Saturday morning practice prelude

[DolFan619]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/06/saturday-mornin.html

Saturday morning practice prelude

Practice No. 3 of this minicamp is scheduled to begin in about 11 minutes and I can't wait!

Things to look for today:

The wide receiver corps really worries me. Yes, Ernest Wilford is proven and a fine addition. But after that it gets uncertain. Justin Wynn? Davone Bess? Selwyn Lymon? David Kircus? Greg Camarillo? Derek Hagan?

During yesterday's afternoon practice, reporters counted at least seven dropped balls. There were a couple of other moments when guys simply slipped and fell down without being touched.

All I can say is neither Wilford nor Ted Ginn, who also is largely unproven, had better stay healthy.

It seems the Dolphins are pretty excited about starting two rookies on the left side of the line. First-round pick Jake Long (LT) and Shawn Murphy (LG) have been working together since the middle portion of OTA drills. Obviously there is no contact here, but at least these guys are getting some timing down and learning each other's tendencies. We'll see what happens when the hitting starts.

But this feels like a Richmond Webb-Keith Sims redo.

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/06/07/henne_works_with_first_team.html

Henne works with first team

By Edgar Thompson | Saturday, June 7, 2008, 11:28 AM

Rookie quarterback Chad Henne handled snaps with the first-team offense during the morning session of two-a-days.

Henne missed on his two pass attempts, including an interception. He overthrew WR Ted Ginn Jr. on a deep sideline pattern and led TE David Martin too much on a sideline out.

CB Will Allen came up with the ball on the miss to Martin.

Josh McCown and John Beck handled snaps with the second- and third-team units, but coaches continually shuffled skills players in and out.

McCown was sacked on his first pass. Beck threw two incompletions.

RB Ricky Williams, Ginn and WR Ernest Wilford and TE Justin Peele opened with the first team.

There also was a change on the first-team offensive line. Justin Smiley replaced rookie Shawn Murphy at left guard, with third-year pro Trey Darilek stepping in for Smiley on the right side.

Rookie Jake Long (LT), Samson Satele (C) and Vernon Carey (RT) round out the unit.

Defensive lineman Randy Starks was back at practice after taking an excused absence Friday.

CB Michael Lehan (ankle) and DE Jason Taylor (unexcused absence) were the only players on the roster who weren’t at practice.

The Dolphins also worked on special teams during the first hour of the morning session.

Kickers Jay Feely and Dan Carpenter each took turns field goals from 47 yards. Feely missed one wide left.

Punter Brandon Fields worked on punts out of the back of the end zone. He hit two very good ones, one OK and mishit the final punt.

[DolFan619]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/06/get-your-saturd.html?cid=117898266#comment-117898266

Get your Saturday mid-practice update here

Dolphins are working as I write this. Here's a couple of things so far:

The pass offense is, shall we say, struggling this morning. I will now provide you with a play-by-play of the passing plays during the team period -- the period in which offense goes against defense.

Incomplete pass by John Beck.

Interception of Chad Henne by Will Allen.

Sack of Josh McCown.

Incomplete pass by Beck.

Fumbled snap by Beck.

Incomplete pass by Beck.

Incomplete pass by Henne.

Henne is getting some first-team repetitions today.

On the field goal front there is a blossoming competition between vet Jay Feely and rookie Dan Carpenter. They each attempted three field goals during the special teams portion of practice.

Feely was 2 of 3, missing the try from about 40 yards. Carpenter was 3 of 3, hitting from close-range, from about 40 and the try from about 47 yards out.

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/06/07/minicamp_update_mckinnie_kircu.html

Mini-camp update: new WR identified, Kircus, McKinnie and more

By Tim Graham | Saturday, June 7, 2008, 01:09 PM

DAVIE — Nobody in the press box, not even the Dolphins media relations staff, knew who No. 17 was out there this morning. Coach Tony Sparano finally identified him as John Dunlap, a Hollywood, Fla., native and an undrafted rookie receiver from North Carolina State.

Dunlap is here on a tryout basis, but there is room for him after the Dolphins cut K Daye Rayner and lost WR/KR Tab Perry. Dunlap caught 45 passes last year for 375 yards and three touchdowns.

He helped Chaminade-Madonna win the state Class-2A title as a receiver and linebacker. …

WR David Kircus didn’t take part in drills because of a minor hamstring injury. He said he tweaked it earlier in the week at a voluntary team workout and probably won’t be able to go Sunday either. Kircus said he hoped to be back at full go by Tuesday. …

G Steve McKinnie is coming off right knee surgery and working out on the sidelines with his ballcap on backward while the rest of the team is practicing. He said he might not be 100 percent by the start of training camp, but would be on the field.

“Obviously, I’d like to be out there, but we’re just trying to be conservative,” McKinnie said. “We know we got a season to get ready for.”

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano called McKinnie “a workout junkie.” …

Sparano on S Yeremiah Bell: “He’s a good quarterback back there. Right now we have to make sure we keep him healthy for the regular season because he cuts it loose out here.”

RB Ricky Williams wasn’t held out of any drills and is looking quite powerful. But when he could have been resting from the sideline while another unit was on the field this morning he took part in some agility drills with others coming off knee sugeries: RB Ronnie Brown, ILB Channing Crowder and S Renaldo Hill. …

Brown briefly took part in seven-on-seven drills and looked stiff. …

QB John Beck forced a rocket into double coverage that WR Derek Hagan caught about 12 yards away but almost got decapitated by S Jason Allen in a seven-on-seven drill. …

In other AFC East news, the Patriots have signed former Dolphins guard Gene Mruczkowski. He played for the Pats from 2003 through 2006.

[Sunstroke]

Given the state of our QB and WR positions, I am not at all surprised to see the passing game struggling early on in camp. Hopefully they can work out some of the youthful inconsistency before week one gets here.

[DolFan619]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/06/post-saturday-m.html

Post Saturday morning practice report

This is the deal:

Everyone was present and accounted for at practice this morning except for Jason Taylor. Randy Starks, who missed yesterday's morning practice, was present for the afternoon practice and today's work as well.

The Dolphins brought in receiver John Dunlap from North Carolina State to work as a tryout player. The fact the Dolphins lost Tab Perry and with some guys feeling a little sore, there is room for Dunlap to get reps.

As I reported earlier Chad Henne took the first-team QB reps this morning. I wouldn't say it was a great practice for any of the QBs but that is beside the point. "We're competing and everybody is competing," coach Tony Sparano said.

"I want to see Chad in the first huddle. I want to see Josh in the third huddle sometimes. I want to see Beck in the third huddle."

Sparano explained that watching a QB in the first huddle tells him if he fits. Watching one with the second or third teamers tells him if the QB can rise above the other guys. Good stuff, I think.

Talked to Yeremiah Bell, who is one of my favorites based on how tough the guy is and how active he is on the field. Seems when he's on the field, he's always around the action.

Bell, recovering from a 2007 torn Achilles tendon, said he's 95 percent recovered from the injury. "The other five percent will come over the rest of the offseason," Bell said.

As you know from previous blogs, Bell is running with the first teamers. He loves the new defensive system, calling it "player friendly," and thinks he can prosper in it.

"When I'm in there running with the ones I'm going to do everything I can to stay in there," Bell said.

Chances look good he'll do exactly that.

"I'm really impressed with what he's getting done out here on the field," Sparano said of Bell. "He's a good quarterback [for the defense] to have back there."

Talked to Vernon Carey about the switch back to RT. "I'm back home," he said.

He didn't see the switch back as any sort of insult. He did say it took him some time to re-adjust.

"It was shakey at the beginning but that passed," Carey said. "I'm happy."

Guard Steve McKinney, who is not working because he is still recovering from a knee injury that forced him to miss most of 2007, said his goal is to be ready by the start of training camp.

"I don't know if I'll be 100 percent by then but I'll be practicing," he said.

Some highlights:

Best pass of the day came from John Beck who threaded the day's best pass between to defenders and into Derek Hagan's chest. Hagan caught the pass!

Ricky Williams continues to impress. On one running play he vaulted a guard and defensive tackle who were on the ground and clogging the hole. Amazing stuff which leads me to think right now, today, he is the best player Miami has on the field.

Name someone better if you disagree.

By the way, I notice a couple of you are asking how Jake Long or some other offensive linemen are looking. Honestly, I learned long ago that these minicamps are not an indicator of how good or bad and offensive lineman is because there is no hitting or blocking in anger at these camps.

So all I really can tell without blowing smoke is where folks are lining up. It would be ridiculous for me to tell you Jake Long is looking great when he hasn't actually blocked anybody coming at him full speed.

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/06/minicamp-wrap-u.html

Minicamp wrap up: Saturday

Shuffling the depth chart will be a constant for the Dolphins until the regular season gets here, so it wasn't too surprising to see a new starting offensive line on Saturday. But when rookie quarterback Chad Henne took the first snap with the starters during the morning it did open up some eyes.

So did the interception Henne threw on his second pass, an overthrow on a intermediate pattern to tight end David Martin that Will Allen pulled in.

Josh McCown and John Beck split the reps with the second and third team while the rookie finally got some run with players who will likely make the 53-man roster. According to coach Tony Sparano this was strategically done to see how Henne adjusts to better talent, and to see how McCown and Beck handle themselves with less.

McCown was sacked on his first snap, and Beck fumbled a snap in his first series with the third teamers.

The highlight of the morning session was a Beck pass he snuck in between two defensive backs for a deep completion over the middle to Derek Hagan.

As for the shakeup at offensive line, Justin Smiley was finally moved back to left guard, which I suspect he'll end up playing come the regular season. Shawn Murphy, who has been holding onto the starting left guard spot for more than a week, was bumped back to the second team right guard, where he backed up three-year pro Trey Darilek, who has played all five positions on the line in the past two days.

Yesterday Darilek was the second-team left tackle, and today he became a starter. Talk about a promotion. I suspect Darilek, a player Sparano had and liked in Dallas, makes the 53-man roster because of his versatility. But can he be a starter? We'll see.

As for attendance, The Dancer didn't show, which wasn't a surprise. But I suspect Jason Taylor MIGHT be in attendance for next week's OTA work. That's just an educated guess, so don't get all excited. The sit down between he and Bill Parcells, the warden, has hopefully eased some of their tensions. The powerplay is finally over. Now all that awaits is his return to the team.

Michael Lehan (ankle) also wasn't here, but Randy Starks returned following Friday's excused absence.

There was also a new player in the house. John Dunlap, a former Chaminade Madonna standout who attended N.C. State, was given a tryout. While Dunlap, who I'm familiar with from my time as the Hurricanes beat writer, is a fairly talented ATHLETE. He's not the type of receiver the Dolphins presently need. They NEED another return threat to push Davone Bess and Jayson Foster, and that's not Dunlap. He's more of a big body guy.

AFTERNOON SESSION

There were three major highlights of Saturday afternoon's practice.

1. The Ricky Williams stiff arm. On an inside run during team drills Williams put on the after burner after getting past the front seven and stiff armed an unknown player in the secondary. He kept running for another 20 yards even though the play was stopped and when he finally turned back there was Parcells pointing at him, mimicking his stiff arm, and then giving Ricky the OK sign with his fingers. He did it twice. It's safe to say Ricky Williams is Bill Parcells' favorite player on the roster. SAFE!

2. Will Allen picks off redzone pass in 7-on-7. It was the final play of team drills and McCown was trying to sneak a pass behind Allen, who leaped in the air to get his second interception of the day. If only he could catch this well in the games. For the record, Allen did get beat by Ernest Wilford for a redzone touchdown catch in the first play of 7-on-7s.

3. Greg Camarillo's one handed catch. If it was a real game this catch would have been ESPN's No. 1 play of the day. He leaped into the air over Scorpio Babers caught the ball with one hand, and kept on his feet. I'm told Parcells gave Babers an earful for it, but I didn't hear it for myself.

Beck took the first snap in the afternoon and was followed by Henne, who wasn't very sharp in the afternoon. So far I've concluded McCown throws the best deep ball, and is the most athletic. Henne has the rifle. He throws the 15 yard out with heat on it, and Beck MIGHT be the most accurate, but I'm growing concerned about his pocket presence considering the amount of would-be sacks he takes...

Ted Ginn Jr., Patrick Cobbs, Jalen Parmele, Davone Bess and Jayson Foster are the players being worked in the return game. Foster seems to be the fastest returner speed wise....

The second team defensive line is presently Randy Starks at DE, Paul Soliai at NT, and Phillip Merling at DE. I'm still struggling to figure out what unit Rodrique Wright has been playing on, and it's not looking good. Soliai has made some decent plays this weekend, so there might be hope after all.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 12:47:09 PM

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-0607dolphins,0,3086366.story

Dolphins' Rookie QB Chad Henne works with starters

By Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel.com

2:05 PM EDT, June 7, 2008

DAVIE - For those assuming that the Dolphins quarterback competition was a two-man duel between John Beck and veteran Josh McCown, think again, said coach Tony Sparano.

Sparano made it clear that rookie quarterback Chad Henne is in the mix after watching him take snaps with the first team in the first of two practices Saturday morning.

"Yeah, that was an assumption,'' Sparano said. "Because we're competing and everybody's competing and Henne's competing, and the two veteran players knew that when we drafted Henne that he'd be competing. So I think it's important we're going to take a look with whatever the possibilities are.

"I want to see Chad in the first huddle and I want to see Beck maybe in the third group at times and see how he rises.''

Sparano reiterated what Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells said on Thursday in that they like to evaluate quarterbacks when they're under adverse conditions, and not just when things are going smoothly.

Sparano explained that if they're running a 12-play drill, then the snaps could be split 4-4-4 with the quarterbacks and first unit, and if they're running a 15-play period, it could go 3-3-3 and then 1-2-2-1, depending on who he wants to get the extra work that day.

Henne overthrew his receiver on his first play and then was picked off by cornerback Will Allen on his second throw, which was intended for tight end David Martin.

Notes

In other news, as expected defensive end Jason Taylor was the only non-injured player not to attend practice. …

Sparano is utilizing several different offensive line combinations, and opened with rookie Jake Long at left tackle, Justin Smiley at left guard, Samson Satele at center, Trey Darilek at right guard and Vernon Carey at right tackle.

"There is some position flexibility there,'' Sparano said. "A guy like Trey Darilek has played all five positions in the last two days, center, guard, left tackle, right tackle; he played right guard today. So this guy has done a little bit of everything. We need some position flexibility.

"Julius Wilson has played both left and right tackle right now for us. We moved Smiley over to the left side today and took a look at Trey at right guard, just looking for the right pieces. We'll keep moving them around until we find the right five.''

Receiver brought in

General Manager Jeff Ireland said the Dolphins brought in rookie free agent John Dunlap from North Carolina State for a tryout. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was a standout receiver and linebacker for Chaminade Madonna. He had 45 catches for 375 yards with three touchdowns his senior year at N.C. State.

The Dolphins are down a receiver since Tab Perry was cut last week after tearing his Achilles' tendon. Also, receiver David Kircus is nursing a sore quadriceps.

"He's a guy we did some work on [during the draft process] so we brought him in here to take a look at him during the next couple of days,'' Sparano said. "A little bit Tab Perry, and we got a couple of guys sore, so we're trying to save reps in the next couple of days and just get a peek of a young player that we think a little bit of.''

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-0607roth,0,5969869.story

Dolphins' Matt Roth getting worked as outside linebacker

By Omar Kelly
Sun-Sentinel.com

3:40 PM EDT, June 7, 2008

DAVIE - Matt Roth's been pulling double-duty during Dolphins minicamp this weekend.

The former second round pick is presently holding down the starting defensive end spot opposite Vonnie Holliday, but there have been instances during the weekend where Roth's spent a practice session or two working with the outside linebackers.

It's an experiment the Dolphins' new coaches are trying out, gauging Roth's versatility.

"He's a very, very good guy versus the run, and who's developing in his ability to rush the passer," said defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. " I just see him as a good, solid defensive player right now and we haven't gone beyond that."

While Roth admits he's having fun dropping back into coverage, his goal in 2008 is to prove he can be an effective end in a 3-4 scheme.

"It's different because you're dropping back in coverage, and rushing, and playing blocks standing up," Roth said of the experiment. "I've got a good wrestling background so that helps with some of that, but it's definitely different."

"It's fun, but I'm a defensive lineman first," said Roth, who contributed 44 tackles and three sacks last season.

While 2007 was his first season as a full-fledged starter, Roth was disappointed in his output, but admitted he was limited by a groin strain that eventually developed into a hernia as the season progressed. At one point Roth said he spent all week in the training room just to make it to Sundays.

After contributing 30 sacks in his standout career at Iowa, Roth has gotten off to a slow start as a pass rusher in the NFL. He's contributed only 7 ½ sacks in his three seasons, and some analysts are questioning whether he's physically suited to play in a 3-4 scheme.

It wasn't exactly a vote of confidence when the Dolphins used three of its nine draft picks on defensive ends Phillip Merling, Kendall Langford and Lionel Dotson.

"Every year there's people coming in. There's people coming in during the season to take your job," Roth said. "You've got to have thick skin and be willing to work. Competition only makes you better. That's what they preach around here. They'll probably be drafting [defensive ends] next year, and the year after that."

Roth said each year he's felt more comfortable in the 3-4 scheme the Dolphins have used, but he believes this new coaching staff has helped him accelerate his growth.

"I feel comfortable this is going to be a good year for me," Roth said. "What we're doing is a little different than what we did last year. It's more of an attack style, not just two gapping, so that fits me. It's better suited…. I've just got to find ways to use my ability, my tools."

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/06/07/parcells_loving_ricky_camarill.html

Parcells loving Ricky; Camarillo makes play of the day

By Tim Graham | Saturday, June 7, 2008, 04:40 PM

DAVIE — Dolphins poobah Bill Parcells hasn’t been interacting much with the players on the field during mini-camp, but he responded emphatically to the way Ricky Williams ran in the afternoon session of today’s mini-camp.

Williams elicited whoops from his teammates with one particular run. He bolted through an interior hole and got into the secondary in a blink.

Once the 11-on-11 drills broke up, concluding with another long Williams dash, the running back pulled off his helmet to reveal a wide grin as he trotted back.

A beaming Parcells marched up the sideline, flashed the OK sign and yelled “Thatta boy! There ya go!” They gave each other a fist bump.

But receiver Greg Camarillo, who could be on the bubble after the Dolphins acquired so many special teams players this spring, drew the biggest reaction of the day.

In a seven-on-seven drill, Josh McCown arced a long ball down the left sideline. Cornerback Scorpio Babers had perfect positioning, but Camarillo made a sensational leaping catch, corralling the ball with his left hand and bringing it into his body as he hit the turf.

[DolFan619]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/06/saturday-aftern.html

Saturday afternoon practice update

Greg Camarillo and Ricky Williams get the Bill Parcells gold star for this afternoon's practice!

How do I know?

Camarillo caught a 45-yard pass down one sideline in which he was covered but reached up one-handed and scooped the ball out of the air before falling to the turf. "Nice catch Greg," Parcells shouted as he was standing on one sideline of the Nick Saban Memorial Bubble. "Nice catch son!"

Parcells then yelled at corrected the defensive back covering Camarillo. Camarillo also had another nice catch down the opposite sideline in which he came back for the ball thrown behind both he and the DB.

Ricky Williams, meanwhile, was showing a quickness and spurt through the hole I don't remember him having in his extremely limited practice time last season. He blurred through one opening and juked a DB, causing Parcells to meet Williams on the sideline with a fist-pound.

As I mentioned, the Dolphins worked indoors. The cool conditions didn't seem to help Miami's struggling passing game. There were more incomplete passes than complete passes. Both Chad Henne (1) and John Beck (2) had passes batted down at the line of scrimmage.

There were a couple of times that passes were thrown to areas where no receiver was present. Josh McCown was forced to scramble on one occasion when he found no receiver downfield.

The Miami defense must be AWESOME!

Speaking of the defense, Chris Crocker and Nathan Jones took a couple of snaps with the first-team unit at the free safety spot that is also manned by Jason Allen.

Finally, the offensive line setup for today's two practices was different than the past couple of practices I've been able to see. Today the line was LT Jake Long, LG Justin Smiley, C Samson Satele, RG Trey Darilek and RT Vernon Carey.

Before that, rookie Shawn Murphy has been working at LG with Smiley at RG. The Dolphins are mixing and matching to find the best five players, according to coach Tony Sparano.

The Jason Taylor ABSENT FROM MANDATORY PRACTICES meter is now at 4.