Following up on Dolphins' OTA - Answering the 10 questions

  • #22 Jamar Taylor during the first day of the Miami Dolphins three-day mini-camp for the rookies.
#22 Jamar Taylor during the first day of the Miami Dolphins three-day mini-camp… (Mike Stocker / Sun Sentinel )
May 21, 2013|By Omar Kelly, Sun Sentinel

The media got the first sneak peek at the 2013 Miami Dolphins today, and there were a few lasting imagines, impressions and observations.

Here is the best of what we saw and what was said on Tuesday.

For those who are new to following me I give you the best and worst of what I observed. I don't target any particular player or unit. I just look for people making players and disrupting the offense and defense.

I figured the best way to wrap it all up would be to answer the questions I had going into Tuesday's showcase.

1. Which players are absent, and who has their participation limited?

Randy Starks skipped the OTA session, which isn't surprising considering he plans to only participate in the mandatory minicamp.

Reshad Jones showed up for work on Tuesday, and is presently playing nice with Dolphins management regarding his contract. You can read that story here.

Rookie cornerback Jamar Taylor was a no show, and you can read why he's going to be sidelined a few weeks in this story.

2. Who are the top six cornerbacks in OTAs, and how will they perform?

Brent Grimes was one of the three players who really stood out to me on Tuesday. I've consistency admitted how shocked I am about his limited size, but Grimes is an athletic freak based on what I witnessed on day one.

Grimes recovers well and knocked down at least three passes during Tuesday's session. Richard Marshall and Grimes were the first team cornerbacks on Tuesday, and Jimmy Wilson, a safety, continues to work as the starting nickel, which was the role he had last year.

Dimitri Patterson and Nolan Carroll were the cornerbacks working with the second-team defense.

The cornerback battle is one of the best the Dolphins have to offer heading into training camp.

3. How long will it take Ryan Tannehill to develop chemistry with his new weapons?

Tannehill looked sharp during the first OTA practice where his offense was facing the defense. He made quick decisions, and worked the boundary well (like usual). He threw what would have been a touchdown pass to Brian Hartline. The pass looked just like the bomb he threw to Hartline in that record-setting overtime loss to Arizona. But Mike Wallace, Dustin Keller and Brandon Gibson didn't eat very much from Tannehill on Tuesday. Remember, it is a marathon, not a sprint.

In my humble opinion Armon Binns was the top performer on the varsity squad. He beat Grimes for what would have been a touchdown pass from Tannehill. And Brian Tyms was the top performing receiver on the JV unit.

4. Where does Jared Odrick line up, and how is he being used?

Odrick is being used as the starting defensive tackle paired with Paul Soliai, and he looked GOOD in that role that has been opened up by Starks' absence. At one point Starks drove Nate Garner, who was working at center, right into the tailback, producing a tackle for loss. Olivier Vernon served as the starting right side defensive end.

5. Can Kelcie McCray or Jimmy Wilson push Chris Clemons for the starting free safety spot.

None of the safeties did anything special on Tuesday. Kind of hard to tell if Miami's working with anything, or anyone special right now. But it was only day one. I've got to admit, I'm a little uncomfortable about the safety spot.

6. Will another tailback push Lamar Miller for the starting spot?

OTAs are very hard to evaluate when it comes to positions that rely on contact. Therefore, it is hard to see which tailback is making respectable runs because nobody is being tackled to the ground. However, I will admit that Marcus Thigpen is more involved in the starter battle than I initially expected.

7. John Jerry reported to OTAs under 340 pounds. Will being in better shape help him hold onto the starting right guard spot?

Lance Louis wasn't working with the team. He was doing rehab work on the side, and hasn't been cleared to practice because of the ACL tear he suffered in late November. However, Will Yeatman, a tight end the Dolphins converted to offensive tackle last season, was working as the backup left guard. Maybe he'll get into the right guard mix eventually. Joe Philbin surprisingly mentioned Yeatman as a possible starter. The Dolphins intend to start the top five offensive linemen.

8. Veteran kicker Dan Carpenter and Caleb Sturgis, a fifth-round pick, will hold one of the more heated camp battles. But will it be a fair competition?

Someone missed a field goal on Tuesday, but I'm disappointed to tell you I didn't see who came up short because it was raining and my view on the ground level wasn't good. Even though I typically ignore kickers (and have done so for years, with no shame) I promise I'll do better.

9. How long will it take Miami's new linebackers to develop some chemistry as a unit?

Wheeler made a couple solid plays on Tuesday. I was impressed with his coverage skills. But I didn't notice anyone else in the unit. I'm a patient man.

10. Which tight end steps up and earns playing time behind Keller?

Michael Egnew was moving very well against the linebackers, creating separation. At times all three veteran backups - Egnew, Charles Clay and Kyle Miller - got work with the starting unit. And Miller even worked as an H-back. Rookie tight end Dion Sims was working with the JV unit. I'm sensing this position battle could go the distance, but considering I noticed Clay was limping badly off the field I suspect durability could be a deciding factor.


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