Excited For Miami Dolphins Training Camp To Start

Excited For Miami Dolphins Training Camp To Start

Well, next week the Miami Dolphins open training camp, and I am excited because the NFL season is closer, and I get to see my favorite. I have been a fan for almost 40 years now, and I look forward to this time of year. 

This roster excited me because the Dolphins are younger in certain areas, such as the defensive line and secondary. They had to get younger in many places for various reasons. I feel that the Dolphins, over the last few years, have strayed from building this team through the draft, as evident in 2022 and 2023, having the fewest picks in the NFL, especially not having their first-round pick each year. The Dolphins made aggressive trades and signed some older players to lesser deals, and it didn’t work out.

Plus, their salary cap has been tight, so they haven’t had the flexibility the last couple of years. 

The Dolphins made some tough decisions this offseason, trading away guys like Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. They also lost players like Terron Armstead, Calais Campbell, Raheem Mostert, and Jevon Holland, among others, but I think the Dolphins had to remake their roster and will be better. 

Not necessarily right away because it takes time for some young players to develop. Some areas, such as the secondary, are a big concern, but opportunity knocks for some of the younger players to step up, and I can’t wait to see them. 

I’m excited to watch the preseason. I know many people don’t value the preseason too much. Still, I do because it allows you to see other players on the roster to determine if they could contribute or perhaps develop into someone who can help the team, potentially this year or down the road. It can also give you an idea of the team’s strengths, areas of concern, and team dynamics.

Last year, I was very concerned going into the season because I wasn’t impressed with any of our backup quarterbacks in the preseason, and I even wrote that if Tua Tagovailoa went down, the team would be in trouble, and I was right. However, I also sensed a different team dynamic, and it wasn’t a good one. I sensed something was amiss with the team, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It turns out I was right, because the team didn’t seem to have as much fun with each other as they had in the previous season, and there was a different dynamic. 

I do enjoy watching the younger players. I was excited watching left tackle Patrick Paul last year, and I will again this year, as I think he has the potential to be a good left tackle for the Dolphins for years to come. However, I know there’s room to grow in his game, and he’s not a finished product. I’m excited to see first-round pick Kenneth Grant on the defensive line, as well as the other draft picks on the defensive line, in Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers. 

I felt the Dolphins didn’t address the defensive line last year after losing Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis in free agency. As they signed a number of veterans to minimum contracts, it didn’t pan out.

They need some younger players to complement Zach Sieler, who is coming off back-to-back 10-sack seasons, but is also turning 30 years old, and at some point, his body could break down from the physical toll of the position.

The Dolphins continued to rebuild the trenches in the draft with guard Jonah Savaiinaea. The Dolphins specifically made that point this off-season to invest in the trenches, and I can’t wait to see how things translate and develop. 

The Dolphins have rebuilt their entire secondary, and I’m concerned about it, but I do want to see how our younger, inexperienced players, such as Cam Smith, Storm Duck, Isaiah Johnson, and others, perform. I’m sure the Dolphins will bring in a veteran. The reality is this position will not get upgraded until after the season, but let’s see what these guys can do. The safety position is also undergoing a makeover, following Holland’s departure, and Jordan Poyer has also left. 

The Dolphins have a lot of inexperienced or unproven players at the position, with guys like Elijah Campbell, Ashtyn Davis, Patrick McMorris, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and 5th round pick Dante Trader. The Dolphins did reacquire Minkah Fitzpatrick in the Ramsey deal, and he should stabilize the position with his experience, but there will be growing pains from the position. 

I’m incredibly excited to see our trio of pass rushers in Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Chop Robinson. Chubb and Phillips are coming off injuries from a year ago, and Robinson is an ascending second-year player after a good rookie season and will only get better.

The pass rush I knew was going to fall off last year because of the injuries to Phillips and Chubb. It was a lot to ask of Robinson to produce as a rookie, but after a slow start, he found his groove in the second half of the season. A good pass rush will help a young and inexperienced secondary. If the pass rush clicks, the Dolphins will have a chance to be in and win a lot of games. 

I’m excited to see Tagovailoa back and working with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. The biggest issue is that Tagovailoa must stay healthy. If he does, then the offense should be able to click in the passing game, and those big plays will be back.