Live blog … July 29 Training Camp

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/07/29/live_blog_july_29_training_cam.html

Live blog … July 29 Training Camp

By Edgar Thompson | Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 01:43 PM

I’m back in the hot seat for my first live blog of the Fins 2008 camp.

Ben will indeed be a tough act to follow.

But after running back and forth from the practice field for three days, he needed a day off.

Practice opens up in less than five minutes in the bubble, so I’ll be back with an update in a bit.

A little earlier, Tony Sparano addressed the media and said there’s no leader in the quarterback race. “I don’t see anybody ahead of anybody right now,” Sparano said.

It’s early, but veteran Josh McCown looks to be ahead in the three-man race with John Beck and Chad Henne. Everything is relative, let’s remember, because no one has been very impressive.

McCown’s session Monday evening in the bubble is best day any QB has had to date.

Now, Beck and Henne will get their chance in the bubble. The two will share snaps during team drills at today’s only practice session.

Sparano also discussed the development of the offensive line.

Rookie Donald Thomas lined up at right guard with the starters and was a big hit with some of the veteran defensive lineman.

“I know coming off the field yesterday a couple of our defensive players thought, ‘He’s really heavy,’ and when a defensive player says really heavy he doesn’t mean heavy in size, he means he’s heavy when he hits on you and when he leans on you,” Sparano said. “So that was encouraging. It was good to get him out there and let him compete against some of the first-team players out there and see how he responds.”

I’ll let you know who’s lining up with the first-team line in a bit. Anything else?

2:45 p.m.

I apologize for the delay. No, no cold beers. A head cold could be an option, just walked in from a downpour between the bubble and media room.

Not a whole lot going in there yet. The team spent a good bit of time warming up with position drills and running a few plays at three-quarter speed.

But here goes:

Thomas is still working at right guard with the first-team offensive line.

It’s Beck’s turn to line up at QB. But no surprises on first-team offense, really.

When the team lines up in two tight-end sets Sean Ryan joins Anthony Fasano, who has been working with the first team.

CB Michael Lehan (ankle) is the player sitting out. He’s working hard at re-hab on the sidelines.

Sparano said he ran Monday, but that Lehan is “probably a little bit further away right now.”

TE Aaron Halterman (back) also missed practice, leaving the Dolphins “only” five TEs to work with today.

Veteran lineman Steve McKinney (knee) sat out one of two sessions Monday, but practiced in the bubble. He lined up at second-team center.

A little trickery in passing drills.

WR Ted Ginn Jr., a former high school quarterback, caught a screen pass and hit RB Patrick Cobbs with a perfect strike 30 yards down field on a wheel route.

When you see these guys in shorts and pads in drills from a field-level vantage point, they never cease to amaze you with their natural athletic ability … even in stretching drills.

Rookie DE Kendall Langford looks like he could teach yoga he’s so flexible.

The offense and defense lined up against each in running drills, while the receivers and defensive backs worked on the other end of the field on down-field blocking.

Rookie RB Jalen Parmele continues to stand out among the pack of backs behind Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown.

Parmele hits the hole as fast as anyone and has the speed to bounce the play to the outside.

Longtime draft analyst Frank Coyle told me recently he’s high on Parmele and said he fits the mold of a Bill Parcells’ back who’ll get you four yards when you really need it.

The other highlight was a block laid on FS Jason Allen by 5-foot-7, 175-pound Jayson Foster. A fan favorite because of his quickness and pen-field running, Foster is tough, too.

He got up under Allen’s pads and cleared him out of the play.

OK, heading back out to the bubble. Hope they’re doing more by now.

Will be back soon.

3:29 p.m.

The Dolphins just finished up 11-on-11 team drills and some 7-on-7 passing.

Beck and Henne shared reps during 11-on-11, while McCown joined the mix in 7-on-7.

The highlights:

Four dropped passes was a big problem.

Ernest Wilford dropped a slant route that hit him right in the hands, though Beck’s throw was a little behind him.

Ronnie Brown dropped a pass out in the flat and sure-handed rookie Davone Bess even let one go through his hands.

And it wouldn’t be a practice if TE David Martin didn’t chip in his daily drop.

Beck opened up with a wounded duck throw, but he bounced back to finish 4-of-6 in 11-on-11. But his completions were mainly on short passes, which has been a common theme for Beck.

He seems to be struggling to make decisions and ends up opting for the safe throw.

But all the QBs had trouble getting rid of the ball today.

Either the pass rush closed in on them or the drill itself put them under extreme pressure.

In 7-on-7, the QB needs to get rid of the ball within three seconds or a buzzer sounds. Beck didn’t beat the buzzer on his first throw, and then seemed to press.

He completed 3-of-5 throws, but only one of them wasn’t short, safe throw. On it, WR Greg Camarillo made the catch of day, a one-handed stab in the middle of the field behind LB Channing Crowder that saved a potential overthrow.

Henne struggled himself during 11-on-11 and ended up just 1-of-6. But two of his passes were dropped.

Henne also held onto the ball too long and suffered a couple of sacks.

The rookie made up for it in 7-on-7, looking the smoothest throwing the ball among the three QBs.

His first throw was a long sideline route to WR Derek Hagan, who was blanketed by CB Will Billingsley. Hagan came up with the ball, but the two ended up on the ground wrestling for it.

Henne followed a couple of plays later with a quick out to Camarillo, the ball coming out of Henne’s hands quickly and smoothly.

McCown looked solid in his go-around, mainly on a number of slants and 8-yard routes in the middle of the field. But he also took a couple of sacks, failing to get rid of the ball within the three-second window.

OK, heading to the bubble. Back in a bit.

4:00 p.m.

During 11-on-11 situational drills, Jake Long got a little revenge on Joey Porter, who jacked the rookie when he rushing the passer on Monday.

Following a nice tackle on Ronnie Brown, Porter celebrated by pounding the ground with this fist.

But on the next snap, Long came out and knocked Porter on his rear end.

Henne continued to struggle getting rid of the ball quickly enough.

LB Charlie Anderson got to Henne on one play. But he also took a coverage sack and had a bad overthrow.

Henne had his moments, but was just OK today. He also was victim of three drops. Fasano dropped a Henne pass that hit him right in the hands during the final 11-on-11 drill.

On his first pass of 11-on-11, Beck complete a nice sideline route to Ginn, just behind CB Andre Goodman.

But Beck soon followed by overthrowing Hagan by 10 yards, and then underthrowing WR Anthony Armstrong on the next play.

May have been miscommunication on the Hagan pass, but too many times in camp Beck has looked like he’s just chucking the ball and hoping for a result.

Parmele continued to hit the hole as hard and fast as anyone on the team.

It’ll be interesting to see him during the pre-season when the team isn’t going to ask much of Williams or Brown.

OK, need to go interview players who are coming off the field. Ben will be back tomorrow to deal with you jackals.

Thanks for stopping by.

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/07/tuesday-practic.html

Tuesday practice moved indoors

Hey guys, inclement weather moved the practice indoors today so the fans got (fill in blank).

It was the young guys in the quarterback rotation for 11-on-11 team drills, and while John Beck improved from his recent practice debacle, rookie Chad Henne fared a tad better, hitting WR David Kircus for 20 yards over the middle. However, once again in 7-on-7 drills, veteran QB Josh McCown clearly outplayed the young pups, hitting Kircus on a nice post pattern. Kircus is zooming up the depth chart, while my favorite rook Davone Bess finally dropped a pass today.

OLB Charlie Anderson continues to impress with another would-be sack of Henne. Anderson and DE Vonnie Holliday are wracking up the sacks early in training camp.

Beck did pick it up late in practice when he connected on a deep post to Ted Ginn, who grabbed it over Andre’ Goodman, but later underthrew an open Anthony Armstrong that Goodman broke up.

Coach Tony Sparano kept rookie RG Donald Thomas with the first unit and moved Trey Darilek to RT on the second team. Where’s Shawn Murphy?

In kickoff work, incumbent starter Jay Feely continues to prove that his job isn’t in jeopardy as he booted far more balls into the end zone than Dan Carpenter. However, Carpenter did have more hang time. The Dolphins are taking a look at former AFL receiver Anthony Armstrong as a kick returner.

Undrafted tackle Darren Heerspink had a cramp but didn’t got right back in there.

In the FB battle, Boomer Grigsby continues to display much better hands than Reagan Mauia when thrown to in the flat.

Probably the catch of the day went to last year’s hero, Greg Camarillo, who made a one-handed grab over CB Scorpio Babers on a long pass over the middle from John Beck.

Also, WR Derek Hagan, who Andre’ Goodman raved about his work habits, snagged a sideline pass from Henne, but had a 20-second tug-of-war with CB Will Billingsley before earning possession.

TE David Martin, who was praised by Sparano for his improved blocking, is still inconsistent as a receiver as he dropped another one from McCown. TE Anthony Fasano, who the coaching staff seems to have men crushes on, was also up and down, making one catch over the middle but dropping another. If this guy ever approaches Jason Witten status, the ladies will love him.

Rookie RB Jalen Parmele dropped two passes, not a good sign when you’re trying to earn playing time behind Ronnie and Ricky, but later atoned with his daily burst up the middle.

CB Nathan Jones, who has about four businesses on the side, is playing a lot of nickel while Michael Lehan continues to rehab his sprained ankle on the side, and he looks like a keeper.

The players ended the long practice with gassers.

Wonder why stadium developer Rick Horrow is showing up at lots of practices?

Don’t be shocked if the Dolphins sign a well-known receiver this week. Stay tuned.

TE Aaron Halterman didn't practice because of a back injury. He is being evaluated. With six tight ends vying for 3 spots at best, Halterman can't afford to miss any time.

> Posted by hfialkov at 4:59:07 PM

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/breaking-news/story/622064.html

Observations from Dolphins camp

By JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

The Dolphins were wrapping up their first and only practice of the day at around 4 p.m. Tuesday, concluding a two-hour workout. All three quarterbacks had gotten work in 7-on-7 drills, but only John Beck and Chad Henne got repetitions during team drills, as it was their scheduled day in the rotation.

SLIPPERY WHEN DRY

It was difficult to judge either quarterback on a day when several wide receivers struggled at times to hold onto the ball. Because of the afternoon rain, you ask? Not exactly. Since they were in the bubble. As dark clouds moved into the area near the start of the workout, the team decided to move inside. Once indoors, both Ernest Wilford and Davone Bess dropped consecutive passes from Henne. Bess later dropped another ball that hit him in the hands on a cross route from Beck. Tight end David Martin also missed a potentially easy hookup during 7-on-7 drills from McCown, even though the pass was thrown just a touch behind him on the move. Even running back Ronnie Brown, who is usually very consistent as a pass catcher out of the backfield, even bobbled an easy screen pass.

HAGAN IMPRESSIVE AGAIN

For the second consecutive day, wide receiver Derek Hagan looked like the most solid receiver, showing versatility with completions on cross routes and deep routes. On one long 40-yard connection from Henne, Hagan got tied up with cornerback Will Billingsley but fought hard to maintain possession. It was a solid level of aggressiveness that isn't often displayed by Hagan, which is good to see from a player who often tends to be a bit passive on his routes. Hagan also displayed good speed on more middle, intermediary routes as well. Of course, this is all well and good -- but Hagan has always been great during practices. Growing consistent, and carrying it over into games, will still be the key for a guy with all the skills to make it in the NFL.

MIXING IT UP

The offensive line looked generally average -- not great, not bad -- with rookie Donald Thomas running with the first-team offense at right guard for the second consecutive day. It's interesting to see Thomas as a first-team guard, especially given that the team traded up to land another guard/tackle in Shawn Murphy two rounds before Thomas. This could simply be coach Tony Sparano's way of mixing up some combinations to see what player work best as a first-team group. Still, it's worth keeping an eye on.

YOUNG GUYS GET REPS ON DEFENSE

Nose guard Paul Soliai has been consistently impressive during camp so far, which earned him some considerable time with the first-team defense. Don't expect Soliai to dethrone Jason Ferguson as the starter, but it's still very good to have a young prospect like Soliai backing up an aging veteran who might need his share of breathers during the season. Another young prospect, Kendall Langford, also saw some reps with the first team.

DEEP AT TIGHT END

Tight end David Halterman was not at practice, and it isn't yet known why. Also, tight end Justin Peele had his leg wrapped in ice midway through the workout. It didn't look like anything serious with Peele. And don't worry about depth at tight end. Even if not a group loaded with talent, there's still six tight ends on the current roster, which caused coach Tony Sparano to talk this morning about how tough it is to manage giving each guy enough reps.

''It's always tough to find time, reps for all the tight ends especially when some of them are crossing over into that ``F'' position that we talked about, kind of that fullback thing,'' Sparano said. ``You're trying to get two fullbacks reps as well so during the course of practice you have to do a pretty good job of managing the scripts and what you want a specific player to see. The good thing is that when you're going through this you can kind of highlight maybe what he has already got work at, or needs a little bit more work on, those type of things when you're going through the script. The bad thing is, certainly you have six of them right now and it's hard to get some work with them.''

IT'S GOOD!

Both kickers were just fine Tuesday. Jay Feely and Dan Carpenter each connected on all three of their attempts, making field goals from 35, 40 and 45 yards out.

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/07/29/0729sparano.html

Dolphins' Tony Sparano: No clear leader yet among quarterbacks

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

DAVIE — Heading into Day 4 of training camp, coach Tony Sparano said today that he is no closer to identifying a starting a quarterback than he was entering last weekend.

"I don't see anybody ahead of anybody right now when I watch what I'm seeing out there," Sparano said before today's 2 p.m. practice.

But Sparano said he would like to see the three-man competition shake out as soon as possible, and definitely not drag on into the schedule of pre-season games, which begin Aug. 9 against Tampa Bay at Dolphin Stadium.

"I think that player needs to be behind the offensive line," Sparano said. "He needs to start to find chemistry with whoever the receivers will be. If he was head and shoulders above everyone else it would be clear to us and we would start moving in that direction."

After five practices, seventh-year pro Josh McCown seems to be in the best position to claim the starting job.

McCown, 29, has made the fewest miscues, while second-year pro John Beck has made the most, including three interceptions during Sunday's practice.

McCown, who is playing for his fourth team in four seasons, also has picked up the new offense more quickly, Sparano said.

Given McCown's experience it's no surprise he's a quick study, especially compared with rookie Chad Henne.

While the final details of his contract were being ironed out, Henne missed the team's opening training-camp practice Saturday morning. That meant that Henne missed the first installation of the team's offensive scheme.

"Josh has been in several systems, so it's a little bit easy for him to hear some of the install and he knows how to handle an install," Sparano said. "This isn't new to him, where it's maybe new to Chad, where you're throwing a bunch of different stuff at him each night."

Based on the team's quarterback rotation, the Dolphins are expected toshowcase Beck and Henne during team drills today. McCown will be under center only in 7-on-7 passing drills.

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dol073008,0,4976367.story

Josh McCown excels, but Sparano says QBs still equal

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

1:49 PM EDT, July 29, 2008

DAVIE - Despite veteran quarterback Josh McCown clearly outplaying his younger competitors in the early stages of training camp, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said he isn't ahead of John Beck or rookie Chad Henne.

However, Sparano said as soon as one of the quarterbacks show a clear-cut advantage over the other two, he would name him the starter immediately.

"If it was clear-cut I'd want to get it done as soon as possible, I really would,'' Sparano said Tuesday prior to the afternoon practice. "That player needs to be behind the offensive line and needs to start finding chemistry with whoever receivers will be in at that time. If he's head and shoulders above everybody else, it would be clear to us and we would start to move in that direction.''

Sparano has already said that he'd like to have a starting quarterback named prior to the third preseason game against the Chiefs.

Sparano did admit that McCown is probably off to a better start than his younger cohorts simply because this is his seventh season and he's been in several different systems.

"This isn't a secret but Josh has been in several systems, so it's a little bit easier for him to hear some of the installs and he knows how to handle the installs. … It isn't new to him where it's the first time around maybe for Chad as far as getting a bunch of different stuff thrown at him each night.

"But I don't see anybody ahead of anybody right now in what I'm seeing out there.''

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolnot083008,0,5858297.story

Dolphins rookie Donald Thomas in, Trey Darilek out for now

By Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel.com

4:16 PM EDT, July 29, 2008

DAVIE - Although it appeared the rookie guard Shawn Murphy would get the most looks at right guard on the first-team defense, thus far Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has had Trey Darilek in there, and on Monday, rookie Donald Thomas was promoted to that spot with Darilek shifting to second-team right tackle.

"[Thomas] did a nice job,'' Sparano said. "We're trying to keep the young guys on the same side. Donald's a big, strong kid that's athletic. I know coming off the field yesterday a couple of our defensive players thought that he's really heavy. And when a defensive player says, 'really heavy,' he don't mean heavy in size. He means heavy when he hits you, when he leans on you. Those are good qualities to have in an offensive lineman.

"We'll keep moving it around until we find the right five.'' …

Sparano added that he was, "pleasantly pleased,'' with the improved blocking technique of tight end David Martin.

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-joeydol073008,0,3413927.story

Dolphins' Joey Porter fine after first practice

By Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel.com

5:11 PM EDT, July 29, 2008

DAVIE - Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said that Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter's ankle responded well after he participated in his first practice Monday afternoon in the bubble.

"I was happy not only to see him out there but when practice was over to see how his ankle responded, and it was very positive,'' Sparano said. "That was a good sign. It lets us know the steps we took early on were really positive.''

Porter, who was unable to take his re-conditioning test last week because of a tweaked left ankle, said his teammates were starting to get on him.

"Whenever you're not out there with him, they're going to give you a little [stuff],'' Porter said. "I was waiting to get out there today, and I got my chance to get out there, run around, and luckily I've been training so my conditioning was good.

"Right now is just the beginning stage of it. We're just trying to gel together as a team. It's the learning steps. We're going to find out what we really have as a team. So far everybody has been playing pretty good, taking care of each other and I don't think we'll have it any other way."

… Sparano said that cornerback Michael Lehan (ankle) is running much better and is close to returning. He's on the physically unable to perform list.

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=5907

Camp Dolphins Day 4-Secondary Matters; Boys In The Bubble; Other Notes

July 29, 2008
   
By Andy Kent
Special to MiamiDolphins.com

They call it the last line of defense for a reason, and the 14 guys that currently make up the Dolphins' secondary in training camp all realize how important it is to not only know their responsibilities in the passing game, but also how vital their role is in the running game whenever running backs happen to break through the defensive line and get past the linebackers.

Todd Bowles, Miami's assistant head coach and secondary coach, knows this better than anybody having spent eight seasons in the NFL as a defensive back. He even has a Super Bowl ring to show his players from 1987 when he helped the Washington Redskins beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. Now instead of reading coverages himself, Bowles is learning how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a new group of defensive backs after spending the last three seasons in the same capacity with the Dallas Cowboys.

"I'm trying to bring them all together to play together and I'm trying to get them to trust each other and learn the new system and still make plays at the same time," Bowles said. "They all have to be a group and we can't have any individuals. That's the biggest part of putting a new scheme together with a new team.

Two players familiar with Bowles, first-year Head Coach Tony Sparano and the playbook they are bringing with him from Dallas are cornerback Nate Jones and safety Keith Davis. Both played integral roles on special teams for the Cowboys and were seen as important pieces to Miami's roster from that perspective and as legitimate playmakers in the secondary. They are similar in size and ability, and both bring a lot of versatility.

"Nate Jones really made our team in Dallas based on what he did on special teams early on," Sparano said. "Nobody gave the guy a chance and then he came in and we watched him practice and all he kept doing was showing up and showing up and then showing up in the games on special teams. Both of these guys have been productive players, just not full-time players, and this is an opportunity for them to come here and compete and I think they add depth certainly to the secondary, with chances for both of them to potentially start but also to contribute on special teams."

Davis is competing with free agent Chris Crocker and third-year safety Jason Allen in the secondary, with Allen seen as a young player with plenty of growth potential at the position and Crocker as someone who can move around back there and alternate between free safety and strong safety. Sparano also envisions Crocker as a coverage guy in certain nickel packages.

Bowles had Crocker and cornerback Michael Lehan with him in Cleveland when he was on the Browns' coaching staff, first as the defensive nickel package coach from 2001-03 and then as the secondary coach in 2004. Crocker and Lehan were with the Browns from 2003-05, so along with Jones and Davis they give Bowles four familiar faces to work with.

"It helps a lot with the safeties because you kind of have two coaches on the field," Bowles said. "Nate can help out on the corners if I'm somewhere else and Keith can help out with the safeties. I also had Lehan and Crocker in Cleveland, so having four guys back there is a lot of help, although the scheme is slightly different they understand what I'm looking for. So as a group they're coming along really good."

Davis pointed to his connection with Bowles and this defensive system as the primary reason he was attracted to Miami because he knew it would be an easy adjustment for him and that the people in charge already knew what he is capable of doing out on the field. He doesn't feel anybody can block him on special teams and that he brings a different mentality to the game.

"I feel like when I go out there and I'm playing on defense, I feel like I'm very smart, I'm very intelligent, I know the scheme and I know what's going on," said Davis, whose best season came in 2005 at free safety when he started 15 games and registered 68 tackles (45 solo) and recovered one fumble. "I'm always going to be in the right place and it's just a matter of making the plays.

"This is really a player-friendly defense. The scheme itself is designed to let you go out and make plays. It's not really difficult from the standpoint that you're going to have to make a lot of reads and a lot of adjustments. When we make the calls, the calls tell you what you're doing right then and there. You don't have to do a lot of thinking, just line up and go play football."

Jones echoed Davis' sentiments concerning the ease in transitioning to a new team where he knows so many players and coaches.

"It makes the transition a little easier coming to a team with a coaching staff you are familiar with," Jones said. "But you still have to have the camaraderie with the rest of your teammates and I think since day one when we all got here, all the guys from Dallas, we've been blending well, laughing, joking, going out together. So we're coming together real nice."

Davis and Jones, along with linebacker Akin Ayodele, nose tackle Jason Ferguson and tight end Anthony Fasano, continue to have their brains picked by the other players since they are the only ones who know what to expect each and every practice, having gone through it in Dallas.

As for the two cornerbacks currently working with the first unit – Will Allen and Andre Goodman, Sparano likes the fact that both players are athletic and are not afraid to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage.

"You'll see some guys that want to get up in your face at the line of scrimmage, but quickly when the ball's hiked they're kind of getting away from the action a little bit, and both of those guys like to compete," Sparano said. "In fact, I just sat in on the secondary meeting and watched some tape with them and you can see both of them up there competing and if their guy makes a play they're upset about that. They're getting out of their breaks real well and are crisp that way, and I think mentally they both understand it pretty well."

WHEN THE THUNDER ROLLS: Practice was moved indoors to the practice bubble due to a thunderstorm that produced a lot of lightning and a torrential downpour, but that did not dampen the intensity of the drills as the players again went full speed in full pads.

ONE TIN SOLDIER: With Joey Porter back in action, Tony Sparano only had to address the health status of one player during this morning's pre-practice press conference and that was cornerback Michael Lehan, who is recovering from a dislocated ankle suffered in the June mini-camp. Lehan, 28, remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

"Actually, Michael ran yesterday in there (the practice bubble) as well and he did a nice job running. He really did," Sparano said. "He's probably a little bit further away right now, not far, but a little bit further away. So we're just being cautious with him, but he's getting through a lot of the cutting drills and a lot of the rehab that way and I think that (he'll be back) hopefully real soon."

DON'T FORGET ABOUT CHANNING: Before Sparano was deluged with questions about the cornerbacks and safeties, he remarked how excited we was about the way linebacker Channing Crowder has been moving around in light of the fact that he's coming back from injuries to his ankle and knee. He also recalled game-planning against the Dolphins last year when he was with the Dallas Cowboys and how he and his staff made it a point to make sure Crowder was one of the players that definitely had to be blocked because he makes plays around the ball.

THOMAS A HEAVY HITTER: Rookie Donald Thomas was given his first chance at right guard with the first unit Monday as Trey Darilek moved to second-team right tackle, and this is consistent with Sparano's plan to mix and match at that one open guard position with Darilek, Thomas, rookie Shawn Murphy and veteran Steve McKinney.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound former UConn Husky who did not play organized football until college left a lasting impression on some of the projected starters along the defensive line.

"Donald's a big, strong kid that's athletic," Sparano said. "And I know coming off the field yesterday a couple of our defensive players thought, 'He's really heavy,' and when a defensive player says really heavy he doesn't mean heavy in size, he means he's heavy when he hits on you and when he leans on you. Those are good qualities to have in an offensive lineman, when they're big and they play big. So that was encouraging. It was good to get him out there and let him compete against some of the first-team players out there and see how he responds."

TIGHT ENDS BATTLING FOR REPS: Sparano described the challenge of finding enough repetitions and playing time for the six tight ends on the 80-man training camp roster vying for a spot on the team, especially since he and offensive coordinator Dan Henning plan to utilize the tight end at the "F" position (or fullback) on occasion. Being as the practice scripts are drawn up ahead of time, it's up to the coaches to recognize what they have seen out of a particular player already and highlighting it so there can be some flexibility in the rotation. These early practices are even more important for a returning veteran like David Martin.

"Honestly, I think that he's gotten a bunch better since the spring, he really has," Sparano said. "Watching him block right now in full pads and seeing what he does at the line of scrimmage, seeing what he's done in the backfield a little bit on some entry plays, I think he's been pretty impressive. I've been pleasantly pleased that way with what he's done on the line of scrimmage blocking. He catches the ball well enough and certainly can run well enough and he came back in outstanding physical shape. He's really running well."

Two of the six tight ends had issues Tuesday as Aaron Halterman was held out of the afternoon practice because he was having his back evaluated and Justin Peelle got a little banged up during early drills and received some treatment on his leg. He was able to rejoin his teammates for the latter drills and the wind sprints that ended the day.

PARCELLS LENDS A HELPING HAND: Miami's Executive Vice President of Football Operations and two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Parcells can be seen talking to players on the practice field and giving instruction during camp, which is evidence that coaching always will be in his blood. Sparano welcomes the help from his mentor and still meets with him to discuss strategy and break down film.

"When you're talking about a guy like Coach Parcells and the knowledge that he has of this game and the things that he's seen, any way that he can help is a positive," Sparano said. "That's why he's here, and if he's here in that situation and can help some of our younger players, that's great. When have it in your blood like he's had it in his blood for as long as he has, he has to do it, and that's good. I love it. I think the world of the guy and I'm glad that he's out there and he can contribute anyway he can that way."

DOLPHINS TIDBITS: Rookie Kendall Langford replaced Matt Roth at left defensive end during a few of the early situational drills. … Keeping with his two-quarterback rotation in team drills, Sparano had rookie Chad Henne and second-year man John Beck alternating series, and each completed a long pass to remember. Beck hit Ted Ginn, Jr. in stride down the left sideline, threading the ball just over Goodman, who had excellent coverage. Earlier, Henne found Derek Hagan down the right sideline in single coverage by Will Billingsley and put the ball right over Hagan's left shoulder. Billingsley tried to strip the ball from Hagan to no avail. … Wide receiver Greg Camarillo made a nifty one-handed grab of a Beck pass thrown down the middle and hung onto the ball after he was tripped up.

THEY SAID IT…

(Head coach Tony Sparano on if he’s glad to see LB Joey Porter back out at practice) – “Yeah, I really was. We were happy, not only to see him out there, but when practice was over, to see how his ankle responded and it was very positive. So that was a good sign. It lets us know that the steps we took here early on were really positive.”

(Head Coach Tony Sparano on if he likes that Executive Vice President-Football Operations Bill Parcells gives some one-on-one instruction to players) – “Sure. Yeah. No question. Anyway that he can help I think is a positive. When you’re talking about a guy like Coach Parcells, and the knowledge that he has in this game, and the things that he’s seen, there was a situation that came up yesterday. I was watching tape of some of our opponents and this one situation came up with clock and clock management, those kind of things, and I was able to just go down about it, and he and I talked about it and I picked his brain. That’s why he’s here, and if he’s here in that situation and if he can help some of our young players in there, that’s great.”

(WR Greg Camarillo on if he is recognized a lot around town for saving the Dolphins season with his catch against the Ravens in 2007) -- “I look like an average guy. I’m not big and I don’t stand out so I fit in with everybody else. I get a lot of love for it. I get a lot of praise for keeping the terrible season away. I mean it was a terrible season but keeping the worst season ever away. It’s a new season so that’s a thing of the past and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

(Safety Keith Davis on the edge he has knowing how practice was run in Dallas) -- "It's nothing new to us. Same old soup just reheated, that's what I like to call it. I know it's a camp that Tony and Bill and those guys like to run and this is no surprise to me."