One thing the Dolphins absolutely must fix. And a Beckham update and more
Enough is enough. That’s the view internally about the Dolphins’ flood of penalties early in the season.
The Dolphins entered Week 4 ranked fifth in the league in penalties with 27, second in false starts with 7, third in penalty yardage with 238 and tied for fifth with six offensive holding penalties.
Receiver Tyreek Hill said it must stop.
“When we get a big gain, we’ll either get illegal formation or we’ll get a holding,” he said. “We’re always starting drives behind the eight ball. We always shoot ourselves in the foot. We always have a lot of penalties. We’ll get a big 12-yard gain, flag. It will be first-and-20. It’s tough.
“As a head coach or offensive coordinator, it’s tough calling plays whenever it’s first-and-20 and it’s like you already got plays designed for second-and-three or second-and-five or whatever. We’ve got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and start trusting our fundamentals, trusting our technique, relying on each other, and playing as a team. Leaders and captains, we’ve done a great job of telling both sides of the ball that.
“I’ve done a great job of telling the young guys, ‘Hey, trust your technique. Trust your fundamentals. Don’t try to go outside of that to make a play,’ you know what I’m saying? It’ll all fall together.”
▪ Tight end Julian Hill is tied for second in the league with six penalties, behind only Houston tackle Laremy Tunsil, who has nine. But Hill has played the most of the tight ends because he has been a very effective blocker.
“I’ve got eliminate the penalties, the holding, the little things that I can control,” he said. “If I can take that out of my game, I can see my game go even higher. That’s what we’re focusing on right now. I’m definitely being hard on myself. I’m better than that [six penalties]. I’m going to be better than that. I plan to show that this Monday that I’m improving and I’m going to get better with my hands and clean up mistakes.”
Guard Liam Eichenberg and linebacker Anthony Walker have the next most penalties on the team (three apiece).
BECKHAM UPDATE
Receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who hasn’t practiced at all this summer because of an unspecified offseason procedure, is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday. But NFL Network said his return date is now uncertain.
NFL Net reported Sunday that “the plan has been to open his practice window this week,” but now “things remain fluid and his return timeline is to be determined.”
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has said that Beckham hasn’t had any setbacks but has declined to say when he might make his Dolphins debut.
“I’m optimistic when his window opens up,” McDaniel said last week. “We will see how his body responds.”
General manager Chris Grier said in late August that Beckham wanted to begin the season on the active roster but the team decided to be more cautious. Grier declined to discuss the procedure that has caused his absence.
Once Beckham practices for the first time, it would open a 21-day practice window after which he must be moved to the 53-man roster or remain out for the season.
Linebacker Bradley Chubb and guard Isaiah Wynn also are eligible to come off PUP this week, but there’s no indication that either will do so. Grier hedged in late August when asked if Wynn definitely will play this season; Wynn has been doing some work and working up a sweat. Players on PUP are not permitted to speak with reporters.
RAMSEY VS HOPKINS
Monday’s game will mark the 14th time that Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins play in the game game.
When they’ve been matched up in previous games, Hopkins has caught 53 of 103 targets for 615 yards and three touchdowns. That equals 47 reception yards per game. Hopkins said they’re friends.
“He’s had some good ones against me; I’ve had some good ones against him,” Ramsey said. “He probably lives like 10 minutes from me” in Tennessee during the offseason. “When I go back home, we kick it sometimes. Nothing crazy. Have some dinner, hang out, kick it.”
▪ De’Von Achane revealed that the team’s leadership council recommended that the Dolphins hold their first practice of the week in pads this season, and Mike McDaniel agreed to that. The Dolphins traditionally don’t wear pads for that initial practice of the week, which was Thursday this week instead of the usual Wednesday because the team is playing on Monday Night Football.
▪ Tyreek Hill, on Tyler Huntley, who will start at quarterback for Miami on Monday: “I’ve been watching film of him since he’s got here, I’m like, ‘This dude can make every throw. This dude is special with his legs.’ He’s a special talent. The only thing — we’ve got a lot of things that go into this offense. We got motions, we’ve got getting the play out before, so he’s done a good job of staying in the film room learning all of that stuff.”
▪ The Dolphins have until Monday afternoon to make practice squad elevations for Monday’s game... Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick call Monday’s 7:15 p.m. game for ESPN, with CBS-4 simulcasting it locally.
This story was originally published September 29, 2024 at 4:29 PM.
