Sometimes the littlest things can create the biggest difference. Dolphins second-year tight end Mike Gesicki certainly hopes that is the case, as he’ll be reverting back to the number he wore in college, hoping to recapture his Penn State form.
He will wear No. 88 next season, switching from No. 86.
Gesicki was an underwhelming investment in Year 1 under coach Adam Gase, in part because the coaching staff used a flex tight end to pass protect in one out of every five snaps Gesicki played on the season. But considering coach Brian Flores’ vow to develop his players and put them in the best position to be successful, there’s hope for Gesicki in 2019 and beyond.
With 22 receptions for 202 yards as a rookie, the former Nittany Lion looked like a shadow of the field-stretching vertical target he proved to be in Happy Valley. At his peak in 2016, Gesicki averaged 14.1 yards per reception on 48 catches.
More reps in space will be the key for Gesicki in 2019, although flipping numbers from 86 to 88 is hopefully part of the master plan, as well.
