Miami Dolphins: Adam Gase wants Julius Thomas more involved
Julius Thomas was considered by some a big acquisition for the Dolphins this offseason. However, he hasn’t had much of an impact so far.
Many fans and people around the Miami Dolphins were thrilled when the team acquired tight end Julius Thomas from the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason for next to nothing. Thomas thrived in now Dolphins head coach Adam Gase’s offensive system when the two were together with the Denver Broncos in 2013 and 2014.
During that historic two-year run led by Peyton Manning and Gase, Thomas caught 24 touchdowns in just 27 games. He also topped out with an impressive career high 65 receptions for 788 yards in 2013, while putting up 12 TDs in each season. Unfortunately we haven’t seen close to that kind of production in Miami thus far.
To this point of the season he has just six receptions for 42 yards and no touchdowns. Gase has taken notice and hopes for this trend to turn itself around. Gase said via floridafootballinsiders.com that he’s simply waiting for the right coverages — namely matching him up with a safety or backer — to unleash his tight end.
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The bad news is Thomas isn’t going to turn this around and was never going to. Granted, I respect Gase as an offensive mind. With that said, there is little to almost no chance Thomas gets anywhere near double-digit touchdowns in Miami. Why you ask?
Because his quarterback is Jay Cutler. I don’t hate Cutler as much as many and think he has the ability to at least put up decent numbers and make impressive throws.
Still, even if Cutler is decent it isn’t nearly enough. During those two seasons Peyton Manning threw a ridiculous and record setting 94 touchdown passes. Cutler has never even thrown 30 touchdowns in any season of his career, with his career-high 28 coming in 2014. It’s hard to imagine with Cutler and Thomas both older and enduring an abundance of injuries since 2014 that suddenly that duo is going to take off. It’s just not going to happen.
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It’s nice that Gase wants to use Thomas more, but the bottom line is he’s just not very good. The guy can’t block and isn’t elite at anything other than being big and athletic. Injuries have taken a good portion of that athleticism from him since his days in Denver. Dolphins fans should not at any point get excited about Thomas. I’m willing to bet he misses more games than he catches touchdown passes in Miami.