Morning Training Camp Update

Here are this mornings updates from the Miami Dolphins training camp.  The reporter’s name is prior to each and I have bold faced certain observations that I think most of you may enjoy or be surprised about.

Sun-Sentinel’s – Omar Kelly

• Mark Lewis pancaked Rod Wright during the 1-on-1 blocks, and Ryan Baker showed a decent spin move. Wright sacked Henne during team portion.
• Veteran CB Eric Green is still working with starters. Sean Smithis his backup on the left side. Vontae Davis primarily on right side.
• Vernon Carey pancaked Charlie Anderson during Oline and Dline one-on-ones.
• Davone Bess, Brian Hartline, Ted Ginn Jr., Chris Williams are the guys fielding punts. Surprising Anthony Armstong isn’t getting work there.
• Donald Thomas pushed a blocking sled during practice since he was being held out of physical work.
• Patrick Turner and Brandon London are being paired together. Talk about a big receiver unit.
• William Kershaw is paired with Reggie Torbor as the second team inside linebacker.
• Will Allen picked of Pennington pass intended for Anthony Fasano. Nobody really should test Allen during training camp. Allen is dominant.
• Rod Wright sacked Henne, but Cam Wake was right there after beating Andrew Gardner.
• Akin Ayodele blew up an end around handoff to Anthony Kimble for a 10 yard loss. But 1st team D vs. 3rd team O wasn’t fair.
• Pads came on for the first time and I must admit I finally felt Cameron Wake, who came close to two sacks.  (most of the knock on Wake this off-season is that he is physical and that the practices haven’t bee physical.  Good to hear.  With Roth down this could be a huge gain for Miami)
• Pat White is throwing with plenty of zip today
• Greg Camarillo is practicing. It’ll be interesting to see if the trainers allow him to do two sessions in two-a-days because of his knee.
• Haven’t spotted Matt Roth at all. I’m guessing he’s getting work done or seeing a specialist for the groin.
• Davone Bess just made a nice one handed catch during position drills. He’s bigger but hasn’t lost much range.  (This guy is turning into something special)
• I was told by Edgar at the PB Post that Justin Smiley’s wife is giving birth to their son today. Child birth is indeed more important.
• Shawn Murphy was the starting right guard for the second straight day. Alleman starting LG.  (This is not a total surprise as the Phins want to give him every chance to make this roster.  If Murphy can’t step it up and they don’t see what they want to see, he will be gone.)
• New team CEO Mike Dee is out watching practice.
• Nate Garner just got a rep with the starters as the starting RT
• Justin Smiley is missing from the morning practice. Andy Alleman is starting RG

Palm Beach Post – Edgar Thompson

Pennington threw an interception in the flat to CB Will Allen that would have been a pick-six. Two plays later, Pennington bobbled a hand-off with Patrick Cobbs.

In between, Pennington made a nice throw to TE Anthony Fasano in the seam, but LB Channing Crowder was with him step for step and broke up the play.

These are the kind of plays Crowder needs to make to go from a run stopper to a playmaker.

When Henne was up next, though, he didn’t do anything to distinguish himself, beginning with a wild thrown out of bounds on a rollout play, with Ted Ginn Jr. the intended target.

Henne did compete a couple of safe throws in the flat, but ended his series on his rump, when back-up DE Rodrique Wright collapsed the pocket and knocked a lineman back into Henne.

In general, the offense didn’t seem to be on the same page, though a couple of nice catches stood out – a one-handed grab by TE Anthony Fasano on a seam route from Pennington and a diving catch by WR Greg Camarillo on a post pattern from Henne.

Davone Bess made a one-handed stab during individuals that makes you wonder who has the best hands on the team: Camarillo or Bess? Both seem to catch everything.

– G Justin Smiley will not be at two-a-days because his wife is having a son, Jett Smiley. (Jett?  Who’s the mother Brigette Moynahan?  Congrats to the Smiley’s)

Andy Alleman lined up with the first unit at left guard. Alleman started four games after Smiley was lost to a season-ending injury Nov. 30 at St. Louis.

– LB Matt Roth was not at practice, either.

Roth is on the PUP list with a groin injury that prevented him from completing the team’s mandatory fitness run. Sparano referred to the injury Sunday as an “illness,” a characterization he’ll soon be be asked to explain.  (This is of some concern as he has battled that groin injury a lot.)

– WR Brandon London had the catch of the day Sunday, but didn’t follow it up with a good morning session.

London, who is in danger of not making the 53-man roster, drops a routine throw across the middle. Showing the pressure he has to be feeling, London slapped his hands together and yelled at himself as he jogged back to the line of scrimmage.

– Henne really sells the play-action fake … Boomer Esiason like.  (A good sign as Phil Simms used to be pretty good at that as well…Parcells type QB?)

– The team worked a lot on special teams, a reflection of last year’s weak link of the team.

Miami has to improve on its rankings from 2008, when it ranked 29th in punt coverage and 24th in kickoff coverage.

– Fan turnout wasn’t nearly what it was Sunday, when a reported 3,152 fans attended practice and another several hundred watched from the roof of the parking deck at Nova Southeastern adjacent to the practice field.

– CB Eric Green continued to work on the right side with the first-team defense.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened during 7-on-7 passing drills:

– Chad Pennington 3-of-5, including Fasano’s one-handed catch and Ginn over the middle.

Ginn looked fast and confident on the play, leaving rookie Sean Smith in the dust.

– Chad Henne 2-of-3, including Camarillo’s diving catch.  (Good to see Camarillo practicing at 100 percent but someone should tell him to take it easy for a little while)

– Pat White 1-of-3, including a throw way off the mark to Patrick Turner. White also seemed to throw the ball to a spot, while the WR continued running down field.

Miami Herald – Armando Salguero’s blog was unavailable due to computer issues at the Herald.