PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS HIGHLY UNOFFICIAL. THESE ARE OBSERVATIONS SHARED BETWEEN MYSELF AND JOHN CONGEMI AND WERE DONE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF INSTANT REPLAY OR THE ABILITY TO REVIEW THE PRACTICE TAPE.
At today’s practice, one of the big questions of the summer was answered, as rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill took reps with the first team offense for the first time during training camp.
With the days and hours and minutes until the Dolphins report to training camp ticking down, we continue our series of positional previews with the wide receivers.
While there are a lot of spots up for grabs, there are definitely a couple that seem to be locked in. In early June I attempted a premature evaluation of the depth chart at this position and decided that there were 10 guys fighting for three or four spots on the roster.
With less than a month remaining until training camp, the “Hard Knocks” crew has already started filming, completing a few dry runs at last week’s mini-camp.
Thus far, in his limited time around the team, Gehring has been drawn to Joe Phibin, whom he described as being “magnetic.”
“When you’re around him, you’re kind of like, OK, this is a guy who can turn this thing around,” said Gehring, who previously directed “Hard Knocks” in 2007 and 2008.
On Wednesday, in the midst of the team’s three-day mini-camp, Reggie Bush spoke to the South Florida media about his role in the offense and how new technology has affected the team’s playbooks. Here’s what he had to say:
On the pace of the offense:
“We’re getting used to it, I think. We’ve been doing it for a little bit now, and I think everybody is kind of past that point to where we’re kind of getting used to it now.
On Tuesday, with newly acquired Chad Ochocinco on the practice field–the first time with the media present–the Dolphins opened their three-day mini-camp. It will be the final time the team meets, and the last chance for players to impress, prior to training camp.
In case you missed it, here’s a complete roundup of Dolphins.com’s coverage of the first day of mini-camp practices:
- Andy Kent: Ochocinco Plans To Show Different Side Of Himself
- Twitter Buzz From Day 1 of Mini-Camp
- PHOTOS: Chad Ochocinco First Practice Photo Gallery
- VIDEO: Mini-Camp Highlights: First Day
- VIDEO: Chad Ochocinco Media Availability
- VIDEO: Joe Philbin Press Conference
- VIDEO: Matt Moore Media Availability
- VIDEO: David Garrard Media Availability
- VIDEO: Ryan Tannehill Media Availability
- AUDIO: National Perspective On The Dolphins
Former Dolphin Jason Taylor recently spoke with Jesse Agler about joining ESPN and whether he thinks participating in HBO’s Hard Knocks is a good idea. Here is what he had to say:
On retirement
“So far, so good. It is still a little weird to hear ‘ex-Miami Dolphin,’ but life is good. I can’t complain.”
On his new job with ESPN
“It is a great opportunity to work with the worldwide leader [in sports] and get a chance to analyze the game from the other side of the desk, so to speak.
Part of the intrigue surrounding the Dolphins’ signing of Chad Ochocinco–his large personality notwithstanding–is the redemption factor. In the eyes of many, the six-time Pro Bowl receiver still has a lot to prove.
Ochocinco joined the Patriots last offseason hoping to become the most recent Cincinnati Bengals offensive star to thrive in Foxboro. His former teammate in Cincinnati, Corey Dillon, had revived his career in New England, helping the Patriots win the Super Bowl in 2004.
There was no doubt when the Dolphins signed Chad Ochocinco that he would be assigned the No. 85, because, well, it’s his name.
He, however, won’t be the first perennial Pro Bowl receiver to wear the number for Miami. Mark Duper, who, along with Mark Clayton, formed the “Marks Brothers” tandem in the ’80s, wore No. 85 for the Dolphins for a decade (1982-92).
The debate over whether Ryan Tannehill should start immediately is beginning to heat up.
Some wonder why you would delay the inevitable by having him sit; others, though, feel that throwing a quarterback out on the field too early, especially one with limited college experience, could damage him long term.
