Senior Bowl benefits at work for Dolphins
Talks with Nick Saban, DeVonta Smith and others show Senior Bowl benefits already at work
MOBILE, Ala. — As injured Alabama standouts DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris stood off to the side together during Senior Bowl practice this week, there often seemed to be a Miami Dolphins staff member not too far away.
Whether it was a Dolphins assistant coach or other personnel member, they made sure to spark up any conversation they could with Smith and Harris — two dynamic prospects in the 2021 NFL draft field.
At the end of Wednesday’s practice, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier found Alabama coach Nick Saban while talking to Harris.
Grier and Saban spoke for several minutes before walking together toward midfield where they continued their conversation with Dolphins coach Brian Flores at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
What did the Dolphins duo get out of their discussion with Saban? Perhaps some intel on Smith and Harris? Maybe another chat about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who just finished his rookie season in Miami.
Either way, it’s those little moments, where small talk can set the foundation of a developing relationship or lead to some inside information about a player are what this week is about. And it’s why the Dolphins — who have four top-50 selections in the draft this April — decided to be one of the two teams coaching the Senior Bowl.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to see the players live and up close, meet with them, talk to them, get some face time with them … and get to know them as people, as players, the things that make them tick,” Flores said.
“We get to coach also, which that’s always fun. We’re excited about this week and I think we’ll get a lot out of it.”
Flores, Grier, members of the team’s coaching staff and personnel department make up one of the largest NFL contingents at the Senior Bowl.
With no NFL combine in late February this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senior Bowl serves as a major scouting opportunity for scouts and executives to see prospects compete against each other in a live football setting, while also getting the chance to know the players on a personal level.
The coaching staffs from the Dolphins and Carolina Panthers get the advantage of working closely with the players on the Senior Bowl field. And the personal interaction could pay dividends for both teams.
When Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard lost his leverage against a running back in a blocking drill, it was Flores who took the opportunity to show both players how to improve.
When North Carolina standout linebacker Chazz
Surratt filled his run gap correctly on a run defensive drill, it was Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile pumping his fist in excitement and encouragement after the play.
And when Smith and Harris — two potential firstround picks who could fit nicely on the Dolphins’ offense for Miami at No. 3 and No. 18 in the draft — kneeled by themselves on the sidelines between plays, it was Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville going by to get a few words in between coaching.
“I think getting face time with these guys — in a practice setting, in a meeting setting — along with the individual meetings that we do in the evening, I think all of it’s advantageous for us,” Flores said.
Flores spent most of his time overseeing multiple position groups, including the defensive ends, linebackers, offensive linemen and running backs. Grier also floated between position groups and on the sidelines evaluating players on the field during practice.
[subhead]Other Senior Bowl notes[/subhead]
— Studesville, one of several candidates to interview for the vacant Dolphins offensive coordinator job, called some offensive plays for the second consecutive day during practice on Wednesday.
Studesville was mic’d up on ESPNU, sharing his play calls to players, one day after it appeared Dolphins tight ends coach George Godsey and new quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye were calling plays in some capacity during practice.
It’s possible both Studesville and Godsey will get to call offensive plays during the Senior Bowl game on Saturday.
— The Dolphins will likely be in the mix for a new center, and a new name to watch behind Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey and Alabama’s Landon Dickerson is Wisconsin-Whitewater center Quinn Meinerz.
He’s hard to miss, especially with his jersey raised exposing his round belly. But he has quite a mean streak at the center position, which could translate well with proper coaching at the NFL level.
— Two players who have showed out so far this week: Florida slot receiver Kadarius Toney may be the fastest player at the Senior Bowl, while Western Michigan receiver D’Wayne Eskridge will see his draft stock rise.
— A note on Ken Dorsey, who may be in the mix for Dolphins’ offensive coordinator job: A league source believes the Bills quarterback coach deserves more credit than offensive coordinator Brian Daboll for quarterback Josh Allen’s improvement in the past two seasons.
Dorsey has channeled the intangibles that made him great as a player for the Miami Hurricanes and turned it into being the best coach he could be for his players with better talent than he possessed as a quarterback.
Allen’s production took a drastic leap this season, nearly completing 70 percent of his passes for 4,544 yards with 37 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Dorsey also worked with Cam Newton when he won league MVP during the 2015 season.
Dorsey’s success with both quarterbacks could be a good precursor if he were to work with Tagovailoa — or even Deshaun Watson should Miami trade for the Houston Texans star.
The one knock on Dorsey may be his inexperience calling offensive plays. His ability or inability to do so could affect his standing for an offensive coordinator position. Also, he has a good thing going so far in Buffalo working with Allen and Daboll.