Three days of practice typically isn’t a significant sample size — but in the NFL’s condensed build-up to the 2020 NFL regular season, we’re all short on time. Three practices is suddenly a significant piece of the puzzle in 2020 — so what impressions were made in Miami’s first chunk of practice reps and how can we look to see it evolve in Miami’s next block of practices after a day off yesterday?
Here are three fascinating storylines to keep an eye on for when Miami puts on the pads once again.
Will QB Josh Rosen get any reps with the 1s?
Rosen has been the Dolphins’ most consistent quarterback by nearly every report coming out of Davie. With youth on his side, a resurgent Rosen would make a fascinating case to play if he’s able to prove over this practice period that he’s the superior option — especially since no one is talking about him with the presence of Tua Tagovailoa. But for Rosen to prove that he’s the best choice, he’ll need reps with Miami’s premiere players.
The Dolphins’ plan to attack that tries to circumvent 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-string. Here’s offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s method to get the quarterbacks exposed to better talent:
“We try to get different guys – we have a quarterback rotation – and we try to put different people in with those quarterbacks rather than saying first group, second group, third group,” he said.
We just have a quarterback rotation and we mix a lot of different people in when the quarterback rotation is, so that we know how many plays we’re getting with everybody.”
Where does CB Nik Needham fit in the secondary?
Needham was one of the best storylines from the Dolphins’ 2019 season — an undrafted free agent who improved by leaps and bounds from the start of the year to the end of the season. But Needham’s play didn’t exactly inspire the Dolphins to invest hopes into him, as the team tacked on several prominent cornerbacks and marginalized Needham’s positioning in the defensive backfield.
Now, the Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly reported Needham is an “afterthought” in Miami’s secondary, trailing behind rookie Noah Igbinoghene and Jamal Perry for reps in the slot. Where does he fit, if at all, in Miami’s overhauled corner room?
Can rookie Solomon Kindley continue a strong push for starting role?
Solomon Kindley is a massive human being. He checks in at 339 pounds on the Dolphins’ official roster, the second heaviest player on the team. Kindley has been offered some early praise and with the Dolphins’ hunt for an effective offensive line resulting in open season at every position, Kindley should be considered “in the hunt”. But the proposition of him nailing down a starting gig is messy, especially because you’re talking about potentially having three rookies starting on the line before the end of the year. Would Kindley’s presence mean Miami would start Jesse Davis at right tackle and keep Robert Hunt on the bench? Or would Miami embrace inexperience on the right side of the line all together?
