Several newcomers shine and notes, observations from Day 7 of Dolphins camp
News, notes and observations from Day 7 of Miami Dolphins padded practices:
▪ A day after throwing three touchdown passes, Tua Tagovailoa had fewer opportunities to throw but was decent, his day including two TD passes in red zone drills (to Myles Gaskin and Matt Breida) but also an interception by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who batted the ball and then caught it.
Meanwhile, presumptive starter Ryan Fitzpatrick was at his quintessential streaky best — putting together a day that included seven consecutive incomplete passes at one point but then producing four consecutive touchdowns (one run, three passes) in team red zone drills. That’s Fitzy for you!
(Josh Rosen was also in attendance and had a TD pass to Chester Rogers in red zone work. More on him later today.)
One common theme for all three quarterbacks: They faced heavy pressure, with Emmanuel Obgah, Shaq Lawson and Jason Strowbridge among those generating a strong pass rush. At least six passes were batted down.
Let’s start with the ballyhooed rookie quarterback. In his first 11 on 11 series in team drills, Tagovailoa completed a 20-yard pass to Rogers, with Deatrick Nichols in coverage, and then threw incomplete on a ball that was off target.
On his next 11 on 11 series, Tagovailoa was sacked by the rookie Strowbridge, who beat rookie offensive lineman Robert Hunt; and then overthrew Rogers for an incomplete pass.
A short time later, Tagovailoa threw a beautiful 15-yard pass to receiver Ricardo Louis on his third 11-on-11 series under center. But safety Bobby McCain sacked Tagovailoa soon after that.
Later, in red zone drills, Tagovailoa had a pass broken up by cornerback Breon Borders (who has done good work in the past week) and then was forced to throw the ball away when Strowbridge blitzed him.
But then Tagovailoa passed to Gaskin for a four-yard touchdown on a bootleg, with Gaskin continuing his work good in camp.
With Tagovailoa again behind center in red zone drills, Tagovailoa then threw to Breida for a short touchdown, with Noah Igbinhoghene in coverage. But Van Ginkel then batted that Tagovailoa pass and intercepted it at the 1-yard line.
▪ As for Fitzpatrick, his first 11-on-11 work went thusly: He completed an intermediate pass to Mack Hollins (with Nick Needham in coverage), then completed a short pass to running back Matt Breida (who should be a factor in the passing game with his speed), then completed an intermediate pass to tight end Adam Shaheen, who made a one-handed catch with Needham playing him very tightly; then completed a screen to Jordan Howard; and had a pass tipped at the line.
His second 11-on-11 work included a dump-off to Chandler Cox and an incomplete pass, with Needham doing an excellent job in coverage.
And things went downhill for Fitzpatrick from there, albeit only for a time.
That last play began a string of seven — seven! — consecutive incomplete passes from Fitzpatrick, with one of those batted down at the line.
Another of those errant passes was a deep ball to Hollins. And another of those incomplete passes was Fitzpatrick simply throwing the ball away when facing a heavy pass rush.
Fitzpatrick’s streak of incompletions finally ended with a five-yard completion to DeVante Parker. Then Fitzpatrick delivered a 14-yard TD pass to Shaheen, who had a very good day in his bid to stick as one of Miami’s three tight ends.
Later, Van Ginkel batted down a Fitzpatrick pass at the goal line, but Fitzpatrick then ran a quarterback sneak for a touchdown.
On the next red-zone series, Fitzpatrick got hot, completing three consecutive touchdown passes to Durham Smythe, Mike Gesicki and DeVante Parker (on a jump ball fade, with Byron Jones in coverage).
▪ Ogbah, the veteran free agent pickup from Kansas City, was dynamic on Tuesday, breaking up a screen pass, then beating Jesse Davis for a would-be sack (Davis was flagged for holding) and then deflecting another pass. Ogbah was one reason Fitzpatrick — and the overall passing game — struggled for a stretch of practice.
Lawson, the free agent pickup from Buffalo, had two sacks.
▪ Strowbridge, the rookie fifth-rounder from North Carolina, continues to emerge. He had a would-be sack of Tagovailoa on Saturday, made a few notable plays Monday and had the would-be sack on Tuesday. The Dolphins like that Strowbridge can play both defensive end and defensive tackle.
▪ And kudos to Van Ginkel for those two batted balls and one interception. The second-year edge rusher is seizing his opportunity to become a rotation piece.
▪ Linebacker Kyle Van Noy worked in individual drills with a brace on his right hand, an injury sustained during Monday’s session. But he didn’t participate in team drills, instead running sprints during that time. It’s not considered a longterm injury.
▪ Running back Patrick Laird (shoulder) and receiver Jakeem Grant (lower body) weren’t at practice but don’t have serious injuries and are both day to day, according to sources.
Undrafted rookie receiver Kirk Merritt also missed practice for undisclosed reasons; he faces long odds to make the 53.
And starting receiver Preston Williams, who has had a very good camp, didn’t practice, likely because of the team’s maintenance program in his recovery from November’s ACL surgery.
▪ Safety Kavon Frazier returned to practice after missing three sessions for personal reasons. He’s battling Brandon Jones and Clayton Fejedelem, among others, for the No. 3 safety job.
Igbinoghene also practiced after missing the last half of Monday’s session.
Receiver Ricardo Louis left with an injury.
▪ Cornerback Xavien Howard, still on the COVID-19 list for the 14th consecutive day, rode a stationary bicycle during practice. He’s also on the PUP list after December knee surgery.
▪ Game officials were at practice for the first time. The first flag thrown was a holding penalty against safety Bobby McCain, who was trying to cover receiver Isaiah Ford. Later, left tackle Austin Jackson was flagged for holding against Shaq Lawson.
▪ Needham has come on strong in recent days and is getting a prominent role in team drills. Needham, who had two pass deflections on Tuesday, is the front-runner for the No. 4 cornerback job, with Tae Hayes, Jamal Perry (formerly Jomal Wiltz), Ken Webster, Breon Borders, Picasso Nelson and Deatrick Nichols also competing.
Needham, Borders and Hayes have been the best of the group through a week of practice.
Howard, Byron Jones and Noah Igbinoghene will obviously be on the team, leaving three corner jobs open.
A source said the Dolphins see Nate Brooks as every bit as much a safety — if not more — than a cornerback.
▪ Receiver Hollins, competing for a backup receiver job, has had a strong week. He had two catches, including a one-hander over the shoulder, on Ryan Fitzpatrick’s first two passes in team drills.
▪ Stop the presses: There’s positive Kalen Ballage news. He broke multiple tackles for a long run during one of the series handled by Tagovailoa.
▪ With Grant and Williams out, Rogers and Malcolm Perry returned punts. And Perry dropped one of those punts.
Keep in mind he had a fumble (not on a return) on Monday and the drop on Tuesday. On the bright side, he also had the 69-yard TD catch from Tagovailoa on Monday and continues to show flashes as he learns the slot receiver position.
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 11:56 AM.
