Dolphins coaches dish on Cam Smith’s lack of usage, Baker and Hunt status, more issues
A six-pack of Dolphins notes off Thursday news conferences with several assistant coaches:
▪ Barring injuries or something unexpected Sunday, cornerback Cam Smith will end his rookie season with just 18 defensive snaps in 17 games.
That’s disappointing for the second-rounder, considering Jalen Ramsey missed seven games this season and Xavien Howard (foot injury) is expected to miss his fourth game Sunday against visiting Buffalo (8:20 p.m., NBC).
So what does Smith need to do to eventually become a factor, this season or next?
“Just improve in all areas,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Thursday. “Assignment, technique, execution, know how. Improve in all areas.”
In Howard’s absence, Fangio said he will ride with Eli Apple and Kader Kohou as the other cornerbacks alongside Ramsey. “Eli recently has been playing better than earlier in the season,” Fangio said.
This marks the second consecutive year that a Dolphins defensive coordinator opted not to use Miami’s top defensive draft pick.
Rookie inside linebacker Channing Tindall, picked 102nd overall in 2022, played only nine defensive snaps as a rookie and 12 this season.
Meanwhile, Fangio said Bradley Chubb, who is out for the year with a torn ACL, will be replaced “by committee” — meaning a mix of Melvin Ingram and Emmanuel Ogbah.
▪ Right guard Robert Hunt, who has missed six games this season with a hamstring injury (including four in a row), is “working his tail off to try to get back,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said Thursday. “We’re hopeful” for Sunday.
Receiver Tyreek Hill, who left practice Wednesday to deal with a fire at his home, will play Sunday barring something unforeseen.
“It seems like everything is fine,” Smith said. “He’s the best, as far as how he goes through the game, his competitive nature.”
Since Wednesday’s practice was more of a walkthrough, the Dolphins will get a better idea of the status of receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle), Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee), Hunt and linebacker Jerome Baker (knee) during a more grueling Thursday afternoon practice.
“Today is the day we will ask [Mostert and others] to do [more] things,” Smith said. But then again, “You can feel optimism [going into a] Friday and how Friday goes dictates a lot of our stuff.”
▪ Does Baker look ready to play in a game?
Inside linebackers coach Anthony Campanile said “we will see how he does [Thursday].”
The biggest challenge after missing four games with the sprained MCL is “the speed of it, getting back out there,” Campanile said. “The benefit is he’s super smart, elite-level smart. It gives you a level of comfort as a coach.”
With Jaelan Phillips and Chubb out for the year, the Dolphins must decide whether to maximize Baker’s pass rush skills, either Sunday or in the playoffs, by playing him some on the edge.
“He’s got a wide range of skills,” Campanile said. “He has a knack for it, rushing from the edge or blitzing from the second level.”
In Baker’s absence, Campanile said Duke Riley has “done a great job. He’s a guy everyone on this team loves. I certainly love coaching him. I’m proud of his effort and all the work he’s put into it.”
▪ The Dolphins are very happy with what they’re getting at tight end.
Durham Smythe, close to setting career highs in receptions and yards, is “one of the great parts of our program,” Smith said. “You can’t say enough about the guy. Unbelievable tough minded person who we love coaching because of the way he approaches everything.”
Rookie Julian Hill continues to impress with his blocking and “his physicality,” Smith said. “He loves playing physical. Big physical guys with a complete skill set is huge. Very pleased with him so far.”
Smith noticed this season that Hill asks “very advanced questions” for a rookie.
▪ Liam Eichenberg made his first NFL start at center against Buffalo on Oct. 1 and allowed two sacks that day. But he has been much better when filling in for Connor Williams since then. Williams is out for the year with a torn ACL.
“There have been a lot of improvements” in Eichenberg at center, offensive line coach Butch Barry said. “Every week he has gotten better with that process and his approach to having to play the position.”
The Dolphins allowed four sacks against Buffalo that day; left tackle Terron Armstead left with an injury after 22 snaps.
“We are in a much better place communication”-wise now, compared with that game, Barry said. “It was the first time [with Eichenberg] starting at center in a game. There were cadence issues having to go silent on the road. And we threw more than normal.”
▪ Couple things from special teams coordinator Danny Crossman:
On Baltimore returner Justice Hill’s 78-yard return of the second half kickoff last Sunday: “We had bad fit and late trigger and a terrible play you can’t afford.”...
Crossman said Braxton Berrios has been “close” to breaking a couple of returns: “Really happy where Braxton is. He’s done a nice job. We have to give him a little more help” with blocking.
Berrios ranks 12th in the NFL in punt return average at 10.2 yards per return. He’s a fourth Pro Bowl alternate.
This story was originally published January 4, 2024 at 12:36 PM.
