Quickie Miami Dolphins training camp notes — Day 8

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Day 8

– “My High School coach is here.”- Coach Flores
– Tomorrow’s Scrimmage will have a game day simulation “feel”- Coach Flores
– We are all in this thing together (on coaches running to T.N.T Wall)- Coach Flores
– “Defensive issue” yesterday cause Coach Flores to run to wall.
– Some praise for the Michael Dieter/ Shaq Calhoun starting guard duo- Coach Flores
– BUBBLE TIME
– Its a walk through, so we are not allowed to tweet/write what “exactly” they are doing.
– Mostly Special Teams work to start practice. Guys in new spots as compared go last year.
– Hard to do reporting on what they are doing, but you are seeing many personnel sets, heavy subs on defense, and the use of 9 different skill guys in a set of play calls. Last year, you could go 3 quarters with just 7 skill guys seeing action. That seems to be a thing of the past. Maximum use of the roster and the talent on hand is the new norm. Good to see.
– There must be an NFL requirement for Special Teams Coordinators to be boisterous and use colorful language. Danny Crossman is cut from that same Darren Rizzi mold, in that regard.
– Walk through is complete, plenty of special teams work, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams run through their basic sets.
– Reggie McKenzie, Chris Grier, attended the walk through, and seemed to be engaged in conversation/evaluation.

Practice MVP: NONE
Struggled: NONE

Harold Ramirez hits walk-off home run against Twins

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The Miami Marlins found themselves in the same position as they were in the previous game, down multiple runs in the bottom of the ninth facing a Minnesota Twins reliever that’s not the closer. Unlike on Wednesday, the Marlins emerged on top with a 5-4 walk-off win in 12 innings on Thursday to avoid the series sweep.

Former Marlins pitcher Sam Dyson, who was recently traded to Minnesota, entered the game in the ninth inning tasked to protect a 4-1 lead. He walked Curtis Granderson to lead off the inning. A single by Martin Prado put runners at the corners and a base hit by Jon Berti cut the lead to 4-2.

Brian Anderson, who hit a grand slam on Wednesday, walked to load up the bases for Neil Walker. Twins closer Taylor Rogers replaced Dyson but a ground ball by Walker barely went by the shortstop and scored two runs to tie the game at 4-4.

Similar to his previous appearance, Rogers ended the inning with three consecutive strikeouts. Marlins reliever Jeff Brigham got his first career win by throwing two perfect innings in the 11th and 12th with two strikeouts, keeping the game tied for Harold Ramirez to hit a walk-off home run in the bottom half of the 12th inning.

“I really just tried to get on base,” Ramirez said. “I didn’t try to do too much, because we needed somebody to get on base.”

The Marlins lost a one-run game on Tuesday, made it interesting at the end on Wednesday after a terrible start by their lone All-Star and won in extra innings by coming back in the ninth against a team that built itself into a playoff caliber squad with a young foundation and veteran producers. Miami could very well be where Minnesota currently is within the next few years.

“All I can say is, they’ve got a lot of good, young players,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “They remind me of Tampa. A team that up and down the lineup, they’ve got good players. They might not all be household names at this point. But when you’re trying to get them out, there’s a lot of good players there.

 

Who should take Zac Gallen’s rotation spot on Monday?

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After the whirlwind that was the trade deadline on Wednesday, the Miami Marlins will have the rare off day on Friday to recalibrate before the weekend series on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Zac Gallen was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for their top ranked prospect, shortstop Jazz Chisholm. His next start was slated for doubleheader on Monday at New York but now someone else will have to take that role.

Pablo Lopez will eventually take over that spot once he returns from the injured list. It’s ironic that his injury opened the door for Gallen to debut and him being traded leaves that very spot open for Lopez to return.

Lopez will make another rehab start in Double-A Jacksonville. Marlins manager Don Mattingly said he wants to see Lopez get up to 90-100 pitches before returning, similar to Caleb Smith.

Until then, the Marlins will have to make a decision for Monday. Wei-Yin Chen is one internal option considering his experience as a starting pitcher. He has spent the season as a reliever. From Triple-A, the Marlins can call on Robert Dugger or Hector Noesi to fill the void.

Dugger was acquired in the Dee Gordon trade in the offseason leading up to 2018. He has a 9.34 ERA in seven starts in Triple-A New Orleans since being promoted from Double-A (3.31 ERA in 13 starts). Mattingly said the organization plans on being careful in developing, not rushing prospects, meaning Dugger is most likely going to stay in the minors for now.

“Instead of having a guy you would say, ‘This guy could be good,’ and dragging him out of somewhere and he’s not quite ready, we want to let our guys get ready to compete and continue their development,” Mattingly said. “So when they get here, they can be a productive big league starter.”

Noesi is a 32-year-old veteran who hadn’t pitched in the Minor or Major Leagues since 2015 prior to joining the Marlins this season. He made his MLB debut in 2011 with the New York Yankees as a reliever and spot starter. He was traded twice in 2014 and spent the 2015 season with the Chicago White Sox and its Triple-A affiliate.

This season in New Orleans, he is 11-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 21 starts and has 133 strikeouts in 125 innings. This seems to be as good of a time to call him up for at least one start.

Quickie Camp Notes, Day 7

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DAY 7
– No Coach Flores availability today.
– Dreary, cloudy. Menace of rain.
– Practicing outside. No bubble time.
– Loose warmup going on…might miss 9:40 prompt practice start for first time?
– RAIN!
– Practice starts with Special Teams. We also have a crew of Officials.
– Near Field work today.
– Michael Dieter, Shaq Calhoun start practice as the two guards, once again.
– The two PUP guys, plus Ballage, Allen, Kiko, Grant, Mills OUT. Albert Wilson, scheduled day off.
– Stretch
– QB warmup ….clean. WR, OL as well. Professional warmup here today.
– Josh Rosen is on 2nd team for 2nd straight practice….so there’s that.
– Ominous weather threatening to escalate from a lite drizzle, to biblical downpour.
– Uneventful start to this practice, but Charles Harris….let’s just say he is not great at any drill.
– QB’s warming up DB’s with what can only be called the INT. Drill. Near perfect in that regard.
– 7v7
– Fitzpatrick with two very nice deliveries. Stills on the comeback route. O’Leary on a cross.
– Josh Rosen grabs two essentially worthless reps. A quick out, and a check down.
– OL drilling assignments. Jesse Davis delivers Aces. Picks up Tyrone Holmes, picks up Terril Hanks. Looks natural on his kick slide.
– 11v11
– 11v11 now….Fitzy with some sharp work…then…defense sends a disguised blitz, he sees it….go route to Preston Williams…just out of reach….he tips it….Nik Needham picks it off. Bad luck, but great stuff from Fitzy.
– Some special teams work here. Going to be interesting who has spots on “teams” for preseason game 1. They are cross training a bunch of guys in different spots.
– Watching a walk thru of some offensive play calls in the install portion of practice. Interesting stuff.
– 11v11
– Fitzy, play action pass miss on the deep flag route to Parker, coverage was there, Bobby McCain looked to be at a considerable disadvantage against DeVante Parker.
– Josh Rosen might complete 400 passes to backs if he starts this year. His reps are becoming boring. Too many check downs.
– Myles Gaskin might be emerging as the 3rd team back? Maybe? Who cares? I think some game action will help the guys behind Ballage and Drake, distinguish themselves.
– Special Teams work. Trenton Irwin and Kenyan Drake get some work as Punt Returners.
– Fitzy tries Gesicki on TJ in the end zone from the 5 yard line. Pass break up by TJ.
– Jerome Baker beats Sterup badly …sack.
– Josh Rosen to DeVante Parker jump ball in end zone. TD…on McTyer.
– 14 second drill from the 44, trying to gain yardage for a FG. 1st team goes 0-2. Stills completion runs out clock, incomplete on 2nd try.
– This coaching staff really likes to drill game situations.
– Now from the opposite 45 yard line. 2 for 2. Big gains to set up under 47 yard field goals.
– Practice is over.
– Defensive Assistants hold court.

Practice MVP: DeVante Parker, Jerome Baker, Jesse Davis
Struggled: Charles Harris, Zach Sterup, Josh Rosen

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@UptownReport) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Brian Anderson hit grand slam in loss to Minnesota

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Going in the bottom of the ninth inning looking helpless against the Minnesota Twins, the Miami Marlins showed life late by loading the bases on three straight singles and all scored on a grand slam by Brian Anderson.

Three straight strikeouts ended the rally and the Twins secured a 7-4 win on Wednesday. The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak when Anderson hits a home run, one shy from the franchise record set by Jeff Conine in 2004 (May 24-Sept. 28) and Justin Bour in 2017 (May 23-Sept. 20)

Anderson now has a career high 16 home runs this season and is on pace to pass the 20 home run benchmark by the final game.

“That power, he showed it in the Minor Leagues,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s a guy you felt like was going to get to it. I think he can get so much better still. I really do. He’s a guy, I think, who will improve with age as he gets a little older, and continues to gain more experience as his strength continues to come in. I just think this is where we’re headed with him.”

“That’s something that we’ve been working on, not trying to hit more homers or doubles, or anything like that,” Anderson said. “But just getting my body in a good position to where I can do some damage on mistakes. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same thing. I’m going through my routine every day, and trying to get in a good position to consistently get to where I can adjust and use my hands and try to drive some mistakes.”

It was night for home runs, especially for the Twins, who leads the majors with 209 home runs, 16 shy of the club record set in 1963.  Minnesota hit three home runs for the 32nd time this season, all of which came off Marlins All-Star starting pitcher, Sandy Alcantara.

“I think I’ve been feeling out of focus,” Alcantara said. “That’s one of the things I have to keep working on, get ahead of the count and work ahead of the batters.”

Alcantara has struggled since the All-Star Game,. He has a 7.89 ERA in four starts since the break and 17 walks in five outings this month. Prior to July, the 23-year-old earned the honor with a a 3.86 ERA.

“We always feel like he’s capable of hitting spots because you see it in the ‘pen,” Mattingly said. “You just haven’t seen it consistently in the field. It’s something that he obviously has to continue to work on and get better. Simple as that. Since the All-Star break, he hasn’t been that good.”

It’s now up to Jordan Yamamotto to avoid the sweep on Thursday. The rookie is coming off back-to-back starts of four innings and 5-6 earned runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nick Buoniconti

Dolphins Hall of Fame LB Nick Buoniconti dies at 78

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Former Miami Dolphins legend and Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti, who was the leader of the “No-Name Defense” of Miami’s 1970s Super Bowl teams and co-founded The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, has tragically passed away at age 78. The announcement came from his family, with his son giving a statement shortly after it was reported by Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post. He died on Tuesday in Bridgehampton, New York, per family spokesperson Bruce Bobbins.

“Today, with a heavy heart and profound sorrow, my family and the entire Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Buoniconti Fund community mourn the loss of a man who was truly larger than life, my father, NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti,” Marc Buoniconti said in a statement. “My dad has been my hero and represents what I have always aspired to be: a leader, a mentor and a champion.”

Buoniconti went on to have a 15-year career in the NFL. After his retirement, he and his son Marc raised over a half-billion dollars for paralysis research. Marc was paralyzed from the shoulders down attempting to make a tackle for The Citadel, so the research is very personal for the whole family.

Struggles with CTE

Though no cause of death has been specified, it’s well-documented that Buoniconti was diagnosed with CTE. This degenerative brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head has been the cause of much – and continuing – reform within the game of football at all levels. Buoniconti struggled with the disease and knew something was wrong with him.

It was a long, hard road for the undersized linebacker. He would forget where he was, he had deteriorating recollection of past events. He required assistance just to live everyday life. That’s a far cry from the triumphant moments spent on the football field. In his last days, Buoniconti was placed in hospice and battled pneumonia. That was on top of his other ailments. At last his suffering is over.

Beyond the paralysis foundation, Buoniconti requested that his brain be donated for scientific research. This will hopefully further the advancement to finding an eventual cure.

Buoniconti’s Legacy

Buoniconti started his football career going in the 13th round to the Boston Patriots of the upstart AFL. He played with them from 1962 to 1968. Then he went to Miami, and played with them from 1969 to 1974, as well as 1976. During his 15-year career, Buoniconti was an eight-time Pro Bowler, five-time first-team All-Pro and racked up 32 interceptions. His number of total tackles aren’t available, but watching him play, it was clear he was a tackling machine. He even set a team record in 1973 with 162 tackles.

After he retired, Buoniconti spent time as an attorney, a broadcaster, the president of U.S. Tobacco, and even an agent to the likes of Andre Dawson. Finally, he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001.

Now, his family will carry on Buoniconti’s legacy, and all of Dolphins nation mourns the loss of a legend.

Zac Gallen fue cambiado por prospecto top de Arizona

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Zac Gallen debutó este año por los Marlins y ya fue cambiado de organización, luego de enfrascarse en un apasionante duelo de pitcheo la noche del martes ante Jake Odorizzi y los poderosos bates de los Mellizos de Minnesota.

Sergio Romo fue el primero de los Marlins en ser cambiado, y se esperaba que algunos otros veteranos siguieran ese mismo camino, pero nos quedamos con la boca abierta tras el anuncio oficial de lo que había sucedido.

Zac Gallen, el codiciado lanzador que deslumbró a la fanaticada de Miami con sus actuaciones en ligas menores y que luego se estaba ganando el corazón de los seguidores del equipo tras debutar en Grandes Ligas, fue cambiado por quien era el prospecto número uno de los Diamondbacks de Arizona, Jazz Chisholm.

En él, los Marlins de Miami ven a su futuro campocorto, según declaró Mike Hill poco después de que se venciera el plazo para hacer canjes.

Chisholm es un campocorto nacido en Bahamas, que batea a la zurda, con manos rápidas, swing de poder y desplazamientos que recuerdan un poco a Javy Baez, según el reporte de Baseball America.

Comenzó el año como el prospecto número uno de los Diamondbacks, pero su actuación de esta temporada le había hecho caer al tercer puesto. En general, estaba en el puesto 56 del top 100 de esta misma firma antes de comenzar la temporada.

Gallen comenzó esta temporada en el número 72 de este ranking, y tras su gran debut y primeras actuaciones con los Marlins, empezaba a inclinar la balanza a favor de Miami en el cambio que dio salida a Marcell Ozuna.

Ahora, Miami debe esperar por otro prospecto para que se desarrolle y pueda aportar en la temporada que viene, o la de 2021.

Los Marlins esperan que Chisholm rebote y pueda parecerse mas al pelotero que fue en 2018, y que llevó a los Diamondbacks a enviarlo a jugar en la Arizona Fall League.

Estos son sus numeritos hasta este 31 de Julio:

Según Baseball America, Chisholm es un bateador que aún debe mejorar en su contacto, aunque ha demostrado su fuerza, con 18 jonrones en 89 juegos en Doble A.

Tiene las herramientas para ser un gran campocorto, aunque se ve afectado por alguos lapsus mentales que inciden directamente en su consistencia.

En el plato, tiende a hacer swing de gradas y cuando conecta la bola, esta suele viajar bastante lejos. Sin embargo, este approach ha hecho que se vaya muchas veces sin el resultado deseado esta campaña, y de ahí los numeritos que ven arriba.

Con el tiempo se convertirá en un mejor bateador cuando aprenda a batear para todos los sectores del terreno, indican los observadores, y puede incluso llegar a acercarse a un 20-20 en Grandes Ligas.

Haciendo click en este link pueden ver el reporte completo de mitad de temporada de Baseball America.

Trevor Richards y Nick Anderson se van a Tampa

Los Marlins de Miami cambiaron a otros de los brazos que llegaron a ser revelaciones importantes durante los primeros meses de campaña, el abridor Trevor Richards y el relevista Nick Anderson, quienes hasta sonaron como posibles candidatos para representar a los Marlins en el Juego de Estrellas de este año.

A cambio, los Marlins reciben al relevista Ryne Stanek y al jardinero dominicano Jesús Sánchez, quien ya estaba con la sucursal triple A de los Rays.

Estos son los numeritos de Sánchez en su carrera en Ligas Menores:

Stanek se perfila como el cerrador del equipo, y Sanchez es otro toletero zurdo que podría debutar este año en Septiembre.

En Cinco Razones haremos un análisis de los movimientos de los Marlins en este trade deadline. Coming soon…

Quickie Camp Notes, Day 6

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DAY 6

– Rainy, miserably morning. Could we have our first indoor practice of the new regime?
– We will be outside today. No bubble time today.
– Run of the mill stuff from Coach Flores today.
– Want to impress me? Do it in the kicking game.- Coach Flores
– Coach Flores confirms he is not a “bubble guy”. Team has to get acclimated to this weather. Camp is supposed to be hard.- Coach Flores
– Kiko Alonso to be back in a day or 2- Coach Flores
– Kiko Alonso, Kalen Ballage, Clive Walford OUT for practice today. Nothing serious on Ballage.
– Tankersley, Hull remain on PUP list.
– Dwayne Allen returns.
– We have a crew of officials today, for the first time in Training Camp
– Michael Dieter at LG, Shaq Calhoun at RG on 1st team OL.
– Far field work today.
– Appears early on that Josh Rosen is working 2nd team.
– Team stretch.
– QB warmup ongoing. Sharp. No complaints today.
– Jake Rudock doesn’t have a terrible arm, but it’s not good either.
– The WR group is probably the most athletically gifted unit on the team. Their warmups tend to always be sharp, impressive. There are a lot of pros in that group.
– Shaq Calhoun in OK drills. Displays short choppy steps hitting his mark on a reach drill. Good stuff.
– QB warmup going off without a hitch.
– Yep. Rudock back to scout team work. Rosen to the 2nd team.
– Michael Dieter obliterates Godchaux on a play action look. Well executed.
– Nate Orchard looks best in pass rush drills. He has been bad this camp against the run.
– TJ McDonald being called for Defensive holding on 1v1. Expected. Man to Man in space to him is foreign. The worst of his skill sets.
– 7v7 now.
– Josh Rosen having a sharp segment to practice here. Good to see. Fitzpatrick however….been better. Both are sharp, so that’s good to see.
– I don’t usually talk like this, but this Defense with better personnel, namely on the edge, and in secondary, is going to be a problem. Tricky, smart, versatile. Multiple looks, movement. Baiting coverages….very happy with this.
– Eric Rowe….near pick six on Fitzy. Intended for Stills.
– Xavien Howard, picks off Fitzy. Intended for Preston William’s. Under cut the deep in cut.
– Rudock deep out to Grant. Hartage in coverage.
– There was a Rep deficiency for Josh Rosen in that last 11v11 segment.
– Special Teams Work. Jakeem Grant leaves practice with a leg issue.
– Some 7v7 here.
– Durham Smythe quietly having a good camp.
– Josh Rosen still not trusting what he sees. Too many check downs for a Camp practice in July.
– Michael Dieter T.N.T. wall……false start. Can we do that in games too?
– Josh Rosen sails an out route to his comfortable side (right).
– Josh Rosen with a sharp out route completion to Preston Williams.
– Andrew Van Ginkel sure does blast off that edge. Him and Orchard, most noticeable of the edge guys. Harris is being asked to do many other things.
– Fitzpatrick seems to be experimenting with things. Picks ensue once again.
– Fitzpatrick executing a 2 minute drill. Coach Flores steps in to call Timeout after gaining 12 yards. FG try with no football. Seemed to be an alignment, time drill.
– Josh Rosen, does the same. Completes a bubble screen. That’s a wrap. That’s practice.
– After practice, we in the media met with NFL officials so they can explain the new rule changes. More on that on another date.

Practice MVP: DeVante Parker, Durham Smythe, Vincent Taylor
Struggled: Chris Reed, Charles Harris

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@UptownReport) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Miami Heat

Why are 76ers fans acting so stupid?

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There’s a reason for the Miami Heat to have a rivalry with many of the teams in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

The Knicks…. naturally, though that’s now going back more than two decades to any real relevancy.

The Pacers, because of all those times Paul George fell short in South Florida, after his stops at Tootsie’s.

The Magic? Well, everyone wanted this to be something, but it never was, since Orlando has had Mickey Mouse front offices for so long.

The Celtics? Yeah, f— Paul Pierce. Forever and always.

The Bulls? For a while, for sure. And the sight of Joakim Noah still makes you wretch, wherever he is stealing money these days.

And of course, the Cavaliers, because of that whole LeBron thing. Heat 2, Cavaliers 1.

But the 76ers?

How could anyone get worked up about the 76ers? They haven’t won a championship since 1983, five years before the Heat were born. They have faced the Heat in just two playoff series, one win apiece. They spent half a decade bottoming out, telling you to Trust the Process, and while they came out of it with Joel “Out-Due to Something” Embiid and Ben “Scared to Shoot” Simmons, they also botched a number of picks, from Okafor to Noel to Fultz. Oh, and Dion Waiters is from Philadelphia, and but it’s not clear whether Heat fans are reclaiming him again yet.

Now, though, the Heat and 76ers have made a trade for the first time since Miami sent Arnett Moultrie (who?) there. Jimmy Butler is with the Heat, or will be, once he stops partying in Amsterdam. Josh Richardson is with the 76ers, and he suddenly went from an entirely overlooked player to the greatest 3-and-D guy who has ever lived according to the anti-Miami national media.

And even though many believe Richardson will fit well, and even though Butler wasn’t in Philadelphia very long, 76ers fans just can’t get over Butler wanting out of their fair little city, and choosing no state tax, beaches and a winning organization instead.

Evidence: this cute little Players Tribune parody.

The title is Why I’m Retiring to Florida.

Here’s a clever excerpt:

A big reason all my teammates love me is my drive to win. Winning is literally the only thing I care about, so leaving a championship contender in Philly was tough. But the lifestyle that comes with being rich, famous, and retired in South Beach was just too good to pass up.

I couldn’t be more excited to begin my four-year retirement tour with the Miami Heat. Just look at how they treated Dwyane Wade last season! Although it was close, the Heat had more Wade nights than the Sixers did Iverson nights, and that ended up playing a big part in my decision. I fully expect a Wade level send off from these Miami fans, and I think Adam Silver might even give me an honorary spot in the next few All-Star games.

This is, um, confusing.

The 76ers have achieved the lofty heights of the second round of late.

Give them that.

But there’s a small issue with mocking Butler for leaving a winning situation for a non-winning one.

Basically, it’s bullshit.

I’ll leave you with this, the same way Allen Iverson left Ty Lue.

 

 

And the Dolphins QB battle continues…

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Miami Dolphins rookie head coach Brian Flores has continued to echo the importance of competition since the team met for mini camp in June.

 

Fast forward about a month and after the first week of training camp, as the Dolphins prepare for the 2019 season, there are a few major position battles brewing in Davie.

 

Each day it seems that a new report is released surrounding a handful of different positions including running back, offensive line and linebacker. However, no competition is under the spotlight as often as the quarterback battle between Josh Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

 

Fitzpatrick hit the ground running at the first day of training camp and impressed with his accuracy.

 

 

 

The 36-year-old Highland High School alum has also displayed his leadership ability.

 

 

With Fitzpatrick showcasing why has found success as a 14-year NFL veteran, it should come to no surprise that Flores mentioned on Tuesday morning that Fitzpatrick is the current front runner for the quarterback job in front of Rosen, the second-year pro out of UCLA.

 

“It’s pretty clear to me that Ryan Fitzpatrick is leading the way,” Flores said. “He’s done that in a lot of areas, from leadership to production on the field to the meeting rooms to the walk-throughs. This is an ongoing competition, but right now he’s leading the way.”

 

It is important to keep in mind that we are just a week into training camp and while Fitzpatrick has looked the part at times, he doesn’t have the most consistent track record and that part of his game has started to show on the practice field.

 

Miami Dolphins rookie head coach Brian Flores has continued to echo the importance of competition since the team met for mini camp in June.

 

Fast forward about a month and after the first week of training camp, as the Dolphins prepare for the 2019 season, there are a few major position battles brewing in Davie.

 

Each day it seems that a new report is released surrounding a handful of different positions including running back, offensive line and linebacker. However, no competition is under the spotlight as often as the quarterback battle between Josh Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

 

Fitzpatrick hit the ground running at the first day of training camp and impressed with his accuracy.

 

 

 

The 36-year-old Highland High School alum has also displayed his leadership ability.

 

 

With Fitzpatrick showcasing why has found success as a 14-year NFL veteran, it should come to no surprise that Flores mentioned on Tuesday morning that Fitzpatrick is the current front runner for the quarterback job in front of Rosen, the second-year pro out of UCLA.

 

“It’s pretty clear to me that Ryan Fitzpatrick is leading the way,” Flores said. “He’s done that in a lot of areas, from leadership to production on the field to the meeting rooms to the walk-throughs. This is an ongoing competition, but right now he’s leading the way.”

 

It is important to keep in mind that we are just a week into training camp and while Fitzpatrick has looked the part at times, he doesn’t have the most consistent track record and that part of his game has started to show on the practice field.

 

The Dolphins have more than a month before they hit the turf at Hard Rock Stadium, which is why the quarterback battle is far from over.

 

 

Both quarterbacks continue to push each other and it is important to not get hung up on who is “leading” the quarterback competition. It is far too early to think that Rosen is a bust, but also too early to say that Fitzpatrick will lead the Dolphins to a 4-12 record.

 

Rosen and Fitzpatrick will continue to push each other, which is what exactly what Flores wants each player on the 53-man roster to do.

 

“I guess the thought process behind that is, maybe we want to keep that guy hungry,” Flores said of depth chart shakeups on Sunday. “Maybe we want to make sure that guy knows that you could have a great day, and we’re always competing. There’s a lot of levels here, a lot of things that go into it.”

 

As of right now, it is tough to determine who will be under center come week one, but both Rosen and Fitzpatrick will continue to grow as Miami’s quarterback battle continues to unfold.

 

Jake Mendel also writes for our sister site, Dolphin Maven. 

 

 

The Dolphins have more than a month before they hit the turf at Hard Rock Stadium, which is why the quarterback battle is far from over.

 

 

Both quarterbacks continue to push each other and it is important to not get hung up on who is “leading” the quarterback competition. It is far too early to think that Rosen is a bust, but also too early to say that Fitzpatrick will lead the Dolphins to a 4-12 record.

 

Rosen and Fitzpatrick will continue to push each other, which is what exactly what Flores wants each player on the 53-man roster to do.

 

“I guess the thought process behind that is, maybe we want to keep that guy hungry,” Flores said of depth chart shakeups on Sunday. “Maybe we want to make sure that guy knows that you could have a great day, and we’re always competing. There’s a lot of levels here, a lot of things that go into it.”

 

As of right now, it is tough to determine who will be under center come week one, but both Rosen and Fitzpatrick will continue to grow as Miami’s quarterback battle continues to unfold.

 

Jake Mendel also writes for our sister site, Dolphin Maven.