Third-year pro Kenyan Drake has been with the Miami Dolphins longer than any other running back on their roster
http://www.redskinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-pernell-mcphee-jersey , which gives him seniority of sorts ??except that new backup Frank Gore is 35
years old.
Even so, Drake considers his maturity an asset for a change entering his first full season as the starter.
He performed well in the No. 1 role after starter Jay Ajayi was traded to Philadelphia at midseason last year. Drake gave Miami a much-needed big-play
threat, had back-to-back 100-yard games, finished with 644 yards rushing and
averaged 4.8 yards per carry, which ranked sixth in the NFL.
Drake has touchdowns of 96, 66, 45 and 42 yards for the Dolphins, with the longest coming on a kickoff return. But as they prepare for another season
during this month's OTAs, Drake said he should have made more of an impact
sooner.
The third-down draft pick out of Alabama in 2016 had only a small role his first year.
"My rookie year was a big learning experience," Drake said Tuesday. "I just wasn't mentally prepared to handle the workload of an everyday starter. I came
up short."
Now, he said, he's ready. And he needs to be
Avonte Maddox Jersey Elite , given typically heavy recent roster turnover.
"I'm the longest-tenured running back, which is pretty interesting," he said. "Two years ago I was coming in fresh-faced. Funny how time flies. I'm definitely
embracing this role, and trying to help this team win a lot more games in the
coming years."
He said he'll benefit from guidance by Gore, the NFL's active career rushing leader, who signed with his hometown team as a free agent in March.
"I always remind Frank that when he first came into the league, I was in fifth or sixth grade," Drake said with a chuckle. "If I have half the success he
has had in his career, that would be a win in my book."
Coach Adam Gase expects a lot of success for Drake, and confirmed the young pro has matured.
"When you're in this league, sometimes there's a little bit of a feeling-out process," Gase said. "You're trying to figure out
Pernell McPhee Color Rush Jersey , who are you? You're starting to get older. You really realize this is a job, and it's different than college.
"I see a different guy ??the way he prepares, knowing the situation he's coming into this year. I think we just have a guy that's really looking to bust
out."
Drake is part of a much different offense this year. Ryan Tannehill returns at quarterback after missing all of last season because of a knee injury, and
the Dolphins added several new pass targets and two starters on the offensive
line.
Miami sputtered to a 6-10 finish in 2017, and the dismal season was a new experience for Drake, who lost six games in four years of college.
"I love to win," he said. "That's why I went to Alabama."
The championship pedigree was one reason the Dolphins drafted Drake. It also factored into their decision to take Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the
first round of last month's draft.
Good choice, according to Fitzpatrick's former and new teammate.
"At Alabama, Minkah was a professional from the jump," Drake said. "It's rare you see a freshman come in and have that mentality of, 'I want to work, I want
to be the best.' I feel like he is going to be in this league a very
Authentic Ian Thomas Jersey , very long time."
AP NFL website: pro32.ap.org and ://AP_NFL
Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: ://Steve_Wine .Quin Snyder wasn’t too concerned about the pressure of a win-and-in situation for his Utah Jazz.
”I’d rather have that pressure than the alternative,” the coach said.
Now, he and the rest of the Jazz can rest easy.
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points to help Utah clinch a playoff berth with a 112-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Utah is the fourth team in the crowded Western Conference to lock up a postseason spot, with five teams still in the running for the other four
positions before the regular season ends Wednesday. It’s Utah’s second straight
playoff appearance, even after star small forward Gordon Hayward left last
offseason for a free agent deal with Boston.
”It’s a great feeling to have that,” Mitchell said. ”But at the same time, we got two more games left and want to stay where we’re at.”
Mitchell also had nine rebounds and eight assists, and Joe Ingles had 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting along with 10 assists. Jae Crowder added 18 points
off the bench.
Josh Hart had 25 points for Los Angeles, which has lost six of eight. Julius Randle had 17 points and seven rebounds.
A basket by Royce O’Neale put Utah up 98-76 in the opening four minutes of the fourth quarter. The shot marked Utah’s largest lead of the game.
Utah held Los Angeles to only 40 percent for the game, including 5 of 25 from 3-point range.
”They’re long, clog the paint, close out great off of drives
Youth John Kelly Jersey ,” the Lakers’ Julius Randle said. ”They’re tough.”
Mitchell threw a full-court pass to a streaking Ingles for a layup and a 66-56 lead with 5:44 remaining in the third. Utah led 82-67 when O’Neale made a
3-pointer with 2.2 seconds to go in the quarter.
Tyler Ennis made a scoop shot that pulled Los Angeles within 32-30 during the second quarter, but Utah regained a 12-point lead with help from two 3-pointers
by Crowder. The Lakers closed the half on 6-2 run and trailed by only six.
The Jazz started the game on a 7-0 run and extended the lead to 19-4 with Mitchell’s 3-pointer in transition. Los Angeles answered with a 10-0 spurt and
closed within four with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Beat the Lakers 117-110 on April 3. … Five players scored in double figures. … Derrick Favors had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Lakers: Three of the five starters did not make a field goal in the first half. … Kyle Kuzma did not play due to a mild left ankle sprain.
ENNIS THE MENACE
Ennis had a career-high 22 points. He shot 9 of 18 from the field, made three steals and played 28 minutes off the bench.
”Basketball kind of rewards you when you come out and play hard,” Ennis said. ”That’s what I tried to do the whole game. Whether shots are going in or out, I
just try to keep going.”
Ennis’ previous high was 20 points.
TRICKY RICKY
Ricky Rubio played 18 minutes and had nine points, two assists and two steals for Utah. He was listed as questionable before the game due to hamstring
soreness that forced him out of Thursday’s contest against the Los Angeles
Clippers.
Rubio didn’t play in the second half, but Snyder said he was the key for Utah to start the game.
”I thought he stabilized us at the beginning of the game,” Snyder said. ”I think his presence on the court was really important. His leadership is one of
the reasons we’re where we are.”
Rubio had 31 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the game on April 3 against the Lakers.
QUOTABLE
Mitchell, on the full-court pass he made to Ingles in the third quarter: ”That’s just my baseball and soccer background coming back.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host Golden State on Tuesday.
Lakers: Host Houston on Tuesday.
—
.
