The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Two weeks from today.  It's been a long offseason, don't ya think?

WooHoo!

One more week.  The waters are receeding now, but soon a big giant wave of football excitement is gonna come crashing down.  I haven't been this excited about this team in years.

The team is improved but it is far from great. I would temper the excitement.

Moving in the right direction though. It's a process. Still year 2 of a team coming off a new coaching staff and with a 2nd year QB. Very young team in key areas, I expect growing pains to continue this year. But the team is being built correctly, cap space situation is good and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Landshark is wrong.  Training camp begins July 21st.  Players report on the 20th.

So camp opens on the 20th.  First practice is on the 21st.  I'm in my vacation home in the Keys and am thinking of taking a drive up there Sunday morning to watch the practice.  Any South Florida TDMMCers up for a visit?

I am going.  Give me a call if you go, would be nice to meet up.

Wasn't able to go as wife is a little under the weather.  Just saw on B/R that Dion Jordan's shoulder injury is still bothering him and he won't be in  pads for a week or two

Here's some observations from the first day of camp:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-miami-dolphins-training-camp-live-updates-20130720,0,2530568.story

More on today's practice.  Things are not looking good for Michael Egnew.  All that hype about him working hard this offseason was just that.  I'd be surprised if he makes the team. 

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2013/07/dolphins-camp-day-one-in-the-books.html#

Egnew working with the 1st team offense today

Egnew caught a pass from Devlin in practice. He made a play!! lol 

(they are moving guys from first team to 2nd, and 3rd still to mix things up, he started the day with the 1st team offense)

Looks like Dion Jordan is ready to go. 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/23/dion-jordan-comes-off-non-football-injury-list/

Good news on Jordan today

Also it appears when the Fins go 2 TE sets with the 1st team, that Egnew has been getting most of the looks these first few days of practice. Interesting to see if that lasts

Gotta love Jordan's new "rookie" cut.

So far in the first few practices, the defense has dominated.  This means either two things.  Either the offense has a long way to go or the defense is going to be elite.  I hope it's the latter.

Take this with a grain of salt. I'm not sure what people are expecting. I saw an article yesterday about why Wallace has gotten off to a slow start. Wha? He's had the pads on for about 1/2 of a practice and he's off to a slow start already? What did he not catch a single pass? Nope, he's caught plenty of passes, BUT they have all been of the 10 or 15 yard variety, no 30 yard bombs yet. Wha? You mean he didn't catch 3 of those yesterday? What's wrong with him? What's wrong with the offense? LOL Actually I read today in Armando's article that Wallace has actually caught 2 pretty long passes from Tannehill, BUT they were both on broken coverage. Does anyone remember Chad Henne overthrowing guys when they were WIDE OPEN!!!! C'mon Armando. I don't care if the defense did break coverage, if the throw was good and the catch was good, that's a TD!!! That's does happen in games ya know. Now if we go through all of preseason and that's all we get, then there might be some reason for alarm, but it's been 2 days with pads on!!!

I read another article that said the D was blitzing a TON yesterday and the offensive line gave up some sacks. Wha? You mean the line hasn't gelled yet? After 1/2 of a practice in pads? What the hell is wrong with them? Honestly, if you asked me and the D was blitzing a TON and they DIDN'T get any sacks, THEN I would be worried about my D big time.

Or its just the 4th day of practice and you can't read anything into it.

Omar Kelly wrote a column ripping Mike Wallace some cause he hasn't done enough in the first 3 days of practice and the NFL Network/NFL.com ripped Omar saying how he was foolish for reporting that just 3 days in!! It was great! Nice to hear someone on a national level call Omar Kelly an idiot!

The practices where they are not in pads you can ignore. They are meaningless as its just flag football and its tough to judge anything at all. That's not real football! The practice in pads pay a little attention too. Preseason games pay no attention too. Week 1 is when you can judge things and when we keep the scorecards on Tannehill, Ireland, Philbin...etc. Miami can lose every preseason game 42-0 and it means literally nothing. There is no gameplanning and its just not real football.   How many yards the Fins give up on defense, what Tannehill's TD/INT ratio is...meaningless in the preseason. Week 1 is when it matters. Until then all the camp reports are nice and give ya an insight into guys and where they stand on the roster (who's with the 1st string, who's with the 2nd string..etc). But aside from that i don't think ya can read too much into these daily reports.

You gotta love preseason paranoia.

lol...yep! I fully expect on Aug 4th after the Fins-Cowboys game to come here and read how this guy sucks and that guy sucks and we can't do this as a team and we can't do that. Fully expect it!

Defense is ALWAYS on top early in practice, I would be worried if it wasn't. Eventually the Offense will start to gel and dominate the Defense and people will worry the Defense looks weak or took a step back when in reality the offense is getting better. And finally the Defense will start to pick up to NFL standard as it gets used to facing a faster more fluid offense.

It's a process, it happens every year but it's more fun to write articles about one side underperforming.

over reaction the sports world's only reaction

I keep seeing reports of Wallace playing in the slot.  This fits in with Philbin's philosophy of using receivers in multiple roles.

Jon Jerry is on crutches. Might be serious

Incognito moved to RG today and said he likes playing right side more than left. The rookie Thomas was playing LG. With Lance Louis still not 100% Miami is looking at Thomas or Samuda at the other guard spot for now opposite Richie

Rumor around camp is Jon Jerry is out 4 weeks (not confirmed though)

Pouncey has been playing guard all Sunday morning at practice. Samuda at 1st string center.

Dallas Thomas also been getting a lot of run with the 1st team o-line at guard.

3 injury notes......

WR Rishard Matthews who has had a solid start to training camp and was probably beating Binns for the #4 WR spot is OUT several weeks with an undisclosed injury. Might miss the start of the season

The team is trying to rehab Jon Jerry's knee injury without surgery. Out at least 3-4 weeks. If he needs surgery his season might be finished.

Sturgis pulled groin is still OUT. If he can't get healthy and back out there kicking in the next couple weeks he might have been a wasted 5th round pick and the team will be stuck with Carpenter.

Armon Binns suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season.  With Rishard Matthews already sidelined, this is a huge opportunity for guys like Marvin McNutt and Jeff Fuller.

WR position got real thin, real quick.

Available WR's are Brandon Lloyd, Lauren Robinson, Donald Jones, Austin Collie I would not be shocked to see Miami kick the tires on a guy or two. Especially if Mathews is out for a month or so or longer.

Always liked Brandon Lloyd...reliable and good hands.

His knocks are he is a bad locker-room guy. Which with Philbin and Ireland that might be a deal breaker. Plus he would cost alot for a #4 WR.  I don't think they would consider him. But I fully expect them to sign another WR. I know they picked up the kid from Louisville the other day but they might need someone else now.

Reading this morning that Rishard Matthews issues might not be injuries but off the field/personal stuff. IF that is true hopefully it can be cleared up and he is back on the field shortly

Fins are working out WR Laurent Robinson per Miami Herald

Isn't he the guy that the Jaguars signed to a $32 million contract and he ended up having concussion issues?  He kicked ass for the Cowboys in 2011.  If he can return to that form and the Dolphins land him, this receiving corps will be a force to be reckoned with.

Yes he is and yes we would. I really wanted Miami to sign him last year, but Jax giving him $32 million was just crazy money. I think he'll settle for quite a bit less from Miami if someone else doesn't snatch him up. Signing Wallace and Gibson have really changed my view on the Dolphins WR corp, but would still love to see Robinson signed.

- Unless Laurent Robinson can play special teams I don't see Miami signing him. The #4 WR must play special teams

-Wallace and Hartline both sitting out tonight's scrimmage not participating. Looks like the coaches don't want to risk any injury with those 2 and a WR unit that is thin depth wise. If they aren't playing in a scrimmage I doubt they play in either of the first 2 preseason games.

Any more word on this? I haven't seen or heard anything other than injury.

no they are keeping it very quiet. No idea whats going on

word coming out that Hartline has a strained/pulled calf. Mike Wallace might be hurt as well but no word yet since there wasn't a practice yesterday and nobody met with the media. Reason both didn't play in the scrimmage

Fins on the verge of signing WR Keenan Davis.

Rishard Matthews has a knee injury according to the Miami Herald and will be out several weeks. If he isn't healthy by Week 1 the Fins will be forced to probably cut him since they can't hide him on PUP. They could keep him but that would screw with the 53 man roster and well...it's Rishard Matthews not sure that makes sense to do.

Looks like there's a bit of shuffling going on in the receiver corps.  Julius Pruitt and Keenan Davis have been signed.  Jasper Collins was waived, and Armon Binns was waived with an injury settlement.

Sturgis is back healthy and was kicking at practice tonight

Hartline has a pulled/strained calf and was held out again. Wallace was healthy

Binns wrecked his knee. MCL and ACL torn. At the time, he was looking like a #4.

Still, why waive him?  Why not stash him on IR?

Mike Wallace has an injured groin
Brian Hartline has an injured calf
Oddrick and Starks were injured during practice and left practice early. Both appear to be minor injuries

If you keep him on IR, you have to pay him.  If you want to save money for players that will actually help the team, and gamble that no one will sign a guy with a torn ACL/MCL, then you let him go and re-evaluate him next season.

O-line is settling in. Samuda working starting RG, Incognito starting LG. Seems to be the direction they are going with till Louis and Jerry are 100% at least .The Pouncey at guard and Incognito on the right side experiment seem to be over with.

Starks not at practice today. Not even on the sideline doing conditioning. Its believed his injury may be worse than originally thought. Hopefully get word after practice when the coach speaks

I read something the other day that *suggested* that the reason that Louis didn't get moved into Jerry's position when he went down had nothing to do with Louis being injured and that he just isn't playing as well as hoped. I've also read that Samuda is having a good camp. I'm leaning towards Samuda is just outplaying Louis at this point and may be the starting RG till Jerry is back.

Louis isn't close to 100% yet and he didn't even start training camp with the other players and it shows according to reports. That knee isn't fully healed and its preventing him from moving well. It might take him another month or so to get to 100%. So I wouldn't be shocked if come Week 4 or 5 or something if Louis gets inserted into the starting lineup once he is 100%. He had a major knee injury last year.

Some good news is Jamar Taylor is finally practicing these past few days and is on the field.

Caleb Sturgis comes back and hits field goals of 45, 47, and 52 yards.  Very impressive coming off a groin injury.  A 5th round pick well spent.  Seeing Wallace not practicing is a bit concerning. 

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/03/3539910/dolphins-rookie-kicker-caleb-sturgis.html

We talkin about Practice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI

The Dolphins have no true deep threat after Wallace.  If he goes down, this offense tanks

It would be essentially the same offense (WR corp) as last year if we had no Wallace. A sad group of WR's. And last year Brian Hartline missed all of training camp and every preseason game. Didn't hurt him any. It's just the friggin preseason. Totally worthless on all levels. Hartline proved that last year. Just show up and play Week 1 when it counts. Whatever happens in August you can ignore!

Miami Herald reporting Starks didn't suffer any structural damage to his knee. Injury could have been much worse but he is far from 100%

Wallace/Hartline/Starks/Odrick are OUT for tonight's game with possible others not suiting up as well. Those are the only 4 confirmed guys not playing as of now

Mike Wallace practiced today. Beat Nolan Carroll for a 40 yard touchdown

No real news there......everybody beats Carroll for TD's!!!!!  ;)

Still wouldn't risk playing Wallace or Hartline on Friday. Hope they sit them out

I agree, but it's good to see them both practicing. 

WR Rishard Matthews was back at practice today