{"id":51930,"date":"2022-08-21T12:23:56","date_gmt":"2022-08-21T12:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dolphins-mike-gesicki-on-preseason-playing-time-i-need-it\/"},"modified":"2022-08-21T12:23:56","modified_gmt":"2022-08-21T12:23:56","slug":"dolphins-mike-gesicki-on-preseason-playing-time-i-need-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/dolphins-mike-gesicki-on-preseason-playing-time-i-need-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolphins’ Mike Gesicki on preseason playing time: ‘I need it’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki (88) runs with the football against Las Vegas Raiders safety Matthias Farley (49) and Raiders cornerback Sam Webb (48) during second quarter of an NFL preseason football game at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, August 20, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida.<\/p>\n


\n David Santiago
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Long after Tua Tagovailoa and every other offensive starter for the Miami Dolphins checked out of the game for good Saturday, Mike Gesicki remained at his usual spot on the edges of the Dolphins’ offensive line.<\/p>\n

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Gesicki was out there on the very first play of the game and until the very end of the second half, his 25 snaps standing in stark contrast to Tagovailoa’s 13 and Durham Smythe’s 10.<\/p>\n

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On a day when most starters’ days were done after about a dozen snaps, Gesicki’s play count was more akin to a reserve fighting to prove himself and secure a roster spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need it,\u201d Gesicki said. \u201cI need all the reps I can get.\u201d<\/p>\n

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It’s never smart to read too much into a single preseason game, but this isn’t just a one-off for Gesicki. All throughout practice this month, Gesicki has been less a focal point of the offense than he was a year ago, when he caught 73 passes for 710 yards to earn franchise tag worth $10.9 million, and then he was one of only four offensive starters to play in Miami’s first preseason game last Saturday.<\/p>\n

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Even though Gesicki currently sits atop the depth chart at tight end, there’s not even a clear indication he’s ahead of Smythe at this point \u2014 both started Saturday, as the Dolphins opened their 15-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in a two-tight end formation.<\/p>\n

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Smythe exited with the rest of the starters near the end of the first quarter and Gesicki stayed in, playing with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the second-string offense. As he did a week ago when he was the most accomplished offensive player in Miami’s lineup, Gesicki downplayed his extended run in Game 2 of the preseason.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI’m playing football, man,\u201d Gesicki said. \u201cI’m a football player. We’ve got a football game, I’m playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coach Mike McDaniel said Gesicki wanted to stay in the game after a frustrating first quarter.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe was in position to have a pretty good game. You can ask him, but he was frustrated,\u201d McDaniel said. \u201cWe rely on him, we went to him and he had a couple pretty good opportunities that he wasn’t able to come up with a play. He needs to continue to do what he’s doing, which he is completely committing in the run and pass game to the offense. \u201d<\/p>\n

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Gesicki finished the preseason tune-up with three catches for 27 yards, including a 16-yard catch in the second quarter. He also, however, had an ugly drop on third down to end the Dolphins’ opening drive and missed a block in the second quarter, which contributed to a safety for the Raiders.<\/p>\n

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Although Gesicki and McDaniel both pointed to the playcall as the primary reason for the safety, the blocking mishap highlighted an ongoing issue for Gesicki in this new-look offense. <\/p>\n

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For most of his career, Gesicki has essentially been a slot receiver, seldom asked to block. In McDaniel’s offense, tight ends must be able to do both.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s definitely a whole different offense, a whole different scheme. I’m learning a new position, honestly,\u201d Gesicki said. \u201cI played receiver last year, I played receiver the last three, four years. I’m playing tight end now. Any reps I can get live out there, blocking, putting my hands on another guy and going out there and working hard and blocking and honestly just working on my footwork, my hand placement, all that kind of stuff. Any reps I can get at that, I can use it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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If he can grasp his new role, Gesicki can once again be one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL \u2014 even more dangerous than he was last year. <\/p>\n

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For now, it creates an uneasy situation, though: By asking Gesicki to block more than he did last year, the Dolphins aren’t playing to his strengths. It’s all in the service of McDaniel’s broader offensive vision, and Gesicki said he’s accepting his new role and wo n’t grouse for more work as a receiver.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ll do whatever they ask me to do,\u201d Gesicki said. \u201cI’m not going to come out here and give you some headline.\u201d<\/p>\n

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