Here are 10 observations from the primary two weeks of Miami Dolphins coaching camp:
1. The linebackers have been probably the most attention-grabbing unit of the primary Dolphins’ depth chart. Melvin Ingram is listed as an outdoor starter over Andrew Van Ginkel. That’s not a giant deal as each will play. The level right here is that they like Ingram this a lot, although the bigger level is to ask if the Ingram of August would be the similar because the Ingram of December and January. He’s 33 with a historical past of accidents. He had stops at two blue-chip franchises, Pittsburgh and Kansas City, the final two seasons and didn’t stick. But if the Dolphins get something near the Melvin Ingram of the Chargers then they’ve discovered somebody useful. We’re nonetheless within the message-sending a part of an NFL, so we don’t know if the Dolphins’ message is that they like Ingram this a lot or wish to push Van Ginkel. Maybe each?
2. A few objects relating to the Dolphins’ tampering penalties for recruiting Tom Brady again to his New England days and Sean Payton from New Orleans:
A. Did New England proprietor Robert Kraft push the NFL to penalize the Dolphins, as a league supply suggests? It’s unclear how a lot sway his voice had within the proceedings, however you possibly can perceive Kraft’s anger at realizing Dolphins owner-in-waiting Bruce Beale recruiting Brady throughout his remaining Patriots yr in 2019. Still, for tampering that was historic in scope, in line with the NFL Commissioner, being penalized a first-round decide in 2024 and a third-round decide subsequent yr isn’t a staggering penalty. Why? Because each workforce tampers. The league needed to be involved with a flood of instances. Of course, none appear to do it as overtly because the Dolphins on this occasion.
B. The league supply additionally provided what he says is a “league-wide belief:” The truth Don Yee was the agent of each Brady and Payton says he advised their story on the tampering on the situation they’d undergo no penalties and even reproachment from the league. That’s the opposite half of this story. How do you deal with if a participant beneath contract talks with a workforce? Is that allowed?
3. A month from the Sept. 11 opener at Hard Rock Stadium, let’s look in at how the New England offense appears with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in some undefined roles of working it. Take this from long-time Patriots reporter Greg Bedard:
“Arguably worst start of offense to camp,’’ he tweeted from Monday’s practice before listing the plays: False start 77, Stuff Incomplete, Stuff at handoff, Sack Flat 1yd would have been blown up if live, Incomplete, Sack on a waggle 1 yard pass blown up by Wilson, Stuff 5 yards flat to Meyers.”
And ESPN’s Mike Reiss: “A thought after watching the Patriots offense look efficient in 7-on-7 but struggle notably in multiple 11-on-11s: Might be time to give (legendary Patriots offensive line coach) Dante Scarnecchia a call for an independent evaluation.”
Here’s the counter-read to this: The Patriots protection should be nice?
4. If the Dolphins even get something in a commerce for Preston Williams, GM Chris Grier is the early chief for government of the yr. Is there actually a marketplace for a participant who went undrafted, has performed half the video games in three years because of damage and had one catch for seven yards in 2021? The Dolphins had him compete for a job for the primary time since his rookie coaching camp. The outcomes are talking. So, yeah, itemizing him as second workforce is both to bolster his (cough) commerce worth or …
5. It’s a press release of how skinny this Dolphins receiving corps is. Remember when GM Jeff Ireland mentioned on HBO’s Hard Knocks he has, “fours, fives and sixes,” in his receiving group however wanted to search out some “ones, twos and threes?” It’s in regards to the reverse problem right here. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are No. 1 receivers. Cedric Wilson is No. 3, and it appears rookie Eric Ezukanma is No. 4 in coaching camp. Undrafted rookie Braylon Sanders feels like a participant you need on the observe squad to develop. But then? What to consider Lynn Bowden Jr., River Cracraft and Trent Sherfield? A workforce typcially has a particular groups broad receiver and that may very well be Cracraft. Let’s keep in mind there’s been no hitting of receivers simply but in order that they’re sometimes overrated in summer time exercises.
6. The top-end expertise and good camp work of this roster is clear and commendable. The depth of this roster is the priority — simply as it’s in lots of groups. The healthiest workforce usually wins. It’s not simply the offensive line and receivers the place the Dolphins should search for assist. Look at cornerback. Xavien Howard and Byron Jones are pretty much as good a unit as any workforce. Nik Needham is a stable third cornerback. But after that? Noah Igbinoghene is listed because the fourth cornerback and he couldn’t get on the sphere his first two years. Has he improved that a lot? The saying in soccer is you possibly can by no means have sufficient offensive tackles and cornerbacks. The Dolphins should be searching for cornerbacks, simply as many groups are.
7. The three gamers the Dolphins can’t lose this season: Hill, cornerback Xavien Howard and left sort out Terron Armstead. Hill is probably the most dynamic participant on the workforce — possibly within the league. Howard isn’t only a game-changer however frees up the protection to do many issues. Armstead is the anchor on an offensive line. It’s not simply their expertise, although. Again, it’s depth. Look on the line. There are three unsure gamers are in new positions: middle Connor Williams, proper sort out Austin Jackson and left guard Liam Eichenberg.
8. That mentioned, keep in mind when the Dolphins consistently juggled gamers throughout the offensive line all final coaching camp? Eichenberg began at proper sort out, moved to protect, then had time at left sort out. His head needed to be spinning. This teaching employees made choices on the place to place gamers and is letting the gamers sink or swim in these positions all summer time. We’ll see the way it goes by way of mixed practices with Tampa Bay and the preseason. But this provides them the most effective likelihood to succeed.
9. Notes:
A. Speaking of the Patriots camp, DeVante Parker is listed as a second-team receiver. That can’t be why they traded for him, however Parker was among the many worst receivers getting separation the previous three years. His one massive yr got here when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw soar balls to him. He can get these. The query is if you’d like a one-trick receiver like that.
B. Which workforce goes to signal former Cleveland middle JC Tretter?
C. Tackle Mekhi Becton struggling an damage to the knee that knocked him out final season is in regards to the worst information the New York Jets might have in August.
10. A reminder: The enjoyable a part of the summer time is younger gamers at taking developmental steps. That’s why hope and optimism bloom throughout nearly each workforce proper now. Mike McDaniel has performed an important job of adjusting the texture round this workforce into certainly one of that hope and optimism. But with the mixed observe in Tampa and preseason, we’ll begin to get a greater image of the steps some gamers have taken.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com