Re-sign Lamar Miller?

lately, Miller has been one of the few bright spots on the Phins' offense - when given the chance.  but has Lamar done enough to make you think he is worthy of feature back status?  let me say this, i really, really like Lamar Miller.  he can be electrifying with the ball in his hands (see his runs against the Giants) and generally makes outstanding moves in space.  but let me also say that i do not think (and never have) he is the guy to carry the workload.  he doesn't have the size to grind out a full season of carries nor the tough short yards.  while generally healthy, he has succumbed to injuries when his workload increases and there is no denying the Phins' short yardage struggles.  even accounting for his diminished use in the 2nd half of games (result of faulty game plans and falling behind in the score), Miller wears down and loses his effectiveness as the game grinds on...

Miller: He averages 2.8 yards a carry in the fourth quarter. Everyone pining for him to get the ball more (including me) has to explain that one. He has just 25 carries in the fourth quarter – half of the 50 in the first quarter. Some of that’s for obvious reasons like trailing and having to throw the ball. Some is they seem to forget about him, too. Still, how do you explain his yard-per-carry output by quarters being 5.4, 6.9, 4.4 and 2.8? Does he tire (his lone fumble is in the fourth quarter, too)?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/dave-hyde-blog/sfl-hyde5-five-dolphins-things-to-see-vs-chargers-lamar-20151218-story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DaveHyde-blog+%28Dave+Hyde+|+Sun+Sentinel+blogs%29

the best backs typically do the opposite. they tend to gain more yards as the defense wears down (John Riggins and Emmitt Smith being the prime examples).

i think Miller could be one of the best, if not the best, change of pace back in the league.  the problem, i fear he's going to want starters (i.e., every down back) money (based on 2 back-to-back barely 1,000 yard seasons).  i would love to have Miller on the Phins long term, but at a salary commensurate with what i believe his role should be.  i would very much prefer to see the Phins move more towards a power blocking scheme with a bigger back willing to hit the hole and grind yards.  in that scenario, Miller would be the perfect compliment as a scat back, especially catching balls in space out of the backfield.  i just don't think the Phins can afford to pay Miller to be the workhorse when i don't think he is capable of that role.

and on a side note, someone please tell him to stop grabbing his crotch after TDs.

lets put it like this. I would resign him for two reason.

1.) He is one of the Fins best players right now and with a new coaching staff he will probably get the ball more.
2.) there is way to many holes to fill to try and find another RB.

Miller isn't a Walter Peyton or Barry Sanders but he has shown that he can handle the load of being Miami's #1 RB

Well, the question I have is: how will the new coaching staff use Miller? Because if they're just going to give him 12-13 carries a game, the way he's been utilized his whole career, then he won't be worth the money he'll get in free agency. But if I know the new staff is going to make him the focal point of the offense - which is exactly what should happen given our QB and receiving corps - then hell yeah, I am going to do what I can to keep him in Miami. Obviously, you don't want to go too high on a RB contract, but I'll give him $5 million a year with no problem.

I have no problem increasing Miller's workload. I think he can handle 20-25 carries a game, and I think he should be used a lot more as a pass catcher. He has had some nagging injuries, but that comes with the territory at RB.

Miller is the best player on this offense, and IMO it's not close. Getting rid of him would create a huge hole, and I have seen nothing in Jay Ajayi to indicate that he can fill it.

He's part of the solution, not part of the problem.

In free agency, though, I can see a team like Dallas really breaking the bank for him.

Yep, I agree Hal - if Miller hits the open market I think the Cowboys will jump on him. And Miller would be wise to sign with them - he could put up monster numbers behind that line.

JMP wrote:Obviously, you don't want to go too high on a RB contract, but I'll give him $5 million a year with no problem.

Yes. I believe I was watching "Xs and Omar" this week and he did a market comparison to players with similar skill sets and stats when they hit free agency (one of them was CJ Spiller).

With a 4 year contract averaging about 4 or 5 million a year, you'll meet what should be the market price for Miller, and under those circumstances absolutely yes we should keep him in house.

Someone like Dallas wants to break the bank? We better lock him up first before he hits the market. Because if he does leave, then we add running back to the long list of "needs" we already have. When we could have kept him in house with a reasonable contract, easily within our salary cap.

If Miami is smart, they will move quickly and work to get a reasonable deal done before he hits the market.

I think I've learned this season that, while the NFL is clearly a passing league, you still need a solid running game to win most weeks. The Patriots, of course, are the exception, but it's pretty clear that running the ball effectively is still an important part of the equation.

JMP wrote:I think I've learned this season that, while the NFL is clearly a passing league, you still need a solid running game to win most weeks.  The Patriots, of course, are the exception, but it's pretty clear that running the ball effectively is still an important part of the equation.

This is all I ever was trying to point out about the running game

It helps to win, but it's clearly not the end-all-be-all . . . but you need it in certain situations, particularly to set up the passing game.

I'm now predicting that there is absolutely no way Miller re-signs with the Dolphins.  Miller didn't play much (if at all) in the second half yesterday, and when asked why Campbell mumbled some crap about Ajayi having a good game, and because we were passing so much Williams played more.  Williams sucks, and Ajayi had 27 rushing yards...that's so amazing that you bench Miller???  What a slap in the face to the best player on this offense.  If I'm Miller, I'm saying "fuck you" and following the money.

JMP wrote:I'm now predicting that there is absolutely no way Miller re-signs with the Dolphins.  Miller didn't play much (if at all) in the second half yesterday, and when asked why Campbell mumbled some crap about Ajayi having a good game, and because we were passing so much Williams played more.  Williams sucks, and Ajayi had 27 rushing yards...that's so amazing that you bench Miller???  What a slap in the face to the best player on this offense.  If I'm Miller, I'm saying "fuck you" and following the money.

You could substitute the name of every other Fins FA to be and it would equally be true, ya know

Seriously, anybody who actually re-signs with THIS team may literally be too dumb to live.

Yep, and Omar said on QAM today that players can't wait to get away from the Phins.

JMP wrote:Yep, and Omar said on QAM today that players can't wait to get away from the Phins.  

The way Campbell seems to be "coaching" I think he feels the same way!

Hell, even WE can't wait to get away from this team and technically we have nothing to do with them!

I am reversing my opinion Lamar Miller should absolutely re sign with Miami for the simple fact that we overpay players and don't use them enough when you think about he would get millions and millions just for playing less then 20 snaps....

In contrast the special teams units all got more snaps then Miller.....the fuuuuuckiiiiimnnngggg punter played 9 fn times. And that's just the fn punter. Wtf wtf wtf wtf

We overpay for players, but the ones we have that are good, we bench them so they miss their contract incentive milestones.

Really at this point just burn it down. New gm and new coach let them rebuild this mess. Aponte is the key - if she stays then you know who is really in charge

white1 wrote:Really at this point just burn it down. New gm and new coach let them rebuild this mess. Aponte is the key - if she stays then you know who is really in charge

She would be?

Yes. With all the change ranging in Miami if she stays then it begs the question - who is really running things? Ross must be listening to her and I believe she is a big factor in our ongoing failure

Well you know what they say, behind every hopelessly inept, bungling bunch of clowns there's a scheming, conniving, shrew of a woman...

I just had a thought. Maybe Aponte's the real saboteur. It actually makes a lot of sense. We know the Fins have been on a downward spiral before Tannenbaum was even in the picture. Also, if Ross was the saboteur would he really be smart enough to fire coaches right after BOTH Jets losses? I just can't give him that kind of credit. Nobody's that good at playing dumb...

There's some sabotaging going on though, I'm certain of that.

DolFan 316 wrote:Well you know what they say, behind every hopelessly inept, bungling bunch of clowns there's a scheming, conniving, shrew of a woman...

I just had a thought. Maybe Aponte's the real saboteur. It actually makes a lot of sense. We know the Fins have been on a downward spiral before Tannenbaum was even in the picture. Also, if Ross was the saboteur would he really be smart enough to fire coaches right after BOTH Jets losses? I just can't give him that kind of credit. Nobody's that good at playing dumb...

There's some sabotaging going on though, I'm certain of that.

She was the one who was in Failbin's corner for the longest time, until it was obvious she was defending the indefensible.

Great point on the Philbin - Aponte link. She probably lost some credibility, and power, in that political gambit. I bet Tannenbaum gained some in the equation.