*** DOLPHINS TRAINING CAMP ***
Aug 14, 1997: -- Day 26 - August 13th --
TODAY'S REPORT:
The Dolphins practiced yesterday afternoon before leaving for
Tampa to scrimmage against the Buccaneers for the next 2 days before
their preseason game on against them on Saturday night.
But before the regular practice started at 2 in the afternoon,
the offensive line was out on the field at noon, looking for answers
to the problems that they have been having with the running game so
far this summer. Apparently, offensive line coaches Larry Beightol
and Rich McGeorge decided that a little extra work was necessary for
the players.
The coaches insisted that it wasn't a punishment for the
miserable way in which the offensive line has been run blocking during
the preseason. They claim that it was just to work on some
fundamentals that the offensive line was missing.
Nevertheless, the players were sent out for extra practice in
the Florida heat, before the regular practice.
During the regular practice, Scott Miller had the catch of the
day, according to the Herald, with a fingertip grab of a Craig
Erickson pass down the right sideline.
Also, the secondary looked good with Buckley, Jacobs and
Calvin Jackson breaking up several passes between them.
Unfortunately, Dan Marino didn't have that great a day for
himself as he tossed one interception right to Ronnie Ward and put a
couple of other passes low and in the dirt.
As far as I have been able to determine, there were no changes
to the roster or the lineup yesterday, but you never know what JJ
might have seen that may alter the game plan for Saturday night.
In other news, the Dolphins did have a conversation with DE
Marvin Washington's agent yesterday, but nothing will probably come of
it, according to the Dolphins' director of football operations Bob
Ackles. Washington was released by the Jets earlier this week.
And it appears that both Fred Barnett and Sam Madison may get
some real playing time against the Buccaneers on Saturday night. They
both look healthy enough to play a couple of series' each.
TODAY'S EVENTS:
The Dolphins practice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today
at 2:00 PM (1400) and again tomorrow at 9:00 AM (0900) before meeting
them in a pre-season game on Saturday night at 7:30 PM, EST.
Right now, I have only limited information on the game itself,
but it appears that it will be broadcast on Sunday on DSS Satellite
Channel 319 (Florida Sports Channel) at noon and that Tampa channel 44
(WTOG) will replay the game on Sunday night at 7:00 PM (1900).
If anyone else has information on when it's going to be
broadcast, please let me know.
INJURY REPORTS:
Fred Barnett, Scott Miller and Sam Madison are back and
practicing at full speed with the team, along with Jerome Daniels.
Danny Stubbs is back running some, but will not be in contact
for a while and from what I hear, Zach Thomas is still not running
yet.
Is there any need to report on Izzo, Green and Dar Dar? I
didn't think so....
EYEWITNESS REPORTS:
*Sigh* - not today. But I hope that some of you Tampa area
fans will brave the elements and venture out to the University of
Tampa for the practice.
My Comments:
I'm not sure I agree with the extra practices for the
offensive linemen. I think that, at this point, if they haven't
gotten it together yet, the extra work probably won't help. The
simple truth is that we won't know how good they're going to be until
the first regular season game.
Still, it will be interesting to see if JJ makes any
substitutions on Saturday along the offensive line. Certainly, if
he's going to experiment with some of the newer players, now is the
time to do it and JJ knows it.
Of course, it's good to hear that Barnett is back and
practicing well and that the defensive backs are covering well. Both
of these elements of the team need to be in their best form when the
regular season starts.
On a personal note, my wife is kidnapping me this weekend and
taking me away somewhere. She won't tell me where, but I have this
feeling that I won't be posting much until Monday night. I will try
to get out a preview of the game and a summary, but it may not be
until Monday.
She did tell me one thing - she told me that I'd "better
conserve my strength because I'm going to need it".
She probably wants me to move the sofa up to the attic...
Related Info:
[Return to Training Camp]
Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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