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Title: Dolphins TE Charles Clay on verge of setting franchise records Post by: CF DolFan on December 11, 2013, 03:47:20 pm Obviously Clay is coming along nicely but I had no idea where he was sitting. I wouldn't have guessed him being number 5 for receptions and tied with Witten. He stands to break Randy Macs Dolphins records. Kind of bums me a little as I got to meet and hang out with Randy while he was here. Guess I'll need to have a few beers with Clay just for nostalgia's sake!
By Omar Kelly Sun Sentinel 9:30 a.m. EST, December 11, 2013 DAVIE - One of the bright spots of the 2013 Dolphins season has been the emergence of Charles Clay, a three-year veteran who was once perceived as one of Miami's most inconsistent players. Clay, who started 18 games and scored five touchdowns as an H-back in his first two seasons, had always flashed his talent from time to time. But the former Tulsa standout struggled to develop as a blocker, and had too many highs and lows since being selected in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. However, it appears those issues are in his past because this season Clay's emergence has him on the verge of setting a franchise record for receptions and passing yards produced by a tight end. Clay, who has caught 60 passes for 678 yards and scored a team-leading seven touchdowns this season, needs to catch 14 passes for at least 113 yards to become the most productive tight end in Dolphins history. And he's got three games to do it. Clay has become one of Ryan Tannehill's favorite weapons, and as a result he's been targeted 83 times this season, which has him tied for the fifth most passes thrown to a tight end after 13 games. The only tight ends who have been targeted more than Clay this season are New Orlean's Jimmy Wilson (111 passes), San Diego's Antonio Gates (98 passes), Cleveland's Jordan Cameron (96), and Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez (93). Clay is presently tied with Dallas' Jason Witten. Interestingly, Clay is ranked third in yards after catch this season, producing 331 yards after juking a defender, or catching a pass in open space. Only Graham and Gates have produced more this season. Here is a look at the franchise's best tight end seasons. TOP FIVE DOLPHINS TIGHT ENDS, RECEPTIONS YEAR PLAYER REC 2004 Randy McMichael 73 2006 Randy McMichael 62 2013 Charles Clay 60 2005 Randy McMichael 60 1994 Keith Jackson 59 TOP FIVE DOLPHINS TIGHT ENDS, SINGLE SEASON RECEIVING YARDS YEAR PLAYER YARDS 2004 Randy McMichael 791 2013 Charles Clay 678 1994 Keith Jackson 673 2006 Randy McMichael 640 1994 Keith Jackson 613 2003 Randy McMichael 598 Copyright © 2013, South Florida Sun-Sentinel http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-dolphins-te-charles-clay-is-on-pace-for-recordsetting-season-20131211,0,7501146.story Title: Re: Dolphins TE Charles Clay on verge of setting franchise records Post by: Spider-Dan on December 11, 2013, 06:06:08 pm Interesting. I guess Marino didn't care for TEs.
Title: Re: Dolphins TE Charles Clay on verge of setting franchise records Post by: EDGECRUSHER on December 11, 2013, 07:50:29 pm Tight Ends didn't run far enough for Marino's liking.
Great article on Clay. I know Reshad Jones has been a bum this year, but it was still the right move to lock up your own young talent, even if it didn't work out this time. Ii would like to see the same thing done to Clay. Repoire with your QB is just as big a reason for success as talent(well......maybe not THAT much), so having the same set of receivers for a few years straight would be good. Title: Re: Dolphins TE Charles Clay on verge of setting franchise records Post by: JustinGregg on December 11, 2013, 09:39:15 pm Love what Clay has done this year.
Title: Re: Dolphins TE Charles Clay on verge of setting franchise records Post by: MikeO on December 12, 2013, 12:17:25 am The TE position has evolved in the NFL over the years. When Marino played it was almost a 50/50 split of they blocked and they caught passes. Now TE's rarely stay back and block and are out in patterns the vast majority of the time.
Title: Re: Dolphins TE Charles Clay on verge of setting franchise records Post by: Dolphster on December 12, 2013, 08:28:23 am Love what Clay has done this year. Me too. I have been very happily surprised by how he has evolved. I had pretty much written him off but he has proven me wrong about him. Title: Re: Dolphins TE Charles Clay on verge of setting franchise records Post by: MikeO on December 15, 2013, 10:33:48 am Clay is making $555,000 this year. Will make $645,000 next year.
I expect the Fins will lock to lock him up long-term in the offseason so Clay never see's free agency. Like Miami did with Jones this past year |