Dolphins Training Camp 2021 Day 2 Recap

round rookies showing out. We'll hear from their press conferences post practice as well. We're gonna hear from coach some other players. Break down the top performers of the day. Tell you about the long ball from TWA to Albert Wilson once again, the quarterbacks performance, the defense's performance, all of that and a heck of a lot more on this day to training camp edition from Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the Drive

Time Podcast. I never thought I would start the podcast with a Britney Spears quote, but oops, I did it again. Watching the skill guys over the offensive line, I kept pulling myself back in, but would sometimes get distracted by the glamor of the passing game and the perimeter players. Now I do have a lot more than yesterday's podcast in that regard, but it was more about the guys

on the outside. Again for me today, I do promise we'll incorporate more of the trench work as we go along, as we get closer to padded practices, and as I broaden my scope of general observations throughout the day at practice here at the Baptist Health Training Complex. Today, it's the same deal with the rosters as far as the pup goes. Will Fuller did not practice, and x Avien Howard was out there for stretching and he warmed up, but he did not participate in any of the drills.

For the second straight day, the Dolphin had that dual field approach kind of dueling reps for one offense versus one defense, and then another offense versus another defense on the opposite field, helping them to maximize reps. And if you can't tell, I'm really intrigued by this, and personally speaking, I mean, it just gives me so many more reps to watch as an observer, as an evaluator, as a football analyst. I can't watch them all. It's impossible to

do that. In fact, there was one point today where both quarterbacks were up at the line on either field and I was trying to watch them both and wound up seeing nothing. So it's pretty rare, but they did happen simultaneously on that one rep. And I'm really into it because it gives the coaches, you know, a better look. As we hear from coach Flora's here today. Yeah, I think somebody asked about you know, ones, twos, threes. You know, I think, you know, I think we've got a lot

of good competition on this team. Um, so the ones are getting the same reps, number of reps as the twos, the threes are getting reps, so they get an opportunity can't at everybody the same amount of of reps and uh, you know, opportunity to showcase what they can do. But we felt like this format um would allow us to uh to see everyone again. We just we just end up watching a lot of film. That's really you know, and I guess the onus comes goes on us as

coaches to just stay here a little bit. We'll just get the film washed. Um and uh, I think you know, we'll be able to u make some match a little bit. So a group you saw yesterday, I mean, I'm sure we called it the ones against the ones. We can easily flip those twos against ones and see guys against different, different competition and really get a feel for, uh, you know, who's doing what. So that was kind of the thought process.

And I really find that answer to be intriguing because one it goes back to a quote coach Flora's kind of became famous for here in his first year, saying there's joy and hard work. And you heard him talk about putting the onus on the coaching staff to watch more film there as there's more reps and getting or mixing match as far as which guys are playing against

which guys. And I thought that was intriguing. And again especially the note about the extra work and the almost on the coaches to put in the extra work to be able to take on all those reps that they're adding to practice. So a few pre practice notes here before we got onto the field for the actual work. You know, we heard coach Flores talk about Shakim Griffin this morning. Let's go ahead and roll the audio from coach talking about the Dolphins new linebacker and Shakie Griffin. Well,

I know he brings a lot of energy. I mean you feel his energy within thirty seconds of being around the guy. Um. But uh, he's got some obviously speed, uh, toughness, he's smart, some position flexibility, did you guys? You know I I like to have that. Let's played obviously on the ball, off the ball, linebacker on the ball, some rush ability playing a kicking game. Um, you know oldmar is big on the kicking game. I'm sure he's spent a lot of time watching that kickoff kickoff return today

just so you know. Uh, but yeah, I think he's he's we love his energy. Um, he's definitely had some leadership qualities. UM. Excited to have as part of the team. And there's a reason I'm playing that audio for you as well as this next audio here on Shad Griffin, as coach was later asked about when he first kind of became aware of who Shad Griffin was and what attracted him coach to shock as a player to go

ahead and roll that audio. You know, in this league, um, with the parody of this league and the amount of good players that are in this league, I think the players that make it are the players who know how to deal with adversity. And you know, you kind of judge that with guys coming out a few different ways. For me personally, I try to look at what are what situations have they've been put in, not necessarily on the field, but more off the field. I think you

can you know, what what what a guy? You know, what adversity of guys dealt with you know, on the field that they were down and it came back. Um. I'm not saying that that's you know nothing, but UM, guys who go through things within their lives, you know. I know for me personally, you know, you pull from those those uh experiences when you get into a uh,

when you deal with some adversity in life. And he's done that, and I think he's done a He's done an exceptional job of dealing with adversity and overcoming some diversity. So uh, I think you need that in this league. And so you heard coach talk about both the energy

as well as overcoming adversity. And I asked Shack after practice if he and coach had a chance to connect on the adversity and how he's overcome that in his personal life and football life, and Shack had a great answer that kind of gave us an all encompassing look at both overcoming adversity and the energy he brings to a football team. Um, the energy, I mean obviously that that's the most most important thing. You just have a

good Jews, have a good energy. And you know, me being able to be here in branding energy in the Jews and no be happy. You know, it kind of bring a certain light to certain people. You know, a lot of guys can come here and being for work, but it's like, what's the enjoyment you're getting from it? Is like having that fun energy wanted to be here one of the laugh and stuff. You know, you're not

doing something right, you're not having fun. I thought that last quote there was really the one that stood out there. If you're not having fun, you're not You're not doing something right. And that's that's true of any job. And of course I find myself having the best time in my life every single time out here at training camp practices. There's no better place in the world for me to

be during these practices. And the reason I brought out the energy here was because you know, as I get a chance to sit there before the practice and kind of watch guys come onto the field and just be a fly on the wall, so to speak. As Shock is coming over to the area where the linebackers are starting to congregate pre practice, he's already chirping, like from across the field, like fifty yards away. He's just you can hear him getting after guys and and kind of

skipping across the field. So it was just cool to see them talk about that and then see it in action. So that was that Shock in a nutshell right there. We're gonna have a good time covering that guy this year. Another note, Liam Eichenberg was working pre practice with Jesse Davis on their past sets and it was a lot of stuff working on the redirect on an inside move.

It's always a good idea to pull tips from a guy like a Jesse Davis who's basically seen every possible game, you know, stunts, slants, twist and whatever it might be the NFL defensive lines can throw at you. So to have him kind of go through a rep and then Jesse kind of come up to him and touch the shoulder and say, you know, I don't know what they're talking about, but just the hand motions and kind of walking through those reps in the physical aspect of doing that.

Just something you didn't get last year with you know, all this zoom meetings and distance type of learning and classroom situations. So really cool see those guys get a chance to be on the field here late in July and going through that stuff. And then finally Christian Wilkins was the first guy out and the last to leave yesterday. The conditioning, the leadership, the love of the game. This

guy is always as advertised. Let's go ahead and start with the camp notes from today with rookie first round DRAFTIC number eighteen overall outside linebacker Jalen phil A ups And it was planned that we would get both Jalen's today for media before practice, so it was nice to get both of them to show out for us on

the practice field on Thursday. First with phillips Man, he was in the backfield with some really great battles with a couple of guys, but first he talked about Austin Jackson and now is a good time to announce our first prime time matchup of the day. It was Jalen Phillips and Austin Jackson. And though there weren't one on one reps for those guys, my favorite drill and all of football is the offensive line verse, defensive line pass

rustrials in those one on ones. Even though we didn't have that, they still had some fantastic battles in the team period. First, I want to go ahead and play a clip here from Jalen Phillips talking about Austin Jackson and their relationship. I didn't know this actually pre dates their time when Austin was at USC and Jalen at u c l A. Yeah, I've actually known Austin sens my senior year of high school. We both played in the Army All American Game together. Um, so it's anyone

to USC. So it's been cool to be a would it be on the same team as that, You know some guys I knew before the Austin's a study, Um so you know, just you know, iron sharpened iron, iron sharpen's iron. And so it's great to be able to go against the guy, you know, if it's caliber every day and even on the other side, Jesse, you know,

guys inside like they're all super talented. So Phil Solace there from Jalen Phillips for kind of stuttering over one of his words there because I fumbled that question getting it out to him. So that was game recognizing game right there. All jokes aside. We also heard from Zach Seler discussing the footwork of the young offensive lineman and how he's already noticing strides from their rookie campaigns last year. So all that very encouraging and one of the cool

parts of all of this. Amid all the you know, chatter up in the bleachers, I'm just trying to find any cool tidbits I can. Keeping a close eye on two full football fields, ninety man roster, all the coaches, all the stuff that's going on, and I see the offensive line working extra reps between periods between drills, like you'll see guys working on their sets or trying to figure out their hands, Like there's just always thing going on.

And at one point Austin was working with Jonathan Hubbard on redirecting, just like leam Meikenberg and Jesse Davis earlier. And then I saw him apply that in the team drills where you get an upfield rush and then the pass rusher kind of either spin moved back inside or try to go with a cross chopped back inside, whatever the move might be. You then have to stop your momentum, redirect and get back to the inside. And I think you see the way Austin Jackson really moves well in

that area. So to see it from the just the very slow paced walk through reps, helmets off and just working with guys off to the side to apply onto the football field. I love seeing that work. He also had some nice work on the backside on run blocks where he has to shoot the hands, kind of turn his butt to the gap and then seal that man off, and he had some nice work in that area as well. Okay, back to the rookie going up against him, kind of got on a tangent there on an Austin Jackson tangent.

Austin got him a couple of times. Jalen got some pressure too. He also Jalen had some pressure off the other side of the formation, and he talked about the work of both Eikenberg and Davis and some other guys that he went up against his pass rushers, and how he's taking a lot from all the guys that he's seeing in this in this particular arena. But it's not just the pass rush with him, because I'm watching him and I'm not seeing a lot of trouble with you know,

the thinking aspect of the game. He plays fast to me, and that includes going forward and backwards, and man, he looks good in and out of those transitions. And obviously that length that he features really helps disrupt the passing lanes. And as I'm standing there off to the side when he walks up to the podium for his press conference, stand next to Jalen Phillips and you'll feel like a pretty small human being that was a little bit of masculate sat next to that guy. He is an absolute

monster from one first round rookie to another. Jalen Wattle went. I think the only word to describe it was he went Nanners today, and everyone focuses on the speed, and rightfully, so it's just another gear with him that you do

not often see. I think the best example of this was when they were working on trail technique, and that's where the cornerback plays underneath and the receiver has to react his movement, so you can basically snap off inside outside and the quarterback has to follow that direction, and you might say, why would you play that position on the football field, Typically speaking, I'm not gonna go over my skis over my pay grade here, but typically speaking,

the reason you play that technique is to have someone over the tops. You kind of funnel into where your help is. That's all playing defenses and football and basketball right find out where your help is and utilize that help. And so in this trail technique drill, there's a rep between Albert Wilson and Noah Igbanogny where I've noted the Igbo state step for step with him, and we'll get

to more on him here just shortly. But I was really impressed with Iganogenys ability to stay in that position, and I thought to myself, maybe this drill does favor the defensive back because they don't have to worry about the vertical and it's just a two way direction whether it's in or out, and the cornerback can either cheat or make a guess even or just play the man.

And I thought Igbo did that really well. But then Jalen Waddle comes up and takes a rep and he stutters, then shoots out of that break like a rocket and he's just I mean, it's a flash and he's working parallel with a solid to three yards of separation from the defender. Before you can even blink. It just happens also suddenly. But I thought his hands were the real story. Today.

He caught one ball that was a bit high and behind, and he elevates, catches the football on his hip and comes down in a three sixty and just hits the ground and takes off. It reminded me. We've been doing a lot of sports analogies on the podcast here lately. It reminded me of a figure skater, you know, they go up and they do the triple axel and they come down and they're off again. It's a lot of fun to watch. He also stabbed a low pass and two of was aces today, So these two throws are

not an indicator of his day. More on that in just a moment. But this ball was a quick fire throw, like Jalen gets off the line to a knows that's where the ball is going instantly and lets that thing fly and Jalen slides in like he's stealing second base and makes the catch going to the ground. Later on kickoff, Wattle comes up on a pooch kick that lands in

that no man's land, like where you start. If you're watching the game on ev you start panicking because, oh no, that ball, that's a live football, and I'm scared, and it takes a bounce. He slides in and corrals it off the hop again, like starting in a second base I just the concentration that requires the ability to survive the ground or contact from defenders. It's just the perfect compliment to his speed, because, as we talked about yesterday,

deep balls are typically low percentage throws. That's just how it goes. Right, shooting the ball from five ft beyond the three point line, it's a it's a low percentage shot. And when you have that speed and that trusty catchability, you increase that percentage. And there's a reason why this guy caught twenty one of twenty six passes beyond twenty yards of area yards at Alabama right, and all but four of those, by the way we're from to us.

So there you go. There's your conclusion. Then that speed it translates to other routes to like on one comeback route where he pressed the toes of the corner. And this is one of our favorite terms in the podcast here creating conflict. Do I have to hit my flip my hips and get vertical backwards back towards the goal post or can I drive downhill on the short intermediate throw?

And he's all gas for about fourteen yards and he snaps that thing off coming back to the quarterback and there were several yards of separation on this throw and the football arrives right on time from the far hash a good deal of zip on that throw for what it's worth. And with that, let's go ahead and get to the quarterback. But first, real quick, we heard from Jalen. Let's get his take on a quote that coach Flora has had this morning talking about Jalen's role is going

to be what Jalen makes of it. And you know, he talked about the importance of the kicking game and how he does want to have his best guy out there because he thinks the kicking game is an important aspect of the game, and of course it is. With that was a big area of focus for the Dolphins last year and the year before and last year, Coach Croftsman's special teams unit was a big reason why this

team was able to win ten football games. So talking about Jalen and multiple capacities, whether it's catching the football or returning pots or whatever job he might do, I asked him, how are you approaching, you know, going into US season where maybe it's your rookie year and you've kind of taking a lot on terms of the classroom and learning the game and trying to do multiple things.

How's your approach to that going Here's Jalen Waddle. I'm trying to learn, honestly, learn to playbook, learn my teammates and just trying to get better, help out and um, just do what the coaches asked me to do. Think that's all they can ask. That's all I'm gonna I'm gonna give him. And now let's go ahead and get to the quarterbacks. The one throw in the football to Jalen Waddle because well, I know you guys want that.

We're deep into the podcast here, but to on this day, he was dealing and I thought it was really a good practice for him on Wednesday, and I thought Thursday was even better. He had one play where he stepped up through the rush up the middle of the pocket and fired one to Mike Gasiki down the middle of the field and it looked an awful lot like the play against the Cardinals last year where he did that and flung it out too. I think it was Davante

Parker for a big game. But Kasiki catches this one, turns it and runs for what was at least thirty or so yards before defender got near him. And the thing with these plays where two gets off the original spot, the defense has to respect the scramble so he can generate big plays with that quick twitch and putting the defense in you guessed it some conflict, and that's what he did here. There were two quick swing routes, one two Miles Gaskin, another to Albert Wilson, and this is

more recognition and quick release to me than anything. I have to imagine he's recognizing post nap movement immediately and making a decision that if I get this ball into space, we have a chance for a big play, especially with the speed that those guys offer. And sure enough, Gaskin goes for about twenty before he gets close to a defender or where contact would be, and then Wilson finishes

his in the end zone. Would he have scored I'm not sure, but given what we saw him due to the Bears back in two thousand eighteen with those two crazy catch and runs, I'm inclined to say yes. Then later in practice they run something similar with Sevon Akhmed, only this time he sticks his foot in the ground and gets up few field on a wheel route and the ball is dropped in the bucket absolutely perfectly right

and stride to another fast receiver here. Possible touchdown there too, but two is touch was on point, and none more than this one with the honeyhole shot to savan Akhmed over the top of the cornerback under the safety on this particular play over the coverage, I should say, I'm not sure if it was a corner because you're facing a tailback, so I'm not sure, but you get the idea over somebody under another defender on that back end. I also think the Backs have really shown their metal

it's pass catchers through the first two days. Miles Gaskim, savan Akhmed, Malcolm Brown. We know what Pat Laird can do in this area. Carl Tucker had himself a touchdown and red zone seven on seven and it was to me very a very natural looking hands catcher. A former high school receiver, and you can see that with how he catches the football and doesn't fight the ball. He moved to tight end at North Carolina and then again Alabama played that position with some age back and fullback.

But you see the fact that he was a high school receiver. He even told us I don't I didn't know how to play tight end going to college, and then transitioned inside natural hands from Carl Tucker. Then there was another deep ball again to Albert Wilson, same story as Wednesday. He came from one side of the formation across the field on a deep crossing route, kind of crossing the safety's face there, and he came free and

to a does not miss him. In fact, even with all the open grass around him to have puts this thing right where it had to be for him to not just make the big catch, put to finish it off with twenty or so more yards after the catch for the touchdown forty or so ere yards, twenty or so yacht yards. Big plays galore. And my last note on t is the process by which he gets to

his checkdowns. You saw the video on Wednesday, the throw to Shaheen for a touchdown where he glances away and you see a player move out of the way from in front of Shaheen, and then he comes right back

and snaps that thing in there for a touchdown. I have to think that he can do this because he knows where his options are and that allows him to move the defense with his eyes because he can process without really seeing it, and my eyes don't have to stay there to know where my receiver is going to be when I come back to him. And if he can do that at a high level, if that is in fact what he's doing, that's gonna go a long way towards playing some darn good quarterback at this level.

I thought Reid Sinette was fantastic today as well. He's got himself an arm. He fired some steamshots to Alan Hearns and Kirk Merritt, and he and Merritt have a really nice connection going so far. He's also got some wheels. He piled up rushing yards at San Diego the College, not the Chargers former home, but he threw with decisiveness and accuracy throughout the day. Jacoby Brissette was working in the middle of the field too, and none better than his deep ball to Isaiah Ford a very well thrown

deep shot into tight coverage. Ford pulls it down, survives the ground, and Isaiah had himself a good day as well. He's always getting extra work after practice and that didn't change on Thursday. Some other receivers I mentioned Merritt. I love the way he finishes every rep. You know Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papali and Invincible, the movie that came out, what was that to twenty years ago or so? Running

into the end zone. He also just really shows off the hands and athletic ability throughout the course of training camp so far. Speaking of hands and ability, Robert Foster a couple of nice grabs today too. He's been strong

this offseason. Going back to O t A s he pulled down one on the end line throwing on air, so you know it's not against the defense, but the physics just made no sense to me because he's flying out of bounds and somehow he gets his feet to kind of curl back inside taps him inside the white line for the would be touchdown. He's been very impressive in his movement and with strong hands. Mac Hollins really

knows how to use that body. And speaking of strong hands, I think his value in the red zone both as a receiving threat and a blocker, a guy that could run slants or box out guys on or run fade routes to the back pylon like we saw last season. I think he has real value there, especially when you add in his run blocking prowess in that area of the field. Mike Gisicky had the big play and some other grabs, and he came really close to another one of those one handed stabs again, but it just went

off his fingertips. So Mike making some usual Mike Gasicki types of play so far in practice. I thought Hunter Long had a nice day. He had one rep where he ran a five yard speed out and the linebacker had inside leverage. So he runs his route with a slant towards the inside shoulder, then get separation and because of that play off leverage, the linebacker just can't get that step quick enough to cut him off at the past. There's some nice nuance there to the rookies route running

on the offensive line. I talked about Austin Jackson a little bit about Davis and Eichenberg. I thought Rob Hunt had a strong day. Man. He moves really well, for a dude that size, he's adept at hitting that chip at the line and then climbing to the second level. And I thought his pad level and approach was really good in that area. Adam Panky got in my notes for a couple of nice run blocks. Again, guys, I'm sorry, but this it's tough without pads. It's tough with some

of the angles you get. Sometimes if the plays ran directly in front of you, it's really hard to see what's happening at center and guard and the far tackle on the other side of the formation. But Zack Steeler said today and his post practice presser say that five times fast, then it's a different game. So I still want to wait until we get the pads on before we really go in on the offensive line. So with that, let's go ahead and flip it over to the defensive

side of the football. And the group that had the best day for my money was the defensive tackles. Adam Butler and Zach Seeler talked about what he brings the table. Let's go ahead and roll that audio real quick. Adams. Adams a very veteran guy, a very smart guy. Watch a lot of tape and those he's doing, those he's talking about. So it's a great addition to work with him and learn off, feed learn and feed off each other.

So I just loved hearing that little note there because talking about watching film and really being a veteran guy that can can kind of expand upon that wisdom to the rest of the room. But just as far as the physical with Butler, Man, he's so quick off the snap, and it's not just the combo of power and speed, it's the knowledge of the game of like how to rush where the hands go. Just a polished player. And like Zach said, I think he's really gonna rub off

on this room. And he was in the backfield a few times on Thursday as well. Nobody was in the backfield more than ray Kwon Davis Man. He's a load. I don't know how else to say it. I mean, during run installs, I'm watching him literally through my binoculars on the far side of the field and you see him shoot the hands attacked. His man didn't just kind

of work whichever direction he wants to from there. And I mean that four inch wingspan, give or take, really shows up on a rep by rep basis and there was That wasn't even the best part of it all. There was him getting pressure in the backfield on past plays. Just a huge day from Rae Kwon Davis, and Christian Wilkins had a big day too. I thought he was in the backfield a bit, But my favorite play was one where he showed you his effort. We talked about

that earlier in the podcast. He walks the guy back five yards into the backfield, disengages off the block, and then closes on Brissette. Brissette sees him and throws the football over his head to a receiver who's kind of camped out there on the sideline, and Christian turns around and retraces. And he was the last guy off the field yesterday, first guy out there today, just working his butt off. He's been a, you know, seven hundred snap type of guy going back to his time at Clemson.

You can just count on Christian Wilkins as much as anybody on this team and really, honestly in the league. I love watching his effort out there every single day at practice. I had Jerome Johnson with a would be TfL and he Brew blew through the line. An undrafted free agent from Indiana gets him popped there and then out to the edge. I had Jason Strowbridge with some good work in the run game, clogging up his gap.

That's something he did well in a flexible role at North Carolina, and then of course getting a handful of reps last year as a rookie. Andrew Van Ginkl had one of my favorite reps the day because again of the effort, he was thwarted on his original pass rush move and I think it was seventy five, which is newcomer Tyler Mars. Then the quarterback works up field, so Geek kind of keeps his eyes in the quarterback and you watch these guys go through their individual drills on

the pads. They are so focused on I discipline and keeping their heads up and keeping their head or their eyes rather on the football. So he does that and then works back inside and got the pressure. Vince Beagle, his Wisconsin teammate, had a nice pressure would be sacked at the end of practice. It was a nice rip move where he got under the pads of alignment, cleared that inside arm, and then flattened his way to the quarterback.

At linebacker, Jerome Baker had himself a day in coverage man, including one really nice pass breakup on a pass into the end zone to Shaheen. He plays the stem and then Dry is out of the on the outcut at the same time as Adam. And for him to compete with a guy of that size while being able to play at the speed that he plays at, well, that's how you wind up playing one thousand snaps every single year at the same position. Duke Riley was on one today.

My favorite note on him came during open field tackling or it's tagging off, but the technique in the pursuit and the angles and the effort. He had to go do a down up before the rep, but I've never seen anybody executed that fast. It's basically a burpie. But the speed at which Duke got to the ground and got back up it blew my mind. Then he pursues

and gets in front with a great angle. Later in red zone, Hunter Long catches a flat route and you see him kind of apply that to the practice field as Brissette gets out there quickly, but Duke closes for a quick tackle short of the end zone inside the five yard line. And then we finished up with the DBS here. I thought Noah Agonogamy had himself a day on Day two and had an even more impressive presser

after practice. First, Hollands got inside of him on a touchdown throw inside the five yard line from I believe it was to Uh to Hollands, and you can see the competitive fire afterwards, Hollands spikes the football and Igbo gets up and kind of claps his hands in frustration. And maybe that's because it was really a flawless day to that point. It started off on the bags in the warm up session of practice, the individual drills at practice, and I really thought, I really love about him. In

the drill. You see the entire body working as one element, like he's so proficient with his punch and he generates it from his base and explodes up through the bag. You lose one element of that on any rep and you'll get wiped out. In this league, that's just how it goes. You have to be technically sound, otherwise guys are gonna beat you. But he's clearly drilled that technique and the fundamentals, because I thought it showed up for

him on that rep. Then you can apply that in practice as he works down in the muck, staying engaged on blocks or at the line against receivers, just taking what you learn putting on the practice field. I'm seeing

some growth there from number nine. Later he was in zone turn, which is where your but is facing the sideline, your eyes inside on the quarterback, or kind of reading the route concepts inside, and he was chopping the feet that he takes off as he locates a man coming into his area and the ability for him, you know, the start stop we talked about on the podcast a lot to go from stationary too on the move. It

was like a flash. I love this guy's game. I like the approach to I want to play some audio straight through for you guys here because he was so impressive talking to I got a few questions for Noah off a side table post practice. Just go ahead and

play some of the answers he gave me. And my first question for him was, have you noticed the mental side of the game catching up to the physical, because we know this guy is so so profound and what he can do physically, and the son of two former Olympians, and the fact that he switched to cornerback, you know, midway through his college career. I just wanted to ask him about the progress of getting everything aligned to where

you can play at full speed. Here was his answer about how that's coming along for him here in year two in the prose. Definitely, definitely mentally is for me mentally it's easy, but to to learn to know it mentally and to do that physically it can be a little challenging sometimes. So that's the thing I'm working on just to do it, just to know it, but to make my body used to doing it over and over and over and over again. And so just just doing

my job the right way. And that was him kind of hitting his hand the table talking about going over and over again, so it kind of shook the microphone there and my apologies. I asked him about the what playing receiver taught him as far as being a quarnerback in the National Football League, and here's his comment on playing both sides of the ball and how it's helped

him as a pro. Then do definitely. I remember a lot of the route combinations is how receivers went, route splits everything, because I used to do that all the time. So again it's it's hard doing all that from corners. Sometimes I guess a lot you have to know, a lot you have to do, but I'm it's slowing down

for me a little bit. And so every single day, I'm just gonna get better, come and come to work every single day, and then you'll have them and then we finish up here with Noah for a question I had with him about Byron Jones, because Byron has been so complimentary of the way that Noah works, and Byron is the same way, So I wanted to ask him to kind of flip that around and talk about what

Byron's meant to him in his career so far. He's a tremendous leader, he's a tremendous arm He's somebody I looked to um and everything off the fielding on the field, and UM, he's a tremendous brother, a teammate, and I can't wait to work with him, man. So I think the thing I'm I'm most taking away from that is the fact that he talked about doing things over and over again, the repetition and getting that muscle memory and

and going over so many things. I think at some point, if it hasn't already, things are going to click for him. And then he'll be able to play at that full speed and really show you the true physical makeup that he has at just twenty one years old come opening day.

So excited to watch this guy play. You know, I mentioned him on the Sled and the Technique and Byron Jones, you know, he talked about him there and the professionalism, and I think that he might be at least partially responsible for that in terms of what Igbo does on the Sled and the Technique, because Byron has talked a lot about how Noah is as a pro and the work ethic. So I wanted to spend that question around and then last thing here on Byron Jones. His feet

are so nice. He always stays square in ways that just don't look normal, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Even when he's in pursuit or engage on a block, he just keeps himself square. He had that beautiful pass breakup down the field in this practice where he elevated damn near picked it off, but Albert Wilson comes in and breaks up at the last moment. But Jones had both hands on the football, but Wilson just punched it out. So those two guys working together,

a lot of fun to watch. Nick need Him had another really really good day. One of the reps he had just excellent coverage on Isaiah Ford, I thought one of the best reps of the entire day. Or initially, he stops an inside route from Ford going down the seam and right down the middle. He kind of caps that thing off and then Ford breaks outside as Jacoby percent breaks the pocket and need Him just stayed glued to he plastered as it's called, and got the past breakup.

So he's been competitive throughout practice. I mentioned the trail technique drill earlier, justin Coleman, I thought really shined in that area. He's physical enough to put himself in these advantageous situations without being grabby enough to draw the flag. So with some veteran savvy technique there, and also just good football. I thought Terrell Bonds and Tino Ellis had some really good reps. The whole room just competes their

butts off. Man our last note here before we get into the top performers, and a couple of Twitter questions. The last team period was such a competitive one. You had guys celebrating the winds and showing some of the agony on defeats. Coaches are chirping, guys are bouncing around. If I had to guess, I'd say there was plenty

of smiles out there. And at one point I saw Jalen Phillips very matter of fact lee going up to his teammates with a very formal, almost joking manner, like a handshake, like good job, sir, good job sir, and that just these guys. I can see that kind of camaraderie building already here on Day two. Top performers, Jalen Waddle leads off here. Suddenness, strong hands, and concentration impact on how the Dolphins will be defended against the opposition

this year. I'm so excited to watch the way he plays. Albert Wilson gets in here again for the second straight day. I'm so happy for him to come back and really feel like himself. He said on Wednesday that the reason he switched to number to his college number is that he feels like he's finally back to himself. That's awesome for us. Kirk Merritt makes plays every day so far going back to O T S and the way he finishes plays. The guy is super athletic, and he knows

how to find the football, read Sennet. He looked decisive and showed off the armstreak a couple of times. He was producing and really kind of doing what he wanted at times. Noah Manogay applying the lessons and practice competing, showing his all a cart skill set that he has really impressed with him so far, Nick need him. The one rep alone gets him on here. But he's been playing in a similar capacity through two days so far, he's been He's been really strong in these practices. Ray

Kuan Davis. The hands, the arms of the power of the pass rush all on display today. Christian Wilkins. The energy is admirable, the ability is tangible, and the impact is evident. He acts just like you'd want your first ever draft pick of Brian Floors and Chris Career here in twenty nineteen, the true champion of a team message. Jerome Baker showed out in coverage and we know what he can do as a pass rusher. That's a deadly combo in today's NFL, Duke Riley, where so many hats

he can cover, come up and tackle from depth. We know about his special team's prowess and to a toungo by low A total command, playing fast but in control, hitting deep balls on the regular, getting to his check downs when it's not there. I think we're gonna see him ascend every day in camp this year and just

continue to get better. So to a toungo by low A, Duke Riley, Jerome Baker, Christian Wilkins, rake On, Davis Nick, need him know what a ban agaeny reads and that Kirk Merritt, Albert Wilson, and Jalen Waddle are my top performers of the day. I just want to go ahead and put a note in there. It's impossible to watch all nine d guys. I wanna be transparent with you guys about that. So if I missed somebody out there that had a great day, I of course would apologize

about that. But just from what I was able to capture and see, those are my top performers. Let's finish this thing up with a couple of male bad questions and get out of here. This first one comes from Layton Staffer at Staffer Underscore Laton, what one player are you looking forward to watching the most over the next few weeks and that's such an impossible question, but I'll go ahead and stay on brand here with Javon Holland.

There was a rep today and tackling where he didn't get the ball out, trying to punch the force of fumble. And this happens a lot because getting the ball free is really tough against professional football players. They're they've been doing this their whole life. He was visibly upset, so I started watching more of that, and he plays every rep like it's life or death. At least that's what I gather from watching him. I think that's something that's

infectious across the entire locker room. And I think that when you start to get players like at the make up the majority of your roster, and that's what Miambi has. They have a lot of guys like that, and I think that's one of the ways that you get the old greater than the some of the parts type of results. I mean, Brian Flores is two years here, the team has exceeded all wind toll projections from every publication you'll

see out there. I believe yere one it was three, three and a half four range on different publications last year. The numbers right around seven seven and a half. Obviously five wins and ten beat both of those, So you have the misperception of what this team team is and you just stack up your perception of the club on paper. But paper football is not played on paper, and I think the Javon Holland's attitude exudes what this team and

culture are about. Let's go one more here. Jay Hinton will get to more of these in future podcasts as well. At Jay Hinton thirty three. You guys are making it easy on me with the easy to read handles and names, so I appreciate that. But he asks what has been

the most eye opening so far? And maybe I opening isn't the term for the answer I'm going to give you because I talked about it for you know, months on this podcast, but the way the editions of speed on offense have clicked with TWA and the passing offense through two days now, it's just two days, but I've really enjoyed what I've seen in that regard, and as we covered and top performers, both Wilson and Wattle, we're

both in there today. That's two days in a row for Albert and that's two days in a row with a sixty plus yard touchdown from him. So I see a team that identified the types of players that too has had success within his past in college, and they're beginning to insulate him with similar skill sets and to also help round out that group as a whole. I think it's been tangible through the first two days, and that speed has way more of an impact than just

making big plays. It changes the way defenses have to defend you. It back safety's off the line. It opens up the run game, which then can open up the short game with the bigger bodied guys too. So that variety, the inclusion of the speed, and the successes the offense has had with it for those guys through two days, those have me fist pumping to myself in the stands, and I'm excited to see if they can continue that into the next days, weeks and so on. But it

starts with tomorrow. Let's do it again tomorrow and stack another good day. That's a good place to end the podcast. We're gonna come back with you guys tomorrow and do it all over again, same deal on Saturday, and we'll see the fans out here on Saturday for an afternoon practice so don't miss any of that. In the meantime, that's gonna be my time you all. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast. Leave us a rating, leave us a review, give me a follow.

On Twitter, it's at Winkle NFL. You can follow the team at Miami Dolphins, check out the fish Tank Podcast with Set and Juice, and of course Miami Dolphins dot com. Until next time finds up