The buzzword for the Miami Dolphins' offense this offseason: up-tempo. The team wants more pace, more no-huddle and more short routes like any good West Coast offense.
That direction, combined with increased competition at tight end, has the Palm Beach Post wondering if Anthony Fasano still fits.
"For me it means more perimeter blocking and running short routes where we get the ball out, substituting shorter passes for longer ones," Fasano said last week. "Second-and-short is traditionally a running down but we're going to pass a lot."
Fasano has started all 60 games he's played in Miami since arriving from the Dallas Cowboys in a trade early in the Bill Parcells regime. He occupies that vague realm of "solid, not great" starters which usually leaves fans wanting more. The Dolphins appear headed in another direction at the position.
Second-year player Charles Clay is a better receiving threat and has received a lot of attention in offseason practices. The new Dolphins staff drafted Missouri product Michael Egnew in the third round, another catch-first tight end.
Fasano averaged 443 yards over the last four years. We'd be surprised if that number doesn't decrease this season. We'd also be surprised if Fasano is back in Miami after his contract runs out.
