Dolphins training camp week 1 winners and losers

[DKphin]

[h=4]Winners[/h] WR Jakeem Grant - The rookie may have had the best first week of any player on the team. He is making people realize just how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands, and he is going to end up making it hard for the Dolphins coaching staff to not get him involved in the offense this year. His size will continue to be a concern, especially once preseason games starts and the hitting goes up another notch, but if Grant can continue to move around like he has been in the first week, the Dolphins may have an incredible weapon on their hands. He has double clutched some of the passes and punts that have come his way, but overall, it was a good week for Grant.
Defensive line - Miami’s defensive line held themselves in check during the first three days of training camp, then, when the pads came on for the fourth practice, so did the pressure. Cameron Wake, Mario Williams, Ndamukong Suh, Chris McCain, Jason Jones, etc., etc. McCain may be the biggest winner of the group, but as a whole, the defensive line took it to the offensive line. Now it will be up to the offensive line to respond, and the defensive line to show that they can keep this type of pressure up all season.
RB Arian Foster - The Dolphins signed Foster to be the veteran in the running backs group and push presumed starter Jay Ajayi. After the first week, Ajayi is on the sideline with a bone bruise to his knee, Foster has come off the Physically Unable to Perform list and found his way up the depth chart to taking the majority of the first team reps. When Ajayi comes back, the competition will continue between the two, but Foster seems to be trying hard to make sure it is a competition and not just the veteran pushing Ajayi from the second position on the depth chart.
G Billy Turner - The offensive line has not had a great first week, but Turner appears to be well ahead of anyone else in the battle for the starting right guard position. The coaches seem impressed with his play thus far, and he could be well on his way to locking himself into the starting role.

[h=4]Losers[/h] CB Xavien Howard - Howard has had to start his rookie training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after having a knee scope this summer. He will likely be back in a week or two, but that is important practice time he is missing. Howard was expected to claim the starting spot opposite Byron Maxwell, but that appears to be a long-shot now, and the Dolphins are trying to find an answer for the position.
DE Dion Jordan - Jordan should be in the winners list after being reinstated following his 15-month suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The problem is, he reported to camp and had to be placed on the Non-Football Injury after having to have his knee cleaned - similar to what Howard had to have done. Jordan needs to get back on the field, but for now, he is still not able to fully re-join his teammates and start working his way into a roster spot.
CB Tony Lippett - The PUP listing for Howard should have opened the door for Lippett, but rather than kick it open and storm his way into the starting lineup, he hesitated in the door frame and allowed Chimdi Chekwa to work his way into first team reps. Lippett has simply been inconsistent early in camp, and he has to improve that in order to lock down a position that is ripe for the taking.
K Marshall Koehn - Brought in to challenge Andrew Franks as the team’s kicker, Koehn has struggled and this appears to be a completed position battle at this point.

http://www.thephinsider.com/2016/8/3/12368806/dolphins-training-camp-week-1-winners-and-losers

 

[hoops]

I hope that billy turner stuff is right...go with the option that gives us the highest ceiling

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

I hope that billy turner stuff is right...go with the option that gives us the highest ceiling

I hope you are correct. Two big advantages of Turner winning the job over Bushrod is that Bushrod can be a backup at multiple positions (including LT) and Turner is younger and hopefully less prone to injury.

Albert-Tunsil-Pouncey-Turner-James

Backups - Bushrod, Urbik, Douglas, and Young

 

[hoops]

I hope you are correct. Two big advantages of Turner winning the job over Bushrod is that Bushrod can be a backup at multiple positions (including LT) and Turner is younger and hopefully less prone to injury.

Albert-Tunsil-Pouncey-Turner-James

Backups - Bushrod, Urbik, Douglas, and Young

if turner shows he can also play a competent depth right tackle I think they cut young...but maybe not when they gave him $900k already...active depth bushrod and douglas makes sense to me...pivot and a tackle option

I just don't think anyone else other than turner and urbik has right guard strength and turners ceiling is much higher

 

[maralieus]

Come on Lippett!

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

if turner shows he can also play a competent depth right tackle I think they cut young...but maybe not when they gave him $900k already...active depth bushrod and douglas makes sense to me...pivot and a tackle option

I just don't think anyone else other than turner and urbik has right guard strength and turners ceiling is much higher

Is Turner getting any reps at RT? Urbik can play all three interior positions. I dislike having a starter as the #1 backup for another position on the line. I would like to see a legitimate (we are willing to put him in the game) backup at every position. Bushrod gives you that at LT, Urbik for both G positions, Douglas at C and Young at RT. If Young isn't good enough then I'd like to see a plan B that doesn't involve moving Turner to RT and bringing in a backup RG if James gets hurt.

This is one of reasons why I wanted Bushrod or Tunsil to not start. Either can be a backup at a position where the starter gets hurt almost every year.

The Dolphins have been cursed. Their best linemen aren't durable and their terrible linemen never miss a snap.

 

[Travis34]

Wouldn't have guessed Turner on there, seems like we haven't heard much on him thus far.. Which could be a good thing. But what scares me is that when Tunsil is at LG it sounded like Thomas usually shifted over to RG? So who's really the favorite? I hope Turner wins out, like hoops said, highest potential.

Having Bushrod at multiple back up spots sounds good. Douglas and Urbik active? Maybe carry more on the roster but I'm cutting Thomas no matter what

 

[hoops]

yes turner has been getting some 2nd team tackle reps...right tackle

he got beat by McCain for one of mccains sacks the other day...

 

[tay0365]

Well, nobody has tackled the ugly elephant in the room, so I guess I must, even though a starting O-line of
Albert-Tunsil-Pouncey-Turner-James, with Bushrod, Urbik, Douglas, and Young as the Backups would be great, Dallas Thomas continues to be on the 1st team, and stories continue to come out that the new coaching staff likes him, so there is a very good chance (Unless he again falls on his face in pre-season games) that Dallas is not only going to be on the roster, but might start.

How does this guy continue to survive being sent on his way? If he is indeed kept, he better play like someone that deserves to be there.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

Well, nobody has tackled the ugly elephant in the room, so I guess I must, even though a starting O-line of
Albert-Tunsil-Pouncey-Turner-James, with Bushrod, Urbik, Douglas, and Young as the Backups would be great, Dallas Thomas continues to be on the 1st team, and stories continue to come out that the new coaching staff likes him, so there is a very good chance (Unless he again falls on his face in pre-season games) that Dallas is not only going to be on the roster, but might start.

How does this guy continue to survive being sent on his way? If he is indeed kept, he better play like someone that deserves to be there.

Is there any doubt he will fail in games? It is the one certainty on the Dolphins.

 

[fininpsl]

I have no problem if Dallas Thomas is here as a backup. We just need to have found a replacement in the starting lineup at this pint. You aren't going to have 9 starting caliber o-linemen on your roster. And imho if Dallas sticks he will end up behind Douglas depth wise so it's not like he'd be the first man in after an injury.

 

[Eesti]

Is Turner getting any reps at RT? Urbik can play all three interior positions. I dislike having a starter as the #1 backup for another position on the line. I would like to see a legitimate (we are willing to put him in the game) backup at every position. Bushrod gives you that at LT, Urbik for both G positions, Douglas at C and Young at RT. If Young isn't good enough then I'd like to see a plan B that doesn't involve moving Turner to RT and bringing in a backup RG if James gets hurt.

This is one of reasons why I wanted Bushrod or Tunsil to not start. Either can be a backup at a position where the starter gets hurt almost every year.

I haven't heard any positives on Douglas yet. I haven't seen anything that makes me comfortable with him as the #1 option to backup Pouncey. I think Urbik is practicing at center as well as McClendon. Not a true center among them.

 

[DolphinDevil28]

They listed Xavien Howard as a "loser," but the biggest thing I took from that is the writer saying he will likely be back in a week or two. I hope he knows what he's talking about, because boy we need him out there.

 

[Eesti]

They listed Xavien Howard as a "loser," but the biggest thing I took from that is the writer saying he will likely be back in a week or two. I hope he knows what he's talking about, because boy we need him out there.

Look at all the players who have spent their rookie pre-seasons injured. They are always so far behind that they contribute very little during the season. Dion Jordan, DeVante Parker. Even if he comes back week one, all those practice snaps are lost and now they are in the middle of game planning with no time to teach someone so far behind. Add to that they never really got a look at him to begin with other than OTA's. Where does he get snaps? He will likely not even contribute until mid-season, if at all.

 

[where's th'fish]

Well, nobody has tackled the ugly elephant in the room, so I guess I must, even though a starting O-line of
Albert-Tunsil-Pouncey-Turner-James, with Bushrod, Urbik, Douglas, and Young as the Backups would be great, Dallas Thomas continues to be on the 1st team, and stories continue to come out that the new coaching staff likes him, so there is a very good chance (Unless he again falls on his face in pre-season games) that Dallas is not only going to be on the roster, but might start.

How does this guy continue to survive being sent on his way? If he is indeed kept, he better play like someone that deserves to be there.

Dallas Thomas is Chuck Norris. He's invincible. He'll be here long after we're all gone.