### Marino has become more visible and involved in his second season with the Dolphins, backup quarterback Matt Moore said.
“He’s around a lot,” Moore said. “[Offensive coordinator] Zac Taylor will ask what he thinks; he gives his opinion. He definitely has got input.”
And even when coaches aren’t in the room, “Dan likes to watch tape with us [the quarterbacks] on our own,” Moore said. “It’s great for us. Dan has fit in perfectly in our family. He’s one of the guys. He’s always asking us when we’re doing something, when we’re watching tape.”
Practice squad quarterback Logan Thomas said “we pick his brain because he passed for a million yards. He will notice stuff an opponent is doing and tell us.”
When Thomas first met him, Marino said, “I’m Dan Marino.”
Thomas' response? “Yeah, I know.”
Marino, who has the title of special advisor, also watches tape of pro and college players with Dolphins executive vice president/football operations Mike Tannenbaumand with coaches, and also bounces into team meetings.
“Being around the players; it’s been a lot of fun,” Marino told the team’s web site. “I’ve enjoyed it a lot.”
So with coordinator Bill Lazor fired, why not put Marino on the field – as an assistant coach – for the final few games and see if he can help get Ryan Tannehill back on track? That wasn’t discussed because Marino has expressed no interest in doing that and both sides are comfortable with his role.
### The Dolphins are disinclined to get an early jump with their free agents. They will examine the full body of work and make decisions after the season.
### It wouldn’t be surprising if the Dolphins move on from Jamar Taylor, and his struggles especially frustrate this regime because they strongly believe he has every physical element needed to be a quality cornerback, and “he works as hard as anybody I’ve been around,” coordinator Lou Anarumo said.
Here’s the grim big picture story: If Taylor doesn't improve, that means only two of the Dolphins’ nine-second round picks from 2008 through 2014 (Jarvis Landry, Koa Misi) became or are likely to become longterm starters here. That’s dismal.
The other seven: Phillip Merling, Chad Henne, Pat White, Sean Smith (left in free agency; now a solid starter for Kansas City), Daniel Thomas, Jonathan Martin and Taylor.
Taylor, incidentally, likely will be active against the Giants after being on the inactive list last week, Dan Campbell said.
### The Dolphins are intrigued by what they’ve seen in practice from Tony Lippett, who rose to the No. 4 cornerback job for the Ravens game.
Lippett, a converted receiver who spends a lot of his off time studying video tape of big corners (Sean Smith, Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner), said: “I’m not going to say it’s second nature yet, but I’m getting close to it.”
Campbell likes him: “He’s a phenomenal athlete and he’s got really good ball skills. Obviously he played receiver at Michigan State. His development has got to come on some of the transition routes, things of that nature downfield. But as far as getting in somebody’s grill and playing them man-to-man and going down field competing for the ball, he is as good as anybody.”
### With the Giants visiting Monday night, it’s difficult to understate how tepid Miami’s offense has been at home (aside from the Houston game).
The Dolphins had 17 first downs in their last two home games combined. Only two teams (49ers, Rams) average that few for one game, let alone two. As perspective, Arizona averages 24 per game.
### Though rookie Jordan Phillips has displayed a knack for knocking down passes, and though he played well in Earl Mitchell's absence against the Ravens, the Dolphins indicated last week that they're likely to reinsert Mitchell as the starter. Campbell said Mitchell will be available against the Giants.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...he-scenes-dolphins-canes-marlins-chatter.html
“He’s around a lot,” Moore said. “[Offensive coordinator] Zac Taylor will ask what he thinks; he gives his opinion. He definitely has got input.”
And even when coaches aren’t in the room, “Dan likes to watch tape with us [the quarterbacks] on our own,” Moore said. “It’s great for us. Dan has fit in perfectly in our family. He’s one of the guys. He’s always asking us when we’re doing something, when we’re watching tape.”
Practice squad quarterback Logan Thomas said “we pick his brain because he passed for a million yards. He will notice stuff an opponent is doing and tell us.”
When Thomas first met him, Marino said, “I’m Dan Marino.”
Thomas' response? “Yeah, I know.”
Marino, who has the title of special advisor, also watches tape of pro and college players with Dolphins executive vice president/football operations Mike Tannenbaumand with coaches, and also bounces into team meetings.
“Being around the players; it’s been a lot of fun,” Marino told the team’s web site. “I’ve enjoyed it a lot.”
So with coordinator Bill Lazor fired, why not put Marino on the field – as an assistant coach – for the final few games and see if he can help get Ryan Tannehill back on track? That wasn’t discussed because Marino has expressed no interest in doing that and both sides are comfortable with his role.
### The Dolphins are disinclined to get an early jump with their free agents. They will examine the full body of work and make decisions after the season.
### It wouldn’t be surprising if the Dolphins move on from Jamar Taylor, and his struggles especially frustrate this regime because they strongly believe he has every physical element needed to be a quality cornerback, and “he works as hard as anybody I’ve been around,” coordinator Lou Anarumo said.
Here’s the grim big picture story: If Taylor doesn't improve, that means only two of the Dolphins’ nine-second round picks from 2008 through 2014 (Jarvis Landry, Koa Misi) became or are likely to become longterm starters here. That’s dismal.
The other seven: Phillip Merling, Chad Henne, Pat White, Sean Smith (left in free agency; now a solid starter for Kansas City), Daniel Thomas, Jonathan Martin and Taylor.
Taylor, incidentally, likely will be active against the Giants after being on the inactive list last week, Dan Campbell said.
### The Dolphins are intrigued by what they’ve seen in practice from Tony Lippett, who rose to the No. 4 cornerback job for the Ravens game.
Lippett, a converted receiver who spends a lot of his off time studying video tape of big corners (Sean Smith, Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner), said: “I’m not going to say it’s second nature yet, but I’m getting close to it.”
Campbell likes him: “He’s a phenomenal athlete and he’s got really good ball skills. Obviously he played receiver at Michigan State. His development has got to come on some of the transition routes, things of that nature downfield. But as far as getting in somebody’s grill and playing them man-to-man and going down field competing for the ball, he is as good as anybody.”
### With the Giants visiting Monday night, it’s difficult to understate how tepid Miami’s offense has been at home (aside from the Houston game).
The Dolphins had 17 first downs in their last two home games combined. Only two teams (49ers, Rams) average that few for one game, let alone two. As perspective, Arizona averages 24 per game.
### Though rookie Jordan Phillips has displayed a knack for knocking down passes, and though he played well in Earl Mitchell's absence against the Ravens, the Dolphins indicated last week that they're likely to reinsert Mitchell as the starter. Campbell said Mitchell will be available against the Giants.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...he-scenes-dolphins-canes-marlins-chatter.html
