Kelly: Let’s avoid putting lofty expectations on Dolphins youngsters | Opinion
Everything that was coming out Cam Smith’s mouth got lost, not in translation, more so via distraction because the diamonds and gold that decorated his smile shifted the focus.
The Dolphins second-year cornerback was sporting a top and bottom diamond grill he seemingly wore during practice, and he seemingly wanted to sport the decorative mouthpiece for one of his rare media interviews.
And why not since Smith’s back on the field, feeling good physically and mentally, and seemingly wanted to showcase his smile.
“There’s a reason I’m here,” said a more-confident Smith than the player who sulked around the facility last season, a season where he fell into former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s doghouse and never found his way out. “I’m honing in on the talent that I have and listening to what [my coaches] have to say about the little things that I need to work on, and applying those every day.”
Smith’s on a short list of players whose NFL future’s in the balance during the next two weeks., Starting with Thursday’s joint practice against the Washington Commanders, the 13 days that lead up to the NFL’s Aug. 27 cut down day will shape who he becomes as a professional.
While Smith’s status on the Dolphins isn’t in jeopardy because NFL franchises rarely move on from early draftees after one season, how this 2023 second-round pick practices and performs the next few days will carve out what his role will be in Anthony Weaver’s new defense.
Last year, Smith had a strong training camp, but bit on a double move in Miami’s final preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and paid a steep price for it. Even though Miami had a tremendous need for cornerback help due to injuries last season, the team turned to everyone but the former South Carolina standout, and privately blamed his lack of maturity for his slow start.
“He certainly has some scars from the previous year, which if you didn’t play a lot and you’re wondering why, that’s going to occur with any young player in that situation,” Weaver said. “He needs to be confident. He can’t be afraid to go on that practice field and make mistakes and fear repercussions, particularly at the corner spot.
These are the struggles all young players go through, but the problem gets magnified the earlier a player gets drafted.
And that’s why Smith’s just one of the many youngsters, joining Liam Eichenberg, Channing Tindall and Erik Ezukanma — laboring to live up to lofty expectations placed on them because of their draft status.
Problem is, every draft pick isn’t going to be a Dolphins Ring of Honor player.
Everybody isn’t going to become an immediate starter, or hold onto a starting position past a few games.
And even fewer deserve the team’s patience, or a second contract.
The key is for these youngsters to find a lane, embrace their role and fill it to the best of your capabilities.
That’s what the Dolphins seem to be doing with the 2024 crop of draftees, which feature three players in Chop Robinson, Patrick Paul and Jaylen Wright, who all seem like they will be immediate contributors.
Jaelan Phillips’ return from the physically unable to perform list and involvement in practice this week should take some of the pressure off Robinson to become an immediate starter.
The 2024 first-round pick came to the Dolphins as an unfinished product because of his struggles setting the edge and finishing plays. But his get-off, Robinson’s ability to time the snap of the ball just right, helps him gain an advantage on blockers that will benefit Weaver’s defense.
That’s why we should expect him to be on the field for obvious passing downs. But right now, being an every-down starting edge player might be too much of an ask.
Rookies need time usually. Phillips didn’t become an every-down edge player until the second half of his rookie season.
Miami needs to start with small doses, small bites of the apple for players such as Smith, Robinson, Paul and Wright.
The Dolphins should put enough on their plate to fill them up, and if they handle it, then put more in front of them.
Paul started and played well into the fourth quarter of Miami’s first preseason game, and was one of the team’s top performers in that contest. Now, with a more forceful Washington defensive line coming to town, Miami’s coaches will see if he can build on that success.
“Pat is going to be serious. He’s a mammoth of a man,” fellow offensive tackle Kendall Lamm said. “I tell him, ‘Look, they brought you here for a reason. Me and T-Stead [Terron Armstead] aren’t the youngest. Our bodies start to go as they go.’ Pat is going to be here. I’ve seen a lot of things happen. Game 3 or 4, maybe 1, you’re in there.
“That’s why I tell Pat to approach every day like you’re the guy because before you know it, you’re going to be the guy,” Lamm continued. “So you might as well mentally get ready for it.”
The goal is to avoid throwing them into the deep end, where they can drown.
But Miami can’t afford too many cases like Smith’s, where a player is put on ice for one reason or another, and begins to question his confidence and outsiders question their talent.
There needs to be the right kind of balance.
“I think it is very hard to be a rookie in the National Football League, and even more so, to be able to contribute from a varsity level in regular season week in and week out,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “I do think that we have the appropriate character in this draft class for some guys to do that and the team is counting on it.”
