Miami Dolphins Scrimmage Is Complete

The Miami Dolphins held their first intrasquad scrimmage today at Sun-Life Stadium. There was some good, there was some bad, and there were some intriguing answers to some questions. The Dolphins will soon be headed to Atlanta for their first pre-season game on August 8th.

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Before we get into who rose and who fell after today’s scrimmage lets clarify the attendance. According to the Dolphins who announced the fans in attendance to be over 10,000 the media is saying that it’s more likely around 5,000. So is the media downplaying interest or are the Dolphins inflating numbers? Honestly, do you really freaking care?

The information that I am providing here is a compilation of media “tweets”, information from the team, people I know in attendance, and so forth. I was not at the practice personally. The opinions however are indeed mine. Have it.

RISING STOCK:

Ryan Tannehill: I’m not going to go into statistics for this game simply because there were a couple of plays that could have gone for sacks that were not because sacking the quarterback is not allowed, so to say that Tannehill generated long touchdown drives of “X” many yards could be a little misconstrued. Instead we will say this, Tannehill looked extremely accurate and poised today. He didn’t as far as could learn go deep but Mike Wallace did not play and it was reported that Brian Hartline although dressed did not play.

Tannehill did throw one touchdown pass to Dion Sims and all of the media raved about the pass and the zip that was on it. Tannehill from all reports looked very good in today’s scrimmage. The 1st team offense played against both the 1st team defense and 2nd team defense.

Dion Sims:

Sims reportedly looked a lot better than he did last year and displayed solid route running and pass catching. Sims could be that big body the Dolphins are looking for in the Redzone and that seemed to be where the Dolphins want to target him. One reporter said that he looked really good today.

Lamar Miller:

Contact in a scrimmage is not 100% full on but tackling is allowed. Lamar Miller looked very good. One fan in attendance who texted me said he looked much faster than last season and was also very quick. Miller scored on a nine yard wheel route against the 2nd team defense early in the scrimmage. He continued to break solid runs throughout his time in the game.

Bill Lazor:

According to two of the media members I followed, the Dolphins offensive play calling was very solid today with a good mix of both run and pass as well as the timing of those plays. The Dolphins need to have a young innovative thinker running their offense. Dan Henning and Mike Sherman the last two long term OC’s, Brian DaBoll was a one year OC, have shown that they couldn’t adjust well to the changing game. I still maintain that Lazor could be the biggest addition to the Dolphins this off-season.

Nate Garner:

Garner took first team center snaps today and did well. It’s likely that he will hold that job heading into the preseason games. It was good to see Sam Brenner back on the field participating (despite some tweets that he would be doubtful). Brenner looked good in the role.

Offensive line:

No one stood out to the point that they were named personally but considering the offense looked good and was able to move the ball well with few would be sacks is a testament to the play of the offensive line.

Koa Misi:

Misi manned the middle and looked good throughout the contest swarming to the ball. One fan said that he looked more natural. The media only mentioned him a time or two but if the interior linebacking situation can be cleared up with the Misi move, then it’s going to be a fun season.

Randy Starks:

Let’s just say that on the first drive, 1st team D vs. 2nd team O, no one got a chance to make a play because Starks was everywhere. The man is a footballer.

Rishard Matthews:

Matthews wants that roster spot and he did a lot today to show he deserves it. Matthews dropped one ball but he also showed good defensive reads, ran crisp routes, and was able to make plays throughout the day.

Jarvis Landry:

Landry dropped one pass and that seemed to shock the media in attendance. I didn’t see where he dropped another one but the media made it clear that his touchdown reception was very good and that he showed a lot of quickness and agility after the catch.

DROPPING STOCK:

Pat Devlin:

Devlin assumed the 2nd team quarterback role in place of the banged up Matt Moore. He didn’t look good. He threw two picks in the end zone, one a long ball. Devlin did not look comfortable and even though he was up against the first team defense most of the day, he didn’t look that much better against the twos. This could be the last year for Devlin in Miami. He will need to hold of recently signed QB, Seth Lobato.

David Arkin:

Arkin lined up as the third team center and the Dolphins continued to have snap issues. Arkin sailed one over the quarterbacks head and a missed exchange occurred on another. He also got beat one time for what would likely have been a sack. The Dolphins should look at getting Tyler Larsen some snaps.

Phillip Wheeler:

Wheeler struggled last season and while his name wasn’t called much today he was drilled by running back Mike Gillislee who he couldn’t bring down. Wheeler has to make those tackles.

CONCLUSION:

There were a lot of good things on both sides of the ball. Dion Jordan looked sharp, Courtland Finnegan had an interception, Brent Grimes was solid as usual. Rookie Terence Fede looked very good today as did fellow rookie Jordan Tripp in his limited time. We will get a far better look next week when the team travels to Atlanta but for now we can take away from this scrimmage, progression. The team looks to be progressing and that is always a good sign.

INJURIES

Only one injury was reported and that was to Charles Clay who appeared to have an ankle injury. He did not leave the field for the locker room as far as I could tell but did not return to the scrimmage.

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