The Miami Dolphins’ second block of training camp wrapped up Tuesday, and the defense spent most of the day making life uncomfortable for the quarterbacks.
The list of absences kept growing. Tight end Greg Dulcich and guard Jamaree Salyer were out for a third straight practice, and they were joined on the sideline by tackle Austin Jackson and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. Defensive tackle Rene Konga also was unavailable after head coach Jeff Hafley said before practice that he would be out for the season.
The opening competitive period was once again built around one-on-ones, and Patrick Paul did not take a rep. Rookie first-round pick Kadyn Proctor kept showing well in his work, and tackle Marques Cox also held up. On the other side, Chop Robinson wasted no time getting around Charlie Heck on their first rep against each other, a positive for Robinson and not much of one for Heck or the right tackle picture.
In the line battles, Proctor stood up Zach Sieler, Jonah Savaiinaea held his own, and Josh Uche won two of his three reps. The defense kept the pressure coming in the receiver-defensive back matchups too.
Malik Willis hit on a nice throw against tight coverage, but he also missed A.J. Henning after Henning slipped past rookie Chris Johnson.
That theme carried into team work. After the offense had the edge Sunday, the defense looked like it had another strong day, consistently getting after the four quarterbacks. Tight end Ben Sims left early with a trainer, while wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. and safety Dante Trader Jr. did not participate in 11-on-11 work.
Willis had a much rougher outing than he did Monday, though pressure was part of the story. There wasn’t a throw that really jumped off the page for him, and his interception came on a ball thrown into traffic. Quinn Ewers also had an interception that was hard to miss.
A few snaps stood out along the way. On the first play of team work, Will Kacmarek had a strong block to spring De’Von Achane, then held Josh Uche on the next snap in pass protection.
Zeek Biggers delivered a shoulder to Seydou Traore after Traore caught a short pass from Ewers. Rookie linebacker Kyle Louis threw Tahj Washington to the ground after a catch from Cam Miller, and Cameron Goode had a solid pressure on Miller.
There were plays on both sides of the ball in the middle of practice, but the defense kept making the bigger ones. Zayne Anderson dropped what would have been an interception on an overthrow from Willis over the middle after Zach Sieler beat Proctor for pressure.
Willis answered with a sharp throw to Achane in the middle. Trey Moore showed up against the run by sealing the edge against Carlos Washington Jr.
Alex Austin intercepted Ewers on an overthrow intended for Jalen Tolbert, while Cole Turner made a diving catch over the middle from Willis. Tyrel Dodson stopped Jaylen Wright at the line on a run, then later ran stride for stride with Achane deep down the sideline to force an incompletion from Willis.
Ewers responded with a throw on the move to Tolbert across the middle, and Mark Gronowski tried to connect with Donaven McCulley on a deep shot into the end zone, but A.J. Green III stayed tight and kept the catch from happening.
Ronnie Harrison Jr. blanketed Turner down the middle on an incompletion from Ewers, and Omar Brown avoided a bigger collision on a completion from Ewers to McCulley. In the red zone, Anderson picked off Willis in the end zone on the first snap when Willis fired into traffic after looking left toward the sideline. Willis then came back with a touchdown pass to Achane on a deep slant, but only after Josh Uche drove Heck straight back into him before the throw.
Sieler followed by bull-rushing Jonah Savaiinaea until he got close to Willis and then let up, which is how practice works. Anderson also met Jaylen Wright in the open after a pitch and lowered his head on the hit.
Theo Wease Jr. had a jumping catch in the back of the end zone for a short touchdown from Ewers, though it was close to the back line. McCulley dropped a slant from Miller that hit him in the hands, and Wease later added another catch in the back of the end zone that was also right near the end line.
Kacmarek drew a holding flag for grabbing Chop Robinson, who continued to give the Miami offense problems off the edge. Uche then got past Paul for a sack of Willis on the next play.
On third-and-goal from the 3, Ollie Gordon II found space up the middle and was met by Anderson at the goal line before powering through. Goode, who has had a very good camp, chased Ewers out of the pocket to force an incompletion, and rookie safety Louis Moore got a great jump to break up a pass from Ewers intended for Malik Washington.
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