Gesicki knows he has to improve blocking
The Dolphins know they value Mike Gesicki enough to pay him a lot of money this season. They’re apparently still figuring out whether they want to pay him a lot of money for many seasons.
The Dolphins and Gesicki’s representation reportedly had virtually no serious conversations about a long-term contract before the mid-July season, meaning Gesicki will play this season under the $10.9 million franchise tag and then become a free agent in March.
Did Gesicki ever believe a long-term contract might get done this summer?
“No,” he said Saturday.
Did that upset him?
“No,” he said.
Asked about playing on the franchise tag, he said: “It’s a business. The team will do what’s best for the team. You’ve got to go out and perform. There’s not much else to say. I’m not a big complainer about it, make a big deal about it.”
But then he said, perhaps in jest: “It seems like the guys that do [complain] get paid a lot of money, so maybe I should have.”
At some point, will he be paid as a top-seven tight end?
“If I earn it, I think so,” he said. “That’s a long ways down the line and there’s a lot of work to put in, plays that need to be made and games to be won before that happens You get what you deserve in this league. You have to go out and earn it.”
Coach Mike McDaniel spoke with Gesicki about the team’s franchise tag decision.
“We tried to do 10 million reasons why he’s liked,” McDaniel said. “It’s important to talk to the player candidly. I talked to Mike earlier and said this is something that’s best for the Dolphins. … Everybody knows his ball skills and range are outstanding.”
Gesicki is one of the league’s best receiving tight ends; last season, he was fifth among tight ends in receptions with 73 and eighth in yards with 790. But Gesicki is considered in the bottom half of blockers at his position.
He was asked to pass block on just 11 of his 827 snaps last season. He blocked on 234 Dolphins’ rushing attempts, which was 34th among tight ends.
That, presumably, will change somewhat because tight ends in McDaniel’s offense must be well-rounded and must be competent blockers.
“Definitely a much higher emphasis on it for myself this season than any other season I’ve been here,” he said of blocking. “In order to make plays in the pass game in this offense, you have to make plays in the run game as well. make at the second level.
“I don’t think it’s too difficult because with repetition you get neurological memory. Now it’s kicking in. I never had 1,000 reps at outside zone. My last 10 years of football has been inside zone. … I consider myself an expert at that particular play.”
Edmonds ran for 7 yards on one play on Thursday but said he could have gained 20 — and should — as he grows more comfortable in this offense and continues to study practice film and game tape.
“When I read second level blocks, I’m usually pressing and get under it. With this one, if I could have stayed on my first level block, I could have done a little shimmie and gone back outside.
“Inside zone is kind of a cat and mouse with the linebacker. I have to displace the linebacker with my track and path. With outside zone, I’m riding the wave and the frontside blocker needs to get to the second level. That’s physics right there.”
Even though Mostert excels in that system, he needs to
Working on it every single day and continuing to improve. You’ve got to make the plays with pads on and ultimately on Sundays.”
Gesicki, who takes most of his snaps in the slot, likely will need to be in-line at times this season. On passing plays, he has been targeted sparingly in practice this past week.
“I don’t think I took one snap from a receiver stance today,” he said after Saturday’s practice. “It’s definitely different. I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to another challenge, another opportunity.
“It’s my fifth year, fifth different offensive coordinator, could be six if you count last year’s interesting situation. You have a bunch of different guys calling plays. This is my third head coach. It’s been a whole bunch of stuff.”
Gesicki was among 50 tight ends who gathered in Nashville in June for an annual learn the tendencies of a new offensive line — another key in this system because everything must be in sync. He has been practicing every other day; the team is being cautious even though he has been cleared medically after last season’s cartilage injury.
“This is a new group of guys that I have to work with,” he said. “… We all have to be on the same page. We have to mesh together. I know it’s going to click, and when it does, you can tell what’s going to happen. I can’t wait — it’s exciting, man, honestly.”
Finances won’t dictate playing time decisions, but it’s worth noting that Edmonds is earning the most of the group — $6.1 million this season between his base salary and bonuses. Mostert, off the serious knee injury, is making $3.1 million and Michel $1.75 million. Gaskin is due to make $2.5 million, but that’s not guaranteed, and he stands at risk of being traded or cut.
Gaskin got by far the most carries of all four players last season — 173, along with 49 receptions, but he averaged just 3.5 yards per rush in 17
Tight End University, a summit among men who play the position in the NFL.
Gesicki picked the brain of George Kittle, the All-Pro tight end who was coached by McDaniel in San Francisco.
“I was talking with him about the scheme and [John Embree, the tight ends coach who came over from the 49ers] and how he operates and all that stuff. Obviously, he is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league and you see what he gets off it in the pass game because of it. I’m going to keep working at it.”
CSONKA SPEAKS TO TEAM
Dolphins great Larry Csonka met with McDaniel before practice and addressed the team.
Among other things, “I talked about not going through the motions,” Csonka said of his speech to the players.
Csonka, who is moving from Alaska and Ohio to North Carolina, often comments during Dolphins games on Twitter. “I expect them to do really well,” he said of being a Dolphins fan. “It’s upsetting when they don’t.”
Several members of the 1972 undefeated Dolphins attended practice, including Larry Little, Mercury Morris and Dick Anderson.
More than 2000 fans attended the first of eight practices open to the media.
“It’s great,” Gesicki said. “I said to [general manager] Chris Grier when I was walking out here, I want them to be excited in January. Everybody’s fans are excited in
July. Everyone is excited and optimistic. We’ve got to perform and give them something to cheer about; it’s been a while since we’ve done that.”
ABarry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz games and 10 starts.
Edmonds had a career-high 116 carries last season (along with 43 receptions) in 12 games and 11 starts. Michel had 208 carries and 21 receptions in 17 games and seven starts for the Rams; his career high in carries is 247 in 2019, for New England.
Mostert had six, 34, 137 and 104 rushing attempts in his first four seasons with the 49ers; he missed last season after sustaining a knee injury in the opener, after just two carries.
“Hopefully, I’m able to expand my role, just like I’ve always wanted to do,” Mostert said. “I started doing that and that stuff, but unfortunately with the injury, it kind of hindered me.”
Behind them are Salvon Ahmed, who has had a good start to camp; second-year back Gerrid Doaks and undrafted rookie ZaQuandre White.
How McDaniel allocates snaps among his top backs will be one of the fascinating subplots for a team now possessing a wealth of offensive riches.