GARDENS IN MIAMI Relatively few people showed out for Saturday’s first training camp exercise that was open to the public. Maybe it’s because this season starts at 9 a.m. instead of around 10:40 a.m. like prior years.
A portion of South Florida’s heat and humidity can be avoided thanks to the earlier start time.
The audience was excited to see its Miami Dolphins for the first time this year, though.
Early in practice, CB Kader Kohou appeared to have suffered a right leg injury while defending wide receiver Tyreek Hill in a one-on-one exercise. Kohou fell to the ground as Hill took a left turn on an intermediate route. After receiving brief medical attention on the sidelines, he cautiously left the field. His limp was nearly gone by the time he arrived at the team facilities, which was roughly 100 yards away.
The Dolphins haven’t done any goalline or red zone work yet. Additionally, compared to other training camps, the Dolphins haven’t thrown as many long passes at this point. Bobby Slowik, the recently hired senior pass game coordinator, may be responsible for this. There have been more short or intermediate pass plays.
S. Minkah Fitzpatrick and rookie CB Jason Marshall scored the defense’s first two interceptions in training camp. After being slow during the summer, the secondary, led by S Minkah Fitzpatrick and sans Kohou, was respectable overall.
Quarterbacks had a good day. As usual, Tua Tagovailoa was effective. Overall, Zach Wilson had a nice day, throwing an interception. Quinn Ewers was productive despite throwing an interception on Saturday after shining on Friday.
Despite not going deep, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who had been quiet throughout the first three days of training camp, had his busiest day. Early in practice, Kohou lost a one-on-one drill to Hill’s speed.
Jonah Savaiinaea, a rookie guard with the Dolphins, was a member of the pre-practice hype squad, which welcomes and excites supporters. To further amuse and excite the crowd, rookie offensive lineman Josh Priebe and Addison West performed an amazing wrestling maneuver. Typically, the pre-practice hype squad is made up of rookies.
OT Bayron Matos (upper shoulder injury), TE Jaylin Conyers (unknown), S Dante Trader Jr. (unknown), and C Aaron Brewer (lower extremity soft tissue condition) did not participate in Saturday’s practice.
TE Brewer On the side, physically incapable performers S Iffy Melinfonwu and Darren Waller were observed training with trainers.
The crowd cheered as CB Jack Jones, the recently signed veteran, effectively guarded wide receiver Tank Black in a one-on-one drill.
Over CB Jason Marshall Jr. and in front of a safety, quarterback Zach Wilson fired a perfectly positioned 20-yard pass to wide receiver Dee Eskridge. Later, Wilson tossed a dart to wide receiver Andrew Armstrong. Wilson has been reliable and is unquestionably the number two pick behind starter Tua Tagovailoa.
The other free safeties don’t play as deep as S Minkah Fitzpatrick.
In 11-on-11s, RG Kion Smith replaced RG James Daniels and played a significant number of snaps with the starting squad. Daniels has progressed gradually with the Dolphins as he heals from the Achilles injury that kept him from playing in four games with Pittsburgh the previous season.
Hill was in the slot when ILB Willie Gay Jr. knocked away a Tagovailoa pass meant for him. The play most likely would have made a significant profit. Gay has been outstanding during the summer, and the ILBs have had a successful season overall.
Wilson was tricked by Fitzpatrick into passing deep to wide receiver Tahj Washington. Slowly drifting across, Fitzpatrick grabbed the pass, which may have been slightly overthrown. Fitzpatrick played with skill.
DT rookie During Tagovailoa, Kenneth Grant was sacked. Daniels didn’t know who to block, so Grant and Gay both went around him. The defense made a wise decision.
K. Halfway through practice, Jason Sanders made field goals from 33, 35, 38, 40, 45, and 47 yards, going 6-for-6. The holder of each was a punter named Ryan Stonehouse. During the next special teams practice, punting duties were performed by fellow punter Jake Bailey.
Given his recent track record of fielding punts, Hill may be used more often in that capacity by the Dolphins under new special teams coach Craig Aukerman. In past years, the Dolphins have been reluctant to use Hill as a punt returner due to the possibility of injuries. WRs Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, A.J. Henning, and Monaray Baldwin were among the other punt returners.
A Wilson ball to Tahj Washington was broken up by CB Cornell Armstrong, who was signed on Thursday. On Saturday, the CBs produced more plays than they had throughout the three days prior.
Quinn Ewers’ pass was intercepted by CB Jason Marshall. Marshall leaped high and grabbed the pass out of the air with his back. It was among the finest CB plays of the season.
There were fewer offensive pre-snap penalties. Only two were present. The offense did not receive a single pre-snap penalty on Saturday, despite receiving multiple flags on each of the preceding days.
Late in practice, wide receiver Tarik Black hobbled off the field.
The Dolphins started giving out orange jerseys to their fans, signifying that the player of the day wears one at the next practice.
Stock up: Secondary. Fitzpatrick and Marshall both made really athletic interceptions on Saturday, the Dolphins’ first two of training camp. Given that the Dolphins had only 10 interceptions, which placed them 23rd in the league, and a minus-5 turnover differential the previous season, the interceptions were much needed.
Pass rush: Stock down. The offensive line tightened up on Saturday and reduced the effectiveness of the pass rush after recording multiple sacks over the previous three days, primarily by edge rushers.
