Here are 10 observations from the primary two weeks of Miami Dolphins coaching camp:
1. The linebackers had been essentially 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 beneficial. This may very well be a type of unsure signings that turns into huge on reflection. 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. Roquan Smith is asking the Chicago Bears to commerce him, and each workforce within the league will kick the tires of a deal. He’s 25, a flexible linebacker and second-team All-Pro final 12 months. Those type of gamers don’t come in the marketplace fairly often. They’re costly, too. The Dolphins are up in opposition to the cap subsequent 12 months, however these kind of issues may be massaged into working. Compensation? That’s the place it will get tough. The Dolphins despatched numerous picks for Tyreek Hill and misplaced a future first- and third-rounder because of their tampering penalty. They may use an impactful linebacker like this – who couldn’t? But assembling sufficient assets for a commerce of this magnitude can be problematic.
3. A follow-up relating to the Dolphins’ penalty 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 may perceive Kraft’s anger at realizing Dolphins owner-in-waiting Bruce Beale recruiting Brady throughout his ultimate Patriots 12 months 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 12 months isn’t a staggering penalty. Why? Because each workforce tampers. The league needed to be involved with a flood of circumstances. Of course, none appear to do it as brazenly because the Dolphins on this occasion.
B. The league supply additionally supplied what he says is a “league-wide belief:” The truth Don Yee was the agent of each Brady and Payton says he informed 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 underneath contract talks with a workforce? Is that allowed?
4. 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?
5. If the Dolphins even get something in a commerce for Preston Williams, GM Chris Grier is the early chief for govt of the 12 months. Is there actually a marketplace for a participant who went undrafted, has performed half the video games in three years because of harm 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 …
6. It’s an announcement of how skinny this Dolphins receiving corps is. Remember when GM Jeff Ireland stated on HBO’s Hard Knocks he has, “fours, fives and sixes,” in his receiving group however wanted to seek out some “ones, twos and threes?” It’s in regards to the reverse concern 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 seems like a participant you need on the apply squad to develop. But then? What to think about Lynn Bowden Jr., River Cracraft and Trent Sherfield? A workforce typcially has a particular groups large receiver and that may very well be Cracraft. Let’s bear in mind there’s been no hitting of receivers simply but so that they’re usually overrated in summer season exercises.
7. The top-end expertise and good camp work of this roster is obvious and commendable. The depth of this roster is the priority — simply as it’s in lots of groups. The healthiest workforce typically 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 nearly as good a unit as any workforce. Nik Needham is a strong third cornerback. But after that? Noah Igbinoghene is listed because the fourth cornerback and he couldn’t get on the sector his first two years. Has he improved that a lot? The saying in soccer is you may by no means have sufficient offensive tackles and cornerbacks. The Dolphins should be searching for cornerbacks, simply as many groups are.
8. The three gamers the Dolphins can’t lose this season: Hill, cornerback Xavien Howard and left deal with Terron Armstead. Hill is essentially 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 deal with Austin Jackson and left guard Liam Eichenberg.
9. That stated, bear in mind when the Dolphins consistently juggled gamers throughout the offensive line all final coaching camp? Eichenberg began at proper deal with, moved to protect, then had time at left deal with. His head needed to be spinning. This teaching workers made choices on the place to place gamers and is letting the gamers sink or swim in these positions all summer season. 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 probability to succeed.
10. 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 huge 12 months got here when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw leap 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 harm to the knee that knocked him out final season is in regards to the worst information the New York Jets may have in August.
D. The enjoyable a part of the summer season is younger gamers at taking developmental steps. That’s why hope and optimism bloom throughout virtually each workforce proper now. Mike McDaniel has executed an incredible job of adjusting the texture round this workforce into certainly one of that hope and optimism. But with the mixed apply 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