Unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, the above image is more representative of Jalen Ramsey than him actually being in a Miami Dolphins uniform on a Gameday Sunday. Ramsey went down in practice holding his knee, and it’s clear it’s the meniscus. What’s not perfectly clear is how bad the damage is, and how complex the surgery will be. Apparently there are two ways this can go. If the damage isn’t too sever, they may be able to trim the ligament and tighten it up. That’s the best case scenario. This would have Ramsey back in about 8 weeks from today, meaning he’d only miss a few weeks of the season, maybe the first quarter. The reality though is that it’s more likely they will have to fully repair the meniscus, which would mean Ramsey will miss the majority of the season, and at best, could return some time in December.
Well, many of us scratched our head when the Dolphins selected CB with the 51st pick (RD 2) in the 2023 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. Now that move looks brilliant, and he may be leaned on to have some serious playing time. He’s currently #2 on the depth chart at LCB behind Xavien Howard. This injury may change all that. Smith won’t be thrust into the position without earning it though. Last year’s UDFA rookie CB Kader Kohou and Keion Crossen, as well as Trill Williams will be in the mix. There’s also potential for a trade or vet signing. Kohou who was slotted for Nickel back rose to every challenge, much like Nik Needham did in previous seasons. Needham is coming off an injury of his own, and we may need him back quicker than expected due to this injury. Needham is currently on the PUP list, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be available for the season’s start.
We know the defense is in good hands with Vic Fangio at the helm of Defensive Coordinator. This defense will still be formidable without Jalen Ramsey, but Ramsey could have elevated it to special. As always in this sport, it’s next man up, so either the rookie Cam Smith will have to bite quicker than expected, or someone else will have to step up. We’ll know later today the severity of the injury for Jalen Ramsey and his prognosis going forward. I’m not optimistic, I prefer to be realistic and assume he’s either done for the season, or potentially available to make a very late season push. Even in the latter scenario, it’s not like you can just expect him to hit the field in December like nothing happened. The realist (pessimist?) in me is expecting the worst possible news and we may just have to add another DB to the mix. I hope I’m wrong and for once, we catch a break and Ramsey will be fine to play in October. Fingers crossed!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Eli Apple puts our roster at 90. What ever he is getting paid minus $1,010,000 will be his cap hit.
His contract with the Bengals was not that high so won’t be much of an impact.
PT
https://sports.yahoo.com/von-achane-impressing-early-dolphins-205926258.html
There seems to be a lot of buzz about the Dolphins going back to their original uniforms. Anyone know if this is really happening?
You mean the “66 unis?
Aren’t the throwbacks the original?
I only saw they announced 2 games that will have the good unis…
Yeah I saw that too, one white and one aqua.
We’ve had the ’66 throwbacks, the ’72 throwbacks, and I think another one too, not sure which year though.
Any of the throwbacks are better than our current uni in my opinion
Yeah I like them better too. When they first wore the throwbacks I was sold.
I think Ajayi was having his big season.
I like the orange alternates. Some big games wearing those.
I say any throwback as regular then orange alternates. Lol
I always really liked the all dark aqua unis Ricky wore. Those were mean looking unis
I posted earlier an article about Achane and he’s been impressive as a receiver and even worked with the WR group.
Read that. I can see him following the same career path as Tyreek. Came out of college as a RB then in first season transitioned to WR. I think it would be a slower process for Achane with our depth at WR but could see it when Hill calls it quits.
I think we’ll see him in the backfield too. He’s a multi weapon.
ElephantRider says:
July 30, 2023 at 7:42 pm
I like the orange alternates. Some big games wearing those.
I say any throwback as regular then orange alternates…
———–
100% agreed. I LOVE those orange alts.
Tim Knight says:
July 30, 2023 at 8:04 pm
I posted earlier an article about Achane and he’s been impressive as a receiver and even worked with the WR group.
———
Yup! That’s Devon Archer! I hear the zebras are trying to keep him on the sidelines, too! 😉
Where’s Walker when ya need him… he’d understand.
I broke news last night on here (coded), and validated today.
We should throw back to Zachs rookie season uni
That would be a very noble nod… I approve.
It’s very early, but I’m very intrigued about the backup QB position to Tua. Seems Skylar has grown by leaps and bounds, yet White seems to have some physical upside.
By the way (in case y’all didn’t already know)… pads come on tomorrow.
Cool!
YUP!!!
I’m really looking forward to the battle between Austin Jackson and Isaiah Wynn (<– who just came off PUP) for the RT position.
Yeah we need those guys to step up. Eichenberg and Feeney might be a good battle at LG as well.
Tim Knight says:
July 30, 2023 at 1:42 am
I think the vision for the OL this year is…
LT Armstead
LG Eichenberg/Feeney
OC Williams
RG Hunt
RT Jackson/Wynn
OT Lamm depth…
————
I concur. And it should be imperative to find the right guy to fill in for Armstead, too.
Perhaps it’s Jackson, perhaps it’s Lamm… but whoever it is, we need to identify that cat ASAP, IMO.
I think that will be Wynn or Lamm.
Robert Jones could be in the mix at LG too.
I think it is going to be Lamm
I’m hearing a LOT of good stuff about Lamm this camp.
We also brought in Ogbuehi.
Mitchell Agude is a UDFA who has impressed as a LB/Edge.
That’s not going to go over well with Taylor. How can they call that an old injury with what he’s done for them?
I was thinking the same thing. Wow…
Jim Irsay is a real colt jackass.
That was supposed to read as “a real
Coltjackass.I was looking at our roster and we’re a pretty deep team overall. Lots of competition at a lot of positions.
Just me…
— I still think we’re an injury (or two) away from either injury-prone Mostert and Wilson, needing another RB (Achane is a rook)
— I still think we’re one injury away on the interior D-Line, so as to become mediocre
Aside from that, I think we’re looking very good and without question. Even with Ramsey not coming back until December at the earliest, I think we can hold it down with our depth.
It’s hard to have superior depth everywhere. All teams have the same issues at some positions. Even the top teams in recent years can’t afford to lose certain players.
OFFICIAL… Dalvin Cook left the stej without signing their contract offer
He wants to be in Miami. But that doesn’t mean it will happen.
Sean Payton better win in Denver based on his comments towards Nathaniel Hackett. Wow!!!!
Practice 4: 2023 Miami Dolphins Training Camp Notebook
Jul 30, 2023 at 06:00 PM
Travis Wingfield
Three Takeaways
Practice 4: 2023 Miami Dolphins Training Camp Notebook
Jul 30, 2023 at
What more could a Dolphins fan want? Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas with the pre-practice hype speech. Mike White dialing up Jaylen Waddle for 40-plus yards early in the team period, and Tua Tagovailoa with the home run ball for a 75-yard score to Tyreek Hill.
A fun day celebrating Zach Thomas and the return of the football season – here are the highlights:
Practice 4 July 30, 2023
Top Moment
Last summer’s camp provided foreshadowing of two wide receivers who would scratch the surface of the NFL record books. Before Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle became the third tandem in league history to record more than 3,000 receiving yards, they made play-after-play under the scorching South Florida summer sun.
Sunday was more of the same. It started with an over-the-shoulder grab from Waddle off the hand of quarterback Mike White.
“(Waddle) is unbelievable,” White said. “The one thing with (Hill and Waddle) is there’s no outthrowing them. So you can throw it as far as you can and they will get it. Waddle showed what he’s so good at is tracking the ball and making contested catches.”
The fun continued a few plays later when Tua Tagovailoa dialed up the Dolphins all-time single-season receiving leader for a 75-yard touchdown toss.
Top Quote:
The fans, they pretty much fuel me. That love, I am not going to lie. I read some of their comments. It’s pretty cool comments, the love that they have for me.
Dolphins HOF LB Zach Thomas on Dolphins fans
Zach Thomas fought back tears when recounting the support of Dolphins fans over the last 25-or-so years. The relentless social media push to get one of the greatest of all-time into the Hall of Fame was not lost on the tackling machine from Pampa, Texas.
When it was time to face those fans and address them ahead of practice, Zach threw on his game face.
Tagovailoa dazzled on this day with a handful of touchdown passes. He showcased his arm-talent with a variety of throws varying in degree of difficulty. He was dropping dimes on deep shots in the one-on-one period, he was laying touch throws in the red zone, and driving fast balls into tight coverage. QB1 had everything working on this Sunday.
So did Jaelan Phillips, who produced sack, run-stuff and pass break up production in his work during team drills.
Jevon Holland and Kader Kohou demonstrated tight coverage on a day where the offense was in its bag. Holland continues to process and drive on passes in front of him to the tune of a handful of pass breakups. Kohou’s matchup with Hill during one-on-ones was must-see action. He confidently matched the Cheetah and traded catches and incompletions with the All-Pro.
Tagovailoa dazzled on this day with a handful of touchdown passes. He showcased his arm-talent with a variety of throws varying in degree of difficulty. He was dropping dimes on deep shots in the one-on-one period, he was laying touch throws in the red zone, and driving fast balls into tight coverage. QB1 had everything working on this Sunday.
So did Jaelan Phillips, who produced sack, run-stuff and pass break up production in his work during team drills.
Jevon Holland and Kader Kohou demonstrated tight coverage on a day where the offense was in its bag. Holland continues to process and drive on passes in front of him to the tune of a handful of pass breakups. Kohou’s matchup with Hill during one-on-ones was must-see action. He confidently matched the Cheetah and traded catches and incompletions with the All-Pro.
Social Roundup
For more analysis on Dolphins training camp, download the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield – available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Sorry. Tried to post Zach Thomas video…it’s somewhere in there…lol
Kelly: Takeaways from Dolphins Training Camp (Practice 4)
Here’s a look at five takeaways from Omar Kelly after watching the Miami Dolphins’ fourth practice
OMAR KELLY11 HOURS AGO
Sunday’s practice was a perfect example of the back and forth that should take place on a football team during training camp.
On Friday, the Miami Dolphins defense embarrassed the offense, taking them to the woodshed with a 12-sack performance that was a failure across the board.
On Sunday, a day after Saturday’s break, the Dolphins offense delivered on two deep passes, and scored at will in the early red zone periods.
The performance, which was the team’s first in front of fans, wasn’t clean. Miami’s offense struggled some during the final red zone session, but it showed there’s give and take.
I’ve covered plenty of Dolphins teams where there was only take, with rare exceptions of the offense giving it to the defense.
McDaniel’s team hasn’t been dominated by one side of the ball during practice so far.
In fairness to the defense, this was Miami’s first practice in front of fans, and the organization is wise enough to not show too much, and give the fans what they want.
We didn’t see any blitzes like the defense showered the offense with Friday. But I did see a couple of zone beaters, which are plays McDaniel and other NFL play-callers will call to beat Vic Fangio’s cloud coverage zone.
Speaking of Fangio, he’s the focal point of my first takeaway from Sunday’s practice.
1. Fangio’s defense is complex
I’ve watched football practices on a college and professional level every year of my life since 1997 and have seen just about every offense and defense there is except one.
I’ve never seen anything like Fangio’s scheme. While some teams might run zone every once in a while, I can’t remember one where it is their base, and everything else is built off it.
I’ve covered 3-4 schemes before, but none like what Fangio is seemingly building in Miami.
My point? Every day I’m seeing something I’ve never seen, and learning something about football. I’ve actually consulted outside coaches (friends) I know to explain things coverage wise to me.
Fangio’s scheme is complex, and the beauty of it is that everything looks the same, but it isn’t. If what I’m seeing sticks, the Dolphins are going to force plenty of quarterbacks to make mistakes.
That explains why Fangio’s defenses — either as a head coach or defensive coordinator — typically lead the NFL in turnovers created. Interestingly, the Dolphins offense has committed only two turnovers since camp started, and only one of them was an interception.
My take away…..”and the beauty of it is that everything looks the same, but it isn’t. If what I’m seeing sticks, the Dolphins are going to force plenty of quarterbacks to make mistakes.”
2. De’Von Achane shines on red zone run
The former Texas A&M standout produced what I’d consider his first impressive run of training camp when he outsprinted the entire defense and squeezed into the end zone for his first touchdown run on a 11-on-11 drive that started inside the 7-yard line.
It was a left side run that illustrated that 4.32 speed, and will clearly motivate Miami’s coaches to give Achane a test drive in the goal-line packages.
After practice, Achane talked about how he’s taking things as they come during his rookie season. On deck will be his first padded practice, which is when the volume gets turned up on the sport’s physicality. I don’t know if it’s going to happen on day one of pads, or day two, but I’m anxiously anticipating LBer vs. RB 1-on-1 protection drills. That’s where we learn if Achane has what it takes to pass-protect in the NFL.
3. Is Liam Eichenberg O-line’s weakest link?
I watched one-on-one O-line vs. D-line drills closely Sunday and even though it was a non-padded practice, there was one player whose struggles caught my attention.
Every player wins reps, and every player loses reps. I become concerned when the losses drastically outweigh the wins. That was the case with Liam Eichenberg, the projected starting left guard. A couple of Dolphins defensive linemen put him on skates, pushing him deep into the make believe pocket.
I don’t expect Eichenberg to consistently win against Raekwon Davis or Christian Wilkins, but my hope is that he’d hold his own. That wasn’t the case Sunday.
Monday’s padded practice will provide a better evaluation, but at this point Eichenberg might hold the distinction of being the O-line’s weakest link.
That’s why it’s a good thing Isaiah Wynn has finally been cleared to practice.
4. Tight ends have been invisible
The Dolphins are seemingly de-emphasizing tight ends, and considering how many other weapons they have on the team, this is easy to justify.
However, I expected the group to show a pulse during a red zone day.
That wasn’t the case. They were all non-factors Sunday. In fact, at this rate, Alec Ingold might be playing 200 more snaps this season.
Ingold, who played 418 offensive snaps last year, has been killing it in practice. The 20-yard touchdown catch Ingold scored on the first 11-on-11 series for Tagovailoa was mostly run-after-catch yardage.
As for the tight end batch, Elijah Higgins moves a lot slower than I expected from a former Stanford receiver. Maybe he’s put on weight for his new role as a blocker, but the Dolphins’ 2022 sixth-round pick looked like he was wearing ankle weights during Sunday’s practice.
5. Dolphins shopping for cornerback-to-safety converts
Bobby McCain was the first Dolphins cornerback I ever saw be converted to safety. Miami saw his cornerback range, physicality as a nickel, and his overall intellect and felt he’d be the ideal free safety for Brian Flores’ defense.
And now the Dolphins have a couple of former cornerbacks being tested out as safeties.
Elijah Campbell was converted to safety last season. A similar conversion was supposedly on the agenda for Trill Williams, but hasn’t happened yet. And there’s another cornerback on the roster I witnessed playing safety Sunday. I won’t mention who because it would violate rules the Dolphins give reporters, but considering that player had previously shown he has a nose for the ball, I’m curious to see if this experiment sticks.
Zach Thomas Reflects on Career Ahead of 2023 HOF Enshrinement
Jul 30, 2023 at 05:45 PM
Carter Owen Headshot>>>>he looks like a baby….lol.
Carter Owen
Throughout his 12 seasons in a Dolphins uniform, linebacker Zach Thomas instilled fear in the hearts of opposing offenses, brought joy and smiles to the faces of Dolphins fans and set the standard for individual excellence amongst his peers in locker rooms.
Thomas returned to Miami Gardens Sunday morning on the first day fans were on-hand to take in 2023 Training Camp. He reflected on his career ahead of his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I am proud of getting here, for sure man,” he said. “It was a long road. I had to be patient. Good things take time. I never doubted myself when so many doubters were out there. But that was the best thing about it, it just helped motivate me to be my best. It gave me that chip on my shoulder.”
The Pampa, Texas native was just a fifth-round pick (154th overall) by Miami in the 1996 NFL Draft but quickly settled into a pivotal role in South Florida.
Thomas was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and was the team’s leading tackler (180). Thomas went on to lead the Dolphins in tackles from 1997-99, and 2001-06.
Not only does he attribute that success to his own grit and determination, he’s also thankful for the opportunity he got from his head coach, Jimmy Johnson.
“I was the 154th draft pick. Yeah, I was his guy, but still. To throw you in the mix before a game even starts? First game. That’s wild to me,” he said. “For him to throw me in from the get-go because I could’ve ended up anywhere else. I could’ve been in a 3-4, I could’ve been with one coach who didn’t believe in me and then I would’ve been a special teams guy trying to make the team on the fringe. Crazy how it plays out, isn’t it? That’s what I’m grateful for. So, it wasn’t just all hard work and none of that. It was just getting a little lucky, blessed, grateful to have a guy that believed in me.”
Johnson will be Thomas’ presenting speaker on Saturday during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
His enshrinement will be the final step in a long process. One that passionate, vocal Dolphins fans have played an integral part of.
“The fans, they pretty much fuel me,” he said with tears welling in his eyes. “That love, I am not going to lie, I read some of their comments. It’s pretty cool comments, the love that they have for me.”
When asked what part of the Hall of Fame selection process has stood out, Thomas looked to his family sitting in front of him.
“I think opening up the jacket when it came to the house with the kids. That was special,” he said.
Thomas was voted first-team All-Pro five times (1998-99, 2002-03, 2006), second-team All-Pro twice (2001, 2005), was selected to seven Pro Bowls (2000-04, 2006-07) and named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
But on Saturday, August 5, Thomas will receive the sport’s ultimate individual recognition: a bronze bust and a gold jacket.
Hopefully, that wasn’t a duplicate….
Transcript | Mike McDaniel’s Media Availability – July 28
Jul 28, 2023 at 03:00 PM
Dolphins Staff
MiamiDolphins.com
Read the full transcript from Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s press conference ahead of Day 3 of Training Camp on July 28, 2023.
(Opening Statement) – “I’m going to steal the floor for whoever is going to try to beat me to the punch. Obviously yesterday we had an injury with Jalen Ramsey at practice. It was a non-contact injury that was his meniscus. He is going to be having surgery at 1 o’clock today. The length of this rehabilitation is dictated on a couple things that could occur during the surgery. The exact timeline is to be determined. What I can tell you is I don’t think the beginning of the regular season is really a part of the scenario. It’s going to be into the season and how deep that is depends on what happens today. Realistically with the way the team had practiced, you don’t know with these kind of things, but what was the most amazing thing about the whole thing was the way Jalen responded. He spoke to the team yesterday and it really moved a lot of people. He first let everybody know how much he appreciated this team and how this team has accepted him. He’s been in the league for a little bit and he knows what we’re doing here and his opinion is special for his position group not to waver, and exuded all the confidence he has in that position group. One of the things that he said that was real cool for everybody was he told all his teammates not to worry, not to feel sorry for him. He’s going on whatever timeline the doctors give him. He’s going after that timeline and trying to flex that he’ll beat it. He realistically couldn’t be more committed and excited to join the team again this year, whenever that is. It isn’t really up to him and he knows that, but adversity is not really an issue. It’s an opportunity for a lot of guys to come together and stand up. It was a team moment that was really put together by Jalen and that’s where it stands right now.”
continued from above…
(How do you feel about the cornerback depth that is on the roster right now?) – “I feel good about the entire crew. We are dealing with some injuries now in the group, but I feel very, very, very good about the competition there and the guys that are ready to go see some more opportunities. There’s Pro Bowlers and hungry young guys and everything in between. It will be outstanding work for us moving forward.”
(The other day we heard CB Xavian Howard point to CB Kader Kohou as his pick for a guy to make that next step this year. What have you seen from him going from his rookie season to now in his second season with the Dolphins?) – “I see determination and hunger to build on what he’s really done. Kader is a prime example of seeking opportunity and every player is very aware of that. Last year we were sitting here talking about Byron Jones and my answer to you guys was not, ‘Oh yeah, Kader Kohou’. Keep in mind every single rep, every single day, which is what our whole team’s focus is, those things, the results of those, the development, the consistency and the growth, that determines who’s playing and who is excelling just like Kader showed. That’s why you breed competition, get as many quality players as you can, and then you let the chips fall as they decide, not as we look at a piece of paper and say, ‘Ok it’s that guy’.
(Had CB Jalen Ramsey express any discomfort with the knee up until yesterday?) – “No, absolutely not.”
(Wanted to clarify too, it looked like there was a collision with WR Tyreek Hill right around the time the injury happened, it was a non-contact injury?) – “The contact was after he had injured it. It was very clear.”
(It seems pretty smart in retrospect for the club to take a corner in the second round. What have you seen from CB Cam Smith and if it comes to it, what do you know about rookie corners starting in the NFL?) – “I know enough not to project where we’re going yet, especially this soon. It is a journey, and again we weren’t talking about Kader Kohou, who played outstanding as a rookie. I definitely know that he didn’t come up in this press conference a year ago. I have seen steps forward and steps back. I’ve seen a consistent human being that is earning the trust and respect of his teammates by how he’s approaching things professionally. Now what does that mean for how he’s playing? I don’t even really think about that. It’s more about intent and you build and stack those days so that you can ultimately have a decision, that you don’t prematurely decide ok he’s doing whatever. I’ve been happy with his daily investment and how he really has seen the pro’s around him and taken some notes and is learning lessons every day. Sometimes those are good lessons, sometimes those are bad.”
(You mentioned two outcomes from surgery. Can you speak to the likelihood of either and if maybe one is likely to be a longer route back?) – “To answer your question, no I cannot. The doctors will know the most information during the surgery and they’ll do the appropriate thing.”
(Were you able to get any sleep last night knowing that you have the depth at the defensive back position? Were you able to get any sleep last night?) – “Absolutely. Jalen (Ramsey) himself, to the team, said it best. This is a team. He’s a piece of the puzzle. I’m focused on a lot of players. If one player dictated the ultimate success or failure of this team, maybe you’d lose sleep over it. But a team is something that at the end of the year, your success or failure is determined on how you handle things such as this. Day two is a little early and unfortunate to happen to Jalen, for sure. But to sit here and think we are just going to coast through stuff without having anything happen is far from my philosophy. As a team, it’s a great opportunity to get their feet wet at something you have to master to have the season that you want, which is to take something that is unfortunate and our whole team, I could tell through the whole walkthrough after Jalen talked, our team was focused on making sure we do right by Jalen and be the best team that we can possibly be for when he gets back. It’s just one more added thing that can incentivize what we’re doing on a daily basis. I’m very focused on today, which means I have to sleep before today.”
Telling, imo….
(I see you talking, making it a point to talk to these guys, whether it’s CB Nik Needham or S Brandon Jones, just to talk to them one-on-one. How much mentally is that good for them also?) – “Human nature is real. When you’re a football player on a football field practicing football, what are you if you’re not practicing football? You’re a football player that is preparing mentally. But human beings are human beings, especially those guys that are putting in so much work and want to get back as quick as possible, I’m trying to communicate with them as much as possible how important they are to the team and not to lose focus on the opportunity they have right then. When you aren’t playing but observing, if you challenge yourself mentally you can really get things out of the situation. That’s what I’m challenging them to do. All of the guys on our team are pretty good guys and I don’t wish injuries upon anyone. I know how hard that is, so they’re good on their own. Like every single player, healthy or unhealthy on this team, I feel a responsibility to bring the best out of them.”
(Can you speak to the attention of this team, certainly since you’ve been here, to go out of your way and give guys an extra week or two to come back? It seems like you always error on the side of caution with injuries. With a guy like LB Jaelan Phillips, who has such expectations and excitement for the season, may want to get back sooner then he should.) – “Organizationally, that’s something that I am proud of. We, across the board, from the top down, involving all administrative positions, coaches, we prioritize what this is for each individual player. Very, very often, in a competitive setting when there are a lot of good players on the field, people will be irresponsible with themselves and press things too fast. As much as we can, players are depending on us to be experts at whatever we are. From a human being standpoint, when we know people are chomping at the bit, we want to make sure because we want to heal them. Our trainers want to get whatever is ailing them corrected, and we’re not willing to, at the cost of longevity, try to get something out of someone and ignore the negative consequences. I am very proud of that.”
(Are you going to look to add a cornerback in the next coming days?) – “We’ll probably have a workout. I’m very happy with our group. We’ll have a workout for depth purposes here in the near future.”
(You guys made the playoffs last year despite a lot of injuries. What did that tell you about your team’s depth and about your team’s mentality?) – “That’s exactly why I’m not losing sleep. You have to take what’s in front of you. I talked to the team a ton about this. There’s so much the world is telling us if you open your eyes and listen. That experience, that’s how we justify last season. Our goal was not to get to the playoffs and lose. That is unfortunate so you have a choice. Do you turn that into a failure or turn that into something that is a part of your future success? The only way you can do that is take what’s there and learn from it. Hey, guess what, injuries happen. That’s why our veterans in year two have taken a huge step of personally holding the young guys accountable. You really learn that you need everybody to win. If we hang our hats at an injury, what is that doing? No other team really cares. If I’m holding my breath for the Chargers and everybody else to shed a tear for us, I’ll be holding my breath. I think it’s an invaluable lesson, something that you can turn, like everything in life, you can turn a perceived negative into a positive if your mind is right and trying to attack today and not yesterday.”
Lol…
(I wanted to ask you about Dalvin Cook. He’s visiting the Jets and was on Good Morning Football this morning and openly campaigned to be a member of the Miami Dolphins. Where is this team’s level of interest in adding Dalvin Cook?) – “First and foremost, I’m extremely happy with our running back group. Extremely happy. I have great relationships with some very talented players. However, Dalvin Cook is a great player. I look at it like if it works on both sides, it makes sense for somebody. You’re adding a player to a team and an organization, and all the things they both need need to be met for it to work. He’s a free agent and he’s visiting the Jets. And that’s what I have to say.”
(How is the rest of the team?) – “It looks like if we build on yesterday, yesterday’s mistakes were purposeful. If we don’t, I don’t like where we are at. But it’s all about building on the last day. Every day you have mistakes, but if today is productive, it’s because people are learning and progressing while still competing.”
Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves
Jul 30, 2023 at 09:00 AM
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins announced they have signed cornerback Eli Apple and activated tackle Isaiah Wynn off the physically unable to perform list.
Apple enters his eighth NFL season having played in 88 career games with 78 starts for four teams – the N.Y. Giants (2016-18), New Orleans (2018-19), Carolina (2020) and Cincinnati (2021-22). He’s recorded 332 tackles (273 solo), five interceptions, 51 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. Apple started 30 games the past two seasons for Cincinnati, helping them win the AFC in 2021. He played collegiately at Ohio State where he won a CFP National Championship in 2015 before being selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Giants.
Wynn signed with Miami on May 15, 2023 after spending five years (2018-22) in New England. He’s played in 43 career games with 40 starts, including 33 at left tackle, six at right tackle and one at left guard. He also started a playoff contest in 2019. Wynn was originally a first-round pick (23rd overall) by New England in the 2018 NFL Draft following his collegiate career at Georgia.
Top performers Sunday
1. QB Tua Tagovailoa – Tagovailoa was surgical Sunday. He was carving up the Dolphins defense during every session in the practice that followed the embarrassing 12-sack performance the defense delivered Friday. It was touchdown after touchdown during Miami’s red zone work. That’s what you want to see from your quarterback. When adversity surfaces, your quarterback needs to respond to it. I’ve seen this consistently from Tagovailoa, so I’m not surprised. The only concern I have about Tagovailoa’s performance Sunday was that he held on to the ball too long during 11-on-11 red zone work inside the 7, which was the last team period, and took too many would-be sacks. I get it. It’s practice. But it’s OK to throw the ball away. Tagovailoa’s history of holding on to the ball too long, trying to make something happen, is how he’s usually gotten hurt playing football. It’s the lone criticism Alabama coach Nick Saban has had about Tagovailoa since his Crimson Tide days.
Stock down
WR Robbie Chosen
I named Chosen the Dolphins’ biggest offseason addition from the spring work out of everyone who practiced [Jalen Ramsey didn’t] because he delivered eye-opening catches. That kind of performance had me confident he’d become Miami’s No. 3 receiver. Boy, was I wrong. It’s time to put an APB out on Chosen because he’s been invisible since training camp started. I can recall him making one catch in the four practices the Dolphins have held. He’s sparingly getting reps, so maybe this has to do with a nagging injury. Maybe it’s a playbook issue. It’s super early, but at this point Chosen is forgotten, and if that doesn’t change he’s not going to be chosen for Miami’s 53-man roster.
Darth Kader won the orange jersey yesterday. I love diamonds in the rough!
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-nfls-top-10-clutch-qbs-no-surprise-at-no-1-tua-tagovailoa-high-on-list-jared-goff-makes-cut/
wait to you see where Tua ranks
Sigh, NOT SPAM
Welp, I was going to post some tweets, but apparently I am spam. Go find them yourselves….
I got one out of the spam folder, there’s another that looks like a duplicate?
yeah, I just stopped trying when I realized it was going to mess with me. Thank you though
nice to see some good being said about him for a change!
Eichenberg looks great until the games start
Aww, Pee-wee Herman died. I used to love watching Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.
RIP Paul Reubens.
RIP, Pee-Wee.
I never liked Pee-Wee Herman. I thought his show was stupid. Same category as Adam Sandler Make stupid faces, make stupid voices, think they are funny when they definitely are not.
He didn’t like you either!
Probably because I called him a doofas to his face.
I know you are but what am I!
Good to see
TEQUILA
🎶 🎶🎶
Twitter is very excited about Dalvin Cook leaving the jests without a deal
Also excited about Jonathan Taylor demanding a trade
TEQUILA
🎶🎶🎶🎶
McDaniel Jokey-joke
TEQUILA
🎶🎶🎶🎶
More Cam Smith excitement
Between Noah I being given 2nd chance number 104
Eli Apple getting a chance to play in the nfl
And this young rookie we have a few guys who are pretty motivated to make up for the loss of Jalen Ramsey
Also
TEQUILA
🎶🎶🎶🎶
What?
TEQUILA
🎶🎶🎶🎶
My Twitter app on my phone morphed into an X overnight.
Mine still says Twitter
You must be special
You say that as if you didn’t already know! 🤣
Rockphin says:
July 31, 2023 at 1:44 pm
I never liked Pee-Wee Herman. I thought his show was stupid. Same category as Adam Sandler Make stupid faces, make stupid voices, think they are funny when they definitely are not.
Reply
herdfan says:
July 31, 2023 at 2:06 pm
He didn’t like you either!
————–
😆
Reminds me of this… LOL!
https://twitter.com/theflyingpig44/status/1686079473794367519?s=21
44 is my lucky number
TEQUILA
🎶🎶🎶
RIP Paul Reubens aka Pee-wee Herman. I always thought he was funny but I like silly humor.
I was a pre-teen when Pee-Wee’s Playhouse first came out in the day. It certainly shaped my creativity and outside-the-box thinking. The show became insipid to me in short time as I hit my teens, but Pee-Wee left a positive and creative mark on me.
YES… I like silly humor as well! 🙂
And just as Pee-Wee’s show was being canceled in 1990, some guy named HUMPTY HUMP (Shock G) came around, with the same kind of silliness, creativity, and positive energy…
Only, it was a lot more grown-up and for mature audiences.
Miami allowed the highest passer rating of any playoff team (95.3) last year.
We were banged up in the secondary and our blitz scheme didn’t help that. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again.
The Dolphins allowed 23 touchdown passes with only one interception on throws 10 or fewer yards downfield in 2022. It was the worst ratio of any team in the NFL last season, and tied for the second worst by any team in the last 15 seasons.
Buzz kill. 😎
Will it be better this year? It is decidedly so.
I asked the magic 🎱
I’m exorcising my demons of depression about losing Ramsey.
Thanks for your scientific help.
I do NOT want to hear this about ANY of our players…
Colts Zack Moss RB broke his arm today … perhaps a home for Cook
They already don’t want to pay Jonathan Taylor
Fine maybe Zeke then 🤡.. is your fantasy team participating this year ??🤔
herdfan
4h ago
My Twitter app on my phone morphed into an X overnight.
So you are saying I should stop pushing on it to close the Twitter pics you guys post ??
Man, if Cam Smith can shorten the transition curve to the NFL and hold down the fort opposite X (not the former Twitter, Herd), we may be okay. I hate how no one mentions X having a down year was due to a Week 2 groom injury that lingered all year.
Jalen Ramsey motivated for quick return
Jalen Ramsey was initially given a December return timeline after undergoing a full meniscus repair this past Friday, but the Dolphins cornerback is trying to beat that expectation. Head coach Mike McDaniel kicked off Monday morning by announcing there was no additional damage found in Ramsey’s left knee and that he expects the three-time All-Pro to be 100% upon his return this season. McDaniel went on to share a conversation he had with the Ramsey this past weekend, saying the CB told him he’d beat any timeline by a month. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported on Inside Training Camp Live that Ramsey is already back in the building, indicating the 28-year-old’s motivation to make his Miami debut sooner rather than later. The Dolphins signed Eli Apple in the wake of Ramsey’s injury and are poised to be careful with their big trade acquisition this offseason. Ramsey’s impending return on its current timeline would be a boon for a Miami playoff run, but getting their might require a quicker rebound in a stacked AFC East division.
All sounds great but all depends on the medical opinions. I don’t want him hurting himself in a rush to get back
This really bothered me
😆
OMG HE DOES!
lol
Have you guys seen the videos of practice with Phillips and Chub hand fighting? They put their hand on the other guy and the other one breaks the grip / changes the leverage over and over in different forms fast over and over.
THAT is going to show. Bet me.
Saw that.
I thought Pee Wee Herman was funny. I’m disappointed Rock. I think maybe sometimes you’re too serious. His show was a little much, but the character itself was funny. Oh yeah, I love Adam Sandler movies too. Smile pal!
Sorry, Mike, but I agree with Rock. I couldn’t stand to watch the Pee Wee character for even 30 seconds. But then, I don’t really like any silly stuff.
I’ve only ever watched 1 Adam Sandler movie all the way through, and that was Murder Mystery, and that’s only because Jennifer Aniston was in it.
I don’t know, I’ve seen Waterboy and Happy Gilmore at least 5 times each. lol
I hate both those movies with a passion. Sandler plays the same retard (himself) in every film. I cannot stand Sandler or Martin Short, or Jim Carry (or the others who play stupid like they do)
Not a fan at all of the “silly” They make me angry not smile.
Today is my Moms 91 year birthday. We drove out to Cali Saturday to pick her up and she will stay with us until this Saturday. She’s been having a blast. Happy birthday Mom !! 🎂🐕
FYI.. This October it will be five years when we got the bad news during the fest that she had a major stroke and we almost lost her. Thank God I was around good friends to help us through the tough time.
Happy Birthday Doggy Mom!!!
Happy for you and your family!
Thanks BBM !
Happy birthday to Doggy’s mom.
Thanks Ken !!
91 wow … that’s great!
Happy BDay, Mrs. Dog!
Thanks Naples, I’ll let her know.
Happy Birthday to Phindog’s mama! 🎂 🎁
Thank You Herd !!
I am comfortable with Kohou taking CB2 and Cam Smith at CB3. I don’t think pass coverage will be a big problem
and still have promising depth behind that
I can’t find any training camp updates today. WTH?
Ramsey still needs to take it easy on that knee. Don’t want any setbacks.
Noah Igbinoghene has been better in this Dolphins training camp
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 1, 2023
How much better? Better enough?
Left side of Dolphins’ O-line just opened a HUGE lane for RB Chris Brooks that got the offensive sideline ROARING to end practice. Tua high-stepped like 50 yds to celebrate w/ Brooks.
Best day of practice for O so far.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 1, 2023
95 yard running play from the UDFA Rookie
Tua transcript before today’s practice….
Transcript | Tua Tagovailoa’s Media Availability – August 1
Aug 01, 2023 at 02:15 PM
Headshot_Ghost
Dolphins Staff
MiamiDolphins.com
Read the full transcript from Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s press conference ahead of the first team practice on August 1, 2023.
(Opening Statement) – “I think the team looks really good thus far. There’s a lot of things that still need to be done as far as work. Special teams is looking good out there. I was going to say great but they look good. Still working to great. Good back-and-forth offense and defense.”
(About 15 minutes ago, T Terron Armstead said he would whoop you. No context needed, but no he’s talking about jiu-jitsu versus boxing. Your reaction?) – “I give respect to him. I give respect to the OG. That’s it.”
(Staying with that physicality topic. We’ve heard a lot about the jiu-jitsu, but that itself didn’t help you bulk up this summer. I’m curious, what was your workout routine? What went into the pounds, the muscle that you put on over the offseason?) – “Just a lot of heavier weights. A lot more reps with the heavier weights, things like that. But everything that I did this offseason entailed to what would keep me on the field for the entirety of the season. We understand that freaky things can happen. It’s football. It’s a physical sport. Not everything that you prepare for is what you’re going to get. So, I did the best that I could to get myself ready and prepped for this season as far as injuries go.”
(Can you describe the difference that you’ve felt on the field so far with the jiu-jitsu? Coach mentioned a backflip during OTA’s, stuff like that and what you foresee this doing for you in games?) – “Yeah, so let me give you context. I did not backflip. I got hit from someone in front of me. I have no idea who it was, but I sort of hit a little somersault going backwards and I flipped backwards. No backflips over here though. But I think to that, it was cool to see because now, in a weird way, it’s like the quarterback room cheers when we start to do that. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing that we’re doing jiu-jitsu falls. But it’s hard to gauge that because that was the first time I’ve done it. It’s hard to gauge it because these guys on the opposite side of the ball have got to stay away from the quarterback. No one can really touch me. So, the only time you can really put that to use is in a real, live situation game.”
(What is an example of some of the instinct and muscle memory that jiu-jitsu training can do for you?) – “Yeah, I would say with the muscle memory thing of it, it’s not to where it’s something that’s muscle memory yet for me. I don’t think that’ll be something that, you know, become muscle memory unless I do it for like a year or two years. And I think that’s for anything. You’re very conscious of it. It’s in the back of your mind when you do end up doing it. But it’s not like, ‘Oh, if I’m falling this way, I know exactly how to fall right here.’ Unless I’m actually thinking of doing it that way. So I’ve just got to continue to work on it and practice it.”
(You’ve talked about staying healthy for the course of the season. Your helmet looks a little bit different this year. Was that designed? Did it come from what happened last year with the concussions. Was that part of it?) – “Yeah, definitely took into consideration the helmets. It was like a percentage better than the helmet that I had. Everything matters and so I’m going to play that percentage. So if you look at it last year, it wasn’t anyone really hitting my head. It was really just the ground.”
(Do you plan on wearing that helmet?) – “I think I’ll start out with that helmet. I feel very comfortable with that helmet. The helmet feels good. So, we’ll see how that goes.”
(Are you one who needs preseason work? You haven’t played since December. Is that something you’re looking forward to or do you think maybe it’s best to just wait for the regular season?) – “I think whatever work we need as an offense, whatever Mike (McDaniel) thinks we need, I’m for it. Whether I play in all the preseason games, I play in none, I play in one, it doesn’t matter.”
(I wanted to ask you about the back-and-forth at practice and we have seen a lot of that except for that 12-sack performance. What does that do for you guys from a corrections standpoint and from a progression standpoint?) – “I would say the way we look at it is not result-based. It’s basically letting everyone finish with whatever technique they got, so regardless of if it was a sack, our defense gives us the opportunity to continue to read it out, to extend plays. It also gives the guys on the back end an opportunity to continue to play within a broken-down play or if a quarterback escapes the pocket, they’re going to have to move around and maneuver how they’re going to cover guys. So I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily result-based, although there are things that we have gotten corrected in every area whether it’s a blocking scheme, a route, how the guys are running the routes, how we’re looking at reading certain routes, our progressions in the plays, then where the checkdowns are, all of that. I think it’s really good when we’re able to look at it like that and not ‘oh, I got sacked.’ Next play.”
(We’ve seen what happens when T Terron Armstead is out there before our eyes. What are some of the things that we don’t see that Terron does for this offense and this offensive line?) – “He’s a coach. ‘T. Stead’ is a coach. He’s in the offensive line room. He’s coaching them after practice. He’s grabbing a lot of guys. He’s helping them with their technique. He’s in the back there coaching them, although he’s not in. He does a lot. He expects a lot out of those guys up front regardless of who’s in and he’s just a great teammate.”
(We’ve heard a lot about the complexity of this defense from some of the guys on defense. I know it’s only six days of practice so far, but how is that work against that defense on the field and the film room kind of helped you so far?) – “Very tough. It’s very tough. It’s hard to distinguish what’s going to happen pre-snap and post-snap. I think Vic (Fangio) does a good job with his defense and aligning guys where they need to align and making everything look the same for both run-action, pass-action and I think what I see a lot more this time, this year with the defense is there’s a lot of communication. So I know everyone sees the camera that we have on our head. When we watch it, we get to see when we’re motioning guys, there’s a lot of communication going on in the back end and up front. It’s a lot more than what I’ve seen the past couple years.”
(For you as a quarterback, how tough is it to live to see another play? Just throw the ball away it isn’t there. How tough is that because you like to extend plays?) – “It’s always tough to live to see another play. It’s always tough. We want to do good. We all want to have the big play. We want to get the ball completed to the right guys, the open guys. But that’s tough. It’s just tough. I don’t know how else to explain that.”
(I know you said it was a good back-and-forth throughout the first week-plus of training camp, but I saw the way you were celebrating on the RB Chris Brooks run. It seemed like you guys were really executing. Do you think this was the best day of practice for the offense so far?) – “Like I (said earlier), it’s not result-based for us. It’s really how can we all get each other better and we’re looking at what everyone did right, what everyone did wrong at our position, and it’s not just me being in there, but it’s also the other guys in there, things that I can learn from them and other guys are doing the same with their positions as well.”
(That was a sweet touchdown to RB Chris Brooks.) – “Yeah, that was crazy. That was awesome. He was running fast.”
(You celebrated that for a minute, you were high-stepping.) – “Yeah, I was excited. That was cool. Any more questions?”
(Your chemistry with WR Tyreek Hill – have you seen a little bit of an improvement so far in training camp compared to last year? Obviously the chemistry was really good last year, too.) – “Yeah, I would say my chemistry with Tyreek (Hill), my chemistry with Jaylen (Waddle), my chemistry with everyone on the field, it’s continuing to be a work in progress. You get comfortable at one point, but you’ve got to continue to work at it with their route depths, with where I’m expecting them to be, with where they’re thinking they should be, things like that.”
Rockphin says:
August 1, 2023 at 2:32 pm
Noah Igbinoghene has been better in this Dolphins training camp
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 1, 2023
How much better? Better enough?
—————–
As your resident DB enthusiast, I can tell ya that this scheme change (to Vic Fangio’s Defense) just might turn Iggy into a stud after all: I said “might”. I hope the very best for Iggy.
I’m also hearing inside rumors that Trill Williams may be converted to Safety in Fangio’s scheme.
That rumor has been out there about Trill moving to safety but reports yesterday said it hasn’t happened yet, he’s still at corner.
Here you go Rock….
Dolphins 2023 Camp: August 1 Practice Observations
What stood out during the sixth practice of Miami Dolphins training camp
ALAIN POUPART2 HOURS AGO
Highlights, lowlights and observations from the sixth practice (day 7) of Miami Dolphins training camp Tuesday:
— The Dolphins had their first indoor-outdoor practice at the Baptist Health Training Complex this summer after the lightning alarm sounded more than halfway through the proceedings.
— For a second consecutive practice, injured cornerback Jalen Ramsey was spotted, this time on the field, where he was seen chatting with Sam Madison and other assistant coaches and later with the group of DBs before they started a position drill.
— Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. was back at practice after missing the past two days with an undisclosed issue. Both Brandon Jones and Trill Williams did some work while wearing a red jersey.
— Along with the two players remaining on PUP, Nik Needham and Tanner Conner, the two players not spotted at practice were CB Keion Crossen and S Bennett Williams.
— Safety Jevon Holland wore the orange jersey as the top performer from Monday.
— As we suggested Monday would be the case, Terron Armstead did very little at practice.
— We should start with the play of practice, which actually was the final play of the entire session, and it was a 95-yard touchdown run by Chris Books, the rookie free agent from BYU. While a lot of runs in practice can get overstated because defenders let up, that wasn’t the case on this one, with Brooks getting into the open with two nice cuts and then ran across the field while being chased by rookie cornerback Ethan Bonner. Naturally, the play got a huge reaction from the Dolphins offensive players.
— Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had easily, from his vantage point, his best performance of training camp. That was highlighted by his best throw of camp, a beautiful touch pass over a linebacker and right into the hands of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle over the middle.
— Before 11-on-11 sessions, there was some one-on-one work with defensive linemen against offensive linemen in pass-rushing situations, along with DBs vs. receivers, and running backs vs. linebackers in pass protection and in coverage. What stood out there included Cedric Ogbuehi standing up Bradley Chubb, Kader Kohou with blanket coverage on Robbie Chosen deep down the field, Liam Eichenberg with a winning rep against Christian Wilkins, Chosen easily getting behind Noah Igbinoghene for a touchdown, but then Igbinoghene coming back with a nice pass breakup against Braylon Sanders on a pass near the sideline.
— Mike White also had a solid day at quarterback, starting with a completion to Tyreek Hill on a quick slant in 11-on-11s. He later had a mid-range sideline completion to Cedrick Wilson Jr., a deep slant to Braxton Berrios, and a quick completion to Robbie Chosen in the red zone.
— Wilson had a busy day with three catches, including a nice snag on a high pass from Skylar Thompson over the middle, though he did fail to come up with a high throw but catchable ball from Tua earlier in practice.
— Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill each were very active in team sessions with six and four catches, respectively. Waddle’s big play was a 50-something-yard catch down the right sideline from Skylar Thompson shortly after practiced moved inside.
— David Long Jr. had another tackle for loss on a running play, this one by Salvon Ahmed, as did Elijah Campbell on the first 11-on-11 period.
— The pass protection was very solid pretty much throughout practice, with no clear sacks that we observed, through Bradley Chubb and Christian Wilkins each had a QB pressure.
— Rookie Cam Smith had yet another pass breakup, this one against Erik Ezukanma, adding to his already impressive total in camp.
— Fullback Alec Ingold caught a long pass down the left side from Tua late in practice, though he might have gotten lit up by the safety had this been a game situation.
— While Bonner gave up the long completion from Thompson to Waddle, he did have good coverage deep against Robbie Chosen on another play.
thanks!
Interesting, maybe to some….
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-quarterback-kryptonite-biggest-weaknesses-afc-starters-2023
let me guess….concussions?
Lol…sort of….Kryptonite: 330-pound D-linemen
LOL isn’t that every QB’s kryptonite?
Stock up
3. RT Austin Jackson – Offense line is a position where players typically get noticed because they messed up, or got beaten badly. I haven’t noticed Jackson for anything negative for six straight practices, and that’s a sign he’s made progress. In fact, during one play inside the bubble the 2020 first-round pick pancaked Jaelan Phillip, whom he’s usually battling with.
In fairness to Phillips, it looked as if the pass rusher slipped on the turf. But he was still picking himself up from the turf. I initially didn’t give Jackson praise for his solid first week because Phillips suffered an ankle injury on the first day of training camp and was held out the next two days. But now that he’s returned and the right side remains quiet it’s time to give Jackson his props.
I wonder if we’re going to see more 21 personnel groupings with Ingold at FB and a blocking TE?
By Joe Schad
Palm Beach Post
July 30, 2023
MIAMI GARDENS — Erik Ezukanma streaked past a Dolphins defensive back and hauled in a long touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa at a recent training camp practice.
“Ten times better,” Ezukanma said this week, when asked about his apparent improvement. “I feel like I’m probably like 90% on playbook and knowing exactly what I’m doing.”
Ezukanma, a second-year receiver from Texas Tech, looks faster because he’s playing faster.
“He’s probably made the biggest gains from last year to this year,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel said earlier this summer, noting last year was practically a “redshirt.”
Last year, Ezukanma was bypassed by a few lesser-heralded players, despite being a fourth-rounder.
At times Ezukanma seemed down. But he’s rebounded well.
“Preparation,” Ezukanma said. “Coming every day with the mindset to get better. Studying and asking questions. Just being attentive to what I got.”
The Dolphins’ top receivers – Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle – are extremely fast, but small.
Ezukanma is 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, the bulkiest of all Dolphins’ receivers. And with the departure of receiving tight end Mike Gesicki, Ezukanma has a big opportunity for red zone and/or third down seam catches.
“Fades or posts,” Ezukanma said of his favorite routes. “You know, just 50-50 balls. I feel like 50-50 balls for me, are probably 80-20. So I usually make them.”
Ezukanma has such good size he could be considered a big slot receiver/athletic tight end.
Could Erik Ezukanma help fill Mike Gesicki void?
“Just a big body threat,” he said. “Jump ball, downfield short passes, just being a big target for to anywhere on the field.”
Last year, receiver Trent Sherfield was a key to the running game. His departure to Buffalo could create an opportunity for Ezukanma to make an impact for the backs, too.
“I’m always in the weight room, always working out,” Ezukanma said. “So I feel like, you know, once the pads are on, I’m not worried about the bigger guys.”
Ezukanma had only 1 catch for 3 yards as a rookie.
But this is a player who posted more than 1,400 and 10 touchdowns in his final two seasons with the Red Raiders.
Ezukanma will compete with Robbie Chosen and Braxton Berrios for playing time and who plays how much could largely be situational.
“I believe I’m ready to play and you know, whatever role I am on the team, I’m going to do it 100%, all the time,” Ezukanma said.
but my lawyers told me to do it….
Can we start fast this season? I have us down as a L game one, but that win could be so freaking critical come January.
Why?
Funny question….every game is critical so why not?
Why do I have them down as a loss in my predictions or why do I want to win early? (as opposed to late?) Not sure what you are asking. The importance is because they will be in the playoff discussion and a H2H win would be gold in the bank (as apposed to a win vs the NFC)
Zach Thomas shares thoughts on Dolphins upcoming season
Mike Masala follow
August 1, 2023 5:24 pm ET
This week, former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a wait of over a decade long to receive a yellow jacket and a bust in Canton, Ohio.
In five of Thomas’ first six seasons, Thomas and his teammates made the postseason, so he knows a little bit about competitive football, and he believes that this current Dolphins roster and coaching staff are set to have some success.
“We have great talent on this roster,” Taylor said on Sunday. “We have a great head coach, an offensive coordinator and probably the best defensive coordinator on the team now. But none of that means nothing if you don’t win in this building, you don’t win on that practice field. They know that. It’s a choice that they’ll make and we’ll see how great they want to be. I’m cheering for them. But I know this, you have to have talent to win. And we got it. I think Chris Grier’s done a great job with this roster. It’s exciting. I’m more excited this year than any year.”
Taylor’s not wrong. Grier has done an impressive job of putting together a talented roster over the last few seasons through the draft, free agency and trades.
It wouldn’t be too surprising to see some of the members of this roster listed alongside Taylor’s in Canton when their time in the NFL has finished.
For 2023, they have a tough 17-game schedule ahead of them, but if they can stay mostly healthy, they should be able to compete for a postseason spot again.
It will suck to lose out on a PO spot due to a slow start.