From offensive evolution to defensive strides, five takeaways from Dolphins training camp
The Dolphins still have one more preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night. But Miami concluded training camp with its final practice on Friday, putting an end to 18 summer sessions.
The preseason finale will have a lot of bearing on players who are competing for roster spots and playing time, but the coaching staff and front office have a large body of work to gauge the team with Week 1 about two weeks away.
The last month has seen injury developments, players step up and questions arise as the Dolphins began to transition into preparations for the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 10.
Here are five takeaways from the Dolphins during training camp.
The Dolphins offense isn’t resting on its laurels.
Miami’s offense entered training camp with hopes of building off a record-setting 2022 season. With the core of that unit in place and a better understanding of coach Mike McDaniel’s offense, wide receiver Tyreek Hill said “It definitely can get scary when you think about all the weapons that the Dolphins have.”
Camp saw mixed results, with the defense getting the best of the offense on many days and others where the offense resembled the dynamic group it was for much of last season. But there’s an underlying development that could have explained some of their struggles.
Coaches and players acknowledged that the team was working on improving several things they struggled with last season in an attempt to build off their successes (Media guidelines prevent reporting of specific plays and concepts). Whether they can execute these wrinkles adequately in the regular season remains to be seen. But the offense is at least trying to evolve instead of solely leaning on what they did well last year.
Even without Jalen Ramsey, Miami’s defense is poised for significant improvement.
The loss of Ramsey to a meniscus injury during the second practice could have been a sobering blow to a defense that began the summer with as much hype as any unit in the NFL.
However, in the dozen-plus practices after Ramsey was injured, the Dolphins’ defense showed glimpses of why it could still be a top group in 2023.
Outside linebackers Jaelan Philips and Bradley Chubb were a disruptive duo in team drills, and so were Raekwon Davis, Zach Sieler and Christian Wilkins (pre-hold-in).
Inside linebacker David Long Jr. has made a strong first impression as a running mate to Jerome Baker. The biggest question on defense remains in the secondary, particularly who will replace Ramsey, who may be sidelined until December. Rookie Cam Smith, Noah Igbinoghene and Eli Apple all had good moments, but no player has distinguished themselves. If anything, having multiple options could ultimately be a boon for the position room after injuries undercut the depth in 2022.
“Out of 10, I’d say everybody is on level seven, six or seven, right now,” Chubb said of the defense’s cohesiveness. “We still have some time to get it to 10, but I know when we get to 10, it’s going to look real good.”
For all the focus on left guard, the offensive line still largely hinges on the health of Terron Armstead.
The frantic reaction on social media was understandable last week when Armstead was carted inside the Texans’ facility in Houston after injuring his right leg during team drills.
Though it appears Armstead avoided a major injury, his availability for Week 1 is still unclear. And it was a reminder of how delicate Miami’s offensive line situation is, even as the unit has shown improvement this summer.
Kendall Lamm is poised to be the team’s top swing tackle and start if Armstead is not ready to play. Though the veteran lineman has performed well, there’s no replacing a Pro Bowl-level tackle. His presence has a calming effect on whoever plays left guard. And there’s seemingly a domino effect whenever he’s out of the lineup. Armstead remains one of the team’s most indispensable players.
The Dolphins are serious about their commitment to improving the run game.
Publicly, McDaniel has praised the team’s current group of running backs and the addition of rookie De’Von Achane. Even though the Dolphins were, at best, an average rushing team in 2022, McDaniel has said that was more a byproduct of his lack of calling runs. It’s only the preseason, but Miami has shown a commitment to it and has been rewarded, rushing for 373 yards in two games, the third-most in the NFL (The Cleveland Browns, who are second, have played three preseason games).
Privately, though, the Dolphins have been linked to five running backs — Dalvin Cook, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift and now Jonathan Taylor — to varying degrees this offseason. General manager Chris Grier has frequently said that he will listen and entertain any possible deal, so much of this is just expected due diligence. But it shouldn’t just be a coincidence that the team has been looking for ways to find balance in an offense that was a bit too pass-centric last season.
There are a lot of moving parts to trade for Taylor, specifically, as he also wants a contract extension. Whether one thinks making the move is financially prudent or not, Miami seems committed to ensuring they are not just reliant on the trio of Hill, Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle.
Christian Wilkins’ hold-in is a reminder of many looming negotiations for the Dolphins.
When Sieler and center Connor Williams reported to training camp after skipping portions of the offseason workout program in search of new deals, it appeared the Dolphins would avoid any contract issues this summer.
But after nine practices, Wilkins, who is in the final year of his rookie contract and originally reported to camp, stopped participating in team drills. McDaniel later explained that it was a result of his contract situation. Since Aug. 5, Wilkins only participated in individual drills in what is known around the league as a hold-in, reporting to training camp to avoid daily fines but not practicing while the contract dispute is handled.
McDaniel sidestepped a question about whether the hold-in will extend in the regular season, but the situation highlights the many negotiations the Dolphins will have to maneuver with their ascending young talents.
Not only are Sieler and Williams’ situations unresolved, but players such as Phillips, Waddle and safety Jevon Holland are eligible for extensions after the 2023 season. With the Dolphins already $30 million over the cap for the 2024 season, Miami’s front office will have to do some maneuvering and extension talks for other players on the horizon will only complicate matters.
The Dolphins will have to walk a fine line between rewarding their homegrown talents while also keeping enough space to continue to improve the roster.
This story was originally published August 24, 2023 at 3:06 PM.
