Margins in the NFL are razor thin. Games are often decided by a few critical moments, and the team with the bigger collection of explosive plays typically finds the winner's circle.
The Dolphins roster is chock full of players that can change a game in one snap. Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have made a habit of flipping the game. New safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has 20 career interceptions, five forced fumbles, five recoveries and four defensive touchdowns. That defensive play-making was on display as he made the biggest splash of camp so far with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.
"Really everybody feeds off (Fitzpatrick and cornerback Mike Hilton)," cornerback Storm Duck said. "Minkah…he'll ask the questions that some of us won't even think about because he's been in different schemes, been in different defenses and stuff like that."
While Fitzpatrck would say he took it to the house, it could also be argued that he was stopped short of the end zone on the return. Hill put his track speed on display, catching up with Fitzpatrick for what may have been a tackle in the low red area in a game setting. Hill was in a position to save the touchdown when it looked like the play was over.
The effort at the end of a hot, competitive practice speaks to the Dolphins collective strain this summer, and the hours of work put forth in preparations for the new season.
"Yesterday was our longest, hardest, most energetic practice," Head Coach Mike McDaniel said. "That's what I want to see, is that growth of energy, how we play football, adjusting to pad level and physicality and still bringing our strain to finish blocks not two yards down the field, but four. If the offense breaks a long run, defensively, I want to see the strain from the collective…A 40-yard run could be a highlight on the defense's worst play – I want to see guys strain with pads and make people earn everything in both phases."
The Fitzpatrick interception was the first in 10 practices for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Prior to the mistake, Tagovailoa called Hill's number multiple times. He caught three passes during an end-of-half scenario with less than a minute on the clock. Those plays helped Tua lead the Miami offense into field goal range before Jason Sanders' kick split the uprights.
Hill put one of the best routes on tape of the entire summer. His move shook the cornerback and created a window for Tagovailoa to find. The result was a 30-yard pass play. Tagovailoa leaned on his star receivers throughout the day including another sensational catch from Waddle.
One play after the Fitzpatrick interception, Tagovailoa bounced back. He ripped a nine-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The line provided Tagovailoa with a clean pocket against a blitz. The protection showcased sharp communication across the Dolphins offensive line as the play required the front to pass off blocks and play with anticipation.
"I feel like we built a lot of chemistry during OTAs, but now we're in pads so just getting that different feeling of it," center Aaron Brewer said. "We're already bonded pretty well. We're all very close, but it's a little different once you get in pads and just figuring each other out and each other's skill set."
Other standouts from practice include linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who had multiple stops in the run game and a sack in team periods. Tight ends Julian Hill and Tanner Conner made multiple catches from various quarterbacks and outside linebacker Bradley Chubb picked up a sack, and multiple run stuffs.
The Dolphins also welcomed a reinforcement in the secondary. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu was activated off the non-football injury list and practiced for the first time this summer.
Wide receiver Dee Eskridge was back on the field after exiting Saturday's session, and McDaniel provided an update on offensive tackle Austin Jackson, including a positive sign for Jackson's fill-in, Larry Borom.
"I thought Larry had a great day yesterday," McDaniel said. "So it was a good day of growth for Larry, and Austin is projected to be starting Week 1, so good day for the Dolphins."
For more coverage from Dolphins camp, download the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, available wherever you get your podcasts.
