MIAMI GARDENS — It’s a little more than one week into Miami Dolphins training camp and there’s reason for optimism as well as pessimism. We’ll leave it to you as to which side you choose.
Coach Mike McDaniel’s offense is operating at a fairly efficient rate and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense has a front seven that’s capable of creating major havoc in the run and pass games.
But there are concerns.
Offensively, the backup quarterback and the backup offensive line, which have both played a major role in the Dolphins’ seasons in the past three years, have questions.
Defensively, the starting cornerbacks leave a lot to be desired, and depth in the secondary is being eyed with suspicion.
Still, football is back and there’s reason to be excited.
Here’s what we’ve learned about this Dolphins team so far:
2025 first- and second-round picks are promising
Rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, the first-round pick, and rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea, the second-round pick, have been good through the early part of training camp. Grant is a run-stuffer and he’s lived up to that reputation. Savaiinaea is big and agile, and he’s lived up to those labels.
Both are central parts of the Dolphins’ agenda to build up the trenches, get more physical, and trying to win with youth and draftees.
2024 first- and second-round picks are promising
The top two picks of the 2024 draft — edge rusher Chop Robinson and left tackle Patrick Paul, respectively — are looking good. Robinson, who posted 6.0 sacks last season thanks to a late surge, has been a beast while playing behind and alongside veteran edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb.
Paul, who played sparingly last season, has snuffed out every threat in training camp from Chubb to Phillips to Robinson.
General manager Chris Grier, at this point, deserves credit for his first- and second-round picks in each of the past two years.
Lots of players are on the upswing
Among the players having a notably strong training camp are quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, running backs De’Von Achane and Alexander Mattison, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Paul, Savaiinaea, Grant, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, Robinson, Chubb and Phillips, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Willie Gay Jr., cornerback Storm Duck and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Backups are struggling at many positions.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Strengths and weaknesses observed from camp | VIDEO
Tagovailoa has been money
Tagovailoa hasn’t thrown an interception through nine practices. But he isn’t putting too much stock into that statistic. He said he has two of three things he wants to accomplish every practice and that’s how he judges whether or not it’s been a good day.
Starting OL must stay healthy
The backup offensive line hasn’t been good. The likely starting offensive line of Paul, Savaiinaea, center Aaron Brewer, right guard James Daniels and right tackle Austin Jackson, who missed Saturday’s practice and could be out “weeks” with a lower body injury, must stay healthy this season or the outlook is cloudy. Among backups, center Andrew Meyer has been decent, guard-tackle Kion Smith has struggled to find his groove even though he had his best day Saturday, and center Addison West, guard-tackle Jackson Carman, and tackles Ryan Hayes and Larry Borom have been inconsistent. It’s too early to know about guard Daniel Brunskill and tackle Jalen McKenzie.
Front 7 has been borderline dominant
The defensive front seven of nose tackle Benito Jones, tackles Sieler and Grant, Chubb, Phillips and Robinson, Brooks, fellow inside linebacker Tyrel Dodson and Gay have been incredibly disruptive in the run and pass games.
They’re getting sacks from the inside and outside, setting the edge on runs, getting tackles for losses and generally making life tough for the offense. They could develop into a game-changing or even game-winning crew.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Grant and Savaiinaea look good… and tough | VIDEO
Cornerback situation troubling
Among the projected starting cornerbacks, Strom Duck has been the standout. It’s too soon to know about newly-acquired Jack Jones, newly-acquired nickel/slot Mike Hilton and newly-acquired Cornell Armstrong. But Cam Smith, the 2023 second-round pick, hasn’t emerged. Kendall Sheffield has been up and down. The same is true for Ethan Bonner, rookie fifth-round pick Jason Marshall Jr., Isaiah Johnson and Ethan Robinson. Undrafted rookie BJ Adams has been in concussion protocol recently but he’s flashed.
Losing last year’s starting cornerbacks trio of Jalen Ramsey (traded to Pittsburgh), Kendall Fuller (released) and nickel/slot Kader Kohou (knee) has really hurt.
Minkah looks good
Fitzpatrick has looked good throughout training camp and his interception against quarterback Zach Wilson has perhaps been the best we’ve seen (Marshall had an incredibly athletic grab, too). No one has gotten behind Fitzpatrick when he’s been deep. He’s been an outstanding addition to a talent-hungry secondary.
Zach Wilson is the backup QB
Quarterback Zach Wilson, who McDaniel called a “direct, calculated target” in March, is the backup behind Tagovailoa. McDaniel said rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, the rookie seventh-round pick from Texas, can change that scenario through his play. But considering Wilson, the No. 2 pick of the 2021 draft by the New York Jets, is earning $6 million, it seems Ewers is a longshot to become the No. 2 quarterback.
McDaniel not doing 180-degree change
For years, McDaniel has been accused of being too much of a player’s coach and being afraid to lower the boom, so to speak, for infractions such as tardiness to meetings or practice.
McDaniel was asked whether he’d make a change and become more of a jerk. He said it’s not necessary.
“I think there’s a lot of scars with professional athletes,” McDaniel said, “and to gain their listening you have to earn trust, and it’s been notable how I’ve attempted to earn trust with players, and that’s not to be confused with setting out expectations and delivering on those.
“I think with time, and putting together the right group of people, it’s very easy for me to hold players accountable especially when they don’t hear it wrong and know it’s for their benefit.”
We’ll see if McDaniel’s way is the winning way.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Panic time for Miami’s secondary? | VIDEO
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