Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses quarterback plan this week and gives a Chubb update
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he wants “known” starters to “get some action” in the Dolphins’ second preseason game on Saturday against Washington but stopped short of saying Tua Tagovailoa definitely would play.
But it certainly sounds like the plan is for Tagovailoa and most starters to get at least a bit of work during Saturday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium (7 p.m., CBS 4).
McDaniel said those decisions would be made Friday, following Thursday’s joint practice with Washington.
Tagovailoa has said he wants to play Saturday. Last year, the Dolphins played Tagovailoa and nearly every starter in the second preseason game.
BACKUP QB PLAN
The way the Dolphins have handled the backup quarterback battle has been different than past years, at least recently. In the past, the Dolphins often would alternate second-team quarterback snaps behind Skylar Thompson and Mike White.
Per team rules, reporters aren’t allowed to say what quarterback is working with the second team and what quarterback is working with the third team. But in general, Thompson has taken the majority of non-Tua Tagovailoa snaps in totality this week.
In the past, with regard to alternating second-team quarterback snaps, “we are very routine with the pattern we were giving the opportunities up until this training camp,” Mike McDaniel explained Thursday.
“In the vein of competition, we put our heads together from a staff perspective that that routine might not be doing justice with the players, and the competitiveness would be best served if we changed up the routine for change sake.
“There are so many competing variables to deal with as a quarterback. How does someone respond when you get less reps? [We use] all evaluation tools with not making it as consistent to make sure those are even. [We’re just] patterning it a little differently to make sure the competition stays fresh. We allow the players to tell us who two and who three is.”
There appears to be a genuine competition between Thompson and White for the No. 2 job. White’s $3.5 million salary this season is not guaranteed. McDaniel said last week that the battle is “neck and neck” but didn’t offer an update on that on Thursday. White was the No. 2 quarterback last season.
Thompson played the first half and White played the second half in the preseason opener against Atlanta. Thompson seems to have had the better training camp.
McDaniel addressed other issues on Thursday:
▪ He said edge player Bradley Chubb — who remains on the physically unable to perform list after sustaining a torn ACL on Dec. 31 — has had no setbacks and is progressing.
The goal is “making sure when he’s on the field, he’s there to stay,” McDaniel said. “There’s no timeline, making sure he has no setbacks in the whole process. One of the most popular, if not the most popular player” on the team.
“He’s very wise beyond his years” of “not overstepping boundaries too soon,” McDaniel said.
Chubb was doing rehabilitation work on the field before practice and was out there for several hours. (So was outside linebacker Cameron Goode, who is recovering from a torn patella tendon.)
▪ Where does receiver Erik Ezukanma stand and is there more to extract there?
“As coaches, we are trying to maximize the talent [of players],” McDaniel said. “Erik had a great day yesterday, was the fastest GPS player. Guys are excited to be a part of his journey. We are poring into him to see what can come out.”
This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 9:54 AM.
