Training camp reports and notes

Alfredo Arteaga wrote:Day 3 of camp, and the intrigue has just begun. Xavien Howard stretches,then leaves the field. Then returns. Then is seen all smiles with Jason McCourty. Then watches practice. Does a little coaching. Then it is revealed he has a “minor” injury. Exhausting. Moving On!

Tua Tagovailoa. This was a good day. A Strike to Gesicki in traffic, a well placed wheel route for Savon Ahmed for a huge play. Another 65 yard touchdown on a deep corner route to Albert Wilson. Tua Tagovailoa was really sharp today. His Red Zone install work was also very good with very few negative plays. He had very good chemistry with Myles Gaskin on option routes, and those two were a terror near the goal line. This was likely his best practice of the last two training camps.

Byron Jones. Tua Tagovailoa tested Jones on a 9 route with Jaylen Waddle,and the ball was on the money. But so was Byron. Pass break up. With McCourty floating around different units, and Xavien Howard being wherever Xavien Howard is, Byron Jones exhibited great leadership on the field on this day. His play was also a standout on a day where the offense seemed to have a step on the defense. How quickly people forget that at the time of signing, most football people thought Byron Jones was a better cornerback than Howard. He might have to prove that once again.

Albert Wilson. Ok, I might have been wrong. Any thoughts/takes about Albert Wilson possibly being cut are quickly evaporating. With the absence of DeVante Parker (PUP, but he was out there today), and whatever physical issue Will Fuller is dealing with, it has been Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, and rookie Jaylen Waddle to the rescue. Albert Wilson has also started a streak. Wilson has consecutive practices with 65 yard touchdowns on deep routes. Today’s on a deep corner route, that he ran in for a TD and then emphatically spiked the ball. Tua and Albert have a connection early on, and it doesn’t look like it will go away anytime soon. Oh, did I mention, he almost had two 60+ yard TD’s today?

Shaquem Griffin. What a breath of fresh air. Huge smile, giddy while answering questions, and will crack a joke or two. His availability with the media was a hit today, but his play is getting notice. He plays fast, fires off the edge like a shot, and has shown an ability to get into his zone in pass coverage with the kind of ease that only Jerome Baker usually displays. He looks the complete football player, they will find a role for. Some good special teams play in the preseason could land him a roster spot, as Griffin has a very useful look to him. Arrow up. Excited to see him in pads come Tuesday.

Mike Gesicki. Enough with Hunter Long already. Maybe Mike Gesicki feels the same way? He sure showed up today, stretching the field deep down the middle, hauling in a tight pass from Tua Tagovailoa for a big gain. He also made a good attempt on another pass where Tua led him too much toward the boundary. Gesicki was looking dangerous today, and reminded all, that he won’t lose his grip on targets anytime soon. Big standout day for Mike. After practice, he also took some extra work on the Juggs machine, as he caught 50 balls from each side (left, right). Welcome to training camp Mike Gesicki.

Practice MVP: Tua Tagovailoa
Struggled: WR Unit (health)

CarsonChris wrote:Wondering how Eichenberg is looking?

For Jaelan Phillips, that moment was how he steamrolled past fellow rookie Liam Eichenberg to get pressure on Tagovailoa...

Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
Gerald Alexander has these Dolphins DBs looking like a well-oiled machine. Working on a drill to communicate who goes where against trips/stacks/bunches (things that create natural rubs), I didn't see a single instance of a receiver getting left alone.
10:55 AM · Jul 30, 2021

CarsonChris wrote:Hunt was solid at RT last year. I feel like finding a guard would have been easier than finding another tackle.

JMP wrote:

CarsonChris wrote:Hunt was solid at RT last year. I feel like finding a guard would have been easier than finding another tackle.

Yep.  I know a lot of people wanted Hunt to move to guard, but I thought he did really well at RT.  I would have preferred to add a guard and keep him at T.  But I do think Eichenberg can be a helluva player.  That right side could be SICK if both of these dudes develop.

Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
Now Jakeem Grant pulls in a 9 route from Tua. Igbinoghene was right there but the ball descends over Jakeem's shoulder who makes the grab with the traffic and going to the ground. Dolphins QBs are throwing a high percentage on balls traveling 50 yards in the air.
11:36 AM · Jul 30, 2021

Jacob Meshel
@fins_dynasty
Early on in practice update: Tua looks strong. Completing a corner to Waddle, A chunk play to Robert Foster, and an across-the-body throw to Jakeem Grant.
11:36 AM · Jul 30, 2021

Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
Nik Needham comes off his man to jump a route, nearly grabs the pick but get the PBU off Tua. Needham's making at least one big play a day so far.
11:40 AM · Jul 30, 2021

mercury22nathan wrote:

JMP wrote:

CarsonChris wrote:Hunt was solid at RT last year. I feel like finding a guard would have been easier than finding another tackle.

Yep.  I know a lot of people wanted Hunt to move to guard, but I thought he did really well at RT.  I would have preferred to add a guard and keep him at T.  But I do think Eichenberg can be a helluva player.  That right side could be SICK if both of these dudes develop.

so yea, i initially wondered about this too.  Hunt was a fine RT last year.  but the idea is that he can be more than fine as OG - perhaps Pro Bowl worthy (we'll see - he does have the ability).  so the long range chance at having a Pro Bowl guard and risking finding another fine RT was greater for the Phins than knowing they had a fine RT in Hunt (i think he would have improved) and inserting a fine OG...and being just fine.  i think the icing on the cake was that Tua being a lefty gave them the idea they could move Hunt to OG (where he will hopefully excel as a mauler) and find an OT with a little more vertical kick slide mobility...and that is hopefully what they have in Echenburg.  he's just going to need at least a year to develop NFL strength.  that's my two cents anyways.

Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
Tua breaks the pocket and throws to the back of the end zone for Jakeem Grant, who elevates, taps the toes for the TD – hell of a catch.
12:03 PM · Jul 30, 2021

David Furones
@DavidFurones_
Red-zone drills: Tua rolls left, throws to the back corner of the end zone... Jakeem Grant makes a leaping catch and comes down with feet inbounds for the TD. Nik Needham seemed to lose him in coverage.
12:04 PM · Jul 30, 2021

JMP wrote:Jakeem Grant flashed today - fighting for his Dolphins life!

DolFan 316 wrote:

JMP wrote:Jakeem Grant flashed today - fighting for his Dolphins life!

Wait...you're HAPPY about this now?!?!

Okay, who is this and what have you done to the real Jmp?

Michael Deiter is the starting center. To this point, he’s clearly ahead of Matt Skura and Cameron Tom in the battle for a starting job.

The rest of the first-team offensive line Saturday: Austin Jackson at left tackle, Liam Eichenberg at left guard, Robert Hunt at right guard and Jesse Davis at right tackle.

Omar Kelly
@OmarKelly
“Position flexibility is important and when you get to a game and you only have 8 offensive linemen and something happens you need to be ready to move guys to a different spot,” Flores on Liam Eichenberg at LG late last week.

Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
DeVante Parker covered on the end line, doesn’t matter – Tua throws high and Parker pulls it down and taps the toes – just another 50-50 ball made to be an 80-20 ball by Parker
10:49 AM · Aug 2, 2021

Liam Eichenberg played left guard for a second practice in a row after spending the entire offseason program and first few days of camp at right tackle. There are mixed views internally about where he would be better.

mercury22nathan wrote:

Liam Eichenberg played left guard for a second practice in a row after spending the entire offseason program and first few days of camp at right tackle. There are mixed views internally about where he would be better.

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article253192118.html

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
Update on Eagles’ first-round pick DeVonta Smith: He is expected to miss two to three weeks with a sprained MCL, per sources. Smith underwent an MRI on Sunday that revealed the injury.
11:09 AM · Aug 2, 2021