Grove sits out practice....Berger and Garner take 1st team snaps....and other notes

[dolphinator86]

here are some notes about practice

About Grove

Starting center Jake Grove (left ankle) sat out the media portion of this morning's Bubble-icious practice. Grove was riding the stationary bike along with reserve defensive end Lionel Dotson. Figure on Grove doing everything possible to play this week, but keep in mind he didn't return to last Thursday's game at Carolina even after backup C Joe Berger went down briefly as well.

Garner and Berger

Speaking of Berger, he was working as the first-team center with Justin Smiley and Nate "Do-It-All" Garner splitting reps at left guard. Berger did some solid work last week after Grove went down on the second play of the second half, but it's interesting to note the Dolphins never ran another Wildcat play (and just three for the game) after Grove went down. They did, however, run their share of shotgun plays with Chad Henne, so you'd figure that shouldn't matter so much whether it's Berger or Grove at center, at least in terms of the Wildcat. Then again, maybe it does with all the straight-ahead running that set seems to call for.

Langford missed most of practice well the part that was covered by the media but was seen running out with no apparent injury.

Media was buzzing about the absence of starting defensive end Kendall Langford from practice. Then, just as we were being escorted out of the Bubble and back toward the press room, here came Langford, running in from the locker room, helmet in hand. His lower half seemed fine. Could he have been receiving treatment on something in his upper half? Don't know yet. Will check.

and here are some other notes....

Jason Taylor, taking practice reps at right OLB, was working on taking his drops and uncharacteristically dropped a pass. If he gets his hands on the ball, it's usually his and often six.

Starting free safety Gibril Wilson was practicing in sweat pants. Could this mean his hammie is acting up again? Backup OLB Charlie Anderson was wearing compression tights on both legs.

Wonder if the signing of Oglesby means the Dolphins plan to rotate their corners a bit as well to take some pressure off the rookies. That's the only position on defense where the Dolphins currently aren't rotating; they see Nate Jones as more of a nickel corner and Jason Allen, of course, is a valued special teamer.

 

[Yamilo]

Damn man, looks like everyone has some type of injury although this is the case more often than not. Those short weeks / thursday night games are killer.

 

[flynryan15]

The Grove thing doesn't surprise me, he had a problem playing the entire season when he was with Oakland. That is why I always waive the red flag when people talk about how the trifecta doesn't pay out big for guys with injury problems.

 

[Elliott 1]

The real question that nobody is dealing with is:

Is Soliai 100% and practicing fully??

Grove will be fine and Berger is fine as well but NT is more important than any of these other positions.

Why are there no reports on Soliai's progress and preparation for Buffalo?