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Searching for replacement
Gerald Riggs Jr. and Kay-Jay Harris are among a group vying for the role that was opened with Ricky Williams' suspension.
BY JASON COLE
jcole@MiamiHerald.com
Running back Gerald Riggs Jr. darted left, then right, and then accelerated. A few plays later, fellow running back Kay-Jay Harris broke past the line, was 1-on-1 with a linebacker and then tried to fake his way into a bigger run.
But the question at the end of the day is whether either player has made much progress toward getting a chance to fill the job that was opened by Ricky Williams' suspension of at least one year.
Riggs Jr., an undrafted free agent signed this week by the Dolphins, and Harris are among a group hoping to take advantage of Williams' misfortune. They have been joined by journeymen Joe Smith and Walter Reyes in the first round of competition for a backup role.
As for Williams, coach Nick Saban said he would have no further comment on the possibility of Williams playing for Toronto of the Canadian Football League, and agent Leigh Steinberg could not be reached for comment.
Toronto general manager Adam Rita said the Argonauts had not yet been told of a final decision from Williams or the Dolphins. Rita and assistant general manager Greg Mohns had been in contact only with Steinberg and had yet to talk with the Dolphins.
''When I talked to [Steinberg on Friday], he said that Saban and Ricky were supposed to have another talk and that they'd get back to me after that,'' Mohns said Saturday evening. ``I haven't heard from them at all today.''
REPLACING RICKY
The more pressing issue for the Dolphins this season is how to replace Williams and his 168 carries last season. Much of that will go to 2005 No. 2 overall pick Ronnie Brown, who was limited to 207 carries last season.
Even if Brown expands his role and has 300 carries, that leaves in the range of 150 or more carries for the rest of the running backs. At the moment, veterans Sammy Morris and Travis Minor are the leading contenders for those carries and the team could sign a veteran, such as Antowain Smith.
But Riggs and Harris are trying to prove they can handle the role. The Dolphins liked Riggs enough that they nearly selected him in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. They liked Harris enough that he spent 2005 on the practice squad.
''We really never had an opportunity to move him up,'' Saban said of Harris. ``He's developed into a very good special teams player, he's got size, he's got speed and like you see in a lot of players who struggle maybe to understand concepts in the beginning of their career -- new system, learning, being able to perform at a high level and not sure what they're doing -- you see a tremendous difference between their first year to their second year because they have a lot more confidence in what they're supposed to do, how they're supposed to do it, why it's important to do it that way, and you see them start playing faster.''
Harris concurred.
''To me, when you know what you're doing, the game slows down,'' he said. ``I definitely see everything that I'm supposed to do. I understand not just my position, but the concept of the routes. As opposed to when you don't know and you're just trying to listen to the count and I'm trying to say the play in my head, all of a sudden the ball is snapped and I don't know where to go. That's a big advantage from last year to this year. This year, not only do I know what I'm doing, but I know what everybody else is supposed to be doing, where the running back's routes are going to be, where I can set up and not get in the throwing lanes, where everybody else is going to be.''
FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS
Riggs is still trying to figure things out, but he has the advantage of having an NFL bloodline: His father was a Pro Bowl running back for Atlanta. But he must show he's healthy. Riggs, who had a strong junior season at Tennessee, played in only six games last season before breaking his right leg and sustaining ligament damage in the ankle.
''Tennessee was a learning experience, a valuable learning experience, especially coming to the next level,'' Riggs said. ``You know, I was a little disappointed on draft day, but at the same time, I understood the circumstances of why. I had the injury and our team didn't really have a great year, so it's kind of understandable. But I've put that in the past. I'm worried about coming out here and trying to make this team.''
Is he healthy?
''Yeah, I'm ready to go. I'm healed up and ready to go out and do what I do,'' he said.
The question is whether that will be enough.
Searching for replacement for Ricky
Searching for replacement for Ricky
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