Some contested starting jobs have already been won

The Dolphins will break training camp Thursday. That means the opportunities to win jobs, particularly starting jobs, during training camp are dwindling.

"We're going to get into the paring down process now," coach Tony Sparano said Wednesday. "We're going to spend a lot more time in meetings and a little less time on the field."

And as the coach confirmed when I asked, less time on the field means the players working with the second-team will have fewer chances of erasing the gap the players working as starters established since July 30 when camp opened.

"When you have fewer opportunities, and the team knows this because I've told them, I've been very, very clear with the fact that they need to make opportunities now," Sparano said. "Because when training camp breaks, eventually I'm charged with getting the team ready to play that's going to get ready to play. I have to start to identify those people and get those people in positions to play.

"Some of these people that have been getting a lot of reps because you have two-a-days, those things are going to be fewer and further between. When that stuff starts to happen, yeah, you get fewer opportunities. So as I told the team you need to be showing us what you want to show us right now."

Well, in some cases where jobs were available at the start of camp, the decision has been made as to the starter. I am told by a source that barring a total meltdown in the coming two games -- an unlikely proposition -- second-year man Chris Clemons has won the starting free safety job for Miami. Sparano has not confirmed that, but he makes no secret of the fact he like Clemons with veteran Yeremiah Bell back there.

"I did this math yesterday and they've played 945 plays this training camp and they have four total mental errors between the two of those guys," Sparano said. "Early on during our first year year, I couldn't tell you the number of problems we were having back there. With those two players back there there's a good influence coming with young people in the ballgame. With the Vontaes [Davis]and the Sean Smiths and the [Nolan] Carrolls, having those two back there has been pretty good."

I am told by the same source that Joe Berger has similarly beaten out Jake Grove for the starting center job.

Again, if either Clemons or Berger totally tanks in the next two weeks, then the team reserves the right to make a change. That's the case with any player that tanks throughout the season. But the decision on them as starters is otherwise made.

And they are not alone.

Rookies Koa Misi and Jared Odrick have pretty much won starting jobs at strongside linebacker and right end, respectively. Misi, barring a total meltdown, has held off Ikaika Alama-Francis for the starting job. Odrick started training camp ahead of Marques Douglas and has remained there.

As for the still undecided starting jobs at right guard and left guard, the next several days will be key.

"The separation will come here in the next several days," Sparano said.

Comments

[creep]

guys is this TRIFECTA screwing this team up???

let's not be blind like most of you have he past 20 years....

think about it they signed WILFORD, ERIC GREEN, GROVE, TORBOR, AKIN, ANDERSON, GERBIL WILSON, did I forget anyone??

a bunch of mediocre guys and a few BUSTS....

now for the DRAFT where all of you say, TRUST IN THE TUNA....

LOL...

MERLING bust guy was a 1st rder, Langford still waiting, Pat white BIGGEST BUST IN FINS HISTORY, Pat Turner still waiting outlook not good....

only LONG has become an IMPACT PLAYER who else will it be.....

[DyingBreed]

guys is this TRIFECTA screwing this team up???

let's not be blind like most of you have he past 20 years....

think about it they signed WILFORD, ERIC GREEN, GROVE, TORBOR, AKIN, ANDERSON, GERBIL WILSON, did I forget anyone??

a bunch of mediocre guys and a few BUSTS....

now for the DRAFT where all of you say, TRUST IN THE TUNA....

LOL...

MERLING bust guy was a 1st rder, Langford still waiting, Pat white BIGGEST BUST IN FINS HISTORY, Pat Turner still waiting outlook not good....

only LONG has become an IMPACT PLAYER who else will it be.....

Posted by: creep | August 18, 2010 at 09:18 PM

Hmmm............. Is this why u go by the sign in name as CREEP?

[DyingBreed]

I hear Tedd Ginn was in rare form over the weekend. He was showing off the fine art of aligator-arming it to his new found 49ers fans.

Do you guys know who we drafted with the 5th rounder we got in the Ginn trade? NOLAN CARROLL!

[ALoco]

who invented the hall of fame crap ?

[DyingBreed]

who invented the hall of fame crap ?

Posted by: ALoco | August 18, 2010 at 09:39 PM

Probably the same guy that invented paying at the door.

[ALoco]

i am watching cowboys vs okland and they showed jones introducing rb smith in the cowboys hall of fame .

people defend this country they r the only once that deserve that .

[DyingBreed]

Tebow leaves practice, possibly with rib injury.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Rookie quarterback Tim Tebow's first foray into an NFL end zone appears to have left him with injured ribs.

Denver's rookie quarterback missed his first practice of training camp on Wednesday after jogging off the field during warmups. While the Broncos aren't saying what's wrong with their first-round draft pick from Florida, Tebow might be feeling the effects of his game-ending 7-yard touchdown run in his pro debut Sunday night.

After absorbing several hard hits, Tebow powered his way into the end zone on the game's final play, smacking into Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Abdul Hodge to the goal line and bowling over Kyries Hebert, leaving the safety woozy with his mouth guard lying on the ground at his feet.

Wearing flak jacket-like extra passing around his ribs this week, Tebow participated in both workouts Tuesday when the Broncos reconvened at Dove Valley but he skipped the post-practice wind sprints, where he routinely whoops his offensive teammates.

About 10 minutes into warmups on Wednesday, Tebow huddled with head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos and appeared to be favoring his left rib cage or abdomen as he jogged off the field and into the team's headquarters.

He didn't return to practice, after which the team scrubbed his scheduled gathering with reporters.

Ive been trying to tell anyone who would listen that Tebow running the ball crap isnt going to work in the nfl. He needs to take a crash course in the fine art of sliding really quick on this level.

[ALoco]

can you picture 2 QB in every game per team .so when we have the ball henne and penne they each goes in the game w/ball so the other team has to defend 2 balls coming in the air .more fun this way .

[DyingBreed]

These guys could become household names by year's end By Jason La Canfora NFL Network

This is what he says about Sean Smith:

Sean Smith, CB, Dolphins
He had moments of brilliance as a rookie in 2009 and was asked to play right away at a difficult position. Smith should take major steps in 2010 and be more consistent. Another guy with a freak-of-nature body, he has smothering size to go with elite quickness. His cover skills will continue to develop. If some of the Dolphins' other key youngsters are ready, and the team gets a push from its front seven, I expect Smith to make many plays as opponents continue to test Miami's youthful secondary.

[ALoco]

our promise this year;

davis
sean smith
wake
turner
thigpen

[DyingBreed]

Still not completely sold on Thigpen. At times he'll baffle us with his brilliance then come back down to earth and befuddles us with his bufoonery.

Just dont have 100% confidence with him under center and Im sure neither do the coaches(3rd string backup). That's why if Pat White cant beat him out for the #3 qb spot he may be history.

[attack cop!]

Do you guys know who we drafted with the 5th rounder we got in the Ginn trade? NOLAN CARROLL!

Posted by: DyingBreed

i believe we drafted rashad jones with the ginn 5th rnder!

[attack cop!]

after checking i take that back yes it was nolan caroll for ted ginn, what a good move for miami!

[DyingBreed]

i believe we drafted rashad jones with the ginn 5th rnder!

Posted by: attack cop! | August 18, 2010 at 10:39 PM

Wikipedia says:

American football defensive back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins from the University of Maryland.

I also read that we used the Ted Ginn pick on him.

[DyingBreed]

Guess your post came up while I was posting, lol.

[DyingBreed]

With the light coming on with Jason Allen and the emergence of Carroll we can play a little 3-2-6 defense if we had to.(3 d-linemen-2lb's-6 db's) This matches up well with 5 reciever sets. At time the Patriots run 5 reciever stes.

[Los Lobos]

"I did this math yesterday and they've played 945 plays this training camp and they have four total mental errors between the two of those guys," Sparano said.

This is the kind of stuff that upsets me about Tony. 945 plays with four mental errors. This guy thinks football is some kind of rubics cube. He spends more time tracking numbers he should work for CSI Miami.

He downplays 4 mental errors? All it takes is one mental error to lose a game Tony! I don't care if they had 40 or 400 mental errors. Get in their butts every time they make ONE mental error. Quick babying these guys Tony.

[get paid for surveys]

Nice post. I enjoyed reading it. Winning a job is a success to all.