicki brought down during the offense’s red-zone work against the scout team during Wednesday’s practice only add fuel to the fire.

“That was just a play, just a one,” Gesicki said, referring to a touchdown pass he caught on his shoulder pads. “I just ran a takeoff and Ryan [Tannehill] gave me a chance,

put the ball up, and it’s just my job to go up and make a play and that’s what I was able to do.”

And the more he does it the more rave reviews come in from his teammates, and that includes defenders.

During Gesicki’s redzone performance Wednesday, Miami’s defense was creating a stir on the sidelines, setting a bar for the rookie. One staffer took a poll on how much production defenders thought Gesicki would deliver in 2018.

The over-under line was set at six touchdowns, and the total on receptions was 70, which seems unrealistic until it is factored in that Evan Engram caught 64 passes for 722 yards and six touchdowns during his rookie season with the New York Giants last year.

However, it should be pointed out that Engram, who was the 23rd pick in the 2017 draft, benefited from the Giants playing the majority of the season without the team’s top two receivers. Still, when teammates begin to debate whether a rookie can carry the offense it means that something special might be brewing.

Veteran receiver Kenny Stills’ rookie season with the New Orleans Saints was the year Jimmy Graham produced 1,215 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, so he knows the impact a dominant tight end can have on an offense. That’s why Stills recently told Gesicki how much he reminded him of the former University of Miami standout, who is a five-time Pro Bowler.

“Gesicki can go up and get the ball. We know that if we can start to have success in the red zone and he can start to have success, it’s going to open the field for the rest of us,” Stills said. “I’m proud to see the way he’s progressed in his blocking and his route-running, and I definitely think he can help us this year.”

Gesicki hasn’t brought down a reception in Miami’s two preseason games because he’s only been targeted once, and that was on an end-zone pass that was thrown too high.

He spent his second preseason game primarily serving as a blocker in the run and pass game, working on his shortcomings. That’s been Miami’s emphasis for Gesicki in games, to make him adequate at a weaknesses, which will allow him to be on the field more often.

“It’s going to be an everyday process. Whether it’s running routes or whether it’s making plays in the pass game, whether it’s pass protecting, run block, whatever it is, it’s not going to happen overnight,” said Gesicki, who caught 129 passes for 1,481 yards and scored 15 touchdowns during his four-year career at Penn State.

“I’m just going to keep coming in here and growing, developing, getting better in this scheme and doing everything I can to help this offense.”

He’s done that so far during practices, becoming quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s 6-foot-6, 245-pound go-to target. The big question is will it translate to games?

“We can throw as many routes on air as possible and the timing looks good, but when you get in that competitive periods, that’s where you want to see it. You want to see the ball go up, the trust to be there, it be put in the right spot,” coach Adam Gase said. “It’s good to see that progression going on between those two guys.”

“I’m just going to keep coming in here and growing, developing, getting better in this scheme ... ” Mike Gesicki

JOHN MCCALL/STAFF FILE PHOTO Rookie tight end Mike Gesicki has created a lot of buzz in Dolphins’ camp with his work in the red-zone offense. His blocking is an area he needs to improve on as he develops as a player.

JOHN MCCALL/STAFF FILE PHOTO Mike Gesicki caught 129 passes for 1,481 yards and scored 15 touchdowns during his four-year career at Penn State.