Sloppy Day 4 of Phins Training Camp
Phins had a sloppy practice as contact and heat breaking down before it builds up
Two days of contact and heat had a hand in the Phins sloppy practice today. This is usually the way of things. There’s no reason for concern… yet.
Discipline is key for every football team. For marginally talented teams discipline is critical to winning. But, the good news is Brian Flores is driving this team the right way with Oklahoma type drills for physicality and punishment runs for those who make mistakes.
The days of music and snappy banter between coaches and players are over… Thankfully!
The team is off tomorrow and the acclimation period over, there will be no excuses for a players lack of discipline on the Phins drive to their scrimmage on Saturday… other than a player being undisciplined. If you get me?!
For the second straight day, coach Flores had another great quote when asked about who was given 1st and 2nd string snaps, “Maybe some people think they’re better than they are, and we don’t.”
Badda-bing, Badda boom, baby!
So here’s the news reports from today’s practice on defense:
- McMillan had a big hit on Ballage to make a huge stop
- Akeem Spence and Christian Wilkins keep making plays
- Taylor shinning… again
- Offense score in goal-line drills for the second straight day
- Walt Aikens caused a fumble… and keeps blipping on the radar
- Chase Allen not practicing due to an undisclosed medical issue
- Orchard and Baker beat Drake in pass protection drills
- Baker another good day in generating pressure
- Harris is beaten like a drum by Tunsil… for another day
- McCain is at home at Free Safety and is looking very good there
- Wilkens is as billed… so far
Here are the news reports from today’s practice on offense:
- Fitzpatrick had a somewhat sloppy day
- Rosen is slowly trending up
- Ballage had a stellar, diving T.D. catch… seems cemented in 1st & 2nd starting RB role
- Drake was sloppy in pass protection but looks cemented in 3rd Down role
- Oklahoma type drill and 3 back looks mean power running is in South Florida for sure
- Nick O’Leary is slowly cementing his roster spot… and starting role?
- Deiter responded well to stunts, received his first look with starters at LG.
- Albert Wilson not in team activities… but on the field
Here is a key report on the trenches:
My focus… and concern, up to this point, is on the Offensive Line. Davis and Reed have been steady. Tunsil stellar. Deiter rising. But, Miami needs more than this to pop their heads up this Training Camp. Reports of Calhoun, Adams, Mills, Prince or a darkhorse must step up for this O-line to be what it needs to prove the best bookie software sites dire prediction to be wrong.
It’s still very early… but leading up to the scrimmage, I’ll breathe a big sigh of relief with some more good reports from Phins O-linemen. Other than that the team’s trajectory is looking good. Next week will be a big one! Go Phins!!!
You are welcome!
Admin are done with the Dolphins mediocrity?
Reality is… you can never have everything on a team of elite talent… but there are key parts that must be excellent for all teams (HC and GM..ect.) and parts that must be excellent given the makeup of the team. Given the lack of talent and exp on this OLine a high-quality coach is key, Steve.
Flores and his staff of coaches are the Best.
1. They understand commitment of (Coaches and Players).
2. They recognized that too many mental mistakes will lose games.
3. They understand the role of the QB.
4. They understand the definition of players doing there job.
Hey, thanks for the heads up! Got the article out! You’re Phinsnews’ beat reporter for sure!!! I like the move alot… they aren’t afraid to do the hard, but the right thing. Hope Del is more than okay!!
Nice Article Admin!
You wrote above that your focus… and concern, up to this point, is on the Offensive Line.
Well taken from the Miami Herald. Just four days into training camp, the Dolphins on Monday dismissed offensive line coach Pat Flaherty and named team analyst Dave DeGuglielmo to the position.
According to NFL Network, Flaherty had struggled to implement the team’s new system and it had been an issue since the spring.
The Dolphins offensive line was often pushed back in goal-line work early in training camp, and Flaherty was critical of his group Sunday
DeGuglielmo, hired for an “analyst” role by the Dolphins this past spring, was the Colts offensive line coach last season and has spent 29 years as a coach, including 16 with Miami. Miami’s offensive line coach from 2009 to 11, he’s the first coach in Dolphins history to serve three stints with the team. He was a Dolphins offensive assistant in 2017.
Flaherty was hired by Flores this past spring after being dismissed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was offensive line coach the past two seasons.
Huge story Steve… thanks.. took today off… Getting on the article now… Thanks, sir!!!
You’re the Man!
Nice Article Admin!
Many fans asked why Ballage’s is first running back now. Taken from Miami Herald Coach Erick Studeville replied.
Running back coach Eric Studesville, one of two position coaches retained from Adam Gase’s Dolphins staff, said Ballage’s improvement has been “all-inclusive. It’s everything that he’s done – how he works in the meeting room, how he has prepared himself physically. He comes out here knowing what to do. He’s done a great job in the classroom and he’s bringing it out onto the field.”
But Studesville cautioned that no decisions have been made regarding roles for Ballage and Kenyan Drake.
Asked by another reporter if Drake is more of a third-round back – a role he has often handled during camp so far – Studesville shot back: “We played him a bunch on first and second down last year. I don’t think he’s a third-down back. He’s going to determine what that role is by what he does out here. We’re not pigeonholing him and saying he only does this. We’re going to put these guys out here and they’re going to show what they can do.”
▪ Rookie fullback Chandler Cox dropped a pass Sunday but also had a block that led to a good run by Ballage. He has done some things to impress the staff.
“Chandler has done a great job of coming in here. It started yesterday in pads right away,” Studesville said. “He’s physical with his pad level. It adds another dimension to our offense and capabilities and what defenses have to prepare for.”
Mark Walton had a strong run Sunday and we would like to see him more involved in the passing game, where he excelled in May/June work.
Asked what Walton needs to do to make the team, Studesville said: “I don’t know what that is. He’s going to demonstrate to us what he can do and if there’s things that fit into how we see the offense being built and developing,… he’ll establish that.”
Seventh-round rookie Myles Gaskin, who didn’t jump out in May and June practices, had a 7-yard TD run in red zone work Sunday. Undrafted rookie running back Patrick Laird caught a TD pass from Jake Rudock in red zone drills. And former Chargers running back Kenneth Farrow, who played in the AAF earlier this year, had a nice catch and a touchdown run.