Today was a good day for the Miami Dolphins. Folks got better. Confidences were raised. Connections were made. Most importantly, plays were made on both sides of the football in the scrimmage held at the team's Davie, FL. practice facility.
Let us begin with what is most important.
No significant injuries that are apparent. OT Nate Garner seemed to tweak a knee but played on so that doesn't seem too be serious.
Chad Henne had a fine day. Although no official statistics exist, by my count Henne completed 11 of 17 passes for approximately 134 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. All three touchdowns went to Brandon Marshall.
Marshall caught a 12-yard TD from Henne, a 15-yard TD from Henne and a long, arc of a pass that must have turned into a 35-40-yard score against Sean Smith.
Henne said after the scrimmage he and Marshall had a good talk about finally trying to get on the same page before the scrimmage began.
"I think today is really the first day we've connected well," Henne said. "We haven't been doing that in previous practices."
The interception? Karlos Dansby stepped in front of a pass at the 6 yard line when Henne was trying to get the ball to Davone Bess at the goal line and returned it for what would have been a 94-yard interception return TD.
Other highlights:
Mike Pouncey did a nice job with the line calls, according to coach Tony Sparano. The coach said Miami's first-round pick made line calls today that he was missing two days ago.
Safety Reshad Jones, whom I've been telling you will get a legitimate opportunity to compete for the starting free safety job, got first-team reps in the nickel package. He didn't get beat that I could tell.
Reggie Bush showed out a bit. Working from the backfield and from the slot receiver spot, he had moments. He is obviously most dangerous when slotted out vs. a linebacker which is exactly the situation he found himself versus Karlos Dansby. Henne connected on what would have ben a 30-plus-yard play for what was really a 7-yard pass. Bush simply ran away from Dansby on the slant.
Jason Taylor looked explosive. It's not a good matchup for offenses to have the right tackle against Taylor. He had good moments versus all of Miami's right tackles and sniffed out a screen to WR Brian Hartline, which turned into a 3 or 4 yard loss. Coach Tony Sparano low-fived Taylor for that one.
Lex Hilliard ran hard. Yes, he was working against the threes and only rarely against twos, but he hits the hole with confidence. Like it.
Rookie Daniel Thomas also is a load but he didn't have a signature play that made anyone take notice. Just solid today.
Davone Bess continues to be Henne's security blanket. Whenever the QB is in trouble, he looks for Bess. Today he found him about three or four times.
Anthony Fasano didn't have a catch. Brian Hartline didn't have a catch.
SS Yeremiah Bell did nice work on the blitz. Had a sack.
Cameron Wake had a sack.
Marshall was covered man-to-man the entire scrimmage, which is something that will not happen in games. The Dolphins are moving him around to get him alone with CBs but we'll see to what degree that frees him during the regular season.
Marshall refused to speak to the media after the scrimmage.
Vontae Davis actually got the better of Marshall in their man matchups, breaking up two passes in the end zone. Marshall had his TDs versus Sean Smith.
The Dolphins are off on Monday. So am I, but I'll be on Armando and the Amigo on 640-AM in South Florida and streaming live on the web from 6-10 a.m.
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