Palm Beach Report: Day 3
By Brian Miller
Here is what the Palm Beach Post’s Edgar Thompson has to report from Day 3 of the Dolphins training camp.
If you have attended the TC or will be attending and want a place to write about it, contact me at Bmiller.phan@gmail.com and I will put your thoughts and photos here as well.
Day 3:
– LB Matt Roth was not at practice and remains on the non-football illness list.
Tony Sparano will address the latest with Roth during his 12:30 p.m. press conference.
– Starting LG Justin Smiley was back at practice after he was excused Monday for the birth of his son, Jett.
The line seemed to get better push on the left side in the run game with Smiley back.
– CB Eric Green continues to line up on the right side with the first unit.
Starter Will Allen, who signed an extension in May, had another good day. He pounced on an out patter from Pennington to Anthony Armstrong to come up with his second pick in training camp.
– LB Jason Taylor worked on the right side a bit, but Joey Porter manned the weak side most of the time.
Tony Sparano said coaches plan to play JT on the strong side.
– Vontae Davis’ closing speed seems to give him an edge over fellow rookie Sean Smith right now.
Smith made more plays in mini-camps and had a strong Monday evening practice, but Davis gets to the ball more quickly.
At the end of practice, Smith was a fraction late for an out pattern from Pat White to Brandon London, who made a diving catch and came up with the ball.
But Davis has much to learn, too. Greg Camarillo had a few yards caught an out pattern on him from Pennington, highlighting Camarillo’s route-running over Davis’ quickness.
To make sure Davis keeps on his toes, running back Ricky Williams seemed to give Davis a little extra pop on a block.
– London made a few nice catches, including a deep out along the sideline in traffic, with Green in coverage.
– Second-year pro Lionel Dotson had a nice day at nose tackle.
A seventh-round pick in 2008, Dotson got excellent push a number of times and sacked Henne when Dotson blew by Ike Ndukwe.
Paul Soliai worked some with the starters and looks much quicker this season.