Dolphins’ Ginn needs to prove his mettle in the pros

By Matthew Hocking  |   Wednesday, August 08, 2007  |  Comments( 11 )

Miami Dolphins
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There's no doubt that Ted Ginn Jr. is an explosive player. He piled up 1,487 yards (781 receiving, 706 on returns) last year as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Unfortunately, though, Ginn's season ended slightly early because of an injury he suffered while celebrating during the National Championship game after a 96-yard kickoff return.

Celebrations aside, Ginn does indeed possess a lot of the tools one needs to be a successful receiver in the NFL. His quickness and burst off the line are going to be trouble for any corner in the pros to cover, and he's invited a lot of comparisons to Randy Moss in the way he handles the deep ball. So why are so many people questioning the Dolphins' decision to take Ginn with the ninth overall selection in April's draft and line him up as one of Trent Green's top receiving threats?

First, and perhaps foremost, is Ginn's size. At 5-foot-11 and only around 180 pounds, Ginn isn't exactly a big target. That certainly helps him when he's weaving through traffic as a return man, but Miami didn't go out and spend a first-round pick just to use him on kickoffs and punts. The reason Moss was successful in the early part of his career wasn't always his speed, but because the 6-4 wideout dwarfs most corners. Ginn is going to have to spend a lot of time on an island with some of the league's most physical defensive backs, and he won't be able to rely on a height or reach advantage to help him.

Ginn's physical shortcomings give way to another issue that is key for Miami right now. At Ohio State, Ginn was very reluctant to work off of a jam and shied away from blocking downfield. If the Dolphins get their act together on the offensive line, running back Ronnie Brown will see a lot more action this season, which means that Ginn is going to have to hold some long blocks. Additionally, opposing corners are not going to be afraid to bully a rookie who isn't any bigger than they are, which means that Ginn is going to see a lot of bump and run coverage this season.

That is not to say that there won't be any help. Veteran receivers Marty Booker, Chris Chambers and new addition Az-Zahir Hakim will allow Ginn to grow into the offense, while David Martin will help make up for the loss of Randy McMichael at tight end. Ginn's already had a decent training camp, hooking up with fellow rookie John Beck, a second-round quarterback, on some deep passes but missing a few throws from veteran Cleo Lemon. But the impetus is on Ginn to learn to be a route runner and a more complete receiver.

For their part, the Dolphins have said that they will give Ginn every chance to prove himself.

Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller said when Ginn signed, "We told (Ginn) after the draft, you can't be concerned with the criticism you may get or we may get. You've got to be yourself."

But fans of the team might not be so forgiving. As a first-rounder, and one a lot of Miami's fans questioned in April, Ginn needs to prove right away that he is a true receiving threat, not simply the next Dante Hall.
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CommentsComments: 11  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
UtahPhinPhan		10:29 AM
08/08/2007
I'm really tired of all the talk about Ginn's height or lack thereof. Here is some perspective: Chambers is also 5'11". Hakim...
No.2
rai		11:14 AM
08/08/2007
Let's not get carried away about the size. How big was Marvin Harrison when he entered the league? How big is he now (probably...
No.3
Anthony		11:35 AM
08/08/2007
It irritates me when people compare this kid to Devin Hester. Devin Hester is a DB, Ginn is a WR who will be able to do alot more...
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