Some Dolphins notes on a day Branden Albert got some work with the first team in practice and DeVante Parker participated in individual drills in practice. (Both remain hopeful, but not certain, that they’ll be ready for the opener):
### Whereas many Dolphins veterans will get Thursday off, about a dozen others will be fighting simply to make the roster when Miami plays its preseason finale against TampaBay at Sun Life Stadium.
For Matt Hazel, the issue comes down to whether Miami feels a need to keep six receivers as DeVante Parker works his way back from foot surgery. That decision hasn’t beeb made.
“He’s clearly better” than last season, coach Joe Philbin said.
There’s substantial sentiment internally to keep linebacker Spencer Paysinger because of his special teams acumen, but he’s battling Jordan Tripp and others for one or two open backup jobs.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t stressful,” Paysinger said. “I have had starting experience, have done good stuff on special teams in my career. My grades have been solid in preseason. [But] all are young linebackers have done great stuff.”
For Jake Stoneburner, he’s not only competing against underdog prospect Tim Semisch for the No. 3 tight end job, but he’s also essentially competing against every other NFL tight end who’s cut this weekend.
“I am underestimated in the blocking area,” Stoneburner said, offering up a scouting report. “I’m tough. I’m not going to back down. I can make plays as well.”
Some players on the bubble are more confident about their chances than others. “I think I’ll be here,” saidLaMike James, who has impressed as a runner and a kick returner in preseason.
Kicker Caleb Sturgis, who remains the front-runner in his competition with Andrew Franks, said he “definitely” did not do enough “early” in camp to secure the job, “but I've been hitting the ball better lately.” The Dolphins will give thought to keeping Franks on the practice squad.
MATTHEWS RISES
Rishard Matthews, who wasn’t even assured a roster spot a month ago, not only appears a lock to stick but also could end up starting. He started ahead of Kenny Stills on Saturday, alongside Jarvis Landry andGreg Jennings.
After requesting a trade this past spring, Matthews said Monday he is “glad I’m here for another year.” He said all he wanted was a fair competition and it “definitely has been fair” and he has tried to “show that I need to be on the field more offensively.”
Said Ryan Tannehill: “He has had a heck of a camp. We came in together, so I’ve spent a lot of time with him and seen him grow over the past four years. I would say that over the last six months I have seen the most growth from him. He is growing as a man, growing as a player, and developing his game in all aspects. His consistency is at an all-time high.”
### Cornerback Jamar Taylor (quadriceps) was the only player who missed Monday’s practice but said he expects to be ready for the regular-season opener. But running back Mike Gillislee left practice and was working on the side during a short session open to reporters.
### Tripp returned to practice after missing two weeks with an ankle injury. Offensive tackle Jason Foxreturned after missing a week with a concussion.
### Mike Pouncey predicted starting guards Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner “are going to shock a lot of people. If you watch them on film, they are playing really physical, finishing blocks. They have really surprised me. I have seen the strides from last year to this year and it’s amazing to see how far all those guys have come.”
### Whereas a lot of starters are expected to sit out Thursday, Philbin said that won’t be the case for all 22. “We have to take each individual and look at it separately,” he said.
### Though Jordan Cameron is the starting tight end, Philbin said he also views Dion Sims as a starter. “He can do a lot of different jobs; is coming along nicely,” Philbin said.
### A day after JD Walton was released, Philbin said the backup center job remains an ongoing competition between Sam Brenner and Jacques McClendon.
### With Kirk Cousins named the starting quarterback in Washington and Tyrod Taylor in Buffalo, that means the Dolphins will open the season potentially facing these six quarterbacks: Cousins, Blake Bortles, Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Marcus Mariota and Brian Hoyer. What's the opposite of a murderer's row?
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...ses-pounceys-prediction-ongoing-battles-.html
### Whereas many Dolphins veterans will get Thursday off, about a dozen others will be fighting simply to make the roster when Miami plays its preseason finale against TampaBay at Sun Life Stadium.
For Matt Hazel, the issue comes down to whether Miami feels a need to keep six receivers as DeVante Parker works his way back from foot surgery. That decision hasn’t beeb made.
“He’s clearly better” than last season, coach Joe Philbin said.
There’s substantial sentiment internally to keep linebacker Spencer Paysinger because of his special teams acumen, but he’s battling Jordan Tripp and others for one or two open backup jobs.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t stressful,” Paysinger said. “I have had starting experience, have done good stuff on special teams in my career. My grades have been solid in preseason. [But] all are young linebackers have done great stuff.”
For Jake Stoneburner, he’s not only competing against underdog prospect Tim Semisch for the No. 3 tight end job, but he’s also essentially competing against every other NFL tight end who’s cut this weekend.
“I am underestimated in the blocking area,” Stoneburner said, offering up a scouting report. “I’m tough. I’m not going to back down. I can make plays as well.”
Some players on the bubble are more confident about their chances than others. “I think I’ll be here,” saidLaMike James, who has impressed as a runner and a kick returner in preseason.
Kicker Caleb Sturgis, who remains the front-runner in his competition with Andrew Franks, said he “definitely” did not do enough “early” in camp to secure the job, “but I've been hitting the ball better lately.” The Dolphins will give thought to keeping Franks on the practice squad.
MATTHEWS RISES
Rishard Matthews, who wasn’t even assured a roster spot a month ago, not only appears a lock to stick but also could end up starting. He started ahead of Kenny Stills on Saturday, alongside Jarvis Landry andGreg Jennings.
After requesting a trade this past spring, Matthews said Monday he is “glad I’m here for another year.” He said all he wanted was a fair competition and it “definitely has been fair” and he has tried to “show that I need to be on the field more offensively.”
Said Ryan Tannehill: “He has had a heck of a camp. We came in together, so I’ve spent a lot of time with him and seen him grow over the past four years. I would say that over the last six months I have seen the most growth from him. He is growing as a man, growing as a player, and developing his game in all aspects. His consistency is at an all-time high.”
### Cornerback Jamar Taylor (quadriceps) was the only player who missed Monday’s practice but said he expects to be ready for the regular-season opener. But running back Mike Gillislee left practice and was working on the side during a short session open to reporters.
### Tripp returned to practice after missing two weeks with an ankle injury. Offensive tackle Jason Foxreturned after missing a week with a concussion.
### Mike Pouncey predicted starting guards Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner “are going to shock a lot of people. If you watch them on film, they are playing really physical, finishing blocks. They have really surprised me. I have seen the strides from last year to this year and it’s amazing to see how far all those guys have come.”
### Whereas a lot of starters are expected to sit out Thursday, Philbin said that won’t be the case for all 22. “We have to take each individual and look at it separately,” he said.
### Though Jordan Cameron is the starting tight end, Philbin said he also views Dion Sims as a starter. “He can do a lot of different jobs; is coming along nicely,” Philbin said.
### A day after JD Walton was released, Philbin said the backup center job remains an ongoing competition between Sam Brenner and Jacques McClendon.
### With Kirk Cousins named the starting quarterback in Washington and Tyrod Taylor in Buffalo, that means the Dolphins will open the season potentially facing these six quarterbacks: Cousins, Blake Bortles, Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Marcus Mariota and Brian Hoyer. What's the opposite of a murderer's row?
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...ses-pounceys-prediction-ongoing-battles-.html
