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The Miami Dolphins had one final practice without full pads on Monday before training camp starts getting physical on Tuesday.
And the Dolphins playmakers found space aplenty before the potential shift in practice tone once players are padded and tackling to the ground.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had back-to-back connections with his star wide receiver combination of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle where they caught the ball crossing at intermediate depth in the middle of the field with room to run into the end zone.
Earlier in the same portion of practice, which involved the offense starting at the defense’s 40-yard line, Tagovailoa hit rookie wideout Erik Ezukanma deep down the right sideline for a touchdown entirely through the air.
The running backs found space, too. Myles Gaskin had a pair of gaping holes open up on runs through the middle. Chase Edmonds had something open up for him through the left side, although left tackle Terron Armstead didn’t participate in team portions of practice. Even 2021 seventh-round pick Gerrid Doaks had a sizable gain along the right side.
Dolphins defenders are sure to be itching to get to tackle their offensive teammates in practices to come. Even then, there were instances where the defense stood its ground: Melvin Ingram had an early run stop; Zach Sieler and John Jenkins combined to stuff another run up the middle; Brennan Scarlett had another, and Calvin Munson registered a tackle for loss on ZaQuandre White.
Tagovailoa also threw an interception toward the end of practice to cornerback Trill Williams, coming down with it one-handed.
Observations
Hill wore the orange jersey at Monday’s practice as the player of the day from the last session on Saturday when he had his 65-yard touchdown over the top of the defense among an array of catches. …
Trill Williams had a highlight-reel one-handed interception of Tagovailoa where he said, speaking after the day’s drills, he kept his feet inbound. There could’ve been a miscommunication on the route between Tagovailoa and Waddle. …
Waddle won a red-zone 1-on-1 against Xavien Howard where Howard covered him about as tight as possible, but Tagovailoa was able to get it through to his target. The previous two practices, Howard had pass breakups manned up against Hill. …
Duke Riley made an impressive breakup against Hunter Long in the end zone where Long had it in his grasp before Riley ripped it out. …
Skylar Thompson rolled out right and threw across his body for a red-zone touchdown to the middle of the end to Trent Sherfield. Thompson also had shorter throws to Hill and Ezukanma that they ran in for scores after the catch and a later one to tight end Tanner Conner. …
Tagovailoa had one red-zone rep where he bought time and scrambled left for a 10-yard touchdown run. He also threw for scores to Edmonds and Cethan Carter. …
Thompson, who got more reps with Teddy Bridgewater not throwing on Monday, held onto the ball too long on multiple plays. …
In red-zone 1-on-1s, Edmonds had a rep where he beat Jerome Baker to the outside for a catch and score, Jevon Holland broke up a pass to Mike Gesicki, Brandon Jones got the best of Durham Smythe. …
Elandon Roberts forced a Tagovailoa throwaway, and Quincy Wilson had a pass deflection guarding Conner toward the end of Monday’s session. …
Sheldrick Redwine had near interceptions during a red-zone team drill and in a 1-on-1 covering Adam Shaheen. …
Lynn Bowden muffed a punt. …
After Hill and rookie lineman Blaise Andreis put on a show before Saturday’s practice to pump up the fans, Monday’s drills saw Thompson and rookie wide receiver Braylon Sanders do a mock version with no fans in attendance. Their version involved the Griddy dance in what was perhaps a dress rehearsal for Tuesday when fans are allowed back at camp.
Stock up
Trill Williams brought down his second interception of training camp with his one-hander on Monday against Tagovailoa. He previously had a pick-six against Bridgewater. The undrafted second-year player who made the team as a rookie last season is making the most of his opportunities with Howard and Byron Jones not involved in 11-on-11 work.
Stock down
Mike Gesicki has not been very involved as a passing target through five practices, which has to call into question his role in this new offense when Hill and Waddle are seeing so much work. Gesicki was blanketed by Holland in a 1-on-1 that Holland broke up in the end zone.
Injury report
Bridgewater (undisclosed) was limited at Monday’s practice and did not throw in team drills. Center Michael Deiter (foot) and defensive lineman Adam Butler (undisclosed) remained sidelined. Fullback John Lovett was also held out with an undisclosed injury.
Left tackle Terron Armstead was at practice in position drills but did not participate in team portions. Running back Raheem Mostert and fullback Alec Ingold wore red jerseys at practice.
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