Dolphins in Depth: Training camp (Day 1): Dolphins have new leader in secondary?

Dolphins in Depth: Training camp (Day 1): Dolphins have new leader in secondary?

It’s only day one of Dolphins training camp and already we’ve got a player who was helicoptered to the hospital and another player who suffered a what’s believed to be a season ending ACL injury. Um, welcome to the 2025 season. I am Omar Kelly, host of Dolphins inepth podcast provided to you by the Miami Herald. Joining me is Isaiah Smalls. We are here to recap day one of training camp which was quite eventful. Uh let’s start with Zach Cer showed up. Zack Cer worked participated. Um you know the thought is that Zach Cer would at some point be part of a hold in. Uh that still might happen. Uh, but Zach Cer clearly wants a raise from the Miami Dolphins, but he is working at this point to probably, you know, Dax Celer is a lunch pale kind of guy. Uh, and show his his young teammates the way, how to practice, what what it what it’s supposed to look like. Um, Christian Wilkins did this in 2023 before shutting it he did it for two weeks before shutting it down and saying, “I want my money.” Um, then we get to Arty Burns who suffered what’s believed to be an ACL injury in the individual portion of practice. Um, that is sad and disappointing because he was supposed to be one of those guys who contend for probably a backup nickel spot, a spot on the 53man roster. Then we’ve got Matoss. Uh, how do we say his first name? Byron. Yes, Byron Matthos, who is the Miami Dolphins international exemption player, um he’s been here for a year with the team, suffered an injury. We do not know exactly where the nature of the injury is at the end of practice, was helicoptered off the field, um strapped down to a stretcher. Uh he’s said to be in stable condition. Um, hopefully that’s nothing serious, but Matos is a young developmental player from uh uh Braz No, from uh Dominican Republic have invested a year into from a developmental standpoint. Um all of these things happened. Did I Did I Oh, I forgot. I totally forgot. We are We are on No, hold on. Before we get to that, we are on day two of Minka’s silence. Uh MA was again expected to speak to the media again pulled an audible and said I’ll get to him later. Um it has been officially 24 days since MA has been traded to the Miami Dolphins. We have not heard a single word about how MA feels about this trade from MA Fitzpatrick. It we will continue to be watching on MA watch. participated, practiced, um had just hammed up to to lead the the the defensive backs um out of their individual drills. And now we get to the news of the day, which Isaiah Smalls has covered and written about. Tua acknowledged that there’s some tension between him and Tyreek. And he says that tension is not just me. That’s a lot of people who could not ignore or will not ignore what Tyreek said uh at the end of the season and did not accept a my bad apology. So what does this mean to you Isaiah? I mean anybody that has watched this podcast shouldn’t be surprised. you know, after the incident initially happened, um I firmly believe that he would have to have a very big come to Jesus moment with not just himself, but with the entire team just because he essentially quit on them, right? Granted, the season was over. Um they had nothing left to play for. Um he had pulled himself out the game, but at the same time, it’s just what does that message send to the younger teammates, right? Uh, and that I think is the the point of of contention, right? Not only did he pull himself out, he basically said that he doesn’t want to be there on a video that you uh so greatly recorded and, you know, distributed worldwide. But, uh, you know, what does this mean? It it basically means that Tyreek Hill is gonna have to humble himself essentially, right? Um, he’s gonna have to go to every guy and really just, you know, put his hat in his hands and say, “Hey, my bad.” But actually mean it, right? Like I don’t think that’s gonna work. I think I think it’s got to be actions. Hold on. It’s it’s it’s it’s a it’s a multi- layered process because you’re gonna have to hear the words, “My bad. I’m sorry. I apologize.” Right? Preferably, “I apologize.” I like that one because that’s the that one is actually admitting some some guilt, right? And then after that, we you do have to see actions, right? You have to see the way he approaches practice, the way he shows up on time, right? And we don’t really we’re not really worried about the way he approaches practice. Like we all know that he’s a phenomenal practice player, right? He practices very hard. But in terms of actions, it’s showing up early as he said he’s been doing, right? Um setting leading leading his group. Um you know, just being not being late. Yes. Not being late. Yes. Of course. Yes. Uh and he was actually on time. actually said he was going to just focus on football, which for Tyreek would be like that, you know, that would be that would be that would be a new thing. I I don’t necessarily believe all that. I just think that like I just think that he’s more committed to the process, right? When he talked yesterday, he mentioned doing the little things, right? Um in addition to obviously being on time, but staying after practice to work on, you know, catching, um doing some extra conditioning after practice. Now, have we seen that yet? Granted, it’s been day one, right? I know some guys did stay extra to do some sprints afterwards, and that was a very playerled uh thing that they did, but you know, to to really just put this to bed, you know, Tyreek just essentially has to not only apologize, but show people with the way he’s changed his behavior. And Tua even said that. Tua said that he’s a lot more vulnerable than he’s been in years past, right? And I I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a rookie on this team, right? and you know coming into the team and seeing a Tyreek Hill right somebody that should wear a gold jacket one day right and having him talk to you about the struggles that he had in his life and how not to replicate that and so if that is what he’s doing you know in that locker room I think that will be very very powerful because it not only shows okay like this is a real guy right which of course you understand that right but in theory people think of these players as just uh objects right that can moved around like chess piece, right? But these are real people with real emotions, real um just hates, loves, dislikes, all that stuff, right? So, for him to be able to kind of just humble himself and be vulnerable and talk about his struggles, I think that will endear him more to his teammates. Now, we the only example we have of that is is coming from Tua, right? Tua said that that’s what he’s doing. Right? Now, we have to obviously take that with a grain of salt, but it I think we won’t be able to fully understand or fully see this this process until honestly it plays out on the field, right? September what 5th against the the Colts I believe. But until then, it’s it’s all talk to be honest. But um up until we get to that point, uh but the talk is right. That’s the point that I just want I want to bring out, right? Because to be honest, I think Tua did a good job of of balancing, right, of saying look like there is a really there is there is an issue here, but he’s working on it, right? He’s trying. He committed him. He praised him. No, you can read the art. Did you read the article? All right. He said that you don’t have children. I do not have So, I think every parent can relate to this. Okay. When your kid fs up and doesn’t do their homework or leaves their shoes at school or leaves their book bag at school or doesn’t make their bed or doesn’t clean their room and then promises you that they’re going to do it, they’re going to do better. They’re g they’re going to be a changed person. Dad, I just need this video game. I promise you I’m gonna do all my chores. Every parent has heard that we are on year three of hearing this from Tyreek and the actions are never follow through. So, while he did not get himself into any offseason trouble this year, um, we have to see more consistent maturation and behavioral changes. I’m proud. One thing about Tua that people have to understand, man, is that guy honest. He’s very honest. Very true. Me, I don’t know if he could tell a lie. Like if you ask him a direct question, he’s not gonna give you the politically correct answer. He’s like, “Yeah, I got beef with Tyreek. I’m still working through it.” Like, like you you can’t do what you did and act like it’s all good. Like that’s right. You hurt my coach. You hurt me. Like I have not let it go. Like you might be seeing more Jaylen water passes this year, brother. Like two is like like I ain’t let it go. It’s not over. I mean I I like I can’t even necessarily disagree with him for having that approach because he wouldn’t have Let’s be honest. Same situation. Do you think Tyreek’s doing that to Patrick Mahomes? Do you think he’s saying this about Pat? Yes, because Tyreek’s immature. It could be It could be Jesus Christ. I think Tyreek would have done the exact same thing. Oh wow. Okay. Okay. Like, have you have you seen any maturity from Tariq? I mean, I look, and I will say this, it was a five minute conversation. He literally broke down in the last 90 seconds. Something clicked and he was just like, “Yeah, I can’t be here.” Like, like, this this is this is unacceptable. Like, I feel we sucked. I’m I’m hurt. And he was hurt. He was hurt. It was emotion. It w it definitely was a very emotional moment. Like and one thing I try to do with the story today is contextualize it, right? Like people forget he’d been playing the entire season through a fractured wrist all 17 games. Did he put the best film out there? No. But he still played all 17 games. And he had just brought up the fact that Tua can’t play, but I’m out here playing on this broken wrist. Oh, 100%. And Tua to your point missed six games. four with a concussion, right, when he went on IR and the last two with with a hip issue, right? Like it’s not, you know, too outside the realm of possibility for it just to for that just to have been a very emotional moment and him just outpouring right now. Was that the time or place? No. Maybe in the exit meetings, right? He should have waited, you know, 24 hours. But I I’m not going to fault a guy for having a very emotional response. I think the only reason why that this has become a big deal is because it’s Tyreek Hill, right? And you know, uh I believe it was Jordan Brooks mentioned it, right? Like look, like the only reason why this is even getting any attention like that is because it’s Tyreek Hill, right? He’s a guy that is very, you know, that is always in the headlines. But he likes the headlines. He likes the attention. Exactly. But if if if Jordan Brooks would have said something like that, it would not have gotten the same attention. Oh, no. Bush would have quit on his teammates and said, “I don’t want to be here anymore.” We It wouldn’t have got the same level of attention, but it would have got attention. It would have got attention for sure. He had a moment. I don’t even remember the 49ers 49ers player who quit on his team. What was his name? You’re right. Okay, you make a point. You make Yeah. Yeah. The only reason this has become a concept is because it’s Tyreek Hill and he’s, you know, he stays in the headlines, right? Whether that’s by his own doing or or, you know, by his own doing, but I I don’t think it’s his own doing that. uh the the divorce stuff. That’s just public record. That was divorce. That that’s public record. That’s the only reason why that’s embarrassing. Said he’s been more forthcoming and and revealing of his emotions of the things that he’s going through with his teammates. I I I I knew this was brewing. I’ve always heard this was brewing. I I never thought about asking about it because I mean two is going to get over it, but I heard there was a two with Tariq beef. Um, I’m I’m surprised Tubman says they’re not past it. And now, you know, Tariq even said, “I don’t expect to be voted a captain by my teammates.” You did say he knows he’s got work to do. So, it’ll be interesting to see how he does it. Um, I didn’t notice any passes to Tyreek today. Um, yeah. And either, you know, to give him the cold shoulder. No, I don’t I don’t know. You know, I don’t know. Let’s not do that. Let’s not speculate. He could have not been open like today. I don’t know. Speaking of practice, we want to get into top some of the top performers, the top standouts, things that we observed today. Um really, as I said, I pointed out that Zack Celler worked. I’m going to surprise the world and acknowledge that I usually rank the top performers. Give you three top performers. Uh my I started the list with Eric Huzukama who made two very impressive catches, showcases speed at the end of it. It’s one of the Dolphins highlight plays that they’ve created uh for the day on their social media channels. Um I also gave Andrew, you know, Eric Wuzukama. Goodness gracious, have we? Who who hasn’t forgotten about Eric Wuzukama? Um I my second top performer was center Andrew Meyers with Aaron Brewer not working today and Liam Iikenberg on the PUP um more than likely going to be out for the regular season that I’m I’m curious what what the issue is if we’re talking six weeks that sounds like a knee scope. We don’t know the specifics of it. I don’t necessarily want to speculate. Dolphins signed Daniel Bruce Brunkill. Um, a player that Mike McDaniel had history with the 49ers. Um, a Andrew Meyers stepped up. No bad snaps, no collapsing pockets. In the rain. In the rain, too. In the rain. Very good point. I didn’t even mention that it was in the rain. Props to the young man who is fighting for his NFL future. And then I go with Alec Ingle who obviously had a nice catch coming out the back field for about 20 yards. Um, Engle was was always been underutilized. My my stock up I gave to Caler just for because he showed up any work today. Seer is that type of player. He’s wearing a plaid shirt, some workman boots, and carrying a metal lunchbox to work. That That’s how he shows up to Dolphins. I love it. I love it. Um, my stock down, even though I probably could have gave it to James Daniels, who had probably two offsides penalties, I gave it to Zeke Biggers. um cuz James Daniels pulled himself out of practice or was limited in his practice work. So, I didn’t get to see the full extent of the work that he was doing. And Zeke Biggers, even though he’s a seventh round pick, he’s the biggest defensive lineman on the team. Saw him get moved out of his gap today um by the third team center who I can’t even name. Uh that’s not a good look. You you’re definitely going to have to give me more, Zeke. Um and and then we got into some of the injuries. What what stood out to you today, Isaiah? Um definitely Eric Wakama, right? Like that first catch that he had um that wasn’t necessarily contested, but it was through traffic. Like there was a few hands that kind of went up before he, you know, got I believe it was a post that he ran and you know, he might have got tackled around the 20 yard mark, but he finished it with a touchdown. And look, let’s let’s not forget that Cam Smith had a good play today. A fumble recovered. He returned. How did I forget about Cass recovery? I don’t know why you forgot about that because Connor fumbled the ball. Casoop and score courtesy in return for possibly a scoop and score. Yeah. And so I I think we just got to acknowledge that because you know he gets obviously a lot of uh you know hate from the fan base and you know I don’t think it’s disappointment. Let’s not call it hate. A lot of the there he’s disappointed a lot of fans so far, right? and you know early in this process um you know we can’t really comment on where he is in the lineup but you know stuff like that has to be um encouraging for not just uh you know the rest of the position group but for McDaniel for Chris Greer as well who you know invested that second round pick in him a couple years ago. So yeah, those were two things that that that really stood out to me. Um I also saw Han had a had a pretty good run. I believe Olly Gordon had a had a pretty good run today. Uh those are the those are the ones that that that really stood out to to me for sure. Um for me the offensive line got a good chance to watch a lot of their movement. Um as I consistently say I’m a little bit concerned about the left tackle backup. Uh uh if Larry Broom is your left tackle and he was horrible at left tackle in Chicago, uh I’m not having good feelings. My my O line IBS is going to act up on me. um that then then you lose Liamenberg and say what you want about Liam Mikeberg, but he’s your sixth best offensive lineman. He’s the next guy up. Um so not having him is going to put stress on what I would argue is the the weakest depth unit in on the team. Um guys like Keon Smith are going to have to step up. One guy Wait, I’m sorry. Pause. You said that’s the weakest unit on the team depth wise. the cornerback room isn’t the weakest depthwise because weakest overall position and so if you’re not if you if it’s already weak the depth’s going to be even weaker but I but here’s the thing about the corner let me let me argue my point okay I have no idea who’s going to come out of that unit as a starter very true they’re all the same caliber level of player there like six of them that are there and I can tell you any one of them could start I have no Jason Matri Ryan Coop Cooper, Isaiah Johnson, Storm Duck, Kendall Sherfield, like not not Ari Burns anymore. Um I I don’t know. And now with Arty Burns gone, I know they’ve had some conversation for um Douglas. What’s What’s his name? Russell Douglas. Russell Douglas. They’ve had some conversations, had some negotiations. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not they’re going to get that deal done now that there’s a roster spot available. and Dolphins don’t have any cap space, so it’s clearly going to have to be four relatively close to the minimum. Uh, now we might see that veteran added because you lost one of those veterans. This is what happens to the quarterback unit. That that unit just takes on injury after injury after injury. Same thing with wide receiver. So, um, but I will here’s the thing. I don’t know who the starter is, but I need five. Can I sit here and tell you there are five? I can’t really, but I can’t really tell you there aren’t five. You need eight offensive linemen. Who are the backups? Who are the backups? That’s true. No, no. I mean, that’s a good point. I mean, I I understand what you’re saying. Both levels of them have not done anything in the NFL. Yeah. I I I look the only reason I I’m you know would push back on that is because you’ve seen granted you know Daniels is coming off of a of a Achilles injury right I just think that the bar is a little bit higher because because of the starters the bar is a little bit higher right okay and then from that and because you don’t know who the starters are to your point that to me sets the bar a little bit lower because look uh not not to say that someone can’t a Storm Duck or a Kater co can’t have a breakout year that you know uh jumps kind of them into like one of the elite corners conversation but from your eye just alone have you seen that? Have you seen those plays? I haven’t seen bad plays like you seen so you seen no plays. So it’s going to be like the safety unit. The only guy I can tell you got roasted was Jason Marshall Jr. and that was by Malik Washington on a perfectly placed pass. It’s not like It’s not like And that’s the thing. I I want to see Tyreek out there doing Tyreek things. When I see Tyreek out there doing Tyreek things, then I’ll have a better grasp of what’s going on in the secondary. Right now, the and I say this to people all the time with offensive line and quarterback. If I don’t notice you, that’s a good thing. If I don’t know your number, that’s a good thing with offensive line and quarterback. That means you’re not getting beat. You’re not you’re not getting roasted daily. Like I used to notice Noah egg monogamy. Like I I I I half the time somebody get beat on a pass, I’ll be like I don’t even have to look. I know it’s Noah. Like you know with these quarterbacks I don’t see anybody getting like beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat like you know cat pass might be caught here or there but Tyreek and Jaylen Wadd going to do that. Um, you know, Eric, now whoever Eric Usuzukama’s beating, you know, I got to pay a little bit closer attention to that, but you know, let’s let let I like the patient approach that they’ve taken to this as as an organization. Even Mike McDaniels hinted at it. They’re young. They’re unproven, but they can make a name for themselves. People don’t remember Bern Grimes was a practice squad player for two years before he became a Pro Bowler. That’s true. Like came out of nowhere and became a Pro Bowler. Darren Waller was a practice squad guy as well before he made the pro pro bowl. So I understand I I get it. Darren Waller was a high draft pick who effed up his career and then was put on the pro bowl when he was like in the drug program. Darren Wall a little bit more complicated that that Yeah. You said wait wait wait one more time. You said that he was dropped in the sixth round. Oh, he was still dra. Okay, you’re right. He’s a practice squad player. That was a practice squad player. Like, of course, you’re right. There’s other things that, you know, but he definitely was a practice squad guy for sure. Um, yeah. I mean, I I understand what you’re saying. Look, look, you know, Isaiah Johnson has like a body type that like when you look at that, it’s like like damn, like that is you would want that in a corner, right? Jason. Yeah. No, no, exactly. Both of them do. Both of them have the the body types, but you know, we’ll have to see. We’ll have to see. Go ahead. I’ll let you finish your point about the offensive line. Go ahead. Um, no, I I don’t really have a point. I I’m just concerned about the depth of it because we know we got to go seven, maybe eight deep on the offensive line every year. That’s just the reality of it. And that unit is only as good as their weakest link. And and I can’t say that about quarterback. I could give another quarterback I could give a quarterback a little help. Mhm. There ain’t no helping the weak link on the offensive line. He he he he just gonna get, you know, he just g that chain is eventually going to break and then it’s going to potentially break your quarterback and then your season’s everybody’s going to be fired. So, it’s it’s a it’s a dangerous snowball, but everything cannot be solved on July 23rd. So, it’ll be interesting to see how that plays out. Um, I will say no turnovers today. The action was okay there. They started out uh it was raining so they started out inside. It was thunderstorm so they started out inside. They eventually went outside and practiced in the rain. You’re right. There was a wet ball situation. Andrew Meyer um did not have any snapping issues. Tanner Connor did fumble the ball. Tanner Connor is a guy who’s going to be have a prime opportunity with with uh Darren Waller starting the camp on PUP. He’s the starter and he’s going to get an opportunity to prove that he can be a contributor and an impact player, develop chemistry with Tua. I’m curious to see how that plays out because as we know, Tanner Connor has always been a strong camp performer and then he disappears on on the world when when when the pads come out or the games situations come out. So, it’ll be interesting to see if he’s he’s ready to step up and develop. Um, any other standing thoughts from you on day one? There’s never a dull day on the Dolphins beat because just as we thought it was going to be, you know, a relatively chill day, you know, uh that’s when it kind of I I just remember being in that tent, right? Waiting for I believe it was Kada who talked first, right? And you could hear the rumblings. First it was uh someone’s on the field past, you know, you know, they’re surrounding somebody on the field and we thought it was a staffer. Then it just it just one thing after another. So there’s look never a dull day on the Dolphins be for sure. Welcome to covering the Miami Dolphins. Imagine that for 17 years. Um it it the I’m surprised you don’t have more gray hair to be honest. Oh yeah. No, they Dolphins are slowly killing me. Don’t don’t doubt that from a stress standpoint. Um this this Yeah, this team gonna get you cardiac arrest. Um Oh boy. Um, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens the rest of the first week. Um, the week ends, I believe, Saturday. Uh, the Friday and Saturday practice are open to the fans, I believe. So, I think it’s Saturday. It’s 26 2 or whatever day is this. Oh, wait. Friday is the 20. No, it’s the 26th. That’s when it starts. 26th is the first day, which is Saturday or Friday. Yeah, Saturday is the first day it’s open. All right. Um, so it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. Um, training camp, plenty of things, plenty of things have to be solidified, established, identified. So, can I form any hard and firm conclusions from day one? Absolutely not. But the conclusion that I do have is that we will be back tomorrow. Our goal here at Dolphins in Depth is to podcast every single day that you have practiced. Um to give you a sort of a taste and let you know what what what the action looks like how the team is performing. Um we will be here and hopefully you will too. Like subscribe follow on the channel that follow on the um the the audio channels follow on YouTube. We thank you for your participation and for your dedication. Um, another plug, three months of the Miami Herald for $2. How could you beat that? If you want to get behind the payw wall, get the stock reports and our daily coverage, it’s all there for you. I think I’m worth $2 and Isaiah’s worth $2 as well. All right, on that note, we are out. We will see you tomorrow. Peace.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has already stepped forward, becoming the leader of the Miami Dolphins’ young, inexperienced secondary. But the recently traded for Pro Bowl has skipped two media sessions where he’s supposed to address his trade, and return to the Dolphins. Is an issue brewing? Allow the Dolphins in Depth podcast to discuss that, and our observations from Day 1 on Dolphins training camp.

More from The Miami Herald:
Subscribe: https://bit.ly/2HJ3WDt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiamiHerald
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miamiherald/
Website: https://www.miamiherald.com/
Digital news subscription: http://bit.ly/2Ug7uD6