Dolphins training camp report: News, highlights, notes from practice No. 7
As the Dolphins inch closer to their Saturday scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium, the team instituted a few wrinkles to their training camp practice regimen.
For the first time all summer, Miami had officials present during team drills. The Dolphins’ offense mainly picked up where it left off from its previous session Tuesday, performing well in a variety of situational drills. However, an all-too-familiar sight appeared for the unit. The offense was flagged for at least five false start penalties and two in a span of three plays.
Presnap infractions were an issue for the Dolphins’ offense in 2022. The unit’s 22 false start infractions last season were tied for ninth in the NFL. Such issues can arise early in the summer when an offense is working to cohere but it’s something to monitor as the team holds its scrimmage this weekend and a pair of joint practices in the coming weeks.
Some other notable developments from the Dolphins’ seventh training camp practice:
In what was another first, the Dolphins conducted half-field work with 2-on-3 or 3-on-3 pass-catchers/defensive back drills. Some highlights:
▪ Early in the drill, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, targeting wide receiver Robbie Chosen on a go route along the right sideline, was intercepted by cornerback Xavien Howard. It was just Tagovailoa’s second interception in training camp.
▪ Defensive back Bryce Thompson recorded a pass breakup on a short pass to tight end Eric Saubert.
▪ Howard later deflected away a short, low pass to wide receiver Braylon Sanders.
▪ Safety DeShon Elliott broke up a James Blackmon pass to wide receiver Erik Ezukanma along the left sideline.
▪ Cornerback Eli Apple was flagged for defensive interference driving on a short pass.
▪ Wide receiver Daewood Davis caught a 40-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline from Blackmon.
11-on-11s began with defensive lineman Christian Wilkins bursting through the offensive line for a would-be sack of Tagovailoa. It has been a recurring theme for the fifth-year player, whom coach Mike McDaniel praised for his daily energy. Afterward, it was a fairly successful session for the offense, though some plays were beset by the aforementioned penalties.
▪ On third-and-3, Tagovailoa found wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who beat safety Jevon Holland on an out route to pick up a first down. Tagovailoa also completed passes to wideout Tyreek Hill for about 20 yards and Waddle on a shallow cross to convert the chains on third-and-short situations.
▪ One of Tagovailoa’s most impressive throws came in goal-to-go situations, as he found Hill for a 10-yard touchdown on a back-shoulder catch over Howard.
▪ Tagovailoa also threaded a pass to Hill among three defenders on third-and-8. However, it likely would have resulted in a big collision but the defenders pulled up.
▪ Cornerback Kader Kohou was flagged for pass interference while covering Hill on a short route in the middle of the field.
▪ Skylar Thompson also found receivers River Cracraft and Cedrick Wilson Jr. on third-and-short situations to pick up first downs.
▪ In goal-to-go situations, running backs Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Chris Brooks scored on short runs.
▪ White found wideout Braxton Berrios in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score in a goal-to-goal drill.
▪ Rookie running back De’Von Achane’s speed is best on display on outside runs, and he had a pair of impressive rushes on Thursday, beating the defense to the edge for sizable gains. But he had a pair of missed opportunities in the passing game. In one goal-to-go situation, he had his back turned to Tagovailoa running to the sideline and his pass fell at his feet. On another, he had a step on rookie linebacker Aubrey Miller II in the end zone but dropped a back-shoulder pass from White.
The Dolphins’ defense also made its fair share of plays, with the front seven continuing to cause havoc:
▪ Rookie cornerback Cam Smith, who seems to record a pass breakup every practice, got his hands on the ball again. This time, a lunging effort prevented Thompson from completing a short touchdown pass to Cracraft near the left pylon.
▪ Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel had one of his best practices. He recorded a sack, tackle for loss and applied pressure during another goal-to-go play.
▪ Defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah set the edge well to force Ahmed to cut inside on an outside run, and the defense promptly pursued to stop him for a short gain.
▪ In goal-to-go situations, Wilkins recorded a tackle for loss on a run by Ahmed.
▪ Linebacker Cam Goode set the edge to record a run stuff on a Gaskin run.
▪ Defensive back Elijah Campbell recorded a pass breakup in the end zone, deflecting a short, low pass from Thompson to rookie tight end Julian Hill.
▪ Linebacker Bradley Chubb and Raekwon Davis converged on Tagovailoa for a would-be sack in a goal-to-go situation. Cornerback Justin Bethel and linebacker Jaelan Phillips also recorded respective sacks.
The Dolphins wrapped up practice with another new situational drill. Miami’s offense had the ball at the 50-yard line with 30 seconds remaining and one timeout left, trying to get the ball in field-goal range.
▪ First, Tagovailoa completed a pass to Hill in the flat for a 4-yard gain, and the offense used its final timeout. Tagovailoa then completed a 7-yard slant to Hill, who was covered by cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, to the 39-yard line. Tagovailoa spiked the ball with a few seconds remaining, which would have set up a 56-yard field-goal attempt by kicker Jason Sanders.
▪ The situational drill wrapped up with Thompson running the offense. He first completed a pass in the flat to Saubert, who picked up 7 yards and got out of bounds. Thompson then was unable to complete a pass along the right sideline to Cracraft, who was being covered by Apple. On third-and-3, Thompson completed a screen pass to Cracraft but he was stopped short of the first-down marker at 41-yard line. Like the first drill, Sanders did not attempt a field goal.
Attendance
▪ New Dolphins safety Myles Dorn and linebacker Mike Ross practiced for the first time with the team. Dorn and Ross were wearing jersey numbers 35 and 59, respectively.
▪ Offensive tackle Terron Armstead practiced for the second consecutive session but did not participate in team drills.
▪ The following players did not practice: defensive backs Jalen Ramsey (meniscus surgery), Keion Crossen (undisclosed) and Ethan Bonner, and linebackers Duke Riley and Malik Reed. Riley and Reed were seen wearing jerseys and Guardian caps on their helmet but were working on the side in the early portion of practice. They did not participate in individual or team drills. Reed was later seen with teammates but not wearing a helmet or pads.
▪ Defensive backs Brandon Jones and Trill Williams remained in red, non-contact jerseys but participated in team drills for the second consecutive practice.
▪ Cornerback Nik Needham (Achilles) and tight end Tanner Conner (undisclosed) remain on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
▪ Ezukanma went inside the team’s practice facility with a trainer in the middle of practice and did not return.
▪ Chubb was seen walking to the sideline and flexing his left arm during the final practice period.
This story was originally published August 3, 2023 at 2:29 PM.
