The Miami Dolphins head into training camp determined to build off a 7-9 season. The biggest key to improvement may be quarterback play.
Miami Dolphins 2013 training camp primer
The Dolphins will open up training camp this week after a big off season free agency spending spree.
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Ryan Tannehill's rookie season had its ups and downs, and perhaps a bit disappointing when stacked against the feats of Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson. He finished the season on an uptick, however, throwing five touchdowns to just one interception over his final four games. He created some buzz during offseason workouts, giving hope to fans that Tannehill can improve enough to generate the extra two or three wins needed for a playoff berth.
The Dolphins will have some extra help this season, after signing high profile free agents like wide receiver Mike Wallace, tight end Dustin Keller and cornerback Brent Grimes. They also lost some key talent, notably left tackle Jake Long and running back Reggie Bush. There is reason for optimism, but, as has been the case for the past several years in Miami, success isn't guaranteed.
Offseason changes
The Dolphins were incredibly busy during the offseason, undergoing a facelift on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in hopes of fielding a playoff-caliber team.
On the offensive side, the additions of Wallace and Keller give Tannehill the opportunity to work with two of football's better deep and intermediate threats. Whether Tannehill will have time to throw remains to be seen. The Dolphins failed to sign a Long equivalent at left tackle, putting Jonathan Martin in charge at a position he may not be suited for. The Dolphins are also hoping that Lamar Miller can make up for the loss of Bush at running back.
On defense, it's not hard to like the changes the Dolphins made to a middling 2012 unit. Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler should be youthful upgrades over Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett at inside linebacker. Brent Grimes is a potential star at cornerback if he stays healthy. Finally, rookie Dion Jordan could be a force of nature as a defensive end or outside linebacker in Kevin Coyle's hybrid defense.
As we learned in the case of the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, big free agency spending sprees have the potential to backfire when talent doesn't jell. Whether the newest members of the Dolphins can get comfortable quickly will play a major role in the team's success this season.
Training camp location and schedule
The Dolphins will host 14 public practices this year, the majority of which will take place at Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla. The team will head to Sun Life Stadium on Monday, July 29, for the team’s Back to Football event, which will feature activities for fans as well as a chance to watch the Dolphins’ first intrasquad scrimmage of the season.
Tickets to all public events are free, though some are only available to season ticket holders. Seating is limited to the first 2,000 fans who show up to the training facility. Seats can be reserved via the team’s official site.
The Dolphins are entering their 21st season holding training camp at the Davie facility. Before 1993, the Dolphins held training camp at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Here’s the Dolphins’ full training camp schedule, via SB Nation blog The Phinsider:
MIAMI DOLPHINS TENTATIVE 2013 PUBLIC TRAINING CAMP PRACTICE SCHEDULE
DatePractice Location - Sunday, July 21st 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Monday, July 22nd 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Tuesday, July 23rd 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Wednesday, July 24th 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Thursday, July 25th Players off, no scheduled practice or media availability
- Friday, July 26th 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Saturday, July 27th 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
(EXCLUSIVE SEASON TICKET MEMBERS PRACTICE)- Sunday, July 28th 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
(EXCLUSIVE FIN CLUB MEMBERS PRACTICE)- Monday, July 29th 7:00 PM Back to Football Powered by South Florida Ford at Sun Life Stadium
- Tuesday, July 30th Players off, no scheduled practice or media availability
- Wednesday, July 31st 6:00 PM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Thursday, August 1st 1:30 PM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Friday, August 2nd 11:30 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Saturday, August 3rd No scheduled practice or media availability
- Sunday, August 4th Preseason Game #1 vs. Dallas, 8:00 p.m., Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio (NBC)
- Monday, August 5th Players off, no scheduled practice or media availability
- Tuesday, August 6th 11:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Wednesday, August 7th 1:30 PM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Thursday, August 8th No scheduled practice or media availability
- Friday, August 9th Preseason Game #2 at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m., EverBank Field (CBS4)
- Saturday, August 10th Players off, no scheduled practice or media availability
- Sunday, August 11th 1:00 PM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
(EXCLUSIVE ROOKIE SEASON TICKET MEMBERS PRACTICE)
- Monday, August 12th 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Tuesday, August 13th Players off, no scheduled practice or media availability
- Wednesday, August 14th 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Thursday, August 15th 8:00 AM Doctors Hospital Training Facility
- Friday, August 16 No scheduled practice or media availability
- Saturday, August 17 Preseason Game #3 at Houston, 8:00 p.m., Reliant Field (CBS4)
--BREAK CAMP--
Position battles
A look at the biggest battles facing the Dolphins heading into training camp.
Defensive tackle - The defensive line is arguably the Dolphins' best unit, with three former Pro Bowl players in line to start. Randy Starks is one of them, but in his protest of being given the team's franchise tag, he sat out OTAs and prompted the team to move Jared Odrick to the interior. Odrick then excelled and took Starks' spot next to Paul Soliai on the inside during minicamp, relegating Starks to the second team. The Dolphins have a lot of money tied up in Starks this season, and ostensibly he should be the favorite to start, but questions persist heading into training camp.
Defensive end - Unsurprisingly, what happens at defensive tackle will shape what happens at right defensive end. If Odrick stays at defensive tackle, Jordan could see extensive playing time his rookie year. If Odrick sticks at defensive end, it could limit Jordan to passing downs. Odrick can also move inside situationally. A lot hinges on how Jordan looks in training camp coming off shoulder surgery, and how confident coaches are that he can handle run defense. At the moment, he may still be too raw to play an every-down role.
Running back - With Bush gone, the Dolphins don't have a clearly-defined No. 1 running back. Reports out of offseason workouts indicated that Miller has a leg up in the competition, but Daniel Thomas has been around longer and has proven to be a capable blocker and receiver when healthy. He could still cut into Miller's touches even if he isn't declared the de facto No. 1. Rookie Mike Gillislee is also on the depth chart, and should act as an explosive change of pace.
Free safety - The Dolphins are confident that Reshad Jones can be a dominant player at strong safety. Less certain is whether Chris Clemons can continue to make a steady impact at free safety. Clemons became an unrestricted free agent in March before signing a relatively modest one-year, $2.75 million contract. The fact that Clemons didn't receive a long-term deal could indicate that the Dolphins aren't completely confident in him, or that they really like former seventh-round pick Jimmy Wilson, according to Dolphins blog The Phinsider.
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