Dolphins coach Adam Gase defends his approach in throwing mostly shorter passes

Throughout training camp, most of the passes thrown by Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore have been screens, dump-offs or short to intermediate routes, with some notable exceptions.

And when coach Adam Gase was asked Wednesday if he’s comfortable with the limited number of vertical throws being made in practice, Gase gave an animated response.

"I’m fine with it. I’m the one scripting the plays, calling the plays,” he said. “I’ve had a little success with what we do. There’s a time and a place. There’s also a time and a place not to get sacked 60 times in a year, too."

Gase was just getting started. When asked again later about the larger number of shorter passes during practice, he said:

"The whole league is 10 yards and under. That’s what it is. Nobody is going down the field. There’s one team that does it really, maybe two. Pittsburgh and Arizona. Hold onto the ball and they chuck it down the field.

“More teams than not, it’s 10 yards and under. That’s where all the passing game is. The d-ends are too good. If you want to stand back there and have your quarterbacks get your brains beat out, go at it."

The Dolphins did complete at least two 25-plus yard passes in team drills Wednesday: Moore’s throw to receiver Leonte Carroo and running back Jay Ajayi’s lunging catch on a pass from Tannehill.

Gase said he feels “light years better” about his offense than he did after Saturday’s scrimmage.

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Gase said running back Arian Foster, who has been splitting first-team work with Ajayi, will not play in Friday’s preseason opener at the New York Giants.

I want to be smart,” Gase said. “We’re getting him back to where he’s almost to that point where we can build a full practice, no restrictions.”

Gase declined to say who else would sit out Friday because he wants to talk to the players before telling the media.

Later, when speaking about Carroo, Gase said: “Let’s say if DeVante [Parker] doesn’t go and Carroo is with the ones, we’re going to leave him in the game [after some starters leave]. He’s not going to come out. He needs snaps.”

Asked how much he plans to play his starters Friday, Gase said he would go “by feel” and suggested the defensive starters don’t need to play a long time. But he said offensive players are building “that chemistry. We probably need to try to play [some of them] a little more in the preseason.”

• Besides signing cornerback Chris Culliver, the Dolphins released linebacker Danny Lansanah, who was with the team for only a week, and offensive lineman Jacques McClendon.

• Missing practice Wednesday besides Culliver: cornerbacks Xavien Howard (knee) and Chimdi Chekwa (thigh), running back Kenyan Drake (hamstring), defensive linemen Earl Mitchell (calf) and Farrington Huguenin (ankle), tight end MarQueis Gray (leg), offensive lineman Vinston Painter (knee) and linebacker Zach Vigil (back).

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 9:23 PM with the headline "Dolphins coach Adam Gase defends his approach in throwing mostly shorter passes."