DAVIE, Fla. – A daily review of the hot topics coming out of Miami Dolphins training camp:
It was the first day in pads, and I really liked what I saw from Dolphins rookie receiver Jarvis Landry, who had his best practice of training camp thus far. Landry, Miami’s second-round pick, had a plethora of quality catches in team drills. His two most impressive were a long touchdown down the seam from quarterback Ryan Tannehill and an impressive snag over the middle for a first down on a tough throw by backup quarterback Matt Moore. Landry isn’t the fastest receiver or the best athlete. But he is reliable, runs good routes and has great hands.
The play of the day goes to former first-round pick and backup defensive end Dion Jordan. He made a very athletic play Saturday during team drills to intercept a screen attempt from Tannehill and take it to the house. It was the type of flash the Dolphins hope to see more of from their 2013 No. 3 overall pick. But Miami will have to wait as Jordan was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
In fact, it was another so-so day for Tannehill, who continues to experience growing pains learning a new offense. Tannehill made some nice throws, such as his touchdown pass to Landry and a connection over the middle to receiver Mike Wallace for a 25-plus yard gain. But Tannehill also made some questionable decisions in team drills that would look bad in a game situation. Tannehill’s errant screen pass to Jordan was his worst play, but the quarterback also nearly threw another interception to cornerback Jamar Taylor and suffered at least two would-be sacks. At some point, things need to click for Tannehill, who enters an important third season.
On the injury front, Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey (hip) and running back Knowshon Moreno (knee) worked on the side with trainers, as expected. Slot receiver Brandon Gibson took part in his first padded practice since last year’s knee surgery but he didn’t finish the session. His status will be monitored throughout camp.
Dolphins starting running back Lamar Miller had a good day with several nice runs. Miller looks like a decent fit for Miami’s new offense and has taken advantage of spread situations. The Dolphins asked Miller to get a little bigger in the offseason to help with durability and pass protection. “I want to say he weighed in at 221 or something like that,” Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin explained. “He looks good, he looks stronger than he’s ever been, and I don’t think he’s sacrificed any speed whatsoever.”
Up next, the Dolphins will have their first day off of training camp on Monday. Miami will next take the field on Tuesday.