Although fans weren't present due to the threat of inclement weather, the Dolphins had another highly competitive practice on Saturday. The offense and defense, once again, traded blows including a highly contested end-of-game period to conclude practice, and just one workout remains before the Falcons join them for joint practices and a preseason game next week.
Here are the day's highlights:
Practice 9, August 3, 2024
Top Moment
Without the NFL's No. 1 player on the Top 100 list (Tyreek Hill), and without Jaylen Waddle in for this period, Tua Tagovailoa engineered a 65-yard drive in a hurry up situation. With one minute and 45 seconds on the clock and trailing by four, Tagovailoa meticulously marched the offense on a nine-play drive that ended with a De'Von Achane touchdown with just 18 seconds remaining.
Achane's five-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 was his fifth reception of the drive. Tagovailoa relentlessly attacked the defense with his running back and new tight end Jonnu Smith.
"I love De'Von (Achane)," Tagovailoa said after practice. "Last year he showed a lot of capabilities of what he can do for us offensively from the backfield, going out, running routes in the slot, all of that. That's sort of what the defense gave us, were those throws to him today. I trust him and asked him to make some plays for us today."
With all the attention commanded by Hill and Waddle, opportunities emerge for players like Achane and Smith. Miami's new tight end caught two of Tagovailoa's completions on that possession, breaking a tackle on both runs after the catch.
"For us offensively, it's really to add an eligible in the pass game that's extremely important in the run game, and that's the tight end position," Head Coach Mike McDaniel said. "That's exciting for us because there's a lot of attention paid to some other players on the field, that any time there's over-attention one way, that leaves a little vulnerability in the defense in another."
Top Quote
McDaniel conveyed how the tight ends and fullbacks, with their inherent versatility, is directly tied to the offense's ability to be multiple.
That’s what you’re looking for in those positions because inherent in those roles are flexibility. You’re part of the blocking corps. You’re part of the receiving route tree. When I tell you offensively, the most challenging position each and every week to learn the plan of attack is in that F-position, which is both tight ends and fullbacks. And the versatility of that room, turn the page, there’s the versatility of your offense. Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
More Top Performers
Jalen Ramsey donned the orange jersey after a dominant practice on Friday. He picked up right where he left off by defeating a block en route to a tackle for loss on Achane to begin Saturday's team period.
The linebackers collectively had a big day. David Long Jr. joined Ramsey on that opening tackle for loss and proceeded to be the first on the scene on a handful of run plays. Channing Tindall might've produced the most tackles on the day while Duke Riley and Ezekiel Vandenburgh were also frequent visitors in the backfield.
Emmanuel Ogbah found his way into the backfield both in the pass and run game. He's been on fire since camp began.
The rookie class produced another big day collectively. Running back Jaylen Wright continues to find touchdowns in red zone opportunities with some of those runs coming behind tackle Patrick Paul. Linebackers Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara collected a handful of pressures while cornerback Storm Duck made another play on the ball with a pass breakup.
Social Roundup
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