Second-year wideout carries less weight, better approach
Carroo determined to show rookie season in Miami was an aberration.
DAVIE — A noticeably thinner Leonte Carroo basically spilled his guts last month about what it’s like to be perceived as a bust after his rookie season and all he’s doing to change the course of his career.
“Last year didn’t go as well as I wanted it to, so I really honed in on working as hard as I can to be not only a better receiver, a better student of the game,” said the Dolphins second-year receiver. “I lost a ton of weight off the field, eating better, eating healthier. Kenny Stills got me involved in Pilates. I was doing that to loosen up my hips and be a more fluid receiver. Just doing the little things that I didn’t do before to make my Year 2 even better.”
The Dolphins moved up into the third round of the 2016 NFL draft and gave up third- and fourth-rounders in the 2017 NFL draft to acquire Carroo, who had only three catches for 29 yards last season.
“Last year, the coaches and my teammates had a lot of expectations for me,” Carroo said. “I did
a poor job fulfilling those expectations. Last year is totally behind me. I’m a new guy this year. I’m a new person . ... And just controlling what I can control. And that’s just getting better on the field every single day and proving to these coaches that I’m not the same Carroo from last year. I’m a different player. And I’m ready for the new year.”
Carroo appears to be in excellent shape. our guy. I hope we don’t have He played last season to go through two, you know, at 220 pounds, pounds three quarterbacks through- heavier than his peak con- out the season. I want one dition at Rutgers. guy, and I want him to be “That was the goal, to lose our ride-or-die.” some weight and become
UM upgraded its speed a faster, quicker receiver,” this year by adding freshCarroo said. men receivers Jeff Thomas This summer, Car roo and Mike Harley. planned to do speed con-
“I think they can be really ditioning with Stills, who special,” he said, though Berhas become a close friend. rios cautioned that “nobody’s “It’s just the weight that I seen these two young guys was dealing with last year,” play at the collegiate level Carroo said. yet,” and Miami has other talCarroo is the third Dolphin ented options. “( Junior Lawfollowing Jordan Phillips rence) Cager’s finally com- and Jakeem Grant — to honing back” off a knee injury, estly assess a disappoint- he noted: “That’s another ing 2016 in a recent media one to keep an eye on.” Like session. many, he feels sophomore “Last year, just didn’t Ahmmon Richards of Welhave as (good) of a year as lington could have another I wanted to,” Carroo said. outstanding season. “Kind of took being drafted
Every comment from Berfor granted. Kind of wasn’t rios wasn’t glowing. When doing the little things right asked a softball question was doing right in college. about how hard the team is Was more excited about the working, he paused. whole draft process and
“I think we’re getting there. didn’t really focus on being I think we’re not there as an NFL player. I realize that a team yet,” he said. “A lot this is my job and I’m takof guys are that way. ... Not ing NFL life more seriously everybody, but the majority.” and becoming a better student of the game and a better player.”
Carroo was upset to be
Ibenched in favor of undrafted free agent Rashawn Scott at the end of last season.
“I was just upset with myself because it was totally on me,” Carroo said. “I was playing bad on special teams, I was performing poorly in practice, I wasn’t doing enough. I wasn’t asking my coaches to watch extra film or anything like that. Just not really focused on being a better player last year.Take a guy who’s probably been starting since Pop Warner and he comes to an NFL team and things aren’t going his way. I kind of honed in on that instead of focusing on getting better and better every single day.” Carroo went on in a remarkably refreshing manner about how he’s identi- fied a need for change and is attempting to make it.
“I’ve got three guys ahead of me, but my whole mind-set and philosophy is different,” Carroo said. “I’m attacking practice every single day to get better because I want to prove to these coaches that I’m going to be a better special-teams player and I’m going to be a better receiver. When we went on that winning streak last year, just to see how guys were doing, it just made me upset that I wasn’t doing anything to contribute as a third-round draft pick. This year I want to focus on just having that respect for my team and my coaches.”
After feeling overwhelmed by having to learn all three receiver positions at the start of last season, Carroo believes he’s ready to step in for Stills, DeVante Parker or Jarvis Landry if necessary this season.
“I have a better feel for the offense,” Carroo said. “Last year, I was trying to learn each position — X, Y, F — but now I’m learning the whole offense as a whole, like a concept. So just to get the concepts down pat will help me to play (any) position.”