Tag: Austin Jackson

15 Dolphins to watch during joint practices with the Eagles

15 Miami Dolphins to watch during joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles at Baptist Health Training Complex

After trimming the roster down to 80 players on Tuesday, the Eagles are in Miami for two days of joint practices with the Dolphins before the preseason finale on Saturday night.

Philadelphia’s improved defense will face a test against the speedy and athletic Miami offense that features Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside.

On offense, quarterback Jalen Hurts will look to continue building chemistry with his group of receivers, and he’ll have to prove himself against a talented group of Miami defenders.

With the first practice set to begin, here are 15 Dolphins to watch over the next few days.

Dolphins QB, OL and specialist ratings in Madden NFL 23

Only one player from the groups made it into the top 10 for their position.

With the end of another NFL offseason in sight, football fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the newest installment of the Madden video game series, Madden 23.

After the release of every other position group’s ratings, EA Sports, the publishers of the game, finished the week by putting out quarterback, offensive line and specialist ratings on Friday. The Dolphins only had one player in any of those groups make it into the top 10 at their position.

Here’s a look at most of Miami’s quarterback, offensive line and specialist ratings for launch and how they compare to other players at the same position:

  • Terron Armstead – 93 overall (No. 4 LT)
  • Thomas Morstead – 80 overall (No. 7 P)
  • Tua Tagovailoa – 75 overall (t-No. 22 QB)
  • Teddy Bridgewater – 75 overall (t-No. 22 QB)
  • Jason Sanders – 75 overall (t-No. 17 K)
  • Robert Hunt – 74 overall (t-No. 16 RG)
  • Connor Williams – 73 overall (t-No. 18 C)
  • Liam Eichenberg – 68 overall (t-No. 30 RT)
  • Solomon Kindley – 68 overall (t-No. 33 RG)
  • Austin Jackson – 67 overall (t-No. 41 LT)
  • Greg Little – 67 overall (t-No. 41 LT)
  • Michael Deiter – 64 overall (t-No. 43 C)
  • Robert Jones – 63 overall (t-No. 49 LG)
  • Kellen Diesch – 62 overall (t-No. 52 LT)
  • Skylar Thompson – 57 overall (t-No. 80 QB)
  • Larnel Coleman – 57 overall (t-No. 69 RT)
  • Adam Pankey – 54 overall (t-No. 77 RT)

EA Sports also announced the team and unit ratings. Miami’s offense was rated a 79, the defense was rated an 84 and special teams was rated an 80. Overall, the team was given an 83.

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2022 Dolphins positional preview: The offensive line is improved, but there are still questions

There are still two questionable spots.

The 2021 edition of the Miami Dolphins got one of the worst offensive line performances among all of the teams in the NFL.

Between inexperienced coaches and poor effort, the line wasn’t able to protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa or get any push for the team’s running game. As a result, the offense struggled to string drives together, keeping them from a postseason birth for the fifth straight season.

With the Dolphins ready to hit the field for training camp near the end of the month, it’s as good of a time as any to assess the roster. We’ve touched on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, so, today, we’re focusing on the big men up front.

Most important moments from Mike McDaniel’s press conference after Day 1 of minicamp

He discussed a number of players, positions and statuses.

Minicamp in Miami is underway, and Mike McDaniel seems to be closer to training camp mode than most rookie head coaches.

In an informative and enjoyable press conference Wednesday afternoon with South Florida media, McDaniel spoke on player progress, health and where the Dolphins are overall in the process.

When initially asked about the bridge from OTAs to minicamp, McDaniel explained, “From an operational standpoint, we adjusted a little bit to kind of coincide with training camp.” As McDaniel put it, the players are getting, “a taste of what the training camp day is like minus the pads obviously, so it’s a little different.”

Specifically, McDaniel detailed one new aspect of minicamp.

“They had their first non-scripted period today.” McDaniel said. “That was different, which was typical of something you work into Week 3 of training camp, or Week 2.”

McDaniel moved on to specifics about his players, and he mentioned tight end Mike Gesicki and the tight end’s progress in McDaniel’s blocking schemes.

“As far as Mike Gesicki, he’s been as impressive as any player on the team in terms of going after a challenge,” McDaniel said confidently in support of his franchise-tagged player.

The coach went into chalk talk about the positional aspect of where Gesicki can lineup.

“Three-point (stance) wasn’t his primary position and he’s been working diligently in the run and pass game to do things that this offense can feature without taking away the stuff that has made him who he is, and there is a piece of that in the offense,” he said.

The Gesicki section closed when McDaniel was asked about the inevitable contract question, and the likelihood of him staying in Miami long-term. McDaniel was judicious in his response, which was genuine and vague at the same time.

“That’s something that, right now, there are always conversations between agents and general managers,” he said. “The whole building is careful to make sure that I stay in my lane and coach some football.”

Staying on the blocking subject, McDaniel was asked about his new coaching staff and how they can assist Austin Jackson in his development and adjustment to right tackle. The 2020 first-round pick has a proven and successful coach in offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who helped turn around the Los Angeles Chargers line basically overnight.

“When Austin Jackson is playing right tackle, I’ve been very pleased because he’s approaching it the only way he can get better as a player, and that is complete commitment to it,” McDaniel said.

Although it’s early in the camp season, McDaniel was asked about veteran players who didn’t participate Wednesday, such as cornerback Byron Jones, newly acquired left tackle Terron Armstead and running back Raheem Mostert.

“We are trying to be very deliberate and intentional with how we handle all of those guys,” he said. “It’s been very good. We haven’t had a setback really across the board. We are being fairly conservative but that’s on an individual basis.”

The last subject of importance was the center position with Michael Deiter and new offensive lineman Connor Williams being candidates to start. Coach left the door slightly open for added competition.

“I think you have to be careful to pigeonhole who is doing what and when,” McDaniel said. “I think that isn’t fair to the process.”

To be fair, immediately after, he did say, “I will say that if no other player is added, that I am going to be very confident in our starting center next year.”

The process seems to be trusted so far in South Florida, as excitement and positivity seem to be surrounding the 2022 version of the Miami Dolphins.

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Dolphins’ recent draft plan has generated success, especially with Jevon Holland

What a first year that Miami got out of the former Oregon safety.

The 2022 NFL draft is a week from Thursday, and while, at the moment, the Miami Dolphins will be without a first and second-round pick for the first time since 2002, it’s a good time to reflect on the Dolphins’ recent selection weekends.

Before getting into the triple threat of potential excellence from last season, the last time the Dolphins were dormant in the first two rounds of a draft was following the acquisition of Ricky Williams. This was 20 years ago after they traded for the superstar running back with the New Orleans Saints. 2003 also had a vacant first round due to the Williams mega-deal.

Miami has had their first-round pick every year since and following the Tyreek Hill trade with Kansas City early in the offseason, they begin at pick No. 102, as it stands now. In the last two drafts, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has made trades in each of the first two rounds.

Last season, Grier moved up in the second round to select Liam Eichenberg, after a deal with the New York Giants. New York sent their No. 42 overall pick to Miami, which they used to select the Notre Dame offensive lineman. In exchange, Miami sent their No. 50 overall pick last season as well as a 2022 third-round selection.

In 2020, following a pair of first-round selections in Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5 and Austin Jackson at No. 18, the Dolphins traded out of pick No. 26 with Green Bay and moved to No. 30 in addition to picking up a fourth-round pick.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Grier use a pretty loaded war chest in 2023 to hop back into the top 50 or so in this month’s draft; should he see a player he covets. Whether or not that movement happens remains to be seen but looking back at last year’s hat-trick of young studs is very encouraging for the Dolphins’ faithful.

Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips, last year’s first-round picks, have already proved they were worth the price tag. Waddle broke the league’s rookie reception record after reeling in 104 passes. All Phillips did was tally 8.5 sacks, including a run of five straight games with at least a half-sack.

As impressive as these two were, perhaps the home run of the draft, and potentially of the last decade, has been safety Jevon Holland. While showing early promise in a tough start to Miami’s 2021, Holland steadily adapted to his surroundings and became a force in the Miami defensive backfield.

After the first month of the season, the training wheels seemed to fall off for the former Oregon star, as he became a fixture all over the field, making plays in every tier of the defense. Holland showcased his versatility and range on Thursday Night Football at home against the Baltimore Ravens.

Not only did Miami upset Lamar Jackson and his Ravens, but Holland was also a revelation. He recorded five tackles, a pair of passes defended, a sack and one of the most-watched, ruthless hits of the season.

Holland also blitzed Jackson an astounding 19 times that game. When Jackson had the nerve to throw his way, Holland’s defense led the Baltimore signal-caller to have a measly 52.9 passer rating when targeting the rookie’s area.

Miami won 22-10, and following an earlier week’s win against the Houston Texans, the Dolphins began a seven-game winning streak. Holland would go on to have a superb season, finishing with 69 total tackles, 10 passes defended, 2.5 sacks, three fumbles recoveries, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

On seven occasions in his rookie season, Holland played every single defensive snap. He’s as technically sound as talented and was flagged only three times the entire year. The last flag came, ironically, against the Ravens and that was Week 10. No penalties came after that, helping to bring his 2021 PFF grade to an impressive 84.7. That’s good for fourth-highest among all NFL safeties.

It’s safe to say, Miami’s third actual selection in last year’s draft could just be the best, and if Grier and Miami choose to hang tough and wait until the third round, there’s a track record of success in his tenure.

Since Grier became general manager in 2016, his third-round picks have been Kenyan Drake, Cordrea Tankersley, Jerome Baker, Michael Deiter, Brandon Jones and last year’s rookie tight end, Hunter Long.

Either way, should Miami stay put or move up this draft, especially on the heels of an outstanding offseason of acquisitions, re-signings and restructurings, Dolphins fans should be as relaxed as Grier seems to be during this process.

Continue to trust it.

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Everything Mike Gesicki, Austin Jackson and Elandon Roberts said at their first media availability of 2022

The guys seemed happy to be back in the building.

A trio of Miami Dolphins met with South Florida media on Wednesday, as Austin Jackson, Elandon Roberts and Mike Gesicki were all available for questions, each providing clarity in several areas.

Jackson, the young offensive lineman heading into his third NFL season, immediately spoke about his excitement for 2022 and the Dolphins’ new-look offensive coaching staff.

“I’ve talked to Mike [McDaniel] and Frank [Smith] a bunch, and I’m really excited for what we have in place,” Jackson told reporters. “I’m even more excited for the work we’re about to start. First things first, it starts now. That’s why we’re meeting and training together and getting the details down really of our concepts of what we’re going to do.”

Jackson was asked about his position, as he was drafted in 2020 as a left tackle yet moved around the line in 2021 and was even inserted at guard. Adding the big-splash free agent signing of Terron Armstead, Jackson is placing his chips on the right side.

“I’ve actually played right tackle,” Jackson stated. “This isn’t the first time playing a new role for me. I played it in high school, I played it in college – actually collegiately, like starting at it.

“It’s not completely new for me, but at the end of the day, I have to make sure I’m 100% right in my techniques and my fundamentals because what our offense does is if you get the technique down and use that same technique, it’s supposed to be the same at every position.”

Jackson also described the newfound energy in the facility stemming from the strength of the new head coach hiring.

“It’s a great feeling in the building,” he said. “At the end of the day, the front office or whoever brought us all in together did a great job of bringing in a bunch of like-minded guys who are willing to work hard, want to work hard, and are willing, hopefully, God-willing, reap the benefits of that.”

He then added, “and we do it with a smile on our face.”

Re-signed veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts stepped up to the podium as well, and no time was wasted in asking him about the new coaching situation and the defensive structure.

When asked about Brian Flores no longer being in Miami, yet defensive coordinator Josh Boyer being retained, Roberts was short and to the point.

“I think Josh is going to do a great job and do what he’s been doing since he took over the last two years,” Roberts said. “That’s it.”

He has ties with Boyer as they were both with New England before making the jump to the Dolphins. Roberts went on to talk about the reasons he returned to Miami, and the team captain from the last few seasons didn’t pull his punches.

“To be fully transparent, I just felt like this is my defense,” Roberts answered with ultimate confidence and conviction. “I’m a leader on the team and a leader on the defense. It was kind of a no-brainer for me, to be honest with you. I love being in Miami. My family loves it out here. I have a good relationship with everyone in the building. It was kind of a no-brainer.”

Roberts spoke as definitive as he hits offensive opponents, and he looks to build off his 2021 season where he made a career-high 83 tackles and forced a pair of fumbles. He also had four passes defended and took the only NFL interception he ever recorded to the house for a score against the Las Vegas Raiders back in Week 3.

Mike Gesicki is simply living his best life. A wedding, a franchise tag, a honeymoon and a trip to The Masters made for a remarkable month’s run for the fan-favorite tight end. Gesicki seemed nearly as happy to be back in Miami for 2022 as the fanbase was back in March when he was tagged.

While happy to be back, Gesicki alluded to it not being the exact plan, as it seems a long-term stay in Miami is desired.

“It’s obviously not the goal, the end-all, be-all goal,” he said when asked about playing on the tag. “It’s definitely more team-friendly than it is player-friendly. But it just gives me more reason to continue to come back here, work hard and continue to be motivated, get back to work and help this team win football games and hopefully, eventually, get what I deserve moving forward.”

Gesicki has improved in his receptions and yardage statistics in each of his first four NFL seasons. 73 catches and 780 yards in 2021 came despite arguable misusage on a consistent basis by last season’s Miami offensive staff. He was seldom used in the red zone, and as the Dolphins got closer to paydirt, he was unfathomably targeted less.

It’s a brand-new offensive scheme and coaching staff that could have Gesicki not only have a career year but a potential run at a Pro Bowl.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a different scheme as to what we’ve played in, but at the end of the day, football is football,” Gesicki said with his trademark swagger.

The Penn State product certainly has a tight end coach to help him shoot for the moon in Jon Embree. Embree has had Tony Gonzalez, Chris Cooley, Cameron Brate and George Kittle under his watch. He even turned Jordan Cameron into a Pro Bowler, his only such honor, back when they were in Cleveland together.

Gesicki’s skill set along with Embree’s coaching could be a lethal combination. Embree was with McDaniel in San Francisco and is the Miami assistant head coach, and Gesicki seems rather excited about it.

“I think having coach Embree here and he’s kind of a guy that helped – I’m not saying that he’s the reason that George [Kittle] is where he’s at or that George is the reason that Jon is the coach he is, but they worked together and did a very good job together, so he was able to help him in a lot of aspects and obviously George is the player he is now,” Gesicki said. “So I’m happy to have Coach Embree here, and it’s definitely some good tape to watch, watching Kittle out there.”

As for his new head coach, Gesicki seems to relate to him, which is pretty important one could assume.

“Yeah, funny dude,” he said about McDaniel. “I had a meeting with him last week and it went well and just talking with him just about everything – the atmosphere in the building, the guys, the locker room everything. So, he’s awesome.

“It’s been great and I’m excited to play for him and work for him and do everything I can to earn his trust for some big-time opportunities coming up this fall.”

Seems like there is a match made in heaven, and that doesn’t mean nuptials. Hopefully, it means touchdowns.

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NFL draft history: Every No. 18 overall pick since 2000

NFL Draft history: Looking at every No. 18 overall pick selected since the 2000 NFL Draft and the Eagles’ chances of landing an impact player

The Eagles shook up the NFL draft boards after a blockbuster trade that saw general manager Howie Roseman trade pick No. 16, No. 19, and No. 194 to the Saints for pick No. 18, No. 101, No. 237, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-rounder, as well.

Philadelphia now has two first-round picks in 2022, an extra third-round pick in 2022, along with pushing a first-round pick back to 2023 and also accumulating an extra second-round pick in 2022.

With picks No. 16 and No. 19 now the property of the Saints, it’s time that we look at the NFL draft history of pick No. 18.

Follow below for a look at the 18th pick in every NFL draft since 2000.

Grading the Miami Dolphins offensive linemen after their 2021 season

The group wasn’t great.

The Miami Dolphins 2021 season came to an end after beating the New England Patriots in Week 18 to secure a winning season. Despite the result, the team fired their head coach and have begun a search for their next leader.

During this time, it’s appropriate to reflect on the play of the guys who impacted the outcomes on the field.

We’ll be going through different positions over the next week or so and reviewing how they played in 2021. After starting with the rookies, quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, we’ll round out the offense with a look at the big boys up front. These are the grades for the Dolphins offensive linemen during this campaign.

Brian Flores sees offensive line changes as potential long-term fix

Liam Eichenberg at tackle and Austin Jackson at guard going forward?

Prior to Sunday’s game, media members began reporting that there would be a shake-up on the Dolphins offensive line. With Austin Jackson playing poorly at tackle over the past few games, he was moved inside to let rookie Liam Eichenberg play his traditional outside spot.

Going against Tampa Bay’s defensive front was going to be a challenge without making a change, so the decision to make the move this week was a bold one.

The big bodies up front held their own considering the matchup. Jacoby Brissett was sacked three times, but Myles Gaskin ran for five yards per carry on just five attempts.

Liam Eichenberg was even ranked as the Dolphins’ second-best player in Week 5 by Pro Football Focus.

When asked about the idea of this offensive line being the plan going forward during his Monday media availability, head coach Brian Flores confirmed that would likely be the case

“Yeah, I see this as potentially long-term,” Flores said. “I think Liam [Eichenberg] at left and Austin [Jackson] inside at guard, I think that’s something that we’ll probably stay with for the foreseeable future.”

Consistency is sometimes the most important piece on the offensive line. Having different guys move in and out while playing poorly only makes things worse.

Flores went on to talk about how the group had a good week of practice, and that they’re looking to build on that each week. The idea of “building” has been discussed often this season, so fans are probably sick of it by now, but this group actually didn’t look as bad as they could have on Sunday.

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Dolphins activate OT Austin Jackson off reserve/COVID-19 list

Dolphins activate OT Austin Jackson off reserve/COVID-19 list

The Miami Dolphins enter into Week 1 of the 2021 regular season hoping to establish themselves as a legitimate contender in the AFC and the AFC East. And although the team is certainly without wide receiver Will Fuller, who is suspended due to a 2020 drug test, the team has just learned that they are going to be getting a little bit of extra reinforcements in the trenches.

The Dolphins have announced this afternoon that they have activated second-year offensive tackle Austin Jackson from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Jackson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on early this week alongside veteran tight end Adam Shaheen. Shaheen, who has openly discussed his decision to not get a vaccination for the virus and instead deal with the NFL’s complex protocols instead, is a confirmed positive and is not likely to be given the same opportunity to dress this week due to his vaccination status.

The Dolphins have played coy throughout the week about Jackson’s availability, suggesting that they’ll be preparing for the contest under the assumption that Jackson will be unable to go.

But now, a little more than 24 hours away from kickoff, the Dolphins have announced that Jackson is indeed good to go and the team will have their entire offensive line at their disposal for Week 1 against New England.