What I Learned From a Week at Miami Dolphins Training Camp

With the Dolphins getting an off day Sunday, here are my biggest takeaways from a week watching this team up close.

Sunday gives the Dolphins a break from training camp, and it gives me a chance to take stock of everything I saw over the past week. After spending the week watching this team up close, I’ve learned a little more about this Dolphins team and some of the pieces they’re building with. Some things confirmed what I already believed, a few players surprised me, and in a couple of cases, I’m ready to plant my flag.

There’s still plenty more information to collect, but through what I’ve seen so far, here are the things that stood out most.

Malik Willis Is Getting More Comfortable

I’ve been very clear about this from the beginning: There wasn’t a quarterback competition in Miami. Malik Willis is QB1. What I wanted to see was how quickly he would get comfortable in a new offense with a new group of receivers.

I’ve said throughout camp on the Fins Faithful Podcast that the Malik we saw on Day 5 should look better and more comfortable than the guy we saw on Day 1. By Day 10, I want him looking more comfortable than he did on Day 5. So far, that’s what I’m seeing.

Willis has gotten better as camp has gone along. His timing and chemistry with the receivers are improving; he’s making the routine throws more consistently, and we’re starting to see more of everything he can bring to this offense. I was never worried about the deep ball or the arm talent. What has impressed me is how he’s changing speeds, taking something off the football when he needs to and changing arm angles to find throwing windows.

We’re also starting to see more of his legs. Saturday gave us probably our best look yet at the dual-threat element. On one play, pressure came clean through the A-gap, and it looked like the play was dead. Willis made the defender miss, escaped right, kept his eyes downfield, and delivered a strike to Seydou Traore for roughly 20 yards. That’s what interests me. We know Willis can run, but when he can escape pressure, change the launch point, and still remain a passer, it gives this offense another dimension.

The leadership has been a plus, too. Willis addressed the team before Saturday’s stadium practice, another sign that he’s becoming more comfortable taking ownership of this team. Willis being QB1 hasn’t changed. What’s changing is how comfortable he looks being QB1.

The Willis-Caleb Douglas Chemistry Is Real

You can see something developing between Willis and Caleb Douglas. Malik looks for him, and we’ve seen that connection underneath, outside the numbers and down the field. One of my favorite examples came on a sluggo against Jason Marshall Jr. Douglas sold the inside break, got on top of Marshall, and Willis dropped it right in the bucket for about 40 yards.

Douglas has shown me more than a 6-foot-4 receiver with a big catch radius. He can sink his hips, sell routes, and create separation. He’s stood out throughout the week, and the chemistry with Willis has been hard to miss.

The more I’ve watched Douglas, the more I’ve liked the pick. Jon-Eric Sullivan was clearly high on him, and so far, it looks like Sully might have been right. Douglas has a chance to be a real piece for this offense.

Jacob Rodriguez Looks Like the Player I Graded

Anybody who followed my draft coverage knows where I stood on Jacob Rodriguez. I had him ranked No. 27 overall on my board with a first-round grade, so I’ve watched No. 10 closely all week.

Every day, he’s gotten more comfortable. He’s diagnosing quicker, trusting his eyes and playing downhill with less hesitation. His first-team opportunities have increased, and we’re seeing the instincts and physicality that stood out on his college tape. Aaron Brewer summed him up pretty well: “10’s a dog.”

That’s the guy I evaluated coming out. Based on what I’ve watched so far, I expect Jacob Rodriguez to be a Week 1 starter.

Sullivan’s Rookie Class Is Making an Impression

Kadyn Proctor has shown plenty of promise early at left guard. Rodriguez looks more comfortable by the day and continues earning first-team opportunities. Douglas has consistently made plays and is building real chemistry with Willis. Will Kacmarek is getting significant first-team tight end work, while Trey Moore is getting legitimate first-team opportunities and being used in different roles. Chris Johnson has flashed at cornerback, Michael Taaffe has gotten first-team safety opportunities, and Kyle Louis has shown his physicality.

Don’t forget Kevin Coleman Jr. He’s been on the sideline the past few practices, but he made an early impression before getting banged up. Watching this receiver room, I think Miami needs to get Coleman healthy and back in the slot. Nobody has really grabbed that job while he’s been out, and there’s an opportunity there for him.

Chris Bell is another guy I’m watching. He’s still working off to the side, but I’ve watched him ramp things up, and he looks good moving around. Based strictly on those workouts, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s ready earlier than some expected.

You add it all up, and there could be a lot of contributors coming out of Sullivan’s first class. So far, I like what I’m seeing.

The Offensive Line Has Pieces to Build Around

I’ve started calling the left side of this offensive line the “law firm”—Paul, Proctor, and Brewer—and I like some of the moments I’ve seen from that group throughout the week. They’ve shown they can create movement and open running room on that left side, and there have been stretches where you can start to see what that combination could become.

Proctor has shown flashes individually, too. The power is obvious, but I’ve also liked his balance and ability to recover during a rep. I’ve come away encouraged by what I’ve seen from Paul, Proctor, and Brewer working together.

Jonah Savaiinaea has quietly put together some encouraging practices at right guard. Since moving back to the right side, he looks like he’s getting his confidence back. He’s anchored well against power and had good moments in both one-on-ones and team work. There are still things he needs to clean up, but that’s expected. The early signs with Jonah are encouraging.

Chop Robinson Looks More Physical

One thing I wanted to see once the pads came on was how Chop Robinson would respond, and I liked what I saw. He looks a little stronger, and he’s playing with more physicality. We already know about the speed and explosiveness. The next part is what happens when an offensive tackle gets his timing down and takes away that first move.

That’s where the counters come in. We’ve seen flashes of that, including Chop using the threat of his speed to come back inside. Now comes the next step: carry that physicality into games and continue developing those counters when NFL tackles adjust to his speed. After watching him in pads this week, I came away encouraged by the growth.

Trey Moore Is Going to Play

I’m becoming more convinced every time I watch Trey Moore: He’s going to play. We’ve seen him off the edge, at linebacker, dropping into coverage, and even lined up over the slot as the SAM. He’s getting legitimate first-team opportunities, and Miami continues finding different ways to use him.

I’m not going to tell you exactly what his role will be because they’re experimenting with him. That’s the point. Hafley has a chess piece, and they’re figuring out all the ways they can use him.

Keep an Eye on DJ Herman

DJ Herman might be my favorite under-the-radar story from the week. Remember, Herman was a linebacker at San Diego State, and now Miami is converting him to fullback. At first, I just noticed them using him at fullback. Then they started moving him around—putting him in motion, splitting him out wide and using him as a lead blocker, while also giving him work with the first-team offense.

I’ve been impressed with his hands, too. One of his better plays came on a wheel route when Willis dropped one right in on him and Herman made a really nice catch. Then you add the special-teams value. He’s getting work with the first-team special-teams units, which only helps his chances when you’re talking about those final roster spots.

He’s a former linebacker, so the physicality is there, and now he’s showing he can block, catch, and handle different responsibilities on offense. Based on what I’ve watched this week, I think Herman has a real shot to make this football team. Now I want to see whether all of it translates when the preseason games begin.

There’s still more information to collect before we have the full picture. I want to see these guys against another team, see what happens in the preseason, and watch how these position battles develop.

But that’s what this stage of camp is about. Is the foundation being built the right way? Are there pieces here this organization can build around?

After a week watching this team up close, I think we’re starting to see that foundation take shape. There’s more to learn, but so far, I like what they’re building.