Lots of news, notes from final Dolphins' practice of offseason

[fisi]

he final day of the Dolphins’ spring/summer program featured some of Ryan Tannehill’s best work of the offseason, including a perfectly thrown deep pass to Jarvis Landry and several pinpoint throws to Jordan Cameron, Greg Jennings and others for touchdowns in red zone drills.
Tannehill has developed very good chemistry with Cameron; they’ve connected on several touchdowns in the back of the end zone this offseason. And Jennings has consistently found a way to get open, on slants and other routes.
Tannehill “has had a good offseason,” Joe Philbin said. “He and I visited one and one [Tuesday] and talked about some things…. Conceptually, we’ve added a couple things slightly different.”
Now in his second season working with offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, Tannehill said he feels “really comfortable in this offense in the sense of knowing exactly where everyone is supposed to be and being more of a coach on the field this year as opposed to trying to learn the whole system with everyone else like I did last year…. The pieces we have added… we have a plethora of different options to attack people.”
There’s a lot Philbin feels good about with this offense.
“We feel better about our plan, our scheme, our utilization of people,” Philbin said in his final media session for six weeks.


Tim Semisch, the 6-8 rookie tight end, continued to impress, using his length to make two receptions in the end zone. Am really feeling this guy, he's the tallest player on our roster. he can be a great red zone target for the team, something that was missing the post two years.

Michael Preston, a major long shot at receiver, continues to make plays. Micheal Preston is not a MAJOR LONG SHOT. He will make the team, the guy is a 6.5' WR with speed and good hands. He is my surprise pick for the 5th wR spots.


http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...-of-offseason-qb-rb-o-line-and-much-more.html

 

[nick1]

Preston over Mathews and Hazel? highly doubtful. a 4.6 40 doesn't show much speed either

but I think Tim Semisch has a decent shot

 

[fisi]

hazel is still PS eligible. Mathews is as good as gone parhaps traded. If Micheal Preston makes the team, he will be tallest and also fastest wr on the roster. With wallace gone, you need speed down field sometimes.

 

[nick1]

hazel is still PS eligible. Mathews is as good as gone parhaps traded. If Micheal Preston makes the team, he will be tallest and also fastest wr on the roster. With wallace gone, you need speed down field sometimes.

maybe you are seeing something I don't but with a 4.6 he is just about the slowest WR on the roster as it is today

 

[Daytona Fin]

Ryan seems to be taking control of that playbook, it sucks Parker isn't out there but we've got him for many years to come so there will be good times ahead eventually.

Sounds like Landry is still having issues with returns

Philbin said he wants Jarvis Landry to “take a little better care of the football in the return game.” Christion Jones, Bobby McCain and James have also handled returns in practice.

Won't be surprised if we bring in a veteran rb before it's all said and done. I'm not as high on Williams or James as most are and I doubt Ajayi will have an impact right away.

Which of the backup running backs has stood out behind Lamar Miller?

Philbin first mentioned LaMichael James, saying he has “flashed a little bit. We didn’t have a lot of time to evaluate him [last year]. It was good to have Mike Gillislee back. He had some good days out here as well. Damien Williams has been moving around athletically. I think it’s a good group. It’s going to be competitive. Jay [Ajayi] is doing a good job.”

 

[spiketex]

Preston over Mathews and Hazel? highly doubtful. a 4.6 40 doesn't show much speed either

but I think Tim Semisch has a decent shot

Both Semisch and Preston are interesting. They could be on the Practice Squad. Joe specifically mentioned Michael Preston yesterday. However, worth noting that Lazor came from the Philadelphia Chip Kelly system where they liked getting big chunk yardage out of really tall targets like Riley Cooper. Last year we didn't have the really tall targets to make those kind of plays. I don't know much about Preston but I like that he's 6'5".

.... It turns out that Preston is 26 and had a couple of years with the Tennessee Titans before playing for the Utah Blaze.

 

[McGaniel]

It is going to be nice watching these recievers block down field for miller. That is a huge asset, wallace and hartline couldn't block worth the ****.

 

[datruth55]

### The battle to start at left guard is neck-and-neck between Dallas Thomas and Jamil Douglas, with both receiving first-team snaps this week. Thomas again lined up with the starters to start Wednesday’s session.

But Mathis would take that job if he signs with the Dolphins; Pro Football Focus rated him the best left guard in 2012 and 2013 and second-best last season.

Philbin insisted that he’s pleased with the internal options.

"I like what I see so far but it's early,” Philbin said. “With the speed up front, it's hard to great a great assessment of where everything's at. I believe we will have enough opportunities in training camp and preseason to get a good evaluation.

“I like the guys we have. There's no question in my mind they will be capable of doing the job. They just need experience,… repetition, exposure. They need to work with [Mike Pouncey] next to them and get it figured out. It may not be as pretty as we want it day one of training camp, but they're great guys who are working extremely hard. You have to have some patience.”

Pouncey said in February that he would love for the Dolphins to sign a veteran guard but answered diplomatically this week when asked if he wanted Miami to sign Mathis.

“Evan is a really good football player; had an opportunity to meet him at the Pro Bowl,” Pouncey said. “It would be great if he signed here but if not, we got to roll with the punches with the guy we've got. The guys we have inside this building will do a great job for us.”

Though Thomas allowed seven sacks last season, all of them came during his snaps at tackle. He didn’t give up any sacks in 362 snaps at guard.

“I'm so comfortable out there now,” Thomas said. “I’m understanding concepts of the plays. You can know the plays but until you understand it, it won't be easy for you.”

Thomas said he played on the left side at Tennessee and is happy to be back there: “I am settled in. It's been going good for me. I haven't had problems there. I played there in college. I came here, they put me at right, but now I'm back home.”

Offensive line coach John Benton has said Thomas is much improved. But how so?

“It's knowing the playbook way better,” he said. “I was out there thinking a lot. And when you're thinking a lot on the field, you play a little slower.”

He said he noticed his “set” was a problem in last December’s Baltimore game, when he struggled, and “this whole offseason, that's what I've been working on. My work is starting to pay off.”

Thomas said he “would be disappointed” if he isn’t a starter “because I know what I can do.”

Pouncey said Thomas “came in this year with a whole different mindset. He's playing great football. He's gaining all my trust right now with the way he's practicing on the field and being attentive inside meetings.”

As for Douglas, the rookie fourth-round pick “doesn't look like a rookie,” Pouncey said. “He's playing at a really high level. We won't really know what he can do until he puts the pads on but he's impressed a lot of the coaches. He's got the eye of a lot of veteran guys in the offensive line room.”

Turner, who appeared in just two games last season, “is a very physical, explosive type player,” Benton said last month, adding he needed to improve playing “with balance and under control.”

Pouncey said “Billy is doing a really good job.” But he clearly hasn’t seized the job, considering it was Linkenbach getting first crack with the starters this week.

A veteran entering his 3rd year (Thomas) is neck and neck with a rookie...I expect Douglas to deliver the knock out when the pads come on.

 

[ITS!MATEO]

A veteran entering his 3rd year (Thomas) is neck and neck with a rookie...I expect Douglas to deliver the knock out when the pads come on.

That's what I was thinking when I read it. Douglas should have that spot by week 1.

 

[nick1]

Unless we sign Mathis which i would say given our history with rookies is very likely we don't want a rookie starting

 

[tcdrover]

So Misi wants to stay at ML?

I remember his agent saying repeatedly he didn't want to move to middle to begin with back then.

They need to get Mathis in here, I'm sure his agent is going after every possibly extra penny.

I hope they get it done

 

[Fin Fan in Cali]

Preston over Mathews and Hazel? highly doubtful. a 4.6 40 doesn't show much speed either

but I think Tim Semisch has a decent shot

Brother speed as WR isn't everything. If you can run very good routes and a good feel for the game you can still be successful without running a 4.4 and contribute to the team.

 

[nick1]

Brother speed as WR isn't everything. If you can run very good routes and a good feel for the game you can still be successful without running a 4.4 and contribute to the team.

I agree just look at Jerry Rice. I was just commenting about the claim that he is going to be the fastest guy on the roster. That title belongs to Stills and Preston would be last among our WRs

 

[Fin Fan in Cali]

I agree just look at Jerry Rice. I was just commenting about the claim that he is going to be the fastest guy on the roster. That title belongs to Stills and Preston would be last among our WRs

Thanks bro. Yes Rice was the first one that came to mind. Very good post.

 

[Avalanche of Wins]

Ryan seems to be taking control of that playbook, it sucks Parker isn't out there but we've got him for many years to come so there will be good times ahead eventually.

Sounds like Landry is still having issues with returns



Won't be surprised if we bring in a veteran rb before it's all said and done. I'm not as high on Williams or James as most are and I doubt Ajayi will have an impact right away.

im a big fan so im biased but I am curious what makes you thin ajayi wont make an impact early