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Brandon London making up ground

Anyone wondering what happened to Brandon London?  Well...I actually saw him playing on special teams last week, which meant he was active.  But what does that mean?  Will he contribute in the receiving game, and when?  Can he be that big, fast WR that the Fins so desperately need?

Well, these and other questions MAY be answered before the end of the season.  And we might start to get an idea even sooner than that!

Here is an excerpt from a PBP story:

Wide receiver Brandon London has just about everything the Dolphins’ fear in a wide receiver - size, strength and speed.

The combination has killed the Dolphins twice this season, courtesy of Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald and Houston’s Andre Johnson, a pair of Pro Bowlers had a combined 16 catches and 331 yards in wins against Miami.

If only the 6-foot-4, 210-pound London had NFL experience, he might be able to pitch in. Coach Tony Sparano hinted it might not be long.

And here are some direct quotes from the "Man with the Plan", the "Master of Downplaying", Tony "No Excuses" Sparano:

“He’s getting a whole lot better fast,” Sparano said. ” He’s very athletic at the position - a long guy that gets on you pretty fast when he runs his routes.”

“He plays on the punt team as a gunner because he’s aggressive and he can release,” Sparano said. “When the ball is in the air, he’ll go up and take it away from you. We talk about practicing against big receivers; he’s a guy that gives us a tremendous look because he can go up and take it away.

“He’s a guy that little by little, we should hopefully see a little bit more of.”

So.... does anyone else see this as a potential "ace in the hole" in the second half of the season?  I, personally, am excited by the prospect that we might have a real "sleeper" on our roster that could become the next Marques Colston.

This fanpost was written by one of The Phinsider's registered users.

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Comments

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I've been hoping we can get him some playing time....

With the way our WR’s are playing (with the exception of Greggy) I see no reason why not to give him a shot. Maybe he can be the spark that ignites the rest of the WR’s……..

by cbdolphin on Oct 17, 2008 3:22 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I hope he can separate and catch

by OntheGo on Oct 17, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I get pumped when Sparano talks about stuff

I see plans coming into play and expectations playing out. We have this whole year of finding “those” type of team players. Use it I say. If we get some real talent by developing it, it can only make us better in the long run.

Hey Left, good seeing you bud.
The icon change threw me. You went from “Vote for Pedro” to that? I guess Halloween IS approaching……lol

Semper Fidelis Miamius Tursiops Truncatus

by HuskerDolphin on Oct 17, 2008 3:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

You know,

maybe we didn’t make a push for that big type of receiver because they think they have found him in London??

by cbdolphin on Oct 17, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was wondering the same thing.

but I really just think the Fins are just showing self restraint in giving away draft picks.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

LOL...

Someone was talking about Nick Satan and I think that picture describes him perfectly. :)

Anyway, I like the way Tony S. down plays things a bit, but never does it in a “belichick smoke and mirrors” kind of way. If he says a guy is getting better, then he is getting better… but you don’t really know how much. My impression from the Fins only have 4 WRs active last game, and London being one of them, is that Sparano feels comfortable with him right now in a goal line fade play. After the first game when he admitted he should have had Wilford in there, I doubt he would have only London active if he didn’t feel confident that he could make that play.
Reading between the Sparano lines, anyway… :)

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

In my opinion...

doing multiple jobs is key (as Sparano has said)…it seems like they like his special teams effort. But can he separate and catch in practce against our guys? If he can’t do it there…then we’ve not found any solutions. Because, every opposing team’s big physical receiver seems to be able to separate and catch against our secondary. But we can always hope during this phase of rebuilding.

by OntheGo on Oct 17, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It looks like he can separate from his STs play

but can he catch? Guess we need to see him in action.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well he said he does a great job of impersonating those big receivers

that burn us, so I’d have to argue that it seems he is atleast doing just as good as any of our other big receivers ( I know not saying much) but he has potential, and we are rebuilding. We need to let that potential grow with the rest of the team in my opinion…..

by cbdolphin on Oct 17, 2008 4:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Hope abounds!

I can’t wait to hear the crowd in Miami yelling “FIRST DOWN!!” on TV everytime he moves the chains!

by OntheGo on Oct 17, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

*I* can't wait to see him make a catch on offense, period! :)

We know he will be in when they play a 4 wide spread, but I would not be surprised to see him in as #3 in the RZ, or even as the slot guy in Wildcat.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He is faster than Hagan or Wilford.

I think he has good long speed like Ginn, but I don’t know about his short speed. The fact that he seems tp separate on STs plays is a good sign.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

well until

the phins get a QB that can throw the ball more then 8 yards… i don’t think any WR are going to be ‘good’…

So put me down for Henne being the ace in the hole… I suspect T Ginn will become a whole lot better when there is a QB that can let him take advantage of his speed behind center

by W NY Fins Fan on Oct 17, 2008 4:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm tired of hearing that excuse

Ginn needs to get open, everyone thinks that if Penny had a huge arm we would be throwing to him deep every play of the game……

by cbdolphin on Oct 17, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

ROFL!!!

Leave it to you to turn this into a Henne vs. Penn discussion. :)

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh yeah

On madden he catches better than Hagan/Ginn/Wilford and just a good as Cama so he must be able to!!

Madden always tells the truth

by cbdolphin on Oct 17, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

hes good and a big target

On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job
-Nicky Primetime

by finsxfactor on Oct 18, 2008 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey, if Camarillo can come around..

Then Brando has a chance. With penny at qb I think its all gravy.

by Jersquall on Oct 17, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Ginn/London on the outside

Cama and Bess running through the middle……HMMMM

by cbdolphin on Oct 17, 2008 4:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm tellin ya, if the kid turns out to be able to catch...

The fins deep aerial assault will consist of bombing London.

:)

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

4 wide

+ the..

Cool beans..

by Jersquall on Oct 17, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

LOL

Any excuse to post a picture. ;)

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

LONDON......

came from the gmen…they have so many great wrs…..maybe he slipped through the cracks to us.

"Well said."
--Matty I (2008)

by Rzayo24 on Oct 17, 2008 4:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

BTW, just for the record...

The Giants did not want to lose London, they wanted to put him on their PS.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Brandon.

I got to watch “Air” London, as we used to call him, up here at UMass. The man was a beast, and he helped lead us to the national championship game in 2006.

"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

by Daniel52 on Oct 18, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

left.......

sexy post bitch…lol

"Well said."
--Matty I (2008)

by Rzayo24 on Oct 17, 2008 4:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I was there man...

I just graduated from UMass in the spring, and as part of the marching band saw every home game and quite a few away games that London played in. In short, he was an absolute beast. Granted it was against 1-AA talent, but he was an integral part of our 2006 team that played in the Championship game (nearly beating APP State). He could completely dominate a game (and often did), and often made simply amazing plays with substantial YAC. 100% effort on every play. 1-AA talent yes, but Colston played in the same conference at Hofstra…

Needless to say I’m psyched that London ended up in Miami and that he has a chance to make an impact. He certainly has the talent and drive to succeed in the NFL. Here’s to hoping he does…

by Fainting Goats on Oct 17, 2008 5:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Dude, thanks!

It is awesome to have some first hand background like that. I am even more jazzed now!

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

A little more detail on London from the draft

From NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Brandon London, WR, UMass

There are two things you can’t coach in football: height and speed. Brandon London has both. His tall stature and quick speed have NFL scouts noticing him. London has very solid hands to go with his height and speed. He also has a solid football pedigree. His father played college at Richmond and now is the defensive coordinator for the University of Virginia, while his uncle played at Virginia. London finished his college career with 148 receptions, 2022 receiving yards, and 15 touchdown receptions.
 
Height – 6’4.4"
Weight – 215
Forty time – 4.47

 

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 6:45 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Just one more tidbit that maybe only I find interesting, then I'll shut up. :)

Did anyone realize that Brandon London has a Super Bowl Ring?

I thought that was funny. :)

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 17, 2008 6:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

too go along with this

  This is a interesting read. Maybe….and this is a big maybe. The aces in the hole are right in front of us. Wilford and Hagan are going to have to step up to salvage their jobs if not their lives in the NFL. So, hopefully that means they’ll try harder and take advantage of any playtime tossed their way. Maybe……and this is a big maybe, one if not two of them actually become something of value for us. It could happen………maybe.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/730957.html

Semper Fidelis Miamius Tursiops Truncatus

by HuskerDolphin on Oct 17, 2008 11:24 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

agreed, but my knock on Hagan and Wilford

(aside from the obvious one of drops) is their lack of speed. London isn’t blazing fast, but he is faster than Hagan or Wilford.
nowhutimeen?

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 18, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

okay, i read this and i must say

this line from Hagan bothers me:
“Sometimes, they’re only taking three or four wide receivers to the game. That’s the main thing. It’s not about how somebody’s performing.”

Now, how can it NOT be about performance, and is he really convinced of that?

Also, it seems clear that the big differentiator between Hagan and Wilford, and the rest of the Miami receivers is that they don’t play on STs….. sooooo, why not? Are they not good at it, or just prima donnas?

Weird. Anyway, i like how Sparano is handling it all. He is not playing guys unless they earn it.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 18, 2008 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

B London

He had a key block on the long screen pass run by Cobbs, The complete package.

by gophish on Oct 18, 2008 1:17 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

yeah he did! Which means he was in there in the regular package.

the man is playing. sooner or later they will try throwing him the ball.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 18, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Everything have been said...

now it need to be DONE!!! ; )

Bring the Manchurian O or whatever, you guys, wanna call it LOL

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Oct 18, 2008 8:27 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

the THUNDERSPUNK! (name of the wildcat)

On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job
-Nicky Primetime

by finsxfactor on Oct 18, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Blitzkrieg!

We bomb em into submission, and then push through their lines with a relentless ground assault!

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 18, 2008 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

More Sparano on London:
“On where Brandon London is as a wide receiver) – "He’s getting a whole lot better fast. He’s very athletic at the position. A long guy that gets on you pretty fast when he runs his routes, those type of things. Fundamentals were a thing with Brandon that I think coming in here he needed some work on that way. Pretty good release guy because he’s aggressive and that’s why he’s a gunner. He plays on the punt team as a gunner because he’s aggressive and he can release. Brandon’s getting better. When the ball is in the air, he’s an interesting guy because he’ll go up and take it away from you. We talk about practicing against big receivers; he’s a guy that gives us a tremendous look because he can go up and take it away. He’s a guy that little by little, we got him active last week, and little by little we should hopefully see a little bit more of.”

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 18, 2008 12:42 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

He could be a sleeper

But then again I said that about Fred Gibson, so what do I know?
If he turns out to be solid I still think we go for aWR in the draft, maybe not Michael Crabtree in the first round, but we could take a guy like Louis Murphy in the second.

"How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?"

-From the Unforgiven III off of Death Magnetic

by Patssuck456 on Oct 18, 2008 6:38 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yeah man! Fred Gibson was a stud!

You have uncanny insight.
 ;^]

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Oct 18, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

CB's are THE MOST IMPORTAN position to draft

Atleast 2 of the firts 3 picks, maybe the other pick could be a WR.

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Oct 19, 2008 8:53 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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