Why Gesicki and Ford, who were heroes Sunday, are perfect avatars of 2019 Dolphins
No two players better capture the contributions-from-everyone spirit of the 2019 Miami Dolphins than Mike Gesicki and Isaiah Ford.
The former was seen as a potential bust after a disappointing rookie season. The latter wasn’t seen as worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster for much of the season.
And yet, they — predictably in this most unpredictable season — made the plays in overtime Sunday that were the difference between a Dolphins win and a Dolphins loss (or tie).
Ryan Fitzpatrick had just three completions on the Dolphins’ game-winning drive: One to Gesicki for 14 yards and two to Ford for 43. But all three were good for first downs, including Ford’s 28-yard catch-and-run that set up Jason Sanders’ game-winning field goal.
“We got the play in the huddle and kind of ran it right into the perfect look,” Ford said. “They brought pressure and the whole center of the field vacated. I caught it and wanted to make a play. Coach had been challenging me to make a play after the catch all week. That’s kind of what I wanted to do. ... I was trying to go score. The ball security got a little loose as well. So they’ll probably get on me about that. I was just trying to make a play.”
Meanwhile, Gesicki’s grab redeemed himself for an earlier third-down drop, and sent him home happy in yet another impact game for the second-year tight end. Gesicki had two touchdowns and 82 yards on six catches Sunday, moving him in to the Dolphins’ top 15 all-time list in receiving yards by a tight end.
He now has 536 on the year on 47 catches.
“I’m not going to get shook or anything like that,” Gesicki said of his drop. “Playing football for a long time, whether at this level or not, it’s just part of the game. I was excited to go out and make another play to help move the sticks. Isaiah put us in field goal range and Jason ended it. It was huge.”
Perhaps the most encouraging part of Gesicki’s day: When he out-muscled Darqueze Dennard for a 13-yard touchdown pass. It showed a player who took seriously a challenge to play with more physicality.
“Fitz gave Durham [Smythe] and I a signal, got out of what we were in and then he went scramble drill,” Gesicki said. “Saw him look at me and fire one in there. I knew I was going to make a play or the DB [would], and that’s what I’m in there for. When I had an opportunity to make a play, I had to go do it.”
This story was originally published December 22, 2019 at 7:03 PM.
