Scrimmage At 2…Henne Challenges, Morning Updated

Hey all, call me a slacker.  Sorry.  I had coaching duties this morning for my 4 year old’s soccer team.  Lots of fun of course, but hot.  I felt like I could finally relate to the SFla. heat…by the way, I am from Miami so do know the heat they talk about…sweltering.  So this afternoon at 2:00 Pm the team will conduct a scrimmage against each other.

On the offensive side of the ball, it appears that rookie QB Chad Henne is closing the gap between John Beck and Josh McCown.  While I am sure that the “gap” will stay wide enough to allow one of the others to start week 1, it’s both a testement to the play of Henne and the lack of betwen McCown and Beck.  Before the pre-season is over, mark my words, the Miami Dolphins will be shopping for another QB.  While it may be more intriguing to watch the Oline play, the fact is the WR’s will probably be more fun.  There is a quiet optimism around the complex the last week about the WR’s stepping up a bit.  Ginn is reportedly doing well, we all know about Bess, but Jayson Foster and Derek Hagan are having a good camp as well.  Unfortunately, Ernest Wilford has been struggling a bit the last few practices, but I don’t think is an issue.

On the defensive side of the ball, keep an eye on 3rd round pick Kendall Langford.  Tony Sparano raved about the kid in his post practice interview yesterday.  Matt Roth has been rather quiet and unmentioned this off-season so I will be interested to see what they say about him.  Yeremiah Bell is worth watching as well.  The Achilles is healed…not pun intended…but the recovery of his speed will be worth watching.  Bell, very well should be the leader of the secondary at free safety.

With all the changes this off-season, more than in any other since the team was formed, there is tempered enthusiasm that will have fans talking either positive or negative come tomorrow.  No matter who this scrimmage plays out, the fact that the team will get a chance to play in game like situations will go a long way to bolster their confidence.

One more thing, if David Martin continues to drop balls, look for him to be dropped before the 1st pre-season game.  That guy needs to figure it out and Fasano is way ahead.

Here is what went on this morning at the walk-through.

By Edgar Thompson | Saturday, August 2, 2008, 10:59 AM

Just returned from a walk-through at the indoor practice bubble, where the Dolphins went over a few things before the scrimmage at 2 p.m.

Everyone was present and accounted for other than undrafted rookie WR John Dunlap. Will update his status when it becomes available.

It should be an interesting afternoon, especially seeing how the quarterbacks play. Tony Sparano said they’ll split about 90 reps among them.

It’s a big day for John Beck. Rookie Chad Henne is gaining ground on Beck and Josh McCown in the quarterback race, with Beck needing a solid day to stay ahead.

This morning the team worked on kicking and receiving onside kicks and walked through some plays on offense and defense.

The first kickoff coverage unit on the field remains the same as it’s been all week (from left to right) CB Joey Thomas, WR Ernest Wilford, LB Reggie Torbor, WR David Kircus, LB Edmond Miles, K Jay Feely, S Keith Davis, RB Patrick Cobbs, Chris Crocker and CB Nathan Jones.

Coaches also trotted out the “hands” team to handle Feely’s kicks, where he bounces it off the turf and high into the air.

The front line is Wilford, TE Sean Ryan, Crocker, TE David Martin, Davis, TE Anthony Fasano, Cobbs, with WR Greg Camarillo, S Yeremiah Bell and WR Derek Hagan well behind the front line. (I realize I’m missing someone, sorry).

While this was going on, LB Joey Porter was off to the side once again working on technique with defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. Porter has been putting in a lot of time with Pasqualoni, fine-tuning hand placement techniques to be a more effective pass rusher this season.

When the offense and defense lined up to runs through some plays, QB John Beck worked with the first-team offense.

Rookie guard continued to line up on the right side, with T Vernon Carey on his right and C Samson Satele on his left. T Jake Long and G Justin Smiley continue to hold down the left side.

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams alternated at TB, with Reagan Mauia at FB. Ted Ginn Jr. and Ernest Wilford lined up at WRs.

Anthony Fasano lined up at TE, but when the team went to a two-TE set on the goal line Ryan and Martin came in. TEs Justin Peele (knee) and Aaron Halterman (back) didn’t practice again.

On defense, Matt Roth continued to hold down the left side at end, with NT Jason Ferguson and Vonnie Holliday the other lineman in the 3-4. Porter, Channing Crowder, Akin Ayodele and Charlie Anderson continue to line up behind them at LB.

The team worked on a formation with three CBs (Will Allen, Andre Goodman and Jones) and Jason Allen lined up as the lone safety. In the base defensive package, Bell lines up with Allen at S.

CB Michael Lehan (ankle) remains out.

Much of the first-team lineups have become common knowledge by Dolfans. But it’s only a starting point heading into the first scrimmage, followed a week from today by the first pre-season game.