Dolphins Training Camp 2013: Day 2 Recap

A day after the Miami Dolphins opened their 2013 season with the first practice of training camp, in front of 2,700 fans, the team took the field again Monday, to a much smaller crowd. Of course, Day 1 was on a Sunday, while Day 2 was on a Monday and people had to work, so the smaller crowd was expected. However, that did not stop the team from working out.

Here's a look at what happened throughout the day.

Practice Observations

• In a case of the backup quarterback always being the most popular player on the field, Matt Moore is getting plenty of press right now. He's thrown some good passes early in camp, working with the second team offense on Monday, and the third and fourth team offenses on Tuesday. However, as Alejandro reported in his FanPost about the second day of practice, we are not hearing about bad passes from Moore. Just remember, it's early in camp, and Ryan Tannehill is this team's quarterback.
• Third string quarterback Pat Devlin spent most of the day with the second team offense, taking some first team snaps as well. It's interesting that the team did that this early in camp. Part of it was likely to give Devlin a chance with the top of the depth chart. The other part was about getting Moore down to the third and fourth team offense - letting the coaches evaluate them with a starting-caliber quarterback, without Tannehill having to lose snaps with the first team.
• Armando Salguero pointed this out in a couple of places yesterday, with the exact same quote. "The read option is in the playbook. All I'm saying on that."
• Second year tight end Michael Egnew had a good day yesterday, maybe holding off the "bust" discussion for another day. Fans do not have any faith in Egnew, who spent most of the season on the inactive list each week. However, he still has talent and could become a dynamic player in the NFL as he develops. During practice on Monday, he caught four passes, including one up the seam, in traffic, on a ball from Moore. Of course, Egnew is playing mostly with the third and fourth team offenses (he did get a few snaps with the first team), so he has a long way to go before he is rising up the depth chart, but it is at least a start.
• The use of tight ends lined up as a fullback continued on Tuesday. The team is clearly looking to use matchups to their advantage. Omar Kelly tweeted during the practice that the team is using so much motion, it's hard to tell which receiver is the slot receiver. During the team's radio show last night, Jesse Agler said he expects to see Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson all lined up in the slot at times. The Dolphins will line up with three wide receivers, a tight end, and a running back in most of their formations. Where they physically line up on the field, however, is anyone's guess.
• Final tight end report. Dustin Keller seems to be developing chemistry with Tannehill. The two have been connecting on passes both days of practice so far, and the second year quarterback is using the veteran tight end as a safety valve.
• What may become a battle to watch is tackle Jonathan Martin versus defensive end Olivier Vernon. Early in the practice, Martin pancaked Vernon. So, when it came to one-on-one drills, Vernon abused Martin, who ended up with his feet tangled up and simply looked silly. Both of these players are trying to prove themselves this year, and it could make for great matchups throughout camp.
• Randy Starks spent most of the day back up with the first team defense, paired with Paul Soliai. It appears Starks and Odrick may be alternating days at defensive tackle. Notably, however, Odrick did not work at defensive end with Starks at defensive tackle. It looks like the plan may be to rotate Soliai, Starks, and Odrick at defensive tackle, leading Vernon, and eventually Dion Jordan, as the right defensive end.
• Second round draft pick Jamar Taylor continues to be hampered by the sports hernia surgery that he had to have this offseason. He was limited in practice Monday, and did not take part in the team drills. At this point, the starting cornerbacks appear to be set with Brent Grimes and Richard Marshall manning the two top spots. Taylor needs to get healthy quickly if he wants to fight for the third spot.
• Day 2 of the Kicker Battle (Kick Off? Kicker Royale?) saw Caleb Sturgis take his turn as the lead kicker. Dan Carpenter went 10-for-10 on Sunday. Monday's practice only gave Sturgis three kicks, with him missing a 47-yarder, but hitting a 48-yard attempt to end practice.
• The team is trying to find the right combination of punt returners for the year. Marcus Thigpen was the primary returned last year, but Davone Bess was the team's deep kick returner due to his sure hands. On Monday, five different players worked as a punt returner: Jasper Collins, Brandon Gibson, Brent Grimes, Brian Hartline, and Lamar Miller.

Press Conference Quotes

• "When I first got here and had a locker with my name and a different logo, that was it. I knew that I had a new home and I had a home that I was happy with." -Tyson Clabo
• "I think the number one job of the wide receiver is to create separation and space and get open. Whether you are doing it outside or inside, it doesn't necessarily matter. You probably don't quite see as much press inside I would say as a general rule, but that's not always the case." - Joe Philbin
• "I know some of the guys on the other field a little better. I've been around not every single one of them, but a lot of them around a lot of them before. I have a better sense of how they respond in critical situations. I've watched them on tape a lot more. These other guys, not every single one again, but a lot of them I don't have quite that feel for. I want to have a sense of what their tempo is, what their attitude is and their demeanor is when they are practicing." - Joe Philbin, on why he is spending most of his time on the far field with the third and fourth teams
• "I love that we are working, and others are still enjoying their vacation. We are getting better." - Richie Incognito
• "I think we are a bunch of guys who can contribute on a consistent basis, that whenever the offense picks that day. Hopefully it's evenly spread, if its evenly spread it's hard to defend, between the running backs getting out, or tight ends, or the receiving core. There's a lot of weapons on this team and a lot of guys are going to see opportunities." - Brian Hartline, on the offensive scheme
• "I'm adjusting really well, just knowing my assignments, picking up the offense very well and protecting the quarterback and running the ball when I have the opportunity." - Lamar Miller, on getting acclimated to being the feature back
• "He gave me a lot of advice, going from his first year to now, he just taught me how to pass protect, catch the ball out of the back field, and take whatever the defense is giving me." - Lamar Miller, on working with Frank Gore

Next Public Practice

• Tuesday, July 23 at 8am ET - Doctors Hospital Training Facility, Nova Southeastern University, Davie

More Dolphins Coverage:

• Dolphins Training Camp: Egnew already on bubble?
• Dolphins Training Camp: Twitter Recap Day 2
• New Miami Dolphin Introduction: Brent Grimes
• 5 Key Position Battles Heading into Training Camp
• Dolphins Training Camp 2013: Day 1 Recap
• Miami Dolphins 90 Man Roster