Jay Ajayi relishing chance to work with new Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase
Wednesday 2 March 2016 17:07, UK
Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi is out to build on his rookie season and says new head coach Adam Gase can help him prosper.
Having been drafted in the fifth round by the Dolphins last year, Ajayi had to look on in the early weeks of the season as injury kept him out of action and, disappointingly for the London-born star, their Wembley date with the New York Jets.
Defeat to the Jets resulted in the departure of head coach Joe Philbin after a 1-3 start, tight ends coach Dan Campbell took over for the remainder of the season on an interim basis.
Highly-rated Gase has arrived to take his first head coach position after impressive spells with Denver Broncos and, last year, as Chicago Bears offensive coordinator with hopes high that he can get a talented Dolphins squad to improve on an inconsistent 6-10 record.
Ajayi has already held conversations with Gase and can't wait to get started, telling Sky Sports: "Everything that I have heard about coach Gase has been great, from all of his former players its been really great to hear.
"It has been really interesting to see it unfold with another new coach. I have had the privilege of speaking to him on the phone, and our conversation was great.
"From the conversation with him, he said he liked my skill-set and understands that I can do a lot of things. From seeing what he can do with past running backs like Knowshon Moreno for the Broncos, Jeremy Langford, Matt Forte for the Bears.
"He was able to get those guys to produce, it makes me happy about what he can do with me and the other running backs on our team so I am really excited.
"I've also got to meet with my running backs coach and sit down face-to-face with him. I am excited about what he has got planned for our team, just from talking I think we will be heading in the right direction under coach Gase.
That touchdown run showcased my style of play and I hope I can score more in the season to come
Rookie year
After eight weeks on the sidelines, Ajayi made his debut in November against the Buffalo Bills and ran in his first touchdown in week 15, the 22-year-old making an impressive start, if belated, start to his NFL career.
"From the pre-season and getting injured, getting put on short-term IR [injured reserve], that was one challenge and then our coach got fired we had to deal with an interim coach in the middle of the year and that was another [challenge].
"But you have to perservere and push through adversity so when I was finally able to get active and play it was a dream come true - stepping onto the field, getting my first carries and I was able to do really well in that game. That helped boost my confidence moving forward and in all my other games I was really comfortable out there on the field.
"All that hard work that I had put in, when I finally got the first touchdown I was glad as it would have been hard to get through the offseason for real upset with myself if I hadn't. The way I got it too, I was able to display who I am, I am going to push through no matter what and you can't stop me, Im going to drive and get to where I am going and that is the end zone. That touchdown run showcased that style of play and I hope I can score more in the season to come
