We've got reached the “I’m completely happy to get to hit guys in a unique coloured jersey” a part of the NFL calendar.
The Miami Dolphins have gone by two weeks of coaching camp the place all they’ve seen and practiced towards is themselves. This week, the Dolphins are in Tampa for joint practices with the Buccaneers on Wednesday and Thursday forward of Saturday evening’s preseason opener at Raymond James Stadium.
Though some veterans could also be nursing accidents or in any other case taking upkeep days, a lot of fascinating matchups ought to be seen. For one, Dolphins defenders, who largely all return from final season, get one other shot at quarterback Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense that embarrassed them in final season’s 45-17 loss on Oct. 10. On the opposite facet, it affords the Dolphins’ new-look offense behind coach Mike McDaniel a primary look towards an opponent in Tampa’s aggressive protection.
New Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill is excited to face an opponent for the primary time in a Miami uniform after feasting towards Dolphins cornerback Noah Igbinoghene for 2 weeks, however having Xavien Howard get the very best of him in a small pattern dimension of 1-on-1 pairings.
“I’m actually sick of going towards X, man. He’s been locking me up in follow,” Hill mentioned final Saturday. “I’m actually desirous to go towards someone else.”
After all, Brady and the Dolphins have been linked a lot all through the offseason and in current information of Miami’s tampering violations revealed by an NFL investigation final week. Brady retired after which unretired this offseason earlier than returning with the Buccaneers to play one other season at age 45. A number of experiences, together with from the South Florida Solar Sentinel, revealed the Dolphins had been in talks with Brady over a twin enjoying and entrance workplace position in Miami. An NFL investigation discovered the Dolphins tampered with Brady each in 2019 whereas he was a member of the New England Patriots and final season with the Bucs.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will get this third NFL season to show himself in Miami regardless of the crew wanting into Brady and Deshaun Watson since he was drafted with the No. 5 decide in 2020, has impressed in coaching camp.
The Dolphins protection began off vanilla with its coverages, however Tagovailoa has since adjusted to dealing with coordinator Josh Boyer’s aggressive blitzing scheme deeper into camp. That’s extra just like the seems to be he ought to face towards Tampa coach Todd Bowles and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers. The Buccaneers, blitzing 40.8 % of the time in 2021, in line with Professional Soccer Reference, had been the one crew to deliver additional move rushers extra typically than the Dolphins (39.6 %).
Miami’s restructured offensive line will go towards a stout Bucs defensive entrance. With prized free-agent left deal with Terron Armstead anchoring his facet, three others are working at a brand new place between left guard Liam Eichenberg, middle Connor Williams and proper deal with Austin Jackson. That grouping has to point out progress in run and move blocking whereas Williams must safe his snap accuracy, which has been problematic early in camp after enjoying guard 4 seasons in Dallas.
Armstead, who had a knee process carried out within the offseason, has been on and off the follow area in a upkeep program. He might stay restricted because the Dolphins have additionally progressively introduced again operating again Raheem Mostert and fullback Alec Ingold from knee accidents they suffered with the 49ers and Raiders, respectively. Whereas cornerback Byron Jones stays on the physically-unable-to-perform checklist, McDaniel referred to as it “case by case” with how he’ll deal with totally different veterans’ workloads.
“There are a few veterans the place, for them to have the ability to follow with the recognized depth that comes with practising towards an opponent for the primary time since January, there are some guys that we sort of have to watch and we’re resting on the entrance finish of it,” McDaniel mentioned on Sunday, the final time Miami practiced earlier than departing for Tampa. “Then, there are different guys that we’ll simply must, for us to get by the entire follow and for them to get the work they want, they might sit out particular person [drills].”
Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson Jr. will go towards a Bucs secondary led by security Antoine Winfield Jr. and cornerback and Miami Norland Excessive grad Carlton Davis. Howard and the Dolphins secondary might match up towards new Tampa receivers Julio Jones and Russell Gage, whereas Chris Godwin slowly works again from an ACL tear and Mike Evans works by some coaching camp tweaks.
The Dolphins’ attacking defensive entrance will see if it will possibly get to Brady towards a Bucs offensive line that had middle Ryan Jensen maintain a knee harm final week.
“Being at this level in my profession, 4 years in, I've just a little little bit of a unique mindset once I go into the joint practices,” mentioned Miami defensive lineman Christian Wilkins. “As a younger man, you’re nonetheless like making an attempt to determine it out. ‘Am I adequate? Am I not?’ Now you simply have a unique mindset and totally different belongings you need to assault and work on once you go to these joint practices.”
The Dolphins may have their subsequent younger, upstart roster longshot make his mark towards finally attaining a roster spot on this setting.
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