For most of the Dolphins’ rookie draft picks, their first NFL journey has been something of an emotional rollercoaster.
DeVante Parker has gone from dominating May practices to undergoing foot surgery in June to barely playing at all in October.
Jamil Douglas has gone from starting at right guard to not getting a single snap.
Jordan Phillips has gone from producing Miami’s only sack in the first two weeks to not even being active in Week 3 to now playing the most snaps of any backup defensive tackle.
Bobby McCain has gone from not playing to potentially playing a lot on Sunday if Brice McCain is sidelined by a sprained knee. (Brice McCain missed practice Wednesday and said he’s unsure if he can play this week. It doesn't seem promising.)
And Jay Ajayi has gone from struggling for part of training camp, to finally excelling late in preseason, to sustaining a rib injury that has robbed him of half of his rookie season.
Meanwhile, this has been a developmental year for cornerback Tony Lippett, who hasn’t played at all, and practice squad safety Cedric Thompson.
So Miami still isn’t quite sure which of these seven draft picks will make an impact over the season’s final 11 games.
Parker, who the Dolphins were thrilled to snag 14th overall in the draft, said he has been fully recovered from June foot surgery for weeks. But he played only six snaps Sunday against Tennessee --- certainly not what the rookie expected after displaying so much potential during May and June practices.
Coaches believe Rishard Matthews (60 snaps Sunday) warrants substantially more playing time than Parker.
“It’s tough,” Parker said of not playing much. “You’re happy because your team is winning and see everybody making plays. You just have to wait for your turn to make the same plays they make. I feel like I’m pretty much where I need to be, but I need better technique, stick to it every play. If I work on that, I’ll be fine.
“They want me to be more consistent. I make a big play here or there; just make easier plays. That’s what I’m looking for. I don’t have drops in practice.”
Parker has played only 88 offensive snaps. Among other first-round receivers, Oakland’s Amari Cooper (299 snaps), Philadelphia’s Nelson Agoholor (269 snaps) and the Colts’ Phillip Dorsett (106 snaps) have all played more than Parker. Chicago’s Kevin White and Baltimore’s Breshad Perriman haven’t played because of injuries.
Coach Dan Campbell said he feels no pressure to play Parker because of his draft status.
Campbell said Parker is “competing with Rishard Matthews. Rishard Matthews has stepped up his game. He’s a beast right now. So he’s going to have to really, really push himself to pass Rishard Matthews up and those guys.
“It doesn’t mean he won’t be getting plays, and we’re going to try to work him in because he has a unique skill set. We all know what kind of player he is capable of being just by the talent level that he has. We’re just trying to get him to become the football player we believe he can be. He’s a flash player right [now]. As soon as those flashes start showing up a lot more often, that’s when you feel good about getting him on the field.”
Phillips, meanwhile, played 26 snaps Sunday and is back on track after a poor practice performance led to him being de-actived in Week 3 against Buffalo. He said he thrives on the competitive practice environment that Campbell has implemented.
In a one-on-one meeting, Phillips said Campbell told him that he’s “maturing. That’s the best thing you can hear.”
Phillips said he has graded out well against the run, “especially last week” but graded out “average” as a pass rusher. “I need to start making more plays.”
McCain flashed playmaking skills at Memphis (11 interceptions combined the past two seasons) and “that should translate [to the NFL],” he said. “If you’ve been a playmaker your whole life, that’s not going to stop now.”
He played only 50 defensive snaps so far this season --- a large chunk of those last Sunday --- but is expected to play a lot Sunday if Brice McCain is sidelined. “The one thing about Bobby is he doesn’t lack confidence,” Campbell said.
As for Douglas, he allowed the most quarterback hurries in the league during his four starts at right guard and now sits behind Billy Turner, wishing he had made more of his opportunity.
“I’ve got to get better at everything,” Douglas said.
Meanwhile, Ajayi has said he probably would have been ready to play in the third game if the Dolphins hadn’t placed him on short-term injured reserve, a move made so that they could sign quarterback Logan Thomas, who was released from the 53-man roster a week later.
Ajayi was permitted to begin practicing this week and is eligible to play in Miami’s eighth game, Nov. 10 at Buffalo.
Campbell said he looked good Wednesday.
“My mentality is giving the best look in practice for the defense and getting back to playing shape,” Ajayi said. “After a week, I’ll be back to normal. I’m a back that prides himself on not being brought down by one guy. I’m a back that’s a bruiser.”
Twitter: @flasportsbuzz
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