OTA’s give coaches and fans their first nuggets of what the team has to offer.
Nuggets can offer hints at strengths or weakness
OTA’s offer glimpses or phantoms–depending on your take of what OTA’s actually offer NFL football prognosticators by the best pay per head review sites.
While some say they can gain gold nuggets in short windows, others say watching practices only offer fools gold.
I take the middle road: there’s a whole lot that can be gleaned from practice, but only time will reveal if those glimpses tell the whole story.
So, without further bloviating, here’s a bunch of nuggets for you to make heads or tails of:
1. Ryan Tannehill is moving around without any visible effect from his knee injury–he believes the stem cell therapy is the main ingredient to his recovery. Although he’s wearing a brace and will do so for the season, this is a fantastic sign.
2. Ted Larsen practiced at C, LG, and RG. Given Mike Pouncey will see limited practice and Preseason reps, the Center will be an interesting battle between Larsen, Kraig Urbick, and Anthony Steen. This is key to keep out eyes on because the backup might end up the starter if Pouncey’s injury history continues its trend. I’m very interested to see Larsen working the second level in Run Block.
3. Receiver DeVante Parker was impressive, catching a number of passes over the middle. Hunger seems to be his theme so far this see. Parker playing up to his potential could offer an incredible impact on the offense’s production.
4. The line was without three starters: Pouncey, Ja’Wuan James, and Jermon Bushrod. James has suffered an undisclosed injury but is considered 85%, and Bushrod’s injury was suggested as not serious. With injuries and Offensive Line being synonymous in recent years, this was concerning… even if it’s simply precautionary. Did I say this is concerning?
5. Lawrence Timmons was practicing on the outside. Since Matt Burke has stated he wants his backers flexible and pieces that can be moved around, this likely isn’t telling. But he also said he could see guys cemented in a position, so I guess it could be telling on the other hand. Maybe Raekwon McMillan is being looked at as MLB after all… or Kiko Alonso is staying put? It’s too early to make it definitive, but it was interesting to me nonetheless.
6. Koa Misi was supposed to be back in May. His progress is off schedule in the wrong direction. Seven months hasn’t been enough time for him to heal… questions if he ever will be trending soon.
7. Defensive end William Hayes was available for “a couple of days”, but he missed Thursday due to injury.
8. Walt Aikens is still set a safety, but he had some shots on the outside as “corner” several times Thursday. The results were a mixed bag. This could be good of Aikens–or bad. When they test you out, it’s either because they want to expand your role because your that good, or expand your role because you need more value to be kept. Aikens is a stellar special teamer, so likely this is a good thing.
Well, the next round of OTA’s begins from May 30th to June 1st. This second round of OTA’s will offer further glimpses of what is in store for Miami in 2017. To be honest, health is the only real concern I have at this point. And while some nuggets hint at good things, and are nice to hear, time will tell their worth. Go Fins!!!
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