The first week of coaching camp is within the books, and the Mike McDaniel period of the Miami Dolphins franchise started about as easily because it may have probably gone.
The offense showcased itself in opposition to a vanilla-look protection in Saturday’s apply, which was open to the general public, and that’s precisely what the followers wanted to see to inject some hope into this season.
Here are some extra takeaways from the Dolphins’ first week of coaching camp:
Tyreek Hill has uncommon, game-changing velocity
I’ve by no means seen anybody with Hill’s mixture of velocity and quickness in all my years. He’s the quickest participant on a soccer discipline I’ve ever seen — and it isn’t even shut. That explains why he’s been a Pro Bowler yearly he’s been within the league (six), and signifies that his $30 million-a-year contract, and the treasure chest of draft picks Miami gave Kansas City to get him was properly price it as a result of there isn’t a participant within the NFL who can shut him down for 50 snaps a sport. At some level Hill’s going to be 30 yards downfield wide-open a few performs a sport.
Tailback is Miami’s deepest place
Miami’s backfield is so deep due to the offseason additions that introduced Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert and Sony Michel there’s an opportunity Myles Gaskin, the starter for the previous two years, won’t make this 53-man regular-season roster. We’ll know extra when the pads come on, and Miami begins their joint practices, however the Dolphins have a gifted secure of backs who every deliver one thing totally different to the desk. Collectively, they may ship a top-10 dashing assault if the rebuilt offensive line can do their half.
Tua Tagovailoa can throw the deep ball
Tagovailoa doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, however there’s simply sufficient juice in it for the third-year starter to throw the soccer 40 to 50-yards downfield with accuracy. With the kind of velocity Miami has at receiver the specter of the deep ball has the potential to open the sector for everybody on an every-down foundation.
Mike McDaniel’s offensive is inventive
I’m an enormous fan of the West Coast, play-action primarily based offense McDaniel has grown up in, and helped run at everybody of his NFL stops. Watching a few of these installs, and the creativity he’s showcased early with motion and shifts, has me inspired that Miami would possibly truly be a top-15 unit on the subject of offensive manufacturing.
Jaylen Waddle is working higher routes
One of essentially the most head-scratching selections from 2021 was turning Waddle right into a slot receiver. While that shift helped him set a rookie report for receptions in a season, it negates his velocity. He’s working extra as a flanker as of late, and is working extra routes downfield. It’s clear that this offense is best suited to his talent set, and due to this fact his yards-per-catch common ought to rise.
Depth at cornerback is regarding
Nik Needham, Noah Igbinoghene, and Trill Williams don’t have the velocity to cowl Hill or Waddle. Few gamers within the NFL do, however it’s not a superb signal that they’re dropping so many reps each day. What occurs to Miami’s secondary if Xavien Howard or Byron Jones are compelled to overlook video games this season? Who is the backup nickel cornerback if the Dolphins are compelled to play Needham on the boundary? The Dolphins want to handle the troublesome depth at cornerback earlier than the season begins.
Struggling linemen settling in
With Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson settling into their new spots at left guard and proper sort out, the Dolphins offensive line is seemingly taking form. But it’s arduous to judge that unit with out pads, which comes on Tuesday for the primary time. The joint practices in opposition to Kacy Rodgers’ Tampa Bay defensive position subsequent week will inform us much more.
Tight ends have had a quiet begin to camp
This might be an overreaction as a result of Miami may have used the primary week of camp to work on particular stuff, however the tight finish place has been invisible. Outside of a handful of catches per day, Mike Gesicki and firm haven’t accomplished a lot. Maybe the protection has accomplished a superb job from a protection standpoint. And possibly issues change when the Dolphins start engaged on red-zone and goal-line performs. But that is undoubtedly one thing to observe transferring ahead.
Tackle depth is regarding
Either Jaelan Phillips goes to be a beast in his second season, or the Dolphins want to seek out some higher reserve tackles. With Terron Armstead on a veteran relaxation program that has his apply reps restricted, the previous UM standout has been beating up on Greg Little and Larnel Coleman frequently. At this level, if Armstead is compelled to take a seat out a sport or two Miami will doubtless be compelled to maneuver one other starter to left sort out.
Veteran relaxation program is a sensible strategy
McDaniel comes from a tree of coaches that give respect to veteran gamers, making certain they protect their our bodies for video games. That’s why Howard, Emmanuel Ogbah, Elandon Roberts and others, who aren’t coming off an harm, frequently have their snap counts restricted throughout every day practices. And it’s why the gamers recovering accidents like Armstead, Mostert and Melvin Ingram are training each different day. The objective is to have them wholesome for the season, when it counts.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com