Dolphins Enter Crucial Final Weeks of Offseason Program

Dolphins Enter Crucial Final Weeks of Offseason Program

During phases 1, 2, and 3 of the offseason program, there is not much that we can learn about the Dolphins on the field.

For the most part, there are few to no padded practices, limited full-team drills, and coaches can only be with their teams for limited hours during the three days allotted within a given week.

For veteran, championship-minded teams like the LA Rams, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions, there is not much to gain from these off-season practices.

They will run the same schemes for the most part from the previous season or in some cases, like in LA and Kansas City a decade.

Also, these teams are filled with seasoned veterans who know that they are going to make the team regardless of how they look this time of year.

Really, beyond a few back-end roster spots, these teams are really just trying to get back in shape and avoid injuries before the regular season begins.

For the Dolphins, they are in a completely different position.

Along with a new head coach in Jeff Hafley, who brings an entirely new scheme and philosophy, Miami has more than 20 rookies, including 13 draft picks.

They also are looking to rely on other young players who are entering their second and third years in the league.

Even the veteran free agents who joined the team this offseason are on one-year prove-it deals and can be released any minute.

Everyone on this team has something to prove, and it seems like Hafley truly wants a competition at every position to bring out the best in his players.

The last couple of years, the Dolphins’ summer program has not really meant much since most of the players did not have much to gain.

With most of the prized veterans on the roster earning huge salaries, they could coast through the off-season program and into training camp, which later bled into the regular season as Miami earned a reputation throughout the league as a “soft” team.

Hopefully, with much more on the line this summer, Miami will be able to form a tougher identity.

It starts this week with mandatory minicamp.

Hafley wants to instill a tough, physical brand of football in the Dolphins.

Let’s see if his group is up for the challenge.

The ones who are will have a leg up on their competition heading into training camp, while others will have ground to make up once late July rolls around.

I do know one thing: the Dolphins’ minicamp will actually mean something for the first time in over four years.

And that is a good thing.